Chapter XII: THE TWELVE Article is that if Olyver Wilson dothe hereafter (2)

14th July, 1606. This day uppon the suite of the pˀson and
pˀishione{rs} of St. Olaves in Silver Street It was ordered by this
Court that at such tyme as the now church of the said pĩsh shal begin
to be reedified beinge now in great decay and fallen into ruyn That
then the M{rs} or governou{rs} of this Company for the tyme beinge
shall of the stocke of the said Company pay to the then church
wardens of the said pĩsh the somme of x{li} towardꝭ the reedifiẽg of
the said Church w{th}out makinge further suite for the same.

Several liverymen were complained of for not having attended in their liveries of late, and among other notes is the following:--

14th July, 1606. This day Henry Bradley one fferris and Henry Bracey
are dismissed out of the Clothinge and Assistaunce of this Company
for they have not given their attendaunce in their liveryes uppon
summons.

8th September, 1606. This daie Mr. Peck did lend voluntary to this
howse L gratis for a yeare next ensueinge.

This daie M{r} ffenton did lend C{li} gratis to this Company for a
yeare next ensueinge Also he did lend to this Company L{li} more for
a yere at x{li} pˀ cent.

23rd September, 1606. This day it is ordered that Percivall Jackson
shalbe comitted to the Compter for his severall Contemptꝭ to this
howse.

30th September, 1606. This daie Percivall Jackson was dischardged out
of prison upon his mothers intreatie. And is to bring in his debt to
Burrowes at the next Court.

7th October, 1606. This daie John Hedlow paid to the M{rs} vj{s}
viij{d} w{ch} by them was tofore paid to officers w{ch} attended to
committ the said Hedlow for his severall contemptꝭ to this howse.

13th October, 1606. Percivall Jackson was again committed to the Compter for his “severall contemptꝭ.”

4th November, 1606. This daie John Kerrell Richard Cade & Richard
Houlden were fyned for being absent from the funerall of M{r}
ffyneinge.

10th March, 1607. This daie Thomas Grig was fyned at xii{d} for not
wearinge his Cap on Candlemas daie last.

19th September, 1607. The Clerk’s child having died of the plague, and being carried through the gate of the Hall, an order came from the Lord Mayor commanding the Court not to sit for 28 days, and it was thereupon ordered that the Courts should sit at Mr. Fenton’s house in Bartholomew’s Court during that period.

This daye it is ordered that Carehills wyef be warned to the hall
against the next Court for keepinge of twoe shoppes of Barbinge
w{th}out Bisshoppesgate.

8th October, 1607. This daye it is ordered by this Courte uppon due
considerac͠on had That from henceforth the M{rs} or Governors of this
Company every yere yerely shall geve to the Recorder of this Cytie
a yerely fee of money oute of the stock of this Company at their
pleasures so that it exceede not the somme of iiij{li.}

It was ordered that no liveryman should henceforth--

attend in his lyvery and w{th}out a ruffe band uppon payne of xij{d}
for evˀy offence.

3rd November, 1607. This daye uppon the humble suite of one wydowe
Burrows shee is admitted to keepe her Barbors shop where shee now
dothe for 2 yeres next ensuinge not w{th}standinge that w{th}in the
said tyme shee mary an husbond of any oth{r} trade.

1st December, 1607. This daye Thomas Allen[161] and James Mullins
were fined for wearinge of falleinge bands w{th} their livˀy gownes.

[161] The first Master of Dulwich College.

21st January, 1608. This daye it is ordered that . . . . Braye [be
appointed] Informer to pˀsecute suites by informac͠on against such
pˀsons as the pˀnt Masters shall noĩat for one yere next ensuinge at
the chardgꝭ of this howse And hee is to have tenne poundes for his
paynes therein.

27th January, 1608. Five of the Company were fined for not being at the funeral of Mistress Izard in their liveries.

5th April, 1608. This daye lycence is geeven to Will{m} Buckley to
arrest John Dodd breakeinge his wyndowes.

21st July, 1608. This daye it was thought fit that the pˀnt
Assistantꝭ showld sit in Court w{th}out their Gownes for that the
weath{r} is hot.

It is ordered that the laste quarters penc͠on due to John a Lee
lately deceased shalbe paid to the poore woman w{ch} kept him in his
sicknes.

At almost every Court, charities in sums varying from 2{s} to 40{s} were given to poor members for their relief, or to the widows of former members, and in many cases yearly annuities were granted out of the stock of the house, independent of the Trust charities distributed by the Court.

14th February, 1609. This daye John Stubbes one of my lord maiors
officers is appoynted a Serjeant to this Company.

27th June, 1609. This daye it is ordered that George Dugdale shall
before Michaelmas next paye to Thomas Shephard v{s} w{ch} hee oweth
him ORELS to be Committed to the Compter.

6th July, 1609. This daye Roger Rayney Marchaunt tayler is elected
& chosen Butler to this howse so longe as hee shall well & honestly
behave himself therein And is to have all such fees and allowances as
to his said place or office are incedent or belongeinge Provided hee
enter into bond to the M{rs} of this Company w{th} sufficient surety
w{th} Condic͠on to make good to this howse all such plate linen &
oth{r} thingꝭ as shalbe committed to his chardge by the M{rs} of this
Company the Stewardꝭ of the Maiors feast The Maisters or Stewardꝭ of
the Anathomy or Wardens of the Yomanry.

This daye uppon the due examinac͠on of sevˀall abuses & misbehaviours
comitted by Thomas Goodale on of the Assistantꝭ of this Company
towardꝭ Mr. Edward Rodes maister of this Company wrongefully
chardgeinge him w{th} injustice before the wholl Courte And for
oth{r} his misdemeanures hee is by the wholl Consent of this Court
dismissed oute of the Assistance of this Company.

26th July, 1609. Whereas heretofore it hath byn observed for a
rule and customary order that the M{rs} of the Company to whom the
Electo{rs} on the Election day before dyñn should deliver the names
of such pˀsons who were at such tyme elected M{rs} of the Company for
the yeare insuinge, should not give any notice to any new M{r} so
elected before the garland should be put upon his head, it was now
thought fit that that rule should be put on one side, and that those
chosen should be at once informed of their Election that they may
make pˀvision for the entertaynement of the livery, etc.

10th August, 1609. This day Richard Browne was admitted Armorer to
the Company and to have p̃. anñ. xiij{s} iiij{d} and he to have a
speciall care to keepe the Armour in repac͠ons and to be therefore
paid by the Rentor warden for the tyme beinge.

This day Mr. John Leacocke[162] contemptuoslie depˀted out of the
Courte w{th}out licence of the M{rs} or of any of them And albeit
he was required by the Clarke by the comand of the M{rs} to come
into the Courte beinge depˀted out of the hall, he answered that he
would not come againe Therefore it is ordred by this Courte that he
shall pay his fine of iij{s} iiij{d} for depˀtinge the Court without
the M{rs} licence And if he refused to pay the said iij{s} iiij{d}
then the som̃e of xl{s} is by this Courte ordred to be assessed and
ymposed upon him w{ch} if he shall likewise refuse to pay then he is
by this Court dismissed out of the Assistaunce ipso facto.

[162] Master in 1604.

Mr. Leacocke submitted and paid his fine 26th September, 1609.

21st August, 1609. In answer to a precept from the Lord Mayor, a certificate was sent to his Lordship that there were remaining of the 50 quarters of wheat wherewith the Company was charged, 20 quarters, and that the remainder had been sold in the Markets according to former precepts.

19th October, 1609. It was ordered that:--

no M{r} or govˀno{r} of this Company shall from henceforth have power
or authority in them or any of them to sell morgage or ympawne the
fower pieces of Tapistry hangingꝭ or any of them w{ch} were bought
for the use and creditt of this house.

9th January, 1610. Att this Courte Henry Jones paid vj{d} to the
pore’s box for hanginge out his basons one Twelveth day last.

6th March, 1610. Att this Courte it is ordered that Thomas Burgis
shall at the next Tusedayes Courte pay unto the widdow Burrowes his
late M{ris} iiij{s} for that he hath broken her Combes and Sise{rs.}

21st March, 1610. Att this Court it is ordered that the wyddow
Saunde{rs} shall no longer reteyne in her service one Allexander
ffarrington uppon payne that if shee doe her basons shalbe taken
downe & she comitted to the Compter.

8th May, 1610. At this Court it is ordered that Pyramus Porter shall
be pnˀtely discharged out of Prison being layd in by Richard Gessell
for that Porter was layd in w{th}out the M{rs} Consentꝭ.

Porter was Gessell’s apprentice, and their disagreements had been before the Court on a previous occasion.

20th August, 1610. Mr. William Gale (who had been Master, 1595) was elected Master; he was an eminent Surgeon but, dying on 19th November, 1610, was succeeded in his office by Mr. John Peck (who had been Master in 1605). Mr. Gale was buried at Monken Hadley, in the chancel of which church may still be seen in the floor on the North side of the Altar, a brass with an inscription to his memory, and two brasses with the effigies of his sons and daughters. There were formerly brasses of the effigies of William Gale and his two wives, but they have unfortunately been removed.

The arms of Gale (as appearing on his son’s brass in Monken Hadley Church) Az. on a fesse betw. three saltires ar. as many lyons’ heads era. of the field langued gules.[163]

[163] The tinctures are from Burke’s Armory.

20th September, 1610. Att this Court a motion being proposed by the
present M{rs} to thentent to bringe the howse out of debt, w{ch}
cannot be soddenly effected except the Assistauntꝭ of this board
shall of their owne free willꝭ by their pˀticuler free guiftꝭ or
other wise by the voluntary free loane of money to this howse for
a certayne tyme, be assistinge And thereupon M{r} Warden ffenton
declared that o{r} M{r} was contented towardꝭ soe good an acc͠on to
gyve freely xx{li} and M{r} Warden ffenton vj{li} xiij{s} iiij{d}
M{r} Warden Veare iij{li} vj{s} viij{d} M{r} Warden Hassald xl{s} And
demaundinge of the residue of the bord what they would gyve, M{r}
Wood he would gyve x{li} if the howse will renewe his lease, M{r}
Sˀjaunt Goodorus would thinck of itt, M{r} Leycock M{r} Thorney M{r}
Gerard M{r} Rodes & M{r} ffrederick would doe the lick M{r} Thomas
Martyn would gyve xx{s} M{r} Isard vj{s} viij{d} M{r} Mapes would
gyve xl{s} M{r} Johnson M{r} ffoster M{r} Ingolsby & M{r} Coghill
they would doe as others in their Ranck would doe. M{r} Cook would
gyve xxxiij{s} iiij{d.}

16th October, 1610. Att this Court It is agreed that one Henry
Pullyard a Drummer shalbe admitted to be the Drummer to this howse
And he is to have for evˀy dayes service that he shall serve as a
Drummer to this Company on the lord Mayors daie the some of xiij{s}
iiij{d.}

20th November, 1610. Att this Court ytt is ordered that William Jones
shall bringe in the next Tuesdaye Cort xx{s} for a ffyne for keeping
two shoppes.

22nd November, 1610. Roger Joanes, a Waterman, was appointed Bargeman with a yearly fee of 20_s._, and was in consideration thereof to find a Barge with “all thingꝭ therein and therewith fittinge” whenever the Company should require the same for £3 on each occasion.

11th June, 1611. Itt is likewise ordered that the Clothworker w{ch}
practizeth Barberye about Thames Street if he be found workinge, that
then he shalbe comitted to the Compter.

18th July, 1611. At this Court upon the humble suite of Edward
Handsome it was thought fitt & decreed that he should first agree
w{th} the Informer, w{ch} being done come & make his suite to this
house at some Court of Assistantꝭ and then he shoulde knowne & fynd
howe kyndlye they would deale w{th} him.

8th October, 1611. At this Court John Scott was ffyned at vj{s}
viij{d} for refuseinge to holde the place of a whiffler.

4th May, 1613. At this Court Henry Clawes came before the M{rs} and
by them is pˀhibited and forbidden to keepe a Barbo{rs} shopp or
deale any more in surgery for that he is noe denizen.

22nd August, 1614. It was ordered that in future, any liveryman being called to the Court should pay a fine of five marks. It does not appear that before this time a fine had been taken on like occasions.

By an entry about this date, it seems that when a “foreigner” was admitted to the livery he paid £5 for yeomanry and £5 for livery fines in one payment.

30th March, 1615. At this Court it is further ordered that the new
Ryver water shalbe taken into this howse so as it maie be had for
30{s} fyne & 30{s} pˀ anñ in rent.

6th July, 1615. The hall, which was in “great decay,” was ordered to be viewed by a Committee of the Court, as to its restoration.

11th November, 1615. At this Court our M{r} acquayntinge them how
unfortunatlie it hath happened that the Hall on Tewsdaie night last
beinge 7 November was broken open & what losse the howse susteyned
thereby. Whereupon it was then presentlie considered and then ordered
that a present course be taken for the spedie repaieringe of the
howse & tresory howse and that the same shalbe forthwith stronglie
borded & made up at the charges of the howse. And for this purpose
this Court did noĩate the p’nte M{r} together with M{r} Peck M{r}
ffenton M{r} Martyn & M{r} ffoster for to be Comittees for the well
orderinge & appoyntinge of the workmen to doe & finish this worke as
in their discretions shalbe thought mete. And what the Comittees or
anie three or two of them shall thinke fittinge to be done this howse
will rate for & allow of as also of the charge to be borne by this
howse.

Note That the xj{th} daie of November Thomas Lyne confessed how he
was the plotter for the Robbinge of o{r} Hall and how o{r} plate was
Carried to Westmˀ & our monie was devided amongst the theves who were
these Thomas Jones Nicholas Sames & Walter ffoster wc̃h did break
open the Hall, whereupon the Clarke haveinge order from o{r} M{r}
went to Westmˀ & upon search there made found our plate locked up
in a trunke in the howse of one ... a shoemaker xj{li} xviij{s} of
the monie M{r} Warden Coopˀ found the same daie in the howse of one
ffulses in Fleete Street. About the xvj{th} of Nov. then followinge
Thomas Jones was taken who beinge brought to Newgate in December
followinge Jones & Lyne were both executed for this fact.

In January followinge Sames was taken & executed. In April 1616
ffoster was taken & executed. Now letts pray God to blesse this howse
ever from any more of these damigees. Amen.

13th December, 1615. At this Court was gyven unto the officers in
regard of their paynes taken in apprehendinge the theves & obteyninge
our plate 5{li} that is to the Clarke 40{s} & 30{s} a peice to the
beadell & Porter.

30th June, 1617. At this Court is gyven unto the weif of John Davis a
fre brother who lieth in prison x{s.}

27th January, 1618. Upon the humble petic͠on unto this Companie
preferred by Thomas Shaw a pore brother of this Companie & now
lyeinge in Ludgate thereby sueing for some releife to discharge him
out of prison. It is therefore ordered by this Court that if the some
of 30{s} will discharge him out of prison it shalbe disbursed out of
the stock of this howse.

20th September, 1622. At this Court is gyven to Susan the Clarkꝭ
mayde towardꝭ her marriage 40{s} in gratuity.

At this Court it is ordered that Jones the Waterman shall have for
the hier of our barge against the lord Maio{rs} day fower poundꝭ So
as it is a large barge will hold the hole lyvery And to worke w{th} 7
or 8 oweis.[164]

[164] Oars.

31st January, 1625. It is straightly ordered by this Courte that the
pˀnte M{rs} or Governo{rs} and their successors shall take speciall
care to comence and prosecute any suite by lawe against any ignorant
imposters or other pˀsons exerciseing the arte of Chirurgery aboute
this Cittie not free of this Companye & alsoe such as shall keepe
shoppes for barbery within this Cittye being free of other Companies
& not of ours.

19th January, 1626. This daye John Mills and George Roades are chosen
to be of our Assistants for Barbars and Henry Blackley and Peter
Thorney for Surgions.

Item this Courte takeing into their considerac͠ons the fewnes of our
Livery many of them being lately dead by reason of the late greate
visitac͠on doe elect and choose John Pinder Edward Charley Edward
ffleete Robert Clarke Samuell Dye and Lewis Gossidge to be of the
Clothing of our Companye.

15th February, 1626. At this Courte it is ordered that William
Kellett do bring in his fine of vj{s} viij{d} at the next Courte
for his unseemely carriage and vile language to Walter Preist being
contrary to the ordinance and good goverment of this house, which
fine the said William Kellett here in Courte refused and said he
would not paye it.

At the same Court Priest was ordered to pay Kellett £3 which he owed him.

8th June, 1626. Kellett, not having paid his fine, was ordered to be dismissed out of the livery.

26th October, 1626. But becoming repentant, he made humble suit to the Court to be reinstated, “protesting here in Courte that as he hopeth to be saved he did not speak those wordꝭ and if he did he is very sorroy for it,” upon which submission and payment of his fine, he was readmitted to the livery.

23rd February, 1626. This daye upon the petic͠on of Thomas Borne and
a certificate under the hand of Docto{r} Allott that the said Borne
was a Scholler of the house in St. Johns Colledge in Cambridge it
is ordered by the Court that for one yeare ensueing he shall have
iij{li} to be paid him by M{r} Warᵭ Molins.

1st February, 1627. Item It is ordered by this Courte that there
shalbe given unto M{r} Docto{r} Gwyn and his sonne for his preferm{t}
in takeing degree of Batchelo{r} of Arte in the universitie of
Oxenford xij{li} as the free gift of this Court.

9th November, 1628. This daye Richard Roades a Barbar & Surgion hath
leave to open his shopp according to the ordinances of this house.

Roades was probably a man who had practised both as a Barber and a Surgeon outside the Company’s jurisdiction (the common usage of those days), but now being admitted a brother he had licence to practise “according to the ordinances,” that is, either as a Barber or a Surgeon, but not as both.

5th February, 1629. Upon the humble petic͠on made unto this Courte
by John ffranck a professor of Surgery the sonne of John ffrancke
late of the clothing of the livery of this Companie for that the said
ffranck is nowe taken prisoner in Turkey and his ransome is assessed
to 600 Crownes. In comiserac͠on of whose distressed estate in a deede
of charitye of soe greate consequence this courte doth order that
upon the said John ffranckꝭ being safe delivered into England here
alive he shall have viij{li} paid unto such pˀtie as the ransome doth
belong unto.

24th July, 1629. This daye in the complaint made unto this Court
by Henry Edwardꝭ against John Cox for arresting of him without the
consent of the Maisters they both being here present in Court It is
ordered that Edwardꝭ shall paye Cox the xx{s} which he received of
him uppon the wager that was wagered betweene them, and that M{r} Cox
shall withdraw his acc͠on and proceede noe further in lawe and It is
further ordered that M{r} Cox shall paye his fine of a marke on the
next Tuesdaie for not askeing leave of the Maisters to arrest him.

1629. The fine for not serving Steward of the Mayor’s feast was £13 6_s._ 8_d._, and this had been the usual fine for many years.

16th September, 1630. A reference is made to a brick building which a tenant of the Company was erecting at Holborn Bridge, under the direction of Inigo Jones.

28th January, 1631. This Court doth give to Marshall Petoe[165] for
his elegies on M{r} Banckꝭ his funˀall v{s.}

[165] A City Poet.

15th March, 1631. It is ordered by this Courte that the 12 Electors
shalbe chosen and drawne by a ballotting box in this manner, twoe out
of the auncient M{rs} one barbar one Surgion, 6 out of those of the
whole Assistantꝭ 3 Barbars 3 surgions, 4 out of the livery 2 barbars
2 surgions as shalbe present on the Election daie.

10th April, 1632. Nicholas Moseley made complaint against goody Smith
of her unruly and disorderly liefe amongst the Tenementꝭ in the alley
at Holborne Bridge and thereupon this Court doth give him leave to
expulse her from dwelling [there] any longer.

2nd July, 1632. This daye upon the humble and pittifull petic͠on
made unto this Court by Richard Hayeward in the behalfe of Ric:
Heyward his son whoe is now captivated and inthrawled under the
slaverye of the Turke and his Ransome being to the som̃e of one C{i.}
w{ch} the said Heyward is not able to raise, This Court therefore
compassionateing the said Richard Heywards distressed estate, whoe
being a Christian is in bondage to those Turkish & heathen Infidelles
dothe order that there shalbe x{li.} paid out of the stock of this
house for and towards the ransomeing and redeemeing the Captive at
such tyme as the said Richard Heyward the son shalbe delivered alive
here in England and not otherwise.

6th February, 1633. Anthony Mondeys wĩdd pˀnted to this Court a Booke
called The Surveigh of London beinge in folio and newlie printed.

This would be Munday’s edition of Stow presented by his widow, and for which she, in return, had a present from the Court.

29th November, 1633. It is ordered that for the stock of Corne to be
provided yearely by this house every one of the Assistantꝭ of the
Liverye shall lend xl{s.} presently and every one of the liverye
shall lend xx{s.} o{r} M{r} giveing a noate under his hand that the
house shall repaie it within a moneth after each mans death to his
executo{rs} if it be demaunded And soe hereafter every pˀson that
cometh into the Assistantꝭ to lend xl{s.} or that cometh into the
liverye to lend xx{s.}

M_emorandum_. That whereas by Precept yearly from the right Honourable, the Lord Mayor, and Court of Aldermen. Our companie is streightly commanded to provide and have readie LXXX. Quarters of Corne for this Cities service, a Court of assistants, was held the 18{th}. Day of _December_ 1633. to consider how to raise the Money, in regard our Companie is much indebted, by building our Granary, _&c._ And upon mature deliberation had, it was concluded & ordered, that each Person then being, or that thereafter should be, a Livery-man, should thereunto lend XXs. To be hereafter by the Masters, or Governours, for the time being, repaid out of their Corne-stock, to such Livery-mans Executors, or Administrators, within one moneth next after such Livery-mans death, being demanded, we therefore the present Masters, or Governours, do hereby acknowledge our selves to have received of Mr. the said allotted some of Twenty shillings for the use aforesaid, And do hereby promise, that we or, our Successors then being, shall repay the said XX{s.} accoding as is before expressed witness our hands this 3{d} day of Aprill _Anno Dom._--1688

Roger Knowles }
John King }
Will Sayfield } Governours.
John Standbrooke}]

4th March, 1634. 52 quarters of corn only being in the granary, it was ordered that 8 quarters more should be purchased to make up the complement of 60, which the Company were required by the City to keep in stock.

14th January, 1634. The question of “Ship money” being considered by the Court, it was thought that the Surgeons of the Company were free from the same by Charter, and a Committee of the Court was appointed to take counsel’s opinion thereon.

20th April, 1635. £10 was ordered to be given towards the restoration of the Church of St. Alban, Wood Street.

2nd June, 1635. Hugh Ward, for his absence from lectures, was summoned before the Court, when he used “approbrious language,” and defied the Masters,

Whereupon this Court did in the Lord Maiors name comitt the said Hugh
to the Compter in Woodstreete & charged the said Ward to staye but
he struggled to gett forth of y{e} parlor soe the M{rs} comaunded
the dores to be shutt till an officer had taken him in charge, but
after the officer had him in charge and they were gone forth into the
streete (as the officer reported to this Court) Ward stepped from him
and drew his knife & swoare hee would sheath it in his guttes if he
came after him and soe he made an escape from the officer.

_On the east side of Wood Street, stood this Prison, pertaining to the Sheriffs of London, built in the Mayoralty of Sir Samuel Strange, K{nt}:--(Sir John Smith, & James Edwards, Esq.{r} being Sheriffs) in the year 1670._

_Publish’d Jan{y}. 1 1793 by N. Smith G.{t} Mays Buildings, S{t}. Martins Lane_]

13th August, 1635. Ward made his submission and paid a fine of 40_s._

1st December, 1635. John Robinson a forreyne bar̃b was questioned
here in Court for setting up a barbars shopp in Blackfriers before
he had made knowne to this Court that he had served 7 yeares
appnˀticeship with a barbar by trade, and had a licence to sett upp
shopp, said he was bound appˀntice to Rich. Davyes of Hereford barbar
x{th} of Januar xxj{th} of King James for 8 yeares but could not
bring testimony he had served that time This Court doth charge him to
take in his barbars pole & basons & to forbeare keepeing that shopp
any longer.

8th March, 1637. Whereas there was an intenc͠on to make an open
Gallery The Court is now resolved & doe order that it shalbe made a
convenient faire Parlour over the walke leading into the Theater at
the costꝭ of y{s} house.

30th March, 1637. It is ordered that the Gallery or Parlour leading
to the Theater from the Bullwarke shalbe built and the Hall Cupboard
that cants into the stone yarde shalbe taken downe and the leade
thereof shalbe imployed to leade the Tarris that passeth from that
plo{r} into the Theater.

19th May, 1637. £10 was ordered to be paid towards the ransom of Thomas Wright, a Surgeon, who had been captured by the Turks.

10th June, 1637. It is ordered that the 3 stone Columbꝭ allready
wrought shalbe sett up and the walk next the hall side to be leaded
over and railes & turned ballasters to be sett up Alsoe that there
shalbe Iron barrs for all the windowes Alsoe a portland stone for the
mantle tree Alsoe a tablett of stone shalbe sett up in the front and
the M{r} & Wardeins names to be insculpted thereon and a sunn diall
to be in a convenient place.

24th July, 1637. It is ordered that the Concave seeleing of the
Theater shalbe painted with the Constellac͠ons of the Heavens and
the 7 planetts over the 12 signes in every peere and sceletons to be
wrought and sett up on every one of the 12 signes or Corbells.

Alsoe that this mottoe shalbe sett in the tablett of stone in the
front of the greate pˀlor. This Parlour was built in y{e} yeare of
o{r} Lord 1637 M{r} Richard Powell being M{r} M{r} John Heydon M{r}
W{m} Huckle M{r} Law: Cotton Wardeins.

13th August, 1637. The painting the ceiling of the Theatre was ordered to be deferred until next year, and the scaffolding to be taken down forthwith.

20th September, 1637. It is ordered that the seeleing of the greate
pˀlo{r} shalbe boarded shott & planed over with hole deales.

20th September, 1637. It is ordered that there shalbe given xl{s} to
St Edmunds berey for reliefe of the poore people visited with the
plague.

20th November, 1637. It is ordered that the yeomanryes hearse cloth
shalbe altered and the imbrothered scutchions & figures to be
decently sett by an Imbrotherer to be alwayes used at the publique
discections in the Theater.

28th December, 1637. This daye complaint was made ag{t} Thomas
Trevilion now Rento{r} Wardein both for his obstinacy and ill words
and exacting money from yonge freemen and throughing up his keyes
of the Threasurye & sayeing he would come no more to keepe Courtꝭ
at the Hall and desireing to be put out of his place, for w{ch} his
misdemeano{rs} and other evill behavio{r} being made apparent to this
Court and his acknowledgem{t} of them upon due considerac͠on of all
w{ch} It is ordered by this Court y{t} the said Thomas Trevilion doe
stand and shalbe from henceforth absolutely removed and dismissed
from his office & place of ffowerth M{r} or Governo{r.}

Mr. William Lingham was subsequently chosen in Trevilion’s place.

The Court sometimes acted in the capacity of private trustees of the estates of deceased members, and among the archives there remains a deed of acknowledgment signed by the Master and Wardens in 1637, wherein it is recited that Richard Mapes, a former Master of the Mystery, deceased, had left legacies to his four children, then being infants, and had appointed his wife Faith, executrix and trustee, with the proviso that in the event of her marrying again the Court of this Company were to be the trustees for the said children, and that the widow, having remarried, had paid over the children’s portions to the Masters or Governors. Attached is the seal of the Barber Surgeons, unfortunately not perfect, though a good specimen.

8th February, 1638. It is ordered that the Seaven liberall Sciences
shalbe provided for the Theater by the M{r} and Wardens at the house
charge soe it exceede not x{li.} x{s.} the carveing of them.

29th March, 1638. The whole of the Assistants and Livery were called together to know what they would give to the building fund, when the following sums were promised.

M{r} Serj Clowes x{li.} Morrice Griffith v{li.}
M{r} Rich Wateson x{li.} W{m} Bennett iij{li.}
M{r} Michaell Andrews x{li.} Robert Terrill ij{li.}
M{r} Hen Blackley x{li.} Edward Arris v{li.}
M{r} Warden Burgen v{li.} Humfrey Painter iij{li.}
M{r} Warden Cotton v{li.} Thomas Allen ij{li.} x{s.}
M{r} Warden Lingham v{li.} Lawrence Loe v{li.}
M{r} John Heydon v{li.} Robert Bulluck iij{li.}
M{r} Nicholas Heath v{li.} Thomas Bowden iij{li.}
M{r} William Huckle iij{li.} John Dorrell iiij{li.}
M{r} Martine Browne x{li.} James Clarke iiij{li.}
M{r} W{m} Kinge v{li.} Hugh Warde ij{li.}
M{r} John Pinder v{li.} William Watson iij{li.}
Edward Charley v{li.} Nicholas Brothers iij{li.}
Edward ffleete v{li.} John Meredith iij{li.}
Henry Eaton v{li.} Thomas Biggs iiij{li.}
Henry Boone v{li.} Phillip Gill v{li.}
Samuell Sambrooke iij{li.} Charles Stamford iij{li.}
Hugh Napkin ij{li.} James Walsall iij{li.}

3rd July, 1638. This daye was made knowne to this Court y{t} Jo{n}
Pemberton formerly chosen an Assistant hath given his answeare that
he will not hold that place nor come to the Hall unlesse he were
drawne with wild horses thither, whereupon this Court doth fine him
at x{li.} & that he shalbe prosecuted for the same at Lawe.

16th August, 1638. A stormy election of Master and Wardens was holden this day, and a very precise minute of the proceedings is entered, from which it appears that the Court and Livery being assembled, the Master declared--

The occasion of this solempne meeteing & the necessarye succession
of the Governors & governem{t} of this Corporac͠on. And thereupon a
ballatting box being sett on the table and the names of the auncient
M{rs} & Assistants and livery being severally put into the twoe Sells
of y{t} box, o{r} M{r} according to order did first drawe forth the
names of theis twelve pˀsons following for Electors viz{t} for the
Six Surgians M{r} Rich Wateson M{r} Martine Browne M{r} Jo{n} Pinder
Tho. Tomlinson Edward Arris & Henry Eaton. And for the other six M{r}
Richard Powell M{r} William Huckle M{r} Jo{n} Davyes M{r} Samuell Die
Hen. Hodgkinson & Evan Owen. And thereupon the said Electors haveing
w{th}drawne themselves from the publique Assemblye & taken their
oathes upon the holye evangelists for the election of fower Masters
or Governo{rs} for the yeare ensueing, The M{rs} and the rest of the
Assembly made their repaire to the Church and after Sermon upon their
returne to the Hall the Masters being called to those 12 Electors
they were informed that the Election could not proceede and be made,

by reason that certain of the Electors being of divers trades were unable to agree upon two persons expert in Barbery, and these Electors refusing to choose two Masters Barbers, a Court was at once held and the six Barber Electors were discharged, six more Electors being chosen and called; two of these, however, being contaminated by those already dismissed, refused to serve, and eventually a fresh set of Electors was chosen, who retired, and elected Mr. William Clowes, Serjeant-Surgeon to the King, as Master, and three others Wardens, “and after dinner ended and the Seremonye pˀformed by the Masters or Governo{rs} of chooseing the new M{rs} or Governo{rs} with silver Garlands in the publique Hall,” the new Master and Wardens were sworn in.

8th November, 1638. A great feud having arisen between the Court and Richard Morrice, an Assistant, a suit was prosecuted against Morrice in the Earl Marshal’s Court, when the sentence pronounced against him was that he should attend the Court at the Hall, and there bareheaded rehearse in an audible voice an abject apology, the exact words of which are set out. This Morrice did, and the Master and Wardens having testified the same, he was again called into Court, when it would seem that his apology had been made under fear of the Earl Marshal and not of his free will, for the Court calling upon him to make answer “for his contentious carriage & foule & bitter languages & invective speeches by him given from Court to Court ag{t} divers Assistantꝭ to the generall disturbance of their Courtꝭ he refused to cleare himselfe or to give answeare,” whereupon the Court dismissed him from his place as an Assistant.

13th September, 1640. This Court is willing that there shalbe a
distribuc͠on of M{r} Mapes Legacy on Cosmas and Damianus day being
the 27{th} of this Instant September to 12 poore people 12 Angells
according to the directions of M{ris} Joy they haveing red crosses on
theire brests.

MEMORAND. on the 27{th} September being Cosmus and Damianus day 6{li}
13{s} 4{d} was distributed according to M{r} Richard Mapes Will.
viz{t} These 12 poore persons free of our Company came into our
Hall with red Crosses each of them on theire right Brests and the
Governours gave to each of them 10{s} which amounted to 6{li} and the
13{s} 4{d} was to themselves for a repast for their paynes.

{ Widdow Wright. { Widdow Chapman.
{ Widdow James. { Widdow Tyler.
The poores { Widdow Colley. { Widdow Pebworth.
names were { Old Holmewood. { Old Kelham.
{ Widdow Bullock. { John Mulis.
{ Blind Reynolds. { Widdow Wadlowe.

20th November, 1640. A dispute between Edward Molins and one Coppinger was heard by the Court, when the decision was against Molins, and he was fined for using bad language.

12th January, 1641. Edward Molins came into the Court and stood in
the face of the Court with his Hatt on his head and his Armes on his
side and told the Court he would doe noe obedience to the co{te} and
swore Gods wounds he would submitt to noe man liveing.

15th January, 1641. Molins was fined 40{s} for this contempt.

18th January, 1641. Richard Tompkins & Symon Crouch Surgeons by
profession yet useing Barbery, This Court doth give them Order by
our Lady day next to leave barbeing it being against y{e} Statute to
practise both.

29th July, 1641. Mr. George Dunn hath given 5{li} to buy Bookes
for the Library which is by this Court ordered to be performed
accordingly.

There having been many quarrels in the Court, and various members expelled, a general shaking of hands appears to have taken place, for we read:--

30th July, 1644. This Court doth thinke fitt and soe order That
a Sermon be made on the next Election day of thankes giveing to
Almighty God for peace and amity which is now begun to be restored
among the members of the Company And that M{r} Sharpe be desired to
performe the same.

9th March, 1645. This day M{r} Callice Barber being complayned of
for teaching to trimm to other then his Apprentices contrary to the
Ordinance of this House did absolutely deny the same upon the Oathe
that he tooke upon his admission into the ffreedome.

17th March, 1645. Mr. William Kings this day freely gave for the
Ornament of this House a great Tortershell Whereon at his owne charge
he hath given order for the Companyes Armes to be painted.

This shell is preserved at the Hall.

7th January, 1646. M{r} Michaell Markeland appeareing to this Court
at the request of our M{r} he was here complayned of to have embalmed
severall humane Bodyes within this City against the Ordinance of this
Company in that behalf being an Apothecary and not a Surgeon approved
according to Law Nor a ffreeman of this Company which M{r} Markeland
acknowledged But alleadged It was through his ignorance Not knowing
that the right thereof was in approved Surgeons and ffreemen of this
Company only and none other And being now well satisfyed thereof
haveing heard the said Ordinance read unto him promised not to doe
the like againe.

2nd June, 1646. This daye Mr. Lawrence Loe Chirurgeon a Member of
this Company through his good affection thereunto Did for the worship
thereof freely offer to give for the beautifying of the Hall soe
many stones of black and white Marble as shalbe sufficient for the
Pavement thereof.

These marbles were laid to form the floor at the upper end of the Hall, and when the Hall was pulled down they were preserved and now form the pavement in the Entrance to the Hall from Monkwell Street.

There is a Memorandum that Mr. John Bancks by his will left--

To the Company of Barber Chirurgions London so long as they shall
performe the uses hereafter limitted (or els not) To be paid them
betwixt the first and seaventh day of May next after the decease
of the said John Banckes and so yearely for ever the sum̃e of
Twenty shillings w{ch} Twenty shillings shalbe by the said Company
distributed in forme following viz{t} To Twelve poore householders or
widowes of the same Company To each of them ffower poundꝭ weight of
good beefe Two penny loaves of good sweet bread Two pence a peece in
mony and each of them one Woodden platter.

14th December, 1646. This Court doth at the humble suite of the
Ordinary of the Goale of Newgate freely give unto him 10{s} for his
releife in his present want.

7th July, 1647. This Court doth give to John ffranck Chirurgeon who
hath bin for a long time in Captivity in Turkey iiij{li} towards the
setting him forth to sea and doth order that he be admitted into the
ffreedome gratis when he shall desire it.

See the Minute 5th February, 1629. John Franck (the son of a Liveryman) was doubtless a “foreign brother,” and entitled to his freedom by patrimony upon payment of the fine, which the Court now ordered to be dispensed with if he wished to take up his freedom. Being a Sea Surgeon only, it was not necessary that he should be free of the Company. He had probably been in slavery 18 years!

Several entries similar to the following are to be found in the books.

9th August, 1647. Upon the humble suite of Thomas Tomlinson an
ancient Member of this Company and of the Livery now fallen into
greate Poverty and Want for some charitable releife from this
Company. This Court being moved in Compassion to his deplorable
Condic͠on and calling to mind his former good service to this Company
Doth freely give him 10{li.} out of the Stock of this House.

14th September, 1648. Samuell Needler an examined Chirurgeon
complayned to this Court that he was required to beare Armes
notwithstanding his exempc͠on therefrom and therefore craved this
Courts Assistance in his defence therein which was granted.

27th October, 1648. M{r} Warden Madocks and certaine others of
the Assistants here present desireing to peruse our Charter for
theire informac͠on the better to enable them for the Governement of
this Company had a sight thereof and were well satisfyed in every
particuler.

13th August, 1655. Mr. John Gale of Bushey (son of William Gale, M. 1595) a Surgeon of this Company, by his Will of this date left to the Barber-Surgeons £16 per annum, payable out of certain houses on Snow hill, in the parish of Saint Sepulchre, for the founding of an Anatomy lecture in the name of Gale’s Anatomy. This trust was transferred to the Surgeons’ Company in 1745.

Our Minute Books from the year _1651 to 1689_ are unhappily lost; they are known to have been at the Hall as recently as 1832. Should any reader ever light upon them, he is particularly entreated to communicate with the Clerk of the Company or with the author.

1689. The practice was now adopted of entering all admissions to the freedom, etc., in the Court Minute Books (as well as in the Register) the forms being as follows:--

3rd September, 1689. For an apprentice:

Johẽs Rawson app̃r Caroli Peters admĩs est ex Rẽl Magr̃i & Jur̃.

for a freeman by patrimony:

Ptrũs Hartley Stac͠oner filˀ Thome Hartley Civis & Barbitonsorˀ &
Chirurgˀ London admĩs est pˀ patrimõn ex Rẽl Isaacii Boddington
Weaver & Wil̃l̃i Bletsoe Grocer, Wil̃l̃i Bateman Barbitonsorˀ &
Chirurgorˀ London & Jur̃.

for a freeman by redemption:

Henr̃ Chamberlane admĩs est pˀ redemc͠on vˀtute orᵭem Curˀ Majorˀ &
Alᵭrn Dat xviij{o} die Augusti 1689 & Jur̃.

17th January, 1690. This day an order was sealed to presse 40
Surgeons mates for the Kings service in Ireland.

At this period all freemen on their admission “took the oathes menc͠oned in a late Act of Parliament & subscribed the Declarac͠on therein named”: these were the oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy as required by the “Bill of Rights” (passed December, 1689).

2nd July, 1690. Ordered that the Clarke keep an accompt of all pˀsons
faleing at a Court of Assistants and that every one faileing for
every such time soe doeing shall forfeit v{s} & shall not be admitted
to binde or make ffree untill he or they have made payment of the
same of which they are to have notice except S{r} John Letheullier
S{r} Humfry Edwin & M{r} Thomas Canham.

29th April, 1693. Ordered that the 2 Chirurgeons Governo{rs} & whome
they shall thincke fitting to call to them Attend the Archbishopp of
Canterbury conserning his Barber practiceing Chirurgery.

20th July, 1693. Ord{d} that a lease bee taken of the Archbishopp for
one & twenty yeare from the 19{th} day of July 1693 for the Barge
house[166] & that as the Governo{rs} have agreed a ffine of the same
they pay to his Grace the sume of one hundred pounds besides ffees.

[166] At Lambeth.

3rd October, 1693. Ordered that the Bargeman have a new coate &
britches &c.

19th July, 1694. Ordered that M{r} George Minikin bee warned before
the Lord Major to shew cause why he doe not attend the Court of
Assistants as he hath been chosen one of them.

18th June, 1696. A new sun dial was ordered to be put up.

About this period there seems to have been a general disinclination to serve as an Assistant, many of the Livery being fined £10 for refusing to serve the office, while some who had sat as Assistants were dismissed the Court for non-attendance.

25th October, 1697. Ordered that the Barge house bee mended & M{r}
Warden Pinke take care to see it done.

18th August, 1698. Ordered that the Govern{rs} dispose of the Barge &
let the Barge house from yeare to yeare.

12th October, 1698. Ordered That there may be papers made for a
subscriptõn for a Barge.

21st October, 1700. Ordered that the ill manadgement of the late
Master M{r} Tho: Lichfeild as to his office of Master and his other
offices of Warden bee pˀsented to the next Court of Assistants in
order to bee expelˀd the sˀd Court it being the opinion of this
Comittee that he deserves soe to bee as alsoe for being any longer
an examin{r} he haveing acted contrary to the establish{mt} of the
Corporac͠on in the s{d} offices.

8th November, 1700. A Committee of the Court having waited upon the Commissioners of the Navy and reported that Mr. Lichfeild had committed irregularities in certifying men as qualified Surgeons for sea service, such men not being duly qualified, the Court adjudged him to be dismissed from his office of an Examiner in Surgery, and out of the Court of Assistants.

10th March, 1707. The new Clerk, Mr. Chas. Bernard, seems to have been industrious in searching out practising Barbers not free of the Company, as also others who had committed abuses; several were fined and compelled to take up their freedom and this day the following entries occur:--

Clyett being sum̃oned for Shaveing on Sunday last appeared before the
Comittee and the fact being plainly proved against him the Comittee
fined him ten shillings for his said offence.

Newland being sum̃oned for the like offence appeared also before
the Comittee but there being no possitive proofe against him he was
dismissed.

John Gould a Dutchman being sum̃oned for keeping a Shopp and
exercising the trade of a Barber not being free of this Company And
the matter being plainly proved against him the Comittee ordered him
to be prosecuted on the statutes of the 32nd of Hen 8{th} and the
5{th} of Queen Elizabeth.

Ordered that a Second Sum̃ons be sent to all such Defaulters as have
not appeared with intimation that theire ffines will be levied on
them by distresse.

Ordered that Thomas Latham be sum̃oned to take upp his ffreedome &
that all other persons exerciseing Barbery not being ffree of this
Company be sum̃oned.

17th March, 1707. Nineteen delinquents who had been summoned appeared, and their cases were heard; a few examples will suffice--One Darby was “seen to comb a persons haire on Sunday morning last but alleadging that it was his ffather,” he was let off with 5_s._ fine.

Lewis Roger made answer that it “was onely his Apprentice combing a persons haire without his knowledge and that it was his first offence,” he likewise escaped with a 5_s._ fine.

James Good was more fortunate, for proving that his offence “was onely the Combing of a Lodgers Wigg,” he escaped.

Willm. Haslegrove appears to have filled up the measure of his iniquity, for being detected in “actually shaveing a person on Sunday morning,” he was fined 10_s._

Samuel Beaumont, charged with keeping two Barbers’ shops, had a month given him to part with one of them, and John Shoard who, not being free of the Company, kept a Barber’s shop in Cloth Fair, was ordered to quit the same within two months.

31st March, 1707. Elizabeth Presbury being sumoned appeared &
alleadged that she was very poore & that her husband was an Idle man
and promised to reforme her method whereupon the Comittee excused her.

The number of Barbers fined for working on Sundays, or for keeping shop not being free, was enormous, and it becomes wearying to travel through the records of their offences and fines.

17th June, 1708. Ordered that the Company’s Barge house and the
Dwelling house thereunto belonging be forthwith repaired.

13th January, 1709. Sir Edward Northey was appointed standing counsel to the Company with a yearly retainer of two guineas.

15th April, 1709. Upon complaint made against one Henry Drudge for
exerciseing Barbery & Surgery w{th}in the City not being ffree he
attended and alleadged that he haveing been a Soldier in the late
Warr thought himself intituled to keep his Shoppe without takeing
up his ffreedome, by Virtue of the Act of Parliament made upon the
disbanding the Army which gives liberty to disbanded soldiers to
exercise any trade within the Corporations or places where they were
borne, althoˀ they had not served seven years to it But the Court
believing that act did not extend to Drudge by reason he was not
borne in London, ordered that in case he did not shut up his Shop in
a month’s time he should be prosecuted.

21st July, 1709. In consequence of the great expense to which the Company had been put in the repairs to the Hall, the Court determined to call thirty-one freemen into the Livery, and the fine being £10 each on admission or £20 on refusal, a considerable sum was realized.

It having been suggested to the Court that the yeomanry objected to pay 20_s._ for “corn money” when called to the Livery, the Clerk was directed to enquire into the origin of that tax, and finding that it had been originally levied on each member taking his livery, to satisfy the precepts made in 1633, and afterwards for providing a stock of corn for the City; and for that at the present time the Company had no Granary or stock of corn to provide, and “being out of debt,” it was ordered that in future this fine should be discontinued.

18th August, 1709. At the Election, ten of the Livery who had attended without their gowns, were severally fined and paid 1_s._ each, and there are other references to Assistants being fined for not appearing in their gowns.

4th October, 1709. A complaint being made against Richard Stockwell
for being copartner with a fforreigner & the fact being made appeare
pritty plain against him the Court fined him five pounds being the
penalty imposed by the By Law, But upon his promise to discharge his
said partner the Court were pleased to remitt his ffine.

18th April, 1710. M{r} John Booth a Surgeon at Warrington in
Lancashire applying to this Court to be admitted a fforeign brother
& he being examined in Surgery & approved It was ordered that upon
his payment of ten Guineas he should be admitted a fforeign brother
of this Company, But the said M{r} Booth refusing to take that part
of the fforeign brothers oath whereby he was sworne to be true to the
Queen he was not for that reason admitted.

1st June, 1710. It is ordered that the Members present at this Court
shall be excused from wearing their gowns in regard to the heat of
the weather.

20th October, 1710. It is ordered for the accomodation of the Members
of this Court of the Barbers side for the seeing & being heard at
Courts of Assistants That for the future at all Courts of Assistants
the Governo{rs} on the Surgeons side shall set even with the Ma{r}
next on his right hand & the Governo{rs} on the Barbers side next
on his left. But that at all other Courts all the Governo{rs} shall
according to their seniority sett along the side of the Parlour Table
on the left hand of the Master in such maner as has been accustomed.

11th January, 1711. The Clerk’s and Beadle’s houses were ordered to be insured against fire, for £600 in the “Amicable Society.”

20th February, 1711. Mr. Willm. Smith, an Assistant, complained that Mr. Joseph Cosins, also an Assistant, and his junior in the freedom, had always taken precedence of him at the Courts, whereupon the matter was considered and the following order made:--

Forasmuch as it appeared that M{r} Cosins was first chosen into the
Court of Assistants & that it is in the power of this Court to chuse
whom they shall think fitt to be an Assistant out of the whole Livery
without respect to Seniority & for that M{r} Cosins continued for
many years in his present station as Assistant The Court were of
opinion & did so declare themselves to be That the s{d} M{r} Cosins
shou’d continue to take place of the said M{r} Smith as he formerly
had done.