Chapter XII: THE TWELVE Article is that if Olyver Wilson dothe hereafter (10)

To a souldier two dayes & two nights on the trained
bands when the great fier was & for powder 0 8 0
ffor carrying of the Companyes goods by Porters to
Moorefeildꝭ, howse roome there & carrying thence
to Holborne bridge 3 0 0
To a seaman that quenched the top of the theater when fired 0 4 0
To other labourers at that time 1 0 0
To one hurt in that service 0 10 0
ffor drinke for the labourers then 0 1 6
To a poore fellow that found a skelliton 0 1 0
To the City Marshall for getting of labourers and
laders & an engine to save the Theater 1 0 0
ffor the use of timber & other things at that time 0 2 6
To Major Brookes for his expences about ~H~ y{e} 8th picture 0 13 0
Given him as the Companyes gift 1 0 0
To six porters w{th} expences of bringing home y{t} picture 0 8 9
To Cap{t} Carroll his expenses about that picture 0 16 0
Given him as the Companyes gift 1 0 0
Expended on him 0 2 6
ffor a Cipres chest to put the plate in 2 0 0
ffor foure locks 2 handles & 8 plates for that chest 1 10 0
ffor a trunke for the linnin 0 10 0
To Jonas Wills for Workemen to Carry in leade & iron
out of the ruines 0 13 0
To a Carpenter & his man that assisted 9 6 0
To Peter Smith for Workemen at the hall 22{th} Septemb. 1666 4 7 4
More to him for workemen y{e} 25 of 7{ber} 66 7 11 8
ffor 7 large boxes w{th} Locks & keys to put the Companyes
writings in 1 8 0
To Peter Smith his charges in getting home sevˀall
flaggs & pictures & a skelliton 0 14 0
To Jonas Wills for the Skelliton the Cobler had 0 5 0
ffor a Warrant for sevˀall pˀsons suspected to have
some of the Companyes goods & Expended about it 0 2 6

1667-8. Received of severall Members of the Company and
fforreyn{rs} towards the Building of the Hall and other
offices 383 8 0

These contributions were voluntary and are accounted for every year for a considerable period. At the end of the book is a long and detailed list of the contributors, commencing 23rd April, 1668, and extending to March, 1681. There seem to have been 398 subscribers, and the sum collected from them was £1,850; this amount, however, was wholly inadequate for the rebuilding of the hall, which appears by entries extending over 1668 to 1674, to have cost the Company no less than £4,292. The deficit was made up by sales of freehold property in the City, for what to us, in these days, would seem absurdly low prices, and by loans, etc.

1668-9. The Company received from the Chamber of London £620 6_s._ 6_d._, being the return of £500 lent to the King in November, 1664, and the interest thereon £120 6_s._ 6_d._ This is the _only_ instance recorded of any forced loan having been refunded.

Received of severall Barbers for trimminge on y{e} Lords Day 10 4 0

1669-70. The Company’s barge seems to have been manned by twenty rowers, besides the Barge Master, and these men had 4_s._ each for rowing on Lord Mayor’s day.

1669-70. Serjeant Surgeon John Knight wainscotted the Parlour at his own charge, and Mr. Barker glazed the Windows; part of this glazing is still preserved. It should be borne in mind that the present Court room or Parlour (as it was formerly called) and which was the work of Inigo Jones in 1636 was not destroyed in the Great Fire.

1670-1. The freehold property in Conyhope Lane, Grocers’ Hall Court, was sold to the Corporation of London for £190.

1671-2. The livery this year numbered one hundred and eighty-five persons.

1672-3. The Company sold an extensive property at Holborn Bridge to the City for £650.

To--Woodroffe for measuringe all the hall worke
April y{e} 19{th} 1673 7 17 0

The whole of the Wardens’ accounts from 1674 to 1715 are unfortunately lost, and the next book embraces the years between 1715 and 1785.

1715-16. The Ironmongers’ Company rented at £5 per annum from the Barber-Surgeons a portion of their Barge House at Lambeth for the Ironmongers’ Barge. Our Company still retained their Barge and Bargemaster and this year purchased for him a new livery.

Paid M{r} Wiseman the Painter for new Painting and
Gilding the Company’s Banner 9 0 0
Paid the maids who strewed the flowers to Church
upon Election Day 0 3 0

1716-17. Received of M{r} George Stevenson S. his ffine
for practising Surgery before he was admitted being 3 4 6
Paid a person to go to Islington to see after a dead
body which had been drowned[269] 0 5 0

[269] This was no doubt wanted for an “Anatomy.”

1717-18. The Company sold a large property in East Smithfield for £1,250.

Paid the Hangman for his Christmas Box 0 2 6

Similar entries to the above occur for many years.

Paid Charles Window for fetching four Dead Bodies from
Tyburn this year and expenses 2 8 0
Paid my Lord Chief Justice Parkers Tipstaffe for taking
up severall persons who rescued the Dead Body from
the Beadles 1 0 0

1718-19. Paid M{r} Elms his Bill for ffees at the Sessions
in prosecuting the persons who were Indicted last year
for taking away the Dead Bodies 5 7 0

1719-20. Paid Cha: Window for fetching two bodies from
Tyburn & for going for another when they could not
gett one 1 5 0
Paid to bring a Skeleton from St. Giles’s to the Hall in
a coach 0 2 0
Paid the Beadles expences for going to Tyburn for a Body
for the Muscular Lecture when they could not get one
by reason of a great Mobb of Soldiers & others 0 13 0

1720-1. Paid for a Livery gown and hood to the use of
the Company to Cloth the Members with upon their taking
the Livery 2 12 6
P{d} the High Constable of S{t} Giles’s Parish for
assisting the Beadles in recovering a Body which had
been taken from the Beadles by the Mobb 0 7 6
Paid the Hangman for the Dead mans cloths which were
lost in the Scuffle and for his Christmas Box 0 15 0
Paid for a halfe length Picture of King Charles the
Second to hang up in the Parlour and for a Gold frame
to the said Picture 7 5 0
Paid M{r} King the Frame maker for a frame to Inigo Jones
the famous Architect’s picture Presented to the Company
by our late Master M{r} Alexander Geekie 1 5 0

Both of these pictures are still preserved at Barbers’ Hall.

Every year now, and for some years, are entries of Expenses incurred about the rioting, which took place when the Beadles went to Tyburn for the bodies of malefactors; very frequently the Company prosecuted the rioters, and were continually compensating the Beadles and others who were injured in the fights.

1731-2. Paid M{r} Osmond for Plumber’s Work about the
Trough for the Dead Bodys 6 0 0
Paid M{r} Ashfield for Carpenters Work about the said Trough 1 14 0

This was a species of wooden coffin lined with lead in which the “subjects” were placed on their arrival from Tyburn.

Paid for 4 Silver Pepper Boxes[270] 5 5 0
Paid the Officers of both Counters for a body[271] 2 2 0

1735-6. Paid M{r} Newton the Silversmith for a new Badge
for the Barge master 4 11 6
Paid the High Constable for the expenses at the late
execution when the body was rescued 3 13 6
Paid the Beadles expenses in prosecuting John Miller,
one of the Persons who assaulted the Constables and
rescued the body 2 2 0
Paid M{r} Clarke the Sollicitor at Hicks Hall his Bill
for Indicting and prosecuting the said John Miller
to a conviction 8 7 10
Paid M{r} Clarke the Engraver for engraving the Dedication
to the Right Honorable the Earl of Burlington on the
Print of King Henry the Eighth’s Picture 5 5 0

1737. Paid M{r} Babbidge for making a Skeleton of
Malden’s[272] Bones 3 3 0

[270] These are still at the Hall.
[271] Probably the body of a prisoner who had died in one
of the Compters.
[272] A criminal hung at Tyburn.

1739. Paid the Beadles for their being beat and wounded
at the late execution 4 4 0

1740. Paid for mending the Windows broke upon bringing
the last Body from Tyburn 0 6 0

1741. Paid for a Silver Punch Laddle 1 4 0
Paid the expences for the Buck S{r} Rob{t} Walpole
gave the Company 1 3 6

1744. Paid M{r} Hawes for two large Branches for the Hall 70 0 0

These massive chandeliers were broken but preserved when the Hall was pulled down in 1864, and one formed of their fragments is now hung on the staircase leading up to the Committee Room.

Paid taking the Company’s Linnen out of Pawn 4 2 6

This linen must have been stolen and pawned, as the Company were not at this period in such financial difficulties as to necessitate their personal property being taken care of by a pawnbroker.

1745-6. Dr. Tyson’s picture was sold to Mr. Luke Maurice for £10 10_s._

Mr. Goodyer was paid £11 for the table and inscription (now in the entrance lobby) which records the separation of the Surgeons from the Barbers in 1745.

1751-2. Mr. Whiston bought the Company’s library for £13. This library consisted of a great number of ancient MSS. and books relating to Surgery.

Putting an Advertizement in the Daily Advertizer offering
a Reward to any Person who should discover who stole the
Lead from off the Hall Kitchen 0 2 0
Paid M{r} Spencer for cleaning the Guns Swords and bayonetts 0 6 0

1760. Paid M{r} Chessun the Upholsterer his Bill for new
Standards & making the new cloth for the Stand 67 15 6

This was the stand for the liverymen used on Lord Mayor’s day and on other public occasions.

1770. The expenses on Lord Mayor’s day this year were as follows, and are a fair sample of the entries for many years before and after this date.

CASH PAID--
M{r} Bick for Spermaceti 1 10 0
The Watermen for their Breakfast and attendance 1 12 6
Two men to keep the gates 0 10 0
Four men to keep the Stand 1 0 0
M{r} Beaumont for musick 5 0 0
Mess{rs} Sherwood & Co. for Ribbons 3 14 9
M{r} Hulberd for Beef for breakfast 4 1 0
M{r} Wareham for dressing ditto 0 16 0
The Housekeeper’s Bill 2 0 0
M{r} Wilding’s Bill for Wine for the Stand 6 15 7
The Beadle for pipes and Tobacco for the Stand 0 6 0
M{r} Dance Clerk of the City Works for fixing the Stand 1 1 0
The Carpenter’s Bill about ditto 8 11 3
The Upholsterer’s Bill 2 0 0
Jarvis & Sharpe, Turner’s Bill 0 18 8
---------
£39 16 9
=========

The Livery dinners on these occasions were paid for by the Stewards.

The next book of Accounts extends from 1785 to 1821, but like the latter part of the last one it is almost destitute of interest. On the first page is an extract from the Will of Mr. Edward Griffin (10th April, 1596) relating to his gift to the Company, and there are also sundry memoranda concerning Banckes’ gift.

1785. This was the last occasion on which the Company “went out” on Lord Mayor’s day.

In addition to the Wardens’ accounts, there are two books containing receipts of tradesmen and others for money paid to them extending from 1722 to 1764. These books are not specially interesting, excepting that they contain autographs of a few eminent Surgeons, hangmen and others, and the following extracts will suffice:--

1722. Recẽd of the Governours of the Company the sume of ten
shillings for fetching the Body of Richard Oxer from Tyburne.

CHARLES WINDOW.

1723. Recẽd of the Governours of the Compã the sume of five pounds
fifteen shillings for fetching the Body of W{m} Pincher from Tyburne
and for sev{ll} Disbursements expended thereon.

RICH: COLLINS.

1723. The Receipt of Abraham Shepherd, Attorney, for £15 0_s._ 6_d._, being the costs of prosecuting Cooke and others for taking away the body of William Pincher from the Beadles when they brought it from Tyburn.

1729. Rec̃ed Dec{r} 23{d} 1729 of the Gov{rs} of y{e} Comp{a} pˀ the
hands of Cha: Bernard their Cl: 7{s} 6{d} for my Xmãs Box.

JOHN HOOPER.

In 1730 this gentleman signs “John Hooper, Executioner.”

1743. The hangman, John Thrift, signed with a × the receipt for his Christmas box, and the Clerk has humorously styled him “John Thrift, Esq{re} Hangman.”

1736. The printing of 1,000 Copies of Baron’s Engraving of Holbein’s picture cost £15 15_s._ 0_d._ John Harper was the printer.

A copy of this print was sent to the Earl of Burlington, as there is a Bill of William Gills as follows:--

One large picture frame w{th} a broad carved & Gilt
Sanding inside and a fine plate glass &c for The
Earl of Burlington £2 8 0

Recẽd Nov 5 1736 of y{e} Gov{rs} of the Compa pˀ the
hands of Cha. Bernard their Cl: twenty one pounds for
the paper to print the 1000 prints of King Hen: 8{ths}
Picture being two Rheams of paper

pˀ B. BARON.

DISPUTES.

1388. One of our earliest ordinances enacts that--

If any dispute arise between any of the brethren, which God forbid,
it is to be amicably settled by the decision of the Masters of the
said Fraternity and they are to deal plainly,[273] and that no one
sue another in other manner than at the assize, and then only if he
be empowered by leave of the said Masters to be recorded.

[273] _i.e._, openly, honestly.

1530. And again in the ordinances signed by Sir Thomas More, it states that--

yff any matter of stryffe or debate herafter be betwene eny pˀson
of the said Crafte as God fforfende that noon of them shall make
eny pˀsuts[274] in the Comen lawe but that he whiche ffyndeth hym
aggreved shall ffurst make his complaynt to the Maisters . . . . . .
to thˀentent that they shall ordre the said matter or cause of
complaynt so made yff they can . . . . . .

[274] Pursuits.

This prerogative of the Company was jealously guarded, and indeed extended, the Court becoming in effect a sort of Court of Conscience, in which _non-freemen_ frequently appeared as plaintiffs against freemen, when their cases were heard and adjudicated upon, the Court settling the amount and time of payment, or dismissing the suit.

Whenever (as often happened) one freeman went to law with another, without leave of the Court, and the defendant complained, the plaintiff was ordered to withdraw his action, and if he declined to do so, an opportunity of reflection upon the powers of the Company was afforded him in the seclusion of the “Compter.”

It was frequently the custom for the Masters to require both parties to enter into bonds to abide the decision of the Court, and where this was not so, and either of them disobeyed the order made, the offender was either fined, imprisoned or expelled.

The following are a few notices of cases of dispute which came before the Court from time to time, and other instances will be found elsewhere.

30th June, 1551. It was ordered--

That James Wood John Chamber and William Drewe Waterman shalbe lovers
and friendes and clerlye to acquite and discharge either other of and
from all maner of acc͠ons quarrells detts demaundes and suts as well
spirytuall as temporall whatsoever they be from the begynnyng of the
worlde untyll the daye abovesayd.

4th November, 1551. Ordered--

That John West shall bring in his fyne which is vj{s} viij{d} for
speking opprobryous wordes against John Androwson in the presence of
the M{r.}

2nd May, 1552. It was ordered and declared that Harry Cooke and Nicholas Connysbye--

are fully condescended concluded and agreed for all maner of acc͠ons
dettes suetts demaunds and quarrells whatsoever they be from the
begynnynge of the worlde unto this daye and that they shall clerly
dischardge eche other and to be lovers and freinds.

1566. By an entry in this year it seems that each disputant when before the Court was “put to his othe upon a booke y{t} he sholde saye the trothe.”

10th December, 1566. Thomas Lambkyn appeared against his late apprentice W{m} Woodfall--

for serten shavynge clothes y{t} he tooke awaye w{th} hym when he
went frome his M{r} w{th}out his lycence and the saide W{m} hath
payde unto the saide Thom̃s Lambkyn in the pˀsents of this courte in
lawfull Englyshe mony x{s} in recompence.

In this Courte here was John Hawkes playntyf agaynst Richard Olkar
for his unfyttinge words & Olkar shalbe here the nexte courte.

30th December, 1566. William Collins the covenant servant of John Johnson complained of his master for “myssusing hym in his boxe money,” whereupon M{r} Johnson was ordered to amend his ways.

4th March, 1567. Here was Walter Lynche for his unfytting wordꝭ
seyeng y{t} Richard Dycson sholde be got his mayde w{th} chylde and
Lynche denyeth yt, y{t} he nevˀ harde of yt, and Dycson sey{d} y{t}
Edward Parke & too other servyngemen he hath to wytnes the same,
spoken at the Rose taverne at the fleete brydge And yt is ordered
y{t} they shall brotherly one gyve unto & by another good wordꝭ &
good reports & no more repetallꝭ to be had any more hereafter in this
behalf.

11th March, 1567. In this Court here was John Wall for y{t} he warned
John Staple unto the courte of concyence in the guyldehall in London
w{th}oute lycence of the M{r} & Govˀno{rs} and yt is now ordered
once agayne y{t} John Wall shall not pˀcede any forder in lawe but
shall stande to the awarde made ordered & awarded the xij{th} daye
of november laste paste and not ells otherwyse upon payne of his
alegiance & penaltie in that behalf pˀvyded & ordayned.

Edward Park, who was a troublesome fellow, and often before the Court, would seem (by the next extract) to have revived the old scandal about Dycson and his “mayde,” for--

14th November, 1567. Here was Rich. Dycson playntyf agaynst Edward
Parke for undecent and slaunderous words And they both have consented
to put yt unto the determynacion of this worsshypfull Court, & they
shalbe both bounde in oblygacions to abyde the order & warde[275] &
to kepe the peace in y{r} owne pˀsons. Rich. Dycson hath chosen to
be arbytraytors for hym John Bonar & Thomas Burston, and for Parke
he hath chosen for hym M{r} Bowie & Rich Wysto & the M{r} & govnors
shalbe umpers,[276] bonde in xx{li} a peece.

[275] Award.
[276] Umpires.

13th January, 1568. In thys Courte here was John Cooke playntyf
against Rich{d} Barker for serten wordꝭ undecently spoken by Rich{d}
against the said John and also for serten housold stuff y{t} the said
Rich{d} Barker w{th}holdeth frome the said John, and they both are
comaunded the nexte courte daye to brynge in bothe y{r} fynes vj{s}
viij{d} a pece for y{r} unfytting wordꝭ.

7th June, 1569. In this Courte here was the wyf of John Burges for
that Rich. Barker beate black her armes and yt is ordered that the
said Rich. Barker shall upon this pˀsent daye go unto the house of
the said John Burges his m{r} and y{r} acknowledge hym sylf to be
sory for trespassynge hym & his wyf.

19th July, 1569. Here was John Charnock, said that he is his M{rs}
pntꝭ[277] & kepeth shoppe & is accomptant wekely to his M{r} & he
said the M{r} of the company did hym wronge & y{t} he wolde at
lawe trye yt and unreverently he did behave hymsylf w{th} stoute
& undecent [words] & so he charged the M{r} styll, but not the
worsshypfulls of this Courte.

[277] Apprentice.

18th November, 1572. Here was one Edward Browne Bricklayer and
complayned [against] one Richard Upton for that he had taken his
money for curynge hym of Morbus Gallicus but the sicknes as he said
was not cured & M{r} Upton pˀmised to agree w{th} hym.

The next is a rare piece of tittle tattle; like Edward Park, Colley was often in trouble, and it is amusing to observe how he shortly afterwards lays an information against Carrington, which compliment Carrington returns to him in the March Court.

18th November, 1572. Here was Willm̃ Carington and required his
complaint to be herd in that Allein Colley had slaundered hym w{th}
unhonest wordes, that is, that Allein should say that Wiberds wife
should say that Charringtons wief should not be honest, and they were
pˀmytted to take ordre of Lawe.

10th February, 1573. Colley laid an information against Carrington for “Trimminge on a Sondaye,” whereupon he was fined 40_s._

11th March, 1573. Carrington complained of Colley “for undecent wordes calling him verlet before the Mr.,” etc., and they were ordered to be friends, and to bring no more complaints against each other.

This feud seems, however, to have continued for a few years, but was at last happily settled, for we read under date, 24th January, 1576:

Here at this Co{r}te witnesses being hard betwene Willm̃ Carrington
and Allen Collye they were made frendes, shoke handes and frendly
depˀted.

2nd March, 1573. Here was a complaint agaynste Henrye Lushe by John
Parradize for that the said Henry Lushe called the said John Paradize
knave, and he p{d} his fyne xij{d} and they toke hands & were ffrends.

19th April, 1574. Here was Willm̃ Brode and brought in an answere
agaynste the complaynt of Edward Saunders for lykeninge hym to
Esoppes dogge and they were appoynted to be ffrends and to brynge the
matter no more in question.

Was this the “dog in the manger”? Anyhow, it seems a trivial matter to have been brought before the grave old Masters.

2nd February, 1575. Here came one Willm̃ Goodnep and complayned of
Willm̃ Clowes for not curing his wief de morbo gallico and yt was
awarded that the saide Clowes sholde either geve the saide Goodnep
xx{s} orells cure his saide wief, w{ch} Clowes agreed to pay the
xx{s} and so they were agreed and eche of them made acquittance to
other.

28th February, 1576. Here was a complainte against Willm̃ Clowes
by one Goodenge for that the saide Clowes had not onlie misused
the saide Goodinge in speeche but also most of the masters of the
Companye w{th} scoffing wordes and jestes and they all forgave him
here openlye in the Co{r}te and so the stryfe was ended upon condˀ
that he shold nev{r} so misuse him self a gayne, and bonds was caused
to be made to that effect.

25th September, 1576. At this Coˀte came Willm̃ Wise and Mathew Ken,
and divers evell and unbrotherlike speches was pˀved and so the saide
Willm̃ Wise confest his falt paide his ffyne and made a breakfast to
the Companie for their paynes, and so they shoke hands and were made
ffrends.

25th March, 1577. Here at this Corte was a greate contension and
stryffe spoken of and ended betwene George Baker[278] and Willm̃
Clowes[279] for that they bothe contrary to order and the good and
holsome rules of this howse misused eche other and fought in the
ffelds togethers, but the M{r} Wardens and assistance wishing that
they might be and continewe loving brothers pˀdoned this greate
offence in hope of amendment.

[278] Master 1597 and Serjeant Surgeon.
[279] Warden 1594.

9th January, 1598. Thomas Cole complayned of Thomas Goodall for
sueinge him at the Comon lawe w{th}out license of the M{rs} And was
fined And his fine mittigated to 3{s} 4{d}

4th December, 1599. This daie Roberte Morrey complayned of William
ffoster for callinge him Pandor and Bawde and for sayeinge he was
presented by the Wardemot inqueste for keepinge a bawdye house, uppon
hearinge whereof their controversies were referred to the Maisters of
this Companye, the same to be ended before the sixte daie of Januarye
nexte.

24th July, 1600. In the matter in Controversie betwixt Roger Semper
and ffrancis Thompson it is ordered that the sayd Sempˀ shall at the
next Court bringe in his fine for usinge reprochefull wordes against
the sayd Thompson And for that the sayd Sempers wyefe did assalt the
sayd Thompson & brake his shop wyndowes. And that the sayd Semper
shall delivˀ such goodes as hee hath of the sayd Thompson before
the next Court And that hee shall at the same Court geve the sayd
Thompson satisfacc͠on for his wyndowes.

24th July, 1600. In the Controversie betwixt John Izard & Robert
Steward it is ordered that the sayd Robert Steward shalbe comitted to
the Compter for refusinge to paye his fine for supplantinge the sayd
John Izards cure and for behavinge himselfe unreverendly before the
M{rs} in the Court.

11th September, 1600. This daie John Urvey complayned of Henry Bracye
for arrestinge him before he had obtayned leave of the Maisters And
it was thereuppon ordered that the said Henrye Bracye shoulde be
warned to appeare before the Maisters at the nexte Courte and that he
shoulde be commaunded from the Maisters to staie his suite till then.

17th September, 1600. This daie in the matter in controversi betwixte
Henry Bracy and John Urvey It is ordered that the saide Henry Bracye
shall not proceede any further in his suite but that the said John
Urvey shall paie the debte of ffowerteene shillinges and twoe
shillinges for his chardges by twoe shillinges wickelye till all be
fully satisfied and paide And uppon the payment thereof the said
Bracye to make him a generall acquittaunce the firste payment to
begine on Tewsdaie nexte, And the money to be paide to the M{rs} of
this Companye.

20th October, 1600. This daye it is ordered that John Urvey shalbe
comitted to the Compter for not pˀforminge his payments to Henry
Bracy accordinge to the orders of this howse.

21st July, 1601. Where div{s} controversies hath bene betweene John
Browne and Jenkin Marcrafte the endinge of w{ch} is by them of their
mutuall assents referred to the M{rs} or Governors of this Company
who aft{r} hereinge of their sevˀall controversies & fyndeinge
thereby that the wounde for w{ch} the money was to be paid to John
Browne was reverted to his former state It is thought fit that the
said Marcrafte shall paye to the said Browne pñˀtly[280] the somme of
xl{s} in full satisfacc͠on of all debts duties and demaunds, w{ch}
the said Browne accepted of and received the said somme accordingly.
And whereas Lewis Atm{r} finished the Cure after it was reverted
Therefore it was lykewise ordered that the said Marcrafte shall paye
to him xx{s} for his paynes.

[280] Presently, _i.e._, at once.

6th August, 1601. This daye John Ibatson and John Wyndet referred
a controversie betwene them concerninge a debt of iiij{li} lent by
the said Wyndet to the said Ibatson to the hereinge & endinge of the
M{rs} of this Company and gave the eyth{r} to the oth{r} 6{d} to
stande to their award so that they ended the same before the laste
daye of Septemb{r} next w{ch} if they refuse to stand to, the refuser
shall forfeyt x{li.}

27th March, 1604. This daye Lycence is geven to Andrew Mathewe to sue
Richard Tyler at the Com̃on Lawe for the tenemˀt wherein the said
Tyler nowe dwelleth, for that Tyler refuseth to referre the heareinge
& endinge of that controversie to the M{rs} of this Company.

16th October, 1610. In the Controvˀsie between William Wright and one
Harrington Itt is att this Court ordered that Harrington shall paie
unto Wryght for and in respect of such rentes he doth owe unto Wright
the some of xxx{s} imediate And like wise he shall mend such paynes
of glasse as nowe by his necligence are broken in Wrightꝭ wyndowes
and soe all controvˀsies between them are determyned.

24th September, 1611. In the Controvˀsey between ffrauncꝭ Bilford of
thˀone pˀte & John fflint on thˀother pˀte It is ordered that either
of them shalbe bound unto thˀother of them in 20{li} a peece to stand
to the Award of M{r} John Gerard & M{r} Richard Mapes.

1st October, 1611. At this Court forasmuch as John fflynt would not
stand to the order of the M{rs} set down the last Court between him
& ffrauncꝭ Bilford the said Bilford hath leave to arrest the said
fflynt.

22nd October, 1611. In the Controvˀsie between Dennis Davys on thˀone
pˀte & John Person on thˀother pˀte It is ordered that they shall
live quietlie togethers as brothers of one Company should doe and
neither of them by him selfe or his servantꝭ to gyve or move offence
either by word or deed unto thˀother of them.

It was not often that the good offices of the Court were unavailing in the settlement of disputes, but in the following case, in which the lady probably played a prominent part, the Masters seem to have been unable to settle the matter:--

12th July, 1614. In the complaint made by William Purkꝭ and ffrauncis
his wife against Greene, w{ch} beinge heard at this Court, the M{rs}
could drawe them to noe quiet ende, all pˀties being verye obstinate.

HERALDRY.

There are numerous excellent examples of the Company’s Arms at the Hall. The records contain many beautiful drawings and emblazoned shields of arms, not only of the Company but of some of the Masters as well.

One of the choicest specimens is the massive old carving beneath the semicircular canopy of the entrance doorway; this is dated 1671, and is both bold and quaint; long may it be preserved to the Barbers! The carved coat of arms which formerly ornamented the stern of the Company’s barge, and which is probably late 17th century work, has been carefully preserved, and may be always admired over the chimney piece in the Committee room. There is the large “tortershell” in the vestibule given by Mr. William Kings in 1645. The cloth on the Court table is artistically embroidered with the Arms of the Company and the City, the embroidered portions being part of the ancient barge cloth. There is a handsomely emblazoned coat of arms on the plan of the Company’s property (presented by Mr. Charles John Shoppee), and a pretty little bit of old stained glass in the window on the first floor landing. The Company formerly possessed a great many banners, but these are unfortunately lost to us; the one which is placed behind the Master’s chair is beautifully painted by Bishop of Doctors’ Commons, and has at the back the inscription--

EX DONO SIDNEY YOUNG MISTERII BARBITONSORUM FRATRIS AMANDI 1885.

1451. In this year the original grant of arms was conferred, being simply the first quarter of our present achievement; sable, a chevron between three fleams argent, the fleams being mediæval lancets, though from their shape they have sometimes been thought to represent razors. This coat was borne by both the Barbers and their successors, the Barber-Surgeons, until the time of Elizabeth. The grant is as follows:--

~Be~ it knowen to all men that y Clarensew Kyng of Armes of the
South Marche of Englond Consideryng the noble estate of the Cite of
London by the name of Erle & Barons as in their ffirst Charter by
scripture appereth and as now called mayre and aldermen and by good
avyce of all the aldermen and the noble citezenis of London that
every alderman shuld have award by hymself to governe and rule to
the Worship of the cite and the maires power evˀy alderman in his
Ward with correccion of the mair beyng for the tyme and so notablie
ordeyned to be custumed evˀy Craft clothing be hem self to know o
Craft from a nother and also synes of Armes in baner wyse to beer
conveniently for the worship of the reame and the noble cite and so
now late the Maisters of Barbory and Surgery within the craft of
Barbours John Strugge Thomas Wyllote Hugh Herte & Thomas Waleys come
& praying me Clarensewe Kyng of Armes to devise hem a conysauns &
syne in fourme of armes under my seall of myn Armes that might be
conveniently to ther Craft. And where y Clarensewe Kyng of Armes
consideryng the gode disposicion of them y have devysed a Conysaunce
in fourme of Armes that is to sey A felde sabull a cheveron bytwene
iij flemys of silver the which syne of armes y Clarensew gyve the
same conysaunce of Armes to the forsaid Crafte and none other Crafte
in no wyse shall not bere the same. ~To~ the which witenesse of this
wrytyng y sette my seal of myn armes & my syne manuall wreten atte
London the xxix day of the monthe of September the xxx{th} yere of
the regne of oure soverayne lord Kyng Henry the Sixt.

By CLARANSEW Kynge of armes.

1492. In this year a cognizance, or possibly an informal grant of arms, was given to the Surgeons’ Company; this is depicted on the first leaf in the beautiful old vellum book of Ordinances at the Hall, the inscription under, stating that it was given to the Craft of Surgeons of London in the year 1492, at the going over the sea into France of Henry VII. (_See_ the fac-simile at p. 69.)

No other authority than the above statement is known for this coat, but in the grant to the Barber-Surgeons (1569) it is recited that Henry VIII granted the Company of Surgeons a cognizance “which is a spatter thereon a rose gules crowned golde for their warrant in fielde but no authoritie by warrant for the bearinge of the same in shilde as armes.” The Herald in drawing the grant of 1569 probably accidentally put in the name of Henry VIII for that of Henry VII, the entry in our book being undoubtedly coeval with the circumstance. We here get the foundations of our present coat of arms; the fleams representing the old Barber-Surgeons or Barbers, and the crowned rose and spatula the Surgeons proper, both of which were introduced into one shield in 1561, and quartered in 1569.

On either side of the shield of the Surgeons’ Arms stands a Saint habited as a doctor or physician, one of whom holds a medical vessel in his right hand, while the other has a box of ointment and a spatula, indicative of their being professors of the healing art. These are the patron Saints of the Company, Cosmus and Damianus. Mrs. Jameson states that they--

were two brothers, Arabians by birth but they dwelt in Ægæ, a city of
Cilicia. Their father having died while they were yet children, their
pious mother Theodora, brought them up with all diligence, and in the
practice of every Christian virtue. Their charity was so great, that
not only they lived in the greatest abstinence, distributing their
goods to the infirm and poor, but they studied medicine and surgery,
that they might be able to prescribe for the sick, and relieve the
sufferings of the wounded and infirm; and the blessing of God being
on all their endeavours, they became the most learned and the most
perfect physicians that the world had ever seen. They ministered to
all who applied to them, whether rich or poor. Even to suffering
animals they did not deny their aid, and they constantly refused all
payment or recompense, exercising their art only for charity and for
the love of God; and thus they spent their days.

In the cover of a Latin Bible, printed in 1470, I discovered some vellum padding, which on examination proved to be a MS. of XIth century, consisting of part of a collection of the lives of the Saints, interspersed with prayers, etc., and which probably had been read in some Convent refectory during the hours of meals. This MS. is moreover curious, as those portions intended to be sung have certain signs affixed, known as “neumes,” which, before the more modern method of musical notation was introduced, were employed to denote musical expression. An account of the martyrdom of Cosmo and Damian, together with their brothers, is here preserved, but as the original is in very contracted Latin, the following translation will, perhaps, better supply its place:--

The souls of Cosmus and Damianus the Just are in the hands of God.

There have moreover been crowned these five brothers Cosmus,
Damianus, Antimeus, Leuntius and Eutrepius.

Furthermore we beseech Thee, Almighty God, to grant that we, who
commemorate the nativities of thy Saints Cosmus and Damianus, may by
their intercessions be delivered from all present and future evils.
Amen. The blessed martyrs Cosmus Damianus, Antimeus, Leuntius and
Eutrepius, were committed to prison by order of the governor; and
on the following day, the proconsul sitting on the judgment seat,
caused an enormous fire to be made, and the above-named men to be
led out of prison and cast into its midst. But on account of their
prayers the fire lost its power over these saints. The governor was
astounded, and the executioner, thinking that the circumstances which
had happened with regard to the martyrs of God depended on their
magical arts, ordered them to be again interrogated. But, when they
remained firm with a cheerful and joyous countenance rendered more
noble by torture, he ordered crosses to be made, and the martyrs,
when stretched upon them, to be pelted with stones. Accordingly,
when the blows recoiled on those that delivered them, the governor,
inflamed with excessive rage, gave orders to attack them with arrows,
so that at a less distance the steel might at least penetrate. But,
although he had not been able to injure them in any way, many of
those who discharged arrows and who stood near withdrew on account of
the wounds that they received.

For so is the testimony.

Seeing accordingly that his ill will was overcome by Divine power,
the governor ordered them to be mutilated with a sword.

The blessed martyrs were put to death on the Twentieth day of
September; and their bodies were buried by devout men in a holy spot
not far from the city of Ægae.

Mrs. Jameson relates a legend somewhat similar to the above, and states that it was of great antiquity, being transplanted into Western Europe in the first ages of Christianity. The Emperor Justinian, having been recovered, as he supposed, from a dangerous illness by the intercession of these saints, erected a superb church in their honour. Among the Greeks they succeeded to the worship and attributes of Æsculapius; and from their disinterested refusal of all pay or reward, they are distinguished by the honourable title of Anargyres, which signifies moneyless, or without fees. These saints are commemorated on the 27th September, and all over Europe have ever been the patron saints of the Barbers and Surgeons; they are also the patrons of the Medici family, and as such they figure on the coins of Florence.

1540. In the bowl of the grace cup given by Henry VIII to the Barber-Surgeons, the arms of the Barbers impaling the Surgeons are cut, but this is merely the fancy of an engraver, and of later date than the cup.stration] Pg468

10th July, 1561. In the Heralds’ College (I.C.B., No. 101, 20) is a grant of arms by William Harvey, Clarencieux King of Arms, to the Barber-Surgeons, in which he grants and assigns unto them for an “augmentac͠on to ther old and aunscint Armes (which is sables a chevrone between thre flumes argent) a chef paly argent & vert on a pale goles a lyon passant regardant gold betwene two spatters argent a roze gewles crowned golde & to ther creast upon the healme an opinacus golde standing upon a wreath argent and sables manteled gewles dubled argent.”

1565. This year, Harvey, Clarencieux, granted two supporters to the above arms, namely, “two lynxe in their proper Collor about there necks a crowne with a cheyne argent.”

1568. This year, Garter, Clarencieux, and Norroy, Kings of Arms, ratified and confirmed the above arms, crest, and supporters, with the following variations, the arms to be borne quarterly, “the ffyrst sables a cheveron bytwyne iij flewmes argent, the second quarter per pale argent and vert on a spatter of the fyrst a Dobele rose gules and argent crowned or, over all on a crosse gules a lyon passant Regardant or.”

12th June, 1569. The grant of Arms by Dethick, etc., is a beautifully artistic production, though, unfortunately, slightly damaged, and the seals are missing. In 1885 the Company had it reproduced in chromo-photography by Mr. William Griggs, whose work has been so skilfully executed that it is difficult to observe the least difference between the original and the copies.

With this grant is the first appearance of a motto “De præscientia Dei.” How this motto came to be chosen, or in what way it applies to the Barber-Surgeons, I am at a loss to point out. The following is the text of the grant.

~To~ all and singuler aswell Kinges herehaultes and Officers of
Armes, as nobles gentlemen and others to whome these presentes shall
come be seene heard, read or understand Sir Gilbert Dethicke Knight
alias Garter principall Kinge of Armes, Robert Cooke Esquire alias
Clarencieulx kinge of Armes of the South partes of Englande, and
Willm̄ Flower Esquire alias Norroy kinge of Armes of the northe
partes of Englande send greetinge in our lorde god everlastinge. For
as much as aunciently from the beginninge the valiaunt and vertuouse
actes of excellent personnes have ben com̃endid to the worlde and
posterite with sondrey monumentes and remembrances of their good
deseartes; Emongest the which the chiefest and most usuall hath ben
the bearinge of signes and tokens in shildes called Armes, beinge
none other thinges then evidences and demonstracions of prowesse and
valoir diversly distributed accordinge to the qualytes and deseartes
of the persons meritinge the same To thˀentent that such as have
done com̃endable service to their prince or countrey either in warre
or peace, or other wyse by laudable and couragiouse entreprices or
proceedinge of eny person or persons in thˀaugmentacion of the Estate
or com̄on wealth of their realme or countrey might thereby receyve
due honor in their lyves, and also deryve the same succesively to
their successors and posteritie for ever. And wheras in this Citie
of London thˀexperience & practise of the science and facultie of
Chirurgery is most requisite and daily to be exercysed & experimented
for the preservacion of meny, & by thˀoccasion of the practise
thereof meny expert persons be brought up & experimented to the
relief, succour, & helpe of an infinite nomber of persons. And for
as much as within this Citie of London ther were two severall
c͠opanyes, thˀone by the name of Barbours Chirurgeons, and thˀother
by the name of Chirurgeons onely: the Barbours Chirurgeons being
incorporate & y{e} other not, & bothe occupyenge y{e} arte of
Chirurgery wheruppon greate c͠otention did arise. And for y{t} it was
most meete and necessary y{t} the sayd two c͠opanyes shuld be united
& made one hole body & so incorporated, to thˀentent that by their
union & often assembly togither, thˀexercyse & knowledge of their
science & mistery might appeere, as well in practise as in speculatiõ
not onely to theim selfes, but to others under theim. So that it was
thought most meete & c͠ovenient upon grave & greate c͠osideracion,
to unyte & joyne y{e} sayd two c͠opanyes in one: w{ch} was don as
may appeere by an acte of parleament in an̄o xxxij of Henry theight
w{t} these wordes “Be it enactid by the Kinge our souvereigne lorde
& the lordes spirituall & temporall & the com̃ons of y{e} same, that
y{e} sayde two severall & distinct companies, that is to say bothe
y{e} Barbours Surgeons, & the Sourgeons & every parson of theim
beinge a freman of either of y{e} sayde c͠opanies after y{e} custome
of the sayde citie of London, & their successors, from hencefoorthe
immediatly be unyted & made one entier and whole body corporate, &
one societie perpetual, which at all tymes heerafter shalbe called by
y{e} name of Maisters & Governours of y{e} mistery & com̃unalty of
Barbours & Surgeons of London for evermore, & by none other name.”
In consideracion whereof & for that it doth appeere a thinge most
requisite for the unitinge of these two c͠opanyes togither and for
that thˀoccupation of the Barbo{rs} Chirurgeons beinge incorporate
hath since y{e} tyme of Kinge Henry the sixt used & boren Armes
y{t} is to say Sables a cheveron betweene thre Flewmes argent w{ch}
Armes wer unto theim assigned onely by the gifte & assignement
of Clarencieulx Kinge of Armes, as by y{e} patent thereof doth &
may more plainly appeere. And since y{e} unitinge of y{e} sayde
two c͠opanies these Armes of y{e} sayd corporation of Barbours
Chirurgeons hath ben used & none other, yet notw{t}standinge y{e}
late Kinge Henry thˀeight of famouse memory assigned & gave unto y{e}
company of y{e} Chirurgeons onely, a Cognoysance, w{ch} is a spatter,
thereon a rose gules crowned golde, for their warrant in fielde, but
no authoritie by warrant for the bearinge of the same in shilde as
Armes. And for y{t} it pleased y{e} same Kinge Henry thˀeight, not
onely to unite & incorporate these two c͠opanies togither by acte of
parleament but also hath ratifyed & c͠ofirmed the same by his letters
patentꝭ under the greate seale of Englande & so lately c͠ofirmed
by y{e} Queenes Ma{tie} that now is.[281] And wheras Thomas Galle
in the 3 yere of the Queene’s Ma{ties} reigne that now is beinge
Maister, Alexander Mason John Standon Robert Mudesley governors of
y{e} same corporation mistery & comunaltie of Barbours & Chirurgeons
being desirouse to have some signes & tokens addid & augmented to
thˀold & auncient Armes of the Barbours Chirurgeons, not onely for a
perpetuall memory as well of y{e} famouse prince Kinge Henry thˀeight
their founder & patrone but also for a further declaration of y{e}
unitinge of those two c͠opanies togither did instantly require the
late Clarencieulx Hervy to consider y{e} premisses & to shew his
endevor therein. Who finding their request just and lawfull did
graunt & give unto them by his letters patentes under his hand &
seale bearinge date the x{th} of July in the third yere of y{e}
reigne of the queenes Ma{tie} that now is, an augmentacˀon in chief
to their olde & auncient Armes w{th} heaulme & Creast to the same:
which chief was paly argent & vert on a pale gules a lyon passant
gardant golde betweene two spatters argent, on eche a double rose
gules and argent crowned golde: and to their Creast on a torce silver
and sables an Opinacus golde: Mantelled gules, doubled argent. And
further in the tyme of Robert Balthrop Esquire serjeaunt of the
Queenes Ma{ties} Chirurgeons then beinge Maister of the sayd mistery
and comunalty of the Barbours & Chirurgeons and George Vaughan
Richard Hughes & George Corron governours of the same corporation
the sayd Clarencieulx Hervy did graunt unto the sayd corporation
two supporters to those Armes before given them: which were two
Linxe in their proper coulor, aboute their neckes a Crowne w{t} a
chayne argent pendant therat: As by the sayde letters patentes more
plainly doth appeere. YET NOTWITHSTANDINGE for as much as it doth
plainly appeere unto us the sayd Garter Clarencieulx & Norroy Kinges
of Armes, that the aforesayd Armes in some respectes wer not onely
contrary to the wordes of the corporation of the sayd Barbours and
Chirurgeons but that also in the same patent of Armes ther ar sondrey
other thinges contrary and not agreinge with the auncient lawes &
rules of Armes: We the sayd Kinges of Armes by power & authoritie to
us com̃itted by Letters patent under the greate Seale of Englande,
have confirmed given and graunted the foresayd Armes Creast and
Supporters heertofore mentioned, to be boren in maner and fourme
heerafter specified. That is to say: Quarterly the first sables a
cheveron betweene three Flewmes argent: the seconde quarter per pale
argent and vert on a Spatter of the first, a double Rose gules and
argent crowned golde: the third quarter as the seconde and the fourth
as the first: Over all on a Crosse gules a lyon passant gardant
golde: And to their Creast upon the heaulme on a Torce argẽt and
sables an Opinacus golde: Mantelled gules doubled argent: Supported
with two Linxe in their proper coulor about their neckes a crowne
with a chayne argent pendent therat: As plainly appeerith depicted
in this margent. WHICH ARMES CREAST and SUPPORTERS and every parte
and parcell thereof, we the sayd Kinges of Armes have confirmed
ratified given and graunted and by these presentes do ratify confirme
give and graunt unto Richard Tholmwood Maister of the sayd mistery
and com̃unatie Nicholas Archenbolde Thomas Burston and John Fielde
Governors of the sayd Corporation mistery and com̃unaltie of Barbours
and Chirurgeons and to their successors by the name of Maister and
Gouvernours, and to the whole Assistantes Company and fellowshippe
of the sayd Corporation mistery and com̃unaltie of Barbours and
Chirurgeons within this Citie of London and to their successors
for evermore: And they the same to have, hold, use beare enjoy and
shew forthe in shylde, seale, banner or banner rolles, standard or
standardes, penon or penons, pencell or pencelles or otherwise to
their honors and worshippes at all tymes and for ever heerafter at
their libertie and pleasure without the impediment let molestation
or interruption of eny person or personnes, IN WITNESSE WHEROF we
the sayd Garter Clarencieulx & Norroy Kinges of Armes have signed
these presentes with our handes . . . . . unto our severall seales
of Armes, the second day of June In the yere of the nativitie of our
Lorde Jesus Christ A thousande five hundred sixty nyne And in the
eleventh yere . . . . . of our most dread souvereigne Lady Elizabeth
by the grace of god Queene of Englande Fraunce and Irelande defendor
of the faithe &c.

[281] This statement is incorrect. The Act of Parliament was passed
in 1540, but was not confirmed by any letters patent of Henry
VIII. We have no such charter or any reference to it, and
moreover it is _not on the Patent Rolls_, where it would
appear, had it ever existed; furthermore Elizabeth’s charter
(in our possession) confirms Henry’s charter of 1512 and not
this pretended one.

GILBERT DETHICKE aɫs. garter principall Kinge of arms.
ROB COOKE Alias Clarencieulx Roy Darmes.
pˀmoy WYLLAM FFLOWER alias Norrey Roy Darmes.

Entred approved & allowed in the visitation made 1634

HEN: ST. GEORGE
Richmond.

It will be observed that this grant recites that it plainly appeared that the grant of 10th July, 1561, was [_a._] contrary to the words of the Corporation (_i.e._, Incorporation) of the said Barbers and Surgeons, and [_b._] contrary to and not agreeing with the ancient laws and rules of arms.

With regard to the former assertion [_a._] I take it that the grant being made to the “Master and Governors of the Corporation Mystery and Commonalty of Barbers and Surgeons” and _not_ to the “Masters and Governors of the Mystery and Commonalty of Barbers and Surgeons of London” as they are styled in the Act 32 Hen. VIII, offended the precise Heralds of 1569, and that it was indeed a technical defect and contrary to the exact words of the incorporation.

As to the second point [_b._] there cannot be any doubt but that Hervey committed a violation of one of the fundamental and most ancient laws of heraldry, viz., that colour must not be on colour (nor metal on metal). He gave the Company on their old sable field, a chief with gules and vert thereon! This greatly shocked old Garter, Clarencieux, and Norroy, and enabled them, whilst recording the blunder of one of their predecessors, to extract a good fee from the Barber-Surgeons for a new grant.

FEASTS.

There is a wide-spread impression that the Livery Guilds exist principally for the purpose of feasting, and there are unscrupulous persons who do not hesitate to affirm that the Courts of the Companies act as fraudulent trustees, and are consenting parties to the malversation of trust and charity property, eating up money which it is audaciously pretended belongs to the “people of London.”

These statements have been assiduously put forth by a certain class of politicians whose acquaintance with the true details of the case must be absolutely nil, and who it is but reasonable to suppose, are willing to assume that the gentlemen who manage the affairs of the Companies are in the habit of acting as their traducers would do, had they but the opportunity.