Chapter XII: THE TWELVE Article is that if Olyver Wilson dothe hereafter (11)

To any one conversant with the history and management of the Livery Guilds, these assertions are known to be false. Here and there, as in every concern in life, improprieties and errors in judgment may have occurred, but it is confidently asserted, and capable of proof, that no charitable or trust funds suffer from feasting; indeed, on the contrary, the practice has obtained for centuries, with but few exceptions, for the members of the guilds to themselves supply the funds which are spent upon their entertainment, and for the surplus accumulations of these funds to be applied _to the augmentation of charities and trusts_. It has certainly been so in the Barber-Surgeons’ Company, and for a long period the calls upon the Livery for feasting purposes (when the custom was to nominate Stewards in rotation) were a severe strain upon the members, and occasioned great irritation and ill-feeling.

The earliest practice in the Companies would appear to be that the Livery and their wives attending the feasts, paid a stipulated sum per head, and we know this by our records to have been so in our Company long before the time of Richard II. This custom was altered in later times, and we find that certain appointed entertainments were given on fixed days, to which all members were invited, and which were paid for by fines laid down upon admission to the freedom, and further fines on going on to the Livery and Court. In addition to this, each Liveryman had, in his turn, to serve “the office of Steward,” that is, to join with four or five others in providing the costs of certain dinners.[282]

[282] The office of Steward is not now served, but each Liveryman on admission pays a special fine of fifteen guineas in lieu, which is applied towards the cost of the entertainments.

The fees on admission into the Companies are greatly in excess of the ancient ones, and it is mainly from this source of revenue that the expenses of the feasts are now defrayed. It is so in the Barbers’ Company, but, if at any time these funds have temporarily been found insufficient for the purpose, they have been supplemented from a property, which is in no sense a Charity Estate, or subject to any trust whatsoever.

There have been and are, good men of business on the Courts, and by prudent investments of surplus funds derived from fees, fines, etc., a property has been created, which is exclusively their very own to deal with as they please. We have, amongst many others, the opinion of Lord Chancellor Selborne very decisively to this effect, and also one, which by the traducers of the Companies ought to be respected, for it is that of Sir Horace Davey, Q.C., who was consulted by the Livery Companies’ Commission--a Commission notoriously hostile to the guilds. Sir H. Davey stated that they would “not be justified in recommending that the corporate property of the Companies should be taken from them by the State.” He further reported that, such an act “would be an act of _confiscation_, and would not unreasonably shake the confidence of the owners of property in the security of the rights of property. It must be remembered that the Estates of these Companies have been recognised, and held by the Courts of Law, to be as much their property with a full right of disposition, as the property of individuals.” Truly, the Commissioners must have said to their legal adviser as Balak of old said to Baalam, “I took thee to curse mine enemies, and behold thou hast blessed them altogether!”

It is a pleasing characteristic of all true Englishmen that they love to meet together around a festive board; while their hospitality in inviting their friends, or the eminent and great in all sections of society to partake with them has happily not gone out of fashion, and, spite of the sour critics of the guilds, we fervently trust that it never may.

1388. In the return to a writ, 12th Richard II, the Masters of the Barbers certified, amongst other matters, that it was their practice “once a year to assemble to feast,” and that they had an ordinance by which none of the brotherhood were to pay more than 14_d._ each towards the feast.

10th May, 1435. Among the Ordinances of the Surgeons was one that each member was to “paie ʒeerli to the dyner of the craft that is to seie oonys aʒeer on the dai of Seint luke ech man lich mich whethir he be pˀsent or absent,” _i.e._, once a year on St. Luke’s day each man was to pay like much whether present or absent.

28th September, 1503. It was ordained that every member attending the dinner the day on which the Wardens were presented to the Lord Mayor was to pay 20_d._, and if he brought his wife with him, then 2_s._

The Barber-Surgeons from the earliest times appear to have entertained the ladies at certain feasts, and their unique toast “The Good Wives, Merry Maids and Buxom Widows of the Worshipful Company of Barbers” is traditionally said to have had its origin in Elizabeth’s time.

14th May, 1530. The following is amongst the ordinances signed by Sir Thomas More at this date--

AND WHERE OF OLDE Custume yerely upon the Sondaye next ensuyng the
ffeaste of Seynt Bartholomew the appostell[283] a dyner is kept
and provyded for theym of the lyvery of the said Company in their
Comen halle called Barbors hale AND ON the daye of saynt Cosme &
Damian[284] yf it be not on the saterday a dynˀ for them of the same
compani owt of the lyverey IT IS ordeyned and enacted that evˀy man
that hathe been upper maister or upper Govˀnor of the said Company
shall paye at and for the same dyner xij{d} for hymselff and viij{d}
for his wyffe yff she come. And evˀy other man beying of the lyverey
of the same Company shall paye in likewyse for hym selffe viij{d} and
for his wyffe yff she come iiij{d.} Provided alwaye that the maisters
or Govˀnors of the said Company for the tyme beyng shall paye nothing
for their wyffꝭ comyng to the dyner for that yere fforasmoche as
their Wyffꝭ must of necessitte be theire to helpe that evˀy thyng
theire be sett in ordre. And that evˀy man of the said Company beyng
owt of the lyverey shall pay at and for his dyner on the said morowe
viij{d} and for his wyffe yff she come iiij{d.}

[283] 24th August.
[284] 27th September.

8th July, 1552. The earliest entry in the Court Minutes on this subject is a doleful one, for it was ordered “That there shalbe no dynner kept this yere.”

19th September, 1552. William Bette was appointed “Cooke for the Hall,” and Steven Reede the “Butler.” John Edwards (a Freeman) was to supply the flowers on the feast days.

28th July, 1555. It was ordered that the Masters should have a yearly allowance of £7 for the Election dinner, and that none should be at the dinner but Liverymen.

22nd July, 1556. This allowance was increased to £13 6_s._ 8_d._

20th February, 1567. Henry Smith, yeoman to Lord Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, was admitted to the freedom, and because he had been frankly and freely admitted to the freedom of the City at the suit of the Duke of Norfolk, the Marquess of Northampton and the Earl of Leicester, he paid nothing but 3_s._ 4_d._, and 4_d._ for entering his name--

but the same daye the saide Henry Smythe gave the M{r} & govˀnor{rs}
and assystentˀ a dynar at his owne pˀpr coste & charges franckely and
gratefully and also he hath forder more pˀmysed and graunted to geve
one boock[285] of season to serve at the dynar upon the daye of the
Electyon.

[285] Buck.

28th July, 1593. No greate dyner was agreed upon but a smale repast
w{th} the allowance of xl{s} and nether wemen nor children to come to
o{r} hall upon the daie of the newe ellec̃ion.

25th August, 1600. There having been abuses at the feasts, an order was made for their reformation which stated--

that the bodye of this Company hath susteyned much disparagement
by reason that some of the livery and others noe white at all
respectinge the worshipp of this Company have not onely by themselves
but alsoe by their servants and apprentices disfurnished the tables
att ffeastes whereat they have sitten to pleasure their private
frendes contrary to all modestie and good government. Doe therefore
order for reformac͠on thereof by the aucthoritye aforesaid That noe
pˀson of the Lyvery of this Companye beinge not of the Assistaunce of
the same, shall not att any tyme hereafter suffer any of his children
frendes servants or apprentices to staye or attende uppon him or his
wiefe att any ffeaste to be kepte in the saide Comon Hall [_under a
penalty of 6s. 8d._].

An order was also made that no Assistant should have more than one servant or apprentice to attend upon him and his wife at any feast.

21st January, 1601. Whereas by the death of Robert Gray late Cooke
to this Company the house was unfurnished of a Cooke to serve the
said mistery And therefore divers Cookes became this daie shewters
to this Courte for the place of the said Robert Gray beinge then
voyd, yet notwithstandinge forasmuch as Margaret Grey wiefe to the
said Robert Grey became an humble Suter to the said Courte for the
same place, it was ordered by the whole consente of this Courte That
the said Margeret Grey be admitted Cooke to this Company duringe the
tyme she shall well and honestlie and sufficientlie behave her selfe
therin And she to receave such fee and salary therefore as at any
tyme heretofore hath beene graunted to the said Robert Grey Provided
allwaies that she finde all vessells belongeinge to a Cooke And that
she execute the said place by a sufficient deputy beinge such a
pˀsonn as the M{rs} of this Company for the tyme beinge shall like
well of and shall thinke fitt.

Margery, however, does not seem to have “honestlie and sufficientlie behaved her selfe,” for as appears by an entry--

6th May, 1602. This daye Margery Grey late wyef to Robert Grey was
dismissed from being any more Coocke to this Company for speciall
causes to the M{rs} best knowen.

The Plague was raging severely in London in 1603, and the following precept was addressed to the Company, who however seem to have disregarded it, as the Election and Audit dinners were held this year. It is only fair, however, to state that the Court disbursed considerable sums of money amongst the poor stricken people.

13th April, 1603. BY THE MAIOR.

[Sidenote:
To The M{r} and Wardens}
of the Company of }
Barbor Surgeons. }]

WHEREAS I and my Brethẽn thˀaldrẽn duely consideringe w{th} our seṽe
had, the present infecc͠on of this Cittie liberties and Suburbs &
the greate multitud of poore people w{ch} by reason of the said
infecc͠on have theire howsees shut upp and restrayned as well from
goeinge abroad as theire daylie trads and labors wherew{th} theie
were accustomed to mayntaine themselves theire wieves and families
and doe at this pˀsent by reason thereof endure greate wante and
extremities Have thought fitt that all publique feastinge and com̃en
dinners at every the severill Halles and Comˀn metings of corporac͠on
and Companies w{th}in this Cittie shall duringe the tyme of gods
visitac͠on amog̃e us be wholely forborne and left of. And that one
third parte of the chardge and expenses intended to be bestowed and
spent uppon the said feastinges and dinners shalbe whoelie bestowed
and geven for and towardes the reliefe of the most miserable poore
and needie pˀsons whose howse it shall please almighty god to visit
Theis therefore in all xp̃ian Charitie shalbe to praie and desire
you y{t} you take pˀnte order that from hencefort & duringe this
pˀnte infecc͠on you wholely forbeare to keape any Comẽn feastinge or
dinners at youre Hall orells wheare for the like purposes And that
you take pnˀte order w{th} the Wardens of youre Companye and all
such other of youre Company as should be at any chardge or yeald any
contraᵬn[286] to any Comẽn feastes and Dinners for youre Companie
duringe the same tyme to paie and contrabute one thirde parte thereof
in readie money to some one honest and discrete person of your
Companie whom you shall appoynte to receave the said some of money
and to paie it ovˀ to one Robert fflecton Grocˀ noiãted and appoynted
by mee & my Brethẽn the aldrẽn to be receaved from the Companies
of such somes of money. All w{ch} somes of money shalbe from tyme
to tyme wholelie and truelie distributed by order of mee and my
Bretheren the aldrẽn amongst the most nedie and poore infected pˀsons
YEOVEN at Guildhall this thirteenth daie of Aprill 1603.

[286] Contribution.

SEBRIGHTT.

6th January, 1609. This daye it is ordered that none of the officers
wyves shall at any tyme hereafter followe the M{rs} to places where
they dyne w{th}out the M{rs} consentꝭ uppon payne of the M{rs}
displeasures.

1609. The dinners were usually held on Election and Audit days, on Lord Mayor’s day, and after all public dissections, besides Committee dinners (which usually were at taverns), and this year it was ordered that a dinner was to be held on “Gunpowder Day.”

21st August, 1609. This day it was ordered that from henceforth all
such as are of the Livery should give towardꝭ the charge of the
musicke on the Election day vj{d} a peice which they then begun and
confirmed.

The reason of the next order was, that in consequence of the poverty of the Company at this time, the usual allowance of £8 made by the Court towards the Mayor’s feast, could not be granted.

2nd October, 1610. At this Court Richard Cade & Richard Coopˀ whoe
are appoynted for Stewardꝭ of the Mayors ffeast are contented at
theire owne chardgꝭ to provide and make the same ffeast as fully as
formˀly y{t} hath been, only this their provision for their quantitie
of their messes are not to be soe many for that noe wyves nor guestꝭ
are to be bydden or brought to the same ffeast.

18th September, 1611. Att this Court Sebright the Cook is dismissed
from his place of beinge Cook to this howse as well for that he did
dresse their last dynner very badlie as for his ill usage in speeches
towardꝭ the maisters wyves and for dyvˀse other abuses by him
heretofore committed.

2nd July, 1612. At this Court our M{r} & M{r} Warden Johnson moving
this Court that the Barbors as well as the Surgeons might be bedden
to the dynnˀs that are keept at the examinac͠on of surgeons whereupon
it was at this Court ordered & agreed that as many of the Auntient
M{rs} & govˀno{rs} being barbo{rs} should & shalbe bidde unto every
such dynner as there shalbe Surgeons beinge examiners at evˀy such
dynner.

21st January, 1613. It was ordered that the Master and Wardens, with four of the Ancient Masters, should for the “worship & credytt of this Company,” yearly go and visit the Lord Mayor at dinner, and that 20_s._ each should be allowed them for their “charges” of the same. This allowance of 20_s._ each was probably given to some officer of the Lord Mayor to secure his favour towards the Company.

6th February, 1613. An order was made that at the dinner after any private anatomy, any of the Livery, either Barbers or Surgeons, might come thereto on payment of 12_d._ each.

16th September, 1613. This daie it is thought fitt & ordered that
the widdowes of this company w{ch} doe paie their quarterage shalbe
bidden to the ffeastꝭ in the hall.

14th October, 1613. Att this Court it is ordered that such widdowes
as have been masters wyves and doe keepe shoppes or bynd appnˀtices
shall paye their quarteradge but for such as doe neither keepe
shoppes nor bynd appnˀticꝭ they shall not paye any quarteradge And
yet notw{th}standinge they shalbe bydden to the feastꝭ yerelie.

24th May, 1614. Whereas this Company hath receaved a preceptt from
the lord Mayor of this citty forbidding thereby all superfluitie &
excesse of Dyet at the ffeastꝭ of this company and thereby injoyning
that such feastꝭ as accustomably have been made & provided by this
Company shalbe hereafter keept more sparingly & frugally then in
former tymes they have, Wherefore it is ordered that there shalbe
keept & made on the ellection daie this yere ensuing a smale
ellection dynner according to the tenor of the said precept.

25th August, 1614. The above precept soon being forgotten it was this day ordered--

that there shalbe kept an Auditt dynner in such manner & forme as
formerlie in other yeares have byn accustomed. And such allowance as
formerlie hath byn allowde is to be paid by the howse.

10th July, 1615. At this Court it is ordered that the Cooke shalbe
removed & displaced from his place of beinge Cooke of this Companie
not onely for that he hath abused and wronged manie who have byn
M{rs} & Stewardꝭ of the feastꝭ in unsemelie wordꝭ but for a generall
dislike taken against him by this howse & for not pˀforminge his
office in such sorte as is right he shold & ought to doe.

1624. The funds being very low this year the Court held no election dinner, but regaled themselves with cakes and wine, and the following order was made for the Yeomanry:--

2nd September, 1624. This Court being moved whether the yeomanry of
y{is} Compa. should hould any election dinner or noe. It is for the
reason then shewne expressely ordered with a generall consent that
the yeomanry shall onely keepe their Election as this Court lately
did onely with Cakes and wyne and neither feast musick or sermon to
be had at that time.

20th July, 1625. This daye the letter directed to this Companye
from my lord Maio{r} of London in effect tending the prohibiting
of publicke feastingꝭ in our Hall and the contributeing of those
moneys that should be saved thereby the one halfe to be paid unto the
chamber of London and the other halfe to the poore of our Companie,
so hereupon it is ordered by this Courte y{t} Ten poundꝭ shalbe
distributed to the poore of this Companie at the discretion of the
present M{rs} & noe money at all to be paid into the Chamber of
London.

10th July, 1628. This daye our M{r} propounding to this Court whether
there should be a greate Election dinner or a small dinner or onely
Cakes and wine upon the next Election daye for choise of new M{rs},
whereupon by most voyces it was ordered that there should be a greate
Election dinner held this yeare and the allowance of xx{li} towardꝭ
that charge to be defrayed.

28th January, 1631. This Court being informed of Swinnertons abusive
and naughtie pewter from tyme to tyme brought to serve this Hall at
feastꝭ doe dismisse him from serving that place any longer.

20th September, 1632. It is ordered by this Court that the Twoe
Governo{rs} that are Surgians shalbe at the charge and give the
venison that shalbe used at their solepñe[287] feasts and those twoe
Governo{rs} Surgians and the other twoe Governo{rs} Barbars to paye
joynetly & sevˀally share and share like amongst them 4 the charge
for fees and fetching the venison soe to be brought to o{r} Hall.

[287] Solemn.

8th March, 1637. Whereas the Lord Windsor & S{r} Tho. Bludder
brothers of this Company were invited to dine here when M{r} Die
made his dinner that the fare was enlarged. It is ordered that that
addic͠on of fare amounting to 50{s} shalbe allowed out of the stock.

6th April, 1638. Whereas the Companie intendeth to invite the Lords
of y{e} privye Counsell & other Lords & pˀsons of state at the
dedicac͠on of the Theater & first anatomicall publiqe opac͠ons[288]
there It is ordered by this Court & theis pˀsons following were
appointed to give their attendance in the Hall upper pˀlors & Theater
at the enterteynment of the lords on mondaye next viz{t}

[288] Operations.

Edward Charley Edward ffleete }
Henry Eaton Hen: Wateson } are appointed & have promised to
Edward Arris Hen: Boone } attend on the Lords in Liverye
Thomas Allen John Dorrell } gownes to carry up the Lords diett
Lawrence Lowe John Lufkin } & attend them at dinner.
Thomas Turner John Perkins }

M{r} Wateson to be Gentleman Sewer.

Thomas Browne to be Husher of the Hall.

John Perkins to be Groome of the Lords Chamber.

John ffoster to be Groome of the Hall.

Nathan: ffoster beadle to be attendant at the outer streete gate with
a white staffe in his hand.

Also M{r} Joseph Coopˀ the Princes Cooke is desired to pˀvide messe
of meate for the Lordꝭ diett in y{e} greate pˀlor.

The following expenses of this Entertainment are extracted from the Great Audit Book, the first item being probably a Committee dinner to settle details with Mr. Cooper, the King’s Cook.

1638. Paid by consent for a Dinner at the
Dragon in Cheape 6 Aprill for the
Companie and the princes Cooke ij{li} ij{s} iiij{d}

THE ENTERTAINMENT AND DYNINGE OF THE LORDS OF THE COUNCELL IN
OUR GREAT PARLOUR AT THE PUBLIQUE ANATOMYE.

paid to the Butler for Lynnen and plate &
Attendauc̃e v{li}
paid to the Pewterer for hire of Pewter then v{li}
Given to M{r} Cooper the Princes Cooke that
dressed the Lords dynner v{li}
paid to two Upholsters for the hier of stooles
and chaire l{s}
paid to the Vinctner for wine then viij{li} iij{s}
paid to the princes Cooke for soe much
disbursed by him for the Lords diett as
to the Butcher Poulterer hearbewoomen
fruiterer Grocer fishmonger and Under
Cookes as by bill appeareth the som̃e of lviij{li} viij{s}
paid to Stacke for a bushell of flower
xj{s} vj{d} and 2 dozen of stale bread ij{s} xiij{s} vj{d}
paid for faggottꝭ and Charcoales as by bill xxvj{s} vj{d}
paid for stronge beare and six shillings
beere by bill xxxv{s} and for carryinge
in j{s} iiij{d} xxxvj{s} iiij{d}
paid for hire of Venice glasses and pottꝭ
&c and for those pottꝭ and glasses
that were broaken xxxiiij{s}
paid for 4{li} of double refined sugar viij{s} iiij{d}
paid for 3 dossen of french bread iij{s}
paid to the Waterman and Porter that brought
the beere in Bottles from the Lord Chamberlaines v{s}
paid for the hier of two Close stooles vj{s} viij{d}
paid to the porter that brought a dozen of
silver dishes from the Lord of Hollands xviij{d}
paid to Tryman Payne his Scullery man ij{s} vj{d}
paid to John Bludder of the Kings Wardrobe for
bringinge and hanginge the great Parlour
w{th} Tapestry xx{s}
To John Bare my Lord Chamberlaynes Pantryman x{s}
And to one of his Scullery men x{s}
And to the Lady of Devonshires man that
brought the silver dishes v{s}
Paid for bread when the Lords dined there xij{s}
----------------------------
Summ̃. lxxxxiij{li} v{s} iiij{d}
============================

20th June, 1638. Upon the complaint of the losse of a silver spoone
the last dinner in the Hall and diver other times napkins & pewter
dishes this Court doth order that when dinner goes in, the outer
Wickett doore shalbe alwayes locked & the key thereof brought in and
layed by o{r} M{r} for the time being till dinner be ended & the
plate naperye & dishes gathered up & soe discharged.

The next entry would seem to indicate that some previous gift for the purchase of books had unhappily been diverted into a wrong channel.

2nd March, 1640. £6 given by Mistress Napkin & Mistriss Eaton is
absolutely ordered to buy bookes & not disbursed or dispended in
Drinking.

The following circumstance is significant, as exactly one hundred years later the separation which Mr. Foster desired, and for which he got into trouble, became an accomplished fact.

6th November, 1645. Mr. Ralph Foster was complained of for refusing to make his dinner to the Court on his election as an Assistant, and he thereupon uttered certain speeches “tending to the separation of the Barbers from the Surgeons,” for which he was reprimanded, whereupon he promised to make his dinner and to say no more about disunion.

23rd October, 1649. Upon reading the precept requiring the Livery to attend the Lord Mayor Elect to Westminster in their Barge, it was ordered that the Livery should be warned to perform that service in accordance with old custom, and “that there be a ffeast at the Hall on that day for the said Livery, But in respect of the hardnes and troubles of the times this Court doth consent that there be noe second course and noe Woeman at the same ffeast.”

* * * * *

Among the Company’s archives are four books containing many details of the feasts held between the years 1676 and 1790. They appear to have been kept by the various cooks, probably under the direction of the Clerk, and the following gleanings from them will be found to be replete with interest.

The first entry is as follows--

July y{e} 4{th} 1676 for barber sirgons hall Cortt diner.

Leag of mutton boyld | Sallet | 8 harty Chockes for 2
S{r} Loyne of befe | Neack of Mutton | dishes
Shoulder of Venison | 3 Chickens 3 Rabets | 2 small Dishes of frut

ffor a Leag of Mutton 0 3 4
ffor a Sirloyne of befe 0 9 0
ffor a Shoulder of venison 0 5 0
3 chickins 3 rabets 0 5 6
8 harty chockes 0 1 0
ffrut 0 3 6
fyring 0 3 0
3 pound of butter 0 1 6
veniger 0 0 3
peper & other spice 0 0 3
oyle & salt 0 0 6
Gallindine 0 0 6
4 Colliflouers 0 1 3
ffor dressing Diner 0 6 6

July y{e} 27{th} 1676 ffor y{e} Asestance & thar wivfes att
barbar sirgons

ɫi. s. d.
ffor 5 Dishis of Chickins Backon & Colliflours boyld 2 10 0
ffor a side of venison 1 4 0
ffor 3 Sir Loynes of befe 1 10 0
ffor 1 fore rebb for breackfast 0 8 0
ffor a neack of vele & muton 0 7 0
ffor 3 Grand Sallets 0 12 0
ffor puting 3 peces of venison in past 1 4 0
ffor 3 Dishis of geses 2 in a dish 0 18 0
ffor 3 made Dishis & 18 Chescaks 0 15 0
ffor 3 Dishis of Turkes & sas[289] 2 in a dish 0 18 0
ffor 3 Lumbard pyes 1 4 0
ffor 4 Dishis of Toung & udders 1 4 0
ffor 3 Custtords 0 12 0
ffor a firckin of Sturjon 2 0 0
ffor 4 Dishis of Chickins & pigons 1 4 0
ffor y{e} use of putter[290] 1 0 0
ffor wood and coles 0 12 0
ffor 3 Dishis of Tarts 1 1 0
ffor 3 Dishis of oringes & lemonds 0 7 6
ffor a small dish of frute 0 2 6
ffor worckmen & labarars and my owne paines 1 0 0
3 Dishis of frut 0 0 0
--------
20 13 0
========

[289] Turkeys and sauce.
[290] Pewter.

The monthly dinners were very much after the foregoing Bill of fare, and the following extracts of some of the more interesting items are taken at random.

October, 1676. ffor 2 piges[291] 0 7 0
2 pullets rostted with saseges & oystters 0 5 0
ffor 3 Gallions of oysters 1 4 0
ffor 18 lb. of medling backon 0 12 0
ffor 8 lb. of lardin backon 0 5 4

[291] Pigs.

The dinner on Lord Mayor’s Day, 1676, cost £26 6_s._ 4_d._, this was exclusive of wine. The “buttered ale” on this occasion was compounded as follows--

1 C of Eages[292] & 8 Gallions of Ale 0 5 4
2 lb. of butter 0 1 2
8 lb. of sugar 0 4 0
1 ounce of nuttmages 0 0 5
-------
0 10 11
=======

December, 1676. ffor 4 Duckes 0 4 8
January, 1677. ffor 1 quart of oyle 0 2 0
January, 1677. ffor 2 quarts of venigar 0 1 0
March, 1677. A quarttern of Smelts 0 2 0
18 whitting 0 1 6
a Jegett of mutton 0 4 6
6 capons 0 13 0
9 chickins 0 12 0
9 Rabets 0 6 0
7 Lobstars 0 9 4
a side of Lamb 0 5 6
ffor Lorell flouers & fenell 0 0 6
ffor flouer spice & Anchoves 0 1 6
May, 1677. ffor 2 Calfes heads 0 6 0
ffor 4 hundreds of sparagar 0 3 4
ffor 3 wasfalia hames 1 0 0

[292] Eggs.

Cucumbers under the designation of “cockinbers” and sometimes “cowcombers,” together with sorell, barbery, “samfer,” “lorell flouers,” capers, anchovies, oranges and lemons, “gallindene,” “carberys,” horse reddish, parsley, “red cabbeg,” etc., frequently occur at this period as being used for garnishes and in the preparation of the dinners.

March, 1678. ffor a Hole fresh Cod 0 14 0
ffor 12 teale and 3 docks[293] 0 15 9
ffor 4 quartes of oysters 0 8 0
ffor 3 dishis of pipins & Caraways 0 4 0
May, 1678. ffor 7 Grene geese 0 19 0
July, 1678. ffor 4 Battelia pyes 2 8 0
September, 1678. ffor a Maria puding 0 4 0
October, 1678. a dish of florindines 0 6 0

[293] Ducks.

The staple dishes about this period were--

Westphalia hams. Venison pasties.
Sirloins of beef. Ribs of beef.
Necks of veal and mutton. Rabbits.
Boiled legs of pork. Capons and sausages.
“Midlin” bacon. Pullets and oysters.
Tongues and udders. Geese.
Dishes of Pigeons. “Lumber” pies.
Dishes of Turkeys. “Tansies.”
Sturgeon. Cod.
Ling. Eel pies.
Dishes of tarts. “Maid dishes.”
Apple pie. Dishes of fruit.
Custards. Almond florandines.
Mince pies. Oranges and lemons.
Grand salads. French benes.
Sparagrasse. Spinidge.
Sprouts. Turnops.
Colliflowers. Hartychockes.

The pudding now so well known at Barbers’ Hall as “Barbers’ pudding,” was originally “Maria pudding,” then “mara,” later on spelt “maro,” and finally “marrow pudding,” by which latter designation it is often now called.

September, 1684. ffor 8 oringes 0 1 8

Poultry seems to have been cheap, as for the election dinner in this year--

7 Geese were bought for 1 4 6
16 Turkeys " " 1 14 8
39 Chickens " " 1 19 0
90 Pigeons " " 1 6 3

The allowance to the “musick” at nearly every dinner was a shoulder of mutton, sometimes supplemented by two rabbits. The cost of “dressing” the monthly dinners was usually about 8_s._, and of the Election, Audit and quarterly Courts £1 10_s._ to £4.

May, 1685. ffor 2 dishes of Pidgon and Backon and spinig 0 16 0
2 dishes of Mackerell 0 6 0

August, 1687. This election dinner was a little above the average, the following being the details--

for a Brace of Bucks 8 13 0
for Putting them in 8 Pastyes 4 0 0
for 6 S{r} Loynes of Beef and a four rib for brakefast 3 4 0
4 Westfalia hams 1 11 0
7 Lumber pyes 2 16 0
7 Marrow puddings 1 15 0
7 Custarts 1 11 6
7 Dishes of Tarts 2 2 0
7 Dishes of Tonges and Udders 1 15 0
7 Gees 1 5 8
14 Torkeyes 1 11 6
45 Chickins 2 5 0
4 Dozen and 1/2 of Pidgeons 0 13 6
12 Partriges 0 12 0
a Shoulder of Mutton & 2 Rabits for the musick 0 5 0
12 pound of midling Bakon and Lard 0 8 0
24-1/2 pound of fresh butter 0 17 0
for Artechoaks Cabidg french beans Lawrell Parsly and
herbs to garnish 0 9 0
flower Salt and Salt butter for the range 0 5 6
for Gallindine and Goos sace[294] 0 3 6
for Viniger 0 6 0
for Brooms packthread Candels and other things 0 1 0
Wood and coles 1 0 0
Kooks and Laberours and my own pains 3 0 0
2 pounds of Loaf Suger 2 0 0
--------
40 6 8
========

[294] Sauce.

May, 1688. Is the first mention of a “creem chees” 0 0 8

December, 1692. With the exceptions of ling, sturgeon, and salt fish with egg sauce, but little other fish appears to have been eaten. On this occasion, however, we find--

2 Dishis of fresh Cod Drest with Shrimps & Anchove Sawse 0 14 0
ffor 6 Whitings 0 2 0

October, 1693. Green peas are for the first time referred to amongst the vegetables, and, singularly enough, they only occur once in each year for many years, and then at the _October_ dinners!

June, 1698. 2 pounds of fine powdered sugar for
the Strawberrys 0 1 4

July, 1704.

THE STEWARDS DINNER.

A legg of mutton rosted 0 2 8
A buttered appel pye 0 3 0
Cheese to y{e} appel pye 0 0 2
3 Quartes of Coffee 0 3 0
--------
0 8 10
========

May, 1707. ffor 15 Mackril 0 10 0
16 Gooseberry tartes 0 8 0
Caper sauce for the mutton 0 1 0
April, 1708. A Frygusse of Lamb 0 6 0

20th September, 1709. It was ordered, in consequence of the great increase in the Livery, that there should be six instead of five stewards of the Mayor’s Feast to make the Livery dinner, and any liveryman chosen to the office and refusing to serve was to be prosecuted under the by-laws. The fine for not serving was £13 6_s._ 8_d._, and was invariably enforced, numerous cases of refusal being decided at law in favour of the Company. Six Whifflers were as usual, appointed “to be attendant upon the Govern{rs} at the Hall upon the next Lord Mayo{rs} day in comely & decent Apparrell with gilded Chaines & white Staves.”

6th November, 1717. In consequence of irregularities at the Lord Mayor’s feast, it was ordered that in future the Stewards should be prohibited from bringing their wives and friends to the dinner.

1721. The third dinner book opens with an account of the receipts of the Governors’ “Potation Money” for this year, amounting to £131 11_s._ 2_d._, the contributions being from Barbers one guinea, and from Surgeons two guineas each. This potation money was spent at the Mitre Tavern in Fleet Street, on ten Monthly Court dinners, which averaged the modest sum of £4 4_s._ apiece, and the remainder was disbursed about the election feast, wine and sundries.

The cost of the Mayor’s feast this year was £67 7_s._, and at this dinner was drunk a hogshead of port (query), six gallons of mountain, six gallons of white port, and three gallons of canary.

July 19th, 1722. At the ladies’ feast the following wine was drunk--

30 Gallons Red Port at 7_s._ 10 10 0
11 " Sherry at 7_s._ 3 17 0
7 " Canary at 7_s._ 2 9 0
5 " Rhenish at 7_s._ 1 15 0

and 4_s._ were expended on tobacco and pipes.

1726. The monthly Court dinners were held at the George and Vulture Tavern, nine of them costing in all £29 13_s._ 9_d._

The Election dinner this year cost £91 8_s._ 0_d._

And the Lord Mayor’s feast £72 1_s._ 10-1/2_d._

June, 1729. The monthly Court dinner was held at “Vaux Hall.”

The accounts throughout the Third Dinner Book (1720-1740) appear to be much the same every year. First is a list of receipts for Potation Money, averaging about £100 per annum, then follow the allowances out of the same towards the Election dinner, the dressing it and use of pewter, about £19 in all, the payments for the monthly Court dinners (nine or ten at about £4 4_s._ each), and the expenses of the Election feasts, about £80 to £90 a piece.

The cost of the Lord Mayor’s feast, the Livery feast, and the Ladies’ feast, was borne by the Stewards.

There were gay doings at some of these dinners, as witness the following:

1726. Paid the Boy who danced the anticks at the Lady’s feast, 5_s._

1727. By Cash paid the Butchers who played to the Company with their
Marrow bones and cleavers on Lord Mayor’s day, 1_s._

And there were sometimes rather shady doings after the dinners, thus:

10th July, 1729. Mem̃dm. M{r} Truelove & M{r} Fradin carried away
y{e} next morning after y{e} feast four Dozen Quarts of Wine, One
whole Venison pasty, One whole Goose, one whole fowl, & several
lemons & sugar.

1st February, 1732. Mr. John Atkinson and the other Stewards of the Mayor’s feast, employed a cook of their own, and “did make a most scandalous Dinner for y{e} Co.,” whereupon order was given that in future no other than the “Standing Cooke” of the Company should be employed.

One is astounded at the quantity of wine which appears to have been imbibed at some of these dinners; take, for example, the following on Lord Mayor’s Day, 1735, and note that it is especially stated that the wine was “drank at the said feast”:

Paid for the following quantitys of wine provided for and drank at
the said feast, viz{t.}

To M{r} Standert for 21 Gall Red Port 6 6 0
2 Gall Lisben 0 12 0
2 Gall Mountaine 0 12 0
2 Gall Canary 0 13 0
29 Bottles lost 0 4 10
To M{r} Gaywood for 20 Gall Red Port 6 0 0
2 Gall Mountaine 0 12 0
2 Gall Lisbone 0 12 0
2 Gall Canary 0 13 0
To M{r.} Pierce for 2 Gall Lisben 0 12 0
2 Gall Mountaine 0 12 0
2 Gall Canary 0 13 0
20 Gall Red Port 6 0 0

By the above account these thirsty old Barber-Surgeons seem to have consumed no less than 79 Gallons of wine at this dinner.

15th July, 1736. 56 gallons of wine were drunk at the Ladies’ feast.

21st July, 1726. It is order{d} That from henceforward at all publick
Feasts or Dinners to be held or made at the Hall the Cook of the
Company for the time being shall before he sends the Dinner into the
Hall deliver to the Clark of the Company at his House his Messe of
meat consisting of six compleat dishes according to the Ancient laws
and usage of the Company in that behalf the same being the ancient
ffee & Perquisite of the Clerk.

21st August, 1729. The above order was vacated in consequence of disputes as to the contents and number of the dishes supplied to the Clerk, and it was ordered that the Clerk should receive £5 5_s._ annually in lieu of his “messe of meat,” and also that he should dine at all the feasts “as he has always been accustomed to do.”

1st February, 1731. For the better regulating of the Ladys Feast It
is ordered That every Member of the Court of Assistants shall besides
his Lady and one daughter have three tickets to be delivered to such
persons as they shall think fitt to be admitted to come and dance at
the Hall at Five of the Clock on that day and that there shall be two
Constables to attend at the Hall gate and see that nobody is admitted
but with such Ticketts and that the Ticketts be made out by the Clerk
of the Company and sealed with the Company’s seal.

The Summons to a Liveryman to take upon himself the office of Steward was of a very peremptory nature, as will be seen by the following:--

S{r}

By order of the Ma{rs} or Gov{rs} of the Mystery & Comonalty of
Barbers & Surgeons of London, I do hereby give you notice that you
having been chosen & admitted of the Livery or Cloathing of the said
Company, You are appointed by the Masters or Gov{rs} of the s{d}
Comp{d} together with M{r.} Richard Penton M{r.} Joseph Griffin M{r.}
Daniel Pengrove and M{r.} Joseph Mitchell who are also Liverymen of
the said Company to make an Entertainment in the Com̄on Hall of the
said Company situate in Monckwell Street in the Parish of Saint Olave
Silver Street in the City of London for the Gov{rs} and Assistants
of the s{d} Company commonly called the Livery Dinner on Teusday the
3{d} day of June 1735 at two of the Clock in the afternoon pursuant
to a By law of the said Company in that behalf made & provided. And
in case you shall neglect or refuse w{th}out reasonable Excuse to
join together with the said M{r.} Richard Penton M{r.} Joseph Griffin
M{r.} Daniel Pengrove and M{r.} Joseph Mitchell to made such Dinner
on Teusday the 3{d} day of June next, or to contribute and pay your
share and and proporc͠on of the charges thereof you will forfeit and
pay to the said Ma{rs} or Gov{rs} of the s{d} Mystery and Comonalty
to the use of the said Company the sum of £5. And I do hereby give
you further notice That the gentlemen who are to join with you in
making the said dinner will meet you at the George and Vulture Tavern
in Saint Michael’s Alley in Cornhill in the City of London on Friday
next being the 23rd day of this instant May at six of the clock in
the afternoon to give the proper directions for the said dinner, at
which time and place you are desired to attend for that purpose.

I am S{r}
Your most obed{t.} humble Serv{t.}
CHA: BERNARD
Clerk to the s{d} Company.

Herewith you will receive a copy of the Bill of Fare or a Particular
of w{ch} the s{d} Entertainment is to consist.

Barbers and }
Surgeon’s Hall, } 22{d} May 1735

To M{r.} Cha: More.

28th May, 1741. By an order made this day in reference to the Ladies’ feast it was directed--

that the Entertainment shall continue no longer than twelve of the
clock when there shall be no more Dancing but that the Musick be then
dismissed and the Company depart.

28th August, 1741. The Court having taken into consideration the ill
behaviour and abusive language of John Atkinson Distiller in White
Chappell (a Liveryman of this Company) on the last day of Election,
who in a most gross manner (in the Common Hall of this Company) the
Master of the said Company did greatly insult and abuse and did
otherwise very indecently and rudely behave to other Members of the
Company whereby the Peace of the said Company then assembled was
greatly disturbed, and being determined to put a stop to and prevent
the like grievances for the future by punishing all such offendors
herein ORDERED that the said John Atkinson be fined for such his ill
behaviour to the Master the sum of 6{s} 8{d} and 10{s} for bringing
in to Dinner on that day another person with him after having been
acquainted by the Master that the same was contrary to the By laws of
the said Company.

1745. It is noticeable that the Potation Money fell off on the separation of the Surgeons from the Barbers. During the three or four preceding years the amount had been steadily running down from an average of £105 to £57, and there seems to have been no Election or Livery Dinners this year, though the gallant Barbers did not forget the Ladies, for they gave them (and themselves) a dinner at a cost of £52 1_s._ 9_d._

The Barbers, too, at this time do not seem to have drunk quite so much wine as the Barber-Surgeons did, and in the year 1747 is the first mention of Beer, when 12_s._ was paid for a barrel of small Beer for the Lord Mayor’s feast, and only 68 bottles of wine were consumed on this occasion.

Between the years 1750 and 1786 no records are kept of any but the Mayor’s feasts, though doubtless the Company did not fast during the intervals.

There is now a striking similarity in these dinner accounts year by year; usually there were six stewards each of whom provided, about the years 1775, and later on, no less than 53 bottles of wine each, thus emulating their predecessors the Barber-Surgeons; there are numerous references to these bottles as being quarts, so that about 80 gallons must have been drunk at each dinner. Happily, all this is now changed.

It is noticeable from the earliest times that the Company on every occasion of a feast, invariably hired their Pewter dishes and plates at great cost; it seems strange that this continual outlay should have been incurred, instead of keeping a stock of pewter.

1830 and 1831. Considerable difficulty had arisen for some years past in procuring Stewards for the Mayor’s feasts, and also in enforcing the fines for not serving, whereupon a resolution was passed that Liverymen refusing to pay the Steward’s fine would not be invited to the dinners, and would be declared ineligible to come on the Court.

The Court seem to have had grave doubts as to the efficacy of their By-Laws in recovering at law the Steward’s fines, and a case having been prepared it was submitted to Sir James Scarlett and to Sir Thomas Denman (the Attorney General). The opinion of the former eminent Counsel, dated 10th October, 1832, is set out in the minutes, and he appears to have been very clear that they would not be recoverable, whereupon the Court ordered a letter (of 16th October) to be addressed to the Livery, informing them of the difficulty which had arisen by reason of Liverymen refusing to serve as Stewards in their rotation (after having partaken of the hospitality of other Stewards in former years), and that in consequence thereof there would be no dinner that year. The day after this letter was sent out, Sir Thomas Denman’s opinion was handed in, and was to the opposite effect of that given by Sir James Scarlett! Since this period, and now, the Steward’s fine is paid on the admission of a Liveryman, and thus a source of constant annoyance is done away with.

THE IRISH ESTATE.

The history of the acquisition by the Corporation of London and the City Guilds, of their estates in Ireland has been often related, and full accounts will be found in “Malcolm’s Londinium Redivivum,” “Herbert’s Livery Companies,” “Nicholl’s Ironmongers’ Company,” and other works; I shall, therefore, only treat of the subject so far as the Barber-Surgeons were concerned.

In 1609 when James I floated his Irish scheme, our Company seems to have been very loath to enter into it, as would appear by the insignificant subscriptions proffered by the Members (_see_ page 473).

The difficulty which the Court foresaw in raising the £100 demanded in July, 1609, was endeavoured to be surmounted by the following ingenious proposition: there had been some previous forced loans to the King amounting to £123, for which the Company held the City’s bond, and as this was considered a doubtful asset, it was suggested that £100 thereof should be adventured on behalf of the Company; it is needless to say that this innocent suggestion was scouted, and a peremptory precept for the £100 delivered, whereupon the Court assessed the various members of the Company and with the greatest difficulty £30 was thus raised and a further sum of £90 later on. The Minutes referring to these transactions are especially worthy the perusal of those persons who claim the estates of the City Companies as being the “property of the people,” or as having been “left for the poor,” &c. We see by them that (in our Company certainly, and as doubtless an examination of records would show, in all other Companies) the purchase of these lands in Ireland was not only compulsory, but that it was made from moneys contributed by individual members for the most part, and the balance from the “Stock of the house,” this “Stock” being the floating funds in the Renter Warden’s hands, derived from admissions, fines, &c. We thus see that no “trust” money was used for the purchase, and that the estates are saddled with no trust whatever, but are held free, and by an infinitely better title as far as morality goes, to say nothing of legality, than many Estates in the hands of some of the aristocratic patrons of the busybodies bent on spoliation.

In January, 1611, the Company were commanded by precept to elect whether they would for their contribution accept a tract of land in Ulster, _saddled with a condition to build upon it_, or refer the letting of it to the Irish Society, whereupon they chose the latter, and in July following came a precept, for its morality worthy of the Land League, for it called upon the Wardens to pay down £60 more, or else _to absolutely lose the £120 already contributed_!

The doleful answer of the Court, dated 19th July, 1611, is deeply interesting, and we cannot but be touched by the wrongs under which they suffered, and which constrained them to write:--“we must be forced (yf there be lawfull authoritie to take awaye & compell o{r} Company) to loose the moneys we have alreadye disburssed.”

James, however, did not care much about the money the Company proposed to abandon; what he required was a further supply, and the proceedings thereupon are indicated by the Minute of 16th November, 1611. Shortly after, the Company wisely applied to “M{r} Recorder” to construe the answer, but even his skill and interest did not avail, for on 2nd July, 1612, it was agreed that the Master and Wardens should go before the Court of Aldermen, and “stand hardlie” against paying any more money, especially as they had not any security for what had been already advanced, and if committed, they were to go to prison, rather than pay the £30 demanded, with a proviso that directly they were imprisoned, the £30 was to be paid, and it was eventually paid.

In 1613, the Company made over their interest in the Irish Estate to one of the Wardens, Mr. Allen, but this arrangement was subsequently annulled.

Many more were the precepts, and the troubles in which the Company were involved, about this business, but it is satisfactory to record that in 1623 £11 9_s._ 6_d._ was received on account of rents, and in 1625 a further sum of £10 0_s._ 8_d._

The Company were, and are still, associated in their Irish Estates with the Ironmongers’, Brewers’, Scriveners’, Coopers’, Pewterers’, and Carpenters’ Companies; but by far the largest proportion appertains to the Ironmongers, who have always managed the property.

In 1635, the Attorney General exhibited a Bill in the Star Chamber against all of the Companies to the intent that they should surrender up all their rights and evidences touching the Irish plantation, and on our Company taking Counsel’s opinion, they were advised to submit to this monstrous piece of injustice. Judgment was given in 1637, and the Irish property of all the Companies was seized into the King’s hands. One would have thought that this flagitious iniquity might have ended here, but by the decree of the Star Chamber, the Citizens, in addition to the loss of their Estates, were fined £8,000 to the King, and on the 8th November, 1638, our unhappy predecessors were assessed at, and had to pay £64 on this account, the Ironmongers paying £272, and other Companies according to their settled proportions.

Notwithstanding these high-handed proceedings, the Barber-Surgeons, ever ready to aid those in distress, voluntarily gave in 1642, what to them in those dire days of taxation was a munificent gift, namely £20, towards the relief of the poor Protestants in the north of Ireland, and they further raised, under compulsion, by the sale of their plate and the mortgage of their property, £400, which was “_lent_ for the Relief of Ireland upon the faith and order of Parliament,” and not one penny of which was ever refunded!

The illegal seizures of the Irish lands in 1637 were set aside by Charles II, who, by his Charter, 10th April, 1662, restored and confirmed to the citizens all their former privileges and their possessions in Ireland, and thus our Company became repossessed of its original property there.

A little previous to 1840 communications passed between the Barbers and the Ironmongers’ Companies, in reference to an appointment which had been made by the latter Company, of Mr. Oseland as Manager of the associated estate at a salary of £400 per annum. This appointment seems to have been made without the knowledge or concurrence of the associated Companies, and led to some little friction, but it was no doubt a wise step, and appears, after various protests, to have been finally acquiesced in.