Chapter II: Preface (2)

1388. In the Return of the Barbers of London to the Writ of Richard II, the Masters recite that they “have found a document amongst the articles of their records made of the time to which memory runneth not,” concerning the points upon which the fraternity was founded;

PRIMEREMENT al honourance de Dieu et touz ses Seyntes et pur
excitac͠on les c͠oens des gentz a bien faire et perseverance avoir et
bien faitz. . . . .

FIRSTLY to the honour of God and all his Saints, and to stir up the
commons of the people to do well, and to have perseverance in well
doing. . . . .

Regulations were made enjoining charity, attendance at funerals and obits, against the enticing away of the servants of others, providing for the amicable settlement of disputes, and the like.

The articles above briefly referred to, contain nothing in particular as to trade regulation or inspection, leaving a pretty certain inference that they were made for the governance of a social and religious guild or fraternity. We shall presently see that in 1308, the Company partook of the nature of a trade guild, and we may therefore reasonably presume that the articles made in the time to which memory in 1388 did not run, were drawn up _previous_ to 1308, and therefore without much hesitation we may assign the origin of the Barbers’ Company to at least the xiij{th.} century.

In the early part of the reign of Edward II, and indeed for a long while previously, the Barbers were practitioners in the art of Surgery; at all events they performed the minor operations of that craft, such as bleeding, tooth-drawing, cauterization, and the like.

The Barbers having been accustomed to assist the monks in the surgical operations performed by them in early times, acquired a degree of proficiency which enabled them to practise as Surgeons themselves. Up till about the xij{th.} century the practice of Surgery and Medicine was however almost wholly confined to the Clergy, who seem to have enjoyed the double privilege of curing men’s bodies as well as their souls. In 1163 the Council of Tours, under Pope Alexander III, considering that a practice which involved in its operations the shedding of blood, was incompatible with the holy office of the clergy, forbad them to interfere in any matter of Surgery; the consequence of this edict was that they gave over the operations of Surgery but continued to practise the healing art of Medicine.

As already said, the Clergy very frequently employed the Barbers as their assistants, and committed to them the preparation of the medicated baths and the performance of sundry minor surgical operations. No doubt the Edict of Tours was hailed with joy by the Barbers, who thus found a lucrative practice thrown in their way, and seized the opportunity of practising as Surgeons “on their own account,” calling themselves Barber-Surgeons, and practising both Barbery and Surgery.

_c._ 1307. The archives preserved at the Guildhall have many entries concerning the Barbers’ Company, and in _Letter-Book D._ 157{B.} there is an ordinance concerning the Barbers of London, which shows that at this time they were occupied in Surgery, and advertised their profession in an objectionable manner, which was very properly forbidden by the City authorities.

DE BARBOURS. Et que nul barbier ne soit se ose ne si hardy qil mette
sank en leur fenestres en apiert ou en view des gentz, mais pryvement
le facent porter a Thamise sur peine des doux souldz rendre al oeps
des Viscountz.

CONCERNING BARBERS. And that no barbers shall be so bold or so hardy
as to put blood in their windows, openly or in view of folks, but let
them have it privily carried unto the Thames, under pain of paying
two shillings to the use of the Sheriffs.

1308. The first express entry which we have concerning our Company is the presentation and admission of Richard le Barber, as Supervisor or Master of the Barbers, before the Court of Aldermen in 1308 (_Letter-Book C._ 96).

RIC’S LE BARBOUR ex oppõito ecc̃lie omñi scoꝜ parue elect’ est et
p’sentatˀ pˀ Barbitonsores london die Martˀ p’xˀ p’t fm̃ Sc̃e Lucie
virgĩs Anno R. E. fiɫ R. E. sc̃do coram dñis Nichõ de ffarndon tũc
maiore london Johñe de Wengũue cetˀisqʒ Aldermĩs ad custodiendˀ
officiũ BarbitonsoꝜ &c. Et admissus est et jurˀ q’d quolibet mense
faciet scrutiniũ pˀ totñ officiũ suũ et si quos invenˀit lupanarˀ
id alio mõ inhonestos et in scandalũ officii &c. eos distringat &
distriaõem in cam’am apportari faciet &c.

RICHARD LE BARBOUR dwelling opposite to the Church of Allhallows the
Less, was chosen and presented by the Barbers of London, on Tuesday
next after the feast of Saint Lucy the Virgin (_13th December_) in
the second year of the reign of King Edward, son of King Edward,
before Sir Nicholas de Farndon, then Mayor of London, John de
Wengrave and other Aldermen, to have supervision over the trade of
the Barbers &c. And he was admitted and made oath that every month
he would make scrutiny throughout the whole of his trade, and if he
should find any among them keeping brothels, or acting unseemly in
any other way, and to the scandal of the trade, he was to distrain
upon them, and cause the distress to be taken into the Chamber (_of
London_) &c.

The foregoing record does not appear very creditable to the reputation of the Barbers of Edward the Second’s time, but it should be remembered that in those days, and for a long period before and afterwards, the Barbers superintended the Baths (Bagnios) and that these places were not infrequently the resort of improper characters; a few of our predecessors had perhaps, under the circumstances, been somewhat lax in their morality, and let us hope that Richard le Barber administered to those whom he found offending, due correction according to his oath and their deserts.

It would not seem from the terms of the admission, that the Master was at that period elected annually, and the Office was probably held by one man for a considerable number of years. There is no entry in the City books (which have been carefully examined for the purpose) of another admission to the Office until the year 1376, when two Masters were appointed, and then for some years subsequently two new Masters were sworn in annually.

1309. In this year we find the first record of an admission of a Barber to the freedom of the City, and several others occur about this period (_see_ Freemen).

1310. On Wednesday next after the feast of the Nativity, 4th Edward II, Gerard the Barber was sworn keeper of the Gate of Newgate (_Letter-Book D._ 113), and there are other entries of Barbers being appointed keepers or porters at the City gates; from one of these, in 1375, it would seem that they were to keep a strict watch that no lepers should enter the city, and it was doubtless on account of their surgical knowledge enabling them to distinguish those afflicted with leprosy, that these offices were conferred upon them.

1310. On Monday before the feast of St. Gregory the will of Richard le Barber, our first Master, was proved in the Court of Husting. To Katherine his wife and Johanna his daughter, he left tenements and rents in Bread Street, Cordwainer Street, Queenhithe, Candlewike Street, and Whitecrouche Street. To Thomas de Mangrave his apprentice, a shop in Bread Street; to the fabric of London Bridge 20{s.,} and the residue to pious uses.

1312. The earliest admission of a Surgeon (_not_ a Barber Surgeon) to the freedom is that of “Magister Johẽs de Suthwerk cirurgicus,” who was sworn on Friday before the feast of St. Barnabas, 5th Edward II, and who paid nothing for his freedom, being admitted at the instance of Hugh de Waltham, Town Clerk.

Among the Archives at Guildhall are various entries relating to early Barbers, which, although not touching upon the history of our Company, may properly be preserved in these pages, and I shall therefore give translations of a few of them.

1315. On Monday next after the feast of the Purification of the
Blessed Virgin Mary, in the 8th Edward II, by common assent of the
Mayor and Aldermen in the Hustings of pleas of Land, there was
granted and demised to William de Dounesheued, Barber to Sir John de
Sandale, Chancellor of our Lord the King, a certain house belonging
to the Bridge of London, to have and to hold to the said William for
his whole life, he paying yearly on the usual days two and a half
marks to the keepers for the time being of the said Bridge, which
said house is situate between a house belonging to the said Bridge in
which John Mew now dwells towards the West, and a house belonging to
Thomas le Maderman towards the East, in the Parish of Saint Dionis
Backchurch London. And the said William, the said house and its
appurtenances in all needful manner shall sustain, and against wind
and rain cause the same to be defended during the whole term of his
life.

And there was a proviso that if the rent should remain unpaid for a whole year that the Bridge Keepers should re-enter. (_Letter-Book E._ 28{B.})

1319. On Thursday after the feast of St. Valentine, 13th Edward II, there was enrolled an obligation by which Roger the Barber (servant to John de Dallinge, Sheriff of London) and Margaret his wife, were bound to pay £100 to Sir John de Laugecombe, Rector of the Church of Laumaz Heys (_sic_) before the feast of Easter. (_Letter-Book E._ 85.)

1320. On Wednesday next after the feast of Saints Fabian and Sebastian, 13th Edward II, Lawrence the Barber, one of the men sworn to keep the Poultry Market on Cornhill, laid an information against John Bakon that he the said John was a forestaller of the Market. (_Letter-Book E._ 96{B.})

1320. In the same year among the names of the Citizens assessed to contribute to a fine of £1,000 to the King, occurs that of Thomas the Barber. (_Letter-Book E._ 106{B.})

1320. On Monday next before the feast of St. Margaret the Virgin, 14th Edward II, the Wardship of Alice, Joane and Agnes, children of John de Wynton, Barber, deceased, was given to Joane his widow; several shops and houses in the City belonging to the deceased are scheduled as for the benefit of the Wards, and Robert de Lamyngton, John de Bristolle, Barber, and Roger de Croidon were bound as sureties. (_Letter-Book E._ 114.)

Instances also occur of City Wards (sons of Barbers deceased) being apprenticed by the Chamberlain to various trades.

1340. In 14th Edward III, Hamo the Barber was assessed by the City at £10 as his contribution towards a forced loan of £5,000 to the King (_Letter-Book F._ 33) and six years later (1346) Hamo was again assessed at 20_s._ towards a “present” of 3,000 marks to the King.

1370. On 14th March, 44th Edward III, the wardship of Alice (aged 3 years), daughter of Nicholas the Barber, was given to Gilbert Prince, who was to use her legacy of 40 marks for her benefit.

1374. On the 28th July, 1374, Lawrence de Weston, Barber (Master of the Company in 1376), and Margaret his wife, mother of the said Alice, came before the Mayor, &c., and proved that the said Alice was dead, whereupon Gilbert Prince, the Executor of Nicholas the Barber’s will, was discharged, and the money paid to Lawrence and Margaret de Weston. (_Letter-Book G._ 244 and 317{B.})

Reverting now from individuals to the Company, we find that the Barbers existed as a Trade Guild, but unincorporated certainly from the year 1308, and that they were at first ruled by one Master, and later on (in 1376) by two Masters, appointed annually. This Company of Barbers was composed of two classes of Members--viz., those who practised Barbery proper (perhaps including phlebotomy and tooth drawing), and those who practised Surgery, and who were, for distinction sake, called Barber-Surgeons (in the City books they are spoken of as “Barbers exercising the faculty of Surgery”). For aught we know to the contrary, a perfect harmony and good understanding existed between these two sections of the Company, and it is probable that the ranks of the latter were continually recruited from the former.

1381. The earliest evidence of the existence of our Hall is to be found in Harl. MS. 541, which contains a list of Companies’ Halls in the City, temp. 5 Richard II, by which it appears that the Barbers’ Hall was then, as now, in the Parish of Saint Olave, Silver Street, and doubtless on the same site; the entry is, “Barbar hall y{e} p’yssh of Seynt Oluf in Sylverstrete.” In 1490 the Hall is _known_ to have been on the same site.

1388. In this year Richard II sent his writs all over the Kingdom to enquire into the nature and constitution of the several guilds and fraternities, religions, social or craft, and the returns to these writs, which must have been an immense number, were formerly kept among the Records at the Tower of London. Herbert, in his History of the Livery Companies, refers to his fruitless endeavours to discover these returns, and I have made diligent enquiry at the Record Office for them also, with the undoubted result that all of those which relate to the London Trading Guilds are lost. There are, however, a great number relating to London religious guilds and to trade guilds all over the country. Two of these concerning the Barbers of Norwich and of Lincoln are so highly interesting that I have preserved them in Appendix A.

Amongst our Archives at Barbers’ Hall, is a vellum book of Ordinances written out fair in 1658, and therein is to be found a copy of the return made by the Barbers of London to the writ of Richard II, and which the Company caused to be extracted from the Tower Records in 1634. It is certified by William Colet as agreeing with the original, but unfortunately Mr. Colet (although he was Deputy-Keeper of the Records) or his copyist has made one or two mistakes, which necessitate a little hiatus in the translation, and he has put the year as the 11th instead of the 12th of Richard II. That the latter year is the correct one is abundantly proved by the dates on the original writs and on the numerous returns still in existence at the Record Office, as also by the names of the Masters certifying, who are recorded at Guildhall as having been admitted 10th September, 12th Richard II.

Richard II was more solicitous as to the funds and property of the Guilds, than he was about their observances, and our predecessors seem to have quickly acquainted him with their pecuniary position, “the which Company have neither tenements nor rents to their common use.”

The Masters recite an old document which they found in their strong box, and which will well repay perusal; it opens with a devout dedication to the Trinity, the Virgin Mary, and the glorious company of heaven, and the first Ordinance being expressly made in honour of God and all saints, and with the intention of stirring up the people to do well and to persevere therein, we must all approve of it. It provides firstly, that decayed brethren shall have an allowance of 10-1/2_d._ per week, if their poverty have not come about by their own folly. The second and third Ordinances relate to attendance at funerals and obits of deceased members. Then follow certain rules, that no man shall entice away another’s servant; the Masters to settle disputes, payment of quarterage, refusal of office, absence from Mass and the yearly feast, the livery clothing, &c., &c. It is well to observe here the evidence of the antiquity of our livery, of the quarterage, and of the feast, all of which have come down to these days.

Some later Ordinances are added, which were apparently made in 1387. This return is probably the only one extant of the whole of those made by the London trade guilds, and is therefore of the highest interest. A copy of the original (which is in Norman French), together with a translation, follows.

COPIA extracta ex Bundell’ Fraternitatum et Gildar’ Civitatis
London remaneñ de Recordo prout patet in Rotulis dñi Regis infra
Turrim London.

Anno xj{o}.[29] Ricardi Secundi.

[29] A mistake for Anno xij{o.}

JOHAN HEYDON et Hen Cook Mestres[30] William Chapman et William
Gomine Surveyours de la Compaignie appelle ffraternite des Barbers de
la Citee de Londres dauncien temps ordeigne certifiant au Counsail
ñre S{r.} le Roy en sa Chancellarie la forme manere et condicion de
touz articles obseruancez et lour circumstances contenuz en la paper
de dite Compaignie en la forme quesuyt la quel compaignie nont nul
teñt ne rent a lour c͠oe oeps les queles articles la dite Compaignie
nont usez en lour temps forsqz soulement pur auer lour vesture un
foitz per añ et paier lour quarterage pur sustiner pouerez geñtz de
mesme la Compaignie et un foitz per añ assembler pur manger et eslire
neuells Mestres et Surveiours sanz ascun autre article de sontz
escript mettre en use forsqz ceux qˀ tan soulement sont faitz al
honour de dieu mes purtant qils ont trouez un paper one les articles
de sontz escriptz fait del temps donc memorie ne court ils les ont
p’sentez a vrẽ tressages discrecions.

[30] Sworn Masters of the Barbers, 10 Sept., 1388. 12th Ric. II.
(_Letter-Book H._ 235{B.})

CESTE ENDENTURE fait en nom̃ de Dieu omnipotent pier et fitz et
seynt Esperitz et de nr̃e Dame Seynt Marie et de tout la gloriouse
Compaignie de Ciel de la foundacion et de Lordinance de la fraternite
des Barbers de la Cite de Londres tesmoigñ coment et sur queux pointz
la dite Fraternite est funduz et ordeigne.

PRIMEREMENT al honourance de Dieu et touz ses Seyntes et pur
excitac͠on les coẽns des geñtz a bien faire et perseuerance auoir
en bien faitz est ordeigne qˀ si ascun frere de cel fraternite qi
ad este de cell fraternite per vij anz sil cheit en mischief ou en
pouerte pˀ auenture issint qil neit de quoy il purra viure de son
propre et ces ne luy aucigne de sa propre folye qu donqz il auera
chescun semaigne de lour c͠oe boyste x{d.} oᵬ. pur sa sustenance.

ITEM quant ascun frere du dite fraternite soit mort les freres de la
dite fraternite serront la veyle al dirige et le jour al Messe et al
dirige et al Messe del Moys obit et qˀ chescun tiel frere mort eit
xxx messes de lour c͠oe Boyste et qˀ chescun frier qˀ soit absent
sanz reasonable eucheson a ascun des ditz iiij foitz qil mette a lour
c͠oe Boyste en noun de ses offrandes et dispences queux il deust auer
fait sil eust este en p’sent iij{d.}

ITEM quant ascun Meistre de la dite Fraternite eit feme Mort qˀ les
freres de la dite ffraternite soient a La Vigile et a la Messe le
jour de sont enterment et a la Moys obit et quel frer qˀ soit absent
a ascun de tres foitz qil paie pur chescun foitz qil soit absent en
lieu des costages et autres dispences queux il ferreit sil feusse
present a lour c͠oe boyst iij{d.}

ITEM qˀ nul frere de la dite Fraternite abette autri seruant hors des
seruice son Meistre priuement ne apertement.

ITEM si ascun debate surdre pˀ entre ascuns des freres qˀ dieu defend
et ces soit redresse per amour per la consideration des Meistres de
la dite Fraternite . . . . . faire bonement et qˀ nul ne sue vers
autre en autre manere autant qil ad assaie sil puisse pˀ leide des
ditz Mestrez estre recorde.

ITEM qˀ chescun frere de la dite ffraternite veigne chescun quarter
del an et paie son quarterage a Collectors decell issint qˀ les dits
Collectors ne.

ITEM accorde est entre toutz les ditz freres qˀ quel de eux qˀ refuse
son office quant ces vient a luy sil voet estre de ces allegge qil
paie a lour c͠oe boyst.

ITEM si ascun frere soit absent a lour Messe et Manger quant il serra
un foitz en lan qil paiera a tant en offrandes et toutz autres choes
come un.

ITEM qˀ nul des ditz freres allowe autre hors de sa Meason.

ITEM si ascun frere per auenture tarie ses paiements entre añ et
demy qil face gree demz les ij anz sanz rien outre le certain doñ.
Et sil ad luy soient . . . . . . p’donez issint qil paie ce gest
aderer. Et a ceux pointz tenir solonc amendement si mistier soit qils
soient amendez ceste Fraternite sont entre jurez et ont chescun de
eux pleine sa foy et si fra chescun qi serra de la dite ffraternite.
Et accorde est entre eux . . . . . . endenture soient enclos en lour
c͠oe boyst et lautre demurge vers les Mestres qˀ serront pur le temps
de la dit fraternite.

ITEM chescun frere du dit fraternite paie en arres pur son Drap auant
la mayn xl{d.} ameyns.

ITEM qˀ chescun frere garde la liuere ij anz enterrement deuant qil
le donne ou vende ou aliene la liuere en ascun manere sur peyne de
paier al compaignie un noble dor sur lour grace.

ITEM est ordeyne le dymenge ps̃ch ensuant lassumpc͠on de nr̃e Dame
lan le Roy Richard sẽde xj{o.} qe les Surveiours du dit Mistier
soient esluy per lassent de tout la ffraternite et nemy per les
Mestres.

ITEM qˀ nul du dit Fraternite paie plus pur son mangre qˀ xiiij{d,}
en apres.

ITEM ordeyne est qˀ chescun Meistre qˀ eslisera ascun autre home pur
estre en son lieu cesta sauoir pur estre Meistre celuy qˀ eslisera
tiel home pur estre Meistre apres lan serra obligee per mesme luy a
la Compaignie pur la monoy en un obligacon.

Convenit cum Recordo
WILLŨS COLET.

A COPY taken from a Bundle “of the Fraternities and Guilds of the
City of London” which remains of record, as the same is seen in
the Rolls of the Lord the King, at the Tower of London.

Anno 12.
Richard II.

JOHN HEYDON and Henry Cook, Masters, William Chapman and William
Gomine, Surveyors of the Company called the Fraternity of Barbers
of the City of London of ancient time established, certifying
to the Council of Our Lord the King, in his Chancery, the form
manner and condition of all the articles, customs and their
circumstances contained in the Records of the same Company in the
form following:--The which Company have neither tenements nor rents
to their common use, And these articles the said Company have not
used in their time excepting only for to have their Livery once a
year, and to pay their quarterage to maintain the poor folk of the
same Company, and once a year to assemble to feast, and to elect new
Masters and Surveyors without any other article of their writing to
put forward except those which only are made to the honour of God;
but, however, as they have found a document amongst the articles of
the Records, made of the time to which memory runneth not, they have
presented it to your most wise discretions.

THIS INDENTURE made in the name of the Omnipotent God, the Father
and Son and the Holy Ghost, and of our Lady Saint Mary and of all
the glorious Company of Heaven, concerning the foundation of the
Government of the Fraternity of Barbers of the City of London
Witnesseth how and upon what points the said Fraternity is founded
and ordained.

FIRSTLY to the honour of God and all his Saints, and to stir up the
Commons of the people to do well, and to have perseverance in well
doing, it is ordained that if any brother of this Fraternity who has
been of this Fraternity for seven years by chance fall into trouble
or into poverty, and if he have nothing of his own by which he may be
able to live, and it be not through his own folly, that then he shall
have each week from their common box tenpence half penny for his
sustenance.

ITEM. That when any brother of the said Fraternity dies the brethren
of the said Fraternity shall go on the Vigil to the dirge, and on
the day[31] to the Mass, and to the dirge and to the mass of the
month’s obit, and that each such brother dead have thirty masses from
their common box,[32] and that each brother who is absent without
reasonable excuse at any of the said four times, shall put into their
common box in place of his offerings and expenses, as he ought to
have done if he had been present, three pence.

[31] The day of the funeral.
[32] Thirty masses sung at the expense of the common box.

ITEM. When any Master of the said Fraternity has a wife dead, the
brethren of the said Fraternity shall be at the Vigil and at the Mass
on the day of her burial and at the month’s obit, and that brother
who is absent at any of the three times shall pay for each time that
he be absent, in place of the costs and other expenses which he would
have borne if he had been present, three pence to their common box.

ITEM. That no brother of the said Fraternity entice any servant from
the service of his master, privily or openly.

ITEM. 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,[33] 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.

[33] _i.e._, honestly.

ITEM. That each brother of the said Fraternity shall come
each quarter of the year and pay his quarterage to the
collectors[34] . . . . . .

[34] I am unable to complete this sentence.

ITEM. It is agreed between all the said brethren that whoever of them
refuses his office when it comes to him, if he wishes to be relieved
of it, that he pay to their common box.

ITEM. If any brother be absent from their Mass and Feast when it
shall be once a year, he shall pay so much in offerings and all other
things as one present.

ITEM. That none of the said brethren put [?] another out of his
house.

ITEM. If any brother by chance delay his payments beyond a
year-and-a-half, that he make acquittance within two years without
any [_penalty_] beyond the ordinary fine. And if he be thus forgiven
that he settle the matter at once.

AND to hold these points pursuant to amendment alone if the Mystery
will that they be amended, this Fraternity are sworn among themselves
and have each of them pledged his troth, and so from each who shall
[_hereafter_] be of the said Fraternity. And it is agreed amongst
them that this Indenture be enclosed in their common box, and the
counterpart be held by the Masters for the time being of the said
Fraternity.

The document which the Masters found amongst their records made in “the time to which memory runneth not” probably ends here, and the following Items (see the third one) were doubtless additional Ordinances made circa 1387.

ITEM. That each brother of the said Fraternity pay in pledge for his
livery, when he has the same, forty pence at the least.

ITEM. That each brother keep the livery two whole years before he may
give, or sell, or alienate it in any manner, under pain of paying to
the Company for their pardon, a noble of gold.

ITEM. It is ordained that on the Sunday following the Assumption of
our Lady in the 11th year of King Richard the Second,[35] that the
Surveyors of the said Mystery be elected by the assent of all the
Fraternity, and no longer by the Masters.

[35] 18th Aug., 1387.

ITEM. That none of the said Fraternity hereafter pay more than
fourteen pence for his feast.

ITEM. It is ordained that each Master who shall choose any other man
to be in his place, that is to say for to be Master; he who shall
choose such man to be Master for the year shall be bound by himself
for him, in an obligation to the Company for the money.[36]

[36] _i.e._, a guarantee for his honesty.

It agrees with the Record,
WILLIAM COLET.

Coeval with our Company of Barbers there existed in the City of London, another Fraternity or Guild, that of the Surgeons, in no way connected with the Barbers, but, like them, existing by prescription only and unincorporated. It is not to be expected that these two Companies would, in the days of so much trade protection and jealousy, exhibit an over-friendly feeling towards one another, and the records of the period, though meagre, show that this was the case. The Surgeons’ Guild at no time appear to have been a numerous body, indeed there is reason to believe that frequently their numbers were less than a dozen, and they possibly never exceeded twenty.

In the researches undertaken for the purpose of this work, various references to the Surgeons’ Guild have turned up, and although at this early period there was much in common between the two Fraternities, I have considered it quite apart from the subject in hand to go into any detail concerning that Guild, more especially as it has recently been so ably and fully dealt with by Mr. D’Arcy Power in his “Memorials of the Craft of Surgery.”

1376. In the 50th Edward III, the Barbers made a complaint to the Mayor and Aldermen against unskilled practitioners in Surgery, and prayed that two Masters should be yearly appointed to inspect and rule the craft, and that none should be admitted to the freedom of the City, but upon due examination of their skill; and this was granted by the Court, entered of record and Lawrence de Weston and John de Grantone were chosen Masters. The following is a translation of the original record concerning this matter.[37]

[37] In this and some other cases I have adopted the able translations made by Mr. Riley in his “Memorials of London and London Life.”

To the honourable Lords, and wise, the Mayor and Aldermen of the City
of London, shew the good folks, the Barbers of the same city, that
whereas from one day to another there resort men, who are barbers,
from uppelande[38] unto the said city, who are not instructed in
their craft, and do take houses and intermeddle with barbery,
surgery, and the cure of other maladies, while they know not how
to do such things, nor ever were instructed in such craft; to the
great damage, and in deceit, of the people, and to the great scandal
of all the good barbers of the said city:--therefore the said good
folks do pray that it may please your honourable Lordships, for
the love of God, and as a work of charity, to ordain and establish
that from henceforth no such stranger, coming to the said City from
uppelande, or from any other place, of whatsoever condition he be,
shall keep house or shop for barbery within the same city, before
that he shall be found able and skilled in the said art and office
of barbery, and that, by assay and examination of the good folks,
barbers of the same city, whom out of the said craft it may please
you to ordain thereunto. And that it may please you to ordain and
establish, that from henceforth there shall always be two good men of
their said craft chosen by their common assent to be Wardens of the
craft; and that such two persons shall be presented unto the Mayor,
Recorder, and Aldermen, of the said city, and sworn before them well
and lawfully, to the best of their power and knowledge, to rule their
said craft; and that the said Masters may inspect the instruments of
the said art, to see that they are good and proper for the service of
the people, by reason of the great peril that might ensue thereupon;
and that on the complaint of such two Masters, all rebellious persons
in the said craft, shall be made to come before you, and whosoever
shall be found in default against this Ordinance shall pay to the
Chamber 40 pence. And that from henceforth no man of their craft
shall be admitted to the franchise of the said city, if he be not
attested as being good and able, upon good examination before you
made. And that no foreigner shall keep house or shop in their craft
within the said city, or the suburbs thereof. And that this Ordinance
shall be enrolled in the Chamber of the Guildhall of London, for all
time to last.

[38] The general name for country places in those days.

And the same was granted unto them. Whereupon, Laurence de
Westone and John de Grantone were chosen Masters of the Barbers.
[_Letter-Book H. 28._]

The foregoing ordinance must surely have given umbrage to the Surgeons’ Guild as it placed the Barbers upon an equal footing with them in the examination of Surgeons, the inspection of their instruments, etc.; and this more especially as seven years previously (in 1369) the Surgeons had obtained from the same Court an Ordinance investing them with the power of presenting the defaults of all unskilful Surgeons.

1382. As an example of a quack Surgeon’s method of practice, and of his rogueries and punishment, the following case of Roger Clerk will be found interesting:--

Roger Clerk, of Wandelesworth,[39] on the 13th day of May in the 5th
year (_Richard II_), was attached in the Chamber of the Guildhall of
London, before the Mayor and Aldermen, to make answer, as well to the
Mayor and Commonalty of the City of London, as to Roger atte Hacche,
in a plea of deceit and falsehood: as to which, the same Roger said,
that whereas no physician or surgeon should intermeddle with any
medicines or cures within the liberty of the city aforesaid, but
those who are experienced in the said arts, and approved therein, the
said Roger Clerk, who knew nothing of either of the arts aforesaid,
being neither experienced nor approved therein, nor understood
anything of letters, came to the house of him, Roger atte Hacche, in
the parish of St. Martin, in Ismongereslane, in London, on Thursday,
the morrow of Ash Wednesday, in the 5th year, etc.; and there saw one
Johanna, the wife of the aforesaid Roger atte Hacche, who was then
lying ill with certain bodily infirmities, and gave the said Roger,
her husband, to understand, that he was experienced and skilled in
the art of medicine, and could cure the same Johanna of her maladies,
if her husband desired it.

[39] Wandsworth.

Whereupon, the said Roger atte Hacche, trusting in his words, gave
him 12 pence, in part payment of a larger sum which he was to pay
him, in case the said Johanna should be healed. And upon this, the
same Roger Clerk then and there gave to the said Roger atte Hacche an
old parchment, cut or scratched across, being the leaf of a certain
book, and rolled it up in a piece of cloth of gold, asserting that it
would be very good for the fever and ailments of the said Johanna;
and this parchment, so rolled up, he put about her neck, but in no
way did it profit her; and so, falsely and maliciously, he deceived
the same Roger atte Hacche. And he produced the said parchment here
in Court, wrapped up in the same cloth, in proof of the matters
aforesaid.

And the said Roger Clerk personally appeared, and the said parchment
was shown to him by the Court, and he was asked what the virtue of
such piece of parchment was; whereupon, he said that upon it was
written a good charm for fevers. Upon being further asked by the
Court what were the words of this charm of his, he said;--“Anima
Christi, sanctifica me; Corpus Christi, salva me; in isanguis
Christi, nebria me; cum bonus Christus tu, lava me.”[40] And the
parchment being then examined, not one of those words was found
written thereon. And he was then further told by the Court, that a
straw[41] beneath his foot would be of just as much avail for fevers,
as this said charm of his was; whereupon, he fully granted that it
would be so. And because that the same Roger Clerk was in no way
a literate man, and seeing that on the examination aforesaid, (as
well as on others afterwards made,) he was found to be an infidel,
and altogether ignorant of the art of physic or of surgery; and to
the end that the people might not be deceived and aggrieved by such
ignorant persons, etc.; it was adjudged that the same Roger Clerk
should be led through the middle of the City, with trumpets and
pipes, he riding on a horse without a saddle, the said parchment and
a whetstone, for his lies, being hung about his neck, an urinal also
being hung before him, and another urinal on his back. [_Letter-Book
H. 145._]

[40] “Soul of Christ, sanctify me; body of Christ, save me; blood of
Christ, saturate me; as Thou art good, Christ, wash me.”

[41] In allusion, perhaps, to the custom of men who were ready to
perjure themselves, as false witnesses, to go about with a straw
sticking out from between the foot and the shoe--“men of straw.”
[Riley.]

1390. In connection with the Surgeons’ Guild, four Master Surgeons of the City were sworn before the Mayor, etc., in this year, and _they_ were to make scrutiny amongst persons practising the art of Surgery, and to present defaults. [_Letter-Book H._ 248.] It will be remembered that in 1369 a somewhat similar Ordinance was made for the Surgeons’ Guild, and this one in 1390 was probably obtained as a set off to the powers vested in the Barbers by their Ordinance of 1376, and by way of assertion of equal rights with them in matters surgical. Anyhow it is very clear that there were two distinct bodies within the City ruling the craft of Surgery at this period, each, no doubt, claiming jurisdiction over its own members, and both anxious and ready to interfere with outsiders, and probably with each other. It is curious to note that in the Ordinance of 1390, above referred to, the Masters inspecting are authorised to make scrutiny not only of men, but of “women undertaking cures, or practising the art of Surgery”; and here, in the 19th century, we find history repeating itself, and women again “intermeddling in matters surgical.”

As might be expected the dual scrutiny exercised over persons practising surgery, by two distinct and antagonistic Companies, produced considerable jealousy and unpleasantness, and there are various records extant indicative of cases of attempted interference with the Barbers’ privileges, one of which is distinctly stated to have been the work of the Surgeons and Physicians, as doubtless also were the others.

1410. By _Letter-Book I._ 94, it appears that the Ordinances for the Barbers made in 1376 were confirmed to them with the significant addition that they should enjoy the same, “without the scrutiny of any person or persons of any other craft or trade, under any name whatsoever other than the craft or trade of the said Barbers, either as to shaving, making incision, blood letting or any other matters pertaining to the art of Barbery or of Surgery, in the craft of the said Barbers now practised, or to be practised hereafter.” This Ordinance is, I think, clearly directed against the Masters of the Surgeons’ Guild, who had sought to exercise their authority over the Barbers using the faculty of Surgery.

1415. Complaint having been made to the Mayor and Aldermen, concerning the unskilful and fraudulent practice of certain Barbers in matters of Surgery, the privileges of the Barbers were again recorded, though the Company who had hitherto nominated their own Masters, were somewhat shorn of that privilege, as the Mayor, etc., directed the names of all the Barber (Surgeons) to be brought before them, and after due enquiry, _they_ selected two of them for Masters, and gave them their charge and oath.

1416. “Certain trustworthy and discreet” Barber (Surgeons) complained to the Mayor, etc., that notwithstanding the last order, there were still unruly members in the craft, and a fresh Ordinance was enacted which imposed a penalty on offenders.

The Ordinances above referred to are to be found in _Letter-Book I._ 149, and are as follows:

Be it remembered, that on the 10th day of April, in the 3rd year,
etc. (_1415_) it was intimated in a relation, and not without alarm,
unto Thomas Fauconer, Mayor, and the Aldermen, how that some barbers
of the said city, who are inexperienced in the art of surgery, do
oftentimes take under their care many sick and maimed persons,
fraudulently obtaining possession of very many of their goods
thereby; by reason whereof, they are oftentimes made to be worse
off at their departure than they were at their coming: and that, by
reason of the inexperience of the same barbers, such persons are
oftentimes maimed; to the scandal of such skilful and discreet men
as practise the art of surgery, and the manifest destruction of the
people of Our Lord the King.

And the said Mayor and Aldermen, wishing to obviate an evil and
a scandal such as this, as also, to provide a fitting remedy for
the same, and considering first, how that the said barbers by
themselves, without the scrutiny of any other persons of any other
trade or craft,[42] or under any name whatsoever, have supervision
and scrutiny over all men following the craft of barbery, and within
the liberty of the said city dwelling, as to all manner of cases
touching the art of barbery or the practice of surgery, within the
cognizance, or to come within the cognizance, of the craft of the
said barbers;--as by a certain Ordinance, made and ordained in the
time of Richard Merlawe,[43] late Mayor, and the then Aldermen,
and in the Chamber of the said City of London enrolled, of record
fully appears;--did determine and ordain that in future, by the
more substantial part of all the barbers following the practice
of surgery, and dwelling within the liberty of the said city,
there should be chosen two of the most skilful, most wise, and
most discreet men, of all the barbers following such practice of
surgery, and dwelling within the liberty of the said city; seeing
that oftentimes under their scrutiny and correction there would
be found cases of possible death and maiming, where, if ignorant
and indiscreet men should undertake the management thereof--the
which might God forbid--in their judgment grievous errors might
unexpectedly ensue, by reason of such unskilfulness. And that the
same Masters, so often as they should be thus chosen, on election
should be presented to the Mayor and Aldermen, for the time being,
there by the said Mayor and Aldermen to be accepted and sworn etc.

[42] See the Ordinance of 1410.
[43] Mayor 1409-10.

And lest perchance a difference of opinion might in future as to
such election arise, therefore, the said Mayor and Aldermen, after
taking counsel on the matter aforesaid, on Friday, the 3rd day of
May, in the same year (_1415_), caused to be brought before them the
name of every barber who followed the practice of surgery and dwelt
within the liberty of the said city, in order that, after enquiring
into the duties and experiences of their practice and skill, in
manner theretofore approved and customary, they might be the better
able to accept such Masters. And hereupon, because that, among other
names, Simon Rolf and Richard Wellys, citizens and barbers of the
said city practising the art of surgery, as well for their knowledge
and probity, as for the different kinds of difficult cures that had
been sagaciously performed and effected by them, were by trustworthy
testimony, upon sound and umblemished information, commended before
any others, precept was given by the said Mayor and Aldermen to
Baldwin Tettisbury, one of the serjeants of the said Mayor, to summon
the said Simon and Richard for Monday the 6th day of May then next
ensuing, to appear before the said Mayor and Aldermen in the Chamber
of the Guildhall aforesaid, there to make the oath to them by the
said Mayor and Aldermen to be administered.

Upon which Monday the said Simon and Richard, by virtue of such
summons, appeared before the Mayor and Aldermen in the Chamber
aforesaid. And hereupon the said Simon and Richard were then accepted
by the said Mayor and Aldermen, and sworn upon the Holy Evangelists
of God, well and faithfully to watch over and oversee all manner of
barbers practising the art of surgery, and within the liberty of the
said city dwelling; to maintain and observe the rules and ordinances
of the craft or practice aforesaid; no one to spare, for love,
favour, gain, or hate; diligently without concealment to present unto
the Chamberlain of the said City, for the time being, such defaults
as they may find; at all times, when duly required thereto, well and
faithfully to examine wounds, bruises, hurts, and other infirmities,
without asking anything for their trouble; and what they should
find, at their discretion, when duly required thereto, distinctly
to certify unto the Mayor and Aldermen of the said City, for the
time being; as also, well and faithfully to conduct themselves from
thenceforth in future; and all other things to do and perform, which
of right are befitting or requisite for the masters or overseers of
such practice to do.

AFTERWARDS, on the fourth day of July, in the 4th year, etc. (_1416_)
before Nicholas Wottone, Mayor, the Recorder, and the Aldermen, in
full Court, upon truthful information of certain trustworthy and
discreet men of the craft of Barbers, practising the art of surgery
aforesaid, as of other able and substantial men of the said city, it
was stated how that, notwithstanding the Ordinance aforesaid, very
many inexperienced men of the said craft of Barbers, indiscreetly
practising the art of surgery, did presume, and in their presumption
pretend, that they were wiser than the Masters inspecting, and, as
to certain infirmities--indiscreetly excusing themselves therein,
on the insufficient grounds that they are not liable to the peril
of maiming or of death--did altogether disdain to give notice of
the same to the said Masters inspecting, according to the Ordinance
aforesaid, or to be discreetly examined by them as to the same, or
diligently to be questioned thereon. Upon which pretence, they did
not hesitate daily to take sick persons, in peril of death and of
maiming, under their care, without shewing such sick persons, or such
infirmities and perils, unto the same Masters inspecting; by reason
of which presumption or unskilfulness, such sick persons were exposed
to the greatest peril, either of maiming or of death. Wherefore, the
said Mayor and Aldermen were prayed that, for the common advantage of
the whole realm, and the especial honour of the said city, they would
deign to provide some sure remedy for the same.

And accordingly, the Mayor and Aldermen, assenting to the said
petition, as being just and consistent with reason, having taken
diligent counsel as to the matters aforesaid, and considering that
very many of such persons in these times are more in dread of loss
or payment of money than amenable to the dictates of honesty or a
safe conscience, did ordain and enact, that no barber, practising
the art of surgery within the liberty of the said City, should
presume in future to take under his care any sick person who is in
peril of death or of maiming, unless he should show the same person,
within three days after so taking him under his care, to the Masters
inspecting, for the time being, by the barbers practising the art
of surgery within the liberty of the said City to be elected, and
to the Mayor and Aldermen presented, and by them specially to be
admitted; under a penalty of 6_s._ 8_d._ to the Chamber of London in
form underwritten to be paid, so often as, and when, against this
Ordinance they should be found to act; namely, 5 shillings to the use
of the Chamber of the Guildhall, and 20 pence to the use of the craft
of the Barbers.

1423. In this year certain Ordinances were made by the Mayor (Sir William Walderne) and Court of Aldermen which are entered in _Letter-Book K._ 6{B.} This record relates to what Mr. D’Arcy Power, in his “Memorials of the Craft of Surgery,” has termed a “Conjoint College” of the Physicians and Surgeons, and has little to do with our Company, beyond the fact that the scrutiny and oversight of persons practising Surgery is given to the Masters of the Surgeons’ Guild. The subject of these Ordinances and many very interesting remarks thereon and on the Conjoint College may be seen at p. 52, &c., of Mr. D’Arcy Power’s work; and the record itself is set forth in full at p. 299; furthermore, extracts from it, so far as the same relate to the privileges and practice of the Surgeons, are to be found in the beautiful old vellum MS. formerly belonging to that Guild, and now in the possession of the Barbers’ Company.

Armed with this additional authority, the Surgeons’ Guild again sought to interfere with and scrutinize the Barber-Surgeons of the Barbers’ Company. These latter, however, must have had good friends at Court, and were not slow in asserting and obtaining confirmation of their rights and privileges, as will be seen by reference to the following record in _Letter-Book K._ 27{B.}:--

1424. MEMORANDUM. That on Friday the 10th day of November in the
third year of the reign of Henry the Sixth from the Conquest
before John Michell, Mayor, Thomas Knolles and other Aldermen, and
Simon Seman and John Bithewater, Sheriffs of the City of London,
It was granted and ordained that the Masters of the faculty of
Surgery within the craft of Barbers of the same city, do exercise
the same faculty even as fully and entirely as in the times of
Thomas Fauconer late Mayor, and other Mayors, it was granted unto
them, notwithstanding the false accusation (_calumpnia_) which the
Rector and Supervisors of Physic and the Masters of Surgery pretend
concerning a certain ordinance made in the time of William Walderne
late Mayor (_1423_) and entered in the letter book K, folio 6, the
which, they now endeavour to enjoin upon the said Barbers.

1451. With the exception of a few references (which are noticed elsewhere) the City records are silent concerning the Barbers’ Company until this year, when the Master and Wardens, styled here “Gardiani,” with certain honest men of the Mystery of Barbers, brought a Bill before the Mayor and Aldermen, praying them to establish certain Ordinances, and to enter them of record, which was granted and done.

These Ordinances provided for the enforcement of stated penalties in cases of disobedience and related to attendance upon summons, settlements of disputes, refusal of office, admission of members, evil speaking, assemblies and payments, instruction of “foreyns,” employment of aliens. They are to be found in _Letter-Book K._ 250, and are the first written in English, all previous ones being either in Latin or Norman French in the originals.

MEMORANDUM q{d.} xxv{to.} die ffebruarii Anno regni Regis Henrici
Sexti post conquestˀ vicesimo nono veniunt hic in Curˀ Dñi Regis
in Camˀa Guyhald Civitatis london coram Nich̃o Wyfold Maiore &
Aldermannis ejusdem Civitatꝭ magistˀ & Gardianˀ necnon cẽti probi
homines misterˀ barbitonsoꝜ Civitatꝭ p’dcẽ & porrexerunt dcisˀ Maiore
& Aldermannis quandam billam sive supplicacioñe vˀboꝜ sequentˀ seviem
continentem Unto the ryght Worshipfull and Worshipfull lord and
souvˀaignes Mair and Aldremen of the Citee of London,

BESECHEN most mekely all pˀsones enfˀunchised in the craft and
mistier of Barbours wythin the said Citee That it please unto your
lordshippˀ and Right wise discrecions for to consider howe that for
as moche as certein ordin{a}nces been establisshed made and entred
of Record in the ch{a}umber of the yeldhall of the said Citee all
pˀsonnes of the said Craft have fully in opinion for to obeye observe
and kepe theim and noon other in eny Wise, So been y{r.} many and
divˀse defaultes often tymes amonges your said besechers not duely
corrected for default of such other ordin{a}nces to be made and
auctorised sufficiently of record in the said ch{a}umber, like it
therefore unto your said lordshippe and grete Wisdoms of your blessed
disposicons for the pˀpetuell Wele and good Rule of the said Craft
for to establissh and make these ordinaunces here folowyng pˀpetuelly
to endure and for to be observed and putte in due execucion in the
same craft And to be auctorised of record in the said ch{a}umber
for evˀ And your said besechers shall pray god for you.