Chapter XII: THE TWELVE Article is that if Olyver Wilson dothe hereafter (14)

Item I give and bequeathe to my servaunt John Deighton my newe and
last made Chirurgery chest which is for my owne use with all that is
therein except golde and silver Also I bequeath to him my plaster
boxe of leather which hath the lock hinges and barrs over yt of
Copper gilted and the cysars and all the silver instrumentes therein.
Also I give unto him my rownde silver salvatory and one catheter
of silver and annother of leade with the case wherein they are Also
I give unto him a case with silver Instrumentes therein that ys to
saye a silver splatter a chockbarr of silver for the uvula a silver
Syringe parcell gilted Also I give unto him my silver precipitate box
all w{ch} thingꝭ are in the aforesaid chest. Also I bequeath unto him
all my bookes of Phisicke and chirurgery with two Dixionaries which
are in my study in my house at Manfeilde parke in the parishe of
Taplowe. I also bequeath unto him my Englishe bible which is at the
Courte. I give and bequeath to Lewes Rogers[337] somtyme my servaunte
my greater surgery Chest which is in my Chamber here at London
with all that is therein except golde and silver. Also I give unto
him my plaster box which my wife hath in the Countrie with all the
instrumentes therein belonginge to the same Also I give unto him a
Catheter of silver which is in the Chest that I have apointed to John
Deighton my servaunte Also I give unto him these bookes followinge
Guydoes Chirurgery in ffrench, Bartholomeus De proprietatibus rerum,
Vidus Vidius Interpres, Valescus his practise, Albucasis Discorides,
Cornelius Celsus, Johannes Mesue, Marcus Catenarcus, Guydoe in latin,
Leonardus ffuschius, Gyrolanus in ffrench and Quintus Curtius in
Englishe. Also I give and bequeath to my servaunt John Edwards my
least Chirurgery Chest which is at the Court for the Dayly use of my
servauntes with all that therein is, my plaster box of leather with
y{e} gilted locke and hinges of silver with all the instrumentes
therein to the same belonginge and these English bookes, Gemimes
Anathomy, Guido and Leonard ffuschius both in written hand, John
Vigo, Eliot’s Dictionarie which I have lent to my felowe Goodorus,
Turners herball and my byble which is at my howse in Manfeilde parke.
Also I give unto him a pewter Syringe with three pypes of silver
belonginge to the same. Also I give unto John Griffin somtymes my
servaunt my silver salvatory percell guilted which is in the Chest
that I have appointed to my servaunte Lewes Also I bequeath to
Anthony Gariswall somtyme my servaunte one bigge latin booke wherein
are bounde togeather the Chirurgeries of Guido, Brumis, Theodoricus
Lanfrancke and Alberti Palus Also I give and bequeath unto the
companie of the Barbors and Chirurgeons of the Cittie of London the
Chirurgery of that most excellent writer John Tagaultius the lattin
booke and also the English translation that I have made thereof
And also the Chirurgerie of the expert and perfect practitioner
Ambrose Parey both which workes I have written into Englishe for
the love that I owe unto my bretheren practisinge Chirurgerie and
not understandinge the latin Tounge and given them into the Hall
for theire Dayly use and Readinge both in lattin and Englishe and
Desiringe that they may be kept faire and cleane for my sake which
wish them all prosperous and good successe in theire workes and
endevours whatsoever they take in hande to the glory of God and the
advauncemente of the Arte. Also I give unto my servaunt John Edwards
my Case with all the Instrumentes therein which is in my Chest which
I have appointed for Deighton. Also I give unto my servaunte John
Deighton my bagge with the case and all the Instrumentes and other
thingꝭ that are therein which lyeth for my Daily use in my Chest
wherein I put my lynnen at the Courte. ffinally my will is that
myne Executrix shall give to the use of the two hospitalls Sainte
Bartholomewes and Saint Thomas for the sicke and sore people there
all other such medicines bookes Instrumentꝭ bottles boxes and pottꝭ
and such like thingꝭ belonginge to Chirurgery as are not in this
Schedule bequeathed and given and such as she will reserve for her
owne use, and to give to the poore for Christes sake. In Witnesse
whereof I have also Subscribed this Schedule and put to my seale the
Daie and yere first above written.

[337] Warden 1615, 16, and 17 (died in 1617).

Per me ROBERTUM BALTHROPP.

Arms. Ar. on a chev. sa. five fleur de lys of the first. (The shield on Balthrop’s monument is quarterly 1{st} and 4{th} as above, 2{d} and 3{rd} a bend betw. two Eagles displayed.)

SIR PETER PROBY.

PETER PROBY was born at Chester, and was the son of Randolph Proby, afterwards of Brampton, Hunts, by his wife, a Miss Bernard. He was admitted to our freedom in 1579, made a Liveryman 1st July, 1596, an Assistant 6th July, 1609, and served the office of Master 1615. He was Sheriff of London 1614, Alderman of the Ward of Queenhithe, and Lord Mayor in 1622.

19th August, 1605. This day M{r} Peter Proby a very lovinge member
of this company did out of his love and affection to this house of
his owne voluntarie good will give unto this company a very fayre
large and serviceable standinge Cup of silver and double gilte
wayghinge xxx ouncꝭ & a penny waight with a cover unto it whereupon
are his armes placed And hath this supˀscription ingraven upon it
[This cup is given to this hall by Peter Proby gentleman free of
the same, A servant to Queene Elizabeth and to Kinge James And for
both keepˀ of the Recordes in the Tower of London. Postm{r} for the
service of Ireland. And for speciall Service a pentioner for leife.
Who was twice of the high courte of Parliament] which cup was kindlie
accepted by this Court, And in gratificac͠on thereof It is by this
Court ordred that the said Peter Proby shalbe exempted and discharged
from all offices within this Company except the office of M{r} or
Governo{r} of this companie. And from all other attendaunces for the
sˀrvice or affaires of the said Company And when it shall please him
to come to the hall he is to be kindlie and freindlie intertayned.
finis coronabit opus.

24th May, 1614. It was agreed that Mr. Alderman Proby should, if he desired it, “have the use of this house together with the plate and other necessaries for to keep his Shrievalty,” and if he desired to keep his Shrievalty elsewhere he was to be allowed to borrow the plate for a year; and on the 1st July it was agreed that £40 should be given to him towards the “bewtifying of his howse.”

25th August, 1614. Fifteen Members of the Court of Assistants were nominated to attend Mr. Sheriff Proby on Michaelmas eve and the next day, and all charges and expenses which they might incur were to be borne by the Company.

In 1616, Sir Peter who had previously been appointed Governor of the colony of Ulster by special commission from the King and the City of London, repaired thither, attended by divers of the most eminent citizens, to regulate certain affairs belonging to the plantation, taking with him two rich swords of state as a present from the City, to be carried before the Mayors of Londonderry and Coleraine, the former having been some time before erected into a city and the latter into a Mayor-town.

8th June, 1622. At a Court held this day Alderman Proby was ordered to be translated to the Grocers’ Company, in view of his coming election as Lord Mayor.

20th September, 1622. At this Court it is agreed that there shalbe
hiered on the Lord Maior{s} day a Noyse of Trumpettꝭ at the Charge of
the howse.

At this Court it is agreed that M{r} Alderman Probie shall have our
plate & hangeingꝭ for this yeare of his Maioralty.

Sir Peter’s eldest son, Heneage, was knighted; he was Sheriff of Bucks, and M.P. for Amersham. His second son, Henry, was Common Serjeant of London. Sir Peter was the ancestor of several members of Parliament as also of the Marquess of Rockingham and the Earl of Carysfort. His grandson Peter Proby, who married Grace, daughter of Sir Richard Ford, was chosen a Liveryman of the Company 10th March, 1659.

Sir Peter Proby’s will (undated) was proved 21st March, 1625, and commences--

I Peter Proby Knight and Alderman of London calling to minde the
transitory estate of all flesh and more perticulerly the great age
w{ch} through gods especiall goodnes I have attayned, as alsoe the
weake estate of my body broken of late w{th} many sicknesses and
infirmities w{ch} still hanging one mee as be many monito{rs} unto
me to pˀvide for my approachinge change and settlinge of that poore
state wherew{th} it hath pleased god to blesse mee.

He gives to his wife Dame Elizabeth Proby (of whom he speaks in terms of the greatest affection) his manor of Allington, _alias_ Aylton, Hunts, for 40 years, if she shall so long live, with remainder to his son Heneage, also to his wife his mansion and manor house of Caddington, Herts, with the demesne lands of that manor and the tithes thereof, also all his lands, tenements, and hereditaments in Luton and Dunstable with remainder to his son Henry, also to his wife his house in St. Swithin’s Lane, London. To his son Henry the manor of Yaxley, Hunts, with the tolls of the fair and markets there, which he had by virtue of a lease from Queen Elizabeth. To his son, the Rev. Edmund Proby, D.D., £1,000. To his son George £1,000. To his son Emanuel £500 (he having already had £500). His daughter, Walsingham having been provided for on her marriage, was to have £20.

To my kinde and loveinge soune in lawe William Downhall esquire £20.
Item I give and bequeath unto my lovinge friends the M{r} Wardens and
company of Barber surgions the some of twenty pounds.

Also £30 to the Grocers’ Company and £6 6_s._ 8_d._ to Bridewell Hospital. To the poor of Aylton 12_d._ weekly for 5 years. To the poor of Yaxley 6_d._ weekly for 5 years.

And as for that yerely penc͠on y{t} I have given for ever in the
parish I was borne in in the Citty of Chester I require my executor
to see and make inquiry of the pˀformance thereof (accordinge to a
brason table in the Church therefore) the w{ch} for many yeres past I
have knowne well performed and soe I hope wilbe for ever.

His sons, Heneage and Henry, and son-in-law, William Downhall, were appointed Executors.

Sir Peter Proby’s arms were, erm. on a fesse gu. a lyon pass. or. a crescent for difference.

WILLIAM CLOWES.

WILLIAM CLOWES was the son of Thomas Clowes, originally of Kingsbury, Warwickshire, and afterwards of London. He was born about 1540, and studied surgery under Mr. George Keble, who was not free of our Company, but of whom Clowes more than once speaks in terms of highest praise. He tells us that in 1563 he served as a Surgeon in the army under the Earl of Warwick at Havre, and after this campaign he was for some time in the Navy, in both which appointments he undoubtedly gained great experience. In 1569 he no doubt settled in London, as on the 8th of November in that year he was admitted to the freedom by translation, and he soon secured a large practice, though it was not until the 18th July, 1588, that he was made an Assistant of the Court.

The records do not display Mr. Clowes’ character in the most favourable light, as the following extracts will show:--

6th October, 1573. Here was one & complayned [against] Willm̄ Clowes
for takynge his money and he not cured.

7th February, 1575. Here came one Willm̄ Goodnep and complayned of
Willm̄ Clowes for not curing his wief de morbo gallico and yt was
awarded that the saide Clowes sholde either geve the saide Goodnep
xx{s} orells cure his saide wief w{ch} Clowes agreed to pay the xx{s}
and so they were agreed and eche of them made acquittance to other.

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

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

The George Baker with whom Clowes fought, was afterwards Serjeant-Surgeon and Master of the Company in 1597. In 1575 Mr. Clowes was appointed one of the surgeons of St. Bartholomew’s Hospital and later on he was surgeon to Christ’s Hospital; he was also surgeon to Queen Elizabeth and James I. His first book, “De morbo Gallico,” was published in 1579. In 1585 he went as surgeon of the forces in the expedition to the Low Countries under the Earl of Leicester. In his book, “Proved Practise,” he tells a great deal of this expedition and says that many of the surgeons were most unskilful and “slew more than the enemy did,” though he and his friend Serjeant-Surgeon Gooderus (Master 1594) did not lose a case. Mr. Clowes had the honour of serving in the fleet which defeated the Spanish Armada, and in 1594 was Warden of the Barber-Surgeons, the last Court which he attended was on the 9th February, 1596. After a successful practice he retired to a country house at Plaistow, in Essex, and died in 1604. Dr. Norman Moore says that his books “are the best surgical writings of the Elizabethan age; they are all in English, and his style is very easy and forcible, sometimes a little prolix but never obscure.”

WILLIAM CLOWES, JUN., SERJEANT-SURGEON.

He was the son of William Clowes, Barber-Surgeon; born about 1582, he was apprenticed to his father and admitted to our freedom 22nd January, 1605, and on 13th December, 1615, called to the Livery; he was then surgeon to the Prince of Wales, and had a dispensation from the Court of the Company to attend the lectures and Hall only on such occasions as should be convenient to him. On the accession of Charles I he was made Serjeant-Surgeon to the King. In 1626 he was Master of the Company, and again in 1638. A characteristic letter of Serjeant Clowes and some particulars as to his election as Master in 1626 may be seen on pp. 248-250. On 30th October, 1648, his decease was reported to the Court.

By his will, dated 28th March, 1630, he bequeathed his property freehold and copyhold, to his wife Sara, his son James, and his daughters Ann and Sara.

Arms. Az. on a chev. engr. betw. three unicorns’ heads, era or. as many crescents gu.

GEOFFREY CLOWES =
of Tutbury, Staffordshire |
|
+------------+
|
Nicholas Clowes, =
of Kingsbury, Warwickshire |
|
+------------+
|
Thomas Clowes = Emma d. of
of Kingsbury and | John Beauchamp.
London |
|
+------------+
|
1st. ...... d. of = William Clowes of = and. Katherine Smith,
Godwin of Kent | London, Surgeon to | grandd{r} of Sir Hen.
| Queen Elizabeth and | Wallop of Hampshire.
| James I, d. 1604. |
| |
+---------------+------+ |
| | |
William Clowes = Sara. Richard Clowes |
Serjeant-Surgeon | |
to Charles I. | +------------------+---------+----------+
d. 1648. | | | |
| Henry Clowes = Susan, d. Catherine Mary
| of Cornhill, | of Richard, m. Rich{d.} d. unm.
| admitted to | Cutler of Pile of
| Freedom of | London. Hampshire.
| Barber-Surgeons|
| 16 Jan., 1627, |
| viz., 1633. |
| |
+--------------+----+ +--------------+--------------+
| | | | | |
James Clowes. Ann. Sara. Richard Clowes. Thomas Clowes. Susan.
æt. 3, in 1633.

THOMAS THORNEY.

THOMAS THORNEY, born in 1542 or 1543, was apprenticed to William Bovey (Master 1581) a surgeon in large practice. He was made free 8th April, 1573, and elected an Assistant 19th June, 1595; he served as Warden in 1598 and 1600 and was twice Master of the Company, viz., in 1602 and 1606, he was also a Common Councilman. Mr. Thorney acquired considerable property in Holborn and the country, but dying on 4th June, 1614, without issue, made his nephew Peter (son of his then deceased brother Walter) his heir. He was a considerable benefactor to the Parish of St. Andrew, Holborn, where there is a monumental tablet to his memory. His Will dated 25th May, 1612, was proved on the day of his death, and among other bequests to St. Andrew’s Holborn, he left £10 to the Churchwardens--

to make a Dynner or supper therwith and to make merrie therewith with
my good neighboures for my sake and to encrease neighbourelie love
amongest them And the Churchwardens to bid the parson and Minister
to be with them. Item I give to the Company of Barbar Surgions twoe
spowte pottꝭ of silver and guilt one all guilte and the other
parcell guilte to the valewe of twentie poundes and the Thorne bushe
to be graven on either of them and the Barber Surgeons armes and my
name at lardge and some wordes to shewe that they were of my guifte
Item I give likewise to the Company of Barbor surgions of London that
shall followe me at my ffunerall fyve poundꝭ to make a Dynner with
and to be merrye for my sake and to the entent to encrease brotherlie
love amongest them The said ffyve poundes to be paied to the Master
and Wardens when they come to fetch my bodye to the churche.

To his wife Annie he gave his dwelling house in Holborn, and another newly built house there, also one on the street side next the Bars, and the third part of all his other lands for her life and all his goods and movables. To Richard Cade “my auncient and honest servaunte” and to Jane his wife 40_s._ each for rings. To his nephew, Peter Thorney, his houses in Fetter Lane, the Bell Inn at Acton, a dwelling house at Acton, and the King’s Head in Holborn near the Bars, with a proviso that should Peter die without heirs the Bell at Acton was to pass to the Barber-Surgeons.

PETER THORNEY.

PETER THORNEY was apprenticed to his uncle Thomas Thorney and admitted to the freedom 14th July, 1603. He seems to have got into good practice and was one of the Army Surgeons. He was appointed Surgeon-General of the Army going to the relief of Rochelle, and made his will a few days afterwards (25th July, 1628) with a presentiment of his death, which was soon realised, as probate was granted on the 24th November following. He says--

I com̃end my bodie to bee buried where it shall please god or my
freindes, if I come not home from the Sea this voiage I intended for
the releife of Rochell, but if it shall please god that I die in
England if it maiebee possible I would bee buried in S{t} Andrews
Church as neare to my Unckle M{r} Thomas Thorney as maie bee.

Among other bequests he gives five marks to such of the livery of the Company as shall follow him to the Church; he makes his son Thomas (then under age) his heir generally and provides for his wife Ann and daughter Elizabeth; he leaves to George Peren, Barber-Surgeon, his “yearball knowne by the name of Gerardꝭ yearball.”[338]

[338] Gerard’s Herball.

But if it shall please god soe that both my children shall die
without issue Then my will is that y{e} Bell in Acton shall remaine
for evˀ to the Company of the berber surgeons of London according as
my unckle M{r} Thomas Thorney hath hertofore bequeathed it.

Item I give to Edward Griffith which was my Servant all my
manuscriptꝭ belonginge to surgerie and all my instrumentꝭ belonging
to Surgery except my plaster box and salvatory and instruments in the
boxe and my silver seringe, and likewise unto the said Edward all my
medicines whatsoever I give him w{th} my bookes of Surgery whatsoever
in my Studdie.

JOHN GERARD.

JOHN GERARD was born in 1545 at Nantwich in Cheshire, his parentage is unknown, though by his coat of arms he appears to have descended from the Gerards of Ince in Lancashire. In 1562 he was apprenticed to Alexander Mason, a Surgeon in extensive practice, who was Warden in 1556 and 1561 and Master in 1567 and 1573 (Mr. Mason died 3rd April, 1574). Gerard was admitted to the freedom of the Barber-Surgeons 9th December, 1569. There is no record of his admission to the Livery, though in consequence of his professional attainments and his presumable friendship with his master who made him free, he doubtless had the clothing at the same time. The only note we have of Gerard, before he comes on the Court, is one in which he appears before the Masters as defendant in a case of alleged slander on the wife of a brother freeman.

21st February, 1578. Here was a complainte against Jo: Jerrard for
saying that Richard James his wief had the ffrenche pocks, and he
made answere and saide he wolde justifie the same, and he was dismist
to the Comon Lawe.

Gerard was elected a Member of the Court of Assistants on the 19th June, 1595. For some long time previous he must have been engaged in the preparation of his great work “_The Herball or Generall Historie of Plantes_,” a folio of some 1,400 pages, embellished with about 1,800 illustrations of plants,[339] and published in 1597, which, whilst it was by far the best and most exhaustive work of its kind at that period, has ever since been considered a standard book of reference; a good copy being now worth 8 to 10 guineas. At this period he was living “at my house in Holburne, within the suburbs of London,” probably near Fetter Lane, where he had a large garden of herbs.

[339] The woodcuts for these illustrations were procured from Frankfort, and originally executed for the German Herbal of Tabernæmontanus.

The style of Gerard’s writing was very quaint, and abounds with quiet humour; he scouted monkish tales and old wives’ fables concerning the miraculous properties of plants, etc., honestly endeavouring to present facts to his readers; yet even he has not hesitated to record as true, and gravely set forth, some fabulous stories, as, for example, in speaking of Barnacles on p. 1391, he says--

There is a small Ilande in Lancashire called the Pile of Foulders,
wherein are found the broken peeces of old and brused ships . . .
wheron is found a certaine spume or froth, that in time breedeth unto
certaine shels, in shape like those of the muskle, . . . wherein is
conteined a thing in forme like a lace of silke finely woven, as it
were togither, of a whitish colour; one end whereof is fastned unto
the inside of the shell; . . . the other end is made fast unto the
belly of a rude masse or lumpe, which in time commeth to the shape &
forme of a Bird: when it is perfectly formed, the shel gapeth open, &
the first thing that appeereth is the foresaid lace or string; next
come the legs of the Birde hanging out; and as it groweth greater, it
openeth the shell by degrees, till at length it is all come foorth,
and hangeth onely by the bill; in short space after it commeth
to full maturitie, and falleth into the sea, where it gathereth
feathers, and groweth to a foule, bigger then a Mallard, and lesser
than a Goose; having blacke legs and bill or beake, and feathers
blacke and white, spotted in such maner as is our Magge-Pie, called
in some places a Pie-Annet, which the people of Lancashire call by no
other name than a tree goose; which place aforesaide, and all those
parts adjoining, do so much abound therewith, that one of the best
is bought for three pence: for the truth heerof, if any doubt, may
it please them to repaire unto me, and I shall satisfie them by the
testimonie of good witnesses.

The woodcut illustrations with which the book abounds are designed in a good artistic style, being frequently consulted and adapted nowadays by artists engaged in floral design. In 1596, Gerard seems to have propounded a scheme for the Company to keep a garden for the cultivation and study of medicinal plants, and some land belonging to the Company in East Smithfield was suggested for this purpose, but not being thought a suitable spot, certain members of the Court offered to contribute towards the purchase of a garden elsewhere; in June, 1597, the subject was under consideration, and again in November, 1602; but whether anything further was done in the matter does not appear. The minutes in our books relating to this business, are as follows--

26th March, 1596. A motion was also made concerninge the Demisinge
of certen garden grounds at East Smithfield for the w{ch} M{r}
ffettyplace, M{r} Lacock and John Gerard were sevˀall Sutors. Yt was
agreed that the same should be let for yerely rent at the pleasures
of the masters or governors and none of the said sutors obteyned any
graunte. But for as muche as John Gerard’s request was to have yt to
make a garden of yt for the ffurtherance of learning in the knowledge
and practiqe of the nature and skill of herbes, w{ch} was thought
not a place ffytt for that pˀpose, but that a more convenient place
should be sought owte and dyvers of the Companie did offer to be
contributors for the buying of the same, and M{r} ffetiplace and M{r}
Lacock are to be spoken w{th}all and thus to be satisfied.

16th June, 1597. At the request of M{r} Peck[340] and M{r} Gerat
yt was agreed at this Corte that those whose names are here after
menc͠oned should survey a peece of ground ffyt to make a Garden for
to plant all kinde of herbes in routes plantes and suche like as to
the saide M{r} Gerat being a skilfull Herbalist should thinck meete
for the wo{r}shipp of this societie, and to relate their opinions and
acc͠ons therein to this howse and societie for the further pˀceding
therein, viz{t} M{r} John Isard[341] M{r} Lewes Atmer[342] M{r} Cox
M{r} Wood[343] M{r} Sprignell[344] M{r} Borne[345] Jeames Bates[346]
M{r} Thomas Waren[347] M{r} Bovy[348] M{r} Byrd[349] M{r} Gale[350]
M{r} Laycock[351] M{r} Jo Martin[352] or any viij. x. or the most
pˀte of them.

[340] John Peck, Master 1605 and 1610.
[341] Warden 1590, 1593, 1596.
[342] W. 1601.
[343] Master 1591.
[344] W. 1584, 1587, 1591.
[345] M. 1600.
[346] W. 1591, 1595, 1597.
[347] W. 1596.
[348] M. 1617.
[349] M. 1590.
[350] M. 1595.
[351] M. 1598, 1604.
[352] M. 1601.

2nd November, 1602. This daye it is ordered that the Committes for
M{r} Gerrard’s garden shall this aft{r} noone meet at the hall to
consider of the report for a Garden for the said M{r} Gerrard.

In August, 1597, John Gerard was chosen Junior Warden (George Baker, the Queen’s Serjeant-Surgeon being at the same time elected Master), and in January following he was appointed one of the Examiners of Surgeons. In 1604, there had been controversies between Gerard and Christopher Frederick (Master 1609), which on the 12th June were referred to a Committee of the Court for settlement. “And if they no ende can make they are to make report at the next Court of their pˀcedinges therein.”

26th September, 1605. This day M{r} Jerrard was discharged of the
office of second Warden and upper governo{r} of this Company uppon
his suite & entreatie for certayne considerac͠ons. And is fyned for
the said places at x{li} which he is pˀntlie to pay to the pˀnte
M{rs} or governours And is hereafter to take his place as though he
had served the place of upper Governo{r} any thinge to the contrarie
notwithstandinge.

7th November, 1605. The above order was rescinded, but shortly afterwards Mr. Gerard brought £10 into Court, and left it with the Wardens, when it was ordered that the matter should be further considered, and in the result the fine was accepted.

21st October, 1606. This daie John Gerrard was fyned at vj{s} viij{d}
for abuseing M{r} Peck and it is ordered that from henceforth they
shall be freinds, and all Controversyes betweene them are to cease.

20th July, 1607. Mr. Gerard was again appointed an Examiner of Surgeons, and 17th August following elected Master.

Queen Elizabeth is reported to have entertained a high opinion of Mr. Gerard’s attainments, and he was also patronised by her Minister, William Cecil, Lord Burleigh, whose garden he superintended for twenty years. In the dedication of his Herbal to Lord Burleigh, in speaking of the “care and studie” of herbs, he says--

Under your Lordship I have served, and that way imployed my
principall studie, and almost all my time now by the space of twenty
yeeres. To the large and singular furniture of this noble Iland, I
have added from forren places all the varietie of herbes and flowers
that I might any way obtaine, I have laboured with the soile to make
it fit for the plants, and with the plants to make them to delight in
the soile, that so they might live and prosper under our climate, as
in their native and proper countrie: what my successe hath beene, and
what my furniture is, I leave to the report of them that have seene
your Lordships gardens, and the little plot of my speciall care and
husbandrie.

Among the numerous epistles, etc., laudatory of Gerard, prefixed to the Herbal are some exceedingly quaint verses dedicated by “Thomas Thorney[353] Master in Chirurgerie, to his learned friend and loving brother in Art, M. John Gerard.” There is also an epistle by “George Baker, one of hir Maiesties chiefe Chirurgions in ordinarie, and M. of the Chirurgions of the Citie of London.” Besides his garden in Holborn, Gerard seems also to have had one in the Strand by Somerset House, and to have held the appointment of “Herbarist” to James I, for among the Domestic State papers at the Record Office, is a grant dated 10th October, 1603, by Anne, Queen of James I to Sir Robert Cecil, Lord Cecil of Essingdon, of the Keepership of Somerset House with all the orchards, walks, gardens, &c., thereto belonging “except and alwaies reserved to John Gerrard of London Surgeon and herbarist to his Ma{tie} all that garden plott or peece of ground w{th} all and singular pˀfittꝭ comodities and other the app̃tencꝭ therew{th} graunted and demised unto him by one lease given under o{r} hand and seale at”[354] . . .

[353] See p. 538.

[354] The lease was dated 14th August, 1603, and was for 2 acres of land for Gerard’s life at a yearly rent of four pence, with a tribute of herbs, &c., if demanded.

In 1639 the Company purchased a copy of Gerard’s work for the Library. “Paid for M{r} John Gerrardꝭ herball for the library for Claspes & settinge on the chaine . . . . . xxv{s} vj{d.}”

John Gerard died in February, 1612, and was buried at St. Andrew’s, Holborn, on the 18th of that month. There is a fine portrait of Gerard facing page 1 of the Herbal, in which he is represented holding a potato plant in his hand; below are the arms of the Barber-Surgeons and his own coat, viz., quarterly 1st and 4th ar. a lyon rampant erm. crowned or, a crescent for difference (Gerard), 2nd and 3rd ar. three torteaux in bend between two bendlets sa. (Ince). Crest, A lyon’s jamb era. inverted holding a hawk’s lure. Motto, D’assenti buone.

The best account of Gerard may be seen in a privately-printed “Catalogue of Plants cultivated in the Garden of John Gerard and a life of the Author,” by Benjamin D. Jackson, F.L.S. London, 1876.

SIR THOMAS BLUDDER.

Sir THOMAS was the son of Sir Thomas Bludder, of Flanchford, in the parish of Reigate (who died 1st November, 1618). He was knighted at Whitehall, 22nd April, 1618, and married three times, his third wife being Elizabeth, daughter of Robert Brett, of Rotherby, Lancashire.

9th August, 1621. At this Court upon the request of Sir Thomas
Bludder Knyght who was desierous to be made a freman of this Company
It was ordered he shold be made free & so tooke his oath accordingly.

Sir Thomas, who was a Justice of the Peace for Surrey, represented Reigate in the several Parliaments of 21 James I, and 1, 3 and 16 Charles I. He was a Royalist and imprisoned for his adherence to that cause, and died on 29th September, 1655.

A pedigree of the Bludders will be found in Aubrey’s Antiquities of Surrey, IV, 210.

Arms. Gu. a dexter arm embowed or, the hand ppr.

MARTIN BROWNE.

MARTIN BROWNE was born about 1590, probably in Lincolnshire; he was apprenticed to Thomas Clemence, a surgeon free of the Company, and on 13th July, 1613, was admitted to the freedom. He seems to have had an extensive practice, and in 1648 was living in Creed Lane. There are numerous references to him in our Minutes, from which may be gathered that he was a man of great experience, and well able to hold his own in some cases where his professional skill had been called in question by jealous brethren of the craft. He served as Warden in 1640 and 1645, and was Master in 1653, when he presented the Company with a loving cup (_see_ p. 502). He died 16th April, 1655, and in his will dated 20th August, 1654, and proved 24th April, 1655, he describes himself as of the parish of St. Gregory, “full of yeares,” and requests to be buried in his parish church near his dead children “which was partly under my owne pewe where now of late I satt.” To the poor of that parish he leaves £10. To the poor of East Tilbury 40_s._ To the poor of Louth, in Lincolnshire, £10. To his cousin Richard Mason, of Leeyborne, Lincolnshire, £5, and to his son, Richard Mason, testator’s apprentice, £5 and his case of silver instruments, “with fower books of phisick and of Chirurgery namelie Ambrose Parrey and Rondeletius and Aqua Sendens his mannuall operations and Tangaltius and others Authers all bound up in one volumne.” He gives several legacies of money to cousins, nieces, servants, and apprentices, makes his wife Margaret his executrix, and leaves all his lands and houses in the counties of Essex and Lincoln and the City of London to her for life, with remainder to his only child Rebecca, the wife of Humphry Winch, Esquire. “To my cousen Henery Barker all my Instruments of yron for Chirurgerie excepte my Lancetts and incision knives. I likewise give [him] theise bookes namely the workes of Hypocrates, Galen, Celsus, Paulus Agenta, ffernebens Senertus his Chirurgery.”

Arms (as engraved on the loving cup). Quarterly, 1st and 4th three mullets, 2nd and 3rd a hunting horn stringed between three escallops.

EDWARD ARRIS, ALDERMAN.

Few names are held in greater veneration at Barbers’ Hall than that of Edward Arris. His father, Jasper Arris, was apprenticed to Thomas Burston or Burstowe, a Surgeon and Master of the Company in 1576. Jasper Arris (probably born 1560-2), was admitted to the freedom, 3rd April, 1583, chosen a Liveryman, 22nd January, 1606, an Assistant, 3rd August, 1614, served as Warden in the years 1617 and 1622, and was reported on 8th January, 1623, as then recently deceased. There are few notices of Jasper in our books, and one of them on 21st October, 1606, is perhaps not much to his credit, as it records his fine for working on the Sabbath day; from which we may gather that he was one of those who, contrary to the Ordinances and the Statute, worked both as a Barber and Surgeon,--a practice often winked at by the Governors. His son Edward, was born in London in 1591, and was admitted to the freedom by patrimony on 21st January, 1617, having learnt his art with his father; he was admitted to the Livery 9th October, 1627, and on 30th April, 1629, granted his diploma to practise Surgery. In 1632, he was chosen Steward, and the next year Master of the Anatomy. On the 23rd April, 1640, he was elected an Assistant and served the office of Warden in 1642. On 10th February, 1648, he was appointed one of the Examiners of Surgeons, and elected Master of the Company 1651. On 3rd July, 1663, Mr. Arris was nominated by the Court of Aldermen, Alderman of the Ward of Bridge Without (_loco_ Richard Evans) and was sworn in on the 28th July following, but this civic office was probably an uncongenial one to him, for he very shortly afterwards applied to be discharged from it, and thereupon paid a fine of £300 to the City.

In 1645 Mr. Arris founded an Anatomy Lecture, and with a characteristic modesty endeavoured to conceal the founder’s name, though his intention in this respect was necessarily frustrated when the deed of settlement had to be drawn. This, the Arrisian Lecture, still survives at the Royal College of Surgeons. (Particulars of the foundation will be found on pp. 368, 369.) In 1649, when our plate was sold, Mr. Arris re-purchased King Henry VIII’s cup, and “freely gave it againe to this Company,” for which all Barber-Surgeons and Barbers have ever after been profoundly grateful to him. He also, in 1651, gave us four silver cups. Mr. Arris’ granddaughter, Henrietta Maria Langford, seems to have got into straitened circumstances, as on 5th August, 1718, we read “It is ordered that Henrietta Maria Langford daughter of Robert Arris son of Alderman Arris Members of this Company, shall be made free without charge, in Gratitude to the Memory of Alderman Arris, in order that she may be admitted one of the Company’s Pentioners.”

The Alderman died 28th May, 1676, at the good old age of eighty-five and is buried in St. Sepulchre’s Church, where there is a quaint tablet with this inscription--

EDWARD ARRIS ESQR. GAVE TO | NEAR THIS PLACE LYETH INTER’D
THE COMPANY OF CHIRURGEONS 30L | THE BODY OF MARY ARRIS YE
FOR AN ANATOMY LECTURE & TO | WIFE OF EDWARD ARRIS ESQR.
THE HOSPITAL OF ST. BARTHOLOMEW | & SOMETIME ALDERMAN OF THIS
24L BOTH YEERLY FOR EVER | CITY. THEY WERE MARRIED 60
TO CHRIST’S CHURCH HOSPITAL | YEARS AND HAD ISSUE 23 CHILDRE
100L & 50L TOWARDS REBUILDING | WHEREOF ONLY THOMAS ARRIS
OF THIS CHURCH AND SEVERAL | (DR. IN PHYSICK FELLOW OF THE
LARGE GIFTS TO THE POOR OF THIS | COLLEGE IN LONDON JUSTICE
PARISH WHEREIN HE WAS BORN. | OF YE PEACE IN THE COUNTY OF
AND ALL THESE IN HIS LIFE TIME | HARTFORD AND A MEMBER OF
HEE DECEASED THE 28TH OF MAY | THE HON{BLE.} HOUSE OF COMMONS) HER
1676 AGED 85 | SURVIVED. SHEE DIED Y{E} IJTH
& LYETH BURIED | OF DEC{R.} 1674 AGED 76 YEARS.
BY HIS WIFE. |

By his Will, dated 20th May, 1676, he directs his body to be buried in the grave of his father, mother and wife in St. Sepulchre’s, and he bequeathed his property to his then only surviving son Thomas Arris, M.D., M.P., and his children, and to the children of his deceased son Robert. He gave five legacies of £400 each and some smaller ones amongst his grandchildren and an annuity of £30 a year to his grandson Robert. He also bequeathed messuages, lands, &c., at Hatfield, two messuages in Well Yard, St. Bartholomew’s the Less, a messuage near Pye Corner, ten acres of Copyhold land in the manor of Bedwell near Hatfield and four freehold houses in the parish of St. Paul, Covent Garden, to his son and grandchildren. “I give Ten shillings a peece to soe many Antient men as I shall be yeares old att the tyme of my death to mourne in decent Gownes att my Burial whereof Tenn to be of the parish of Little St. Bartholomews Tenn of the Company of Barber Chirurgeons and the rest of the Parish of St. Sepulchres.” He also left £8 to the poor of St. Sepulchre’s to be given to 160 poor at his burial; £5 to the poor of St. Bartholomew the Less; £5 to Christ’s Hospital among 100 children to attend his burial; 20_s._ each to the two Beadles of the Barber-Surgeons, and 5_s._ each to the four Beadles of St. Bartholomew’s Hospital; also £5 to Dr. Bell to preach a sermon at his burial.

Arms. Ar. on a cross gu. five fleur de lys or.

JASPER ARRIS=
of St. Sepulchre’s, |
London, died 1622-3. |
+----------------+
|
Alderman Edward Arris = Mary ...
b. 1591. d. 28 May, 1676. | b. 1598 d. 11 Dec., 1674.
|
+----------------------------+---+---------------------+
| | |
Robert Arris, Surgeon = Elizabeth d. Thomas Arris = Olivia ... and
ad{t} to Freedom 21 | Henry Boone. of St. Alban’s| 21 other
Jan., 1651.; died be- | Herts, M.D., | children
fore 17 April, 1662. | M.P. |
| |
+----------------+-+--------------------+ |
| | | |
Edward Arris Henrietta = ... Susan |
apprenticed to Maria Langford. |
Thos. Ryton admitted to |
Surgeon Freedom |
3 Sep., 1674. 5 Aug., 1718. |
|
+------------+-------+-------+--------+--------+------+-------+
| | | | | | | |
Edward Arris Thomas. Robert. Jasper. Elizabeth. Mary. Agnes. Margaret.
appt{d} to
Thomas Hobbs,
Surgeon,
13 Feb., 1677.
admitted to
Freedom
4 March, 1684.

SIR JOHN FREDERICK.

JOHN FREDERICK was a son of Christopher Frederick, Barber-Surgeon. A minute of the 9th June, 1595, states that “the said Xpõfer ffrederick being a strainger borne had his ffreedom geven him of the Cittie of London by vertue of her Mat{ies} most gracious Lrẽs to the Lord maior and Corte of Aldrem̃e directed and was made fre of this Companie and after chosen of the lyvery and then one of Thassistance.”

Christopher Frederick was on more than one occasion at serious variance with the Court, as also with some of its members, and a resolution was passed, evidently with pointed allusion to him, viz., that in future aliens should be ineligible for the Court. He was Serjeant-Surgeon to James I, and probably to Elizabeth also; Master in 1609 and again in 1616. His son William was admitted to the freedom by service 27th October, 1607. Christopher Frederick was buried 10th October, 1623, in the church of St. Olave, Jewry, where also Mary, his widow, was interred on 6th June, 1636. They had issue six sons and six daughters.

John Frederick, the fourth son, was baptized 25th October, 1601, and educated at Christ’s Hospital. On 17th July, 1632 he was admitted to the freedom by patrimony, on the 13th November, 1635 elected to the Livery, and on 30th January, 1645 made an Assistant. He was a successful merchant and resided in a large mansion on the site of what is now Frederick’s Place, Old Jewry (which he rebuilt after the Great Fire in 1666). This house was afterwards used as the Excise Office, upon the removal of which to Broad Street, the building was taken down and the present houses erected. He was elected Alderman of Vintry September, 1653, and in 1660 removed to Coleman Street Ward. He was Master of the Barber-Surgeons in 1654 and again in 1658; he served as Sheriff, 1655-6, and was then knighted. The Barber-Surgeons attended Sir John in their barge to Westminster when he went to be sworn in as Sheriff, and ordered his portrait to be painted at a cost of £15. This fine picture representing the Sheriff in his robes and with a flowing wig, is preserved at Barbers’ Hall. In 1661 Sir John was translated to the Grocers’ Company to enable him to take upon him the office of Lord Mayor, which he served 1661-2. The pageant performed at the expense of the Grocers upon his accession to the Mayoralty was entitled “Londons Tryumphs presented in several delightfull Scænes,” and was composed by John Tatham; a copy of this very rare tract is preserved in the Guildhall Library. Pepys, under date 29th October, 1661, writes--

This day I put on my half cloth black stockings and my new coate of
the fashion, which pleases me well, and with my bever I was (after
office was done) ready to go to my Lord Mayor’s feast, as we are all
invited; but the Sir Williams were both loth to go, because of the
crowd, and so none of us went. My mind not pleased because I had
proposed a great deal of pleasure to myself this day at Guildhall.
This Lord Mayor, it seems, brings up again the custom of Lord Mayors
going the day of their instalment to Paul’s and walking round about
the Crosse, and offering something at the Altar.

In 1662 Sir John was elected Master of the Grocers’ Company and also President of Christ’s Hospital, which latter office he held until 1683. In the Parliament of 1660 he represented Dartmouth; on the 10th March, 1663, he was elected one of the Members for the City and so continued until the dissolution in January, 1679. In 1674 he gave £100 towards rebuilding Barber-Surgeons’ Hall; he also repaired and fitted up the Great Hall at Christ’s Hospital at a cost of £5,000. In 1664 he bore the expense of bringing the Conduit Water from Gray’s Inn Fields to the Hospital. In 1667 he gave £50 and twenty chaldrons of sea coal, and by his Will bequeathed £500 to the Hospital. In 1654 he gave a handsome silver loving cup and cover weighing about 38 oz. to the Barber-Surgeons; this cup is still used on festive occasions. There is a portrait of Sir John at Christ’s Hospital, which represents him as seated in an arm chair, in his civic robes, with an open letter in his hand, on his head is a full bottomed wig and a black cap, he has white whiskers and a tuft of white hair on his under lip.

In the “Gentleman’s Magazine” for November, 1769, is a copy of a document prepared for Charles II, giving the characters of the Lord Mayor and Aldermen, which says of Sir John Frederick that--

by reason of his age, he is apt to be ledd by others, especially by
Sir John Lawrence, a man of little dispatch, very readie to run into
mistakes; he hates a souldier, and cannot endure to see any of the
King’s guards.

Sir John married Mary Rous by whom he had issue four sons and nine daughters. Judith, his eldest daughter, married Sir Nathaniel Herne (Alderman and Sheriff 1674 and Master of the Barber-Surgeons 1674), who, dying in August, 1679, she married secondly, Robert Hooker, of Hatton Garden. Her Will, dated in 1688, was proved 30th June, 1691.

Sir John Frederick was buried in the Church of St. Olave Jewry 19th March, 1685, where his widow was also interred 19th December, 1689; she bequeathed £300 to Christ’s Hospital. His eldest son Thomas was the father of John Frederick who was created a baronet 10th June, 1723. Sir John gave marriage portions of £3,000 apiece to his daughters Judith and Elizabeth, who married respectively Sir Nathaniel Herne and Sir Joseph Herne, and he covenanted to give £2,000 apiece more either in his lifetime or by will; it seems that he did this by will, which led to litigation, his relict (to whom he left about £10,000) laying claim to some portion of these legacies by the custom of London.

_Arms_ (granted by Sir Ed. Walker, Garter, 22nd October, 1661). Or on a chief gu. three doves ar. beaked gu. legged or.

_Crest._ On a cap of dignity az. turned up ermine, a dove ppr. holding a laurel branch vert.

SIR NATHANIEL HERNE.

Sir NATHANIEL HERNE was the son of Nicholas and grandson of Richard Herne (Alderman and Sheriff in 1618). He was born in 1629 and in 1646 apprenticed at Barber-Surgeons’ Hall to Sir John Frederick, one of the merchant-princes of London at that time. Herne was admitted to the freedom on 7th May, 1655, and, like the typical industrious apprentice, he married his master’s daughter, Judith Frederick, by whom he had (among others) a daughter Judith who married William, second Earl of Jersey, and thereby was one of the ancestors of the present Earl. Sir Nathaniel Herne was a most successful merchant and amassed a large fortune. In 1674 he was Sheriff of London (being knighted at Windsor on the 9th August) and Master of this Company. On the 11th April, 1676, he was elected Alderman of the Ward of Billingsgate. He was sometime M.P. for Dartmouth, and a Governor of the East India Company. He died 16th August, 1679, being then fifty years of age and was buried at St. Olave Jewry, where there is a monument to his memory, with his arms impaling Frederick, and this inscription:--

M S.

Here lyeth in hopes of a Glorious Resurrection the body of S{r}
Nathaniel Herne Knight late Sherife And at his death Alderman of this
Famous Citty and Governour of the Honourable East India Company, Son
to Nicholas and Grandson to Richard Herne sometimes Alderman allso of
this Citty A Person of great Prudence and Indefatigable Industry in
the Management of all Publick Affairs, of Exemplary Piety, Spotless
Integrity and Diffusive Charity having with his owne hand dispenced
very considerable summes to many Charitable uses Particularly to the
reliefe of poore Seamen & Educating of their Children. He tooke to
wife Judith Eldest Daughter of S{r} John Frederick Knight Alderman
and sometimes Lord Mayor of London, his now sorrowfull Widdow by
whome he had divers Children and left three hopefull Sons surviving
viz{t} Frederick, Nathaniel, and Thomas, to whose and to this Cittyes
& Nations great loss as allso to y{e} griefe of all them that knew
him He departed this Life y{e} 16{th} August, 1679 Ætat 50.

Sir Nathaniel by his Will dated 12th April, 1677, left a large property between his wife and children, and legacies to Sir John and Lady Frederick, Ephraim Skinner and numerous other friends and relatives.

Arms. Sa. a chev. erm. between three Herons ar.

NICHOLAS HERNE =
of Tybenham, Norfolk. |
+------------+
|
Richard Herne = Alice dau. of
Sheriff 1618 and | John Pasck, D.D.,
Alderman, lived at | of Cambridge.
the Blue Anchor in |
Cheapside. |
|
1st. Elizabeth = Nicholas Herne = Sarah
dau. of Nicholas | of London, | dau. of
Hooker of London | s. & h. | Rich{d}
Goldsmith. | | Ironside
| | of London.
+----------+--------+-+---+-+-+ |
| | | | | | |
1 2 3 | | | |
Richard Nicholas John Susan. |
Herne Herne Herne. Mary. |
s.p. Katherine. |
+----------------------+----------+--+-------------------+
| | | |
4 5 6 7
Sir Nathaniel = Judith dau. James Sir = Elizabeth d. Basil =
Herne b. 1629,| of Sir John Herne. Joseph | of Sir John Herne |
d. 1679. | Frederick Herne of | Frederick of Hamp- |
Alderman | Lord Mayor. London stead. |
of London | Merch{t} |
Barber- | |
Surgeon. | |
+---------+---------+-----------------+--------+ |
| | | | |
Fredk = ..... d. Nathaniel = .... d. Thomas Judith m. = William |
Herne, | of Lile Herne, of Sir Herne 22 March, | 2{nd} |
of | of North- Esq., Arthur d. unm. 1704, at | Earl of |
London, | ampton- M.P. Ingram Hamp- | Jersey. |
Esqr. | shire. of stead. | |
bur. at | London. | |
S{t} | Earl of |
Brides. | Jersey. |
| |
+---+------+ |
| | +---------------+
a son a daughter = Edward Villiers |
died “worth son and heir . . . . Herne =
young. £40,000.” of the Earl of |
Jersey. +---------+
|
. . . . Herne =
|
+---------+
|
Sir William Herne,
born, 1745, Alderman
of Castle Baynard
and Sheriff in 1797.
d. 20 Dec., 1838,
bur. in the Chancel
at Bray Church.

SIR JOHN LETHIEULLIER.