Chapter III: Preface (3)

FFIRST that evˀy barbour enfˀ{a}uncheised householder and other
occupier of the same craft holdyng eny shopp of barberye wythin the
Citee of london shall be redy att all manˀ som̃ons of the Maisters
and Wardeins of the same craft for the tyme being that is to sey for
the Kyng the Mair or for eny Worshipp of the said Citee And yef eny
man occupying the said craft in manˀe and fourme aforesaid absent him
from eny such som̃ons wythoute cause reasonable and thereof duely
convict than he to pay at the ch{a}umber of the yeldhall xiij{s.}
iiij{d.} that is to say vj{s.} viij{d.} to the same ch{a}umber and
other vj{s.} viij{d.} to the almes of the said craft. Also that evˀy
man enfˀ{a}uncheised under the fourme abovesaid that disobeyeth
and kepeth not his houre of his som̃ons at eny tyme w{t}oute cause
reasonable and yˀof[44] duely convict shall paye to the almesse of
the said craft at evˀy tyme y{t.} he maketh such defaute ij{d.} And
yef eny of theim what so evˀ he be of the same craft that disobeye
this ordin{a}nce he shall paye to the ch{a}umber of the yeldhall
iij{s.} iiij{d.} at evˀy tyme that he maketh such default.

[44] thereof.

ALSO that yef eny matˀe of debate or difference be betwene eny
pˀsoones of the said craft Which god defend, that none of theim shall
make eny pursuyt at the comˀon lawe unto the tyme y{t.} he that
findeth him aggreved in that pˀtie hath made his compleint unto the
maister and Wardeins of the same craft for the tyme being and they
to ffynyssh the matˀe and the cause of the said compleint Wythin
vj dayes after such compleint made and yef they conclude not and
ffynyssh the same matˀe Wythin the said vj dayes that yanne it be
lefull to either pˀtie to take the benefice of the comˀon lawe Wythin
this Citee So alwayes that the pˀtye ageinst whom the compleint is
made be not fugityf And what pˀsone of the said craft that doth
contrarie this ordin{a}nce shall paye at evˀy tyme at the chaumber
of the yeldhall xiij{s.} iiij{d.} that is to sey vj{s.} viij{d.} to
y{e} said ch{a}umber and oy{r.} vj{s.} viij{d.} to y{e} almesse of
y{e} said craft.

ALSO that noon able pˀsone of the said craft enfˀ{a}uncheised shall
refuse eny manˀ office or clothing pˀtinent to the said craft Whan
and What tyme that he be by his bretheren be abled and elect y{r}to
upon pein to paye at the ch{a}umber of the yeldhall xl{s.} that is
to wete xx{s.} to the same ch{a}umber and other xx{s.} to the said
almesse Also what man of the said craft that absenteth him fro the
said eleccion Wythoute cause reasonable or absent him fro the dyner
to be made the same day and will not paye therto his pˀt thanne he
shall paye at the said ch{a}umber iij{s.} iiij{d.} that is to sey
xx{d.} to the same ch{a}umber and other xx{d.} to the almes of the
said craft.

ALSO that the maisters and Wardeins of the same craft that nowe be
or in tyme to come shall be, shall not take admitte or resceive eny
pˀsone in to the bretherhede or clothing of the same craft Wythoute
the com̃on assent of the bretheren of the said craft or the more
pˀt of theim upon pein of eviˀch such maister or Wardein that doth
cont{a}rie this ordin{a}nce xx{s.} that is to say x{s.} to the
ch{a}umber and x{s} to the almesse of the said craft.

FFURTHERMORE it is ordeigned that from hens forward yef eny man
occupying the said craft be imfouled and of evell Will and malice so
be unavised to revile or reprof eny man of the same craft that is to
seye for to lye him or wyth other dishonest Wordes misgovˀne him in
presence of the said maisters and Wardeins or in eny oy{r.} places
and pˀof[45] by the report of the said maisters and Wardeins be duely
convict what so evˀ he be of the same craft that is so misgovnˀed at
eny tyme shall paye at the said ch{a}umber for evˀy such default
vj{s.} viij{d.} that is to say to the same chumber iij{s.} iiij{d.}
and to the Almes of the said craft iij{s.} iiij{d.}

[45] Query “y{r} of” == thereof.

ALSO it is ordeigned that evˀy man enfˀ{a}uncheised of the said
craft under fourme aforesaid shall assemble with his ffelashipˀ of
the same craft by thassignement of the said maisters and Wardeins
being for the yeer in a certein place limited by theim at iiij tymes
of the yeer And at evˀy such quarter day in the yeer evˀy brother
enfˀ{a}uncheised and being of the clothing therof shall paye to the
almes abovesaid iij{d.} And evˀy man that is so enfˀ{a}uncheised
of the same craft and is not of the clothing of the same shall paye
to the same almes j{d.} Which iiij dayes be these that is to saye
the tewesday next after all hallown day the tewesday next after
candelmasday the tewesday next after Trinite sonday and the tewesday
next after lammas day to thentent that the said maisters and Wardeins
shall enquere amongꝭ the said compaignye so assembled that yef eny
default ranker or discord be hadd or moved amongꝭ theim that thanne
the said maisters and Wardeins shall sett theim at rest accord and in
unite to that they canne or may, after the fourme and custume as have
been before used And what parsonne of the said craft be absent eny of
the said dayes wythoute cause reasonable he shall paye for evˀy such
day iiij{d.} to the expenses of the said maisters.

ALSO it is ordeigned and establisshed that no barbour nor other
able pˀsonne using barbourye shall enfourme eny foreyn nor him
teche in no wise in eny manˀ point that belongeth to the craft of
barbourye or surgˀye wherby the same foreyn shall pˀceyve and take
by his own capacite and exˀcise unto the tyme that the same foreyn
be bounden appˀntice to a pˀsone barbour or other pˀsonne able
enfˀ{a}uncheised using the same craft Wythin the Citee of london
upon peyne to paye at the ch{a}umber of the yeldhall for evˀy such
defaute iiij marc, that is to say to the same ch{a}umber xxvj{s.}
viij{d.} and to the Almes of the said craft other xxvj{s.} viij{d.}

AND also that no barbour nor other able pˀsoone occupying the same
craft shall take eny Alien nor stˀ{a}unger in to his sˀvice unto
the tyme that the same alien or stˀ{a}unger be examined by the
maistˀ and Wardeins of the same craft of his abilite and Connyng
And thereupon the maistˀ and Wardeins With other vj or viij of the
moost able and Kunnyng pˀsonnes of the craft shuld taxe him after
his abilite after that hem semeth that he be worthy to take yeerly
for his salarie And also that no Barbour shall take eny alien or
stˀ{a}unger that hath been or w{t}in sˀvice wyth an other barbour
enfˀ{a}uncheised before that he knowe well that the same sˀvnt hath
complete his coven{a}ntes wyth his former maister upon pein to
paye for evˀy such defaute at evˀy tyme that he be founde defectif
ayenst eny of these ordin{a}nces at the said ch{a}umber xiij{s.}
iiij{d.} that is to wete to the same ch{a}umber vj{s.} viij{d.}
and to the said almesse vj{s.} viij{d.} and also make restitucion of
the damage unto the pˀtie that findeth him greved.

AND also that no man occupying the said craft shall pˀcure eny
other mannes sˀvnt oute of sˀvise upon the peyn aforesaid and
damage unto the pˀtie pleintif And also it is ordeigned that from
hensforward that no harbour enfˀ{a}uncheised nor eny other able
pˀsoons occupying the said craft shall not take into his sˀvice
eny stˀ{a}unger or forein for lasse time thanne a yeer And what
pˀsone enfˀ{a}uncheised or occupying the said craft disobeys this
ordin{a}nce shall renne in the pein of xiij{s.} iiij{d.} that to be
devided in manˀ and fourme above said.

AND also that no pˀsons of the said craft of barbours nor other able
pˀsone occupying the same craft huyre no ffˀ{a}unchised man of the
same craft oute of his shopp ne dwellyng place upon pein of xl{s.}
that is to wete to the said ch{a}umber xx{s.} And to the Almesse of
the said Craft other xx{s.}

Qua quidem billa coram dˀcĩs maiore & Aldermannis lectˀ & per
eosdem plenius intellectꝭ Qua videtur eisdem qˀd omnes articuli
in dˀca billa contentꝭ sunt boni & honesti ac racioni consomˀ,
&c., &c. (The articles were ratified confirmed and ordered to be
entered of Record in the books of the Chamber of London.)

Nothing is now heard of the Surgeons’ Guild for some years, although they were still in existence. It is quite probable, that finding the Barbers had invariably obtained the protection and countenance of the City authorities, whenever their privileges had been assailed or called in question, they had given over their attempts at interference with them as hopeless, and allowed our worthy predecessors to continue to “exercise the faculty of surgery,” in peace; and being unmolested they doubtless grew in numbers, in importance, and in the knowledge of their art, until it was admitted that their position as one of the Guilds, warranted them in applying for a Charter of Incorporation, which was granted to them by Edward IV in 1462.

1413. Before proceeding to refer to this important epoch in the history of our Company, it will be well to introduce a very remarkable letter, which was written by Thomas Arundell, Archbishop of Canterbury (formerly of York), to the Mayor, etc., of London, in which he complained that the Barbers, being, alas! “without zeal for the law of God,” kept their shops open on the Sabbath days, and he besought the Mayor and Aldermen (his “sons in Christ, and dearest friends”) to put a stop to this practice. No trade, perhaps, has from the earliest days, down to our own times, owned such persistent breakers of the Fourth Commandment as have the Barbers. Our records abound with by-laws, enacted and renewed over and over again on this subject, and details of the delinquencies of numerous Barbers in this respect, and of their punishments by fine and imprisonment crop up everywhere.

The Archbishop’s letter reveals to us the fact, that nearly 500 years ago, men were constituted much as they are now; in that “that which touches the body or the purse, is held more in dread than that which kills the soul,” and he shrewdly suggests that the clerical punishment of “the greater excommunication,” should be augmented by a fine to be levied by the Civil authority. This letter is so deeply interesting that no apology is needed for reproducing it here. The original is to be found in _Letter-Book I._ 125.

1413. On the 24th day of July, in the first year, etc. (Henry V) the
Reverend Father in Christ, and Lord, Thomas, by Divine permission,
Lord Archbishop of Canterbury, Primate of all England, and Legate of
the Apostolic See, sent here, to the Mayor and Aldermen of the City
of London, certain Letters Close of his, containing words as follow:--

“Sons in Christ and dearest friends.--We know that you do seek for
the things which are of above, and that you will the more readily
incline to our desires, the more surely that the things as to which
we write are known to tend to the observance of the Divine law,
the maintenance of public propriety, and the rule of the Christian
profession. We do therefore write unto you on this occasion, to
intimate that when we were presiding of late in our Provincial
Council, holden at London, with our venerable brethren, the
Suffragan Bishops, and our clergy of the Province of Canterbury, it
was publicly made known unto us with universal reprobation, that
the Barbers of the City of London, over the governance of which
city you preside, being without zeal for the law of God, and not
perceiving how that the Lord hath blessed the seventh day and made
it holy, and hath commanded that it shall be observed by no abusive
pursuit of any servile occupations, but rather by a disuse thereof,
in their blindness do keep their houses and shops patent and open on
the seventh day, the Lord’s Day, namely, and do follow their craft
on the same, just as busily, and just in the same way, as on any
day in the week, customary for such work. Wherefore we, with the
consent and assent of our said Suffragans and clergy, in restraint
of such temerity as this, have determined that there must be made
solemn prohibition thereof in the City aforesaid, and that, of our
own authority, and that of our said Provincial Council; and not there
only, but also throughout the Diocese of London, and each of the
cities both of our own Diocese and of our Province of Canterbury; to
the effect, that such barbers must not keep their houses and shops
patent or open, or follow their craft, on such Lord’s Days for the
future, on pain of the greater excommunication; in the same manner as
it has been enacted and observed of late in our time, as to the City
and Diocese of York, as we do well recollect. But, dearest children,
seeing that so greatly has the malice of men increased in these days,
a thing to be deplored--that temporal punishment is held more in
dread than clerical, and that which touches the body or the purse
more than that which kills the soul, we do heartily intreat you, and,
for the love of God and of His law, do require and exhort you, that,
taking counsel thereon, you will enact and ordain a competent penalty
in money, to be levied for the Chamber of your City, or such other
purpose as you shall think best, upon the Barbers within the liberty
of your City aforesaid, who shall be transgressors in this respect;
that so at least, those whom fear of the anger of God does not avail
to withold from breach of His law, may be restrained by a scourge
inflicted upon their purse, in the way of pecuniary loss; knowing
that we in the meantime, after taking counsel hereon, will devise
measures for the prevention of this, and for the due publication of
our Provincial enactment aforesaid. Fare you well always in Christ.

Written at Ikham[46] on the 13th day of the month of July.

[46] Near Wingham, Kent.

THOMAS, Archbishop of Canterbury.”

An Ordinance was forthwith made thereupon, to the effect, that no barber, his wife, son, daughter, apprentice, or servant, should work at such craft on Sundays within the liberty of the city, either in hair cutting or shaving, on pain of paying 6_s._ 8_d._ for each offence; 5_s._ thereof to go to the new work at the Guildhall, and the remainder to the Wardens or Masters of the Barbers within the city.[47]

[47] Riley p. 594.

1422. In August of this year Henry V died, and thirty-two of the City Companies assisted at his obsequies, going in procession and carrying torches. From an entry in _Letter-Book K._ 1{B.}, it appears that the Barbers bore four torches on this occasion.

1447. This year the Company seem to have contributed 40_s._ towards the cost of the Roof of the Chapel at Guildhall, as appears by the following entry in _Journal IV_, 198 (25th October, 26 Henry VI)--

Itmˀ gardiani misterˀ barbitonsoꝜ & importaverunt in Cur xl{s.}
sterlingoꝜ pˀse & misterˀ sua ad coopturam Guyhaɫd Sc̃. Capelle.

THE BARBERS INCORPORATE.

Hitherto we have considered two distinct and somewhat hostile fraternities, the Surgeons on the one hand, and on the other the Barbers (consisting of Barbers and Barber-Surgeons), both of them City Guilds, existing by prescription, having independent rules and Ordinances for their government and the scrutiny and correction of abuses in their respective Crafts, the former Company few in number, the latter far more numerous and popular; the Surgeons without, and the Barbers with, a Livery.

Of these two fraternities, the Barbers by the regular and every day nature of their calling, as shavers and hair cutters, together with the practice of Surgery combined by so many of them, were the most likely to become the more popular Company; their fees would surely be on a lower scale than those of the more aristocratic Surgeons, and their numbers and constant intercourse with the citizens, in their capacity as Barbers, enabled them easily to extend their connection as Surgeons.

In all their contentions with the Surgeons’ Guild, as far as we know, they held their own well, and thus it was that their place in the City, as a Livery Guild of at that time an ancient standing, their position as the professors of useful and scientific arts, their numbers and presumable affluence, all rendered it desirable that they should be placed upon the same footing as the better class of Guilds, by their acquisition of a Charter of Incorporation, which they accordingly obtained from the young King Edward IV in the first year of his reign (1462).

Thomas Knot (Master, 1555) has recorded in one of our books, a Translation of this Charter, which Mr. J. Flint South (who does not appear to have seen the original Latin one) has transcribed, and this has been adopted by Mr. D’Arcy Power (page 326). Thomas Knot wrote a good hand, and was a zealous champion of the Barber-Surgeons in his time, but he made egregious blunders in some of the writings recorded over his signature, and although there is not great fault to be found with him in this instance, it is suggested that the Translation given below, is perhaps a more literal one than that which Knot has handed down.

The Charter is still preserved at our Hall, and is contained on a small skin of parchment; the initial letters of the title, which were at the time left to be illuminated have never been filled in, and the document is therefore not the work of art which one is accustomed to see in Charters of this period; it bears signs of having been frequently used, the ink in some places being worn, and the words only legible with the aid of a magnifying glass. The great seal pendant is not quite perfect, but is a beautiful specimen and highly artistic. The following is the text of the Charter:--

(E)DWARDUS dei grã (R)ex (A)nglie & (F)rancie & (D)ominus (H)ibñie.
(O)mnibus ad quos pˀsentes lrẽ pˀuenint saltm̃ (S)ciatis q̃d
nos considerantes qualitˀ Diɫci nõb prˀbi & liᵬi hoiẽs mistere
BarbitonsoꝜ Ciuitatis nr̃e london vtentes mistera siue facultate
SirurgicoꝜ tam circa vulña plagas lesiones & alias infirmitates
ligeoꝜ nroꝜ ibidem curandˀ & Sauandˀ q{a}m in extracc͠oe sanguinis
& denc̃iu hˀmꝰ ligeoꝜ nrõꝜ g{a}ndes & multiplices intendencias &
labores pˀ longa tempora sustinuerunt & supportauerunt indiesqʒ
sũtinere & supportare non desistunt qualitˀ etiam pˀ ignoranciam
negligenciam & insipienciam nonnulloꝜ hˀmꝰ barbitonsoꝜ tam liᵬoꝜ
hõim Ciuitatis nr̃e pˀdc̃e q{a}m alioꝜ SirurgicoꝜ forincecoꝜ & non
liᵬoꝜ hõim eiusdem Ciuitatis indies ad eandem Ciuitatem confluenciũ
& in mistera SirurgicoꝜ minus sufficientˀ eruditoꝜ q{a}m plurima ac
quasi infinita mala diuˀsis ligeis nr̃is in vulnĩbʒ plagis lesionibʒ
& aliis infirmitatibʒ suis pˀ huius modi Barbitonsores & Sirurgicos
sauandis & curandis ob eoꝜ defc̃m ante hec tempora euenerunt quoꝜ
quidem ligeoꝜ nroꝜ alii ea de causa viam vniuˀse carnis sunt
ingressi alii autem eadem causa tanq{a}m insanabiles & incurabiles
sunt ab omĩbʒ derelecti similia qʒ mala vel peiora infuturˀ in hac
parte euenire formidatˀ nisi remedm̃ congruũ supˀ hoc pˀ nos cicius
pˀuidetuˀ Nos enim attendentes & intime adũtentes qˀd huiusmodi
mala ligeis nr̃is ob defc̃tuˀ debit supˀuis scrutinii correccõis &
punicõis huiusmodi barbitonsoꝜ & SirurgicoꝜ minus sufficientˀ in
eisdem misteris siue facultatibʒ vt pˀdcm̃ est eruditˀ & instructˀ
euenire contingunt. Ad humilem supplicacoẽm dilc̃oꝜ nobˀ pˀdcoꝜ
pˀboꝜ & liᵬoꝜ hõim pˀdcẽ mistere BarbitonsoꝜ in Ciuitate nr̃a pˀdcã
concessimꝰ eis qˀd mistera illa & omẽs hoiẽs eiusdem mistere de
Ciuitate p’dc̃a sint in re & noiẽ vnũ corpus & vna Coitãs pˀpetua. Et
qˀd duo principales eiusdem Coitãtis vna cũ assensu duodecim vel octo
pˀsonaꝜ ad minus Coitãtis illius in mistera Sirurgie maxime expert
singulis annis eligˀe possint & facˀe de Cõitate illa duos magr̃os
siue Gubñatores in mistera Sirurgicˀ maxime exp̃tˀ. Ad supˀuidendˀ
regendˀ & gubñandˀ misterˀ & Cõitatem pˀdictˀ & omẽs hoiẽs eiusdem
mistere negociti eoꝜdem imp̃pm̃. ET QˀD QˀDEM mãgri siue guᵬnatores
& Coit̃as heañt successionem pˀpetuam & coẽ sigillum negociis dcẽ
Coit̃atis impˀpm̃ sˀuiturˀ. Et qˀd ip̃i & successores sui impˀpm̃
sint pˀsone habiles & capaces ad pˀquirendˀ & possidendˀ in feodo &
pˀpetuitate trãs tenˀ redditus & alias possessiones quascunqʒ usqʒ
ad valorem quinqʒ marcaꝜ pˀ annũ ult{a} reprisas et qˀd ip̃i noiã
magr̃oꝜ siue GuᵬnatoꝜ & Coit̃atis mistere barbitonsoꝜ london pˀlitare
& imp̃litari possint coram quibuscuqʒ indicibʒ in Curiis & acciõbʒ
quibuscuqʒ ET QˀD pˀdci magr̃i siue Guᵬnatores & Coit̃as & eoꝜ
successores congregacoẽs licitas & honestas de seipˀis̃ ac statuta &
ordinacoẽs pˀ salubri gubnacoẽ supˀuisu & correccõe misteria pˀdictˀ
sˀcdm̃ necessitatis exigenciam quociens & quando opus fuit̃ facẽ
valeant licite & impune siue occõne vel impedimento nr̃i heredimi
vel successoꝜ nr̃oꝜ Justicˀ EscacioꝜ Vicecomitum CoronatoꝜ aut alioꝜ
BalliuoꝜ vel ministroꝜ nr̃oꝜ heredemi vel successoꝜ nr̃oꝜ quoꝜcuqꝜ
dum̃odo statuta & ordinacoẽs illa contˀ leges & consuetudines regni
nr̃i Anglˀ nullo modo existant. PRETERIA VOLUMꝰ & concedimꝰ pˀ
nos heredbʒ & successoribʒ nrĩs quantũ in noᵬ est qˀd magr̃i siue
Guᵬnatores pˀdcẽ Coit̃atis pˀ tempore existenˀ & eoꝜ successores
impp̃m h̃eant supˀuisum scrutinm̃ correccoˀem & guᵬnacoˀem om̃i
& singuloꝜ liᵬoꝜ h̃oim̃ dcẽ Ciuitatꝭ SirurgicoꝜ vtencm̃ mistera
BarbitonsoꝜ in eadem Ciuitate ac alioꝜ SirurgicoꝜ forincecoꝜ quoꝜ
cuq̃ʒ mistera illa Sirurgicꝭ aliquo modo frequentancm̃ & vtencm̃
infra eandem Ciuitatem & suburbia eiusdem ac punicoẽm eoꝜdem tam
liᵬoꝜ q{a}m forincecoꝜ pˀ delictis suis in non pˀfecte exequendꝰ
faciendꝰ & vtendꝰ mistera illa necnon supˀuisum & scrutinm̃ omim̃odoꝜ
instrumentoꝜ emplastoꝜ & aliaꝜ medicinaꝜ & eoꝜ receptꝭ pˀdcos̃
Barbitonsores & Sirurgicꝭ huiusmodi ligeis nris̃ pˀ eoꝜ plagis &
vulnibʒ lesionibʒ & huiusmodi infirmitatibʒ curandꝰ & sauandꝰ dandꝰ
imponendꝰ & vtendꝰ quociens & quando opus fuit pˀ comõdo & vtilitate
eoꝜdem ligeoꝜ nr̃oꝜ ita qˀd punicio huiusmodi BarbitonsoꝜ vtencm̃
dc̃a mistera Sirurgicꝭ ac huiusmodi Sirurgicꝭ forincecoꝜ sit in
pˀmissis delinquencm̃ pˀ fines am̃ciamenta & imprisonamenta corpoꝜ
suoꝜ & pˀ alias vias rõnabiles & congruas exequaturꝰ. Et qˀd nullus
BarbitonsoꝜ vtens dcã mistera Sirurgicꝭ infra dcãm Ciuitatem aut
suburᵬ eiusdem aut alius Sirurgicus forincecus quicuq̃ʒ & exequendꝰ
faciendꝰ & exẽcendꝰ eandem misteram Sirurgicꝰ aliquo modo infuturꝰ
in eadem Ciuitate vel Suburᵬ eiusdem admittat{a} nisi primicũs pˀ
dcõs magr̃os siue guᵬnatores vel eoꝜ successores ad hoc habiles
& sufficientes in mistera illa eruditus approbetꝭ & pˀ plenarˀ
comprobac͠one sua in hac parte maiori Ciuitatis pˀdictꝰ pˀ tempore
existenꝰ pˀ eosdem magrõs siue Guᵬnatores ad hoc pˀsentet{a.}
VOLUMUS eciam & concedimꝰ pˀ noᵬ heredibʒ & successoribʒ nr̃is
quant̃u in noᵬ est qˀd dc̃i magr̃i siue guᵬnatores ac Coit̃as pᵭc
mistere BarbitonsoꝜ nec successores sui nec eoꝜ aliquis quoquo modo
infuturꝰ infra Ciuitatem nr̃am pˀdcañ & Suburᵬ eiusdem sumoniunt{a}
aut ponant{a} neqʒ eoꝜ aliquis sumoniat{a} aut ponat{a} in aliquibʒ
assisis iuratis enquestis inquisicõibʒ attinctis aut aliis
recognic̃oibʒ infra dc̃am Ciuitatem & Suburᵬ eiusdem impostimi coram
maiore aut vicecountꝭ seu Coronatꝭ dc̃e Ciuitatis nr̃e pˀ tempore
existenꝰ capiendꝰ aut pˀ aliquem officiariũ siue ministm̃ sũu vel
officiarios siue ministros suos sum̃oniandˀ licet iidem Jurati
inquisicões seu recognic͠oes sum̃ fuiñt supˀ br̃i vel briᵬʒ nr̃i
vel heredimi nroꝜ de recto SED qˀd dc̃i mag̃ri siue Guᵬnatores ac
coit̃as mistere antedc̃e & successores sui ac eoꝜ quiᵬt vˀsus nos
heredes & successores nr̃os ac vˀsus maiorem & vicecomites Ciuitatis
nr̃e pˀdcẽ pˀ tempore existenꝰ & quoscũqʒ Officiarꝰ & ministros suos
sint inde quieti & penitus exonãti impp̃m pˀ pˀsentes. ET VLTERIUS
nos considerac͠oe pˀmissoꝜ de gr̃a nr̃a sˀpaɫi concessimꝰ pˀ noᵬ &
successoribʒ nr̃is pˀfatis mag̃ris siue Guᵬnatoribʒ ac Coit̃ati dcẽ
Mistera BarbitonsoꝜ & successoribʒ suis hanc liᵬtatem viᵭelt qˀd ip̃i
pˀpetuis futuris temporibʒ pˀsonas habiles & sufficientꝰ eruditos &
informatos in dct̃i mistera Sirurgicꝰ & pˀ mag̃ros siue Guᵬnatores
mistera illius pˀ tempore existenꝰ in forma pˀdc̃ti approbatꝰ &
maiore Ciuitatis pˀdc̃e pˀ tempore existenꝰ vt pˀdc̃am est pˀsentat
in eandem misteram BarbitonsoꝜ ad libtat̃es dc̃e Ciuitatis hẽndꝰ
& gaudendꝰ scᵭm consuetudinem dc̃e Ciuitatis admittẽ & recipˀe
valeant & non alias pˀsonas quascũqʒ neqʒ alio Modo aliquo mandato
aut requisic͠oe nr̃i heredimi seu successoꝜ nroꝜ pˀ brãs inscriptꝭ
vel alitꝭ qualitꝭ cumqʒ incontrm̃ factꝭ seu faciendꝭ non obstantꝭ
ET LICET iidem mag̃ri siue Guᵬnatores ac Coiãtas & eoꝜ successores
hac liᵬtate continue in futurꝭ vsi fũint cont{a.} aliquod mandatum
sine requisicõem nr̃i heredũ seu successoꝜ nroꝜ aut aliquoꝜ alioꝜ
quoꝜcuq̃ʒ in forma pˀdc̃a fiendꝭ ip̃i tamen finem contempt̃u
depˀditum erga nos heredes seu successores nrõs aut dampñu vel malum
aliquod in bonis seu corporibʒ suis erga quoscumqʒ alios ea occ̃one
nullo modo incurrant nec eoꝜ aliquis incurrat. ET hoc absqʒ fine seu
feodo pˀ pˀmissis seu sigillac͠oe pˀsentum noᵬ faciendꝭ soluendꝭ vel
aliqualitꝭ reddendꝭ aliquo statuto ordinac͠oe vel actu incontrm̃ ante
hec tempora editꝭ factꝭ ordinatꝭ seu pˀuis non obstantꝭ. IN cuius rei
testimonm̃ has lrãs nr̃as fieri fecimꝰ patentes. TESTE me ip̃o apud
Westm̃ vicesimo quarto die ffebruarii Anno regni nr̃i primo.

PEKHAM.

pˀbrẽ de priuato sigillo de datꝭ pˀdct̃ auctoritate parliamenti & pˀ
decem libris soluitꝭ in hanapˀio

(Endorsed.)

Irt̃o in Curꝰ Domini Regis in Cam̃a Guihalde Ciuitatꝭ Londõn in libro
signatꝭ cum lit̃ta. l. folˀ tercio decimo. Anno regni Regis Edwardi
quarti post conquestum Tercio.

TRANSLATION.

EDWARD by the grace of God, King of England and France, and Lord of
Ireland, TO all to whom these present letters shall come, health.
KNOW ye, that we considering how our beloved, honest, and free men
of the Mystery of Barbers of our City of London, exercising the
Mystery or Art of Surgery, as well respecting wounds, bruises, hurts,
and other infirmities of our liegemen, and healing and curing the
same, as in letting blood, and drawing the teeth of our liege men,
have for a long time undergone and supported, and daily do undergo
and support, great and manifold applications and labours; and also,
how through the ignorance negligence and stupidity of some of the
men of the said Barbers, as well of the freemen of our said City,
as of other Surgeons foreigners and not freemen of the said City,
and who daily resort to the said City, and in the mystery of Surgery
are not sufficiently skilled, whereby very many and almost infinite
evils have before this time happened to many of our liegemen, in
their wounds, hurts, bruises, and other infirmities, by such Barbers
and Surgeons, on account of their defect in healing and curing;
from which cause, some of our said liegemen have gone the way of
all flesh, and others, through the same cause, have been by all
given over as incurable and past relief, and it is to be dreaded,
that similar or greater evils may in future arise on this head,
unless proper remedy is by us, speedily provided for the same. WE
therefore, heartily weighing and considering that such evils do
happen to our liegemen for want of the examinations, corrections,
and punishments by a due supervision of such Barbers and Surgeons
as are insufficiently skilled and instructed in the said mysteries
or arts as aforesaid; have at the humble request of our aforesaid
beloved, honest, and freemen of the said Mystery of Barbers in our
said city, granted to them that the said Mystery, and all men of the
said Mystery aforesaid, may be in deed and name one body and one
perpetual Community, and that two Principals of the said Community
may, with the consent of twelve persons, or at least eight of the
said Community who are best skilled in the mystery of Surgery, every
year elect and make out of the Community, two Masters or Governors
of the utmost skill, to superintend rule and govern the Mystery
and Community aforesaid and all men of the said Mystery, and of
the businesses of the same for ever. AND THAT the said Masters or
Governors and Community may have a perpetual succession and common
seal to serve for the affairs of the said Community for ever, and
that they and their successors for ever may be able and capable to
acquire and possess in fee and perpetuity lands, tenements, rents,
and other possessions whatsoever, to the value of five marks per
annum, besides reprises. And that they, by the name of the Masters
or Governors and Community of Barbers of London, may be able to
plead and to be impleaded before whatsoever Justices in Courts,
and actions whatsoever. And that the said Masters or Governors and
Community, and their successors, may lawfully and honestly assemble
themselves, and make statutes and ordinances for the wholesome
government, superintendence, and correction of the said Mystery,
according to the exigency of the necessity, as often and whenever
it may be requisite, lawfully and unpunishably, without leave or
hindrance of us, our heirs or successors, Justices, Escheators,
Sheriffs, Coroners, or any other Bailiffs, or servants of us, our
heirs or successors; provided that such statutes or ordinances are
not in any ways contrary to the laws and customs of our Kingdom of
England. WE FURTHER will and grant, for us, our heirs and successors,
as far as in us lies, that the Masters or Governors of the aforesaid
Community for the time being, and their successors for ever, shall
have the superintendence, scrutiny, correction, and government of
all and singular the freemen of the said City who are Surgeons,
exercising the Mystery of Barbers within the said City, and of
all other foreign Surgeons whomsoever, in anywise practising and
using the said Mystery of Surgeons in the said City and the suburbs
thereof, and the punishment of them, as well freemen as foreigners,
for their offences in not perfectly following, practising and using
that mystery, and also the superintendence and scrutiny of all kinds
of instruments, plaisters, and other medicines, and their recipes,
by such Barbers and Surgeons given, applied, and used for our liege
men, for curing and healing their wounds, bruises, hurts and such
kind of infirmities, when and as often as shall be requisite for the
convenience and utility of our liege men; so that punishment of such
Barbers exercising the said mystery of Surgeons, so offending in the
premisses, be executed by fines, amerciaments, and imprisonments
of their bodies, and by other reasonable and suitable means; and
that no Barber exercising the said mystery of Surgeons in the said
City and suburbs thereof, or any other foreign Surgeon whatsoever,
shall in future be admitted to follow, practise and exercise the
said mystery of Surgeons, in anywise, within the said City or the
suburbs thereof, unless he be first approved by the said Masters or
Governors, or their successors, for this purpose able and sufficient
as skilled in the said Mystery, and for his plenary approbation in
this behalf, by the said Masters or Governors to the Mayor of the
said City for the time being, presented. WE ALSO will and grant,
for us our heirs and successors, as far as in us lies, that neither
the said Masters or Governors and community of the said Mystery of
Barbers, nor their successors, nor any of them shall hereafter, in
anywise be summoned or appointed on any assizes, juries, inquests,
inquisitions, attainders, or other recognizances, within the said
City or suburbs thereof for the time to come, before the Mayor or
Sheriffs or Coroners of our said City for the time being, by any
summoning officer or his servant, or summoning officers or their
servants, although the said juries, inquisitions, or recognizances
should be summoned by a writ or writs of right, of us or our
heirs, but that the said Masters or Governors and Community of the
aforesaid Mystery and their successors shall, from henceforth for
ever, be peaceably and entirely exonerated towards us, our heirs and
successors, and towards the Mayor and Sheriffs of our said City for
the time being, and every of their officers and servants, by these
presents. AND FURTHER, we, in consideration of the premisses, do of
our special grace, for us and our successors, grant to the said
Masters or Governors and Community of the said Mystery of Barbers,
and their successors, this liberty, to wit, that they in all future
times may admit and receive persons apt and sufficiently skilled
and informed in the said Mystery of Surgery, and by the Masters or
Governors for the time being of the said Mystery, in manner aforesaid
approved, and presented to the Mayor of the said City for the time
being as aforesaid, into the said Mystery of Barbers to the fredom of
the said City, to be held and enjoyed according to the custom of the
said City; and no other persons whomsoever, nor in any other manner,
any mandate or requisition of us, our heirs or successors, by written
letters or otherwise howsoever made or to be made to the contrary
notwithstanding. AND ALTHOUGH the said Masters or Governors and
Community and their successors should contumaciously use this liberty
in future against any mandate or requisition of us, our heirs, or
successors, or any others whomsoever to be made in form aforesaid,
neither they nor any of them shall in anywise incur any fine,
contempt, or loss towards us, our heirs or successors, or any damage
or punishment in their goods or bodies, or towards any other persons
whatsoever, on that account; AND this without fine or fee for the
sealing of these presents, to be done paid or otherwise rendered unto
us; any statute, ordinance, or any act to the contrary, before this
time published made ordained or provided notwithstanding IN WITNESS
whereof, we have caused these our letters to be made patent. WITNESS
myself at Westminster the twenty-fourth day of February in the first
year of our reign.

PEKHAM.

By writ of privy seal, and of the date aforesaid, by authority of
Parliament, and for ten pounds paid into the hanaper.

(Endorsed.)

Inrolled in the Court of the Lord the King, in the chamber of
the Guildhall of the City of London in the book marked with the
letter l. folio thirteen in the third year of the reign of King
Edward the Fourth from the Conquest.

The chief point which strikes us on reading the foregoing Charter is, that it contains a great deal relative to Surgery, and little, indeed nothing, concerning Barbery, and yet it is granted ostensibly to the Barbers!

Now the Surgical side being the more important one of the craft, and the _raison d’être_ of the Charter being in a great measure to provide for the regulation of Surgery and the correction of abuses in that profession, this silence as to Barbery and recognition of Surgery would seem to be an evidence that the practice of the latter, more or less, was the rule rather than the exception with members of the Company of Barbers; and, as the Masters or Governors were empowered to make “statutes and ordinances” (by-laws) for the governance of the mystery, it was doubtless considered unnecessary to descend into any details concerning shaving and the like in a Royal Charter.

The preamble of this Charter is exceedingly quaint and interesting, reciting how through the “ignorance, negligence and stupidity” of various Barbers and other practitioners in Surgery, many of the King’s lieges had “gone the way of all flesh.” Then at the request of “our beloved, honest and free men of the said Mystery of Barbers,” the King grants to them, to be one body perpetual, etc., that two of the chief men of the Company (no doubt the two then existing Masters “exercising the faculty of Surgery”) may with twelve or at least eight other skilled Barber-Surgeons, elect two Masters annually: this provision in itself is singular, as it would seem to imply that the body then incorporated was to be ruled by two Masters only; but a reference to our list of Masters and Wardens will shew that from the year 1448 the Company has been ruled by four Masters, and so on in unbroken succession to the present time[48]; these other two Masters therefore were Masters of the Barbers proper, about whom nothing was said in the Charter, but who were chosen annually in accordance with ancient custom, the Chief or First Master being alternately a Barber, and a Barber-Surgeon.

[48] The term “Wardens” is a more modern designation used for convenience sake; the Master and the three Wardens are, strictly speaking, the four “Masters or Governors.”

The Corporation was to have perpetual succession, and a Common seal, to hold lands of a certain value, to be able to plead and to be impleaded, to make by-laws, to have the scrutiny and correction of (apparently _all_) Surgeons in the City and suburbs, as also the oversight of all their instruments and medicines, etc., and to have the power of inflicting punishment, by fine or imprisonment, on offenders. None were to practise Surgery until examined and approved by the Masters and presented to the Mayor, and authority was given for the freemen of the Company to be admitted into the freedom of the City.

Another clause in the Charter was one which, whilst it conferred a valuable privilege upon the Company, was a source of continual strife and conflict with the Civic authorities, for by it _all_ our freemen claimed to be exempted from serving on Juries and inquisitions, and this immunity, though constantly disputed, was as often asserted and maintained, with various qualifications.

In _The Times_, November 26, 1839, is an account of the exemption of certain freemen of the Company from serving on Juries at the Central Criminal Court. In this instance neither the claimants nor the Recorder knew much about the matter--for one of the applicants said, in reply to the Recorder, “I rest my claim on the Charter of _Henry VIII_”_!!_ And, further on in the discussion, the same bold Barber had the effrontery to declare that “the privilege was confirmed by an Act passed in the reign of George II.” This was the Act which separated the Surgeons from the Barbers, and which did _not_ confirm to the latter the exemption claimed, but our freeman gained his point, and the Recorder only grumbled.

As recently as 1868, a case was submitted to Sir J. D. Coleridge (now Lord Chief Justice) as to the legality of the exemption, and he gave his opinion in favour of it. However, since then the Jury Act has, alas! swept away this cherished immunity, and thus let the Barbers down to the level of their fellow citizens.

With the possession of their Charter the Company were now in an unassailable position, and we hear no more of their molestation by the Guild of Surgeons.

1470. The Company about this period came into possession of some freehold houses in St. John the Baptist upon Walbrook, to be held both for trust and corporate purposes. These houses are stated in our books to have been devised to us by Will (dated 2nd Dec., 1470) of Robert Ferbras. There are three old title deeds of the period still at the Hall, relating to these houses, and in the Court of Husting at Guildhall are two Wills of Robert Ferbras, Surgeon, both proved, one dated 4th Nov., 1470, and the other 17th April, 1472--but neither of these contain the bequest to the Barbers. It is, therefore, probable that Robert Ferbras conveyed the houses to the Company in his lifetime, and this fact being overlooked in course of years, it came to be said that they passed by his Will.

1482. 26th April.--The Company applied to the Court of Aldermen, presenting a set of ordinances for the government of the craft and for the regulation of apprentices, praying that the same might be allowed and ratified, which was done. The official entry under this date is in _Letter-Book L._ 174, and the following are the Ordinances:--

[Sidenote:
Ordinacio }
BarbitonsoꝜ}]

Memorand qˀd sexto decimo die Aprilis Anno regni Regis Edwardi quarti
post conq̃m vicesimo scᵭo pˀᵬi hõies Artis sive mistere BarbitonsoꝜ
Civitatis london venˀ hic in Curˀ dc̃i Dnĩ Regis in Camˀa Guyhald
Civitatꝭ pˀdcĩ coram Willm̃e Haryot milite ac maiore & Aldr̃is
ejusdem Civitatis et porrexer̃nt eisdem maiore & Aldr̃is quand{a}m
billam sive supplicacõem Cujus tenor sequitur in hec verba.

TO THE RIGHT hono{r}able lord the Mair And the right wirshipful
Sovˀaignes the Aldermen of the Citee of London Mekely besechen your
goode lordship̃ and maistershippes all the pˀsones enfraunchesed in
the crafte and mistere of Barbours w{t}in the Citee of london That
it wold pleas the same your lordshipp and maistershippes for the
Wirship̃ of the said Citee And for the goode Rule to be had w{t}in
the saide Craft to graunte and establissh thise articles folowyng And
theym to be entred of Recorde in the Chambre of the said Citee before
your said lordship and maistershippes hereafter for to be observed
and executed.

FFIRST that there shall no ffraunchesed Barbo{r.} w{t}in the said
Citee take any man or Child to be his Apprentice before that he hath
pˀsented the same man or Child unto the maister and Wardeyns of the
said Craft for the tyme being, to thentent that the same maister and
Wardeyns may duely examyne ovˀsee serche and behold by the Colour and
complexion of the said man or Child if he be avexed or disposed to be
lepur or gowty maymed or disfigured in any pˀties of his body Whereby
he shall fall in disdeyn or lothefulnesse unto the sight of the Kingꝭ
liege people And also to be examyned of his birth and of his kynrede
or if there be on hym any bonde claymed, And if he be founde defectif
in any of thise poyntꝭ that than no fraunchesed Barbo{r.} of the
saide Citee shall take hym to his Apprentice uppon payn to pay v{li.}
Whereof that one half shall Remayn unto the Chambre of the said Citee.

ALSO that evˀy enfraunchesed barbour that taketh any apprentice shall
pay to the almes of the said Craft for the same Apprentice iij{s.}
iiij{d.} to be paied in fourme folowyng that is to sey, at the first
pˀsentacion of the Appˀntice xx{d.} and that other xx{d.} in the same
yeere When he shall be enrolled And the names of the maister and
appˀntice and the yeres of appˀntishode of the same appˀntice shalbe
writen in a book by the said maistˀ & Wardeyns And he that disobeith
this article or orden{a}nce shall pay unto ye almes of the said Craft
of barbours xiij{s.} iiij{d.} that one half thereof to be applied to
thuse of the said Chambre and that other half to the almes of the
said Craft. And if it so be that the said Apprentice Dye w{t}in the
first yere, or voide so that the said maistˀ take none avauntage
by the same Appˀntice, that than the same money stonde for the
next Appˀntice, And if it hapne the said maister to take any pˀfet
[_profit_] for the said Appˀntice by way of Sale or sˀvice and that
so pˀved before the said maister and Wardeyns that than the saide
maister of the said Appˀntice to be charged for the said iij{s.}
iiij{d.}

Then follows the usual Ratification (in Latin) of the above Articles.

1487. The next notice which we have of the Barbers in the City books, indicates that there had been quarrels and dissensions among them, and that the rules of the Craft had been set at nought by its members, whereupon a Book of Ordinances was presented to the Court of Aldermen for approval and ratification and the same is entered at this date, 20 July 2 Hen vij, in _Letter-Book L._ 235{B.} as follows:--

MEMORANDUM qˀd xx{o.} die Julij Anno regni Regis Henrici septum
secundo, Gardiani & aɫ pˀᵬi hõies Artꝭ sive occupacõis de Barbours
Civitatꝭ london venerˀ hic in Curˀ dc̃i dñi Regis in Camˀa Guilhald
ejusdem Civitatꝭ coram Henrico Colet milite maiore & Aldr̃is Civitatꝭ
pˀdc̃i & porrexˀunt eisdm̃ maori & Aldr̃is quandã billam sive
supplicaõem Cujus tenor sequit{r.} in hec verba,

TO the right honourable lord the maire and fulle discrete sovˀaignes
thaldˀmen of the Citee of london Shewen mekely unto yo{r.} good
lordeship and maistˀshippes the maister and the Wardeyns and the
good ffolke of the Crafte or Science of Barbours Surgeons of the
said Citee that Where as they of longe tyme have been in discorde
and not of oon conformite, but evˀy man in effect of the said Crafte
or Science hathe taken and folowed his own singuler way and apetite
as menne be[49] under no Rule nor obedience, contrarie to all godly
policie for lacke of good Rules and orden{a}ncꝭ hadde and used within
the same Crafte or Science, and in especiall for takyng of over
many appˀnticꝭ and settyng a werk of money[50] fforeyns comyng oute
of Seint Martyns, Westmynster, Suthwerk and other placꝭ nere unto
this Citee to the distruccion of the good ffolke enfraunchised of
the said Crafte or Science, but if[51] a remedie by yo{r} noble and
grete wisdomes the rather be pˀvided in that behalf. That it wold
pleas yo{r.} good lordeship and maistershippes for the good Rule
and sadde[52] guydyng hereafter to be hadde amongꝭ the good ffolkꝭ
of the said Crafte within the same Crafte to graunt to yo{r.} saide
besechers certeyn Articles hereaftˀ ensuying from hensforth to be
obsˀved and kept and afore you here in this hono{r}able Court to be
establisshed and entred of Record for ever to endure.

[49] Being = living.
[50] Many.
[51] But if = unless.
[52] Wise.

FFIRST that no pˀsone of the said Crafte or science ne none other
enfraunchised within the saide Crafte and kepyng open shoppe of the
same Crafte or Science within the same Cite from hensforth in any
wyse pˀsume to take uppon him to sette a werke within his house or
Shoppe any sˀvaunt or sˀvauntꝭ or allowes[53] or other beyng fforeyns
or estraungiers, but[54] evˀry suche pˀsone so enfraunchised in the
saide Crafte or science or in any other and occupie the same Crafte
or Science within the Citee aforesaid present any such sˀvaunt or
sˀvauntꝭ allowes and other before the maistˀs and Wardeyns of the
same Crafte or Science of Barbours for the tyme beyng within iij
daies next after his comyng to his saide maister to thentent that
the saide maister and Wardeyns have knowledge of their habilitie and
cunyng[55] before they be sette any lenger in occupac̃ion in the
saide Crafte or Science, And what manˀ pˀsone[56] aforesaid hereafter
be founde doyng the contrarie of this orden{a}nce shall forfeit and
pay at evˀy tyme that he is so founden defectif xl{s.} the oon half
thereof to be applied to thuse of the Chambre of this hono{r}able
Citee and the other half to the Coẽn boxe of the said Crafte.

[53] Hired servants.
[54] Unless.
[55] Skill.
[56] Manner of person.

ALSO that no manˀ pˀsone[57] enfraunchised in the saide Crafte or
in any other kepying an open Shoppe and occupieth the same Crafte
within the Citee from hensforth take or set a Werke within his house
or shoppe or ellꝭ where within the same Citee any moo[58] Sˀvaunts
allowes at oones[59] beyng fforeyns or Straungiers but oonly ij
pˀsones and the same ij pˀsones to be pˀsented by their maister
before the maister and Wardeyns of the said Crafte or Science of
Barbours for the tyme beyng within iij daies next comˀyng in to
suche sˀvice to their suche maistˀ And that the same fforeyns or
straungiers shall take or have of their saide maister suche wages
for their suche sˀvice as it shalbe thought by the saide Maister and
Wardeyns of the said Crafte of Barbours that they canne desˀve and
none other, And what maner of pˀsone aforesaid hereafter be founde
doyng contrarie to this orden{a}ncꝭ shall forfeit at evˀry tyme that
he is founde defectif v{li.} to be divided and applied to suche uses
as be aforeherced.[60]

[57] Manner of person.
[58] More.
[59] Once.
[60] Afore rehearsed.

ALSO if it fortune hereafter any pˀsone enfraunchised in the saide
Crafte of barbours or in any other occupying the same Crafte of
barbours within the Citee to take any mo sˀvauntꝭ allowes at oones
beyng fforeyns or straungiers than onely ij as is aforeherced[61]
Wherethurgh[62] he renneth in the forfaiture of the said penaltie of
v{li.} for the saide offence, and than that the maister and Wardeyns
of the saide Crafte of Barbours for the tyme beyng havyng knowleche
therof put not the said penaltie of v{li.} in execucion accordyng to
the teno{r.} of the saide Acte thereof made, within xiiij daies after
that the said maistˀ and Wardeyns have knowleche thereof, that than
the said maistˀ and Wardeyns for the tyme beyng so founden defectif
shall forfeit and lose at evˀy tyme xiij{s.} iiij{d.} to be divided
and applied to suche uses as be aforeherced.

[61] Afore rehearsed.
[62] Wherethrough = whereby.

ALSO that no manˀ pˀsones enfraunchised in the said Crafte or in any
other occupying the same Crafte within the said Citee from hensforth
take any moo appˀntices at oones than iij uppon payne of forfaiture
of v{li.} at evˀy suche tyme as he is founde defectif doyng contrarie
of this Article, to be divided and applied to suche uses as be afore
reherced Savyng allway that it shalbe lefull to evˀy suche pˀsone
oon yeere before the tˀme of appˀntishode of any his appˀnticꝭ be
expired to take a nother appˀntice in the stede of hym that is nygh
com̃yng oute of his tˀmes of appˀntishode to thentent that the same
newe appˀntice may have his due erudicion and lernyng in the said
Crafte or Science of Barbours before the tˀmes and [63] of the rather
appˀntice.

[63] A blank in the original.

ALSO if any pˀson of the said Crafte or Science selle away his
appˀntice to a nother manne within his tˀmes of appˀntishode that
than it shalnot be lefull to any suche pˀsone so silling away his
appˀntice to take any newe in his stede duryng the tˀme to come of
appˀntishode of that appˀntice so sold Nevertheles if it fortune any
appˀntice to dye within the tˀmes of his appˀntishode that than it
shall be laufull to the mastˀ of that appˀntice so dying to take a
nother in his stede when so evˀ it shall lyke hym.

PROVIDED all way that it shalbe lefull to evˀy pˀsone of the said
Crafte nowe havyng many appˀnticꝭ to reteyne and holde fulle as many
appˀnticꝭ as he hathe the day of makyng of this Acte or orden{a}nce
unto suche tyme as the tˀme of their appˀnticialite shalbe fully
accomplisshed So all way that no suche pˀsone take any mo appˀntices
unto suche tyme as the nuˀbre of the said appˀnticꝭ be reduced
and brought unto the said nuˀbre of iij appˀnticꝭ uppon payn of
forfaiture of v{li.} to be divided and applied to suche uses as been
afore reherced.

ALSO that no foreyn Barbour from this tyme foreward occupie the Craft
or Science of Barbours or Surgeon Barbo{r.} within the ffraunchise
of the said Citee but if he be lymytted and assigned therto by the
maister and Wardeyns of the same Craft for the tyme beyng uppon payn
of forfaiture of v{li.} as often as any suche pˀsone so be founde
defectif, to be divided and applied to suche uses as be aforeherced.
Provided allway that if it canne be thought for the wele of the kyngꝭ
people that if any foreyn Barbours or foreyn Surgeon be founden of
such habilitie and connyng of Surgerie or of that Crafte that it were
necessarie to have hym to occupie within the ffraunchise of this
Citee, that than he be admitted therto by the Chamᵬleyn of london and
by the Maister and Wardeyns of the said Crafte of Barbours for the
tyme beyng, With that the same fforeyn fynde suertie sufficient to be
bounde to the said Chamᵬleyn and Maister and Wardeyns for to do make
him self free of the saide Crafte or Science of Surgeon Barbours and
to obey and pˀfourme the Rules and ordenn{a}ncꝭ of the same Crafte
and to be under the correcion of the same Crafte, provided allway
that the kyngꝭ people be served in price of their Cure and shavyng in
tyme to come aswell and as safely as they have been in tymes passed.

Then follows the usual Ratification (in Latin) of the above Articles.

1490. A declaration made by one Bryan Sandford, dated 8th March, 1490, was produced to the Committee of the House of Commons in 1745, in which it was stated that the Company were at that time possessed of the freehold of their Hall in Monkwell Street.