The Annals of the Barber-Surgeons of London

Chapter V: Preface (5)

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Concerning the next man, Nicholas Alcocke, nothing is known beyond that he was Surgeon to Edward VI, and was admitted to the freedom in 1523. He was doubtless a member of the Court, though he never served as Warden.

The last on the front row is Richard Ferris (or Ferrers), Master in 1563 and Serjeant-Surgeon to Elizabeth. Like others of his brethren, he also benefited under Henry’s will, to the extent of 100 marks, and was one of the King’s Surgeons.

In the back row are seven figures, but of these the names of only two survive, viz., William Tylley, Upper Warden 1546, and Christopher Samon (Salmon, Sammond), admitted to the freedom in 1528, and Master in 1553. By Domestic Papers, Henry VIII, vol. 5, p. 690, it appears that one Christopher Samon was living in Lombard Street in 1532: this might be the same man.

29 August, 1668. Dear old Samuel Pepys visited us this day, and thus records his intentions and opinion concerning the picture--

And at noon comes by appointment Harris to dine with me: and after
dinner he and I to Chyrurgeons Hall, where they are building it new,
very fine; and there to see their theatre, which stood all the fire,
and which was our business, their great picture of Holben’s, thinking
to have bought it by the help of Mr. Pierce,[82] for a little
money: I did think to give £200 for it, it being said to be worth
£1,000; but it is so spoiled that I have no mind to it, and is not a
pleasant, though a good picture.

[82] James Pierce (or Pearse) Surgeon to Charles II and to the Duke
of York. Master in 1675

James I seems to have entertained a high opinion of this picture, and borrowed it of us to be copied: his letter applying for it is preserved at the Hall, and is as follows.

JAMES R.

Trustie and welbeloved Wee greete you well. Where we are informed
of a Table of painting in yo{r} Hall wherein is the Picture of o{r}
Predecesso{r} of famous memorie K. Henry the 8{th}, together with
diverse of yo{r} Companie, w{ch} being both like him, and well done,
Wee are desirous to have copyed. Wherfore o{r} pleasure is that
you presently deliver it unto this bearer Our Welbeloved Servant
S{r} Lionell Cranfield Knight, One of Our Maisters of Requests,
whome Wee have commaunded to receave it of you and to see it w{th}
all expedition copied and redelivered safely; and so Wee bid you
farewell. Given at Our Court at Newmarket the 13{th} day of Januarie
1617.[83]

[83] _i.e._, 1617/8.

The Court of course agreed to lend the picture, though doubtless with some misgivings; contrary however to the practice of the time when money was “lent” to the King, it found its way back to the Hall.

In 1627, Charles I, a more suspicious borrower than his father, had it to Whitehall, but here again we fortunately had it returned.

The Royal College of Surgeons possess some Cartoons, from which, it has been said, this picture was painted; this is, however, very doubtful. Some particulars as to these Cartoons may be seen in Mr. D’Arcy Power’s book, p. 96.

In 1734 the Company agreed with Mr. Bernard Baron for him to engrave the picture for 150 guineas, and several details relating thereto are recorded in the Minutes. It was published in 1736, and is a faithful reproduction, much sought after by collectors. Baron has however copied the picture, exactly as he saw it on to the copperplate, so that when the impressions were struck off, everything was reversed. His original study, a red crayon, beautifully executed, is preserved in the Court Room, and the copperplate is still used, each Assistant on his election being presented with a copy of the engraving. The Company also possess a rather rough proof before letters.

The print is dedicated to the Earl of Burlington, with a Latin inscription, of which the following is a translation.

“To the Most Noble Lord Richard Boyle, Earl of Burlington and Cork, &c., Knight of the Most Illustrious Order of the Garter. For the restoration, with the greatest liberality, at his own costs, of the Anatomical Theatre built a hundred years before, with the greatest skill, by the very celebrated Architect Inigo Jones, and decayed by lapse of time. This painting of Holbein representing the granting of a Charter given with his own hand by Henry VIII, King of England, &c., to the Society of Surgeons in London and preserved in their Hall, is by the Society of Surgeons of London humbly dedicated.”

This inscription, written at a time when the relations between the Barbers and the Surgeons of the Company were becoming strained, was evidently drawn by a Surgeon, who coolly ignored the Barbers throughout.

A very good pen and ink drawing of the picture was made by Austin Travers Young (aged 16) in 1883, and presented by him to the Company, for which he received the thanks of the Court.

1537. In “Chapter House Book” B. 1. (at the Record Office) is a list of the freemen of the several Companies of London at this date, which gives the names of 2,468 freemen in 39 Companies (an average of about 63 to each). The Barbers outstripped in numbers all the others, having a roll of 185 members; next to them came the Skinners with 151, then the Haberdashers with 120, so on down to the Bowyers, who mustered but 19. The premier Company, the Mercers, numbered but 55, whilst the ancient Weavers had only 30 members.

The following is the list of our freemen, the first twenty-six being members of the Court, and Nicholas Symson, Master that year.

[84] Vycary.
[85] Tholmwood.
[86] Sprignall.
[87] Bowle.
[88] Cazier?
[89] Daiseman.
[90] Butphillian.
[91] Tholmwood.
[92] Ingolsby.

The forty-two names following the Court and ending at John Awcetter were Liverymen, the remaining hundred and seventeen being Yeomanry.

1543. A few years previously the King had set the example of wearing his hair and beard short, and now the City seems to have discountenanced long beards, as I find the following in _Letter Book Q. 87_. (10th July, 35 Henry viij.)

AN ACTE AGAYNST}
BEARDED MEN. }

ITEM for dyvˀse & sundrye consyderac͠ons & causes movyng this Cor̃te
it is this daye orderyd & decreid & establyshed by the same that
from henseforward there shall no Cytezen or other iñhit{a}unte[93]
of this Cytie usyng or havyng a greate berde of more notable
pˀlyxitie[94] or length then other the seid Cytezens of this Cytie
do nowe use or have hertofore of late yeres usyd to were, either be
iñhited pˀmytted or suffred to Receyve or take eny orphanage into his
handes and custodye albeit that he wolde fynde nevˀ soe good suertyes
for the same nor yet be admytted from henseforward to this Co{r}te
for eny Recognito{ns} or suertye for eny suche orphange And yt is
also assentyd & agreid that no pˀson havynge eny such berde shalbe
admytted by redempc͠on into the lybt̃ies & fredome of this Cytie as
longe as he shall were eny such berde.

[93] Inhabitant.
[94] Prolixity.

1544 and 1545. In _Repertory XI_ (at Guildhall) ff. 73{B.,} 176, 187{B.,} 229{B.,} 232 and 234 are various records relating to the vexed question of the Barber-Surgeons going on inquests, bearing armour and serving as constables, from all which offices they claimed exemption under their Charters and Act of Parliament.

By the earlier entry, it seems that the Wardens were warned to appear before the Court of Aldermen to shew cause why they refused to pass upon inquests, etc.; then came a petition from the Company praying to be discharged of all offices save the Inquest of Wardmote once a year; this does not appear to have satisfied the Authorities, and the Company were directed to draw up further Articles to be submitted to the Court of Aldermen. Great pressure was no doubt put upon the Barber-Surgeons, the result being that they abandoned most of the privileges of exemption which they had claimed, and submitted a Bill of Articles, which was finally approved, and entered of record on fo. 234. A copy of this lengthy document is at the Hall, and from it it appears that on the 22nd October, 1545, the Company appeared before the Court of Aldermen as “humble Besechers” to be shorn of their privileges, the ground of their petition being “That forasmoche as some grudge and displeasure is lately sith the unyon and conjunction of their said ffelowshippes in to one entyre Company growen conteyned and taken against them and their said ffelowship, by dyverse of theire neighbours being citezeins of this citie, as they be, by reason that they your said suppliauntꝭ” are discharged by their Charters and Act of Parliament from bearing offices, etc., “that other the Cittzeins of this citie are ellygible and lyable unto, ffor the whiche grudge and displeasure your besechers are not a little sorye. ffor the playne declarac͠on thereof and for the eschewyng advoyding and utter extinguysshement of the said grudge and displeasure from hensforwarde,” they are content that it shall be ordained that they shall go upon all Wardmote Inquests, but not upon any inquests between party and party (_i.e._, sit as jurymen in civil actions); that all freemen of the Company not practising Surgery shall be contributory to all assessments, serve as Constables and keep watches in their turn as other citizens, but that all Surgeons shall be free from bearing armour, etc.

Notwithstanding this compromise, entered in the City books, it seems in course of time to have been overlooked, and, as has been previously remarked, the exemption of _all_ freemen of the Company from juries, etc., has been claimed and allowed down to quite recent days.

1550. The first of our Court Minute Books which has been preserved, commences in the 4{th} Edward VI, and bears this title,

~Orders and Awardes~ made ordered and awarded within the tyme of
Maister George Geen Thomas Johnson Thomas Stocdall and Mathew Johnson
Maister and Wardeins of the Company and fellowship of BARBORS
SURGEONS of London for one hole yere begynnyng the xxvj{th} day of
Auguste in the fowerthe yere of the reigne of our Sovereigne Lorde
Kynge Edward the Syxte with thassent and consent of the Assistaunces
of the same Companye as hereafter ensuethe.

From this and the succeeding Minute Books, the following extracts are principally taken as illustrative of the Company’s History from this period:

1556. At the end of the first book is a very long memorandum written and signed by Thomas Knot, Master, to the effect that on the 26th March, 1556, he made humble suit to the Lord Mayor, Sir Will{m.} Garrett and the Aldermen, in the name of the Company, for the exemption of the Company from finding or setting forth any soldiers or men of war at any time thereafter, when it might be that the Citizens of London should be required to do so, either by sea or land, “fforasmoche as the same Company are alwayes at every such tyme and tymes very sore burdened and chardged otherwise hereafter expressed, that is to saye, They are comaunded and bounden to prepare and fynde so manye Surgeons and so many other men attendinge upon them at every tyme and tymes that it shall fortune the King” to send out soldiers by sea or land, and “the same Company doe alwayes prepare fynde and send furthe for every one houndreth of suche Souldyers one Surgeon and a man attending upon him.” Upon which representations the Lord Mayor and Aldermen were pleased to grant to the Company, that on future occasions when the like requisitions might “fortune to be layed or appointed to or upon theym, that then they in every suche case upon their gentle suyte and request made unto the Lorde Mayor and courte of Aldermen for the tyme beinge for and concernynge their sayd dischardge for and in consyderac͠on of the causes above remembered, shalbe as gentelye and charytably holpen eased and releaved in that behalf as the wayte and ymportaunce of the burden that the Cytie at every suche tyme shalbe chardged w{th} all will reasonablye permytt and suffer.”

The memorandum then proceeds to state that the Lord Mayor and Aldermen advised the Master to cause a remembrance of the above (being only a promise by word of mouth) to be entered and recorded in the Book of Ordinances of the Company, which was done.

1555. In Henry Machyn’s Diary for this year, is the following reference to a Romish procession, winding up with a dinner at Barbers’ Hall.

The xxvij day of May was the Clarkes prossessyon from Yerdhall[95]
college, and ther was a goodly masse to be hard, and evere clarke
havyng a cope and garland, with C.[96] stremers borne, and the
whettes[97] a playng round Chepe, and so to Ledynhall unto Sant
Albro[98] chyrche, and ther thay putt off ther gayre, and ther was
the blessyd sacrament borne with torche-lyght abowt, and from thens
unto the Barbur-hall to dener.

[95] Guildhall.
[96] A hundred.
[97] Waits.
[98] St. Ethelburga.

Charter from Philip and Mary, which is still in our possession, and has a most beautifully executed title, the initial letter representing the King and Queen seated on the throne, and the border containing various heraldic badges; the seal unfortunately is damaged.

PHILIPPUS ET MARIA, Dei gracia Rex et Regina Anglie hispaniarum
ffrancie utriusque Sicilie Jerusalem & hiᵬine fidei defensores
Archiduces Austrie Duces Burgundie Mediolani & brabantie Countes
haspurgi fflandrˀ & Tirolis.

~Omnibus~ ad quos presentes lr̃e pervñint salt̃m.

INSPEXIMUS quasdam lrãs patentes domini H. quondam Regis Anglie
septum[99] fc̃as in hec verba, HENRICUS dei grã, &c. . . . . . . . .
Teste me ip̃o apud Westmonastiũm duodecimo die marcii Anno regni nr̃i
tcĩo. Yong. pro viginti soliᵭ solut̃ in hanap̃io. NOS AUTEM lrãs
pˀdcãs ac omnia & singula in eisdem contenta rata heñtes & grata ac
ea pro noᵬ heredibʒ & Successoribʒ nr̃m prefate Regine quantum in
noᵬ est acceptamus & approbamus ac ea dilc̃is noᵬ Thome Vicary nunc
magistro mistere barbitonsoꝜ Thome Whytyngame Jacobo Wood & Johĩ
Warren Gubernatoribus ejusdem mistere & Successoribʒ suis ratificamus
& confirmamˀ p’ut lrẽ p’dc̃e in se r̃onabiliter testantur. IN CUJUS
rei testimonĩu has lr̃as nrãs fieri fecimus patentes. TESTIBUS nobis
ip̃is apud Westmonasterium octavo die Junii Annis regnorum quarto &
quinto.

[99] A clerical error, for Henry VIII.

LUTLEY.

Taxat̃ finis ad x{l.}

Nico eboꝜ Canc.[100]

[100] Assessed at a fine of £10. Nicholas (Archbishop of) York,
Chancellor.

It is noticeable in this Charter that the confirmation is to the Governors of the “Barbers,” and not “Barber-Surgeons,” although the latter was then the legal style of the Company, but probably this was another clerical error.

1560. This year (6th January) the Company obtained an Inspeximus Charter from Elizabeth, still preserved at the Hall; it has a title in much the same style as the preceding charter, but the seal is very much damaged.

ELIZABETH, Dei gracia Anglie FFrancie, et hibernie Regina fidei
defensor, &c. ~Omnibus~ ad quos presentes littere pervenerint salutem.

INSPEXIMUS litteras patentes Dn̄i P. et Dn̄e M. Sororis nr̃e
precharissime nuper Regis et Regine Anglie de confirmac͠oe factas in
hec verba PHILIPPUS et MARIA dei gracia, &c. . . . . . . . . TESTIBUS
nobis ip̃is apud Westmonasterĩu octavo die Junii Annis regnoꝜ nr̃oꝜ
quarto et quinto. NOS AUTEM lrãs predcãs ac omĩa et singula in
eisdem contenta rata habentes et grata ea pro nobis heredibus et
successoribus nr̃is quantum in nobis est acceptamus et approbamus ac
ea Diɫcis nobis Georgio Geñ nunc magistro mistere BarbitonsoꝜ Willm̄
Grene Thome Bayly et Joh̃i Smarthawyte Gubernatoribus ejusdem mistere
et Successoribus suis ratificamus et confirmamus prout lrẽ predcẽ in
se racionabiliter testantur. IN CUJUS REI TESTIMONIUM has lrãs nrãs
fieri fecimus patentes. TESTE me ip̃a apud Westmonasteriũ sexto die
Januarii Anno regni nr̃ secundo.

COTTON.

Taxat̃ finis ad x{l.} vj{s.} viij{d.}

In Machyn’s quaint Diary, we find the following entries:--

1561. The xxiiij day of Feybruary whent to hang xviij men and
ij women, and serten ware browthe[101] to be bered in serten
parryches in London; the barbur surgens had on[102] of them to be a
notheme[103] at ther halle.

[101] Brought.
[102] One.
[103] Anatomy.

1562. The xx day of June was a gret shutyng[104] of the Compene of
the Barbur Surgeantes for a gret soper at ther owne hall for a xxx
mess of mett,[105] for they dyd make ij godley[106] stremars agaynst
that day of their harmes,[107] the whyche they wher agmented by the
most valeant kyng at armes master . . . . . . and they had vj drumes
plahyng and a flutt; and ij gret ansutts,[108] and as a shot was
wone, downe whent that and up the thodar,[109] and as they whan the
shut; and master Gall[110] and ys syd[111] wan the soper--the master
of the Compene.

[104] Shooting, probably at Moorfields, with bows and arrows.
[105] Meat.
[106] Goodly.
[107] Arms.
[108] Ancients (flags).
[109] The other.
[110] Thomas Galle.
[111] His side.

The x day of August was Barbur surgyons fest, and they capt ther
communion at Sant Alphes[112] at Crepull-gat, and master Recherdson
dyd pryche,[113] the skott; ther was good syngyng; and after to ther
halle to dener, and after dener a play.

[112] St. Alphage.
[113] Preach.

1567. Elizabeth inaugurated the first State Lottery in England, as a means of providing money, and a very peremptory mandate was directed by the Lord Mayor to the various City Companies, commanding them to adventure therein.

1st February, 1568. The Barber-Surgeons put in 40{s.} for the “use, profet and benefyt of the hall,” but did not draw a prize, and indeed none of the Companies reaped any advantage by the speculation, the Lottery being simply a trap into which they were ordered to walk.

The proposal for this Lottery was as follows:--

A verie rich Lotterie Generall without any Blancks contayning a
great No. of good prices, as well of redy money, as of Plate &
certaine sorts of marchaundizes having been valued & prised by the
commaundement of the Queenes most excellent Majestie by men expert
& skilfull and the same Lotterie is erected by hir majesties order,
to the entent that such Commoditie as may chaunce to arise thereof,
after the charges borne, may be converted towards the reparation of
the Havens and strength of the Realme, & towardes such other publique
good workes. The No. of lots shall be foure hundreth thousand, and no
more: and every lot shall be the summe of tenne shillings sterling
onely, and no more.

Stow says that this Lottery was commenced to be drawn on the 11th January, 1569, at the West Door of St. Paul’s, and continued drawing day and night until the 6th May following.

It was a common practice of the Companies to put in their money under mottoes, and some curious ones are recorded, many being composed with a quaint sarcasm on the probability of prizes being obtained.

Herbert (Hist. of the Twelve Livery Companies) gives some interesting particulars of the State Lotteries, and quotes a motto used by the Merchant Taylors which pretty clearly indicates their opinion of the business;

One byrde in the hande is worth two in the wood,
If we get the great lot, it will do us good.

Some of the prizes were ridiculously small, _e.g._, 1_s._ 2_d._, 2_s._ 1_d._, etc., and great dissatisfaction was expressed at the principal prizes remaining unpaid to the winners.

1573. The Company received a precept from the Lord Mayor for a “loan” of money to make provision of wheat for the City, and the same was by the Court ordered to be complied with. This “corn custom” is very fully treated of by Herbert, and was virtually a tax upon the companies, who were each rated and compelled to find a certain proportion of corn to be stored by the City, and sold at such times as when, there being a scarcity, the markets would otherwise rise, were it not for the immense stock kept by the City. This custom survived for many years under certain modifications; as we shall see hereafter, our Company built a granary in 1633, and stored their own corn.

The precept above referred to was as follows--

Forasmuche as all comon polecye requyreth the prevenc͠on of
extremities, and consideringe as you knowe the urgent and present
necessitie, and the lacke of provision of wheate and other grayne for
furniture of this so great and populous citie, of the want whereof
the queenes ma{tie} and her most honorable coñsell are not ignorant;
but havinge spˀcial regard to the same, are not a lytle offended
and displeased, with some grefe that there bene no better pˀvision
heretofore made, and that presentlie the cittie shoulde be no better
stored, by reson wherof the prices of corne and grayne is now muche
dearer in this cittie than in any other parte of this realme, have
not only at sundrye times and gentle meanes, but also w{th} some
terror, as welle in the Starre-chamber as in other places afore the
counsell, given us admonicion that the same her ma{ties} cittie and
chamber may not be unfurnished for lacke of good pˀvision. And we,
as our duties is, havinge great care and especial consideracion of
the same, and pˀcevynge by order of the harvest past, and the unkynd
season of the yeare, sith that the prices of corne is verry likely
to encrease and be advanced to a greater and higher price than yet
is, have thought good and verrye necessarye for the avoyding of
greater inconvenyences, to make immediate pˀvision of a great masse
and quantity of wheate and other grayne, as well w{th}in the realme
as beyond the seas for the provision aforesaid, w{ch} cannot be done
w{th}out a great some of money presentlie to be defrayed, w{ch} is
not to be levyed but by the good assestens of you and others, good
coustomers and cittezens of this cittie; have therefore assessed
your Company of Barber Surgeons at the some of[114] which is
agreed upon by acte of coˀen counsell, w{ch} some of we do
not only require you, but also streaghtle charge and comande you,
immediatelie upon the recept hereof, calling your companye together
in your comon hall, you do forthw{th} tax, levy, and gather of the
welthiest and most able persones of the same the sum aforesaid,
in such wise that you fayle not to pay the same, and evrie pˀcell
thereof, to the hands of George Helton, of the cittie of London,
w{th} all expedicion, and w{th}out repayment thereof to you. Fayle
not hereof, as you tender the mytigac͠on of our sovereigne ladye the
queens majesties displeasure already conceived, and do tender the
com̃on weale of this cittie, together w{th} your private condytte,
and as you will answer for the contrarye.

[114] The amount is left blank.

The next entry would seem to indicate some contemplated State interference with the Company’s property, and the answer was probably not in exact accordance with the truth, for on the 28 May, 1576, a precept in the Queen’s name, having been received, calling upon the Master and Wardens to return to the Guildhall an account of the revenue of their lands, and of their goods, “the answere was that the true revenewe of the landes was xx{ti} markes whereof the most pˀte went forthe and is disbursed in peñcons, and that we had no goods.”

1578. A precept was received as follows,

[Sidenote:
TO THE WARDENS } BY THE MAIOR.
OF THE COMPANIE}
OF BARBOR }
SURGINS. }]

THYES shalbe to will and require yo{u} and in her maiesties name
streitlie to charge and comaunde yo{u} that w{th} all convenient
spede yo{u} appointe and pˀvide the number of twelve hable and
sufficient pˀsons being Iournemen appnˀtices or others wc{h} are
fremen of this Cittie and inhabitinge w{th}in the same beinge of
agilitie and honest of behavio{r} betweene the age of xix yeres and
xl{ti} w{ch} are fitt to be trayned for harquebus shott, evˀy one
of them havinge a murrion, a sworde and dagger, and a caliver w{th}
sufficient furniture for the same, and one half pounde of powder,
besides touche powder whereof Three of the same pˀsons to be house
holders and free men of yo{r} saide Companie, and that yo{u} certyfie
me the saide Maior the names and sir names of all yo{r} saide number
where and w{th} whome they dwell, of what Companie they be free, and
what Captaynes or other skilfull men that be of yo{r} saide Companie
or whome yo{u} knowe inhabitinge w{th}in this Cittie fitt to trayne
or leade the same men of there names and dwellinge places. And that
they be all in a redines furnished as aforesaide to muster in there
hose and dublets onlie, or dublets hose and jerkins w{th}in xiiij{en}
daies next ensuinge the date hereof. And for the levyenge of monie
for the saide furniture And for the charge of powder yo{u} shall
collect suche reasonable somẽs of monie as yo{u} shall finde mete for
the saide pˀporc͠on, by waie of reasonable assesment of evˀy sevˀall
welthie and hable pˀson of yo{r} Companie. Wherein we require yo{u}
in anie wyse to spare the powrer sorte of ffremen although yo{u}
somewhat more largelie burden the ritche. YOVEN at the Guildhall of
this Cittie of London the xv{th} daie of Marche 1577.[115]

[115] _i.e._, 1578.

SEBRIGHT.

In pursuance of this precept a levy was made upon ninety freemen, who contributed £19 17_s._ 11_d._ (in sums ranging from 1{s} to 6{s} 8{d}) and upon ten “foreins” who paid in all £3. The Expenses of the soldiers, and their arms, powder, etc., are all set out in detail (see Appendix D).

1585. It was agreed “that o{r} Companie by reason of the often and earnest preceptes from the Lorde maior to move unto some liberall puttinge in of monie into the Lottery for Armo{r}, that o{r} Companie should put in x{li} yf that might satisfie for all the Companie viz{t} the Clothinge vj{li} xiij{s} iiij{d} and the yeomanry v m’kes.”

29th September, 1586. The Lord Mayor had issued sundry precepts to the Company for the “buyeinge of certein goune powder amountinge in waight to of one Mr. Henry Dale Hab’dassher at the price of x{d} le ɫi. and yt was agreed the saide powder should be bought and that Mr. Swaldell [Master, 1593] should go to chuyse it, and he to have the same powder for viij{d} the pounde.”

10th March, 1589. It was ordered that the gunpowder directed by another precept to be provided by the Company, should be bought and that it should be kept “in the Armorie howse in convenient place for feare of daunger of ffier.”

29th March, 1596. It was ordered that £40 “ship money” should be “lent” by the Company to the City, which is the earliest mention of this obnoxious tax in our books.

8th August, 1596. “Yt was agreed that the som̃e of £xxx{ti} shalbe lent unto the Cytty for the payenge of Souldiers wages and other charges diffrayed about the Spanishe voyage.” This was an Expedition of certain ships (furnished by the City) under the Earl of Essex and Sir Walter Raleigh “to annoye the King of Spaine.” The English then sacked and burned Cadiz, burnt the Spanish navy, and on their return home, says Stow, “great triumph was made at London for their good successe.”

18th August, 1598. At this Court came a precept from the Lord Mayor, commanding the Company in Her Majesty’s name to “lend” £100 to the Queen for six months, for suppressing rebels in Ireland. The demand was, as usual, of a most peremptory nature, and the Court ordered £100 to be paid to the Treasurers appointed by the City.

6th August, 1599. A precept came from the Lord Mayor in the Queen’s name, commanding the Master and Wardens to deliver to the freemen the Company’s armour in “suche order as it maye be, in safetye readie for her Maiesties service,” whereupon the Master took for his own use “one muskett fflaske and tuche boxe one headepeece and one rest.” Eleven other members of the Company had armour delivered out to them, as “one caliver fflaske and tuche boxe, sworde and dager girdle and hangers and headepeece.”

1599. A precept was received on 11th November, commanding the Company to be in attendance on the Queen in her progress from Chelsea to Westminster, which is not only curious for the quaintness of its description of the persons who were to be appointed, but affords a glimpse at the magnificence of Royal processions three hundred years ago.

[Sidenote:
TO THE MAISTER } BY THE MAIOR
AND WARDENS OF }
THE COMPANYE OF }
BARBOR-SURGEONS.}]

WHERE her Ma{ts} moste gratiouse pleasure and comaundement is this
pˀsente daie signified unto me the lorde Maior from the right ho:
the lorde Chamberline of her Ma{ties} moste honorable householde
that myselfe and my Bretheren thaldermen with a conveniente number
of the beste and moste graveste Cittyzens of this Citye shoulde
uppon Tewesdaie nexte in the Afternoune wayte and attende uppon her
highnes royall pˀson from the Towne of Chelsey unto her highnes
princlie pallace at Westminster in as honorable and statelye sorte
as conveinentlye maye be pˀformed. In accomplishment of w{ch} her
highnes said comaundement, These shalbe to chardge and comaunde you
in her Ma{ts} name to pˀpare not onlye your selves, but alsoe provide
and have in a readines the full number of eighte pˀsons of the moste
graveste talleste and comliest pˀsonages of your saide Companye,
everye of them to be well horsed and appareled in velvet coates and
chaynes of goulde And that not onlye your sealves but alsoe everye
of the saide eighte pˀsones maye have one footeman with twoe staffe
torches to waite and attende upon him, and to be all in a readines
well and substancially horsed appareled and appointed as aforesaide
in Cheepeside by twoe of the clocke of the saide afternoone to
attende uppon me and my bretheren thaldermen to waite upon her moste
excellente Ma{tie} from Chelsey aforesaide to her highnes saide
pallace of Whitehall, WHEREOF see you faile not at your pˀill and as
you will answere the contrarye if throughe your negligence any parte
of this service shall not be thoroughelye pˀformed. Guihalde the ix
of November 1599.

SEBRIGHTE.

In pursuance of the above precept the Master with seven other Members of the Court were appointed to attend, and eight freemen were nominated as torchbearers.

1600. The fee simple of three houses in Monkwell Street was this year purchased by the Company of William Fyninge for £112!

11th November, 1600. In obedience to a precept it was ordered that twelve members of the Court “well mounted on horseback and apparrelled in all poynts accordingely,” together with twelve freemen “to wayte uppon them w{th} evˀy one twoe staffe torches in his hande,” were to meet at the Hall on the following Thursday (13th November) and to ride with the Lord Mayor to Chelsea to conduct the Queen to Westminster. This procession is thus referred to in Stow’s Annals; “On the thirteenth of November 1600, her Maiestie being most honourablie attended on, by the most honourable Prelates, and Nobles, and Judges of the Realme, was received neere unto Chelsey, by the Lord Maior of London, with his brethren the Aldermen all in Scarlet, besides to the number of five hundred citizens, in coates of velvet, and chaines of gold, on horesbacke, every of them having two staffe torches to attende on them: And they all waited on her, to her royall Pallace at Westminster.”

9th November, 1602. Various members of the Company “were appoynted to ryde w{th} the M{r} to meete her Ma{tie} on Saterdaie next” at Chelsea.

9th April, 1603. A precept was received commanding the Company to contribute £12 10_s._ 0_d._ towards the cost of the reception of James I by the City, whereupon an assessment was made upon the freemen for the same, and the Masters made “choyce of sixe pˀsonable menn for Wiflers to attend the Livˀye of this Companye when his Ma{tie} goeth to be crowned.”

20th April, 1603. The following precept requiring the Company to assist in the reception of the King “in greater number and more statelie and sumtiows shewe then hath bene at any time heretofore within the memory of man in the like case pˀformed,” will be read with interest;

[Sidenote:
TO THE M{RS} AND WARDENS } BY THE MAIOR
OF THE COMPANY OF }
BARBOR SURGEONS }]

WHERE the most high and mightie Prince James o{r} most dread &
soveraygne Lord is by the grace of god shortlie to make his repaire
from his Kingedom of Scotland into this his Realme of England and so
consequentlye to this his honorˀble Cittie and chaymber of this his
imperyall Crowne. And for that it is agreed by mee and my Breethr{n}
the Aldrẽn of the same Cittie that not onelie o{r} selves but the
full number of five hundred of the best and gravest Cittizens should
accordinge to o{r} dueties wayte and attend uppon his royall pˀson at
his approch nere to this Cittie in greater number and more statelie
and sumtiows shewe then hath bene at any time heretofore within the
memory of man in the like case pˀformed, Towards the accomplishm{t}
of w{ch} number your company is appoynted to pˀvid the full number of
Twelve pˀsonns, THESE therefore shalbe to chardge and commaund you in
his Ma{ties} name to prepare not onely yourselves but also to p’vid
the full number of Twelve persons of the most grave and Comlyest
pˀsonages of youre said Companye, everie one of them to be well
horsed and apparrelled w{th} velvet Coates and w{th} sleaves of the
same and chaynes of golde, and not onely yourselves but every of the
saide pˀsons to have one comely pˀson well apparrelled in his dublet
and hose to attend uppon him one[116] foote. All which pˀsons to be
in redines well and substonciallie horsed apparrelled and appoynted
as aforesaid w{th}in one daies warneing to be signified unto you
to attend on mee and my Bretheren the Aldrẽn of the same Cittie,
to attend and wayte uppon his most exelent Ma{tie} as aforesaid.
And that uppon Saturdaie morneinge next you doe certifye to mee in
wrytinge the names and S{r}names as well of youre selves as of all
other pˀsons free of youre company that you shall appointe for this
service. Of all w{ch} pˀsons you are to have a regard that noe man
for insufficiency in any respect be turned back to the disgrace and
discredit of youre company, nor a mann unfitt furnished and appointed
for so honorable a service. And hereof fayle you not, as you will
answer the contrary if through youre defalt any parte of this service
shal not be fullie pˀformed.

[116] On.

Guyldhull this Twenteth of Aprill 1603

SEBRIGHT.

9th August, 1603. James soon attempted to borrow (as he termed it) of the Companies. “Where a pˀcept was directed to õr M{rs.} for the lone of money to the Kinge, wee are to answer that wee have none.”

Perhaps this reply sufficed on this occasion.

22nd October, 1603. London was this year visited with a great Plague, and in consequence there was no Lord Mayor’s Show.

[Sidenote:
TO THE WARDES̃ OF } BY THE MAIOR.
THE COMPÃIE OF }
BARBOR SURGEONS }]

THEISE are to will and require you that you take speciall knowledge
herby that for avoydinge of infecc̃on by assemblie of people this
tyme of gods vizitac̃on It is thought meate therbe noe shewe made the
morrowe after Simond and Judes daie next, it is intended that youre
Companie be dischardged thereof for their Attendac̃e for that tyme.

SEBRIGHT.

This xxij{th} of October 1603.

7th February, 1604. The Court having considered the many abuses “comited against the weale of this Company” decided to apply for an Act of Parliament which should confer upon them extended powers, and appointed a Committee for the purpose, with the Recorder and Mr. Wilbraham as counsel.

20th October, 1604. From an entry of this date, it seems that it had been decided to apply for a fresh Charter, instead of an Act of Parliament, and a summary of the clauses (twenty-seven in number) which it was desired to have embodied therein is set out in full. As the Charter was obtained, it is unnecessary to give these suggested clauses here (they may be seen in Mr. D’Arcy Power’s book, p. 361). The 16th one is, however, curious enough, declaring the “openinge searinge and imbalmeinge of the dead corpes to be pˀply belongeinge to the science of Barbery and Surgery, And the same intruded into by Butchers Taylors Smythes Chaundlors and others of macanicall trades unskillfull in Barbery or Surgery, And unseemely and unchristian lyke defaceinge disfiguringe and dismembringe the dead Corpes, And so that by theire unskillfull searinge and imbalmeinge, the corpes corrupteth and groweth pˀntlie contagious and ofensive to the place and pˀsons approachinge.”

30th January, 1605. The Charter of James I is of this date, but not now in our possession; there are, however, two copies of it at the Hall, one of which was made in a vellum book in 1658. It was in Latin of prodigious length; but the following are the clauses as I make them out, and will suffice for this work.

1. It grants to the Company of Barber-Surgeons that it shall be ruled by four Masters or Governors and twenty-six Assistants.

2. Power given to the Masters to make lawful assemblies, to keep Courts in their Common Hall, and therein to consult, counsel and decree touching their Statutes, Laws and Ordinances, for the good rule, state and government of the Company.

3. Power to make laws, etc., for the government of the Masters or Governors, and of all and singular persons using the mysteries of Barbery or Surgery within the City of London, the liberties and suburbs thereof.

4. Power to punish offenders by penalties, fines, and imprisonments.

5. Fines to be levied by distress by the officers of the Company.

6. Nomination of John Laycock as Master, and of the three Wardens.

7. The present Masters to continue in office until the Monday next before the feast of St. Bartholomew the Apostle, and until the election of new Masters.

8. The present Masters and Assistants to continue on the Court for life, unless removed for misbehaviour or other good cause.

9. Upon the death or dismissal of an Assistant, the vacancy to be filled up by the Court.

10. Assistants to be sworn on admission.

11. The Masters, or the more part of them, to choose twelve persons of the mystery (six whereof to be expert Surgeons), which twelve were to be the Electors to choose the new Masters or Governors on the Monday next before the feast of St. Bartholomew.

12. Of the four Masters, two to be Surgeons.

13. The Masters elected to be sworn to the due execution of their offices.

14. Any member elected a Governor, to be ever after an Assistant.

15. If a Governor be dismissed for misconduct, another to be chosen in his place in the form provided.

16. The twelve Electors to be sworn.

17. Power of search, oversight, reformation, government, and correction, as well of free as of foreign professors of Barbery and Surgery in London and its suburbs.

18. Power of entry into Shops of Barbers and Surgeons.

19. Power to oversee and approve or condemn plasters, ointments, instruments, etc.

20. Power to examine Barbers and Surgeons.

21. Power to prohibit ignorant persons, or such as shall wilfully refuse to be examined, from practising.

22. Power to admit skilful persons to practise Surgery.

23. Power to reject and destroy all noxious or improper medicines, ointments, instruments, etc.

24. The Masters finding on their search any impostors, ignorant persons, or refusers to be examined, the same to be bound to their good behaviour.

25. No butcher, tailor, waxchandler or other persons, to cut, dissect or embalm any dead body, but the same to be done by members of the Company approved and appointed by the Masters or Governors of the Barber-Surgeons.

26. The Masters or Governors and admitted Surgeons, to be discharged from Watch, Ward, Inquests or Juries, and the office of Constable, and from assessments for the same.

27. Power to purchase lands, etc.

28. Ratification of the old liberties and franchises of the Barber-Surgeons, and of their lands.

29. All Mayors, Bailiffs, etc., to be aiding and assisting the Masters or Governors in the execution of their offices.

TESTE meipˀo apud Westm̃ Tricesimo die Januarij Anno Regno nr̃i
Anglie ffrancie et Hibernie sc̃do et Scotie Tricesimo octavo.

pˀ Brẽ de privato Sigillo.

Christian IV, King of Denmark, brother-in-law of James, paid a visit to England in 1606, and was sumptuously entertained. In accordance with the custom of the time, there was a grand pageant and procession in the City, in which all the Companies took part, and the following precept for the same was received by us;--

BY THE MAIOR.

TO THE M{R} & WARDENS OF THE }
COMPANY OF BARBOR SURGEONS }

FFOR the bewtefieinge of the streetꝭ and lanes w{th}in this Cittie
against the passage of the Kingꝭ most excellent mat{ie} and the
Kinge of Denmarke their nobilitie and trayne from the Tower through
this Cittie. THEIS are in his Ma{t}ꝭ name straightlie to charge and
command you that all delayes & excuses sett aparte you have and
provide yo{r} rayles in a readines for the livery of yo{r} company
to stand in and to be sett up in the streetꝭ against wednesday the
xxx{th} day of July at the furthest. AND likewise that yo{r} railes
against that tyme be hanged with blew azure cloth & garnished w{th}
Banners & streamers in the most bewtifull manner that may be, as
formerlie in like solempnities hath bin accustomed. AND that you
likewise have and provide sixe whifflers at the least to evˀy score
of yo{r} livery well apparrelled w{th} white staves in their handes
to stand with their backꝭ to the Common railes over against your
yo{r} Companies railes for the better and quieter ordering of the
streetꝭ through which his ma{tie} shall passe. AND hereof faile you
not at yo{r} pˀill. This xxj{th} of July 1606.

SEBRIGHTE.

Three days after the receipt of the above, came another precept demanding £5 from the Barber-Surgeons towards the City’s expenses to be incurred about the Pageant.

The two Kings landed at the Tower, from Greenwich, on the 31st July, on which day the City gave itself up to the gayest doings and rejoicings. A curious and interesting description of the pageant is to be found in a rare tract by H. R., 1606, preserved at Guildhall Library. Howes also gives an entertaining account of the proceedings, and relates how the King of Denmark “seriously observed the unimaginable number of gallant Ladies, beauteous virgins, and other delicate Dames filling the Windowes of every houss with kinde aspect saluting” him as he passed by. He also tells us of the melodious harmony, the Latin speech, the pastoral device, and the fountains which ran with wine, etc.

It seems that on this great occasion one of the Marshalls had endeavoured to take our Company “down a peg” in order of precedence. This was, however, successfully resisted, and the Clerk proudly records the following in the Minutes on the same day:

MEMORAND: that the Kingꝭ ma{tie} w{th} the Kinge of Denmarke & the
Prince of Wales came through this Cittie from wardes the Tower of
London attended uppon with the Lordes and gentry of this Land on the
last day of this instant moneth of July Att which tyme M{r.} ffoxe
beinge one of the Comittees for placeinge of the Companies standingꝭ
would have displaced us But by the Lord maiors order wee were placed
in the seaventeenth place accordinge as wee ought to be placed.

1606. Notwithstanding the new charter granted in the previous year, the Court found itself unable to regulate the practice of Barbery and Surgery without an extended set of By-Laws, which were now obtained and are still preserved at the Hall. They are in English, on eight large skins of parchment, beautifully engrossed with a handsomely illuminated title, the initial ~T~ containing the Barber-Surgeons’ arms, and distributed over the heading are the arms of the Master and Wardens in 1606, viz.: John Peck, Edward Rodes, William Fynynge and John Fenton.

The By-Laws are allowed by Thomas Lord Ellesmere, Lord Chancellor; Thomas Earl of Dorset, Lord Treasurer; and Sir John Popham, Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas; who send “greeting in our Lord God Everlasting,” and enact Ordinances of such fearful length, that to a layman it passes comprehension how the draughtsman could have kept his head clear whilst he travelled through such a sea of prolixity, and, to a great extent useless, repetition. If the Chancellor and his colleagues troubled themselves to read through and understand the document to which they have appended their seals, they must have uttered very sensible sounds of relief when they came to the sealing; the recapitulation of the mere heads of this extraordinary production, will probably be found wearisome to the reader, viz{t}:

1. Recital of an Act of Parliament, 24th Feby., 19 Henry VII.

2. Oath of a freeman.

3. Oath of the Masters or Governors.

4. Oath of an Assistant of the Livery.

5. Oath of the Electors.

6. Oath of the Clerk.

7. Oath of a “foreign” Surgeon.

8. Oath of the Wardens of the Yeomanry.

9. Oath of an Assistant of the Yeomanry.

10. Oath of the Beadle.

11. Oath of the Porter.

NOTE.--Some of the foregoing oaths contain over 500 words in each!

12. Every person shall appear upon summons under a penalty of 3{s.} 4{d.}, and for not keeping the hour, a fine of 2{d.} to be imposed.

13. Masters neglecting the day of Election, the distribution of Ferbras’ alms, or the payment of rents, to forfeit £5.

14. No great Election dinner to be kept without the consent of a Court of Assistants, under a penalty of £5.

15. The allowance for a great dinner to be 20 marks, and for a small one £4.

16. Manner of Election of Masters or Governors.

17. Time of Election.

18. Twelve Electors to be chosen.

19. Electors to be sworn.

20. The Masters omitting any next in Election out of their Bills, the Electors to choose others.

21. The order after Election.

22. A refuser of the office of Master or Governor to be fined 40{s.} and to be eligible to be chosen again.

23. Or may be absolutely discharged of such office on payment of £10.

24. And on refusal to pay such fines, to be dismissed out of the Court of Assistants and out of the Livery.

25. If the Electors choose such refuser to further place, before he have paid his fine, each Elector to forfeit 40{s.}

26. Every person chosen into the Livery to pay £5 if he have not served as Warden of the Yeomanry, and if otherwise then 40{s.}

27. Election of two Stewards of the Mayor’s feast, and two Stewards of the Anatomy; £8 to be allowed to the former and £6 to the latter.

28. Refusers of the Office of Steward to forfeit £13 6_s._ 8_d._ each.

29. The Common Seal to be kept under lock and key.

30. Time of the audit and appointment of eight auditors.

31. Day for reading “General Rules.”

32. View of the Company’s lands to be made yearly in October.

33. Allowance for the view dinner.

34. “Search” to be made twice in the year.

35. Apprentices to be presented within one month after they are retained in service, under a penalty of 40_s._

36. Indentures to be prepared by the Clerk before presentation.

37. The Clerk to make all indentures.

38. Every liveryman may keep three apprentices.

39. No decrepit, diseased or deformed apprentice to be retained by any Barber or Surgeon.

40. No person to teach any but his apprentice.

41. No person to put away his apprentice, without an order of Court.

42. No person to entice away another’s apprentice or servant.

43. Every person to enroll his apprentice.

44. The Court to punish disobedient apprentices after its discretion.

45. No freeman to “open shop” before he hath served one year as journeyman.

46. No Barber to use more than one shop.

47. No Surgeon to serve by sea or land before he and “his furniture” be examined and viewed.

48. Reformation of abuses in disobedient masters and servants.

49. No person to serve as a journeyman unless free of the Company.

50. No person to use surgery before he be examined and admitted.

51. No person to examine but the Examiners.

52. No Examiner to be chosen but by the Court.

53. Every Surgeon to be at every lecture on Surgery.

54. No Surgeon to defraud another of his patient.

55. No Person to shew his porringers, saucers or basons with blood therein.

56. Every patient in danger of death or maim to be presented to the Masters.

57. No person to take such presentation but a Master or Governor.

58. Ordinance against unskilful practice in Surgery.

59. No Anatomy to be dissected out of the Common Hall.

60. Anatomies to be decently buried.

61. Warrant to create a Yeomanry.

62. No “Courts of Assistants” to be held on Tuesdays.

63. No Court of Assistants to be under the number of sixteen persons.

64. Order of precedence in speaking.

65. Every Member to go and sit in his due place.

66. Ordinance against contentious and troublesome persons.

67. Ordinance against revealers of Court secrets.

68. No alien or stranger to bear the office of Master or Governor.

69. Ordinance against unseemly behaviour towards the Masters or Governors.

70. Ordinance against blotting or defaceing of books, pictures or monuments.

71. Ordinance against any of the Livery refusing to attend in his Livery gown.

72. Pensions for decayed members.

73. Warrant to search for hurt persons and malefactors.

74. As to quarterage.

75. Third Warden’s duties as to receipts.

76. And as to payments.

77. Duties of Fourth or Renter Warden.

78. Renter Warden to furnish accounts.

79. As to the Audit.

80. Ordinance against Sunday trading by Barbers.

81. As to fines and penalties.

82. Power to the Beadle to distrain (under a Warrant signed by the Masters) for all fines; also power to dismiss disobedient persons, and to inflict corporal punishment.

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The Annals of the Barber-Surgeons of LondonChapter V: Preface (5)

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