nor reseyue in to ther felishippys any alyent straungˀ or foreyn
vsyng the sayde faculte or scyens of surgery w{t}owten knowleg or
c͠osent of the wardẽs of bothe the seyd felishippys. All so for the
welth and suerte of the kyngꝭ lege people And the honour of the
seyde felyshyppys, It is agreyd be twyxt the same two felyshippis
that non alyent straunger nor foreyn shall use nor ocopy the seyde
faculte or scyens of surg̃y withyn this cyte or subbers of the same
unto such tyme as he shewhym selfe to the mayer for the time beyng,
and by the iiij wardeyns of bothe the saide felishippis, that is to
sey of eyth̃ of the sayde felishippis, tweyn, and othˀ suche as by
theyr wysdomys they will call vnto them, be dewly examyned & approuyd
to be sufficyent of conyng and habilyte in the sayde faculte. And
yf any such pˀson or pˀsones bi the sayde iiij wardens as is afore
sayde be taken reputed and a lowed to be sufficient of konyng and
habylite iˀ the seyd faculte or scyens of surgery that then the pˀson
or pˀsonys so knowen and admyttyd shall be sworne to all the good
rewlys and ordenans of y{e} seyd faculte or scyens of surgery, and
to be under the coreccyon of the iiij wardens for the tyme beyng to
the entent that at all tymes he may be under dwe coreccyon for the
sauegard of y{e} kyngis lege people. And if any suche alyent straungˀ
or foreyn of pˀsumcon refuse to be examyned of the seyde wardens in
mañ & fourme as is a fore seyd, Or yf any suche straunger or foreyn
so examyned be the seyde wardens be Juged onsufficient of conyng
and neũtheles takyth upon hym to occupy or vse the seyde faculte of
surg̃y w{t}yn the seyde cyte or subbars of the same, Then take the
name of hym or them so doyng and pˀsent hym by the sayd iiij wardens
to the mayer for the tyme beyng, to the entent that by his wysdom,
and advice of hys honerabyll brethern may set suche direccyon as
shall be thought resonabil formacion[64] therof, restrayne hym from
the ocupac̃on of the same scyens w{t} in the sayde cyte. Also it
is agreyd and cõpoundyd betwyxte the sayde felyshippys that from
hensforth eũy of the seyde felyshippis and seũally by them selfe,
Chese of themselfe two discrete pˀsons usyng the fete of surgery to
be seũally wardens of the sayde seũall felishippis, and that these
iiij wardens for the tyme beyng when and as oftyn as nede shall
requere, Shall haue the syght and good gounaunce of the seide faculte
of surgery. And eũy pˀson or pˀsonys of eũy of the sayde felyshippis
that happenys or shall fortune to haue any Jeopˀde[65] or dowtefull
cure, dredyng deth or mãy,[66] he or they hauing at eny tyme to
come, shall shew and pˀsent the cure or curys in as short tyme as
nede shall be reqˀred, And at the leste at the thyrde dressyd[67]
to the saide iiij wardens for the tyme beyng, Or any other pˀson or
pˀsonys that is to seye, to one of yche of the seyde felishippis,
and the same wardens and yf them seme nedefull shall call unto them
ij or iij, or more if nede reqˀre, of the wysest and best expˀte
mẽ of the said felishippis occupyeng the saide faculte of surgery
as them semeth most expedyent, for the cause or causis aforesayde.
Also in this coposycion yt is ordeyned and agreyd, that none of
the iiij wardens for the zere beyng neyther any other pˀson of the
sayde felishippis ocopyeng the crafte of surg̃i, Put any man of thes
sayde felishipis oute of ther cure otherwyse then the honeste of the
crafte wolle, but that yche of them be redy to helpe eche other w{t}
counsell or deed, y{t} worship profyte and the honeste of the crafte,
and helpyng of the seke be had and done on all sydis. And if ony of
thes iiij wardens for the tyme beyˀg or any other pˀson or pˀsonys
of the seyde felyshippis do the cõtrary that eche suche doer content
the valvyr[68] of the cure, After discressyon and Jugem̃et of the
same iiij wardens for the zere beyng, And also for his trespas to
paye aftur discression and Jugem̃et of the iiij wardens. Also if any
pˀson of the sayde felishippis dislaunder or depute any of the saide
felishippis onrightfully ownonestly and ef it so maye be prouyd upon
hym by two or thre witnesse, that he paye for that trespas iij{s.}
iiij{d.}, and ouer that to make amendis to y{e} seide pˀsons the
whiche he hath so disslaunderd aftur Jugement of onest men of the
seyd felyshippis not founden in non suche defaute.
[64]? “For reformation.”
[65] Jeopardy.
[66] Maiming.
[67]? “Day” or “dressing.”
[68]? “Value.”
This pˀsent cõposicyon was made the daye and zere a bowe wreton by
Roberd taylour, Rob{t.} Halyday, Thom̃s Koppisley, Thom̃s Thornton,
Ihoñ Harte, Johñ Marhm̃, Roberd Beuerly, James Scote, James
Ingoldysby, Johñ Taylour, Richard Swedenhm̃, Nicholas Leueryng, John
Wilson. In rowlid in Raffe Osterigis tyme, mayer.
Of the persons assenting to this composition, the following were
Barber-Surgeons, viz.: Rob{t.} Halyday (Master 1475, 1483, 1485, 1490,
1496), James Scott (M. 1493, 1498, 1500), James Ingoldysby (M. 1501,
1506), John Taylour (M. 1523, 1524), and Nicholas Leveryng(M. 1503,
1508), the others were most likely belonging to the Guild of Surgeons.
An Ordinance by way of addenda to the above was made, imposing
penalties upon any who should break any of the foregoing rules; the
first offence to be punished by a fine of 10_s._, the second 20_s._,
and the third offence to be remitted to the Mayor and Aldermen for
punishment after their discretion.
[Illustration: FAC-SIMILE OF THE TITLE-PAGE TO THE OLD BOOK OF
ORDINANCES, REPRESENTING SAINTS COSMO AND DAMIAN (PATRON SAINTS OF
THE BARBER-SURGEONS) AND THE COAT OF ARMS GRANTED TO THE COMPANY OF
SURGEONS IN 1492. (_See p. 433._)]
How long this agreement, so beneficial for the practice of Surgery,
continued in force is unknown; but the probabilities are that the old
jealousies soon re-appeared and that each Guild worked on its own
lines until 1540, as, by the uniting Act then passed, it was specially
remarked as desirable that the two Companies should come together, and
be incorporated in one.
1497. We shall now present to the reader’s notice a highly important
document, being a diploma granted by the Master and Wardens of the
Barbers’ Company to one of their freemen, enabling him to practise as
a Surgeon. This is in all probability the earliest English diploma of
a Surgeon extant and cannot fail by the quaintness of its composition,
and the details given, to prove of much interest. We notice in it, that
our Company as usual, did not fail to rehearse its prerogatives and
practice, and we also observe that thus early the Company provided an
instructor and examiner in the science, Dr. John Smith, before whom
came in the Common Hall, Robert Anson, and in the presence of a “great
audience of many right well expert men in Surgery and others, was
openly examined in divers things concerning the practice,” etc.
[Illustration: FAC-SIMILE OF THE DIPLOMA GRANTED BY THE MASTER AND
WARDENS OF THE BARBER-SURGEONS TO ROBERT ANSON (8 AUG., 1497), ENABLING
HIM TO PRACTISE AS A SURGEON.]
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
THE LETTˀ PAT̃E OF BˀBOURS & OF SURGEOS BˀBORS.
To all trew crysten people to whom thes present lettris shall come.
ROBERD HALIDAI[69] mastur of barbours and of surgeon barbours of
london, and Willm̄ Okeley, John Knote[70] and Thomas Dawes[71]
wardens of the same gretyng, knowe ye that wher as the moste
excellent Pryns in cryst and soũeyn lord Edward by the grace of god
kyng of ynglõd and of ffraunce, lord of Ierlond, for many pˀfounde
cos̃ideracyons his gc̃e movyng, hathe grauntyd the well to hym ĩ
cryst, the approuyd fremen the coiãlte of barbours and of surgeon
barbours of the cyte of londõ, The serche and oũsyght correcyon
and ponyshement, examinacon & approbacion of all fremen usyng or
hauntyng the conyng of surgery and barbory, And of all maner of men
foreyns usyng or hauntyng any pˀticuler pˀte of surgery withyn the
seyde cyte or subbers ther of, As a bowte new woundys, olde soris,
and other lesyons what so eũ they be, Also in drawyng of teeth
ventosyng scarificacons and suche othˀ manwall operac̃ons, lyke as
the lettres patentes of owre seyde lege lord the kyng ther upon made
planyly may apere. We therfore the saide Roberde, Willm̄, John̄ &
Thom̄s at this tyme masturs and wardens of the saide felishyp, ffor
the comyn pˀfyte weth[72] and relefe socour of owr lordis the kyngꝭ
lege people, entẽdyng to pˀuyde men of good capasite and abill ĩ
maners and conyng, sufficiently lerned, enfourmed, and labored by
long experyens, and other in the seide craft of surgery,--haue prayed
and requyred mastur John̄ Smyth doctour ĩ phesik, Instructour &
examener of the seide feliship, and be[73] the same for that intent
chosen and elect to entur & examynacyon for the cawses a boue saide,
w{t} divers pˀsons whiche long tyme, w{t}owte auctorite, haue vsed
and haunted w{t} experyens the conyng of surgery, wheruppon aftur
dewe and dyuers monycions made in this be halue, ROBERD ANSON on of
the seide coĩalte at the comyn hall of the same ĩ london appered, ĩ
his pˀpyr pˀson, the first day of August last past, submyttyng hym
selfe to the examync̃on and thaposicion,[74] wher and when the seide
Roberd by the sayde John̄ Smyth, in a gret audiens of many ryght well
expert men ĩ surgery & other, was op̃yly examyned ĩ dyuers thingꝭ
cõcernyng the practise opˀatife and directif in the seyde crafte of
Surgery. And the{r} albe it he hathe a fore this many tymys been well
approuyd, ʒet now he is newly habelyd, be[75] the seyde doctour and
felyship, and founde abyll and discrete to ocopy & vse the practise
of surgery, as well a bowte new woundis, as cansers, fystelis,
vlceracions & many other disessis & dyuers; & the same Robert thus
aprouyd and abelyd we haue, as an expert man ĩ the seyd faculte,
aprouyed and abeled to ocupy & practyse in the seyd faculte, ĩ eũy
place, when and as ofte as hym best lyketh we haue lycensid hym and
graũtid to hym by thes pˀsentes. ĩ witnes wherof we haue putte the
comyn seale of barbours and of surgeon bˀbours of london, geuen at
london ĩ the comyn hall of the seyd Comõnalte the viij day of August
the zere of oure lord god M{t}CCCClxxxxvij.
[69] Master 1475, 1483, 1485, 1490, 1496.
[70] Master 1510.
[71] Master 1504.
[72] Wealth.
[73] By.
[74] “The apposition”==the questioning.
[75] By.
1499. In this year the Company obtained from Henry VII a confirmation
of their Charter, paying but 20_s._ for the same. This Inspeximus
Charter recites and confirms that of Edward IV with the very noticeable
exceptions, that four Masters or Governors are named instead of
two, and that they are described as of “the Mystery of Barbers and
Surgeons,” and not “Barbers” only, as in Edward’s grant.
The original, in excellent preservation, with the great seal of England
pendant, is at the Hall, and the text is as follows:--
HENRICUS dei gracia Rex Anglie Francie & Dominus Hibernie Omnibʒ
ad quos pˀsentes littere pervenerunt, salutem. Inspeximus litteras
patentes recolende memorie domine E. quarti nuper Regis Anglie
progenitoris nostri factas in hec verba. EDWARDUS dei gracia
. . . . . . . . Teste me ipso apud Westmonasteriũ vicesimo quarto die
Februarii Anno regni nostri primo. NOS AUTEM litteras predictas ac
omnia & singula in eis contenta rata habentes et grata ea pro nobis
et heredibus nostris quantum in nobis est acceptamus & approbamus
ac dilectis ligeis nostris Rico Haywarde Jacobo Holand Johanni
Robertson et Johanni Boteler nunc Magistris sive Gubernatoribʒ
mistere BARBITONSOꝜ et SIRURGICOꝜ infra Civitatem nrãm predc̃am
& eoꝜ Successoribʒ per pˀsentes ratificamus et confirmamus sicut
lrẽ predc̃e rõnabilis testantˀ IN CUJUS rei testiom̄ has lr̃as
nr̃as fieri fecimus patentes. TESTE me ip̃o apud Westm̄ quinto die
Decembris Anno regni nostri quinto decimo.
CLERK.
pro viginti solidis solutis in hanaperio.
(Endorsed.)
Intratur in libro signato cum lr̃a. m. tempore Nich̃i Alwyne
maioris Civitatis londoñ Anno Regni Regis Henrici septum quinto
decimo.
PAKENHAM.
TRANSLATION.
HENRY by the grace of God, King of England and France, and Lord of
Ireland, To all to whom these present letters shall come, health. WE
have inspected the letters patent of the Lord Edward the fourth, of
gracious memory, late King of England, our progenitor, made in these
words, “EDWARD by the grace of God . . . . . . . . Witness my self
at Westminster the 24th day of February in the first year of our
reign.” WE ALSO, the aforesaid letters, and all and singular therein
contained ratifying and granting, for us and our heirs, as much as
in us lies do accept and approve, and to our beloved lieges, Richard
Haywarde, James Holand, John Robertson, and John Boteler, now Masters
or Governors of the Mystery of BARBERS and SURGEONS within our City
aforesaid, and to their successors, by these presents, do ratify and
confirm, as in the aforesaid letters is reasonably testified. IN
WITNESS whereof, we have caused these our letters to be made patent.
WITNESS myself at Westminster the fifth day of December in the
fifteenth year of our reign.
CLERK.
for twenty shillings paid into the hanaper.
(Endorsed.)
Entered in the book marked with the letter m. in the time of
Nicholas Alwyne, Mayor of the City of London, in the fifteenth
year of the reign of King Henry the Seventh.
PAKENHAM.
1511. In this year an Act of Parliament was passed, which infringed
on the privileges of the Barbers’ Company, inasmuch as it placed the
approbation and licensing of Surgeons in the hands of certain clerical
dignitaries, to wit, the Bishop of London and Dean of St. Paul’s
(while for the country the several Bishops or their Vicars general
were nominated). This Act was possibly the outcome of some laxity on
the part of our Company, or of an intolerable growth of quackery, with
which it could not cope, the pretenders to surgical knowledge being
a “great multitude” of ignorant persons, and women, using sorcery,
witchcraft and noxious remedies. This Act of Parliament (3 Hen. VIII,
cap. XI) as given below, is from an original copy in the possession of
Mr. Charles J. Shoppee (Master 1878).
¶ AN ACTE CONCERNYNG THE APPROBATION OF PHISICIONS AND SURGIONS.
To the kyng our souerayne lorde, and to all the lordes spiritual
and temporall, & comoñs in this present parlyament assembled.
FORASMOCHE as the science and connynge of phisike & surgerie (to
the perfet knowlege whereof, be requisite both great lernyng and
rype experience) is dayly within this realme exercised by a great
multitude of ignorant pˀsons: of whome the great part haue no maner
of insight in the same, nor in any other kynde of lernynge, some also
can no letters on the boke, so farforthe that common artificers, as
smythes, weauers, and women, boldely and customably take upon them
greate cures and thinges of greate difficultie: in the whiche they
partly use sorcerye, and witchcrafte, partly apply suche medicines
unto the disease, as be very noyous and nothyng metely therfore to
the highe displeasure of god, great infamye to the facultie, and the
greuous hurte, damage, and destruction of many of the kynges liege
people: most specially of them that can not discerne the unconnynge
from connynge. Be it therfore (to the suertie and comforte of all
maner people) by auctoritie of this present parliament enacted,
that no persone within the citie of London, nor within seuen myles
of the same, take upon hym to exercise and occupie as a phisition
or surgion, excepte he be fyrst examyned, approued, and admytted
by the byshop of London, or by the deane of Paules, for the tyme
beinge, calling to hym or them foure doctours of phisike, and for
surgery, other experte persons in that facultie, and for the fyrste
examination suche as they shall thynke conuenient, and afterwarde
alway foure of them that haue ben so approued, upon the peine of
forfayture, for euery moneth that they do occupie as phisitions or
surgions, not admytted nor examyned after the tenour of this acte, of
v.li. to be enployed the one halfe therof to thuse of our soueraine
lorde the kynge, and the other halfe therof to any person that
wyll sue for it by action of dette, in whiche no wager of lawe nor
protection shalbe alowed.
¶ And ouer this, that no persone out of the sayd citie and precinte
of vii. myles of the same, except he haue ben (as is aforesayd)
approued in y{e} same, take upon hym to exercise and occupie as a
phisition or surgion, in any diocesse within this realme, but if he
be fyrste examined and approued by the bysshoppe of the same dyocese,
or he beynge out of the dioces by his vycare generall: either of
them callyng to them suche experte persones in the sayde faculties,
as their discretion shal thynke conuenient, and gyuyng theyr letters
testimonials under theyr seale to hym that they shall so approue,
upon lyke peyne to them that occupie contrary to this acte (as
is above sayde) to be leuied and employed after the forme before
expressed.
¶ Prouyded alway, that this acte nor any thynge therin contayned, be
preiudiciall to the uniuersities of Oxforde and Cambrydge or eyther
of them, or to any priuileges graunted to them.
This Act seems to have invested the Bishops, etc., with the power
of licensing _all_ Surgeons, and if so, would have taken away that
privilege from our Company; the point is however doubtful, and I am
inclined to think that the Act did not operate to the prejudice of the
Company, only in so far as it suffered from the existence of another
licensing authority.
Mr. D’Arcy Power has pointed out that the Act very soon became
unpopular, and that it was almost immediately practically repealed by
another one, which provided that it should be “lawful to any person
being the king’s subject, having knowledge or experience of the nature
of herbs, etc., to minister in and to any outward sore or wound
according to their cunning.” (Memorials of the Craft of Surgery, p. 85.)
This latter Act, which in its effect would flood the land with quacks,
must however have remained the law until the Act of 32 Hen. VIII,
whereby the Barber-Surgeons were reinstated in their ancient rights;
and it is the fact, that down to the 18th Century the Ecclesiastics
claimed and enforced their rights (under the Act 3 Hen. VIII) to
license Surgeons, notwithstanding other Acts passed since then, which
although not expressly extinguishing their power, certainly did not
save it. The Barber-Surgeons’ Company seem to have examined the
Surgeons, and, if approved, to have given a certificate under Seal,
which was presented to the Bishop who thereupon issued his licence.
This practice was not however universal, and I think only applied
to some Surgeons who were not free of the Company. In some cases
the Bishop licensed Surgeons, without reference to the Company, and
thousands have been licensed by the Company without regard to the
Bishop. It is almost impossible to say now what course was followed,
the practice certainly varying with the times (see Surgery).
1513. In this year an Act of Parliament was passed exempting Surgeons
from juries, inquests, etc. This must have been passed in the interest
of the Surgeons’ Guild, as the Barber-Surgeons were surely exempt under
their Charter from Edward IV.
1512. The Barbers’ Company having applied to the King (Henry VIII) for
a confirmation of their Charter, their request was acceded to. Henry
is, on more than one occasion, spoken of in the books as “our patron,”
and there is no doubt but that he was very friendly both to our Company
and to individual members of it, as witness his gift of the grace cup,
and the legacies in his will to various members of the Company, with
some of whom, as Pen, Harman, Ayliff, etc., he was on as intimate terms
as a king could be with a subject; there would therefore be, we may be
sure, but little difficulty in obtaining an Inspeximus.
In one of our Minute Books, Thomas Knot (Master 1555) has transcribed
what purports to be a copy of Henry’s Inspeximus Charter with the date
12{th} of May “in the xviij{th} yere of our Reigne” (_i.e._, 1526), and
he appends a certificate that he has compared and agreed it with the
original! Now we possess the original at Barbers’ Hall and it is dated
12{th} March 3{rd} Henry VIII (_i.e._, 1512), and it would indeed be a
strange thing for Henry VIII in 1526 to recite and confirm Henry VII’s
Charter, when he had already done so in 1512. Moreover I have searched
the Patent Rolls and whilst there is no record in 1526, there is the
entry of the 1512 Charter, and further to fix the date, both Philip
and Mary, and Elizabeth in their Inspeximus Charters recite the 1512
Charter.
It has been necessary to enter into this detail, as the date of the
Charter is important when we come to consider Holbein’s picture; and as
my friend Mr. D’Arcy Power has (p. 338) quoted this pretended Charter
not having seen the real one, he, very naturally trusting old Thomas
Knot’s statement, has fallen into the pit dug some three hundred years
ago.
The following is the Text of the Charter, and it will not be necessary
to append a translation, as it follows much on the same lines as that
of Henry VII:--
HENRICUS dei gracia Rex Anglie et Francie et Dominus Hibernie OMNIBUS
ad quos presentes Irẽ pˀvenerunt saltmˀ INSPEXIMUS litteras patentes
domini H. nuper Rˀgis Anglie septum patris nostri precarissimi de
confirmacione factas in hec verba HENRICUS dei gracia . . . . . .
Teste me ip̃o apud Westmonasterium quinto die Decembrˀ Anno regni
nr̃i quinto decimo. NOS AUTEM litteras predictas ac omnia & singula
in eisdem contenta rata hentẽs & grata ea pro nobis & heredibus nr̃is
quantum in nobis est acceptamus & approbamus ac dilectis ligeis
nr̃is Johĩ Peerson Wil̃l̃o Kyrkeby Thome Gybson & Thome Martyn nunc
Magistris sive Gubernatoribus mistere BARBITONSORUM et SIRURGICORUM
infra Civitatem nrãm predictam & eorum successoribus per presentes
ratificamus & confirmamus sicut lrẽ predicte rõnabiliter testantur.
IN CUJUS rei testimonium has lrãs nrãs fieri fecimus patentes. TESTE
me ip̃o apud Westmonasterium duodecimo die Marcii Anno regni nr̃i
tercio.
YONG.
pro viginti solidis solutis in Hanapˀio.
The Great Seal, though still pendant, has been considerably damaged.
1525. This year the Company received a Precept from the Mayor, ordering
them to provide for the “Midsummer Watch.”
TO THE WARDENS OF THE BARBER SURGEONS,
We woll and charge you that for the hounour of this Citie ye do
ordeyne & pˀpare ageinst the watches to be kept within this Citie in
the nightꝭ of the vigilles of Sent John Baptist & Seint Peter nowe
next comynge iiij honest & comely pˀsones suche as ye will answere
for, w{t} Bowes & arrowes clenely harneysed and arrayed yn Jakettꝭ of
whytte, havynge tharmes of this Citie, to waytte and attende uppon us
in the said Watches, And to come to Blackwell Hall and there to be,
for the not fayllynge hereof as ye tendre the honour of this Citie
and also will answere at your pẽlls. Gyven in the Guihall of the
said Citie the xiiij day of Junij the xvij year of the Reigne of our
Soveraigne lorde King Henry the viij{th.}
[Illustration]
[Illustration: Handwritten autograph]
An Act of Parliament was passed in the 20th Henry VII, which provided
that the governing bodies of Guilds should not make any by-laws or
ordinances, without the same should be approved by the Chancellor, the
Lord Treasurer, and the Chief Justices of the King’s Bench and Common
Pleas, or any three of them, etc., and in 1530 our Company, being
desirous of settling many points for the government of the mystery,
drew up a long set of interesting Ordinances, which were presented
to Sir Thomas More the Chancellor, Sir John Fitzjames and Sir Robert
Norwiche the Chief Justices, and were signed by them on the 14th May,
1530. The original (with More’s autograph) is at the Hall, and after
reciting the Act of 20th Henry VII, ordains the following oaths and
articles:--
The oath of a freeman.
The oath of the Masters and Governors with directions as to searches.
Ordinance as to attending on summons.
" " quarterage.
" " presentation of apprentices.
" " number of servants to be kept by freemen and
liverymen.
" " wages of servants.
" " enticing away of servants.
" " opening shop.
" " teaching the mystery to any but apprentices.
" " sueing brother freemen at common law.
" " “opprobrios condicions or dishonest wordes.”
" " refusal to come on the Livery, and admission into
the Livery.
" " Sunday trading.
" " presenting patients in danger of death.
" " reading Lectures concerning Surgery.
" " supplanting another of his patient.
" " the Dinners.
" " excess of words in debate.
" " departing from the Common assembly.
" " seniority.
" " Barbers setting up shop.
Sir Thomas More’s Ordinances, as above, will be found in full in the
Appendix B, the transcript being made from the original.[76]
[76] The copy of these Ordinances given by Mr. D’Arcy Power (p. 339)
is taken from one made by our old friend Thomas Knot, and is not
literally, though it is substantially, accurate.
1540. This year is one of the most memorable in the annals of the
Barber-Surgeons, as it witnessed the union of the unincorporated
Guild of Surgeons, with their more accredited fellow-craftsmen, the
incorporated Company of Barbers. It has been suggested by more than
one writer that such an union is shrouded in mystery, difficult of
explanation, and that in those days, with science advancing (slowly,
it is true), it might have been expected that we should read of a
divorcement, rather than a combination of two crafts, which then, as
now, were dissimilar both in their operations, and in the training and
intelligence necessary for their practice.
But it is essential to bear in mind that though the Charter of
Edward IV was ostensibly to the Barbers, it really was granted to a
fraternity, which to a great extent practised as Barber-Surgeons, some
of whom were Surgeons pure and simple, others combined both branches,
while others still carried on the more humble craft of Shavers and
Hair-Dressers; those of the Company who practised Surgery did no doubt
consider it a reproach to be dubbed “Barbers,” and for distinction sake
called themselves and were well known as “Barber-Surgeons,” indeed they
had so far established this title to themselves and to their Company,
as to get it recognised and so named in the Inspeximus Charter of Henry
VII (less than forty years after their original Charter as “Barbers”
had been granted to them). This is to a great extent confirmed by the
words of the Act now about to be referred to, which distinctly says
that there was then a Company of “Surgeons occupyinge and exercisynge
the sayde scyence and faculty of surgery . . . . . . commonly called
the Barbours of London.”