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.
[Illustration]
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.