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.
Penalties of varying amounts are specified for breaches of any of the
foregoing Ordinances.
The By-Laws are signed “Ellesmere, Canc̃,” “T. Dorset” and “Jo:
Popham,” and the three seals of their arms are pendant.
8th September, 1606. This daie it is ordered that the M{rs} shall pay
v{li} to M{r} Michaell the Lord Cheif Justices man for his paynes in
penninge of o{r} ordynaunces.
5th February, 1607. This day it is ordered that a Court howse be
errected upon the Bulwarke behind the Hall of this Company for the
M{rs} or Governors to kepe their Courtꝭ at the charge of this Company
And M{r.} ffenton and M{r.} Jenkins are to joyne with the M{rs} of
this Company in the same buildinge.
This Court Room was built within the circular Bulwark at the west end
of the old Livery Hall, from which it was shut off by a screen wall
or partition; many years later this screen was removed, and the whole
thrown into one large apartment, and used as the Livery Hall.
21st January, 1608. The pˀnt M{rs} are this daye authorized to
furnishe the newe Roome in the Bulwark w{th} cloth of Arras or
tapestry or w{th} waynscot as they shall think fittest at the chardge
of this howse, and the Chimney peece & wyndowes to be waynscotted.
1608. The Colony of Virginia (so named from the Virgin Queen Elizabeth,
in whose reign it was discovered) was in an unsatisfactory condition
by reason of its scanty population, want of enterprise and other
causes; whereupon the Council of Virginia endeavouring the prosperity
of the Colony, sent a letter to the Lord Mayor propounding a scheme of
emigration and colonisation to be undertaken by the City, which should
ease the Metropolis “of a swarme of unnecessarie inmates,” make the
fortunes of the emigrants (and of the “undertakers”) and benefit the
Colony. This letter is so interesting that no apology is necessary for
reproducing it here.
WHEREAS the lords of his Ma{tes} councill, commissioners for the
Subsedie, desirous to ease the cittie and suburbs of a swarme of
unnecessarie inmates as a continuall cause of dearth and famine,
and the verie origenall of all plagues almost that happen in this
kingdome, have advised yo{r} lordshippe and yo{r} brethren, in
an ease of state, to make some voluntarie contribuc͠on for their
remove into the plantation of Virginia, w{ch} we understand you
all seemed to like as an action pleasing to God and happie for
this com̃onwealth; We the councell and companie of this ho{ble}
plantation, willing to yelde unto your lop̃p and them all good
satisfac͠on, have entered into consultac͠on w{th} o{r}selves, what
may be everie mans chg̃es, and what of everie private familie, w{ch}
we send herew{th} at large, not as a thing w{ch} we would exact from
you, but that you may see, as in a true glasse, the true chg̃e,
w{ch} we wholly commend unto yo{r} grave wisdoms, both for the somme
and man{r} of leavie; onlie give us leave thus farre to enforme you
that we give no bills of adventure for a lesse some than 12{li}
10{s.} ps̃uminge it wont be an infinite trouble now, and confusion
in the retribuc͠on, but if your lop̃ make any seasment, or raise any
voluntarie contribuc͠on out of the best disposed and most able of
the companies, we are willing to give o{r} bills of adventure to the
m{r} and wardens, to the general use and behoof of that companie, yf
by wards, to the good of that ward, or otherwise as it shall please
you and your brethren out of y{r} better experience to direct. And
if the inmate called before you and enjoyned to remove shall alledge
that he hath no place to remove unto, but must lie in the streats,
and being offerd this journey shall demand what shalbe their pˀsent
maintenance, what their future hopes, yt may please you to lett them
know that for the pˀsent they shall have meat, drink, and clothing,
w{th} an house, orchard, and garden for the meanest familie, and
a possession of lands to them and their posteritie, one hundreth
acres for everie man’s pˀson that hath a head or a body able to
endure labour, as much for his wife, and as much for his child that
is of yeres to do sˀvice to the colonie, w{th} further pˀticular
reward according to theire pˀticuler meritt and desert; and yf yo{r}
lordshipp and yo{r} brethren shalbe pleased to put in any private
adventure for yo{r} selves in pˀticuler, you shalbe sure to receive
according to your pˀporc͠on of the adventure, equall pˀts w{th} us
adventurers from the beginning, both of the comodities returned or
land to be divided; and because you shall see (being aldermen of so
famous a cittie) we beare you due respect, we are contented, having
but one badge of grace and favor from his Ma{tie}, to participate
w{th} you therein, and to make as many of you as will adventure
50{li.} or more, fellow councellors from the first day w{th} us who
have spent double and treble as much as is required, abidden the
hazard of three sevˀall discoveries, w{th} much care and diligence,
and many days adventure, and as yo{r} deputies, and yo{r} assistants,
in yo{r} private wards, so shall as many of them as will adventure
but 25{li.} present money, be made pˀties of this companie and
assistants of this councell; and thus as an action concerning God
and the advancement of religion, the present ease, future hon{r} and
safety of this kingdome, the strength of o{r} navie, the visible
hope of a great and rich trade, w{th} many secrete blessings not
yet discovered, we commend the cause to the wisdome and zeale of
yo{r} selfe and yo{r} brethren and you, and it, and us, to the holie
pˀtection of the Almightie.
The City took up the scheme heartily, a large sum was subscribed and
a great number of emigrants crossed the water. The Barber-Surgeons
invested £25, but never received anything for it again.
23rd March, 1609. This daye it is ordered that the pˀnt M{rs} shall
advent{r} xxv{li.} uppon a Bill of Exchange for the plantac͠on of
Virginia, of the stock of this howse.
6th January, 1609. In obedience to a precept from the Lord Mayor, £10
was paid to the Chamberlain, towards the construction of a Garner for
the use of the City.
25th May, 1610. A precept came from the Lord Mayor calling upon the
Company “to be readie in yo{r} bardge well and richlie sett forthe
before vii of the clocke in the morning” on the 31st January, to go to
Chelsea to meet the eldest son of James I, on which occasion he was to
go from Richmond to Whitehall to be created Prince of Wales; whereupon
the following minute is recorded:--
AT this Court a precept beinge sent from my lord Maior unto this
Company w{ch} beinge at this Court read, the effect whereof was that
our Company on Thursdaie next shalbe reddie to attend my Lord Maior
in their barge for the honor of this Citie in the enterteynement of
the high & mightie prince at Chelsey. It was ordered that none of
the Company shold be warned for this service but onely those w{ch}
ware of the Assistaunce of the Clotheinge to goe in the Barge, the
reason thereof is that a barge cold not be gotten large enough to
carry the whole lyvery.
1611. In this year came a precept from the Lord Mayor, by authority of
the King, complaining of “the abuse growing by excesse and straunge
fashions of apparell, used by manye apprentises, and by the inordynate
pryde of mayde servaunts and women servaunts in their excesse of
apparell and follye in varietie of newe fashions, and to admonish
them to have a due and speciall care to see a spedye reformac͠on had
in everye one of their servaunts.” What effect this had upon the
apprentices and servants of the Barber-Surgeons we are not told, but
doubtless they were properly admonished.
1st July, 1614. A precept was received to the effect that the King had
determined to borrow £100,000 of the City, and that the Barber-Surgeons
were assessed at £600 towards this loan, which they were to lend, or
which they were coolly informed they could compound for, by an absolute
fine of £30! As the Court well knew that they would never again see a
halfpenny of the £600 if lent, they quickly and wisely determined to
pay the £30.
Profiting by past experience, the next extracts show that the Court
proceeded warily in the matter of “adventuring” in the State Lottery.
29th April, 1614. Att this Court the M{r} propounding how they had
receaved Letters from the Lordꝭ of the privy Councell and from
the lord Maior thereby exhorting & intreating them to call their
assistauntes together and to admonishe the genˀall body to be
adventurers in the great lottery w{ch} is comyng forth, Whereupon the
same lrẽs being considered on at this Court, it is thought fitt and
ordered that the M{rs} shall att their pleasures call together the
body of the Company, and they being gathered together, to admonish &
pˀswade them to be adventerers in the same Lottery.
17th October, 1614. The Court having collected a sum of money for the
Lottery, it was ordered that it should not be paid to the Treasurer,
Sir Thos. Smith, until the Company shall be “assured” by a Bill of
Adventure under seal “for their adventure unto virgynia, as also that
it shalbe published in print certeynelie when the lotterey shalbe
drawen.”
The College of Physicians had been for many years very jealous as
to the Barber-Surgeons trespassing on their preserves, and as far
back as 12th November, 1595, wrote a long letter to their “verie
loving freends” the Master and Wardens, cautioning the members of
the Company against practising physic, and stating that no few of
them were culpable in the matter, but that the College had hitherto
forborne to molest or punish them; the letter continues, “but for that
we now see by daily experience that upon our lenetie and sufferance
this inconvenience more and more increaseth, insomuch that both in
credit and otherwise, it seemeth to touch us more neere than well
can be indured; We have therefore thought it good to put you in mynd
thereof, and therewithal earnestly and freendlie to request you, that
among yourselves some such discreet order may be taken heerin, that
the like offence hereafter maie not be committed by them or any of
theirs. Wherein if we shall perceave you as ready to fulfil our honest
request, as we are willing to maintain good amytie and concord with
you and your Companie, we wilbe very glad thereof and geve you thanks
therefore. If not, then as we are fully minded to defend our privileges
and to deal with the particular offendors therein, as order of law
and our ordinances in that behalf requireth; so we trust the body of
your Societie will not be offended therewith. And so we bid you most
hartelie farewell.”
The above letter is taken from Dr. Goodall’s History of the College of
Physicians. Dr. Goodall gives several instances of Barber-Surgeons
and Apothecaries being fined or imprisoned for practising physic; and,
indeed, there seems to have been a strife waging between the College
and the Company for a long period.
1617. The Physicians in 15 James I obtained a Charter confirming their
Charter of 10 Henry viij, with several additional privileges and
clauses in restraint of the privileges of the Barber-Surgeons, who
thereupon petitioned the King that that Charter might not be confirmed
by Act of Parliament, as the Physicians were desirous that it should
be. The King on 4th February, 1620, ordered that the petitioners should
be left to seek any lawful remedy either in Parliament or otherwise,
as they might be advised, and accordingly on 23rd April, 1624, they
presented a petition to the House of Commons, who ordered that the
Physicians’ Patent should be brought into the Committee of Grievances,
and both parties heard by Counsel, the consequence of which was that
the Physicians proceeded no further with their Bill.
1632. Later on the Physicians endeavoured again to obtain a supremacy
over the Barber-Surgeons, and on 13th June, 1632, procured an Order in
Council which made it incumbent upon Surgeons in certain serious and
specified cases of Surgery, to call in a “learned Physitian,” and to
enforce this order they procured the Attorney General to exhibit a Bill
in the Star Chamber in which the obnoxious clause was inserted, but on
a Petition of the Barber-Surgeons complaining of the injury that would
thereby accrue not only to themselves, but to the public, the King,
by an Order of Court dated 22nd July, 1635, directed the clause to be
struck out.
After the Restoration, the Physicians again endeavoured to procure
an Act of Parliament confirming their Charter, whereupon the
Barber-Surgeons claimed to have a clause inserted in the Act in the
nature of a proviso that nothing therein contained should be construed
to the prejudice of their privileges, and again the Physicians seem
to have been checkmated, for they allowed their proposed Act to fall
through.
Kings’ Barbers and Kings’ Surgeons seem to have secured substantial
benefits from their official positions, as the following notices (from
Domestic State Papers at the Record Office) testify.
25th August, 1625. There is a letter of this date from Sir James
Fullerton to Secretary Conway, intimating that it is His Majesty’s
pleasure to grant to Michael Andrews (Master 1635 and King’s Surgeon) a
pension of £150 per annum for life.
17th December, 1625. And at this date is a grant to Thomas Caldwell
(Master 1627 and King’s Barber).
A graunt to Thomas Caldwell esq{r} his Mat{s} servant of ye som̃e of
one thousand poundes To be received as well out of the remainder of
three hundred pounds due to his Ma{tie} by Richard Harbin sometime
Collecto{r} of his Ma{t}ꝭ greenwax before his accesse to the Crowne
and out of the arrerages of grenewax money then due unto his Ma{ty.}
As also out of the other grenewax moneys now accrewing to his Ma{tie}
not being in farme. And is granted to him as of his Ma{ts} bounty
in lieu of 800{li} formerly graunted unto him by his Ma{ty} of
w{ch} he received no benefitt. Subscrˀ by Mr. Attorney Genˀall upon
significac͠on of his Ma{t}ꝭ pleasuere by the Lord Trẽr.
In addition to stray grants like the above, the perquisites and fees
attaching to the Office of King’s Barber were very lucrative, and Mr.
Caldwell must have done exceedingly well out of the following stroke of
business.
January, 1626. Whereas his Ma{tie} hath bene pleased to appoint Mr.
Thomas Caldwell his Ma{ts} servant and Barber to make provisions of
all such necessaries as are to be used at the Ceremony of Bathing the
Kn{ts} of the Bath at this his Ma{ties} Coronac͠on to be holden on
the 2{d} day of February next at Westm{r} as to his place by auntient
custome belongeth I do therefore will and require all such whome it
may concearne to take notice thereof hereby for permitting him to
doe and performe all such services as hath bene accustomed in that
behalfe & for delivering such necessaries in kynd or allowance of
money to the valeu thereof as shalbe by him required for the same
according to the auntient custome heretofore used therein. The number
of the said Kn{ts} for whome such provisions are to be made being 80,
by his Ma{tie} appointed to receave that degree.
ARUNDELL & SURREY.
Examined by W{m} Ryley }
Lancaster Herald }
Mr. Caldwell does not appear to have left his widow well provided for,
as we read under date 10th July, 1643:
Upon the distressed Petic͠on of Widdow Thamar Caldwall late Wife of
M{r} Thomas Caldwall deceased there is given to her of the gift of
this House v{li.}
1624 and 1625. In the minutes of this period are constant notices of
the “visitation,” and of “the contagious tyme.” The Plague raged with
great severity in London in 1625, and it is said that over 40,000
died of it in the year. The Company appear to have been very liberal
in their gifts of money to any who had the least claim upon them, the
relief being frequently stated to have been given by “reason of the
hardnes of the tymes.”
11th April, 1625. This daye the pˀcept for provision of corne sent
unto o{r} Companie by the lord Maio{r} of london was here read in
Courte, And this Courte is fullie resolved that the present M{rs} doe
give unto the Lord Maio{r} and returne him this answeare that the
Companie is provided of their proportion of corne and more they are
not able to provide or receive into their charge.
1628. This year the Company were compelled to “lend” the King £360,
which they with great difficulty raised, the greater part being
borrowed at interest to enable them to do so. They also paid £30
towards a “present” (?) of £5,000 given by the City to the Palsgrave
(Frederick, Prince Elector Palatine, son-in-law of James I).
15th August, 1629. On this day was sealed the Company’s new Charter
from Charles I. It is in Latin on five large skins of parchment with
the Great Seal of England pendant. There is a portrait of the King
with a stiletto beard in the initial letter, and an ornamental heading
along the top of the first skin. This Charter ratifies that of James I,
directs that public lectures on Surgery shall be given, and confirms
and somewhat varies the old regulations for the governance of the
practitioners of that science.
22nd October, 1629. The Company evidently began now to kick at the
numerous demands made upon its purse by the authorities, for a precept
coming from the Lord Mayor demanding £12 10_s._ contribution towards
a pageant, it was ordered that it be not paid until the Court was
satisfied that it could be legally demanded, and enquiry made as to
whether or no other Companies had paid similar contributions.
1632. The fabric of old St. Paul’s being in a lamentable state
of decay, the celebrated Archbishop Laud wrote a letter to the
Barber-Surgeons asking a contribution towards its repair. Ever ready
to assist in good works, the Company cheerfully devoted a very
considerable sum towards that object, notwithstanding the comparative
poverty to which they had been reduced (in consequence of the grievous
impositions made upon them by the authorities in the shape of forced
loans and other unconstitutional demands). Moreover, they recorded
their benefaction, in a delightfully expressed minute, which will be
found at the end of the following letter.
9th April, 1632. The letter written by William Lord Bishopp of London
and directed to this Court concerneing our contribuc͠on towardꝭ the
repaire of St Paulls Church in London being now much ruined was here
in Court reade, the teno{r} whereof is as followeth, vidz{t}
To the right worp{ll} my very worthy ffreindꝭ the Maister Wardeins
and Assistantꝭ of the Companie of Barbar surgions London, theis
S. in xp̃o.[117] After my verie hartie comendac͠ons, you cannot but
take notice of his Ma{t}ꝭ most hon{ble} and pious intention for
the Repaire of the decayes of S{t} Pawles Church here in London,
being the Mother Church of this Citty and Diocess, and the greate
Cathedrall of this Kingdome. A greate dishono{r} it is not onely to
this Citty but to the whole State to see that Auncient and goodly
Pyle of building soe decayed as it is, but it will be a farr greater
if care should not be taken to prevent the fall of it into ruin, And
it would be noe lesse disgrace to Religion happily established in
this Kingdome, if it should have soe litle power over the mindes of
men as not to prevaile with them to keepe those eminent places of
Gods service in due and decent repaire which their fforefathers buylt
in tymes by their owne confession not soe full of the knowledge of
gods truth as this present age is. I am not ignorant how many worthy
workes have bene done of late in and about this Citty towardꝭ the
building and repayring of Churches which makes me hope that every
mans purse will open to this greate and necessary worke (according to
Gods blessinge upon him) soe much tending to the service of God and
the hono{r} of this nation. The generall body of the Cittye have done
verie worthily in their bounty allready as alsoe the lord Maio{r}
Aldermen and Sheriffes severally for their owne pˀsons. Theis are
therefore accordinge to their examples hartily to pray and desire
you the Maister Wardeins and other Assistants of the worthy Company
of Barbar Surgions to contribute out of y{e} publicke Stock, to the
worke aforesaid what you out of y{r} Charitye and devotion shall
thinke fitt, and to pay the Summe resolved on by you into the Chamber
of London at or before our Lady Day next, praying you that I may
receave by any servant of yo{r} Companye a note what the Summe is
which you resolve to give. And for this Charity of yo{rs} whatsoever
it shall prove to be, I shall not onely give you harty thankes, but
be as ready to serve you and every of you, as you are to serve God
and his Church. Soe not doubting of yo{r} love and forwardnes to this
greate worke, I leave you to the grace of God, and shall soe rest
[117] Health in Christ.
Yo{r} very loving ffreind
GUIL: LONDON:
London house, January 30. 1632.
And thereupon this Court deepely considering the contentꝭ of that
letter together with the pˀnte ruines and dilapidac͠ons of the said
Church, and as faithfull and charitable members obliged largely to
contribute to soe pious and religious a worke Doe nowe order that out
of the stock and revenew of this house there shalbe paid into the
Chamber of london towardꝭ the said repaire x{li} pˀntely and x{li}
yearely for nine yeares followeing to make it upp compleate a C{li}
as of the free guift of this house. And if att any tyme hereafter the
worke doe cease that then our payementꝭ to cease likewise.
1633. This year the Company built a granary at the Hall, for the store
of Corn.