vj{s} viij{d.}
Ordered--
That John West shall bring in his fyne which ys vj{s} viij{d} for
speking opprobryous wordes against John Androwson in the presence of
the M{rs.}
17th Nov., 1551. It was ordered--
That the Kings maiestyes Barbor or Barbors to his highness parson And
also his mat{s} Surgeon or Surgeons shall sytt next to the Last M{r}
upon the benche where as the M{rs} nowe usually doo sytt and alsoo
shall goo next to the M{rs} in all goyngs and syttings.
It was ordered that no Barber should take a “foreigner” as journeyman
and set him to work, before presenting him to the Master and Wardens,
under a penalty of 3_s._ 4_d._ per week.
This order was made because many foreigners (_i.e._, non-freemen) who
were inexpert had lately come into the City, and the Court directed
that each foreigner should give proof of his skill, and then that he
should remain for one year only and in one service, and no Barber was
to pay a foreigner higher wages than the Masters should from time to
time “sess” or determine under a penalty of 13_s._ 4_d._ for “every
weke so offending.” The Beadle was directed to keep a register book of
all foreigners for the year, and when the year was expired, the Barber
who kept a foreigner and was minded to keep him longer was to come to
the Hall within fourteen days to have him re-registered under a penalty
of 3_s._ 4_d._ per week. And no Barber was to “entyce or envegyll any
mans servant from him upon peyne of forfeyting for a fyne xiij{s.}
iiij{d.}”
The Court fixed the wages of these men as follows--
The best jorneyman that is a forrein shall have for a weke xij{d.}
the second x{d.} and the thurde as the sayd M{rs.} shall thinke meate
& convenyente.
17th November, 1551. It was ordered that the youngest Warden should be
chosen out of the Livery and that he should be--
in especcyall one that hathe byn stewarde so that he be a man that
hath usyed himself in that behalf honestleye and discretly.
It was also ordered that all freemen should come every quarter day to
the Hall to pay quarterage, hear the rules read, and to hear the book
set forth by the Corporation of London concerning Orphans, and no man
was to sit out of his appointed place, under a penalty.
17th July, 1553. It was ordered that Mr. John Enderby (Master 1547)--
shall have the benevolense of the crafte fower marks a yere.
20th September, 1553. The Masters agreed with Richard Drewe--
For a barge when the Mayer goeth to Westmˀ for Twentie sixe shillings
and eighte pence.
12th August, 1554. Being Election day it was agreed that at the
choosing of the Masters--
There shalbe a solempe masse[139] or other dyvyne servyce sayd and
songe that the M{rs.} be choessen and the hole lyverye to be therat
in their best clothing and to meete at the hall at or before the
hower of ix of the clocke and he that fayleth his hower to paye
xij{d} for his fyne w{t}out any redempcyon or gayne sayeing. The
sayed masse[140] to be at the chardgs of the Companye.
[139] The word “masse” has been subsequently erased.
[140] “Masse” has been subsequently erased, and “s’rvice” substituted.
1st Oct., 1555. The following Articles were agreed upon by the Court--
I. There shall no man ffreeman fforyner or straunger of the Clothinge
or w{t}out the clothing shave wasshe a Bearde or tryme any man w{th}
any Instrumēt as to make cleane teathe upon the Sondayes within the
Cytie of London or withoute in his owne house or in any mans house or
chamber or in any place els he shall forfayete at every tyme beinge
duely proved for a fyne to the hall the some of xl{s.} And further
that no fforyner being no ffreman shall carry out any Bason or clothe
or Instrumēt to make cleane teathe to shave poll or wasshe a bearde
or to trym̄e any man but w{t}in the Lybertye where he dwellethe But
w{t}in the Cytie of London he shall not trym̃e any man at no dayes
w{t}in anye of their howses or in any place els w{t}in the Cytie upon
payne to lose at every tyme beinge duely proved for a fyne to the
hall xl{s.}
II. That Apulton the Beadle of the Clothing was to be the Clerk, and
that the Beadle of the Yeomanry was to help the Clerk at
coronac͠on tyme or at other greate tryumphes when any other greate
man cometh in or when the kinge or quene comen through the Cytie.
III. That whenever the Shreif be chosein or the Mayor or the
burgesses of the parlyamẽt or upon the kings or queenes comĩg into
the Cytie or any other greate man comyth in or upon any other greate
truymphe whereapon comaundement ys geven by the Mayor of London to
the sayed Company of the Clothinge of Barbors and Surgeons to geve
their attendaunce Then the hole Company of the Clothinge to meete
at our owne hall of Barbors and Surgeons in our owne lyverye all to
gether fyrste, and afterwards to gooe out of the hall two and two
together as of olde tyme yt hathe been used, and when the Mayor goeth
to poules[141] then the M{r} and governors to gooe throughe out Wood
streate to poules w{th} the rest of the Company of the Clothinge.
And that M{r} and governors that dothe not this shall forfaycte for
a ffyne to the hall vj{li} xiij{s} iiij{d} And they of the Clothing
that dothe not come to the hall firste but will meete us at the
place where we shalbe appointed to stande and to remayn and dothe
not kepe his hower shall loose for a ffyne in the hall at every tyme
so offending iij{s} iiij{d} Provyded alwayes yf the Mayor gooe not
to poules at the Mayors ffeaste Alhollande daye xp̃emas daye twelves
daye and Candlemas daye In what streets we doo gooe throughe yt be
not throughe Wood streate yt shall not be prejudycyall to the master
and governors of the Company for the tyme being.
[141] St. Paul s.
IV. It was ordered that Apprentices, before being presented, should pay
2_s._ 6_d._ fine, also 8_d._ to the Clerk for drawing the Indentures.
8th October, 1555. Further ordinances were framed, viz{t}:--
I. That at all sittings of the Court when any business was discussed
the Members should speak to the subject in order of seniority, and any
one interrupting or speaking out of turn was to pay 12_d._ fine. The
Beadle also was to stand without the door, in the Hall, and there to
give his attendance whenever the Master should knock for him.
II. That there should be an Armourer with a yearly fee of 10_s._, and--
for the same he shalbe bounde to make cleane our harneys w{th}
daggers gunnes armyng swords and bills and with all other things that
doethe appertayne to an Armorer for to doo in mending of buckells
lethers or any other thinge which dothe appertayne to that whiche we
nowe have.
III. When the Master and Governors should go to view their lands and
tenements to see the state of repair, the Bricklayer was to go with
them to advise and to have a fee of “ij{s} and his dynnar.”
IV. This relates to the Clerk (see Clerk).
V. That a Minute book be kept to record all the orders made at any
Court, and that such orders be read at the next Court and signed.
VI. That no freeman shall serve a foreigner under a penalty of 13_s._
4_d._ for every time so offending, and any foreigner taking a freeman
to serve with him should be fined 26_s._ 8_d._
19th November, 1555. John Demynge, “Cowper[142] & ffre denysen,” was
granted a lease of a house belonging to the Company at St. Katherine’s,
Tower Hill, at £2 per annum for thirty years, with a fine of £4 on
sealing the lease and a “barrell of doble beare.”
[142] Cooper.
26th November, 1555. Thomas Glynton, Goldsmith, was to have a lease
of the house in Tower Street, where he then dwelt, for 30 years from
Christmas, 1555, no rent stated, but a fine of £10 to be paid on
sealing the lease.
5th March, 1556. Several further Ordinances and awards were made by the
Court, among which were the following:--
I. That the Masters and Governors should not let the Hall to anyone to--
daunce or use anye other kynde of games els whereby the sealinge or
other things being broken in the hall or kitchen shall redowne to
the losse of the Company Yf therefore the sayed M{r} and governors
for the tyme being doo let out the hall to any bodye to thentent
aforesayde w{t}out the consent of the hole howse to be called for the
same they should forfeit and pay etc.
IV. The ffourthe Artycle is that if any of the Lyverye or of the
yomanrye come to sesse any man being a jornye man to serve him as
the order is that he taketh 1{d} for a yere or ij{d} for ij yere
That his M{r} shall not put him awaye at his pleasure as many now
a dayes do, but he shall complayne to the M{r} and Governors for
the tyme of the demeaner usuage and evell behaveor of the sayed
Journyman for noen kepinge of his M{rs} howse all the weke daye by
reason wherof he dothe lose his customˀs or that he goeth out at his
pleasure and come in at his will againe w{t}out asking of any leave
of his M{r} or mysteris w{ch} pertayneth not to a servaunte for to
doo for theyse consyderac͠ons and other the m{r} maye complayne.
The Jornyman lykewise may complayne of his M{r} yf that he doo not
paye him his wages and to have his meate and dryncke as Jornymen
shoulde have according to the agremẽt of bothe the partyes as the
M{r} and the Jornyman shalbe at a pointe when he cometh to sesse any
Jornymen because that if the Jornyman doo not his dewtye that he
may be punysshed and put in prison to thentent that Jornymen may be
kept in good order otherwise then they be nowe. And that the M{r}
and govˀnors for the tyme being shall declare to the Jornyman what
is his dewty to his M{r} when he dothe come to be seste to thentent
that he shall knowe his dewtye to his M{r} and if he doo not the same
then he knoweth the pryce. And agayne to declare to the Jornyman what
his M{r} shall doo to him, as to paye his wages mete and dryncke and
other things that a Jornyman oughte to have. Yf any of the Clothinge
or of the yomanrye put awaye his Jornyman before his yere or yeres
come out and not declaring the matter to the M{r} and governors [he]
shall forfaycte at every tyme so doinge for a ffyne to the hall vj{s}
viiij{d.} And that all ffremen being Journymen may be preferred and
taken, being a workman before any fforyner duynge his dewty to his
M{r} as is aforesayed because we are bounde to preferre the ffremen
w{ch} beare scot and lot to the Cytye and company w{ch} the Jornymen
doo not being forryners but come out of the contrye to learne there
scyence here and so after warde goo away agayne w{ch} is not to the
welth of the Companye.
VII. No Liveryman was to presume to come into the parlour, whilst the
Court was sitting, without being sent for.
VIII. Freemen were not to put away apprentices to make room for others
by whom they might get money.
IX. Two Stewards for the Anatomy were to be chosen every year.
X. The Clerk having claimed to provide the napery and vessells, and to
appoint the Cook for the Anatomy dinners, alleging an old custom to
that effect, it was ordered that he should not again do so as he had
aforetime for a “lytle lucer of moneye,” but that the Stewards of the
Anatomy should make their own provision and “dresse there meate clenly
and honestlye because of worshipfull men comyng thereunto,” and if the
Clerk again offended he was to “paye to the hall for a fyne his half
yeres wages w{ch} is x{s.}”
XII. THE TWELVE Article is that if Olyver Wilson dothe hereafter
speake evill of the M{r} and governors and thassistaunce of the
clothinge or of any of the yomanrye as heretofore he hathe dooen
w{ch} by profe hathe been tryed and therfore hathe been punnished in
pryson, yf ever hereafter he dothe the like he to be expelled.
NOTE.--In all cases penalties or punishments were specified for breach
of the foregoing ordinances.
5th March, 1556. William Goodwin, Merchant Taylor, leased to the
Company for 99 years “all the houses next the hall w{th} the house of
the prevy w{t}in the hall for vj{li} vj{s} viij{d}” per annum, the
Company to keep the premises in repair.
27th June, 1556. Arnold Tymes, “beare brewer,” had a lease of a
“gardein lying in easte Smithefelde” for 40 years, paying 12_d._ for an
earnest penny, and to pay at the sealing of the lease £4, and at the
Audit day other £4.
9th July, 1556. John More, Cordwainer, and Richard Wiston, had leases
of houses in St. John’s, Walbrook, for 30 years from Midsummer, and
about this period there are several other notices of leases for 30
years having been granted of property in East Smithfield, Holborn
Bridge, and Mugwell Street.
22nd July, 1556. An order was made:--
That there shalbe a painter belonge to the hall, and he to have a
penc͠on yerely of vj{s} viij{d} by the yere to be payed at fower
tymes of the yere and for the same he shall make cleane all the
paintinge w{t}in the hall bothe above and benethe as the Tables in
the hall and other things and in the gardein every qr̃ter of a yere
if it so neede: and to amend faults where there ys anye at his owne
proper costs and chardgs as is afore declared.
26th August, 1557. It was ordered that Mrs. Dawson, the Widow of one
Bryckett--
a Toothe drawer shall paye no quartryge to the hawle nor hange oute
any signe or clothe w{th} teethe as she hearetofore hath don.
12th October, 1557. John West was discharged out of this howse
bycawse he wold not abyde y{e} order of y{e} M{r} & govˀnors and one
Asheton had lycence to arest hym.
Various entries occur about this period of freemen being brought before
the Court and punished for using “obrobrious wordes.”
9th November, 1557. It was ordered that Robert Postell (Warden 1544)
should have a “yerely anewitie oute of thys howse” of 40{s.}
A freeman before “setting up shop” was required to procure the
testimony of one or more citizens that he was worth 10 marks, and to
obtain a licence from the Court; there are numerous examples in point,
_e.g._:--
16th November, 1557. Heare was before the M{r} and Govˀnors Rychard
Lynley and he had Lycẽce to sett up hys shoppe and one Johan Coale
of the Cytie of London Cytizen and Clothwoorcker Deposed that the
sayd Rychard ys worthe and valued of hys proper owne vj{li} xiij{s}
iiij{d.}
23rd November, 1557. Licence was granted to William Thomlyn--
To drawe teethe and to make cleane teethe and no more and he ys so
admytted a brother into thys howse but not yet sworne and he hathe
payde x{s} and rest other ten shyllings he wyll brynge in as sowne as
he can.
11th January, 1558. The same daye Tyndall y{e} Armorer is dysmyst &
shall have no more his fee oute of this howse bycawse he gave none
attendañce whan o{r} soldyers wer sett oute to calyce[143] & John
gamlyn is admytted armorer & he to have y{e} same fee y{t} tyndall
had y{t} is to saye by the yere x{s.}
[143] Calais.
19th April, 1558. My lady Aylyff gave a fyne table cloth of damaske
worcke to srv̈e for the uppermost table in the hawle the w{ch} of her
jentyllness she gave frely unto this hawle.
22nd November, 1558. An order was made against John John that he should
pay 6_s._ to William Bourne for “ij Barbores potts” which he had lost.
1566. The second volume of Court Minutes contains a long list of
“Lawes Actes and Ordenances” enacted by the Court in 1566, but as many
of these are not of sufficient interest to warrant transcribing, the
headings of such will only be given here
1. An order to avoied grudg or displeasure for the elecc͠on.
This was that no one was to “fynd fault” with the election of Master or
Governors if the persons so elected should at any time be chosen out of
their turn.
2. An order that solempne service be saied one the day of Elecc͠on.
Also yt is ordayned that the M{r} and govˀnoures of the saied
mystery for the tyme beinge yerelye uppon the daye of elecc͠on of
the newe M{r} and governoures shall cause Devine service solempnely
to be kepte at the churche therefore to be appoynted. And that the
whole company of the Clothinge or Lyverye of the said ffellowshippe
shall pˀsonallye be present at the same yf there be no Lawfull
and reasonable cause of Absence to be allowed of by the M{r} and
goveno{rs} of the sayed mysterye uppon payne that whosoevˀ absenteth
hym self shall for evˀy suche default paye xij{d.} The said service
to be at the charges of the common Boxe.
3. An order ffor the allowance of the Dynner one the daye of Elecc͠on.
This directed that £13 6_s._ 8_d._ should be allowed yearly towards the
Election Dinner out of the common box.
4. An order that y{e} Clothing shall bring home the M{r} & govˀnors
in their Lyvˀyes.
Also yt is also ordayned y{t} uppon the day of the Elecc͠on of the
newe M{r} and governoures of the saied mysterye After that they shall
be chosen and that suche of them as be present have taken their othe
that then they and every off them shalbe had home unto their howses
with the Lyvery or Clothinge and their hoodds uppon their shoulders
accordinge unto an ould custome heretofore used.
5. An order howe evˀy man shall behave hym self in the Court tyme.
This relates to the order in which the members of the Court shall speak
upon any debated point; the Master to speak first, the Upper Governor
next, and so on down to the Junior Assistant, and, in the event of the
Court being equally divided, the Master to have the casting vote.
6. An order that evˀye one of thassistaunce shall come to all courts
of Assist{s.}
7. An ordre against the Lettinge out of the Hall.
The Hall was not to be used or let out for “weddings sportes or games
therein or playes or dauncinge or for any other like entente,” but by
permission of the Court.
8. An ordre that y{e} M{r} and upper governor shall quarterlye take
accompte of the youngre govˀno{r.}
9. An order that y{e} younger govˀn{r} shall quartˀly make an
accompte to the M{r} & upp{r} govˀnor.
10. An order concernynge the younger govˀnor his receipts & payments
and to see all repac͠ons[144] done.
[144] Reparations (of the Company’s houses).
11. An order concerninge the Secound govˀnors receiptes and payments.
12. An ordre concernynge y{e} examynac͠on of such as shall be
admytted Surgeons.
No one was to be examined for admission to practise Surgery but in the
Common Hall, and in the presence of at least three Examiners and one or
more of the Masters or Governors.
13. An order that everie man of the said company shall abide the
ordre and award made by the M{r} and governors.
14. An order that no pacient be brought unto the hall one y{e} Court
dayes.
15. An order for chosenge M{rs} and Stewards of thannothomye.
There shall be chosen yerelye for ever two Masters and twoe Stewardes
for the Anathomyes and that those twoe whiche were Stewardes the one
yere shalbe Masters of The Anathomies the nexte yere ensewinge To
thende that thereby yt maybe bettˀ knowne howe to wourke and make the
same.
16. An order concerninge the Anathomyes.
This provided that all anatomies, whether public or private should be
made at the Hall and “that all private Anathomyes shall reverently from
hensforth be buryed as publick Anathomyes ar for the worshippe of the
said mysterye, any skelliton to be made onelye excepted.”
17. An order that none supplant or take anothers cure from him one
paine of v{li.}
18. An order that none take any apprˀntice for Surgerie but that he
can write & reade.
19. An order how many sˀvnts evˀy man may kepe.
No liveryman was to keep more than four apprentices or servants working
in his art, and no freeman more than three.
20. An order that none use eny mann{r} of Barbory on Sundayes.
Yt is ordayned that none of the said mysterye usinge any manˀ of
Barberye . . . . . . shall uppon any sondaye shave wasshe poule or
trymme any manne or w{th} any Instrum{t} to make cleane teeth either
w{th}in his howsse or in any other place elles where privelye or
appartlye uppon payne of forfeture of xl{s.}
21. An order that none doe make any shewe of Barborye one Sonndais or
other holy days.
This provides that Barbers shall not “hange upp set or put out any
bason or basons pott or potts uppon his poule Racke shoppe windowes or
otherwise” on Sundays or holy days, and is the earliest mention of the
“Barbers’ pole” in our Books.
22. An order that assistaunts maye be made nevˀ beinge any Governor.
23. An order that none being out of thassistants com̃ into the pˀlor
except he be called.
24. An order that no courte of Assistaunce be houlden one the
tuesdayes.
Tuesdays were set apart for Lectures and for the ordinary or Monthly
Courts; no reason is given why Courts of Assistants should not be held
on the Tuesdays.
25. An order for the pˀsentac͠on of apprentices before they be bounde.
Every apprentice was to be presented to the Court that they might
“uppon the sight of him allowe hymme to be cleane in pˀson and Lymme
and meete for the excersycinge of the same mysterye.”
26. An order that none put away his appˀntice before the cause be
knowne before y{e} M{r} & govˀnors.
27. An order that none lett any bloud stand to the annoyaunce of the
people.
“Barbours excercyseinge fleabothomye or bloud lettinge” were not to
show blood in vessels in their windows.
28. An order that all pˀsentac͠ons in Surgery shalbe pˀsented to the
M{r} w{th} his governoures for the tyme beinge.
This order provided that any Surgeon having a patient in peril of
“mayme” or death, was to “present” or make known the case to the
Governors within three days, and the Court would then appoint certain
expert Surgeons to see the patient and assist in the cure. There
are scores of entries in the books of Surgeons being fined for not
“presenting” patients.
29. An order that none take any pˀsentac͠ons but y{e} M{r} &
govˀnoures for the tyme beinge.
30. An order that the M{r} and governoures and their deputies shall
goe to the poore as well as to the rich.
Any Master or Governor being sent for to see a sick or hurt person and
refusing to go without payment, was to forfeit 20{s.}
31. An order for puttinge the rules in execuc͠on.
32. An order for multipliinge speche in the corte tyme.
This was an early form of _closure_ directed against such members of
the Court as were given to an over-indulgence in oratory.
33. A rule for order in goinge.
Every member of the Company was to take his place according to
precedence, at burials, anniversaries, Courts, etc.:--
And if anie of them of any scrypulosytie frowardnes follye or
pusyllanimity refuse to take his owne romme or place accordinge to
the order in good obedyent manner he was to be fined 12{d.}
34. An order for the view.
This relates to the yearly inspection of the Company’s property.
4th March, 1566. In Thys Courte Willm̄ Gyllam was discharged and
released oute of warde and hath p̃d his arerages and he hathe
confessied y{t} Richard Bromehed doth shave the vycar of Stepney in
his howse every sondaye.
4th July, 1566. It was ordained that if any of the Court hereafter
might “happen to lyght or fall into povertie or dekaye” that he should
have a pension out of the Common box. One who had served as Master was
to have per ann. £4; an Upper Governor £3; Second Governor £2; Younger
Governor £1; and an Assistant 13_s._ 4_d._
It was also ordained that Thomas Hall should have an exhibition of
40_s._ per annum--
towardes hys studye in the unyvercytie for Surgery anexynge physycke
thereunto, and thereby hereafter to pˀphet his other brethren beynge
of this sayde mystery and comynaltie usynge and ocupyenge the sayde
syence & arte w{th}in the cytie of London by Readynge lectures unto
them in y{e} Comon Hall and other wyse by his councell conynge and
knowlege in the same science & arte of Surgery.
It was also ordained that whenever the Lord Mayor should invite the
Masters and Governors to dine with him, that--
then and there after the same dynner ys don The M{r} or govˀnors
shall make his oracyon or request in the behalf of the sayde Company
as to hys wysdome yt shall seme best in most descrytest maner and
shall then geve and delyver unto the sayde Lorde maior of lawful mony
in golde l{s} and in orther corrant mony iij{s} iiij{d} that is foure
marks by waye as a good wyll of the same Company.