of the Maisters or Govˀnors of the Mistery & Coiãltye of Barbors and
Chirurgeons of this Cytie as by an ord{r} taken by the same Courte
the fowerth daye of ffebruary in the tyme of the Maioraltie of S{r}
Stephen Peacock knighte and in the fower and twenteth yere of the
reigne of the Late Kinge of famous memory Kinge Henry the eight That
the M{rs} or Governors of the said mistery & Coiãlty of Barbors
& Chirurgeons & their pˀdecessors in the order of their goinges
standinges rydinges sittinges & oth{r} assemblies of the livˀyes
of the sevˀall Companyes of this ho: Cytie have bene alwayes tyme
oute of mynde reputed taken & placed as the seaventeneth Company
amongest oth{rs} the sevˀall Companyes of this Cytie next & imediatly
from & aft{r} the Company of Mercers Grocers Drapˀs ffishemongers
Goldsmythes Skinners Marchaunttaylors Haberdashers Salters Iremongers
Vinteners Stockfishmongers Clothworkers Brewers Lethersellers and
Pewterers And forasmuch as it doth likewise appeare to this Co{r}te
that sythens the makeinge and establisheinge of the said order the
said M{rs} or Governo{rs} of the said Mistery and Coiãltie of Barbors
and Surgeons have enjoyed the Benifit of the said order and borne
all chardges taxes and contribuc͠ons whatsoevˀ imposed on them from
tyme to tyme w{th} credytt to the good likinge of the Magistrats
and Governors of this Cyttie as well as other Companies of like
sorte and State have done And yett notw{th}standing of late at the
Royall passages of the Kinge and Queenes most exelent Ma{ties} and
the prince of wales attended by the Nobilitie and gentry of the land
through this Cyttie on the fifteenth daie of March last when through
ignorance theie were misplaced by the Comittie appoynted by this
Cyttie for the mannaginge of those affaires. It is therefore this
daie upon due considerac͠on had of the pˀmisses, and for that the
said Company of Stockfyshmongers have bene since the tyme of the said
order wholelie dissolved and abrogated and noe Company or Corporac͠on
remayninge w{th}in this Cyttie of that name, ordered and decreed
that the said M{rs} or Governors of the said Misterie and Coiãltie
of Barbors and Surgeons shalbe from henceforth reputed taken and
placed as the syxeteenth Companie w{th}in this Cyttie in all theire
goeings rydinges sytteinges standeinges and assemblies whatsoever,
any misplaceinge of them on the said fifteeẽth daie of March last to
the contrary notw{th}standinge.
SEBRIGHT.
22nd May, 1604. This daie it is ordered that from henceforth the
Clark of this Companie shall against evˀy Courte daie bestowe iiij{d}
in hearbes and flowers.
12th June, 1604. This daye Will{m} Wrighte a very disobedyent
Broth{r} of this Company was accordinge to the Rules of this howse
fined at vj{s} viij{d} for callinge the officers of this howse knaves
and for other his lewde & disobedient behaviour and is to bringe it
into this Court on tewsedaye next.
8th November, 1604. Mr. Thomas Goodall and Mr. Kellaway were each fined
10_s._ “for not riedinge w{th} the M{rs} when the kinge came through
the city” (probably in March last).
[Illustration: FAC-SIMILE TITLE-PAGE OF CHARTER-BOOK.]
5th February, 1605. This daye Marcus Davie appeared before the
M{rs} and was rebuked for shewinge the Copie of õr Chr̃e[156] to a
Scrivener.
[156] Charter.
28th February, 1605. This daye it is ordered that the numb{r} of 16
pˀsons of the Assistance of this Company shalbe accompted a full
Court of Assistance.
It was also ordered that a “fayre parchem{t} booke” be bought for
engrossing therein the Charters of the Company; this book is still in
our possession.
28th February, 1605. This daye M{r} Warden ffrederick made request to
have a Deputie to supplie his place and office of upper warden and
to sit in his place till his retorne from Spayne whith{r} the saide
M{r} ffrederick is bounde And alsoe to kepe his keyes whereuppon it
was ordered that he should make choyce of any sufficient man of the
Assistantꝭ to keepe his keyes in his absens if hee pleased. But it
was denyed that any should sit in his place as deputy.
Christopher Frederick was Serjeant-Surgeon to the King, and father of
Sir John Frederick, Lord Mayor in 1661. He was of alien birth and did
not work harmoniously with the Court of Assistants. In _Repertory_
xxvii. fo. 117 (at Guildhall), is an order of the Court of Aldermen
that Sir Thomas Garrard and four other Aldermen were to call the
Master and Wardens and Mr. Frederick before them and to end their
controversies (which, however, they did not succeed in doing).
21st March, 1605. Mr. Frederick brought a letter to the Court from
the Earl of Nottingham, saying it was the King’s pleasure that Mr.
Frederick should appoint a deputy to act as Warden in his place, whilst
he was away with the King in Spain, but the Court adhered to its
decision of 28th February.
This daye M{r} Warden ffrederick pˀsented to this Court a letter
wrytten to the M{rs} or Governors & Assistants of this Company the
contents thereof hereafter ensueth, viz{t.}:
Aft{r} my very hearty commendac͠ons I have thoughte good to signifie
unto you his Ma{ties} pleasure That I should have to attend me in
this my ambassage into Spayne Mr. Xpõfer ffrederick one of the nowe
Governors of yo{r} Company w{ch} by reason of the place hee bereth
amongest you can hardely be spared nevertheles because the necessytie
of the service urgeth the same It is thought fit by his Ma{tie} that
hee shall noĩat and appoynt such a sufficient man to execute his
place in his absens as formˀly hath borne that office, wherefore I
doubt not but you will admitt and allowe of such a one as for that
purpose hee shall noĩat to sit in his absens as his deputy who shalbe
answerable for all matt{s} as if M{r} ffrederick were there himself
So to continue eyth{r} untill the tyme of the yere that you make
choyce of some other pˀsone fit for the same or M{r} ffrederickꝭ
retorne oute of Spayne w{ch} shall first happen, of whose ready care
to satisfie the Kinges expectac͠on and my desyre I dowbte not And
evenso I bid you righte hartely farewell. ffrom Arnedell howse the
ix{th} of March 1604.[157]
[157] 160-4/5.
Yo{r} very lovinge frend
Notingham[158]
I do praye you that Will{m} Martin be
excepted[159] in his place till M{r}
ffrederickꝭ retorne Notingham
[158] Lord High Admiral.
[159] Accepted.
26th March, 1605. This daye M{r} James Hodson one of the tenaunts of
this Company accordinge to an order of a Court of Assisstance payd to
the M{rs} his fyne of L{li} for his lease And had lycence graunted
unto him to demyse the tenement w{ch} hee holdeth of this Company or
any pt̃e thereof And did pˀmise to geve unto this howse one hogshead
of clarret wyne when it should for the use of this howse be called
for & demaunded.
9th April, 1605. This daye it is ordered that Humfrey Gorston bringe
in his fyne at the next Courte for teachinge of a forren his Art.
16th April, 1605. This daye Stephen Abraham was commaunded [to] geve
over his keepinge a barbors shop in Phillip Lane untill hee shalbe
made free of this Company uppon payne of imprisonment.
23rd April, 1605. This daye it is ordered that Stephen Abraham be
committed to the Compter for contempt of the M{rs} order heretofore
set downe.
Abraham must have instantly obeyed the order, and shut up his shop in
Phillip Lane, and directly afterwards have opened another in Finch
Lane, for we read:--
30th April, 1605. This daye it is ordered that Stephen Abraham shall
take downe his basons and geve over his shop in ffynch Lane and shall
continue w{th} his mr̃is mr̃is Smyth orels to be committed to prison.
24th May, 1605. fforasmuch as Mathew Peele a broth{r} of this Company
hath delt underhand w{th} the tenante in possession of the howse
where in one Edward Sares lately dwelt at Dowgate, makinge the tenant
to beleeve that hee the sayd Mathew Peele had a lease graunted unto
him from this howse of the same and pˀffered to sell the same to the
said tenaunt where there is no such thinge to him graunted. It is
therefore ordered that an order made the xviij{th} of March whereby
it was determyned that the sayd Mathew Peele should have the first
pˀffer of the next tenem{t} that should fall voyde of this Company
better cheape by x{li} then any oth{r} pˀson shalbe voyde & of none
effect to all intents & constructions.
11th June, 1605. This daye it is ordered that Willm̄ Wrighte shalbe
committed to the Compter for abuseinge the late M{rs} of this Company.
25th June, 1605. This daye John Crispe dwellinge in St. Martins
Barbor is dischardged from kepeinge a shop.
12th September, 1605. This day it was agreed that the pˀnte M{rs}
shall pˀceed to build againe the wall latelie taken downe betwixt
o{r} yard and the Bulwark w{th} Brick only And the same to be
correspondent to the reste of the bricke wall of the said yard In
which wall they are to cause to be made and placed such and so many
convenient wyndowes w{th} lettice and casementꝭ as they shall thincke
fitt. And it is further agreed by the consent of the Court that they
shall proceed w{th} the worcke now in hand for the erectinge of a
steyre and steyrecase to be made to passe through the pˀlor into the
said Bullwarke or garden plott And the same to be finished and done
in such mannˀ and forme as the said M{rs} shall thincke fitt And also
shall repaire and amend the defectꝭ of the wainscott in the said
pˀlor where need shall require. And that such chardges shalbe borne
by this house as shalbe in that behalf disburssed.
26th September, 1605. This day M{r} Nicholas Collins is chosen to be
of Councell w{th} this Company and is to have a fee of xl{s} pˀ añn.
and is to continue in the same place so longe as it shall please the
Assistantꝭ of the same Company.
1st October, 1605. This day William Gravenor was fined for hanginge
out of his basons on Bartholomew day And also Humphry Gorston.
This day there was redd to this Court a lrẽ directed from Doctor
Browne to the said court importinge that Christopher ffredricke was
as forward in his advice as in his Assistaunce in the cuttinge of
S{r} Anthony Cooke as M{r} ffenton was.
About the year 1605 the Court were at law with Mr. Frederick as appears
by the Wardens’ accounts, though there is no reference to the subject
of the dispute in the Minutes, beyond the above reference to a surgical
operation performed on Sir A. Cooke, and the controversy about the
Deputy Warden when Mr. Frederick went to Spain. Mr. Frederick was alien
born, and the following order, without doubt, had a reference to this
circumstance:--
10th October, 1605. This day it is ordered that from henceforth no
Alien or stranger borne out of his Matꝭ dominions shall hereafter be
capable or eligible to beare or take upon him any place or places or
office of a M{r} or Governour of this Company And that an ordinaunce
shalbe pˀntlie drawne to such purpose if by o{r} Councell wee shalbe
advised so to doe.
The above order was rescinded 21st July, 1608.
8th October, 1605. This day Thomas Emerie William ffarris John Heydon
John Burrowes Roger Brecknocke John Hullins Wyddow Turner widdow
Eaton John Phillipps and Robert Samme were fined for workinge upon
last Saboth.
10th October, 1605. This day it is ordered by this Courte that
the reparac͠ons of the Citties wall next to the Bullwark shalbe
accomplished and done according as the pˀnte M{rs} or Governo{rs} of
this Company shall thincke fitt And all charges therein disburssed
shalbe borne by this house.
7th November, 1605. It is also ordered that the pˀnte M{rs} or
Governors of this Company shall if they cann bargaine w{th} the Ladie
Windsor for the glasse in the wyndowes of the Bulwark And for such
other thingꝭ as are by her Ladishipp to be sold and to give such
Composition for the same as they in their discretions shall thincke
fitt.
This day it is ordered that the youngest Governo{r} Rento{r} doe
cause all needful and necessarie repˀac͠ons to be done upon such
tenemtꝭ as ought to be repaired by this Company And also shall cause
the privit hedge in the garden next the Bullwark to be taken up and
the ground to be leveled and another hedge to be planted and sett all
alonge from the further end of o{r} new bricke wall to the furthest
corner of that garden.
19th November, 1605. This day it is ordered that the M{rs} of this
Company togeather w{th} M{r} Bird M{r} Wood M{r} John Martin and M{r}
Mapes are to goe in search on satterday and upon munday next And they
are to meete in Powles.[160]
[160] St. Paul s.
28th Nov., 1605. This day it is ordeyned that o{r} M{r} shall
compound with some Baker to pˀvide for this Company 50 quarte{rs} of
good wheate at such yearelie rate and for such tyme as they can agree
And he to be Baker to the house so longe as he behave himself well.
One Will{m.} Clifton was on 17th December following appointed Baker,
and agreed to find 50 quarters of wheat for £5 per annum.
28th January, 1606. This day John ffoxe a forren Barbor appeared
before the M{rs} and was by them forbidden to keepe shopp in London
any more for Barbinge or Surgery, And he pˀmissed that he would not.
16th June, 1606. In the controvˀsie betwixt Thomas Orton & ffrauncꝭ
Holland It is ordered that the said Orton proceed not in suite of law
against the said Holland otherwise then by takeinge the peace of him
till the next Court Att w{ch} tyme the said Holland is comaunded by
this Court to bringe in his fine of xl{s} for strikinge of him the
said Orton. And the said Orton is to geve his attendaunce at that
Courte.
14th July, 1606. This day uppon the suite of the pˀson and
pˀishione{rs} of St. Olaves in Silver Street It was ordered by this
Court that at such tyme as the now church of the said pĩsh shal begin
to be reedified beinge now in great decay and fallen into ruyn That
then the M{rs} or governou{rs} of this Company for the tyme beinge
shall of the stocke of the said Company pay to the then church
wardens of the said pĩsh the somme of x{li} towardꝭ the reedifiẽg of
the said Church w{th}out makinge further suite for the same.
Several liverymen were complained of for not having attended in their
liveries of late, and among other notes is the following:--
14th July, 1606. This day Henry Bradley one fferris and Henry Bracey
are dismissed out of the Clothinge and Assistaunce of this Company
for they have not given their attendaunce in their liveryes uppon
summons.
8th September, 1606. This daie Mr. Peck did lend voluntary to this
howse L gratis for a yeare next ensueinge.
This daie M{r} ffenton did lend C{li} gratis to this Company for a
yeare next ensueinge Also he did lend to this Company L{li} more for
a yere at x{li} pˀ cent.
23rd September, 1606. This day it is ordered that Percivall Jackson
shalbe comitted to the Compter for his severall Contemptꝭ to this
howse.
30th September, 1606. This daie Percivall Jackson was dischardged out
of prison upon his mothers intreatie. And is to bring in his debt to
Burrowes at the next Court.
7th October, 1606. This daie John Hedlow paid to the M{rs} vj{s}
viij{d} w{ch} by them was tofore paid to officers w{ch} attended to
committ the said Hedlow for his severall contemptꝭ to this howse.
13th October, 1606. Percivall Jackson was again committed to the
Compter for his “severall contemptꝭ.”
4th November, 1606. This daie John Kerrell Richard Cade & Richard
Houlden were fyned for being absent from the funerall of M{r}
ffyneinge.
10th March, 1607. This daie Thomas Grig was fyned at xii{d} for not
wearinge his Cap on Candlemas daie last.
19th September, 1607. The Clerk’s child having died of the plague, and
being carried through the gate of the Hall, an order came from the
Lord Mayor commanding the Court not to sit for 28 days, and it was
thereupon ordered that the Courts should sit at Mr. Fenton’s house in
Bartholomew’s Court during that period.
This daye it is ordered that Carehills wyef be warned to the hall
against the next Court for keepinge of twoe shoppes of Barbinge
w{th}out Bisshoppesgate.
8th October, 1607. This daye it is ordered by this Courte uppon due
considerac͠on had That from henceforth the M{rs} or Governors of this
Company every yere yerely shall geve to the Recorder of this Cytie
a yerely fee of money oute of the stock of this Company at their
pleasures so that it exceede not the somme of iiij{li.}
It was ordered that no liveryman should henceforth--
attend in his lyvery and w{th}out a ruffe band uppon payne of xij{d}
for evˀy offence.
3rd November, 1607. This daye uppon the humble suite of one wydowe
Burrows shee is admitted to keepe her Barbors shop where shee now
dothe for 2 yeres next ensuinge not w{th}standinge that w{th}in the
said tyme shee mary an husbond of any oth{r} trade.
1st December, 1607. This daye Thomas Allen[161] and James Mullins
were fined for wearinge of falleinge bands w{th} their livˀy gownes.
[161] The first Master of Dulwich College.
21st January, 1608. This daye it is ordered that . . . . Braye [be
appointed] Informer to pˀsecute suites by informac͠on against such
pˀsons as the pˀnt Masters shall noĩat for one yere next ensuinge at
the chardgꝭ of this howse And hee is to have tenne poundes for his
paynes therein.
27th January, 1608. Five of the Company were fined for not being at the
funeral of Mistress Izard in their liveries.
5th April, 1608. This daye lycence is geeven to Will{m} Buckley to
arrest John Dodd breakeinge his wyndowes.
21st July, 1608. This daye it was thought fit that the pˀnt
Assistantꝭ showld sit in Court w{th}out their Gownes for that the
weath{r} is hot.
It is ordered that the laste quarters penc͠on due to John a Lee
lately deceased shalbe paid to the poore woman w{ch} kept him in his
sicknes.
At almost every Court, charities in sums varying from 2{s} to 40{s}
were given to poor members for their relief, or to the widows of
former members, and in many cases yearly annuities were granted out of
the stock of the house, independent of the Trust charities distributed
by the Court.
14th February, 1609. This daye John Stubbes one of my lord maiors
officers is appoynted a Serjeant to this Company.
27th June, 1609. This daye it is ordered that George Dugdale shall
before Michaelmas next paye to Thomas Shephard v{s} w{ch} hee oweth
him ORELS to be Committed to the Compter.
6th July, 1609. This daye Roger Rayney Marchaunt tayler is elected
& chosen Butler to this howse so longe as hee shall well & honestly
behave himself therein And is to have all such fees and allowances as
to his said place or office are incedent or belongeinge Provided hee
enter into bond to the M{rs} of this Company w{th} sufficient surety
w{th} Condic͠on to make good to this howse all such plate linen &
oth{r} thingꝭ as shalbe committed to his chardge by the M{rs} of this
Company the Stewardꝭ of the Maiors feast The Maisters or Stewardꝭ of
the Anathomy or Wardens of the Yomanry.
This daye uppon the due examinac͠on of sevˀall abuses & misbehaviours
comitted by Thomas Goodale on of the Assistantꝭ of this Company
towardꝭ Mr. Edward Rodes maister of this Company wrongefully
chardgeinge him w{th} injustice before the wholl Courte And for
oth{r} his misdemeanures hee is by the wholl Consent of this Court
dismissed oute of the Assistance of this Company.
26th July, 1609. Whereas heretofore it hath byn observed for a
rule and customary order that the M{rs} of the Company to whom the
Electo{rs} on the Election day before dyñn should deliver the names
of such pˀsons who were at such tyme elected M{rs} of the Company for
the yeare insuinge, should not give any notice to any new M{r} so
elected before the garland should be put upon his head, it was now
thought fit that that rule should be put on one side, and that those
chosen should be at once informed of their Election that they may
make pˀvision for the entertaynement of the livery, etc.
10th August, 1609. This day Richard Browne was admitted Armorer to
the Company and to have p̃. anñ. xiij{s} iiij{d} and he to have a
speciall care to keepe the Armour in repac͠ons and to be therefore
paid by the Rentor warden for the tyme beinge.
This day Mr. John Leacocke[162] contemptuoslie depˀted out of the
Courte w{th}out licence of the M{rs} or of any of them And albeit
he was required by the Clarke by the comand of the M{rs} to come
into the Courte beinge depˀted out of the hall, he answered that he
would not come againe Therefore it is ordred by this Courte that he
shall pay his fine of iij{s} iiij{d} for depˀtinge the Court without
the M{rs} licence And if he refused to pay the said iij{s} iiij{d}
then the som̃e of xl{s} is by this Courte ordred to be assessed and
ymposed upon him w{ch} if he shall likewise refuse to pay then he is
by this Court dismissed out of the Assistaunce ipso facto.
[162] Master in 1604.
Mr. Leacocke submitted and paid his fine 26th September, 1609.
21st August, 1609. In answer to a precept from the Lord Mayor, a
certificate was sent to his Lordship that there were remaining of the
50 quarters of wheat wherewith the Company was charged, 20 quarters,
and that the remainder had been sold in the Markets according to former
precepts.
19th October, 1609. It was ordered that:--
no M{r} or govˀno{r} of this Company shall from henceforth have power
or authority in them or any of them to sell morgage or ympawne the
fower pieces of Tapistry hangingꝭ or any of them w{ch} were bought
for the use and creditt of this house.
9th January, 1610. Att this Courte Henry Jones paid vj{d} to the
pore’s box for hanginge out his basons one Twelveth day last.
6th March, 1610. Att this Courte it is ordered that Thomas Burgis
shall at the next Tusedayes Courte pay unto the widdow Burrowes his
late M{ris} iiij{s} for that he hath broken her Combes and Sise{rs.}
21st March, 1610. Att this Court it is ordered that the wyddow
Saunde{rs} shall no longer reteyne in her service one Allexander
ffarrington uppon payne that if shee doe her basons shalbe taken
downe & she comitted to the Compter.
8th May, 1610. At this Court it is ordered that Pyramus Porter shall
be pnˀtely discharged out of Prison being layd in by Richard Gessell
for that Porter was layd in w{th}out the M{rs} Consentꝭ.
Porter was Gessell’s apprentice, and their disagreements had been
before the Court on a previous occasion.
20th August, 1610. Mr. William Gale (who had been Master, 1595) was
elected Master; he was an eminent Surgeon but, dying on 19th November,
1610, was succeeded in his office by Mr. John Peck (who had been Master
in 1605). Mr. Gale was buried at Monken Hadley, in the chancel of which
church may still be seen in the floor on the North side of the Altar,
a brass with an inscription to his memory, and two brasses with the
effigies of his sons and daughters. There were formerly brasses of the
effigies of William Gale and his two wives, but they have unfortunately
been removed.
The arms of Gale (as appearing on his son’s brass in Monken Hadley
Church) Az. on a fesse betw. three saltires ar. as many lyons’ heads
era. of the field langued gules.[163]
[163] The tinctures are from Burke’s Armory.
20th September, 1610. Att this Court a motion being proposed by the
present M{rs} to thentent to bringe the howse out of debt, w{ch}
cannot be soddenly effected except the Assistauntꝭ of this board
shall of their owne free willꝭ by their pˀticuler free guiftꝭ or
other wise by the voluntary free loane of money to this howse for
a certayne tyme, be assistinge And thereupon M{r} Warden ffenton
declared that o{r} M{r} was contented towardꝭ soe good an acc͠on to
gyve freely xx{li} and M{r} Warden ffenton vj{li} xiij{s} iiij{d}
M{r} Warden Veare iij{li} vj{s} viij{d} M{r} Warden Hassald xl{s} And
demaundinge of the residue of the bord what they would gyve, M{r}
Wood he would gyve x{li} if the howse will renewe his lease, M{r}
Sˀjaunt Goodorus would thinck of itt, M{r} Leycock M{r} Thorney M{r}
Gerard M{r} Rodes & M{r} ffrederick would doe the lick M{r} Thomas
Martyn would gyve xx{s} M{r} Isard vj{s} viij{d} M{r} Mapes would
gyve xl{s} M{r} Johnson M{r} ffoster M{r} Ingolsby & M{r} Coghill
they would doe as others in their Ranck would doe. M{r} Cook would
gyve xxxiij{s} iiij{d.}
16th October, 1610. Att this Court It is agreed that one Henry
Pullyard a Drummer shalbe admitted to be the Drummer to this howse
And he is to have for evˀy dayes service that he shall serve as a
Drummer to this Company on the lord Mayors daie the some of xiij{s}
iiij{d.}