Inholder shalbe translated from his Company to this payinge to the
M{rs} to the use of this Company iiij{li} and beareinge the ordenary
chardge.
9th April, 1605. It is this daye ordered that Raphe Parsons a freeman
of this Company and Thomas Sampson Edward Squier and Robert Hoddy
late servants & apprentices to xp̃ofer Thompson shall fynde them
M{rs} in this Company to be turned over unto before whitson tyde next
And that they shall continue no longer w{th} their mistres because
shee is nowe marryed to a Grocer who is not free of this Company.
29th January, 1610. fforasmuch as Tobye Johnson would not give
consent to this Court that James Kent[173] should be made a freeman
The Court have thought fytt the said James should be at this Court
sworne a freeman of this Company for that ytt cannot appeere to this
Court that the said Johnson can prove any materiall thinge against
the said Jame to debarr him of his freedome.
[173] His late apprentice.
14th January, 1611. This daie William Tavernor the late appˀtice of
Widdowe Sanderson did before the M{rs} of this Company promise that
he would not at any tyme hereafter set up a barbers shopp in any
place w{th}in two pˀisshes[174] at the least where the said Widdowe
Sanderson dwelleth or keepeth shopp uppon w{ch} promise soe by him
made the said Widdowe Sanderson is contented to make him a freeman of
this cittie not w{th}standing he hath untill October next to serve.
[174] Parishes.
2nd July, 1612. This daie at this Court yt is ordered that Edward
Squior the Dyer shall not be translated from this Company unto the
Company of the Dyers for that if this howse shall give consent unto
him maney others of this Company as well Dyers & grocers as other
tradꝭ would sue to have the like kindenes.
9th January, 1615. At this Court, one John Mathews, “an oculist,” made
suit for his admission by redemption--
w{ch} this Court did consent unto conditionallie to gyve this howse a
great beare bowle sutable to the rest of the great beare bowles w{ch}
he consented unto.
LIVERYMEN.
Ordered 19th September, 1552, that Peter Saxton and Thomas Dixon
shalbe dysmiste of the Clothinge for their yll demeanor and behavyor
And also Mathew Johnson because he ys not habull.[175]
[175] Able, _i.e._, solvent.
5th November, 1555. Ordered that Henry Pemarton shall not weare his
Lyvery hoode nor paye no maner of quartrage unto this house but
shalbe cleane exempted out of the same.
26th March, 1558. Robert Foster, Robert Grove, and Thomas Barnet were
expelled the Livery “because they are not able.”
4th July, 1566. It was ordered that the Livery from thenceforth should
not exceed fifty persons.
3rd December, 1566. Thomas Lambkyn and John Morryt appeared before the
Court and testified against Edward Parke for that the said Edward--
saide he wolde not come to the Courte beynge warned & y{t} yf the
M{r} comytted hym to warde he wolde brynge the M{r} before the Lorde
cheefe Justice And it is ordered y{t} the saide Parke shall & is upon
his humble submission remytted.[176]
[176] Be forgiven.
26th September, 1581. It was agreed that evˀy one in the Lyverie
should go decently in gownes all a like at all metinges and
assemblies.
30th June, 1601. This daye Abraham Allen John Hassold Richard Eade &
Henry Oseyld lately taken into the livery of this Company pˀsented
themselves in their livˀy gownes and the M{r} accordinge to order
placed their hoods uppon their showld{rs.}
6th May, 1602. Roger Jenkins, free of the Weavers’ Company and an
“admitted broth{r} in the practize of Surgery,” applied to be admitted
to the freedom, and upon payment of £10 was made free and taken into
the Clothing.
7th June, 1602. This daye it was ordered that forasmuch as Richard
Samborne one of the livery of this Company had used divers opprobrius
& undecent woordes of M{r} Newsam That the said Richard should
forbeare the wearinge of his livery & hud untill hee had ord{r}
therefore from the M{rs} of this Company.
16th August, 1602. This daye Richard Howlden and Thomas Grig were
admitted into the clothinge of this mistery and were commaunded to
pˀvide them necessary apparrell for the same.
8th November, 1604. This daye Dominick Lumley became humble suiter
to this Courte to be dischardged of the office of Steward and M{r}
of the Anothomie and of the Livˀy and all officers w{th}inne the
same and in considerac͠on thereof hee is to paie tenn poundꝭ to be
converted into three peecꝭ of plate as a guifte for his dischardge.
5th February, 1605. This daye Richard Cade & Richard Holden were
fyned for not beinge at Powles[177] in theire Lyveryes & theire
hoodes on Candlemas daye last.
[177] St. Paul’s.
22nd January, 1606. This daie Roger Buckley & Richard Wood Junio{r}
for that they dwell in the Cuntrey and have not for long tyme
gyven their attendaunce in their lyveryes accordeing to order are
absolutely dismissed owt of the lyvery of this Company.
21st August, 1609. This day Andrew Wheatley was fined to xij{d}
for attendinge in a fallinge band w{th} his livery gowne w{ch} he
accordinglie payd.
26th October, 1612. This daie it is ordered that from hensforth the
lyvˀie of this Company maie at their meetingꝭ out of this howse weare
their hates[178] w{th} their lyvˀies Any order heretofore made to the
contrary notwithstanding.
[178] Hats.
29th December, 1615. Four liverymen admitted this day paid £2 each as a
fine, and fifteen others paid £5 each. Humphrey Downinge, who had been
chosen a Liveryman, and would not accept the Clothing, was fined and
paid £10.
27th January, 1617. It was ordered that from henceforth the Liverymen
were not to appear at the Hall in their gowns and hoods on Christmas,
Twelfth and Candlemas days “as formerlie they were accustomed to doe,”
but at their seats at St. Paul’s instead.
13th September, 1621. The livery was generally composed of an equal
number of Barbers and of Surgeons; on this day it was ordered--
That at the next choise of a new Lyvery there shalbe chosen a Barber
more than a Surgeon for that M{r} Kellett hath not accepted of the
place as yett, if he shall not accept thereof.
1636. A great many Liverymen were chosen this year, apparently for the
purpose of assisting by their fines, the fund for the building of the
Anatomical Theatre; from various entries at this period it would seem
that when a freeman desired to be excused taking the Livery, he was
obliged to take an oath before the Masters of his inability to pay the
fine.
19th May, 1637. This Court upon divers treatise with Abraham Purrott
a brother of this Companie being chosen into the livery by a former
Court & he being summoned to appeare this daye by agreem{t} yet came
not and hath alsoe formerly[179] answered that he will not hold the
place of a liveryman nor paye the fine but would onely give a peece
of plate of v{li} to this house as his gift in full satisfaction
of all his fines & places, w{ch} this Court doth think to be farr
short And therefore this Court doth impose and fine the said Abraham
Purrott at xx{li} according to the ordinances confirmed by the Lords
& by the Statute.
[179] Formally.
Several others were from time to time similarly fined, both in the 17th
and 18th centuries.
2nd August, 1737. At this Court Robert Young who was the apprentice
of James Phillips Surgeon was admitted into the freedom of the
Company by service and was sworn, and the said M{r} Young at the same
time took the Livery, and his master M{r} Phillips out of his own
bounty and a just sense of the diligent and faithfull services of
the said Robert Young during his Apprenticeship did not only pay the
charges of the said M{r} Young’s freedom but did likewise bestow upon
him his fine for the Livery being ten pounds.
29th October, 1751. It is ordered that upon all future days for
swearing in the Lord Mayor of this City at Westminster when this
Company shall have their Stand as usual No Liveryman shallbe admitted
into the same without leave of the Master unless he shall walk in
the Publick Procession cloathed in his proper Livery gown and hood
according to his summons.
3rd October, 1752. It was further ordered--
That two men and a constable shall be hired to guard the Stand and
see that the said Order be complied with.
9th November, 1765. Several liverymen notwithstanding former orders to
the contrary, having appeared on the Company’s Stand on Lord Mayors’
days without their gowns and hoods, it was ordered that any liveryman
transgressing in the like in future, should be fined half-a-guinea.
THE YEOMANRY.
The Yeomanry of the Barber-Surgeons appear to have had a most chequered
existence, having been “established” and “put downe” several times,
until finally they appear to have died out both in constitution and in
name.
The Yeomanry answered exactly to the class of Members who are now
styled “Freemen,” and for a long period were the most numerous body
in the Company. In early times the numbers of the Livery or Clothing
were strictly limited, and under the Tudors and Stuarts rarely exceeded
fifty, but as the persons who were compelled to take up their freedom,
and those who came in voluntarily or by patrimony and servitude have
always been a numerous section, it appears to have been considered
politic to give a constitution to these inferior members of the
Mystery, and consequently a Yeomanry, or Company within the Company
was set up, and to this the new freeman was admitted after he had been
presented and sworn before the Masters or Governors of the Clothing.
The Court of the Company framed the Ordinances for the Yeomanry,
and whilst delegating to them many of their own privileges, as, for
instance, the power to levy fines, and to summarily commit offenders
to prison, they always seem to have retained a very tight and jealous
hand over them, and were constantly interfering with the Wardens of the
Yeomanry.
The Yeomanry had their own four Wardens and Court of Assistants, their
Beadle and mace, common box, standing cups and other silver plate,
their annual dinner, and sometimes, when in a flourishing condition, no
less than four dinners in the year, their “corrector” for apprentices,
and they also possessed the choice privilege of collecting the
quarterage from their members. Under such auspicious circumstances, it
could hardly be otherwise than that, in process of time, they should
become both presumptuous and audacious and thus provoke inevitable
collision with the Ruling body of the Company.
The Wardens of the Yeomanry at one period had designated themselves,
or certainly encouraged others to describe them, as “The Wardens of
the Barber-Surgeons,” an assumption not to be tolerated, and, like
their Masters on the Clothing, had been accustomed to go to their homes
(after their gatherings and feasts) in state, accompanied by a “trayne
or traynes”; these acts of presumption called forth the restraining
order of the 15th September, 1588 (_vide post_). Later on we find that
they went “in searche to see what serˀvnts some ffremen of the Companie
had, w{ch} they ought not to do,” they gave way to too much feasting
and arbitrarily exercised their powers of fine and imprisonment, all
which offences brought them reprimands, and somewhere about the year
1604 their temporary extinguishment. They were, however, soon after
re-erected, but in the year 1635 permanently “disestablished and
disendowed.”
Although the Constitution of the “Yeomanry” was then abolished, the
appellation was retained for over 200 years after, though merely as
a traditional distinctive name synonymous with that of “freemen.”
Thus, the whifflers for Lord Mayor’s day were always chosen out of the
“Yeomanry,” and members of the “Yeomanry” are continually spoken of as
being chosen into the Livery.
In the Audit Book, 1847-1848, this ancient term is used for the
last time in respect of the receipts for quarterage, after this the
designation becomes “freemen.”
19th September, 1552. It is condescendyd and agreed that there shalbe
no more yomanry of the said Company of Barbors Surgeons.
1st October, 1555. It was agreed “that the yomanrye of the sayed
Company of Barbors and Surgeons shalbe establisshed and set up agayne
and be in as full strenght force and power as ever yt was before
the plucking downe of the same,” and articles or ordinances for the
Yeomanry were enacted. As, however, these articles are excessively
verbose, the following descriptions and extracts will suffice:--
Article 1. Out of the Yeomanry were to be chosen four Wardens annually,
and named respectively, the uppermost, second, third and youngest
Wardens.
Article 2. One of the Yeomanry to be appointed Beadle of the Yeomanry
to execute summonses, etc.
Article 3. The Wardens of the Yeomanry to bring in once a year to the
Masters and Governors of the Clothing, an account of monies remaining
in their hands to be delivered to the new Wardens, and to be “kept and
bestowed as they w{t}in themselves shall thinke yt meete and convenyent
to the helpe and comforte of them w{t}in the yomanry of Barbors and
Surgeons.” The Wardens were also to present the new Wardens to the
Masters or Governors for approval within eight days after being chosen.
The Masters or Governors were to “have nothinge to dooe withe the monye
of the yomanry.”
Article 4. If the Masters or Governors should borrow any monies of the
Yeomanry they were to repay on a day to be agreed upon “the saved som̄e
so borrowed w{t} thanks geving.”
Article 5. The Wardens on the day of Election of Masters or Governors
of the Clothing shall--
come to the dynner at the hall in their best apparrell at the daye
appointed whiche is the mondaye senighte before Barthelmew daye, and
when the M{r} and governors of the Clothinge doo gooe and choose the
new M{r} and governors the cheif wardein of the yomanrye shall beare
the cup before the M{r} The seconde wardein shall beare the cupp
before the uppermoste governor of the clothinge. The thirde wardein
of the yomãry shall beare the cupp before the seconde governor of the
clothinge and the yongest wardein of the yomanry shall beare the cupp
before the yongest governor of the clothinge in knowledging of the
setting up of the yomanrye agayne.
In the event of sickness or lawful absence, others were to be appointed
to this duty.
And furthermore that noen of the wardeins of the yomanrye of barbors
and surgeons doo presume to goo aboute to make searche to see in
anye of the Companyes houses to knowe what prentizes they have or
journeymen as the M{r} and governors doo of the clothinge whoo have
aucthoritie so to dooe. Yf the wardeins of the yomanry be taken or
justelye proved that they doo soo, to forfaycte at every tyme so
doying to the hall vj{li} xiij{s} iiij{d.}
Article 6. The Wardens of the Yeomanry were to collect the quarterage
of freemen (3_d._ per quarter) and of “fforyners” (6_d._ per quarter),
and duly pay same over to the Masters and Governors, and books of
account were to be kept by the Wardens. NOTE.--In practice this article
was varied, as the Yeomanry kept the quarterage and “compounded” with
the Masters for a fixed annual sum.
Article 7. The Masters were to pay the Wardens of the Yeomanry £4 which
had been “advanced by them in 1543 for provysyon of wheete for the
Cytie,” and which sum had been recently refunded by the City.
Article 8. The Yeomanry were to have the use of the chamber “where
the Lecture ys reade every Tewysday” whenever they please to consult
therein.
Article 9. These Articles were to be written on parchment, sealed and
delivered to the Wardens of the Yeomanry.
Article 10. The Masters were to give notice to the Wardens of the
Yeomanry of any rules which they from time to time should make touching
the craft.
Article 11. The rules and ordinances of the Company were to be read to
the Yeomanry three times in every year, viz.: at Candlemas, in May and
at Lammas.
Article 12. The Yeomanry were to obey all the rules and ordinances now
made or to be made.
16th October, 1555. The first four Wardens of the Yeomanry were
presented to the Masters, their names being Edward Hewet, John Surbut,
George Corraunte (Corron) and Thomas Buston (Burston).
12th October, 1557. It was ordered:--
That the Wardens of the yeomanry allwaise for the tyme beinge and
by theire Assistantꝭ shall Elect and chuse every yeare to (two)
w{th}in themsylffs to be Coostꝭ[180] of the Lyberary and of the
Instrmentꝭ w{ch} by the M{rs} and Governors it was thought good and
most Convenyent that those too whyche are maisters of the Anathomys
to be Elected and Chosen the sayde Cowstꝭ (of the) Lyberary and
Instrumẽtis, and the Wardens of the yeomanry for the tyme beinge
shall delyvˀ and geve the kayse of the lyberarye and of the
instrument howse unto those whyche they have Chosen to be Coustose
thereof. And ffurther allso That the sayde Wardens of the yeomanry
for the tyme beinge shall allwayse se and looke y{t} the saide
instrumentꝭ be kepte Cleane and that they shall do upon theyre owne
Chirgis.[181]
[180] Custos or keepers.
[181] Charges.
15th September, 1558. It was ordered:--
That uppon the Election daye and chusynge of the fowre wardeyns of
the yeomãry of the Mystery or Companye aforesayde And also theyre
Wardeyns then beynge elected and chosen and also theyre Dyner or
Recreocion then at o{r} hall beynge w{th} all y{r} Lawfull busynes
then don and ended That and then also at theire goynge and depˀtinge
frome ou{r} hall the sayde fowre wardeyns of the yeomanrye so named
by that name and by none other shall in any maner of wyse pˀsume or
take uppon them nor any of them to be wayted on or broughte home
unto y{r} owne houses Neyther shall go unto any other place or placꝭ
elꝭwhere havynge w{th} or after them any trayne or traynes eyther of
y{e} sayde Assystaunce or any beynge oute of theyre sayde assystaunce
and Companye But every pˀsone and persones of the sayde feloshyppe of
the yeomanrye then shall quyetly departe and go every man his owne
waye aboute his necessarye busynesse.
A fine of five marks was ordered to be taken from the “comon boxe” of
the yeomanry, if the above regulation should be transgressed.
PROVIDED ALLWAYE That the sayde Wardeyns with the Rest of theyre
assystaunce feloshyppe and Companye of the Yeomanry maye and shall
at all Tyme and tymes decently and orderly go unto the maryagis
offeringꝭ and Buryalls of theyre sayde Brethren and Susters of the
sayde Company of the yeomanry as they here to fore have don.
4th July, 1566. It was ordered that the Wardens and Assistants of the
Yeomanry should be allowed to sit at the “Uppermore” table in the Hall
on quarter days to receive their quarterages, and to read the rules and
ordinances to the Yeomanry.
18th February, 1567. IN THYS COURTE here was Edward Parke beynge[182]
comytted to warde at the comaundment of the wardens of the yeomanry
for his disobedyencˀs, and for his oprobrius & obstynat words in the
pˀsents of this Courte to the M{r} & govˀnors he is comytted to warde
agayne.
[182] _i.e._ Having been.
18th January, 1569. At this Court seven freemen were sworn in to be
Assistants to the Yeomanry.
15th November, 1569. In this Courte the wardens of the yeomanry
broughte in the pˀsentꝭ of this courte John Wyllet Thom̃s Warren and
John Jaggard & they reported y{t} Nycolas Whytemore sholde reporte
at the thre tonnes at yeldehall gate y{t} M{r} Pole of the chauncery
shold saye y{t} we ought to have no wardens of the yeomanry. And
Nyc͠ols Whytemore said y{t} he was at supper at M{r} Pole & one M{r}
Lovels & they pˀused the statutꝭ said to Whyttemore he hath ben
warden of his cõpany & he said no he had been warden of the yeomanry
& M{r} Pole sholde saye we cold not have a yeomanry.
18th April, 1570. Here was John Jagger sayth that he was nevˀ a
councell or knoleg of any pˀmoter beyng set to trouble the Company
for the state of o{r} yeomanry And also John Wyllet denyeth the byll
& wyll not confesse any thinge w{th}oute the pˀsentꝭ of his accuser
but for knowledge of the pˀmotter he nevˀ meante yt he said befor
god. And Thomas Warren saed he hathe kepte all to hymsylf & nevˀ
mynded nor thoughte to trouble in any respecte and denyeth the byll
also. And yt is ordered that they shall agree brotherly together and
here after they nor any of them shall move or speake or make any
rehersall of any matter as consernyng the state of the yeomãry upon
payne of ip̃rysonment. And Thom̃s Warren John Wyllet & John Jagger
shall take y{r} romes & placꝭ and brotherly they have eyther of them
taken one a nother handes & so these matters nevˀ to be reported any
more here after.
This brotherly amity did not long continue, for:--
23rd May, 1570. Here was John Warren & John Wyllet is comytted to
warde for dysobedyence, and Thomas Newens said that one Husto an
informer his neyghbo{r} saide that the company sholde be arẽsted[183]
upon a statute & y{t} yt is one of o{r} company did sett the enformer
to do yt but he founde not the statute to holde w{th} them & y{r}fore
he wolde not deale, but to name the pˀte[184] he wolde not.
[183] _i.e._ Sued.
[184] Party.
Warren and Wyllet must have been sent straight off to prison, as a
further minute states that on the same day “after diner,” Warren was
brought up out of the Compter for examination.
On the 29th May, Wyllet made submission and was released from prison.
19th September, 1570. Warren and Wyllet seem to have been cantankerous
brethren, for they were complained of by the Wardens of the Yeomanry
for refusing to take upon themselves the office of Wardens to which
they had been elected.
7th October, 1572. Wyllet is again complained of for going to law with
another member of the Company without license from the Masters, to
which he pleaded that under a statute 19 Henry VII, cap. viii, he could
lawfully do so. The result of this contention is not expressly stated,
though there is not the least doubt but that Wyllet revisited the
Compter, and ultimately withdrew his suit.
5th March, 1573. It was ordered--
That where there hath ben an order that the whole bodye of the
yeomanrye of this mysterie were compelled under a certeine fyne
and penaltye to meet theire wardens at a certeine place by them
appointed beinge by the beadle warned, to go to offre at the weddings
of their brethren at all times when any of them weare married w{ch}
was to their great trouble, and divers inconvenyences grewe thereoff
as absence from sˀrvice and sermons one sonday mornyngs and other
unmeate and inconvenient meetinges in steed therof. Wherefore, the
said order was declared henceforth to be void.
6th October, 1573. Here was a controvˀsy betweene the wardens of the
yeomanrye that were the last yere and the Audyto{rs} of yeomanryes
accomptes for that the Audytoures would not allowe that w{ch} was
required by the said late wardens for bread and dryncke at theyre
ellecc͠on Daye, the som̃e was xxvij{s} and order was taken that they
should be allowed xvj{s} and they to beare the reste on theire owne
chargeis and so to be ffrendꝭ and Lovers w{th} quietnes.
6th June, 1577. Here also the wardens of the yeomanry were comaunded
for good and urgent Cawse to bring in there graunt from the maisters
of there yomanry against the next Co{r}te Daie for that they did take
more Quarteridge then by the Lawe they might do and also contrary
to there saide graunte and in breche of the same they went after a
sort in searche to see what serˀvnts some ffremen of the Companie had
w{ch} they ought not to do, and so yt was for that tyme let passe
w{th} warning to do so no more and also for that they did not yerelie
shewe there accompt w{ch} now they did and henceforth will according
to there dutie.
9th October, 1579. At this Co{r}te also the Wardens of the Yeomanry
brought in their accompte before the saide masters and yt was agreed
upon good considerac͠ons for that manye of the said yeomanrye did
ympoverishe them selves by makinge of qr̃ter Dyners and suche
unnecessary metinges that from henceforthe their shalbe no more
quarter Dyners be kept in o{r} Hall by the saide yeomanrye or any of
them but shall do as heretofore hathe ben accustomed to be don.