freemen, and in the appointment of the Court. In 1626, however, the
Lord Keeper sent a letter “recommending” (_i.e._, commanding) the
Company to elect one Gorton, a servant of his, to the place, and Gorton
was accordingly chosen. The interference of the King and his great
officers in the patronage and appointments vested in the City guilds
was carried to great lengths with some of the Companies, and there are
amusing accounts extant of the astuteness with which this meddling was
sometimes met (_vide_ Herbert’s Livery Companies). Our Company, with
the solitary exception above referred to, appears to have been happily
free from this species of intervention.
Early in the 17th century there were two Beadles of the Clothing, the
Under Beadle being often styled the Porter, but about the middle of the
18th century, and since then, one Beadle has sufficed.
The Beadle has always had his “house” at the Hall, and used formerly
to pay a small quit rent for it. On the dismission of a Beadle for
misconduct, a difficulty was sometimes experienced in regaining
possession of this house, and various shifts were resorted to;
even the Beadles’ Widows now and then refused to turn out, and the
“benevolences” meted out to them were possibly sometimes in the nature
of bribes to induce them to go.
Besides the Beadles of the Clothing, there was a Beadle of the
Yeomanry, whose duties were analogous to those of his more exalted
brethren, and into whose office he frequently stepped when there was a
vacancy.
The Beadles for many years had a most disagreeable duty to perform,
namely, the procuring and bringing home from Tyburn the dead bodies
of malefactors. By the Act 32 Hen. VIII, the Company were empowered
to have yearly the bodies of four executed felons for “anatomies,”
and the practice was for the Beadles to attend at the gallows and
select such bodies as they pleased. Their opponents were generally the
hangman, who himself trafficked in these uncanny goods, the relatives
of the criminal, and the populace who were incited by the relatives
to resist the Beadles. Many were the unseemly fights which took place
over these bodies, and oftentimes when the Beadles had secured a
“subject” and were driving off with it in a coach, they were attacked
and beaten, and the body rescued from them. The hangman appears to
have been entitled to the dead man’s clothes, for on more than one
occasion the Company gave him compensation for them, they having been
torn to pieces in the brutal struggle for possession. Moreover the
Company had often to satisfy the Coachmen for personal injuries and
for damages to their coaches, as well as to give special gratuities to
their Beadles by way of solatium for the beatings which they underwent.
Frequent prosecutions and convictions followed the interference with
the Company’s Officers at these times, and even the Sheriff’s Officers
were on one occasion dismissed by the City for having sided against the
Beadles.
The hangman came to the Hall regularly for his Christmas Box and gave a
receipt for the same, sometimes affixing the title “Executioner” after
his signature. Many curious particulars relating to the above will be
found elsewhere. (_Vide_ Wardens’ Accounts, Surgery, etc.)
[Illustration: Mace]
The Beadle is elected annually by the Court, and resides at the Hall.
The two Silver maces pertaining to his office are as handsome and
massive as any in the City and are always carried before the Master on
Court days.
14th May, 1530. The earliest reference to the Beadle in our Records is
to be found in the Ordinances signed by Sir Thomas More, where it is
directed that the Members shall take their seniority “according to the
trew entrance therof in the Bedyllꝭ Rolle.”
6th November, 1550. Richard Wilson was Beadle at this time.
6th July, 1552. Thomas Appulton, Beadle, vice Wilson deceased.
19th September, 1552. It was agreed that Appulton “shall have his messe
of meate on the feaste dayes.”
4th May, 1574. Here was the Wardens of the yeomanry and brought
Anthony Hall in to the Courte to be admytted Beadle of the yeomanrye
and he was sworne and admytted and fathe(r) Roger(s) put to his
penc͠on and to geve attendaunce but as he is able.
22nd July, 1577. Richard Rogers, the old Beadle of the Yeomanry, was
ordered a gift of 20_s._ and a yearly pension of 20_s._
23rd July, 1582. Robert Norton, Yeomanry Beadle, was authorised to take
2_d._ of every freeman on his admission, and his yearly salary of 8_s._
was raised to 26_s._ 8_d._
14th August, 1587. Robert Norton was Livery Beadle.
10th December, 1596. James Hewes (Hughes) was Livery Beadle.
16th June, 1597. John Smith, Livery Beadle.
15th August, 1603. Edward Evans, Livery Beadle.
15th August, 1603. Kellam Clifton appointed Porter or Under Beadle.
21st July, 1608. Edward Blayny, Beadle, was dismissed for behaving
himself “very dishonestly.”
14th August, 1617. Kellam Clifton elected Beadle and Edward Presson,
Porter.
2nd December, 1617. Clifton was suspended for misbehaviour, but
subsequently reinstated.
9th July, 1618. William Chapman elected Porter.
19th February, 1621. Clifton, again misbehaving himself, was dismissed.
14th June, 1621. Humphry Mumford elected Beadle.
3rd July, 1621. Chapman, the Porter, dismissed for using “lewd
speeches,” but on his humble submission and craving pardon on his
knees, he was reinstated, 10th July, 1621.
20th August, 1621. The Company could not get Clifton out of his house,
so they gave him 20_s._ and a pension of 40_s._ per annum during good
behaviour and the pleasure of the Court. Possibly the “pleasure of the
Court” did not extend beyond one year.
15th February, 1626. Edward Gorton (recommended by the Lord Keeper)
elected Beadle in place of Mumford.
10th July, 1628. This daye this Court takeing notice of an order
made the 3 of Julye, 1621, by w{ch} order Chapman our Porter for his
dissolute and deboist carriage was ip̃o facto then by that order
dismissed of his said place and likewise of an order made in the
beginning of oure M{rs} tyme for the dismissing of the said Chapman
for his misbehavior and upon the generall complaint made unto this
Court against the said Chapman for the most parte being drunck
misbehaveing himselfe towardꝭ the M{rs} and carrieing himselfe soe
basely & quarrelsome to the brethren of this Companie and neglecting
his duety to this house. It is thereupon ordered that he shall stand
dismissed from his said place unlesse at the next Court of Assistantꝭ
it doe appeare that he hath left his former carriage of being often
drunck & deboistnes.
3rd February, 1634. Gorton requested to be discharged of his office of
Beadle in respect of his age and feebleness, and Nathaniel Foster was
elected in his place.
25th January, 1637. Chapman, “Under Beadle,” resigned, and was assigned
a pension of £4 per annum during pleasure.
25th January, 1637. Edmond Johnson “who writeth very well” was elected
Under Beadle.
6th March, 1639. Foster, for his “sawcey carriage unto this Companie”
and general neglect of duty, was dismissed.
1659. Francis Johnson was Beadle with a salary of £10, and Peter Smith,
Porter, with a salary of £8.
1662. Peter Smith was Beadle, and Thomas Veere, Porter.
23rd June, 1692. Ordered that William Cave be admitted to assist Peter
Smith and Jonas Wills the Beadles.
19th July, 1694. Peter Smith was dead; he had been a very zealous
servant of the Company. On the first floor landing at the Hall is a
pretty piece of heraldic glass in the window with his name and the date
1671. Jonas Wills elected Beadle.
16th August, 1694. William Cave elected Beadle vice Wills deceased.
8th July, 1708. William Cave and Thomas Repton were Beadles.
6th July, 1710. Repton’s widow had £3 given her to bury her late
husband.
20th February, 1711. Mr. Gratian Bale (son of Nathan Bale, Citizen
and Grocer) who was apprenticed 22nd June, 1669 to Robert Andrewes
(Surgeon), and afterwards became an Examiner in Surgery, and Master in
1709, petitioned the Court to be relieved of the office of an Assistant
on the ground that he had fallen into decayed circumstances and could
not possibly support that dignity, and on his resignation being
accepted, the Court proceeded to the election of a Beadle in the room
of Thomas Repton deceased, whereupon Mr. Bale was elected--
And in regard that the s{d} M{r} Bale had been Ma{r} of This Company
This Court doth hereby give him leave (asking the consent of the
Governo{rs} for the time being) to depute some other person to walke
before the Company in his stead with the Beadles staffe & gowne upon
the Lord Mayors & Elecc͠on days.
18th May, 1714. Mr. Bale having become too infirm to execute his
office, the Court, in consideration of his past services, appointed
William Hardy, Barber, his assistant, at a salary of £10 per annum.
31st July, 1716. William Cave died of a “high fever.”
16th August, 1716. William Watkins and William Hardy elected Beadles,
on condition of paying Mr. Bale £10 per annum, which the Court
supplemented with another £10.
10th July, 1717. Richard Collins elected Beadle vice Hardy, deceased.
18th August, 1720. It was ordered that in future no man could be
qualified to be put in nomination for the office of Beadle if above 40
years of age--
in order that the business may from thenceforward be discharged and
dispatched with propˀ vigour and dexterity and to the honour and
profitt of the Company.
13th April, 1721. Watkins being so indisposed as not to be able to
perform his duties, Charles Window (who looked after the dead bodies at
Tyburn) was ordered to officiate for him. Watkins shortly after lost
his speech and got into Ludgate prison, where he had a weekly allowance
from the Company--he seems to have remained in prison till his death,
3rd August, 1724.
7th October, 1722. Henry Gretton elected Beadle vice Watkins.
6th November, 1724. Matthew Morris elected Beadle vice Collins,
resigned.
30th October, 1732. William Littlebury elected Beadle vice Morris,
deceased.
5th June, 1764. John Wells elected Beadle vice Littlebury, resigned on
pension.
3rd April, 1787. William Smith elected Beadle vice Wells, deceased.
4th March, 1788. Joseph Wells (son of John Wells) elected Beadle vice
Smith, deceased.
6th February, 1798. Jacob Bonwick elected Beadle vice Wells, deceased.
1st March, 1814. William Barnes elected Beadle vice Bonwick.
11th August, 1831. Samuel Borrett elected Beadle vice Barnes (who
retired on a pension of £50 per annum).
11th August, 1864. John Heaps (Master in 1855) elected Beadle vice
Borrett (who retired on a pension of £50 per annum).
1st July, 1879. Edward Lawless elected Beadle vice Heaps (who retired
on a pension of £52 per annum).
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
SURGERY.
1551. ~Memorandum~ the xxviij{th} daye of Aprill in the v{th} yere of
the reigne of King Edwarde the sixte yt was condescended and agreed
by M{r} Bancke and Edward Hewit before M{r} Geen with his Wardeins
That John Chambr̃ shall performe his bargayne w{th} Willm̄ Drew for
the healing of his mayde for the mony receyved of him aforehand
which is xiij{s} iiij{d.} And further yt is agreed that James Wood
shall repay to the said Drewe the mony receyved of him which is
xiij{s} iiij{d.} Also the sayd John Chambr̃ shall agre w{th} the sayd
James Wood for his labor and content him for his payne according to
conscience.
19th September, 1552. ALSOO it ys ordered and agreed that the serṽnts
of Straungers that occupye Surgery shall paye x{d} the quarter w{ch}
is iij{s} iiij{d} by yere.
5th March, 1555. Among the Articles ordained on this day are the
following:--
That there shalbe chosein viij examyners wherof iiij to be alwayes
present to examyn all such as experte in Surgery, the M{r} and
governors being present Wherupon the sayed examyners may sett their
hands w{th} the consent of the M{r} and govˀnors hearing the mater.
And that the sayed examyners shall not examyn nor geve Lrẽs of
lycence but that the M{r} and govˀnors shalbe prevy therof. And that
there maye be a booke made wherine every mans name that have Lycence
to occupye Surgery being approved, to be enrolled and what ys the
grace that ys to him or them appointed. And if they take upon them to
doo otherwise than there grace ys geven them, the blame to redowne to
him or them that so doo and not to the examyners nor to the m{r} and
govˀnors, and that there maye be alwayes at every courte day twoo at
the leaste of the sayed examyners during a moneth: and so afterward
monethelye two of them to be there whose chaunce the monethe shall
fall too yf there besynes be not the greater because the m{r} and
govˀnors shoulde not be to seke if anye bodye shoulde be examyned
there. And for defaulte of noen being there having no reasonnable
excuse, to lose to the hall ij{s} if he doo not send worde or com̃e
himself being in the Cytie of London, or desyen a nother examyner
to be there for him when his course ys at every Courte daye because
we shoulde not be w{t}out them who cañ answer the matter towching
Surgery.
That they whiche be appointed for the Anathomye for the yere next
following and must sarve the Docter and be about the bodye he shall
se and provyde that there be every yere, a matte about the harthe
in the hall that M{r} Docter made not to take colde upon his feate,
nor other gentelmen that do com̃e and marke the Anathomye to learne
knowledge And further that there be ij fyne white rodds appointed
for the Docter to touche the body where it shall please him and a
waxe candell to loke into the bodye and that there be alwayes for
the Docter two aprons to be from the sholder downewarde and two peyr
of Sleaves for his hole arme w{t} tapes for chaunge for the sayed
doctor and not to occupye one Aporne and one payer of Sleves every
daye w{ch} ys unseamly. And the M{rs} of the Anathomye y{t} be about
the bodye to have lyke aprons and sleves every daye bothe white and
cleane. Yf y{t} the M{r} of the Anathomye y{t} be about the Docter
doo not see theise things ordered and that their knyves probes and
other instrumẽts be fayer and cleane accordinglye w{th} Aprons and
sleves, if they doo lacke any of the said things afore rehersed he
shall forfayte for a fyne to the hall xl{s.}
22nd July, 1556. It was ordained among other articles--
[Sidenote:
An Article that evˀye
Barbor Surgeon occupˀing
Surgery shall take no
mañ’ of prentice but
suche as hathe some
knowledge in the
Latten tonge.]
That from the feaste of Saint Michaell tharchaungell next comynge
no barbor Surgeon that dothe occupye the mystery of Surgery in the
Clothinge or out of the Clothing shall take or have any prentys but
that he cañ skyll of the Laten tonge and understand the same and cañ
wryte and reade suffycientlye and yf they or any of them doo take any
that cañ not doo the same they that offende shall paye to the hall
for a ffyne xl{s.}
[Sidenote:
An Article that all
prentizes that here
after shalbe made
ffree and do entend
to occupye Surgery
shalbe examyned and
to passe his ffirste
prefermẽt of grace.]
That prentisses that shalbe made ffree after michelmas next comynge
that doo occupy the mystery of Surgery and all other men that doo
desyer to occupy the same and to be a brother w{th} us, to be
examyned and to passe according to the order of this house as a
prefermẽt of a grace to him geven as the order hereafter followeth as
he shalbe demaunded and apposoe.
[Sidenote:
An Article howe the
sayed prentizes
shalbe examyned.]
That after michelmas next comyng all pˀntyces when they are made
ffree must (be) demaunded by the M{r} and govˀnors and the iiij
examyners what he intendeth to doo after he is made free, whether he
will occupye the mystery of Surgery or no w{t}in the Cytie of London.
Yf he saye ye Then to be examyned what he can doo towards yt, howe he
knoweth what ys Surgery and also what an Anatomye ys and howe manye
perts it ys, of what the iiij{or} Elements and the xij signes be
w{ch} ys the fyrste pert of examynac͠on for a prentyce & for other
that wilbe brother with us as the examyners shall see cause, for
having of their preferment of their first grace to them to be geven.
[Sidenote: An Article
that upon his examy’on
of Surgery the said
prentis shall have his
preferme’t of grace
and if he or they can
reade to bring in
qr’terly an epistle.]
That when he hathe aunswered to the firste article preyving that he
hathe some Learninge or practyse Then to have his firste preferment
of grace to occupye Surgery by the space of so many yeres or tyme
as the M{r} and govˀnors and the examyners shall thinke meete, and
as his Industrye shall seme to receyve the grace of god and by his
dilligent travell to studye in the same and for an homage thereof if
he be learned or can wryte to bringe in an Epistell evˀy half yere
and to reade it himselfe openly at the day of Lecture before the hole
house that they may see his furtheraunce how he hathe profyted in his
dilligent Labor and studye, and the unlearned that can not wryte nor
reade to be examyned half yerelye what they can doo in the practyse
because they be unlettered by the m{r} and govˀnors and the Examyners
how they have taken payens in their studye to practyse because they
be unlettered for the Savegarde of the kg̃ and queenes mãt{s} people.
[Sidenote:
An Article that any man
desyring to have his
prefermẽt of grace shall
paye to the Clarcke for
y{e} wryting therof viij{d.}]
That any man occupyinge the mystery of Surgery being made free and
desiereth to have his firste preferment of grace shall paye to the
Clercke of the Companye for the wrytinge Inrolling fynding waxe to
seale it and for the having of the Seale viij{d.}
[Sidenote:
An Article that no man
occup’ing Surgery shall
sewe for the Busshopes
seale before he be
admitted a M{r} of
Surgery by the M{r}
and govˀnors & the
iiij Examyners.]
That no man of the Companye after the feaste of Saint Michell
Tharchaungell next comyng shall call for the Busshopes seale which ys
the confyrmac͠on of a Surgeon untill suche tyme as he hathe passed
his fyrste preferment of grace & the Seconde admyssion to be admitted
to be a Surgeon and a Maister of Anathomye, and to paye for the
having of the Seconde admyssyon a spone of an ounce of Silver and
his name to be wrytten upon it to the hall, and the Clercke of the
Company for the wryting and findinge waxe and enrolling of yt in the
boke viij{d.} and if the pˀson doo not this passe orderly he to paye
for a ffyne to the hall xl{s.}
~The order~ of the ffyrste preferment of grace of the admissyon of
practycyoners that have been prentizes and be made ffree what
they shall have fyrste towards their preferment.
[Sidenote:
The order of the first
prefermẽt of grace of
practicioñs and
prentices.]
~Fforasmoche~ as yt is expedyent that no man occupye the worthye
Scyence of Surgerye but suche as shalbe thoughte apte and industrˀ to
execute the same truelye and accordinglye as well for the comodytie
and proffyt of the comen welthe as also for the avoyding of the
Inconveniences and Slaunder that otherwise mighte happen by the
rasshenes and unconning of suche lewde persons as taketh upon them
to exercyse Surgery being neither expert nor of us admytted to the
same. And forasmoche as it is not possyble that any shall attayne
to the same w{t}out instrucc͠ons firste learned of conninge and
well exercysed men of that facultie: being broughte up therin as a
practycyoner or otherwise under some well scylled M{r} for certayne
yeres: in whiche tyme he mighte applye his mynde to learne perfectly
the rules and speculatyve pert therof. The maister and govˀnors of
the Barbors and Surgeons of London w{th} the foure Examyners and the
rest of the hole assistaunce have thoughte it good after suche tyme
and terme of yeres expired every suche prentis or otherwise Servaunt
being made ffre of the sayed Companye and ffellowship shall also have
a tyme appointed by us and the reste of the Companye to practise and
to put in use suche knowledge as he hathe that we in tyme afterwarde
havinge intelligence of his connynge and well dooyngs may constitute
him a maister of Surgery if his deserving so requier. WHERFORE we
the sayed Maisters and governors and the iiij{or} examyners w{th}
the rest of the hole assistaunce here at this instante doo admitt
A. B. as a practycyoner: who hath served as a prentis with R. G.
maister aucthorisshed of this Company the space of yeares and now
being a freeman of this Companye to practise Surgery in all placˀs
according to his knowledge for the space of yeares as a tryall
and a proofe of his knowledge may be had. In Witnesse wherof of the
premisses we have caused this Lrẽ to be sealed w{t} our seale of our
hall touching the firste admissyon of his fyrste prefermẽt of grace
the xxiiij{th} day of Julye Anno dñi 1556.
~The Order~ of the firste preferm̄et of their grace that be Lay
bretherne that occupye the Scyence of Surgery w{th} us and
also for them that be not a brother w{th} us and dothe desyre
to be (of) us for their fyrste admissyon of practycyoners.
[Sidenote:
The order of the firste
prefermẽt of grace for
Laye Bretherne.]
“~Fforasmoche~ as yt is moste expedyent that no man occupie,” etc.,
etc. This licence is similar to the last one excepting that it
provides that the person admitted being made a brother, though no
free man, should have a time given to him in which to practise the
art of Surgery on approval.
~The Order~ of the Admissyon of Maisters of Surgery and of the
Anatamye to be confyrmed for ever before they have the Seale
of the Busshop w{ch} maketh up the hole confyrmac͠on of a
master of Surgery & of Anathomye.
[Sidenote:
The order of the
admissyon of a
M{r} of Surgerye.]
~We~ Thomas Knot M{r} Thomas Gayle John Smythe and Thomˀs ffishe
Governors Thomas Vycary George Hollande George Geen and Richard
fferes M{rs} and examyners of the Company of Barbours and Surgeons of
London w{th} the rest of the whole assistaunce of the same Companye
To all men to whome this wryting shall come greting. ~We~ certifye
youe by this Lrẽ that whereas o{r} welbeloved in Christe T. A. ys
not onely a man of honest fame and good behaveor but is also expert
connynge and well exercysed in the arte of Surgery as his well
defycell[186] cures and prosperous successe w{ch} can not be dooen
w{t}out maturate judgement and Learninge dothe make thereof moste
certayne trueth and be assure witnes. ffurther more we are assured by
the experyence we have of the man that he is not onely substancyally
well exercysed in the curing of infyrmities belonging to Surgery
of the p̃ts of mans bodye comonly called the Anathomye: Wherfore
we aswell in the behalf equyte reason and conscyence as also for
the preferm̃et of Learning knowledge and experyence doo thinke yt
meete convenyent and reasonnable to constitute the same T. A. bothe
A Maister of Surgery and also of the Anathomye and willeth him so
to be taken for ever hereafter and to have auctorytie to exercyse &
occupye as well the one as the other wheresoever he shall come w{t}in
this Realme or ellswhere of the premisses ~In~ Witnes wherof we have
caused this Lrẽ to be sealed w{t} the great comon seale of our Hall
the xxiij{th} daye of July A{o} dñi 1556.
[186] Difficult.
27th August, 1557. The same daye It Wase ffurder ordered and agreed
that all men of the saide Companye and fellowshypp usinge the mystere
and crafte of Surgerye maye take unto hys or y{r} Apprentice anye
person or persons althoweth[187] he or they be not lerned in the
Latin Tonge, anye Acte here to fore made to the contrarye not with
standinge.
[187] Although.
The same day it was ordered that the two Masters of Anatomy should have
the keys and custody of the “Lyberary and of the Instr̃ments” therein,
and that the Wardens of the Yeomanry were to keep the Instruments clean.
Attendance by the members on the Surgical side was compulsory at the
Anatomy lectures, and 27th August, 1557, is an order of Court that
Robert Mudsley (Master in 1572 and 1580) “hath lycence to be absent
from all lecture dayes w{th}oute paymẽte any fyne for by cawse he hath
gyven over the exercysynge of the arte of Surgery and doth occupy only
a sylk shoppe and shave.”
A little later on, William Cawsey had licence to be absent from the
lectures on payment of a yearly fine of 3_s._ 4_d._, and there are
scores of similar exemptions in the books.
1st March, 1558. Jasper the Cutter for the Stoane had Lycence by the
M{r} and govˀnors that he shall worcke and set forth his sygne and
he payde for hys fyne x{s} and yf that he do not go ovˀ in to his
owne cuntrye before whytsontide nexte after folowyng he hath promysed
that he wylbe a brother of this howse but as yet he ys not admytted a
brother.
25th October, 1558. There was before the Court one Leonardo Rodergo--