w{th} a letter to be in the name of Kyng Phillippe lycencing hym to
occupye surgery w{t}in all y{e} Kyngs & quenes domynions & when yt
was seene y{r}to was nether seale nor the kyngs hande, but a sorte of
Spanyards hands & names whome he sayde afterwards yt one of them was
y{e} kyngs secretary & thother of his Councell.
Dr. J. J. Howard had in his collection the following document, which,
as he says, affords good evidence of the low condition of Surgical
practice in the metropolis at the accession of Elizabeth.
~Elizabeth~ by the grace of God Queen of England Fraunce and
Irelonde Defender of the faith etc. TO ALL Mayours Sheriffs
Baylliffs Constables and all other our Offycers Mynisters and
Subjects thees our Lettres hearinge or seinge and to every of
them greetinge.
~We~ lett you wete that for certeyn consideracions us movinge we
have by theise presents auctorised and lycensed our Trustie and
Wellbeloved Servaunte ~Thomas Uncarn~ Sergeant of our Surgions and
the Wardens of the Fellowshipp of the said Surgions within our Cytie
of London that now be or hereafter shalbe, that they by themselfs
or their assigne bearer hereof shal and may from hensforth take and
reteyne at our wages as well within the Cytie of London as elsewhere
within any other Cytie Towne Boroughe or other place within this
our Realme as well franchised and privileged as not franchised nor
privileged suche and as many Surgions as they shall thinke mete and
able from time to time to doe unto us servyce in the scyence of
Surgerie at any season hereafter as well by sea as lande and further
that the Sergeant and Wardeyns aforesaide shal or maye take of suche
as be not able to serve suche instruments and other stuff of Surgerie
as they shal thinke mete to sarve agreinge and payinge therfor to all
suche of whom any suche instruments or stuff shal be taken. ~Wherfore
We~ woll and comaunde you and eṽy of you that unto our saide Sergiant
and the Wardeyns aforesaid and their assigne bearer hereof in the due
execucion of this our aucthoritie and lycense ye be aydinge helpinge
and assistinge as oft as the case shal require without any your
denyall lett or contradycion as ye and eṽy of you tender our pleasure
and woll avoide the contrary at your peril ~In~ Witness whereof We
have caused theis our Lettres of Commissyon to be sealed with our
Greate Seale. Wytness ourself at Westmynstre the day of December
the seconde yere of our Reigne.
1st October, 1566, is an entry of the translation from the Woodmongers’
Company of William Slade, who was stated to be “a Surgeon & learned yt
w{th} Ric. Venar & John Hall at Maydstone.” This John Hall was a famous
Surgeon in his day and wrote “An Historiall Expostulation Against the
beastlye Abusers, bothe of Chyrurgerie and Physyke,” which has been
reprinted with several valuable notes by the Percy Society (Vol. XI)
accompanied with John Hall’s portrait.
14th January, 1567. M{r} Doctor Julyo made request y{t} he myghte
have the work of the anathomy these iiij{or} or fyve yeres so y{t}
the coledge of the phicysions sholde not put hym from us & also y{t}
he myghte have pˀvat anathomyes at his demaunde in this howse.
16th January, 1567. It was agreed that Dr. Julius Borgarneins (“Dr.
Julyo”) should “make and worke ow{r} anathomyes and skellytons” for the
space of five years.
18th March, 1567. Thomas Wells, Merchant Taylor, complained against
Nicholas Wyborde for “not curynge his mans hed y{t} he tooke in hande.”
The following order for the erection of raised seats for the members
attending the Anatomy lectures, and for a screen to temporarily hide
the body, indicates the growing interest taken by the Company in the
furtherance of technical education; and from the reference to _the_
skeleton, for which a case was directed to be made, it is highly
probable that this was the only specimen which the Company in those
days possessed!
1st February, 1568. Also yt ys ordayned and agreed by this Courte
That there shalbe buyldyngꝭ don and made aboute the hall for Seates
for the Companye that com̃eth unto every publyque anathomy, ffor by
cawse that every pˀsone comyng to se the same maye have good pˀspect
over the same and that one sholde not cover the syght thereof one
frome another as here to fore the Company have much cõplayned on the
same. And also foder more yt is agreed that the olde standyng w{ch}
did sˀve for the company of the clothing at coronacions or any noble
pere his com̃yng throughe the cytie oute of any fforeyns Cõntrey or
lande, for bycawse yt is broken and spoyled and olde shall all be put
to the makyng of the saide seates or for sparyng of the charge for
new Tymber. And also That whan yt shall happen any greate pere of
any fforren Lande upon tryumphe to com̃e as aforsaid and the Company
beynge then com̃anded to theyre standyng for to receyve any noble
man for the hono{r} of the prince kynge or quene of this Realme of
England and the cytie of London, That then as now and now as then
also the M{r} and govˀno{rs} for the tyme beyng shall buylde & make
a new Substanciall and Com̃ly fayer standyng To serve in lyke and
ample maner. And also ther shalbe pyllers and Rodꝭ of Iron made to
beare and drawe Courteynes upon & aboute the frame where w{th}in the
Anathomy doth lye and is wrought upon, for bycawse that no pˀsone or
pˀsones shall beholde the desections or incysyngꝭ of the body, but
that all maye be made cleane and covered w{th} fayer clothes untyll
the Docter shall com and take his place to reade and declare upon the
partes desected. And also yet forder more also, That there shalbe a
case of weynscot made w{th} paynters worke y{r} upon as semely as
maye be don ffor the skellyton to stande in and that for the Worshyp
of the Company--and all these to be made wrought and don at the
charges of the mistery and Com̃on boxe of the hall.
16th March, 1568. Here was Edward Park for y{t} he hath wretten
upon his Surgeons signe the skoller of S{t} Thomas of Wallingforde
and the said Edward Parke is comaunded by the aucthorytie of this
worsshyphfull Courte That he the said Edward Parke shall w{th} all
expedicion put oute of his said Signe the said wrytinge & to sett his
signe as other Surgeons do w{t}out any superscryption yt upon and not
ells otherwyse as he wyll answere to the contrarye.
13th July, 1568. In this Courte John ffrende is comytted to warde for
a pacient dyeing under his hands and not presented.
19th April, 1569. Here was the wyfe of Richard Selbye of London
Ironmonger playntyf agaynst William Wyse for that he cured not her
housbonds leg as he promysed he wolde have don, and yt is ordered
that Wylliam Wyse shall repaye agayne of the money w{ch} he receyved
in parte of the bargayne made be twene them and then was in the
pˀsents of this Courte payde unto Agnes the wyf of the above said
Richard Selby vj{s} viij{d} and so William Wyse is clerely dyscharged
of pacyent & all.
1570. This year it was deemed advisable to increase the number of the
Examiners in Surgery from five to seven, and these were Mr. Serjeant
Balthrop, Mr. Alexander Mason, Mr. Thomas Baylie, Mr. Robert Mudesley,
Mr. John Field, Mr. John Yates, and Mr. William Bovie.
5th April, 1570. It was agreed that in consequence of the great charges
with which the Company was always burdened in time of wars, in setting
forth sufficient surgeons and their men with unguents, balms, etc., as
also common soldiers, that a petition should be sent to the Queen for
redress in the matter of providing soldiers.
11th April, 1570. Here was one playntyf agaynst W{m} Beton
for a bubo & W{m} Beton wyll heale hym yf he wylbe ruled by him.
28th April, 1570. In this Courte W{m} Gyllam is charged to cure
Elizabeth Hyns of carmebrontyasis & once a day Gyllam shall pˀseve
her untyll she be hole and then she shall paye the said Gillam in the
pˀsents of this Courte in redy money vj{s.} viij{d.}
11th November, 1572. Here was one Steven Robinson to complaine
againste Edward Parke for arestinge hym for the curinge of hym for
v yeres seence. (_Which means that Parke had sued Robinson for a
surgeon’s bill five years old, without leave of the Court._)
12th February, 1573. Here was John ffrend and was comaunded to lay
downe his fyne for not pˀntinge M{r} Watson of the Towre w{ch} dyed
of Gangrena in his fote and he p{d} xv{s.}
This non-presentation of patients in danger of death, was a common
offence, and Mr. Frend had been previously convicted of it (13th July,
1568), on which occasion he was committed to prison.
31st March, 1573. Here was Edwarde Saunders warned because he wold
not paye the Anathomytꝭ ther dutye and also that he had let one
bloude at Blackwall and that he dyed, his arme fallynge to Gangrena
and made no pˀsentac͠on therof also that he w{th}eld certeyne things
of Whittingtons widdowe and he was willed to be here the next Courte
daye.
21st April, 1573. Here was one to complaine one[188] John Burges for
not delinge well w{th} hym in his cure concernynge a sore arme and he
is to be warned the next court.
[188] On, _i.e._, of.
28th April, 1573. Here was John Burgis and witnessed that the said
pacient would not be ordered as was necessary and therefore he
forsoke to deale w{th} hym.
21st May, 1573. Here was John Deane and appoynted to brynge in his
fyne x{li} for havinge an Anathomye in his howse contrary to an order
in that behalf between this and mydsomer next.
21st July, 1573. “Here was one Robert Grottell a straunger and cutter
for the Stone, admitted a brother and paid iiij{li}” and bound to pay
the remainder of his fine for admission at the rate of 10_s._ per
quarter.
30th July, 1573. Here was one John Gardener a healer of the rupture
and Stone and was examyned and had his Lr̃e of Admyttaunce and paid.
15th September, 1573. Here was one Alexander Capes a carpenter
and required that he might have some helpe concernyng his griefs
consyderinge that he had ben in thands of John ffrend Willm̃ Wise &
Richard Storye and had geven them mony for to be cured and was not,
wherefor order was taken that they should deale further w{th} him for
his health.
11th May, 1574. Here was James Marcadye and required to have Lycens
of absens one[189] Lecture dayes and it was graunted hym savinge that
he muste pay for his lycens xx{d} the quarter.
[189] On.
Surgeons were continually being called before the Court for “evil
dealing” with their patients, and for not performing cures for which
they had received the money beforehand. The Court generally endeavoured
to effect a friendly relationship between the parties, though in
cases which were considered as clearly proved against the Surgeon,
he was either fined or imprisoned, or else ordered to make suitable
compensation to the patient.
7th September, 1574. Here was John Griffen complayned uppon William
Pownsabe for gevinge him a powder w{ch} lossed all the teeth in his
head, w{ch} John Griffen had the dissease w{ch} we call Demorbo
gallico.
2nd February, 1575. Wm. Pownsabe was ordered to confess his fault for
his “unskilfull dealinges” with John Griffen and to pay him 5_s._ as
compensation.
13th March, 1576. Here was a complainte determyned upon w{ch} was
made against Tho: Hodes and for that he was provde ignorant he is
bounde in xl{li} never to medle in any matter of Sˀgery.
3rd April, 1576. Here was a complainte against Willm̃ More by one
Henry Dobbyns for that he did not cure his sonne but made the same
worse.
10th May, 1576. William More was ordered, on account of his ignorance,
to meddle no more in Surgery.
2nd October, 1576. Here was likewyse a complaint by one Tho: Adams
against John Pˀadice[190] for that the saide John had receyved
certen monie in hand and a gowne in pawne for a remainder to cure
the daughter of the saide Tho: whiche daughter died and the pore man
made request for the gowne agayne and so the M{r} and governo{rs}
abovesaide awarded that the saide Jo: Pˀadice sholde redelivˀ the
gowne the next tuesdaie and that the saide Tho: Adams sholde geve
unto the saide Jo: Pˀadyce towardꝭ his bote hier spent in going to
the made at Putney v{s.}
[190] Paradice.
8th October, 1577. Here was a complainte made by one M{rs.} Riche
against Robt. Bewsy for that he had her husbonde to cure who died
and the said Bewsye said and repoˀted that she was an evell liver
and that he died of a botch called Bubo veneria and taken of her,
w{ch} he denied, but beinge proved she put the matter wholie to this
woˀshipfull howse who did award that he sholde in the pˀsence of her
nighbors who were here present in the pˀlor upon his knees aske her
forgevenes, w{ch} he did and so the matter was finally ended.
7th February, 1578. Here was a complainte against Willm̃ Knightly for
Cuttinge of the yearde of his pacient but yt was pˀved by one M{r}
Grene that the member was mortefied and so there was little to be
saide against him.
24th February, 1578. Here was a Complaint against Willm̃ Clowes[191]
by Richard Carrington for that the saide Willm̃ Clowes as he saide
had abused him in wordes in the hall and here they did shake handes
and were made frends, for that the said Clowes had been sent to ward
before by the saide Richard Carrington being one of the wardens of
the yeomanry.
[191] An eminent Surgeon and Warden in 1594.
18th March, 1578. At this Coˀte Hewe Placket was rebuked for takeing
upon him to heale a pacient who ys deade and comaundement geven that
he shall medle no more in surgerie.
20th March, 1578. It was ordered:--
That yf any man of this misterie shall at any tyme hereafter make any
booke or bookes of Surgerie the same shall not be published unles the
same booke or bookes be first presented unto the masters governors
and examenors of this Companie for the tyme beinge upon payne of
x{li.}
The following order was doubtless directed against a prevalent mania
for relics of notorious criminals.
17th July, 1578. That no pˀson or pˀsons of this Companie do presume
at anie tyme or tymes hereafter of Anathomies to take and carrie
awaie or cause to be taken or carried awaie any pˀte of the skynn of
anie bodie whiche shall at anie tyme hereafter happen to be wrought
upon w{th}in the hall of the misterie and the same tann or cause to
be tanned like lether upon the payne of v{li.}
7th December, 1581. It ys agreed that there shalbe a Bill put into
the pˀliament house for easinge the Companie of the charge of
sendinge souldiers to the wars and also for suppressinge of lewd
dealers in surgerye.
18th July, 1583. The Lord Mayor and Court of Aldermen having
recommended that persons using Barbery should not practise Surgery, the
Master and Governors went to Guildhall, and there promised the Court of
Aldermen that they would compel all their free Barbers to enter into
bonds not to “medle or deale w{th} any sick of the plauge or infected
cum morbo gallico,” and accordingly the Barbers entered into bonds to
that effect.
In Stow’s Annales, ed. 1592, p. 1261, is the following remarkable
account of a “subject” coming to life again at our hall.
1587. The 20 of Februarie, a strange thing happened a man hanged for
felonie at Saint Thomas Wateringes, being begged by the Chirurgions
of London, to have made of him an Anatomie, after hee was dead to
all mens thinking, cut downe, stripped of his apparell, laide naked
in a chest, throwne into a carre, and so brought from the place
of execution through the Borough of Southwarke over the bridge,
and through the Citie of London to the Chirurgions Hall nere unto
Cripelgate: The chest being there opened, and the weather extreeme
cold hee was found to be alive, and lived till the three and twentie
of Februarie, and then died.
It was doubtless the above circumstance, to which reference is made
in the next minute; it would seem that the body had been begged by
some surgeons and taken to the hall to be dissected there, it being
unlawful to dissect elsewhere, and that on the resuscitation of the
unhappy man, the Company had been put to some expenses whereupon they
made an order to provide for any similar case in the future. This body
would be what is often referred to in the Books as a “private anatomy,”
in opposition to the four “public” bodies of felons to which the
Company were annually entitled.
13th July, 1587. Iˀtm yt ys agreed That yf any bodie w{ch} shall at
anie tyme hereafter happen to be brought to o{r} Hall for the intent
to be wrought uppon by Thanatomistes of o{r} Companie shall revyve
or come to lyfe agayne as of late hathe ben seene The charges aboute
the same bodie so revivinge shalbe borne levied and susteyned by such
pˀson or pˀsons who shall so happen to bringe home the Bodie. And
further shall abide suche order or ffyne as this Howse shall Awarde.
7th December, 1598. This daye commaundm{t} cam from the lordes of her
ma{ts} most ho: privie councell for to presse a sufficient Surgeon
for her ma{ts} sˀvice in Ireland under the conduct of Captayne Winsor.
12th December, 1598. John Cumberland was pressed for the above service
and delivered into his Captain’s charge, and four or five other
Surgeons were also pressed and handed over _nolens volens_. One of
these, Dominick Lomeline (or Lumley, Master in 1629), is recorded on
the 16th January following as having “confessed voluntarelye before the
Masters that to be dischardged of his presse for Ireland it stud him in
Twenty Nobles of which the Captayne had in monye three poundes.”
6th February, 1599. This daie one Richard Hallydaie marriner made his
complainte of Raphe Rowley for settinge forthe an insufficient man
not approved to serve as a surgeon at sea in the Sheepe called the
Costely of London by whose unskylfullnes hee was dismembred of his
arme and is in greate dainger of liefe.
Ralph Rowley had been pressed for a Sea Surgeon, and this complaint
would be against him for the incompetency of some substitute, whom he
had no doubt paid to take his place.
27th March, 1599. It is ordered that an Informac͠on be exhibited
againste the Sexton of White Chappell for Surgerye.
6th August, 1599. This daie the Maister of the Company made his
petic͠on to the lorde Bishopp of London that noe person shoulde be
admitted to practize Surgerie but suche person as shoulde have the
seale of this house to testefie his examinac͠on before the Maisters
&c. which was graunted And order sett downe for the same.
23rd October, 1599. Pascall Lane hath Thursdaie comme a moneth to be
examined and in the meane tyme not to hange out banners and not to
cutt unles he acquainte the m{rs} therewithall.
27th November, 1599. This daie Richard Cadwalder hath undertaken
that Roberte Thompson nowe shewed[192] in the Exchequer for useinge
surgerie withoute a signe[193] shall uppon his retorne be examined
concerninge his skille in Surgerye and shall paie suche chardges as
shalbe due to this howse.
[192] Sued.
[193] Outside his house.
10th June, 1600. This daye Olivˀ Peacock brought in his fine for not
pˀsentinge his Cure[194] being nowe dead and it was mittigated to
five shillinges And it is farthˀr ordered that he practize surgery no
more.
[194] _i.e._, His patient.
3rd July, 1600. This daye Andrew Mathew Edward Peck Robert Steward
and Owine Jones free brothˀrs of this mistery were at their sevˀall
instancˀs examined & approved concerninge their skill in the arte of
Surgery and had their severall letters of grace und{r} the seale of
the sayd mistery by Richard Wood Willm̄ Martin Thomas Thorney & John
Peck examiners appoynted in the pˀsence of the M{rs} of this Company.
8th July, 1600. This daye warrant came to the M{rs} for the
pˀsinge[195] of a Surgeon for Captayne Thomas Minn bearinge date the
sixth daye of this instant moneth.
[195] Pressing.
15th July, 1600. This daye Raphe Barrett & Robert Thompson forren
Surgeons[196] made theyr request to the M{rs} that they might be
examyned on thursdaye next Whereuppon it was ordered that the
Examyners should be warned to be at the hall at the sayd tyme.
[196] _i.e._, Surgeons not free of the Company.
29th July, 1600. This daye it is ordered that John Mowle shalbe
warned to be before the M{rs} the next Court for usinge Surgery
beinge but a barber.
8th September, 1600. ~Octavo~ die Septembris Anno dñi 1600 Annoque
Elizabeth Quadragesimo secundo.
~Whereas~ at a Courte holden the Maisters or Governors and Assistants
of this Companye the Nynteenth daie of Maye laste paste It was
amongest other thinges ordered condiscended and agreed by consente
of a full courte of the said Assistance That the request and moc͠on
of ffrancis Rowdon Clarke to this Companye shoulde be referred to
the Considerac͠on of the Auditors of the Maisters Accompts And what
they shall doe in the premisses should be lawfull and effectuall
to all intentes and purposes ~Wee~ Thomas Byrd John Leycocke Lewis
Atmer Robert Johnson Richard Mapes Thomas Goodale Thomas Martyn and
Joseph ffenton beinge chosen Auditors for the Maisters accomptes for
the yeare paste havinge taken due considerac͠on of the premisses and
findinge that the accomplisheinge of the said requeste maye muche
proffitt the bodye of this Companye in the banisheinge of lewde and
unskylfull practic͠oners in the arte of Surgerie ~Doe~ therefore
by the Aucthority to us geeven order in manner and forme hereafter
ensuinge viz{t} ffirste wee order that there be presentlie paide unto
the saide Clarke the somme of xx{li.} of lawfull money of England
out of the stocke of this howse the same to be repaide to this howse
by v{li} pˀ Ann. Alsoe wee doe further order that uppon payment of
the said xx{li} to the said Clarke aforesaid the said Clarke shall
termelie prosecute a competent number of the said practic͠oners in
Surgerie and shall not delaie any suite he shall undertake but shall
prosecute the same with effecte unles there be any misprison in the
same And if there be any misprison then to acquainte the Maisters
for the tyme beinge with the same misprison. Alsoe wee doe order
that the said Clarke shall porsecute such pˀsons as the Maisters of
this Companye shall from tyme to tyme geeve order for. Alsoe wee
doe further order that the said Clarke shall not compounde or agree
with any he shall have to doe by waie of informac͠on before he hath
acquainted the Maisters therewithall and hath obtayned their consents
thereunto And whatsoever he shall receave uppon any Composic͠on over
and besides such Costes and chardges as he shall expend in and aboute
suche suite he shall well and trulye contente and paie unto the said
Maisters or Governors for the tyme beinge. Provided alwaies that he
ffirste acquainte the Maisters or Governors of this Company for the
tyme beinge therewith And deliver unto them a reasonable and true
bill of his Costes and Chardges disbursed as aforesaid And that he
seale and deliver as his deed one wrytinge obligatorie wherein he
shall become bounden to the Maisters or Governors of this Companye
with Condic͠on theruppon indorced contayninge the Articles above
specified In Witnes whereof wee the said Auditors hereunto put o{r}
severall handes. Yoven the daie and yeare ffirste above written.
22nd October, 1600. Robert Swayne was this daye examined by M{r}
Thorney M{r} Willm̄ Martin M{r} Wood & M{r} Atmer and not founde
sufficient but is nevertheles tolerated to come to o{r} Lectures
& Annathomies And is to paye for the same xx{s} yerely by 5{s}
quarterly till hee be founde more sufficient.
5th May, 1601. This daie a complainte was made againste Martyn Pelham
by a patient he had in cure of his arme for not fynisheinge the said
cure w{ch} cure was accomplished by Thomas Watson whereuppon it is
ordered that the said Pelham be warned to appeare uppon the next
courte daye.
6th August, 1601. This daye Will{m} Pilkinton uppon his examinac͠on
was tolerated to practize Surgery for five yeres next ensuinge
Provided that hee paie quarterly to this howse ij{s} vj{d} and that
hee the said Pilkinton doe joyne w{th} him in evˀy cure he shall have
in dang{r} of death or mayne some expert surgeon of this Company.
10th November, 1601. This daye John Russell of Canterbury Surgeon was
examined and was admitted & approved.