are this daye become humble suiters to this Company to be tollerated
& pˀmitted to practize as Surgeons w{th}in this Cytie of London for
and durynge the space of Three moneths next ensuinge onely for the
couchinge of the catarack cuttinge for the rupture stone and wenne It
is uppon consideracc͠on of their sevˀall suites ordered by consent
of this Courte That hee the said James Vanotten shalbe pˀmitted to
practize for the couchinge of the catarack cuttinge for the rupture
stone and wenne for the space of three monethes next ensuinge
w{th}out contradicc͠on or denyall of the M{rs} or Governors of this
Company And that hee the said Nycholas Bowlden shalbe assistant unto
the said James Vanotten in such cures as hee shalbe as aforesaid
possessed of duringe the tyme & space aforesaid. PROVIDED allwayes
and it is nevertheles pˀmised & undertaken by the said James &
Nycholas that hee the said Nycholas shall paye unto the M{rs} or
Governors of this Company to the use of the poore of the same every
moneth monethly duringe the said space of three moneths the somme of
ij{s} vj{d} And that the said James Vanotten shall paye to the said
M{rs} or Governors to the use of the poore of the said Company for
every moneth monethly of the said three monethes in w{ch} the said
James shall practize or continue in London or the libertyes suburbes
or one myle compase of the said Cyty after the fower & twentyth daye
of decemb{r} next ensuinge xx{s} of lawful money of England. And
provided that neyth{r} they nor eyth{r} of them shall pˀsume to hange
oute any banners or signe of Surgery in any place oth{r} then where
they shall lye and make theyre abode w{th}in the tyme aforesaid
or practize in any oth{r} poynte of Surgery then before is spec̃ˀd
w{th}out furth{r} lycence of the M{rs} or Governors of this Company
for the tyme beinge first had & obteyned. ffor pˀformance whereof
they the said James & Nycholas by bond are become bounden to M{r}
Warden ffrederick in the somme of x{li} of lawful money of England.
In Witnes whereof they have hereunto put their sevˀall names. Yoven
the daye & yere above wrytten
JACOBUS VAN OTTEN
NICHOLAS BODEN.
2nd March, 1602. Havard is to pave to Nicholas Kellawaye v{s.} the
nexte Courte daye for a launset w{th} silver scales w{ch} he borrowed
of the said Nicholas Kellawaye.
20th April, 1602. This daye one Edward Stutfeyld a practic͠oner
in bone settinge appeared before the M{rs} of this Company uppon
warninge to him geven by the beadell of this Company And at his
humble suite he was lycenced to practize in bone settinge onely
Provided hee paye to the M{rs} of this Company to the use of the
poore of the same x{s} for every quarter of yere that hee shall
practize as aforesaid.
20th April, 1602. This daye one John ffoster a poore and unskylfull
man of this Company made his appearance before the M{rs} of this
Company and was examined concerninge his skyll in the arte of Surgery
and was found altogeth{r} unskilfull in all the partes therefore
Whereuppon it is ordered that M{r} Wilbraham Coroner to this Cytie
be warned to be here w{th} the Coroners Inquest on Thursdaye next by
tenne of the clock in the forenoone to be satisfied by their owne
hereinge of the unskilfullness of the said ffoster.
22nd June, 1602. This daye Garrett Key a Strang{r} appeared before
the M{rs} of this Company and in respect hee hath undertaken the cure
of his patient one ffeake a Gowldesmythe beinge in danger of death
w{th}out makinge pˀsentac͠on thereof to the M{rs} of this Company Did
voluntaryly geve to the said M{rs} to the use of the poore of the
same Company iij{li} And thereuppon they have acquited him all former
offences done to this Company.
11th October, 1602. This daye Gabriell Hunt Practic͠oner in Surgery
was Committed to the Compter for practizeinge of Surgery beinge not
approved nor admitted accordinge to the Statute.
3rd April, 1604. Under this date is an award made by the Court in an
action remitted to the Masters by the Lord Mayor, wherein Walter
Barton Barber-Surgeon, was plaintiff, and Thomas Sheeres Imbroiderer,
Defendant. It appeared that Barton had cured Sheeres and his servant,
Eustace Skelton, and had been at great charges in prosecuting Sheeres
for his fees. The Court ordered the Defendant to pay Barton £4 within
14 days.
5th June, 1604. This daye M{r} ffenton pˀsented to this Courte
500 bookes of Horatius Moras tables translated into Englishe and
delivˀed them to the M{rs} of this Company in the name & behalf of
M{r} Deputie Caldwell[197] who freely gave them to this Company to
be distributed amongest the pˀfessors of Chirurgery freemen of this
Company.
[197] For a very interesting account of Morus’ Tables and of Mr.
Deputy Caldwell see Mr. D’Arcy Power’s Memorials, p. 184.
28th February, 1605. This daye it is ordered that there shalbe a
letter pˀntly drawne by the advice of the M{rs} of this Company and
sent to the Colledge of Phisic͠ons by the Clark of this Company
wherein there shalbe desyred if they please a Conferrence betwixt
some of theire College and some of the auncientꝭ of this Company in
some indifferent place of meetinge to conferre concerninge theire
greevancꝭ.
18th March, 1605. This daye uppon the request of M{r} Serjeant
Prymerose & M{r} Neste Smyth the kynges Surgeons by their Letter It
was ordered that Cezar Scultinge Duchman theyre servant should be
examyned and approved concerninge his skill in Surgery on thursdaye
next And beinge found skilfull that hee mighte have letters of
admittance from this Company gratis.
21st March, 1605. “Zeger Schultynchs,” the Dutchman above mentioned,
was examined and had his diploma gratis, but was ordered to pay 2_s._
quarterage and 2_s._ for absence from lectures.
30th April, 1605. This daye M{r} ffenton complayned of Robert Morrey
for supplantinge him of div{s} cures And for slanderinge him in his
pˀfession And also for his evell practize And was for his said abuses
fyned at v{li} w{ch} hee is to bringe in at the next Court orels to
be committed to the Compter.
7th May, 1605. Morrey being contumacious, was by the Court committed to
prison.
28th May, 1605. This daye Willm̃ Corbet appeared before the M{rs} of
this Company and was dismissed from the exercyze of Surgery for his
evill practize.
This daye Willm̃ Corbet was bounde to the M{rs} in x{li} not to
practize Surgery or w{th}in one myles compasse w{th}out the M{rs}
lycence.
25th June, 1605. This daye Abraham Renex is fined at x{s} for his
absens from lectures And is to pay x{s} pˀ an. for his lycence of
absens hereaft{r}.
3rd September, 1605. This day Pascal Lane a practicioner in the
art of Surgery was by our M{rs} order comitted to the Compter for
cuttinge of one Thom̃s Thorntons child for the stone who dyed
pnˀtlie under his handꝭ by his neckligence & ignoraunce where he is
to continue till he hath payed the fine of xl{s} for not makeinge
pˀntac͠on[198] to the M{rs} of the cure accordinge to the orders of
the Company.
[198] Presentation.
12th September, 1605. In the controvˀsie betwixt Thomas Thornton and
Pascall Lane ãls[199] Lyne It is ordered by consent of both pˀties
That the said Pascall Lane shall pˀntlie pay to the said Thornton
xx{s} which he pˀntlie did And he hath delivˀed a ring to o{r} M{rs}
w{th} condic͠on to pay to the said Thornton xx{s} more this night
And all controvˀsies betwixt them are to cease and determine from
henceforth.
[199] Alias.
26th November, 1605. This day Henry Goodwyn a Sorcerer was by the
M{rs} forbidden to practize any more in the arte of Surgery.
1st July, 1606. This day Stephen Abraham a Barbor was fined for
not makeing pˀentac͠on of his cure in daunger of death and it was
forgeven him.
14th July, 1606. The funds of the Company were, at this period, very
low, Mr. Pecke offering to lend £50 and Mr. Fenton £100, without
interest, and the following entry would indicate that the expenses
attendant upon the Anatomy demonstrations were a burden.
This day for the avoydinge of charges it is ordered by this Courte
that no publique Anothomy shalbe holden in the Comon hall of this
mistery for the space of theis three yeares now next ensuinge. Yett
notw{th}standinge it is ordered by this Courte y{t} the M{rs} &
Stewardꝭ of the Anothomy for the yeare next ensuinge shall continue
M{rs} & Stewardꝭ the said space And shall once in evˀie yeare at
such tymes as the M{rs} of this Company shall thinck fitt dissect
a private Anothomy in the Comon hall of the said mistery for their
better experience and cunninge.
14th July, 1606. ~Also~ it is further ordered & decreed by this
Courte fforasmuch as dive{rs} pˀsons ffremen of this Company who
have very litle or no skill at all in the Arte of Surgery doe
neverthelesse make a publique pˀfession of the said Arte And thereby
comitt many erro{rs} to the great dispaˀgm{t} of the worthie and
experienced professo{rs} thereof and to the hurte of div{rs} of his
Ma{t}ꝭ lovinge subjectꝭ That from henceforth no man be admitted to
have his name entered downe for a Surgeon into the lecture bill
except by the consent of the m{rs} or governours of the said mistery
& Coiãltie for the tyme beinge And that it shalbe lawful for the
pˀnte M{rs} or governours to dismisse out of the lecture bill the
names of such pˀsones as they shall thincke fitt to be put out, which
pˀsons so dismissed and put out shall live out of the protexion
of this Company for & in respect of their practize in the Arte of
Surgery untill they shall by them be thought fitt to practice in
that Arte & admitted into such bill uppon their humble suite. But if
any disobedient obstinate or stubborne pˀson shall notw{th}standinge
his such dismission practice in the said arte Then it is further
ordred by this Courte that suite in law shalbe pˀsecuted against
such obstinate pˀsons at the charge of this Company for such their
unlawfull practice in Surgery.
7th October, 1606. This daie Willm̃ ffoster was fyned at xx{s} for
his evell practize upon his patient being a servaunt of my Lord grace
of Cant. and is to bring in the same fyne at the next Court.
This daie it is ordered that Richard Holden be warned to the next
Court for not reeding his lecture.
24th October, 1606. This daie Clement White appeared before this
Court upon Complaynt for settinge his servaunte to sea before he was
examyned & his chest vewed by the M{rs} And for that he knew not the
orders of this Company he is forgyven his offence for this tyme.
2nd December, 1606. This daie John Anslow was comitted to the Compter
for defraudinge of Willm̃ ffoster of his patient And is to pay
ffoster for his paynes in that cure.
9th July, 1607. This daye Roger Jenkins[200] heretofore examined
& appˀved in the Arte of Surgery was pˀsented before the Deane of
Pawles. And his letters of Admittance from the said Deane.
[200] Warden in 1608.
Also Abraham Allen[201] was lykewyse admitted by the said Deane.
[201] Warden in 1611.
20th July, 1607. Mr. Thomas Thorney (Master 1602), Mr. Richard Mapes
(M. 1612), Mr. Richard Wood (M. 1591), Mr. Serjeant Gudderus (M. 1594),
Mr. Willm̃ Gayle (M. 1595), Mr. George Baker (M. 1597 and Serjeant
Surgeon), Mr. John Peck (M. 1605), Mr. Christopher Frederick (M. 1609
and Serjeant Surgeon), Mr. John Gerrard (the celebrated Herbalist, M.
1607), and Mr. Joseph Fenton (M. 1624), were appointed Examiners of
Surgeons, and amongst other articles it was ordained:--
That none of the said examiners shall pˀsent any pˀson useinge
surgery to the Bishop of London or to the Deane of Pawles to the
intent to get or pˀcure such Surgeon Lycence or admission to practize
Surgery unlesse such Surgeon at such tyme shall have his letter of
admittance from this Company under the Common scale of the same
testifieinge his admission to practize surgery.
7th July, 1608. This daye Mathias Jenkinson was examyned concerninge
his skyll in the arte of Surgery And was lycenced to cut for the
hernia or Rupture to couch the Catrac to cut for the wry neck & the
hare lip Provided that hee call the pˀsent M{rs} of this Company to
every such Cure or such of the Assistantꝭ as are examined & approved
as the said M{rs} in such case shall appoynt And is to enter into
bond in xl{li} for pˀformance hereof And paid to the pˀsent M{rs}
xl{s} And is to paye xl{s} more at midsomer next.
20th June, 1609. This daye Mathias Jenkinson is dischardged from his
practize in Surgery for that hee hath not observed the articles of
his Tollerac͠on and for his evell & unskilfull practize.
27th February, 1610. Whereas one William Wright was a suiter to this
Courte that he might be examined & admitted to practice Surgery. Now
forasmuch as it appeareth he is one of a contentious & troublesome
speritt & of a bad & scandalous disposition who hath not onlie
heretofore dive{rs} tymes byn fined for usinge slanderous & evill
speeches against dive{rs} that have byn M{rs} & governours of
this Company but also sundrie tymes heretofore & now daylie useth
slaunderous wordꝭ & speeches w{th} many wicked cursingꝭ & revilingꝭ
against M{r} Mapes in the hearinge of dive{rs} of the neighbou{rs} of
the said Wright where he dwelleth, which beinge by this Court dulie
examined is found that the same slaunde{rs} & revilingꝭ doe proceed
out of his wicked mynd w{th}out any just cause given Wherefore it
is by this Courte ordered and fullie decreed That the said Wright
shall not at any tyme hereafter be examined or approved for his skill
of Surgerie untill he shall & doe before 4 or 5 of the neighbou{rs}
of the said Wrighte to whom he hath thus abused M{r} Mapes and in
his & their presence openlie confesse & acknowledge that he the
said Wrighte hath wronged and abused the said M{r} Mapes And shall
then and there before them submitt himself & be sorrie for all such
wrongꝭ & wicked Cursingꝭ as he hath reported or spoken with promise
hereafter never by wordꝭ or deedꝭ to wronge him or any other of this
Courte or any other of the Assistantꝭ of this Company.
27th February, 1610. At this Courte was John Cotton of Radcliffe
a professor of Surgery comited to the Compter for not makinge
presentac͠on of his Cure w{ch} dyed under his hand & also for his
evill practice w{ch} he used to his Cure as it did appeare beinge
examined thereuppon And further he is forbidden to practice Surgery
any more untill that he be examined.
2nd October, 1610. At this Court it is ordered that Richard Baynes
and Xpõfer Browne shalbe comitted to the Compter for that they did
not come and make answer to this Court of the Complayntꝭ w{ch} are
made against them by their sevˀall patientꝭ they being therefore
warned at sevˀall Court dayes.
9th October, 1610. At this Court was one wyddowe Bryers comitted to
the Compter for practising Surgery contrary to the Statutꝭ of this
Realme.
About this period are several instances of Surgeons being fined for
going to sea without licence, and for not having their sea chests
examined, _e.g._:
6th November, 1610. Att this Court Gyles fflemmynge did promyse that
on Tewsdaye come ffortnight he woulde bring in his ffyne of x{li}
for going to Sea w{th}out lycence of this howse, whereupon the Court
was contented to proceed noe further against him in respect of such
abuses as he hath offred.
22nd January, 1611. James Blackborne applied to be admitted a brother
to practise Surgery and promising to pay £10 for his admission and to
make the examiners a dinner, a day was appointed for his examination.
31st January, 1611. This daie James Blackborne was examined
touchinge his skill in the generatyve ptꝭ of women; and bringinge
of women to bedd in their dangerous and difficult Labors: And he
the said Blackborne was found fitt and allowed to practize (in that
Chirurgicall pˀte of Surgery touching the generatyve ptꝭ of women &
bringinge them to bedd in their dangerous & difficult Labours) by
letters under the seale of the howse beinge the date above wrytten
And was att this Court sworne and admitted a fforayne brother; and in
considerac͠on thereof he paid to the pˀnte M{rs} att this Court x{li.}
The Barber-Surgeons had claimed the exclusive right of embalming dead
bodies, but how they fared in their contention with the Wax Chandlers
(referred to in the next extract) does not appear.
26th October, 1612. This daie it is ordered that at the chardgꝭ
of the howse the pˀnte Masters w{th} the Clark shall seeke in the
Rowles for the charter of the wax chaundlers and to tak a coppie of
that pˀte of the charter touchinge the libertie gyven unto them for
the imbaulmynge of dead bodyes And as they shall finde the same soe
to take the advice of my lord cheife Justice about the same at the
chardgꝭ of the howse.
3rd November, 1612. This daie the Company receavinge a letter from
the lordꝭ of his Ma{t}ꝭ most honˀable privye Councell wherein
they intreated the Company to give leave unto one Bartholomew
Vanderlatch a stranger to take in hand one Melser Gisberd whoe had an
ympedym{t} in his eye, whereupon this Court was pleased that the said
Vanderlatch should take in hand to cure the said Gisberd w{th}out
disturbance of this howse.
17th November, 1612. Att this Court Richard ffynche dwelling at
Pyckle herring is forbidden to practise bonesetting or any other
matter touching surgery at any time hereafter.
7th December, 1613. This daie John Antonio an Italian being an
Imposter practizing in surgery is forbidden by this Court to deale
any more in Surgery.
3rd March, 1614. This daie M{r} Robert Allott docto{r} in Phissick &
one of the fellowes of S{t} Johnes Colledge in Cambridge was admitted
a brother of this Company and hade the letters of this howse under
the seale thereof graunted unto him.
15th March, 1614. This daie it is ordered that Thomas Gillam shall
at the next court of assistauntꝭ bring in his fyne of v{li} for
discecting of an Anothomy out of this hall.
12th April, 1614. This daie it is ordered that Thomas Collyns shall
bring in his fyne of 10{li} for going to sea not having his Chest
vewed.
27th May, 1616. At this Court is gyven unto M{r} Docter Crooke the
some of 5{li} for that he did dedicate a booke unto this Companie &
gave one of them unto this howse.
15th August, 1616. John Walgrave came before the Court upon Summons,
and being questioned--
if he practized Surgery he peremptorily replied he did & gott his
lyveinge by the same and was an auntienter Surgeon then themselves
Then he was demaunded by what authoritie he did practice Surgery to
w{ch} he aunswered he had sufficient authoritie for he was allowed by
the Archbusshop of Canterburie and the Busshop of London Then M{r}
ffenton demaundinge of him in what busshops tymes he was so admitted,
after manie insolent & menasinge speches & unsemely behaviors he
aunswered he was admitted by Busshop Whiteguift. Then was demaunded
of him by what Busshop of London he was admitted to w{ch} he very
insolent replied that he scorned to tell them or to be examined by
anie of them all, vauntinge further that he was a better gentleman
than anie of them all To w{ch} M{r} ffenton aunswered that if he did
so he did it unlawfully & he aunswered that he cared not, for he
had practized these 30 yeares & wold still practice the same. And
M{r} ffenton told him that though he had practized so long yet that
made it not lawfull except he had byn examined & approved according
unto the lawes of the land To w{ch} Walgrave beinge in great passion
w{th} menaceinge & threatninge behavio{r} replied unto M{r} ffenton
& the rest, you lye & I tell you agayne you lye And so w{th} proud
menacinge & insolent behavio{r} w{th} many insolent unsemely &
irreverent speches to all that satt at that tyme in the Court he most
unmanerly & w{th}out regard of anie that sat their depˀted.
In all probability it was ascertained that Walgrave had the Bishop’s
licence or else some powerful friends, as no further notice seems to
have been taken of his contempt, though the records abundantly show
that the Court was never slow to visit condign punishment on far lesser
offenders than this man.
15th July, 1624. Whereas informac͠on is given to this Court that of
late Docto{r} Grints servingman John Eethell lett a maide blood, her
arme mortified and the maid thereupon died, it is ordered by this
Court that there shalbe counsell taken thereon, and a suite comenced
agˀt him at the Costs of this house.
7th December, 1624. This daye John Baptista Succa a mountibancke and
an Italian borne had order to forbeare his practise here in London.
6th November, 1627. This daye was presented to this Courte by Humfrey
Bromley a letter from the Lord Maio{r} of this Cittie of London the
teno{r} whereof is as followeth
~To~ the M{r} and Wardeins of the Companie of Barbar Surgions
~Whereas~ S{r} Henry Herbert Knight M{r} of the Revells hath
authorised the bearer hereof Humfrey Bromley to shew a Child
presented to be naturallie borne haveing Twoe heades ffower Armes
and three leggꝭ w{ch} I suppose not to be borne of any woeman or to
be the perfect substance of a child in respect whereof I forbeare
to pˀmitt the said Humfrey Bromely to make shewe thereof within
the libˀties of this Cittye untill such tyme as I maye be truely
satisfied from you whether the same child be of the substance as is
pretended Therefore I desire you that upon advised view of the said
Child you truly certifie mee in writing under yo{r} handꝭ whether
the same be really a child as is presented to thend I maye not
unadvisedly suffer his Ma{t}ꝭ subjectꝭ to be deceyved thereby. This
second of November Anno Dni. 1627.
HUGH HAMERSLEY _Maio{r.}_
Whereupon the vew of the supposed body as aforesaid it is ordered
that this answere be returned to the Lord Maio{r} as followeth viz:
~Right~ Hono{ble} According unto yo{r} Lõps reference unto us
directed dated the second of November 1627 ~Wee~ have taken a
deliberate vewe of the supposed monstrous birth presented unto us to
be vewed as from your hono{r} by one Humfrey Bromley And although
wee cannot possitively affirme it proceeded not from a woeman Yet
under favor, wee conceive and soe deliver our opinions that the said
supposed monstrous shape hath beene, either by Arte soe composed
and put together from unnaturall and untimely birthes of Children
or from other Animalls, as Apes, Munckeys or the like w{ch} have a
greate resemblance of Manns bodye, in many of their partes and soe
by the cunninge subtiletye of the composer made into a monster,
thereby to delude the worlde and haveing a Bodye of Antiquitie cannot
safely receive a flatt and manifest contradiction; And wee are
induced the rather to suspect it for that the producer thereof hath
noe testimonye from any learned or judicious men; neither from any
Magistrates of the partes where it is pretended to have bene borne,
w{ch} such offendors use aboundantly to be furnished withall. And in
conclusion compareing his printed demonstrac͠on of his monster, with
the Author he siteth, and others that have written of such and the
like monsters, Wee finde a greate deale of Addition and a manifest
disagreem{t} w{ch} is a playne badge of fixion and falsehoode. All
w{ch} our opinions wee humbly submitt to yo{r} hono{rs} grave wisdome
to be further considered of.
20th November, 1627. Item this daye M{r} Warden Woodall M{r} Peter
Thorney M{r} George Perrine and M{r} Thomas Gilham are appointed
by our M{rs} commandꝭ to goe to Portsmouth for the cureing of the
wounded souldiers that come from the Isle of Rea in ffrance which are
nowe remayneing wounded and sicke at Portsmouth upon the letter of
the Lord Conwaye signifieing his Ma{t}ꝭ pleasuer therefore.
8th July, 1628. This daye M{r} Peter Thorney is by this Court desired
to goe Surgion generall for the Armye that goes by Land.
23rd January, 1629. Mr. Peter Thorney having died in the King’s
Service on the coast of France, John Heydon was chosen an Assistant in
his place. Peter Thorney is mentioned on the monument to his Uncle,
Thomas Thorney (Master, 1602, 1606), in St. Andrew’s, Holborn. (_See_
Biographical Notices.)
19th April, 1630. This daye the Examiners mett here in Court upon
the recomendac͠on of the lordꝭ of the privey Councell signified by
S{r} John Cooke secretary of state for the approveing of one Dupont
a french man to practise for the cure of the pox. Whereupon the said
Dupont being examined was found altogether insufficient.
20th April, 1630. This daye Edward ffleete paid in xx{s} for his fine
for not reading lecture according to his turne.