Private dissection Roome for anatomicall imployementꝭ and that
hitherto those bodies have beene a greate annoyance to the tables
dresser boardes and utensills in o{r} upper Kitchin by reason of the
blood filth and entrailes of those Anathomyes and for the better
accomodateing of those anatomicall affaires and preserveing the
Kitchin to its owne propˀ use, Doe nowe order that there shalbe a
faire convenient roome built over the greate staire case next the
back yard to be imployed onely for discection of private Anathomyes
to the value of xl{li.}
28th December, 1632. On the death of Dr. Gwyn, in December, 1627, it
had been arranged that in future the Surgeons of the Company should
read the Anatomical lectures in turn, weekly; but great difficulty
having been experienced in carrying out this regulation, the Court now
reverted to the former practice of employing a Professor, and appointed
Dr. Alexander Reade at a salary of £20 per annum.
23rd March, 1635. Alsoe this Court takeing notice that in theis
latter yeares there hath bene a generall remissnes in the greater
pˀt of the Surgians of this Companie in their not appearance and
personall attendance in their Seates on the Scaffoldings at the Six
lecture tymes at the publique Anatomye, and the disorderlynes of
those Surgians y{t} doe appeare for wanting their outward ornament
commixing themselves confusedly amongst the Comon people then pˀnte,
whereby the hono{r} and worthynes of this Companie on the Surgians
pˀte hath bene much eclipsed. ffor redresse of w{ch} enormious
exorbitance and for the better grace and Worˀp̃ of this Companie.
It is now decreed that for ever hereafter at the tymes of publiq̃e
Lecture readings on the Sceletons or Anatomies in this Comon Hall
this ensueing order for the greater decencye & more Worˀp̃ of this
Companie shall from tyme to tyme hereafter yearely be observed and
put in due execution, viz{t.,} That every Surgian either of the
Assistants or of the Liverye shall appeare in his gowne in the
forenone and afternoone of one daye at the least of the 3 dayes
lectures at every publiq̃e discection And that every Surgian of
the Wardeins and of the Assistants of the yeomanrye shall likewise
appeare in his gowne in the forenone and afternoone of one daye at
the least of the three dayes lectures at every publiq̃e Anatomye, and
everye one of those Surgians dureing the tyme of such lecture shall
sitt decently in such place in the Scaffoldings as is appropriated
to every of them in their degrees and Rancks as aunciently hath bene
accustomed upon payne that every Surgian that shall not accordingly
appeare shall forfeite and paye to the use of the Companie the some
of Twoe shillings and Six pence, or appeareing shall not weare his
gowne all the tyme of such readeing for one daye at the least the
som̃e of Twelve pence, And that every pˀson of the Coiãltie or
fforreine brothers professeing Surgerye shall likewise appeare in
the forenone and afternone of one daye at the least of the 3 dayes
lectures at the publiq̃e Anatomye and not appeareing shall forfeite
Twelve pence without redempc͠on of all or any pˀte of any of the
fines aforesaid.
24th September, 1635. Alsoe for that Nicholas Downeing not being an
approved Surgian according to Lawe did twoe opac͠ons[202] in Surgery
contrary to the Lawes of this Kingdome & the Customes & ordinances of
this Companie and being forbid by the M{rs} & Governo{rs} to forbeare
those opac͠ons did notwithstanding that prohibic͠on make opac͠ons
and both patients died, Was fined at iiij{li,} viz{t.,} xl{s} a peece
for each of those twoe opac͠ons because he made not two presentac͠ons
according to the ordinance of this Companie in that behalfe, And he
to be prosecuted at Lawe for the Childs miscarriage.
[202] Operations.
Alsoe this daye the said Nicholas Downeing was fined by this Court at
vj{s.} viij{d.} for his uncivill behavio{r} to M{r} John Woodall an
auncient M{r} of this Companie.
6th October, 1635. Alsoe Nicholas Downeing being here in Court was
required to paye his three fines according to his promise the last
Thursdaye, denied to paye them, is by this Court comitted to the
Compter in Wood Streete in my lord Maio{r} of Londons name.
The following entry is not complimentary to Dr. William Harvey, the
discoverer of the circulation of the blood, the marginal note in the
minute book being “Doctor Harveys ill practise.”
17th November, 1635. This daye W{m} Kellett being called here in
Court for not makeing presentac͠on of one M{r} Kinnersleys maide that
died in his charge, he saied here in Court that M{r} Doctor Harvye
being called to the patient did upon his vew of the patient saie,
that by the meanes of a boulster the tumor on the temporall muskle
would be discussed and his opinion was, that there was noe fracture
but the vomiteing came by reason of the foulenesse of the Stomacke,
and to that purpose pˀscribed physick by Briscoe the Apothecarye, soe
the patient died by ill practise, the fracture being neglected & the
Companie not called to the vew.
The next entry illustrates the peremptory method of dealing with a
quack:--
22nd October, 1635. One Christopher Hatton whoe saied he waighteth
on S{r} W{m} Belfore his Ma{t}ꝭ Lieutenant of The Tower came to this
Court to knowe the reason of the Companies takeing downe of Lãw
Raylens banner or mountabanck table of bladders & stones being a
stranger borne & then were hung upon Tower hill execution place, this
Courts answere was that by the Lawes & Charters of this Companie they
tooke & demolished them.
ALSO the said Lawrence Ruylen a mountabanck was called here in
Court and ordered to paye his fine of v{li} for hanging his signes
tables bladders and stones upon the publique postꝭ in streetes &
on the Traitors scaffold on Tower hill in an exorbitant manner
being contrary to the Lawes and Charters of this Companie confirmed
according to Lawe And this Court doth order that those signes
and bladders shalbe demolished and he is forbidden from further
practiseing any pˀt of Surgerye hereafter within London or 7 miles
Compasse of this Cittye.
1637. For several years prior to and about this period numerous entries
occur of Surgeons being fined £5 for going to sea without license
or without having their sea chests examined, also for sending their
apprentices to sea as surgeons’ mates without examination.
29th March, 1638. It is ordered that Edward Arris[203] and Hen:
Boone[204] shall have libertie to sett up in o{r} Theater a Sceleton
by them wrought on when they were Masters Anatomysts on the body of
Cañbury besse[205] to be placed on the Corbell stone of the Signe
Libra alsoe they have leave to paint that peere of bricks up to the
Cornish & to depict the planett Venus governeing those twoe signes
underneath Libra & Taurus with twoe shadowed neeces[206] for two
Sceletons & to sett up their names or mottoe under Libra they payeing
the charge for the same & such pˀson or pˀsons as shall sett up a
sceleton on the other signe Taurus shall paye the moietye of the
charge they are now at in painting.
[203] Alderman, Master 1651.
[204] Master 1655.
[205] Canonbury Bessie, a malefactor.
[206] Niches.
3rd July, 1638. Upon the complaint ag{t} ffran: Soare for discecting
a bodye in his owne house contrary to the ordinance It is ordered he
shalbe sumoned ag{t} the next Court.
22nd October, 1638. Tho. Bowden being called to this Court for not
makeing pˀntac͠on of his patient Godfrey Lee whoe died under his
handꝭ is fined at xl{s.}
Alsoe the said Thomas Bowden being not an approved Surgian for that
he tooke upon him the cure & charge of y{e} said Godfrey being
daungerouslie wounded & did not joyne an able & approved surgian with
him in that cure is fined at v{li.}
Alsoe it is ordered that for his the said Thomas Bowdens evill
practise in Surgerye he shalbe Comitted to the Compter in Wood
Streete.
Mr. Bowden subsequently mended his ways as he was elected Third Warden
in 1654 and Upper Warden in 1660.
22nd October, 1638. It is ordered that the M{r} & Wardens & as many
of the Assistants Surgians with Counsell shall attend the right
hono{ble} y{e} Lordꝭ of his Ma{t}ꝭ most hono{ble} privye Councell
about the new Patent for distilling strong Waters.
6th March, 1639. Mrs. Susan Gwinn, widow of Dr. Gwinn, the Reader of
Anatomy, presented the Doctor’s MSS. to the Company.
1638-9. About this period the war with Scotland consequent upon Charles
I interfering in Scotch Church matters, broke out, and a large army
being collected in the North the Barber-Surgeons were directed to
“press” and forward twenty-three Surgeons to Newcastle.
The Minute relating to this is as follows,--
20th April, 1639. Upon reading the warr{t} sent to this house from
Yorke signed by the Lord Generall concerneing the want of Surgians in
the Armye It is concluded by the Governo{rs} & Assistants here pˀnte
that M{r} Warden Dunn & M{r} Collins shall goe on, & goe aboard some
Newcastle shipp and agree with a shipper for y{e} conveighance of
y{e} Surgians & their Chests & provisions & their mates, & likewise
give them conduct money, & that for the present that charge to be
borne out of the stock of this house untill it cann be reobteyned
from the Thrẽr of y{e} Armye.
This appears to have cost the Company £44 14_s._, whereof they
received but £23, the balance never having been paid. The details
of the expenditure are subjoined, and in reading them we cannot but
commiserate the unhappy men who were barged to Gravesend and thence
“transported” to Newcastle.
DISBURSEM{T}ꝭ FOR IMPRESTING AND SHIPPINGE OF THE SURGIANS IN THE YEARS
IMPLOYM{T} FOR THE KINGS SERVICE.
Laid out by Edmund Johnson for ymprestinge
of Surgeons for the Kingꝭ service v{li}
Delivered to M{r} Collins for the like x{s}
Spent in goeinge to Lymehouse Ratcliffe &
wappinge to presse xviij{d}
Paid to xxiij Surgions who were transported
by sea from London to Newcastle xxiij{li}
of w{ch} rec{d} by M{r} Serjant Clowes
xvij{li} x{s} & my selfe xx{s} so that
there doth remayne unsatisfied iiij{li} x{s}
Paid unto Tho: Wells the M{r} of the
shipp to transport them viij{li}
Paid for a barge to carry us & them to xxx{s}
Gravesend
Spent at Gravesend at dynner ix{s} vj{d}
Spent at Supper vij{s}
Paid Jo: Mules w{ch} he disburced for
Warfage literage caremenn & other like
Charges as pˀ bill xxvj{s}
-------------------------
Sum̃ is xxj{li} xiiij{s}
-------------------------
In accordance with their Charters the ancient practice of the Company
had been to elect annually two Surgeons and two Barbers for Master
and Wardens; this fell into electing two Surgeons and two others
who were often neither Barbers nor Surgeons, and latterly, even the
qualification of Surgery came to be disregarded, whereupon (29th March,
1639) a mandate, signed by Charles I and directed to the Company, was
read in Court (see Appendix, G) in which the King set forth that divers
persons as “hosiers dyers & other tradesmen unskilfull in Chirurgery
or Barbarye” had been chosen for Masters and Wardens contrary to
the Charters and Acts of Parliament, and further “wee takeing into
considerac͠on of what dangerous consequence it maye be to suffer a
Companye wherein the lives and safetie of o{r} people are soe much
concerned and for w{ch} o{r} progenitors have soe carefully provided to
be governed by such unskilfull pˀsons,” the King straitly commanded
the Company to elect the Governors in the future as they ought to do,
viz.: two Barbers and two Surgeons each year.
This order of the King appears for some little time to have been
obeyed, and then the Company relapsed into their old practice of
choosing at their pleasure, whereupon another mandate came from the
King, for we find that:--
17th January, 1644. The Court took notice of the King’s mandate, and
a very long and elaborate minute is entered to the effect that the
practice of choosing two Barbers and two Surgeons for Governors was
fraught with much inconvenience and had led to great dissensions, and
the Court referring to the Statute of Henry VII, where it is allowed
that any person free of the Company following any other profession than
that of a Barber or Surgeon should be reputed and taken as a Barber,
ordered that for the future, any Member of the Assistants, other than
a Barber or Surgeon, might be put in nomination, and that he should
be accounted a Barber. The Court were very careful to express their
loyalty to the King whilst they ignored his mandate, trusting no doubt,
that should they afterwards be called to account by the King, their
dutiful expressions towards him would serve in a measure as an excuse
for disobeying his express commands.
[Sidenote:
Mould for y{e}
Kings Evill.]
2nd July, 1639. Anthony Mould called to this Court and questioned
concerneing his practise in Surgerye, confessed that he deales onely
in swellings and Kernills & hath a licence from the Kinge to practise
the same, he hath lately taken into his Cure one George Ravenscroft
for scrophilous tumo{rs} in the neck, this Court at the said Moulds
request, hath given libertye to Mould to cure him by Michaelmas next,
& he hath promised then to present the said Geo: whole & well to this
Court.
Some nine years afterwards Mould was again before the Court in a case
of King’s evil.
21st March, 1648. Henry Ivatt complayned against Anthony Mold for
his evill practice On the Wife of the said Ivatt who being afflicted
with the Kings Evill Whereof he undertooke to cure her And for that
purpose did receive of the said Ivatt xxx{s} in hand and was to have
40{s} more when she was cured Both partyes refeered themselves to
this Court Whereupon this Court doth Order That the said Mold doth
restore xx{s} back againe to the said Ivatt Which he promised to pay
accordingly And soe all differences betweene the said parties by
theire owne consent to cease and determine.
6th February, 1646. It is this day ordered That our M{r} and M{r}
Warden Browne[207] with the other Assistants Surgeons present doe
move the Sheriffs That at the time of Execuc͠on a Body be quietly
delivered to this Companye’s officer for an Anatomy.
[207] Martin Browne, an eminent Surgeon, Master in 1653, gave the
Company a Silver loving cup and cover.
9th March, 1646. This day M{r} Warden Browne acquainted this Court
that whereas he about 6 yeares sithence had a child of M{r} Hamonds
to his Patient with whome he upon his first calling thither found
M{r} Thomas Bowden[208] with others Who after presentac͠on made by
the Motion of M{r} Warden Browne dyed, that he hath bin reported by
the ffather of the child to have murthered the child And that M{r}
Thomas Bowden had justifyed and would justify the same of w{ch}
scandall M{r} Warden complayneing to this Co{rt} M{r} Bowden prayed
to be excused from giveing any answer thereunto ffor that there was
a Suite at Law now depending betweene M{r} Hamond and M{r} Warden
Browne concerning that matter.
[208] Warden, 1654.
23rd April, 1646. Mr. Martin Browne requested and had a Committee of
Examiners to enquire into the case of Hamond’s child, and to report to
the Court.
14th May, 1646. The Committee brought up their Report, finding that on
the 28th January, 1639, Mr. Browne was called to Mr. Hamond’s child
in Bow Lane, the child having fallen out of a window and seriously
injured its head. That Mr. Browne consulted with Dr. Spicer and Mr.
Thomas Bowden (whom he found there) and as they all conceived the
child to be in danger, presentation was duly made to the Wardens of
the Barber-Surgeons, that thereupon by general consent, the child was
let blood and had a glister, and the next day his head was shaved
and a cataplasm applied, that these remedies were continued for about
eight days and that then it was deemed advisable to open the head,
which was done by Mr. Browne with a Trapan in the presence and with the
advice and approbation of Mr. Serjeant Clowes (then Master), Mr. George
Dunn[209] (Warden), Mr. William Kings,[210] Mr. Eaton and the said Mr.
Bowden, and that the child died on the 15th day, that proper remedies
had been duly applied and that everything had been done with great care
according to art.
[209] Master, 1646.
[210] Master, 1650.
23rd October, 1646. This Court doth order That all the approved
Chirurgeons according to Law shall appeare at all publique Anatomyes
for the time to come in a fflatt Capp upon the penalty of 3{s} 4{d}
and all the rest of the Livery in a Hatt.
1646. ~The~ CHARGES OF THE ANATHOMYES BETWEENE MICHAS AND
CHRISTMAS LAST.
Paid for Carryeing the Cophin to Newgate 00 00 06
ffor horsehire to the place of execuc͠on 00 02 00
ffor the ffees at the place of execuc͠on 00 05 06
ffor expences at S{t} Gyles xij{d} to the carman xij{d}
and for washing the bodye xij{d} 00 03 00
ffor Perfumes xij{d} wax candles ij{d} and soape j{d} 00 01 03
ffor lynnen for the Bodye 00 06 08
To the Beadles Assistant in taking the Bodye 00 01 00
Paid the Parsons dutye for the buriall ij{d} for y{e}
grave xij{d} for the Clerke & Sexton xxij{d} 00 04 10
To the Bearers ij{s} & expended at the buriall ij{s} vj{d} 00 04 06
ffor a Cophin to burye the bodye in 00 03 04
To Doctor Godard for reading six lectures 06 00 00
To M{r} Nicholas Brothers and M{r} William Watson
whoe desected the bodye xl{s} appeece 04 00 00
Paid for 3 dynners for the M{rs} or Governo{rs} Assistants
Reader & desectors 10 00 00
ffor Candles for 3 mornings 00 11 11
To the twoe Beadles their ffee for three dayes
attendance 00 10 00
1647-8. Paid and disbursed in Charges in sending Chyrurgians
to the seige at Colchester by lr̃e from the Com{rs} of the
Armye & for their maintenance & medicines 17 13 06
26th January, 1647. William Watson haveing his Letters of admittance
and not sealed the Bond according to the ordinance in that behalfe
did amongst other uncivill behaviour and words to our M{r} and the
Court say That he would not be whipˀd by a Bond and that he would
give his answer at his owne convenience. And when our M{r} told him
That he must seale the Bond he answered That must was for the King,
But this Court gave him a fortnight to give his answer peremptorily.
1655. The following is a Copy of a Surgeon’s Certificate to practise:--
[Sidenote:
CERTIFICATE IN
THE BEHALF OF
A CHIRURGEON.]
~To all people~ to whom this present writeing shall come JOHN
FREDERICKE ESQ{R} Alderman of the Cittie of London Thomas Allen
Abraham Clerke and Thomas Bowden Mas{rs} or Govˀno{rs} of the Mistery
and cominalty of Barbers and Chirurgeons of London send Greeting in
our Lord God everlasting.
~Whereas~ WEE have had experience & sufficient Tryall as well of the
good behaviour & honest conversac͠on of Samuell Holditch a Freeman of
the said mistery and Cominaltie & one of the Cloathing of our said
Corporac͠on as alsoe of his skill exp̃ience & knowledge in the Arte
or Science of Chirurgery. NOW KNOW YEE that wee the said Masters or
Govˀno{rs} (att the humble suite and entreatie of the said Samuell
Holditch & for his further appᵬac͠on of his skill) Have on the day
of the date of these presents caused him to be deliberately examined
& tryed before us concerning his sufficiency & knowledge in the same
arte by William Kings[211] Edward Arris[212] Henry Boone[213] Robert
Bullacke[214] Charles Stamford[215] & Lawrence Loe[216] Masters
in Chirurgery being six of the examiners appointed and auth̃ized
according to Lawe for the examinac͠on and appᵬac͠on of Chirurgeons
And findeing him the said Samuell Holditch a fitt and able pˀson to
practice use & exercise the said Arte of Chirurgery Wee doe by these
ps̃ents as much as in us is admitt app̃ve of & allowe him to practice
use and exercise the said Arte or science of Chirurgery & all and
every the parts thereof according to the force forme & effect of the
statutes in that behalf made & p̃vided.
[211] Master 1650.
[212] M. 1651.
[213] M. 1655.
[214] M. 1657.
[215] M. 1659.
[216] M. 1667.
IN WITNESSE whereof we the said Masters or Govˀno{rs} have hereunto
subscribed our names & caused the Comõn seale of y{e} said
Corporac͠on to be fixed this seaventh day of May in the yeare of our
Lord God according to the accompt kept in England One thousand six
hundred fifty & five.
JOHN FREDERICK
THO: ALLEN
ABRA: CLERKE
THO: BOWDEN.
1690. The following is a copy of a Press warrant issued by the Masters
and Governors to their Beadles, Smith and Wills:--
~Whereas~ by certeine Letters pattents of our Late Sovereigne Lord
King Charles the first dated the ffifteenth day of August in the
first yeare of his reigne As alsoe by order of our Sovereigne Lord
the King in Councill beareing date the twenty eight day of December
last ~Wee~ the Masters or Governo{rs} of the Mistery & Coiãlty of
Barbers & Chirurgions of London are Authorized and required forthwith
to cause to be impressed or taken up for their Maj{ties} service
in Ireland ffortey Chirurgeons Mates & to returne their Names to
the Councill Board that care may be taken for their subsistance, In
pursuance of the said Authorities & in discharge of the trust in us
reposed Wee doe hereby require & com̃and you Peter Smith & Jonas
Wills being our officers joyntley & severally to imprest for their
Maj{ties} Service fortey Able Chirurgeons Mates delivering every
person by you imprest one shilling impresse money chargeing him upon
his Allegiance forthwith to pˀpare himselfe for the said Service &
to make his personall appearance before us at our Com̃on Hall upon
further Summons there to receive such orders & direcc͠on for his
speedy repaire to such Service as he shall be assigned unto, and for
better execuc͠on hereof his Maj{ties} Deputy leiftennants Sherr̃s
Mayors Bayliffs & Constables & others whom it may concerne are to be
aiding & assisting unto you. Given under our Comon Seale this 17{th}
day of January in the first yeare of the Reigne of our Sovereigne
Lord & Ladie King William & Queene Mary 1689.[217]
[217] _i.e._, 1690.
2nd July, 1690. It was ordered that any of the Assistants or Livery
being Surgeons and not appearing at the Public Anatomy were to forfeit
3_s._ 4_d._ each.
12th December, 1690. Whereas there hath been an abuse offered to M{r}
ffenton Bynns by Doct{r} Goodall for giveing internall medicines in a
case of Surgery, Ordered that if the College of Phisitians doe arrest
M{r} Bynns that he shall bee defended at the cost of the Company for
the fact now menc͠oned in Court.
20 July, 1693. Considering some late ill practises in this Company
relating to Anatomy & to prevent the same for the future it is
ordered by this Court that noe pˀson what soever (except the Reader,
Masters & Stewards of Anatomy for the time being) shall use a knife
&c to disect any humaine body at any time hereafter brought to this
Hall for an Anatomy upon the forfiture of xl{s} for every fact soe
com̃itted.
The Court would seem to have had the power of nominating the Surgeons
and Surgeons’ Mates to the ships of the Royal Navy. There are hundreds
of instances in the books of these appointments, but the following will
suffice as examples:--
11th August, 1693. Ordered that M{r} John Bamber bee warranted
Chirurgeon of the Waymouth at Portsmouth.
Ordered that Larkham bee continued on board the Bristoll.
Ordered that M{r} Harding have the first fowerth rate that shall bee
ordered out.
13th February, 1694. Ordered that M{r} Nicholson bee continued
Chirurgeon of the Oxford & that the Captaine bee acquainted with the
same.
27th February, 1694. John Jenkin this day relinquished all title &
clame to the S{t} Paull ffire shipp, ordered that Richard Woolett bee
warranted in his rome at the request of Captaine Mitchell.
22nd June, 1698. Ordered that the whole body of the pˀson desected
bee entirely buried some time tomorrow & that Cave the Beadle take
care & see it done.
20th July, 1698. M{r} Woodward pˀsented five Books of M{r} Arris
Surgery to the Company.
There is no notice at the British Museum, of any Surgical book written
by Edward Arris; these were probably some books which had belonged to
him.
29th July, 1701. Dr. Tyson having made some proposals as to the
regulation of the Library, a Committee was this day appointed and
drew up a great many rules, which are set out in the minutes with much
prolixity.