Armes, as nobles gentlemen and others to whome these presentes shall
come be seene heard, read or understand Sir Gilbert Dethicke Knight
alias Garter principall Kinge of Armes, Robert Cooke Esquire alias
Clarencieulx kinge of Armes of the South partes of Englande, and
Willm̄ Flower Esquire alias Norroy kinge of Armes of the northe
partes of Englande send greetinge in our lorde god everlastinge. For
as much as aunciently from the beginninge the valiaunt and vertuouse
actes of excellent personnes have ben com̃endid to the worlde and
posterite with sondrey monumentes and remembrances of their good
deseartes; Emongest the which the chiefest and most usuall hath ben
the bearinge of signes and tokens in shildes called Armes, beinge
none other thinges then evidences and demonstracions of prowesse and
valoir diversly distributed accordinge to the qualytes and deseartes
of the persons meritinge the same To thˀentent that such as have
done com̃endable service to their prince or countrey either in warre
or peace, or other wyse by laudable and couragiouse entreprices or
proceedinge of eny person or persons in thˀaugmentacion of the Estate
or com̄on wealth of their realme or countrey might thereby receyve
due honor in their lyves, and also deryve the same succesively to
their successors and posteritie for ever. And wheras in this Citie
of London thˀexperience & practise of the science and facultie of
Chirurgery is most requisite and daily to be exercysed & experimented
for the preservacion of meny, & by thˀoccasion of the practise
thereof meny expert persons be brought up & experimented to the
relief, succour, & helpe of an infinite nomber of persons. And for
as much as within this Citie of London ther were two severall
c͠opanyes, thˀone by the name of Barbours Chirurgeons, and thˀother
by the name of Chirurgeons onely: the Barbours Chirurgeons being
incorporate & y{e} other not, & bothe occupyenge y{e} arte of
Chirurgery wheruppon greate c͠otention did arise. And for y{t} it was
most meete and necessary y{t} the sayd two c͠opanyes shuld be united
& made one hole body & so incorporated, to thˀentent that by their
union & often assembly togither, thˀexercyse & knowledge of their
science & mistery might appeere, as well in practise as in speculatiõ
not onely to theim selfes, but to others under theim. So that it was
thought most meete & c͠ovenient upon grave & greate c͠osideracion,
to unyte & joyne y{e} sayd two c͠opanyes in one: w{ch} was don as
may appeere by an acte of parleament in an̄o xxxij of Henry theight
w{t} these wordes “Be it enactid by the Kinge our souvereigne lorde
& the lordes spirituall & temporall & the com̃ons of y{e} same, that
y{e} sayde two severall & distinct companies, that is to say bothe
y{e} Barbours Surgeons, & the Sourgeons & every parson of theim
beinge a freman of either of y{e} sayde c͠opanies after y{e} custome
of the sayde citie of London, & their successors, from hencefoorthe
immediatly be unyted & made one entier and whole body corporate, &
one societie perpetual, which at all tymes heerafter shalbe called by
y{e} name of Maisters & Governours of y{e} mistery & com̃unalty of
Barbours & Surgeons of London for evermore, & by none other name.”
In consideracion whereof & for that it doth appeere a thinge most
requisite for the unitinge of these two c͠opanyes togither and for
that thˀoccupation of the Barbo{rs} Chirurgeons beinge incorporate
hath since y{e} tyme of Kinge Henry the sixt used & boren Armes
y{t} is to say Sables a cheveron betweene thre Flewmes argent w{ch}
Armes wer unto theim assigned onely by the gifte & assignement
of Clarencieulx Kinge of Armes, as by y{e} patent thereof doth &
may more plainly appeere. And since y{e} unitinge of y{e} sayde
two c͠opanies these Armes of y{e} sayd corporation of Barbours
Chirurgeons hath ben used & none other, yet notw{t}standinge y{e}
late Kinge Henry thˀeight of famouse memory assigned & gave unto y{e}
company of y{e} Chirurgeons onely, a Cognoysance, w{ch} is a spatter,
thereon a rose gules crowned golde, for their warrant in fielde, but
no authoritie by warrant for the bearinge of the same in shilde as
Armes. And for y{t} it pleased y{e} same Kinge Henry thˀeight, not
onely to unite & incorporate these two c͠opanies togither by acte of
parleament but also hath ratifyed & c͠ofirmed the same by his letters
patentꝭ under the greate seale of Englande & so lately c͠ofirmed
by y{e} Queenes Ma{tie} that now is.[281] And wheras Thomas Galle
in the 3 yere of the Queene’s Ma{ties} reigne that now is beinge
Maister, Alexander Mason John Standon Robert Mudesley governors of
y{e} same corporation mistery & comunaltie of Barbours & Chirurgeons
being desirouse to have some signes & tokens addid & augmented to
thˀold & auncient Armes of the Barbours Chirurgeons, not onely for a
perpetuall memory as well of y{e} famouse prince Kinge Henry thˀeight
their founder & patrone but also for a further declaration of y{e}
unitinge of those two c͠opanies togither did instantly require the
late Clarencieulx Hervy to consider y{e} premisses & to shew his
endevor therein. Who finding their request just and lawfull did
graunt & give unto them by his letters patentes under his hand &
seale bearinge date the x{th} of July in the third yere of y{e}
reigne of the queenes Ma{tie} that now is, an augmentacˀon in chief
to their olde & auncient Armes w{th} heaulme & Creast to the same:
which chief was paly argent & vert on a pale gules a lyon passant
gardant golde betweene two spatters argent, on eche a double rose
gules and argent crowned golde: and to their Creast on a torce silver
and sables an Opinacus golde: Mantelled gules, doubled argent. And
further in the tyme of Robert Balthrop Esquire serjeaunt of the
Queenes Ma{ties} Chirurgeons then beinge Maister of the sayd mistery
and comunalty of the Barbours & Chirurgeons and George Vaughan
Richard Hughes & George Corron governours of the same corporation
the sayd Clarencieulx Hervy did graunt unto the sayd corporation
two supporters to those Armes before given them: which were two
Linxe in their proper coulor, aboute their neckes a Crowne w{t} a
chayne argent pendant therat: As by the sayde letters patentes more
plainly doth appeere. YET NOTWITHSTANDINGE for as much as it doth
plainly appeere unto us the sayd Garter Clarencieulx & Norroy Kinges
of Armes, that the aforesayd Armes in some respectes wer not onely
contrary to the wordes of the corporation of the sayd Barbours and
Chirurgeons but that also in the same patent of Armes ther ar sondrey
other thinges contrary and not agreinge with the auncient lawes &
rules of Armes: We the sayd Kinges of Armes by power & authoritie to
us com̃itted by Letters patent under the greate Seale of Englande,
have confirmed given and graunted the foresayd Armes Creast and
Supporters heertofore mentioned, to be boren in maner and fourme
heerafter specified. That is to say: Quarterly the first sables a
cheveron betweene three Flewmes argent: the seconde quarter per pale
argent and vert on a Spatter of the first, a double Rose gules and
argent crowned golde: the third quarter as the seconde and the fourth
as the first: Over all on a Crosse gules a lyon passant gardant
golde: And to their Creast upon the heaulme on a Torce argẽt and
sables an Opinacus golde: Mantelled gules doubled argent: Supported
with two Linxe in their proper coulor about their neckes a crowne
with a chayne argent pendent therat: As plainly appeerith depicted
in this margent. WHICH ARMES CREAST and SUPPORTERS and every parte
and parcell thereof, we the sayd Kinges of Armes have confirmed
ratified given and graunted and by these presentes do ratify confirme
give and graunt unto Richard Tholmwood Maister of the sayd mistery
and com̃unatie Nicholas Archenbolde Thomas Burston and John Fielde
Governors of the sayd Corporation mistery and com̃unaltie of Barbours
and Chirurgeons and to their successors by the name of Maister and
Gouvernours, and to the whole Assistantes Company and fellowshippe
of the sayd Corporation mistery and com̃unaltie of Barbours and
Chirurgeons within this Citie of London and to their successors
for evermore: And they the same to have, hold, use beare enjoy and
shew forthe in shylde, seale, banner or banner rolles, standard or
standardes, penon or penons, pencell or pencelles or otherwise to
their honors and worshippes at all tymes and for ever heerafter at
their libertie and pleasure without the impediment let molestation
or interruption of eny person or personnes, IN WITNESSE WHEROF we
the sayd Garter Clarencieulx & Norroy Kinges of Armes have signed
these presentes with our handes . . . . . unto our severall seales
of Armes, the second day of June In the yere of the nativitie of our
Lorde Jesus Christ A thousande five hundred sixty nyne And in the
eleventh yere . . . . . of our most dread souvereigne Lady Elizabeth
by the grace of god Queene of Englande Fraunce and Irelande defendor
of the faithe &c.
[281] This statement is incorrect. The Act of Parliament was passed
in 1540, but was not confirmed by any letters patent of Henry
VIII. We have no such charter or any reference to it, and
moreover it is _not on the Patent Rolls_, where it would
appear, had it ever existed; furthermore Elizabeth’s charter
(in our possession) confirms Henry’s charter of 1512 and not
this pretended one.
GILBERT DETHICKE aɫs. garter principall Kinge of arms.
ROB COOKE Alias Clarencieulx Roy Darmes.
pˀmoy WYLLAM FFLOWER alias Norrey Roy Darmes.
Entred approved & allowed in the visitation made 1634
HEN: ST. GEORGE
Richmond.
It will be observed that this grant recites that it plainly appeared
that the grant of 10th July, 1561, was [_a._] contrary to the words
of the Corporation (_i.e._, Incorporation) of the said Barbers and
Surgeons, and [_b._] contrary to and not agreeing with the ancient laws
and rules of arms.
With regard to the former assertion [_a._] I take it that the grant
being made to the “Master and Governors of the Corporation Mystery
and Commonalty of Barbers and Surgeons” and _not_ to the “Masters
and Governors of the Mystery and Commonalty of Barbers and Surgeons
of London” as they are styled in the Act 32 Hen. VIII, offended the
precise Heralds of 1569, and that it was indeed a technical defect and
contrary to the exact words of the incorporation.
As to the second point [_b._] there cannot be any doubt but that Hervey
committed a violation of one of the fundamental and most ancient laws
of heraldry, viz., that colour must not be on colour (nor metal on
metal). He gave the Company on their old sable field, a chief with
gules and vert thereon! This greatly shocked old Garter, Clarencieux,
and Norroy, and enabled them, whilst recording the blunder of one of
their predecessors, to extract a good fee from the Barber-Surgeons for
a new grant.
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
FEASTS.
There is a wide-spread impression that the Livery Guilds exist
principally for the purpose of feasting, and there are unscrupulous
persons who do not hesitate to affirm that the Courts of the Companies
act as fraudulent trustees, and are consenting parties to the
malversation of trust and charity property, eating up money which it is
audaciously pretended belongs to the “people of London.”
These statements have been assiduously put forth by a certain class of
politicians whose acquaintance with the true details of the case must
be absolutely nil, and who it is but reasonable to suppose, are willing
to assume that the gentlemen who manage the affairs of the Companies
are in the habit of acting as their traducers would do, had they but
the opportunity.
To any one conversant with the history and management of the Livery
Guilds, these assertions are known to be false. Here and there, as
in every concern in life, improprieties and errors in judgment may
have occurred, but it is confidently asserted, and capable of proof,
that no charitable or trust funds suffer from feasting; indeed, on
the contrary, the practice has obtained for centuries, with but few
exceptions, for the members of the guilds to themselves supply the
funds which are spent upon their entertainment, and for the surplus
accumulations of these funds to be applied _to the augmentation of
charities and trusts_. It has certainly been so in the Barber-Surgeons’
Company, and for a long period the calls upon the Livery for feasting
purposes (when the custom was to nominate Stewards in rotation) were
a severe strain upon the members, and occasioned great irritation and
ill-feeling.
The earliest practice in the Companies would appear to be that the
Livery and their wives attending the feasts, paid a stipulated sum per
head, and we know this by our records to have been so in our Company
long before the time of Richard II. This custom was altered in later
times, and we find that certain appointed entertainments were given on
fixed days, to which all members were invited, and which were paid for
by fines laid down upon admission to the freedom, and further fines on
going on to the Livery and Court. In addition to this, each Liveryman
had, in his turn, to serve “the office of Steward,” that is, to join
with four or five others in providing the costs of certain dinners.[282]
[282] The office of Steward is not now served, but each Liveryman on
admission pays a special fine of fifteen guineas in lieu, which is
applied towards the cost of the entertainments.
The fees on admission into the Companies are greatly in excess of the
ancient ones, and it is mainly from this source of revenue that the
expenses of the feasts are now defrayed. It is so in the Barbers’
Company, but, if at any time these funds have temporarily been found
insufficient for the purpose, they have been supplemented from a
property, which is in no sense a Charity Estate, or subject to any
trust whatsoever.
There have been and are, good men of business on the Courts, and by
prudent investments of surplus funds derived from fees, fines, etc., a
property has been created, which is exclusively their very own to deal
with as they please. We have, amongst many others, the opinion of Lord
Chancellor Selborne very decisively to this effect, and also one, which
by the traducers of the Companies ought to be respected, for it is that
of Sir Horace Davey, Q.C., who was consulted by the Livery Companies’
Commission--a Commission notoriously hostile to the guilds. Sir H.
Davey stated that they would “not be justified in recommending that
the corporate property of the Companies should be taken from them by
the State.” He further reported that, such an act “would be an act of
_confiscation_, and would not unreasonably shake the confidence of the
owners of property in the security of the rights of property. It must
be remembered that the Estates of these Companies have been recognised,
and held by the Courts of Law, to be as much their property with a
full right of disposition, as the property of individuals.” Truly, the
Commissioners must have said to their legal adviser as Balak of old
said to Baalam, “I took thee to curse mine enemies, and behold thou
hast blessed them altogether!”
It is a pleasing characteristic of all true Englishmen that they love
to meet together around a festive board; while their hospitality in
inviting their friends, or the eminent and great in all sections of
society to partake with them has happily not gone out of fashion, and,
spite of the sour critics of the guilds, we fervently trust that it
never may.
1388. In the return to a writ, 12th Richard II, the Masters of the
Barbers certified, amongst other matters, that it was their practice
“once a year to assemble to feast,” and that they had an ordinance by
which none of the brotherhood were to pay more than 14_d._ each towards
the feast.
10th May, 1435. Among the Ordinances of the Surgeons was one that each
member was to “paie ʒeerli to the dyner of the craft that is to seie
oonys aʒeer on the dai of Seint luke ech man lich mich whethir he be
pˀsent or absent,” _i.e._, once a year on St. Luke’s day each man was
to pay like much whether present or absent.
28th September, 1503. It was ordained that every member attending the
dinner the day on which the Wardens were presented to the Lord Mayor
was to pay 20_d._, and if he brought his wife with him, then 2_s._
The Barber-Surgeons from the earliest times appear to have entertained
the ladies at certain feasts, and their unique toast “The Good Wives,
Merry Maids and Buxom Widows of the Worshipful Company of Barbers” is
traditionally said to have had its origin in Elizabeth’s time.
14th May, 1530. The following is amongst the ordinances signed by Sir
Thomas More at this date--
AND WHERE OF OLDE Custume yerely upon the Sondaye next ensuyng the
ffeaste of Seynt Bartholomew the appostell[283] a dyner is kept
and provyded for theym of the lyvery of the said Company in their
Comen halle called Barbors hale AND ON the daye of saynt Cosme &
Damian[284] yf it be not on the saterday a dynˀ for them of the same
compani owt of the lyverey IT IS ordeyned and enacted that evˀy man
that hathe been upper maister or upper Govˀnor of the said Company
shall paye at and for the same dyner xij{d} for hymselff and viij{d}
for his wyffe yff she come. And evˀy other man beying of the lyverey
of the same Company shall paye in likewyse for hym selffe viij{d} and
for his wyffe yff she come iiij{d.} Provided alwaye that the maisters
or Govˀnors of the said Company for the tyme beyng shall paye nothing
for their wyffꝭ comyng to the dyner for that yere fforasmoche as
their Wyffꝭ must of necessitte be theire to helpe that evˀy thyng
theire be sett in ordre. And that evˀy man of the said Company beyng
owt of the lyverey shall pay at and for his dyner on the said morowe
viij{d} and for his wyffe yff she come iiij{d.}
[283] 24th August.
[284] 27th September.
8th July, 1552. The earliest entry in the Court Minutes on this subject
is a doleful one, for it was ordered “That there shalbe no dynner kept
this yere.”
19th September, 1552. William Bette was appointed “Cooke for the Hall,”
and Steven Reede the “Butler.” John Edwards (a Freeman) was to supply
the flowers on the feast days.
28th July, 1555. It was ordered that the Masters should have a yearly
allowance of £7 for the Election dinner, and that none should be at the
dinner but Liverymen.
22nd July, 1556. This allowance was increased to £13 6_s._ 8_d._
20th February, 1567. Henry Smith, yeoman to Lord Robert Dudley, Earl of
Leicester, was admitted to the freedom, and because he had been frankly
and freely admitted to the freedom of the City at the suit of the Duke
of Norfolk, the Marquess of Northampton and the Earl of Leicester, he
paid nothing but 3_s._ 4_d._, and 4_d._ for entering his name--
but the same daye the saide Henry Smythe gave the M{r} & govˀnor{rs}
and assystentˀ a dynar at his owne pˀpr coste & charges franckely and
gratefully and also he hath forder more pˀmysed and graunted to geve
one boock[285] of season to serve at the dynar upon the daye of the
Electyon.
[285] Buck.
28th July, 1593. No greate dyner was agreed upon but a smale repast
w{th} the allowance of xl{s} and nether wemen nor children to come to
o{r} hall upon the daie of the newe ellec̃ion.
25th August, 1600. There having been abuses at the feasts, an order was
made for their reformation which stated--
that the bodye of this Company hath susteyned much disparagement
by reason that some of the livery and others noe white at all
respectinge the worshipp of this Company have not onely by themselves
but alsoe by their servants and apprentices disfurnished the tables
att ffeastes whereat they have sitten to pleasure their private
frendes contrary to all modestie and good government. Doe therefore
order for reformac͠on thereof by the aucthoritye aforesaid That noe
pˀson of the Lyvery of this Companye beinge not of the Assistaunce of
the same, shall not att any tyme hereafter suffer any of his children
frendes servants or apprentices to staye or attende uppon him or his
wiefe att any ffeaste to be kepte in the saide Comon Hall [_under a
penalty of 6s. 8d._].
An order was also made that no Assistant should have more than one
servant or apprentice to attend upon him and his wife at any feast.
21st January, 1601. Whereas by the death of Robert Gray late Cooke
to this Company the house was unfurnished of a Cooke to serve the
said mistery And therefore divers Cookes became this daie shewters
to this Courte for the place of the said Robert Gray beinge then
voyd, yet notwithstandinge forasmuch as Margaret Grey wiefe to the
said Robert Grey became an humble Suter to the said Courte for the
same place, it was ordered by the whole consente of this Courte That
the said Margeret Grey be admitted Cooke to this Company duringe the
tyme she shall well and honestlie and sufficientlie behave her selfe
therin And she to receave such fee and salary therefore as at any
tyme heretofore hath beene graunted to the said Robert Grey Provided
allwaies that she finde all vessells belongeinge to a Cooke And that
she execute the said place by a sufficient deputy beinge such a
pˀsonn as the M{rs} of this Company for the tyme beinge shall like
well of and shall thinke fitt.
Margery, however, does not seem to have “honestlie and sufficientlie
behaved her selfe,” for as appears by an entry--
6th May, 1602. This daye Margery Grey late wyef to Robert Grey was
dismissed from being any more Coocke to this Company for speciall
causes to the M{rs} best knowen.
The Plague was raging severely in London in 1603, and the following
precept was addressed to the Company, who however seem to have
disregarded it, as the Election and Audit dinners were held this
year. It is only fair, however, to state that the Court disbursed
considerable sums of money amongst the poor stricken people.
13th April, 1603. BY THE MAIOR.
[Sidenote:
To The M{r} and Wardens}
of the Company of }
Barbor Surgeons. }]
WHEREAS I and my Brethẽn thˀaldrẽn duely consideringe w{th} our seṽe
had, the present infecc͠on of this Cittie liberties and Suburbs &
the greate multitud of poore people w{ch} by reason of the said
infecc͠on have theire howsees shut upp and restrayned as well from
goeinge abroad as theire daylie trads and labors wherew{th} theie
were accustomed to mayntaine themselves theire wieves and families
and doe at this pˀsent by reason thereof endure greate wante and
extremities Have thought fitt that all publique feastinge and com̃en
dinners at every the severill Halles and Comˀn metings of corporac͠on
and Companies w{th}in this Cittie shall duringe the tyme of gods
visitac͠on amog̃e us be wholely forborne and left of. And that one
third parte of the chardge and expenses intended to be bestowed and
spent uppon the said feastinges and dinners shalbe whoelie bestowed
and geven for and towardes the reliefe of the most miserable poore
and needie pˀsons whose howse it shall please almighty god to visit
Theis therefore in all xp̃ian Charitie shalbe to praie and desire
you y{t} you take pˀnte order that from hencefort & duringe this
pˀnte infecc͠on you wholely forbeare to keape any Comẽn feastinge or
dinners at youre Hall orells wheare for the like purposes And that
you take pnˀte order w{th} the Wardens of youre Companye and all
such other of youre Company as should be at any chardge or yeald any
contraᵬn[286] to any Comẽn feastes and Dinners for youre Companie
duringe the same tyme to paie and contrabute one thirde parte thereof
in readie money to some one honest and discrete person of your
Companie whom you shall appoynte to receave the said some of money
and to paie it ovˀ to one Robert fflecton Grocˀ noiãted and appoynted
by mee & my Brethẽn the aldrẽn to be receaved from the Companies
of such somes of money. All w{ch} somes of money shalbe from tyme
to tyme wholelie and truelie distributed by order of mee and my
Bretheren the aldrẽn amongst the most nedie and poore infected pˀsons
YEOVEN at Guildhall this thirteenth daie of Aprill 1603.
[286] Contribution.
SEBRIGHTT.
6th January, 1609. This daye it is ordered that none of the officers
wyves shall at any tyme hereafter followe the M{rs} to places where
they dyne w{th}out the M{rs} consentꝭ uppon payne of the M{rs}
displeasures.
1609. The dinners were usually held on Election and Audit days, on
Lord Mayor’s day, and after all public dissections, besides Committee
dinners (which usually were at taverns), and this year it was ordered
that a dinner was to be held on “Gunpowder Day.”
21st August, 1609. This day it was ordered that from henceforth all
such as are of the Livery should give towardꝭ the charge of the
musicke on the Election day vj{d} a peice which they then begun and
confirmed.
The reason of the next order was, that in consequence of the poverty of
the Company at this time, the usual allowance of £8 made by the Court
towards the Mayor’s feast, could not be granted.
2nd October, 1610. At this Court Richard Cade & Richard Coopˀ whoe
are appoynted for Stewardꝭ of the Mayors ffeast are contented at
theire owne chardgꝭ to provide and make the same ffeast as fully as
formˀly y{t} hath been, only this their provision for their quantitie
of their messes are not to be soe many for that noe wyves nor guestꝭ
are to be bydden or brought to the same ffeast.
18th September, 1611. Att this Court Sebright the Cook is dismissed
from his place of beinge Cook to this howse as well for that he did
dresse their last dynner very badlie as for his ill usage in speeches
towardꝭ the maisters wyves and for dyvˀse other abuses by him
heretofore committed.
2nd July, 1612. At this Court our M{r} & M{r} Warden Johnson moving
this Court that the Barbors as well as the Surgeons might be bedden
to the dynnˀs that are keept at the examinac͠on of surgeons whereupon
it was at this Court ordered & agreed that as many of the Auntient
M{rs} & govˀno{rs} being barbo{rs} should & shalbe bidde unto every
such dynner as there shalbe Surgeons beinge examiners at evˀy such
dynner.
21st January, 1613. It was ordered that the Master and Wardens, with
four of the Ancient Masters, should for the “worship & credytt of this
Company,” yearly go and visit the Lord Mayor at dinner, and that 20_s._
each should be allowed them for their “charges” of the same. This
allowance of 20_s._ each was probably given to some officer of the Lord
Mayor to secure his favour towards the Company.
6th February, 1613. An order was made that at the dinner after any
private anatomy, any of the Livery, either Barbers or Surgeons, might
come thereto on payment of 12_d._ each.
16th September, 1613. This daie it is thought fitt & ordered that
the widdowes of this company w{ch} doe paie their quarterage shalbe
bidden to the ffeastꝭ in the hall.
14th October, 1613. Att this Court it is ordered that such widdowes
as have been masters wyves and doe keepe shoppes or bynd appnˀtices
shall paye their quarteradge but for such as doe neither keepe
shoppes nor bynd appnˀticꝭ they shall not paye any quarteradge And
yet notw{th}standinge they shalbe bydden to the feastꝭ yerelie.
24th May, 1614. Whereas this Company hath receaved a preceptt from
the lord Mayor of this citty forbidding thereby all superfluitie &
excesse of Dyet at the ffeastꝭ of this company and thereby injoyning
that such feastꝭ as accustomably have been made & provided by this
Company shalbe hereafter keept more sparingly & frugally then in
former tymes they have, Wherefore it is ordered that there shalbe
keept & made on the ellection daie this yere ensuing a smale
ellection dynner according to the tenor of the said precept.
25th August, 1614. The above precept soon being forgotten it was this
day ordered--
that there shalbe kept an Auditt dynner in such manner & forme as
formerlie in other yeares have byn accustomed. And such allowance as
formerlie hath byn allowde is to be paid by the howse.
10th July, 1615. At this Court it is ordered that the Cooke shalbe
removed & displaced from his place of beinge Cooke of this Companie
not onely for that he hath abused and wronged manie who have byn
M{rs} & Stewardꝭ of the feastꝭ in unsemelie wordꝭ but for a generall
dislike taken against him by this howse & for not pˀforminge his
office in such sorte as is right he shold & ought to doe.
1624. The funds being very low this year the Court held no election
dinner, but regaled themselves with cakes and wine, and the following
order was made for the Yeomanry:--
2nd September, 1624. This Court being moved whether the yeomanry of
y{is} Compa. should hould any election dinner or noe. It is for the
reason then shewne expressely ordered with a generall consent that
the yeomanry shall onely keepe their Election as this Court lately
did onely with Cakes and wyne and neither feast musick or sermon to
be had at that time.
20th July, 1625. This daye the letter directed to this Companye
from my lord Maio{r} of London in effect tending the prohibiting
of publicke feastingꝭ in our Hall and the contributeing of those
moneys that should be saved thereby the one halfe to be paid unto the
chamber of London and the other halfe to the poore of our Companie,
so hereupon it is ordered by this Courte y{t} Ten poundꝭ shalbe
distributed to the poore of this Companie at the discretion of the
present M{rs} & noe money at all to be paid into the Chamber of
London.