Mr. Murray in 1711, the Company paying him £12 10_s._ for it.
THE DUCHESS OF RICHMOND’S PICTURE, by Sir Peter Lely.
HENRY JOHNSON’S PICTURE, artist unknown. Mr. Johnson was Master 1677;
he has been erroneously described as “Serjeant Surgeon” and “Serjeant
Knight,” but never held the first office, and there is no such dignity
as “Serjeant Knight.” The fact is that Mr. Johnson dying in his year of
Master, was succeeded by John Knight, Serjeant Surgeon (commonly called
“Serjeant Knight”) and Mr. Knight’s name being so written under Mr.
Johnson’s in an old list of Masters, has been taken as the title of an
office!
EPHRAIM SKINNER’S PICTURE, artist unknown.
BERNARD BARON’S red crayon study of Holbein’s picture.
“TWO SPANISH PICTURES.” These were so called in the old Inventories.
There was also in the Inventory of 1720 “A picture of the Prince
Elector Palatine,” but this subsequently disappeared, though the
“Spanish pictures” remained in the Inventories for many years. Mr.
Shoppee suggests that they are the portraits of Frederick Casimir and
his wife Elizabeth. At the top of one of them is a shield of arms,
being the coat of Byrkes or Brykes.
QUEEN ANNE’S PICTURE, artist unknown.
All the foregoing Pictures are hung in the Court Room. In the Committee
Room are various pictures, engravings and portraits of recent Masters.
In the Vestibule to the Court Room is an ancient list of Masters and
Wardens on Vellum, enclosed with oak folding doors. It is not, however,
very accurate. It was at the Hall in 1720, and probably for many years
previously. The list was rewritten over the old lettering in 1865.
(_See head piece, p. 1._)
[Illustration]
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES OF EMINENT MEMBERS.
HENRY NEVILL, FOURTH LORD OF BURGAVENNY.
This Lord was the son of Sir George Nevill, third Lord of Burgavenny,
by Mary, daughter of Edward Stafford, Duke of Buckingham.
He succeeded his father in 1535, and was admitted to the freedom of the
Barber-Surgeons on the 26th August, 1584. In 1586 he was one of the
Commissioners appointed to try Mary Queen of Scots.
For striking the Earl of Oxford in the Chamber of Presence, he was put
under arrest, but managed shortly after to obtain a pardon and his
freedom.
He married Frances, daughter of Thomas Earl of Rutland, by whom he left
at his decease, 10th February, 1557, an only daughter Elizabeth (the
wife of Sir Thomas Fane), who was subsequently created Baroness le
Despencer.
LORD WINDSOR.
25th June, 1631. This daie o{r} M{r} signifieing to the Court the
affectionatenes of the right hono{ble} the Lord Thomas Windsor Knight
of the noble order of the bath and Barron Windsor of Bradenham, w{ch}
this Court Loveingly and gratefullie embraceing doe graunt his Lo{ps}
request and thereupon the said Lord was here in Court admitted and
sworne free brother of this Corporac͠on. Alsoe the said Thomas Lord
Windsor was by o{r} M{r} received into the Clothing or livery of this
Companie and had a livery hood layed upon his lo{ps} shoulder.
Lord Windsor at one time resided in Monkwell Street, close to the Hall;
he was chosen a Knight of the Bath 1610, at the creation of Henry,
Prince of Wales. He was subsequently Rear-Admiral of the Fleet sent
by James I to bring Prince Charles out of Spain, and on that occasion
entertained on board ship the Grandees of the Court of Spain with
princely magnificence. His Lordship married Lady Katherine Somerset
daughter of Edward, fourth Earl of Worcester, K.G., but dying without
issue on the 6th June, 1642, he was succeeded by his nephew Thomas
Windsor-Hickman, the son of his elder sister Elizabeth.
THE DUKE OF MONMOUTH, K.G.
James Scott, the natural son of Charles II, was born 9th April, 1649,
and created Duke of Monmouth in 1663. The same year, on the 7th May,
he was admitted to the freedom of the Barber-Surgeons, in company with
Alexander Lord Leven, Richard Hopton, and Thomas Rosse, Esquires.
The history of this unfortunate man is well known, and culminated in
his being beheaded on the 15th July, 1685.
ALEXANDER, SECOND EARL OF LEVEN.
This nobleman was the grandson of the celebrated General Sir Alexander
Leslie, First Earl of Leven, whom he succeeded in 1662. On the 7th May,
1663, he was admitted to the freedom of the Barber-Surgeons, in company
with the Duke of Monmouth.
He married Margaret, daughter of Sir William Howard, and sister of the
Earl of Carlisle, but died without issue male, in 1663. His kinsman
George, fourth Lord Melville, was a staunch adherent of the Duke of
Monmouth, and involved in the rebellion, but was lucky enough to escape
into Holland; he was, however, attainted and his estates forfeited
in 1685, but coming back to England with William III his estates and
dignity were restored to him.
SIR JOHN AYLEF.
[Illustration: Coat of Arms]
SIR JOHN AYLEF was an eminent Surgeon and probably born about 1490.
Diligent search has been made for his parentage, but without success.
In his will he refers to seven “poor” people “being of my kynn dwelling
in Grenewiche,” and from the fact that he had a grant of arms instead
of inheriting a paternal coat, as also the silence of his immediate
descendants when registering the pedigrees at the Heralds’ Visitations
(who must have known but did not care to register Sir John’s father),
it may be assumed that he was of humble origin.
[Illustration: Family tree - handwritten]
He was admitted to the freedom of the Barbers prior to 1522 and served
the office of Warden 1530, 1532 and 1535, being chosen Master 1538.
At this time he was Surgeon to Henry VIII and had cured him of a
fistula, for which the king granted him the manor of Gryttenham in
Wiltshire, part of the lands of the Abbey of Malmesbury. Henry also
bequeathed by his will 100 marks to Aylef.
Mr. Aylef, being elected on 1st August, 1548, served the office of
Sheriff 1548-9, and in Wriothesley’s Chronicle under date 1549 we read--
The third daie of March being Shrove Sondaie M{r} Henry Amcottes Lord
Maior of London was presented to the Kinges Maiestie at his pallace
at Westminster. And after the oration made by M{r} Recorder to his
Maiestie and aunswere again by my Lord Chauncelor unto the maior
and aldermen, the Kinges Maiestie made my Lord Maior, Knight, and
M{r} William Locke, Alderman, and M{r} John Ayliffe, barbar surgeon,
sheriffes of London for this yeare, were made knightes also in the
Chambre of Presens, the Kinges Maiestie standing under his cloath of
estate.
[Illustration: SIR JOHN AYLEF
_From the original painting by_ HOLBEIN, AT BARBER’S HALL.]
Two days afterwards Sir John had a grant of arms from Sir Thomas
Hawley, Clarencieux, and shortly after was elected Alderman of Dowgate
Ward. He seems to have relinquished his profession of a Surgeon and
to have become a Merchant, holding the important office of Master of
Blackwell Hall, one of the greatest commercial centres of the period,
and residing at the Hall, in the parish of St. Michael Bassishaw.
On the 28th May, 1550, he was chosen the first Alderman of the
newly-created ward of Bridge Without, some interesting particulars
of which may be seen in Stow’s Survey (ed. 1633, p. 446); while in
Wriothesley’s Chronicle, under date 1550, we also read--
Memorandum. Wednesday in the Whitson weeke, at a Court of the
Aldermen kept in the Guyldhall, Sir John Aliffe, Knight, and master
of Blackwell Hall, was sworne an alderman of the Bridg ward without,
and to have the jurisdiction of the Borough of Southwark, and 2
deputies to be appointed there to assist him, which was the first
alderman that ever was there, which was done by the advise of my Lord
Mayor and thˀ Aldermen, for the better order to be kept there, and
for the more quietnes of the Mayors hereafter to come, and the good
order of the Kinges subjectes there, accordinge to the lawes of the
City; and the Fryday after he rode with my Lord Mayor all the precint
of Southwarke, my Lord Mayor havinge a certeine nomber of the honest
persons of the borough at the bridg-house, to whom he shewed theyr
alderman, and appointed deputies under him, and so hereafter to see a
good order to be kept in the Borough, as in other wardes of the citye
of London.
Sir John subsequently removed to his old ward of Dowgate (and continued
Alderman there till his death, his successor being chosen 12th
November, 1556). After his election as Alderman he was translated to
the Grocers’ Company, of which ancient guild he was crowned Upper
Warden, 9th June, 1556, in view of his election as Lord Mayor for
which he stood next in nomination, and to which office, had he lived
but a few weeks longer, he would in all probability have been chosen.
He was married to Isabel Buckell of Warwickshire, and by her had four
children, John, Erkynwald, Mary and Alice. His son John and great
grandson George, were both knighted. His widow, Dame Isabel, had a
grant of arms by Thomas Hawley (3 & 4 Ph. & M.) ar. a fesse vaire or
and az. betw. three doves ppr. bearing in their beaks a branch gu. Sir
John Aylef’s funeral is thus recorded in Machyn’s Diary, 1556--
The xx of October was bered ser John Olyff knyght and altherman,
and sum-tym he was surgantt[314] unto kyng Henry the viij{th}, and
after he was shreyff of London; and he had levyd tylle the next yere
he had byn mayre, for he tornyd from the Surgens unto the Grosers;
and bered at sant Myghelles in Bassynghall, with a harold of armes
bayryng ys cott armur, and with a standard and a pennon of armes,
and iiij baners of emages, and ij grett whytt branchys, and iiij
grett tapurs and ... dosen of torchys; and mony powre men had gownes;
and with a elmett, targat, and sword; and the crest a crowne and a
holyfftre[315] standyng with-in the crowne.
[314] Serjeant Surgeon.
[315] Olive tree.
For the inscription on Sir John Aylef’s tomb, which formerly stood in
St. Michael’s Bassishaw, _see_ page 89.
Sir John Aylef’s will, dated 26th September, 1556, was proved 24th
December, 1556. He was, he says,
At this present somewhat sicke in bodye;--ffirst and principally I
give and com̃end my soule unto Almightie god and to my Savio{r} and
Redemer Jesus Christ his onely begotten sonne by and throughe the
merittꝭ of whose bytter passion I truste to have Remission of my
synnes and to the holie goste three parsons and one god and to all
the holye & blessed companye of heaven, and my bodye to be buried in
holie grave in suche decent order as to the goode discretion of my
Executors hereafter named shalbe thought mete and convenient for myne
Estate and degree withoute pompe or glorie.
To the parson of St. Michael Bassishaw for tithes and oblations
forgotten 20_s._ To every priest singing in that church 10_s._ To the
clerk of the same church 5_s._ To the sexton 3_s._ 4_d._ To the repair
and maintenance of that church £5. To the parson of Pricklewell, Essex,
for tithes and oblations forgotten, 20_s._ To the reparation of that
church £4. To the chapel of Bridewell in London £5, and one vestment
for a priest to say mass there when the chapel should be made ready.
His goods and chattels in London he directs to be divided into three
parts, whereof one-third to his wife, one-third to his daughters Marie
and Alice and the other third to his executors to the performance
of the will. Having already given his sons John and Erkynwald £300
apiece, he gives £100 more to each. To Elizabeth Harvard £10. To Robert
Buckle (his wife’s brother) £10, and to each of his children 40_s._ To
William Symson, his servant, £10. To John More, his servant, £10. To
John Etonfelde £5. To Gyles Strowden, his clerk, £3. To Christopher
Vaughan, his clerk, £2. To Thornton, his clerk, £2. To Bromefelde, his
clerk, £2. To Millecent, “my Wyfes kinswoman servant in my howse,”
£20. To “Joane her sister my maide,” £20. To every one of his servants
in London and the country 20_s._ To Thomas Eson, if he remain in Lady
Aylef’s service, £5. To George Vaughan,[316]--
[316] Master of the Barber-Surgeons 1569. He died 26th December, 1569.
My boke of Guydo and all my Instrumentꝭ Boxes and other that dothe
in any wise belonge to Surgerie. To Mr. Vykarie £5. Item I bequethe
to the company of Grocers for a repaste tenne poundꝭ. Item to their
clerke xx{s.} Item to their bedell xx{s.} Item I give to the companye
of barbors for a repaste at my buryall fyve poundꝭ and to the beddell
of the same company of barbors tenne shillings Item I give to the
governors of the hospitalls belonginge to the citie of London to make
them a dynner at my buryall fyve poundes and to every of the beddles
of the said hospitallꝭ one blacke Coote and iij{s} iiij{d} in money.
To the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge £10 each, “to be
distributed to the comfort of the poore Scolers w{th}in the said
univˀsites.” To poor householders in St. Michael Bassishaw “where I
dwell” £4, and to those of St. Alban, Wood Street, £2. “Item to the
pore householders in the parishe where the barbors hall dothe stande,”
xx{s}. To poor householders in St. Michael, Queenhithe £2. To the poor
prisoners in Newgate 40_s._, in the two Counters 40_s._, in Ludgate
40_s._, in the Marshalsea 20_s._, in the King’s Bench 20_s._, and in
the Gatehouse at Westminster 10_s._ “Item to every of the sixe Lazar
howses abowte London x{s}.” To the poor in Bethlem 20_s._ To the poor
in the hospitals of the City £100 (over and above £100 he had already
given). To five poor men and two poor women being “of my kynn dwelling
in Grenewiche in Kent to eiche of them xl{s} and a gowne of suche
Clothe to eiche of theym as shalbe given to the poore at my buryall
And my mynde and will ys that yf any other of the poore of my kynn
shall w{th}in one yeare and a daye next after my decease come to myne
Executours approvinge them selfes sufficiently to be of my kynne &
blinde That then every of them shall have xx{s}.” To his wife Isabel,
the lease of his farm at Pricklewell with all the stock there “except
my Ryding geldingꝭ,” also the lease of his woods there, on certain
conditions. To his son Erkynwald the lease of his farm of Fambridge,
in Essex, with remainder to Erkynwald’s son William, and after him
to Martha (William’s sister), and in the event of all of them dying
without issue to Christ’s Hospital, Bridewell, and St. Thomas’
Hospital. Testator recites that Henry VIII granted to him and his wife
Isabel and their heirs the manor of “Greteman” (Gryttenham), Wilts, and
that he was seised in fee of the parsonage of Wakeringe (near Rochford,
Essex), and of a marsh called Alforde Nash, in the parish of Estwood
(near Rochford). All of this property he bequeaths, after the death
of Lady Isabel to his son John, with remainder to Erkynwald, then to
Marie and Alice, and in the event of all them dying without issue to
the three hospitals aforesaid. To the poor of the parish of Bassingham
(eight miles S. W. of Lincoln) £20 for coals. (Query: Was Sir John
born here?) To three score maids marriages in London £20. To Elizabeth
Glasier 40_s._ Residue to the Lady Isabel. _Executors_, John Southcott
(Under Sheriff of London), Richard Grafton, Grocer, and Lady Isabel
Aylef. To Southcott and Grafton £20 each. _Overseers_, Sir Rowland
Hill,[317] Laurence Withers, and John Machell,[318] Aldermen, and to
each of them a black gown and £10, also a black gown to each of their
wives.
[317] Lord Mayor, 1540.
[318] Sheriff, 1554.
Sir John Aylef’s name has been spelt in many ways, Aylif, Ailiff, Alif,
Olyff, Ailyffe, etc.; in his will it is spelt Aliff. But this family
must not be confounded with that of John Oliphe, Alderman and Sheriff
1569, buried at St. Laurence Pountney, 4th July, 1577; although Wilson,
in his History of that parish, at p. 232, mistakes John the son of that
Alderman for John the son of our Alderman.
For some notices of the Aylefs _see_ Aubrey’s collections for Wilts,
and Marshall’s Visitation of Wilts.
The pedigree is compiled principally from Harl. MSS. 897, 1165 and
1443.
THOMAS VICARY,[319] SERJEANT-SURGEON.
[Illustration: THOMAS VICARY.
_From the original painting by_ HOLBEIN, AT BARBER’S HALL.]
Thomas Vicary was probably born between 1490 and 1500, and is stated
in Manningham’s Diary to have been “at first a meane practiser in
Maidstone untill the King advanced him for curing his sore legge.”
In 1525 he was third Warden of the Barbers’ Company, and in 1528
Upper Warden and one of the Surgeons of Henry VIII with £20 a year.
In 1530 he was Master of the Company and appointed Serjeant-Surgeon,
which latter office he held until his death. In 1539 Henry granted
him a beneficial lease for 21 years of the Rectory and tithes of the
dissolved Abbey of Boxley in Kent. In 1541 Vicary was chosen Master
of the Barber-Surgeons, to which office he was again elected in 1546,
1548, and 1557 having thus held the chief place in the Company no
less than five times--an honour to which no other member has ever
attained. In the Holbein picture Vicary is represented as receiving the
Charter from the King. In 1542 he and his son William were appointed
by the King Bailiffs of the Manor of Boxley, and five years later he
married his second wife, Alice Bucke. In 1548 Vicary was appointed a
Governor of St. Bartholomew’s Hospital, and soon afterwards became the
Resident Surgical Governor there; in June, 1552, he was made “one of
the assistants of this house (St. Bartholomew’s) for the terme of his
lyffe.” In 1548 he published his celebrated book “The Anatomie of the
bodie of man,” no copy of the first edition of which is now known to
be extant. On the 27th January, 1561, Vicary made his will, which was
proved in London 7th April, 1562. The will, which is set out in full in
Dr. Furnivall’s book, is too long to give here _in extenso_, but the
following extracts will be found of interest.
[319] This notice of Vicary is partially condensed from the exhaustive
account of him, written by Dr. F. J. Furnivall, and published in the
Early English Text Society. Extra series LIII.
Item I will that the masters of the livery of my Companie be at my
buriall, and they to have xl{s} for theire dinners, to be delivered
to the wardens at theire commyng to my buriall. And to Johnson the
Clarke of the Company, vj{s} viij{d} And in considerac͠on of my
evell and necligẽt service done to god and to his poore members,
the poore of this hospitall of St. Barthelmewes where I now dwell,
in recompence whereof, and for the discharge of my concience, I
give and bequeath to thuse of the saide poore, tenne poundes in
monney. Item I give and bequeath xl{s} in monney to and amongest
fortie poore householders of the saide pˀish of little sainte
Barthelmewes, that is to saye, to every householder xij{d.} Also I
give and bequeathe l{s} in monney to thospitler, matron, stuarde,
Cooke, and porter offecer of the saide hospitall, that is to saye,
to every of them x{s} . . . . To Thomas Skair, my apprentis, vj{s}
viij{d} . . . I give and bequeath to Roberte Baltropp[320] my best
gowne garded with velvet, furred and faced with Sables, my Cote of
braunched velvete, and a sering[321] of silver, parcell gilte. Also
I give and bequeath to Thomas Bayly[322] my gowne of browne blue
lyned and faced with blacke budge,[323] my cassocke of blacke satten
fured and garded with velvet, my best plaister box, garnisshed with
silver, my salvitory[324] of silver, and a sering[321] of silver,
with all other instrumentꝭ of silver. Item I bequeathe to Robert
Muddesley[325] my best single gowne faced with blacke satten. To
George Vaughan,[326] my doblet of crimson satten . . . Also I give
and bequeath unto the hawle of my company one booke called Guido[327]
and ij billes ij bowes ij shefes of Arrowes ij bracers ij shoting
gloves ij Sculles one hand gune and one Jack Item I give and bequeath
to master Skynner[328] one half hacke one Jack and one murren And to
Henry Picton my sˀvnte aforesaide one booke called Johˀes Vigo.[329]
All the residue of my bookes stuff and instrumentꝭ appertaining to
surgery I give and bequeath unto the same Henry Picton and Richard
Vener equally betwen them to be devided.
[320] Master 1565 and 1573, Serjeant-Surgeon.
[321] Syringe.
[322] Warden 1559.
[323] Lambskin with the wool dressed outwards.
[324] A kind of plaster box or small repository.
[325] Master 1572 and 1580.
[326] Master 1569.
[327] Guido de Cauliaco, one of the principal Surgery text books of
the time.
[328] Warden 1548.
[329] A well-known surgical work.
The remainder of his property was bequeathed to his nephews Thomas and
Stephen (sons of his late brother William Vicary, of Boxley), and to
his widow Alice.
RICHARD FERRIS, SERJEANT-SURGEON.
But little is known of Richard Ferris, though he was doubtless a
man of repute, as Gale speaks approvingly of him, and he held the
office of Serjeant-Surgeon in Queen Elizabeth’s time; his portrait is
preserved by Holbein in our great picture, and Henry VIII, by his will,
bequeathed him 100 marks. He was twice Master of the Barber-Surgeons,
viz., in 1551 and 1562.
His will, dated 17th March, 1566, was proved on the 22nd April, 1566,
wherein he describes himself as “Richard Ferres Serjant Surgion unto
the quenes majestie, sick of bodie.” He gives to “Em,” his wife, his
house, field, and orchard at Paddington for her life, with remainder
to his daughter Thomazine, and to her also the lease of the house
where he then dwelt in St. Giles, Cripplegate. In the event of their
deaths without issue, the property to be sold and distributed amongst
the poor in the discretion of his overseer, John Field[330] and Dr.
Gregorie Wisdom, except 40_s._ to his cousin Johanne Sympson. To his
daughter Thomazine his “Courte bedd and bedstede,” also a feather bed
and bedstead furnished, half a garnish of pewter vessels, &c., and £30
which was owing to him by Dr. Cunningham (Reader at Barber-Surgeons’
Hall).
[330] Master 1577.
Item I give and bequeth unto the Companie of Barbo{rs} and Sˀgions
twentie Shillings in monney a grete Pandack and an other booke called
a verroyce. To John ffelde my late srˀvaunt all my other bookes bothe
of Surgerie and others excepet ffoure of theim w{ch} I give unto John
Griffine my Apprentice. Also I give and bequeth unto the said John
ffeld all my Sˀgerie stuff and all my Instrumẽtes both of silver and
other and also my gowne furred w{th} ffox w{ch} I comonlie Ride in.
Item I will and bequeth unto Thomas Baylie[331] one Booke called
Peter de argilate and the Staff w{ch} he gave me.
[331] Warden 1559.
The residue to his wife, and she appointed executrix with John Field
overseer.
[Illustration: Family tree]
JOHN PEN.
[Illustration: Coat of Arms]
Much time has been spent in the endeavour to ascertain John Pen’s
parentage, but without success. Among the Domestic State Papers, Henry
VIII, Vol. I (No. 4064) is the grant of a corrody or sustentation from
the Monastery of Abbotsbury to Robert Pen “one of the Gentlemen of the
Chapel” and to John Pen, his son, for life. The date of this document
is 9th March, 1514, and as John Pen was a retainer of the King’s,
which this grant would also seem to imply, and had a son whom he named
Robert, there is the possibility that this Robert Pen, the Gentleman of
the Chapel, was his father.
John Pen was admitted to the freedom of the Barbers in 1527, and his
birth may probably be put at 1500-1505. He was by profession a barber,
and evidently a friend of King Henry VIII, who advanced him from Groom
of the Privy Chamber to the honorable position of King’s Barber, an
office which was only bestowed upon the most trusty and confidential of
the King’s attendants; the life of the sovereign being in his barber’s
hands. (_See_ pp. 90 and 91.)