Chapter 14

13th September, 1640. This Court is willing that there shalbe a distribuc͠on of MrMapes Legacy on Cosmas and Damianus day being the 27thof this Instant September to 12 poore people 12 Angells according to the directions of MrisJoy they haveing red crosses on theire brests.Memorand.on the 27thSeptember being Cosmus and Damianus day 6li13s4dwas distributed according to MrRichard Mapes Will. viztThese 12 poore persons free of our Company came into our Hall with red Crosses each of them on theire right Brests and the Governours gave to each of them 10swhich amounted to 6liand the 13s4dwas to themselves for a repast for their paynes.

Memorand.on the 27thSeptember being Cosmus and Damianus day 6li13s4dwas distributed according to MrRichard Mapes Will. viztThese 12 poore persons free of our Company came into our Hall with red Crosses each of them on theire right Brests and the Governours gave to each of them 10swhich amounted to 6liand the 13s4dwas to themselves for a repast for their paynes.

Widdow Wright.Widdow Chapman.Widdow James.Widdow Tyler.The pooresWiddow Colley.Widdow Pebworth.names wereOld Holmewood.Old Kelham.Widdow Bullock.John Mulis.Blind Reynolds.Widdow Wadlowe.

20th November, 1640. A dispute between Edward Molins and one Coppinger was heard by the Court, when the decision was against Molins, and he was fined for using bad language.

12th January, 1641. Edward Molins came into the Court and stood in the face of the Court with his Hatt on his head and his Armes on his side and told the Court he would doe noe obedience to the coteand swore Gods wounds he would submitt to noe man liveing.

15th January, 1641. Molins was fined 40sfor this contempt.

18th January, 1641. Richard Tompkins & Symon Crouch Surgeons by profession yet useing Barbery, This Court doth give them Order by our Lady day next to leave barbeing it being against yeStatute to practise both.29th July, 1641. Mr. George Dunn hath given 5lito buy Bookes for the Library which is by this Court ordered to be performed accordingly.

29th July, 1641. Mr. George Dunn hath given 5lito buy Bookes for the Library which is by this Court ordered to be performed accordingly.

There having been many quarrels in the Court, and various members expelled, a general shaking of hands appears to have taken place, for weread:—

30th July, 1644. This Court doth thinke fitt and soe order That a Sermon be made on the next Election day of thankes giveing to Almighty God for peace and amity which is now begun to be restored among the members of the Company And that MrSharpe be desired to performe the same.9th March, 1645. This day MrCallice Barber being complayned of for teaching to trimm to other then his Apprentices contrary to the Ordinance of this House did absolutely deny the same upon the Oathe that he tooke upon his admission into the ffreedome.17th March, 1645. Mr. William Kings this day freely gave for the Ornament of this House a great Tortershell Whereon at his owne charge he hath given order for the Companyes Armes to be painted.

9th March, 1645. This day MrCallice Barber being complayned of for teaching to trimm to other then his Apprentices contrary to the Ordinance of this House did absolutely deny the same upon the Oathe that he tooke upon his admission into the ffreedome.

17th March, 1645. Mr. William Kings this day freely gave for the Ornament of this House a great Tortershell Whereon at his owne charge he hath given order for the Companyes Armes to be painted.

This shell is preserved at the Hall.

7th January, 1646. MrMichaell Markeland appeareing to this Court at the request of our Mrhe was here complayned of to have embalmed severall humane Bodyes within this City against the Ordinance of this Company in that behalf being an Apothecary and not a Surgeon approved according to Law Nor a ffreeman of this Company which MrMarkeland acknowledged But alleadged It was through his ignorance Not knowing that the right thereof was in approved Surgeons and ffreemen of this Company only and none other And being now well satisfyed thereof haveing heard the said Ordinance read unto him promised not to doe the like againe.2nd June, 1646. This daye Mr. Lawrence Loe Chirurgeon a Member of this Company through his good affection thereunto Did for the worship thereof freely offer to give for the beautifying of the Hall soe many stones of black and white Marble as shalbe sufficient for the Pavement thereof.

2nd June, 1646. This daye Mr. Lawrence Loe Chirurgeon a Member of this Company through his good affection thereunto Did for the worship thereof freely offer to give for the beautifying of the Hall soe many stones of black and white Marble as shalbe sufficient for the Pavement thereof.

These marbles were laid to form the floor at the upper end of the Hall, and when the Hall was pulled down they were preserved and now form the pavement in the Entrance to the Hall from Monkwell Street.

There is a Memorandum that Mr. John Bancks by his willleft—

To the Company of Barber Chirurgions London so long as they shall performe the uses hereafter limitted (or els not) To be paid them betwixt the first and seaventh day of May next after the decease of the said John Banckes and so yearely for ever the sum̃e of Twenty shillings wchTwenty shillings shalbe by the said Company distributed in forme following viztTo Twelve poore householders or widowes of the same Company To each of them ffower poundꝭ weight of good beefe Two penny loaves of good sweet bread Two pence a peece in mony and each of them one Woodden platter.14th December, 1646. This Court doth at the humble suite of the Ordinary of the Goale of Newgate freely give unto him 10sfor his releife in his present want.7th July, 1647. This Court doth give to John ffranck Chirurgeon who hath bin for a long time in Captivity in Turkey iiijlitowards the setting him forth to sea and doth order that he be admitted into the ffreedome gratis when he shall desire it.

14th December, 1646. This Court doth at the humble suite of the Ordinary of the Goale of Newgate freely give unto him 10sfor his releife in his present want.

7th July, 1647. This Court doth give to John ffranck Chirurgeon who hath bin for a long time in Captivity in Turkey iiijlitowards the setting him forth to sea and doth order that he be admitted into the ffreedome gratis when he shall desire it.

See theMinute5th February, 1629. John Franck (the son of a Liveryman) was doubtless a “foreign brother,” and entitled to his freedom by patrimony upon payment of the fine, which the Court now ordered to be dispensed with if he wished to take up his freedom. Being a Sea Surgeon only, it was not necessary that he should be free of the Company. He had probably been in slavery 18 years!

Several entries similar to the following are to be found in the books.

9th August, 1647. Upon the humble suite of Thomas Tomlinson an ancient Member of this Company and of the Livery now fallen into greate Poverty and Want for some charitable releife from this Company. This Court being moved in Compassion to his deplorable Condic͠on and calling to mind his former good service to this Company Doth freely give him 10li.out of the Stock of this House.14th September, 1648. Samuell Needler an examined Chirurgeon complayned to this Court that he was required to beare Armes notwithstanding his exempc͠on therefrom and therefore craved this Courts Assistance in his defence therein which was granted.27th October, 1648. MrWarden Madocks and certaine others of the Assistants here present desireing to peruse our Charter for theire informac͠on the better to enable them for the Governement of this Company had a sight thereof and were well satisfyed in every particuler.

14th September, 1648. Samuell Needler an examined Chirurgeon complayned to this Court that he was required to beare Armes notwithstanding his exempc͠on therefrom and therefore craved this Courts Assistance in his defence therein which was granted.

27th October, 1648. MrWarden Madocks and certaine others of the Assistants here present desireing to peruse our Charter for theire informac͠on the better to enable them for the Governement of this Company had a sight thereof and were well satisfyed in every particuler.

13th August, 1655. Mr. John Gale of Bushey (son of William Gale, M. 1595) a Surgeon of this Company, by his Will of this date left to the Barber-Surgeons £16 per annum, payable out of certain houses on Snow hill, in the parish of Saint Sepulchre, for the founding of an Anatomy lecture in the name of Gale’s Anatomy. This trust was transferred to the Surgeons’ Company in 1745.

Our Minute Books from the year1651 to 1689are unhappily lost; they are known to have been at the Hall as recently as 1832. Should any reader ever light upon them, he is particularly entreated to communicate with the Clerk of the Company or with the author.

1689. The practice was now adopted of entering all admissions to the freedom, etc., in the Court Minute Books (as well as in the Register) the forms being asfollows:—

3rd September, 1689. For an apprentice:

Johẽs Rawson app̃r Caroli Peters admĩs est ex Rẽl Magr̃i & Jur̃.

for a freeman by patrimony:

Ptrũs Hartley Stac͠oner filˀ Thome Hartley Civis & Barbitonsorˀ & Chirurgˀ London admĩs est pˀ patrimõn ex Rẽl Isaacii Boddington Weaver & Wil̃l̃i Bletsoe Grocer, Wil̃l̃i Bateman Barbitonsorˀ & Chirurgorˀ London & Jur̃.

for a freeman by redemption:

Henr̃ Chamberlane admĩs est pˀ redemc͠on vˀtute orᵭem Curˀ Majorˀ & Alᵭrn Dat xviijodie Augusti 1689 & Jur̃.17th January, 1690. This day an order was sealed to presse 40 Surgeons mates for the Kings service in Ireland.

Henr̃ Chamberlane admĩs est pˀ redemc͠on vˀtute orᵭem Curˀ Majorˀ & Alᵭrn Dat xviijodie Augusti 1689 & Jur̃.

17th January, 1690. This day an order was sealed to presse 40 Surgeons mates for the Kings service in Ireland.

At this period all freemen on their admission “took the oathes menc͠oned in a late Act of Parliament & subscribed the Declarac͠on therein named”: these were the oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy as required by the “Bill of Rights” (passed December, 1689).

2nd July, 1690. Ordered that the Clarke keep an accompt of all pˀsons faleing at a Court of Assistants and that every one faileing for every such time soe doeing shall forfeit vs& shall not be admitted to binde or make ffree untill he or they have made payment of the same of which they are to have notice except SrJohn Letheullier SrHumfry Edwin & MrThomas Canham.29th April, 1693. Ordered that the 2 Chirurgeons Governors& whome they shall thincke fitting to call to them Attend the Archbishopp of Canterbury conserning his Barber practiceing Chirurgery.20th July, 1693. Orddthat a lease bee taken of the Archbishopp for one & twenty yeare from the 19thday of July 1693 for the Bargehouse166& that as the Governorshave agreed a ffine of the same they pay to his Grace the sume of one hundred pounds besides ffees.3rd October, 1693. Ordered that the Bargeman have a new coate & britches &c.19th July, 1694. Ordered that MrGeorge Minikin bee warned before the Lord Major to shew cause why he doe not attend the Court of Assistants as he hath been chosen one of them.

29th April, 1693. Ordered that the 2 Chirurgeons Governors& whome they shall thincke fitting to call to them Attend the Archbishopp of Canterbury conserning his Barber practiceing Chirurgery.

20th July, 1693. Orddthat a lease bee taken of the Archbishopp for one & twenty yeare from the 19thday of July 1693 for the Bargehouse166& that as the Governorshave agreed a ffine of the same they pay to his Grace the sume of one hundred pounds besides ffees.

3rd October, 1693. Ordered that the Bargeman have a new coate & britches &c.

19th July, 1694. Ordered that MrGeorge Minikin bee warned before the Lord Major to shew cause why he doe not attend the Court of Assistants as he hath been chosen one of them.

18th June, 1696. A new sun dial was ordered to be put up.

About this period there seems to have been a general disinclination to serve as an Assistant, many of the Livery being fined £10 for refusing to serve the office, while some who had sat as Assistants were dismissed the Court for non-attendance.

25th October, 1697. Ordered that the Barge house bee mended & MrWarden Pinke take care to see it done.18th August, 1698. Ordered that the Governrsdispose of the Barge & let the Barge house from yeare to yeare.12th October, 1698. Ordered That there may be papers made for a subscriptõn for a Barge.21st October, 1700. Ordered that the ill manadgement of the late Master MrTho: Lichfeild as to his office of Master and his other offices of Warden bee pˀsented to the next Court of Assistants in order to bee expelˀd the sˀd Court it being the opinion of this Comittee that he deserves soe to bee as alsoe for being any longer an examinrhe haveing acted contrary to the establishmtof the Corporac͠on in the sdoffices.

25th October, 1697. Ordered that the Barge house bee mended & MrWarden Pinke take care to see it done.

18th August, 1698. Ordered that the Governrsdispose of the Barge & let the Barge house from yeare to yeare.

12th October, 1698. Ordered That there may be papers made for a subscriptõn for a Barge.

21st October, 1700. Ordered that the ill manadgement of the late Master MrTho: Lichfeild as to his office of Master and his other offices of Warden bee pˀsented to the next Court of Assistants in order to bee expelˀd the sˀd Court it being the opinion of this Comittee that he deserves soe to bee as alsoe for being any longer an examinrhe haveing acted contrary to the establishmtof the Corporac͠on in the sdoffices.

8th November, 1700. A Committee of the Court having waited upon the Commissioners of the Navy and reported that Mr. Lichfeild had committed irregularities in certifying men as qualified Surgeons for sea service, such men not being duly qualified, the Court adjudged him to be dismissed from his office of an Examiner in Surgery, and out of the Court of Assistants.

10th March, 1707. The new Clerk, Mr. Chas. Bernard, seems to have been industrious in searching out practising Barbers not free of the Company, as also others who had committed abuses; several were fined and compelled to take up their freedom and this day the following entriesoccur:—

Clyett being sum̃oned for Shaveing on Sunday last appeared before the Comittee and the fact being plainly proved against him the Comittee fined him ten shillings for his said offence.Newland being sum̃oned for the like offence appeared also before the Comittee but there being no possitive proofe against him he was dismissed.John Gould a Dutchman being sum̃oned for keeping a Shopp and exercising the trade of a Barber not being free of this Company And the matter being plainly proved against him the Comittee ordered him to be prosecuted on the statutes of the 32nd of Hen 8thand the 5thof Queen Elizabeth.Ordered that a Second Sum̃ons be sent to all such Defaulters as have not appeared with intimation that theire ffines will be levied on them by distresse.Ordered that Thomas Latham be sum̃oned to take upp his ffreedome & that all other persons exerciseing Barbery not being ffree of this Company be sum̃oned.

Clyett being sum̃oned for Shaveing on Sunday last appeared before the Comittee and the fact being plainly proved against him the Comittee fined him ten shillings for his said offence.

Newland being sum̃oned for the like offence appeared also before the Comittee but there being no possitive proofe against him he was dismissed.

John Gould a Dutchman being sum̃oned for keeping a Shopp and exercising the trade of a Barber not being free of this Company And the matter being plainly proved against him the Comittee ordered him to be prosecuted on the statutes of the 32nd of Hen 8thand the 5thof Queen Elizabeth.

Ordered that a Second Sum̃ons be sent to all such Defaulters as have not appeared with intimation that theire ffines will be levied on them by distresse.

Ordered that Thomas Latham be sum̃oned to take upp his ffreedome & that all other persons exerciseing Barbery not being ffree of this Company be sum̃oned.

17th March, 1707. Nineteen delinquents who had been summoned appeared, and their cases were heard; a few examples will suffice—One Darby was “seen to comb a persons haire on Sunday morning last but alleadging that it was his ffather,” he was let off with 5s.fine.

Lewis Roger made answer that it “was onely his Apprentice combing a persons haire without his knowledge and that it was his first offence,” he likewise escaped with a 5s.fine.

James Good was more fortunate, for proving that his offence “was onely the Combing of a Lodgers Wigg,” he escaped.

Willm. Haslegrove appears to have filled up the measure of his iniquity, for being detected in “actually shaveing a person on Sunday morning,” he was fined 10s.

Samuel Beaumont, charged with keeping two Barbers’ shops, had a month given him to part with one of them, and John Shoard who, not being free of the Company, kept a Barber’s shop in Cloth Fair, was ordered to quit the same within two months.

31st March, 1707. Elizabeth Presbury being sumoned appeared & alleadged that she was very poore & that her husband was an Idle man and promised to reforme her method whereupon the Comittee excused her.

The number of Barbers fined for working on Sundays, or for keeping shop not being free, was enormous, and it becomes wearying to travel through the records of their offences and fines.

17th June, 1708. Ordered that the Company’s Barge house and the Dwelling house thereunto belonging be forthwith repaired.

13th January, 1709. Sir Edward Northey was appointed standing counsel to the Company with a yearly retainer of two guineas.

15th April, 1709. Upon complaint made against one Henry Drudge for exerciseing Barbery & Surgery wthin the City not being ffree he attended and alleadged that he haveing been a Soldier in the late Warr thought himself intituled to keep his Shoppe without takeing up his ffreedome, by Virtue of the Act of Parliament made upon the disbanding the Army which gives liberty to disbanded soldiers to exercise any trade within the Corporations or places where they were borne, althoˀ they had not served seven years to it But the Court believing that act did not extend to Drudge by reason he was not borne in London, ordered that in case he did not shut up his Shop in a month’s time he should be prosecuted.

21st July, 1709. In consequence of the great expense to which the Company had been put in the repairs to the Hall, the Court determined to call thirty-one freemen into the Livery, and the fine being £10 each on admission or £20 on refusal, a considerable sum was realized.

It having been suggested to the Court that the yeomanry objected to pay 20s.for “corn money” when called to the Livery, the Clerk was directed to enquire into the origin of that tax, and finding that it had been originally levied on each member taking his livery, to satisfy the precepts made in 1633, and afterwards for providing a stock of corn for the City; and for that at the present time the Company had no Granary or stock of corn to provide, and “being out of debt,” it was ordered that in future this fine should be discontinued.

18th August, 1709. At the Election, ten of the Livery who had attended without their gowns, were severally fined and paid 1s.each, and there are other references to Assistants being fined for not appearing in their gowns.

4th October, 1709. A complaint being made against Richard Stockwell for being copartner with a fforreigner & the fact being made appeare pritty plain against him the Court fined him five pounds being the penalty imposed by the By Law, But upon his promise to discharge his said partner the Court were pleased to remitt his ffine.18th April, 1710. MrJohn Booth a Surgeon at Warrington in Lancashire applying to this Court to be admitted a fforeign brother & he being examined in Surgery & approved It was ordered that upon his payment of ten Guineas he should be admitted a fforeign brother of this Company, But the said MrBooth refusing to take that part of the fforeign brothers oath whereby he was sworne to be true to the Queen he was not for that reason admitted.1st June, 1710. It is ordered that the Members present at this Court shall be excused from wearing their gowns in regard to the heat of the weather.20th October, 1710. It is ordered for the accomodation of the Members of this Court of the Barbers side for the seeing & being heard at Courts of Assistants That for the future at all Courts of Assistants the Governorson the Surgeons side shall set even with the Marnext on his right hand & the Governorson the Barbers side next on his left. But that at all other Courts all the Governorsshall according to their seniority sett along the side of the Parlour Table on the left hand of the Master in such maner as has been accustomed.

18th April, 1710. MrJohn Booth a Surgeon at Warrington in Lancashire applying to this Court to be admitted a fforeign brother & he being examined in Surgery & approved It was ordered that upon his payment of ten Guineas he should be admitted a fforeign brother of this Company, But the said MrBooth refusing to take that part of the fforeign brothers oath whereby he was sworne to be true to the Queen he was not for that reason admitted.

1st June, 1710. It is ordered that the Members present at this Court shall be excused from wearing their gowns in regard to the heat of the weather.

20th October, 1710. It is ordered for the accomodation of the Members of this Court of the Barbers side for the seeing & being heard at Courts of Assistants That for the future at all Courts of Assistants the Governorson the Surgeons side shall set even with the Marnext on his right hand & the Governorson the Barbers side next on his left. But that at all other Courts all the Governorsshall according to their seniority sett along the side of the Parlour Table on the left hand of the Master in such maner as has been accustomed.

11th January, 1711. The Clerk’s and Beadle’s houses were ordered to be insured against fire, for £600 in the “Amicable Society.”

20th February, 1711. Mr. Willm. Smith, an Assistant, complained that Mr. Joseph Cosins, also an Assistant, and his junior in the freedom, had always taken precedence of him at the Courts, whereupon the matter was considered and the following ordermade:—

Forasmuch as it appeared that MrCosins was first chosen into the Court of Assistants & that it is in the power of this Court to chuse whom they shall think fitt to be an Assistant out of the whole Livery without respect to Seniority & for that MrCosinscontinued for many years in his present station as Assistant The Court were of opinion & did so declare themselves to be That the sdMrCosins shou’d continue to take place of the said MrSmith as he formerly had done.

9th July, 1711. The Common Seal of the Company being worn out a new one was ordered to be cut in steel, together with an “Ingine,” wherewith to make the impressions.

6th May, 1712. Ordered that the Porter who shaves att the Custome house be sum̃oned.

27th May, 1712. Walter Browne being “one of the people called Quakers,” was admitted into the freedom and took a “solemn affirmation.”

7th April, 1713. Valentine Day Tallow Chandler was admitted into the freedom of this Company by Redempc͠on and at the same time was admitted to ffine for all offices to the Parlour door for both which he paid a ffine Clock worth 30li.5th October, 1714. It is ordered that the Musitioners shall have five pounds for attending on the day of the Kings Entrance. (George I.)5th June, 1716. Nathanael Charles owned that he has several times let blood for One shilling & sixpence upon which the Company ordered him to be prosecuted as also his MastrJoseph Roe; twas observed that Roe could not write his name having sett his mark only to the Inᵭre.16715th August, 1717. MrWilliam Highmore Junrhaveing marryed the Vintners widow who kept the Bell Taverne in Nicholas Lane applying to this Court and acquainting them that he had quitted the Barbers Trade and had undertook the trade of a Vintner, and was for that reason under a necessity of becomeing a freeman of the Vintners Company or of takeing a License from the Crown to retail wine and praying of this Court to translate him from this Company to the Company of Vintners, This Court after hearing the By-Law in that behalf read and due considerac͠on had thereof doth order that the said MrWilliam Highmore shall be translated from this Company into the Company of Vintners upon payment of £20 to the use of this Company and upon Condic͠on that he shall not from henceforward exercise the trade of a Barber or Perriwig maker.

5th October, 1714. It is ordered that the Musitioners shall have five pounds for attending on the day of the Kings Entrance. (George I.)

5th June, 1716. Nathanael Charles owned that he has several times let blood for One shilling & sixpence upon which the Company ordered him to be prosecuted as also his MastrJoseph Roe; twas observed that Roe could not write his name having sett his mark only to the Inᵭre.167

15th August, 1717. MrWilliam Highmore Junrhaveing marryed the Vintners widow who kept the Bell Taverne in Nicholas Lane applying to this Court and acquainting them that he had quitted the Barbers Trade and had undertook the trade of a Vintner, and was for that reason under a necessity of becomeing a freeman of the Vintners Company or of takeing a License from the Crown to retail wine and praying of this Court to translate him from this Company to the Company of Vintners, This Court after hearing the By-Law in that behalf read and due considerac͠on had thereof doth order that the said MrWilliam Highmore shall be translated from this Company into the Company of Vintners upon payment of £20 to the use of this Company and upon Condic͠on that he shall not from henceforward exercise the trade of a Barber or Perriwig maker.

1st October, 1717. Robert Rainsford, the Company’s Barge Master, was ordered to have a new livery provided for him.

24th June, 1718. The Theatre was ordered to be repaired and beautified.

21st April, 1720. Mr. Berney, Mr. Burroughs and Mr. Fitzhugh, Liverymen Barbers, applied to the Court, giving their reasons and praying that the Court would petition the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Common Council to suspend the act of Common Council restraining them from employing foreigners as journeymen, whereupon the matter was considered and the Court thought it would be contrary to their oaths to join in any such petition, because it was a standing By-Law of the Company, as well as of the City, that no Barber should employ any foreigner as a journeyman; it was also considered that such a liberty would prove a great discouragement to apprentices and that the present inconvenience complained of would soon be cured if Masters would sufficiently instruct their apprentices so as to make them useful during their servitude and competent as journeymen afterwards. The Court further decided to oppose, by every means in its power, the movement set on foot by Mr. Berney and his friends.

24th June, 1722. The lease of the Barge-house at Lambeth expiring in April, 1723, and the Archbishop having offered to renew the same for 21 years at £10 per annum and £100 fine, it was resolved not to renew it, in consequence of its being an unprofitable property, and the Company not then having a barge. The Barber-Surgeons let off part of their Barge-house to the Drapers and Ironmongers, and the Clerk was instructed to give those Companies notice that it was not the intention of this Company to renew the lease from the Archbishop.

2nd December, 1729. In consequence (as was alleged) of the difficulty in sometimes procuring a full Court, it was ordered that in future each Assistant who attended within one hour of the time mentioned in his summons and remained till the rising of the Court, should receive a fee of 2s.6d.

1st February, 1731. It is ordered that all the Liverymen shall attend on Election day and Lord Mayors day in their Gowns and at publick anatomys in their Capps upon Forfieture of Three shillings and Fourpence for every offence.

8th July, 1731. A precept coming from the Lord Mayor recommending the Company to contribute “towards the relief of the poor sufferers by the late fires at Blanford Tiverton & Ramsey being read The Court upon considerac͠on had thereof and from a just sense of the calamity and distress of their fellow subjects the late inhabitants of the said towns,” ordered £20 to be paid into the Chamber of London.

1732. The following fines were in force at this date,viz.:—

£6 6s.0d.for a Barber admitted to the freedom by redemption.

£10 for a free Barber admitted to the Livery.

£30 for a Barber’s or Surgeon’s apprentice, made free by servitude, admitted to the Livery, and for all offices to the parlour door.

£7 7s.0d.for examination, admission and diploma of a foreign brother.

£3 3s.0d.for the same, if the applicant had been bound to a foreign brother at the Hall.

5th March, 1733. It is hereby referred to the Master & Wardens MrSerjtDickins MrSerjtAmyand MrPetty MrShott MrParker & MrMaurice to receive proposalls for Building a Cupola in the Hall parlor and report the same to the next Court of Assistants.19th July, 1733. Several of the livery attending upon a complaint against a Jew in Duke’s place for exercising the trade of a Barber without being free of the Company or having served seven years apprenticeship It is ordered that the Clerk of the Company shall sue the said Jew in such manner as he shall think fitt or be advised at the Company’s expence.4th May, 1736. At this Court Abraham Diaz Delgadoa Jew was admitted into the freedom of the Company by Redemption for Ten pounds Ten shillings which he paid down and was sworn upon the Old Testament being a Jew.

19th July, 1733. Several of the livery attending upon a complaint against a Jew in Duke’s place for exercising the trade of a Barber without being free of the Company or having served seven years apprenticeship It is ordered that the Clerk of the Company shall sue the said Jew in such manner as he shall think fitt or be advised at the Company’s expence.

4th May, 1736. At this Court Abraham Diaz Delgadoa Jew was admitted into the freedom of the Company by Redemption for Ten pounds Ten shillings which he paid down and was sworn upon the Old Testament being a Jew.

3rd August, 1738. The Company contributed five guineas towards the Organ recently set up in the Church of Saint Alban, Wood Street.

3rd April, 1739. MrJohn Owen a Freeman of the Company & who lives at Islington was chosen Musicianer to the Company in the room of MrBrown dec̃ed.11th November, 1740. It is ordered (in regard this Company have no Barge) That the Waterman shall forthwith deliver up his Livery coat and Badge belonging to the Company to the Beadles and that he no longer be annually intitled from this Company to a new Coat nor make use of nor wear the old one but that when he shall be employed in the Companies service. And also that for the future on every Lord Mayor’s day that this Company shall walk in procession in order to attend the LdMayor a Stand or proper building shall be provided at the Companies expence for the better accomodation of the Livery belonging to this Company and in such manner and fform as several other Companies of this City are usually provided with on that day.

3rd April, 1739. MrJohn Owen a Freeman of the Company & who lives at Islington was chosen Musicianer to the Company in the room of MrBrown dec̃ed.

11th November, 1740. It is ordered (in regard this Company have no Barge) That the Waterman shall forthwith deliver up his Livery coat and Badge belonging to the Company to the Beadles and that he no longer be annually intitled from this Company to a new Coat nor make use of nor wear the old one but that when he shall be employed in the Companies service. And also that for the future on every Lord Mayor’s day that this Company shall walk in procession in order to attend the LdMayor a Stand or proper building shall be provided at the Companies expence for the better accomodation of the Livery belonging to this Company and in such manner and fform as several other Companies of this City are usually provided with on that day.

1745. The Surgeons are now separated from the Barbers.

8th August, 1745. The Clerk reporting that many of the Company, as well as Surgeons lately free of the Barber-Surgeons’ Company, were greatly in arrear in their quarterage, he was ordered to acquaint them that unless the said arrears were paid up forthwith, they would be sued.

17th September, 1745. The Company of Surgeons sent to the Company of Barbers two documents under their Common Seal, the oneauthorising Mr. Joseph Cruttenden to peruse and copy any Charters or documents in the possession of the Barbers, and the other empowering him to take possession of any books, papers or writings relating to Surgeons or Surgery only, on behalf of the Company of Surgeons; whereupon the Court acceded to the request, and gave instructions as to the same.

4th December, 1745. Mr. Cruttenden applied on behalf of the Surgeons’ Company for £510 (the Arrisian endowment) which had been directed to be paid by the Act of Parliament, whereupon the Master told him that by reason of the late fall in the Public Stocks, the Company could not without great loss, raise the money, but were ready to give the Surgeons a proper bond for the same, with Interest.

19th February, 1746. Forty-one freemen were reported as being fit and able persons to take the Livery, and were ordered to be summoned for the same with the intimation that if any refused he or they would be sued for the penalty of £20 each upon such refusal.

Of these, seven appeared at the next Court, took the livery and paid the fine of £10; six others begged to be excused. The remaining twenty-eight did not appear till later Courts, when some were excused, and others ordered to be sued; subsequently a large proportion of those nominated, accepted and paid their fines.

17th July, 1746. The Surgeons’ Company having pressed for payment of the £510 and Interest, and our Company having in Cash but £300, Mr. Luke Maurice (Master 1732, a Wine Merchant in Lime Street) lent the Company £200 at41/2per cent., and the Clerk advanced the balance, whereupon the principal, with £15 17s.0d.interest, was paid to the Surgeons.

18th May, 1747. The Master acquainting the Court that he had employed MrWhiston the Bookseller to putt the Company’s Library in order and to make a Catalogue and valuation thereof And that M{r} Whiston had appraised the same at Twenty Guineas And the Clerk acquainting the Court that a learned Physican had offered twenty-five Guineas for the Library together with the Skeleton and other curiosities formerly kept in the Library It was ordered that the Clerk should acquaint the Master of the Worshipfull Company of Surgeons with the said offer made to this Company And that this Court being desirous to manifest their esteem for and preserve the ffriendship of the Surgeons did give them the refusal of the said Library Skeleton and Curiosities at the said price of Twenty ffive Guineas And that in case of their acceptance thereof the rich and ancient Pall belonging to this Company should be at their service as a free gift.

16th July, 1747. The Clerk reported that he had made the above offer to the Surgeons who replied that they considered themselves entitled to the Library under the Act of 1745, but that to avoid controversy with the Barbers they would be willing to refer the matter to Counsel, whereupon it was resolved that the matter should be submitted to the opinion of Counsel.

5th July, 1749. Ordered that the Library of Books formerly belonging to the late united Company be forthwith sold for the most money that can be gotten for the same.2nd June, 1749. Ordered that the Companys Arms be cast in lead and affixed upon the several houses belonging to this Company.

5th July, 1749. Ordered that the Library of Books formerly belonging to the late united Company be forthwith sold for the most money that can be gotten for the same.

2nd June, 1749. Ordered that the Companys Arms be cast in lead and affixed upon the several houses belonging to this Company.

Various specimens of these castings are extant about the Hall, and in possession of Mr. Charles John Shoppee (Master 1878) and of the author.

2nd May, 1750. Ordered that MrPaterson do wait upon the Earl of Burlington to know his Lordship’s intention about repairing the Company’s Theatre.6th June, 1750. Ordered that the Clerk do write to the Right Honorable the Earl of Burlington to aquaint him of the ruinous condition of the Theatre and Company’s inability to repair the same and to know whether his Lordship will bepleased to order the said Repairs agreable to his own generous proposal in the Mastership of MrRutter.

2nd May, 1750. Ordered that MrPaterson do wait upon the Earl of Burlington to know his Lordship’s intention about repairing the Company’s Theatre.

6th June, 1750. Ordered that the Clerk do write to the Right Honorable the Earl of Burlington to aquaint him of the ruinous condition of the Theatre and Company’s inability to repair the same and to know whether his Lordship will bepleased to order the said Repairs agreable to his own generous proposal in the Mastership of MrRutter.

Nothing came of this application.

1st August, 1750. Ordered that the Clerk do cause a Catalogue to be made of the Books in the Library, and that he deliver a copy thereof to MrSamuel Rutter.

9th August, 1750. Mr. Gheys, Sculptor, was ordered to have the Skeleton, in exchange for the Bust of Inigo Jones, still preserved at the Hall.

3rd September, 1751. Resolved also that the old Pall be given to the Beadle.

This, alas! was the “rich and ancient pall.”

The Clerk was again directed to endeavour to sell the Library and it was disposed of to Mr. Whiston the Bookseller for £13!!

29th October, 1751. Resolved that the Doctors Gown and Hood be given to the Beadle.13th August, 1752. Ordered that it be referred to the Master and Wardens to treat with MrThomas Reynolds about erecting a Cupola over the great Parlor agreable to the Draft now produced to this Court and about repairing the Roof And also repairing whitewashing and painting the said Parlor so as the Contract for that purpose do not exceed the sum of One hundred and seventeen pounds.

29th October, 1751. Resolved that the Doctors Gown and Hood be given to the Beadle.

13th August, 1752. Ordered that it be referred to the Master and Wardens to treat with MrThomas Reynolds about erecting a Cupola over the great Parlor agreable to the Draft now produced to this Court and about repairing the Roof And also repairing whitewashing and painting the said Parlor so as the Contract for that purpose do not exceed the sum of One hundred and seventeen pounds.

19th August, 1752. The Agreement between the Company and Mr. Reynolds was entered into at £116 15s., and the Specification of his work is recorded in the Minute Book, from which I extract thefollowing:—

The Cupola compleat and properly secured glazed and ornamented with Stucco and the Roof covered with Milled lead seven pounds to the ffoot with good brass pulley in the middle fit for a Branch or Lustre. A new white veined marble Chimney piece and Slabb with a carved wooden ovalo round it and Slabb of the same Marble The Chimney piece of the same dimensions as the present and the Slabb six foot nine inches by two foot four inches with a new fire stone hearth.The ceiling and ornaments thereof to be secured mended cleaned and whitewashed.

The ceiling and ornaments thereof to be secured mended cleaned and whitewashed.

9th August, 1753. The Great Hall, Kitchen and Lobby were ordered to be repaired by Mr. Reynolds in accordance with his Estimate of £101 17s.6d.

8th August, 1754. Ordered that the thanks of this Court be given to James Theobald Esqrone of the Ancient Masters of the Company for the magnificent Lustre by him lately presented and at his Expense fixed up in their great parlor assuring him This Court doth most gratefully accept the same as a monument of his regard for the honor and prosperity of the Company.

This handsome lustre still adorns the Court Room.

12th September, 1754. The Court having considered the state of the Theatre, which was out of repair, and for which the Company had no use, ordered advertisements to be inserted twice in three daily papers, asking for tenders for the materials of the same, and for pulling down and clearing it away. The “N.B.” to the advertisement states that “The Doors, Benches and Railes of the said Theatre are of Cedar.”

1st October, 1754. Three tenders for the materials of the Theatre were received, £21 10s.0d., £32 and £35 respectively, and the decision thereon postponed.

4th February, 1755. William Shakespear (Barber) the apprentice of Richard Hulett, was admitted to the freedom.

5th June, 1764. The Clerk informed the Court of the death of Mrs. Elizabeth I’Ans, widow of Mr. Michael I’Ans, and that the Master and Wardens had, on the 23rd May, received of the Executors of Mr. I’Ans £2,200—31/2per cent. Bank Annuities, and £75 in accordance with Mr. I’Ans’ will.

1764 and 1765. Mr. James Clowes who had been summoned to take up the Livery, refused to do so, whereupon he was sued for the fine of £20 and judgment obtained against him with costs.

14th August, 1766. A Committee having been appointed to examine and report upon the Theatre, and having done so, were now authorised to apply to the Court of Common Council for permission to pull down the same, and to treat with that Court for the purchase of the ground, for which the Company paid the City £3 per annum under an old lease.

3rd November, 1767. The City Comptroller having requested the Company to make an offer for the site of the Theatre, it was resolved that 30 years’ purchase (£90) be offered for the same.

7th February, 1769. A plan of the ground leased by the City to the Company and on which the Theatre stood, having been prepared by Mr. George Dance, Clerk of the Works to the City, it was laid before the Court, and the City sold the fee simple to the Company for £90. Would that one could buy City freeholds at the same rate now!

2nd September, 1783. Mr. Sylvanus Hall, of Paternoster Row, Carpenter, proposed to take a lease of the ground on which the Theatre stood, to take down the whole building, and to erect two dwelling houses on the site similar to those he had already built in Monkwell Street. The lease to commence at Christmas, 1784, and to be for 61 years at £10 ground rent. He also proposed to pay the Company £20 for the old materials of the Theatre and to clear the same away. To all these propositions the Court agreed, and Mr. Hall paid a guinea as earnest money.

1st February, 1785. Mr. Hall having pulled down the Theatre, the Clerk was instructed to write to him for the £20 for the old materials which he had removed.

4th October, 1791. There being a sufficient number of Members present to form a Court of Assistants, thoˀ no such Court was called, the Master took the sense of the Members present, as an adjournment from the last Court of Assistants, whether the Company should go out in the usual procession the ensuing Lord Mayor’s day, when on the question being put, the same was resolved in the negative.4th November, 1794. MrThomas Holehouse who was on the 1stJuly last elected on the Livery of this Company, but had refused to take upon him the same, without shewing any cause to the Contrary, and against whom an Action had been commenced for the recovery of Twenty Pounds the penalty incurred by such his refusal, this day attended and paid the said sum of Twenty pounds together with the costs of the said Action.

4th November, 1794. MrThomas Holehouse who was on the 1stJuly last elected on the Livery of this Company, but had refused to take upon him the same, without shewing any cause to the Contrary, and against whom an Action had been commenced for the recovery of Twenty Pounds the penalty incurred by such his refusal, this day attended and paid the said sum of Twenty pounds together with the costs of the said Action.

9th November, 1795. The following Circular was distributed amongst the Livery at the dinner thisday:—

The Court of Assistants of the Worshipful Company of Barbers having received information that many persons residing within the City of London carry on the Trade of a Barber and Hair dresser without being free of this Company to the great prejudice of the Members and the rights of the Company Do hereby give notice that they have come to a resolution to prosecute all persons carrying on the trade of a Barber or Hair dresser within the said City not being free of this Company and they request the assistance of their Members for that purpose for the benefit of the Company and Trade at large; any information to their Clerk at the Hall will be duly attended to.By order of Court,EdwdGrose Smith,Clerk.

By order of Court,EdwdGrose Smith,Clerk.

9th November, 1796. The By-Laws of the Company having been found, on the opinion of Mr. Serjeant Adair, insufficient toenforce the payment of fines for the refusal to serve various offices, a new set was drawn up by the Clerk, and submitted to and approved by the Court, who ordered the Clerk to get the same confirmed and allowed by the Lord Chancellor and two Chief Justices, but this was never done.

5th September, 1797. The Mahogany table now in the Court Room was made about this time. There is a tradition that the bulb-shaped end of it was a portion of the old dissecting table used by the Surgeons. If so, its latter days are more cheerful than its first.

1796 to 1799. Several Barbers were prosecuted for exercising their Trade within the limits of the Company’s Charters and brought to terms, generally they became freemen, and then were compelled to come on to the livery; in other cases the barbers removed out the jurisdiction, and paid the costs.

18th May, 1802. The Commissioners for the Public Lottery having advertised for a place in which to hold the lotteries, the Court decided to send in proposals offering the use of the Hall (under certain restrictions) for the next three lotteries for Six hundred guineas, but the offer was not accepted.

1st August, 1809. A case was submitted to the Attorney General (Sir R. Gibbs) who gave an opinion that the freemen of the Company were exempt from serving on Juries, but not from serving as Constables.

4th February, 1812. A memorial signed by four freemen of the Company was presented to the Court, the purport of which wasthat the memorialists having been summoned to act as Ward Constables had refused to serve, and that thereupon actions had been brought against them, which, being tried before Lord Ellenborough, the verdicts were against them and they were ordered to pay the costs (£333 9s.0d.). The memorialists alleging that they defended the actions for the benefit of the Company and really to uphold its privileges, prayed that they might be reimbursed the costs, which, however, the Court declined to accede to, but ordered that £12, which had been paid to the Company for copies of the Charters, should be refunded.

1814. The Churchwardens of St. Olave, Silver Street, having assessed the Hall at £172, they were requested to attend the next Court which they did, and the following delightful method of settling these matters is recommended to the Authorities nowadays.

1st November, 1814. The parish officers of Saint Olave Silver Street attended & stated to the Court that the Vestry of that Parish had taken the subject of the Poor rate into consideration, and considering the great increase of the rate they left it to the Company to say what they were agreeable to be rated at; the Court proposed to say £100 per annum; the gentlemen (having withdrawn) were then called in and informed of such proposal, with which they cordially acquiesced.2nd April, 1816. Alexander Rowland the younger [of Macassar oil fame] of Kirby Street Hatton Garden, Barber was admitted to the Livery.

2nd April, 1816. Alexander Rowland the younger [of Macassar oil fame] of Kirby Street Hatton Garden, Barber was admitted to the Livery.

3rd May, 1825. The Livery stand, being in a decayed and useless condition, was ordered to be sold.

2nd May, 1826. But as a purchaser could not be found, the Master offered to give £5 for it, which was accepted, and this, together with an additional £5, was ordered to be given to the Committee for the Relief of Distressed Manufacturers.

5th February, 1861. Mr. John Atkinson gave £100 consols for the purpose of distributing the dividends thereof in the purchase of Bibles and Prayer Books for the poor members of the Company.

7th February, 1862. Mr. John Atkinson’s Will reciting a munificent bequest to the Company is set out in the minutes of this date.

3rd February, 1863. A Statement of the property left by Mr. John Atkinson is recorded in a letter from the Solicitors to his Trustees directed to the Court, and entered in the minutes of this date.

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