5th June, 1604. This daye Mrffenton pˀsented to this Courte 500 bookes of Horatius Moras tables translated into Englishe and delivˀed them to the Mrsof this Company in the name & behalf of MrDeputieCaldwell197who freely gave them to this Company to be distributed amongest the pˀfessors of Chirurgery freemen of this Company.28th February, 1605. This daye it is ordered that there shalbe a letter pˀntly drawne by the advice of the Mrsof this Company and sent to the Colledge of Phisic͠ons by the Clark of this Company wherein there shalbe desyred if they please a Conferrence betwixt some of theire College and some of the auncientꝭ of this Company in some indifferent place of meetinge to conferre concerninge theire greevancꝭ.18th March, 1605. This daye uppon the request of MrSerjeant Prymerose & MrNeste Smyth the kynges Surgeons by their Letter It was ordered that Cezar Scultinge Duchman theyre servant should be examyned and approved concerninge his skill in Surgery on thursdaye next And beinge found skilfull that hee mighte have letters of admittance from this Company gratis.
5th June, 1604. This daye Mrffenton pˀsented to this Courte 500 bookes of Horatius Moras tables translated into Englishe and delivˀed them to the Mrsof this Company in the name & behalf of MrDeputieCaldwell197who freely gave them to this Company to be distributed amongest the pˀfessors of Chirurgery freemen of this Company.
28th February, 1605. This daye it is ordered that there shalbe a letter pˀntly drawne by the advice of the Mrsof this Company and sent to the Colledge of Phisic͠ons by the Clark of this Company wherein there shalbe desyred if they please a Conferrence betwixt some of theire College and some of the auncientꝭ of this Company in some indifferent place of meetinge to conferre concerninge theire greevancꝭ.
18th March, 1605. This daye uppon the request of MrSerjeant Prymerose & MrNeste Smyth the kynges Surgeons by their Letter It was ordered that Cezar Scultinge Duchman theyre servant should be examyned and approved concerninge his skill in Surgery on thursdaye next And beinge found skilfull that hee mighte have letters of admittance from this Company gratis.
21st March, 1605. “Zeger Schultynchs,” the Dutchman above mentioned, was examined and had his diploma gratis, but was ordered to pay 2s.quarterage and 2s.for absence from lectures.
30th April, 1605. This daye Mrffenton complayned of Robert Morrey for supplantinge him of divscures And for slanderinge him in his pˀfession And also for his evell practize And was for his said abuses fyned at vliwchhee is to bringe in at the next Court orels to be committed to the Compter.
30th April, 1605. This daye Mrffenton complayned of Robert Morrey for supplantinge him of divscures And for slanderinge him in his pˀfession And also for his evell practize And was for his said abuses fyned at vliwchhee is to bringe in at the next Court orels to be committed to the Compter.
7th May, 1605. Morrey being contumacious, was by the Court committed to prison.
28th May, 1605. This daye Willm̃ Corbet appeared before the Mrsof this Company and was dismissed from the exercyze of Surgery for his evill practize.This daye Willm̃ Corbet was bounde to the Mrsin xlinot to practize Surgery or wthin one myles compasse wthout the Mrslycence.25th June, 1605. This daye Abraham Renex is fined at xsfor his absens from lectures And is to pay xspˀ an. for his lycence of absens hereaftr.3rd September, 1605. This day Pascal Lane a practicioner in the art of Surgery was by our Mrsorder comitted to the Compter for cuttinge of one Thom̃s Thorntons child for the stone who dyed pnˀtlie under his handꝭ by his neckligence & ignoraunce where he is to continue till he hath payed the fine of xlsfor not makeingepˀntac͠on198to the Mrsof the cure accordinge to the orders of the Company.12th September, 1605. In the controvˀsie betwixt Thomas Thornton and Pascall Laneãls199Lyne It is ordered by consent of both pˀties That the said Pascall Lane shall pˀntlie pay to the said Thornton xxswhich he pˀntlie did And he hath delivˀed a ring to orMrswthcondic͠on to pay to the said Thornton xxsmore this night And all controvˀsies betwixt them are to cease and determine from henceforth.26th November, 1605. This day Henry Goodwyn a Sorcerer was by the Mrsforbidden to practize any more in the arte of Surgery.1st July, 1606. This day Stephen Abraham a Barbor was fined for not makeing pˀentac͠on of his cure in daunger of death and it was forgeven him.
28th May, 1605. This daye Willm̃ Corbet appeared before the Mrsof this Company and was dismissed from the exercyze of Surgery for his evill practize.
This daye Willm̃ Corbet was bounde to the Mrsin xlinot to practize Surgery or wthin one myles compasse wthout the Mrslycence.
25th June, 1605. This daye Abraham Renex is fined at xsfor his absens from lectures And is to pay xspˀ an. for his lycence of absens hereaftr.
3rd September, 1605. This day Pascal Lane a practicioner in the art of Surgery was by our Mrsorder comitted to the Compter for cuttinge of one Thom̃s Thorntons child for the stone who dyed pnˀtlie under his handꝭ by his neckligence & ignoraunce where he is to continue till he hath payed the fine of xlsfor not makeingepˀntac͠on198to the Mrsof the cure accordinge to the orders of the Company.
12th September, 1605. In the controvˀsie betwixt Thomas Thornton and Pascall Laneãls199Lyne It is ordered by consent of both pˀties That the said Pascall Lane shall pˀntlie pay to the said Thornton xxswhich he pˀntlie did And he hath delivˀed a ring to orMrswthcondic͠on to pay to the said Thornton xxsmore this night And all controvˀsies betwixt them are to cease and determine from henceforth.
26th November, 1605. This day Henry Goodwyn a Sorcerer was by the Mrsforbidden to practize any more in the arte of Surgery.
1st July, 1606. This day Stephen Abraham a Barbor was fined for not makeing pˀentac͠on of his cure in daunger of death and it was forgeven him.
14th July, 1606. The funds of the Company were, at this period, very low, Mr. Pecke offering to lend £50 and Mr. Fenton £100, without interest, and the following entry would indicate that the expenses attendant upon the Anatomy demonstrations were a burden.
This day for the avoydinge of charges it is ordered by this Courte that no publique Anothomy shalbe holden in the Comon hall of this mistery for the space of theis three yeares now next ensuinge. Yett notwthstandinge it is ordered by this Courte ytthe Mrs& Stewardꝭ of the Anothomy for the yeare next ensuinge shall continue Mrs& Stewardꝭ the said space And shall once in evˀie yeare at such tymes as the Mrsof this Company shall thinck fitt dissect a private Anothomy in the Comon hall of the said mistery for their better experience and cunninge.14th July, 1606.Alsoit is further ordered & decreed by this Courte fforasmuch as diverspˀsons ffremen of this Company who have very litle or no skill at all in the Arte of Surgery doe neverthelesse make a publique pˀfession of the said Arte And thereby comitt many errorsto the great dispaˀgmtof the worthie and experienced professorsthereof and to the hurte of divrsof his Matꝭ lovinge subjectꝭ That from henceforth no man be admitted to have his name entered downe for a Surgeon into the lecture bill except by the consent of the mrsor governours of the said mistery & Coiãltie for the tyme beinge And that it shalbe lawful for the pˀnte Mrsor governours to dismisse out of the lecture bill the names of such pˀsones as they shall thincke fitt to be put out, which pˀsons so dismissed and put out shall live out of the protexion of this Company for & in respect of their practize in the Arte of Surgery untill they shall by them be thought fitt to practice in that Arte & admitted into such bill uppon their humble suite. But if any disobedient obstinate or stubborne pˀson shall notwthstandinge his such dismission practice in the said arte Then it is further ordred by this Courte that suite in law shalbe pˀsecuted against such obstinate pˀsons at the charge of this Company for such their unlawfull practice in Surgery.7th October, 1606. This daie Willm̃ ffoster was fyned at xxsfor his evell practize upon his patient being a servaunt of my Lord grace of Cant. and is to bring in the same fyne at the next Court.This daie it is ordered that Richard Holden be warned to the next Court for not reeding his lecture.24th October, 1606. This daie Clement White appeared before this Court upon Complaynt for settinge his servaunte to sea before he was examyned & his chest vewed by the MrsAnd for that he knew not the orders of this Company he is forgyven his offence for this tyme.2nd December, 1606. This daie John Anslow was comitted to the Compter for defraudinge of Willm̃ ffoster of his patient And is to pay ffoster for his paynes in that cure.9th July, 1607. This daye RogerJenkins200heretofore examined & appˀved in the Arte of Surgery was pˀsented before the Deane of Pawles. And his letters of Admittance from the said Deane.Also AbrahamAllen201was lykewyse admitted by the said Deane.
This day for the avoydinge of charges it is ordered by this Courte that no publique Anothomy shalbe holden in the Comon hall of this mistery for the space of theis three yeares now next ensuinge. Yett notwthstandinge it is ordered by this Courte ytthe Mrs& Stewardꝭ of the Anothomy for the yeare next ensuinge shall continue Mrs& Stewardꝭ the said space And shall once in evˀie yeare at such tymes as the Mrsof this Company shall thinck fitt dissect a private Anothomy in the Comon hall of the said mistery for their better experience and cunninge.
14th July, 1606.Alsoit is further ordered & decreed by this Courte fforasmuch as diverspˀsons ffremen of this Company who have very litle or no skill at all in the Arte of Surgery doe neverthelesse make a publique pˀfession of the said Arte And thereby comitt many errorsto the great dispaˀgmtof the worthie and experienced professorsthereof and to the hurte of divrsof his Matꝭ lovinge subjectꝭ That from henceforth no man be admitted to have his name entered downe for a Surgeon into the lecture bill except by the consent of the mrsor governours of the said mistery & Coiãltie for the tyme beinge And that it shalbe lawful for the pˀnte Mrsor governours to dismisse out of the lecture bill the names of such pˀsones as they shall thincke fitt to be put out, which pˀsons so dismissed and put out shall live out of the protexion of this Company for & in respect of their practize in the Arte of Surgery untill they shall by them be thought fitt to practice in that Arte & admitted into such bill uppon their humble suite. But if any disobedient obstinate or stubborne pˀson shall notwthstandinge his such dismission practice in the said arte Then it is further ordred by this Courte that suite in law shalbe pˀsecuted against such obstinate pˀsons at the charge of this Company for such their unlawfull practice in Surgery.
7th October, 1606. This daie Willm̃ ffoster was fyned at xxsfor his evell practize upon his patient being a servaunt of my Lord grace of Cant. and is to bring in the same fyne at the next Court.
This daie it is ordered that Richard Holden be warned to the next Court for not reeding his lecture.
24th October, 1606. This daie Clement White appeared before this Court upon Complaynt for settinge his servaunte to sea before he was examyned & his chest vewed by the MrsAnd for that he knew not the orders of this Company he is forgyven his offence for this tyme.
2nd December, 1606. This daie John Anslow was comitted to the Compter for defraudinge of Willm̃ ffoster of his patient And is to pay ffoster for his paynes in that cure.
9th July, 1607. This daye RogerJenkins200heretofore examined & appˀved in the Arte of Surgery was pˀsented before the Deane of Pawles. And his letters of Admittance from the said Deane.
Also AbrahamAllen201was lykewyse admitted by the said Deane.
20th July, 1607. Mr. Thomas Thorney (Master 1602), Mr. Richard Mapes (M. 1612), Mr. Richard Wood (M. 1591), Mr. Serjeant Gudderus (M. 1594), Mr. Willm̃ Gayle (M. 1595), Mr. George Baker (M. 1597 and Serjeant Surgeon), Mr. John Peck (M. 1605), Mr. Christopher Frederick (M. 1609 and Serjeant Surgeon), Mr. John Gerrard (the celebrated Herbalist, M. 1607), and Mr. Joseph Fenton (M. 1624), were appointed Examiners of Surgeons, and amongst other articles it wasordained:—
That none of the said examiners shall pˀsent any pˀson useinge surgery to the Bishop of London or to the Deane of Pawles to the intent to get or pˀcure such Surgeon Lycence or admission to practize Surgery unlesse such Surgeon at such tyme shall have his letter of admittance from this Company under the Common scale of the same testifieinge his admission to practize surgery.7th July, 1608. This daye Mathias Jenkinson was examyned concerninge his skyll in the arte of Surgery And was lycenced to cut for the hernia or Rupture to couch the Catrac to cut for the wry neck & the hare lip Provided that hee call the pˀsent Mrsof this Company to every such Cure or such of the Assistantꝭ as are examined & approved as the said Mrsin such case shall appoynt And is to enter into bond in xllifor pˀformance hereof And paid to the pˀsent MrsxlsAnd is to paye xlsmore at midsomer next.20th June, 1609. This daye Mathias Jenkinson is dischardged from his practize in Surgery for that hee hath not observed the articles of his Tollerac͠on and for his evell & unskilfull practize.27th February, 1610. Whereas one William Wright was a suiter to this Courte that he might be examined & admitted to practice Surgery. Now forasmuch as it appeareth he is one of a contentious & troublesome speritt & of a bad & scandalous disposition who hath not onlie heretofore diverstymes byn fined for usinge slanderous & evill speeches against diversthat have byn Mrs& governours of this Company but also sundrie tymes heretofore & now daylie useth slaunderous wordꝭ & speeches wthmany wicked cursingꝭ & revilingꝭ against MrMapes in the hearinge of diversof the neighboursof the said Wright where he dwelleth, which beinge by this Court dulie examined is found that the same slaunders& revilingꝭ doe proceed out of his wicked mynd wthout any just cause given Wherefore it is by this Courte ordered and fullie decreed That the saidWright shall not at any tyme hereafter be examined or approved for his skill of Surgerie untill he shall & doe before 4 or 5 of the neighboursof the said Wrighte to whom he hath thus abused MrMapes and in his & their presence openlie confesse & acknowledge that he the said Wrighte hath wronged and abused the said MrMapes And shall then and there before them submitt himself & be sorrie for all such wrongꝭ & wicked Cursingꝭ as he hath reported or spoken with promise hereafter never by wordꝭ or deedꝭ to wronge him or any other of this Courte or any other of the Assistantꝭ of this Company.27th February, 1610. At this Courte was John Cotton of Radcliffe a professor of Surgery comited to the Compter for not makinge presentac͠on of his Cure wchdyed under his hand & also for his evill practice wchhe used to his Cure as it did appeare beinge examined thereuppon And further he is forbidden to practice Surgery any more untill that he be examined.2nd October, 1610. At this Court it is ordered that Richard Baynes and Xpõfer Browne shalbe comitted to the Compter for that they did not come and make answer to this Court of the Complayntꝭ wchare made against them by their sevˀall patientꝭ they being therefore warned at sevˀall Court dayes.9th October, 1610. At this Court was one wyddowe Bryers comitted to the Compter for practising Surgery contrary to the Statutꝭ of this Realme.
That none of the said examiners shall pˀsent any pˀson useinge surgery to the Bishop of London or to the Deane of Pawles to the intent to get or pˀcure such Surgeon Lycence or admission to practize Surgery unlesse such Surgeon at such tyme shall have his letter of admittance from this Company under the Common scale of the same testifieinge his admission to practize surgery.
7th July, 1608. This daye Mathias Jenkinson was examyned concerninge his skyll in the arte of Surgery And was lycenced to cut for the hernia or Rupture to couch the Catrac to cut for the wry neck & the hare lip Provided that hee call the pˀsent Mrsof this Company to every such Cure or such of the Assistantꝭ as are examined & approved as the said Mrsin such case shall appoynt And is to enter into bond in xllifor pˀformance hereof And paid to the pˀsent MrsxlsAnd is to paye xlsmore at midsomer next.
20th June, 1609. This daye Mathias Jenkinson is dischardged from his practize in Surgery for that hee hath not observed the articles of his Tollerac͠on and for his evell & unskilfull practize.
27th February, 1610. Whereas one William Wright was a suiter to this Courte that he might be examined & admitted to practice Surgery. Now forasmuch as it appeareth he is one of a contentious & troublesome speritt & of a bad & scandalous disposition who hath not onlie heretofore diverstymes byn fined for usinge slanderous & evill speeches against diversthat have byn Mrs& governours of this Company but also sundrie tymes heretofore & now daylie useth slaunderous wordꝭ & speeches wthmany wicked cursingꝭ & revilingꝭ against MrMapes in the hearinge of diversof the neighboursof the said Wright where he dwelleth, which beinge by this Court dulie examined is found that the same slaunders& revilingꝭ doe proceed out of his wicked mynd wthout any just cause given Wherefore it is by this Courte ordered and fullie decreed That the saidWright shall not at any tyme hereafter be examined or approved for his skill of Surgerie untill he shall & doe before 4 or 5 of the neighboursof the said Wrighte to whom he hath thus abused MrMapes and in his & their presence openlie confesse & acknowledge that he the said Wrighte hath wronged and abused the said MrMapes And shall then and there before them submitt himself & be sorrie for all such wrongꝭ & wicked Cursingꝭ as he hath reported or spoken with promise hereafter never by wordꝭ or deedꝭ to wronge him or any other of this Courte or any other of the Assistantꝭ of this Company.
27th February, 1610. At this Courte was John Cotton of Radcliffe a professor of Surgery comited to the Compter for not makinge presentac͠on of his Cure wchdyed under his hand & also for his evill practice wchhe used to his Cure as it did appeare beinge examined thereuppon And further he is forbidden to practice Surgery any more untill that he be examined.
2nd October, 1610. At this Court it is ordered that Richard Baynes and Xpõfer Browne shalbe comitted to the Compter for that they did not come and make answer to this Court of the Complayntꝭ wchare made against them by their sevˀall patientꝭ they being therefore warned at sevˀall Court dayes.
9th October, 1610. At this Court was one wyddowe Bryers comitted to the Compter for practising Surgery contrary to the Statutꝭ of this Realme.
About this period are several instances of Surgeons being fined for going to sea without licence, and for not having their sea chests examined,e.g.:
6th November, 1610. Att this Court Gyles fflemmynge did promyse that on Tewsdaye come ffortnight he woulde bring in his ffyne of xlifor going to Sea wthout lycence of this howse, whereupon the Court was contented to proceed noe further against him in respect of such abuses as he hath offred.
6th November, 1610. Att this Court Gyles fflemmynge did promyse that on Tewsdaye come ffortnight he woulde bring in his ffyne of xlifor going to Sea wthout lycence of this howse, whereupon the Court was contented to proceed noe further against him in respect of such abuses as he hath offred.
22nd January, 1611. James Blackborne applied to be admitted a brother to practise Surgery and promising to pay £10 for his admission and to make the examiners a dinner, a day was appointed for his examination.
31st January, 1611. This daie James Blackborne was examined touchinge his skill in the generatyve ptꝭ of women; and bringinge of women to bedd in theirdangerous and difficult Labors: And he the said Blackborne was found fitt and allowed to practize (in that Chirurgicall pˀte of Surgery touching the generatyve ptꝭ of women & bringinge them to bedd in their dangerous & difficult Labours) by letters under the seale of the howse beinge the date above wrytten And was att this Court sworne and admitted a fforayne brother; and in considerac͠on thereof he paid to the pˀnte Mrsatt this Court xli.
31st January, 1611. This daie James Blackborne was examined touchinge his skill in the generatyve ptꝭ of women; and bringinge of women to bedd in theirdangerous and difficult Labors: And he the said Blackborne was found fitt and allowed to practize (in that Chirurgicall pˀte of Surgery touching the generatyve ptꝭ of women & bringinge them to bedd in their dangerous & difficult Labours) by letters under the seale of the howse beinge the date above wrytten And was att this Court sworne and admitted a fforayne brother; and in considerac͠on thereof he paid to the pˀnte Mrsatt this Court xli.
The Barber-Surgeons had claimed the exclusive right of embalming dead bodies, but how they fared in their contention with the Wax Chandlers (referred to in the next extract) does not appear.
26th October, 1612. This daie it is ordered that at the chardgꝭ of the howse the pˀnte Masters wththe Clark shall seeke in the Rowles for the charter of the wax chaundlers and to tak a coppie of that pˀte of the charter touchinge the libertie gyven unto them for the imbaulmynge of dead bodyes And as they shall finde the same soe to take the advice of my lord cheife Justice about the same at the chardgꝭ of the howse.3rd November, 1612. This daie the Company receavinge a letter from the lordꝭ of his Matꝭ most honˀable privye Councell wherein they intreated the Company to give leave unto one Bartholomew Vanderlatch a stranger to take in hand one Melser Gisberd whoe had an ympedymtin his eye, whereupon this Court was pleased that the said Vanderlatch should take in hand to cure the said Gisberd wthout disturbance of this howse.17th November, 1612. Att this Court Richard ffynche dwelling at Pyckle herring is forbidden to practise bonesetting or any other matter touching surgery at any time hereafter.7th December, 1613. This daie John Antonio an Italian being an Imposter practizing in surgery is forbidden by this Court to deale any more in Surgery.3rd March, 1614. This daie MrRobert Allott doctorin Phissick & one of the fellowes of StJohnes Colledge in Cambridge was admitted a brother of this Company and hade the letters of this howse under the seale thereof graunted unto him.15th March, 1614. This daie it is ordered that Thomas Gillam shall at the next court of assistauntꝭ bring in his fyne of vlifor discecting of an Anothomy out of this hall.12th April, 1614. This daie it is ordered that Thomas Collyns shall bring in his fyne of 10lifor going to sea not having his Chest vewed.27th May, 1616. At this Court is gyven unto MrDocter Crooke the some of 5lifor that he did dedicate a booke unto this Companie & gave one of them unto this howse.
26th October, 1612. This daie it is ordered that at the chardgꝭ of the howse the pˀnte Masters wththe Clark shall seeke in the Rowles for the charter of the wax chaundlers and to tak a coppie of that pˀte of the charter touchinge the libertie gyven unto them for the imbaulmynge of dead bodyes And as they shall finde the same soe to take the advice of my lord cheife Justice about the same at the chardgꝭ of the howse.
3rd November, 1612. This daie the Company receavinge a letter from the lordꝭ of his Matꝭ most honˀable privye Councell wherein they intreated the Company to give leave unto one Bartholomew Vanderlatch a stranger to take in hand one Melser Gisberd whoe had an ympedymtin his eye, whereupon this Court was pleased that the said Vanderlatch should take in hand to cure the said Gisberd wthout disturbance of this howse.
17th November, 1612. Att this Court Richard ffynche dwelling at Pyckle herring is forbidden to practise bonesetting or any other matter touching surgery at any time hereafter.
7th December, 1613. This daie John Antonio an Italian being an Imposter practizing in surgery is forbidden by this Court to deale any more in Surgery.
3rd March, 1614. This daie MrRobert Allott doctorin Phissick & one of the fellowes of StJohnes Colledge in Cambridge was admitted a brother of this Company and hade the letters of this howse under the seale thereof graunted unto him.
15th March, 1614. This daie it is ordered that Thomas Gillam shall at the next court of assistauntꝭ bring in his fyne of vlifor discecting of an Anothomy out of this hall.
12th April, 1614. This daie it is ordered that Thomas Collyns shall bring in his fyne of 10lifor going to sea not having his Chest vewed.
27th May, 1616. At this Court is gyven unto MrDocter Crooke the some of 5lifor that he did dedicate a booke unto this Companie & gave one of them unto this howse.
15th August, 1616. John Walgrave came before the Court upon Summons, and beingquestioned—
if he practized Surgery he peremptorily replied he did & gott his lyveinge by the same and was an auntienter Surgeon then themselves Then he was demaunded by what authoritie he did practice Surgery to wchhe aunswered he had sufficient authoritie for he was allowed by the Archbusshop of Canterburie and the Busshop of London Then Mrffenton demaundinge of him in what busshops tymes he was so admitted, after manie insolent & menasinge speches & unsemely behaviors he aunswered he was admitted by Busshop Whiteguift. Then was demaunded of him by what Busshop of London he was admitted to wchhe very insolent replied that he scorned to tell them or to be examined by anie of them all, vauntinge further that he was a better gentleman than anie of them all To wchMrffenton aunswered that if he did so he did it unlawfully & he aunswered that he cared not, for he had practized these 30 yeares & wold still practice the same. And Mrffenton told him that though he had practized so long yet that made it not lawfull except he had byn examined & approved according unto the lawes of the land To wchWalgrave beinge in great passion wthmenaceinge & threatninge behaviorreplied unto Mrffenton & the rest, you lye & I tell you agayne you lye And so wthproud menacinge & insolent behaviorwthmany insolent unsemely & irreverent speches to all that satt at that tyme in the Court he most unmanerly & wthout regard of anie that sat their depˀted.
if he practized Surgery he peremptorily replied he did & gott his lyveinge by the same and was an auntienter Surgeon then themselves Then he was demaunded by what authoritie he did practice Surgery to wchhe aunswered he had sufficient authoritie for he was allowed by the Archbusshop of Canterburie and the Busshop of London Then Mrffenton demaundinge of him in what busshops tymes he was so admitted, after manie insolent & menasinge speches & unsemely behaviors he aunswered he was admitted by Busshop Whiteguift. Then was demaunded of him by what Busshop of London he was admitted to wchhe very insolent replied that he scorned to tell them or to be examined by anie of them all, vauntinge further that he was a better gentleman than anie of them all To wchMrffenton aunswered that if he did so he did it unlawfully & he aunswered that he cared not, for he had practized these 30 yeares & wold still practice the same. And Mrffenton told him that though he had practized so long yet that made it not lawfull except he had byn examined & approved according unto the lawes of the land To wchWalgrave beinge in great passion wthmenaceinge & threatninge behaviorreplied unto Mrffenton & the rest, you lye & I tell you agayne you lye And so wthproud menacinge & insolent behaviorwthmany insolent unsemely & irreverent speches to all that satt at that tyme in the Court he most unmanerly & wthout regard of anie that sat their depˀted.
In all probability it was ascertained that Walgrave had the Bishop’s licence or else some powerful friends, as no further notice seems to have been taken of his contempt, though the records abundantly show that the Court was never slow to visit condign punishment on far lesser offenders than this man.
15th July, 1624. Whereas informac͠on is given to this Court that of late DoctorGrints servingman John Eethell lett a maide blood, her arme mortified and the maid thereupon died, it is ordered by this Court that there shalbe counsell taken thereon, and a suite comenced agˀt him at the Costs of this house.7th December, 1624. This daye John Baptista Succa a mountibancke and an Italian borne had order to forbeare his practise here in London.6th November, 1627. This daye was presented to this Courte by Humfrey Bromley a letter from the Lord Maiorof this Cittie of London the tenorwhereof is as followethTothe Mrand Wardeins of the Companie of Barbar SurgionsWhereasSrHenry Herbert Knight Mrof the Revells hath authorised the bearer hereof Humfrey Bromley to shew a Child presented to be naturallie borne haveing Twoe heades ffower Armes and three leggꝭ wchI suppose not to be borne of any woeman or to be the perfect substance of a child in respect whereof I forbeare to pˀmitt the said Humfrey Bromely to make shewe thereof within the libˀties of this Cittye untill such tyme as I maye be truely satisfied from you whether the same child be of the substance as is pretended Therefore I desire you that upon advised view of the said Child you truly certifie mee in writing under yorhandꝭ whether the same be really a child as is presented to thend I maye not unadvisedly suffer his Matꝭ subjectꝭ to be deceyved thereby. This second of November Anno Dni. 1627.Hugh HamersleyMaior.Whereupon the vew of the supposed body as aforesaid it is ordered that this answere be returned to the Lord Maioras followeth viz:RightHonobleAccording unto yorLõps reference unto us directed dated the second of November 1627Weehave taken a deliberate vewe of the supposed monstrous birth presented unto us to be vewed as from your honorby one Humfrey Bromley And although wee cannot possitively affirme it proceeded not from a woeman Yet under favor, wee conceive and soe deliver our opinions that the said supposed monstrous shape hath beene, either by Arte soe composed and put together from unnaturall and untimely birthes of Children or from other Animalls, as Apes, Munckeys or the like wchhave a greate resemblance of Manns bodye, in many of their partes and soe by the cunninge subtiletye of the composer made into a monster, thereby to delude the worlde and haveing a Bodye of Antiquitie cannot safely receive a flatt and manifest contradiction; And wee are induced the rather to suspect it for that the producer thereof hath noe testimonye from any learned or judicious men; neither from any Magistrates of the partes where it is pretended to have bene borne, wchsuch offendors use aboundantly to be furnished withall. And in conclusion compareing his printed demonstrac͠on of his monster, with the Author he siteth, and others that have written of such and the like monsters, Wee finde a greate deale of Addition and a manifest disagreemtwchis a playne badge of fixion and falsehoode. All wchour opinions wee humbly submitt to yorhonorsgrave wisdome to be further considered of.20th November, 1627. Item this daye MrWarden Woodall MrPeter Thorney MrGeorge Perrine and MrThomas Gilham are appointed by our Mrscommandꝭ to goe to Portsmouth for the cureing of the wounded souldiers that come from the Isle of Rea in ffrance which are nowe remayneing wounded and sicke at Portsmouth upon the letter of the Lord Conwaye signifieing his Matꝭ pleasuer therefore.8th July, 1628. This daye MrPeter Thorney is by this Court desired to goe Surgion generall for the Armye that goes by Land.
15th July, 1624. Whereas informac͠on is given to this Court that of late DoctorGrints servingman John Eethell lett a maide blood, her arme mortified and the maid thereupon died, it is ordered by this Court that there shalbe counsell taken thereon, and a suite comenced agˀt him at the Costs of this house.
7th December, 1624. This daye John Baptista Succa a mountibancke and an Italian borne had order to forbeare his practise here in London.
6th November, 1627. This daye was presented to this Courte by Humfrey Bromley a letter from the Lord Maiorof this Cittie of London the tenorwhereof is as followeth
Tothe Mrand Wardeins of the Companie of Barbar SurgionsWhereasSrHenry Herbert Knight Mrof the Revells hath authorised the bearer hereof Humfrey Bromley to shew a Child presented to be naturallie borne haveing Twoe heades ffower Armes and three leggꝭ wchI suppose not to be borne of any woeman or to be the perfect substance of a child in respect whereof I forbeare to pˀmitt the said Humfrey Bromely to make shewe thereof within the libˀties of this Cittye untill such tyme as I maye be truely satisfied from you whether the same child be of the substance as is pretended Therefore I desire you that upon advised view of the said Child you truly certifie mee in writing under yorhandꝭ whether the same be really a child as is presented to thend I maye not unadvisedly suffer his Matꝭ subjectꝭ to be deceyved thereby. This second of November Anno Dni. 1627.
Hugh HamersleyMaior.
Whereupon the vew of the supposed body as aforesaid it is ordered that this answere be returned to the Lord Maioras followeth viz:
RightHonobleAccording unto yorLõps reference unto us directed dated the second of November 1627Weehave taken a deliberate vewe of the supposed monstrous birth presented unto us to be vewed as from your honorby one Humfrey Bromley And although wee cannot possitively affirme it proceeded not from a woeman Yet under favor, wee conceive and soe deliver our opinions that the said supposed monstrous shape hath beene, either by Arte soe composed and put together from unnaturall and untimely birthes of Children or from other Animalls, as Apes, Munckeys or the like wchhave a greate resemblance of Manns bodye, in many of their partes and soe by the cunninge subtiletye of the composer made into a monster, thereby to delude the worlde and haveing a Bodye of Antiquitie cannot safely receive a flatt and manifest contradiction; And wee are induced the rather to suspect it for that the producer thereof hath noe testimonye from any learned or judicious men; neither from any Magistrates of the partes where it is pretended to have bene borne, wchsuch offendors use aboundantly to be furnished withall. And in conclusion compareing his printed demonstrac͠on of his monster, with the Author he siteth, and others that have written of such and the like monsters, Wee finde a greate deale of Addition and a manifest disagreemtwchis a playne badge of fixion and falsehoode. All wchour opinions wee humbly submitt to yorhonorsgrave wisdome to be further considered of.
20th November, 1627. Item this daye MrWarden Woodall MrPeter Thorney MrGeorge Perrine and MrThomas Gilham are appointed by our Mrscommandꝭ to goe to Portsmouth for the cureing of the wounded souldiers that come from the Isle of Rea in ffrance which are nowe remayneing wounded and sicke at Portsmouth upon the letter of the Lord Conwaye signifieing his Matꝭ pleasuer therefore.
8th July, 1628. This daye MrPeter Thorney is by this Court desired to goe Surgion generall for the Armye that goes by Land.
23rd January, 1629. Mr. Peter Thorney having died in the King’s Service on the coast of France, John Heydon was chosen an Assistant in his place. Peter Thorney is mentioned on the monument to his Uncle, Thomas Thorney (Master, 1602, 1606), in St. Andrew’s, Holborn. (SeeBiographical Notices.)
19th April, 1630. This daye the Examiners mett here in Court upon the recomendac͠on of the lordꝭ of the privey Councell signified by SrJohn Cooke secretary of state for the approveing of one Dupont a french man to practise for the cure of the pox. Whereupon the said Dupont being examined was found altogether insufficient.20th April, 1630. This daye Edward ffleete paid in xxsfor his fine for not reading lecture according to his turne.20th October, 1631. This Court takeing notice of the lack of a Private dissection Roome for anatomicall imployementꝭ and that hitherto those bodies have beene a greate annoyance to the tables dresser boardes and utensills in orupper Kitchin by reason of the blood filth and entrailes of those Anathomyes and for the better accomodateing of those anatomicall affaires and preserveing the Kitchin to its owne propˀ use, Doe nowe order that there shalbe a faire convenient roome built over the greate staire case next the back yard to be imployed onely for discection of private Anathomyes to the value of xlli.
19th April, 1630. This daye the Examiners mett here in Court upon the recomendac͠on of the lordꝭ of the privey Councell signified by SrJohn Cooke secretary of state for the approveing of one Dupont a french man to practise for the cure of the pox. Whereupon the said Dupont being examined was found altogether insufficient.
20th April, 1630. This daye Edward ffleete paid in xxsfor his fine for not reading lecture according to his turne.
20th October, 1631. This Court takeing notice of the lack of a Private dissection Roome for anatomicall imployementꝭ and that hitherto those bodies have beene a greate annoyance to the tables dresser boardes and utensills in orupper Kitchin by reason of the blood filth and entrailes of those Anathomyes and for the better accomodateing of those anatomicall affaires and preserveing the Kitchin to its owne propˀ use, Doe nowe order that there shalbe a faire convenient roome built over the greate staire case next the back yard to be imployed onely for discection of private Anathomyes to the value of xlli.
28th December, 1632. On the death of Dr. Gwyn, in December, 1627, it had been arranged that in future the Surgeons of the Company should read the Anatomical lectures in turn, weekly; but great difficulty having been experienced in carrying out thisregulation, the Court now reverted to the former practice of employing a Professor, and appointed Dr. Alexander Reade at a salary of £20 per annum.
23rd March, 1635. Alsoe this Court takeing notice that in theis latter yeares there hath bene a generall remissnes in the greater pˀt of the Surgians of this Companie in their not appearance and personall attendance in their Seates on the Scaffoldings at the Six lecture tymes at the publique Anatomye, and the disorderlynes of those Surgians ytdoe appeare for wanting their outward ornament commixing themselves confusedly amongst the Comon people then pˀnte, whereby the honorand worthynes of this Companie on the Surgians pˀte hath bene much eclipsed. ffor redresse of wchenormious exorbitance and for the better grace and Worˀp̃ of this Companie. It is now decreed that for ever hereafter at the tymes of publiq̃e Lecture readings on the Sceletons or Anatomies in this Comon Hall this ensueing order for the greater decencye & more Worˀp̃ of this Companie shall from tyme to tyme hereafter yearely be observed and put in due execution, vizt.,That every Surgian either of the Assistants or of the Liverye shall appeare in his gowne in the forenone and afternoone of one daye at the least of the 3 dayes lectures at every publiq̃e discection And that every Surgian of the Wardeins and of the Assistants of the yeomanrye shall likewise appeare in his gowne in the forenone and afternoone of one daye at the least of the three dayes lectures at every publiq̃e Anatomye, and everye one of those Surgians dureing the tyme of such lecture shall sitt decently in such place in the Scaffoldings as is appropriated to every of them in their degrees and Rancks as aunciently hath bene accustomed upon payne that every Surgian that shall not accordingly appeare shall forfeite and paye to the use of the Companie the some of Twoe shillings and Six pence, or appeareing shall not weare his gowne all the tyme of such readeing for one daye at the least the som̃e of Twelve pence, And that every pˀson of the Coiãltie or fforreine brothers professeing Surgerye shall likewise appeare in the forenone and afternone of one daye at the least of the 3 dayes lectures at the publiq̃e Anatomye and not appeareing shall forfeite Twelve pence without redempc͠on of all or any pˀte of any of the fines aforesaid.24th September, 1635. Alsoe for that Nicholas Downeing not being an approved Surgian according to Lawe did twoeopac͠ons202in Surgery contrary to the Lawes of this Kingdome & the Customes & ordinances of this Companie and being forbid by the Mrs& Governorsto forbeare those opac͠ons did notwithstanding that prohibic͠on makeopac͠ons and both patients died, Was fined at iiijli,vizt.,xlsa peece for each of those twoe opac͠ons because he made not two presentac͠ons according to the ordinance of this Companie in that behalfe, And he to be prosecuted at Lawe for the Childs miscarriage.Alsoe this daye the said Nicholas Downeing was fined by this Court at vjs.viijd.for his uncivill behaviorto MrJohn Woodall an auncient Mrof this Companie.6th October, 1635. Alsoe Nicholas Downeing being here in Court was required to paye his three fines according to his promise the last Thursdaye, denied to paye them, is by this Court comitted to the Compter in Wood Streete in my lord Maiorof Londons name.
23rd March, 1635. Alsoe this Court takeing notice that in theis latter yeares there hath bene a generall remissnes in the greater pˀt of the Surgians of this Companie in their not appearance and personall attendance in their Seates on the Scaffoldings at the Six lecture tymes at the publique Anatomye, and the disorderlynes of those Surgians ytdoe appeare for wanting their outward ornament commixing themselves confusedly amongst the Comon people then pˀnte, whereby the honorand worthynes of this Companie on the Surgians pˀte hath bene much eclipsed. ffor redresse of wchenormious exorbitance and for the better grace and Worˀp̃ of this Companie. It is now decreed that for ever hereafter at the tymes of publiq̃e Lecture readings on the Sceletons or Anatomies in this Comon Hall this ensueing order for the greater decencye & more Worˀp̃ of this Companie shall from tyme to tyme hereafter yearely be observed and put in due execution, vizt.,That every Surgian either of the Assistants or of the Liverye shall appeare in his gowne in the forenone and afternoone of one daye at the least of the 3 dayes lectures at every publiq̃e discection And that every Surgian of the Wardeins and of the Assistants of the yeomanrye shall likewise appeare in his gowne in the forenone and afternoone of one daye at the least of the three dayes lectures at every publiq̃e Anatomye, and everye one of those Surgians dureing the tyme of such lecture shall sitt decently in such place in the Scaffoldings as is appropriated to every of them in their degrees and Rancks as aunciently hath bene accustomed upon payne that every Surgian that shall not accordingly appeare shall forfeite and paye to the use of the Companie the some of Twoe shillings and Six pence, or appeareing shall not weare his gowne all the tyme of such readeing for one daye at the least the som̃e of Twelve pence, And that every pˀson of the Coiãltie or fforreine brothers professeing Surgerye shall likewise appeare in the forenone and afternone of one daye at the least of the 3 dayes lectures at the publiq̃e Anatomye and not appeareing shall forfeite Twelve pence without redempc͠on of all or any pˀte of any of the fines aforesaid.
24th September, 1635. Alsoe for that Nicholas Downeing not being an approved Surgian according to Lawe did twoeopac͠ons202in Surgery contrary to the Lawes of this Kingdome & the Customes & ordinances of this Companie and being forbid by the Mrs& Governorsto forbeare those opac͠ons did notwithstanding that prohibic͠on makeopac͠ons and both patients died, Was fined at iiijli,vizt.,xlsa peece for each of those twoe opac͠ons because he made not two presentac͠ons according to the ordinance of this Companie in that behalfe, And he to be prosecuted at Lawe for the Childs miscarriage.
Alsoe this daye the said Nicholas Downeing was fined by this Court at vjs.viijd.for his uncivill behaviorto MrJohn Woodall an auncient Mrof this Companie.
6th October, 1635. Alsoe Nicholas Downeing being here in Court was required to paye his three fines according to his promise the last Thursdaye, denied to paye them, is by this Court comitted to the Compter in Wood Streete in my lord Maiorof Londons name.
The following entry is not complimentary to Dr. William Harvey, the discoverer of the circulation of the blood, the marginal note in the minute book being “Doctor Harveys ill practise.”
17th November, 1635. This daye WmKellett being called here in Court for not makeing presentac͠on of one MrKinnersleys maide that died in his charge, he saied here in Court that MrDoctor Harvye being called to the patient did upon his vew of the patient saie, that by the meanes of a boulster the tumor on the temporall muskle would be discussed and his opinion was, that there was noe fracture but the vomiteing came by reason of the foulenesse of the Stomacke, and to that purpose pˀscribed physick by Briscoe the Apothecarye, soe the patient died by ill practise, the fracture being neglected & the Companie not called to the vew.
17th November, 1635. This daye WmKellett being called here in Court for not makeing presentac͠on of one MrKinnersleys maide that died in his charge, he saied here in Court that MrDoctor Harvye being called to the patient did upon his vew of the patient saie, that by the meanes of a boulster the tumor on the temporall muskle would be discussed and his opinion was, that there was noe fracture but the vomiteing came by reason of the foulenesse of the Stomacke, and to that purpose pˀscribed physick by Briscoe the Apothecarye, soe the patient died by ill practise, the fracture being neglected & the Companie not called to the vew.
The next entry illustrates the peremptory method of dealing with aquack:—
22nd October, 1635. One Christopher Hatton whoe saied he waighteth on SrWmBelfore his Matꝭ Lieutenant of The Tower came to this Court to knowe the reason of the Companies takeing downe of Lãw Raylens banner or mountabanck table of bladders & stones being a stranger borne & then were hung upon Tower hill execution place, this Courts answere was that by the Lawes & Charters of this Companie they tooke & demolished them.Alsothe said Lawrence Ruylen a mountabanck was called here in Court and ordered to paye his fine of vlifor hanging his signes tables bladders and stones upon the publique postꝭ in streetes & on the Traitors scaffold on Tower hill in an exorbitant manner being contrary to the Lawes and Charters of this Companie confirmed accordingto Lawe And this Court doth order that those signes and bladders shalbe demolished and he is forbidden from further practiseing any pˀt of Surgerye hereafter within London or 7 miles Compasse of this Cittye.
22nd October, 1635. One Christopher Hatton whoe saied he waighteth on SrWmBelfore his Matꝭ Lieutenant of The Tower came to this Court to knowe the reason of the Companies takeing downe of Lãw Raylens banner or mountabanck table of bladders & stones being a stranger borne & then were hung upon Tower hill execution place, this Courts answere was that by the Lawes & Charters of this Companie they tooke & demolished them.
Alsothe said Lawrence Ruylen a mountabanck was called here in Court and ordered to paye his fine of vlifor hanging his signes tables bladders and stones upon the publique postꝭ in streetes & on the Traitors scaffold on Tower hill in an exorbitant manner being contrary to the Lawes and Charters of this Companie confirmed accordingto Lawe And this Court doth order that those signes and bladders shalbe demolished and he is forbidden from further practiseing any pˀt of Surgerye hereafter within London or 7 miles Compasse of this Cittye.
1637. For several years prior to and about this period numerous entries occur of Surgeons being fined £5 for going to sea without license or without having their sea chests examined, also for sending their apprentices to sea as surgeons’ mates without examination.
29th March, 1638. It is ordered that EdwardArris203and Hen:Boone204shall have libertie to sett up in orTheater a Sceleton by them wrought on when they were Masters Anatomysts on the body of Cañburybesse205to be placed on the Corbell stone of the Signe Libra alsoe they have leave to paint that peere of bricks up to the Cornish & to depict the planett Venus governeing those twoe signes underneath Libra & Taurus with twoe shadowedneeces206for two Sceletons & to sett up their names or mottoe under Libra they payeing the charge for the same & such pˀson or pˀsons as shall sett up a sceleton on the other signe Taurus shall paye the moietye of the charge they are now at in painting.3rd July, 1638. Upon the complaint agtffran: Soare for discecting a bodye in his owne house contrary to the ordinance It is ordered he shalbe sumoned agtthe next Court.22nd October, 1638. Tho. Bowden being called to this Court for not makeing pˀntac͠on of his patient Godfrey Lee whoe died under his handꝭ is fined at xls.Alsoe the said Thomas Bowden being not an approved Surgian for that he tooke upon him the cure & charge of yesaid Godfrey being daungerouslie wounded & did not joyne an able & approved surgian with him in that cure is fined at vli.Alsoe it is ordered that for his the said Thomas Bowdens evill practise in Surgerye he shalbe Comitted to the Compter in Wood Streete.
29th March, 1638. It is ordered that EdwardArris203and Hen:Boone204shall have libertie to sett up in orTheater a Sceleton by them wrought on when they were Masters Anatomysts on the body of Cañburybesse205to be placed on the Corbell stone of the Signe Libra alsoe they have leave to paint that peere of bricks up to the Cornish & to depict the planett Venus governeing those twoe signes underneath Libra & Taurus with twoe shadowedneeces206for two Sceletons & to sett up their names or mottoe under Libra they payeing the charge for the same & such pˀson or pˀsons as shall sett up a sceleton on the other signe Taurus shall paye the moietye of the charge they are now at in painting.
3rd July, 1638. Upon the complaint agtffran: Soare for discecting a bodye in his owne house contrary to the ordinance It is ordered he shalbe sumoned agtthe next Court.
22nd October, 1638. Tho. Bowden being called to this Court for not makeing pˀntac͠on of his patient Godfrey Lee whoe died under his handꝭ is fined at xls.
Alsoe the said Thomas Bowden being not an approved Surgian for that he tooke upon him the cure & charge of yesaid Godfrey being daungerouslie wounded & did not joyne an able & approved surgian with him in that cure is fined at vli.
Alsoe it is ordered that for his the said Thomas Bowdens evill practise in Surgerye he shalbe Comitted to the Compter in Wood Streete.
Mr. Bowden subsequently mended his ways as he was elected Third Warden in 1654 and Upper Warden in 1660.
22nd October, 1638. It is ordered that the Mr& Wardens & as many of the Assistants Surgians with Counsell shall attend the right honobleyeLordꝭ of his Matꝭ most honobleprivye Councell about the new Patent for distilling strong Waters.
22nd October, 1638. It is ordered that the Mr& Wardens & as many of the Assistants Surgians with Counsell shall attend the right honobleyeLordꝭ of his Matꝭ most honobleprivye Councell about the new Patent for distilling strong Waters.
6th March, 1639. Mrs. Susan Gwinn, widow of Dr. Gwinn, the Reader of Anatomy, presented the Doctor’s MSS. to the Company.
1638–9. About this period the war with Scotland consequent upon Charles I interfering in Scotch Church matters, broke out, and a large army being collected in the North the Barber-Surgeons were directed to “press” and forward twenty-three Surgeons to Newcastle.
The Minute relating to this is asfollows,—
20th April, 1639. Upon reading the warrtsent to this house from Yorke signed by the Lord Generall concerneing the want of Surgians in the Armye It is concluded by the Governors& Assistants here pˀnte that MrWarden Dunn & MrCollins shall goe on, & goe aboard some Newcastle shipp and agree with a shipper for yeconveighance of yeSurgians & their Chests & provisions & their mates, & likewise give them conduct money, & that for the present that charge to be borne out of the stock of this house untill it cann be reobteyned from the Thrẽr of yeArmye.
20th April, 1639. Upon reading the warrtsent to this house from Yorke signed by the Lord Generall concerneing the want of Surgians in the Armye It is concluded by the Governors& Assistants here pˀnte that MrWarden Dunn & MrCollins shall goe on, & goe aboard some Newcastle shipp and agree with a shipper for yeconveighance of yeSurgians & their Chests & provisions & their mates, & likewise give them conduct money, & that for the present that charge to be borne out of the stock of this house untill it cann be reobteyned from the Thrẽr of yeArmye.
This appears to have cost the Company £44 14s., whereof they received but £23, the balance never having been paid. The details of the expenditure are subjoined, and in reading them we cannot but commiserate the unhappy men who were barged to Gravesend and thence “transported” to Newcastle.
Disbursemtꝭ for Impresting and Shippinge of the Surgians in the Years Imploymtfor the Kings Service.
Laid out by Edmund Johnson for ymprestinge of Surgeons for the Kingꝭ servicevliDelivered to MrCollins for the likexsSpent in goeinge to Lymehouse Ratcliffe & wappinge to pressexviijdPaid to xxiij Surgions who were transported by sea from London to Newcastle xxiijliof wchrecdby MrSerjant Clowes xvijlixs& my selfe xxsso that there doth remayne unsatisfiediiijlixsPaid unto Tho: Wells the Mrof the shipp to transport themviijliPaid for a barge to carry us & them to GravesendxxxsSpent at Gravesend at dynnerixsvjdSpent at SuppervijsPaid Jo: Mules wchhe disburced for Warfage literage caremenn & other like Charges as pˀ billxxvjsSum̃ isxxjlixiiijs
In accordance with their Charters the ancient practice of the Company had been to elect annually two Surgeons and two Barbers for Master and Wardens; this fell into electing two Surgeons and two others who were often neither Barbers nor Surgeons, and latterly, even the qualification of Surgery came to be disregarded, whereupon (29th March, 1639) a mandate, signed by Charles I and directed to the Company, was read in Court (seeAppendix, G) in which the King set forth that divers persons as “hosiers dyers & other tradesmen unskilfull in Chirurgery or Barbarye” had been chosen for Masters and Wardens contrary to the Charters and Acts of Parliament, and further “wee takeing into considerac͠on of what dangerous consequence it maye be to suffer a Companye wherein the lives and safetie of orpeople are soe much concerned and for wchorprogenitors have soe carefully provided to be governed by such unskilfull pˀsons,” theKing straitly commanded the Company to elect the Governors in the future as they ought to do, viz.: two Barbers and two Surgeons each year.
This order of the King appears for some little time to have been obeyed, and then the Company relapsed into their old practice of choosing at their pleasure, whereupon another mandate came from the King, for we findthat:—
17th January, 1644. The Court took notice of the King’s mandate, and a very long and elaborate minute is entered to the effect that the practice of choosing two Barbers and two Surgeons for Governors was fraught with much inconvenience and had led to great dissensions, and the Court referring to the Statute of Henry VII, where it is allowed that any person free of the Company following any other profession than that of a Barber or Surgeon should be reputed and taken as a Barber, ordered that for the future, any Member of the Assistants, other than a Barber or Surgeon, might be put in nomination, and that he should be accounted a Barber. The Court were very careful to express their loyalty to the King whilst they ignored his mandate, trusting no doubt, that should they afterwards be called to account by the King, their dutiful expressions towards him would serve in a measure as an excuse for disobeying his express commands.
Mould for yeKings Evill.2nd July, 1639. Anthony Mould called to this Court and questioned concerneing his practise in Surgerye, confessed that he deales onely in swellings and Kernills & hath a licence from the Kinge to practise the same, he hath lately taken into his Cure one George Ravenscroft for scrophilous tumorsin the neck, this Court at the said Moulds request, hath given libertye to Mould to cure him by Michaelmas next, & he hath promised then to present the said Geo: whole & well to this Court.
Mould for yeKings Evill.
2nd July, 1639. Anthony Mould called to this Court and questioned concerneing his practise in Surgerye, confessed that he deales onely in swellings and Kernills & hath a licence from the Kinge to practise the same, he hath lately taken into his Cure one George Ravenscroft for scrophilous tumorsin the neck, this Court at the said Moulds request, hath given libertye to Mould to cure him by Michaelmas next, & he hath promised then to present the said Geo: whole & well to this Court.
Some nine years afterwards Mould was again before the Court in a case of King’s evil.
21st March, 1648. Henry Ivatt complayned against Anthony Mold for his evill practice On the Wife of the said Ivatt who being afflicted with the Kings Evill Whereof he undertooke to cure her And for that purpose did receive of the said Ivatt xxxsin hand and was to have 40smore when she was cured Both partyes refeered themselves to this Court Whereupon this Court doth Order That the said Mold doth restore xxsback againe to the said Ivatt Which he promised to pay accordingly And soe all differences betweene the said parties by theire owne consent to cease and determine.6th February, 1646. It is this day ordered That our Mrand MrWardenBrowne207with the other Assistants Surgeons present doe move the Sheriffs That at the time of Execuc͠on a Body be quietly delivered to this Companye’s officer for an Anatomy.9th March, 1646. This day MrWarden Browne acquainted this Court that whereas he about 6 yeares sithence had a child of MrHamonds to his Patient with whome he upon his first calling thither found MrThomasBowden208with others Who after presentac͠on made by the Motion of MrWarden Browne dyed, that he hath bin reported by the ffather of the child to have murthered the child And that MrThomas Bowden had justifyed and would justify the same of wchscandall MrWarden complayneing to this CortMrBowden prayed to be excused from giveing any answer thereunto ffor that there was a Suite at Law now depending betweene MrHamond and MrWarden Browne concerning that matter.
21st March, 1648. Henry Ivatt complayned against Anthony Mold for his evill practice On the Wife of the said Ivatt who being afflicted with the Kings Evill Whereof he undertooke to cure her And for that purpose did receive of the said Ivatt xxxsin hand and was to have 40smore when she was cured Both partyes refeered themselves to this Court Whereupon this Court doth Order That the said Mold doth restore xxsback againe to the said Ivatt Which he promised to pay accordingly And soe all differences betweene the said parties by theire owne consent to cease and determine.
6th February, 1646. It is this day ordered That our Mrand MrWardenBrowne207with the other Assistants Surgeons present doe move the Sheriffs That at the time of Execuc͠on a Body be quietly delivered to this Companye’s officer for an Anatomy.
9th March, 1646. This day MrWarden Browne acquainted this Court that whereas he about 6 yeares sithence had a child of MrHamonds to his Patient with whome he upon his first calling thither found MrThomasBowden208with others Who after presentac͠on made by the Motion of MrWarden Browne dyed, that he hath bin reported by the ffather of the child to have murthered the child And that MrThomas Bowden had justifyed and would justify the same of wchscandall MrWarden complayneing to this CortMrBowden prayed to be excused from giveing any answer thereunto ffor that there was a Suite at Law now depending betweene MrHamond and MrWarden Browne concerning that matter.
23rd April, 1646. Mr. Martin Browne requested and had a Committee of Examiners to enquire into the case of Hamond’s child, and to report to the Court.
14th May, 1646. The Committee brought up their Report, finding that on the 28th January, 1639, Mr. Browne was called to Mr. Hamond’s child in Bow Lane, the child having fallen out of a window and seriously injured its head. That Mr. Browne consulted with Dr. Spicer and Mr. Thomas Bowden (whom he found there) and as they all conceived the child to be in danger, presentation was duly made to the Wardens of the Barber-Surgeons, that thereupon by general consent, the child was let blood and had a glister, and the nextday his head was shaved and a cataplasm applied, that these remedies were continued for about eight days and that then it was deemed advisable to open the head, which was done by Mr. Browne with a Trapan in the presence and with the advice and approbation of Mr. Serjeant Clowes (then Master), Mr. GeorgeDunn209(Warden), Mr. William Kings,210Mr. Eaton and the said Mr. Bowden, and that the child died on the 15th day, that proper remedies had been duly applied and that everything had been done with great care according to art.
23rd October, 1646. This Court doth order That all the approved Chirurgeons according to Law shall appeare at all publique Anatomyes for the time to come in a fflatt Capp upon the penalty of 3s4dand all the rest of the Livery in a Hatt.
23rd October, 1646. This Court doth order That all the approved Chirurgeons according to Law shall appeare at all publique Anatomyes for the time to come in a fflatt Capp upon the penalty of 3s4dand all the rest of the Livery in a Hatt.
1646.TheCharges of the Anathomyes betweene Michas and Christmas last.
Paid for Carryeing the Cophin to Newgate000006ffor horsehire to the place of execuc͠on000200ffor the ffees at the place of execuc͠on000506ffor expences at StGyles xijdto the carman xijdand for washing the bodye xijd000300ffor Perfumes xijdwax candles ijdand soape jd000103ffor lynnen for the Bodye000608To the Beadles Assistant in taking the Bodye000100Paid the Parsons dutye for the buriall ijdfor yegrave xijdfor the Clerke & Sexton xxijd000410To the Bearers ijs& expended at the buriall ijsvjd000406ffor a Cophin to burye the bodye in000304To Doctor Godard for reading six lectures060000To MrNicholas Brothers and MrWilliam Watson whoe desected the bodye xlsappeece040000Paid for 3 dynners for the Mrsor GovernorsAssistants Reader & desectors100000ffor Candles for 3 mornings001111To the twoe Beadles their ffee for three dayes attendance0010001647–8.Paid and disbursed in Charges in sending Chyrurgians to the seige at Colchester by lr̃e from the Comrsof the Armye & for their maintenance & medicines171306