Chapter 9

Memorand: that the Kingꝭ matiewththe Kinge of Denmarke & the Prince of Wales came through this Cittie from wardes the Tower of London attended uppon with the Lordes and gentry of this Land on the last day of this instant moneth of July Att which tyme Mr.ffoxe beinge one of the Comittees for placeinge of the Companies standingꝭ would have displaced us But by the Lord maiors order wee were placed in the seaventeenth place accordinge as wee ought to be placed.

1606. Notwithstanding the new charter granted in the previous year, the Court found itself unable to regulate the practice of Barbery and Surgery without an extended set of By-Laws, which were now obtained and are still preserved at the Hall. They are in English, on eight large skins of parchment, beautifully engrossed with a handsomely illuminated title, the initialcontaining the Barber-Surgeons’ arms, and distributed over the heading are the arms of the Master and Wardens in 1606, viz.: John Peck, Edward Rodes, William Fynynge and John Fenton.

The By-Laws are allowed by Thomas Lord Ellesmere, Lord Chancellor; Thomas Earl of Dorset, Lord Treasurer; and Sir John Popham, Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas; who send “greeting in our Lord God Everlasting,” and enact Ordinances ofsuch fearful length, that to a layman it passes comprehension how the draughtsman could have kept his head clear whilst he travelled through such a sea of prolixity, and, to a great extent useless, repetition. If the Chancellor and his colleagues troubled themselves to read through and understand the document to which they have appended their seals, they must have uttered very sensible sounds of relief when they came to the sealing; the recapitulation of the mere heads of this extraordinary production, will probably be found wearisome to the reader, vizt:

1. Recital of an Act of Parliament, 24th Feby., 19 Henry VII.2. Oath of a freeman.3. Oath of the Masters or Governors.4. Oath of an Assistant of the Livery.5. Oath of the Electors.6. Oath of the Clerk.7. Oath of a “foreign” Surgeon.8. Oath of the Wardens of the Yeomanry.9. Oath of an Assistant of the Yeomanry.10. Oath of the Beadle.11. Oath of the Porter.

Note.—Some of the foregoing oaths contain over 500 words in each!

12. Every person shall appear upon summons under a penalty of 3s.4d., and for not keeping the hour, a fine of 2d.to be imposed.13. Masters neglecting the day of Election, the distribution of Ferbras’ alms, or the payment of rents, to forfeit £5.14. No great Election dinner to be kept without the consent of a Court of Assistants, under a penalty of £5.15. The allowance for a great dinner to be 20 marks, and for a small one £4.16. Manner of Election of Masters or Governors.17. Time of Election.18. Twelve Electors to be chosen.19. Electors to be sworn.20. The Masters omitting any next in Election out of their Bills, the Electors to choose others.21. The order after Election.22. A refuser of the office of Master or Governor to be fined 40s.and to be eligible to be chosen again.23. Or may be absolutely discharged of such office on payment of £10.24. And on refusal to pay such fines, to be dismissed out of the Court of Assistants and out of the Livery.25. If the Electors choose such refuser to further place, before he have paid his fine, each Elector to forfeit 40s.26. Every person chosen into the Livery to pay £5 if he have not served as Warden of the Yeomanry, and if otherwise then 40s.27. Election of two Stewards of the Mayor’s feast, and two Stewards of the Anatomy; £8 to be allowed to the former and £6 to the latter.28. Refusers of the Office of Steward to forfeit £13 6s.8d.each.29. The Common Seal to be kept under lock and key.30. Time of the audit and appointment of eight auditors.31. Day for reading “General Rules.”32. View of the Company’s lands to be made yearly in October.33. Allowance for the view dinner.34. “Search” to be made twice in the year.35. Apprentices to be presented within one month after they are retained in service, under a penalty of 40s.36. Indentures to be prepared by the Clerk before presentation.37. The Clerk to make all indentures.38. Every liveryman may keep three apprentices.39. No decrepit, diseased or deformed apprentice to be retained by any Barber or Surgeon.40. No person to teach any but his apprentice.41. No person to put away his apprentice, without an order of Court.42. No person to entice away another’s apprentice or servant.43. Every person to enroll his apprentice.44. The Court to punish disobedient apprentices after its discretion.45. No freeman to “open shop” before he hath served one year as journeyman.46. No Barber to use more than one shop.47. No Surgeon to serve by sea or land before he and “his furniture” be examined and viewed.48. Reformation of abuses in disobedient masters and servants.49. No person to serve as a journeyman unless free of the Company.50. No person to use surgery before he be examined and admitted.51. No person to examine but the Examiners.52. No Examiner to be chosen but by the Court.53. Every Surgeon to be at every lecture on Surgery.54. No Surgeon to defraud another of his patient.55. No Person to shew his porringers, saucers or basons with blood therein.56. Every patient in danger of death or maim to be presented to the Masters.57. No person to take such presentation but a Master or Governor.58. Ordinance against unskilful practice in Surgery.59. No Anatomy to be dissected out of the Common Hall.60. Anatomies to be decently buried.61. Warrant to create a Yeomanry.62. No “Courts of Assistants” to be held on Tuesdays.63. No Court of Assistants to be under the number of sixteen persons.64. Order of precedence in speaking.65. Every Member to go and sit in his due place.66. Ordinance against contentious and troublesome persons.67. Ordinance against revealers of Court secrets.68. No alien or stranger to bear the office of Master or Governor.69. Ordinance against unseemly behaviour towards the Masters or Governors.70. Ordinance against blotting or defaceing of books, pictures or monuments.71. Ordinance against any of the Livery refusing to attend in his Livery gown.72. Pensions for decayed members.73. Warrant to search for hurt persons and malefactors.74. As to quarterage.75. Third Warden’s duties as to receipts.76. And as to payments.77. Duties of Fourth or Renter Warden.78. Renter Warden to furnish accounts.79. As to the Audit.80. Ordinance against Sunday trading by Barbers.81. As to fines and penalties.82. Power to the Beadle to distrain (under a Warrant signed by the Masters) for all fines; also power to dismiss disobedient persons, and to inflict corporal punishment.

Penalties of varying amounts are specified for breaches of any of the foregoing Ordinances.

The By-Laws are signed “Ellesmere, Canc̃,” “T. Dorset” and “Jo: Popham,” and the three seals of their arms are pendant.

8th September, 1606. This daie it is ordered that the Mrsshall pay vlito MrMichaell the Lord Cheif Justices man for his paynes in penninge of orordynaunces.5th February, 1607. This day it is ordered that a Court howse be errected upon the Bulwarke behind the Hall of this Company for the Mrsor Governors to kepe their Courtꝭ at the charge of this Company And Mr.ffenton and Mr.Jenkins are to joyne with the Mrsof this Company in the same buildinge.

8th September, 1606. This daie it is ordered that the Mrsshall pay vlito MrMichaell the Lord Cheif Justices man for his paynes in penninge of orordynaunces.

5th February, 1607. This day it is ordered that a Court howse be errected upon the Bulwarke behind the Hall of this Company for the Mrsor Governors to kepe their Courtꝭ at the charge of this Company And Mr.ffenton and Mr.Jenkins are to joyne with the Mrsof this Company in the same buildinge.

This Court Room was built within the circular Bulwark at the west end of the old Livery Hall, from which it was shut off by a screen wall or partition; many years later this screen was removed, and the whole thrown into one large apartment, and used as the Livery Hall.

21st January, 1608. The pˀnt Mrsare this daye authorized to furnishe the newe Roome in the Bulwark wthcloth of Arras or tapestry or wthwaynscot as they shall think fittest at the chardge of this howse, and the Chimney peece & wyndowes to be waynscotted.

1608. The Colony of Virginia (so named from the Virgin Queen Elizabeth, in whose reign it was discovered) was in an unsatisfactory condition by reason of its scanty population, want of enterprise and other causes; whereupon the Council of Virginia endeavouring the prosperity of the Colony, sent a letter to the Lord Mayor propounding a scheme of emigration and colonisation to be undertaken by the City, which should ease the Metropolis “of a swarme of unnecessarie inmates,” make the fortunes of the emigrants(and of the “undertakers”) and benefit the Colony. This letter is so interesting that no apology is necessary for reproducing it here.

Whereasthe lords of his Matescouncill, commissioners for the Subsedie, desirous to ease the cittie and suburbs of a swarme of unnecessarie inmates as a continuall cause of dearth and famine, and the verie origenall of all plagues almost that happen in this kingdome, have advised yorlordshippe and yorbrethren, in an ease of state, to make some voluntarie contribuc͠on for their remove into the plantation of Virginia, wchwe understand you all seemed to like as an action pleasing to God and happie for this com̃onwealth; We the councell and companie of this hobleplantation, willing to yelde unto your lop̃p and them all good satisfac͠on, have entered into consultac͠on wthorselves, what may be everie mans chg̃es, and what of everie private familie, wchwe send herewthat large, not as a thing wchwe would exact from you, but that you may see, as in a true glasse, the true chg̃e, wchwe wholly commend unto yorgrave wisdoms, both for the somme and manrof leavie; onlie give us leave thus farre to enforme you that we give no bills of adventure for a lesse some than 12li10s.ps̃uminge it wont be an infinite trouble now, and confusion in the retribuc͠on, but if your lop̃ make any seasment, or raise any voluntarie contribuc͠on out of the best disposed and most able of the companies, we are willing to give orbills of adventure to the mrand wardens, to the general use and behoof of that companie, yf by wards, to the good of that ward, or otherwise as it shall please you and your brethren out of yrbetter experience to direct. And if the inmate called before you and enjoyned to remove shall alledge that he hath no place to remove unto, but must lie in the streats, and being offerd this journey shall demand what shalbe their pˀsent maintenance, what their future hopes, yt may please you to lett them know that for the pˀsent they shall have meat, drink, and clothing, wthan house, orchard, and garden for the meanest familie, and a possession of lands to them and their posteritie, one hundreth acres for everie man’s pˀson that hath a head or a body able to endure labour, as much for his wife, and as much for his child that is of yeres to do sˀvice to the colonie, wthfurther pˀticular reward according to theire pˀticuler meritt and desert; and yf yorlordshipp and yorbrethren shalbe pleased to put in any private adventure for yorselves in pˀticuler, you shalbe sure to receive according to your pˀporc͠on of the adventure, equall pˀts wthus adventurers from the beginning, both of the comodities returned or land to be divided; and because you shall see (being aldermen of so famous a cittie) we beare you due respect, we are contented, having but one badge of grace and favor from his Matie, to participate wthyou therein, and to makeas many of you as will adventure 50li.or more, fellow councellors from the first day wthus who have spent double and treble as much as is required, abidden the hazard of three sevˀall discoveries, wthmuch care and diligence, and many days adventure, and as yordeputies, and yorassistants, in yorprivate wards, so shall as many of them as will adventure but 25li.present money, be made pˀties of this companie and assistants of this councell; and thus as an action concerning God and the advancement of religion, the present ease, future honrand safety of this kingdome, the strength of ornavie, the visible hope of a great and rich trade, wthmany secrete blessings not yet discovered, we commend the cause to the wisdome and zeale of yorselfe and yorbrethren and you, and it, and us, to the holie pˀtection of the Almightie.

The City took up the scheme heartily, a large sum was subscribed and a great number of emigrants crossed the water. The Barber-Surgeons invested £25, but never received anything for it again.

23rd March, 1609. This daye it is ordered that the pˀnt Mrsshall adventrxxvli.uppon a Bill of Exchange for the plantac͠on of Virginia, of the stock of this howse.

6th January, 1609. In obedience to a precept from the Lord Mayor, £10 was paid to the Chamberlain, towards the construction of a Garner for the use of the City.

25th May, 1610. A precept came from the Lord Mayor calling upon the Company “to be readie in yorbardge well and richlie sett forthe before vii of the clocke in the morning” on the 31st January, to go to Chelsea to meet the eldest son of James I, on which occasion he was to go from Richmond to Whitehall to be created Prince of Wales; whereupon the following minute isrecorded:—

Atthis Court a precept beinge sent from my lord Maior unto this Company wchbeinge at this Court read, the effect whereof was that our Company on Thursdaie next shalbe reddie to attend my Lord Maior in their barge for the honor of this Citie in the enterteynement of the high & mightie prince at Chelsey. It wasordered that none of the Company shold be warned for this service but onely those wchware of the Assistaunce of the Clotheinge to goe in the Barge, the reason thereof is that a barge cold not be gotten large enough to carry the whole lyvery.

1611. In this year came a precept from the Lord Mayor, by authority of the King, complaining of “the abuse growing by excesse and straunge fashions of apparell, used by manye apprentises, and by the inordynate pryde of mayde servaunts and women servaunts in their excesse of apparell and follye in varietie of newe fashions, and to admonish them to have a due and speciall care to see a spedye reformac͠on had in everye one of their servaunts.” What effect this had upon the apprentices and servants of the Barber-Surgeons we are not told, but doubtless they were properly admonished.

1st July, 1614. A precept was received to the effect that the King had determined to borrow £100,000 of the City, and that the Barber-Surgeons were assessed at £600 towards this loan, which they were to lend, or which they were coolly informed they could compound for, by an absolute fine of £30! As the Court well knew that they would never again see a halfpenny of the £600 if lent, they quickly and wisely determined to pay the £30.

Profiting by past experience, the next extracts show that the Court proceeded warily in the matter of “adventuring” in the State Lottery.

29th April, 1614. Att this Court the Mrpropounding how they had receaved Letters from the Lordꝭ of the privy Councell and from the lord Maior thereby exhorting & intreating them to call their assistauntes together and to admonishe the genˀall body to be adventurers in the great lottery wchis comyng forth, Whereupon the same lrẽs being considered on at this Court, it is thought fitt and ordered that the Mrsshall att their pleasures call together the body of the Company, and they being gathered together, to admonish & pˀswade them to be adventerers in the same Lottery.

17th October, 1614. The Court having collected a sum of money for the Lottery, it was ordered that it should not be paid to the Treasurer, Sir Thos. Smith, until the Company shall be “assured” by a Bill of Adventure under seal “for their adventure unto virgynia, as also that it shalbe published in print certeynelie when the lotterey shalbe drawen.”

The College of Physicians had been for many years very jealous as to the Barber-Surgeons trespassing on their preserves, and as far back as 12th November, 1595, wrote a long letter to their “verie loving freends” the Master and Wardens, cautioning the members of the Company against practising physic, and stating that no few of them were culpable in the matter, but that the College had hitherto forborne to molest or punish them; the letter continues, “but for that we now see by daily experience that upon our lenetie and sufferance this inconvenience more and more increaseth, insomuch that both in credit and otherwise, it seemeth to touch us more neere than well can be indured; We have therefore thought it good to put you in mynd thereof, and therewithal earnestly and freendlie to request you, that among yourselves some such discreet order may be taken heerin, that the like offence hereafter maie not be committed by them or any of theirs. Wherein if we shall perceave you as ready to fulfil our honest request, as we are willing to maintain good amytie and concord with you and your Companie, we wilbe very glad thereof and geve you thanks therefore. If not, then as we are fully minded to defend our privileges and to deal with the particular offendors therein, as order of law and our ordinances in that behalf requireth; so we trust the body of your Societie will not be offended therewith. And so we bid you most hartelie farewell.”

The above letter is taken from Dr. Goodall’s History of the College of Physicians. Dr. Goodall gives several instances of Barber-Surgeons and Apothecaries being fined or imprisoned for practising physic; and, indeed, there seems to have been a strife waging between the College and the Company for a long period.

1617. The Physicians in 15 James I obtained a Charter confirming their Charter of 10 Henry viij, with several additional privileges and clauses in restraint of the privileges of the Barber-Surgeons, who thereupon petitioned the King that that Charter might not be confirmed by Act of Parliament, as the Physicians were desirous that it should be. The King on 4th February, 1620, ordered that the petitioners should be left to seek any lawful remedy either in Parliament or otherwise, as they might be advised, and accordingly on 23rd April, 1624, they presented a petition to the House of Commons, who ordered that the Physicians’ Patent should be brought into the Committee of Grievances, and both parties heard by Counsel, the consequence of which was that the Physicians proceeded no further with their Bill.

1632. Later on the Physicians endeavoured again to obtain a supremacy over the Barber-Surgeons, and on 13th June, 1632, procured an Order in Council which made it incumbent upon Surgeons in certain serious and specified cases of Surgery, to call in a “learned Physitian,” and to enforce this order they procured the Attorney General to exhibit a Bill in the Star Chamber in which the obnoxious clause was inserted, but on a Petition of the Barber-Surgeons complaining of the injury that would thereby accrue not only to themselves, but to the public, the King, by an Order of Court dated 22nd July, 1635, directed the clause to be struck out.

After the Restoration, the Physicians again endeavoured to procure an Act of Parliament confirming their Charter, whereupon the Barber-Surgeons claimed to have a clause inserted in the Act in thenature of a proviso that nothing therein contained should be construed to the prejudice of their privileges, and again the Physicians seem to have been checkmated, for they allowed their proposed Act to fall through.

Kings’ Barbers and Kings’ Surgeons seem to have secured substantial benefits from their official positions, as the following notices (from Domestic State Papers at the Record Office) testify.

25th August, 1625. There is a letter of this date from Sir James Fullerton to Secretary Conway, intimating that it is His Majesty’s pleasure to grant to Michael Andrews (Master 1635 and King’s Surgeon) a pension of £150 per annum for life.

17th December, 1625. And at this date is a grant to Thomas Caldwell (Master 1627 and King’s Barber).

A graunt to Thomas Caldwell esqrhis Matsservant of ye som̃e of one thousand poundes To be received as well out of the remainder of three hundred pounds due to his Matieby Richard Harbin sometime Collectorof his Matꝭ greenwax before his accesse to the Crowne and out of the arrerages of grenewax money then due unto his Maty.As also out of the other grenewax moneys now accrewing to his Matienot being in farme. And is granted to him as of his Matsbounty in lieu of 800liformerly graunted unto him by his Matyof wchhe received no benefitt. Subscrˀ by Mr. Attorney Genˀall upon significac͠on of his Matꝭ pleasuere by the Lord Trẽr.

In addition to stray grants like the above, the perquisites and fees attaching to the Office of King’s Barber were very lucrative, and Mr. Caldwell must have done exceedingly well out of the following stroke of business.

January, 1626. Whereas his Matiehath bene pleased to appoint Mr. Thomas Caldwell his Matsservant and Barber to make provisions of all such necessaries as are to be used at the Ceremony of Bathing the Kntsof the Bath at this his MatiesCoronac͠on to be holden on the 2dday of February next at Westmras to his place by auntient custome belongeth I do therefore will and require all such whome it may concearneto take notice thereof hereby for permitting him to doe and performe all such services as hath bene accustomed in that behalfe & for delivering such necessaries in kynd or allowance of money to the valeu thereof as shalbe by him required for the same according to the auntient custome heretofore used therein. The number of the said Kntsfor whome such provisions are to be made being 80, by his Matieappointed to receave that degree.Arundell & Surrey.Examined by WmRyleyLancaster Herald

Arundell & Surrey.

Examined by WmRyleyLancaster Herald

Mr. Caldwell does not appear to have left his widow well provided for, as we read under date 10th July, 1643:

Upon the distressed Petic͠on of Widdow Thamar Caldwall late Wife of MrThomas Caldwall deceased there is given to her of the gift of this House vli.

1624 and 1625. In the minutes of this period are constant notices of the “visitation,” and of “the contagious tyme.” The Plague raged with great severity in London in 1625, and it is said that over 40,000 died of it in the year. The Company appear to have been very liberal in their gifts of money to any who had the least claim upon them, the relief being frequently stated to have been given by “reason of the hardnes of the tymes.”

11th April, 1625. This daye the pˀcept for provision of corne sent unto orCompanie by the lord Maiorof london was here read in Courte, And this Courte is fullie resolved that the present Mrsdoe give unto the Lord Maiorand returne him this answeare that the Companie is provided of their proportion of corne and more they are not able to provide or receive into their charge.

1628. This year the Company were compelled to “lend” the King £360, which they with great difficulty raised, the greater part being borrowed at interest to enable them to do so. They also paid £30 towards a “present” (?) of £5,000 given by the City to the Palsgrave (Frederick, Prince Elector Palatine, son-in-law of James I).

15th August, 1629. On this day was sealed the Company’s new Charter from Charles I. It is in Latin on five large skins of parchment with the Great Seal of England pendant. There is a portrait of the King with a stiletto beard in the initial letter, and an ornamental heading along the top of the first skin. This Charter ratifies that of James I, directs that public lectures on Surgery shall be given, and confirms and somewhat varies the old regulations for the governance of the practitioners of that science.

22nd October, 1629. The Company evidently began now to kick at the numerous demands made upon its purse by the authorities, for a precept coming from the Lord Mayor demanding £12 10s.contribution towards a pageant, it was ordered that it be not paid until the Court was satisfied that it could be legally demanded, and enquiry made as to whether or no other Companies had paid similar contributions.

1632. The fabric of old St. Paul’s being in a lamentable state of decay, the celebrated Archbishop Laud wrote a letter to the Barber-Surgeons asking a contribution towards its repair. Ever ready to assist in good works, the Company cheerfully devoted a very considerable sum towards that object, notwithstanding the comparative poverty to which they had been reduced (in consequence of the grievous impositions made upon them by the authorities in the shape of forced loans and other unconstitutional demands). Moreover, they recorded their benefaction, in a delightfully expressed minute, which will be found at the end of the following letter.

9th April, 1632. The letter written by William Lord Bishopp of London and directed to this Court concerneing our contribuc͠on towardꝭ the repaire of St PaullsChurch in London being now much ruined was here in Court reade, the tenorwhereof is as followeth, vidzt

To the right worpllmy very worthy ffreindꝭ the Maister Wardeins and Assistantꝭ of the Companie of Barbar surgions London, theis

S. in xp̃o.117After my verie hartie comendac͠ons, you cannot but take notice of his Matꝭ most honbleand pious intention for the Repaire of the decayes of StPawles Church here in London, being the Mother Church of this Citty and Diocess, and the greate Cathedrall of this Kingdome. A greate dishonorit is not onely to this Citty but to the whole State to see that Auncient and goodly Pyle of building soe decayed as it is, but it will be a farr greater if care should not be taken to prevent the fall of it into ruin, And it would be noe lesse disgrace to Religion happily established in this Kingdome, if it should have soe litle power over the mindes of men as not to prevaile with them to keepe those eminent places of Gods service in due and decent repaire which their fforefathers buylt in tymes by their owne confession not soe full of the knowledge of gods truth as this present age is. I am not ignorant how many worthy workes have bene done of late in and about this Citty towardꝭ the building and repayring of Churches which makes me hope that every mans purse will open to this greate and necessary worke (according to Gods blessinge upon him) soe much tending to the service of God and the honorof this nation. The generall body of the Cittye have done verie worthily in their bounty allready as alsoe the lord MaiorAldermen and Sheriffes severally for their owne pˀsons. Theis are therefore accordinge to their examples hartily to pray and desire you the Maister Wardeins and other Assistants of the worthy Company of Barbar Surgions to contribute out of yepublicke Stock, to the worke aforesaid what you out of yrCharitye and devotion shall thinke fitt, and to pay the Summe resolved on by you into the Chamber of London at or before our Lady Day next, praying you that I may receave by any servant of yorCompanye a note what the Summe is which you resolve to give. And for this Charity of yorswhatsoever it shall prove to be, I shall not onely give you harty thankes, but be as ready to serve you and every of you, as you are to serve God and his Church. Soe not doubting of yorlove and forwardnes to this greate worke, I leave you to the grace of God, and shall soe restYorvery loving ffreindGuil: London:London house, January 30. 1632.And thereupon this Court deepely considering the contentꝭ of that letter together with the pˀnte ruines and dilapidac͠ons of the said Church, and as faithfull and charitable members obliged largely to contribute to soe pious and religious a worke Doe nowe order that out of the stock and revenew of this house there shalbe paid into the Chamber of london towardꝭ the said repaire xlipˀntely and xliyearely for nine yeares followeing to make it upp compleate a Clias of the free guift of this house. And if att any tyme hereafter the worke doe cease that then our payementꝭ to cease likewise.

Yorvery loving ffreindGuil: London:

London house, January 30. 1632.

And thereupon this Court deepely considering the contentꝭ of that letter together with the pˀnte ruines and dilapidac͠ons of the said Church, and as faithfull and charitable members obliged largely to contribute to soe pious and religious a worke Doe nowe order that out of the stock and revenew of this house there shalbe paid into the Chamber of london towardꝭ the said repaire xlipˀntely and xliyearely for nine yeares followeing to make it upp compleate a Clias of the free guift of this house. And if att any tyme hereafter the worke doe cease that then our payementꝭ to cease likewise.

1633. This year the Company built a granary at the Hall, for the store of Corn.

12th July, 1633. A new set of By-Laws was framed and allowed by the proper authorities. These are extant on twelve great skins of parchment, more wordy and of greater length than those of 4th James I! They are, however, very similar to those, with technical alterations and amendments here and there, and provision is made for Lectures on Surgery, demonstrations of anatomy, and for the better Examination of Surgeons. Clause 19 provides that any freemen of the mystery who shall use any arts, trades or sciences other than Surgery “shall be accepted, reputed, adjudged and taken for Barbars.” Empirics and impostors were to be rigorously dealt with, and the Court was to have supervision overallNavy Surgeons, their chests, medicines and instruments. No Barbers or Surgeons were to be impressed for the Navy without license of the Court, and numerous regulations were made for the government of the Company.

The document is signed by Richard Earl of Portland, Lord Treasurer; Sir Thomas Richardson and Sir Robert Heath, the Lords Chief Justices; the seals of the first two are still pendant, but that of Sir Robert Heath is missing.

1636. Spurred into further action for the advancement of the science of Surgery, which their extended powers under the new By-Laws had conferred upon them, the Company determined upon building a Theatre for the delivery of Lectures, and for anatomical purposes, etc. This they set about in 1636, employing the great Inigo Jones as their Architect, who about this period also designed and carried out the present beautiful Court Room or Parlour, one of the best proportioned and prettiest rooms in London.

INTERIOR OF COURT ROOM.

11th February, 1636. Upon the moc͠on of orMrto this Court concerneing the want of a publique Theater for Anatomycall exercises and Sceletons and a lesser roome for private discections, This Court doth order that if the Mrsor Governorsupon their petic͠on to the Lord Maiorand Aldrẽn they have the bullwarke & long stripp of ground lieing betwixt the gould smiths tenement & clothw: tenemtꝭ & london wall at the one end & the Companies hall & pˀlor & london wall at the other end, by purchase in fee farme or a long lease from the Cittie, that then a Theater to the largenes of the upper ground betwixt the goldsmithes tenem̃t & the clothworkers tenemton the one side & london wall on the other side shalbe be ovally built for theWor̃p118and comiditie of this Companie at the Charge of this house.

The piece of ground on which it was proposed to erect the Theatre was then on lease to the Company from the City. The Lease was dated 29th March, 7 Charles I (1631), and made between the Mayor, &c., of London, of the one part and the Masters, &c., of the Barber-Surgeons, of the other part. In consideration of £20 paid by the Company the City leased to themlwark and the houses Roomes and buildings therein or thereupon made or erected, And all that ground or garden plott with thappurtenñces scituat lyinge and beinge in the parish of St Olave in Silver Street in the Citie of London next unto the Wall of the same Citie there of the one side, and the landes of the saide Maisters or Governors and others on the other side late in the tenure or Pg157 Pg158 Pg159 occupac͠on of the right honorobleHenry late Lord Wyndsor deceased or of his assignes and now in the tenure or occupac͠on of the said Maisters,” etc., from the feast of the Annunciation, 1631, for forty-one years at a rent of £3. The lease contained the usual covenants of a repairing lease, as also one “that neither they the saide Masters or Governors their successors nor assigns shall or will att any time or times during the said Terme suffer any Inmate or Inmates to dwell in any part of the premises afore demised.”

5th May, 1636. There is an Indenture of Lease of this date made between the Mayor, &c., of London, and the Masters, &c., of the Barber-Surgeons, which after reciting the last mentioned lease proceeds: “And whereas the said Maisters or Governors of the Misterie and Comonaltie of Barbars and Surgians of London for the better enhableing of them in the Arte of Surgerie Doe intend to erect and build a decent Roome or Theatre on part of the premisses for the keeping therein A learned and constant Lecture in the Theorie and practiqʒ partꝭ of Surgerie As also to pˀforme their publique operac͠ons of Anatomies and other exercises thereunto belonging, Which will be verie chargeable to them Wherein the said Maior and Cominaltie and Citizens are desirous and willinge to aide and further the saide Maisters or Governors in the setting forward of soe necessarie and comendable a worke tendinge to the generall good of the whole kingdome,” wherefore the Mayor, &c., leased the said premises to the Company for a further term of 200 years upon the expiry of the lease then running, at the same rent of £3 per annum, the Lessees covenanting to build the Theatre within seven years.

16th May, 1636. Upon orMrsreport to this Court that the Lord Maior& Aldrẽn have freely graunted to this house a new lease of CC yeares comenceing from the expirac͠on of orlease now in being It is ordered with the generall consent of the whole Court here present that the Theater shalbe proceeded in and built according to the plotts drawne by his Matꝭ Surveigher.3rd August, 1636. It is ordered by this Court that the Companies Armes with Helmett Crest supporters and mantlings shalbe sett up in Portland Stone under the Cantilaver does of the Theater being over the Windowe next the Granarye.Alsoe the mottoe vizt.Speciosum hoc Theatrum Anatomicum erectñ fuit Michaele Andrews Chirurgo Regio ac comunioni BarbitonsoꝜ et ChirurgoꝜ pˀ tempore præfecto, Guardianis vero Joanne Warde Nicolas Heath et Wilhelmo Huckle anno ab exhibito in carne Messiæ supra millesimum sexcentesimum trigesimo sextoshalbe engraven in the voyde stone worke over the greate doore into the Theater.

3rd August, 1636. It is ordered by this Court that the Companies Armes with Helmett Crest supporters and mantlings shalbe sett up in Portland Stone under the Cantilaver does of the Theater being over the Windowe next the Granarye.

Alsoe the mottoe vizt.Speciosum hoc Theatrum Anatomicum erectñ fuit Michaele Andrews Chirurgo Regio ac comunioni BarbitonsoꝜ et ChirurgoꝜ pˀ tempore præfecto, Guardianis vero Joanne Warde Nicolas Heath et Wilhelmo Huckle anno ab exhibito in carne Messiæ supra millesimum sexcentesimum trigesimo sextoshalbe engraven in the voyde stone worke over the greate doore into the Theater.

A plan of the Theatre is preserved in a collection of the works of Inigo Jones, at Worcester College, Oxford, and a short description of it is found in Hatton’s New View of London, 1708. The curiosities in the Barber-Surgeons’ museum of those days will excite a smile when compared with the collection now at Lincoln’s Inn Fields. Hatton says that the Theatre was built in “an elliptical form, and commodiously fitted up with four degrees of seats of cedar wood, and adorned with the figures of the seven liberal sciences, and the twelve signs of the zodiac. Also containing the skeleton of an ostrich, put up by Dr. Hobbs, 1682, with a busto of King Charles I. Two humane skins on the wood frames, of a man and a woman, in imitation of Adam and Eve, put up in 1645; a mummy skull, given by Mr. Loveday, 1655. The sceleton of Atherton with copper joints (he was executed) given by Mr. Knowles in 1693. The figure of a man flead, where all the muscles appear in due place and proportion, done after the life. The sceletons of Cambery Bess and Country Tom (as they then call them), 1638; and three other sceletons of humane bodies.”

Hogarth has, in ghastly style depicted the dissection of a criminal in this Theatre, in which the skeletons above referred to are seen in niches in the wall.

ESTATE IN MONKWELL STREET

The plan of the Company’s Estate, has been kindly supplied for this work by Mr. Charles John Shoppee, as surveyed by him in 1869, previous to the demolition of the old Livery Hall, Kitchen, etc. The Theatre had been pulled down in 1784, and houses erected on its site; the Theatre is, however, shewn upon this plan, as being more interesting than the houses which supplanted it. In 1636 the Company commenced the erection of the Livery Hall and present Court Room, the work being carried out from the designs and under the superintendence of the celebrated Inigo Jones, the Livery Hall was, however, burnt in 1666, and that shown upon the plan is the one which was erected after the Great Fire.

5th September, 1636. The Plague was again abroad in London, and the Court, for fear of infection by meeting together, resolved as follows:

In regard of the now greate visitac͠on of the plague This Court doth deferre the Courts for the daye of Rules the Vew daye & other publique Courts till it shall please God to cease the Sicknes.

23rd September, 1636. The Lord Mayor having requested the Company to nominate “twoe Surgians to take care of those that were infected with the plague in this Cittie & liberties,” the Court thought that two was a wholly insufficient number and nominated six Surgeons to be presented to the Court of Aldermen.

2nd October, 1636. £5 was ordered to be paid in to the Chamber of London towards the relief of the poor, stricken with the Plague.

30th March, 1637. The Company were assessed to pay £10 “ship money,” whereupon an order was made that they should forbear to pay it, and a Committee appointed to wait on the Courtof Aldermen to petition against the assessment. The application was, however, unsuccessful, as by an Order of Court, 29th March, 1638, the money was directed to be paid.

8th November, 1638. The Court of Aldermen having assessed the Company to furnish 80 quarters of corn in lieu of 60 as heretofore provided, it was resolved to petition against it. This would be a very important matter to the Company as the assessments for all public purposes were made upon the City Companiespro ratawith their corn quarterages, and if the 80 quarters were allowed to stand, it would raise all the future assessments 33 per cent. The result however, of the protest does not appear in the minutes.

28th October, 1640. On receipt of a precept from the Lord Mayor, it was ordered that three barrels of Gunpowder should be bought and stored.

1640. The Company unwillingly agreed to lend the King £400, and were put to great inconvenience in raising the money, which was required by Charles for his campaign in Scotland.

After several skirmishes with the Scots, the English Army was at length disbanded, and the King went himself to Scotland to negotiate the difference which had arisen by his attempted interference in Church matters in that Kingdom; he returned to London in November, 1641, and the following minute refers to the preparations made by our Company to meet him.

22nd November, 1641. Upon reading the Lord Maiors precepts for the Companyes enterteyning the King upon his returne from Scotland It is ordered that the Marand Wardens, Mr. Serjeant Clowes, Mr. Richard Wateson, Mr. Woodall, Mr. Powell, Mr. Burgin, Mr. Heath, Mr. Henry Wateson, Mr. Bignall, Mr. Dye, Mr. Arris, Henry Boone, and Thomas Turner, shalbe attendant on Twesday next well mounted on Horseback in plush or Velvett with Chaines of Gold, and that John Perkinsshall beare the Pendon with our Coate of Armes on Horseback and that these 18 ffree men shalbe Decently cladd in the Companyes Colours of White and Greene, each of them with a greene flatt Cap with a white Ribbon about it, a greene Cassock and Drawers of the same Stuffe Whiffler like laced with a white Lace a white ribaning and a greene Ribbin athwart theire Brests, and each of them a Truncheon in theire hands in the forenoone, and in the aftˀnoone each of them 2 Torches, and these 18 to attend perticulerly one of them to each of the Horsemen, vizt.

(Then follows a list of the freemen chosen.)

The “Riding out” on this occasion must have been a magnificent sight, if all of the Companies spent proportionately to the outlay of ours, which was no less than £39 17s.10d.upon decorations, etc., for those taking part in the procession. Strype informs usthat—

The Lord Mayor on horesback wearing a gown of crimson velvet & a collar of SS, and attended by his suite, rode in the front of the procession to meet the King. Then followed the Aldermen in scarlet gowns and the City council and chief officers in black gowns. Upon reaching Moorfields, there waited in a readiness to attend his Lordship and the service, about five hundred horsemen selected out of the Liveries of the several Companies, being Masters, Wardens, and prime men of each Company in velvet or plush coats and suits, with chains of gold, being well horsed and gallantly furnished, every Company having a horseman in the front carrying a pendant with that Company’s arms to which he did belong (for distinction sake), and a footman to attend each horseman of the Livery with truncheons and torches as before, both horsemen with the pendants and footmen being suited cap-a-pee with the Company’s colours on which they waited. There were also fourteen Trumpeters, with trumpets, banners and scarfs, who were placed two between every hundred of the horse, and four at the head of the troop. The procession moved on to Kingsland, where the Lord Mayor and Aldermen and the Companies awaited the Kings approach, while the Sheriffs attended by seventy-two men in Scarlet Cloaks trimmed with silver lace (the colours of the City) with javelins and feathers and four trumpeters, rode as far as Stamford Hill, and there met their Majesties and escorted them to Kingsland.His Majesty was accompanied by the Queen, the Prince, the Duke of York, the Princess Mary and the Prince Elector Palatine, and after receiving an address,the Royal party joined the civic procession to London, entering it at Moorgate, and proceeded through London Wall, Bishopsgate Street, Cornhill and Cheapside, to the banquet at Guildhall, amidst the City Companies in their formalities and stands on each side of the streets, the City conduits running with a diversity of wines.

His Majesty was accompanied by the Queen, the Prince, the Duke of York, the Princess Mary and the Prince Elector Palatine, and after receiving an address,the Royal party joined the civic procession to London, entering it at Moorgate, and proceeded through London Wall, Bishopsgate Street, Cornhill and Cheapside, to the banquet at Guildhall, amidst the City Companies in their formalities and stands on each side of the streets, the City conduits running with a diversity of wines.

1643. The relations between the King and the City having become estranged in the fearful distractions of these times, Charles endeavoured to conciliate the citizens with a message, which was publicly read at Guildhall on the 13th January, and later on he sent a circular letter to the Masters of the several Companies requiring them to call their freemen and apprentices together, to read to them a copy of a letter which he had sent to the City on the 17th January. The Court of the Barber-Surgeons met on Tuesday, 24th inst., and cautiously record that they would have summoned their freemen for the next day, but that it was a fast day and that in the interim an order had come from the Committee of Safety that the letter, etc., should not be read.

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