PRECEDENCE.

PORTION OF THE MASTER’S SILVER GARLAND (DATE 1629).

PORTION OF THE MASTER’S SILVER GARLAND (DATE 1629).

PORTION OF THE MASTER’S SILVER GARLAND (DATE 1629).

The Barbers’ Company is ranked the seventeenth in order of the City Companies, and is the fifth after the “Twelve great Companies,” the thirteenth being the Dyers, fourteenth Brewers, fifteenth Leathersellers, sixteenth Pewterers, seventeenth Barbers, eighteenth Cutlers, etc.

The question of precedency in former times gave rise to many contentions between the City Guilds, and the Barber-Surgeons seem to have had some experience in these quarrels: the City pageants, processions, and public attendances at church, were numerous in the days of the Tudors and Stuarts, and at most of these the Livery Companies attended, each guild jealously striving to keep its place, and no doubt to advance its position whenever opportunity arose.

There are extant, lists of the Companies in the City books, in which our Company takes various positions; and Stow, having incorporated one of these lists in his Survey, has given it anauthority as a table of precedence which it was never intended to possess; he furnishes a list of the Companies attending the Lord Mayor’s feast, 23rd Henry VIII (1531), and places the Barbers as the thirty-second, whereas at that time they were undoubtedly the twenty-eighth.

1516. The first authentic reference to our Company’s standing is found inLetter-Book N.leaf 5 (January, 1516), where it is ordained that the Barbers, although they claimed of their ancient right to be the seventeenth Company, yet were adjudged to take the twenty-eighth place, following the Cordwainers, and preceding the Paynter-Stainers.

1532. This order was probably in force until February, 1532, when the Barbers got back their old position (Repertory8, leaf 272) and an officer was directed to wait on the Pewterers to “shewe theym that the seyd Company of Barbours Surgeons be Restored ageyn to their olde Rowme.” Three months later (May, 1532), the Barbers were “taken down one,” and directed to occupy the eighteenth place.

1533. In February, 1533 (Letter-Book O.fo.213), is a record which is somewhat puzzling, as, altogether ignoring the orders of February and May, 1532, it is stated that the Barber-Surgeons had petitioned to be restored to their old place of seventeenth Company, from which it is said they were dispossessed about sixteen years back (evidently alluding to the order of January, 1516), “so that they be nowe the xxix or xxxthCompanye yn thordre of such goynges,” etc.

Perhaps the orders of February and May, 1532, had been disregarded by the other guilds, and our Company forcibly ousted from their rightful position, so that this is in effect an applicationfor a confirmatory order, which was granted, and thus they were again fixed as the seventeenth Company.

1534. The Barbers must have given some offence to the Civic authorities in 1534, for in October of that year (Repertory9, leaf 79) the last-named order was repealed, and they were put back again to the twenty-eighth place, and further the Company were ordered that they “shall no more goo yn pˀcessyons, standyngꝭ, Rydyngꝭ, goyngꝭ, and other assembles from hensfurth, tyll it be otherwyse ordered by thys coˀrte.”

1535. This vacillation on the part of the Court of Aldermen in settling our position, was not yet at an end, for in March, 1535, we were again placed seventeenth, to come before the Cutlers and after the Pewterers, and this order was confirmed no less than four times in 1535, and twice in 1536.

1604. At a Royal Procession on the 15th March, 1604, our Company got misplaced by some of the Marshals, and this led to another application to the Court of Aldermen, whereupon a peremptory order was made that the Barber-Surgeons should stand sixteenth in precedence. This order is set out in full elsewhere (see page195); the sixteenth place was then accorded to us in consequence of the Stockfishmongers, who formerly held the twelfth place, having been dissolved, whereby the Barber-Surgeons went up one: the Clothworkers who, at that time were the thirteenth Company, then became the twelfth.

Some short time afterwards, the Dyers, who had been the eighteenth Company, got the thirteenth place, and we reverted to our old position of seventeenth Company in which we still continue.

1606. An attempt to misplace us was made in July, 1606, but this was successfully resisted. (Seep. 116.)

The constitution of the governing body of the Company has grown up in the course of time from one Prime Master or Ruler to a Master with three Wardens and twenty Assistants, forming a Court of twenty-four members.

We gather from the earliest records, that the business of the Company was then transacted by the meeting together in Common Hall, of the whole fraternity (which probably included both freemen and liverymen), under the presidency of a single Master, who, as in the case of Richard le Barber in 1308, was invested with the supervision of the craft, and power to make search and scrutiny, and to punish offenders.

In 1376 two Masters were appointed to rule the craft, while in 1388 we find that two Masters and two “Surveyors” formed the governing body.

In 1416 is recorded the admission of five Masters, three of whom are described as “Barbitonsores” (i.e., Barbers proper) and two as “Masters of the Barbers exercising the faculty of Surgery.”In 1428 there were four Masters, two of each class, and this number was the governing body at the time of Edward IV’s Charter of Incorporation, in 1462.

As has been elsewhere remarked, this Charter provides for the appointment of two Masters only, and they to be skilled in Surgery, to be chosen by twelve Electors taken from the Commonalty; but as our records preserve the names of four Masters elected in that year, and so on ever since in unbroken succession, there cannot be any doubt but that (the Charter dealing almost entirely with the regulation of matters surgical) the two Masters of the “Barbers side” were left to be elected in accordance with old custom, or under the By-laws which the Company were, by their Charter, empowered to make.

At what period a Court of Assistants was created in our Company is unknown, but I am inclined to think the date is about 1480 to 1500. The four “Masters or Governors” (answering to our “Master and three Wardens”) were chosen out of the Commonalty by twelve electors yearly, and do not, as seems by the lists preserved, appear to have gone up annually by seniority as now they do,i.e., from third Warden to second, and so on. Those who had served as second, third, or fourth Governors, if not chosen to higher office the next year, as a general rule took their places again as simple liverymen; whilst those who had served as Prime or Chief Governor were, at the expiry of their term of office, designated “Ancient Masters,” and these, with some past Wardens, having become qualified by experience in the affairs of the Company would naturally be consulted by the ruling Governors who sought their “assistance” and advice, and thus grow up into a Court ofAssistants168(nearly always in early time spelt“Assistance”) and be recognised to a great extent as a power in the direction of the Company’s business.

The earliest mention of Assistants is in the By-laws settled by Sir Thomas More in 1530, though throughout these By-laws the actual ruling power was evidently in the four Masters or Governors. The Assistants are here twice referred to, in one case where it is enacted that the Masters shall not admit a “fforen” to the freedom without the assent of the “xxiiijtiassistentes,” and in another place they are to have, with the Masters, the election of the Livery.

The Act 32 Henry VIII is silent as to Assistants, vesting all power in the Masters or Governors. In 1557 at one of the Courts twenty-one Assistants and four Masters attended, and at a Court held 19th July, 1595, the names of twenty-five Assistants are recorded. The number seems to have varied with the times, the full Court, however, never exceeding four Masters and thirty-two Assistants. The Assistants have always been elected by the Court, and the custom became in time to choose the senior liveryman whenever a vacancy occurred, though there does not appear to have been at any time a by-law to that effect, and indeed this practice has been departed from on very many occasions.

The Election of Masters prior to the year 1633 was on the Monday next before the feast of St. Bartholomew the Apostle (Aug. 24); from 1633 to 1745 it was held on the third Thursday in August, and since 1745 it has been held on the second Thursday in August.

The ancient practice was for the whole body of the livery to be summoned to the Hall in their livery gowns, hoods and caps on the Monday at 8 o’clock in the morning “at the furthest” to whom theMasters, sitting in Court, declared the cause of their assembling; this done, the Masters retired, and the livery, sitting there, chose twelve of their number to be “Electors,” of whom six were to be “expert Surgeons,” and four at least must never have served the office of Master or Governor. The Clerk then called the twelve Electors out (the rest of the livery remaining in the Hall). The Masters then delivered to the Electors the “Bills of Election,” each Master nominating two Barbers and two Surgeons, so that sixteen in all were nominated, and, after administering to them the oath prescribed, the Electors retired to a private room apart to make their choice. Should the Electors deem that one or more of themselves ought to have been put in nomination, they were to send for the Masters who were bound to withdraw such person or persons, and choose others in their place. The Bills were to be made out in accordance with seniority, but the Electors were not bound to choose by seniority. Having made their choice, the Electors sent for the Masters and delivered to them a Bill with the names of the four persons selected, and these names were (under a heavy penalty) to be kept secret until after the “dener.”

The whole Company then proceeded in state to the Church of St. Olave, Silver Street (after the Great Fire to St. Alban, Wood Street), maids strewing the way with flowers. At Church there was a “goodly masse” celebrated, and in later times a “devyne sˀrvice,” which, being ended, the parson and some of the church officials had customary fees and returned with the Company to the Hall to celebrate the Election dinner. The feast over, the outgoing Masters, according to “auncient order,” walked about the table, each bearing a garland and placing it on the head of the member who had been chosen to fill his place in the year ensuing. If anyone elected happened to be absent, his garland was placed on the head of one of the Ancient Masters as proxy, and the newly-elected Masters were sworn on theHoly Evangelists to the due execution of their offices, absentees being sworn at the next Court.

The Election dinners were held at any early hour in the afternoon (1 or 2 p.m.) and were generally followed by a play or a dance, sometimes both; the wives of the livery and Assistants were present at the dinner, and the latter had their apprentices in attendance waiting at table.

In 1633 the mode of choosing the Electors was varied as follows: a “fair ballating box” with two cells therein, one labelled “Surgeons” and the other “Barbers” was placed upon the table,

Intoeachcell the Master put the names of two Ancient Masters, and drew one out of each2The second and third Governors put intoeachcell the names of six Assistants, and the Master drew three out of each6The fourth Governor put intoeachcell the names of four liverymen and the Master drew two out of each412

The twelve so drawn constituted the Electors, and the proceedings were then much the same as has been before described.

The new Masters or Governors commenced their duties immediately upon being sworn.

From the earliest period the custom has been to hold the monthly and ordinary Courts on Tuesdays, but the meetings do notseem to have taken place on any definite or fixed days, numerous Courts being held at irregular intervals and frequently on Mondays. “Courts of Assistants,” as distinguished from Monthly and special Courts, were, in early times, for some reason or other, particularly prohibited from being held on Tuesdays, there being several orders and by-laws to this effect, but why, I do not know.

In the year 1557 twenty Courts were held. In 1572 forty-one Courts, the average attendance at which was twelve. In 1599 forty-six Courts assembled. At the intermediate Courts a great deal of important as well as minor business was transacted, including the admissions and presentations of freemen and apprentices, the examination of Surgeons and Sea Surgeons, and a great variety of business connected with the medical service of the army and navy.

Previous to the separation in 1745, the office of Master was supposed to be, and generally was, held by a Barber and a Surgeon alternately, the Wardens being chosen in like manner, any member not practising as a Surgeon being accounted a Barber, whatever his trade or occupation might be.

Great importance has at all times been attached to the question of precedence in sitting at table and in speaking in Court, and many have been the rules enacted, and the disputes and jealousies which have arisen between members of the Court on this question.

Some of the powers executed by the Masters of old and by the Court of Assistants in later times have been those which now are peculiar to Courts of Law,e.g., the settlement of disputes upon every conceivable question, the imposition of fines, and their recovery by distress levied by the Beadle, the summary committal of offenders to gaol, and the issuing of orders for their release, the prohibition ofactions and suits at common law (if commenced by a freeman without leave of the Court), the inhibition of members from practising their profession, and the infliction of corporal punishment upon unruly freemen and apprentices.

The Court as now existing, consists of four Masters or Governors and twenty Assistants, appointed under the provisions of the Act 18 George II, cap. xv. By this Act the election of the Masters or Governors is in the Court and takes place on the second Thursday in August, but alas! without the ancient ceremonies of attending Church, crowning with garlands, and—may I add?—the Election dinner for the Livery.

As will be seen elsewhere, there have been frequent disturbances at the Courts, and there are numerous entries of Assistants, Wardens, and Past Masters having been expelled the Court and sometimes dismissed from the Livery as well, for their misconduct or quarrelsome behaviour. Instances of impertinence and abuse by freemen and liverymen before the Court, are also by no means rare, and in these cases condign punishment by imprisonment or fine was invariably meted out.

9th March, 1624. This daye Mr. Warden Thornebury made knowne to this Court ytone Tanner, a brother of this Companie, hath abused him in words. Whereupon it is ordered by this Court that John Bayard the officer belonging to this Companie shall laye the Lord Maiorscomaund on the said Tanner and comitte him to one of the Compters of this Cittye And that imediately upon the said comittmtshall acquaint the Mrstherewith That thereupon the Mrsmaye acquaint the lo: Maiorwith the reson of his comittemt.19th January, 1626. This daye the letter directed to the Maister Wards and Assistants of the Companie of Barbor Surgions of London from MrWilliam Clowes Sarjeant Chirurgion to his Matiewas here in Courte reade in hec verba viztRight worthieMaister and Governors and assistants of the companie of Barbers and Surgions in my true love I wish all health and florishinge goverment of yorCompany to the glory of God the honor of the Kinge and the good of Gods people Amen. Now whereas I have bin not only by many Brothers advertised but also of yorOfficer legally by letter and otherwise given to understand that you had chosen me Renter warden of the company from the wchElection I desired by MrCooper and MrThomas Allen I might be freed yett could not, I then knewe well that in duty I owed you an aunswer which might well be seeme my reverent respect to yorAuthoritye; and my tender regard of the kinge my Mrshonor which in yorChusinge and my acceptinge maye be considered, which as much as in me is I desired to doe, And nowe, not once questoninge the troblesomnes of the place, nor other hinderances wchgod Almighty did then send I thus aunswer (because I wilbe free of Ambition or pride) that if you can make that appeere upon yorRecords that any of my predecessors did beare the office of Wardein after he was sworne Serjeant Surgion to any of the Kˀs or Queenes of England I shall humbly serve it, if not, I Crave yorpˀdon for I might not soe poorely value the Kinge my Mras thinke him less mighty, less absolute a Prince then any Kinge whatsoever hath raigned before him, and so as his Servaunt I expect from the Company as good respect as any Sergeant Surgion heretofore hath had, for my Mrshonor I will not give to any other, And further because I am many tymes summoned to yorCourts and other meetings, wchservice I am very willinge to performe, when I shall knowe my place in the Company, which I must leave to yorgrave considerac͠on, only if you please to take notice how the Colledge of Phisitions and the Company of Apothecaryes of London have rancked the Kingꝭ Phisitions and Apothecaryes, you may thereby guess what place I expect, but howsoever if by the occasion of back freinds wee may not so well agree as I desire, so as I may personally absent my selfe from the Company yett thus much I ingenuously and religiously profess that I will alwayes in harty love be present and ready press either by the Kinge my Mror any other wayes to doe the Companye any loveing Service I may, And so ceasing further troubling you but desireing to heare of yorsmoothe acceptance, I rest.Whereas he was chosen renter warden of this Companie for this yere ensueing wchplace by reason of this contagious tyme and other respects he is not able to execute, It is thereupon ordered by this courte that he shalbe discharged from the said place of youngest warden and second warden of this Company, And it is further ordered that he shall take place next unto the youngest of our assistants that have served the place of upper warden and when he shall have served the place of upper warden of this Companye then he to take his precedencye and ranck according to that service.

9th March, 1624. This daye Mr. Warden Thornebury made knowne to this Court ytone Tanner, a brother of this Companie, hath abused him in words. Whereupon it is ordered by this Court that John Bayard the officer belonging to this Companie shall laye the Lord Maiorscomaund on the said Tanner and comitte him to one of the Compters of this Cittye And that imediately upon the said comittmtshall acquaint the Mrstherewith That thereupon the Mrsmaye acquaint the lo: Maiorwith the reson of his comittemt.

19th January, 1626. This daye the letter directed to the Maister Wards and Assistants of the Companie of Barbor Surgions of London from MrWilliam Clowes Sarjeant Chirurgion to his Matiewas here in Courte reade in hec verba viztRight worthieMaister and Governors and assistants of the companie of Barbers and Surgions in my true love I wish all health and florishinge goverment of yorCompany to the glory of God the honor of the Kinge and the good of Gods people Amen. Now whereas I have bin not only by many Brothers advertised but also of yorOfficer legally by letter and otherwise given to understand that you had chosen me Renter warden of the company from the wchElection I desired by MrCooper and MrThomas Allen I might be freed yett could not, I then knewe well that in duty I owed you an aunswer which might well be seeme my reverent respect to yorAuthoritye; and my tender regard of the kinge my Mrshonor which in yorChusinge and my acceptinge maye be considered, which as much as in me is I desired to doe, And nowe, not once questoninge the troblesomnes of the place, nor other hinderances wchgod Almighty did then send I thus aunswer (because I wilbe free of Ambition or pride) that if you can make that appeere upon yorRecords that any of my predecessors did beare the office of Wardein after he was sworne Serjeant Surgion to any of the Kˀs or Queenes of England I shall humbly serve it, if not, I Crave yorpˀdon for I might not soe poorely value the Kinge my Mras thinke him less mighty, less absolute a Prince then any Kinge whatsoever hath raigned before him, and so as his Servaunt I expect from the Company as good respect as any Sergeant Surgion heretofore hath had, for my Mrshonor I will not give to any other, And further because I am many tymes summoned to yorCourts and other meetings, wchservice I am very willinge to performe, when I shall knowe my place in the Company, which I must leave to yorgrave considerac͠on, only if you please to take notice how the Colledge of Phisitions and the Company of Apothecaryes of London have rancked the Kingꝭ Phisitions and Apothecaryes, you may thereby guess what place I expect, but howsoever if by the occasion of back freinds wee may not so well agree as I desire, so as I may personally absent my selfe from the Company yett thus much I ingenuously and religiously profess that I will alwayes in harty love be present and ready press either by the Kinge my Mror any other wayes to doe the Companye any loveing Service I may, And so ceasing further troubling you but desireing to heare of yorsmoothe acceptance, I rest.

Whereas he was chosen renter warden of this Companie for this yere ensueing wchplace by reason of this contagious tyme and other respects he is not able to execute, It is thereupon ordered by this courte that he shalbe discharged from the said place of youngest warden and second warden of this Company, And it is further ordered that he shall take place next unto the youngest of our assistants that have served the place of upper warden and when he shall have served the place of upper warden of this Companye then he to take his precedencye and ranck according to that service.

21st August, 1626. Serjeant Clowes was elected Master, but it seems his election was called in question, as it was the turn for a Barber this year, and it was moved that the electors should be fined for breach of the ordinance in choosing a Surgeon, but the Court decided not to do so. There was evidently a dislike to Mr. Clowes on the part of some of the Company, as the Wardens of the Yeomanry were on the 20th September, fined 40s.for refusing, or neglecting to carry the Standing Cups before him and the Wardens of the Livery on the Election day.

1638. Serjeant Clowes was again elected Master.

9th April, 1641. MrWarden Martin Browne made his complaint against MrSerjeant Clowes and he did freely declare that he did forgive the Serjeant his personall Wrong, and did referr the Wrong due to the Court unto the Court, And this Court did order that MrSerjeant Clowes shall acknowledge that in his anger and passion he did speake some words to the wrong of this Court, and this being done this Order to be annihilated.22nd September, 1642. Alsoe for the more peaceable treaty and discussing matters in times of Courts of Assistants It is ordered That decency be held in these Courts proceedings and that every one of the Assistants as he is in his turne and time of Delivery to yeild his voyce shall not use any impertinent speeches or divert the matter in question into some other busines but give his answer freely to the present matter proponed and that during the time of his delivery of his speech or opinion none other of the Assistants shall give crosse or thwarting speeches or calumniate that Assistant And if any Assistant shalbe soe Uncivill That then the present Mror Governour shall cause him to be silent and shall put such Assistants InterrupcÍ on of speech to question concerneing his ffine for evill behaviour and such Interruptor being found faulty shall pay the ffine of vjsviijdaccording to the Ordinance in that behalfe made.3rd October, 1642. Alsoe MrCotton layed downe his ffines imposed on him at the last Court of Assistants viztxxvjsviijdThe Mrof the Company moveing by the consent of the last Court MrCotton to withdrawe himselfe according to Orders and Custome, he gave this Court this peremptory answer, I will not goe outof the Court nor the Mrhath noe power to bidd mee goe out and that the Court had noe power to fine him, then he threatned MrWarden Arris as he sat in the Court saying Winter will come, Alsoe he abused MrDye in his delivery of speech to this Court that his speeches were rotten speeches and thwarted him to the generall disturbance of the Court, and to MrMartin Browne threatning him I will make you know it better in another place Alsoe he sought to disable the Mrshand which was signed to Ticketts for his and other appearances at the Hall for defaults saying they might choose whether to appeare or not Alsoe he told the Court with high language I will not be dismissed.fforasmuch as this Court is informed and it doth fully appeare to this present Court of Assistants That MrLawrence Cotton hath from time to time bin a disturber of the Unity peace and amity of this Society and hath by many reproachfull Words and ill behaviour abused the present Mrsof the Company and divers of the Assistants and Members of this Company Whereupon this Court doth dismisse the said MrCotton out of and from his place of an Assistant and being an Examiner.

9th April, 1641. MrWarden Martin Browne made his complaint against MrSerjeant Clowes and he did freely declare that he did forgive the Serjeant his personall Wrong, and did referr the Wrong due to the Court unto the Court, And this Court did order that MrSerjeant Clowes shall acknowledge that in his anger and passion he did speake some words to the wrong of this Court, and this being done this Order to be annihilated.

22nd September, 1642. Alsoe for the more peaceable treaty and discussing matters in times of Courts of Assistants It is ordered That decency be held in these Courts proceedings and that every one of the Assistants as he is in his turne and time of Delivery to yeild his voyce shall not use any impertinent speeches or divert the matter in question into some other busines but give his answer freely to the present matter proponed and that during the time of his delivery of his speech or opinion none other of the Assistants shall give crosse or thwarting speeches or calumniate that Assistant And if any Assistant shalbe soe Uncivill That then the present Mror Governour shall cause him to be silent and shall put such Assistants InterrupcÍ on of speech to question concerneing his ffine for evill behaviour and such Interruptor being found faulty shall pay the ffine of vjsviijdaccording to the Ordinance in that behalfe made.

3rd October, 1642. Alsoe MrCotton layed downe his ffines imposed on him at the last Court of Assistants viztxxvjsviijdThe Mrof the Company moveing by the consent of the last Court MrCotton to withdrawe himselfe according to Orders and Custome, he gave this Court this peremptory answer, I will not goe outof the Court nor the Mrhath noe power to bidd mee goe out and that the Court had noe power to fine him, then he threatned MrWarden Arris as he sat in the Court saying Winter will come, Alsoe he abused MrDye in his delivery of speech to this Court that his speeches were rotten speeches and thwarted him to the generall disturbance of the Court, and to MrMartin Browne threatning him I will make you know it better in another place Alsoe he sought to disable the Mrshand which was signed to Ticketts for his and other appearances at the Hall for defaults saying they might choose whether to appeare or not Alsoe he told the Court with high language I will not be dismissed.

fforasmuch as this Court is informed and it doth fully appeare to this present Court of Assistants That MrLawrence Cotton hath from time to time bin a disturber of the Unity peace and amity of this Society and hath by many reproachfull Words and ill behaviour abused the present Mrsof the Company and divers of the Assistants and Members of this Company Whereupon this Court doth dismisse the said MrCotton out of and from his place of an Assistant and being an Examiner.

Mr. Cotton subsequently made his peace, was reinstated and served the office of Master, 1645!

8th July, 1644. Whereas by Order of the Honourable house of Comõns assembled in Parliament of the 28thJune last the President of the Colledge of Physicians was appointed to call this Company before them and to tender the Covenaunt by them This Court conceiveing their Priviledges to be thereby infringed this Cortthe Mrdoe advise with Councell Doth order that a Petic͠on be framed to be preferred by all the Assistants that are now present or the major part, to the House of Comõns to have the tendring of the Covenñt themselves to theire owne Members and the Charge to be allowed out of the Comõn stock.

8th July, 1644. Whereas by Order of the Honourable house of Comõns assembled in Parliament of the 28thJune last the President of the Colledge of Physicians was appointed to call this Company before them and to tender the Covenaunt by them This Court conceiveing their Priviledges to be thereby infringed this Cortthe Mrdoe advise with Councell Doth order that a Petic͠on be framed to be preferred by all the Assistants that are now present or the major part, to the House of Comõns to have the tendring of the Covenñt themselves to theire owne Members and the Charge to be allowed out of the Comõn stock.

Theadmission to membership in the Company has ever been by servitude, patrimony, or redemption, and the fines and fees payable have varied so much at different periods in our history, and have frequently been so capricious, that no attempt has been made to tabulate them, though references will be made here and there to the prevailing fees of the period. The fees for apprentices have always been of a nominal description, and generally so of freemen, though, in olden time, the Court, as became the Masters of the mystery of “bleeding,” not unfrequently bled a new member by a substantial fine on admission, but also put him to the expense of a dinner into the bargain.

The initial letterTis reduced from one in the Audit Book 1614–15.

An ample fine, suited to the period, has always been taken from the Liverymen who were, in the days of the Tudors and Stuartsa comparatively small section of the Company, and rarely exceeded fifty in number; they were always chosen from the more substantial of the Yeomanry, and if on election they refused “to take the clothing,” as was frequently the case, a heavy penalty was imposed, which, if not paid, the unhappy yeoman was forthwith committed to the Compter, where, upon reflection, he generally came to the conclusion to submit. It is right, however, to state that at all times the Court have, in cases where the proposed Liveryman was actually a poor man, remitted the fine, and allowed him to continue a yeoman; on the other hand, contumacious refusal was invariably met in the firmest manner and conquered.

The practice of calling up yeomen to the Livery was at times resorted to as a means of putting the Company into funds, and as these calls generally took place at periods of national trouble, when the coffers of the Company had been emptied by the King or the Parliament, the intended Liverymen were themselves not unfrequently in sore straits, and great contentions arose.

About one hundred and fifty years ago the practice of enforcing these fines was in regular operation, but since then it has been attended with varying success; not that the Company has not by law the power of enforcement, but a prejudice had grown up against the system, and the Court has been unwilling to sanction a resort to extremities.

Early in the present century three or four actions were brought against freemen to recover penalties of £20 for refusing to accept the Livery; in one case which was ripe for trial the Company withdrew the record and paid the costs, and the others seem to have been abandoned.

All freemen on being sworn were liable to pay “quarterage,” which has been from the earliest period, and still is, 2s.per annum.169On a man coming up for admission he was “presented,” that is, seen by the Court who enquired into his position, knowledge, fitness and general qualifications, and if approved he paid his fees and was sworn. Some of the earlier forms of oath will be seen on reference to the Ordinances, and that used up to a very recent period was asfollows:—

You shall swear That you shall be True and Loyal to our Sovereign Lady Queen Victoria and faithful and true in all lawful things unto the Corporation and Company of the Mystery of Barbers of London, whereof you are now made free, and accordingly be obedient to the Master and Governors thereof: and as much as in you lieth maintain amity and unity therein; and obey observe and perform all the lawful rules statutes and ordinances thereof; and be proportionably contributory to the best of your power, to all lawful or reasonable charges contributions and payments belonging or necessarily appertaining to you to bear and pay as other Brethren of the same Company do. And also you shall obey all manner of summons or warnings done, or to be made by the Clerk Beadle or other officer of the said Company thereunto assigned in the name of the Master and Governors, having no lawful or reasonable excuse to the contrary. All these articles you shall duly, truly, fully and faithfully observe, perform and keep to the best of your power. So help you God.

You shall swear That you shall be True and Loyal to our Sovereign Lady Queen Victoria and faithful and true in all lawful things unto the Corporation and Company of the Mystery of Barbers of London, whereof you are now made free, and accordingly be obedient to the Master and Governors thereof: and as much as in you lieth maintain amity and unity therein; and obey observe and perform all the lawful rules statutes and ordinances thereof; and be proportionably contributory to the best of your power, to all lawful or reasonable charges contributions and payments belonging or necessarily appertaining to you to bear and pay as other Brethren of the same Company do. And also you shall obey all manner of summons or warnings done, or to be made by the Clerk Beadle or other officer of the said Company thereunto assigned in the name of the Master and Governors, having no lawful or reasonable excuse to the contrary. All these articles you shall duly, truly, fully and faithfully observe, perform and keep to the best of your power. So help you God.

A few years since, this oath was changed into a declaration, the words “You shall declare” being substituted for “You shall swear.”

It was generally the practice, when a member wished to be translated to another Company or entirely discharged, that he should pay a fine for his dismission. In 1724, Mr. John Bamber, a Surgeon, informing the Court that he intended to practise as a Physician and to become a Member of the College of Physicians prayed for his discharge, which was granted to him on payment of thirty guineas, and there are other entries to the like effect.

The regulations for the governance of the members are very fully contained in the Ordinances referred to elsewhere, andit would therefore be tedious to further allude to them here. On a perusal of the extracts from the minutes, etc., many curious particulars will be seen concerning both freemen and liverymen who were liable to be expelled for not being “able” (i.e., solvent) and also for not attending in their livery gowns and hoods upon summons. There are many and often reminders to the livery to appear in their gowns with their hoods upon their shoulders, and there are also cases in which individuals were forbidden to wear their gowns and hoods by way of punishment. The dress of the livery has been well described in Herbert’s Livery Companies, and Planche’s Costume, and we can see it in our great Holbein picture, though the dresses worn on that occasion were of a much richer description than those in daily use.

It will be seen that the Livery were constantly going out in procession in days of old. There were the services at St. Paul’s on Christmas and Candlemas days, the Lord Mayor’s procession, the setting of the watch on Midsummer Eve, the celebration of 5th November, the anniversary of Gowrie’s Conspiracy, the Election Service at St. Olave’s, Silver Street, days of thanksgiving and humiliation, Royal progresses and Civic pageants. To all of these the Livery were bidden to go by precept, and on neglect of the summons were fined. In many cases certain of them were appointed to ride on horseback with velvet coats and chains of gold about their necks, and when not so apparelled they appeared in their gowns of black and scarlet, with their hoods upon their shoulders. What would we not give for a photograph of one of these gorgeous scenes wherein we should see the “liverie of our solempne and grete fraternite” riding “ayenst,” say, Queen Elizabeth in 1599?

Our earlier records of freemen are unfortunately lost, the first register commencing in the year 1551, but at Guildhall I havediscovered several admissions of freemen Barbers to the freedom of the City, and here place a few of them upon record. The first is in1309:—

Thomas Orgor barbitonsor admissus fuit in libtãte civitatis & jurˀ &c. die sabĩ pˀxima post festñ scĩ Edmundi Regis & martirˀ anno R. E. filˀ R. E. tcĩo coram Nich̃o de ffarendon Joh̃e de Wyndesore & Henrˀ de Dunolm Aldris Et dat commitati xxsquos pˀdcĩ Aldr̃i recepˀunt.(Translation.) Thomas Orgor, Barber, was admitted into the freedom of the City and sworn, etc., on Saturday next after the feast of Saint Edmund the King and Martyr in the third year of King Edward, the son of King Edward, before Nicholas de Farendon, John de Windsor and Henry de Durham, Aldermen, And gave to the Commonalty 20s., which the aforesaid Aldermen received.

Thomas Orgor barbitonsor admissus fuit in libtãte civitatis & jurˀ &c. die sabĩ pˀxima post festñ scĩ Edmundi Regis & martirˀ anno R. E. filˀ R. E. tcĩo coram Nich̃o de ffarendon Joh̃e de Wyndesore & Henrˀ de Dunolm Aldris Et dat commitati xxsquos pˀdcĩ Aldr̃i recepˀunt.

(Translation.) Thomas Orgor, Barber, was admitted into the freedom of the City and sworn, etc., on Saturday next after the feast of Saint Edmund the King and Martyr in the third year of King Edward, the son of King Edward, before Nicholas de Farendon, John de Windsor and Henry de Durham, Aldermen, And gave to the Commonalty 20s., which the aforesaid Aldermen received.

Other entries are much in the same form, a few of which, abridged,follow:—

1309. John de Dodinghurst, Barber, admitted and sworn, etc., Friday next after the feast of St. Thomas the Apostle; paid half a mark.

1310. Ralph the Barber admitted, etc., 16th March; paid one mark.

1310. Gilbert Blaunchard, Barber, admitted, etc., 1st April; paid 10s.

1310. Peter de Pecham, Barber, admitted, etc., 12th May, “at the instance of Roger le Brabanzon, a justice of our Lord the King”; paid 5s.

1310. Galfridus de Trengye, Barber, admitted, etc., Saturday before the feast of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist; paid 10s.

1311. John Syward, Barber, admitted, etc., Monday before the feast of St. Edmund the King, at the instance of the Lord Walter, Bishop of Winchester, Chancellor, “et ideo nichil dat ꝓ liᵬtate habenda,” “andthereforegave nothing to have the freedom!”

1312. Ralph de Bosbery, Barber, admitted, etc., on Monday in the feast of St. Valentine; paid half a mark.

1312. John de Fynceham, Barber, admitted, etc., 6th April; paid 10s.

1312. Henry de la Chaumbre, Barber, admitted, etc., on Monday in the vigil of the Assumption; paid half a mark.

1312. Thomas de Mangrave who was the apprentice of Richard le Barber of Bread Street, was admitted on Wednesday before the feast of St. James the Apostle, on the testimony of Katherine, widow of the said Richard and of Robert de Gloucester, the executors of his will; paid 2s.6d.

The “Richard le Barber” mentioned in the last entry was Master of the Company in 1308.

The freemen were formerly enrolled in the “yeomanry” and formed a minor fraternity within the Company (seethe chapter on theYeomanry).

All freemen practising as journeymen or assistants, if Barbers, Surgeons, or Barber-Surgeons were “sessed at the Hall,” that is, their wages were settled for them by the Court, and entered in a book, together with the period for which they agreed to serve, the period being never less than one year nor more than three. These men were often called “covenant servants,” but they paid quarterage,and were entitled to all the privileges of freedom, excepting that they could not take apprentices.

If a freemen desired to start in business, the By-laws of 1530 required that he should prove to the Court as an act precedent to his so doing, that he was possessed of goods to the value of ten marks.

A certain class of members called “Foreign Brothers” are very frequently alluded to in the Books, and it has been a matter of some difficulty to ascertain what their status exactly was, but by collation of numerous entries I have come to the conclusion that, with very few exceptions, they were all of them practising Surgeons, and that they hadnotbeen apprenticed to freemen of the Company. If practising within the jurisdiction of the Company, they were compelled to join, or else to forbear to practise, and it seems that on admission they were required to satisfy the Court by the production of their Indentures of apprenticeship to Country or other Surgeons that they had duly served seven years, and to give ample proof of their skill and knowledge before the Examiners; exceptions to the production of indentures were, however, made in favour of those who came with recommendations from persons of quality, or of such as had acquired eminence and position in the profession. All sea surgeons were “Foreign Brothers” and paid a fine (generally seven guineas) on admission, they also paid quarterage as freemen, and when they resided within the jurisdiction were subject to all the rules and ordinances of the Company as other freemen, being frequently fined and imprisoned for malpractice, etc., though they were not entitled to the benefit of the charities, to come to the dinners, or to confer the right of admission by patrimony upon their sons, nor do they seem to have been necessarily free of the City. Many Surgeons practising in the Country became Foreign Brothers for the sake of the diplomas granted at Barber-Surgeons’ Hall.

There are a few instances of “Barbers” being compelled to become Foreign Brothers, for which I am unable to give an explanation, unless they be errors of description by the Clerk for “Barber-Surgeons.”

Every freeman on admission formerly paid 3s.4d., and every apprentice on “presentation” 2s.6d.For many years the names of these persons are entered in the Audit Books, and thus it has been possible to ascertain the number admitted extending over a considerable period.

It appears that from the year 1603 to 1674, 3,479 persons were admitted to the freedom, an average of about 48 per annum; and 9,554 apprentices were presented, an average of about 133 per annum. The greatest number of freemen admitted was in the year 1647 when 82 came on, and the least in 1666 when but 23 were admitted. With apprentices the greatest number presented was in the year 1629 when there were 219, and the least again in the year of the Great Fire when there were but 54.

Between 1674 and 1745, about 75 freemen and 162 apprentices would be the yearly average.

After the separation in 1745, and indeed down to the beginning of this century, a respectable average was maintained, being about 40 freemen and 60 apprentices per annum.

In the hundred years between 1746 and 1845, 2,964 persons were admitted to the freedom and 4,298 apprentices were presented, being an average of about 30 of the former and 43 of the latter for each year. The least number of freemen coming on was in 1845, when only 5 were admitted, and of apprentices in 1844, when but 4 were presented.

The apprentices always seem to have been a fruitful source of trouble both to their Masters and to the Company, and numerous are the entries of their floggings and imprisonments. The term of servitude was generally seven years, but in a few instances it was eight and even nine, the age at which boys were taken was usually fourteen, and before the Indentures were sealed the boy was “presented” to the Court that it might be seen that he was clean and not deformed or diseased. If approved, the Indentures were executed and recorded, and in all cases the apprentice actually lived with his Master, who covenanted to find him meat, drink, apparel, lodging and all other necessaries according to the custom of the City. If the boy’s master died or for other reasons was unable to continue his business, it became necessary for him to be “turned over” to another master, free of the Company, and that such turn over should be approved and recorded, otherwise the apprentice was disqualified for his freedom. When his term expired the Master brought him to the Hall and “testified” to his faithful service, whereupon he became entitled to the freedom on payment of a nominal fine. Sometimes Masters refused to make their apprentices free, in which cases the Court enquired into the circumstances, and acted in accordance with the merits of the case.

From the earliest times the custom has prevailed to admit women to the freedom, mostly by apprenticeship, but also by patrimony, and these freewomen bound their apprentices, both boys and girls, at the Hall; of course the ladies were not admitted to the livery, but otherwise they had the same privileges as freemen so far as the same were compatible with their sex. At the present time (1890) there is one freewoman of the Barbers’ Company.

Ordered17th July, 1551. That Water Lynche whiche was prentise wthJohn Tholmwoode Barborsurgeon shalbe and ys contented to serve Thomas Woolf as a prentice from the daye above written untyll the viijthyere of King Edward the sixte and so the sayd Water Lynche his yeres to be fully ended and ronne out at the feaste of all Saints as may appere by his Indenture.19th September, 1552. Ordered that when any prentise dothe goo awaye from his Mrthe same Mrshall bring in his Indenture and here to remayne tyll the prentice come agayne and to be regestred.

Ordered17th July, 1551. That Water Lynche whiche was prentise wthJohn Tholmwoode Barborsurgeon shalbe and ys contented to serve Thomas Woolf as a prentice from the daye above written untyll the viijthyere of King Edward the sixte and so the sayd Water Lynche his yeres to be fully ended and ronne out at the feaste of all Saints as may appere by his Indenture.

19th September, 1552. Ordered that when any prentise dothe goo awaye from his Mrthe same Mrshall bring in his Indenture and here to remayne tyll the prentice come agayne and to be regestred.

It was also ordered that the Beadle should make out all Indentures of apprenticeship, and any one else presuming to do so should pay a fine of 3s.4d.

27th April, 1556. It was ordered that no apprentice should wear a beard of beyond fifteen days’ growth, and that on breach of this order the master of the apprentice was to pay a fine of half a mark.

15th October, 1566. Here in this Court John James the appñts of John Shryve for pylferyng, & so here he had his correction.170

15th October, 1566. Here in this Court John James the appñts of John Shryve for pylferyng, & so here he had his correction.170

27th May, 1567. Robert Cholmeley complained of his apprentice

for ythe doth not his worke as he ought & for his other ill demeanors And so in the pˀsents of this Court the saide appˀnts humbled hym upon his knees and pˀmyssed his amendment.

for ythe doth not his worke as he ought & for his other ill demeanors And so in the pˀsents of this Court the saide appˀnts humbled hym upon his knees and pˀmyssed his amendment.

1567. The quarrels between masters and apprentices about this period were numerous, and occupied a great deal of the time of the Court, who in dealing with them generally pursued a policy of reconciliation and made the parties friends again. In certain cases,masters were fined for ill-treating apprentices, whilst some of the latter had their Indentures cancelled or “torn in Court” and were either whipped or ordered to behave better, or to find new masters.

22nd August, 1569. Here was Rich Upton Playntyf agaynst his app̃nts WmFyshe for that he ranne awaye frome his said Mrthe xxjthof the former moneth and tooke wthhym sˀten instruments for surgery & other things more, wchpˀtyculers were here pˀsently sene & by the said WmFyshe confessed and that he had no cawse to go frome his said Mrbut that he wolde have gon to the sea and accordynge to his desert had correction and punnyshment unto auncyent custom wthroddes.22nd November, 1569. Memorandˀ upon the xxijthday of November 1569 in the afternowne Gyles Swalldell thappeñtꝭ of Chrystofor Swalldell for goyng forth of his maisters house at unlawfull tymes and houres & in evell company wastinge and consumyng his Mrsgrocery wares also therebye he the appntꝭ then had the correction of this hall accordyng to his desertꝭ as the justice & equytie by the Mr& govˀnors thoughte at the request of his said Mrto be most mete and convenient. And so the said Gyles Swalldell appntꝭ hathe promysed here that he wylbe a good faythfull & trusty servant unto his said Mrand never hereafter offende any more.1st June, 1570. Here was John thappntꝭ of Thomas Wayte (for) abusying of RogrLaborne & his wyfe and his Mralso and he had favorable correction for his offencꝭ.

22nd August, 1569. Here was Rich Upton Playntyf agaynst his app̃nts WmFyshe for that he ranne awaye frome his said Mrthe xxjthof the former moneth and tooke wthhym sˀten instruments for surgery & other things more, wchpˀtyculers were here pˀsently sene & by the said WmFyshe confessed and that he had no cawse to go frome his said Mrbut that he wolde have gon to the sea and accordynge to his desert had correction and punnyshment unto auncyent custom wthroddes.

22nd November, 1569. Memorandˀ upon the xxijthday of November 1569 in the afternowne Gyles Swalldell thappeñtꝭ of Chrystofor Swalldell for goyng forth of his maisters house at unlawfull tymes and houres & in evell company wastinge and consumyng his Mrsgrocery wares also therebye he the appntꝭ then had the correction of this hall accordyng to his desertꝭ as the justice & equytie by the Mr& govˀnors thoughte at the request of his said Mrto be most mete and convenient. And so the said Gyles Swalldell appntꝭ hathe promysed here that he wylbe a good faythfull & trusty servant unto his said Mrand never hereafter offende any more.

1st June, 1570. Here was John thappntꝭ of Thomas Wayte (for) abusying of RogrLaborne & his wyfe and his Mralso and he had favorable correction for his offencꝭ.

John possibly thought it ratherunfavourable.

By the next entry it would appear that Master Ralph Soda found the society of the ladies more congenial to his tastes than the practice of shaving and bloodletting.

Back to IndexNext