Part 1

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THE ANNALS OF THE BARBER-SURGEONS OF LONDON, COMPILED FROM THEIR RECORDS AND OTHER SOURCES, BY SIDNEY YOUNG, ONE OF THE COURT OF ASSISTANTS OF THE WORSHIPFUL COMPANY OF BARBERS OF LONDON, WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY AUSTIN T. YOUNG.

~Let me embrace thee, good old chronicle, That hast so long walk’d hand in hand with time.~ _Shakespeare._

LONDON: BLADES, EAST & BLADES, 23, ABCHURCH LANE, E.C.

1890.

~A mery chylde he was, so god me saue Wel coude he let blood, clyppe, and shaue.~ _Chaucer._

PREFACE.

That the foundation of the Commerce, and consequently of the Greatness, of London was laid by the old Livery Guilds--few will question. Much is already known, through the Histories of such of them as have been written--and an apology from me is not needed for a further contribution to so interesting a study. But whilst I make no apology for the contribution, I crave the indulgence of my readers for any shortcomings which, from a literary point of view, may appear in this work; I invite their attention to the matter, rather than to the style in which it is expressed.

About eight years ago I applied to our Court for permission to search the Records, and my request being complied with, I devoted such spare time as I could secure from an engrossing occupation to the compilation of these Annals. The work has necessarily led to the burning of much midnight oil, because every extract and every line has been made _by my own pen_. The researches have extended to the examination of all, and the transcript of a considerable portion of thirteen lengthy Charters and sets of By-laws, as also to the entire perusal of about a hundred books of Records. In addition to this, there has been much labour expended at the British Museum, the Public Record Office, the Guildhall, and Somerset House.

The material thus collected became so voluminous, that I experienced considerable difficulty in separating it into Subject Chapters, and also in deciding what to retain and what to reject; my endeavour in this respect having been to preserve all that is really interesting and curious, discarding dry legal passages, doubtful points, and wearisome repetitions.

None but those who have had experience of the crabbed eccentric writing and contractions of former times (see some of the _fac-similes_ given) and of the abbreviated “Court hand” Latin in which Charters and other Records were penned, can have the least idea of the trouble and care required in their deciphering; but in this respect I have not spared pains in giving literal and accurate transcripts.

In no case have I modernized the old spelling, or interfered with the quaintness of the original expressions; though all dates occurring between the 1st January and 24th March prior to the year 1752 (when “old style” was extinguished) have been rectified, and the “historical year,” according to our present computation, given; thus rendering the chronology systematic, and avoiding confusion and inaccuracy.

It is a matter of the greatest regret, that whilst we possess some earlier records, our Court Minutes previous to 1551 are lost. It is conjectured that they must have been at the Hall in 1793 (as a partial list of Masters was then compiled), but all trace of them has now disappeared. Again, the Minutes from 1651-1689 are now missing, although they were at the Hall about forty years ago.

I may here take the opportunity to remark that the Barbers and Barber-Surgeons held a somewhat distinctive position apart from other Companies, inasmuch as they were a Professional rather than a Trade Guild, and their History, consequently, becomes invested with an especial interest. Another point to which I, as a Barber, am proud to refer is that our Company stood out, alone, as the pioneer of Technical Education, hundreds of years before it became as popular as it now is. From the middle of the fifteenth century the Company was careful to provide for Surgical Lectures, and the regular and systematic instruction of its members. The means originally employed may have been primitive, but they were dictated by high motives, and gradually extended and developed; a Museum (a poor one, it is true) and a valuable Library were founded, an Anatomical Theatre was built, and every opportunity taken to encourage the Scientific study of Surgery--all with results fraught with the greatest benefit, not only to London, but to the Kingdom at large.

In conclusion, I desire to express my thanks to those who have aided me in my work, and especially to my dear and valued friend, Past Master Charles John Shoppee, whose practical assistance, advice and encouragement all through, have been to me of the greatest service. Mr. D’Arcy Power, M.A., has laid me under much obligation, and particularly for revising and perfecting my translation of the Norman-French Ordinances, 12th Rich. II. My son, Austin Travers Young, has rendered valuable assistance in delineating the several Illustrations throughout the work, and lastly, I must record, with gratitude, my obligation to Mr. Edward Lawless for the attention and care bestowed upon me on the numerous occasions of my visits to the Hall.

The preparation of this work, a somewhat arduous task for an Amateur, has been to me purely a labour of love, and, in laying down my pen I may be permitted to add, that my best wishes for the Ancient Mystery of Barbers are summed up in the words of our time-honoured toast, “_The Worshipful Company of Barbers, Root and Branch, and may it flourish for ever_.”

SIDNEY YOUNG.

ALWYNE ROAD, CANONBURY. _March, 1890._

1889-1890.

THE COURT OF THE WORSHIPFUL COMPANY OF BARBERS OF LONDON.

~Master~:

WILLIAM AARON ECCLESTONE, Esq.

~Wardens~:

WILLIAM LUMLEY, Esq. JAMES COPE CORNISH, Esq. JOSEPH WILSON, Esq.

~Assistants~:

HENRY EVANS, Esq. CHARLES JOHN SHOPPEE, Esq. JAMES HARVEY, Esq., Deputy. HENLEY GROSE SMITH, Esq. GEORGE AUSTIN, Esq. RICHARD JAMES ATKINSON, Esq. CHARLES HOWARD ATKINSON, Esq. WALTER HENRY WILKIN, Esq., Alderman. JONATHAN DENNY, Esq. THOMAS GEORGE DRIVER, Esq. NATHAN SALAMAN, Esq. JOHN CARY LOVELL, Esq. EDWARD CHARLES CORNISH, Esq. GEORGE AUSTIN, Jun., Esq. WALTER LUMLEY, Esq. THOMAS ARTHUR GREENE, Esq. SIDNEY YOUNG, Esq. ALFRED LOW, Esq.

CONTENTS.

PAGE

Preface iii

The Court of the Company 1889 1890 vi

Contents vii

List of Illustrations, etc. ix

Table of Leading Dates xii

The Names of the Masters and Wardens from the year 1308 1

A list of such members of the Company as have served the Office of Serjeant Surgeon 18

A list of King’s Barbers 19

A list of members of the Company who have served the offices of Sheriff, Alderman or Lord Mayor of the City of London 19

Historical Account, The Barbers Unincorporate 21

Historical Account, The Barbers Incorporate 51

Extracts from Court Minutes, etc., more particularly relating to the Internal History of the Company 169

Precedence 239

Court of Assistants 242

The Commonalty 252

Apprentices 261

Freemen 270

Liverymen 273

The Yeomanry 276

The Clerk 288

The Beadle 299

Surgery 308

Surgical Lectures and Demonstrations 361

Wardens’ and other Accounts 379

Disputes 423

Heraldry 431

Feasts 443

The Irish Estate 468

Charities 481

Inventories 486

Plate 492

Pictures 508

Biographical Notices of Eminent Members 514 Lord Burgavenny 514 Martin Browne 546 Lord Windsor 515 Edward Arris 547 The Duke of Monmouth 515 Sir John Frederick 550 The Earl of Leven 516 Sir Nathaniel Herne 554 Sir John Aylef 516 Sir John Lethieullier 556 Thomas Vicary 522 Ephraim Skinner 558 Richard Ferris 524 Sir Humphrey Edwin 560 John Pen 525 Sir William Stewart 562 Nicholas Alcocke 527 Charles Bernard 563 Robert Balthrop 528 Sir John Bull 565 Sir Peter Proby 532 Claudius Amyand 565 William Clowes 535 Sir Thomas Challoner 567 William Clowes, jun. 537 William Cheselden 568 Thomas Thorney 538 Ambrose Dickins 570 Peter Thorney 539 Sir Cæsar Hawkins, Bart. 571 John Gerard 540 Walter Henry Wilkin 572 Sir Thomas Bludder 545

Sundry Monumental Inscriptions 573

Appendices 575

ERRATA.

p. 28 l. 20, for “religions” read “religious.”

p. 126 l. 7, for “Sugeons” read “Surgeons.”

p. 135 l. 3, for “1869” read “1864.”

p. 144 l. 20, for “1869” read “1864.”

p. 169 foot note 1, for “1526” read “1525.”

p. 258 l. 3, for “freemen” read “freeman.”

p. 473 l. 7, for “Peek” read “Peck.”

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS, &c.

PAGE

FRONTISPIECE--Henry VIII, from a portrait by Holbein at the Hall.

Old Cabinet of Masters’ Names at the Hall 1

Historical Account 21

Henry VIII and Edward IV 51

Great Seal of Edward IV 55

Fac-simile, Grant to Robert Ferbras and others, of property in Walbrook, 1462 61

Fac-simile, Saints Cosmo and Damian, and the Surgeons’ Arms 69

Fac-simile of a Diploma granted to a Surgeon in 1497 69

Portrait of Sir Thomas More 77

Holbein’s Picture at Barbers’ Hall 83

Fac-simile Page of Court Minute Book 99

Initial of Charter, Philip and Mary 101

Heading of By-Laws, 1606 116

Interior of Court Room 132

Plan of Estate 135

Old Entrance to Barber-Surgeons’ Hall 144

The Committee Room, Barbers’ Hall 168

A Master and Wardens, etc. 169

Fac-simile Title-page to Charter Book 197

Fac-simile Corn Note 212

The Compter in Wood Street 213

Portion of the Master’s Silver Garland 239

A Grotesque, over the Court Room Door 242

A Procession of Liverymen 252

An Initial Letter from the Audit Book 252

Seals of some of the Charters 288

Autograph of Charles Bernard (Clerk) 294

John Paterson 298

E. L. 299

One of the Beadle’s Mace Heads 302

Surgical Instruments, &c. 308

Alderman Arris 360

Sir Charles Scarborough and Alderman Arris at a Demonstration, on either side S. Cosmo and S. Damian 361

An Initial Letter from the Audit Book 361

Fac-simile Page of Court Minute Book 363

Upper and Middle Wardens’ Garlands 379

An Initial Letter from the Audit Book 380

An Initial Letter from the Audit Book 396

Barber-Surgeons’ Hall, 1674-1864 415

Renter Warden’s Garland 422

Disputants at the Bar of the Court 423

Inigo Jones 430

Arms of the City of London, the Barbers, the Surgeons, and England 431

The Barbers’ Arms 432

Engraving in Bowl of Henry VIII’s Cup 435

The Barber-Surgeons’ Arms, 1561 436

The Barber-Surgeons’ Arms, 1569 438

Serving a Feast 443

The Irish Estate 468

The Old Poors’ Box, and names of Benefactors 481

Taking an Inventory 486

Some of the Plate 492

Henry VIII’s Grace Cup 498

King Charles’ Cup, Queen Anne’s Punch Bowl, and Atkinson’s Punch Ladles 500

Martin Browne’s and Sir John Frederick’s Loving Cups 502

Collins’ Flagon, Monforde’s Hammer, and Arris’ Cups 503

Tea Spoons 505

The North Side of the Court Room 508

S. Y. 514

Portraits of Sir John Aylef and Thomas Vicary, after Holbein 522

Arms of Sir John Aylef 516

---- John Pen 525

---- Robert Balthrop 528

---- Sir Peter Proby 532

---- William Clowes 535

---- John Gerard 540

---- Martin Browne 546

---- Edward Arris 547

---- Sir John Frederick 550

---- Sir Nathaniel Herne 554

---- Sir John Lethieullier 556

---- Ephraim Skinner 558

---- Sir Humphry Edwin 560

---- Sir William Stewart 562

---- Charles Bernard 563

---- Sir John Bull 565

---- Claudius Amyand 565

---- Sir Thomas Challoner 567

---- William Cheselden 568

---- Ambrose Dickins 570

---- Sir Cæsar Hawkins, Bart. 571

---- Walter H. Wilkin 572

Seals of the Barber-Surgeons 575

TABLE OF LEADING DATES.

1308. Richard le Barber, the first Master of the Barbers’ Company, is sworn at Guildhall.

1388. The Masters of the Company make a return to the King’s Writ, and set forth their then ancient ordinances.

1451. Grant of Arms to the Masters of Barbery and Surgery within the Craft of Barbers.

1462. Edward IV incorporates the Barbers by Royal Charter.

1493. Informal alliance between the Barbers (Barber-Surgeons) and the Fellowship of Surgeons.

1530. The Barbers’ Ordinances are settled and allowed by Sir Thomas More.

1540. The Fellowship of Surgeons are united (by Act of Parliament 32 H. VIII) to the Company of Barbers.

1569. Grant of Arms to the Barber-Surgeons.

1605. James I grants a new Charter.

1629. Charles I grants a new Charter.

1684. All of the Company’s Charters are surrendered to the King.

1685. James II grants a new Charter.

1745. The Surgeons are separated (by Act of Parliament 18 G. II) from the Barbers.

THE NAMES OF THE

MASTERS AND WARDENS

_From the Year 1308_.

_K.B. signifies King’s Barber; K.S. King’s Surgeon, and S.S. Serjeant-Surgeon._

+-----------------------------------------+-------------------- AN{o.}| MASTERS OF THE BARBERS. | SWORN AT GUILDHALL. ------+---------------------+-------------------+-------------------- 1308 | Richard le Barber. | ---- | December, 1308. 1375 | John Queldrick. | ---- | ---- 1376 | Lawrence de Weston. | John de Grantone. | ---- 1377 | Thomas Boyvel. | Will{m.} Osneye. | 26 August, 1377. 1378 | John Pacon. | Rich{d.} Morys. | 15 October, 1378. 1382 | Rich{d.} Capoll. | John Haydon. | 19 September, 1382. 1383 | Reginald Godard. | Walter Gisebourn. | 15 September, 1383. 1384 | William May. | Simon Conyngesby. | 6 October, 1384. 1386 | John Pacon. | John Levelyf. | 13 April, 1386. 1388 | John Shepey. | Rich{d.} Caupoll. | 16 April, 1388. 1388 | John Haydon. | Henry Cook. | 10 September, 1388. 1389 | Rich{d.} Geddyngs. | John Cheyr. | 22 September, 1389. 1390 | John Pacon. | John Bestchirche. | 31 August, 1390. 1391 | John Childe. | Will{m.} Chapman. | 27 November, 1391. ------+---------------------+-------------------+--------------------