Part 18

8th August, 1751. Mr. John Brooks attended and produced a Deed to which he requested the subscription of the Court; this deed recited that by an Act of Parliament passed in the 10th year of Queen Anne, it was enacted that a duty of 2_d._ per lb. should be laid upon all starch imported, and of 1_d._ per lb. upon all starch made in Great Britain, that no perfumer, barber, or seller of hair-powder should mix any powder of alabaster, plaster of Paris, whiting, lime, etc. (sweet scents excepted), with any starch to be made use of for making hair-powder, under pain of forfeiting the hair-powder and £50, and that any person who should expose the same for sale should forfeit it and £20. Also that by further Acts additional duties were laid upon starch. And by an Act passed in the 4th year of George II the penalties were somewhat mitigated. “And whereas the said laws with respect to hair-powder have by experience been found not to answer the end proposed by the Legislature, the sum arising by the said duties upon starch and hair-powder having gradually lessened, whilst the fair traders have been great sufferers by the practice of those who by the greatness of the duty have attempted to make vend or use the said prohibited articles. And whereas the trade or business of making vending or dressing of Perukes or other Ornaments of hair for the head and also of cutting and dressing the hair of the head being considered as distinct from the business of Barbers is under no regulation whatever,” etc., the parties whom Mr. Brooks represented (and whose names were signed to the deed) had, therefore, agreed to join in an application to Parliament for reducing the duties on hair-powder, as also for incorporating all persons carrying on the trade of Barbers and Peruke-makers within the Bills of Mortality, into one joint Corporation or Body politick, and for restraining persons from exercising those trades who had not served seven years’ apprenticeship.

It was stated that subscriptions towards defraying the costs of the proposed Bill had been paid to Messrs. Gosling & Bennett, Bankers in Fleet Street, that John Paterson, Esq., Clerk of the Company, was Solicitor for the Bill, and Mr. John Brooks was Secretary of the Petitioners.

The Court, having considered the application, decided to contribute Twenty Guineas, but the matter seems to have been in abeyance for eighteen months, as the petition to the House of Commons was not sealed by the Company until the 7th January, 1753.

13th January, 1753. The petition was this day presented and is recorded in the Journals of the House; it states, among other things, that the Company “are in danger of being unable to support themselves and that the petitioners who exercise the art of Peruke making in the liberties and neighbourhood of the said City are not a body corporate, nor under any order or regulation; for want whereof great frauds are practised in the said manufacture to the discouragement of the fair trader, and manifest injury of the consumer, And therefore praying the House that leave may be given for the bringing in a Bill for incorporating the Peruke makers as well within as without the liberties of the City of London, and within such distance thereof as the House shall think fit, with the said petitioners”--the Barbers’ Company. This petition was referred to a Committee, but no report of that Committee is entered in the Journals.

4th December, 1764. The Peruke makers turned up again in 1764, for we find in the Minutes that certain of them attended with the draft of a petition to the King, to which they asked the assent of the Court. This petition which strangely commenced “We the Company of Barbers _and Peruke makers_,” stated that the suppliants laid before his Majesty the distresses into which the Peruke makers had fallen by reason of the change of fashion, and thus appeals to the King, “Where can we look for relief but there only where it is to be found, for as the Fashion your Majesty approves will very justly be a pattern to your subjects, We most humbly hope not to be too bold in wishing Perukes may soon be as much in fashion as the wearing of hair is at present, which will increase the Revenue, give happiness to the indigent and distressed Peruke makers, and increase the many great unmerited Favours, We as a Company have received from Royal Hands!”

16th January, 1765. The Court took this ridiculous petition into consideration, and of course refused to adopt it, informing the suppliants that they were concerned to observe the decay in their trade, as it was connected by usage with that of Barbery, but as the Charters of the Company did not extend to Peruke making, the Court could not with propriety address his Majesty on the subject.

EXTRACTS FROM COURT MINUTES, ETC.,

MORE PARTICULARLY RELATING TO THE

INTERNAL HISTORY OF THE COMPANY.

29th August, 1550. ~Memorandum~ the xxix{th} day of Auguste in the house belonging to the sayd Company it was condescended and fully agreed by the aforesayed M{r} and Wardeins M{r} Geen Thomas Johnson Thomas Stocdall and Mathew Johnson w{t} thassent of thassistance being there present that is to say M{r} Kyrkeˀ (Kyrkeby)[121] M{r} Vycary[122] M{r} Bancks[123] M{r} Byrde[124] M{r} Yonge[125] M{r} Henderbe[126] Robert Postell[127] Willm Tyllˀ (Tylley)[128] Peter Dayseman[129] Robert Waterforde[130] Richard Bowll[131] Henry Pemberton[132] Robert Sprignell[133] Robert Brownell[134] John Smythe[135] Willm̄ Otherborne[136] and Austeyn Clarck.[137]

[121] Master 1526, 1533. [122] M. 1530, etc. [123] M. 1532. [124] M. 1542, 1545. [125] M. 1544. [126] M. 1547. [127] Warden 1544. [128] W. 1546. [129] W. 1547. [130] W. 1549. [131] M. 1553. [132] W. 1539. [133] M. 1554. [134] M. 1563. [135] W. 1547. [136] W. 1548. [137] W. 1554.

[Sidenote: An order taken concerninge Thomas Knot.]

THAT Thomas Knot shalbe dischardged and not called to no manner of office unto such tyme that it shall please the m{rs} to agree for Another order. And also that he shall not paie no maner of scott lot nor subsedye nor any other chardge concerning the saied Crafte but shalbe dischardged of and from the same Ecept onelie his quarterage and except that which he shall gyve & paye of his owne fre will and gentelnes.

[Sidenote: An order for the elecc̃on of the Maister.]

~Alsoo~ yt was ordered and agreed the sayd daye by the hole assistaunce that the maister shall put in iiij{or} into his bill for his electyon and so the same byll to goo through the house and every man to prycke as his mynde doth serve him w{th}out any telling and when every man hathe pricked about the house then the byll to be brought to the M{r} And he that hath the moste pricks to have the roome of M{r} the yeare ensuynge. The names of the ellecyon for the M{r} was M{r} Geen Richard Ferres Robert Postell and Willm̄ Tylle.

[Sidenote: An order for the eleccyon of the upper wardein.]

ALSOO for the elleccyon of the upper wardein he shall put iiij{or} names into his Byll and so to goo through the house like as the M{r} Byll hath dooen. The names for the elleccyon for upper wardein was Thomas Johnson, Richard (The remainder of this line is torn away in original).

[Sidenote: An order for the Elecc̃on of the Second Wardein.]

ALSOO for the Elleccyon of the Seconde Wardein he shall put in iiij{or} names in his byll and so to goo through the house like as is before mencyoned. The names for the Elleccyon was Thomas Stocdall, John Atkinson, John Smyth and Thomas Knot.

[Sidenote: For the Eleccyon of the youngest Wardein.]

ALSOO for the Elleccyon of the youngest wardein he shall put iiij{or} into his Byll and so to goo through the house like as before. The names for the Elleccyon are Mathew Johnson, John Tholmoode, Richard Elliot and John Shryffe.

10th Sept., 1551. It was ordered that--

[Sidenote: An order that the Seconde Wardein shall receyve all fynes quartrage and other casualtyes.]

The second Wardein shall receyve all maner of Receite as fynes quartrag for prentises, for fremen and all other casualtyes whatsoev{r} yt be. And he to paye also all maner of wage, And the Bedyll to have a booke of all suche receitte and dischardge as the seconde wardein hathe for his dischardge.

Also yt ys agreed that the younger wardein shall receyve nothing but onely the Rents of the Londes, and to see reparac͠ons dooen where as nede shall requyer and that he shall take Appulton[138] w{th} him when he goeth to receyve the rentes of the Londes so that bothe there books may agree.

[138] The Beadle.

4th Nov., 1551. It was agreed--

That there shalbe allowed in goyng and searching of their Londes vj{s} viij{d.}

Ordered--

That John West shall bring in his fyne which ys vj{s} viij{d} for speking opprobryous wordes against John Androwson in the presence of the M{rs.}

17th Nov., 1551. It was ordered--

That the Kings maiestyes Barbor or Barbors to his highness parson And also his mat{s} Surgeon or Surgeons shall sytt next to the Last M{r} upon the benche where as the M{rs} nowe usually doo sytt and alsoo shall goo next to the M{rs} in all goyngs and syttings.

It was ordered that no Barber should take a “foreigner” as journeyman and set him to work, before presenting him to the Master and Wardens, under a penalty of 3_s._ 4_d._ per week.

This order was made because many foreigners (_i.e._, non-freemen) who were inexpert had lately come into the City, and the Court directed that each foreigner should give proof of his skill, and then that he should remain for one year only and in one service, and no Barber was to pay a foreigner higher wages than the Masters should from time to time “sess” or determine under a penalty of 13_s._ 4_d._ for “every weke so offending.” The Beadle was directed to keep a register book of all foreigners for the year, and when the year was expired, the Barber who kept a foreigner and was minded to keep him longer was to come to the Hall within fourteen days to have him re-registered under a penalty of 3_s._ 4_d._ per week. And no Barber was to “entyce or envegyll any mans servant from him upon peyne of forfeyting for a fyne xiij{s.} iiij{d.}”

The Court fixed the wages of these men as follows--

The best jorneyman that is a forrein shall have for a weke xij{d.} the second x{d.} and the thurde as the sayd M{rs.} shall thinke meate & convenyente.

17th November, 1551. It was ordered that the youngest Warden should be chosen out of the Livery and that he should be--

in especcyall one that hathe byn stewarde so that he be a man that hath usyed himself in that behalf honestleye and discretly.

It was also ordered that all freemen should come every quarter day to the Hall to pay quarterage, hear the rules read, and to hear the book set forth by the Corporation of London concerning Orphans, and no man was to sit out of his appointed place, under a penalty.

17th July, 1553. It was ordered that Mr. John Enderby (Master 1547)--

shall have the benevolense of the crafte fower marks a yere.

20th September, 1553. The Masters agreed with Richard Drewe--

For a barge when the Mayer goeth to Westmˀ for Twentie sixe shillings and eighte pence.

12th August, 1554. Being Election day it was agreed that at the choosing of the Masters--

There shalbe a solempe masse[139] or other dyvyne servyce sayd and songe that the M{rs.} be choessen and the hole lyverye to be therat in their best clothing and to meete at the hall at or before the hower of ix of the clocke and he that fayleth his hower to paye xij{d} for his fyne w{t}out any redempcyon or gayne sayeing. The sayed masse[140] to be at the chardgs of the Companye.

[139] The word “masse” has been subsequently erased. [140] “Masse” has been subsequently erased, and “s’rvice” substituted.

1st Oct., 1555. The following Articles were agreed upon by the Court--

I. There shall no man ffreeman fforyner or straunger of the Clothinge or w{t}out the clothing shave wasshe a Bearde or tryme any man w{th} any Instrumēt as to make cleane teathe upon the Sondayes within the Cytie of London or withoute in his owne house or in any mans house or chamber or in any place els he shall forfayete at every tyme beinge duely proved for a fyne to the hall the some of xl{s.} And further that no fforyner being no ffreman shall carry out any Bason or clothe or Instrumēt to make cleane teathe to shave poll or wasshe a bearde or to trym̄e any man but w{t}in the Lybertye where he dwellethe But w{t}in the Cytie of London he shall not trym̃e any man at no dayes w{t}in anye of their howses or in any place els w{t}in the Cytie upon payne to lose at every tyme beinge duely proved for a fyne to the hall xl{s.}

II. That Apulton the Beadle of the Clothing was to be the Clerk, and that the Beadle of the Yeomanry was to help the Clerk at

coronac͠on tyme or at other greate tryumphes when any other greate man cometh in or when the kinge or quene comen through the Cytie.

III. That whenever the Shreif be chosein or the Mayor or the burgesses of the parlyamẽt or upon the kings or queenes comĩg into the Cytie or any other greate man comyth in or upon any other greate truymphe whereapon comaundement ys geven by the Mayor of London to the sayed Company of the Clothinge of Barbors and Surgeons to geve their attendaunce Then the hole Company of the Clothinge to meete at our owne hall of Barbors and Surgeons in our owne lyverye all to gether fyrste, and afterwards to gooe out of the hall two and two together as of olde tyme yt hathe been used, and when the Mayor goeth to poules[141] then the M{r} and governors to gooe throughe out Wood streate to poules w{th} the rest of the Company of the Clothinge. And that M{r} and governors that dothe not this shall forfaycte for a ffyne to the hall vj{li} xiij{s} iiij{d} And they of the Clothing that dothe not come to the hall firste but will meete us at the place where we shalbe appointed to stande and to remayn and dothe not kepe his hower shall loose for a ffyne in the hall at every tyme so offending iij{s} iiij{d} Provyded alwayes yf the Mayor gooe not to poules at the Mayors ffeaste Alhollande daye xp̃emas daye twelves daye and Candlemas daye In what streets we doo gooe throughe yt be not throughe Wood streate yt shall not be prejudycyall to the master and governors of the Company for the tyme being.

[141] St. Paul s.

IV. It was ordered that Apprentices, before being presented, should pay 2_s._ 6_d._ fine, also 8_d._ to the Clerk for drawing the Indentures.

8th October, 1555. Further ordinances were framed, viz{t}:--

I. That at all sittings of the Court when any business was discussed the Members should speak to the subject in order of seniority, and any one interrupting or speaking out of turn was to pay 12_d._ fine. The Beadle also was to stand without the door, in the Hall, and there to give his attendance whenever the Master should knock for him.

II. That there should be an Armourer with a yearly fee of 10_s._, and--

for the same he shalbe bounde to make cleane our harneys w{th} daggers gunnes armyng swords and bills and with all other things that doethe appertayne to an Armorer for to doo in mending of buckells lethers or any other thinge which dothe appertayne to that whiche we nowe have.

III. When the Master and Governors should go to view their lands and tenements to see the state of repair, the Bricklayer was to go with them to advise and to have a fee of “ij{s} and his dynnar.”

IV. This relates to the Clerk (see Clerk).

V. That a Minute book be kept to record all the orders made at any Court, and that such orders be read at the next Court and signed.

VI. That no freeman shall serve a foreigner under a penalty of 13_s._ 4_d._ for every time so offending, and any foreigner taking a freeman to serve with him should be fined 26_s._ 8_d._

19th November, 1555. John Demynge, “Cowper[142] & ffre denysen,” was granted a lease of a house belonging to the Company at St. Katherine’s, Tower Hill, at £2 per annum for thirty years, with a fine of £4 on sealing the lease and a “barrell of doble beare.”

[142] Cooper.

26th November, 1555. Thomas Glynton, Goldsmith, was to have a lease of the house in Tower Street, where he then dwelt, for 30 years from Christmas, 1555, no rent stated, but a fine of £10 to be paid on sealing the lease.

5th March, 1556. Several further Ordinances and awards were made by the Court, among which were the following:--

I. That the Masters and Governors should not let the Hall to anyone to--

daunce or use anye other kynde of games els whereby the sealinge or other things being broken in the hall or kitchen shall redowne to the losse of the Company Yf therefore the sayed M{r} and governors for the tyme being doo let out the hall to any bodye to thentent aforesayde w{t}out the consent of the hole howse to be called for the same they should forfeit and pay etc.

IV. The ffourthe Artycle is that if any of the Lyverye or of the yomanrye come to sesse any man being a jornye man to serve him as the order is that he taketh 1{d} for a yere or ij{d} for ij yere That his M{r} shall not put him awaye at his pleasure as many now a dayes do, but he shall complayne to the M{r} and Governors for the tyme of the demeaner usuage and evell behaveor of the sayed Journyman for noen kepinge of his M{rs} howse all the weke daye by reason wherof he dothe lose his customˀs or that he goeth out at his pleasure and come in at his will againe w{t}out asking of any leave of his M{r} or mysteris w{ch} pertayneth not to a servaunte for to doo for theyse consyderac͠ons and other the m{r} maye complayne. The Jornyman lykewise may complayne of his M{r} yf that he doo not paye him his wages and to have his meate and dryncke as Jornymen shoulde have according to the agremẽt of bothe the partyes as the M{r} and the Jornyman shalbe at a pointe when he cometh to sesse any Jornymen because that if the Jornyman doo not his dewtye that he may be punysshed and put in prison to thentent that Jornymen may be kept in good order otherwise then they be nowe. And that the M{r} and govˀnors for the tyme being shall declare to the Jornyman what is his dewty to his M{r} when he dothe come to be seste to thentent that he shall knowe his dewtye to his M{r} and if he doo not the same then he knoweth the pryce. And agayne to declare to the Jornyman what his M{r} shall doo to him, as to paye his wages mete and dryncke and other things that a Jornyman oughte to have. Yf any of the Clothinge or of the yomanrye put awaye his Jornyman before his yere or yeres come out and not declaring the matter to the M{r} and governors [he] shall forfaycte at every tyme so doinge for a ffyne to the hall vj{s} viiij{d.} And that all ffremen being Journymen may be preferred and taken, being a workman before any fforyner duynge his dewty to his M{r} as is aforesayed because we are bounde to preferre the ffremen w{ch} beare scot and lot to the Cytye and company w{ch} the Jornymen doo not being forryners but come out of the contrye to learne there scyence here and so after warde goo away agayne w{ch} is not to the welth of the Companye.

VII. No Liveryman was to presume to come into the parlour, whilst the Court was sitting, without being sent for.

VIII. Freemen were not to put away apprentices to make room for others by whom they might get money.

IX. Two Stewards for the Anatomy were to be chosen every year.

X. The Clerk having claimed to provide the napery and vessells, and to appoint the Cook for the Anatomy dinners, alleging an old custom to that effect, it was ordered that he should not again do so as he had aforetime for a “lytle lucer of moneye,” but that the Stewards of the Anatomy should make their own provision and “dresse there meate clenly and honestlye because of worshipfull men comyng thereunto,” and if the Clerk again offended he was to “paye to the hall for a fyne his half yeres wages w{ch} is x{s.}”

XII. THE TWELVE Article is that if Olyver Wilson dothe hereafter speake evill of the M{r} and governors and thassistaunce of the clothinge or of any of the yomanrye as heretofore he hathe dooen w{ch} by profe hathe been tryed and therfore hathe been punnished in pryson, yf ever hereafter he dothe the like he to be expelled.

NOTE.--In all cases penalties or punishments were specified for breach of the foregoing ordinances.

5th March, 1556. William Goodwin, Merchant Taylor, leased to the Company for 99 years “all the houses next the hall w{th} the house of the prevy w{t}in the hall for vj{li} vj{s} viij{d}” per annum, the Company to keep the premises in repair.

27th June, 1556. Arnold Tymes, “beare brewer,” had a lease of a “gardein lying in easte Smithefelde” for 40 years, paying 12_d._ for an earnest penny, and to pay at the sealing of the lease £4, and at the Audit day other £4.

9th July, 1556. John More, Cordwainer, and Richard Wiston, had leases of houses in St. John’s, Walbrook, for 30 years from Midsummer, and about this period there are several other notices of leases for 30 years having been granted of property in East Smithfield, Holborn Bridge, and Mugwell Street.

22nd July, 1556. An order was made:--

That there shalbe a painter belonge to the hall, and he to have a penc͠on yerely of vj{s} viij{d} by the yere to be payed at fower tymes of the yere and for the same he shall make cleane all the paintinge w{t}in the hall bothe above and benethe as the Tables in the hall and other things and in the gardein every qr̃ter of a yere if it so neede: and to amend faults where there ys anye at his owne proper costs and chardgs as is afore declared.

26th August, 1557. It was ordered that Mrs. Dawson, the Widow of one Bryckett--

a Toothe drawer shall paye no quartryge to the hawle nor hange oute any signe or clothe w{th} teethe as she hearetofore hath don.

12th October, 1557. John West was discharged out of this howse bycawse he wold not abyde y{e} order of y{e} M{r} & govˀnors and one Asheton had lycence to arest hym.

Various entries occur about this period of freemen being brought before the Court and punished for using “obrobrious wordes.”

9th November, 1557. It was ordered that Robert Postell (Warden 1544) should have a “yerely anewitie oute of thys howse” of 40{s.}

A freeman before “setting up shop” was required to procure the testimony of one or more citizens that he was worth 10 marks, and to obtain a licence from the Court; there are numerous examples in point, _e.g._:--

16th November, 1557. Heare was before the M{r} and Govˀnors Rychard Lynley and he had Lycẽce to sett up hys shoppe and one Johan Coale of the Cytie of London Cytizen and Clothwoorcker Deposed that the sayd Rychard ys worthe and valued of hys proper owne vj{li} xiij{s} iiij{d.}

23rd November, 1557. Licence was granted to William Thomlyn--

To drawe teethe and to make cleane teethe and no more and he ys so admytted a brother into thys howse but not yet sworne and he hathe payde x{s} and rest other ten shyllings he wyll brynge in as sowne as he can.

11th January, 1558. The same daye Tyndall y{e} Armorer is dysmyst & shall have no more his fee oute of this howse bycawse he gave none attendañce whan o{r} soldyers wer sett oute to calyce[143] & John gamlyn is admytted armorer & he to have y{e} same fee y{t} tyndall had y{t} is to saye by the yere x{s.}

[143] Calais.

19th April, 1558. My lady Aylyff gave a fyne table cloth of damaske worcke to srv̈e for the uppermost table in the hawle the w{ch} of her jentyllness she gave frely unto this hawle.