Part 19

22nd November, 1558. An order was made against John John that he should pay 6_s._ to William Bourne for “ij Barbores potts” which he had lost.

1566. The second volume of Court Minutes contains a long list of “Lawes Actes and Ordenances” enacted by the Court in 1566, but as many of these are not of sufficient interest to warrant transcribing, the headings of such will only be given here

1. An order to avoied grudg or displeasure for the elecc͠on.

This was that no one was to “fynd fault” with the election of Master or Governors if the persons so elected should at any time be chosen out of their turn.

2. An order that solempne service be saied one the day of Elecc͠on.

Also yt is ordayned that the M{r} and govˀnoures of the saied mystery for the tyme beinge yerelye uppon the daye of elecc͠on of the newe M{r} and governoures shall cause Devine service solempnely to be kepte at the churche therefore to be appoynted. And that the whole company of the Clothinge or Lyverye of the said ffellowshippe shall pˀsonallye be present at the same yf there be no Lawfull and reasonable cause of Absence to be allowed of by the M{r} and goveno{rs} of the sayed mysterye uppon payne that whosoevˀ absenteth hym self shall for evˀy suche default paye xij{d.} The said service to be at the charges of the common Boxe.

3. An order ffor the allowance of the Dynner one the daye of Elecc͠on.

This directed that £13 6_s._ 8_d._ should be allowed yearly towards the Election Dinner out of the common box.

4. An order that y{e} Clothing shall bring home the M{r} & govˀnors in their Lyvˀyes.

Also yt is also ordayned y{t} uppon the day of the Elecc͠on of the newe M{r} and governoures of the saied mysterye After that they shall be chosen and that suche of them as be present have taken their othe that then they and every off them shalbe had home unto their howses with the Lyvery or Clothinge and their hoodds uppon their shoulders accordinge unto an ould custome heretofore used.

5. An order howe evˀy man shall behave hym self in the Court tyme.

This relates to the order in which the members of the Court shall speak upon any debated point; the Master to speak first, the Upper Governor next, and so on down to the Junior Assistant, and, in the event of the Court being equally divided, the Master to have the casting vote.

6. An order that evˀye one of thassistaunce shall come to all courts of Assist{s.}

7. An ordre against the Lettinge out of the Hall.

The Hall was not to be used or let out for “weddings sportes or games therein or playes or dauncinge or for any other like entente,” but by permission of the Court.

8. An ordre that y{e} M{r} and upper governor shall quarterlye take accompte of the youngre govˀno{r.}

9. An order that y{e} younger govˀn{r} shall quartˀly make an accompte to the M{r} & upp{r} govˀnor.

10. An order concernynge the younger govˀnor his receipts & payments and to see all repac͠ons[144] done.

[144] Reparations (of the Company’s houses).

11. An order concerninge the Secound govˀnors receiptes and payments.

12. An ordre concernynge y{e} examynac͠on of such as shall be admytted Surgeons.

No one was to be examined for admission to practise Surgery but in the Common Hall, and in the presence of at least three Examiners and one or more of the Masters or Governors.

13. An order that everie man of the said company shall abide the ordre and award made by the M{r} and governors.

14. An order that no pacient be brought unto the hall one y{e} Court dayes.

15. An order for chosenge M{rs} and Stewards of thannothomye.

There shall be chosen yerelye for ever two Masters and twoe Stewardes for the Anathomyes and that those twoe whiche were Stewardes the one yere shalbe Masters of The Anathomies the nexte yere ensewinge To thende that thereby yt maybe bettˀ knowne howe to wourke and make the same.

16. An order concerninge the Anathomyes.

This provided that all anatomies, whether public or private should be made at the Hall and “that all private Anathomyes shall reverently from hensforth be buryed as publick Anathomyes ar for the worshippe of the said mysterye, any skelliton to be made onelye excepted.”

17. An order that none supplant or take anothers cure from him one paine of v{li.}

18. An order that none take any apprˀntice for Surgerie but that he can write & reade.

19. An order how many sˀvnts evˀy man may kepe.

No liveryman was to keep more than four apprentices or servants working in his art, and no freeman more than three.

20. An order that none use eny mann{r} of Barbory on Sundayes.

Yt is ordayned that none of the said mysterye usinge any manˀ of Barberye . . . . . . shall uppon any sondaye shave wasshe poule or trymme any manne or w{th} any Instrum{t} to make cleane teeth either w{th}in his howsse or in any other place elles where privelye or appartlye uppon payne of forfeture of xl{s.}

21. An order that none doe make any shewe of Barborye one Sonndais or other holy days.

This provides that Barbers shall not “hange upp set or put out any bason or basons pott or potts uppon his poule Racke shoppe windowes or otherwise” on Sundays or holy days, and is the earliest mention of the “Barbers’ pole” in our Books.

22. An order that assistaunts maye be made nevˀ beinge any Governor.

23. An order that none being out of thassistants com̃ into the pˀlor except he be called.

24. An order that no courte of Assistaunce be houlden one the tuesdayes.

Tuesdays were set apart for Lectures and for the ordinary or Monthly Courts; no reason is given why Courts of Assistants should not be held on the Tuesdays.

25. An order for the pˀsentac͠on of apprentices before they be bounde.

Every apprentice was to be presented to the Court that they might “uppon the sight of him allowe hymme to be cleane in pˀson and Lymme and meete for the excersycinge of the same mysterye.”

26. An order that none put away his appˀntice before the cause be knowne before y{e} M{r} & govˀnors.

27. An order that none lett any bloud stand to the annoyaunce of the people.

“Barbours excercyseinge fleabothomye or bloud lettinge” were not to show blood in vessels in their windows.

28. An order that all pˀsentac͠ons in Surgery shalbe pˀsented to the M{r} w{th} his governoures for the tyme beinge.

This order provided that any Surgeon having a patient in peril of “mayme” or death, was to “present” or make known the case to the Governors within three days, and the Court would then appoint certain expert Surgeons to see the patient and assist in the cure. There are scores of entries in the books of Surgeons being fined for not “presenting” patients.

29. An order that none take any pˀsentac͠ons but y{e} M{r} & govˀnoures for the tyme beinge.

30. An order that the M{r} and governoures and their deputies shall goe to the poore as well as to the rich.

Any Master or Governor being sent for to see a sick or hurt person and refusing to go without payment, was to forfeit 20{s.}

31. An order for puttinge the rules in execuc͠on.

32. An order for multipliinge speche in the corte tyme.

This was an early form of _closure_ directed against such members of the Court as were given to an over-indulgence in oratory.

33. A rule for order in goinge.

Every member of the Company was to take his place according to precedence, at burials, anniversaries, Courts, etc.:--

And if anie of them of any scrypulosytie frowardnes follye or pusyllanimity refuse to take his owne romme or place accordinge to the order in good obedyent manner he was to be fined 12{d.}

34. An order for the view.

This relates to the yearly inspection of the Company’s property.

4th March, 1566. In Thys Courte Willm̄ Gyllam was discharged and released oute of warde and hath p̃d his arerages and he hathe confessied y{t} Richard Bromehed doth shave the vycar of Stepney in his howse every sondaye.

4th July, 1566. It was ordained that if any of the Court hereafter might “happen to lyght or fall into povertie or dekaye” that he should have a pension out of the Common box. One who had served as Master was to have per ann. £4; an Upper Governor £3; Second Governor £2; Younger Governor £1; and an Assistant 13_s._ 4_d._

It was also ordained that Thomas Hall should have an exhibition of 40_s._ per annum--

towardes hys studye in the unyvercytie for Surgery anexynge physycke thereunto, and thereby hereafter to pˀphet his other brethren beynge of this sayde mystery and comynaltie usynge and ocupyenge the sayde syence & arte w{th}in the cytie of London by Readynge lectures unto them in y{e} Comon Hall and other wyse by his councell conynge and knowlege in the same science & arte of Surgery.

It was also ordained that whenever the Lord Mayor should invite the Masters and Governors to dine with him, that--

then and there after the same dynner ys don The M{r} or govˀnors shall make his oracyon or request in the behalf of the sayde Company as to hys wysdome yt shall seme best in most descrytest maner and shall then geve and delyver unto the sayde Lorde maior of lawful mony in golde l{s} and in orther corrant mony iij{s} iiij{d} that is foure marks by waye as a good wyll of the same Company.

ALSO IT YS ORDAYNED That god callyng oute or frome this Trancytory vale or worlde any of this saide Company decessed and beynge w{th}in the clothing or lyvery of the same, his best hood shalbe layed upon the hearse and unto the churche and y{r} upon yt shall so remayne untyll the takynge of[145] of the said herce clothe w{ch} is used at the goynge forth of the M{r} govˀnors & company of the clothinge oute of the churche & the corps goynge to be buryed. And then and y{r} the clarke of the saide Company shall take the same hood and [it] shalbe his pˀper owne of dewtie. (_In default the widow or executor was to pay 6s. 8d._)

[145] Off.

The Beadle was directed to look after, and to help in removing back to the Hall, the standings, banners, carpets, etc., after they had been used on any public occasion, and a small yearly fee was to be allowed him for this service.

3rd November, 1566. Edward Parke, referred to in the next minute, was constantly getting into trouble, and sometimes into the Compter:--

Here was Thomas Lambkyn & John Merryt wytnesses against Edward Parke for y{t} he saide he wolde not com̃e to the Courte beynge warned & y{t} yf the M{r} com̃ytted hym to warde he wolde brynge the M{r} before the lorde cheefe Justice And yt is ordered y{t} the saide Parke shall [be] & is upon his humble submyssion remytted.

16th Jan., 1567. The old vellum book of ordinances, etc., containing portions of the four Gospels in Latin, and still in our possession is probably the book referred to in the minute of this date, which states that Willm̄ Grene had “taken an othe upon the blacke booke that serveth in this howse for the same purpose.”

13th Nov., 1567. Yt ys ordayned that Wyllyam Bull Chrystofor Swalldell William Crowe Wyllyam Grene Henry Rankyn and Leonard Coxe is elected to be of the clothyng and Lyvery and that theyre hoods shalbe by the M{r} for the tyme beyng put upon theyre shoulders w{th}in the pˀlor one Chrystmas day next ensuyng before the company go to pawles to weyghte on the lorde mayor, unto the olde usuage in that behalf provyded accordyngly.

27th Jan., 1568. In this court Rich Hughes is graunted to have the hall to kepe a maryage in upon Sonday c͠o[146] a sevenighte.

[146] Come.

Again this year a licence for a similar purpose was granted to Francis Partridge, and there are other instances.

18th May, 1568. In this Courte here was Phillip Jorden for trymynge on the Sondayes & for now he is forgeven beynge the fyrst tyme.

13th Oct., 1568. Here was W{m} fferrat for Trymyng upon the Sonday but he wyll do yt no more here after.

About this period there were numerous cases of Sunday trading before the Court, and in many instances the offenders were fined or imprisoned.

9th Nov., 1568. In thys Courte here was Rich Roberts and he is comanded that he shall agree w{th} this mystery as a brother or ells he to shutte up his shoppe and ocupye no more but as a servant upon the penallties of the statute.

10th March, 1569. It was ordered:--

That Richard Wysto for his mysdemeanor and unquyet behaveor and beyng a troublesom pˀson, so that the courte of assystents canne neyther thincke well or good on hym, therupon and therfore he the saide Richard Wysto is relynquyshed depryved and dysmyst of his office and yong{r} govˀnorshyp and also fourth of assystents of the saide mystery.

Wysto appears from time to time to have given the Court trouble, his offence on this particular occasion being that he had ordered his apprentice to let a man blood in the Compter contrary to the order of the Aldermen. Wysto was contumacious for a long period, but seems on 17th July, 1572, to have made humble submission and apology, whereupon an order was made “That none do stirre upp any talke consr̃ninge the deprivac͠on or submyssion of Ric. Wistowe”; he was subsequently re-admitted on to the Court and served Master 1586, but the animus against him revived, and on 7th November, 1587, certain parties were before the Court for reviling him on the old score, and were duly threatened and admonished as to their future behaviour.

22nd November, 1569. Here was Phillip Jordan for trymming upon the sabboth daye and he once agayne is warned upon the penalltie of the acte that he do y{t} hence forwardes no more (see 18th May, 1568).

10th October, 1570. Margaret y{t} was M{r} Vaughan[147] his mayde is graunted to kepe one Sonday her wedyng in the hall & no more.

[147] George Vaughan, Master 1569.

1568 to 1570. There are several entries in the books of members of the Court being removed for misbehaviour.

27th January, 1571. It was ordered that--

a newe Bayle be made to thentent them of the clothing of this mysterie maie decentlie stand to attend all soch tymes as it shall please the Queenes ma{tie} to come through the citie of London.

The Bayle was a movable stand or platform; there are various notices as to the one previously in use, having been out of repair. It was taken out on all great days of processions or triumphs and on Christmas day when the “lorde maior went to Poules,” and numerous references are also made to the Company’s banners which accompanied it.

19th January, 1573. Here was Willm̄ Carrington for havinge iiij servaunts one Christmas even and ordre was taken that he should laye downe his ffyne.

15th March, 1573. Here was a question moved concerninge takynge in certeyne into the Assystaunce But the howsse would not consent to the takinge in of any more for that there were alredye xxviij pˀsones.

Here was a question moved concernynge the takinge in of certayne pˀsons into the clothinge but the house did not think good to take in anye for that the nomber is alredy fyftye.

26th May, 1573. Here was John Johnsonne and brought in his fyne for kepinge a foryner uncest xx{d.}

There are frequent entries of freemen being fined for not “cessing” foreigners and journeymen, and for teaching foreigners their “science.”

It would seem from the following precise minute that commitments to prison were made by the Court direct, and not always upon Warrants obtained from the Lord Mayor or a Justice.

15th March, 1575. Here was one Mˀkes [Markes] servñte w{th} M{r} Tholmwood sometyme, sent to the Compter by Willm̄ Eden Clark to this misterye for not pˀforming an Awarde made betwene the saide M{r} Tholmwood and the saide Mˀkes and divers others stubborne and lewde behavio{rs.} The comitte{mt} made by the saide M{r} and Wardens.

22nd March, 1575. Here was John Clark sessed w{th} Edward Park for two yeres to begin at the ffeast of Thannuncˀ of o{r} Ladye next viz{t.} the first yeare xxij{s} and a payre of hose, the seconde yere xxvj{s} viij{d} a payre of hose and a Capp.

15th May, 1575. Here was a pˀsept sent by my Lo{r}de maior straitly charging and commandinge the companye in her Majesties name that they take immediate order that theyr sˀvaunts and app̃ntices nor any of them in any wyse or sorte do mysuse annye s̃vyng man page or lackey or anye other pˀson that shal goo throwe the streets of this Cittee, nor shall attempt anything to the breach of her Ma{ties} peace either in wordes acts countenaunce or otherwise at their uttmost pˀyll, whereupon all the whole Companye were sent for and had that Comaundement.

1577. Thomas Hall (see 4th July, 1566) was appointed an Examiner in Surgery and to dissect the anatomies for ten years.

There are several instances of exhibitions to sons of freemen (generally 40_s._ a year), to enable them to study at Oxford and Cambridge, and these entries extend over a great many years.

22nd Oct., 1577. Here was M{r} Skarlet the Quenes Bargeman and he pˀmised the Companie that they shoulde have a barge called the Greyhounde belonging to the maydes of honor for lij{s} iiij{d} yf my Lorde maior do go unto westmˀ.

This sum would not of course include the Bargemaster’s or his men’s fees for their services, or the providing banners, accessories or attendants, all of which were paid for by the Company in addition.

23rd July, 1582. At this Coˀte John Yates Thomas Lamkin and Edward Parke were dismist from their places and owte of thassistance for revelinge of secrets contrarie to a rule in that case pˀvided.

6th March, 1583. Yt was agreed that whereas a demaunde was made by the L. Maio{r} and Co{r}te of Aldermẽ unto o{r} Companie for a contribution of certein monie for certeine Landes we hold as the saide Corte gave in Certificate of John Johnsons guifte for thuse of an obit. The answere was made by the consent of the said Masters that this house will joyne w{th} other Companies in the charge accordinge to their porc͠ons.

21st Nov., 1583. Mr. Banester, a liveryman, being indebted to the Company £5, gave a “watche or clock” and it was ordered that his debt should be cancelled in consideration of this gift.

The following minute refers to the obit for John Johnson (_vide_ 6th March, 1583) the property having been declared to be held for superstitious uses, the Company purchased their right to retain its possession for £13 6_s._ 8_d._

5th July, 1585. At this Co{r}te yt was agreed That whereas a Teñte in Tower streate belonginge to this house ys founde [to] be concealled Landes. That the pattenist should have for agreament to have o{r} Teñte surelie the som̃e of xx{tie} markes.

The next is a curious instance of an ancient tenure.

29th Sept., 1586. A lease for 21 years of a house in East Smithfield was granted to Humphry Rowland at £6 per annum, and the said Humphry was to--

deliv{r} and geve unto the saide masters and to suche as shall come w{th} them to viewe the said Teñte yerely the nombre of xviij shoing hornes franck and ffree.

14th Aug., 1587. It was also condiscended and agreed That the newe masters or governo{rs} of this o{r} Company shall eṽy yeare on the daie of o{r} Ellecc͠on of them be brought home to their howses with the Levery or some p̃te of them as heretofore hathe ben accustomed eṽy one wearinge his hood in decent order.

6th July, 1592. Certein newe silver booles are to be bought for those pˀcell gilt booles w{ch} were the guifte of M{r} Vaughan.

9th February, 1596. It was agreed for “the taking in of the water w{ch} cometh from the Themes by pipes into this howse.” Heretofore the water had been supplied from a well, and later on by a leaden “pomp.”

1596. In this year a curious episode occurred, which showed that the Court were not unwilling to shield their freemen when offending, if the party taking action against the offender did not belong to the Company. Four freemen (one being an Assistant) had been “put into” the Court of Exchequer by “one Holmes an Informer for using both Barbery and Chirurgery against the Statute,” and the Court, without troubling to enquire if the offence had been committed or not, ordered that £10 should be lent the parties to assist them in defending the suit. At the next Court the matter was much debated as to whether the Barber-Surgeons should go on with their defence or make terms with the informer, and the parties themselves were consulted, whereupon it was finally decided “among themselves to agree w{th} the said Informer w{ch} they related to the whole Corte, whereupon the Corte rose and the said pˀties made their owne agreement privately w{th} the saied Informer to their best likinge.”

10th December, 1596. Mr. Storer came to the Court and agreed with the Company, by indenture, in consideration of £5 per annum for seven years, to relieve the Company from all charges in respect of the provision of grain for serving the market during that period.

9th June, 1597. This daie one septer or mace and twoe pictures latelye and verye loveingelye given to this Companye by William Martyn[148] of the Clothinge in token of his love to this house was presented to this Courte and verye gratefullye accepted.

[148] Master 1606.

This daie one cupp made of an Ostridge Egge or shell and sett in silver and guilte given by the laste will and testamente of M{r} Thomas Bankes divers tymes M{r} of this Companye was likewise presented to this Courte and verye gratefullye accepted.

15th Jany., 1598. This daie William Clare one of the Lorde Maiors serjeantes at mace is chosen officer of this house and where his fee to fore was but vj{s} viij{d} per Anñ it is nowe by this Courte uppon good consideration augmented to x{s} pˀ Anñ and John Smith in his absence is appointed deputye.

The duty of this officer was to attend the Courts of Assistants and to arrest and convey to the Compter such persons as were committed.

30th Jan., 1598. Nicholas Kellaway, in consideration of his years, was excused serving the offices of Steward and Master of the Anatomy and “freelye gave one standinge cup double guilte w{ch} was kindely accepted.”

14th Aug., 1598. There is under this date an interesting account of the Election of Master and Wardens; twelve Electors from among the Livery were appointed:--

Which electors after they had their chardge given them by the Maisters or Governors of this Companye and their severall billes for the elecc͠on delivered unto them after longe and deliberate considerac͠on had, did electe for the Maister John Leycocke and for the upper Governor John Burgis and for the seconde Governor John Pecke and for the yongeste Governor Roberte Johnson Which saide John Leycocke beinge not then presente the garlande accordinge to the manner and custome of this house was by the Maister for the yeare paste placed uppon the heade of Mr. Docter Browne as deputye for the saide John Leycocke, after which another garlande was likewise placed uppon the heede of the saide John Burgis by the upper governor And a like garlande tendered to the saide John Pecke which he utterlye refused and for the same was fined at ffortye shillinges which fine he paid accordinglye likewise a nother garlande was placed by the yongeste Governor uppon the heade of the said Roberte Johnson and by him gratefullye accepted And the saide Maister Burgis and M{r.} Johnson were sworne standinge for the due execuc͠on of their offices.

1598. In the Minute Book commencing 1598 there are scores of cases of Barbers being fined for working on Sundays; the informant was generally the Beadle, and it is amusing to note how frequently a delinquent, after purging himself by a fine, voluntarily took to the office of Informer against his brother Barbers.

Many Barbers and Surgeons were fined for presuming to “sett up shoppe” without licence, here is an instance:--