Part 23

Ordered that a Second Sum̃ons be sent to all such Defaulters as have not appeared with intimation that theire ffines will be levied on them by distresse.

Ordered that Thomas Latham be sum̃oned to take upp his ffreedome & that all other persons exerciseing Barbery not being ffree of this Company be sum̃oned.

17th March, 1707. Nineteen delinquents who had been summoned appeared, and their cases were heard; a few examples will suffice--One Darby was “seen to comb a persons haire on Sunday morning last but alleadging that it was his ffather,” he was let off with 5_s._ fine.

Lewis Roger made answer that it “was onely his Apprentice combing a persons haire without his knowledge and that it was his first offence,” he likewise escaped with a 5_s._ fine.

James Good was more fortunate, for proving that his offence “was onely the Combing of a Lodgers Wigg,” he escaped.

Willm. Haslegrove appears to have filled up the measure of his iniquity, for being detected in “actually shaveing a person on Sunday morning,” he was fined 10_s._

Samuel Beaumont, charged with keeping two Barbers’ shops, had a month given him to part with one of them, and John Shoard who, not being free of the Company, kept a Barber’s shop in Cloth Fair, was ordered to quit the same within two months.

31st March, 1707. Elizabeth Presbury being sumoned appeared & alleadged that she was very poore & that her husband was an Idle man and promised to reforme her method whereupon the Comittee excused her.

The number of Barbers fined for working on Sundays, or for keeping shop not being free, was enormous, and it becomes wearying to travel through the records of their offences and fines.

17th June, 1708. Ordered that the Company’s Barge house and the Dwelling house thereunto belonging be forthwith repaired.

13th January, 1709. Sir Edward Northey was appointed standing counsel to the Company with a yearly retainer of two guineas.

15th April, 1709. Upon complaint made against one Henry Drudge for exerciseing Barbery & Surgery w{th}in the City not being ffree he attended and alleadged that he haveing been a Soldier in the late Warr thought himself intituled to keep his Shoppe without takeing up his ffreedome, by Virtue of the Act of Parliament made upon the disbanding the Army which gives liberty to disbanded soldiers to exercise any trade within the Corporations or places where they were borne, althoˀ they had not served seven years to it But the Court believing that act did not extend to Drudge by reason he was not borne in London, ordered that in case he did not shut up his Shop in a month’s time he should be prosecuted.

21st July, 1709. In consequence of the great expense to which the Company had been put in the repairs to the Hall, the Court determined to call thirty-one freemen into the Livery, and the fine being £10 each on admission or £20 on refusal, a considerable sum was realized.

It having been suggested to the Court that the yeomanry objected to pay 20_s._ for “corn money” when called to the Livery, the Clerk was directed to enquire into the origin of that tax, and finding that it had been originally levied on each member taking his livery, to satisfy the precepts made in 1633, and afterwards for providing a stock of corn for the City; and for that at the present time the Company had no Granary or stock of corn to provide, and “being out of debt,” it was ordered that in future this fine should be discontinued.

18th August, 1709. At the Election, ten of the Livery who had attended without their gowns, were severally fined and paid 1_s._ each, and there are other references to Assistants being fined for not appearing in their gowns.

4th October, 1709. A complaint being made against Richard Stockwell for being copartner with a fforreigner & the fact being made appeare pritty plain against him the Court fined him five pounds being the penalty imposed by the By Law, But upon his promise to discharge his said partner the Court were pleased to remitt his ffine.

18th April, 1710. M{r} John Booth a Surgeon at Warrington in Lancashire applying to this Court to be admitted a fforeign brother & he being examined in Surgery & approved It was ordered that upon his payment of ten Guineas he should be admitted a fforeign brother of this Company, But the said M{r} Booth refusing to take that part of the fforeign brothers oath whereby he was sworne to be true to the Queen he was not for that reason admitted.

1st June, 1710. It is ordered that the Members present at this Court shall be excused from wearing their gowns in regard to the heat of the weather.

20th October, 1710. It is ordered for the accomodation of the Members of this Court of the Barbers side for the seeing & being heard at Courts of Assistants That for the future at all Courts of Assistants the Governo{rs} on the Surgeons side shall set even with the Ma{r} next on his right hand & the Governo{rs} on the Barbers side next on his left. But that at all other Courts all the Governo{rs} shall according to their seniority sett along the side of the Parlour Table on the left hand of the Master in such maner as has been accustomed.

11th January, 1711. The Clerk’s and Beadle’s houses were ordered to be insured against fire, for £600 in the “Amicable Society.”

20th February, 1711. Mr. Willm. Smith, an Assistant, complained that Mr. Joseph Cosins, also an Assistant, and his junior in the freedom, had always taken precedence of him at the Courts, whereupon the matter was considered and the following order made:--

Forasmuch as it appeared that M{r} Cosins was first chosen into the Court of Assistants & that it is in the power of this Court to chuse whom they shall think fitt to be an Assistant out of the whole Livery without respect to Seniority & for that M{r} Cosins continued for many years in his present station as Assistant The Court were of opinion & did so declare themselves to be That the s{d} M{r} Cosins shou’d continue to take place of the said M{r} Smith as he formerly had done.

9th July, 1711. The Common Seal of the Company being worn out a new one was ordered to be cut in steel, together with an “Ingine,” wherewith to make the impressions.

6th May, 1712. Ordered that the Porter who shaves att the Custome house be sum̃oned.

27th May, 1712. Walter Browne being “one of the people called Quakers,” was admitted into the freedom and took a “solemn affirmation.”

7th April, 1713. Valentine Day Tallow Chandler was admitted into the freedom of this Company by Redempc͠on and at the same time was admitted to ffine for all offices to the Parlour door for both which he paid a ffine Clock worth 30{li.}

5th October, 1714. It is ordered that the Musitioners shall have five pounds for attending on the day of the Kings Entrance. (George I.)

5th June, 1716. Nathanael Charles owned that he has several times let blood for One shilling & sixpence upon which the Company ordered him to be prosecuted as also his Mast{r} Joseph Roe; twas observed that Roe could not write his name having sett his mark only to the Inᵭre.[167]

[167] Indenture.

15th August, 1717. M{r} William Highmore Jun{r} haveing marryed the Vintners widow who kept the Bell Taverne in Nicholas Lane applying to this Court and acquainting them that he had quitted the Barbers Trade and had undertook the trade of a Vintner, and was for that reason under a necessity of becomeing a freeman of the Vintners Company or of takeing a License from the Crown to retail wine and praying of this Court to translate him from this Company to the Company of Vintners, This Court after hearing the By-Law in that behalf read and due considerac͠on had thereof doth order that the said M{r} William Highmore shall be translated from this Company into the Company of Vintners upon payment of £20 to the use of this Company and upon Condic͠on that he shall not from henceforward exercise the trade of a Barber or Perriwig maker.

1st October, 1717. Robert Rainsford, the Company’s Barge Master, was ordered to have a new livery provided for him.

24th June, 1718. The Theatre was ordered to be repaired and beautified.

21st April, 1720. Mr. Berney, Mr. Burroughs and Mr. Fitzhugh, Liverymen Barbers, applied to the Court, giving their reasons and praying that the Court would petition the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Common Council to suspend the act of Common Council restraining them from employing foreigners as journeymen, whereupon the matter was considered and the Court thought it would be contrary to their oaths to join in any such petition, because it was a standing By-Law of the Company, as well as of the City, that no Barber should employ any foreigner as a journeyman; it was also considered that such a liberty would prove a great discouragement to apprentices and that the present inconvenience complained of would soon be cured if Masters would sufficiently instruct their apprentices so as to make them useful during their servitude and competent as journeymen afterwards. The Court further decided to oppose, by every means in its power, the movement set on foot by Mr. Berney and his friends.

24th June, 1722. The lease of the Barge-house at Lambeth expiring in April, 1723, and the Archbishop having offered to renew the same for 21 years at £10 per annum and £100 fine, it was resolved not to renew it, in consequence of its being an unprofitable property, and the Company not then having a barge. The Barber-Surgeons let off part of their Barge-house to the Drapers and Ironmongers, and the Clerk was instructed to give those Companies notice that it was not the intention of this Company to renew the lease from the Archbishop.

2nd December, 1729. In consequence (as was alleged) of the difficulty in sometimes procuring a full Court, it was ordered that in future each Assistant who attended within one hour of the time mentioned in his summons and remained till the rising of the Court, should receive a fee of 2_s._ 6_d._

1st February, 1731. It is ordered that all the Liverymen shall attend on Election day and Lord Mayors day in their Gowns and at publick anatomys in their Capps upon Forfieture of Three shillings and Fourpence for every offence.

8th July, 1731. A precept coming from the Lord Mayor recommending the Company to contribute “towards the relief of the poor sufferers by the late fires at Blanford Tiverton & Ramsey being read The Court upon considerac͠on had thereof and from a just sense of the calamity and distress of their fellow subjects the late inhabitants of the said towns,” ordered £20 to be paid into the Chamber of London.

1732. The following fines were in force at this date, viz.:--

£6 6_s._ 0_d._ for a Barber admitted to the freedom by redemption.

£10 for a free Barber admitted to the Livery.

£30 for a Barber’s or Surgeon’s apprentice, made free by servitude, admitted to the Livery, and for all offices to the parlour door.

£7 7_s._ 0_d._ for examination, admission and diploma of a foreign brother.

£3 3_s._ 0_d._ for the same, if the applicant had been bound to a foreign brother at the Hall.

5th March, 1733. It is hereby referred to the Master & Wardens M{r} Serj{t} Dickins M{r} Serj{t} Amyand M{r} Petty M{r} Shott M{r} Parker & M{r} Maurice to receive proposalls for Building a Cupola in the Hall parlor and report the same to the next Court of Assistants.

19th July, 1733. Several of the livery attending upon a complaint against a Jew in Duke’s place for exercising the trade of a Barber without being free of the Company or having served seven years apprenticeship It is ordered that the Clerk of the Company shall sue the said Jew in such manner as he shall think fitt or be advised at the Company’s expence.

4th May, 1736. At this Court Abraham Diaz Delgadoa Jew was admitted into the freedom of the Company by Redemption for Ten pounds Ten shillings which he paid down and was sworn upon the Old Testament being a Jew.

3rd August, 1738. The Company contributed five guineas towards the Organ recently set up in the Church of Saint Alban, Wood Street.

3rd April, 1739. M{r} John Owen a Freeman of the Company & who lives at Islington was chosen Musicianer to the Company in the room of M{r} Brown dec̃ed.

11th November, 1740. It is ordered (in regard this Company have no Barge) That the Waterman shall forthwith deliver up his Livery coat and Badge belonging to the Company to the Beadles and that he no longer be annually intitled from this Company to a new Coat nor make use of nor wear the old one but that when he shall be employed in the Companies service. And also that for the future on every Lord Mayor’s day that this Company shall walk in procession in order to attend the L{d} Mayor a Stand or proper building shall be provided at the Companies expence for the better accomodation of the Livery belonging to this Company and in such manner and fform as several other Companies of this City are usually provided with on that day.

1745. The Surgeons are now separated from the Barbers.

8th August, 1745. The Clerk reporting that many of the Company, as well as Surgeons lately free of the Barber-Surgeons’ Company, were greatly in arrear in their quarterage, he was ordered to acquaint them that unless the said arrears were paid up forthwith, they would be sued.

17th September, 1745. The Company of Surgeons sent to the Company of Barbers two documents under their Common Seal, the one authorising Mr. Joseph Cruttenden to peruse and copy any Charters or documents in the possession of the Barbers, and the other empowering him to take possession of any books, papers or writings relating to Surgeons or Surgery only, on behalf of the Company of Surgeons; whereupon the Court acceded to the request, and gave instructions as to the same.

4th December, 1745. Mr. Cruttenden applied on behalf of the Surgeons’ Company for £510 (the Arrisian endowment) which had been directed to be paid by the Act of Parliament, whereupon the Master told him that by reason of the late fall in the Public Stocks, the Company could not without great loss, raise the money, but were ready to give the Surgeons a proper bond for the same, with Interest.

19th February, 1746. Forty-one freemen were reported as being fit and able persons to take the Livery, and were ordered to be summoned for the same with the intimation that if any refused he or they would be sued for the penalty of £20 each upon such refusal.

Of these, seven appeared at the next Court, took the livery and paid the fine of £10; six others begged to be excused. The remaining twenty-eight did not appear till later Courts, when some were excused, and others ordered to be sued; subsequently a large proportion of those nominated, accepted and paid their fines.

17th July, 1746. The Surgeons’ Company having pressed for payment of the £510 and Interest, and our Company having in Cash but £300, Mr. Luke Maurice (Master 1732, a Wine Merchant in Lime Street) lent the Company £200 at 4-1/2 per cent., and the Clerk advanced the balance, whereupon the principal, with £15 17_s._ 0_d._ interest, was paid to the Surgeons.

18th May, 1747. The Master acquainting the Court that he had employed M{r} Whiston the Bookseller to putt the Company’s Library in order and to make a Catalogue and valuation thereof And that M{r} Whiston had appraised the same at Twenty Guineas And the Clerk acquainting the Court that a learned Physican had offered twenty-five Guineas for the Library together with the Skeleton and other curiosities formerly kept in the Library It was ordered that the Clerk should acquaint the Master of the Worshipfull Company of Surgeons with the said offer made to this Company And that this Court being desirous to manifest their esteem for and preserve the ffriendship of the Surgeons did give them the refusal of the said Library Skeleton and Curiosities at the said price of Twenty ffive Guineas And that in case of their acceptance thereof the rich and ancient Pall belonging to this Company should be at their service as a free gift.

16th July, 1747. The Clerk reported that he had made the above offer to the Surgeons who replied that they considered themselves entitled to the Library under the Act of 1745, but that to avoid controversy with the Barbers they would be willing to refer the matter to Counsel, whereupon it was resolved that the matter should be submitted to the opinion of Counsel.

5th July, 1749. Ordered that the Library of Books formerly belonging to the late united Company be forthwith sold for the most money that can be gotten for the same.

2nd June, 1749. Ordered that the Companys Arms be cast in lead and affixed upon the several houses belonging to this Company.

Various specimens of these castings are extant about the Hall, and in possession of Mr. Charles John Shoppee (Master 1878) and of the author.

2nd May, 1750. Ordered that M{r} Paterson do wait upon the Earl of Burlington to know his Lordship’s intention about repairing the Company’s Theatre.

6th June, 1750. Ordered that the Clerk do write to the Right Honorable the Earl of Burlington to aquaint him of the ruinous condition of the Theatre and Company’s inability to repair the same and to know whether his Lordship will be pleased to order the said Repairs agreable to his own generous proposal in the Mastership of M{r} Rutter.

Nothing came of this application.

1st August, 1750. Ordered that the Clerk do cause a Catalogue to be made of the Books in the Library, and that he deliver a copy thereof to M{r} Samuel Rutter.

9th August, 1750. Mr. Gheys, Sculptor, was ordered to have the Skeleton, in exchange for the Bust of Inigo Jones, still preserved at the Hall.

3rd September, 1751. Resolved also that the old Pall be given to the Beadle.

This, alas! was the “rich and ancient pall.”

The Clerk was again directed to endeavour to sell the Library and it was disposed of to Mr. Whiston the Bookseller for £13!!

29th October, 1751. Resolved that the Doctors Gown and Hood be given to the Beadle.

13th August, 1752. Ordered that it be referred to the Master and Wardens to treat with M{r} Thomas Reynolds about erecting a Cupola over the great Parlor agreable to the Draft now produced to this Court and about repairing the Roof And also repairing whitewashing and painting the said Parlor so as the Contract for that purpose do not exceed the sum of One hundred and seventeen pounds.

19th August, 1752. The Agreement between the Company and Mr. Reynolds was entered into at £116 15_s._, and the Specification of his work is recorded in the Minute Book, from which I extract the following:--

The Cupola compleat and properly secured glazed and ornamented with Stucco and the Roof covered with Milled lead seven pounds to the ffoot with good brass pulley in the middle fit for a Branch or Lustre. A new white veined marble Chimney piece and Slabb with a carved wooden ovalo round it and Slabb of the same Marble The Chimney piece of the same dimensions as the present and the Slabb six foot nine inches by two foot four inches with a new fire stone hearth.

The ceiling and ornaments thereof to be secured mended cleaned and whitewashed.

9th August, 1753. The Great Hall, Kitchen and Lobby were ordered to be repaired by Mr. Reynolds in accordance with his Estimate of £101 17_s._ 6_d._

8th August, 1754. Ordered that the thanks of this Court be given to James Theobald Esq{r} one of the Ancient Masters of the Company for the magnificent Lustre by him lately presented and at his Expense fixed up in their great parlor assuring him This Court doth most gratefully accept the same as a monument of his regard for the honor and prosperity of the Company.

This handsome lustre still adorns the Court Room.

12th September, 1754. The Court having considered the state of the Theatre, which was out of repair, and for which the Company had no use, ordered advertisements to be inserted twice in three daily papers, asking for tenders for the materials of the same, and for pulling down and clearing it away. The “N.B.” to the advertisement states that “The Doors, Benches and Railes of the said Theatre are of Cedar.”

1st October, 1754. Three tenders for the materials of the Theatre were received, £21 10_s._ 0_d._, £32 and £35 respectively, and the decision thereon postponed.

4th February, 1755. William Shakespear (Barber) the apprentice of Richard Hulett, was admitted to the freedom.

5th June, 1764. The Clerk informed the Court of the death of Mrs. Elizabeth I’Ans, widow of Mr. Michael I’Ans, and that the Master and Wardens had, on the 23rd May, received of the Executors of Mr. I’Ans £2,200--3-1/2 per cent. Bank Annuities, and £75 in accordance with Mr. I’Ans’ will.

1764 and 1765. Mr. James Clowes who had been summoned to take up the Livery, refused to do so, whereupon he was sued for the fine of £20 and judgment obtained against him with costs.

14th August, 1766. A Committee having been appointed to examine and report upon the Theatre, and having done so, were now authorised to apply to the Court of Common Council for permission to pull down the same, and to treat with that Court for the purchase of the ground, for which the Company paid the City £3 per annum under an old lease.

3rd November, 1767. The City Comptroller having requested the Company to make an offer for the site of the Theatre, it was resolved that 30 years’ purchase (£90) be offered for the same.

7th February, 1769. A plan of the ground leased by the City to the Company and on which the Theatre stood, having been prepared by Mr. George Dance, Clerk of the Works to the City, it was laid before the Court, and the City sold the fee simple to the Company for £90. Would that one could buy City freeholds at the same rate now!

2nd September, 1783. Mr. Sylvanus Hall, of Paternoster Row, Carpenter, proposed to take a lease of the ground on which the Theatre stood, to take down the whole building, and to erect two dwelling houses on the site similar to those he had already built in Monkwell Street. The lease to commence at Christmas, 1784, and to be for 61 years at £10 ground rent. He also proposed to pay the Company £20 for the old materials of the Theatre and to clear the same away. To all these propositions the Court agreed, and Mr. Hall paid a guinea as earnest money.

1st February, 1785. Mr. Hall having pulled down the Theatre, the Clerk was instructed to write to him for the £20 for the old materials which he had removed.

4th October, 1791. There being a sufficient number of Members present to form a Court of Assistants, thoˀ no such Court was called, the Master took the sense of the Members present, as an adjournment from the last Court of Assistants, whether the Company should go out in the usual procession the ensuing Lord Mayor’s day, when on the question being put, the same was resolved in the negative.

4th November, 1794. M{r} Thomas Holehouse who was on the 1{st} July last elected on the Livery of this Company, but had refused to take upon him the same, without shewing any cause to the Contrary, and against whom an Action had been commenced for the recovery of Twenty Pounds the penalty incurred by such his refusal, this day attended and paid the said sum of Twenty pounds together with the costs of the said Action.

9th November, 1795. The following Circular was distributed amongst the Livery at the dinner this day:--