Part 27

29th December, 1615. Four liverymen admitted this day paid £2 each as a fine, and fifteen others paid £5 each. Humphrey Downinge, who had been chosen a Liveryman, and would not accept the Clothing, was fined and paid £10.

27th January, 1617. It was ordered that from henceforth the Liverymen were not to appear at the Hall in their gowns and hoods on Christmas, Twelfth and Candlemas days “as formerlie they were accustomed to doe,” but at their seats at St. Paul’s instead.

13th September, 1621. The livery was generally composed of an equal number of Barbers and of Surgeons; on this day it was ordered--

That at the next choise of a new Lyvery there shalbe chosen a Barber more than a Surgeon for that M{r} Kellett hath not accepted of the place as yett, if he shall not accept thereof.

1636. A great many Liverymen were chosen this year, apparently for the purpose of assisting by their fines, the fund for the building of the Anatomical Theatre; from various entries at this period it would seem that when a freeman desired to be excused taking the Livery, he was obliged to take an oath before the Masters of his inability to pay the fine.

19th May, 1637. This Court upon divers treatise with Abraham Purrott a brother of this Companie being chosen into the livery by a former Court & he being summoned to appeare this daye by agreem{t} yet came not and hath alsoe formerly[179] answered that he will not hold the place of a liveryman nor paye the fine but would onely give a peece of plate of v{li} to this house as his gift in full satisfaction of all his fines & places, w{ch} this Court doth think to be farr short And therefore this Court doth impose and fine the said Abraham Purrott at xx{li} according to the ordinances confirmed by the Lords & by the Statute.

[179] Formally.

Several others were from time to time similarly fined, both in the 17th and 18th centuries.

2nd August, 1737. At this Court Robert Young who was the apprentice of James Phillips Surgeon was admitted into the freedom of the Company by service and was sworn, and the said M{r} Young at the same time took the Livery, and his master M{r} Phillips out of his own bounty and a just sense of the diligent and faithfull services of the said Robert Young during his Apprenticeship did not only pay the charges of the said M{r} Young’s freedom but did likewise bestow upon him his fine for the Livery being ten pounds.

29th October, 1751. It is ordered that upon all future days for swearing in the Lord Mayor of this City at Westminster when this Company shall have their Stand as usual No Liveryman shallbe admitted into the same without leave of the Master unless he shall walk in the Publick Procession cloathed in his proper Livery gown and hood according to his summons.

3rd October, 1752. It was further ordered--

That two men and a constable shall be hired to guard the Stand and see that the said Order be complied with.

9th November, 1765. Several liverymen notwithstanding former orders to the contrary, having appeared on the Company’s Stand on Lord Mayors’ days without their gowns and hoods, it was ordered that any liveryman transgressing in the like in future, should be fined half-a-guinea.

THE YEOMANRY.

The Yeomanry of the Barber-Surgeons appear to have had a most chequered existence, having been “established” and “put downe” several times, until finally they appear to have died out both in constitution and in name.

The Yeomanry answered exactly to the class of Members who are now styled “Freemen,” and for a long period were the most numerous body in the Company. In early times the numbers of the Livery or Clothing were strictly limited, and under the Tudors and Stuarts rarely exceeded fifty, but as the persons who were compelled to take up their freedom, and those who came in voluntarily or by patrimony and servitude have always been a numerous section, it appears to have been considered politic to give a constitution to these inferior members of the Mystery, and consequently a Yeomanry, or Company within the Company was set up, and to this the new freeman was admitted after he had been presented and sworn before the Masters or Governors of the Clothing.

The Court of the Company framed the Ordinances for the Yeomanry, and whilst delegating to them many of their own privileges, as, for instance, the power to levy fines, and to summarily commit offenders to prison, they always seem to have retained a very tight and jealous hand over them, and were constantly interfering with the Wardens of the Yeomanry.

The Yeomanry had their own four Wardens and Court of Assistants, their Beadle and mace, common box, standing cups and other silver plate, their annual dinner, and sometimes, when in a flourishing condition, no less than four dinners in the year, their “corrector” for apprentices, and they also possessed the choice privilege of collecting the quarterage from their members. Under such auspicious circumstances, it could hardly be otherwise than that, in process of time, they should become both presumptuous and audacious and thus provoke inevitable collision with the Ruling body of the Company.

The Wardens of the Yeomanry at one period had designated themselves, or certainly encouraged others to describe them, as “The Wardens of the Barber-Surgeons,” an assumption not to be tolerated, and, like their Masters on the Clothing, had been accustomed to go to their homes (after their gatherings and feasts) in state, accompanied by a “trayne or traynes”; these acts of presumption called forth the restraining order of the 15th September, 1588 (_vide post_). Later on we find that they went “in searche to see what serˀvnts some ffremen of the Companie had, w{ch} they ought not to do,” they gave way to too much feasting and arbitrarily exercised their powers of fine and imprisonment, all which offences brought them reprimands, and somewhere about the year 1604 their temporary extinguishment. They were, however, soon after re-erected, but in the year 1635 permanently “disestablished and disendowed.”

Although the Constitution of the “Yeomanry” was then abolished, the appellation was retained for over 200 years after, though merely as a traditional distinctive name synonymous with that of “freemen.” Thus, the whifflers for Lord Mayor’s day were always chosen out of the “Yeomanry,” and members of the “Yeomanry” are continually spoken of as being chosen into the Livery.

In the Audit Book, 1847-1848, this ancient term is used for the last time in respect of the receipts for quarterage, after this the designation becomes “freemen.”

19th September, 1552. It is condescendyd and agreed that there shalbe no more yomanry of the said Company of Barbors Surgeons.

1st October, 1555. It was agreed “that the yomanrye of the sayed Company of Barbors and Surgeons shalbe establisshed and set up agayne and be in as full strenght force and power as ever yt was before the plucking downe of the same,” and articles or ordinances for the Yeomanry were enacted. As, however, these articles are excessively verbose, the following descriptions and extracts will suffice:--

Article 1. Out of the Yeomanry were to be chosen four Wardens annually, and named respectively, the uppermost, second, third and youngest Wardens.

Article 2. One of the Yeomanry to be appointed Beadle of the Yeomanry to execute summonses, etc.

Article 3. The Wardens of the Yeomanry to bring in once a year to the Masters and Governors of the Clothing, an account of monies remaining in their hands to be delivered to the new Wardens, and to be “kept and bestowed as they w{t}in themselves shall thinke yt meete and convenyent to the helpe and comforte of them w{t}in the yomanry of Barbors and Surgeons.” The Wardens were also to present the new Wardens to the Masters or Governors for approval within eight days after being chosen. The Masters or Governors were to “have nothinge to dooe withe the monye of the yomanry.”

Article 4. If the Masters or Governors should borrow any monies of the Yeomanry they were to repay on a day to be agreed upon “the saved som̄e so borrowed w{t} thanks geving.”

Article 5. The Wardens on the day of Election of Masters or Governors of the Clothing shall--

come to the dynner at the hall in their best apparrell at the daye appointed whiche is the mondaye senighte before Barthelmew daye, and when the M{r} and governors of the Clothinge doo gooe and choose the new M{r} and governors the cheif wardein of the yomanrye shall beare the cup before the M{r} The seconde wardein shall beare the cupp before the uppermoste governor of the clothinge. The thirde wardein of the yomãry shall beare the cupp before the seconde governor of the clothinge and the yongest wardein of the yomanry shall beare the cupp before the yongest governor of the clothinge in knowledging of the setting up of the yomanrye agayne.

In the event of sickness or lawful absence, others were to be appointed to this duty.

And furthermore that noen of the wardeins of the yomanrye of barbors and surgeons doo presume to goo aboute to make searche to see in anye of the Companyes houses to knowe what prentizes they have or journeymen as the M{r} and governors doo of the clothinge whoo have aucthoritie so to dooe. Yf the wardeins of the yomanry be taken or justelye proved that they doo soo, to forfaycte at every tyme so doying to the hall vj{li} xiij{s} iiij{d.}

Article 6. The Wardens of the Yeomanry were to collect the quarterage of freemen (3_d._ per quarter) and of “fforyners” (6_d._ per quarter), and duly pay same over to the Masters and Governors, and books of account were to be kept by the Wardens. NOTE.--In practice this article was varied, as the Yeomanry kept the quarterage and “compounded” with the Masters for a fixed annual sum.

Article 7. The Masters were to pay the Wardens of the Yeomanry £4 which had been “advanced by them in 1543 for provysyon of wheete for the Cytie,” and which sum had been recently refunded by the City.

Article 8. The Yeomanry were to have the use of the chamber “where the Lecture ys reade every Tewysday” whenever they please to consult therein.

Article 9. These Articles were to be written on parchment, sealed and delivered to the Wardens of the Yeomanry.

Article 10. The Masters were to give notice to the Wardens of the Yeomanry of any rules which they from time to time should make touching the craft.

Article 11. The rules and ordinances of the Company were to be read to the Yeomanry three times in every year, viz.: at Candlemas, in May and at Lammas.

Article 12. The Yeomanry were to obey all the rules and ordinances now made or to be made.

16th October, 1555. The first four Wardens of the Yeomanry were presented to the Masters, their names being Edward Hewet, John Surbut, George Corraunte (Corron) and Thomas Buston (Burston).

12th October, 1557. It was ordered:--

That the Wardens of the yeomanry allwaise for the tyme beinge and by theire Assistantꝭ shall Elect and chuse every yeare to (two) w{th}in themsylffs to be Coostꝭ[180] of the Lyberary and of the Instrmentꝭ w{ch} by the M{rs} and Governors it was thought good and most Convenyent that those too whyche are maisters of the Anathomys to be Elected and Chosen the sayde Cowstꝭ (of the) Lyberary and Instrumẽtis, and the Wardens of the yeomanry for the tyme beinge shall delyvˀ and geve the kayse of the lyberarye and of the instrument howse unto those whyche they have Chosen to be Coustose thereof. And ffurther allso That the sayde Wardens of the yeomanry for the tyme beinge shall allwayse se and looke y{t} the saide instrumentꝭ be kepte Cleane and that they shall do upon theyre owne Chirgis.[181]

[180] Custos or keepers. [181] Charges.

15th September, 1558. It was ordered:--

That uppon the Election daye and chusynge of the fowre wardeyns of the yeomãry of the Mystery or Companye aforesayde And also theyre Wardeyns then beynge elected and chosen and also theyre Dyner or Recreocion then at o{r} hall beynge w{th} all y{r} Lawfull busynes then don and ended That and then also at theire goynge and depˀtinge frome ou{r} hall the sayde fowre wardeyns of the yeomanrye so named by that name and by none other shall in any maner of wyse pˀsume or take uppon them nor any of them to be wayted on or broughte home unto y{r} owne houses Neyther shall go unto any other place or placꝭ elꝭwhere havynge w{th} or after them any trayne or traynes eyther of y{e} sayde Assystaunce or any beynge oute of theyre sayde assystaunce and Companye But every pˀsone and persones of the sayde feloshyppe of the yeomanrye then shall quyetly departe and go every man his owne waye aboute his necessarye busynesse.

A fine of five marks was ordered to be taken from the “comon boxe” of the yeomanry, if the above regulation should be transgressed.

PROVIDED ALLWAYE That the sayde Wardeyns with the Rest of theyre assystaunce feloshyppe and Companye of the Yeomanry maye and shall at all Tyme and tymes decently and orderly go unto the maryagis offeringꝭ and Buryalls of theyre sayde Brethren and Susters of the sayde Company of the yeomanry as they here to fore have don.

4th July, 1566. It was ordered that the Wardens and Assistants of the Yeomanry should be allowed to sit at the “Uppermore” table in the Hall on quarter days to receive their quarterages, and to read the rules and ordinances to the Yeomanry.

18th February, 1567. IN THYS COURTE here was Edward Parke beynge[182] comytted to warde at the comaundment of the wardens of the yeomanry for his disobedyencˀs, and for his oprobrius & obstynat words in the pˀsents of this Courte to the M{r} & govˀnors he is comytted to warde agayne.

[182] _i.e._ Having been.

18th January, 1569. At this Court seven freemen were sworn in to be Assistants to the Yeomanry.

15th November, 1569. In this Courte the wardens of the yeomanry broughte in the pˀsentꝭ of this courte John Wyllet Thom̃s Warren and John Jaggard & they reported y{t} Nycolas Whytemore sholde reporte at the thre tonnes at yeldehall gate y{t} M{r} Pole of the chauncery shold saye y{t} we ought to have no wardens of the yeomanry. And Nyc͠ols Whytemore said y{t} he was at supper at M{r} Pole & one M{r} Lovels & they pˀused the statutꝭ said to Whyttemore he hath ben warden of his cõpany & he said no he had been warden of the yeomanry & M{r} Pole sholde saye we cold not have a yeomanry.

18th April, 1570. Here was John Jagger sayth that he was nevˀ a councell or knoleg of any pˀmoter beyng set to trouble the Company for the state of o{r} yeomanry And also John Wyllet denyeth the byll & wyll not confesse any thinge w{th}oute the pˀsentꝭ of his accuser but for knowledge of the pˀmotter he nevˀ meante yt he said befor god. And Thomas Warren saed he hathe kepte all to hymsylf & nevˀ mynded nor thoughte to trouble in any respecte and denyeth the byll also. And yt is ordered that they shall agree brotherly together and here after they nor any of them shall move or speake or make any rehersall of any matter as consernyng the state of the yeomãry upon payne of ip̃rysonment. And Thom̃s Warren John Wyllet & John Jagger shall take y{r} romes & placꝭ and brotherly they have eyther of them taken one a nother handes & so these matters nevˀ to be reported any more here after.

This brotherly amity did not long continue, for:--

23rd May, 1570. Here was John Warren & John Wyllet is comytted to warde for dysobedyence, and Thomas Newens said that one Husto an informer his neyghbo{r} saide that the company sholde be arẽsted[183] upon a statute & y{t} yt is one of o{r} company did sett the enformer to do yt but he founde not the statute to holde w{th} them & y{r}fore he wolde not deale, but to name the pˀte[184] he wolde not.

[183] _i.e._ Sued. [184] Party.

Warren and Wyllet must have been sent straight off to prison, as a further minute states that on the same day “after diner,” Warren was brought up out of the Compter for examination.

On the 29th May, Wyllet made submission and was released from prison.

19th September, 1570. Warren and Wyllet seem to have been cantankerous brethren, for they were complained of by the Wardens of the Yeomanry for refusing to take upon themselves the office of Wardens to which they had been elected.

7th October, 1572. Wyllet is again complained of for going to law with another member of the Company without license from the Masters, to which he pleaded that under a statute 19 Henry VII, cap. viii, he could lawfully do so. The result of this contention is not expressly stated, though there is not the least doubt but that Wyllet revisited the Compter, and ultimately withdrew his suit.

5th March, 1573. It was ordered--

That where there hath ben an order that the whole bodye of the yeomanrye of this mysterie were compelled under a certeine fyne and penaltye to meet theire wardens at a certeine place by them appointed beinge by the beadle warned, to go to offre at the weddings of their brethren at all times when any of them weare married w{ch} was to their great trouble, and divers inconvenyences grewe thereoff as absence from sˀrvice and sermons one sonday mornyngs and other unmeate and inconvenient meetinges in steed therof. Wherefore, the said order was declared henceforth to be void.

6th October, 1573. Here was a controvˀsy betweene the wardens of the yeomanrye that were the last yere and the Audyto{rs} of yeomanryes accomptes for that the Audytoures would not allowe that w{ch} was required by the said late wardens for bread and dryncke at theyre ellecc͠on Daye, the som̃e was xxvij{s} and order was taken that they should be allowed xvj{s} and they to beare the reste on theire owne chargeis and so to be ffrendꝭ and Lovers w{th} quietnes.

6th June, 1577. Here also the wardens of the yeomanry were comaunded for good and urgent Cawse to bring in there graunt from the maisters of there yomanry against the next Co{r}te Daie for that they did take more Quarteridge then by the Lawe they might do and also contrary to there saide graunte and in breche of the same they went after a sort in searche to see what serˀvnts some ffremen of the Companie had w{ch} they ought not to do, and so yt was for that tyme let passe w{th} warning to do so no more and also for that they did not yerelie shewe there accompt w{ch} now they did and henceforth will according to there dutie.

9th October, 1579. At this Co{r}te also the Wardens of the Yeomanry brought in their accompte before the saide masters and yt was agreed upon good considerac͠ons for that manye of the said yeomanrye did ympoverishe them selves by makinge of qr̃ter Dyners and suche unnecessary metinges that from henceforthe their shalbe no more quarter Dyners be kept in o{r} Hall by the saide yeomanrye or any of them but shall do as heretofore hathe ben accustomed to be don.

1587. The Yeomanry seem to have again incurred the displeasure of the Masters, who thereupon summoned them to appear and shew cause why their grant should not be annulled, whereupon they came on the 27th July and--

gave their ffree and full consentꝭ that yf they have broken any pt̃e of their graunte to them heretofore made they will surrender upp their yeomanry.

10th August, 1587. The privilege of collecting quarterage was taken away from the Yeomanry.

Also whereas there hathe ben a Rule graunted to the yeomanrie that they maie send pˀsons to ward for disobedyence and to take ffynes yt ys fullie agreed the same Rule shalbe void But yf anie varyance happen to be, the same shall be declared to the masters or governo{rs} for Reformac͠on And further that the said yeomanrie shall take none into their Assystance w{th}oute the consent of o{r} saide masters or governo{rs} and their successo{rs.}

7th September, 1587. M{r} Henry Rankin M{r} of o{r} Companie made a motyon whether he sholde swere the yeomanry or not and yf they should be sworne what othe he should geve them. And yt was agreed by the saide Corte That the Masters or Governo{rs} may take the pˀsentment of them but not swere them. And further yf the yeomanry do request to be sworne they must be answered w{th} the wordꝭ of their pattent w{ch} ys onlie to pˀsent them. And further touching the collecc͠on of their quartridge yt must stand as yt dothe untill further consultac͠on be had therein and yf they have any request to make or ought to saie they must bring the same in writinge into this Corte.

29th May, 1600. This daie the wardens of the yomanrye made requeste to the Maisters that they woulde be pleased to redeliver unto them their booke of orders which remayneth in their Custodie, whereuppon it is not thoughte fitt by the Courte that the yeomanrie have the Custodie of the said booke, but that the Clarke of this Companye keepe the same And that he shewe the same booke to the yeomanrye when they have occasion to use it.

About two years previously the Court had endeavoured to put down the Yeomanry and had curtailed many of their privileges; the exact nature of the disagreement is not stated, but it doubtless arose from the Yeomanry “takeinge to much uppon themsyllfs.”

17th January, 1604. At this Courte it is ordered That the Ould Wardens of the Yomanrye doe bringe in such money as is behind by theire Audite beinge eight pounds twelve shillings and eight pence ORELLS to be committed to the Compter.

28th February, 1605. It was ordered that a Yeomanry of this Company should be established, though there is no entry of its extinguishment. Rules and ordinances were to be made by the Court, and twenty-four persons were to be nominated by the “present wardens of the said Yeomanry” to serve as a Court of Assistants for the Yeomanry, with a power of veto reserved to the Masters.

16th April, 1605. A Committee sat to consider the patent to be granted to the Yeomanry.

2nd May, 1605. This daye the M{r} and M{r} Warden Mapes and M{r} Thorney delivˀed to the Wardens of the yomanry viz. Robert Jenninges and Richard Alderson and also to Robert Wood and Edward Goodale the yomanryes boxe and money their Corrector their twoe standinge Cuppes & Covers and their cases and all such oth{r} thinges as they had of the yomanryes, but onely their patent w{ch} is to be renued & twoe of their keyes were delivˀed to the sayd Robert Wood and Edward Goodale by them to be kept.

24th May, 1605. This daye the ordynancꝭ of the yomanry were ratiefied & confirmed by this Court. Also the quarterages of the yomanry was this daye demised unto the wardens of the yomanry from the xvj{th} of September next ensuinge for the terme of ... at the yerely rent of 8{li} to be paid by quarterly payments w{ch} demyse was passed by wrytinge indented as by the same more at lardge may appeare.

At the end of the Minute Book, 1598-1607, is a copy of a part of this indenture.

26th November, 1607. It was ordered:--

That the wardens of the yomanry shall take for the use of their funerall clothe at eˀvy funerall wherein it is used ij{s} vj{d} And the bedell for his attendaunce xij{d} provided notw{th}standinge that if such deceased pˀson shall owe unto the yomanry arrerages of quarterage that the wardens of the sayd yomanry shall not lend their said funerall cloth before such arrerages be first paid.

10th August, 1609. It was ordered that the Yeomandry shall hold their great generall dinner albeit they made request to the Contrary.

The next extracts record the last events in the chequered existence of the Yeomanry.