Part 29

23rd July, 1582. Robert Norton, Yeomanry Beadle, was authorised to take 2_d._ of every freeman on his admission, and his yearly salary of 8_s._ was raised to 26_s._ 8_d._

14th August, 1587. Robert Norton was Livery Beadle.

10th December, 1596. James Hewes (Hughes) was Livery Beadle.

16th June, 1597. John Smith, Livery Beadle.

15th August, 1603. Edward Evans, Livery Beadle.

15th August, 1603. Kellam Clifton appointed Porter or Under Beadle.

21st July, 1608. Edward Blayny, Beadle, was dismissed for behaving himself “very dishonestly.”

14th August, 1617. Kellam Clifton elected Beadle and Edward Presson, Porter.

2nd December, 1617. Clifton was suspended for misbehaviour, but subsequently reinstated.

9th July, 1618. William Chapman elected Porter.

19th February, 1621. Clifton, again misbehaving himself, was dismissed.

14th June, 1621. Humphry Mumford elected Beadle.

3rd July, 1621. Chapman, the Porter, dismissed for using “lewd speeches,” but on his humble submission and craving pardon on his knees, he was reinstated, 10th July, 1621.

20th August, 1621. The Company could not get Clifton out of his house, so they gave him 20_s._ and a pension of 40_s._ per annum during good behaviour and the pleasure of the Court. Possibly the “pleasure of the Court” did not extend beyond one year.

15th February, 1626. Edward Gorton (recommended by the Lord Keeper) elected Beadle in place of Mumford.

10th July, 1628. This daye this Court takeing notice of an order made the 3 of Julye, 1621, by w{ch} order Chapman our Porter for his dissolute and deboist carriage was ip̃o facto then by that order dismissed of his said place and likewise of an order made in the beginning of oure M{rs} tyme for the dismissing of the said Chapman for his misbehavior and upon the generall complaint made unto this Court against the said Chapman for the most parte being drunck misbehaveing himselfe towardꝭ the M{rs} and carrieing himselfe soe basely & quarrelsome to the brethren of this Companie and neglecting his duety to this house. It is thereupon ordered that he shall stand dismissed from his said place unlesse at the next Court of Assistantꝭ it doe appeare that he hath left his former carriage of being often drunck & deboistnes.

3rd February, 1634. Gorton requested to be discharged of his office of Beadle in respect of his age and feebleness, and Nathaniel Foster was elected in his place.

25th January, 1637. Chapman, “Under Beadle,” resigned, and was assigned a pension of £4 per annum during pleasure.

25th January, 1637. Edmond Johnson “who writeth very well” was elected Under Beadle.

6th March, 1639. Foster, for his “sawcey carriage unto this Companie” and general neglect of duty, was dismissed.

1659. Francis Johnson was Beadle with a salary of £10, and Peter Smith, Porter, with a salary of £8.

1662. Peter Smith was Beadle, and Thomas Veere, Porter.

23rd June, 1692. Ordered that William Cave be admitted to assist Peter Smith and Jonas Wills the Beadles.

19th July, 1694. Peter Smith was dead; he had been a very zealous servant of the Company. On the first floor landing at the Hall is a pretty piece of heraldic glass in the window with his name and the date 1671. Jonas Wills elected Beadle.

16th August, 1694. William Cave elected Beadle vice Wills deceased.

8th July, 1708. William Cave and Thomas Repton were Beadles.

6th July, 1710. Repton’s widow had £3 given her to bury her late husband.

20th February, 1711. Mr. Gratian Bale (son of Nathan Bale, Citizen and Grocer) who was apprenticed 22nd June, 1669 to Robert Andrewes (Surgeon), and afterwards became an Examiner in Surgery, and Master in 1709, petitioned the Court to be relieved of the office of an Assistant on the ground that he had fallen into decayed circumstances and could not possibly support that dignity, and on his resignation being accepted, the Court proceeded to the election of a Beadle in the room of Thomas Repton deceased, whereupon Mr. Bale was elected--

And in regard that the s{d} M{r} Bale had been Ma{r} of This Company This Court doth hereby give him leave (asking the consent of the Governo{rs} for the time being) to depute some other person to walke before the Company in his stead with the Beadles staffe & gowne upon the Lord Mayors & Elecc͠on days.

18th May, 1714. Mr. Bale having become too infirm to execute his office, the Court, in consideration of his past services, appointed William Hardy, Barber, his assistant, at a salary of £10 per annum.

31st July, 1716. William Cave died of a “high fever.”

16th August, 1716. William Watkins and William Hardy elected Beadles, on condition of paying Mr. Bale £10 per annum, which the Court supplemented with another £10.

10th July, 1717. Richard Collins elected Beadle vice Hardy, deceased.

18th August, 1720. It was ordered that in future no man could be qualified to be put in nomination for the office of Beadle if above 40 years of age--

in order that the business may from thenceforward be discharged and dispatched with propˀ vigour and dexterity and to the honour and profitt of the Company.

13th April, 1721. Watkins being so indisposed as not to be able to perform his duties, Charles Window (who looked after the dead bodies at Tyburn) was ordered to officiate for him. Watkins shortly after lost his speech and got into Ludgate prison, where he had a weekly allowance from the Company--he seems to have remained in prison till his death, 3rd August, 1724.

7th October, 1722. Henry Gretton elected Beadle vice Watkins.

6th November, 1724. Matthew Morris elected Beadle vice Collins, resigned.

30th October, 1732. William Littlebury elected Beadle vice Morris, deceased.

5th June, 1764. John Wells elected Beadle vice Littlebury, resigned on pension.

3rd April, 1787. William Smith elected Beadle vice Wells, deceased.

4th March, 1788. Joseph Wells (son of John Wells) elected Beadle vice Smith, deceased.

6th February, 1798. Jacob Bonwick elected Beadle vice Wells, deceased.

1st March, 1814. William Barnes elected Beadle vice Bonwick.

11th August, 1831. Samuel Borrett elected Beadle vice Barnes (who retired on a pension of £50 per annum).

11th August, 1864. John Heaps (Master in 1855) elected Beadle vice Borrett (who retired on a pension of £50 per annum).

1st July, 1879. Edward Lawless elected Beadle vice Heaps (who retired on a pension of £52 per annum).

SURGERY.

1551. ~Memorandum~ the xxviij{th} daye of Aprill in the v{th} yere of the reigne of King Edwarde the sixte yt was condescended and agreed by M{r} Bancke and Edward Hewit before M{r} Geen with his Wardeins That John Chambr̃ shall performe his bargayne w{th} Willm̄ Drew for the healing of his mayde for the mony receyved of him aforehand which is xiij{s} iiij{d.} And further yt is agreed that James Wood shall repay to the said Drewe the mony receyved of him which is xiij{s} iiij{d.} Also the sayd John Chambr̃ shall agre w{th} the sayd James Wood for his labor and content him for his payne according to conscience.

19th September, 1552. ALSOO it ys ordered and agreed that the serṽnts of Straungers that occupye Surgery shall paye x{d} the quarter w{ch} is iij{s} iiij{d} by yere.

5th March, 1555. Among the Articles ordained on this day are the following:--

That there shalbe chosein viij examyners wherof iiij to be alwayes present to examyn all such as experte in Surgery, the M{r} and governors being present Wherupon the sayed examyners may sett their hands w{th} the consent of the M{r} and govˀnors hearing the mater. And that the sayed examyners shall not examyn nor geve Lrẽs of lycence but that the M{r} and govˀnors shalbe prevy therof. And that there maye be a booke made wherine every mans name that have Lycence to occupye Surgery being approved, to be enrolled and what ys the grace that ys to him or them appointed. And if they take upon them to doo otherwise than there grace ys geven them, the blame to redowne to him or them that so doo and not to the examyners nor to the m{r} and govˀnors, and that there maye be alwayes at every courte day twoo at the leaste of the sayed examyners during a moneth: and so afterward monethelye two of them to be there whose chaunce the monethe shall fall too yf there besynes be not the greater because the m{r} and govˀnors shoulde not be to seke if anye bodye shoulde be examyned there. And for defaulte of noen being there having no reasonnable excuse, to lose to the hall ij{s} if he doo not send worde or com̃e himself being in the Cytie of London, or desyen a nother examyner to be there for him when his course ys at every Courte daye because we shoulde not be w{t}out them who cañ answer the matter towching Surgery.

That they whiche be appointed for the Anathomye for the yere next following and must sarve the Docter and be about the bodye he shall se and provyde that there be every yere, a matte about the harthe in the hall that M{r} Docter made not to take colde upon his feate, nor other gentelmen that do com̃e and marke the Anathomye to learne knowledge And further that there be ij fyne white rodds appointed for the Docter to touche the body where it shall please him and a waxe candell to loke into the bodye and that there be alwayes for the Docter two aprons to be from the sholder downewarde and two peyr of Sleaves for his hole arme w{t} tapes for chaunge for the sayed doctor and not to occupye one Aporne and one payer of Sleves every daye w{ch} ys unseamly. And the M{rs} of the Anathomye y{t} be about the bodye to have lyke aprons and sleves every daye bothe white and cleane. Yf y{t} the M{r} of the Anathomye y{t} be about the Docter doo not see theise things ordered and that their knyves probes and other instrumẽts be fayer and cleane accordinglye w{th} Aprons and sleves, if they doo lacke any of the said things afore rehersed he shall forfayte for a fyne to the hall xl{s.}

22nd July, 1556. It was ordained among other articles--

[Sidenote: An Article that evˀye Barbor Surgeon occupˀing Surgery shall take no mañ’ of prentice but suche as hathe some knowledge in the Latten tonge.]

That from the feaste of Saint Michaell tharchaungell next comynge no barbor Surgeon that dothe occupye the mystery of Surgery in the Clothinge or out of the Clothing shall take or have any prentys but that he cañ skyll of the Laten tonge and understand the same and cañ wryte and reade suffycientlye and yf they or any of them doo take any that cañ not doo the same they that offende shall paye to the hall for a ffyne xl{s.}

[Sidenote: An Article that all prentizes that here after shalbe made ffree and do entend to occupye Surgery shalbe examyned and to passe his ffirste prefermẽt of grace.]

That prentisses that shalbe made ffree after michelmas next comynge that doo occupy the mystery of Surgery and all other men that doo desyer to occupy the same and to be a brother w{th} us, to be examyned and to passe according to the order of this house as a prefermẽt of a grace to him geven as the order hereafter followeth as he shalbe demaunded and apposoe.

[Sidenote: An Article howe the sayed prentizes shalbe examyned.]

That after michelmas next comyng all pˀntyces when they are made ffree must (be) demaunded by the M{r} and govˀnors and the iiij examyners what he intendeth to doo after he is made free, whether he will occupye the mystery of Surgery or no w{t}in the Cytie of London. Yf he saye ye Then to be examyned what he can doo towards yt, howe he knoweth what ys Surgery and also what an Anatomye ys and howe manye perts it ys, of what the iiij{or} Elements and the xij signes be w{ch} ys the fyrste pert of examynac͠on for a prentyce & for other that wilbe brother with us as the examyners shall see cause, for having of their preferment of their first grace to them to be geven.

[Sidenote: An Article that upon his examy’on of Surgery the said prentis shall have his preferme’t of grace and if he or they can reade to bring in qr’terly an epistle.]

That when he hathe aunswered to the firste article preyving that he hathe some Learninge or practyse Then to have his firste preferment of grace to occupye Surgery by the space of so many yeres or tyme as the M{r} and govˀnors and the examyners shall thinke meete, and as his Industrye shall seme to receyve the grace of god and by his dilligent travell to studye in the same and for an homage thereof if he be learned or can wryte to bringe in an Epistell evˀy half yere and to reade it himselfe openly at the day of Lecture before the hole house that they may see his furtheraunce how he hathe profyted in his dilligent Labor and studye, and the unlearned that can not wryte nor reade to be examyned half yerelye what they can doo in the practyse because they be unlettered by the m{r} and govˀnors and the Examyners how they have taken payens in their studye to practyse because they be unlettered for the Savegarde of the kg̃ and queenes mãt{s} people.

[Sidenote: An Article that any man desyring to have his prefermẽt of grace shall paye to the Clarcke for y{e} wryting therof viij{d.}]

That any man occupyinge the mystery of Surgery being made free and desiereth to have his firste preferment of grace shall paye to the Clercke of the Companye for the wrytinge Inrolling fynding waxe to seale it and for the having of the Seale viij{d.}

[Sidenote: An Article that no man occup’ing Surgery shall sewe for the Busshopes seale before he be admitted a M{r} of Surgery by the M{r} and govˀnors & the iiij Examyners.]

That no man of the Companye after the feaste of Saint Michell Tharchaungell next comyng shall call for the Busshopes seale which ys the confyrmac͠on of a Surgeon untill suche tyme as he hathe passed his fyrste preferment of grace & the Seconde admyssion to be admitted to be a Surgeon and a Maister of Anathomye, and to paye for the having of the Seconde admyssyon a spone of an ounce of Silver and his name to be wrytten upon it to the hall, and the Clercke of the Company for the wryting and findinge waxe and enrolling of yt in the boke viij{d.} and if the pˀson doo not this passe orderly he to paye for a ffyne to the hall xl{s.}

~The order~ of the ffyrste preferment of grace of the admissyon of practycyoners that have been prentizes and be made ffree what they shall have fyrste towards their preferment.

[Sidenote: The order of the first prefermẽt of grace of practicioñs and prentices.]

~Fforasmoche~ as yt is expedyent that no man occupye the worthye Scyence of Surgerye but suche as shalbe thoughte apte and industrˀ to execute the same truelye and accordinglye as well for the comodytie and proffyt of the comen welthe as also for the avoyding of the Inconveniences and Slaunder that otherwise mighte happen by the rasshenes and unconning of suche lewde persons as taketh upon them to exercyse Surgery being neither expert nor of us admytted to the same. And forasmoche as it is not possyble that any shall attayne to the same w{t}out instrucc͠ons firste learned of conninge and well exercysed men of that facultie: being broughte up therin as a practycyoner or otherwise under some well scylled M{r} for certayne yeres: in whiche tyme he mighte applye his mynde to learne perfectly the rules and speculatyve pert therof. The maister and govˀnors of the Barbors and Surgeons of London w{th} the foure Examyners and the rest of the hole assistaunce have thoughte it good after suche tyme and terme of yeres expired every suche prentis or otherwise Servaunt being made ffre of the sayed Companye and ffellowship shall also have a tyme appointed by us and the reste of the Companye to practise and to put in use suche knowledge as he hathe that we in tyme afterwarde havinge intelligence of his connynge and well dooyngs may constitute him a maister of Surgery if his deserving so requier. WHERFORE we the sayed Maisters and governors and the iiij{or} examyners w{th} the rest of the hole assistaunce here at this instante doo admitt A. B. as a practycyoner: who hath served as a prentis with R. G. maister aucthorisshed of this Company the space of yeares and now being a freeman of this Companye to practise Surgery in all placˀs according to his knowledge for the space of yeares as a tryall and a proofe of his knowledge may be had. In Witnesse wherof of the premisses we have caused this Lrẽ to be sealed w{t} our seale of our hall touching the firste admissyon of his fyrste prefermẽt of grace the xxiiij{th} day of Julye Anno dñi 1556.

~The Order~ of the firste preferm̄et of their grace that be Lay bretherne that occupye the Scyence of Surgery w{th} us and also for them that be not a brother w{th} us and dothe desyre to be (of) us for their fyrste admissyon of practycyoners.

[Sidenote: The order of the firste prefermẽt of grace for Laye Bretherne.]

“~Fforasmoche~ as yt is moste expedyent that no man occupie,” etc., etc. This licence is similar to the last one excepting that it provides that the person admitted being made a brother, though no free man, should have a time given to him in which to practise the art of Surgery on approval.

~The Order~ of the Admissyon of Maisters of Surgery and of the Anatamye to be confyrmed for ever before they have the Seale of the Busshop w{ch} maketh up the hole confyrmac͠on of a master of Surgery & of Anathomye.

[Sidenote: The order of the admissyon of a M{r} of Surgerye.]

~We~ Thomas Knot M{r} Thomas Gayle John Smythe and Thomˀs ffishe Governors Thomas Vycary George Hollande George Geen and Richard fferes M{rs} and examyners of the Company of Barbours and Surgeons of London w{th} the rest of the whole assistaunce of the same Companye To all men to whome this wryting shall come greting. ~We~ certifye youe by this Lrẽ that whereas o{r} welbeloved in Christe T. A. ys not onely a man of honest fame and good behaveor but is also expert connynge and well exercysed in the arte of Surgery as his well defycell[186] cures and prosperous successe w{ch} can not be dooen w{t}out maturate judgement and Learninge dothe make thereof moste certayne trueth and be assure witnes. ffurther more we are assured by the experyence we have of the man that he is not onely substancyally well exercysed in the curing of infyrmities belonging to Surgery of the p̃ts of mans bodye comonly called the Anathomye: Wherfore we aswell in the behalf equyte reason and conscyence as also for the preferm̃et of Learning knowledge and experyence doo thinke yt meete convenyent and reasonnable to constitute the same T. A. bothe A Maister of Surgery and also of the Anathomye and willeth him so to be taken for ever hereafter and to have auctorytie to exercyse & occupye as well the one as the other wheresoever he shall come w{t}in this Realme or ellswhere of the premisses ~In~ Witnes wherof we have caused this Lrẽ to be sealed w{t} the great comon seale of our Hall the xxiij{th} daye of July A{o} dñi 1556.

[186] Difficult.

27th August, 1557. The same daye It Wase ffurder ordered and agreed that all men of the saide Companye and fellowshypp usinge the mystere and crafte of Surgerye maye take unto hys or y{r} Apprentice anye person or persons althoweth[187] he or they be not lerned in the Latin Tonge, anye Acte here to fore made to the contrarye not with standinge.

[187] Although.

The same day it was ordered that the two Masters of Anatomy should have the keys and custody of the “Lyberary and of the Instr̃ments” therein, and that the Wardens of the Yeomanry were to keep the Instruments clean.

Attendance by the members on the Surgical side was compulsory at the Anatomy lectures, and 27th August, 1557, is an order of Court that Robert Mudsley (Master in 1572 and 1580) “hath lycence to be absent from all lecture dayes w{th}oute paymẽte any fyne for by cawse he hath gyven over the exercysynge of the arte of Surgery and doth occupy only a sylk shoppe and shave.”

A little later on, William Cawsey had licence to be absent from the lectures on payment of a yearly fine of 3_s._ 4_d._, and there are scores of similar exemptions in the books.

1st March, 1558. Jasper the Cutter for the Stoane had Lycence by the M{r} and govˀnors that he shall worcke and set forth his sygne and he payde for hys fyne x{s} and yf that he do not go ovˀ in to his owne cuntrye before whytsontide nexte after folowyng he hath promysed that he wylbe a brother of this howse but as yet he ys not admytted a brother.

25th October, 1558. There was before the Court one Leonardo Rodergo--

Surgeon & deuchem̃a whome pˀsumptinglye & arogantly stood and bragged w{th} a letter to be in the name of Kyng Phillippe lycencing hym to occupye surgery w{t}in all y{e} Kyngs & quenes domynions & when yt was seene y{r}to was nether seale nor the kyngs hande, but a sorte of Spanyards hands & names whome he sayde afterwards yt one of them was y{e} kyngs secretary & thother of his Councell.

Dr. J. J. Howard had in his collection the following document, which, as he says, affords good evidence of the low condition of Surgical practice in the metropolis at the accession of Elizabeth.

~Elizabeth~ by the grace of God Queen of England Fraunce and Irelonde Defender of the faith etc. TO ALL Mayours Sheriffs Baylliffs Constables and all other our Offycers Mynisters and Subjects thees our Lettres hearinge or seinge and to every of them greetinge.

~We~ lett you wete that for certeyn consideracions us movinge we have by theise presents auctorised and lycensed our Trustie and Wellbeloved Servaunte ~Thomas Uncarn~ Sergeant of our Surgions and the Wardens of the Fellowshipp of the said Surgions within our Cytie of London that now be or hereafter shalbe, that they by themselfs or their assigne bearer hereof shal and may from hensforth take and reteyne at our wages as well within the Cytie of London as elsewhere within any other Cytie Towne Boroughe or other place within this our Realme as well franchised and privileged as not franchised nor privileged suche and as many Surgions as they shall thinke mete and able from time to time to doe unto us servyce in the scyence of Surgerie at any season hereafter as well by sea as lande and further that the Sergeant and Wardeyns aforesaide shal or maye take of suche as be not able to serve suche instruments and other stuff of Surgerie as they shal thinke mete to sarve agreinge and payinge therfor to all suche of whom any suche instruments or stuff shal be taken. ~Wherfore We~ woll and comaunde you and eṽy of you that unto our saide Sergiant and the Wardeyns aforesaid and their assigne bearer hereof in the due execucion of this our aucthoritie and lycense ye be aydinge helpinge and assistinge as oft as the case shal require without any your denyall lett or contradycion as ye and eṽy of you tender our pleasure and woll avoide the contrary at your peril ~In~ Witness whereof We have caused theis our Lettres of Commissyon to be sealed with our Greate Seale. Wytness ourself at Westmynstre the day of December the seconde yere of our Reigne.