Part 30

1st October, 1566, is an entry of the translation from the Woodmongers’ Company of William Slade, who was stated to be “a Surgeon & learned yt w{th} Ric. Venar & John Hall at Maydstone.” This John Hall was a famous Surgeon in his day and wrote “An Historiall Expostulation Against the beastlye Abusers, bothe of Chyrurgerie and Physyke,” which has been reprinted with several valuable notes by the Percy Society (Vol. XI) accompanied with John Hall’s portrait.

14th January, 1567. M{r} Doctor Julyo made request y{t} he myghte have the work of the anathomy these iiij{or} or fyve yeres so y{t} the coledge of the phicysions sholde not put hym from us & also y{t} he myghte have pˀvat anathomyes at his demaunde in this howse.

16th January, 1567. It was agreed that Dr. Julius Borgarneins (“Dr. Julyo”) should “make and worke ow{r} anathomyes and skellytons” for the space of five years.

18th March, 1567. Thomas Wells, Merchant Taylor, complained against Nicholas Wyborde for “not curynge his mans hed y{t} he tooke in hande.”

The following order for the erection of raised seats for the members attending the Anatomy lectures, and for a screen to temporarily hide the body, indicates the growing interest taken by the Company in the furtherance of technical education; and from the reference to _the_ skeleton, for which a case was directed to be made, it is highly probable that this was the only specimen which the Company in those days possessed!

1st February, 1568. Also yt ys ordayned and agreed by this Courte That there shalbe buyldyngꝭ don and made aboute the hall for Seates for the Companye that com̃eth unto every publyque anathomy, ffor by cawse that every pˀsone comyng to se the same maye have good pˀspect over the same and that one sholde not cover the syght thereof one frome another as here to fore the Company have much cõplayned on the same. And also foder more yt is agreed that the olde standyng w{ch} did sˀve for the company of the clothing at coronacions or any noble pere his com̃yng throughe the cytie oute of any fforeyns Cõntrey or lande, for bycawse yt is broken and spoyled and olde shall all be put to the makyng of the saide seates or for sparyng of the charge for new Tymber. And also That whan yt shall happen any greate pere of any fforren Lande upon tryumphe to com̃e as aforsaid and the Company beynge then com̃anded to theyre standyng for to receyve any noble man for the hono{r} of the prince kynge or quene of this Realme of England and the cytie of London, That then as now and now as then also the M{r} and govˀno{rs} for the tyme beyng shall buylde & make a new Substanciall and Com̃ly fayer standyng To serve in lyke and ample maner. And also ther shalbe pyllers and Rodꝭ of Iron made to beare and drawe Courteynes upon & aboute the frame where w{th}in the Anathomy doth lye and is wrought upon, for bycawse that no pˀsone or pˀsones shall beholde the desections or incysyngꝭ of the body, but that all maye be made cleane and covered w{th} fayer clothes untyll the Docter shall com and take his place to reade and declare upon the partes desected. And also yet forder more also, That there shalbe a case of weynscot made w{th} paynters worke y{r} upon as semely as maye be don ffor the skellyton to stande in and that for the Worshyp of the Company--and all these to be made wrought and don at the charges of the mistery and Com̃on boxe of the hall.

16th March, 1568. Here was Edward Park for y{t} he hath wretten upon his Surgeons signe the skoller of S{t} Thomas of Wallingforde and the said Edward Parke is comaunded by the aucthorytie of this worsshyphfull Courte That he the said Edward Parke shall w{th} all expedicion put oute of his said Signe the said wrytinge & to sett his signe as other Surgeons do w{t}out any superscryption yt upon and not ells otherwyse as he wyll answere to the contrarye.

13th July, 1568. In this Courte John ffrende is comytted to warde for a pacient dyeing under his hands and not presented.

19th April, 1569. Here was the wyfe of Richard Selbye of London Ironmonger playntyf agaynst William Wyse for that he cured not her housbonds leg as he promysed he wolde have don, and yt is ordered that Wylliam Wyse shall repaye agayne of the money w{ch} he receyved in parte of the bargayne made be twene them and then was in the pˀsents of this Courte payde unto Agnes the wyf of the above said Richard Selby vj{s} viij{d} and so William Wyse is clerely dyscharged of pacyent & all.

1570. This year it was deemed advisable to increase the number of the Examiners in Surgery from five to seven, and these were Mr. Serjeant Balthrop, Mr. Alexander Mason, Mr. Thomas Baylie, Mr. Robert Mudesley, Mr. John Field, Mr. John Yates, and Mr. William Bovie.

5th April, 1570. It was agreed that in consequence of the great charges with which the Company was always burdened in time of wars, in setting forth sufficient surgeons and their men with unguents, balms, etc., as also common soldiers, that a petition should be sent to the Queen for redress in the matter of providing soldiers.

11th April, 1570. Here was one playntyf agaynst W{m} Beton for a bubo & W{m} Beton wyll heale hym yf he wylbe ruled by him.

28th April, 1570. In this Courte W{m} Gyllam is charged to cure Elizabeth Hyns of carmebrontyasis & once a day Gyllam shall pˀseve her untyll she be hole and then she shall paye the said Gillam in the pˀsents of this Courte in redy money vj{s.} viij{d.}

11th November, 1572. Here was one Steven Robinson to complaine againste Edward Parke for arestinge hym for the curinge of hym for v yeres seence. (_Which means that Parke had sued Robinson for a surgeon’s bill five years old, without leave of the Court._)

12th February, 1573. Here was John ffrend and was comaunded to lay downe his fyne for not pˀntinge M{r} Watson of the Towre w{ch} dyed of Gangrena in his fote and he p{d} xv{s.}

This non-presentation of patients in danger of death, was a common offence, and Mr. Frend had been previously convicted of it (13th July, 1568), on which occasion he was committed to prison.

31st March, 1573. Here was Edwarde Saunders warned because he wold not paye the Anathomytꝭ ther dutye and also that he had let one bloude at Blackwall and that he dyed, his arme fallynge to Gangrena and made no pˀsentac͠on therof also that he w{th}eld certeyne things of Whittingtons widdowe and he was willed to be here the next Courte daye.

21st April, 1573. Here was one to complaine one[188] John Burges for not delinge well w{th} hym in his cure concernynge a sore arme and he is to be warned the next court.

[188] On, _i.e._, of.

28th April, 1573. Here was John Burgis and witnessed that the said pacient would not be ordered as was necessary and therefore he forsoke to deale w{th} hym.

21st May, 1573. Here was John Deane and appoynted to brynge in his fyne x{li} for havinge an Anathomye in his howse contrary to an order in that behalf between this and mydsomer next.

21st July, 1573. “Here was one Robert Grottell a straunger and cutter for the Stone, admitted a brother and paid iiij{li}” and bound to pay the remainder of his fine for admission at the rate of 10_s._ per quarter.

30th July, 1573. Here was one John Gardener a healer of the rupture and Stone and was examyned and had his Lr̃e of Admyttaunce and paid.

15th September, 1573. Here was one Alexander Capes a carpenter and required that he might have some helpe concernyng his griefs consyderinge that he had ben in thands of John ffrend Willm̃ Wise & Richard Storye and had geven them mony for to be cured and was not, wherefor order was taken that they should deale further w{th} him for his health.

11th May, 1574. Here was James Marcadye and required to have Lycens of absens one[189] Lecture dayes and it was graunted hym savinge that he muste pay for his lycens xx{d} the quarter.

[189] On.

Surgeons were continually being called before the Court for “evil dealing” with their patients, and for not performing cures for which they had received the money beforehand. The Court generally endeavoured to effect a friendly relationship between the parties, though in cases which were considered as clearly proved against the Surgeon, he was either fined or imprisoned, or else ordered to make suitable compensation to the patient.

7th September, 1574. Here was John Griffen complayned uppon William Pownsabe for gevinge him a powder w{ch} lossed all the teeth in his head, w{ch} John Griffen had the dissease w{ch} we call Demorbo gallico.

2nd February, 1575. Wm. Pownsabe was ordered to confess his fault for his “unskilfull dealinges” with John Griffen and to pay him 5_s._ as compensation.

13th March, 1576. Here was a complainte determyned upon w{ch} was made against Tho: Hodes and for that he was provde ignorant he is bounde in xl{li} never to medle in any matter of Sˀgery.

3rd April, 1576. Here was a complainte against Willm̃ More by one Henry Dobbyns for that he did not cure his sonne but made the same worse.

10th May, 1576. William More was ordered, on account of his ignorance, to meddle no more in Surgery.

2nd October, 1576. Here was likewyse a complaint by one Tho: Adams against John Pˀadice[190] for that the saide John had receyved certen monie in hand and a gowne in pawne for a remainder to cure the daughter of the saide Tho: whiche daughter died and the pore man made request for the gowne agayne and so the M{r} and governo{rs} abovesaide awarded that the saide Jo: Pˀadice sholde redelivˀ the gowne the next tuesdaie and that the saide Tho: Adams sholde geve unto the saide Jo: Pˀadyce towardꝭ his bote hier spent in going to the made at Putney v{s.}

[190] Paradice.

8th October, 1577. Here was a complainte made by one M{rs.} Riche against Robt. Bewsy for that he had her husbonde to cure who died and the said Bewsye said and repoˀted that she was an evell liver and that he died of a botch called Bubo veneria and taken of her, w{ch} he denied, but beinge proved she put the matter wholie to this woˀshipfull howse who did award that he sholde in the pˀsence of her nighbors who were here present in the pˀlor upon his knees aske her forgevenes, w{ch} he did and so the matter was finally ended.

7th February, 1578. Here was a complainte against Willm̃ Knightly for Cuttinge of the yearde of his pacient but yt was pˀved by one M{r} Grene that the member was mortefied and so there was little to be saide against him.

24th February, 1578. Here was a Complaint against Willm̃ Clowes[191] by Richard Carrington for that the saide Willm̃ Clowes as he saide had abused him in wordes in the hall and here they did shake handes and were made frends, for that the said Clowes had been sent to ward before by the saide Richard Carrington being one of the wardens of the yeomanry.

[191] An eminent Surgeon and Warden in 1594.

18th March, 1578. At this Coˀte Hewe Placket was rebuked for takeing upon him to heale a pacient who ys deade and comaundement geven that he shall medle no more in surgerie.

20th March, 1578. It was ordered:--

That yf any man of this misterie shall at any tyme hereafter make any booke or bookes of Surgerie the same shall not be published unles the same booke or bookes be first presented unto the masters governors and examenors of this Companie for the tyme beinge upon payne of x{li.}

The following order was doubtless directed against a prevalent mania for relics of notorious criminals.

17th July, 1578. That no pˀson or pˀsons of this Companie do presume at anie tyme or tymes hereafter of Anathomies to take and carrie awaie or cause to be taken or carried awaie any pˀte of the skynn of anie bodie whiche shall at anie tyme hereafter happen to be wrought upon w{th}in the hall of the misterie and the same tann or cause to be tanned like lether upon the payne of v{li.}

7th December, 1581. It ys agreed that there shalbe a Bill put into the pˀliament house for easinge the Companie of the charge of sendinge souldiers to the wars and also for suppressinge of lewd dealers in surgerye.

18th July, 1583. The Lord Mayor and Court of Aldermen having recommended that persons using Barbery should not practise Surgery, the Master and Governors went to Guildhall, and there promised the Court of Aldermen that they would compel all their free Barbers to enter into bonds not to “medle or deale w{th} any sick of the plauge or infected cum morbo gallico,” and accordingly the Barbers entered into bonds to that effect.

In Stow’s Annales, ed. 1592, p. 1261, is the following remarkable account of a “subject” coming to life again at our hall.

1587. The 20 of Februarie, a strange thing happened a man hanged for felonie at Saint Thomas Wateringes, being begged by the Chirurgions of London, to have made of him an Anatomie, after hee was dead to all mens thinking, cut downe, stripped of his apparell, laide naked in a chest, throwne into a carre, and so brought from the place of execution through the Borough of Southwarke over the bridge, and through the Citie of London to the Chirurgions Hall nere unto Cripelgate: The chest being there opened, and the weather extreeme cold hee was found to be alive, and lived till the three and twentie of Februarie, and then died.

It was doubtless the above circumstance, to which reference is made in the next minute; it would seem that the body had been begged by some surgeons and taken to the hall to be dissected there, it being unlawful to dissect elsewhere, and that on the resuscitation of the unhappy man, the Company had been put to some expenses whereupon they made an order to provide for any similar case in the future. This body would be what is often referred to in the Books as a “private anatomy,” in opposition to the four “public” bodies of felons to which the Company were annually entitled.

13th July, 1587. Iˀtm yt ys agreed That yf any bodie w{ch} shall at anie tyme hereafter happen to be brought to o{r} Hall for the intent to be wrought uppon by Thanatomistes of o{r} Companie shall revyve or come to lyfe agayne as of late hathe ben seene The charges aboute the same bodie so revivinge shalbe borne levied and susteyned by such pˀson or pˀsons who shall so happen to bringe home the Bodie. And further shall abide suche order or ffyne as this Howse shall Awarde.

7th December, 1598. This daye commaundm{t} cam from the lordes of her ma{ts} most ho: privie councell for to presse a sufficient Surgeon for her ma{ts} sˀvice in Ireland under the conduct of Captayne Winsor.

12th December, 1598. John Cumberland was pressed for the above service and delivered into his Captain’s charge, and four or five other Surgeons were also pressed and handed over _nolens volens_. One of these, Dominick Lomeline (or Lumley, Master in 1629), is recorded on the 16th January following as having “confessed voluntarelye before the Masters that to be dischardged of his presse for Ireland it stud him in Twenty Nobles of which the Captayne had in monye three poundes.”

6th February, 1599. This daie one Richard Hallydaie marriner made his complainte of Raphe Rowley for settinge forthe an insufficient man not approved to serve as a surgeon at sea in the Sheepe called the Costely of London by whose unskylfullnes hee was dismembred of his arme and is in greate dainger of liefe.

Ralph Rowley had been pressed for a Sea Surgeon, and this complaint would be against him for the incompetency of some substitute, whom he had no doubt paid to take his place.

27th March, 1599. It is ordered that an Informac͠on be exhibited againste the Sexton of White Chappell for Surgerye.

6th August, 1599. This daie the Maister of the Company made his petic͠on to the lorde Bishopp of London that noe person shoulde be admitted to practize Surgerie but suche person as shoulde have the seale of this house to testefie his examinac͠on before the Maisters &c. which was graunted And order sett downe for the same.

23rd October, 1599. Pascall Lane hath Thursdaie comme a moneth to be examined and in the meane tyme not to hange out banners and not to cutt unles he acquainte the m{rs} therewithall.

27th November, 1599. This daie Richard Cadwalder hath undertaken that Roberte Thompson nowe shewed[192] in the Exchequer for useinge surgerie withoute a signe[193] shall uppon his retorne be examined concerninge his skille in Surgerye and shall paie suche chardges as shalbe due to this howse.

[192] Sued. [193] Outside his house.

10th June, 1600. This daye Olivˀ Peacock brought in his fine for not pˀsentinge his Cure[194] being nowe dead and it was mittigated to five shillinges And it is farthˀr ordered that he practize surgery no more.

[194] _i.e._, His patient.

3rd July, 1600. This daye Andrew Mathew Edward Peck Robert Steward and Owine Jones free brothˀrs of this mistery were at their sevˀall instancˀs examined & approved concerninge their skill in the arte of Surgery and had their severall letters of grace und{r} the seale of the sayd mistery by Richard Wood Willm̄ Martin Thomas Thorney & John Peck examiners appoynted in the pˀsence of the M{rs} of this Company.

8th July, 1600. This daye warrant came to the M{rs} for the pˀsinge[195] of a Surgeon for Captayne Thomas Minn bearinge date the sixth daye of this instant moneth.

[195] Pressing.

15th July, 1600. This daye Raphe Barrett & Robert Thompson forren Surgeons[196] made theyr request to the M{rs} that they might be examyned on thursdaye next Whereuppon it was ordered that the Examyners should be warned to be at the hall at the sayd tyme.

[196] _i.e._, Surgeons not free of the Company.

29th July, 1600. This daye it is ordered that John Mowle shalbe warned to be before the M{rs} the next Court for usinge Surgery beinge but a barber.

8th September, 1600. ~Octavo~ die Septembris Anno dñi 1600 Annoque Elizabeth Quadragesimo secundo.

~Whereas~ at a Courte holden the Maisters or Governors and Assistants of this Companye the Nynteenth daie of Maye laste paste It was amongest other thinges ordered condiscended and agreed by consente of a full courte of the said Assistance That the request and moc͠on of ffrancis Rowdon Clarke to this Companye shoulde be referred to the Considerac͠on of the Auditors of the Maisters Accompts And what they shall doe in the premisses should be lawfull and effectuall to all intentes and purposes ~Wee~ Thomas Byrd John Leycocke Lewis Atmer Robert Johnson Richard Mapes Thomas Goodale Thomas Martyn and Joseph ffenton beinge chosen Auditors for the Maisters accomptes for the yeare paste havinge taken due considerac͠on of the premisses and findinge that the accomplisheinge of the said requeste maye muche proffitt the bodye of this Companye in the banisheinge of lewde and unskylfull practic͠oners in the arte of Surgerie ~Doe~ therefore by the Aucthority to us geeven order in manner and forme hereafter ensuinge viz{t} ffirste wee order that there be presentlie paide unto the saide Clarke the somme of xx{li.} of lawfull money of England out of the stocke of this howse the same to be repaide to this howse by v{li} pˀ Ann. Alsoe wee doe further order that uppon payment of the said xx{li} to the said Clarke aforesaid the said Clarke shall termelie prosecute a competent number of the said practic͠oners in Surgerie and shall not delaie any suite he shall undertake but shall prosecute the same with effecte unles there be any misprison in the same And if there be any misprison then to acquainte the Maisters for the tyme beinge with the same misprison. Alsoe wee doe order that the said Clarke shall porsecute such pˀsons as the Maisters of this Companye shall from tyme to tyme geeve order for. Alsoe wee doe further order that the said Clarke shall not compounde or agree with any he shall have to doe by waie of informac͠on before he hath acquainted the Maisters therewithall and hath obtayned their consents thereunto And whatsoever he shall receave uppon any Composic͠on over and besides such Costes and chardges as he shall expend in and aboute suche suite he shall well and trulye contente and paie unto the said Maisters or Governors for the tyme beinge. Provided alwaies that he ffirste acquainte the Maisters or Governors of this Company for the tyme beinge therewith And deliver unto them a reasonable and true bill of his Costes and Chardges disbursed as aforesaid And that he seale and deliver as his deed one wrytinge obligatorie wherein he shall become bounden to the Maisters or Governors of this Companye with Condic͠on theruppon indorced contayninge the Articles above specified In Witnes whereof wee the said Auditors hereunto put o{r} severall handes. Yoven the daie and yeare ffirste above written.

22nd October, 1600. Robert Swayne was this daye examined by M{r} Thorney M{r} Willm̄ Martin M{r} Wood & M{r} Atmer and not founde sufficient but is nevertheles tolerated to come to o{r} Lectures & Annathomies And is to paye for the same xx{s} yerely by 5{s} quarterly till hee be founde more sufficient.

5th May, 1601. This daie a complainte was made againste Martyn Pelham by a patient he had in cure of his arme for not fynisheinge the said cure w{ch} cure was accomplished by Thomas Watson whereuppon it is ordered that the said Pelham be warned to appeare uppon the next courte daye.

6th August, 1601. This daye Will{m} Pilkinton uppon his examinac͠on was tolerated to practize Surgery for five yeres next ensuinge Provided that hee paie quarterly to this howse ij{s} vj{d} and that hee the said Pilkinton doe joyne w{th} him in evˀy cure he shall have in dang{r} of death or mayne some expert surgeon of this Company.

10th November, 1601. This daye John Russell of Canterbury Surgeon was examined and was admitted & approved.