Part 31

24th November, 1601. ~Whereas~ James Van Otten and Nycholas Bowlden are this daye become humble suiters to this Company to be tollerated & pˀmitted to practize as Surgeons w{th}in this Cytie of London for and durynge the space of Three moneths next ensuinge onely for the couchinge of the catarack cuttinge for the rupture stone and wenne It is uppon consideracc͠on of their sevˀall suites ordered by consent of this Courte That hee the said James Vanotten shalbe pˀmitted to practize for the couchinge of the catarack cuttinge for the rupture stone and wenne for the space of three monethes next ensuinge w{th}out contradicc͠on or denyall of the M{rs} or Governors of this Company And that hee the said Nycholas Bowlden shalbe assistant unto the said James Vanotten in such cures as hee shalbe as aforesaid possessed of duringe the tyme & space aforesaid. PROVIDED allwayes and it is nevertheles pˀmised & undertaken by the said James & Nycholas that hee the said Nycholas shall paye unto the M{rs} or Governors of this Company to the use of the poore of the same every moneth monethly duringe the said space of three moneths the somme of ij{s} vj{d} And that the said James Vanotten shall paye to the said M{rs} or Governors to the use of the poore of the said Company for every moneth monethly of the said three monethes in w{ch} the said James shall practize or continue in London or the libertyes suburbes or one myle compase of the said Cyty after the fower & twentyth daye of decemb{r} next ensuinge xx{s} of lawful money of England. And provided that neyth{r} they nor eyth{r} of them shall pˀsume to hange oute any banners or signe of Surgery in any place oth{r} then where they shall lye and make theyre abode w{th}in the tyme aforesaid or practize in any oth{r} poynte of Surgery then before is spec̃ˀd w{th}out furth{r} lycence of the M{rs} or Governors of this Company for the tyme beinge first had & obteyned. ffor pˀformance whereof they the said James & Nycholas by bond are become bounden to M{r} Warden ffrederick in the somme of x{li} of lawful money of England. In Witnes whereof they have hereunto put their sevˀall names. Yoven the daye & yere above wrytten

JACOBUS VAN OTTEN NICHOLAS BODEN.

2nd March, 1602. Havard is to pave to Nicholas Kellawaye v{s.} the nexte Courte daye for a launset w{th} silver scales w{ch} he borrowed of the said Nicholas Kellawaye.

20th April, 1602. This daye one Edward Stutfeyld a practic͠oner in bone settinge appeared before the M{rs} of this Company uppon warninge to him geven by the beadell of this Company And at his humble suite he was lycenced to practize in bone settinge onely Provided hee paye to the M{rs} of this Company to the use of the poore of the same x{s} for every quarter of yere that hee shall practize as aforesaid.

20th April, 1602. This daye one John ffoster a poore and unskylfull man of this Company made his appearance before the M{rs} of this Company and was examined concerninge his skyll in the arte of Surgery and was found altogeth{r} unskilfull in all the partes therefore Whereuppon it is ordered that M{r} Wilbraham Coroner to this Cytie be warned to be here w{th} the Coroners Inquest on Thursdaye next by tenne of the clock in the forenoone to be satisfied by their owne hereinge of the unskilfullness of the said ffoster.

22nd June, 1602. This daye Garrett Key a Strang{r} appeared before the M{rs} of this Company and in respect hee hath undertaken the cure of his patient one ffeake a Gowldesmythe beinge in danger of death w{th}out makinge pˀsentac͠on thereof to the M{rs} of this Company Did voluntaryly geve to the said M{rs} to the use of the poore of the same Company iij{li} And thereuppon they have acquited him all former offences done to this Company.

11th October, 1602. This daye Gabriell Hunt Practic͠oner in Surgery was Committed to the Compter for practizeinge of Surgery beinge not approved nor admitted accordinge to the Statute.

3rd April, 1604. Under this date is an award made by the Court in an action remitted to the Masters by the Lord Mayor, wherein Walter Barton Barber-Surgeon, was plaintiff, and Thomas Sheeres Imbroiderer, Defendant. It appeared that Barton had cured Sheeres and his servant, Eustace Skelton, and had been at great charges in prosecuting Sheeres for his fees. The Court ordered the Defendant to pay Barton £4 within 14 days.

5th June, 1604. This daye M{r} ffenton pˀsented to this Courte 500 bookes of Horatius Moras tables translated into Englishe and delivˀed them to the M{rs} of this Company in the name & behalf of M{r} Deputie Caldwell[197] who freely gave them to this Company to be distributed amongest the pˀfessors of Chirurgery freemen of this Company.

[197] For a very interesting account of Morus’ Tables and of Mr. Deputy Caldwell see Mr. D’Arcy Power’s Memorials, p. 184.

28th February, 1605. This daye it is ordered that there shalbe a letter pˀntly drawne by the advice of the M{rs} of this Company and sent to the Colledge of Phisic͠ons by the Clark of this Company wherein there shalbe desyred if they please a Conferrence betwixt some of theire College and some of the auncientꝭ of this Company in some indifferent place of meetinge to conferre concerninge theire greevancꝭ.

18th March, 1605. This daye uppon the request of M{r} Serjeant Prymerose & M{r} Neste Smyth the kynges Surgeons by their Letter It was ordered that Cezar Scultinge Duchman theyre servant should be examyned and approved concerninge his skill in Surgery on thursdaye next And beinge found skilfull that hee mighte have letters of admittance from this Company gratis.

21st March, 1605. “Zeger Schultynchs,” the Dutchman above mentioned, was examined and had his diploma gratis, but was ordered to pay 2_s._ quarterage and 2_s._ for absence from lectures.

30th April, 1605. This daye M{r} ffenton complayned of Robert Morrey for supplantinge him of div{s} cures And for slanderinge him in his pˀfession And also for his evell practize And was for his said abuses fyned at v{li} w{ch} hee is to bringe in at the next Court orels to be committed to the Compter.

7th May, 1605. Morrey being contumacious, was by the Court committed to prison.

28th May, 1605. This daye Willm̃ Corbet appeared before the M{rs} of this Company and was dismissed from the exercyze of Surgery for his evill practize.

This daye Willm̃ Corbet was bounde to the M{rs} in x{li} not to practize Surgery or w{th}in one myles compasse w{th}out the M{rs} lycence.

25th June, 1605. This daye Abraham Renex is fined at x{s} for his absens from lectures And is to pay x{s} pˀ an. for his lycence of absens hereaft{r}.

3rd September, 1605. This day Pascal Lane a practicioner in the art of Surgery was by our M{rs} order comitted to the Compter for cuttinge of one Thom̃s Thorntons child for the stone who dyed pnˀtlie under his handꝭ by his neckligence & ignoraunce where he is to continue till he hath payed the fine of xl{s} for not makeinge pˀntac͠on[198] to the M{rs} of the cure accordinge to the orders of the Company.

[198] Presentation.

12th September, 1605. In the controvˀsie betwixt Thomas Thornton and Pascall Lane ãls[199] Lyne It is ordered by consent of both pˀties That the said Pascall Lane shall pˀntlie pay to the said Thornton xx{s} which he pˀntlie did And he hath delivˀed a ring to o{r} M{rs} w{th} condic͠on to pay to the said Thornton xx{s} more this night And all controvˀsies betwixt them are to cease and determine from henceforth.

[199] Alias.

26th November, 1605. This day Henry Goodwyn a Sorcerer was by the M{rs} forbidden to practize any more in the arte of Surgery.

1st July, 1606. This day Stephen Abraham a Barbor was fined for not makeing pˀentac͠on of his cure in daunger of death and it was forgeven him.

14th July, 1606. The funds of the Company were, at this period, very low, Mr. Pecke offering to lend £50 and Mr. Fenton £100, without interest, and the following entry would indicate that the expenses attendant upon the Anatomy demonstrations were a burden.

This day for the avoydinge of charges it is ordered by this Courte that no publique Anothomy shalbe holden in the Comon hall of this mistery for the space of theis three yeares now next ensuinge. Yett notw{th}standinge it is ordered by this Courte y{t} the M{rs} & Stewardꝭ of the Anothomy for the yeare next ensuinge shall continue M{rs} & Stewardꝭ the said space And shall once in evˀie yeare at such tymes as the M{rs} of this Company shall thinck fitt dissect a private Anothomy in the Comon hall of the said mistery for their better experience and cunninge.

14th July, 1606. ~Also~ it is further ordered & decreed by this Courte fforasmuch as dive{rs} pˀsons ffremen of this Company who have very litle or no skill at all in the Arte of Surgery doe neverthelesse make a publique pˀfession of the said Arte And thereby comitt many erro{rs} to the great dispaˀgm{t} of the worthie and experienced professo{rs} thereof and to the hurte of div{rs} of his Ma{t}ꝭ lovinge subjectꝭ That from henceforth no man be admitted to have his name entered downe for a Surgeon into the lecture bill except by the consent of the m{rs} or governours of the said mistery & Coiãltie for the tyme beinge And that it shalbe lawful for the pˀnte M{rs} or governours to dismisse out of the lecture bill the names of such pˀsones as they shall thincke fitt to be put out, which pˀsons so dismissed and put out shall live out of the protexion of this Company for & in respect of their practize in the Arte of Surgery untill they shall by them be thought fitt to practice in that Arte & admitted into such bill uppon their humble suite. But if any disobedient obstinate or stubborne pˀson shall notw{th}standinge his such dismission practice in the said arte Then it is further ordred by this Courte that suite in law shalbe pˀsecuted against such obstinate pˀsons at the charge of this Company for such their unlawfull practice in Surgery.

7th October, 1606. This daie Willm̃ ffoster was fyned at xx{s} for his evell practize upon his patient being a servaunt of my Lord grace of Cant. and is to bring in the same fyne at the next Court.

This daie it is ordered that Richard Holden be warned to the next Court for not reeding his lecture.

24th October, 1606. This daie Clement White appeared before this Court upon Complaynt for settinge his servaunte to sea before he was examyned & his chest vewed by the M{rs} And for that he knew not the orders of this Company he is forgyven his offence for this tyme.

2nd December, 1606. This daie John Anslow was comitted to the Compter for defraudinge of Willm̃ ffoster of his patient And is to pay ffoster for his paynes in that cure.

9th July, 1607. This daye Roger Jenkins[200] heretofore examined & appˀved in the Arte of Surgery was pˀsented before the Deane of Pawles. And his letters of Admittance from the said Deane.

[200] Warden in 1608.

Also Abraham Allen[201] was lykewyse admitted by the said Deane.

[201] Warden in 1611.

20th July, 1607. Mr. Thomas Thorney (Master 1602), Mr. Richard Mapes (M. 1612), Mr. Richard Wood (M. 1591), Mr. Serjeant Gudderus (M. 1594), Mr. Willm̃ Gayle (M. 1595), Mr. George Baker (M. 1597 and Serjeant Surgeon), Mr. John Peck (M. 1605), Mr. Christopher Frederick (M. 1609 and Serjeant Surgeon), Mr. John Gerrard (the celebrated Herbalist, M. 1607), and Mr. Joseph Fenton (M. 1624), were appointed Examiners of Surgeons, and amongst other articles it was ordained:--

That none of the said examiners shall pˀsent any pˀson useinge surgery to the Bishop of London or to the Deane of Pawles to the intent to get or pˀcure such Surgeon Lycence or admission to practize Surgery unlesse such Surgeon at such tyme shall have his letter of admittance from this Company under the Common scale of the same testifieinge his admission to practize surgery.

7th July, 1608. This daye Mathias Jenkinson was examyned concerninge his skyll in the arte of Surgery And was lycenced to cut for the hernia or Rupture to couch the Catrac to cut for the wry neck & the hare lip Provided that hee call the pˀsent M{rs} of this Company to every such Cure or such of the Assistantꝭ as are examined & approved as the said M{rs} in such case shall appoynt And is to enter into bond in xl{li} for pˀformance hereof And paid to the pˀsent M{rs} xl{s} And is to paye xl{s} more at midsomer next.

20th June, 1609. This daye Mathias Jenkinson is dischardged from his practize in Surgery for that hee hath not observed the articles of his Tollerac͠on and for his evell & unskilfull practize.

27th February, 1610. Whereas one William Wright was a suiter to this Courte that he might be examined & admitted to practice Surgery. Now forasmuch as it appeareth he is one of a contentious & troublesome speritt & of a bad & scandalous disposition who hath not onlie heretofore dive{rs} tymes byn fined for usinge slanderous & evill speeches against dive{rs} that have byn M{rs} & governours of this Company but also sundrie tymes heretofore & now daylie useth slaunderous wordꝭ & speeches w{th} many wicked cursingꝭ & revilingꝭ against M{r} Mapes in the hearinge of dive{rs} of the neighbou{rs} of the said Wright where he dwelleth, which beinge by this Court dulie examined is found that the same slaunde{rs} & revilingꝭ doe proceed out of his wicked mynd w{th}out any just cause given Wherefore it is by this Courte ordered and fullie decreed That the said Wright shall not at any tyme hereafter be examined or approved for his skill of Surgerie untill he shall & doe before 4 or 5 of the neighbou{rs} of the said Wrighte to whom he hath thus abused M{r} Mapes and in his & their presence openlie confesse & acknowledge that he the said Wrighte hath wronged and abused the said M{r} Mapes And shall then and there before them submitt himself & be sorrie for all such wrongꝭ & wicked Cursingꝭ as he hath reported or spoken with promise hereafter never by wordꝭ or deedꝭ to wronge him or any other of this Courte or any other of the Assistantꝭ of this Company.

27th February, 1610. At this Courte was John Cotton of Radcliffe a professor of Surgery comited to the Compter for not makinge presentac͠on of his Cure w{ch} dyed under his hand & also for his evill practice w{ch} he used to his Cure as it did appeare beinge examined thereuppon And further he is forbidden to practice Surgery any more untill that he be examined.

2nd October, 1610. At this Court it is ordered that Richard Baynes and Xpõfer Browne shalbe comitted to the Compter for that they did not come and make answer to this Court of the Complayntꝭ w{ch} are made against them by their sevˀall patientꝭ they being therefore warned at sevˀall Court dayes.

9th October, 1610. At this Court was one wyddowe Bryers comitted to the Compter for practising Surgery contrary to the Statutꝭ of this Realme.

About this period are several instances of Surgeons being fined for going to sea without licence, and for not having their sea chests examined, _e.g._:

6th November, 1610. Att this Court Gyles fflemmynge did promyse that on Tewsdaye come ffortnight he woulde bring in his ffyne of x{li} for going to Sea w{th}out lycence of this howse, whereupon the Court was contented to proceed noe further against him in respect of such abuses as he hath offred.

22nd January, 1611. James Blackborne applied to be admitted a brother to practise Surgery and promising to pay £10 for his admission and to make the examiners a dinner, a day was appointed for his examination.

31st January, 1611. This daie James Blackborne was examined touchinge his skill in the generatyve ptꝭ of women; and bringinge of women to bedd in their dangerous and difficult Labors: And he the said Blackborne was found fitt and allowed to practize (in that Chirurgicall pˀte of Surgery touching the generatyve ptꝭ of women & bringinge them to bedd in their dangerous & difficult Labours) by letters under the seale of the howse beinge the date above wrytten And was att this Court sworne and admitted a fforayne brother; and in considerac͠on thereof he paid to the pˀnte M{rs} att this Court x{li.}

The Barber-Surgeons had claimed the exclusive right of embalming dead bodies, but how they fared in their contention with the Wax Chandlers (referred to in the next extract) does not appear.

26th October, 1612. This daie it is ordered that at the chardgꝭ of the howse the pˀnte Masters w{th} the Clark shall seeke in the Rowles for the charter of the wax chaundlers and to tak a coppie of that pˀte of the charter touchinge the libertie gyven unto them for the imbaulmynge of dead bodyes And as they shall finde the same soe to take the advice of my lord cheife Justice about the same at the chardgꝭ of the howse.

3rd November, 1612. This daie the Company receavinge a letter from the lordꝭ of his Ma{t}ꝭ most honˀable privye Councell wherein they intreated the Company to give leave unto one Bartholomew Vanderlatch a stranger to take in hand one Melser Gisberd whoe had an ympedym{t} in his eye, whereupon this Court was pleased that the said Vanderlatch should take in hand to cure the said Gisberd w{th}out disturbance of this howse.

17th November, 1612. Att this Court Richard ffynche dwelling at Pyckle herring is forbidden to practise bonesetting or any other matter touching surgery at any time hereafter.

7th December, 1613. This daie John Antonio an Italian being an Imposter practizing in surgery is forbidden by this Court to deale any more in Surgery.

3rd March, 1614. This daie M{r} Robert Allott docto{r} in Phissick & one of the fellowes of S{t} Johnes Colledge in Cambridge was admitted a brother of this Company and hade the letters of this howse under the seale thereof graunted unto him.

15th March, 1614. This daie it is ordered that Thomas Gillam shall at the next court of assistauntꝭ bring in his fyne of v{li} for discecting of an Anothomy out of this hall.

12th April, 1614. This daie it is ordered that Thomas Collyns shall bring in his fyne of 10{li} for going to sea not having his Chest vewed.

27th May, 1616. At this Court is gyven unto M{r} Docter Crooke the some of 5{li} for that he did dedicate a booke unto this Companie & gave one of them unto this howse.

15th August, 1616. John Walgrave came before the Court upon Summons, and being questioned--

if he practized Surgery he peremptorily replied he did & gott his lyveinge by the same and was an auntienter Surgeon then themselves Then he was demaunded by what authoritie he did practice Surgery to w{ch} he aunswered he had sufficient authoritie for he was allowed by the Archbusshop of Canterburie and the Busshop of London Then M{r} ffenton demaundinge of him in what busshops tymes he was so admitted, after manie insolent & menasinge speches & unsemely behaviors he aunswered he was admitted by Busshop Whiteguift. Then was demaunded of him by what Busshop of London he was admitted to w{ch} he very insolent replied that he scorned to tell them or to be examined by anie of them all, vauntinge further that he was a better gentleman than anie of them all To w{ch} M{r} ffenton aunswered that if he did so he did it unlawfully & he aunswered that he cared not, for he had practized these 30 yeares & wold still practice the same. And M{r} ffenton told him that though he had practized so long yet that made it not lawfull except he had byn examined & approved according unto the lawes of the land To w{ch} Walgrave beinge in great passion w{th} menaceinge & threatninge behavio{r} replied unto M{r} ffenton & the rest, you lye & I tell you agayne you lye And so w{th} proud menacinge & insolent behavio{r} w{th} many insolent unsemely & irreverent speches to all that satt at that tyme in the Court he most unmanerly & w{th}out regard of anie that sat their depˀted.

In all probability it was ascertained that Walgrave had the Bishop’s licence or else some powerful friends, as no further notice seems to have been taken of his contempt, though the records abundantly show that the Court was never slow to visit condign punishment on far lesser offenders than this man.

15th July, 1624. Whereas informac͠on is given to this Court that of late Docto{r} Grints servingman John Eethell lett a maide blood, her arme mortified and the maid thereupon died, it is ordered by this Court that there shalbe counsell taken thereon, and a suite comenced agˀt him at the Costs of this house.

7th December, 1624. This daye John Baptista Succa a mountibancke and an Italian borne had order to forbeare his practise here in London.

6th November, 1627. This daye was presented to this Courte by Humfrey Bromley a letter from the Lord Maio{r} of this Cittie of London the teno{r} whereof is as followeth

~To~ the M{r} and Wardeins of the Companie of Barbar Surgions ~Whereas~ S{r} Henry Herbert Knight M{r} of the Revells hath authorised the bearer hereof Humfrey Bromley to shew a Child presented to be naturallie borne haveing Twoe heades ffower Armes and three leggꝭ w{ch} I suppose not to be borne of any woeman or to be the perfect substance of a child in respect whereof I forbeare to pˀmitt the said Humfrey Bromely to make shewe thereof within the libˀties of this Cittye untill such tyme as I maye be truely satisfied from you whether the same child be of the substance as is pretended Therefore I desire you that upon advised view of the said Child you truly certifie mee in writing under yo{r} handꝭ whether the same be really a child as is presented to thend I maye not unadvisedly suffer his Ma{t}ꝭ subjectꝭ to be deceyved thereby. This second of November Anno Dni. 1627.

HUGH HAMERSLEY _Maio{r.}_

Whereupon the vew of the supposed body as aforesaid it is ordered that this answere be returned to the Lord Maio{r} as followeth viz:

~Right~ Hono{ble} According unto yo{r} Lõps reference unto us directed dated the second of November 1627 ~Wee~ have taken a deliberate vewe of the supposed monstrous birth presented unto us to be vewed as from your hono{r} by one Humfrey Bromley And although wee cannot possitively affirme it proceeded not from a woeman Yet under favor, wee conceive and soe deliver our opinions that the said supposed monstrous shape hath beene, either by Arte soe composed and put together from unnaturall and untimely birthes of Children or from other Animalls, as Apes, Munckeys or the like w{ch} have a greate resemblance of Manns bodye, in many of their partes and soe by the cunninge subtiletye of the composer made into a monster, thereby to delude the worlde and haveing a Bodye of Antiquitie cannot safely receive a flatt and manifest contradiction; And wee are induced the rather to suspect it for that the producer thereof hath noe testimonye from any learned or judicious men; neither from any Magistrates of the partes where it is pretended to have bene borne, w{ch} such offendors use aboundantly to be furnished withall. And in conclusion compareing his printed demonstrac͠on of his monster, with the Author he siteth, and others that have written of such and the like monsters, Wee finde a greate deale of Addition and a manifest disagreem{t} w{ch} is a playne badge of fixion and falsehoode. All w{ch} our opinions wee humbly submitt to yo{r} hono{rs} grave wisdome to be further considered of.