Part 32

20th November, 1627. Item this daye M{r} Warden Woodall M{r} Peter Thorney M{r} George Perrine and M{r} Thomas Gilham are appointed by our M{rs} commandꝭ to goe to Portsmouth for the cureing of the wounded souldiers that come from the Isle of Rea in ffrance which are nowe remayneing wounded and sicke at Portsmouth upon the letter of the Lord Conwaye signifieing his Ma{t}ꝭ pleasuer therefore.

8th July, 1628. This daye M{r} Peter Thorney is by this Court desired to goe Surgion generall for the Armye that goes by Land.

23rd January, 1629. Mr. Peter Thorney having died in the King’s Service on the coast of France, John Heydon was chosen an Assistant in his place. Peter Thorney is mentioned on the monument to his Uncle, Thomas Thorney (Master, 1602, 1606), in St. Andrew’s, Holborn. (_See_ Biographical Notices.)

19th April, 1630. This daye the Examiners mett here in Court upon the recomendac͠on of the lordꝭ of the privey Councell signified by S{r} John Cooke secretary of state for the approveing of one Dupont a french man to practise for the cure of the pox. Whereupon the said Dupont being examined was found altogether insufficient.

20th April, 1630. This daye Edward ffleete paid in xx{s} for his fine for not reading lecture according to his turne.

20th October, 1631. This Court takeing notice of the lack of a Private dissection Roome for anatomicall imployementꝭ and that hitherto those bodies have beene a greate annoyance to the tables dresser boardes and utensills in o{r} upper Kitchin by reason of the blood filth and entrailes of those Anathomyes and for the better accomodateing of those anatomicall affaires and preserveing the Kitchin to its owne propˀ use, Doe nowe order that there shalbe a faire convenient roome built over the greate staire case next the back yard to be imployed onely for discection of private Anathomyes to the value of xl{li.}

28th December, 1632. On the death of Dr. Gwyn, in December, 1627, it had been arranged that in future the Surgeons of the Company should read the Anatomical lectures in turn, weekly; but great difficulty having been experienced in carrying out this regulation, the Court now reverted to the former practice of employing a Professor, and appointed Dr. Alexander Reade at a salary of £20 per annum.

23rd March, 1635. Alsoe this Court takeing notice that in theis latter yeares there hath bene a generall remissnes in the greater pˀt of the Surgians of this Companie in their not appearance and personall attendance in their Seates on the Scaffoldings at the Six lecture tymes at the publique Anatomye, and the disorderlynes of those Surgians y{t} doe appeare for wanting their outward ornament commixing themselves confusedly amongst the Comon people then pˀnte, whereby the hono{r} and worthynes of this Companie on the Surgians pˀte hath bene much eclipsed. ffor redresse of w{ch} enormious exorbitance and for the better grace and Worˀp̃ of this Companie. It is now decreed that for ever hereafter at the tymes of publiq̃e Lecture readings on the Sceletons or Anatomies in this Comon Hall this ensueing order for the greater decencye & more Worˀp̃ of this Companie shall from tyme to tyme hereafter yearely be observed and put in due execution, viz{t.,} That every Surgian either of the Assistants or of the Liverye shall appeare in his gowne in the forenone and afternoone of one daye at the least of the 3 dayes lectures at every publiq̃e discection And that every Surgian of the Wardeins and of the Assistants of the yeomanrye shall likewise appeare in his gowne in the forenone and afternoone of one daye at the least of the three dayes lectures at every publiq̃e Anatomye, and everye one of those Surgians dureing the tyme of such lecture shall sitt decently in such place in the Scaffoldings as is appropriated to every of them in their degrees and Rancks as aunciently hath bene accustomed upon payne that every Surgian that shall not accordingly appeare shall forfeite and paye to the use of the Companie the some of Twoe shillings and Six pence, or appeareing shall not weare his gowne all the tyme of such readeing for one daye at the least the som̃e of Twelve pence, And that every pˀson of the Coiãltie or fforreine brothers professeing Surgerye shall likewise appeare in the forenone and afternone of one daye at the least of the 3 dayes lectures at the publiq̃e Anatomye and not appeareing shall forfeite Twelve pence without redempc͠on of all or any pˀte of any of the fines aforesaid.

24th September, 1635. Alsoe for that Nicholas Downeing not being an approved Surgian according to Lawe did twoe opac͠ons[202] in Surgery contrary to the Lawes of this Kingdome & the Customes & ordinances of this Companie and being forbid by the M{rs} & Governo{rs} to forbeare those opac͠ons did notwithstanding that prohibic͠on make opac͠ons and both patients died, Was fined at iiij{li,} viz{t.,} xl{s} a peece for each of those twoe opac͠ons because he made not two presentac͠ons according to the ordinance of this Companie in that behalfe, And he to be prosecuted at Lawe for the Childs miscarriage.

[202] Operations.

Alsoe this daye the said Nicholas Downeing was fined by this Court at vj{s.} viij{d.} for his uncivill behavio{r} to M{r} John Woodall an auncient M{r} of this Companie.

6th October, 1635. Alsoe Nicholas Downeing being here in Court was required to paye his three fines according to his promise the last Thursdaye, denied to paye them, is by this Court comitted to the Compter in Wood Streete in my lord Maio{r} of Londons name.

The following entry is not complimentary to Dr. William Harvey, the discoverer of the circulation of the blood, the marginal note in the minute book being “Doctor Harveys ill practise.”

17th November, 1635. This daye W{m} Kellett being called here in Court for not makeing presentac͠on of one M{r} Kinnersleys maide that died in his charge, he saied here in Court that M{r} Doctor Harvye being called to the patient did upon his vew of the patient saie, that by the meanes of a boulster the tumor on the temporall muskle would be discussed and his opinion was, that there was noe fracture but the vomiteing came by reason of the foulenesse of the Stomacke, and to that purpose pˀscribed physick by Briscoe the Apothecarye, soe the patient died by ill practise, the fracture being neglected & the Companie not called to the vew.

The next entry illustrates the peremptory method of dealing with a quack:--

22nd October, 1635. One Christopher Hatton whoe saied he waighteth on S{r} W{m} Belfore his Ma{t}ꝭ Lieutenant of The Tower came to this Court to knowe the reason of the Companies takeing downe of Lãw Raylens banner or mountabanck table of bladders & stones being a stranger borne & then were hung upon Tower hill execution place, this Courts answere was that by the Lawes & Charters of this Companie they tooke & demolished them.

ALSO the said Lawrence Ruylen a mountabanck was called here in Court and ordered to paye his fine of v{li} for hanging his signes tables bladders and stones upon the publique postꝭ in streetes & on the Traitors scaffold on Tower hill in an exorbitant manner being contrary to the Lawes and Charters of this Companie confirmed according to Lawe And this Court doth order that those signes and bladders shalbe demolished and he is forbidden from further practiseing any pˀt of Surgerye hereafter within London or 7 miles Compasse of this Cittye.

1637. For several years prior to and about this period numerous entries occur of Surgeons being fined £5 for going to sea without license or without having their sea chests examined, also for sending their apprentices to sea as surgeons’ mates without examination.

29th March, 1638. It is ordered that Edward Arris[203] and Hen: Boone[204] shall have libertie to sett up in o{r} Theater a Sceleton by them wrought on when they were Masters Anatomysts on the body of Cañbury besse[205] to be placed on the Corbell stone of the Signe Libra alsoe they have leave to paint that peere of bricks up to the Cornish & to depict the planett Venus governeing those twoe signes underneath Libra & Taurus with twoe shadowed neeces[206] for two Sceletons & to sett up their names or mottoe under Libra they payeing the charge for the same & such pˀson or pˀsons as shall sett up a sceleton on the other signe Taurus shall paye the moietye of the charge they are now at in painting.

[203] Alderman, Master 1651. [204] Master 1655. [205] Canonbury Bessie, a malefactor. [206] Niches.

3rd July, 1638. Upon the complaint ag{t} ffran: Soare for discecting a bodye in his owne house contrary to the ordinance It is ordered he shalbe sumoned ag{t} the next Court.

22nd October, 1638. Tho. Bowden being called to this Court for not makeing pˀntac͠on of his patient Godfrey Lee whoe died under his handꝭ is fined at xl{s.}

Alsoe the said Thomas Bowden being not an approved Surgian for that he tooke upon him the cure & charge of y{e} said Godfrey being daungerouslie wounded & did not joyne an able & approved surgian with him in that cure is fined at v{li.}

Alsoe it is ordered that for his the said Thomas Bowdens evill practise in Surgerye he shalbe Comitted to the Compter in Wood Streete.

Mr. Bowden subsequently mended his ways as he was elected Third Warden in 1654 and Upper Warden in 1660.

22nd October, 1638. It is ordered that the M{r} & Wardens & as many of the Assistants Surgians with Counsell shall attend the right hono{ble} y{e} Lordꝭ of his Ma{t}ꝭ most hono{ble} privye Councell about the new Patent for distilling strong Waters.

6th March, 1639. Mrs. Susan Gwinn, widow of Dr. Gwinn, the Reader of Anatomy, presented the Doctor’s MSS. to the Company.

1638-9. About this period the war with Scotland consequent upon Charles I interfering in Scotch Church matters, broke out, and a large army being collected in the North the Barber-Surgeons were directed to “press” and forward twenty-three Surgeons to Newcastle.

The Minute relating to this is as follows,--

20th April, 1639. Upon reading the warr{t} sent to this house from Yorke signed by the Lord Generall concerneing the want of Surgians in the Armye It is concluded by the Governo{rs} & Assistants here pˀnte that M{r} Warden Dunn & M{r} Collins shall goe on, & goe aboard some Newcastle shipp and agree with a shipper for y{e} conveighance of y{e} Surgians & their Chests & provisions & their mates, & likewise give them conduct money, & that for the present that charge to be borne out of the stock of this house untill it cann be reobteyned from the Thrẽr of y{e} Armye.

This appears to have cost the Company £44 14_s._, whereof they received but £23, the balance never having been paid. The details of the expenditure are subjoined, and in reading them we cannot but commiserate the unhappy men who were barged to Gravesend and thence “transported” to Newcastle.

DISBURSEM{T}ꝭ FOR IMPRESTING AND SHIPPINGE OF THE SURGIANS IN THE YEARS IMPLOYM{T} FOR THE KINGS SERVICE.

Laid out by Edmund Johnson for ymprestinge of Surgeons for the Kingꝭ service v{li}

Delivered to M{r} Collins for the like x{s}

Spent in goeinge to Lymehouse Ratcliffe & wappinge to presse xviij{d}

Paid to xxiij Surgions who were transported by sea from London to Newcastle xxiij{li} of w{ch} rec{d} by M{r} Serjant Clowes xvij{li} x{s} & my selfe xx{s} so that there doth remayne unsatisfied iiij{li} x{s}

Paid unto Tho: Wells the M{r} of the shipp to transport them viij{li}

Paid for a barge to carry us & them to xxx{s} Gravesend

Spent at Gravesend at dynner ix{s} vj{d}

Spent at Supper vij{s}

Paid Jo: Mules w{ch} he disburced for Warfage literage caremenn & other like Charges as pˀ bill xxvj{s} ------------------------- Sum̃ is xxj{li} xiiij{s} -------------------------

In accordance with their Charters the ancient practice of the Company had been to elect annually two Surgeons and two Barbers for Master and Wardens; this fell into electing two Surgeons and two others who were often neither Barbers nor Surgeons, and latterly, even the qualification of Surgery came to be disregarded, whereupon (29th March, 1639) a mandate, signed by Charles I and directed to the Company, was read in Court (see Appendix, G) in which the King set forth that divers persons as “hosiers dyers & other tradesmen unskilfull in Chirurgery or Barbarye” had been chosen for Masters and Wardens contrary to the Charters and Acts of Parliament, and further “wee takeing into considerac͠on of what dangerous consequence it maye be to suffer a Companye wherein the lives and safetie of o{r} people are soe much concerned and for w{ch} o{r} progenitors have soe carefully provided to be governed by such unskilfull pˀsons,” the King straitly commanded the Company to elect the Governors in the future as they ought to do, viz.: two Barbers and two Surgeons each year.

This order of the King appears for some little time to have been obeyed, and then the Company relapsed into their old practice of choosing at their pleasure, whereupon another mandate came from the King, for we find that:--

17th January, 1644. The Court took notice of the King’s mandate, and a very long and elaborate minute is entered to the effect that the practice of choosing two Barbers and two Surgeons for Governors was fraught with much inconvenience and had led to great dissensions, and the Court referring to the Statute of Henry VII, where it is allowed that any person free of the Company following any other profession than that of a Barber or Surgeon should be reputed and taken as a Barber, ordered that for the future, any Member of the Assistants, other than a Barber or Surgeon, might be put in nomination, and that he should be accounted a Barber. The Court were very careful to express their loyalty to the King whilst they ignored his mandate, trusting no doubt, that should they afterwards be called to account by the King, their dutiful expressions towards him would serve in a measure as an excuse for disobeying his express commands.

[Sidenote: Mould for y{e} Kings Evill.]

2nd July, 1639. Anthony Mould called to this Court and questioned concerneing his practise in Surgerye, confessed that he deales onely in swellings and Kernills & hath a licence from the Kinge to practise the same, he hath lately taken into his Cure one George Ravenscroft for scrophilous tumo{rs} in the neck, this Court at the said Moulds request, hath given libertye to Mould to cure him by Michaelmas next, & he hath promised then to present the said Geo: whole & well to this Court.

Some nine years afterwards Mould was again before the Court in a case of King’s evil.

21st March, 1648. Henry Ivatt complayned against Anthony Mold for his evill practice On the Wife of the said Ivatt who being afflicted with the Kings Evill Whereof he undertooke to cure her And for that purpose did receive of the said Ivatt xxx{s} in hand and was to have 40{s} more when she was cured Both partyes refeered themselves to this Court Whereupon this Court doth Order That the said Mold doth restore xx{s} back againe to the said Ivatt Which he promised to pay accordingly And soe all differences betweene the said parties by theire owne consent to cease and determine.

6th February, 1646. It is this day ordered That our M{r} and M{r} Warden Browne[207] with the other Assistants Surgeons present doe move the Sheriffs That at the time of Execuc͠on a Body be quietly delivered to this Companye’s officer for an Anatomy.

[207] Martin Browne, an eminent Surgeon, Master in 1653, gave the Company a Silver loving cup and cover.

9th March, 1646. This day M{r} Warden Browne acquainted this Court that whereas he about 6 yeares sithence had a child of M{r} Hamonds to his Patient with whome he upon his first calling thither found M{r} Thomas Bowden[208] with others Who after presentac͠on made by the Motion of M{r} Warden Browne dyed, that he hath bin reported by the ffather of the child to have murthered the child And that M{r} Thomas Bowden had justifyed and would justify the same of w{ch} scandall M{r} Warden complayneing to this Co{rt} M{r} Bowden prayed to be excused from giveing any answer thereunto ffor that there was a Suite at Law now depending betweene M{r} Hamond and M{r} Warden Browne concerning that matter.

[208] Warden, 1654.

23rd April, 1646. Mr. Martin Browne requested and had a Committee of Examiners to enquire into the case of Hamond’s child, and to report to the Court.

14th May, 1646. The Committee brought up their Report, finding that on the 28th January, 1639, Mr. Browne was called to Mr. Hamond’s child in Bow Lane, the child having fallen out of a window and seriously injured its head. That Mr. Browne consulted with Dr. Spicer and Mr. Thomas Bowden (whom he found there) and as they all conceived the child to be in danger, presentation was duly made to the Wardens of the Barber-Surgeons, that thereupon by general consent, the child was let blood and had a glister, and the next day his head was shaved and a cataplasm applied, that these remedies were continued for about eight days and that then it was deemed advisable to open the head, which was done by Mr. Browne with a Trapan in the presence and with the advice and approbation of Mr. Serjeant Clowes (then Master), Mr. George Dunn[209] (Warden), Mr. William Kings,[210] Mr. Eaton and the said Mr. Bowden, and that the child died on the 15th day, that proper remedies had been duly applied and that everything had been done with great care according to art.

[209] Master, 1646.

[210] Master, 1650.

23rd October, 1646. This Court doth order That all the approved Chirurgeons according to Law shall appeare at all publique Anatomyes for the time to come in a fflatt Capp upon the penalty of 3{s} 4{d} and all the rest of the Livery in a Hatt.

1646. ~The~ CHARGES OF THE ANATHOMYES BETWEENE MICHAS AND CHRISTMAS LAST.

Paid for Carryeing the Cophin to Newgate 00 00 06

ffor horsehire to the place of execuc͠on 00 02 00

ffor the ffees at the place of execuc͠on 00 05 06

ffor expences at S{t} Gyles xij{d} to the carman xij{d} and for washing the bodye xij{d} 00 03 00

ffor Perfumes xij{d} wax candles ij{d} and soape j{d} 00 01 03

ffor lynnen for the Bodye 00 06 08

To the Beadles Assistant in taking the Bodye 00 01 00

Paid the Parsons dutye for the buriall ij{d} for y{e} grave xij{d} for the Clerke & Sexton xxij{d} 00 04 10

To the Bearers ij{s} & expended at the buriall ij{s} vj{d} 00 04 06

ffor a Cophin to burye the bodye in 00 03 04

To Doctor Godard for reading six lectures 06 00 00

To M{r} Nicholas Brothers and M{r} William Watson whoe desected the bodye xl{s} appeece 04 00 00

Paid for 3 dynners for the M{rs} or Governo{rs} Assistants Reader & desectors 10 00 00

ffor Candles for 3 mornings 00 11 11

To the twoe Beadles their ffee for three dayes attendance 00 10 00

1647-8. Paid and disbursed in Charges in sending Chyrurgians to the seige at Colchester by lr̃e from the Com{rs} of the Armye & for their maintenance & medicines 17 13 06

26th January, 1647. William Watson haveing his Letters of admittance and not sealed the Bond according to the ordinance in that behalfe did amongst other uncivill behaviour and words to our M{r} and the Court say That he would not be whipˀd by a Bond and that he would give his answer at his owne convenience. And when our M{r} told him That he must seale the Bond he answered That must was for the King, But this Court gave him a fortnight to give his answer peremptorily.

1655. The following is a Copy of a Surgeon’s Certificate to practise:--

[Sidenote: CERTIFICATE IN THE BEHALF OF A CHIRURGEON.]

~To all people~ to whom this present writeing shall come JOHN FREDERICKE ESQ{R} Alderman of the Cittie of London Thomas Allen Abraham Clerke and Thomas Bowden Mas{rs} or Govˀno{rs} of the Mistery and cominalty of Barbers and Chirurgeons of London send Greeting in our Lord God everlasting.

~Whereas~ WEE have had experience & sufficient Tryall as well of the good behaviour & honest conversac͠on of Samuell Holditch a Freeman of the said mistery and Cominaltie & one of the Cloathing of our said Corporac͠on as alsoe of his skill exp̃ience & knowledge in the Arte or Science of Chirurgery. NOW KNOW YEE that wee the said Masters or Govˀno{rs} (att the humble suite and entreatie of the said Samuell Holditch & for his further appᵬac͠on of his skill) Have on the day of the date of these presents caused him to be deliberately examined & tryed before us concerning his sufficiency & knowledge in the same arte by William Kings[211] Edward Arris[212] Henry Boone[213] Robert Bullacke[214] Charles Stamford[215] & Lawrence Loe[216] Masters in Chirurgery being six of the examiners appointed and auth̃ized according to Lawe for the examinac͠on and appᵬac͠on of Chirurgeons And findeing him the said Samuell Holditch a fitt and able pˀson to practice use & exercise the said Arte of Chirurgery Wee doe by these ps̃ents as much as in us is admitt app̃ve of & allowe him to practice use and exercise the said Arte or science of Chirurgery & all and every the parts thereof according to the force forme & effect of the statutes in that behalf made & p̃vided.

[211] Master 1650. [212] M. 1651. [213] M. 1655. [214] M. 1657. [215] M. 1659. [216] M. 1667.

IN WITNESSE whereof we the said Masters or Govˀno{rs} have hereunto subscribed our names & caused the Comõn seale of y{e} said Corporac͠on to be fixed this seaventh day of May in the yeare of our Lord God according to the accompt kept in England One thousand six hundred fifty & five.

JOHN FREDERICK THO: ALLEN ABRA: CLERKE THO: BOWDEN.

1690. The following is a copy of a Press warrant issued by the Masters and Governors to their Beadles, Smith and Wills:--