Part 40

1740. Paid for mending the Windows broke upon bringing the last Body from Tyburn 0 6 0

1741. Paid for a Silver Punch Laddle 1 4 0 Paid the expences for the Buck S{r} Rob{t} Walpole gave the Company 1 3 6

1744. Paid M{r} Hawes for two large Branches for the Hall 70 0 0

These massive chandeliers were broken but preserved when the Hall was pulled down in 1864, and one formed of their fragments is now hung on the staircase leading up to the Committee Room.

Paid taking the Company’s Linnen out of Pawn 4 2 6

This linen must have been stolen and pawned, as the Company were not at this period in such financial difficulties as to necessitate their personal property being taken care of by a pawnbroker.

1745-6. Dr. Tyson’s picture was sold to Mr. Luke Maurice for £10 10_s._

Mr. Goodyer was paid £11 for the table and inscription (now in the entrance lobby) which records the separation of the Surgeons from the Barbers in 1745.

1751-2. Mr. Whiston bought the Company’s library for £13. This library consisted of a great number of ancient MSS. and books relating to Surgery.

Putting an Advertizement in the Daily Advertizer offering a Reward to any Person who should discover who stole the Lead from off the Hall Kitchen 0 2 0 Paid M{r} Spencer for cleaning the Guns Swords and bayonetts 0 6 0

1760. Paid M{r} Chessun the Upholsterer his Bill for new Standards & making the new cloth for the Stand 67 15 6

This was the stand for the liverymen used on Lord Mayor’s day and on other public occasions.

1770. The expenses on Lord Mayor’s day this year were as follows, and are a fair sample of the entries for many years before and after this date.

CASH PAID-- M{r} Bick for Spermaceti 1 10 0 The Watermen for their Breakfast and attendance 1 12 6 Two men to keep the gates 0 10 0 Four men to keep the Stand 1 0 0 M{r} Beaumont for musick 5 0 0 Mess{rs} Sherwood & Co. for Ribbons 3 14 9 M{r} Hulberd for Beef for breakfast 4 1 0 M{r} Wareham for dressing ditto 0 16 0 The Housekeeper’s Bill 2 0 0 M{r} Wilding’s Bill for Wine for the Stand 6 15 7 The Beadle for pipes and Tobacco for the Stand 0 6 0 M{r} Dance Clerk of the City Works for fixing the Stand 1 1 0 The Carpenter’s Bill about ditto 8 11 3 The Upholsterer’s Bill 2 0 0 Jarvis & Sharpe, Turner’s Bill 0 18 8 --------- £39 16 9 =========

The Livery dinners on these occasions were paid for by the Stewards.

The next book of Accounts extends from 1785 to 1821, but like the latter part of the last one it is almost destitute of interest. On the first page is an extract from the Will of Mr. Edward Griffin (10th April, 1596) relating to his gift to the Company, and there are also sundry memoranda concerning Banckes’ gift.

1785. This was the last occasion on which the Company “went out” on Lord Mayor’s day.

In addition to the Wardens’ accounts, there are two books containing receipts of tradesmen and others for money paid to them extending from 1722 to 1764. These books are not specially interesting, excepting that they contain autographs of a few eminent Surgeons, hangmen and others, and the following extracts will suffice:--

1722. Recẽd of the Governours of the Company the sume of ten shillings for fetching the Body of Richard Oxer from Tyburne.

CHARLES WINDOW.

1723. Recẽd of the Governours of the Compã the sume of five pounds fifteen shillings for fetching the Body of W{m} Pincher from Tyburne and for sev{ll} Disbursements expended thereon.

RICH: COLLINS.

1723. The Receipt of Abraham Shepherd, Attorney, for £15 0_s._ 6_d._, being the costs of prosecuting Cooke and others for taking away the body of William Pincher from the Beadles when they brought it from Tyburn.

1729. Rec̃ed Dec{r} 23{d} 1729 of the Gov{rs} of y{e} Comp{a} pˀ the hands of Cha: Bernard their Cl: 7{s} 6{d} for my Xmãs Box.

JOHN HOOPER.

In 1730 this gentleman signs “John Hooper, Executioner.”

1743. The hangman, John Thrift, signed with a × the receipt for his Christmas box, and the Clerk has humorously styled him “John Thrift, Esq{re} Hangman.”

1736. The printing of 1,000 Copies of Baron’s Engraving of Holbein’s picture cost £15 15_s._ 0_d._ John Harper was the printer.

A copy of this print was sent to the Earl of Burlington, as there is a Bill of William Gills as follows:--

One large picture frame w{th} a broad carved & Gilt Sanding inside and a fine plate glass &c for The Earl of Burlington £2 8 0

Recẽd Nov 5 1736 of y{e} Gov{rs} of the Compa pˀ the hands of Cha. Bernard their Cl: twenty one pounds for the paper to print the 1000 prints of King Hen: 8{ths} Picture being two Rheams of paper

pˀ B. BARON.

DISPUTES.

1388. One of our earliest ordinances enacts that--

If any dispute arise between any of the brethren, which God forbid, it is to be amicably settled by the decision of the Masters of the said Fraternity and they are to deal plainly,[273] and that no one sue another in other manner than at the assize, and then only if he be empowered by leave of the said Masters to be recorded.

[273] _i.e._, openly, honestly.

1530. And again in the ordinances signed by Sir Thomas More, it states that--

yff any matter of stryffe or debate herafter be betwene eny pˀson of the said Crafte as God fforfende that noon of them shall make eny pˀsuts[274] in the Comen lawe but that he whiche ffyndeth hym aggreved shall ffurst make his complaynt to the Maisters . . . . . . to thˀentent that they shall ordre the said matter or cause of complaynt so made yff they can . . . . . .

[274] Pursuits.

This prerogative of the Company was jealously guarded, and indeed extended, the Court becoming in effect a sort of Court of Conscience, in which _non-freemen_ frequently appeared as plaintiffs against freemen, when their cases were heard and adjudicated upon, the Court settling the amount and time of payment, or dismissing the suit.

Whenever (as often happened) one freeman went to law with another, without leave of the Court, and the defendant complained, the plaintiff was ordered to withdraw his action, and if he declined to do so, an opportunity of reflection upon the powers of the Company was afforded him in the seclusion of the “Compter.”

It was frequently the custom for the Masters to require both parties to enter into bonds to abide the decision of the Court, and where this was not so, and either of them disobeyed the order made, the offender was either fined, imprisoned or expelled.

The following are a few notices of cases of dispute which came before the Court from time to time, and other instances will be found elsewhere.

30th June, 1551. It was ordered--

That James Wood John Chamber and William Drewe Waterman shalbe lovers and friendes and clerlye to acquite and discharge either other of and from all maner of acc͠ons quarrells detts demaundes and suts as well spirytuall as temporall whatsoever they be from the begynnyng of the worlde untyll the daye abovesayd.

4th November, 1551. Ordered--

That John West shall bring in his fyne which is vj{s} viij{d} for speking opprobryous wordes against John Androwson in the presence of the M{r.}

2nd May, 1552. It was ordered and declared that Harry Cooke and Nicholas Connysbye--

are fully condescended concluded and agreed for all maner of acc͠ons dettes suetts demaunds and quarrells whatsoever they be from the begynnynge of the worlde unto this daye and that they shall clerly dischardge eche other and to be lovers and freinds.

1566. By an entry in this year it seems that each disputant when before the Court was “put to his othe upon a booke y{t} he sholde saye the trothe.”

10th December, 1566. Thomas Lambkyn appeared against his late apprentice W{m} Woodfall--

for serten shavynge clothes y{t} he tooke awaye w{th} hym when he went frome his M{r} w{th}out his lycence and the saide W{m} hath payde unto the saide Thom̃s Lambkyn in the pˀsents of this courte in lawfull Englyshe mony x{s} in recompence.

In this Courte here was John Hawkes playntyf agaynst Richard Olkar for his unfyttinge words & Olkar shalbe here the nexte courte.

30th December, 1566. William Collins the covenant servant of John Johnson complained of his master for “myssusing hym in his boxe money,” whereupon M{r} Johnson was ordered to amend his ways.

4th March, 1567. Here was Walter Lynche for his unfytting wordꝭ seyeng y{t} Richard Dycson sholde be got his mayde w{th} chylde and Lynche denyeth yt, y{t} he nevˀ harde of yt, and Dycson sey{d} y{t} Edward Parke & too other servyngemen he hath to wytnes the same, spoken at the Rose taverne at the fleete brydge And yt is ordered y{t} they shall brotherly one gyve unto & by another good wordꝭ & good reports & no more repetallꝭ to be had any more hereafter in this behalf.

11th March, 1567. In this Court here was John Wall for y{t} he warned John Staple unto the courte of concyence in the guyldehall in London w{th}oute lycence of the M{r} & Govˀno{rs} and yt is now ordered once agayne y{t} John Wall shall not pˀcede any forder in lawe but shall stande to the awarde made ordered & awarded the xij{th} daye of november laste paste and not ells otherwyse upon payne of his alegiance & penaltie in that behalf pˀvyded & ordayned.

Edward Park, who was a troublesome fellow, and often before the Court, would seem (by the next extract) to have revived the old scandal about Dycson and his “mayde,” for--

14th November, 1567. Here was Rich. Dycson playntyf agaynst Edward Parke for undecent and slaunderous words And they both have consented to put yt unto the determynacion of this worsshypfull Court, & they shalbe both bounde in oblygacions to abyde the order & warde[275] & to kepe the peace in y{r} owne pˀsons. Rich. Dycson hath chosen to be arbytraytors for hym John Bonar & Thomas Burston, and for Parke he hath chosen for hym M{r} Bowie & Rich Wysto & the M{r} & govnors shalbe umpers,[276] bonde in xx{li} a peece.

[275] Award. [276] Umpires.

13th January, 1568. In thys Courte here was John Cooke playntyf against Rich{d} Barker for serten wordꝭ undecently spoken by Rich{d} against the said John and also for serten housold stuff y{t} the said Rich{d} Barker w{th}holdeth frome the said John, and they both are comaunded the nexte courte daye to brynge in bothe y{r} fynes vj{s} viij{d} a pece for y{r} unfytting wordꝭ.

7th June, 1569. In this Courte here was the wyf of John Burges for that Rich. Barker beate black her armes and yt is ordered that the said Rich. Barker shall upon this pˀsent daye go unto the house of the said John Burges his m{r} and y{r} acknowledge hym sylf to be sory for trespassynge hym & his wyf.

19th July, 1569. Here was John Charnock, said that he is his M{rs} pntꝭ[277] & kepeth shoppe & is accomptant wekely to his M{r} & he said the M{r} of the company did hym wronge & y{t} he wolde at lawe trye yt and unreverently he did behave hymsylf w{th} stoute & undecent [words] & so he charged the M{r} styll, but not the worsshypfulls of this Courte.

[277] Apprentice.

18th November, 1572. Here was one Edward Browne Bricklayer and complayned [against] one Richard Upton for that he had taken his money for curynge hym of Morbus Gallicus but the sicknes as he said was not cured & M{r} Upton pˀmised to agree w{th} hym.

The next is a rare piece of tittle tattle; like Edward Park, Colley was often in trouble, and it is amusing to observe how he shortly afterwards lays an information against Carrington, which compliment Carrington returns to him in the March Court.

18th November, 1572. Here was Willm̃ Carington and required his complaint to be herd in that Allein Colley had slaundered hym w{th} unhonest wordes, that is, that Allein should say that Wiberds wife should say that Charringtons wief should not be honest, and they were pˀmytted to take ordre of Lawe.

10th February, 1573. Colley laid an information against Carrington for “Trimminge on a Sondaye,” whereupon he was fined 40_s._

11th March, 1573. Carrington complained of Colley “for undecent wordes calling him verlet before the Mr.,” etc., and they were ordered to be friends, and to bring no more complaints against each other.

This feud seems, however, to have continued for a few years, but was at last happily settled, for we read under date, 24th January, 1576:

Here at this Co{r}te witnesses being hard betwene Willm̃ Carrington and Allen Collye they were made frendes, shoke handes and frendly depˀted.

2nd March, 1573. Here was a complaint agaynste Henrye Lushe by John Parradize for that the said Henry Lushe called the said John Paradize knave, and he p{d} his fyne xij{d} and they toke hands & were ffrends.

19th April, 1574. Here was Willm̃ Brode and brought in an answere agaynste the complaynt of Edward Saunders for lykeninge hym to Esoppes dogge and they were appoynted to be ffrends and to brynge the matter no more in question.

Was this the “dog in the manger”? Anyhow, it seems a trivial matter to have been brought before the grave old Masters.

2nd February, 1575. Here came one Willm̃ Goodnep and complayned of Willm̃ Clowes for not curing his wief de morbo gallico and yt was awarded that the saide Clowes sholde either geve the saide Goodnep xx{s} orells cure his saide wief, w{ch} Clowes agreed to pay the xx{s} and so they were agreed and eche of them made acquittance to other.

28th February, 1576. Here was a complainte against Willm̃ Clowes by one Goodenge for that the saide Clowes had not onlie misused the saide Goodinge in speeche but also most of the masters of the Companye w{th} scoffing wordes and jestes and they all forgave him here openlye in the Co{r}te and so the stryfe was ended upon condˀ that he shold nev{r} so misuse him self a gayne, and bonds was caused to be made to that effect.

25th September, 1576. At this Coˀte came Willm̃ Wise and Mathew Ken, and divers evell and unbrotherlike speches was pˀved and so the saide Willm̃ Wise confest his falt paide his ffyne and made a breakfast to the Companie for their paynes, and so they shoke hands and were made ffrends.

25th March, 1577. Here at this Corte was a greate contension and stryffe spoken of and ended betwene George Baker[278] and Willm̃ Clowes[279] for that they bothe contrary to order and the good and holsome rules of this howse misused eche other and fought in the ffelds togethers, but the M{r} Wardens and assistance wishing that they might be and continewe loving brothers pˀdoned this greate offence in hope of amendment.

[278] Master 1597 and Serjeant Surgeon. [279] Warden 1594.

9th January, 1598. Thomas Cole complayned of Thomas Goodall for sueinge him at the Comon lawe w{th}out license of the M{rs} And was fined And his fine mittigated to 3{s} 4{d}

4th December, 1599. This daie Roberte Morrey complayned of William ffoster for callinge him Pandor and Bawde and for sayeinge he was presented by the Wardemot inqueste for keepinge a bawdye house, uppon hearinge whereof their controversies were referred to the Maisters of this Companye, the same to be ended before the sixte daie of Januarye nexte.

24th July, 1600. In the matter in Controversie betwixt Roger Semper and ffrancis Thompson it is ordered that the sayd Sempˀ shall at the next Court bringe in his fine for usinge reprochefull wordes against the sayd Thompson And for that the sayd Sempers wyefe did assalt the sayd Thompson & brake his shop wyndowes. And that the sayd Semper shall delivˀ such goodes as hee hath of the sayd Thompson before the next Court And that hee shall at the same Court geve the sayd Thompson satisfacc͠on for his wyndowes.

24th July, 1600. In the Controversie betwixt John Izard & Robert Steward it is ordered that the sayd Robert Steward shalbe comitted to the Compter for refusinge to paye his fine for supplantinge the sayd John Izards cure and for behavinge himselfe unreverendly before the M{rs} in the Court.

11th September, 1600. This daie John Urvey complayned of Henry Bracye for arrestinge him before he had obtayned leave of the Maisters And it was thereuppon ordered that the said Henrye Bracye shoulde be warned to appeare before the Maisters at the nexte Courte and that he shoulde be commaunded from the Maisters to staie his suite till then.

17th September, 1600. This daie in the matter in controversi betwixte Henry Bracy and John Urvey It is ordered that the saide Henry Bracye shall not proceede any further in his suite but that the said John Urvey shall paie the debte of ffowerteene shillinges and twoe shillinges for his chardges by twoe shillinges wickelye till all be fully satisfied and paide And uppon the payment thereof the said Bracye to make him a generall acquittaunce the firste payment to begine on Tewsdaie nexte, And the money to be paide to the M{rs} of this Companye.

20th October, 1600. This daye it is ordered that John Urvey shalbe comitted to the Compter for not pˀforminge his payments to Henry Bracy accordinge to the orders of this howse.

21st July, 1601. Where div{s} controversies hath bene betweene John Browne and Jenkin Marcrafte the endinge of w{ch} is by them of their mutuall assents referred to the M{rs} or Governors of this Company who aft{r} hereinge of their sevˀall controversies & fyndeinge thereby that the wounde for w{ch} the money was to be paid to John Browne was reverted to his former state It is thought fit that the said Marcrafte shall paye to the said Browne pñˀtly[280] the somme of xl{s} in full satisfacc͠on of all debts duties and demaunds, w{ch} the said Browne accepted of and received the said somme accordingly. And whereas Lewis Atm{r} finished the Cure after it was reverted Therefore it was lykewise ordered that the said Marcrafte shall paye to him xx{s} for his paynes.

[280] Presently, _i.e._, at once.

6th August, 1601. This daye John Ibatson and John Wyndet referred a controversie betwene them concerninge a debt of iiij{li} lent by the said Wyndet to the said Ibatson to the hereinge & endinge of the M{rs} of this Company and gave the eyth{r} to the oth{r} 6{d} to stande to their award so that they ended the same before the laste daye of Septemb{r} next w{ch} if they refuse to stand to, the refuser shall forfeyt x{li.}

27th March, 1604. This daye Lycence is geven to Andrew Mathewe to sue Richard Tyler at the Com̃on Lawe for the tenemˀt wherein the said Tyler nowe dwelleth, for that Tyler refuseth to referre the heareinge & endinge of that controversie to the M{rs} of this Company.

16th October, 1610. In the Controvˀsie between William Wright and one Harrington Itt is att this Court ordered that Harrington shall paie unto Wryght for and in respect of such rentes he doth owe unto Wright the some of xxx{s} imediate And like wise he shall mend such paynes of glasse as nowe by his necligence are broken in Wrightꝭ wyndowes and soe all controvˀsies between them are determyned.

24th September, 1611. In the Controvˀsey between ffrauncꝭ Bilford of thˀone pˀte & John fflint on thˀother pˀte It is ordered that either of them shalbe bound unto thˀother of them in 20{li} a peece to stand to the Award of M{r} John Gerard & M{r} Richard Mapes.

1st October, 1611. At this Court forasmuch as John fflynt would not stand to the order of the M{rs} set down the last Court between him & ffrauncꝭ Bilford the said Bilford hath leave to arrest the said fflynt.

22nd October, 1611. In the Controvˀsie between Dennis Davys on thˀone pˀte & John Person on thˀother pˀte It is ordered that they shall live quietlie togethers as brothers of one Company should doe and neither of them by him selfe or his servantꝭ to gyve or move offence either by word or deed unto thˀother of them.

It was not often that the good offices of the Court were unavailing in the settlement of disputes, but in the following case, in which the lady probably played a prominent part, the Masters seem to have been unable to settle the matter:--

12th July, 1614. In the complaint made by William Purkꝭ and ffrauncis his wife against Greene, w{ch} beinge heard at this Court, the M{rs} could drawe them to noe quiet ende, all pˀties being verye obstinate.

HERALDRY.

There are numerous excellent examples of the Company’s Arms at the Hall. The records contain many beautiful drawings and emblazoned shields of arms, not only of the Company but of some of the Masters as well.

One of the choicest specimens is the massive old carving beneath the semicircular canopy of the entrance doorway; this is dated 1671, and is both bold and quaint; long may it be preserved to the Barbers! The carved coat of arms which formerly ornamented the stern of the Company’s barge, and which is probably late 17th century work, has been carefully preserved, and may be always admired over the chimney piece in the Committee room. There is the large “tortershell” in the vestibule given by Mr. William Kings in 1645. The cloth on the Court table is artistically embroidered with the Arms of the Company and the City, the embroidered portions being part of the ancient barge cloth. There is a handsomely emblazoned coat of arms on the plan of the Company’s property (presented by Mr. Charles John Shoppee), and a pretty little bit of old stained glass in the window on the first floor landing. The Company formerly possessed a great many banners, but these are unfortunately lost to us; the one which is placed behind the Master’s chair is beautifully painted by Bishop of Doctors’ Commons, and has at the back the inscription--

EX DONO SIDNEY YOUNG MISTERII BARBITONSORUM FRATRIS AMANDI 1885.

1451. In this year the original grant of arms was conferred, being simply the first quarter of our present achievement; sable, a chevron between three fleams argent, the fleams being mediæval lancets, though from their shape they have sometimes been thought to represent razors. This coat was borne by both the Barbers and their successors, the Barber-Surgeons, until the time of Elizabeth. The grant is as follows:--