Part 5

Regulations were made enjoining charity, attendance at funerals and obits, against the enticing away of the servants of others, providing for the amicable settlement of disputes, and the like.

The articles above briefly referred to, contain nothing in particular as to trade regulation or inspection, leaving a pretty certain inference that they were made for the governance of a social and religious guild or fraternity. We shall presently see that in 1308, the Company partook of the nature of a trade guild, and we may therefore reasonably presume that the articles made in the time to which memory in 1388 did not run, were drawn up _previous_ to 1308, and therefore without much hesitation we may assign the origin of the Barbers’ Company to at least the xiij{th.} century.

In the early part of the reign of Edward II, and indeed for a long while previously, the Barbers were practitioners in the art of Surgery; at all events they performed the minor operations of that craft, such as bleeding, tooth-drawing, cauterization, and the like.

The Barbers having been accustomed to assist the monks in the surgical operations performed by them in early times, acquired a degree of proficiency which enabled them to practise as Surgeons themselves. Up till about the xij{th.} century the practice of Surgery and Medicine was however almost wholly confined to the Clergy, who seem to have enjoyed the double privilege of curing men’s bodies as well as their souls. In 1163 the Council of Tours, under Pope Alexander III, considering that a practice which involved in its operations the shedding of blood, was incompatible with the holy office of the clergy, forbad them to interfere in any matter of Surgery; the consequence of this edict was that they gave over the operations of Surgery but continued to practise the healing art of Medicine.

As already said, the Clergy very frequently employed the Barbers as their assistants, and committed to them the preparation of the medicated baths and the performance of sundry minor surgical operations. No doubt the Edict of Tours was hailed with joy by the Barbers, who thus found a lucrative practice thrown in their way, and seized the opportunity of practising as Surgeons “on their own account,” calling themselves Barber-Surgeons, and practising both Barbery and Surgery.

_c._ 1307. The archives preserved at the Guildhall have many entries concerning the Barbers’ Company, and in _Letter-Book D._ 157{B.} there is an ordinance concerning the Barbers of London, which shows that at this time they were occupied in Surgery, and advertised their profession in an objectionable manner, which was very properly forbidden by the City authorities.

DE BARBOURS. Et que nul barbier ne soit se ose ne si hardy qil mette sank en leur fenestres en apiert ou en view des gentz, mais pryvement le facent porter a Thamise sur peine des doux souldz rendre al oeps des Viscountz.

CONCERNING BARBERS. And that no barbers shall be so bold or so hardy as to put blood in their windows, openly or in view of folks, but let them have it privily carried unto the Thames, under pain of paying two shillings to the use of the Sheriffs.

1308. The first express entry which we have concerning our Company is the presentation and admission of Richard le Barber, as Supervisor or Master of the Barbers, before the Court of Aldermen in 1308 (_Letter-Book C._ 96).

RIC’S LE BARBOUR ex oppõito ecc̃lie omñi scoꝜ parue elect’ est et p’sentatˀ pˀ Barbitonsores london die Martˀ p’xˀ p’t fm̃ Sc̃e Lucie virgĩs Anno R. E. fiɫ R. E. sc̃do coram dñis Nichõ de ffarndon tũc maiore london Johñe de Wengũue cetˀisqʒ Aldermĩs ad custodiendˀ officiũ BarbitonsoꝜ &c. Et admissus est et jurˀ q’d quolibet mense faciet scrutiniũ pˀ totñ officiũ suũ et si quos invenˀit lupanarˀ id alio mõ inhonestos et in scandalũ officii &c. eos distringat & distriaõem in cam’am apportari faciet &c.

RICHARD LE BARBOUR dwelling opposite to the Church of Allhallows the Less, was chosen and presented by the Barbers of London, on Tuesday next after the feast of Saint Lucy the Virgin (_13th December_) in the second year of the reign of King Edward, son of King Edward, before Sir Nicholas de Farndon, then Mayor of London, John de Wengrave and other Aldermen, to have supervision over the trade of the Barbers &c. And he was admitted and made oath that every month he would make scrutiny throughout the whole of his trade, and if he should find any among them keeping brothels, or acting unseemly in any other way, and to the scandal of the trade, he was to distrain upon them, and cause the distress to be taken into the Chamber (_of London_) &c.

The foregoing record does not appear very creditable to the reputation of the Barbers of Edward the Second’s time, but it should be remembered that in those days, and for a long period before and afterwards, the Barbers superintended the Baths (Bagnios) and that these places were not infrequently the resort of improper characters; a few of our predecessors had perhaps, under the circumstances, been somewhat lax in their morality, and let us hope that Richard le Barber administered to those whom he found offending, due correction according to his oath and their deserts.

It would not seem from the terms of the admission, that the Master was at that period elected annually, and the Office was probably held by one man for a considerable number of years. There is no entry in the City books (which have been carefully examined for the purpose) of another admission to the Office until the year 1376, when two Masters were appointed, and then for some years subsequently two new Masters were sworn in annually.

1309. In this year we find the first record of an admission of a Barber to the freedom of the City, and several others occur about this period (_see_ Freemen).

1310. On Wednesday next after the feast of the Nativity, 4th Edward II, Gerard the Barber was sworn keeper of the Gate of Newgate (_Letter-Book D._ 113), and there are other entries of Barbers being appointed keepers or porters at the City gates; from one of these, in 1375, it would seem that they were to keep a strict watch that no lepers should enter the city, and it was doubtless on account of their surgical knowledge enabling them to distinguish those afflicted with leprosy, that these offices were conferred upon them.

1310. On Monday before the feast of St. Gregory the will of Richard le Barber, our first Master, was proved in the Court of Husting. To Katherine his wife and Johanna his daughter, he left tenements and rents in Bread Street, Cordwainer Street, Queenhithe, Candlewike Street, and Whitecrouche Street. To Thomas de Mangrave his apprentice, a shop in Bread Street; to the fabric of London Bridge 20{s.,} and the residue to pious uses.

1312. The earliest admission of a Surgeon (_not_ a Barber Surgeon) to the freedom is that of “Magister Johẽs de Suthwerk cirurgicus,” who was sworn on Friday before the feast of St. Barnabas, 5th Edward II, and who paid nothing for his freedom, being admitted at the instance of Hugh de Waltham, Town Clerk.

Among the Archives at Guildhall are various entries relating to early Barbers, which, although not touching upon the history of our Company, may properly be preserved in these pages, and I shall therefore give translations of a few of them.

1315. On Monday next after the feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary, in the 8th Edward II, by common assent of the Mayor and Aldermen in the Hustings of pleas of Land, there was granted and demised to William de Dounesheued, Barber to Sir John de Sandale, Chancellor of our Lord the King, a certain house belonging to the Bridge of London, to have and to hold to the said William for his whole life, he paying yearly on the usual days two and a half marks to the keepers for the time being of the said Bridge, which said house is situate between a house belonging to the said Bridge in which John Mew now dwells towards the West, and a house belonging to Thomas le Maderman towards the East, in the Parish of Saint Dionis Backchurch London. And the said William, the said house and its appurtenances in all needful manner shall sustain, and against wind and rain cause the same to be defended during the whole term of his life.

And there was a proviso that if the rent should remain unpaid for a whole year that the Bridge Keepers should re-enter. (_Letter-Book E._ 28{B.})

1319. On Thursday after the feast of St. Valentine, 13th Edward II, there was enrolled an obligation by which Roger the Barber (servant to John de Dallinge, Sheriff of London) and Margaret his wife, were bound to pay £100 to Sir John de Laugecombe, Rector of the Church of Laumaz Heys (_sic_) before the feast of Easter. (_Letter-Book E._ 85.)

1320. On Wednesday next after the feast of Saints Fabian and Sebastian, 13th Edward II, Lawrence the Barber, one of the men sworn to keep the Poultry Market on Cornhill, laid an information against John Bakon that he the said John was a forestaller of the Market. (_Letter-Book E._ 96{B.})

1320. In the same year among the names of the Citizens assessed to contribute to a fine of £1,000 to the King, occurs that of Thomas the Barber. (_Letter-Book E._ 106{B.})

1320. On Monday next before the feast of St. Margaret the Virgin, 14th Edward II, the Wardship of Alice, Joane and Agnes, children of John de Wynton, Barber, deceased, was given to Joane his widow; several shops and houses in the City belonging to the deceased are scheduled as for the benefit of the Wards, and Robert de Lamyngton, John de Bristolle, Barber, and Roger de Croidon were bound as sureties. (_Letter-Book E._ 114.)

Instances also occur of City Wards (sons of Barbers deceased) being apprenticed by the Chamberlain to various trades.

1340. In 14th Edward III, Hamo the Barber was assessed by the City at £10 as his contribution towards a forced loan of £5,000 to the King (_Letter-Book F._ 33) and six years later (1346) Hamo was again assessed at 20_s._ towards a “present” of 3,000 marks to the King.

1370. On 14th March, 44th Edward III, the wardship of Alice (aged 3 years), daughter of Nicholas the Barber, was given to Gilbert Prince, who was to use her legacy of 40 marks for her benefit.

1374. On the 28th July, 1374, Lawrence de Weston, Barber (Master of the Company in 1376), and Margaret his wife, mother of the said Alice, came before the Mayor, &c., and proved that the said Alice was dead, whereupon Gilbert Prince, the Executor of Nicholas the Barber’s will, was discharged, and the money paid to Lawrence and Margaret de Weston. (_Letter-Book G._ 244 and 317{B.})

Reverting now from individuals to the Company, we find that the Barbers existed as a Trade Guild, but unincorporated certainly from the year 1308, and that they were at first ruled by one Master, and later on (in 1376) by two Masters, appointed annually. This Company of Barbers was composed of two classes of Members--viz., those who practised Barbery proper (perhaps including phlebotomy and tooth drawing), and those who practised Surgery, and who were, for distinction sake, called Barber-Surgeons (in the City books they are spoken of as “Barbers exercising the faculty of Surgery”). For aught we know to the contrary, a perfect harmony and good understanding existed between these two sections of the Company, and it is probable that the ranks of the latter were continually recruited from the former.

1381. The earliest evidence of the existence of our Hall is to be found in Harl. MS. 541, which contains a list of Companies’ Halls in the City, temp. 5 Richard II, by which it appears that the Barbers’ Hall was then, as now, in the Parish of Saint Olave, Silver Street, and doubtless on the same site; the entry is, “Barbar hall y{e} p’yssh of Seynt Oluf in Sylverstrete.” In 1490 the Hall is _known_ to have been on the same site.

1388. In this year Richard II sent his writs all over the Kingdom to enquire into the nature and constitution of the several guilds and fraternities, religions, social or craft, and the returns to these writs, which must have been an immense number, were formerly kept among the Records at the Tower of London. Herbert, in his History of the Livery Companies, refers to his fruitless endeavours to discover these returns, and I have made diligent enquiry at the Record Office for them also, with the undoubted result that all of those which relate to the London Trading Guilds are lost. There are, however, a great number relating to London religious guilds and to trade guilds all over the country. Two of these concerning the Barbers of Norwich and of Lincoln are so highly interesting that I have preserved them in Appendix A.

Amongst our Archives at Barbers’ Hall, is a vellum book of Ordinances written out fair in 1658, and therein is to be found a copy of the return made by the Barbers of London to the writ of Richard II, and which the Company caused to be extracted from the Tower Records in 1634. It is certified by William Colet as agreeing with the original, but unfortunately Mr. Colet (although he was Deputy-Keeper of the Records) or his copyist has made one or two mistakes, which necessitate a little hiatus in the translation, and he has put the year as the 11th instead of the 12th of Richard II. That the latter year is the correct one is abundantly proved by the dates on the original writs and on the numerous returns still in existence at the Record Office, as also by the names of the Masters certifying, who are recorded at Guildhall as having been admitted 10th September, 12th Richard II.

Richard II was more solicitous as to the funds and property of the Guilds, than he was about their observances, and our predecessors seem to have quickly acquainted him with their pecuniary position, “the which Company have neither tenements nor rents to their common use.”

The Masters recite an old document which they found in their strong box, and which will well repay perusal; it opens with a devout dedication to the Trinity, the Virgin Mary, and the glorious company of heaven, and the first Ordinance being expressly made in honour of God and all saints, and with the intention of stirring up the people to do well and to persevere therein, we must all approve of it. It provides firstly, that decayed brethren shall have an allowance of 10-1/2_d._ per week, if their poverty have not come about by their own folly. The second and third Ordinances relate to attendance at funerals and obits of deceased members. Then follow certain rules, that no man shall entice away another’s servant; the Masters to settle disputes, payment of quarterage, refusal of office, absence from Mass and the yearly feast, the livery clothing, &c., &c. It is well to observe here the evidence of the antiquity of our livery, of the quarterage, and of the feast, all of which have come down to these days.

Some later Ordinances are added, which were apparently made in 1387. This return is probably the only one extant of the whole of those made by the London trade guilds, and is therefore of the highest interest. A copy of the original (which is in Norman French), together with a translation, follows.

COPIA extracta ex Bundell’ Fraternitatum et Gildar’ Civitatis London remaneñ de Recordo prout patet in Rotulis dñi Regis infra Turrim London.

Anno xj{o}.[29] Ricardi Secundi.

[29] A mistake for Anno xij{o.}

JOHAN HEYDON et Hen Cook Mestres[30] William Chapman et William Gomine Surveyours de la Compaignie appelle ffraternite des Barbers de la Citee de Londres dauncien temps ordeigne certifiant au Counsail ñre S{r.} le Roy en sa Chancellarie la forme manere et condicion de touz articles obseruancez et lour circumstances contenuz en la paper de dite Compaignie en la forme quesuyt la quel compaignie nont nul teñt ne rent a lour c͠oe oeps les queles articles la dite Compaignie nont usez en lour temps forsqz soulement pur auer lour vesture un foitz per añ et paier lour quarterage pur sustiner pouerez geñtz de mesme la Compaignie et un foitz per añ assembler pur manger et eslire neuells Mestres et Surveiours sanz ascun autre article de sontz escript mettre en use forsqz ceux qˀ tan soulement sont faitz al honour de dieu mes purtant qils ont trouez un paper one les articles de sontz escriptz fait del temps donc memorie ne court ils les ont p’sentez a vrẽ tressages discrecions.

[30] Sworn Masters of the Barbers, 10 Sept., 1388. 12th Ric. II. (_Letter-Book H._ 235{B.})

CESTE ENDENTURE fait en nom̃ de Dieu omnipotent pier et fitz et seynt Esperitz et de nr̃e Dame Seynt Marie et de tout la gloriouse Compaignie de Ciel de la foundacion et de Lordinance de la fraternite des Barbers de la Cite de Londres tesmoigñ coment et sur queux pointz la dite Fraternite est funduz et ordeigne.

PRIMEREMENT al honourance de Dieu et touz ses Seyntes et pur excitac͠on les coẽns des geñtz a bien faire et perseuerance auoir en bien faitz est ordeigne qˀ si ascun frere de cel fraternite qi ad este de cell fraternite per vij anz sil cheit en mischief ou en pouerte pˀ auenture issint qil neit de quoy il purra viure de son propre et ces ne luy aucigne de sa propre folye qu donqz il auera chescun semaigne de lour c͠oe boyste x{d.} oᵬ. pur sa sustenance.

ITEM quant ascun frere du dite fraternite soit mort les freres de la dite fraternite serront la veyle al dirige et le jour al Messe et al dirige et al Messe del Moys obit et qˀ chescun tiel frere mort eit xxx messes de lour c͠oe Boyste et qˀ chescun frier qˀ soit absent sanz reasonable eucheson a ascun des ditz iiij foitz qil mette a lour c͠oe Boyste en noun de ses offrandes et dispences queux il deust auer fait sil eust este en p’sent iij{d.}

ITEM quant ascun Meistre de la dite Fraternite eit feme Mort qˀ les freres de la dite ffraternite soient a La Vigile et a la Messe le jour de sont enterment et a la Moys obit et quel frer qˀ soit absent a ascun de tres foitz qil paie pur chescun foitz qil soit absent en lieu des costages et autres dispences queux il ferreit sil feusse present a lour c͠oe boyst iij{d.}

ITEM qˀ nul frere de la dite Fraternite abette autri seruant hors des seruice son Meistre priuement ne apertement.

ITEM si ascun debate surdre pˀ entre ascuns des freres qˀ dieu defend et ces soit redresse per amour per la consideration des Meistres de la dite Fraternite . . . . . faire bonement et qˀ nul ne sue vers autre en autre manere autant qil ad assaie sil puisse pˀ leide des ditz Mestrez estre recorde.

ITEM qˀ chescun frere de la dite ffraternite veigne chescun quarter del an et paie son quarterage a Collectors decell issint qˀ les dits Collectors ne.

ITEM accorde est entre toutz les ditz freres qˀ quel de eux qˀ refuse son office quant ces vient a luy sil voet estre de ces allegge qil paie a lour c͠oe boyst.

ITEM si ascun frere soit absent a lour Messe et Manger quant il serra un foitz en lan qil paiera a tant en offrandes et toutz autres choes come un.

ITEM qˀ nul des ditz freres allowe autre hors de sa Meason.

ITEM si ascun frere per auenture tarie ses paiements entre añ et demy qil face gree demz les ij anz sanz rien outre le certain doñ. Et sil ad luy soient . . . . . . p’donez issint qil paie ce gest aderer. Et a ceux pointz tenir solonc amendement si mistier soit qils soient amendez ceste Fraternite sont entre jurez et ont chescun de eux pleine sa foy et si fra chescun qi serra de la dite ffraternite. Et accorde est entre eux . . . . . . endenture soient enclos en lour c͠oe boyst et lautre demurge vers les Mestres qˀ serront pur le temps de la dit fraternite.

ITEM chescun frere du dit fraternite paie en arres pur son Drap auant la mayn xl{d.} ameyns.

ITEM qˀ chescun frere garde la liuere ij anz enterrement deuant qil le donne ou vende ou aliene la liuere en ascun manere sur peyne de paier al compaignie un noble dor sur lour grace.

ITEM est ordeyne le dymenge ps̃ch ensuant lassumpc͠on de nr̃e Dame lan le Roy Richard sẽde xj{o.} qe les Surveiours du dit Mistier soient esluy per lassent de tout la ffraternite et nemy per les Mestres.

ITEM qˀ nul du dit Fraternite paie plus pur son mangre qˀ xiiij{d,} en apres.

ITEM ordeyne est qˀ chescun Meistre qˀ eslisera ascun autre home pur estre en son lieu cesta sauoir pur estre Meistre celuy qˀ eslisera tiel home pur estre Meistre apres lan serra obligee per mesme luy a la Compaignie pur la monoy en un obligacon.

Convenit cum Recordo WILLŨS COLET.

A COPY taken from a Bundle “of the Fraternities and Guilds of the City of London” which remains of record, as the same is seen in the Rolls of the Lord the King, at the Tower of London.

Anno 12. Richard II.

JOHN HEYDON and Henry Cook, Masters, William Chapman and William Gomine, Surveyors of the Company called the Fraternity of Barbers of the City of London of ancient time established, certifying to the Council of Our Lord the King, in his Chancery, the form manner and condition of all the articles, customs and their circumstances contained in the Records of the same Company in the form following:--The which Company have neither tenements nor rents to their common use, And these articles the said Company have not used in their time excepting only for to have their Livery once a year, and to pay their quarterage to maintain the poor folk of the same Company, and once a year to assemble to feast, and to elect new Masters and Surveyors without any other article of their writing to put forward except those which only are made to the honour of God; but, however, as they have found a document amongst the articles of the Records, made of the time to which memory runneth not, they have presented it to your most wise discretions.

THIS INDENTURE made in the name of the Omnipotent God, the Father and Son and the Holy Ghost, and of our Lady Saint Mary and of all the glorious Company of Heaven, concerning the foundation of the Government of the Fraternity of Barbers of the City of London Witnesseth how and upon what points the said Fraternity is founded and ordained.

FIRSTLY to the honour of God and all his Saints, and to stir up the Commons of the people to do well, and to have perseverance in well doing, it is ordained that if any brother of this Fraternity who has been of this Fraternity for seven years by chance fall into trouble or into poverty, and if he have nothing of his own by which he may be able to live, and it be not through his own folly, that then he shall have each week from their common box tenpence half penny for his sustenance.

ITEM. That when any brother of the said Fraternity dies the brethren of the said Fraternity shall go on the Vigil to the dirge, and on the day[31] to the Mass, and to the dirge and to the mass of the month’s obit, and that each such brother dead have thirty masses from their common box,[32] and that each brother who is absent without reasonable excuse at any of the said four times, shall put into their common box in place of his offerings and expenses, as he ought to have done if he had been present, three pence.

[31] The day of the funeral. [32] Thirty masses sung at the expense of the common box.

ITEM. When any Master of the said Fraternity has a wife dead, the brethren of the said Fraternity shall be at the Vigil and at the Mass on the day of her burial and at the month’s obit, and that brother who is absent at any of the three times shall pay for each time that he be absent, in place of the costs and other expenses which he would have borne if he had been present, three pence to their common box.