Part 9

TO THE RIGHT hono{r}able lord the Mair And the right wirshipful Sovˀaignes the Aldermen of the Citee of London Mekely besechen your goode lordship̃ and maistershippes all the pˀsones enfraunchesed in the crafte and mistere of Barbours w{t}in the Citee of london That it wold pleas the same your lordshipp and maistershippes for the Wirship̃ of the said Citee And for the goode Rule to be had w{t}in the saide Craft to graunte and establissh thise articles folowyng And theym to be entred of Recorde in the Chambre of the said Citee before your said lordship and maistershippes hereafter for to be observed and executed.

FFIRST that there shall no ffraunchesed Barbo{r.} w{t}in the said Citee take any man or Child to be his Apprentice before that he hath pˀsented the same man or Child unto the maister and Wardeyns of the said Craft for the tyme being, to thentent that the same maister and Wardeyns may duely examyne ovˀsee serche and behold by the Colour and complexion of the said man or Child if he be avexed or disposed to be lepur or gowty maymed or disfigured in any pˀties of his body Whereby he shall fall in disdeyn or lothefulnesse unto the sight of the Kingꝭ liege people And also to be examyned of his birth and of his kynrede or if there be on hym any bonde claymed, And if he be founde defectif in any of thise poyntꝭ that than no fraunchesed Barbo{r.} of the saide Citee shall take hym to his Apprentice uppon payn to pay v{li.} Whereof that one half shall Remayn unto the Chambre of the said Citee.

ALSO that evˀy enfraunchesed barbour that taketh any apprentice shall pay to the almes of the said Craft for the same Apprentice iij{s.} iiij{d.} to be paied in fourme folowyng that is to sey, at the first pˀsentacion of the Appˀntice xx{d.} and that other xx{d.} in the same yeere When he shall be enrolled And the names of the maister and appˀntice and the yeres of appˀntishode of the same appˀntice shalbe writen in a book by the said maistˀ & Wardeyns And he that disobeith this article or orden{a}nce shall pay unto ye almes of the said Craft of barbours xiij{s.} iiij{d.} that one half thereof to be applied to thuse of the said Chambre and that other half to the almes of the said Craft. And if it so be that the said Apprentice Dye w{t}in the first yere, or voide so that the said maistˀ take none avauntage by the same Appˀntice, that than the same money stonde for the next Appˀntice, And if it hapne the said maister to take any pˀfet [_profit_] for the said Appˀntice by way of Sale or sˀvice and that so pˀved before the said maister and Wardeyns that than the saide maister of the said Appˀntice to be charged for the said iij{s.} iiij{d.}

Then follows the usual Ratification (in Latin) of the above Articles.

1487. The next notice which we have of the Barbers in the City books, indicates that there had been quarrels and dissensions among them, and that the rules of the Craft had been set at nought by its members, whereupon a Book of Ordinances was presented to the Court of Aldermen for approval and ratification and the same is entered at this date, 20 July 2 Hen vij, in _Letter-Book L._ 235{B.} as follows:--

MEMORANDUM qˀd xx{o.} die Julij Anno regni Regis Henrici septum secundo, Gardiani & aɫ pˀᵬi hõies Artꝭ sive occupacõis de Barbours Civitatꝭ london venerˀ hic in Curˀ dc̃i dñi Regis in Camˀa Guilhald ejusdem Civitatꝭ coram Henrico Colet milite maiore & Aldr̃is Civitatꝭ pˀdc̃i & porrexˀunt eisdm̃ maori & Aldr̃is quandã billam sive supplicaõem Cujus tenor sequit{r.} in hec verba,

TO the right honourable lord the maire and fulle discrete sovˀaignes thaldˀmen of the Citee of london Shewen mekely unto yo{r.} good lordeship and maistˀshippes the maister and the Wardeyns and the good ffolke of the Crafte or Science of Barbours Surgeons of the said Citee that Where as they of longe tyme have been in discorde and not of oon conformite, but evˀy man in effect of the said Crafte or Science hathe taken and folowed his own singuler way and apetite as menne be[49] under no Rule nor obedience, contrarie to all godly policie for lacke of good Rules and orden{a}ncꝭ hadde and used within the same Crafte or Science, and in especiall for takyng of over many appˀnticꝭ and settyng a werk of money[50] fforeyns comyng oute of Seint Martyns, Westmynster, Suthwerk and other placꝭ nere unto this Citee to the distruccion of the good ffolke enfraunchised of the said Crafte or Science, but if[51] a remedie by yo{r} noble and grete wisdomes the rather be pˀvided in that behalf. That it wold pleas yo{r.} good lordeship and maistershippes for the good Rule and sadde[52] guydyng hereafter to be hadde amongꝭ the good ffolkꝭ of the said Crafte within the same Crafte to graunt to yo{r.} saide besechers certeyn Articles hereaftˀ ensuying from hensforth to be obsˀved and kept and afore you here in this hono{r}able Court to be establisshed and entred of Record for ever to endure.

[49] Being = living. [50] Many. [51] But if = unless. [52] Wise.

FFIRST that no pˀsone of the said Crafte or science ne none other enfraunchised within the saide Crafte and kepyng open shoppe of the same Crafte or Science within the same Cite from hensforth in any wyse pˀsume to take uppon him to sette a werke within his house or Shoppe any sˀvaunt or sˀvauntꝭ or allowes[53] or other beyng fforeyns or estraungiers, but[54] evˀry suche pˀsone so enfraunchised in the saide Crafte or science or in any other and occupie the same Crafte or Science within the Citee aforesaid present any such sˀvaunt or sˀvauntꝭ allowes and other before the maistˀs and Wardeyns of the same Crafte or Science of Barbours for the tyme beyng within iij daies next after his comyng to his saide maister to thentent that the saide maister and Wardeyns have knowledge of their habilitie and cunyng[55] before they be sette any lenger in occupac̃ion in the saide Crafte or Science, And what manˀ pˀsone[56] aforesaid hereafter be founde doyng the contrarie of this orden{a}nce shall forfeit and pay at evˀy tyme that he is so founden defectif xl{s.} the oon half thereof to be applied to thuse of the Chambre of this hono{r}able Citee and the other half to the Coẽn boxe of the said Crafte.

[53] Hired servants. [54] Unless. [55] Skill. [56] Manner of person.

ALSO that no manˀ pˀsone[57] enfraunchised in the saide Crafte or in any other kepying an open Shoppe and occupieth the same Crafte within the Citee from hensforth take or set a Werke within his house or shoppe or ellꝭ where within the same Citee any moo[58] Sˀvaunts allowes at oones[59] beyng fforeyns or Straungiers but oonly ij pˀsones and the same ij pˀsones to be pˀsented by their maister before the maister and Wardeyns of the said Crafte or Science of Barbours for the tyme beyng within iij daies next comˀyng in to suche sˀvice to their suche maistˀ And that the same fforeyns or straungiers shall take or have of their saide maister suche wages for their suche sˀvice as it shalbe thought by the saide Maister and Wardeyns of the said Crafte of Barbours that they canne desˀve and none other, And what maner of pˀsone aforesaid hereafter be founde doyng contrarie to this orden{a}ncꝭ shall forfeit at evˀry tyme that he is founde defectif v{li.} to be divided and applied to suche uses as be aforeherced.[60]

[57] Manner of person. [58] More. [59] Once. [60] Afore rehearsed.

ALSO if it fortune hereafter any pˀsone enfraunchised in the saide Crafte of barbours or in any other occupying the same Crafte of barbours within the Citee to take any mo sˀvauntꝭ allowes at oones beyng fforeyns or straungiers than onely ij as is aforeherced[61] Wherethurgh[62] he renneth in the forfaiture of the said penaltie of v{li.} for the saide offence, and than that the maister and Wardeyns of the saide Crafte of Barbours for the tyme beyng havyng knowleche therof put not the said penaltie of v{li.} in execucion accordyng to the teno{r.} of the saide Acte thereof made, within xiiij daies after that the said maistˀ and Wardeyns have knowleche thereof, that than the said maistˀ and Wardeyns for the tyme beyng so founden defectif shall forfeit and lose at evˀy tyme xiij{s.} iiij{d.} to be divided and applied to suche uses as be aforeherced.

[61] Afore rehearsed. [62] Wherethrough = whereby.

ALSO that no manˀ pˀsones enfraunchised in the said Crafte or in any other occupying the same Crafte within the said Citee from hensforth take any moo appˀntices at oones than iij uppon payne of forfaiture of v{li.} at evˀy suche tyme as he is founde defectif doyng contrarie of this Article, to be divided and applied to suche uses as be afore reherced Savyng allway that it shalbe lefull to evˀy suche pˀsone oon yeere before the tˀme of appˀntishode of any his appˀnticꝭ be expired to take a nother appˀntice in the stede of hym that is nygh com̃yng oute of his tˀmes of appˀntishode to thentent that the same newe appˀntice may have his due erudicion and lernyng in the said Crafte or Science of Barbours before the tˀmes and [63] of the rather appˀntice.

[63] A blank in the original.

ALSO if any pˀson of the said Crafte or Science selle away his appˀntice to a nother manne within his tˀmes of appˀntishode that than it shalnot be lefull to any suche pˀsone so silling away his appˀntice to take any newe in his stede duryng the tˀme to come of appˀntishode of that appˀntice so sold Nevertheles if it fortune any appˀntice to dye within the tˀmes of his appˀntishode that than it shall be laufull to the mastˀ of that appˀntice so dying to take a nother in his stede when so evˀ it shall lyke hym.

PROVIDED all way that it shalbe lefull to evˀy pˀsone of the said Crafte nowe havyng many appˀnticꝭ to reteyne and holde fulle as many appˀnticꝭ as he hathe the day of makyng of this Acte or orden{a}nce unto suche tyme as the tˀme of their appˀnticialite shalbe fully accomplisshed So all way that no suche pˀsone take any mo appˀntices unto suche tyme as the nuˀbre of the said appˀnticꝭ be reduced and brought unto the said nuˀbre of iij appˀnticꝭ uppon payn of forfaiture of v{li.} to be divided and applied to suche uses as been afore reherced.

ALSO that no foreyn Barbour from this tyme foreward occupie the Craft or Science of Barbours or Surgeon Barbo{r.} within the ffraunchise of the said Citee but if he be lymytted and assigned therto by the maister and Wardeyns of the same Craft for the tyme beyng uppon payn of forfaiture of v{li.} as often as any suche pˀsone so be founde defectif, to be divided and applied to suche uses as be aforeherced. Provided allway that if it canne be thought for the wele of the kyngꝭ people that if any foreyn Barbours or foreyn Surgeon be founden of such habilitie and connyng of Surgerie or of that Crafte that it were necessarie to have hym to occupie within the ffraunchise of this Citee, that than he be admitted therto by the Chamᵬleyn of london and by the Maister and Wardeyns of the said Crafte of Barbours for the tyme beyng, With that the same fforeyn fynde suertie sufficient to be bounde to the said Chamᵬleyn and Maister and Wardeyns for to do make him self free of the saide Crafte or Science of Surgeon Barbours and to obey and pˀfourme the Rules and ordenn{a}ncꝭ of the same Crafte and to be under the correcion of the same Crafte, provided allway that the kyngꝭ people be served in price of their Cure and shavyng in tyme to come aswell and as safely as they have been in tymes passed.

Then follows the usual Ratification (in Latin) of the above Articles.

1490. A declaration made by one Bryan Sandford, dated 8th March, 1490, was produced to the Committee of the House of Commons in 1745, in which it was stated that the Company were at that time possessed of the freehold of their Hall in Monkwell Street.

1493. On the 12th July in this year, an agreement was entered into between the Barbers’ Company and the Surgeons’ Guild which would indicate that the two bodies were now on amicable terms, working harmoniously for the increase of the credit of the profession, and for the correction of inexperienced surgeons and empirics. This “Composition” is of so interesting a nature that it is here given in full, as extracted from the fine old Book of Ordinances at the Hall; it did not unite the two bodies in any way beyond this, that they agreed to follow the same rules and practice with regard to the government of all Surgeons; that each guild was to choose two Wardens, and that the four so chosen were to act in a conjoint capacity as rulers or masters in matters surgical, and thus comprehend all Surgeons, whether of the Barbers’ Company, the Surgeons’ Guild, or “foreyns.”

This present wrytyng endentyd of copˀosicyons made the xij{th} day of July iˀ the zere of owyr lord God M{t}CCCClxxxxiij and the viij{th} zere of the reyne of kyng harry the vij{th} William Martyn then beyng mayre of this cyte of london betwyxt the ffelishippis of surgeons enfraunchesˀ w{t} in the cyte of london on that on p’ty And the felishippis of barbours surgeons and surgeons barbours enfraunchessid iˀ the seyd cyte on the other parte witnesyth that the sayde felyshippys of ther comon assent and mere moc̃yons ben c͠odescẽdyd and agreyd togethir the day and the zere aboue sayd, in mañ and fourme folowyng. That is to sey that eũy pˀson and pˀsons of the faculte or scyens of surgeons admyttyd and sworne to eyth̃ of the sayde felyshippis from hens forward shall stond and a byde w{t} ther felyshippis as they now do and dyd before thys present composicyon.

Also that from hens forth non of the sayde felyshippis shall admyt nor reseyue in to ther felishippys any alyent straungˀ or foreyn vsyng the sayde faculte or scyens of surgery w{t}owten knowleg or c͠osent of the wardẽs of bothe the seyd felishippys. All so for the welth and suerte of the kyngꝭ lege people And the honour of the seyde felyshyppys, It is agreyd be twyxt the same two felyshippis that non alyent straunger nor foreyn shall use nor ocopy the seyde faculte or scyens of surg̃y withyn this cyte or subbers of the same unto such tyme as he shewhym selfe to the mayer for the time beyng, and by the iiij wardeyns of bothe the saide felishippis, that is to sey of eyth̃ of the sayde felishippis, tweyn, and othˀ suche as by theyr wysdomys they will call vnto them, be dewly examyned & approuyd to be sufficyent of conyng and habilyte in the sayde faculte. And yf any such pˀson or pˀsones bi the sayde iiij wardens as is afore sayde be taken reputed and a lowed to be sufficient of konyng and habylite iˀ the seyd faculte or scyens of surgery that then the pˀson or pˀsonys so knowen and admyttyd shall be sworne to all the good rewlys and ordenans of y{e} seyd faculte or scyens of surgery, and to be under the coreccyon of the iiij wardens for the tyme beyng to the entent that at all tymes he may be under dwe coreccyon for the sauegard of y{e} kyngis lege people. And if any suche alyent straungˀ or foreyn of pˀsumcon refuse to be examyned of the seyde wardens in mañ & fourme as is a fore seyd, Or yf any suche straunger or foreyn so examyned be the seyde wardens be Juged onsufficient of conyng and neũtheles takyth upon hym to occupy or vse the seyde faculte of surg̃y w{t}yn the seyde cyte or subbars of the same, Then take the name of hym or them so doyng and pˀsent hym by the sayd iiij wardens to the mayer for the tyme beyng, to the entent that by his wysdom, and advice of hys honerabyll brethern may set suche direccyon as shall be thought resonabil formacion[64] therof, restrayne hym from the ocupac̃on of the same scyens w{t} in the sayde cyte. Also it is agreyd and cõpoundyd betwyxte the sayde felyshippys that from hensforth eũy of the seyde felyshippis and seũally by them selfe, Chese of themselfe two discrete pˀsons usyng the fete of surgery to be seũally wardens of the sayde seũall felishippis, and that these iiij wardens for the tyme beyng when and as oftyn as nede shall requere, Shall haue the syght and good gounaunce of the seide faculte of surgery. And eũy pˀson or pˀsonys of eũy of the sayde felyshippis that happenys or shall fortune to haue any Jeopˀde[65] or dowtefull cure, dredyng deth or mãy,[66] he or they hauing at eny tyme to come, shall shew and pˀsent the cure or curys in as short tyme as nede shall be reqˀred, And at the leste at the thyrde dressyd[67] to the saide iiij wardens for the tyme beyng, Or any other pˀson or pˀsonys that is to seye, to one of yche of the seyde felishippis, and the same wardens and yf them seme nedefull shall call unto them ij or iij, or more if nede reqˀre, of the wysest and best expˀte mẽ of the said felishippis occupyeng the saide faculte of surgery as them semeth most expedyent, for the cause or causis aforesayde. Also in this coposycion yt is ordeyned and agreyd, that none of the iiij wardens for the zere beyng neyther any other pˀson of the sayde felishippis ocopyeng the crafte of surg̃i, Put any man of thes sayde felishipis oute of ther cure otherwyse then the honeste of the crafte wolle, but that yche of them be redy to helpe eche other w{t} counsell or deed, y{t} worship profyte and the honeste of the crafte, and helpyng of the seke be had and done on all sydis. And if ony of thes iiij wardens for the tyme beyˀg or any other pˀson or pˀsonys of the seyde felyshippis do the cõtrary that eche suche doer content the valvyr[68] of the cure, After discressyon and Jugem̃et of the same iiij wardens for the zere beyng, And also for his trespas to paye aftur discression and Jugem̃et of the iiij wardens. Also if any pˀson of the sayde felishippis dislaunder or depute any of the saide felishippis onrightfully ownonestly and ef it so maye be prouyd upon hym by two or thre witnesse, that he paye for that trespas iij{s.} iiij{d.}, and ouer that to make amendis to y{e} seide pˀsons the whiche he hath so disslaunderd aftur Jugement of onest men of the seyd felyshippis not founden in non suche defaute.

[64]? “For reformation.” [65] Jeopardy. [66] Maiming. [67]? “Day” or “dressing.” [68]? “Value.”

This pˀsent cõposicyon was made the daye and zere a bowe wreton by Roberd taylour, Rob{t.} Halyday, Thom̃s Koppisley, Thom̃s Thornton, Ihoñ Harte, Johñ Marhm̃, Roberd Beuerly, James Scote, James Ingoldysby, Johñ Taylour, Richard Swedenhm̃, Nicholas Leueryng, John Wilson. In rowlid in Raffe Osterigis tyme, mayer.

Of the persons assenting to this composition, the following were Barber-Surgeons, viz.: Rob{t.} Halyday (Master 1475, 1483, 1485, 1490, 1496), James Scott (M. 1493, 1498, 1500), James Ingoldysby (M. 1501, 1506), John Taylour (M. 1523, 1524), and Nicholas Leveryng(M. 1503, 1508), the others were most likely belonging to the Guild of Surgeons.

An Ordinance by way of addenda to the above was made, imposing penalties upon any who should break any of the foregoing rules; the first offence to be punished by a fine of 10_s._, the second 20_s._, and the third offence to be remitted to the Mayor and Aldermen for punishment after their discretion.

How long this agreement, so beneficial for the practice of Surgery, continued in force is unknown; but the probabilities are that the old jealousies soon re-appeared and that each Guild worked on its own lines until 1540, as, by the uniting Act then passed, it was specially remarked as desirable that the two Companies should come together, and be incorporated in one.

1497. We shall now present to the reader’s notice a highly important document, being a diploma granted by the Master and Wardens of the Barbers’ Company to one of their freemen, enabling him to practise as a Surgeon. This is in all probability the earliest English diploma of a Surgeon extant and cannot fail by the quaintness of its composition, and the details given, to prove of much interest. We notice in it, that our Company as usual, did not fail to rehearse its prerogatives and practice, and we also observe that thus early the Company provided an instructor and examiner in the science, Dr. John Smith, before whom came in the Common Hall, Robert Anson, and in the presence of a “great audience of many right well expert men in Surgery and others, was openly examined in divers things concerning the practice,” etc.

THE LETTˀ PAT̃E OF BˀBOURS & OF SURGEOS BˀBORS.