The Annals of the Barber-Surgeons of London

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:—

Be it knowen to all men that y Clarensew Kyng of Armes of the South Marche of Englond Consideryng the noble estate of the Cite of London by the name of Erle & Barons as in their ffirst Charter by scripture appereth and as now called mayre and aldermen and by good avyce of all the aldermen and the noble citezenis of London that every alderman shuld have award by hymself to governe and rule to the Worship of the cite and the maires power ev?y alderman in his Ward with correccion of the mair beyng for the tyme and so notablie ordeyned to be custumed ev?y Craft clothing be hem self to know o Craft from a nother and also synes of Armes in baner wyse to beer conveniently for the worship of the reame and the noble cite and so now late the Maisters of Barbory and Surgery within the craft of Barbours John Strugge Thomas Wyllote Hugh Herte & Thomas Waleys come & praying me Clarensewe Kyng of Armes to devise hem a conysauns & syne in fourme of armes under my seall of myn Armes that might be conveniently to ther Craft. And where y Clarensewe Kyng of Armes consideryng the gode disposicion of them y have devysed a Conysaunce in fourme of Armes that is to sey A felde sabull a cheveron bytwene iij flemys of silver the which syne of armes y Clarensew gyve the same conysaunce of Armes to the forsaid Crafte and none other Crafte in no wyse shall not bere the same. To the which witenesse of this wrytyng y sette my seal of myn armes & my syne manuall wreten atte London the xxix day of the monthe of September the xxx^th yere of the regne of oure soverayne lord Kyng Henry the Sixt.

By Claransew Kynge of armes.

1492. In this year a cognizance, or possibly an informal grant of arms, was given to the Surgeons’ Company; this is depicted on the first leaf in the beautiful old vellum book of Ordinances at the Hall, the inscription under, stating that it was given to the Craft of Surgeons of London in the year 1492, at the going over the sea into France of Henry VII. (See the fac-simile at p.68.)

No other authority than the above statement is known for this coat, but in the grant to the Barber-Surgeons (1569) it is recited that Henry VIII granted the Company of Surgeons a cognizance “which is a spatter thereon a rose gules crowned golde for their warrant in fielde but no authoritie by warrant for the bearinge of the same in shilde as armes.” The Herald in drawing the grant of 1569 probably accidentally put in the name of Henry VIII for that of Henry VII, the entry in our book being undoubtedly coeval with the circumstance. We here get the foundations of our present coat of arms; the fleams representing the old Barber-Surgeons or Barbers, and the crowned rose and spatula the Surgeons proper, both of which were introduced into one shield in 1561, and quartered in 1569.

On either side of the shield of the Surgeons’ Arms stands a Saint habited as a doctor or physician, one of whom holds a medical vessel in his right hand, while the other has a box of ointment and a spatula, indicative of their being professors of the healing art. These are the patron Saints of the Company, Cosmus and Damianus. Mrs. Jameson states that they—

were two brothers, Arabians by birth but they dwelt in ÆgÆ, a city of Cilicia. Their father having died while they were yet children, their pious mother Theodora, brought them up with all diligence, and in the practice of every Christian virtue. Their charity was so great, that not only they lived in the greatest abstinence, distributing their goods to the infirm and poor, but they studied medicine and surgery, that they might be able to prescribe for the sick, and relieve the sufferings of the wounded and infirm; and the blessing of God being on all their endeavours, they became the most learned and the most perfect physicians that the world had ever seen. They ministered to all who applied to them, whether rich or poor. Even to suffering animals they did not deny their aid, and they constantly refused all payment or recompense, exercising their art only for charity and for the love of God; and thus they spent their days.

In the cover of a Latin Bible, printed in 1470, I discovered some vellum padding, which on examination proved to be a MS. of XIth century, consisting of part of a collection of the lives of the Saints, interspersed with prayers, etc., and which probably had been read in some Convent refectory during the hours of meals. This MS. is moreover curious, as those portions intended to be sung have certain signs affixed, known as “neumes,” which, before the more modern method of musical notation was introduced, were employed to denote musical expression. An account of the martyrdom of Cosmo and Damian, together with their brothers, is here preserved, but as the original is in very contracted Latin, the following translation will, perhaps, better supply its place:—

The souls of Cosmus and Damianus the Just are in the hands of God.

There have moreover been crowned these five brothers Cosmus, Damianus, Antimeus, Leuntius and Eutrepius.

Furthermore we beseech Thee, Almighty God, to grant that we, who commemorate the nativities of thy Saints Cosmus and Damianus, may by their intercessions be delivered from all present and future evils. Amen. The blessed martyrs Cosmus Damianus, Antimeus, Leuntius and Eutrepius, were committed to prison by order of the governor; and on the following day, the proconsul sitting on the judgment seat, caused an enormous fire to be made, and the above-named men to be led out of prison and cast into its midst. But on account of their prayers the fire lost its power over these saints. The governor was astounded, and the executioner, thinking that the circumstances which had happened with regard to the martyrs of God depended on their magical arts, ordered them to be again interrogated. But, when they remained firm with a cheerful and joyous countenance rendered more noble by torture, he ordered crosses to be made, and the martyrs, when stretched upon them, to be pelted with stones. Accordingly, when the blows recoiled on those that delivered them, the governor, inflamed with excessive rage, gave orders to attack them with arrows, so that at a less distance the steel might at least penetrate. But, although he had not been able to injure them in any way, many of those who discharged arrows and who stood near withdrew on account of the wounds that they received.

For so is the testimony.

Seeing accordingly that his ill will was overcome by Divine power, the governor ordered them to be mutilated with a sword.

The blessed martyrs were put to death on the Twentieth day of September; and their bodies were buried by devout men in a holy spot not far from the city of Ægae.

Mrs. Jameson relates a legend somewhat similar to the above, and states that it was of great antiquity, being transplanted into Western Europe in the first ages of Christianity. The Emperor Justinian, having been recovered, as he supposed, from a dangerous illness by the intercession of these saints, erected a superb church in their honour. Among the Greeks they succeeded to the worship and attributes of Æsculapius; and from their disinterested refusal of all pay or reward, they are distinguished by the honourable title of Anargyres, which signifies moneyless, or without fees. These saints are commemorated on the 27th September, and all over Europe have ever been the patron saints of the Barbers and Surgeons; they are also the patrons of the Medici family, and as such they figure on the coins of Florence.

1540. In the bowl of the grace cup given by Henry VIII to the Barber-Surgeons, the arms of the Barbers impaling the Surgeons are cut, but this is merely the fancy of an engraver, and of later date than the cup.

10th July, 1561. In the Heralds’ College (I.C.B., No. 101, 20) is a grant of arms by William Harvey, Clarencieux King of Arms, to the Barber-Surgeons, in which he grants and assigns unto them for an “augmentac?on to ther old and aunscint Armes (which is sables a chevrone between thre flumes argent) a chef paly argent & vert on a pale goles a lyon passant regardant gold betwene two spatters argent a roze gewles crowned golde & to ther creast upon the healme an opinacus golde standing upon a wreath argent and sables manteled gewles dubled argent.”

1565. This year, Harvey, Clarencieux, granted two supporters to the above arms, namely, “two lynxe in their proper Collor about there necks a crowne with a cheyne argent.”

1568. This year, Garter, Clarencieux, and Norroy, Kings of Arms, ratified and confirmed the above arms, crest, and supporters, with the following variations, the arms to be borne quarterly, “the ffyrst sables a cheveron bytwyne iij flewmes argent, the second quarter per pale argent and vert on a spatter of the fyrst a Dobele rose gules and argent crowned or, over all on a crosse gules a lyon passant Regardant or.”

12th June, 1569. The grant of Arms by Dethick, etc., is a beautifully artistic production, though, unfortunately, slightly damaged, and the seals are missing. In 1885 the Company had it reproduced in chromo-photography by Mr. William Griggs, whose work has been so skilfully executed that it is difficult to observe the least difference between the original and the copies.

With this grant is the first appearance of a motto “De prÆscientia Dei.” How this motto came to be chosen, or in what way it applies to the Barber-Surgeons, I am at a loss to point out. The following is the text of the grant.

To all and singuler aswell Kinges herehaultes and Officers of Armes, as nobles gentlemen and others to whome these presentes shall come be seene heard, read or understand Sir Gilbert Dethicke Knight alias Garter principall Kinge of Armes, Robert Cooke Esquire alias Clarencieulx kinge of Armes of the South partes of Englande, and Willm Flower Esquire alias Norroy kinge of Armes of the northe partes of Englande send greetinge in our lorde god everlastinge. For as much as aunciently from the beginninge the valiaunt and vertuouse actes of excellent personnes have ben com~endid to the worlde and posterite with sondrey monumentes and remembrances of their good deseartes; Emongest the which the chiefest and most usuall hath ben the bearinge of signes and tokens in shildes called Armes, beinge none other thinges then evidences and demonstracions of prowesse and valoir diversly distributed accordinge to the qualytes and deseartes of the persons meritinge the same To th?entent that such as have done com~endable service to their prince or countrey either in warre or peace, or other wyse by laudable and couragiouse entreprices or proceedinge of eny person or persons in th?augmentacion of the Estate or comon wealth of their realme or countrey might thereby receyve due honor in their lyves, and also deryve the same succesively to their successors and posteritie for ever. And wheras in this Citie of London th?experience & practise of the science and facultie of Chirurgery is most requisite and daily to be exercysed & experimented for the preservacion of meny, & by th?occasion of the practise thereof meny expert persons be brought up & experimented to the relief, succour, & helpe of an infinite nomber of persons. And for as much as within this Citie of London ther were two severall c?opanyes, th?one by the name of Barbours Chirurgeons, and th?other by the name of Chirurgeons onely: the Barbours Chirurgeons being incorporate & y^e other not, & bothe occupyenge y^e arte of Chirurgery wheruppon greate c?otention did arise. And for y^t it was most meete and necessary y^t the sayd two c?opanyes shuld be united & made one hole body & so incorporated, to th?entent that by their union & often assembly togither, th?exercyse & knowledge of their science & mistery might appeere, as well in practise as in speculatiÕ not onely to theim selfes, but to others under theim. So that it was thought most meete & c?ovenient upon grave & greate c?osideracion, to unyte & joyne y^e sayd two c?opanyes in one: w^ch was don as may appeere by an acte of parleament in ano xxxij of Henry theight w^t these wordes “Be it enactid by the Kinge our souvereigne lorde & the lordes spirituall & temporall & the com~ons of y^e same, that y^e sayde two severall & distinct companies, that is to say bothe y^e Barbours Surgeons, & the Sourgeons & every parson of theim beinge a freman of either of y^e sayde c?opanies after y^e custome of the sayde citie of London, & their successors, from hencefoorthe immediatly be unyted & made one entier and whole body corporate, & one societie perpetual, which at all tymes heerafter shalbe called by y^e name of Maisters & Governours of y^e mistery & com~unalty of Barbours & Surgeons of London for evermore, & by none other name.” In consideracion whereof & for that it doth appeere a thinge most requisite for the unitinge of these two c?opanyes togither and for that th?occupation of the Barbo^rs Chirurgeons beinge incorporate hath since y^e tyme of Kinge Henry the sixt used & boren Armes y^t is to say Sables a cheveron betweene thre Flewmes argent w^ch Armes wer unto theim assigned onely by the gifte & assignement of Clarencieulx Kinge of Armes, as by y^e patent thereof doth & may more plainly appeere. And since y^e unitinge of y^e sayde two c?opanies these Armes of y^e sayd corporation of Barbours Chirurgeons hath ben used & none other, yet notw^tstandinge y^e late Kinge Henry th?eight of famouse memory assigned & gave unto y^e company of y^e Chirurgeons onely, a Cognoysance, w^ch is a spatter, thereon a rose gules crowned golde, for their warrant in fielde, but no authoritie by warrant for the bearinge of the same in shilde as Armes. And for y^t it pleased y^e same Kinge Henry th?eight, not onely to unite & incorporate these two c?opanies togither by acte of parleament but also hath ratifyed & c?ofirmed the same by his letters patent? under the greate seale of Englande & so lately c?ofirmed by y^e Queenes Ma^tie that now is.281 And wheras Thomas Galle in the 3 yere of the Queene’s Ma^ties reigne that now is beinge Maister, Alexander Mason John Standon Robert Mudesley governors of y^e same corporation mistery & comunaltie of Barbours & Chirurgeons being desirouse to have some signes & tokens addid & augmented to th?old & auncient Armes of the Barbours Chirurgeons, not onely for a perpetuall memory as well of y^e famouse prince Kinge Henry th?eight their founder & patrone but also for a further declaration of y^e unitinge of those two c?opanies togither did instantly require the late Clarencieulx Hervy to consider y^e premisses & to shew his endevor therein. Who finding their request just and lawfull did graunt & give unto them by his letters patentes under his hand & seale bearinge date the x^th of July in the third yere of y^e reigne of the queenes Ma^tie that now is, an augmentac?on in chief to their olde & auncient Armes w^th heaulme & Creast to the same: which chief was paly argent & vert on a pale gules a lyon passant gardant golde betweene two spatters argent, on eche a double rose gules and argent crowned golde: and to their Creast on a torce silver and sables an Opinacus golde: Mantelled gules, doubled argent. And further in the tyme of Robert Balthrop Esquire serjeaunt of the Queenes Ma^ties Chirurgeons then beinge Maister of the sayd mistery and comunalty of the Barbours & Chirurgeons and George Vaughan Richard Hughes & George Corron governours of the same corporation the sayd Clarencieulx Hervy did graunt unto the sayd corporation two supporters to those Armes before given them: which were two Linxe in their proper coulor, aboute their neckes a Crowne w^t a chayne argent pendant therat: As by the sayde letters patentes more plainly doth appeere. Yet notwithstandinge for as much as it doth plainly appeere unto us the sayd Garter Clarencieulx & Norroy Kinges of Armes, that the aforesayd Armes in some respectes wer not onely contrary to the wordes of the corporation of the sayd Barbours and Chirurgeons but that also in the same patent of Armes ther ar sondrey other thinges contrary and not agreinge with the auncient lawes & rules of Armes: We the sayd Kinges of Armes by power & authoritie to us com~itted by Letters patent under the greate Seale of Englande, have confirmed given and graunted the foresayd Armes Creast and Supporters heertofore mentioned, to be boren in maner and fourme heerafter specified. That is to say: Quarterly the first sables a cheveron betweene three Flewmes argent: the seconde quarter per pale argent and vert on a Spatter of the first, a double Rose gules and argent crowned golde: the third quarter as the seconde and the fourth as the first: Over all on a Crosse gules a lyon passant gardant golde: And to their Creast upon the heaulme on a Torce arg?t and sables an Opinacus golde: Mantelled gules doubled argent: Supported with two Linxe in their proper coulor about their neckes a crowne with a chayne argent pendent therat: As plainly appeerith depicted in this margent. Which Armes Creast and Supporters and every parte and parcell thereof, we the sayd Kinges of Armes have confirmed ratified given and graunted and by these presentes do ratify confirme give and graunt unto Richard Tholmwood Maister of the sayd mistery and com~unatie Nicholas Archenbolde Thomas Burston and John Fielde Governors of the sayd Corporation mistery and com~unaltie of Barbours and Chirurgeons and to their successors by the name of Maister and Gouvernours, and to the whole Assistantes Company and fellowshippe of the sayd Corporation mistery and com~unaltie of Barbours and Chirurgeons within this Citie of London and to their successors for evermore: And they the same to have, hold, use beare enjoy and shew forthe in shylde, seale, banner or banner rolles, standard or standardes, penon or penons, pencell or pencelles or otherwise to their honors and worshippes at all tymes and for ever heerafter at their libertie and pleasure without the impediment let molestation or interruption of eny person or personnes, In witnesse wherof we the sayd Garter Clarencieulx & Norroy Kinges of Armes have signed these presentes with our handes ..... unto our severall seales of Armes, the second day of June In the yere of the nativitie of our Lorde Jesus Christ A thousande five hundred sixty nyne And in the eleventh yere ..... of our most dread souvereigne Lady Elizabeth by the grace of god Queene of Englande Fraunce and Irelande defendor of the faithe &c.

Gilbert Dethicke a?s. garter principall Kinge of arms.
Rob Cooke Alias Clarencieulx Roy Darmes.
p?moy Wyllam fflower alias Norrey Roy Darmes.

Entred approved & allowed in the visitation made 1634

Hen: St. George
Richmond.

It will be observed that this grant recites that it plainly appeared that the grant of 10th July, 1561, was [a.] contrary to the words of the Corporation (i.e., Incorporation) of the said Barbers and Surgeons, and [b.] contrary to and not agreeing with the ancient laws and rules of arms.

With regard to the former assertion [a.] I take it that the grant being made to the “Master and Governors of the Corporation Mystery and Commonalty of Barbers and Surgeons” and not to the “Masters and Governors of the Mystery and Commonalty of Barbers and Surgeons of London” as they are styled in the Act 32 Hen. VIII, offended the precise Heralds of 1569, and that it was indeed a technical defect and contrary to the exact words of the incorporation.

As to the second point [b.] there cannot be any doubt but that Hervey committed a violation of one of the fundamental and most ancient laws of heraldry, viz., that colour must not be on colour (nor metal on metal). He gave the Company on their old sable field, a chief with gules and vert thereon! This greatly shocked old Garter, Clarencieux, and Norroy, and enabled them, whilst recording the blunder of one of their predecessors, to extract a good fee from the Barber-Surgeons for a new grant.

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