  The Barber-Surgeons’ Company has at various periods in its history possessed large quantities of plate, a great deal of which is now unfortunately lost to us, most of it having been parted with during the troublous times of the seventeenth century, when the money demands made upon the Company necessitated its sale. We have however, been fortunate in preserving some very distinctive and beautiful plate, among which are no less than three Royal gifts from Sovereigns of England, viz., Henry VIII, Charles II, and Anne. Throughout our Minutes are numerous references to gifts and purchases of plate; some of these will be found elsewhere in this work, and the following extracts in particular referring to this subject, are additional examples. 14th December, 1557. The same daye beyng The xiiijth daye of Descember in Ano DÑ 1557 and fourth and fyfte yeares of the Raignes of Kynge Phyllippe and Quene Marys Most Noble grac? It ys Condescended and Agreed by the mr and Gov?nors and wth thassent of all the Assystaunce of the howse whose Names are before Nomynated and Wrytten That Mr Thomas Vycary shall paye and dyscharge the Debt? of the howse w 7th December, 1581. It was agreed that the som~e of xlli shalbe diffrayed and laid owte of the stock of the howse to buy plate viz. one nest of pots one nest of booles, and in v gilt spones to make up one dozen, and in exchange of a silver pot geven unto the Companie by Mr George Corrons 10th March, 1599. Richard Larden on being admitted to the Livery presented one “beaker of silver p?cell gylt.” 15th April, 1600. John Robson being made free made a similar gift, as also, 3rd June, 1600, did Walter Meeke on the like occasion. 16th August, 1602. This daie John Izard 19th July, 1603. Nicholas Kellaway (Assistant) presented two standing cups of silver, to be discharged the office of Steward of the Mayor’s feast. 8th November, 1604. This daie it is ordered that Mr Johnsons 31st May, 1608. The executors of Nicholas Kellaway delivered to the Wardens “one uprighte Bowle of silver duble gylt.” 9th February, 1612. This daie it is agreed that the som~e of xli or xx m?kes shall be layed out to bye 3 cupes wth the name of Mr Bird 22nd August, 1614. This daie Peter Thorney brought in & delyvered unto this Court two spout pott? the one all guilt the other p?cell guilt of the valew of twentie pound? wch were gyven by the last will of Mr Thomas Thorney 4th October, 1614. Mr. Ralph Bovey 12th February, 1616. Mr. Isaac Allen gave a standing cup and cover value 20 nobles to be excused coming on the Livery or bearing any office. 2nd July, 1622. Edward Kellet gave a “fayre mounsier bowle guilt” to be discharged of his place in the livery. 17th October, 1622. Mr. Gillam gave “three salt? white” of the value of £12 10s. 9th November, 1628. Bartholomew Vanderlashe, a German professing Surgery, gave a standing cup and cover gilt weighing 23ozs. 20th June, 1629. It is alsoe ordered that there shalbe made fower Garland? of silver enamelled garnished and sett forth after the neatest manner according to the discretion of the present Governors for the choise of new Maisters and the coste thereof to be borne of the stock of this house. (See illustrations of these on pp. 239, 379 and 422.) 2nd December, 1630. This daie this Court takeing into their considerations of that affectionate love of Mr John Bancks late Cittizen and Mercer of London deceased, the sonne of Mr Thomas Bancks 9th April, 1632. “A gilt beere boll and cover” weighing 201/2ozs. was presented by Mr. Dominic Lomeline’s 16th August, 1632. Mr. Thomas Borne 2nd January, 1635. Mr. Robert Allott, Doctor in Phisick of St. John’s Coll: Cambridge and free of the Company, gave a large round silver salt white with three scrolls, and with his arms and an inscription engraved thereon. 1636. The Company having spent large sums of money in the erection of the Theatre, and being short of cash, an order was made to sell the whole of the Yeomanry’s Plate, excepting a beer bowl the gift of Mr. James Kent. 1637. It having come to the knowledge of the Court that Mr. Alexander Baker (Master 1622) had bequeathed to the Company a cup and cover which was withheld by his executors, a suit was commenced against them. 19th May, 1637. This daye was presented to this Court by a suite & decree made in his Mat? Court of Request? one standing Cupp and Cover gilt of Mr Alexander Bakers gift weighing 131 ounces. 19th May, 1637. Alsoe according to orders of former Court? of Assistants the plate vizt Wm Kelletts cupp 21oz. one cupp & cover Vanderlash 23oz. & halfe. 3 beere bolls dropps 38oz. 3 flatt gobletts 61oz. & halfe. 4 tankerds 92oz. & a halfe. 1 salt & cover Izard 9oz. 4 standing cupps & Covers yeomanrye 102oz. being all guilt plate amounting to 347oz. at 5s 4d p? oz. cometh to 92li 10s 8d Alsoe one white cupp Turner 9oz. 1 white cupp Harding 5oz. 1 white cupp Bostock 10oz. 3 beere bolls vaughan 26oz. 3 white beakers 31oz. 3 white salts Guilham 40oz. 1 white boll Lakin 10oz. 3 wine bolls white 16oz. & a halfe being white plate weighing 149oz. 3 quarters at 4s xj 31st October, 1642. Whereas heretofore by Order of the Lords & Com~ons in Parliament assembled Our Company was proporc?oned to pay and lend 800li at 8li p? cent towards and for nothing else than the releife of Ireland. Upon which our Company did humbly certifie the Lord Maior of the Citty of our inability to pay any part of the said 800li Yet for that the present occasions forceing for presente Releife It was Ordered That 400li should be taken up at Interest and payd over into the Chamber of London for that and noe other purpose. And that now the Company would take up such a quantity of money but cannott obteyne soe much, It is now ordered That the Kings Cupp and Cover shalbe kept, And that the Mas & Wardens shall take out all our plate and view it and see which of it is fitt to be sold and that every parcell of that plate which shalbe sold a patterne or fashion of it shalbe drawne in paper and the perticuler Letters Writeings or Graveings shall likewise be written on that paper. To the intent that when the said ffoure Hundred Pounds with the Interest at 8li p. centum shalbe repayd the said Plate shalbe made againe in the same ffashions & writeings upon them as now they are which this Court doth order shall fully and really be performed accordingly when the said 400li and Interest shalbe repayd. The following entry is curious from the fact of a blank having been no doubt purposely left in the Minutes. The Company, who had been already plucked by the Parliament, evidently feared violence in that quarter, but were afraid to put it on record, and therefore very prudently left a hiatus in the Minutes. 24th May, 1643. Whereas this Company is assessed at 8li p? weeke for 3 moneths which they are noe wayes able to pay In regard wee are soe much in debt and that the Hall may be preserved from violence of....... It is now Ordered That the plate in the Hall that is not guilt plate shalbe by the Mr and Wardens delivered over at the best rate to deliver soe much amounting to 96li. By the Wardens’ Accounts it appears that plate was sold to the extent of £94 16s. 0d. 29th April, 1645. On reference to p.140, it will be seen that no less than 1,120oz. of plate was pawned to Mrs Crosse. 29th April, 1646. The Mr & Wardens acquainting this Court That the Companye’s plate is redeemed from Mr Steele at his request who married Mrs Crosse to whome it was formerly pawned in her Widowhood and is now in the Treasury. This Court doth think it not convenient to be kept in the house 14th May, 1646. The plate was pawned to Mr. John Browne for £300 at 6 per cent. 29th April, 1647. It was ordered that it should be redeemed, and it was on the 17th May following all brought back to the Hall. 7th December, 1648. The plate was again pawned to Mr. John Browne, of Westminster, for £250. 19th March, 1649. The Court were so severely pressed by Assessments for the Army, and being unable to borrow any more money under the Company’s seal, resolved after much deliberation to absolutely sell Plate to the value of £300. 19th July, 1649. Our Mr acquainted This Court That upon sale of the Companyes Plate Mr Edward Arris bought King Henry the Eighths Cup and Cover and hath freely given it againe to this Company. 1890. The following plate is now in the Company’s possession: A handsome standing silver gilt Grace cup and Cover (26 12ozs.) presented by King Henry VIII in 1540 in commemoration of the union of the Barbers with the Surgeons. This cup is elaborately chased and enriched with badges of the Tudor Rose, Portcullis, and Fleur-de-lys; the cover is surmounted with the Crown Imperial under Among other observables at Chyrurgeon’s Hall we drunk the King’s health out of a gilt cup, given by King Henry viij., to the Company, with bells hanging at it, which every man is to ring by shaking after he hath drunk up the whole cup.—Diary, 27th February, 1662–3. GRACE CUP. This cup although it has been stolen, pawned and sold, yet remains to us, one of the most precious relics of our past. It appears by the Wardens’ Accounts, that in 1669 John Knight, Serjeant-Surgeon, who was Master, had the cup repaired and a case made for it; Serjeant Knight was again Master 1677–8, when he caused a plate to be fixed within the cover with this inscription— Henrici R. Munificentia Ne Posteris Ignota Maneat Johannis Knight R.C.P. In the bowl of the Cup is an outline engraving of the old coat of the Barbers, impaling the cognizance of the Surgeons in one shield (see p.435). King Charles II in 1676 presented us with a very handsome and unique parcel gilt standing cup and cover, surmounted by the crown imperial, and having within the same the Royal arms, supporters and crown (68 ozs.). This Cup is known as “The Royal Oak Cup” (commemorative of the King’s escape at Boscobel), its stem and base representing the trunk and roots of an oak tree; the bowl or upper part is surrounded with oak leaves, branches, wreaths of flowers, escallop shells, and pendant acorns as bells from shields. The Company’s arms are engraved on one shield, on another the crest, on the third is the following inscription:—“Donum Munificentissimi Regis Caroli Secundi Anno 1676,” and on the last shield—“Impetrantibus Chirurgis Regiis KING CHARLES’ CUP, QUEEN ANNE’S PUNCH BOWL AND ATKINSON’S PUNCH LADLES. This James Pearse, surgeon to the King and the Duke of York, was Master in 1675, and his wife will be well remembered as one of Samuel Pepys’ friends and gossips. Queen Anne in 1704 presented the Company with a fine and massive punch bowl (160ozs.) bearing this inscription:— Societati Chirurgorum Londin: Ob fidem et diligentiam In examinandis Chirurgis In Classe Regia merituris Dono dedit Serenissima Regina ANNA Principum Four large loving cups and covers. These are all of similar design though of different sizes, the covers have each a handle formed as an effigy of a Roman soldier, and each cup bears the Company’s arms engraved thereon. MARTIN BROWNE’S AND SIR JOHN FREDERICK’S LOVING CUPS. 1st. Martin Browne’s cup (45 ozs.). He was an eminent Surgeon and Master in 1653; on one side is engraved a shield quarterly, 1st and 4th three Estoilles, 2nd and 3rd three Escallops and a Horn, “Charisma Martini Browne Armigeri Nuper Senatoris Ciuitatis Londinensis & PrÆfecti Societatis BarbitonsÕr & ChirurgÕr 1653.” 2nd. Thomas Bowden’s cup (38 ozs.). He was third Warden 1654. On one side is engraved a shield quarterly, with a lyon passant on the first quarter only. The motto of the Company is misspelt thus, “de Pricipiencia dei,” and the cup bears this inscription, “Ex dono ThomÆ Bowdeni Chirurgi et hujus Societatis Gubernatorum quarti Anno Dni. 1654.” 3rd. Sir John Frederick’s cup (38ozs. 10 dwt.). He was Master 1654 and 1658, and Lord Mayor 1662. This cup is engraved with Sir John’s shield, on a chief three doves, and the Company’s motto is again misspelt. The inscription is, “The guift of John Fredricke Alderman and of This Societie Master Anno DÑi 1654.” 4th. Thomas Bell’s cup (65 ozs.). On one side is engraved Mr. Bell’s Coat of arms, on a chief three Bells, and there is this inscription, “The Gift of Thomas Bell Chirurgion to ye Worshipfull Company of Barbor Chirurgions London July 28th 1663.” Four silver goblets or wine cups (33 oz.). Each is inscribed— The guift of Edward Arris Chirurgion Master of the Company Anno Domini 1651. COLLINS’ FLAGON, MONFORDE’S HAMMER AND ARRIS’ CUPS. A silver flagon with handle and spout (54oz. 10dwt.) the gift of Thomas Collins, Master 1648. The arms engraved are, on a bend three martlets and a crescent for difference all within a bordure ermine; on the other side are the Company’s arms with the motto misspelt. The inscription is— Thomas Collins Artis ChirurgicÆ Professor Peritissimus, ut Symbolum Amoris venerabili Chirurgorum Societate hoc donauit. Five covered tankards, the first three having the Company’s arms engraved thereon. 1st. Perrott’s tankard (23 oz.). “The guift of Abraham Perrott.” He was admitted to the freedom 5th July, 1614, and gave the tankard in March, 1640. (See head piece p.492.) 2nd. Gray’s tankard (37oz. 2 dwt.). “Ex dono Georgij Gray,” no date. 3rd. Dorrington’s tankard (39 oz.). “Ex dono John Dorrington Chirurg. 2o Aprilio Ao 1663.” 4th. Fothergill’s tankard (24oz. 15 dwt.). “The Gift of Thomas ffothergill to the Worshipfull Companie of Barber Chirurgions,” no date. (See head piece p.492.) 5th. Ruston’s tankard. “The Gift of Wm Ruston, Master 1883–4.” A handsome silver rose water dish (74oz. 15dwt.) with the Company’s arms engraved thereon, and inscribed “Ex dono Robertij Andrews Chirurg. 20 Aprilis Ano 1663.” Another large rose water dish (68oz.) inscribed “Ex dono Tho. Gill.” Mr. Gill was admitted to the freedom 1st February, 1670. Two large soup tureens, the gift of William Kippax, Master 1782. Eight silver sauce boats, engraved with the Company’s arms and purchased in 1766. Eight curious sauce ladles, with enriched fluted handles (probably late 17th century). Six antique salt cellars. Four small antique pepper castors. A large and quaint sugar castor the gift of Robert Emerton, Master 1790, and another one the gift of David Lamb, Master 1794. A Silver tea urn (83oz. 4dwt.) inscribed “Presented by William Wood, Clerk to the Company, 1790.” This elegant urn, which is oviform in shape, has been engraved in “Cripps’ College and Corporation plate” as a typical example. (See head piece p.492.) About two dozen charming tea spoons, elaborately chased and engraved (circa 1730); these are also illustrated by Mr. Cripps. A dozen antique shell pattern salt spoons. Two curious and finely worked sugar tongs. A fine old massive spoon (circa 1690), engraved “Ex dono Jonathan Cheynell.” An antique wine strainer, and another, the gift of Robert Douglas, Master 1800. A great quantity of spoons, forks, ladles, etc., not specially deserving of notice. A case of fish knives and forks, the gift of George Austin, Master 1882. Two old-fashioned silver cruet stands. A silver punch ladle with ivory handle, and a guinea of 1714 in fine preservation inlaid, inscribed “The Queen Anne’s Guinea, Given by John Atkinson Esqr one of the members of the Court Septr 1846.” Another ladle with ivory handle, inscribed, “Presented to the Barbers Company by John Atkinson Esqr 1851.” This ladle is inlaid with a very fine medal of 1704 in high relief, commemorating the Incorporation of the Sons of the Clergy by Queen Anne. Another antique punch ladle of oval shape, with hard wood handle, believed to have been given by Mr. John Atkinson, the date is probably about 1620. A massive silver badge 7 12 -in. by 8 12 -in. of late 17th Century work, formerly worn by the Barge master, and having the Company’s arms in relief on shield, surrounded by laurel bordering. A plain and ugly silver medal 2 12 -ins. diameter, with arms of the Company (badly done), on one side, and on the reverse, “Presented by John Carter, Master 1870–71.” This badge is worn by the first Warden. A very handsome badge, 23/4 inches diameter, of silver gilt open work, and richly enamelled with the arms of the Company, and a loop representing the Tudor rose crowned. This badge is worn by the Master. A pair of antique Beadle’s mace heads. These are of remarkably fine workmanship, very massive, and have the Company’s heraldry displayed in high relief on both sides; each weighs about 64 ounces. (See illustration p.302.) Four very handsomely chased and wrought silver garlands or wreaths for crowning the Master and Wardens on Election Day, and which are still used and worn by them on Court days in receiving guests. These are the finest in the City of London; each has the Company’s arms and the badges of the rose and crown, with other devices artistically set forth, and are mounted with silk velvet, the Renter Warden’s being green, and the others red. These garlands were made in 1629. (See p.494.) A silver mounted hammer, given by James Mumford or Monforde, King’s Surgeon and First Warden in 1540; the mountings A silver bell “The Gift of Mr Robert Emerton Master to the Worshipful Company of Barbers 1790.” A silver mounted snuff box, and another snuff box presented by Mr. Deputy Brass and handsomely carved out of a piece of oak removed from the roof of the old Hall. This is enclosed in another box velvet lined, with inscription on a silver plate— The Barbers Company have well deserved A silver salver, the gift of Charles J. Shoppee, Master 1878. A silver claret jug, the gift of Alderman Wilkin, Master 1885. A silver inkstand, the gift of Jonathan Denny, Master 1886. A silver salver, the gift of Edward Charles Cornish, Master 1887. A very handsome and massive silver jardiniÈre and stand, the gift of John Cary Lovell, Assistant 1889. A replica of the silver hammer given by James Monforde, with a silver mounted block for same, the gift of George Austin, jun., Master 1888. It may not be considered out of place to record here, that the piano in the Court Room is the gift of Mr. Deputy Harvey, Master 1879. |
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