The Yeomanry of the Barber-Surgeons appear to have had a most chequered existence, having been “established” and “put downe” several times, until finally they appear to have died out both in constitution and in name.

The Yeomanry answered exactly to the class of Members who are now styled “Freemen,” and for a long period were the most numerous body in the Company. In early times the numbers of the Livery or Clothing were strictly limited, and under the Tudors and Stuarts rarely exceeded fifty, but as the persons who were compelled to take up their freedom, and those who came in voluntarily or by patrimony and servitude have always been a numerous section, it appears to have been considered politic to give a constitution to these inferior members of the Mystery, and consequently a Yeomanry, or Company within the Company was set up, and to this the new freeman was admitted after he had been presented and sworn before the Masters or Governors of the Clothing.

The Court of the Company framed the Ordinances for the Yeomanry, and whilst delegating to them many of their own privileges, as, for instance, the power to levy fines, and to summarily commit offenders to prison, they always seem to have retained a very tight and jealous hand over them, and were constantly interfering with the Wardens of the Yeomanry.

The Yeomanry had their own four Wardens and Court of Assistants, their Beadle and mace, common box, standing cups and other silver plate, their annual dinner, and sometimes, when in a flourishing condition, no less than four dinners in the year, their “corrector” for apprentices, and they also possessed the choice privilege of collecting the quarterage from their members. Under such auspicious circumstances, it could hardly be otherwise than that, in process of time, they should become both presumptuous and audacious and thus provoke inevitable collision with the Ruling body of the Company.

The Wardens of the Yeomanry at one period had designated themselves, or certainly encouraged others to describe them, as “The Wardens of the Barber-Surgeons,” an assumption not to be tolerated, and, like their Masters on the Clothing, had been accustomed to go to their homes (after their gatherings and feasts) in state, accompanied by a “trayne or traynes”; these acts of presumption called forth the restraining order of the 15th September, 1588 (vide post). Later on we find that they went “in searche to see what ser?vnts some ffremen of the Companie had, w^ch they ought not to do,” they gave way to too much feasting and arbitrarily exercised their powers of fine and imprisonment, all which offences brought them reprimands, and somewhere about the year 1604 their temporary extinguishment. They were, however, soon after re-erected, but in the year 1635 permanently “disestablished and disendowed.”

Although the Constitution of the “Yeomanry” was then abolished, the appellation was retained for over 200 years after, though merely as a traditional distinctive name synonymous with that of “freemen.” Thus, the whifflers for Lord Mayor’s day were always chosen out of the “Yeomanry,” and members of the “Yeomanry” are continually spoken of as being chosen into the Livery.

In the Audit Book, 1847–1848, this ancient term is used for the last time in respect of the receipts for quarterage, after this the designation becomes “freemen.”

1st October, 1555. It was agreed “that the yomanrye of the sayed Company of Barbors and Surgeons shalbe establisshed and set up agayne and be in as full strenght force and power as ever yt was before the plucking downe of the same,” and articles or ordinances for the Yeomanry were enacted. As, however, these articles are excessively verbose, the following descriptions and extracts will suffice:—

Article 1. Out of the Yeomanry were to be chosen four Wardens annually, and named respectively, the uppermost, second, third and youngest Wardens.

Article 2. One of the Yeomanry to be appointed Beadle of the Yeomanry to execute summonses, etc.

Article 3. The Wardens of the Yeomanry to bring in once a year to the Masters and Governors of the Clothing, an account of monies remaining in their hands to be delivered to the new Wardens, and to be “kept and bestowed as they w^tin themselves shall thinke yt meete and convenyent to the helpe and comforte of them w^tin the yomanry of Barbors and Surgeons.” The Wardens were also to present the new Wardens to the Masters or Governors for approval within eight days after being chosen. The Masters or Governors were to “have nothinge to dooe withe the monye of the yomanry.”

Article 4. If the Masters or Governors should borrow any monies of the Yeomanry they were to repay on a day to be agreed upon “the saved some so borrowed w^t thanks geving.”

Article 5. The Wardens on the day of Election of Masters or Governors of the Clothing shall—

In the event of sickness or lawful absence, others were to be appointed to this duty.

Article 6. The Wardens of the Yeomanry were to collect the quarterage of freemen (3d. per quarter) and of “fforyners” (6d. per quarter), and duly pay same over to the Masters and Governors, and books of account were to be kept by the Wardens. Note.—In practice this article was varied, as the Yeomanry kept the quarterage and “compounded” with the Masters for a fixed annual sum.

Article 7. The Masters were to pay the Wardens of the Yeomanry £4 which had been “advanced by them in 1543 for provysyon of wheete for the Cytie,” and which sum had been recently refunded by the City.

Article 8. The Yeomanry were to have the use of the chamber “where the Lecture ys reade every Tewysday” whenever they please to consult therein.

Article 9. These Articles were to be written on parchment, sealed and delivered to the Wardens of the Yeomanry.

Article 10. The Masters were to give notice to the Wardens of the Yeomanry of any rules which they from time to time should make touching the craft.

Article 11. The rules and ordinances of the Company were to be read to the Yeomanry three times in every year, viz.: at Candlemas, in May and at Lammas.

Article 12. The Yeomanry were to obey all the rules and ordinances now made or to be made.

16th October, 1555. The first four Wardens of the Yeomanry were presented to the Masters, their names being Edward Hewet, John Surbut, George Corraunte (Corron) and Thomas Buston (Burston).

12th October, 1557. It was ordered:—

15th September, 1558. It was ordered:—

A fine of five marks was ordered to be taken from the “comon boxe” of the yeomanry, if the above regulation should be transgressed.

4th July, 1566. It was ordered that the Wardens and Assistants of the Yeomanry should be allowed to sit at the “Uppermore” table in the Hall on quarter days to receive their quarterages, and to read the rules and ordinances to the Yeomanry.

18th January, 1569. At this Court seven freemen were sworn in to be Assistants to the Yeomanry.

This brotherly amity did not long continue, for:—

23rd May, 1570. Here was John Warren & John Wyllet is comytted to warde for dysobedyence, and Thomas Newens said that one Husto an informer his neyghbo^r saide that the company sholde be ar?sted183 upon a statute & y^t yt is one of o^r company did sett the enformer to do yt but he founde not the statute to holde w^th them & y^rfore he wolde not deale, but to name the p?te184 he wolde not.