The Great Book of Wardens’ Accounts has unfortunately been kept in a damp place, and the earlier portion of it is severely damaged. The cover still indicates the elaboration of the bookbinder’s art, being stamped in patterns with the portcullis fleur de lys and Tudor rose; opposite what is left of the first page is a magnificently painted achievement of the Company’s arms on vellum, but this unhappily, is damaged. The first page has rotted almost entirely away, leaving only the upper left hand corner, on which there is an initial letter T illuminated in the highest style of art, though this is also seriously damaged. The accounts commence with those for the year 1603, the first few pages are worn away, pages 7 to 36 are but slightly damaged, whilst the remainder of this huge book is quite perfect and abounds with quaint and artistic initial letters. The following is the reduced initial letter for the year 1610–11. 1603. The Wardens account for quarterage received by them amounting to £4 17s. 6d., this quarterage was 2s. for each freeman, though some did not pay, and others had only paid 6d. or 1s. £5 was received for the admission of six foreign brethren. Twenty-five freemen were admitted, who paid 3s. 4d. each on presentation. Eighty-nine apprentices were bound, each paying 2s. 6d. The receipts for the rents from the Company’s tenants follow, viz.:—
The following is a verbatim copy of the remainder of this year’s accounts, and will serve as a fair specimen for the other years. 1603.—The said Accomptants doe aske allowance for moneys by them defrayed wthin the tyme of this p?sent accompt by the handes of Mr Edward Rodes Second Governor aforesd for ordenary as [well as] extraordinary Expences as hereafter ensueth vizt.— Ordinarie expenses.
Extraordinarie Expenc?
The said Accountants doe aske allowance for money disbursed by the handes of the said Mr Thomas Martin yongest Governor wthin the tyme of this p?sent Accompt for rent? and Repac?ons Paiments for Chiefe Rent?
Laid owte for new buyldinges Repac?ons and othr expenc? as followeth vizt
Then follows a list of arrearages of debts due from freemen and others for fines and quarterage unpaid, with which the year’s account closes. The accounts for the ensuing years are very similar to the foregoing, and we shall now give sundry extracts of the more interesting items to be found in them.
1604–5. Among various fines received this year occur—
In this and many subsequent years occur entries of 10s. paid to the preacher of the sermon at St. Olave’s, Silver Street, on Election day as well as 1s. to the Clerk of that church, and 6s. for herbs and flowers.
This would be a criminal wounded in some affray and who it was suspected was concealed by a Surgeon to be cured of his wounds—an offence against one of the Company’s by-laws.
1605–6. At this period the Court and Livery numbered together but fifty-nine persons.
1606–7. Twelve of the Yeomanry were this year taken into the Livery, of whom eleven paid £5 each and the other £2. 1607–8. Fines were received:—
Falling bands (which are described in Planche’s Cyclopedia of Costume) were considered by the Court an “excess of apparel,” then rigorously suppressed. Thomas Allen, here referred to, was Warden 1620–1, and was the first Master of Dulwich College.
Henry John Bushe presented an Apprentice. This is noted as being the earliest instance of a double Christian name in the Company’s books.
This coat (popularly known as the “bulbeggar”) was a garment somewhat like a sack with apertures for the eyes and arms, which was put over the head and body of the person appointed to flog an unruly apprentice, who was thereby prevented from identifying his castigator. See more fully as to this in the amusing foot note on p.423, Vol. I, of Herbert’s Livery Companies.
The new room in the Bulwark, which formed the upper end of the Hall where the Master sat, was built at this period, the accounts containing many items of payment for Builders’ work connected with that room. 1608–9. The rents received this year for the Company’s property at Holborn Bridge, Conyhoop Lane, Walbrook, Tower Street, “Mugwell” Street, East Smithfield, Moorfields and Swan Alley amounted to £130 17s. 4d.
This day (5th August) was for some years observed in thanks-giving, to commemorate the escape of James I from assassination by the Earl of Gowrie (see Chambers’ Book of Days, Vol. II, p.178).
The power of distraint for non-payment of fines, etc., was granted to the Company by their By-laws, the warrant was signed by the Master and executed by the Beadle, with the assistance of a constable.
An account of this robbery, and the apprehension and execution of the thieves, will be found on p.208.
This sum would not send out many children; for a notice of the Virginia scheme see p.121.
This would be a portrait of Alderman Proby, Master in 1615, and Lord Mayor in 1622.
Sir Peter Proby was Lord Mayor this year.
The Recorder had a yearly “fee” of £6 in this and many subsequent years, most probably to secure his friendship towards the Company. The initial letter T is reduced from one in the Audit Book, 1623–4. In 1623 occurs the last entry of the Company keeping “Gowries day.”
Every year about this period is an entry for wooden Trenchers, generally a gross of them, and the cost about 6s. There are also many entries for “boat hire”; whenever a journey was taken it seems to have nearly always been on the river, and only on rare occasions is horse hire mentioned.
The cost of obtaining the Charter this year, as appears by the detailed account amounted to £168 19s. 8d.
The root of the mandrake is said to bear a resemblance to the human form, and the “poore souldier” was not disappointed when he thought that by laying such a professional curiosity before the Barber-Surgeons, he would receive a benevolence.
James I in 1617 borrowed this picture, his letter demanding it is still at Barbers’ Hall, and it would appear by this entry that his son Charles did the same; the wonder is that we have still got it, after running two such risks.
These Garlands, the most elegant in the City, are still worn by the Master and Wardens on Court days.
Imagine sweetbriar with rosemary, violets, and strawberries in a garden in Monkwell Street in this present year of grace!
1630–1. In this year the trades of the masters binding apprentices are recorded, there being 48 barbers, 22 surgeons, 9 tailors, 5 diers, 1 drawer, 3 butchers, 1 merchant, 1 sempster, 1 grocer, 1 thridman, 1 brewer, 1 stocking seller, 1 sheeregrinder, and 26 unclassed; these latter were most probably either barbers or surgeons.
Petoe was a City poet who wrote a dirge upon Queen Elizabeth, and a few other not very cheerful compositions. 1631–2. This year the Livery fines were raised, those who had served the office of warden of the Yeomanry paying £7 and all others £10. Of the masters taking apprentices this year, 55 were barbers, 31 surgeons, 15 tailors, 8 dyers, 3 stocking sellers, 3 button makers, 1 button loope maker, 2 chaundlers, 1 sempster, 1 butcher, 1 carpenter, 1 bookbinder, 1 wheelwright, 1 glass seller, 1 grocer, 1 merchant, and 1 was unclassed.
1632–3. This year the sum of £343 1s. 5d. was expended in the erection of a Gallery and a Granary over it in the Inner Stone Yard, the Granary being for the storage of the City corn. The details of all the expenses about this business are given and the following are a few extracts therefrom:—
This was the widow of Anthony Munday, the author of many City pageants, and of the Edition of Stowe’s Survey, which his widow “presented” to the Court in exchange for 30s.
These were quack surgeons’ advertisements; the Royal Exchange seems to have been a favourite place for their exhibition, as there are various other entries to a like effect.
The following entries relate to the Company’s “provision of corn.”
These women were examined to ascertain if any were pregnant, that if so their execution might be stayed.
The Company paid £16 “ship-money” this year.
This entry is curious, being the transition name of a trade; the blacksmiths were originally the clockmakers (see p.399); here we have the “clock smith” and later on the “clock maker.” The records obtained from the Guildhall and the Tower to which reference is made in the following extracts, and which are
1636–7. In the previous year £480 had been paid in respect of the building of the Anatomical Theatre and this year a further sum of £242 17s. 4d. This was exclusive of the cost of digging for the foundations which the Company did by their own labourers, whom they paid 16d. per day each. It was the practice of the Company to allow each workman engaged, whether labourers or mechanics, 1d. a day for “breakfast money,” and this was paid to the “chandler” for them. Amongst the expenses incurred about the Theatre were these:—
The expenses connected with the Building of the New or Great Parlour, and the Gallery next the Theatre, were this year £263 7s. 7d.
This quaint old box is still in use as the “Poor’s box.” 1637–8. The Wardens received £188 10s. 0d. from 41 members of the Company by way of gift to the Building fund; the names of the donors are all set out in the book.
The Company paid £30 being three years’ contribution to the repair of St. Paul’s, due August, 1638. £224 0s. 3d. was also paid in respect of the building of the Theatre.
This Bust of the King was set up in the Theatre. 1641–2. There were seventy-three liverymen on the roll this year, and the Court numbered thirty-three in addition.
The Company were bound under precepts directed to them, to press Surgeons for the Army and to provide them each with a Medicine chest and Instruments value £15. It is a remarkable circumstance that the Parliament should have paid the money to the Company for this service, a proceeding contrary to the practice then in vogue. At this time it appears that the indebtedness of the Company to various creditors for monies lent to enable them to meet the demands of the authorities amounted to no less a sum than £2,633 4s. This was borrowed at 6, 7 and 8 per cent. interest upon the seal of the house; the Company had pawned the best of their ancient plate to satisfy the rapacity of the King and the army, and the following pitiful entry speaks volumes—
1645–6. Money was raised by granting annuities thus—
The indebtedness of the Company this year amounted to £2,847 18s. 10d.
The apprentices must have been especially troublesome this year.
Mr. Greenbury had often been employed by the Company as a portrait painter, and it is delightful to notice their kindly regard for him in both his and their evil days. 1648–9. In 1644 the Company had pawned their plate, but seem to have redeemed it within the next year or two, for under this year we read that plate to the value of £297 11s. 8d. was absolutely sold to Mr. Thomas Madox, Goldsmith, and other plate was pledged with Mr. John Browne for £250.
The expenses of Lord Mayor’s day were as follows:—
It was the custom for the Stewards to provide the Livery dinner, and the £8 was an allowance made by the Company towards the cost of the dinner.
On the 1st November, 1649, the Company attended a Thanksgiving service at Christchurch, and later on they were present at the same place for a “Humilation day for Ireland.”
This “mending the old banners” was really taking out the Royal arms and inserting those of the Commonwealth, and was done under compulsion by order of Oliver Cromwell.
This fine picture is preserved at Barbers’ Hall. On October 8th, 1650, the Company attended a Thanksgiving at Christchurch, for a victory at Dunbar. 1652–3. On Lord Mayor’s day the ribbons for the whifflers were 30 yards of white 6d. ribbon, and 30 yards of green 8d. ribbon. The Company were present at one Humiliation and two Thanksgiving Services this year.
The liabilities of the Company to Creditors for money borrowed amounted to £2,386 13s. 101/2d.
This book, very handsomely illuminated, is preserved at the Hall. The Great Account Book ends here, and the next one embraces the years 1659 to 1674.
This refers most probably to the rejoicings in June, 1660, when the City entertained Charles II, the Dukes of York and Gloucester, and other persons of quality.
These were herbs, etc., spread over the floor of the Hall, and flowers strewed by the maids in the street in front of the Company as they went to church. 1661–2. This year there were 158 Liverymen, of whom 29 were on the Court.
This year also the Company rode to “meete the Russia Embassadour” and the charges for this are set out in the accounts. The Company employed counsel and presented a petition against the granting of a Charter to the Physicians; this business involved several meetings at taverns and some presents to the Duke of York’s Secretary, who seems to have espoused the cause of the Barber-Surgeons.
This would be the correction of an engraver’s mistake in the Company’s motto on some silver plate.
A considerable sum was again spent in opposing the Physician’s Charter, Sir Wm. Scroggs, Mr. Pollexfen, Mr. Serjeant Glyn, Mr. Phillips, and Sir Orlando Bridgeman being the Company’s counsel.
The Company spent a large sum on their Barge and Barge house; all the details are in the accounts, but the following extracts will suffice:—
1664–5. The Company subscribed £94 15s. 6d. as a Contribution towards the ship “The Loyal London,” to be presented to the King by the City. They also “lent” the King £500 for which 6 per cent. interest was promised.
An entertainment was given to the Duke of Monmouth (who was free of the Company) and among other items of expense incurred were:—
Perhaps Samuel Pepys came in for some of this. There was a grand dinner at our Hall on 20th June, 1655, being Thanksgiving day for the Victory over the Dutch.
This would be the Opinicus for the bow of the barge.
The next refers to the Great Plague.
The Company made very many grants of money to the poor stricken people about this time; and further contributed £69 9s. 6d. towards the Ship “The Loyal London.” 1666–7. The following interesting entries relate to the Great Fire and the providential preservation of the Holbein painting.
These contributions were voluntary and are accounted for every year for a considerable period. At the end of the book is a long and detailed list of the contributors, commencing 23rd April, 1668, and extending to March, 1681. There seem to have been 398 subscribers, and the sum collected from them was £1,850; this amount, however, was wholly inadequate for the rebuilding of the hall, which appears by entries extending over 1668 to 1674, to have cost the Company no less than £4,292. The deficit was made up by sales of freehold property in the City, for what to us, in these days, would seem absurdly low prices, and by loans, etc. BARBER-SURGEONS’ HALL, 1674–1864. 1668–9. The Company received from the Chamber of London £620 6s. 6d., being the return of £500 lent to the King in November,
1669–70. The Company’s barge seems to have been manned by twenty rowers, besides the Barge Master, and these men had 4s. each for rowing on Lord Mayor’s day. 1669–70. Serjeant Surgeon John Knight wainscotted the Parlour at his own charge, and Mr. Barker glazed the Windows; part of this glazing is still preserved. It should be borne in mind that the present Court room or Parlour (as it was formerly called) and which was the work of Inigo Jones in 1636 was not destroyed in the Great Fire. 1670–1. The freehold property in Conyhope Lane, Grocers’ Hall Court, was sold to the Corporation of London for £190. 1671–2. The livery this year numbered one hundred and eighty-five persons. 1672–3. The Company sold an extensive property at Holborn Bridge to the City for £650.
The whole of the Wardens’ accounts from 1674 to 1715 are unfortunately lost, and the next book embraces the years between 1715 and 1785. 1715–16. The Ironmongers’ Company rented at £5 per annum from the Barber-Surgeons a portion of their Barge House at Lambeth for the Ironmongers’ Barge. Our Company still retained their Barge and Bargemaster and this year purchased for him a new livery.
1717–18. The Company sold a large property in East Smithfield for £1,250.
Similar entries to the above occur for many years.
Both of these pictures are still preserved at Barbers’ Hall. Every year now, and for some years, are entries of Expenses incurred about the rioting, which took place when the Beadles went to Tyburn for the bodies of malefactors; very frequently the Company prosecuted the rioters, and were continually compensating the Beadles and others who were injured in the fights.
This was a species of wooden coffin lined with lead in which the “subjects” were placed on their arrival from Tyburn.
These massive chandeliers were broken but preserved when the Hall was pulled down in 1864, and one formed of their fragments is now hung on the staircase leading up to the Committee Room.
This linen must have been stolen and pawned, as the Company were not at this period in such financial difficulties as to necessitate their personal property being taken care of by a pawnbroker. 1745–6. Dr. Tyson’s picture was sold to Mr. Luke Maurice for £10 10s. Mr. Goodyer was paid £11 for the table and inscription (now in the entrance lobby) which records the separation of the Surgeons from the Barbers in 1745. 1751–2. Mr. Whiston bought the Company’s library for £13. This library consisted of a great number of ancient MSS. and books relating to Surgery.
This was the stand for the liverymen used on Lord Mayor’s day and on other public occasions. 1770. The expenses on Lord Mayor’s day this year were as follows, and are a fair sample of the entries for many years before and after this date.
The Livery dinners on these occasions were paid for by the Stewards. The next book of Accounts extends from 1785 to 1821, but like the latter part of the last one it is almost destitute of interest. On the first page is an extract from the Will of Mr. Edward Griffin (10th April, 1596) relating to his gift to the Company, and there are also sundry memoranda concerning Banckes’ gift. 1785. This was the last occasion on which the Company “went out” on Lord Mayor’s day. In addition to the Wardens’ accounts, there are two books containing receipts of tradesmen and others for money paid to them extending from 1722 to 1764. These books are not specially interesting, excepting that they contain autographs of a few eminent Surgeons, hangmen and others, and the following extracts will suffice:— 1722. Rec?d of the Governours of the Company the sume of ten shillings for fetching the Body of Richard Oxer from Tyburne. Charles Window. 1723. Rec?d of the Governours of the Compà the sume of five pounds fifteen shillings for fetching the Body of Wm Pincher from Tyburne and for sevll Disbursements expended thereon. Rich: Collins. 1723. The Receipt of Abraham Shepherd, Attorney, for £15 0s. 6d., being the costs of prosecuting Cooke and others for taking away the body of William Pincher from the Beadles when they brought it from Tyburn. 1729. Rec~ed Decr 23d 1729 of the Govrs of ye Compa p? the hands of Cha: Bernard their Cl: 7s 6d for my XmÃs Box. John Hooper. In 1730 this gentleman signs “John Hooper, Executioner.” 1743. The hangman, John Thrift, signed with a × the receipt for his Christmas box, and the Clerk has humorously styled him “John Thrift, Esqre Hangman.” 1736. The printing of 1,000 Copies of Baron’s Engraving of Holbein’s picture cost £15 15s. 0d. John Harper was the printer. A copy of this print was sent to the Earl of Burlington, as there is a Bill of William Gills as follows:—
p? B. Baron. RENTER WARDEN’S GARLAND. |