1684. This was indeed a troublous year for the Corporation and for the guilds of London. Charles having interfered with the privileges of the City by thrusting in his nominees for Sheriffs, had met with considerable opposition from the citizens, and being assured that this resistance would be continued and maintained by the City, he determined to strike a blow at the root of its franchise, by getting into his hands the Charter of the City, as also the Charters of the several Companies. It was not difficult to procure a venal tribunal which would be prepared to pronounce an iniquitous judgment upon any fictitious statement submitted to it by the King. Sir Rob{t.} Sawyer, the Attorney-General, thereupon undertook, on behalf of the Crown, to prove that the City Charters were forfeited, and contrived the celebrated _quo warranto_, upon which judgment was (as a matter of course) obtained against the City, on the 12th June, 1684. The Companies seem to have unanimously anticipated this decision, and by so doing and by “surrendering” their Charters and liberties before the delivery of the judgment, hoped to ensure the favour of the King. The original of the “surrender” of the Barber-Surgeons is very neatly engrossed on extra thick parchment, but the seal was of course removed when it was returned to the Company. The text is as follows:-- To all to whom these p{r}sents shall come. GOVERNO{RS} of y{e} MYSTERY and COĨALTIE of BARB{RS} & SURGEONS of LONDON send GREETING. KNOW yee y{t} wee considering how much it imports the Governm{t} of our company to have men of known Loyalty & approved integrity to bear offices of Magistracy & places of Trust. The s{d} Ma{rs} or Govern{rs} have granted surrendred and yielded up, and by these p{r}sents do grant surrend{r} and yield up unto his most gracious Majesty CHARLES ye second by the Grace of God King of England, &c., his Heires and Successo{rs.} All and singular y{e} Powers Franchises liberties priviledges and authorities whatsoever and howsoever granted to or to bee used or exercised by y{e} said Masters or Governo{rs} by vertue of any right Title or Interest vested in them by any Charters Letters Patents Custome or Prescripc͠on in force of or concerning the electing nominating constituting being or appointing of any person or persons into or for y{e} severall and respective offices of Mast{r} Wardens Assistants and Clerk of y{e} said Company. And y{e} said Masters or Governo{rs} do hereby humbly beseech his Ma{tie} to accept of this their surrend{r} and do with all submission to his Majesties good pleasure implore his grace and favo{r} to regrant to y{e} said Masters or Governo{rs} the nameing and Chusing of y{e} said Officers and the said libertie and ffranchises or so many of them and in such mann{r} as his Majesty in his great wisdome shall judge most conducing for y{e} governm{t} of y{e} said Company, And with and under such reservacc͠ons restricc͠ons