The Court as now existing, consists of four Masters or Governors and twenty Assistants, appointed under the provisions of the Act 18 George II, cap. xv. By this Act the election of the Masters or Governors is in the Court and takes place on the second Thursday in August, but alas! without the ancient ceremonies of attending Church, crowning with garlands, and--may I add?--the Election dinner for the Livery. As will be seen elsewhere, there have been frequent disturbances at the Courts, and there are numerous entries of Assistants, Wardens, and Past Masters having been expelled the Court and sometimes dismissed from the Livery as well, for their misconduct or quarrelsome behaviour. Instances of impertinence and abuse by freemen and liverymen before the Court, are also by no means rare, and in these cases condign punishment by imprisonment or fine was invariably meted out. 9th March, 1624. This daye Mr. Warden Thornebury made knowne to this Court y{t} one Tanner, a brother of this Companie, hath abused him in words. Whereupon it is ordered by this Court that John Bayard the officer belonging to this Companie shall laye the Lord Maio{rs} comaund on the said Tanner and comitte him to one of the Compters of this Cittye And that imediately upon the said comittm{t} shall acquaint the M{rs} therewith That thereupon the M{rs} maye acquaint the lo: Maio{r} with the reson of his comittem{t.} 19th January, 1626. This daye the letter directed to the Maister Wards and Assistants of the Companie of Barbor Surgions of London from M{r} William Clowes Sarjeant Chirurgion to his Ma{tie} was here in Courte reade in hec verba viz{t} Right worthie Maister and Governors and assistants of the companie of Barbers and Surgions in my true love I wish all health and florishinge goverment of yo{r} Company to the glory of God the honor of the Kinge and the good of Gods people Amen. Now whereas I have bin not only by many Brothers advertised but also of yo{r} Officer legally by letter and otherwise given to understand that you had chosen me Renter warden of the company from the w{ch} Election I desired by M{r} Cooper and M{r} Thomas Allen I might be freed yett could not, I then knewe well that in duty I owed you an aunswer which might well be seeme my reverent respect to yo{r} Authoritye; and my tender regard of the kinge my M{rs} honor which in yo{r} Chusinge and my acceptinge maye be considered, which as much as in me is I desired to doe, And nowe, not once questoninge the troblesomnes of the place, nor other hinderances w{ch} god Almighty did then send I thus aunswer (because I wilbe free of Ambition or pride) that if you can make that appeere upon yo{r} Records that any of my predecessors did beare the office of Wardein after he was sworne Serjeant Surgion to any of the Kˀs or Queenes of England I shall humbly serve it, if not, I Crave yo{r}