The Clerk in Queen Mary’s time seems to have combined the occupation of gardener with that of his office, and for this he had but a small fee in addition to his stipend. Later on the Clerks appear to have devised fees for every conceivable kind of business which could possibly be transacted at Barber-Surgeons’ Hall, and in the 17th and 18th centuries the income derived from this source alone must have been very considerable. The Company has been served by good, bad and indifferent Clerks; we prefer to dwell only on the former and record the names among others, of Francis Rowdon, Charles Bernard and John Paterson as being worthy to be held in goodly remembrance. The books of the Company abound in testimony to their ability as well as to the fidelity and zeal which they displayed in the execution of their office. 1st October, 1555. The first Clerk of whom there is any record is Thomas Apulton (or Apleton), who, being Beadle, was promoted to that office. As will be seen elsewhere, the Company had a fair garden in Monkwell Street, and the following interesting minute connects it with the Clerk:-- 8th October, 1555. The Clercke of our Companye shall have for waxe pennes and ynke and for trymynge of the gardeyn yerelye vj{s} viij{d.} Yf the gardeyn be not well trymmed and made clene weded and swept at all tymes when the M{r} and Governors of the clothing or any of Thassistaunce of the same shall see yt and thereupon fynde faulte then the saide Clercke shall paye a ffyne to the hall because the said gardein ys not made cleane swept and wedyd as the M{r} and Governors of the Clothinge and thassistaunce of the same shall think meete and convenyent. 5th March, 1556. It was ordered that if-- The Clercke of the Company doo evile mysuse any of the Clothinge or of the yomanry w{th} unsemely words & dewe proofe therof had and proved he shalbe dismyssed clere from the having of the Office of clercke. 27th August, 1557. John Johnson was elected and sworn Clerk “for so longe time as he shal behave hymsyllfe well and honestlye in the saide office.” The salary was fixed at £4 per annum, with 6_s._ 8_d._ extra for paper, ink and keeping the garden, and “for wasshinge of the lynen of the howse iij{s} iiij{d.}” It would appear that one Wilson had some time previously been Clerk, for arrangements were made by which Wilson’s widow was not to be put out of her house, and it was also settled that if Johnson died before his wife, his widow should in like manner have the house after his decease. The rent of this house, which was attached to the Hall was 10_s._ per annum, and paid by the Clerk to the Renter Warden. Johnson probably continued Clerk till about 1570, as the books are kept in the same handwriting until then.