Barbers -- England -- London -- History -- Sources; Barbers' Company (London, England) -- History; Surgery -- England -- London -- History -- Sources
ITEM for dyvˀse & sundrye consyderac͠ons & causes movyng this Cor̃te
it is this daye orderyd & decreid & establyshed by the same that
from henseforward there shall no Cytezen or other iñhit{a}unte[93]
of this Cytie usyng or havyng a greate berde of more notable
pˀlyxitie[94] or length then other the seid Cytezens of this Cytie
do nowe use or have hertofore of late yeres usyd to were, either be
iñhited pˀmytted or suffred to Receyve or take eny orphanage into his
handes and custodye albeit that he wolde fynde nevˀ soe good suertyes
for the same nor yet be admytted from henseforward to this Co{r}te
for eny Recognito{ns} or suertye for eny suche orphange And yt is
also assentyd & agreid that no pˀson havynge eny such berde shalbe
admytted by redempc͠on into the lybt̃ies & fredome of this Cytie as
longe as he shall were eny such berde.
[93] Inhabitant.
[94] Prolixity.
1544 and 1545. In _Repertory XI_ (at Guildhall) ff. 73{B.,} 176,
187{B.,} 229{B.,} 232 and 234 are various records relating to the vexed
question of the Barber-Surgeons going on inquests, bearing armour and
serving as constables, from all which offices they claimed exemption
under their Charters and Act of Parliament.
By the earlier entry, it seems that the Wardens were warned to appear
before the Court of Aldermen to shew cause why they refused to pass
upon inquests, etc.; then came a petition from the Company praying
to be discharged of all offices save the Inquest of Wardmote once a
year; this does not appear to have satisfied the Authorities, and the
Company were directed to draw up further Articles to be submitted
to the Court of Aldermen. Great pressure was no doubt put upon the
Barber-Surgeons, the result being that they abandoned most of the
privileges of exemption which they had claimed, and submitted a Bill
of Articles, which was finally approved, and entered of record on fo.
234. A copy of this lengthy document is at the Hall, and from it it
appears that on the 22nd October, 1545, the Company appeared before
the Court of Aldermen as “humble Besechers” to be shorn of their
privileges, the ground of their petition being “That forasmoche as
some grudge and displeasure is lately sith the unyon and conjunction
of their said ffelowshippes in to one entyre Company growen conteyned
and taken against them and their said ffelowship, by dyverse of theire
neighbours being citezeins of this citie, as they be, by reason that
they your said suppliauntꝭ” are discharged by their Charters and Act
of Parliament from bearing offices, etc., “that other the Cittzeins
of this citie are ellygible and lyable unto, ffor the whiche grudge
and displeasure your besechers are not a little sorye. ffor the
playne declarac͠on thereof and for the eschewyng advoyding and utter
extinguysshement of the said grudge and displeasure from hensforwarde,”
they are content that it shall be ordained that they shall go upon
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