ROBERT BALTHROP, Serjeant-Surgeon.
Robert Balthrop was born in 1522, and about the year 1538 apprenticed to Nicholas Alcock (Surgeon to King Edward VI). He was admitted to the freedom 3rd March, 1545, and to the Livery 20th October, 1552. He served the office of Warden in 1560 and 1564, and was Master of the Company in 1565 and again in 1573. About the year 1562 he was appointed Serjeant-Surgeon to Queen Elizabeth and held that office until his death (9th December, 1591).
He is buried in the church of St. Bartholomew the Less, where there is (behind the organ) on the south wall of the church, a handsome monument to his memory with this inscription—
Here Robert Balthrope lyes intombd, to Elizabeth our Queene,
Who Sergeant of the Surgeons sworne neere thrtye yeeres hathe beene.
He died at syxtie nine of yeeres December’s ninthe the daye
The yeere of Grace eight hundred twice deductinge nine a waye
Let heere his rotten bones repose, till angells trompet sounde,
To warne the worlde of present chaunge, and raise the deade from grounde.
VIVIT POST FUNERA VIRTUS.
Balthrop’s will was made about a fortnight before his death (27th November), and therein he directs his body to be buried in St. Bartholomew’s the Less, in which parish he then resided. He seems to have amassed a considerable estate and to have made a rather lengthy will, but as a great deal of it is of much interest, especially his inventory of surgical instruments and books, no apology is needed for quoting largely from it.
I do give and bequeathe my sowle to the holy and blessed Trinitie the ffather the sonne and the holy ghost three persons and one God allmightie hoping and stedfastly beleevinge to be forgiven and pardoned of all my sinnes and to enjoye the everlastinge and unspeakable felicities of heaven through the merrittꝭ and passion of my only redeemer and saviour Jesus Christ to whome be given all glorie honor and praise nowe and for ever Amen.
To poor people in the discretion of his executrix £10. To John Mason,[333] Chirurgian, dwelling in Long Lane 40s., and a few other small legacies. “To my servauntes,” John Deighton, Richard Neill, John Edwards and William Taylor 40s. each. To each of his wife’s maids 20s.
Also I give to the Company and bequeath to the company of the Barbors and Chirurgions of the Cittie of London for their use in their hall one bell [? beer] bowle with a cover beinge both of silver and gilte weighinge thirty ounces half an ownce and half a quarter of an ownce. Also I give to the Mr and Governours of the said Company to make them and the rest of the Cloathinge a Dynner in theire hall after my buryall ffyve poundes. Also I give and bequeath to the poore people of the said Company fyve poundes. . . Also I bequeath to my mothr Mris Love my golde ringe which hath in it a stone called a Turkey. . . Also I bequeath to my felowe Goodorus[334] one of my Launcettꝭ that is sett in golde and enamyled Also I bequeth to my felowe Baker[335] her maiesties Chirurgion my Syringe of silver gilted and three pypes of silver gilted belonginge to the same.
To Mr. Bennett, one of the Queen’s footmen, “my Brooch of golde compassed aboute with ragg Rubies.” Upon payment of £10, John Gryffyn,[336] surgeon, was to have the lease of his house. To testator’s nephew, William Balthrop £50 “and my greate Ringe of golde with my seale of Armes.” To his Nephew Richard Balthrop at the end of his apprenticeship £50 “and my lesser Ringe of golde with my seale of Armes.” And to these nephews his lands and tenements at East Greenwich. To John Gryffyn
My fyne clothe gowne welted with velvett and faced with Damaske. . . . To John Deighton my servaunte my blacke cloth cloake layed with lace and faced with velvett my blacke satten Dublett and my rounde velvett hose. To Richard Neel my servaunt a cloak, doublett and hose. To John Edwards my servaunt my white canvas Dublett that is at the parke with my Rownde velvett hose and my pheasaunt colored cloake with the sleeves and cape faced with russett velvett. Also I give and bequeath to my servauntꝭ that nowe are with me and have bene my servauntes in tyme past which do practize and exercise the art of Chirurgery such thingꝭ of mine belonginge and appertayninge to chirurgerie as are by me given and appointed to them in the Schedule hereunto annexed.
To Dorothy, his wife, he gave all the residue of his lands, houses, buildings, goods, chattels, plate, chains of gold, jewels, ready money, &c., and appointed her executrix. Probate was granted 16th December, 1591.
SCHEDULE.
Item I give and bequeathe to my servaunt John Deighton my newe and last made Chirurgery chest which is for my owne use with all that is therein except golde and silver Also I bequeath to him my plaster boxe of leather which hath the lock hinges and barrs over yt of Copper gilted and the cysars and all the silver instrumentes therein. Also I give unto him my rownde silver salvatory and one catheter of silver and annother of leade with the case wherein they are Also I give unto him a case with silver Instrumentes therein that ys to saye a silver splatter a chockbarr of silver for the uvula a silver Syringe parcell gilted Also I give unto him my silver precipitate box all wch thingꝭ are in the aforesaid chest. Also I bequeath unto him all my bookes of Phisicke and chirurgery with two Dixionaries which are in my study in my house at Manfeilde parke in the parishe of Taplowe. I also bequeath unto him my Englishe bible which is at the Courte. I give and bequeath to Lewes Rogers[337] somtyme my servaunte my greater surgery Chest which is in my Chamber here at London with all that is therein except golde and silver. Also I give unto him my plaster box which my wife hath in the Countrie with all the instrumentes therein belonginge to the same Also I give unto him a Catheter of silver which is in the Chest that I have apointed to John Deighton my servaunte Also I give unto him these bookes followinge Guydoes Chirurgery in ffrench, Bartholomeus De proprietatibus rerum, Vidus Vidius Interpres, Valescus his practise, Albucasis Discorides, Cornelius Celsus, Johannes Mesue, Marcus Catenarcus, Guydoe in latin, Leonardus ffuschius, Gyrolanus in ffrench and Quintus Curtius in Englishe. Also I give and bequeath to my servaunt John Edwards my least Chirurgery Chest which is at the Court for the Dayly use of my servauntes with all that therein is, my plaster box of leather with ye gilted locke and hinges of silver with all the instrumentes therein to the same belonginge and these English bookes, Gemimes Anathomy, Guido and Leonard ffuschius both in written hand, John Vigo, Eliot’s Dictionarie which I have lent to my felowe Goodorus, Turners herball and my byble which is at my howse in Manfeilde parke. Also I give unto him a pewter Syringe with three pypes of silver belonginge to the same. Also I give unto John Griffin somtymes my servaunt my silver salvatory percell guilted which is in the Chest that I have appointed to my servaunte Lewes Also I bequeath to Anthony Gariswall somtyme my servaunte one bigge latin booke wherein are bounde togeather the Chirurgeries of Guido, Brumis, Theodoricus Lanfrancke and Alberti Palus Also I give and bequeath unto the companie of the Barbors and Chirurgeons of the Cittie of London the Chirurgery of that most excellent writer John Tagaultius the lattin booke and also the English translation that I have made thereof And also the Chirurgerie of the expert and perfect practitioner Ambrose Parey both which workes I have written into Englishe for the love that I owe unto my bretheren practisinge Chirurgerie and not understandinge the latin Tounge and given them into the Hall for theire Dayly use and Readinge both in lattin and Englishe and Desiringe that they may be kept faire and cleane for my sake which wish them all prosperous and good successe in theire workes and endevours whatsoever they take in hande to the glory of God and the advauncemente of the Arte. Also I give unto my servaunt John Edwards my Case with all the Instrumentes therein which is in my Chest which I have appointed for Deighton. Also I give unto my servaunte John Deighton my bagge with the case and all the Instrumentes and other thingꝭ that are therein which lyeth for my Daily use in my Chest wherein I put my lynnen at the Courte. ffinally my will is that myne Executrix shall give to the use of the two hospitalls Sainte Bartholomewes and Saint Thomas for the sicke and sore people there all other such medicines bookes Instrumentꝭ bottles boxes and pottꝭ and such like thingꝭ belonginge to Chirurgery as are not in this Schedule bequeathed and given and such as she will reserve for her owne use, and to give to the poore for Christes sake. In Witnesse whereof I have also Subscribed this Schedule and put to my seale the Daie and yere first above written.
Per me Robertum Balthropp.
Arms. Ar. on a chev. sa. five fleur de lys of the first. (The shield on Balthrop’s monument is quarterly 1st and 4th as above, 2d and 3rd a bend betw. two Eagles displayed.)