The Annals of the Barber-Surgeons of London

by Unknown

That there shalbe chosein viij examyners wherof iiij to be alwayes present to examyn all such as experte in Surgery, the M^r and governors being present Wherupon the sayed examyners may sett their hands w^th the consent of the M^r and govˀnors hearing the mater. And that the sayed examyners shall not examyn nor geve Lrẽs of lycence but that the M^r and govˀnors shalbe prevy therof. And that there maye be a booke made wherine every mans name that have Lycence to occupye Surgery being approved, to be enrolled and what ys the grace that ys to him or them appointed. And if they take upon them to doo otherwise than there grace ys geven them, the blame to redowne to him or them that so doo and not to the examyners nor to the m^r and govˀnors, and that there maye be alwayes at every courte day twoo at the leaste of the sayed examyners during a moneth: and so afterward monethelye two of them to be there whose chaunce the monethe shall fall too yf there besynes be not the greater because the m^r and govˀnors shoulde not be to seke if anye bodye shoulde be examyned there. And for defaulte of noen being there having no reasonnable excuse, to lose to the hall ij^s if he doo not send worde or com̃e himself being in the Cytie of London, or desyen a nother examyner to be there for him when his course ys at every Courte daye because we shoulde not be w^tout them who cañ answer the matter towching Surgery.

That they whiche be appointed for the Anathomye for the yere next following and must sarve the Docter and be about the bodye he shall se and provyde that there be every yere, a matte about the harthe in the hall that M^r Docter made not to take colde upon his feate, nor other gentelmen that do com̃e and marke the Anathomye to learne knowledge And further that there be ij fyne white rodds appointed for the Docter to touche the body where it shall please him and a waxe candell to loke into the bodye and that there be alwayes for the Docter two aprons to be from the sholder downewarde and two peyr of Sleaves for his hole arme w^t tapes for chaunge for the sayed doctor and not to occupye one Aporne and one payer of Sleves every daye w^ch ys unseamly. And the M^rs of the Anathomye y^t be about the bodye to have lyke aprons and sleves every daye bothe white and cleane. Yf y^t the M^r of the Anathomye y^t be about the Docter doo not see theise things ordered and that their knyves probes and other instrumẽts be fayer and cleane accordinglye w^th Aprons and sleves, if they doo lacke any of the said things afore rehersed he shall forfayte for a fyne to the hall xl^s.

22nd July, 1556. It was ordained among other articles—

An Article that evˀye occupˀ­ing Surgery shall take no mañ’ of prentice but suche as hathe some knowledge in the Latten tonge.

That from the feaste of Saint Michaell tharchaungell next comynge no barbor Surgeon that dothe occupye the mystery of Surgery in the Clothinge or out of the Clothing shall take or have any prentys but that he cañ skyll of the Laten tonge and understand the same and cañ wryte and reade suffycientlye and yf they or any of them doo take any that cañ not doo the same they that offende shall paye to the hall for a ffyne xl^s.

An Article that all pren­tizes that here after shalbe made ffree and do entend to occupye Surgery shalbe exam­yned and to passe his ffirste prefer­mẽt of grace.

That prentisses that shalbe made ffree after michelmas next comynge that doo occupy the mystery of Surgery and all other men that doo desyer to occupy the same and to be a brother w^th us, to be examyned and to passe according to the order of this house as a prefermẽt of a grace to him geven as the order hereafter followeth as he shalbe demaunded and apposoe.

An Article howe the sayed pren­ tizes shalbe exam­yned.

That after michelmas next comyng all pˀntyces when they are made ffree must (be) demaunded by the M^r and govˀnors and the iiij examyners what he intendeth to doo after he is made free, whether he will occupye the mystery of Surgery or no w^tin the Cytie of London. Yf he saye ye Then to be examyned what he can doo towards yt, howe he knoweth what ys Surgery and also what an Anatomye ys and howe manye perts it ys, of what the iiij^or Elements and the xij signes be w^ch ys the fyrste pert of examynac͠on for a prentyce & for other that wilbe brother with us as the examyners shall see cause, for having of their preferment of their first grace to them to be geven.