1890. The following plate is now in the Company’s possession:
A handsome standing silver gilt Grace cup and Cover (26 1/2 ozs.) presented by King Henry VIII in 1540 in commemoration of the union of the Barbers with the Surgeons. This cup is elaborately chased and enriched with badges of the Tudor Rose, Portcullis, and Fleur-de-lys; the cover is surmounted with the Crown Imperial under which are the arms of France and England quarterly, with the lyon and greyhound as supporters. There are four bells pendant from the cup which are referred to by Pepys as follows:—
Among other observables at Chyrurgeon’s Hall we drunk the King’s health out of a gilt cup, given by King Henry viij., to the Company, with bells hanging at it, which every man is to ring by shaking after he hath drunk up the whole cup.—Diary, 27th February, 1662–3.
GRACE CUP.
This cup although it has been stolen, pawned and sold, yet remains to us, one of the most precious relics of our past. It appears by the Wardens’ Accounts, that in 1669 John Knight, Serjeant-Surgeon, who was Master, had the cup repaired and a case made for it; Serjeant Knight was again Master 1677–8, when he caused a plate to be fixed within the cover with this inscription—
Henrici R. Munificentia Ne Posteris Ignota Maneat Johannis Knight R.C.P.[313] 1678.
In the bowl of the Cup is an outline engraving of the old coat of the Barbers, impaling the cognizance of the Surgeons in one shield (see [p. 435]).
King Charles II in 1676 presented us with a very handsome and unique parcel gilt standing cup and cover, surmounted by the crown imperial, and having within the same the Royal arms, supporters and crown (68 ozs.). This Cup is known as “The Royal Oak Cup” (commemorative of the King’s escape at Boscobel), its stem and base representing the trunk and roots of an oak tree; the bowl or upper part is surrounded with oak leaves, branches, wreaths of flowers, escallop shells, and pendant acorns as bells from shields. The Company’s arms are engraved on one shield, on another the crest, on the third is the following inscription:—“Donum Munificentissimi Regis Caroli Secundi Anno 1676,” and on the last shield—“Impetrantibus Chirurgis Regiis Johanne Knight Chirurgo Regis Principali et Jacobo Pearse Eodem Anno Societatis Magistro.”
