The pedigree is compiled principally from Harl. MSS. 897, 1165 and 1443.
THOMAS VICARY,[319] Serjeant-Surgeon.
THOMAS VICARY
From the original painting by Holbein,
at Barber’s Hall.
Thomas Vicary was probably born between 1490 and 1500, and is stated in Manningham’s Diary to have been “at first a meane practiser in Maidstone untill the King advanced him for curing his sore legge.” In 1525 he was third Warden of the Barbers’ Company, and in 1528 Upper Warden and one of the Surgeons of Henry VIII with £20 a year. In 1530 he was Master of the Company and appointed Serjeant-Surgeon, which latter office he held until his death. In 1539 Henry granted him a beneficial lease for 21 years of the Rectory and tithes of the dissolved Abbey of Boxley in Kent. In 1541 Vicary was chosen Master of the Barber-Surgeons, to which office he was again elected in 1546, 1548, and 1557 having thus held the chief place in the Company no less than five times—an honour to which no other member has ever attained. In the Holbein picture Vicary is represented as receiving the Charter from the King. In 1542 he and his son William were appointed by the King Bailiffs of the Manor of Boxley, and five years later he married his second wife, Alice Bucke. In 1548 Vicary was appointed a Governor of St. Bartholomew’s Hospital, and soon afterwards became the Resident Surgical Governor there; in June, 1552, he was made “one of the assistants of this house (St. Bartholomew’s) for the terme of his lyffe.” In 1548 he published his celebrated book “The Anatomie of the bodie of man,” no copy of the first edition of which is now known to be extant. On the 27th January, 1561, Vicary made his will, which was proved in London 7th April, 1562. The will, which is set out in full in Dr. Furnivall’s book, is too long to give here in extenso, but the following extracts will be found of interest.
Item I will that the masters of the livery of my Companie be at my buriall, and they to have xls for theire dinners, to be delivered to the wardens at theire commyng to my buriall. And to Johnson the Clarke of the Company, vjs viijd And in considerac͠on of my evell and necligẽt service done to god and to his poore members, the poore of this hospitall of St. Barthelmewes where I now dwell, in recompence whereof, and for the discharge of my concience, I give and bequeath to thuse of the saide poore, tenne poundes in monney. Item I give and bequeath xls in monney to and amongest fortie poore householders of the saide pˀish of little sainte Barthelmewes, that is to saye, to every householder xijd. Also I give and bequeathe ls in monney to thospitler, matron, stuarde, Cooke, and porter offecer of the saide hospitall, that is to saye, to every of them xs . . . . To Thomas Skair, my apprentis, vjs viijd . . . I give and bequeath to Roberte Baltropp[320] my best gowne garded with velvet, furred and faced with Sables, my Cote of braunched velvete, and a sering[321] of silver, parcell gilte. Also I give and bequeath to Thomas Bayly[322] my gowne of browne blue lyned and faced with blacke budge,[323] my cassocke of blacke satten fured and garded with velvet, my best plaister box, garnisshed with silver, my salvitory[324] of silver, and a sering[321] of silver, with all other instrumentꝭ of silver. Item I bequeathe to Robert Muddesley[325] my best single gowne faced with blacke satten. To George Vaughan,[326] my doblet of crimson satten . . . Also I give and bequeath unto the hawle of my company one booke called Guido[327] and ij billes ij bowes ij shefes of Arrowes ij bracers ij shoting gloves ij Sculles one hand gune and one Jack Item I give and bequeath to master Skynner[328] one half hacke one Jack and one murren And to Henry Picton my sˀvnte aforesaide one booke called Johˀes Vigo.[329] All the residue of my bookes stuff and instrumentꝭ appertaining to surgery I give and bequeath unto the same Henry Picton and Richard Vener equally betwen them to be devided.
The remainder of his property was bequeathed to his nephews Thomas and Stephen (sons of his late brother William Vicary, of Boxley), and to his widow Alice.