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,