Also £30 to the Grocers’ Company and £6 6s. 8d. to Bridewell Hospital. To the poor of Aylton 12d. weekly for 5 years. To the poor of Yaxley 6d. weekly for 5 years.
And as for that yerely penc͠on yt I have given for ever in the parish I was borne in in the Citty of Chester I require my executor to see and make inquiry of the pˀformance thereof (accordinge to a brason table in the Church therefore) the wch for many yeres past I have knowne well performed and soe I hope wilbe for ever.
His sons, Heneage and Henry, and son-in-law, William Downhall, were appointed Executors.
Sir Peter Proby’s arms were, erm. on a fesse gu. a lyon pass. or. a crescent for difference.
WILLIAM CLOWES.
William Clowes was the son of Thomas Clowes, originally of Kingsbury, Warwickshire, and afterwards of London. He was born about 1540, and studied surgery under Mr. George Keble, who was not free of our Company, but of whom Clowes more than once speaks in terms of highest praise. He tells us that in 1563 he served as a Surgeon in the army under the Earl of Warwick at Havre, and after this campaign he was for some time in the Navy, in both which appointments he undoubtedly gained great experience. In 1569 he no doubt settled in London, as on the 8th of November in that year he was admitted to the freedom by translation, and he soon secured a large practice, though it was not until the 18th July, 1588, that he was made an Assistant of the Court.
The records do not display Mr. Clowes’ character in the most favourable light, as the following extracts will show:—
6th October, 1573. Here was one & complayned [against] Willm̄ Clowes for takynge his money and he not cured.
7th February, 1575. Here came one Willm̄ Goodnep and complayned of Willm̄ Clowes for not curing his wief de morbo gallico and yt was awarded that the saide Clowes sholde either geve the saide Goodnep xxs orells cure his saide wief wch Clowes agreed to pay the xxs and so they were agreed and eche of them made acquittance to other.