28th February, 1576. Here was a complainte against Willm̄ Clowes by one Goodenge for that the saide Clowes had not onlie misused the saide Goodinge in speche but also most of the masters of the Company wth scoffing wordes and jestes, and they all forgave him here openlye in the Corte and so the stryfe was ended upon condˀ that he sholde nevr so misuse him self agayne and bonds was caused to be made to that effect.

25th March, 1577. Here at this Corte was a greate contension and stryffe spoken of and ended betwene George Baker and Willm̄ Clowes for that they bothe contrary to order and the good and holsome rules of this howse misused eche other and fought in the ffelds togethers. But the Mr Wardens and assistance wishing that they might be and continewe loving brothers pˀdoned this greate offence in hope of amendement.

The George Baker with whom Clowes fought, was afterwards Serjeant-Surgeon and Master of the Company in 1597. In 1575 Mr. Clowes was appointed one of the surgeons of St. Bartholomew’s Hospital and later on he was surgeon to Christ’s Hospital; he was also surgeon to Queen Elizabeth and James I. His first book, “De morbo Gallico,” was published in 1579. In 1585 he went as surgeon of the forces in the expedition to the Low Countries under the Earl of Leicester. In his book, “Proved Practise,” he tells a great deal of this expedition and says that many of the surgeons were most unskilful and “slew more than the enemy did,” though he and his friend Serjeant-Surgeon Gooderus (Master 1594) did not lose a case. Mr. Clowes had the honour of serving in the fleet which defeated the Spanish Armada, and in 1594 was Warden of the Barber-Surgeons, the last Court which he attended was on the 9th February, 1596. After a successful practice he retired to a country house at Plaistow, in Essex, and died in 1604. Dr. Norman Moore says that his books “are the best surgical writings of the Elizabethan age; they are all in English, and his style is very easy and forcible, sometimes a little prolix but never obscure.”

WILLIAM CLOWES, Jun., Serjeant-Surgeon.

He was the son of William Clowes, Barber-Surgeon; born about 1582, he was apprenticed to his father and admitted to our freedom 22nd January, 1605, and on 13th December, 1615, called to the Livery; he was then surgeon to the Prince of Wales, and had a dispensation from the Court of the Company to attend the lectures and Hall only on such occasions as should be convenient to him. On the accession of Charles I he was made Serjeant-Surgeon to the King. In 1626 he was Master of the Company, and again in 1638. A characteristic letter of Serjeant Clowes and some particulars as to his election as Master in 1626 may be seen on pp. 248–250. On 30th October, 1648, his decease was reported to the Court.

By his will, dated 28th March, 1630, he bequeathed his property freehold and copyhold, to his wife Sara, his son James, and his daughters Ann and Sara.

Arms. Az. on a chev. engr. betw. three unicorns’ heads, era or. as many crescents gu.

Geoffrey Clowes==
of Tutbury,
Staffordshire
Nicholas Clowes,==
of Kingsbury,
Warwickshire
Thomas Clowes==Emma d. of
of Kingsbury
and London		 John Beauchamp.
1st. ........ d. of==William Clowes==and. Katherine Smith,
Godwin of Kent of London, Surgeon to
Queen Elizabeth and
James I, d. 1604.		 granddr of Sir Hen. Wallop of Hampshire.
William Clowes==Sara. Richard Clowes
Serjeant-Surgeon to Charles I. d. 1648.
James Clowes.Ann. Sara.Henry Clowes==Susan, d. ofCatherine m. Richd. Pile of Hampshire.Mary
d. unm.
of Cornhill, admit­ted
to Freedom of
Barber-Surgeons
16 Jan., 1627, viz., 1633.		 Richard, Cutler of London.
Richard Clowes.
æt. 3, in 1633.		Thomas Clowes.Susan.