Next comes Sir John Ayleff (Aylif, Aylyff, etc.). He was Master of the Barbers in 1538, and Surgeon to the King, with whom he was doubtless on terms of friendship, as Henry bequeathed him 100 marks. Ayleff treated Henry for fistula and cured him, at Brinkworth in Wilts, for which the King bestowed upon him a great estate there in gratification. He subsequently became a Merchant of Blackwell Hall, Sheriff of London in 1548, and Alderman of Bridge Without in 1550.
17th July, 1550. In the Repertories of the Court of Aldermen is a Record that the Court of the Barber-Surgeons gave their assent to the Translation of Sir John from theirs to the Grocers’ Company, of which Company he was crowned Upper Warden 9th June, 1556.
Sir John Ayleff was buried 20th October, 1556, in the Church of St. Michael Bassishaw, where there was formerly a marble tomb with this inscription thereon—
In Chirurgery brought up in youth,
A Knight here lyeth dead;
A Knight and eke a Surgeon such
As England seld hath bred.
For which so soveraigne Gift of God
Wherein he did excell,
King Henry VIII call’d him to Court,
Who lov’d him dearly well.
God gave the Gift, the King gave Goods,
The Gift of God t’enhance;
Where God and such a Prince do joyne,
Such Man hath happy Chance.
King Edward for his service sake,
Bade him rise up a Knight,
A name of Praise and ever since
He, Sir John Ailiffe hight,
Right Worshipful, in name and charge
In London lived he than,
In Blackwell Hall the merchant chiefe
First Sheriffe, then Alderman.
The Hospitals bewaile his death
The Orphan children mone,
The chiefe Erector being dead
And Benefactor gone.
Dame Isabel who lived with him,
His faithful Wife and Mate,
With him (as dearest after death)
Doth not her Knight forsake
The Knight the 24[79] of October.
Yeelded up his breath,
And she soon after followed
To live with him in death.
19 April, 1558. My lady Aylyff gave a fyne table cloth of damaske worcke to sr̃ve for the uppermost table in the hawle the wch of her jentyllness she gave frely unto this hawle.
John Ayleff (son of the Knight) was admitted to the freedom of the Barber-Surgeons, 3rd June, 1552.
Next to Sir John Ayleff, is Nicholas Simpson, concerning whom nothing is known to me, but that he was “King’s Barber,” and Master of the Barbers in 1537.
Edmund Harman, “King’s Barber,” follows next; he was admitted to the freedom in 1530, and served Master in 1540. Henry VIII bequeathed him 200 marks, and he was one of the attesting witnesses to the King’s will. There are several references to him among the State Papers and Household Ordinances. His dignified bearing and expression in the picture are very striking.