The print is dedicated to the Earl of Burlington, with a Latin inscription, of which the following is a translation.
“To the Most Noble Lord Richard Boyle, Earl of Burlington and Cork, &c., Knight of the Most Illustrious Order of the Garter. For the restoration, with the greatest liberality, at his own costs, of the Anatomical Theatre built a hundred years before, with the greatest skill, by the very celebrated Architect Inigo Jones, and decayed by lapse of time. This painting of Holbein representing the granting of a Charter given with his own hand by Henry VIII, King of England, &c., to the Society of Surgeons in London and preserved in their Hall, is by the Society of Surgeons of London humbly dedicated.”
This inscription, written at a time when the relations between the Barbers and the Surgeons of the Company were becoming strained, was evidently drawn by a Surgeon, who coolly ignored the Barbers throughout.
A very good pen and ink drawing of the picture was made by Austin Travers Young (aged 16) in 1883, and presented by him to the Company, for which he received the thanks of the Court.
1537. In “Chapter House Book” B. 1. (at the Record Office) is a list of the freemen of the several Companies of London at this date, which gives the names of 2,468 freemen in 39 Companies (an average of about 63 to each). The Barbers outstripped in numbers all the others, having a roll of 185 members; next to them came the Skinners with 151, then the Haberdashers with 120, so on down to the Bowyers, who mustered but 19. The premier Company, the Mercers, numbered but 55, whilst the ancient Weavers had only 30 members.
The following is the list of our freemen, the first twenty-six being members of the Court, and Nicholas Symson, Master that year.
| Nicholas Symson. | John Raven. | Thomas Wilson. |
| Willm Kyrckby. | Robert Hutton. | John Smythe. |
| Thomas Vycars.[84] | Henry Pemberton. | Willm Hiller. |
| John Bankꝭ. | Willm Shirborne. | Richard Tholmod.[85] |
| John Potter. | George Genne. | John Awcetter. |
| Thomas Twyn. | Thomas Johnson. | |
| John Johnson. | Robert Spegnall.[86] | Richard Sermond. |
| John Holland. | Richard Boll.[87] | Hugh Lyncocke. |
| Willm Rewe. | Nacholas Alcoke. | John Bordman. |
| John Aylyff. | Willm. Tylley. | Rauf Stek. |
| Edmond Harman. | John Northcote. | Henry Hogekynson. |
| John Peñ. | Willm. Wetyngton. | John Tomson. |
| Richard Tayler. | Henry Yong. | Hugh Dier. |
| Harry Carrier.[88] | Cristofer Samond. | Edward ffreman. |
| Rauf Garland. | Robert Waterford. | Thomas Mone. |
| John Enderbye. | Henry Atkyn. | Willm Yenson. |
| Peter Devismand.[89] | Christofer Bolling. | John Banester. |
| Robert Postell. | Robert Stocdale. | Willm Trewise. |
| John Bird. | Mathiewe Johnson. | Christofer Hungate. |
| James Tomson. | Davy Sambroke. | John Hutton. |
| Willm. Kydd. | John Atkynson. | John Browne. |
| John Yong. | Thomas Waryn. | John Grene. |
| Thomas Sutton. | Robert Grove. | John Tymber. |
| Charles Wyght. | Robert Brownhill. | John Shrene. |
| John Newman. | Willm Spencer. | Thomas Staynton. |
| Thomas Grome. | Thomas Butfilane.[90] | Thomas Pays. |
| Robert fforster. | Thomas Mede. | |
| Willm Higgꝭ. | Edmond Tyrell. | John Anger. |
| John Dene. | John Philpott. | Thomas Worseley. |
| Thomas Surbutt. | John Thowlmod.[91] | John Gilberd. |
| Willm Billing. | Edward Ingalby.[92] | Cristofer Haynes. |
| Willm. Lyghthed. | Richard Elyott. | Willm. Smythe. |
| John Mosseley. | Willm. Downham. | John Smerthwaite. |
| Willm. Hill. | Rogier Skynner. | John Lybbe. |
| George Wenyard. | John Gerard. | George More. |
| John Barker. | Richard Rogiers. | Thomas Burnett. |
| Willm. Barker. | Thomas Dicson. | John Hamlyn. |
| James Wod. | Thomas Gylman. | Richard Child. |
| John Stere. | Thomas Dester. | Thomas Baily. |
| Willm Hetherley. | Edward Hewett. | George Vaughan. |
| Olyver Wilson. | John Dormot. | Thomas Wetyngh’m. |
| Willm. Grene. | George Batman. | John Bonair. |
| Henry Rawshold. | Thomas Vivian. | Richard Cokerell. |
| Bartilmewe Dobynson. | George Brightwelton. | Willm. Walton. |
| Henry Patterson. | John Waren. | Geferey ffraunceis. |
| Philip Pegott. | John Greenway. | Thomas ffayles. |
| Robert Downys. | John Bell. | John Edlyn. |
| Antony Barowes. | Laurens Mollyners. | John Samond. |
| James Hogeson. | John Cobbold. | Henry Bodeley. |
| Robert Wevir. | Willm. Draper. | Thomas Stanbrige. |
| John Surbut. | Richard Smythe. | Willm. Borrell. |
| Willm Sewell. | Robert Ledꝭ. | Richard Nicols. |
| John Denys. | John Gamlyn. | Edward Hughbank. |
| John Page. | Thomas Cutbert. | John Charterane. |
| Robert Dodwell. | Robert Chamber. | Henry Wotton. |
| John Cutberd. | Lewis Bromefeld. | Robert Hastyngꝭ. |
| John Gray. | Richard Worseley. | Alex Mason. |
| Willm. Dauntese. | John Oskyn. | Thomas Darker. |
| Thomas Appilton. | John Robynson. | Thomas ffyshe. |
| John Cragell. | Richard Coley. | Edward Rollesley. |
| Thomas Arundell. | John West. | John Braswell. |
| Willm. Johnson. | Willm. Welfed. | Willm. Symsyn. |
| Henr’. Adam. |
The forty-two names following the Court and ending at John Awcetter were Liverymen, the remaining hundred and seventeen being Yeomanry.