1600. The fee simple of three houses in Monkwell Street was this year purchased by the Company of William Fyninge for £112!
11th November, 1600. In obedience to a precept it was ordered that twelve members of the Court “well mounted on horseback and apparrelled in all poynts accordingely,” together with twelve freemen “to wayte uppon them wth evˀy one twoe staffe torches in his hande,” were to meet at the Hall on the following Thursday (13th November) and to ride with the Lord Mayor to Chelsea to conduct the Queen to Westminster. This procession is thus referred to in Stow’s Annals; “On the thirteenth of November 1600, her Maiestie being most honourablie attended on, by the most honourable Prelates, and Nobles, and Judges of the Realme, was received neere unto Chelsey, by the Lord Maior of London, with his brethren the Aldermen all in Scarlet, besides to the number of five hundred citizens, in coates of velvet, and chaines of gold, on horesbacke, every of them having two staffe torches to attende on them: And they all waited on her, to her royall Pallace at Westminster.”
9th November, 1602. Various members of the Company “were appoynted to ryde wth the Mr to meete her Matie on Saterdaie next” at Chelsea.
9th April, 1603. A precept was received commanding the Company to contribute £12 10s. 0d. towards the cost of the reception of James I by the City, whereupon an assessment was made upon the freemen for the same, and the Masters made “choyce of sixe pˀsonable menn for Wiflers to attend the Livˀye of this Companye when his Matie goeth to be crowned.”
20th April, 1603. The following precept requiring the Company to assist in the reception of the King “in greater number and more statelie and sumtiows shewe then hath bene at any time heretofore within the memory of man in the like case pˀformed,” will be read with interest;
To the Mrs and Wardens
of the Company of
Barbor Surgeons
By the Maior
Where the most high and mightie Prince James or most dread & soveraygne Lord is by the grace of god shortlie to make his repaire from his Kingedom of Scotland into this his Realme of England and so consequentlye to this his honorˀble Cittie and chaymber of this his imperyall Crowne. And for that it is agreed by mee and my Breethrn the Aldrẽn of the same Cittie that not onelie or selves but the full number of five hundred of the best and gravest Cittizens should accordinge to or dueties wayte and attend uppon his royall pˀson at his approch nere to this Cittie in greater number and more statelie and sumtiows shewe then hath bene at any time heretofore within the memory of man in the like case pˀformed, Towards the accomplishmt of wch number your company is appoynted to pˀvid the full number of Twelve pˀsonns, These therefore shalbe to chardge and commaund you in his Maties name to prepare not onely yourselves but also to p’vid the full number of Twelve persons of the most grave and Comlyest pˀsonages of youre said Companye, everie one of them to be well horsed and apparrelled wth velvet Coates and wth sleaves of the same and chaynes of golde, and not onely yourselves but every of the saide pˀsons to have one comely pˀson well apparrelled in his dublet and hose to attend uppon him one[116] foote. All which pˀsons to be in redines well and substonciallie horsed apparrelled and appoynted as aforesaid wthin one daies warneing to be signified unto you to attend on mee and my Bretheren the Aldrẽn of the same Cittie, to attend and wayte uppon his most exelent Matie as aforesaid. And that uppon Saturdaie morneinge next you doe certifye to mee in wrytinge the names and Srnames as well of youre selves as of all other pˀsons free of youre company that you shall appointe for this service. Of all wch pˀsons you are to have a regard that noe man for insufficiency in any respect be turned back to the disgrace and discredit of youre company, nor a mann unfitt furnished and appointed for so honorable a service. And hereof fayle you not, as you will answer the contrary if through youre defalt any parte of this service shal not be fullie pˀformed.