The Annals of the Barber-Surgeons of London

by Unknown

Ffor the bewtefieinge of the streetꝭ and lanes w^thin this Cittie against the passage of the Kingꝭ most excellent mat^ie and the Kinge of Denmarke their nobilitie and trayne from the Tower through this Cittie. Theis are in his Ma^tꝭ name straightlie to charge and command you that all delayes & excuses sett aparte you have and provide yo^r rayles in a readines for the livery of yo^r company to stand in and to be sett up in the streetꝭ against wednesday the xxx^th day of July at the furthest. And likewise that yo^r railes against that tyme be hanged with blew azure cloth & garnished w^th Banners & streamers in the most bewtifull manner that may be, as formerlie in like solempnities hath bin accustomed. And that you likewise have and provide sixe whifflers at the least to evˀy score of yo^r livery well apparrelled w^th white staves in their handes to stand with their backꝭ to the Common railes over against your yo^r Companies railes for the better and quieter ordering of the streetꝭ through which his ma^tie shall passe. And hereof faile you not at yo^r pˀill. This xxj^th of July 1606.

Sebrighte.

Three days after the receipt of the above, came another precept demanding £5 from the Barber-Surgeons towards the City’s expenses to be incurred about the Pageant.

The two Kings landed at the Tower, from Greenwich, on the 31st July, on which day the City gave itself up to the gayest doings and rejoicings. A curious and interesting description of the pageant is to be found in a rare tract by H. R., 1606, preserved at Guildhall Library. Howes also gives an entertaining account of the proceedings, and relates how the King of Denmark “seriously observed the unimaginable number of gallant Ladies, beauteous virgins, and other delicate Dames filling the Windowes of every houss with kinde aspect saluting” him as he passed by. He also tells us of the melodious harmony, the Latin speech, the pastoral device, and the fountains which ran with wine, etc.

It seems that on this great occasion one of the Marshalls had endeavoured to take our Company “down a peg” in order of precedence. This was, however, successfully resisted, and the Clerk proudly records the following in the Minutes on the same day:

Memorand: that the Kingꝭ ma^tie w^th the Kinge of Denmarke & the Prince of Wales came through this Cittie from wardes the Tower of London attended uppon with the Lordes and gentry of this Land on the last day of this instant moneth of July Att which tyme M^r. ffoxe beinge one of the Comittees for placeinge of the Companies standingꝭ would have displaced us But by the Lord maiors order wee were placed in the seaventeenth place accordinge as wee ought to be placed.

1606. Notwithstanding the new charter granted in the previous year, the Court found itself unable to regulate the practice of Barbery and Surgery without an extended set of By-Laws, which were now obtained and are still preserved at the Hall. They are in English, on eight large skins of parchment, beautifully engrossed with a handsomely illuminated title, the initial