The Annals of the Barber-Surgeons of London

by Unknown

5th February, 1607. This day it is ordered that a Court howse be errected upon the Bulwarke behind the Hall of this Company for the M^rs or Governors to kepe their Courtꝭ at the charge of this Company And M^r. ffenton and M^r. Jenkins are to joyne with the M^rs of this Company in the same buildinge.

This Court Room was built within the circular Bulwark at the west end of the old Livery Hall, from which it was shut off by a screen wall or partition; many years later this screen was removed, and the whole thrown into one large apartment, and used as the Livery Hall.

21st January, 1608. The pˀnt M^rs are this daye authorized to furnishe the newe Roome in the Bulwark w^th cloth of Arras or tapestry or w^th waynscot as they shall think fittest at the chardge of this howse, and the Chimney peece & wyndowes to be waynscotted.

1608. The Colony of Virginia (so named from the Virgin Queen Elizabeth, in whose reign it was discovered) was in an unsatisfactory condition by reason of its scanty population, want of enterprise and other causes; whereupon the Council of Virginia endeavouring the prosperity of the Colony, sent a letter to the Lord Mayor propounding a scheme of emigration and colonisation to be undertaken by the City, which should ease the Metropolis “of a swarme of unnecessarie inmates,” make the fortunes of the emigrants (and of the “undertakers”) and benefit the Colony. This letter is so interesting that no apology is necessary for reproducing it here.

Whereas the lords of his Ma^tes councill, commissioners for the Subsedie, desirous to ease the cittie and suburbs of a swarme of unnecessarie inmates as a continuall cause of dearth and famine, and the verie origenall of all plagues almost that happen in this kingdome, have advised yo^r lordshippe and yo^r brethren, in an ease of state, to make some voluntarie contribuc͠on for their remove into the plantation of Virginia, w^ch we understand you all seemed to like as an action pleasing to God and happie for this com̃onwealth; We the councell and companie of this ho^ble plantation, willing to yelde unto your lop̃p and them all good satisfac͠on, have entered into consultac͠on w^th o^rselves, what may be everie mans chg̃es, and what of everie private familie, w^ch we send herew^th at large, not as a thing w^ch we would exact from you, but that you may see, as in a true glasse, the true chg̃e, w^ch we wholly commend unto yo^r grave wisdoms, both for the somme and man^r of leavie; onlie give us leave thus farre to enforme you that we give no bills of adventure for a lesse some than 12^li 10^s. ps̃uminge it wont be an infinite trouble now, and confusion in the retribuc͠on, but if your lop̃ make any seasment, or raise any voluntarie contribuc͠on out of the best disposed and most able of the companies, we are willing to give o^r bills of adventure to the m^r and wardens, to the general use and behoof of that companie, yf by wards, to the good of that ward, or otherwise as it shall please you and your brethren out of y^r better experience to direct. And if the inmate called before you and enjoyned to remove shall alledge that he hath no place to remove unto, but must lie in the streats, and being offerd this journey shall demand what shalbe their pˀsent maintenance, what their future hopes, yt may please you to lett them know that for the pˀsent they shall have meat, drink, and clothing, w^th an house, orchard, and garden for the meanest familie, and a possession of lands to them and their posteritie, one hundreth acres for everie man’s pˀson that hath a head or a body able to endure labour, as much for his wife, and as much for his child that is of yeres to do sˀvice to the colonie, w^th further pˀticular reward according to theire pˀticuler meritt and desert; and yf yo^r lordshipp and yo^r brethren shalbe pleased to put in any private adventure for yo^r selves in pˀticuler, you shalbe sure to receive according to your pˀporc͠on of the adventure, equall pˀts w^th us adventurers from the beginning, both of the comodities returned or land to be divided; and because you shall see (being aldermen of so famous a cittie) we beare you due respect, we are contented, having but one badge of grace and favor from his Ma^tie, to participate w^th you therein, and to make as many of you as will adventure 50^li. or more, fellow councellors from the first day w^th us who have spent double and treble as much as is required, abidden the hazard of three sevˀall discoveries, w^th much care and diligence, and many days adventure, and as yo^r deputies, and yo^r assistants, in yo^r private wards, so shall as many of them as will adventure but 25^li. present money, be made pˀties of this companie and assistants of this councell; and thus as an action concerning God and the advancement of religion, the present ease, future hon^r and safety of this kingdome, the strength of o^r navie, the visible hope of a great and rich trade, w^th many secrete blessings not yet discovered, we commend the cause to the wisdome and zeale of yo^r selfe and yo^r brethren and you, and it, and us, to the holie pˀtection of the Almightie.

The City took up the scheme heartily, a large sum was subscribed and a great number of emigrants crossed the water. The Barber-Surgeons invested £25, but never received anything for it again.

23rd March, 1609. This daye it is ordered that the pˀnt M^rs shall advent^r xxv^li. uppon a Bill of Exchange for the plantac͠on of Virginia, of the stock of this howse.

6th January, 1609. In obedience to a precept from the Lord Mayor, £10 was paid to the Chamberlain, towards the construction of a Garner for the use of the City.

25th May, 1610. A precept came from the Lord Mayor calling upon the Company “to be readie in yo^r bardge well and richlie sett forthe before vii of the clocke in the morning” on the 31st January, to go to Chelsea to meet the eldest son of James I, on which occasion he was to go from Richmond to Whitehall to be created Prince of Wales; whereupon the following minute is recorded:—

At this Court a precept beinge sent from my lord Maior unto this Company w^ch beinge at this Court read, the effect whereof was that our Company on Thursdaie next shalbe reddie to attend my Lord Maior in their barge for the honor of this Citie in the enterteynement of the high & mightie prince at Chelsey. It was ordered that none of the Company shold be warned for this service but onely those w^ch ware of the Assistaunce of the Clotheinge to goe in the Barge, the reason thereof is that a barge cold not be gotten large enough to carry the whole lyvery.