Barber-Surgeons Guild

Well, my story of The Barbers has published, and dedicated to my good friends across the pond, Jim & Sue Barber. I figured Jim's ancestors were barbers, and that my friends would like to know what their forefathers did for a living, but first, I needed to do a bit of research. I wanted factual data without it being textbook, but had no idea the amount of research it would take, or how unbelievable the health practices were at the time. 

In order for the reader to accept some of what I wrote, I included an example of my resources at the end of it under the heading: Afterward. I reckoned no one would believe me otherwise. Most of the texts were published in the 17^th century, which is apropos due to the fact The Barbers takes place in 1663. Only two sources were published after 1663, one in 1667 and one in 1904 around which this blog is centered.  

Now, for a bit of history…

King Henry VIII & the Company of Barber-Surgeons 1540

In the old days, prior to King Henry VIII, barbers/surgeons shared job descriptions. They both sheared hair, made wigs, shaved faces, trimmed beards, bled, cleaned wounds, and healed the sick. The guild was then known as the Barber’s Company.

In 1540, King Henry changed it to the Company of Barber-Surgeons, and new rules applied. Barbers could only barber and pull teeth, while surgeons did everything else, but these laws were not often followed. Barbers continued to ply their surgical skills, and surgeons snipped mustachios and hair. It filled their coffers with extra money.  

In Early Modern England records indicate a few women barbered and did ‘pyhsik’ (doctoring). These women where allowed into the guild through their fathers or a male relative to apprentice and subsequently go into trade. They could do almost everything a male surgeon could, except see a male dissection, which would cause their womanly desires to flare. They could not witness a female dissection either. This would expose the men digging about in a female’s lower anatomy, trying control a woman’s breeding.

Women became barbers or surgeons, but rarely, if ever, could they be licensed. There is reference to a couple of women licensed to ply their surgical skills, but she could only practice seven miles outside the City limits. (Seven miles outside London seems important, for open Roman Catholicism was included in this distance limit.)

Female barbers were more accepted in the 17^th century, their hands considered calm under pressure. They could shave a man very nicely whilst in a coach rumbling along a cobbled lane.

Pulling teeth

Barbers had long days. During the reign of Henry VI, an edict was cast down that “’…no barber open his shop to shave any man from 10 o’clock at night from Easter to Michaelmas, or 9 o’clock from Michaelmas to Easter, except it be any stranger or any worthy man of the town that hath need (what? Isn’t this contradictory, or does it apply to the less wealthy?): whoever doeth to the contrary to pay one thousand tiles to the Guildhall.’”   

Early barbershops had red rags lining their windows, to show they could let blood, and inside rotten teeth were strung on a string. This meant the barber could shave, draw teeth, and “breath’d a vein” (bleed someone). In the 17^th century, while customers waited for his barber’s expertise, he strummed a gittern (early guitar).

There were certain things a potential customer could not say or do while in the barbershop, or he’d be forced to pay a forfeit. Examples of offences: a customer handling a razor or fiddling with the barber’s tools, speak of cutting throats, or call hair-powder flour.

Barbershop

Here’s a story re: barber-surgeons.

A duke entered a small barbershop to find the barber not in. He regarded the young apprentice and said, "Can you shave without cutting?" The apprentice said, "Aye," and the duke sat in the chair. After a few pleasantries, the duke patted his brace of pistols and said, "Of course, if you cut me, I shall shoot you dead." The youth thought a moment, then nodded. "I'm not afraid, sir." In quick strokes the lad pleased the duke by shaving him very well. The duke stroked his clean jaw. "Why were you not afraid, then?" With a shrug, the lad answered, "Before you could draw your pistol, I would cut your throat."

Ha! Well said.

For more reading on the barber/surgeons, please see my new release, The Barbers, now on amazon worldwide. Not very expensive, either. 

US: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00I6KOKL6

UK:  https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00I6KOKL6 

~~~~~~

I want to thank the following for the quotes and information found in this blog: Andrews, William. At the sign of the barber's pole, Studies in Hirsute History. Cottingham, Yorkshire J.R. Tutin 1904

Guns & English Shooting (Part IV)

Hanging partridge (18th century)

This is the fourth and last installment of The Art of English Shooting by George Edie, Gent., an informative 18^th century tome that helps an author or reader with background detail of antique guns, bird hunting, and which dogs to use.  

If you've missed the previous installments, just scroll down to the earlier blogs. I don't have that many, so should be easy to find. 

Keep in mind, I’ve not made any changes. Spelling and voice are as in the book. 

Page (26)

"Of various Upland Winter Shooting.

"Our common field shooting is generally best in frosty weather, and when the ground has a tolerable cover of snow. We have in most parts of England, a variety which affords very tolerable sport; the most common are, different sorts of wild pigeons, field-fares, starlings, redwings, &c.

Starlings are nasty birds, and not a meal I’d like to see on my table.

"In this diversion we use no dog; and the fewer shooters together the better.

"The several kinds of pigeons require the No. 3 shot, as being strong birds; and may be either taken on the wing, or as they perch on a tree; but the rock pigeons are best, in general, taken on the wing; however, it sometimes happens that a shot at them sitting is more proper; in this, discretion must direct. The fieldfare (thrush) is a very common bird, it seems to delight most in large close orchards; but in hard weather, in the fields; they frequent the haws bushes, and afford very pretty diversion: though they are naturally very wild, yet, when a hard frost is set in, there is no difficulty in getting within forty yards of them, at the time they are keenly engaged on their feeding bush: here they will fit forty or fifty sometimes together.

"The proper way of managing this kind of shooting is, if possible, to secrete behind a bush, or in a hedge, within shot of one of the bushes they frequent: when a sufficient number (as the person may judge) are together, to fire at them as they see fit; what are killed should be taken up, and the shooter replace himself as before: in a quarter of an hour, or less, more will probably be on the bush; and he may often go on shooting in the same place, all the while they are on their feed, which is from a little after sun-rise till eleven or twelve o'clock; and in the afternoon they go on again, about an hour before sunset; but such sport as this must be expected only where fieldfares are in great plenty.

"Starlings afford tolerable diversion in shooting; in winter they, for the most part, go in flocks from twenty to fifty; they delight chiefly to be in moist pastures among cattle, and sometimes sit so close together on the ground, that a person may kill twenty-five or thirty at a shot; taking these on the ground, or wing, may be left at the discretion of the shooter; but the wing will be best preferred: what are shot, should have their heads immediately pulled off, which by their bleeding, prevents a bitterness of taste they would otherwise have: use for these and fieldfares the No. 4 shot.

A murder mystery could be in the works while pulling off the heads of those dead starlings…

"In shooting larks in flocks, use the No. 5 shot; and make it a rule always to take them on the wing: here it will be adviseable to have the gun scatter more than common; in order to do this, put in an equal quantity of powder and shot, supposing the usual charge to be three parts shot to two of powder; but if the gun, in common, carries an equal quantity of each, then it will be necessary to put in only about three parts of shot to four of powder: and in shooting any of the smaller birds in flocks, this rule of charging should be observed. 

17th Century

"Necessary Observations for the young Sportsman.

I can see a hero and heroine doing the following at the darkest part of dawn:

"The sportsman should make it a general rule to turn out with or before the sun; the morning is the best time for all sorts of shooting: he should be provided with a spare flint or two, and a strong pocket knife that will serve, on occasion, the purpose of a turnscrew; he should take out the best powder that can be got, and that sized shot which suits the sport he pursues.

"When we come to the place where we turn out, if dogs are used, we put them on the hunt by whistling or hying on (as the term is): it is necessary to observe the motions of spaniels, for there are but few but what will give some intimation when they come on scent; use them to come in at a sharp call, and never suffer them to run after a bird, except it is wounded: oberve [observe] to let the dogs, whether spaniels or pointers, have the wind as much as possible (that is, let them hunt against the wind).

"In using pointers when they are perceived drawing on a point, and are known to be not quite staunch, call to them to take heed, and if they spring without standing, correct them slightly with a switch, or small stick, or better a pocket dog-whip, speaking angrily to them, and keep them at a distance the remaining part of the day, but not so much as make them sulkey; however, if their after behaviour deserves encouragement, it may not be improper to take them into favour.

"Observe after a fire never to blow through the barrel, but charge again immediately, while the inside of the barrel is hot and dry; by this method of immediate charging, a gun seldom hangs fire, and carries much smarter and better; there is no occasion to wipe either pan or flint while out (if the flint is good, which, by the bye, it always should be); but on returning home, wipe clean with tow (Definition of tow is in the first installment), or linen rags, both out and inside of the barrel, and also the lock from the soil of the powder; when it is thus cleaned, hang it up, and if it can be so ordered, where a constant winter fire is kept, hanging it at a moderate distance from the fire: the powder flask should also be kept in the same degree of warmth in winter time; if the gun has received any rain or wet let it be wiped thoroughly dry, and stand some time near a fire, to dry any remaining damp, and have a little oil rubbed over it before hanging up.

While the hero cleans the gun, and sets it near a fire to further dry, I see our heroine off to the kitchen for a nice cup of tea, don’t you?

"Lastly, it may be observed, if a gun is brought home loaded, if it is not very foul, it may remain four or five days fit for use, but never should longer, as it will be apt to hang fire; and even if it remains but one night loaded, the touch-hole should be cleared with a pin, and fresh primed: but it is a good custom with many never to suffer a gun to be hung up charged, but on returning home to draw the shot and fire off the powder, by which, they not only prevent some degree of hanging fire, but also are clear of any accident happening by unwary or ignorant meddlers, of which we have had many fatal instances.

"F I N I S."

So concludes our very interesting study for maintenance and uses of antique guns. If you liked this but do not want to copy and paste and store in your ‘research data’ file for further use in one of your novels, you can find this as a free download from google books, epub or pdf. Google: The Art of English Shooting by George Edie, or follow this link: 

http://books.google.com/books?id=FBBbAAAAQAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=The+art+of+english+shooting&hl=en&sa=X&ei=L49QUcmTC6boiAKB_IHIAg&ved=0CDgQ6AEwAA

For more delightful reading, please see the following link for my novels, the ebooks at a reduced cost.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Ddigital-text&field-keywords=katherine+pym

Guns & English Shooting (Part II)

18th Century Bird Hunt

Last installment discussed the beginning of an old book I found: The Art of English Shooting, published in London 1777. This second part will continue the discussion.

If you missed the first part, you can scroll down below this page.

As previously stated, the title is rather long. The author used its length to show the reader what is discussed within the volume. We are going through the title breakdown. Last installment discussed as follows:

Of the Knowledge of a good Fowling-Piece.

The ordering and managing the Fowling-Piece.

This installment will start with The Appendages of the Fowling-Piece and end with Of Pheasant-Shooting.

The Appendages gives a clear description of an antique rifle. This is good for those who are interested in yester-year shooting pieces, and authors who find it difficult to explain what a protagonist is doing while working with a gun. The problem is, some of the terms in this volume are impossible to find (in my personal library and elsewhere), and never seemed to have made it to the dictionaries.

The internet doesn't have explanations, so I must ask someone who knows guns to help me figure it out. What is a britch-pin for example? I found an expert who stated, “Today, we call it a breech-pin.”

Now, off we go... (spelling and punctuation as shown in book)

Page (11)

"The Appendages of the Gun.

"The necessary appendages in the Fowling-piece are, an iron rod, with a screw or worm at one end, and a scrape (to clear rust or caked powder) at the other, which rod is to be used for the washing and dry-cleaning the inside of the barrel, and turn-screw should be kept for the use of the lock.

As a visual person, I would like to see pictures of this. There are none in the booklet. To solve the problem, I printed or copied data, then took it a gun shop that had an antique selection. I've been known to clap strong eyes on the pieces, all the while pointing and asking questions. But I digress.  

To continue... 

"A flask, or horn, for the carriage of the powder, the size and shape of which may be according to fancy; however, it will be proper to have the measure of the charge to hold the exact quantity (powder) the gun is found to carry.

"A leather pouch, or small canvas bag, to carry the shot; with a tin, or other measure, that will hold the exact charge of the gun: this article of the exact measure for the powder and shot should be particularly observed; as it not only saves trouble, but is charging with more certainty and exactness.

"The Choice of Powder, Shot, and Flints.

"The best sort of Powder is small-grained, hard to crumble between the finger and thumb, and of a bluish cast; which should be the only sort used, by rights, for the Fowling-piece.

"The shot should be round and solid; and the more it has these properties the better it is: the size must be according to the shooting that it is intended for; there is from No. 1 to 6, and smaller, which is called mustard-seed, or dust-shot; but No. 5 is small enough for any shooting whatsoever; the No. 1 may be used for wild-geese; the No. 2, for ducks, widgeons, and other water-fowl; the No. 3 for pheasants... and all fen-fowl; the No. 4, for partridges, woodcocks, etc. and the No. 5, for snipes, and all the smaller birds.

"As to the choice of flints, the clear ones are the best; but whether the dark or light sort, is immaterial, as there are good of both kinds: the size should be suited to the lock of the gun, and be neither too large and thick, nor too small and slight; the first will not give fire freely, and the other will be very apt to break."

Didn't know that about flints, did you? And what does ‘clear’ flint mean? See through? Very interesting.

The next section will consist of how to shoot partridge. According to this small volume, by Act of Parliament, partridge hunting season was from September 1st to February 12, of the Gregorian calendar. Keep in mind England went from the Julian to Gregorian in 1752 with the rest of the world, so the dates are as they would be as today's.

The author of this tome states partridge shooting was deemed the most genteel and best sport in England which is good for Georgian/Regency readers and authors. It's a great help to understand background detail in the stories.

17th Century

"Of Partidge-Shooting.

"In the beginning of the season, they haunt the wheat, barley, oat, peas and bean stubbles; but the wheat-vetch is their favourite: they also lie in turnips, clover-feed, on fallow-land; and indeed, at times, are found any where.

"The most proper dog, and what is generally used for Partridge-shooting, is the pointer, a dog extremely well calculated for the sport; as Partridges can seldom or ever be seen on the ground, if the stubble, etc. be but three or four inches high: if the pointer be staunch, and have a good nose, he will seldom pass in common fields within forty yards of a covy, without intimating by a point pretty near the exact line they lie in.

"A brace, or leash of dogs, are sufficient, where the fields are not uncommonly large; if they are, two brace or more will be preferable."

I can already see a sub-plot form in my mind's eye...

"The small light dogs are, for many reasons, to be preferred to the large, heavy, Spanish breed; as they hunt the ground over quicker; quarter it better; and will go over two or three times as much as the heavy sort, without being tired, or loosing the skin off their feet.

Remember, I have not made any corrections. What you read is what was printed in 1777.

Below is a very suspenseful moment in the hunt…

"...Now appears the difference between the good and bad sportsman; the greatest coolness and composure are now necessary: when they rise, lift your gun deliberately to your shoulder; single out that bird which flies most separate from the rest, and when you find your aim true and steady, and not before then, fire; observing carefully the way the rest of the covey take, and mark, as nearly as you can, where they go down.

"As to rules for shooting flying, they are of little or no signification: a good gun, a cool and steady aim, and practice; for the nice difference in aiming at or before the mark, must all contribute to make a good flying marksman.

"The best of Partridge-shooting, in the sportsman's esteem, is, when the birds take to the hedges, (as we term it) … in the time of rain, for shelter; where they will lie for some time after the rain is over: when it is fair, and not before, take two or three spaniels, or rather, a brace of good hedge-pointers, and hunt the hedges near where you know the covey lies: two persons should go together in this sport, one on each side the hedge; the bird being reckoned his shot, on the whole side of the hedge it flies out. The birds will soon separate, and afford excellent diversion, by rising singly, and near you, giving time for the better aim.

"When pointers are used, the birds are frequently obliged to be beat out, by striking the bush where the point is made, and they will often lie and suffer themselves to be taken by both spaniels and pointers; so stupid and lazy are they after rain...”

There’s room for one more:

“Of Pheasant-Shooting.

“This sport begins, by Act of Parliament, on the first of October, and lasts till the first of February.

“The Pheasant’s brood is called an eye, as the brood of the Partridge is a covey. They are of late years become much more scarce than formerly; however, they are found in the woods in most of the counties of England, more or less: they afford very pretty shooting, though far more fatiguing and tiresome than partridge-shooting; owing to the bushes, briars, and other disagreeable circumstances of the woods.

“Spaniels are to be used in this sport: and two, three, or four brace, may be taken together into the wood: the number of persons together should not exceed three or four, and they should go regularly up and down the wood, and spread at about thirty or forty yards distance: the dogs should not be of the wild sort, but keen-nosed, and apt to give their tongue, (i.e. bark or yelp) when they come on the scent.

“Keep as near the dogs as possible; and when they spring, one or more, let such only fire at the bird as to whom, in point of rising, it belongs; which rule should be always observed in all sorts of shooting in company. In pheasant-shooting, the trees frequently interfere, therefore forbear firing till you have a clear aim at the bird; which, if it cannot be had, it is better to let him escape for another chance.”  

In other words, once the birds are flushed from the bushes, make certain you do not shoot your hunting buddies while trying to aim at the birds. If they fly free before you can steady your gun and shoot, then let the birds live. 

So ends Part II of proper gaming in Georgian England.

Next Installment: Of Woodcock-Shooting


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