Egerton MS 2572

GUILD-BOOK Of the Barber-Surgeons of the city of York, consisting of a volume commenced in the 15th century, but, for the greater part, left blank, then used in the following century for various entries, and added to at later times. The earliest portion (ff. 44-70), in different hands of the 15th century, contains:-

1. Calendar of York use, in Latin. In September, SS. Cosmas and Damianus are noted as " the tone a Physician, and the toder a Surgion." ff. 44-49.

2. A drawing of a man's figure, with directions for bleeding at the different veins. f. 50.

3. "Homo signorum a drawing of a man's figure, as influenced by the zodiacal signs. 50 b.

4. A circular zodiacal lunar scheme, with a rotary index. At the four corners of the page are drawings of the patron saints of the guild, SS. John the Baptist, John the Evangelist, Cosmas, and Damianus. f. 51 5. Four mens figures, well-executed, representing the four complexions, " Malecolius," "SaDguinius," "Coloricus," and " Flematicus " ; in the centre the head of Christ. f. 51 b.

6. On the signs of the zodiac, planets, duration of the day; with planetary and zodiacal tables. Lat. and Eng. ff. 52-54. At the top of f. 52 are the words " Explicit Catoñ" probably the colophon of a tract which has been removed.

7. " Here yt tellethe of mannys kynde of the elementis that acordis to mane," ff. 54 b-56.

8. On the " dies carniculares " and zodiacal influences. Eng. f. 56 b.

9. " Here begynnys one thynge of the new kalender and the olde togedir wyth mony other helpynge thynges": on zodiacal influences, the power of the moon in the various signs, planetary influences, etc. ff. 57-66.

10. " Here begynnes a nobill tretes mayd of a nobyll ffesicione Johne of Burdus for medicine agayne the Pestelence." ff. 67-69.

11. " To knawe the vaynes to let blode one," in verse, beg. " Ye that wyll lette gude men blode." ff. 69-70. The later additions are as follows:-

12. Title, viz. ',This booke made in the yere of our lorde god A. Mcccclxxxvj In the Seconde yeare of the Reigne of Kinge Henrye the vijo" etc., copied in the 16th century, probably to replace an original title. With the form of oath of members of the guild. f. 5.

13. The arms of the guild; and a series of coloured portraits of English sovereigns from Henry VII. to Elizabeth, by different hands of the 16th century, continued by later additions down to George III., some of the latter being engravings coloured in oils. ff. 6-16, 18, 20, 22, 24.

14. " The Auntiente ordinarye of the Barbors and Surgions of this Cittie, att the requeste of the wholl companye, newlye perused, reformed, and augmented, and this presente xxiijo daye of June, 1592, ratyfied, established, and confirmed," etc. These ordinances, are supplemented by. others drawn up in 1614. At the end are added a few minutes, etc. ff. 14 b-34.

15. Register of the members of the guild from 1592 to the 18th century; with a few memoranda. ff. 35 b-43, 70 b-124. At f. 119 is inserted an undertaking of the members not to shave or dress wigs on the Lord's day; 1747. Vellum and paper; ff. 124. "This book came into the possession of Mr.E.N.Alexander,by purchase, A.D.1817"(f.34b). Quarto. From the Farnborough Fund.