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VICTORIA UNIVERSITY LIBRARY TORONTO, ONTARIO
International
University
Booksellers Ltd.
CH AU C ER. ENLARG'D FROM THE PORTRAIT ON LEAF 91 OF
HOCCLEVES DE REGIMINE PRINCIPUM,
HARLEIAN M.S. 4866. BRITISH MUSEUM.
LIFE-EECOEDS OF CHAUCER.
n.
CHAUCER AS VALET & SQUIRE TO EDWARD III.
mg
A.D. 1323.
ENGLISH! BY FKANCIS TATE IN 1601, AND EDITED FROM HIS MS, THE ASHMOLE MS 1147,
WITH EXTRACTS FROM
lEfcfoarti IPs Utousdjoltr iSoofc,
BY
P. J. PUENIVALL, M.A., TEIN. HALL, CAMB.,
FOUNDER AND DIRECTOB OF THE CHAUCER SOCIETY, ETC.
PUBLISH! FOE THE CHAUCEE SOCIETY
BY N. TRUBNER & CO., 57 & 59, LUDGATE HILL,
LONDON.
1876.
PR
1901
L5
v. 2-3
DEC 6 1956
14.
JOHN CHILDS AND SON, PKINTEBS.
CONTENTS.
PAGB
FOREWORDS ... ... ... ... ... ... ... V
the <S.ew>ub'0 ^anethol'b ©rfoinante* :
CONTENTS ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 1
ORDINANCES FOR THE, OFFICERS ..... . ...... 5
ORDINANCE FOR THE STATE OF THE WARDROBE AND THE
ACCOUNT FOR THE HOUSEHOLD ......... 58
€xtrart0 ton (Sfctoarti HT* ^omthoi^ §ook from 2 MSS. 63 €hatt«r'0 ©ath a# (Exrntr01Ur 0f the Qlnztoms ...... 72
INDEX 73
FOREWORDS.
§ 1. Of pleasure in the details of § 7. Chaucer's duties as Squire to
great men's lives ; with a Dry as- Edm, III, p. xiii.
dust's defence of himself, and at- § 8. The praise of Edw. IITs Court
tack on his scorners, p. V. by Edw. IV s Household Book,
§ 2. The 1-years' gap in Shahspere's p. xiv.
life, 1585 — 1592, p. vi. § 9. Chaucer's Wages and Role- and
§ 3. The 7 -years' gap in Chaucer's SJwe-money, p. xvi.
life, 1361 — 1368, p. vii. § 10. His allowances in Food, Lights,
§ 4. Of Valets and King's Household and Fuel; his Bedroom andpossi-
Books, p. ix. tie Furniture, Bleeding, $c., p. xvi.
§ 5. Chaucer as Valet or Yeoman of §11. Chaucer's court-service the turn-
the King's Chamber, p. x. ing point of his life : his early
§ 6. Probable dates of Chaucer's ap- hopeless love ; his first French
pointments as Valet and Squire, and Italian journeys, p. xviii.
p. xii. § 12. Tlianks to Miss Marshall, p. xx.
§ 1. THE feeling which prompts folk to get at all the facts they can about the lives of men gone from them, whose works they love, seems to me natural and right. A few there are who profess to be above care for such details, and say they are satisfied to know a writer from his works alone. But the rest of us, as we delight to see, to know, our Tennyson, Ruskin, Huxley, of to-day, and get their looks, their tones, their little special ways, into our eyes and ears and hearts, to hear from an old schoolfellow or college friend, all their history, so we desire to realise to ourselves, so far as may be, the looks and life, the daily work and evening task, of the Chaucer, Shakspere, Milton, who've left us in the body, but are with us in the spirit, friends of our choicest hours, guides in our highest flights.
And tho' this desire for knowledge of the outward life of our greatest men may in a few cases, with so-calld prosaic natures, seem to make them darken for themselves the genius of their hero, by the cloud of antiquarian dust they raise before him, yet you'll find, if
vi § i. DRYASDUST'S DEFENCE. § 2. SHAKSPERE'S BOYHOOD.
you ask the grubbers themselves, that the cloud has not only for them its silver lining, but that they always feel the light and warmth of the Sun and its life-giving beams behind. And they may tell you, that the difference between you (the superior being) and them is simply this, that whereas they care weeks and months of patient unpaid drudgery for the men they reverence, you care only to express your feelings about them in prettily-turnd phrases in articles and Lectures, and get well paid for doing it : " You give up your chance of guineas, or airing your feelings, to do a lot of distasteful work, for Chaucer or Shakspere 1 You'd see him damnd first I1 " But however this be, in those students of our great poets who can keep the out- ward facts of their lives in proper relation to the inward, who can use the one for illustration and explanation of the other, the desire must always exist, to be able to trace each poet's life from his cradle to his grave, and specially to know what he was doing when and after he first became a man, stood up for himself in the world, and enterd on the course which ended in his fame.
§ 2. But it is precisely this period about which we know nothing in Shakspere's case, next to nothing in Chaucer's ; and great is the pity of it. Shakspere we have, born in 1564, a fel«e-eyed, chestnu haird2 boy, in Stratford ; at the so-calld ' Birthplace,' no doubt, when he was 11, when his father bought it; at the low-rooft school, play- ing "more sacks to the mill" (L. L. Lost, IV. iii. 81), and other boys' games of the day, never hearing the wonderful stories that Adventurers told him later in London3, tho' learning the country
1 My Dryasdust friend uses strong language occasionally. How far it is justified in this case, let the absence of monographs on the thousand and one points still needing elucidation in both poets, witness.
2 Shakspere's Sonnet-friend, Will H.'s, hair,
" And buds of marjoram had stolen thy hair." — 99, 7, must have been the purple, hyacinthine locks, sometimes seen now :
" ' Origanum vulgare, Common Marjoram. Flowers purple, and the brae- teas tinged with the same colour. Fragrant and aromatic.' — Hooker's British Flora.
" It is sometimes found with flowers of a reddish colour, in dry grounds. I have gathered it perfectly white, though rarely. The same may be said of the wild thyme, and common Basil thyme." — William Whale (Flowet- gardens, Egham).
* Gonzalo. Faith, sir, you need not fear. When me mere boyg, Who would believe that there were mountaineers Dew-lapt like bulls, whose throats had hanging at 'em
§ 2, § 3. THE 7- YEARS' GAP IN SHAKSPERE'S AND CHAUCER'S LIVES, vii
lore of which, his Venus is so full, the love of nature which sweetens all his plays; then 18, begetting his child, marrying his wife of 26, and having two girls and a boy before he is 21. Then disappearing. His name is, after his father's, in one record of an action in the Queen's Bench in 1587. But it's not till 1592 that we see him again, calld a ' Johannes factotum1,' successful enough, as actor and dramatist, to provoke envy and sneers. What true Shak- spere student does not long to know how those years between 1586 and 1592 were spent1? Who is not certain that the knowledge, if it could be got, would throw light on Shakspere's after-work 1
§ 3. So is it almost with Chaucer. We have him as a boy at his father's wine-shop or tavern in narrow Thames St, chatting, no doubt, with English and foreign seamen, with citizens who came for their wine, helping to fill their pots, perhaps, — a natty, handy lad, but full of quiet fun — messing, I dare say, in Wai-brook, that bounded his father's place2 ; fishing in the Thames, I should think ; out on May-day for sweet-scented boughs to dress his father's tavern- pole. At school — St Paul's Cathedral perchance — sharing in all the games and larks that Fitzstephen so well describes some 200 years before3; seeing all the grand shows that went on in Smithfield, and London streets ; well up in his classes, I'll be bound ; the boy the father of the man in this, that he lovd his bookes well. Then he goes to serve Prince4 Lionel's wife as page, and gets his dress of short cloak, pair of red and black breeches, and shoes, with 3s. Qd. for neces- saries, as Mr Bond has shown us8. Then, at 19 or thereabouts, he's
Wallets of flesh ? or that there were such men Whose heads stood in their breasts ? which now we find Each putter-out of five for one will bring us Good warrant of. — Tempest, IV. iii. 43 — 49.
1 Greene's posthumous Groatesworth of Wit.
2 By an old City ordinance, every citizen on the banks of the stream was bound to keep a rake, and clear his bit of the water with it.
3 See the bit of Lydgate's school life in my Babees Booh Forewords, and the poems of the Bircht Schoolboy, &c. in the Book itself.
4 I call him Prince, tho' he was never calld so in his own day, in order to mark that he was a king's son. Our importation of this foreign title and custom is a nuisance, as all our many Princes will perpetuate and multiply Princes instead of letting themselves and their children fall into the ordinary ranks of society. They'll all want incomes too out of the nation's funds, and will foster our already over great flunkeyism.
4 Addit. MS. Brit. Mus. 18,632.— Fortnightly Review, 1866.
Viii § 3. THE 7-YEARS' GAP IN CHAUCER'S LIFE.
a soldier, and a prisoner ; perhaps even then a servant of the king's ; at any rate, ransomd on March 1, 1360, by the king's help, at the cost of £16, thirteen and fourpence less than the cost of Eobert de Clynton's horse, and £4 less than the price of John de Beuerle's cursor or war-horse, both the king's gifts. And then we lose sight of our young Chaucer at 20 ; and we get no direct tidings of him for seven years, when we find on June 20, 1367, that he is a ' Valettus' of the king1, or, as a later document of May 25, 1368, shows, a ' Valettus Gamer ae, Regis*', a Valet or Yeoman of the king's chamber3.
1 Rex omnibus ad quos, &c. salutem. Sciatis quod de gratia nostra special!, & pro bono servitio quod dilectus Valettus nostei; Galfndus Chaucer, nobis impendit & impendet in futurum, concessimus ei viginti marcas, percipiendas singulis annis ad Scaccarium nostrum per asquales por- tiones, ad totam vitam ipsius Galfridi, rel quousque pro statu suo aliter duxerimus ordinandum, <fcc. — Teste Rege apud Castrum de Quenesburgh vicesimo die Junii, &c., 41 Ed. 3, [A.D. 1367], pat. 41, p. 1, m. 13. In God- win ; and Urry's Chaucer, sign, b 2, note ; from Rymer's Foedera, N. E. iii. 829.
2 Issue Roll, Easter 42, Edw. Ill (1368).
" Die Jovis xxvto, die Maii (1368).
" Galfrido Chaucere, uni vallettorum Camera Regis, cui dominus Rex xx. marcas annuatim ad scaccarium ad totam vitam suam percipiendas, pro bono servitio per ipsum eidem domino Regi impenso vel quousque aliter pro statu suo fuerit provisum, per literas suas patentes nuper concessit. In denariis sibi liberatis in persolutionem decem marcarum sibi liberandarum de hujusmodi certo suo, videlicet de termino Pasche proximo preterito, per breve suum de liberatione de hoc termino. vj.li. xiij.s. iiij.d." — Nicolas's Life of Chaucer, in Morris's Chaucer, i. 95.
3 The following description of Chaucer in old age, is from Greenes Vision [soon after Sept. 1592], quoted in Mr J. P. Collier's Bill. Catal. i. 338 :
" Description of Sir Geffery Chaucer.
" His stature was not very tall ; A sleevelesse jacket, large and wide,
Leane he was ; his legs were small, With many pleights and skirtes side, Hosd within a stock of red ; Of water chamlet, did he weare :
A buttond bonnet on his head, A whittell by his belt he beare.
From under which did hang, I weene, His shooes were corned broad before ; Silver haires both bright and sheene. His Inckhorne at his side he wore • His beard was white, trimmed round ; And in his hand he bore a booke : His countenance blithe and merry Thus did the auntient Poet looke." found.
To this is added a pendant picture of John Gower, followed by a dis- cussion between Chaucer, Gower, and Greene, on the merits of some of the productions of the ' last.
William Bullein, in his Dialogue . . . wherein is a godlie regiment against the Fever Pestilence, . . . Julij 1573, has a pleasanter picture of Chaucer, and of Brigham who put the tomb over his grave in Westminster Abbey : —
" Wittie Chaucer satte in a Chaire of gold covered with Roses, writing prose and risme, accompanied with the Spirites of many kynges, knightes, and faire ladies, whom he pleasauntly bespriukeled with the sweete water of the
§ 4. CHAUCER AS VALET TO EDWARD III. ix
§ 4. What was he doing all these seven years 1 An old friend of mine — now a Sussex clergyman near eighty — told me in my boy- hood that when he first went to Oxford, his mother insisted on his taking a valet up to college with him. She made him do it. But what to do with the man, my friend couldn't think. He didn't want him ; and the man was a regular nuisance, doing nothing. At length my friend went out for a walk one dusty day ; and on coming home, calld for a clean pair of boots and straps, and told the man to brush his trowsers. While the valet was doing this, it suddenly occurrd to my friend that the man should always do it. He chuckled Eureka to himself, and with a solemn face gave orders that thenceforth, whenever he came in, the valet should always bring him clean boots and straps and brush his clothes. Then he felt happy. He had found the man his calling in life. When I got afterwards to know that Chaucer was a vallettus of Edward III, this story of my old friend's made me very anxious to find out what Chaucer, as valet, did. Did he clean Edward Ill's boots, and brush him down whenever he came in from riding 1 So, to find out the secret, after a time I had a hunt for Edward Ill's Household Book (Liber Niger Domus Regis Edioardi Tercii), but could find no entry of it. There was no MS. at the Museum, Bodleian, any of the Oxford Colleges, or Cambridge, so far as I could learn. The Museum folk sent me to the Eecord Office. No Household Book was there ; but a Treasurer's account- book was ; and near the top of the 2nd leaf of the continuously- written1 entries of that, I found the payment for Chaucer's ransom that I spoke of above ; and not a little delighted was I with the find. So there was nothing for it but to fall back on the extant Household Books of Edward II and Edward IV — for those of Richard II and Henry IV (the Duchess Blanche's son) I couldn't find — and from these infer what Chaucer's duties must have been. I knew generally that the Valettus of chivalry was the young fellow
welle consecrated unto the Muses ; and as the heavenly sprite commended his deare Brigham for the worthie entombyng of his bones, worthie of memorie, in the long slepyng chamber of most famous kinges, even so in tragedie he bewailed the sodaine resurrection of many a noble man before their time, in spoilyng of Epitaphes ; whereby many have lost their inheritaunce." — ib., p. 98.
1 Columns of payments come first.
X § 4. THE HOUSEHOLD BOOKS OF EDW. II. AND EDW. IV. § 5.
of good standing who was to become, first Squire, and then Knight1, and that he was above the garcio or groom ; but I wanted something more definite about his work in the household.
The Household Book of Edw. II was in French2, and I therefore resolvd to print the earliest englishing of it I could find, that by Francis Tate, March 13, 1601, in the Bodleian Ashmole MS. 1147, art. iii. Edward IV's Household Book was printed in 1790 by the Society of Antiquaries, in their most interesting volume Household Ordinances (and Eecipes, &c.), nominally from the Harleian MS. 642. But unless some imitator of Bp. Percy outpercyd him in altering the spelling and words of his original, or some one has put a new Harl. 642 in the stead of that of 1790, the Antiquaries' print must have been made from another MS. than the present Harl. 642. At any rate, from this MS. I have given the passages3 that relate to the Valets or Yeomen4 of the King's Chamber, and the Squires of the Body and of the Chamber, so as to show Chaucer's probable work both as Valet and Squire.
§ 5. Edward II's Book tells us that he had eight " Vallets5 of
1 This post of Valettut or Valectvs, says Mr Selden in his Titles of Honour, Part II, chap. 5, § 47, was conferrd upon young Heirs designd to be Knighted, or young Gentlemen of great Descent or Quality. — Urry's Chaucer, Life by Wm. Thomas, from Dart's Collections, sign, b 2, note c.
* The MS. is not known, I believe. The Cotton MS. ordinances arc for the kingdom generally, as De libertatibws ecclesie. De pace obseruanda (leaf 22). De magna carta tenenda (leaf 22, back). De parliamento annuatim tenendo (leaf 30). De Statutis de Mercatoribw* (leaf 30, back), &c. The Catalogue entry of them is : — Cotton MS. Cleopatra C vii, leaves 21 — 35. —
4 Ordenaunces faites a Londres 5 Edw. II touchant 1'estat de seon houstal et de seon realme : cum ordinationibus factis virtute ejusdem commissionis ; qua) ordinationes publicatae erant in coemeterio S. Pauli London, per D. Simonem Episc. Sarisburiensem, A° 1311. — Cotton Catalogue, p. 582, col. 1.
3 A page from Edw. II's book would have been enough too ; but I wanted the whole in type, as we already had Edw. I's Wardrobe Book and Edw. IV's Household Book.
4 I take the Yeoman of Chaucer's Prologue to be rather a grown-up farmer or forester than a youth of good breeding in training for squireship and knighthood.
5 The work of the after ' Henchmen ' seems to have been done by the Wards, young fellows who had lost their fathers, and who, not having been " given or sold," during their minority, by the king to some man he wanted to help, were kept, cloth'd, and traind in his court as his under-squires or hench- men.— See p. 17, 18 below, and the interesting sections on the "Henxmen, VI Enfauntes,'' and their " Maistyr of Henxmen, to shew the schooles of ur- banitie and nourture of England, to lerne them to ryde clenely and surely,"
§ 5. CHAUCER'S DUTY AS VALET TO EDWARD in. xi
the kinges chambre," while Edward IVs says that he had only four. Their duties are nearly the same in both Books, — serving in the chamber, making beds, holding and carrying torches, (to which Ed. IVs book adds, setting the boards or tables on their trestles, watch- ing the king (for orders) by course, dressing the chambers with hangings, &c., and going messages), and doing whatever else their officers bade them : —
ED. II. ED. IV.
29. And eight valletes of the cham- Yeomen ' of Chambre, iiij, to make
bre, foot mew, who shal serve in the beddis, to beare or hold torches, to chambre, makinge bedes, holding <fc sett boardis, to app«/'ell all Chambers, carying torches, & divers other thinges and such othir seruices as the Cham- w&ieh he & the Chamberlaine shal berlaine, or Vshers of Chambre, com- commauwde them. aunde or assigne ; to attend the
Chambre ; to watche the King by course ; to goe in messages, &o.
Some of these duties would, I suppose, be considerd menial now, even by Gentlemen and Gentlewomen of the Bedchamber ; but it would not be so in Chaucer's time ; and even still one hears ladies say they think it an honour to be allowd to hand a Queen her stock- ings. Those of us who can't so identify the office-holder with the office, would yet be willing enough to clean Chaucer's or Shakspere's boots, if either were here, and need were. But, to our muttons.
We know that Edward III had nine Valets or Yeomen of his Chamber in 1344-7, and that they were reckond as part of his army2, and that he had twelve in Jan. 1347-8 (see H. Ord., p. 11) ; but as
&c., in HouseJtold Ordinances, p. 44-5, and my Babees Book, p. ii. — Chaucer had grants of two such wards in 1375 : Novr. 8, of Edward Staplegate in Kent; Dec. 28, of William de Solys, of Solys in Kent. The grantee was allowd to sweat his ward's land, and either marry him to whom he liked, or make the young fellow pay a fine to marry the girl he fancied himself.
1 The adder of the references to the Table of Contents of the MS. has, I hold, wrongly treated the Valetti as Garciones or Grooms. He wrote the headings right ; but then put the wrong references to em.
2 See the entry in Household Ordinances, p. 8, from the Treasurer of the Household's account : " Here ensuethe the rates of wages of peace and warre, expences necessary of officers, and other chardges, concerning the howsholde of the Prince of noble memorye, Edward the Third, as well in tyme of peace as warre ; and also the nomber of soldiers, as well by land as sea, and shippes reteyned in the warres of the said kinge .; as by the parcelles of the accompte of Walter Wentwage, treasorer of the same howsholde, from the 21st daie of Aprill, in the 18th year of the raigne of the saide kinge [A.D. 1344], unto the 24th day of November, in the 21st year of the said kinges raigne [1347]." Printed from Harl. MS. 782, leaves 62—71 back.
xii § e. DATES OP CHAUCER'S VALETSHIP AND SQUIRESHIP.
he had also 91 or 101 Esquires in 1344-7, see H. Ord., p. 3, while a Eecord Office list shows that 37 only were to get a gift of clothes at Christmas 1366, — or some year later, as I hold, — I suppose that the numhers of Yalets or Yeomen and Squires generally serving in Court (see p. 64 below) were less than these full numhers of 9 and 91 or 101.
§ 6. When Chaucer was appointed Valet or Yeoman, and when Squire, we cannot tell. The Eecord Office list just mentiond, bears no original date on it, but has the late- written conjectural date of 1366 on its back. As however it contains Chaucer's name among the Squires, I do not believe the Eecord Office date for it is right. No patents of Chaucer's appointments have yet been found. His name is not in the list of the gifts and fees, Dona et Feoda of 40-1 Edw. Ill, A.D. 1366. And when ' Galfridus Chaucer ' first occurs in the Pension-Grant of June 20, 1367, he is ' Valettus '*. On May 25, 1368, he is again unus "valettomm"1. On Dec. 25, 1368, he is an " Esquier of less degre," in the order for gifts of Eobes to the House- hold; and on Nov. 12, 1372, he is " Scutifer" in the Commission to proceed to Genoa. On Nov. 24, 1372, he is again vallettus"2; but on Dec. 1, 1372, armiger*. On Nov. 22, 1373, he is again vallettus 4; but after that, always armiger or scutifer when any title is given him.
As his pension of 20 marks for life was given on June 20, 1367, for past services as well as future ones, we may suppose any date for Chaucer's going into the king's service. I believe he enterd it in or before 1361, because I suppose that the beautiful high-bred girl he fell in love with — she of the Pity and BlauncJie — was in the king's Household too, where he could often see her during his 8-years' love- sickness5, and try for a chance of declaring his love. I should not be surprisd to find that Chaucer was in Edw. Ill's service, and not only his son Lionel's, when the king invaded France in the autumn of 1369. But this is as yet uncertain. The date of our poet's squireship is un- certain too. If we allow that the vallettus in the pension-entries of Nov. 24, 1372, is due to its repetition of Chaucer's title in the original
1 p. viii. n., above. 2 Nicolas, in Morris's Ckaucer, i. 95, D. 3 ib. E. 4 ib. p. 96, E. 5 Trial- Forewords, p. 18, 29-31, 34-35, 39-40, 114, 126.
§ 7. CHAUCER'S WORK AS SQUIRE TO EDWARD in. xiii
grant of 1369, we may fall back on the Kobe-Order of Dec. 25, 1368, and recognize in his " Esquier of less degree," his attainment of his brevet-majority from his captaincy, or lance-corporalship from his private's post as one of the rank and file, and so treat him as a Squire then. His being abroad on the king's service in 1370 helps this, I think. At any rate he was a Squire sooner or later ; and we may therefore safely inquire what his probable duties were, tho' we've only those of Edward II's and Edward TV's Squires to go by. § 7. Now each of these kings had two sets of Squires. Edw. II, one for his mouth, and the second for his chamber ; Edw. IV, one for his body, and the second for his chamber. Edw. II's Mouth- Squires were three : the first, to look after his food, and taste it to see that it wasn't poisond — in his hall evidently; — the second, to carve for him; the third to bear his cup1, — Assayer, Carver, Cup- bearer.— His Chamber-Squires2 were twelve, but the duty of only one is mentiond, to be assayer, or taster against poison, in the chamber, the private chamber as oppos'd to the public hall. Edward IV had four Body-Squires, whose business was "in many secrets"3; two of whom always waited on him, dresst and undresst him, watcht him day and night, and calld the Chamberlain whenever the king wanted him. I do not suppose that Chaiicer was one of the like Squires to Edward III, but rather of the set called " Esquiers of howsholde" in 1347 (H. Ord., p. 10), who corresponded to Edw. IV's " Sqiiyers of Houshold XL, chosen men of there possession, worship, and wisdom," of whom twenty always attended the king ' in ryding and going at alle tymes,' and brought his dishes from the table where they were surveyd, to his table. Then comes in the Harl. MS. 642, tho' not in Francis Tate's version, the passage which, if it was not bodily in Edward Ill's Liber Niger, yet I mean to believe4, repre- sents truly the custom of his time : —
"These Esquires of housold of old be accustumed, winter and summer, in afternoones and in eueninges to drawe to Lordes Chambres within Court, there to keep honest company after there Cunninge, in
1 See p. 18, below. 2 By this I understand Squires of the Bedchamber.
3 See p. 64, below.— H. Ord., p. 36.
4 This is the phrase of my charming friend, long dead, alas, Mrs Gaskell, the authoress of Mary Barton, Ruth, &c.
XIV § 8. PRAISE OP EDWARD Ill's COURT.
talking of Cronicles of Kinges, and of others pollicies, or in pipeing or harpeing, songinges, or other actes marcealls, to helpe to occupie the Court, and accompanie estraingers, till the time require of depart- ing."
That was what Chaucer could do, and did, I am persuaded. And I wish I'd been there to hear him talk Chronicles of kings and other pollicies, to pipe and harp and sing, and to keep honest company with me, after his cunning.
§ 8. Well, wishing hurts nobody. It was a noble and well- orderd Court that Chaucer servd and dwelt in, if we may trust Edw. IV's Black Book ; and a Court in which the officers were well pro- vided for by the king when they left his service, as the same Book says, and as Chaucer's appointment to the Controllership of Customs when he marrid and settl'd (as I hold) in 1374, witnesses. Here is the passage in which Edward III is praisd :
HarL 642, leaf 6, back, at foot.
Domus Regis Edwardi tercij was the house of very pollicie and flower lof Englond, the first setter of Certaineties amongest his domesticall meyne, vpon a groundid rule. Notwithstanding, his fadre the second Edward, made many good Customes of housold ; therof, one to be remembrid specially was, to bred vp beues and motons in his parkes, suffisauntz to serue his housold. And anothir : in his daies bifore were vsid noe fee of no manner vitaile purveyid for the expence of the house2, not to be takyn by any officir to his propre vse, of any thinge that mought serue to this housold honestly. Also he, this thirde Edward, appointid diuers duties vnto his officys and officers, by a formal! and convenient Custome3, more certaine then was vsid biforn his time [that is to say4], of all wages within Court and without ; All manner Lyuerez of winter and summer ; the fees of all astatis, and of officers and [of] housold, and degrees, as well of geftis of money, fees of beistis, and also fees of othir stuffe pmisid5 or othirwise occupied within the Court, and touching that ; The noumbre also of officers thoroughe all Englond, as well of his housold, and thair clothing for winter and summer, as of all other
1 leaf 7. 2 Antiq. print : household.
3 ' The Custumal here referred to is printed before, p. 3 to p. 12.' So says the note in H. Ord., p. 18. But what is printed on p. 3 — 12 is, the rates of the wages of Edw. Ill's officers and the expenses of his household in peace and war, with statements of the numbers of his soldiers and ships, being the ac- count of Walter Wentwage, Treasurer of the Household, from April 21, 1344, to Nov. 24, 1347.
4 from the print : not in MS. 5 us'd, consumd.
§ 8. PRAISE OF EDWARD Ill's COURT. ITS CUSTOMS. XV
1 Officers outward. This noble Edward had gret richesse of his Lordes, gret loue of his Counsel!2; and amongest his Counsellers grete studie how to make them rich by pollicie vpon straingers out- lander. And, after his richesse was purchasid, his said Lordes of Counsaile sought many waies, and deuised and conipassid how they might assertaine the kinges howse ; Whiche was so longe and defuse a werke, in their studie, to reforme the people of thair old lore3, That this king prayed his Lordis to surcease of thair gret Labour, and allmost endles ; And himselfe tooke all on hand. And whereas, in the begining, himselfe was liberall, after, he did first reforme himselfe, and all that would be dwellers in his howsold. And so he framid all his newe statutes, Comandementes, and charges, vpon euery officir inward and outward ; and so he executid his actes in honour and profitt to himselfe, And to the fauour and great ease of all his leige people."
The writer then goes on to note the changes that had been made in the king's household since Edw. Ill's time — not affecting Chaucer's position, — and thus gives a few particulars about Ed. Ill's customs and slow marches, his four-and-twenty archers shooting before him : —
" Example hereof we take to build vpon a more perfect new house, Because this noble King Edward the third his housold varieth gretly fro the housold that kinges haue kept since that time, and yet in these daies; ffor our soueraigne 4 Lordis housold is now dischargid of the priuie 5 Scale, and all his Clarkis ; Of the Court of Marshallseye and all his Clarkes and yeomen, saucing at the fiue feestis of the yeare, when, with thair long tipped staues, they owe to helpe the porters to keep the gate, And the Vshers at the hall doore, And to the King in preez of peple whithersomeuer the King goe in thoo daies f estiuall ; Of the Wardrober, also callid Clerke purueyour ; besides the gret wardrober of housold6, -which is the Countinghouse, And the housold Thesaurer callid Gustos magne Oarderobe hospicy. Also dischargid of all artificiers vnder him, but when him selfe cometh at the gret feastis, or elliz that he be sent fore. Also in some one office were two maistres, the Clerc of kitching deuidid also fro the pantrie ; The Botiller of Englond for the most part, -and diuers other many officis and officers, both chaungid in name and deed, aswell Sergeantes of Armes, And messagers many, with the twentie fower Archers a foote before the King, shuting when he rode by the Countrie, callid Gard Corpes le Roy. And therfore the King journied not passing term or twelue myles a daye. And as other officers in housold, then haueing gret Labour, And tooke neither 7 Wages, fees nor Clothing expressed by the statutes, wher-
1 leaf 7, back. 2 comynautie (the better reading). 3 the print reads ' law '. 4 (viz. E. 4,) MS, margin. s leaf 8. 6 MS. housolder. 7 leaf 8, back. HOUSEHOLD OR1>. b
xvi § 9, § 10. CHAUCER'S PAY AND ALLOWANCES AS SQUIRE.
on was gret perill, And also the Liuerey for horses at bouche of Court, of gentilmen and many othir requiring a gret busines that nowe is lefte, And putt into siluer to increase thair wagis. This King appointid of officis outwarde to reward his housold seruices after thair deserter, to be parkers, some forsters, warreners, keepers of manners, Balywikes, Constableships, porterships, Receiuers, Corrodyez, "Wardis, marriagis, and many othir things? of valure in portis and townes, Citties &c ; And for is chappillmen, Churchis, prebendes, free chappilles and pensions &c When any such fell in his geeft, or elys Toy his Lettres of Contemplation to gett such bene- fitt of any other Lord, for his housold man. In the festiuall daies, or when astate should be shewid, he would *be seruid with fower Course, or fiue, his Lordis and gentills with three. And euery meese after two course. De quo metrice sic/.
Mente senex, etate virens. sine fraude fidelis. Purus carne fuit : iustus, amansque deum/."
§ 9. In 1344-7, Treasurer Wentwage's account, before referrd to, shows that Edw. Ill's " Esquiers . . . ushers and sewers of the hall and chamber" had 12 pence for " Wages in Tyme of Warre by the Daie" (H. Ord., p. 9), and that "Esquiers of the Kinges chamber" had 2 shillings when they were " aboute the Kinges affaires out of his courte, by daie." " Yeomen of the Kinges chambre " had only 6d. a day when thus out of court ; and " yemen of offices in the Kinges howse" had only 6d. wages while in court; but Chaucer couldn't hare come into this last class. For " robes and leveryes of men servantes, intituled Calciatura (shoes), besides all wages breved," the " Esquiers of howsholde " had, every man, for Robes, 20s. for every season, that is, winter and summer, or 40s. a year ; while for his shoes the " Liveres entitled Calciatura, every man [had] 4s. 8d. by yere"; and there were "yemen of the Kinges chamber, 12" who took this allowance. — H. Ord., p. 11.
§ 10. Of the extent and value of Chaucer's allowances in food, &c., every reader must make up his own mind from the evidence before him on the allowances for Edw. II's squires at p. 181, and Edw. IV's at p. 64. But as the 7^d. a day wages, and 40s. a year for clothes, were the same in both Courts, — tho' the Edw. II gallon of beer a day is cut down to the Edw. IV half-gallon of ale, except when a squire was bled or ill, when he had ' one gallon ale ' — we probably sha'n't be far out in thinking of Chaucer dresst in the
§ 10. CHAUCER AS SQUIRE TO EDWARD III.
king's livery, sleeping with an other squire in one bed1, waiting on the king at meals, &c., riding out with him, dining in his hall with fellow-squires, taking his own half-gallon of ale at night to his joint bedroom, where in winter the two mate-squires would have each his two Paris candles, and his faggot, or half a bundle of cut wood, to keep warm his glass-windowless (?), chimneyless, rush-strewn room 2, closd by the wooden leaf or shutter that one finds in the King's Coll. Camb. lists in 15983. I suppose "a standing bedstead with head and tester of wood " would be too grand an affair for squires in 1369-74, and that "a trundle bed . . corded4" would suffice. May we add from the 1598 lists, "a leade and a cocke to wasshe with,"
1 Who of these was his bedfellow ?
CHAUCER'S THIRTY-SIX FELLOW SQUIRES IN EDW. Ill's HOUSEHOLD IN THE FORTIETH YEAR OP THAT KING'S EEIGN, A.D. 1366. — la the " Sche- dule of names of the Household for whom robes for Christmas were to be provided," not dated, but markt by the Record Office " ? 40 Edw. Ill," Exch. Q. R. Wardrobe Accounts, 39/10, Chaucer's name occurs as seventeenth among those of thirty-seven Esquires : —
Esquiers xxxvij.
Johan de Herlyng. John Tichemerssh.
Wauter Whithors. Robert la Souche.
Thomas Cheyne. Esmon Rose.
Johan de Beuerle. Laurence Hauberk.
Johan de Romesey. Griffith de la Chambre.
Wauter Walssh. Johan de Thorpe.
Hugh Wake. Raulyn Erchedeakne.
Roge?1 Clebury. Rauf de Knyueton.
Piers de Cornewaille. Thomas Hertfordyngbury.
Robert de Ferers. Hugh Strelley.
Elmyn Leget. Hugh Lyngeyn.
Robert de Corby. Nicholas Prage.
Collard Dabricheco?<H.* Richard Torperle.
Thomas Hauteyn. Richard Wirle.
Hugh Cheyne. Johan Northrugge.
Thomas Foxle. Hauyn Narret.
GEFFREY CHAUCER. [17J Symond de Bokenham.
Geffrey Stucle. Johan Legge.
Simond de Burgh.
[From internal evidence I am inclined to think that this Roll belongs to the forty-second year of Edward the Third, 1368. — W. D. SELBY.]
* Index of Hustings- Rolls Deeds and Wills in the Guildhall Records, Lon- don (xlix°, 3 back, col. 1), Monday after the feast of St Edward the King [Oct. 13], A° xlix° [Ed. Ill, A.D. 1375] : Carta domiai Regis Edwardi AngHe facta Collardo Daubrichecourte, armigero.
4 Query, though, whether each couple in one bed had a room to themselves. 3 An Inventory of the Stuff in the College Chambers (King's College) 1598. Communicated by Henry Bradshaw, Esq., M.A., University Librarian. — Camb, Antig. Soc.'s Com., iii. 181. 4 ib. p. 187.
XVlii § 10. CHAUCER AS VALET AXD SQUIRE. § 11. HIS COURT SERVICE.
and " a frame of oke for books 1," or even " a studdye desked and shelved rounde," with " a locke & kay for the dore of the studdye," and "a wry ting table or bord in the studdye2" for Chaucer's share of the room, and " a fayre loyned forme of oke 3 " to sit on 1
But perhaps one can't fairly take the belongings of two King's students of 1598 as like those of a pair of Edw. Ill's squires4 of 1370-4. Chaucer was probably bled every spring; — "ISTo time is better than that for bloodletting," says Modus Cenandi, in my Babees Book, Pt. II, p. 55, 1. 273 ; — and, let us hope, reapt the promist benefits of the operation : —
" Phlebotomy clears the eyes, purifies the minds and the brain, makes the marrows warm, clears the bladder, restrains the stomach and sensual desire, opens the sense of hearing, renders the memory fresher, lengthens the voice, sharpens the sense, and diminishes slumbers, softens angry people, takes away anxieties, removes weari- ness, cures the watery flow of the eyes, encourages digestion, and ministers (to one) healthy feelings." — Babees Book, Pt. II, p. 47.
How, as valet, he made the beds ; how, as squire, he carried the dishes — putting aecretly bits of bread between his hands and the silver dish to stop its burning him — how he arrangd the King's table and chamber ; and how he was generally to behave ; — are they not written in the Boke of Curtasye's and John KusselTs directions to like officers for like tasks, tho' in the 15th century, in my Babees Book (E. E. Text Soc., 1868), p. 313, 324, 129-139, &c.! To that and its index my readers must go for themselves if they care to look into the subject further. I hope to return to it if ever I write Chaucer's life at any length.
§ 11. The importance of Chaucer's connection with the Court cannot be overrated. It shap't his whole life. To it he owd the long hopeless love that first calld out his poetic power; to it, the culture and breadth that foreign travel, French raillery, Petrarch's acquaintance, Italian sky and art, bestowd on him ; to it, his London appointment, with its leisure for study ; his familiarity with Court and Camp, all ranks of men ; to it we owe those many records of his life and work which we so want in Shakspere's case.
1 Carnb. Antiq. Soc.'s Com., iii. 186. * ib. p. 185. 3 ib. p. 188.
4 Each of Edw. IV's squires in 1461-82 was allowd a servant of his own in court, see p. 64. — H. Ord., p. 45.
§ ii. CHAUCER'S EARLY HOPELESS LOVE. xix
Gay and full of adventure the young Valet and Squire's life must have been. But, like the rest of us, he had his skeleton in his cupboard. The shadow of unrequited love was over him ; and let those who knoAv, — " Voi che sapete che cos' e amor1," — judge what that is.
Assuredly, like the lover in Coleridge's beautiful "Love" or Genevieve, with all Chaucer's ease and fun, his happy friendly ways with woman and man, there was one pair of eyes that his dared hardly meet, one step, the rustle of one dress, that set his heart beating, one hand that thrilld him to touch or maybe kiss. For seven long years he lovd, and longd to speak. He may some afternoon have harpt and sung to her :
I told her of the Knight that wore Upon his shield a burning brand ; And that for ten long years he woo'd
The Lady of the Land. I told her how he pined ; and ah ! The deep, the low, the pleading tone With which I sang another's love,
Interpreted my own. — Coleridge, Works, 1844, i. 146.
But ' faltering voice and pausing harp ' disturbd not her soul with pity. Pity for him was dead in her heart before he spoke, and its foe Cruelty reignd. Her " assured maner " was l;oo much for him ; arid instead of Genevieve's blush with love, and timorous eye, the 'vacant stare' of Lady Clare Yere de Yere2, cast him swooning to the ground, wishing only for his death and then his bier (Complaint to Pite). And this was why he sang so long of lovers' pains ; and
why he said,
And Troilus mot wepe in care colde :
Sivich is this world, mhoso ban it bifiolde !
In ech, estat is Utel hertes rests !
God leue us for to take it for the beste. — Book V. st. ccli.
This was why he could give us only the humorous bird-bit in the Parliament, some of Pandarus in the Troilus, and a little fun in the Hous of Fame, till he'd made himself take all his trouble for the best, and bubbled out into the joyousness of his Prologue and the eight merry Canterbury Tales contemporary with it, as Shakspere did into
1 Oh Alboni, how divinely you us't to sing it in the Nozze ! 2 Tennyson, Poems, 1846, i. 156.
xx § 11. CHAUCER'S MEMORY. § 12. THANKS TO HELPERS.
the bird-like chirping fun and rascaldom of his Autolycus, after the storm and terror of the tragedies of his Third Period. But I must stop. Here's the -work of this rainy-dayd, fair-eveningd Sunday, on which I promist to begin my 6 -months-put-off Introduction to Shak- spere, and haven't done it. The lovely rose-tinted clouds, the freshend green of the burnt-up grass, the cool evening air, the pleasant scents, that cheerd my Hampstead-Heath walk, all mixt well with Chaucer thoughts. Green his memory is, bright his presence, to us. Long may he be a joy to English-reading men !
§ 12. With thanks to Miss Isabel Marshall of Bedford for her index, and Mr G. Parker of Oxford for his copy of Ed. II's House- hold Book, I go off to bed at one in the morning.
3, St George's Square, London, JV. W., August 20, 1876.
EDWARD IIJS HOUSEHOLD ORDINANCES.
ENGLISHT, A.D. 1601.
[AsJim. MS. 1147, iii. p. I.1]
ORDINANCES TOUCHING THE KINGES HOUSHOLD
MADE IN THE TYME OF KINGE EDWARDE THE SECONDE ;
1BANSLATED OUT OP AN OLD PBENCH COPPT, 13 MAETII, 1601.2
Hostel le Roy Edw. 2.
3 Steward of the Kings houshold ............
Treasurer of the wardrobe ...
Chamberlaine ..................
Contreroller (sic) ..................
Cofferer .....................
Clarkes of the Counting table ............
Clarke of the Priuy-Seale ...
4 Clarkes to write to the Priuy Scale Clarke purveyor for the great Wardrobe ... Clarke of the Spicery
The Charge of the Clarke purveyor for the wardrobe, & of the Tailor, etc. ...
Serjant vnder-vsher of the Wardrobe
Porter of the Wardrobe
Squire fruterer ... ... ... ... ..^
Serjant Chandeler
Two Vallets de Mestier4 to worke the wax
A confessor for the King & Queene
A cheife Chaplin or deane of the Chappell ......
An Almner ... ... ... ...
An Vnder-Almner
A Vallett of the Almonery ...
A Physityan
A Chyrurgian
Clarke of the Markett Coroner of the Houshold ...
Infants wAich become the Kings wardes ... ...
Esq?/iers for the Kings mouth
Esqwier* for the Kings Chamber ... ... ... ...
Vshers of the Kings Chamber
Vallets of the Kings Chamber
Serjants at Armes
A Knight Marshall ..................
A Knight cheife-vsher of the Hall ...
Two Serjant Vshers of the Hall ............
A Fuer .....................
Surveyor of the Dressor
Assayors
Esquiers for the Hall
Clarke of the Pantry & buttry
An Vnderclarke in those Offices
fol. 1 [p. 5]
„ 2 [p. 6]
„ 2 [P. e;
„ 3 [p. 7]
„ 4 [p.
„ 4 [p. 8]
„ 5 [p. 9;
„ 5 [p. 9;
„ 6 [p. 9;
„ 6 [p. 10"
7 9 9
10 10 11 11 11 12 13 13 13 13 14 15 15 15 16 16 16 17 17 18 19
19
20 20 20 21 21
[p. 11]
[P- 12] > 13] [P. 13]
:p. 14: 14
[p. 15] [p. 15; [p. 16; [p. 16]
[p'
[p. [p. 18] [p. 18] [p. 18
[P. 19 [p. 19 [p. 20 [P- 20] [P- 20] [p. 21]
[p. 21]
[p. 22] [P- 22; [p. 23; [p. 23; [p. 23]
1 The words " at Yorke in lune y" xvjth yeare " are struck through by the Translator's own hand, in the general title prefixed to this original MS. — Black. 9 by Fra. Tate sec', crossed through. 3 p. 114 of MS. 4 MS. Meshicr. HOUSEHOLD ORD. 1
CONTENTS OF EDWARD ifs HOUSEHOLD ORDINANCES.
Panterers fol. 21 [p. 24]
AWaferer „ 23 [p. 25]
The Bakehouse „ 23 [p. 25]
Naper „ 24 [p. 26]
Ewer „ 24 [p. 27]
Launder „ 24 [p. 27]
The Buttlery „ 25 [p. 27]
Clerkes of the Kitchin „ 27 [p. 30]
The Kitchin „ 28 [p. 31'
Larder „ 30 [p. 33:
Poultry , 31 [p. 35:
Garbager „ 32 [p. 36=
Scullery ... „ 33 [p. 36'
Saucery „ 33 [p. 37'
Porters ,., ... ,, 34 [p. 38'
Marshalsy „ 34 [p. 38'
Purveyor of the Auenery ... ... ... ... ... ,,35 [p. 39"
Serjant Herberjor warden of th& kings palfryes ,,36 [p. 39"
A Vallett Herberjour „ 36 [p. 40'
Serjant Harberjour of Somme?-s & carthorses ... ... ,,36 [p. 40]
Vnder him a Vallet Herberjour ... ... ... ... ,,37 [p. 41]
A Serjant Marshall , 37 [p. 41]
2 Vallets Purveyors for the Auenery ... ... ... ,,37 [p. 41]
A Vallet Porter for the Garner ... ... ,,38 [p. 42
A Vallet Carnauer ... „ 38 [p. 42
24 Somers alias Sumpteres ... ... ... ... ... ,,39 [p. 43"
A Hackny man „ 39 [p. 43]
Serjant Marshall for horses ,39 [p. 43]
Huntsmen ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 40 [p. 44]
A ferreter ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 41 [p. 45]
A Partringer ... ... ... ... ... ... ,41 [p. 45]
A Bridtaker or Oyselour ... ... ... ... ... 41 [p. 45]
A Fisher 41 [p. 46
Trumpetours , 42 [p. 46
Messengers ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 42 [p. 46"
Archers ... 42 [p. 46'
A Chappeler ... 43 [p. 46'
Order for the K. cheife Boteler ... ... ... ... 43 [p. 47
Order for Lodging of the K. Servants ... ... ... 45 [p. 48]
Order that the Harbingers bee not refused conuenient
Lodgings. \The Contents, in the MS, stop here.'] ... 46 [p. 49]
[Order that accounts shall be discharged within 3 days ... ,46 [p. 49] Order that Officers shall account daily, or else forfeit their
wages ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 5, 46 [p. 50]
Order concerning punishment for neglect of work ... ... ,,46 [p. 50]
Order that no Knight be barred the houshold, nor remain
above 3 days at Court without license ... ... „ 47 [p. 50]
Order that the ordinances made at Woodstock be observed ,, 47 [p. 50] Order that none shall be allowed in the offices unless holding office (and wearing Royal livery) under pain of im- prisonment ... ... ... ... ... ... ,,47 [p. 50]
Order that boys of officers shall diet in the hall. And con- cerning those who embesil the Kings almes ... ... ,,48 [p. 51]
Order that no Valet de Mestier shall have horses at Court
unless receiving an allowance for a horse from the King ,, 48 [p. 51]
CONTENTS OP EDWARD ifs HOUSEHOLD ORDINANCES. 3
[Order that no Serjant Vallet shall eat out of the hall ... fol. 48 [p. 51]
Order that no stranger eat in any of the offices, nor be
received in them by those of the houshold ... ... ,,48 [p. 51]
Order that no Valet de Mestier but they of the kitchen
have any page ... ... ... ... ... ... ,,49 [p. 52]
Order that no Valet de Mestier in the kitchen or any other office give away anything without their leave to whom it appertaineth ... ... ... ... ... ... „ 49 [p. 52]
Order that no Esquire or other meddle with the carriage of any victuals after they are set on the table, except those to whom that service pertains ... ... ... „ 49 [p. 52]
Order that no Knight of the Houshold take livery if he be
not holding office ... ... ... ... ... ,, 49 [p. 52]
Order that the Kinges & Queenes Steward shall examine once a week how many of the Kings & Queens dogs shall have livery ... ... ... ... ... ,,49 [p. 52]
Order that Squires & Valets de Mestier have livery when sick „ 50 [p. 52]
Order that the Great Lords, which have their Chamber ap- pointed in the same Court as the King, shall have wine, etc. for their Cha.mberlaine ... ... ... ... ,,50 [p. 52]
Order that the Queenes Steward & Thresorer cause the messes to be examined, & the Gens de Mestier belonging to Her Highness meignee ; & all the Serjantes be at the Account ... ... ... ... ... ... „ 50 [p. 52]
Order that the King with the Great Lords & the Queen also be served with four courses. All other places of the Houshold to have three courses, save the boys, who shall have two „ 50 [p. 52]
Order that all Palfreours & Somters shall have ijd a day. Those of the Houshold who are weak shall be sent to Hospitals & Abbeys which hold under the King ... ., 50 [p. 52]
Order that no liveree shall be made in no part of the Hous- hold either of the King or Queen, but the great pantry, buttery, kitchen, larder, & the great houshold for the meignee ... ... ... ... ... ... ,,61 [p. 53]
Order concerning the delivery of presents to the King, and
the distribution of fees ... ... ... ... ,,51 [p. 53]
Order, concerning Foregoers ... ... ... ... ,,51 [p. 53]
Bribours a nuite ... ... ... ... ... ... ,,53 [p. 55]
Order, that the Kings command that his Marshals should search from week to week for strangers following the Court, be remembered ... ... ... ... ... ,,54 [p. 55]
Order concerning the Officers of the Marshalcy of the King's Houshold, that they are to be aided by the Sheriffs Bailiffs sworne for the cuntry the King cometh through „ 54 [p. 55]
Order, that as complaints have been made of mischiefs done in the country where the King goeth, by people which follow the Court, that such people shall avoid the Court „ 54 [p. 56]
That no Sutors shall follow the Court, but such as are in the
Coroners Roll of the Marshalsea ... ... ... ,,54 [p. 56]
That none of the Kings meignee keep his wife at the Court
or following the Court ... ... ... ... ,,55 [p. 56]
That no women be there but such as are in chief with the King, or are intitled in the Marshalsy in the Coroner's Roll , 55 [p. 5G]
4 CONTENTS OP EDWARD ifs HOUSEHOLD ORDINANCES.
[Punishment to be inflicted on men & women following the
Court without license ... ... ... ... ... f ol. 55 [p. 56]
These points to be proclaimed to the Houshold at certain
times 56 [p. 57]
Order concerning the Officers of the Marshalcy ... ... ,,56 [p. 57]
Ordinance for the State of the Wardrobe and tlie Account for the Household.
(1) Order that no money be paid to make purveyance, ex- cept by the hand of the guardian of the Wardrobe, or by warrant of his letters. That there be always suffi- cient money in the Wardrobe ... ... ... ... f ol. 56 [p. 58]
(2) Order : th' account to be had every day, or every other day when the Court sojourneth. Penalties for delaying
the account beyond three days ... ... ... ,,57 [p. 58]
(3) Days appointed for Chief Butler to view his office ... ,, 57 [p. 58]
(4) Times appointed for Purveyor of Wardrobe to view his
office 57 [p. 59]
(5) Forreign Ministers which account in the Wardrobe do
so every quarter or half-year ... ... ... "... „ 57 [p. 59]
Accounts of Wardrobe to be given into the Exchequer once
a year, the day after Candlemas ... ... ... ,,57 [p. 59]
(6) Order concerning Ministers that should account to the
Wardrobe and come not to the account ... ... ,,58 [p. 59]
(7) Clerks of offices to account for their sommes monthly or
quarterly, at the discretion of the guardian of the
Wardrobe „ 58 [p. 59]
(8) He that is in arrerages at the account to be delivered to •
the Marshalsy ... ... ... ... ... ... ,,58 [p. 59]
(9) Order : last years account being diffuse, the Cofferer
to take help and arrange the account speedily ... „ 58 [p. 59]
That there be a new Cofferer in the xvijth (the following) year „ 58 [p. 59]
(10) Order that names of Houshold be delivered to the
Warden & to the Clerk of the Marshalsy ,,59 [p. 60]
That the Ministers of the Houshold be fit men, & that there
be no rascals in any office ... ... ... ... ,,59 [p. 60]
(11) Order : payment of things purveyed for Houshold, ex- cept the great purveyances & poultry, to be made in
the Wardrobe in presence of the Clerks of Offices ... „ 59 [p. 60]
(12) Order for making purveyances of great feasts at fairs.
for the Parliament or great feast ... ... ... ,,59 [p. 60]
(13) Order touching the purveyance of herring & great fish „ 60 [p. 60]
(14) Order for the purveyance of wines against the Parlia- ment or solemn feast ... ... ... ... ... „ 60 [p. 61 ]
(15) Order concerning the Clerks of the Marshalsy. There shall be two, the Clerk of the March, and the Clerk of
theAvenery „ 61 [p. 61]
(16) Order concerning the Bakers ,,61 [p. 61]
(17) The King's Offerings of the great penny daily to be remembered ... ... ... ... ... ... „ 61 [p. 62]
Offerings at All Saints, New -year's- tide, Easter & Whitsun- tide, Feast of S' Thomas at Canterbury, the Day of the Great Friday, Easter-day, and S' John the Evangelist in Christmas „ 62] [p. 62]
EDWARD II's HOUSEHOLD ORDINANCES,
JUNE, 1323. (ENGLISHT BY FRANCIS TATE, MARCH is, 1601.)
N. B. Tn as much as the officers of the houshold of our Lord the kinge JL have alwaies heretofore been uncertaine what thei should doe, & what thei should take of the kinge, bi reason of their offices, in re- spect wherof there1 can be no examination of those offices, nor the officers charged as thei ought to be, to the great damage & dishonour of the kinge, & disorder of his houshold : Qur Lord the kinge, havinge regard to the estate of his houshold which is not wel kept, & to his goodes otherwise spent then thei ought, gave commauwdement to monsier Barthemew de Badelesmere, steward of his houshold, monsier Hughe le Dispenser, Chamberlaine, Sir Roger de North- burghe, Thresorer, & Sir Gilbert de Wiggeton, Countrerollour of his warderobe, that thei should ordaine some remedi therof. And thei, bi vertue of that commaundement, ordained that w7i^ch ensueth, for amendemewt of the former defaultes, And their ordinances were redde before the kinge, & assented unto, in the presence of the Archbishop of yorke, The bishop of Elye, Channcolour of England, the bishop of Norwich, the bishop of Salisburye, Monsier Henry de Scrope, & Monsier Henry Spigurnel, Justices. These did ordaine, that the kinge should have :
A stewarde of his housholde :
1. This stewarde shall be a maw of good sufficiency ; & if he be a Banneret, then he shal have one knight, three esquiers, & a clarke
1 MS. their.
(> TREASURER OF THE WARDROBE. CHAMBERLAIN.
for the pleas belonging to the stewardship, allowed diet in the halle. & he shall take everi night for his chamber, one sextier J of wine, xij candels, two tortis,2 one tortis3 for wine, & one torche, & more when he shal need them. He shal have litter al the yeare, & fuel for dinner time, of the usher of the halle, from Al Sainies even to easter-even. His chamberlaine shal have for liverye a darre4 of bred, a galon of ale, a messe de grosse5 from the kitchen, & dinners & suppers when he wil have them. His fees 6shalbe xx markes hi the yeare, paiable at the feastes of Uewyeres-tide & whit-sontide bi equal portions.
If he be but an ordinari knight, he shal take fees & robes as other ordinary knightes of the houshold doe, & have diet in the halle for two esquiers & a clarke
A Thresorer of the warderobe.
2. The thresorer of the warderobe shal have one chaplein, one clarke, & two esquirs, allowed their diet in the halle ; & he shal take for his chambre a sextier of wine, twelve candels, two tortis,7 one tortis8 for wine, & one torche & more whew he shall need it, litere al the yeare, fuel for dinner9 time from al Sainies eve?z til ester-evew of the Vsher of the halle, & dinners & sopers whew he wiL His livere for his chamberlaine shalbe a darre of bredde, a galon of beare, & a messe de grosse from the kitchen, & Robes in cloth for himselfe, or els sixtene markes by the yere, at !N"ew yeares-tide & whit-sontide bi equal portions.
A chamberlaine.
3. The Chamberlaine, if he be a Banneret, shal have one knight & three esquiers allowed their diet in the halle, & he shal take for his chambre halfe a sextire of wine, xij candels, ij tortis,7 & one
1 ' Sextier. Looke Septler' ' Septier de vin. Containes eight pints.' ' Sextaire: m. An auncient Romane measure, containing somewhat more then one pint.' — Cotgrave.
* MS. cakes crossed through. ' Tortis de cire. A wreathed Linke, or great candle of wax ; most in vse about Candlemas.' — Cotgrave, A.D. 1611.
3 MS. cake crossed throtigh.
4 'Dare, a huge big bellie ; also, Dole.' — Cotgrave.
5 large, full, mess or meal ? 6 p. 2. 7 MS. cakes crossed through. 8 MS. cake crossed through. 9 MS. meale crossed through.
CONTROLLER (KEEPER OP A COUNTER-ROLL). 7
torche, littere al the yeare, & fuel for dinner-time, of the Vsher of the chamber ; & dinners & sopers with the kinge. He shal have for his Chamberlaines livere, a darre of bred, a galon of beare, a messe de grosse^from the kitchew, & fees & robes as a Banneret of the houshold : That is, for fees, xx markes, & for robes xvj markes bi the yeare, if he be not served with cloth.
If he be but an ordinari knight, he shal take fees & robes as an ordinary knight of the houshold, & shal l have two esquiers allowed their diet in the halle.
A contreroller.
4. The Contrerollozw ought to keepe a countre-roll against the tresorer of the warderobe, of al that is received in, or issueth out of, the warderobe, & testefy it in thexcheker uppon the thresorers account. And shalbe at the receit of the wines in grosse, & shall survei al the offices of the houshold, as the pawtery, Bottery, celler, larder, Spicerye, avenerie, & other offices, that the wines & other vittailes w7a'ch he shal finde in the said offices be good & fit for thexpenses of the houshold according to their prises. And if he finde ani vittailes unsufficient, he shal shewe it at tlie next account before the stewarde & thresorer, & shal sue to them til it be amended according to reason. He 2 ought to2 go into al the offices everi munday, to see the remaines, & examine whether the remaines & expence of the weeke past agree with the receites of the former weeke. He shal be in the kitchen whew the flesh is cut out, & the fish parted, as oftew as he thinkes fit. He shalbe warned with the chiefe vsher, a knigbt, & the clarke of the kitchew, to see that the flesh & fish wJtich is bought be good, & the messes cut out in due manner according to thordinarcce therof made at th' account, & the fish parted as it ought to be. And he shalbe everi dai, without some resonable excuse, at the accountes with the Steward & thresorer. The contrerouler of the warderobe shal have a clarke & an esquier allowed diet in the halle, And shal take for his chambre, halfe a sextier of wine, vj candels, two tortis,3 & one torche, & litter al the yere longe, fewel for dinne?--time of the vsher of the halle. His 1 p. 3. 2— * MS. should crossed through. 3 MS. cakes crossed through.
8 COFFERER. 2 CLERKS OF THE COUNTING TABLE.
cliamberlaines liveri shalbe a darre of bred, a galon of beere, a messe de grosse from the kitchera, & robes in cloth, or viij markes bi the yeare, at newyeres-tide & whitsontide bi equal portions. Whether he be sicke or wel, he shal have his livery for his dinner, two darres xof bredde, j. pitcher of wine, two messe de grosse from the kitchin, & a messe of rost ; & he shal have xv*1 a day wages til he be ad- vanced bi the kinge.
A Cofferer.
5. The Coferer shalbe plased bi the Thresorer, & he shalbe allowed diet in the halle for one esquier, & shal take for his chambre half a sextier of wine, six candells, ij tortis, & one torche, & for the Counting table xij carcdels, & more whew need shal require, & littre al the yeare, & fuel for diner time of the Vsher of the halle, & a livere for his Chamberlaine of one dare of bredde, one galon of beere, a messe de grosse from the kitchin. And whether he be wel or sicke, he shal take for his dinner the like livere as the Controler, that is, two darres of bred, a pitcher of wine, two messes de gros from the kitchen, & a messe of rost, & al other expenses in Court, of the thresorer.
And two clarkes of the Counting table.
6. The clarkes of the counting table must be able to write & doe al thinges that concerne the warderobe & the account therof under the cofferer. Each of them shal take for wages vij. ob. a day, or iiijd ob. as his state shalbe, at the discretion of the thresorer, & ij robes in cloth yeareli, or xvj' viijd in mony. And thei, together with the Con- trolottrs clarke, who shal ly al of them in the warderobe, shal have amongst them, 2for their coch,2 two pitchers of wine, vj candels, & two tortis, with litere al the yeare, & fuel at dinner time, of the Vsher of the halle. And if thei dine in the warderobe for ani certaine reason, or bi the thresorers licence, two of them shal have a livere for diner & manger in the warderobe, cache the livere of a serjant, that is, a darre of bred, half a pitcher of wine, half a galon of beere, a messe de grosse from 3the kitchin, & a messe of roste; & be thei sicke or wel, this shalbe their liveree.
1 p. 4. *— * These words are substituted for against theire going to bedde.
3 p. 6.
CLERKS OF THE PRIVY SEAL AND WARDROBE. 9
A clarke of the privy Seale.
7. The clarke which shalbe warden or keper of the privy seale must be a man of sufficiency for that purpose. He shal have diet in the hal for one esquier, & shal take for his chambre half a sextier of wine, six chandels, two tortis & one torche, & litter al the yeare, & wood for dinner time of the Vsher of the halle : he shal have this liveree for his chamberlaine, a darre of bred, a galon of beare, a messe de grosse from the kitchein, & robes in cloth, or viij markes bi the yeare, at the feastes of new yeres tide & whitsondaye, bi equal portions. And whether he be sicke or welle, his livery shalbe ij darre of bred, a pitcher of wine, two messes de grosse from the kitchin, & a messe of rost ; & he shal have wages til he be advanced.
And iiij clarkes to write to the privy seale.
8. Thei shal have altogether for their chambre, two pichers of wine, vj candels, two tortiz, & littre for al the yeare, & fier for dinner time, of the Vsher of the halle. And if thei dine or eate in the houshold for ani certein cause, two of them shal have a livery at dinner, & each a livery to eate, as the clarkes of the Counting house before-named. If ani of them be sicke or wel, let him have the same livery. Eache of them shal have wages, more or lesse according to their estate, at the discretion of the steward & thresorer til thei be advanced bi the kinge. Thei shal have two robes bi the yeare, or mony according to their wages.
1 A clarke purveior for the great warderobe.
9. The clarke purveiowr for the greate warderobe ought to lie in the warderobe when he is in Court, & shal have diet in the halle for one esquier. And shal take for his chambre, a pitcher of wine, iiij candels, one tortiz, & liveri for a chamberlaine, to keepe his bedde, of a darre of bred, a galon of beare, a messe de grosse from the kitchew. And whether he be wel or sicke in Court, he may take two darres of bred, a galon of wine, ij messe de grosse from the kitchen, a messe of rost, & two robes by the yeare in cloth, or viij markes in
1 p. 6.
10 CLERK OF THE SPICERY.
mony. And out of the court he shal have his fee, that is, xxu bi the yeare, til the kinge have givew him C markes rent, & have served the kinge «,t his owne charges out of the court, & done that which belongeth to him to doe, according to the sta^wt made touching his office.
A clarke of the Spicery.
10. The clarke of the spicery is chief vsher of the warderobe, & he shal receve of the Clarke purveiowr for the great warderobe, wax, naperie, linnen cloth, canvas, specerie, & al manner of other thinges w/uch appertaigne to his office, bi endenture, making expresse mention of the prise of the elle, the waight, & the charge. He shal cause the wax to be wayed "which the chaundeloz«* shal worke, & wayghed againe whe« it is wrought. He shal survey, & cause to be written bi his under-clarke, the liveres of Chauwdelary that shalbe everi day in the warderobe, & shal survey the day after the laying up of the torches & tortiz, of wine, & of the morters, He shal make a breef everi day of the parcels of al manner of thinges delivered & spent in his office the dai before, & the prise, & shal auwswere for the same at th'account 'of the houshold. He shal survey the cariages belonging to the warderobe, as wel for- the coffres & other thinges of his office, as for the bedes of the clarkes of the warderobe w7*ich should be caried. He shal levy in his rolle the resonable cariages & portages in the kinges jornies. He shal take for his chambre, a pitcher of wine, two candels ; one tortiz, & three candels for his office, & littere al the yeare, & fuel for dinner time, of the Vsher of the halle. And whether he be sick or wel, his liveree shalbe a darre of bred, half a picher of wine, half a galon of beare, a messe de grosse from the kitchin, & messe of rost, & iiijd a day wages til he be advanced bi the kinge, — & he shal have no more bi reson that he shal have cariage for his bed in the warderobe, — & two robes in cloth, or xvj8 viijd by the yere in mony.
'p. 7.
CLERK PURVEYOR OF THE WARDROBE, ETC. ETC. 11
The charge of the Clark purveiour for the great warde- robe, & of the tailour, armorer, pavilions, & con- fectioner of spices.
11. And in as much as it is found, uppon good & faithful ex- amination, thai our lord the kinge hath heretofore suffered great damages & losse, for that al thinges that come for the houshold by dilivory of the clarke & purveiozw of his great warderobe, as wax, spicery, & other thinges belonging to his office, have been -wasted & il spent, for want of setting downe the certenti of the price & parcels every day, uppon the account of the houshold, before the steward & tresorer, as in other offices : It is ordained & assented to in the kinges behalf, & the bishops, the steward, thresorer, & Chamberlaine, & others of the counsel, that the clarke purveio?<r of the great warderobe, from hence forwarde shal deliver al thinges touching th' office of the spicerie, to the clarke of the same office, as of wax, gros spicery, linnen cloth, canvas, & al other 1 thinges, bi good indenture, makinge mention of al the parcels so to him delivered, together wz'the prise & the costes ; & the clarke of the Spicery, thus charged in certaine, shalbe every day at th' accountes of the houshold, as tho clarkes of other offices are, to present & account before the steward & thresorer for al the parcels, & the prise of everi thinge w7«'ch shalbe delivered & spent out of his office in the houshold that day. And that the waightes of the warderobe & of the spicery should agree together, & be such as are ordinary within the Eelme of Eng- land. In the same sort ought this clarke & purveioz<r of the great warderobe to charge the kinges Taylozw, armurer, pavillioner, & con- fectioner of spices, bi indentures makinge mention of the price & quawtiti of thinges bi him delivered out, & that one parte of those endentures should remaine with the same Clarke. And the parcels of the other liveries, & the kinges giftes, w7u'ch shal passe from out of his office, shalbe shewed foure times bi the yeare, to the thresorer of the warderobe, so as he mai be fulli certified of the state of thai office, & charge duly those clarkes of the spicery, the tailowr, armurer, pavillioner, & confectioner of spices, uppow the accouwtes which shal
1 p. 8.
12 WARDROBE UNDER-USHER AND PORTER.
hereafter be made before the said thresorer in the warderobe, aswel of the issuyng out of those parcels so receved of the said clarke, as of the costes wfo'ch thei have laied out to the maker & worker of them. And that the same clarke purveiowr shal remaine in Court as much as his office wil permit him, unles he have special licence of the kinge. And the clarke of the spicery shal have a clarke to aide him to do those thinges wAz'ch pertaine to his office, & to write the parcels of the laying out vfhich. he shal make of al manner thinges in that office, according to thadvice l& ordina?^e of the said chief clarke ; & even day he shal have for his liveree, a darre of bred, a galon of beare, a messe de grosse from the kitchin, & a clarkes robe yereli, or xx*. in mony.
And a Serjant vnder-vsher of tliz warderobe.
12. The Serjant under-usher of the warderobe shal lodge in the warderobe, & lye within the vsher of the warderobe, to keepe al thinges safe that are within ; & he shalbe au?zswerable if any peril querra happen thorough his default, & shal fetche2 the liverees of thoffices for al of the warderobe, & he shal attend their com- maundementes, & shal take for cocfi. a galon of ale & three candels. And whether he be wel or sicke, he shal take for liveree, a darre of bred, half a picher of win, half a galon of beere, a messe de gros from the kitchin, & a messe of rost. And iiijd ob. wages bi the day, two robes a yeare en cloth, or xls. in mony ; & his bed shalbe caried in the cariages of the warderobe.
A porter of the warderobe.
13. The porter of the warderobe shal carry the coffers, & other harnis of the wardrobe, to the cartes, & shal lode them & unlode them, & shalbe uppon the cariage in the way, & shal watch a nightes, if the cariages be in the cuwtry & ly without dores. He shal have ijd a day wages in the rolle of the spicery, over & above his standing wages, in respect of watching & travel. And he shal [have] a vallet de mestier his robe yereli in cloth, or a marke in mony, for
1 p. 9. * querre crossed through.
FRUITERER. CHANDLER. 13
shoes iiij8 viija, at two seisons in the yeare as a Vallet de mestier, at newyeres tide & whitsontide, bi equal portions.
*A Squire fruiterer.
14. The squire fruiterer shal receve electuaries, confections, & other spiceries, figs, & reasons, of the clarke of the spicery for the kinges mouth, & shal make the clarke a brief everi day of that which shalbe spent the dai before, as wel of the spiceries & fruit so receved of the clarke, as of appels, peres, cheries, & other fruit which the fruiterer him-self shal provide. The fruit which the purveiowr him-self shal provide, together \nth the costes laid out about the cariage therof, shalbe surveied bi the same clarke before any be spent. And if he gyve tallies to them thai sold them, he shal deliver the foiles to the same clarke ymmediateli uppora the view, that the tallies mai be paied in the warderobe. And this esquier fruiterer shal take every night for his coch". a galon of beare & three candels, & for his office iij candels more. He shal have vijd ob. a daye wages, ij robes in cloth, or xl8. in niony. And be he wel or sicke, he shal have vij darres of bred, half a picher of wine, half a galon of beere, a messe de grosse from the kitchin, & a messe of rost. He shal have a vallet under him, that shal have meate, drinke, & shoes, as an other vallet of the mestier of the houshold shal have.
A serjant chau^delor.
15. The serjant chaundeler shal receve the wax & lights, bi waight from the clarke of the spicery, & shal cause them to be wrought accordinge to thassise ordained bi sta^Mt ; & the wax & lightes so wrought, shal waye againe in the presence of the same clarke, & therof shal make the liveree, & serve the houshold bi view of the same clark or his under-clarke, so as at th'accouwt he mai knowe the daies expenses. And the chaurcdelor shal make his liveree everi dai in the warderobe, before meate, or as sone after as the serjawt & clarke be not hindered from serving the kinge & his hous- hold. He shal take for his coch". a galon of beare & three candels. And whether he be wel or il, he shal take for liveree, 2one darre of
1 p. 10. 2 p. 11.
14: 2 VALETS TO WORK THE WAX. THE KING'S CONFESSOR.
"bred, half a picher of wine, half a galon of beare, a messe de grosse from the kitchin, & a messe of rost. And vijd ok for wages, & ij robes bi the yeare in cloth, or xlvjs viijd in mony.
Two vallets de mestier to worke the, wax.
16. Two valetes of the misteri shal worke the waxe under the serjant, & shal take everi dai thei worke, for livere, two darres of bred, two galons of beere, & two messes de gros from, the kitchin ; & each of the??i shal take yereli a robe in cloth, or a marke in mony, & for shoes, iiijs viijd bi the yeare. And be thei wel or il, thei shal take for livere, one darre of bred, a galon of beere, & a messe de grosse from the kitchew.
A confessor for the kinge.
17. The confessor for the kinge, & his companion, shal take everi day for liveree, iij darres of bred, two pichers of wine, iij galons of beere, three messes horn the kitchin, wherof one shalbe flesh uppo?* flesh daies ; & iij candels, one tortis, & litere for their bedes al the yere, of the vsher of the halle, & fuel for their meate al the yeare, & for the chamber at dinner time, from al Saintas evew til Easter, from the scullery, & livery for robes & bedes from the great warde- robe, & for saddles, botes, linne?^ cloth, & other smal necessaries for their bodies, or mony from the warderobe, at the discretion of the steward & thresorer. And hay & otes, litter & shoing, & other necessaries for iiij horses, & wages for iij boies, each jd. ob., & robes for a keu1 to dresse his vitel ; he shal eate w/th his master, & the three boies shal have iij robes in cloth, or xs bi the yeare for each of ihem ; & for eache of them, iiij8 viijd for shoes at two seasons in the yeare, & two clothes & two towels,2 of the clarke of the spicery, at New yeres tide & whitsontide.
A chief cliaplin, or Deane of HIQ Chappel.
18. The chief chaplin shal have diet in the halle for one squier; he shal have wages of the kinge til he 3 be advanced bi the kinge.
1 MS. a a keu [Fr. quev. queux] (coke crossed through). 2 MS. twoels.
3 p. 12.
DEAN OP THE CHAPEL. ALMONER. UNDER- ALMONER. 15
And v. chapleins, wherof each shal have vijd ob. a day; & six clarkes, each of them shal have iiijd ob. a day, til thei be advanced bi the kinge. And amongst them al, thei shal take for their coch", two pichers of wine, ij galons of beere, vj candels, a tortis, & litere for their bedas al the yere, & fuel for their chamber at dinner time, of the Vsher of the hal. And the chief Chaplein, whether he be wel or il, shal take for liveree, ij darres of bred, j. picher of wine, two messes de grosse from the kitchin, & one messe of rost. And each of the other chaplius & clarkes, whether he be wel or il, shal have for liveree, j. darre of bred, one galon of beere, a messe de gros fro?n the kitchin, & a messe of rost. And the chief chaplein shal take yereli, ij robes of cloth, or viij markes in mony. And everi other chaplein yereli, ij robes in cloth, or three markes & a half in mony ; & everi clarke yerli, ij robes en cloth, or xl8. in mony.
And for the Chappel, everi night shalbe allowed for the liverees at vespres & complyn, vj candels, if need bee, & cerges every seven- night or fiftene dayes, as need shal require, & the chief chaplein wil aurcswere it.
An almoiner or Almner.
19. The Almner chaplein shal have diet in the hal for a squier, & shal take for his chambre, a picher of wine, two candels, one tortis, littre al the yere, & fuel at dinner time, of the vsher of the halle ; & whether he be wel or il, he shal take for liveree, ij. darres of bred, a picher of wine, two messes de gros from the kitchin, & a messe of rost ; two robes bi the yere in cloth, or eight markes in mony. He shal have wages at vijd ob. til he be advanced bi the kinge, & everi day of sojorne, xiiij. Carres of bredde, xiiij gallons of beere, in the rolle of the panterer & boteler, & xiiij messes from the kitchin, for the Almners office. And every day that the l kinge travelleth, ho shal give xiiij9 in mony out of the warderobe, & it shal be entered in the great rolle of the houshold expenses at the ende of the day.
An vnder almoner.
20. A clarke shalbe under the Almone?', who shal under him have regarde to the Alines & he shal have his diet in the hal, & shal
1 p. 13.
1C VALET OP THE ALMONRY. PHYSICIAN. SURGEON.
take iijd a day in the rolle of the marshalce for his hakeneyes charge, til he be advanced bi the kinge ; his boy shal live of the Almes. He shal have yereli, one robe in cloth, or xx* in mony. And whether he be wel or il, he shal take for liveree, j. darre of bred, j. galon of beere, & one messe do grosse from the kitchin.
An a vallet of the Almonery.
21. The vallet of the mistery of the same office shal eate in the hal amongst other vallet&s of misterie, & shal take yereli a robe in cloth, or a marke in mony ; for shoes, iiij9 by the yere. And be he wel or il, he shal take for liveree, j. darre of bred, j. galon of beere, & a messe de grosse from the kitchin.
A phisition.
22. The phisitiott shal take for al the daies livere, iij darres of bred, one galon of wine, one galon of here, iij messes de gros from the kitchin, & ij messes of rost. for his charabre, iij candels, one tortis ; & litere al the yere, of the Ysher of the hal, & fuel for his vitail al the yere, & for his chawbre at dinner, of the scullery. And two robes by the yere in cloth, or viij markes in mony ; hay, oates, litere, shewing, for iij horses, & wages for iij boies, each at jd. ob. til he be advanced bi the kinge.
A Cyrurgion.
23. The surgion shal have his diet everi day in the hal, if he be not otherwise hindered bi some busines certified before the Steward & thresorer. And there he shal 1have his livery as a knight of the houshold, whether he be wel or il, that is to say, two darres of bred, one picher of wine, two messes de gros from the kitchin, & one messe of rost. And shal take everi dai for his chamber, one picher of wine, three candels, one tortis, litere al the yeare, & fuel for dinner time, of the Vsher of the haL He shal have xijd a day wages til he be advanced bi the kinge, & ij robes yereli in cloth, or viij markes in mony. for thinges medicinal, he shal have xls. bi the yeare. i p. u.
MARKET CORONER. INFANT WARDS. 17
A clarke of the Market Coroner of the houshold.
24. The clarke of the market Coroner of the kinges houshold shal examine the assise of bred, wine, & here, & take th'assay of al manner of mesures, waightes, & elnes within the vierge & our lord the kinges presence. He shal cause offenders w/a'ch have broken thassise, to be punished ; & them w7«'ch are found with faulse * mise mesures, by amerciament,* or bi fines of every offendowr according to his fault. He shal not charge citties, boroughs, & other townes, but onli for one night & one day, unles it be thorough the default of the people of the towne, & then he shal not cowtinew in that towne above two daies at the townes charges. The mony w/w'ch he shal levy in his office bi fines & amerciamerctes, he shal trewly send daili into the warderobe. And whew the kinge goeth into the cuwtri, he shal goe before, the same jornies as the kinge doth, to do his office. And he shal make the?n. brewe & bake against the kinges co?w.ming, & his housholdes according to the assise. And he shal cause to be cried in everi market towne within the vierge, the assise of bred, wine, beare, hay, oates. This Clarke shalbe the stewardes Couwte- roller for pleas of the halle, & purveiowr for cariages, & shal have a clarke under him, who shal have his diet in the halle. And the clarke of the market contreroller shal receve al the mony rising of the pleas of the halle, before the steward & mareshal, & shal deliver them, together wz'th the stretes, into the warderobe, & there 1shal account for the same mony every weeke. And when he shalbe in the Court, he shal take for his liveree in his chamber, one picher of wine, two cawdels, a tortis, two robes bi the yeare in cloth, or iiij markes & an half bi the yeare. And whether he be wel or il, he shal have for his liveree, j. darre of bred, one galon of here, a messe de grosse from the kitchin, & a messe of rost.
Infantes w/«'ch become the kinges wardes.
25. The infantes -which happew to be the kinges wardes, shal have wages, & liverees, & al other necessaries, according to their estate, & the advisement & discretion of the Steward & thresorcr.
1 p. 15.
HOUSEHOLD ORD. 2
18 SQUIRES AND USHERS OP THE KING'S CHAMBER,
These wardes shalbe put from their wages & liverees as sone as thei have their landes, or the kinge have given or sold them, & then thei shalbe kept at the costes of them to whom thei are given or solde.
Esquiers for the kinges mouth.
26. The kinge shal have a squier surveiowr & warden of the asseourde salable viandes for his mouth, & to take the assay at his table. And an esquier to carve before the kinge, & a squire to serve him of his cuppe. These three esquires shal take, eache of them for his chamber at night, half a picher of wine, two candels, & a tortis, litere al the yere, & fuel for dinner time, of the vsher of the chambre. And each of them, be he wel or il, shal have liveree as a serjant, that is to say, a darre of bred, half a picher of wine, half a galon of beere, a messe de gros from the kitchin, & a messe of rost. Eache of them shal have vijd ob. a daie wages, & two robes in cloth, or xl8. in mony.
Esquiers for the kinges chamber.
27. The kinge shal have xij squiers, besides the infantes de gard, & the three esquiers before-named. Of these xij squiers, one shalbe assayoM/* in the chambre. And each of them shal have vijd ob. wages every day, & ij robes in cloth, or xl8 yerely in mony. And each of the?n, be xhe wel or il, shal take for liveree, j. darre of bred, one galon of beere, one messe de gros from the kitchin, & one messe of rost.
Vshers of the kinges chamber.
28. The kinge shal have two squires ushers of the chamber, whprof the one shalbe serjant purveiowr for fuel, & litere for the office of the chambre. He shal count the messes everi dai in the chamber, & shal witnesse it daili at th' accounts of the houshold in the warderobe. Bi whose testimoni the officers shal have allow- ances of their offices uppon the account. & this serjant shal take for his cocfi. a galon of here, iij candels ; & his wages shalbe vijd ob. a day, & two robes yereli in cloth, & xls in mony. And whether he
1 p. 1C.
VALETS OP THE KINGS CHAMBER. SERJEANTS AT ARMS. 19
bo wel or il, he shal take for liveree, j. darre of bred, one galon of beere, a messe de gros from the kitchin, & a messe of rost. & the sarjant purveiowr shal have a vallet de mestzer to aide him to make purveyance, who shal have ijd a day wages in the rolle of the kitchin.
Vallets of the kinges chambre.
29. And eight valletes of the chambre, foot mew, who shal serve in the chambre, makinge bedes, holding & carying torches, & divers other thinges w/w'ch he & the Chamberlaine shal commauwde them. These valetes shal eate in the chambre before the kinge. And each of the[m], be he wel or il, shal have for livere, j. darre of bred, one galon of beere, a messe de gros from the kitchen, & yerely a robe in cloth or a marke in mony ; & for shoes, iiij8 viijd, at two sesons in the yere. And if any of them be sent out of the Court in the kinges busines, bi his commaundemeMt, he shal have iiijd a day for his expences.
Serjants at armes.
30. The kinge shal have xxx serjants at armes, sufficientii armed & mounted, that is to say, eache of them 1one horse for armes, one hakeny & somter. Thei shal daili ride armed before the kinges person when he passeth thorough the cuwtri, if thei be not other- wise commaunded bi the kinge or the stewarde. Theire wages shal- be allowed daili in the marshals rolle when thei be in Court, in this sort ; each of them which hath an horse for armes, shal have xijd a day. And if those horses be rendred into the warderobe, or dye in the kinges service, there shal be allowed viijd in the same rolle til he have an other horse for armes. And as sone as his horse so dead or rendred shalbe restored, a certaine dai shalbe assigned him bi the discretion of the Steward or thresorer, to have his horse for armes reddi to serve the kinge, as ap/>ertaineth. And if he have him not reddi against that day, thew let him be clerly put out of wages til he have him. And if he sel or give awai his horse, let him also be put out of wages til he be provided of an other sufficient horse, & there he shal have wages as before. Of these xxx serj antes, fowre,
1 p. 17.
20 KNIGHT MARSHAL. CHIEF AND UNDER USHERS OF THE HALL.
to be named bi the tinge, shal alwaies be attendant uppcw the vshers of the chamber, to aide the two ushers : & thei shal ly without the vshers, but as neere them as may be. And thei shal have for coch". a picher of wine, ij candels, a tortis. And the xxvj sergeants shal ly in the halle, that thei mai be redy whew the kinge shal neede them. And thei shal have for cocil, iij pichers of wine, vj candels, j tortis ; & cache of the xxx serjantes shal have ij robes in cloth, or xlvjs viijd yereli, a messe de grosse from the kitchin, & a messe of rost.
A knight marshal.
31. The knight w7iich is for the Earle marshal, the clarke, & the sergeant, shal have their diet in the hal, without any thinge els of the kinge.
A knight chief vsher of ^e halle.
32. 1The knight chief Vsher of the halle shall see that the lisse of the halle be wel kept bi the sergeantes & vallet ushers as thei ought, & shal survey that the halle be welle & honorabli served, & that none take their meate there2 but such as ought of right, saving strangers, who must alwaies be receved & honored as thei ought to be. He should daily goe into the offices of the houshold, & survey that the thinges sent in by the purveiors be sufficient, & according to the achate or prise. And that none be siiffred in those offices, but such as should be there. He shalbe allowed diet in the halle for an esquier, who shal take for his chambre a picher of wine, iiij candels, one tortis, & littere al the yere, & fuel for dinner time, & a liveree for his chamberlain, -which shalbe one darre of bred, a galon of beere, a messe de grosse from the kitchin, & a messe of rost ; for fees, x markes bi the yere, at MichaeZ?»a£ & Easter, & ij robes yerly in cloth, or viij markes in mony, at newyers tyde & whit- sontide, bi equal portions.
Two serjants ushers of f/te halle.
33. One of the sergeant vshers of the halle shalbe purveiowr of fuel & littere for the office of the halle, & shal make liverees of
1 p. 13. * MS. their.
2 HALL-USHERS. A FUER. 4 MARSHALS OF THE HALL. 21
littere, & fuel to them of the houshold, which ought of right to have it. Both these sergearctes shal keepe the lusse of the halle, & shal daily cou?it the messes in the halle, — one, one meale, & an other at the other meale, — & thei shal witnesse them at the account. Each of them shal take for coch~, a galon of beere, iij candels, & vijd ob. a day wages, Two robes yerely in cloth, or xlvj8 viijd in mony. And be thei wel or il, thei shal have for liveree, j. darre of bredde, half a picher of wine, half a galon of beere, a messe de grosse from the kitchen, & a messe of rost. And thei shal have two valletes de mestier under them, who shal keepe xthe lusse of the halle, & shal aide the serjant purveiov to make pwrveiance of fuel & litter when need shal be. One of these shal have regarde to the lusse under the serjant, one at one meale, & the other at an other meale, amongst the other valletes de mestier. And being out of the court about their office, each of them shal have ijd a day in the kitchin rolle. And each of them, be he wel or sicke, shal have for his liveree, a darre of bredde, a galon of beere, a messe de grosse from the kitchin, & yerely a robe in cloth, or a mark in mony, & iiij8 iiijd for shoes.
A fuer.2
34. The vallet fuer shalbe under the knight who is chief usher of the halle, he shal keepe the bankins, & make clene the perchers,3 & make reddi the halle. He shal eate in the halle amongst the valletes de mestier, without takinge ani thinge els of the kinge. And, be he wel or il, he shal have livere as a vallet de mestier. [See p. 14.]
Marshals of the hal [ *;
35. There shalbe two knightes Marshals of the halle. One of the knight marshals shal be harbinger, & the other shal looke to the hal. "When lodginges are provided, & the court staies at ani place, both of them shal attende in the hal, and place people there according as their estate requireth, so as the one shalbe coretinualli
1 p. 19.
2 ? Fuarium, Fodrum, pabulum, fourragc, foin, paillc, liticre pour les chevaux. — D'Arnis.
3 percher is a large candle : see Babccs Book Index.
22 4 HALL-MARSHALS. SURVEYOR OF THE DRESSER. ASSATERS.
passing betwixt the hall & the offices at one meale, & the other at the other meale. Each of these shal take for his chamber, a pitcher of wine, iij candels, & two tortiz betwixt them both. And if thei be wel or il, there livery shalbe ij darres of bredde, a pitcher of wine, ij messes de gros from the kitchin, one messe of roste : for fees, 10 markes, two robes by the yeare in cloth, or viij markes bi the yeare in mony, & littere & fuel as the knight that is vsher hath. And There shalbe two serjantes marshals of the halle, wherof one shalbe harbinger, & the other shal attende the halle. And when the Court remaines at any place & lodging es are provided, both shal waite in the hall, & set downe the people according to their degrees, as the knight marshals doe. Each of these shall take for his chambre, a galon of beere, three candels ; &, b'e thei wel or il, theire liveree shalbe one darre of l bredde, half a picher of wine, half a galon of ale, a messe de grosse from the kitchen, & a messe of rost; vijd ob. a day for wages, two robes yerely in cloth, or xlvj8 viijd in mony.
A surveior of the, dressor.
36. A serjant surveiowr of the dressor for the hall, who shal kens advise the cookes for their service thereafter, as men of great estate & others shalbe set in the halle. He shal take for cocfi, a gallon of ale & three carcdels ; and, be he wel or il, hs shal have for liveree, j. darre of bred, half a picher of wine, half a galon of bere, a messe de grosse from the kitchin, a messe of rost, vijd ob. a day for wages, two robes yereli in cloth, or xlvj8 viijd in mony.
Assaiors.
37. Three esquiers assaiors of the messe in the hal, ought to sett the messes in the halle, & that With as good advisemewt as thei can, so as men of estate & others be servid according to their estate, & carry away none of the vittail but whether of right thei ought. Each of these shal have for coch", a gallon of ale, ij candels, vijd ob. a day wages, two robes in cloth yerely, or xls in mony. And, be thei wel or il, he shal have for livery, j. darre of bred, one galon of ale, a messe de grosse from the kitchin, & a messe of rost.
1 p. 20.
SQUIRES FOR THE HALL. PANTRY AND BUTTERY CLERKS. 23
Esquiers for the, halle.
38. And foure & twenty esquiers, besides the squiers for the chamber & al the officers of the houshold, who shal serve in the halle, & do al other thinges belonging to their estates, bi the com- maimdemewt of the steward & of the thresorer, or of them that hold their places. Eache of these shal take vijd ob. a day wages, two robes yerely in cloth, or xls in mony. And, be he wel or ill, he shal have for livery, one darre of bred, one galon of ale, one messe de grosse from the kitchen, & a messe of rost.
*A clarke of the paintry & buttery.
39. And a chief clarke of the paintry & buttery, who shal make briefs of his office, & auwswere even dai, at the couwt of the house, of parcelles delivered, & al other thinges w7i'i'ch pertaigne to his office. He shalbe at the receit of the bred, wine, ale, & shal survey & examin that thei be of such waight, mesure, & valew as thei ought to be ; & if their be ani fault, let him shew it to the Sovereignes, that thei mai cause it to be amended, if he him self can not ; & he shal serve every day at the one meale & the other. He shal have for coch", a picher of wine, ij candels, j. tortis. And, be he wel or il, j. darre of bredde, half a picher of wine, half a galon of ale, a messe de grosse from the kitchin, a messe of rost, vijd ob. a day for wages, & two robes yerely in cloth, or xlvj8 viijd in mony.
An under clarke in those offices.
40. And an under clarke usher of the same offices, who shalbe daily at the receite of bred in the paintre, & cause it to be counted ; he shal receve & write the foilles of the tallies & names of them thai sel the bred. And if the bred be baked of the kinges owne corne, he shal make a couwtre talle therof against the kinges baker, & he shal do likewise in the butterye. He shal make the liverees of bred, wine, & ale, thai is to saye, of bred in the great paintre, of wine & beere in the great buttery. These liverees shalbe made every day before meales, except there be some reasonable cause to
! P- 21.
24 UNDER CLERK OP THE PANTRY. PANETERS OR PANTRY-MEN.
the ccwtrari. He shal serve in the hal at both meales. And whether he be sicke or wel, he shal take for liveree, j. darre of bredde, one galon of ale, a messe de grosse from the kitchin. He shal have yerely one robe in clothe of the sute of clarkes, or xxs in mony. His bed shalbe caried in the paintre cariages.
Paneters.
41. There shalbe a Serjant chefe panete?*, who shal receve the bred in grosse bi the viewe of the clarke or underclarke, & aureswere for thexpenses to the chief clarke everi day uppon "* the briefs. He shal take for cocB, a galon of ale, three cawdels, for th'office, when need shalbe, iij candels ; And be [he] holle or sicke, he shal have for livery, j. darre of bred, half a picher of wine, half a galon of ale, a messe de grosse from the kitchin, & one messe of rost, vij*1 ob. a day wages, two robes yereli in cloth, or xlvjs viijd in mony.
Vnder him there shalbe a valet de mestzer, who shal serve the halle at the one meale, & the said serjant at the other meale. There shalbe also two valletes porters of the same office ; wherof the one shal carry the bredde at one meale, & the other at an other. Each of these three valletes shal have .j. robe yerely in cloth, or j. marc in mony, & for shoes iiij8 viijd yerely ; & wel or il, every day for livery, j. darre of bredde, one galon of ale, one messe de grosse from the kitchin. And for the vallet j. bed, & one bed for the ij porters, shalbe caried in the same office.
And there shalbe a serjant painter for the kinges mouth, who shal receve bred for the kinge & his chambre every 'day from the great paintre, & from no other place ; And therof shal au?zswere to the clarke of the briefs. He shal take for coch, a galon of ale, iij candels, & for his office vj ca?idels. And be he wel or il, he shal have for liveree, .j. darre of bred, half a galon of ale, half a galon of wine, a messe de grosse from the kitchin, a messe of rost, vijd ob. a day for wages, two robes yereli in cloth, or xlvjs viijd in mony.
Vnder him also their shalbe in the same office a vallet de mesfa'er for the chamber, who shal have yerely j. robe in cloth, or j. marck in
1 p. 22.
PANTRY-MEN. A WAFERER. THE BAKE-HOUSE. 25
mony, for chauceur1 al the ycre iiijs viijd. And be he wel or il, he shal have for liveree .j. darre of bred, a galon of ale, a messe de grosse from the kitchin, & a bed caried for him. & the vallet of the Cuppe-hous in paintrie cariages.
And a vallet de mesti'er, who shal purvey the bred for the houshold, & make talles to them that sel it, forwith upporc the buying of it, before the bredde be caried from him that selleth it ; he shal cause it to come & be delivered into the pantry at the kinges coste & his owne peril. He shal eate in the halle amongst1 the other valletes de mestz'er, if he be not let bi some resonable cause that cowcerneth his office, & there there shalbe allowed him'ijd a day for wages in the painters rolle. And be he wel or il, he shal 2have for liveree .j. darre of bred, a galon of ale, a messe de grosse from the kitchin, & robe & chauceur as before is said of other valletes de mesto'er. [p. 24, at foot.]
A Wafrer.
42. And a wafrer, who shal serve the kinge, the chamber, & the hal, of wafres, as appertaineth, & shal take for his office in the zukur pantry rol, viijd a day, suger in the warderobe, egges in the esduiiierye.3 pulletrie> & fuel of the scuiierye, as he shal need for the kinges service, & as he wil avowe before the steward & the tresorer, if he be resoned with for it. He shal take vijd ob. a day wages, two robes yerely, or xls in mony. And be he wel or il, he shal take for livere, j. darre of bred, a galon of ale, a messe de grosse from the kitchin, & a messe of roste.
The bakehouse.
43. A serjant baker, who shal; bake al manner of bred for the kinges housholdes expence, as wel round bred for al in commone, as pain de main4 for the kinges mouth, as he wil auwswere therfore at the account. Wb^ he shalbe charged bi the steward or thresorer to make purveiawce of wheat, he must make the achates in due manner for the kinges best profet & the peoples lest grevarace, making paiment, or giving a talle of the prise, to them that selle it, ymme-
1 Fr. Ckaussnrc: f. A hosing, or shooing; also, hosen or shooes. — Cotgrave. 2 p. 23. 3 scullery. * fine bread.
26 THE BAKEHOUSE. A NAPER.
diatcly uppon the buy[i]ng of the corne so purveyed, before it be mesured out of the sellers power. He shal deliver the foilles of the talles thus made to the sellers, over to the chief clarke of the panetrey, within viij dayes at the farthest after the achate made, bi •which talles & foilles the sellers shal be paied in the warderobe, & the kinge fully served therof. This serjant shal take for fornage1 of pain de main for the kinges mouth, iijd a day in certain ; for cocn, a galon of ale, iij kandels ; for his office, two candels ; for wages, vijd ob. a day, two robes yerely in cloth, or xlvj8 viijd in mony. And be he wel or il, he shal have for livere, j. darre of bred, half a picher of wine, half a galon of ale, a messe de grosse from the kitchin, & a messe of rost. And out of the court about his office, he shal take for his bouche, iiijd ob. in the rol of the panetre.
And two valetes de mest/er for the bakehouse ; wherof the one shalbe 2 attendant at the oven, & the other at the mille to grinde the wheate ; & each of them shal take ijd a day wages in the panetry rol, one robe yereli in cloth, or j. marc in mony; & for chauceur3 the whol yere iiij8 viijd; & one bed for them ij, caried in the bakehouse cariages.
Naper.
44. A serjawt naper, who shal serve for the kinges chamber & the hal from his office, & shal receve the naperie of the clarke of the spicery, & shal auwswere for it at the account as often as he shal be apposed; & shal cause the old clothes to be caried backe to the custody of the same clarke, when thei wil serve no longer, And from thence thei shalbe delivered to the alrnosner. This serjant shal take iiijd ob. a day wages, two robes yerely in cloth, or xl9 in mony, for his office, & everi day two candels. And be he wel or il, he shal have for liveree .j. darre of bred, one galon of ale, one messe de grosse from the kitchin, a messe of rost ; & his bed caried in the cariages of his office.
And a vallet of office4 under him in the same office, who shal take a robe yerly in cloth, or a mark in mony ; iiij" viijd for chauceur
1 baking. 'Wood for furnage of Bread, per annum . . . £40.' — Household Ord. of Hen. VIII, ed. 1790, p. 195. ' And that the Furnour doe season the Bread well.'— Ib. p. 232.
* p. 24. 3 shoes. * or ' de mestier.'
A EWER. 2 LAUNDEUS OR WASHERMEN. THE BUTI.ERY. 27
yerely. And whether he be wel or il, for liveree .j. darre of bred, j . galon of ale, a messe de grosse from the kitchin.
Eawer.
45. An ewer for the chamber, who bi his office shal serve in the chamber, having iiijd ob. a day wages, two robes yerely in clolh, or xls in mony. And he shal take for his office, ij ca/idels whera it shalbe needful ; whether he be wel or sicke, he shal take for liveree .j. darre of bred, a galon of ale, a messe de grosse from the kitchew, & a messe of rost.
And a vallet de meatier of the Ewrie, who bi his office shal serve in the hal ; taking yerely a robe in cloth, or a marke in mony, for chauceur, iiij8 viijd by the yere. And be he wel or sicke, he shal take for liveree, j. darre of bred, j. galon of ale, a messe de grosse from the kitchin.
Launder.1
46. And a lawendere for the kingea chambre, who shal wash al manner of linnen cloth for the kinges person, & al the office of the Eawrye, as wel them that are towardes the hal as them that are towardes the chamber, & the coverings of the offices appertaining to the chamber, who shal take every day for liveree ij darres of bred, one galon of ale, ij messes de grosse from the kitchew, ij candels, busche" iiijd ob. a day for wages, a robe yerely, or xxvj8 viijd in mony; & for ashes & fuel2, xxvj3 viijd yerely 3at the wardrobe.
And a lawendere of the Kaperie, who shal wash al manner of linnew cloth appertaining to the office of the Naperie,4 & the cover- inges of the offices that pertaine to the hal ; taking daily for liveree, ij darres of bred, two gallons of ale, ij messes fro??i the kitchin, ij candles, iiijd ob. a day wages, a robe yerly in cloth, or xxvj* viijd in mony ; & for ashes & fuel, xxvj8 viijd yerely at the warderobe.
The Buttilleiy.
47. And a chief Botiller, serjant purveiowr of wine, taking daily he is in court for cocfr .j. picher of wine, iij candels, j tortiz,
1 See Household Ord. 1790, p. 85. 4 fuel : see p. 36.
3 p. 25. * See Household Ord. p. 215.
28 THE BUTLERY ; 2 SERJEANT-BUTLERS AND A VALET.
two robes yereli in cloth, or xlvj8 viijd in mony, & for his fee xx marks by the yere. His livery, be he wel or il, is j. darre of bred, half a picher of wine, half a galon of ale, one messe de grosse from the kitchin, a messe of rost. He shal do that \vhich appertaineth to him, according as it is co?ztained in the st&tut made concerning his office.
And a serjant botiller of the houshold, who shal receve & expende al the wine & ale w/w'ch shalbe spent in the houshold • & shal serve the hal, & aimswere briefs daily to the clarke of the botery, for the parcels spent ; & shal make the achates of cuppes of feust by the clarkes view, who shal allow them in the rol of the butery according as thei shalbe resonably spent, that is, on Sunday for al the weeke past. He shal have in his custody the cuppes of silver, barrels bound wzth yron, tankers, & al manner of buttery vessel for service of the halle, & shal au/zswere for it in the warde- robe ; & shal take for livere, half a picher of wine, three caiidels, vijd ob. a day wages; two robes yerely in cloth, or xlvj8 viijd in inony. And shal take for his office of the bottiler, vj candles, & for the celler to drawe the wine, foure candels, where need shalbe. And be he wel or il, he shal take for liveree, j. darre of bred, half a picher of wine, a galon of ale, a messe de grosse from the kitchin, a messe of rost.
And a serjant botiler for the kinge, who shal receve al the wine & ale spent in the kinges chamber, of the botler of the houshold, who shal serve the chamber, & therof auwswere daily at the briefs1 to the clarke of the botery, & shal have in 2his custody the potes & cuppes of silver for service of the chamber, & shal aurcswere therfore in the wardrobe. He shal take for cocfi, one galon of ale, iij candels, vijd ob. wages, two robes yerely in cloth, or xlvjs viijd in mony ; & shal take for his office, when need shalbe, viij candels. And be he wel or il, he shal take for his liveree .j. darre of bred, half a picher deiaquisine of wine, j. galon of ale, a messe de grosse from the kitchew, & a messe of rost.
And a vallet de mestier of the cuppe-house, who shal serve the chamber according to the ordinance of his master serjant aforesaid ; 1 as abrievemente in margin. 2 p. 26.
THE BUTLERY : UNDER-SERVANTS, WINE-DRAWER, ETC. 29
& shal take j. robe yerely in cloth, or j. marck in mony, & for cuauceur shoes, iiij8 viijd by the yere. And be he wel or il he shal take for liveree .j. darre of bred, a galon of ale, a messe de grosse from the kitchin. There shalbe one bed for him & the valet of the panetre for the kinge, caried in the cariages of the panetre.
And a vallet de mestter wine-drawer, who shal drawe al the wine that shalbe spent in the house, & help to serve it into the hal •where need shalbe, by the commaundemerat of his sovereignes. He shal take yereli, a robe in cloth, or a mark in mony. And for shoes, iiij9 viijd. And be he wel or il, he shal take for liveree, j. darre of bred, a galon of ale, a messe de grosse from the kitchin, & one bed charotte* for him & for the verser caried in the botlers carte.
And a vallet de mestier verser of the botery, who shal poure out wine & ale to be spent in the houshold for liverees, & shal helpe to unloade the cartes w/wch shal come with wine or beere for thexpense of the houshold, & shal take a robe yerely in cloth, or a mark in mony, & yerly for shoes iiij9 viijd. And whether he be wel or il, he shal take for liveree .j. darre of bred, a galon of beere, a messe de grosse from the kitchin.
And a vallet of mestier purveiowr for ale, who shal make the purveiance of ale. This purveiour shal make talles to every man of whom he shal have bought beere, ymmediately uppon the achate, before the ale go out of the house of him that selleth it. He shal cause it to be brought into the kinges buttery at the kinges costes ; & shal take ijd a day wages in the Bottery rolle, one robe yereli in cloth, or a marck in mony ; & for shoes iiij9 viijd.
And two valletes de mestier of the picher-house, who shal serve the hal of wine & ale according to thadvise of their sovereignes. hanaps. Thei shal wash the tankers, cups, & al manner of vessel
w/«'ch thei have custody of under the bottiler of the houshold. And shal take for the office, when need shalbe, two candels. Eache 1of these shal have yerely one robe in cloth, or a mark in mony ; & for shoes iiij8 viijd : these ij shal have a bed betwene them caried in the cariage of the pitcher-house. And be thei wel or il, shal take .j. darre of bred, .j. galon of ale, one messe de grosse from the kitchin.
1 p. 27.
30 BUTLERY-PORTERS. CLERKS OP THE KITCIIEX.
And two valetes de mestier porters for the bottery, who shal washe the yron-bound barrels as wel for wine as ale, & carry them for the herberges service both of the chamber & the houshold ; namely, out of the celer to the boutery & cup-house, if the seller be not lodged out of the Court ; & if it be, & need require that the wine be caried from the celler bi carte or bot, for want of celler barber, so as dr^ief^6 i* is n°t lodged so neare as it should, thew those porters fearrres must carry the yron-bounde barrels from the botes &
cartes, into the botery & cuppehouse aforesaid ; & shal carry backe againe the same yron-bouwd barrels whew thei are empty, whether soever the boteler of the houshold which, hath them in custody shal give them charge to carry them for the kinges service. Thei shal eate in the hal, if thei be not out of the court in the kinges busines by commauHdemewt of their sovereignes. And thew each of them shal have ijd a day for wages in the bottery rol, & one robe yerly in cloth, or a marke in mony ; & for shoes iiij8 viijd. There shalbe one bed caried for these ij in the cariage of the botery. Thei shal have, whether thei be sick or in helth, .j. da>re of bred, one galon of ale, & a niesse de grosse from the kitchin.
Clarkes of the kitchin.1
48. A chief clarke of the kitchin, who shal make the briefs of his office, & auwswere for the parcels delivered, & al other thinges pertaining to his office, every day at the count in the warderobe before the Steward & thresorer. He shalbe at the cutting out of the flesh & fish, & shal survey the achates & the prise of flesh & fish, & al other thinges pertaining to his office, with the aide of the controler, the knight usher of the hal, or knight marshal & assaier of the kinges table. He shal present the faultes that he seeth in his office to his sovereignes as oftew as he shal see it behoveful for the kinge ; if he him self do carry & serve daily at the one meale, he shal eat at the other ; & take daily for his coch", j. picher of wine, 2 cawdels, j. tortis, vijd ob. a day for wages, til he be advanced bi the kinge. He
1 William Thynne, the Chaucer Editor, was one, to Henry VIII. See his duties in Household Ord. p. 235-6, 231 ; and in my edition of Thynne's Animaduerswns, E. E. Text Soc. 1875, pp. xxxi — xxxvi.
THE KITCHEN : CLERKS OP. 2 ACIIATORS. 2 COOKS. 31
slial have yerely two robes in cloth, or xlvj8 viijd in mony ; & be he wel or il, he shal take for liveree .j. darre of bred, half a picher of wine, half a galon of ale, j. messe de grosse from the kitchin, one messe of roste.
xAnd an under-clarke of the same office, who should every day make liverees of flesh, fish, & poultrie, & aimswere for the same liverees every daye to the chief clarke of the office for briefs, & shal write the parcels of the office ; & shal eate daily in the hal at the one meale, & serve at the other. He shal have yerely one robe in cloth of the clarkes sute, or xxs in mony. And be he wel or il, he shal take for livery .j darre of bred, j. galon of ale, j. messe de grosse from the kitchin, & a messe of rost.
The Kitchin.
49. And two achators, who shal make the achates of flesh & fish for thexpence of the houshold, & shal bringe the price every day to the clarke of the kitchin, together with the thinges bought, so as the knight-usher of the hal, & the asseour of the kinges table, & the said clarke, may see forewith that there be ynough to be spent, & of good valew according to the kinges price. Thei shal make their achates in due manner for the kinges best profet, & the peoples lest grevance, making paiment or giving talles to every one of whom thei shal have bought goodes to the kinges use, immediatli uppow the achate, before the goodes so purveyed go out of the sellers power. And thei shal deliver the foilles of the same tallies to the chief clarke of the kitchin, within viij daies after the achate at the furthest : by these tallies, they vfhich sold any thinge shalbe paied in the warderobe, & the kinge fulli served of the same thinges. Eache of these achators shal take for cocn, j. galon of ale, iij candels, vijd ob. for wages, ij robes yerely in cloth, or xlvj* viijd in mony. And, be thei wel or il, thei shal take for liveree, j. darre of bred, half a picher of wine, half a galon of ale, j. messe de grosse from Me kitchen, j. messe of rost, & being out of the court to make pur- veiance, iiijd ob. for his bouch shalbe allowed in the kitchin rolle. awok]"1"' qncu> And two serjant Cokes for the kinges mouth, wherof
1 p. 28.
32 THE KITCHEN UNDER-SERVANTS : USHER, EWER, POTAGER, ETC.
when the one travaleth w/th the kinge, riding before to make reddy pur son grande his great meale, the other shal abide be-hinde for his
manger
appareter dinner. Each of these shal take for his coch", a galon of ale, iij. candels, vijd ob. for wages, two robes yerely in cloth, or xlvjs viijd in mony. And wel or il, each of their liveries shalbe .j. darre of bred, half a picher of wine, a messe de grosse fro??i the kitchin, & a messe of rost.
1 And five valletes de mestz'er for the kinges kichin, under the said •quen-a serjantes, wherof one shalbe vsher, & shal *fetche2 by
his masters commaundemerct, in the great larder, & the stable, al the flesh & fish -which shalbe spent in the kinges chamber, & the bred, wine, & ale in the pantry & buttery, & spices for the kitchin in the Spicery, by the commauwdemeftt & appointment of his masters.
An other vallet shalbe Ewer, who shal receve the kitchin vessel by indenture of the Esquiller, & shal keepe it, as wel when thei tquira. travail as when thei sojorne, & shal fboile the gret flesh,
& shal make reddi the first course, as wel of fish as of flesh.
An other valet shal be potager, who shal make the potages for the kinges chambre, & al the sewes w7u'ch shalbe for his table.
Two other valletes shal make the rostes, & other courses for the said chambre, according to their masters appointme/ztes. Each of these valetes shal have yereli, one robe in cloth, or a marke in mony, & iiij8 viijd for shoes. And, whether he be wel or il, he shal have for liveree, j. darre of bred, j. galon of bore, j. messe de grosse from the kitchin.
These v. valletes shal have a boy to carry their bedes, & helpe them in the kitchen.
And two serjant Cookes for the meisne, who shal make reddi the vital for the meysne in the hal, as thei shalbe co?»mauraded bi the Steward & thresorer, or their liewtenawtes ; one of them shal serve at one meale, & the other at the other meale. Each of them shal take for coch", j. galon of ale, iij candels, vijd ob. a dai for wages, two robes yerely in cloth, or xlvj8 viijd in mony. And for liveree in sicknes & helth .j . darre of bred, half a picher of wine, half a galon of ale, a messe de grosse from the kitchin, & a messe of roste.
1 p. 29. 2 fetch substituted for cutte out
KITCHEN UNDER-SERVANTS. THE LARDER: A LARDNER. 33
And five valletes de mestier for the meisnes kitchin, under the said serjantes.
One of these shal make al manner potages w/w'ch shalbe served into the hal.
An other valet shalbe boilowr of the grosse, & shal make reddy the first course every day, which shalbe served into the hal, whether it be fish or flesh.
Three other valletes shal make the rostes & other courses for the hal, according to their masters appointment. Each of the .v. valletes shal take yerely a robe in cloth, or a marck in mony, & for shoes iiijs viijd.
!In sicklies & helth, for liveree .j. darre of bred, .j. galon of beere, a messe de grosse from the kitchin.
two of them shal have a boy to carry their bed & help them in the kitchin.
And two valletes of office, which are called akers, which shal receve the vessel of the meisneies kitche?^ by indenture from the Esquiller : the[i] shal secure it & keep it, both in travel & sojorne.
Each of these ij shal have yerely j. robe or one mark in mony, & for shoes iiij8 viijd ; & in sicknes or helth for liveree, j. darre of bred, a gallon of ale, & a messe en grosse from the kitchew.
Thei shal have a boy betwixt them.
Larder.
50. And a serjant lardiner, who shal receve the flesh & the fish Vfhich. the achators shal send into the larder, or shal come for a present, & likewise the venison which shal be sent from the kinges * venours le roy. *huwfemen or whom-soever. He shal deliver the said flesh & fish for thexpence of the kinges house by parcels, & bi thadvise of the Controller, or the knight usher of the halle, the knight marshal of the hal, clarke of the kitchin, the asseour of the kinges table, & the master cokes. He shal keepe the viandes at the t as abbreuements. dresser, & render to the said clarke at the briefs f the certain parcels of the said flesh & fish expended in manner afore- said ; & if it come to passe thai he be sent out of the court by the
1 p. 30.
HOUSEHOLD ORD. 3
34 THE LARDER : USHER, AND 2 PORTERS.
stewarde or tresurer to make ani manner of purveiance, he shal make it in such manner as before is shewed for achators. He shal take for coch" .j. galore of ale, iij candels, iiijd oh. a day for wages ; & shal have his bed caried in the cariage of that, office, & take ij robes yerely in cloth, or xl8 in mony. He shal take for his office, when need requireth, three candels, & in sicknes or helth for liveree .j. darre of bred, half a picher of wine, half a galon of ale, a messe de grosse from the kitchen, & a messe of rost.
And a vallet de mestier, vsher of the larder, under the lardiner, who shal carri the kayes of the larder where the lardiner is out of the court, & there he shal receve, deliver, & aureswere for al things belonging to this office of the larder in the same manner as is afore- said of the lardiner. And where the lardiner is in Court, he shal execute his office him-self. And the usher shal keepe the great kitchin for the meysne, that none come there but such as of right ought. He shal aureswere every day at the briefs, to the clarke of the kitchin, for the parcels of flesh & fish & al other thinges belong- ing to his office, w/«'ch he shal have receved in the kitchin aforesaid, viiie des achators las wel for the grosse out of the achators bille for the larder, as for the poultrie out of the herbergery. When the under clarke of the kitchin is let blood out of the court, he shal make the seigne qnen-a kitchein livery, & shal fetch wine & ale from the pantery & botery, & spices from the spicery for the great kitchin, bi the commaundemewt & appointmeret of the master cookes. He shal have yereli a robe in cloth or a niarke in mony, & iiij8 viijd for shoes. His bed shalbe caried in the larder cariage ; &, sicke or seigne on maiade wel, he shal take for livere, j. darre of bred, a galon of ale, a messe de grosse from the kitchin.
Two valletes de mestier, porters for the lardere, who shal receve eschatour the flesh in the butchery of the achatowr by certain ac- couret & nombre, & keepe it safely til it come into the court, & there thei shal deliver it bi the same couret, & nombre to the lardiner or usher of the lardre, in like manner for the fish. Thei shal carri the flesh & the fish from the cartes to the usher of the kitchin unto the stable & larder, & backe againe from the larder to the kitchin, wz'th
1 p. 31.
POULTRY-OFFICE : A POULTEE, VALET, AND TRAVENTERS. 35
the helpe of the Ewers, from the kitchin to the dresser. That -which. is lefte of the flesh & fish sent backe to the dresser after the meale ended, thei shal carri againe into the larde?\ And if one of the Achators of the kitchin be sent out of the court bi the steward or thresurer, to make purveiance for bestes, wine, or fish, he shal have one of these porters wiih him, by the advise of the clarke of the kitchew, to helpe him to bringe his purveiance made, safely into the court. This porter shal take every day as longe as he is out of the court about such busines, ijd for wages in the kitchin rolle. And cache of these two porters shal take yerely a robe in cloth or a marke in mony, & iiij8 viijd for shoes. Betwixt them both thei shal have a bed caried in the larder cariages.
Pulletrye.
51. And a serjant pulleter, who shal make the achates, & the ^?wveiance for al manner thinges pertaining to his office. And shal every day take thadvise of the asseo^r of the kinges table of the clarke of the kitchein, & of the master cokes, what he shal bringe to court for thexpence of the chambre & the houshold. And, according to the same expence, he shal aunswere every day to the said clarke at the briefs, & therof shal make no liveree, but bi thadvise Jof the foresaid clarke. He shal have xls a day in mony, & his bed caried in the cariage of his office, &, wel or il, he shal have for liveree .j. darre of bred, half a picher of wine, half a galon of ale, a messe do grosse from the kitchin, & messe of rost.
And a vallet de mest^er for the same office, which shal set a certaine price of the pullein ; & whew he goeth into the cuntry to make purveiance for poultry, he shal have w/th him the trauenters,2 w/iich must be in the same office or some of them ; these trauntors trauenters names shalbe entred in the warderobe, to carry the pur- veiance which he shal have thus purveyed, & shal pay uppon the • suri'ongie *naile for the said pullen at his peril, by reson of tho certenty w7i^ch is theron assesed, & shal aunswere before the steward & thresorer, if any complaint be made of outrages that he or the trauewters have done in the cuntry, or of not paimewt ; & ho 1 p. 32. 2 Generally defind as pedlars, wandering dealers.
36 A GARBAGER. SERJEANT OP THE SCULLERY.
shal au«swere to his master serjant poulter for the mony vrhich he hath resceved of him or of the warderobe. And when he is out of the court about the said busines, he shal have ijd a day wages in the kitchin rolle, a robe yereli in cloth, or a marke in mony, & iiij8 viijd in shoes. And, wel or il, for liveree, j. darre of bred, a galon of bere, & a messe de grosse from the kitchen.
Garbager.
52. And a serjant garbager1 of the kitchin without wages, who herbergeour shal receve the pullaine bi certein number out of the pultry, & scald them, & al manner of foule, & deliver them bi pa?-cels to the kitchins for thexpence of the kinges chambre & the houshold. And of these liverees & parcels, he shal au?zswere daily at the briefs to the clarke of the kitchen. He shal have yerely a robe or xx8 in mony. And shal take for his office, where need re- quireth, two candles. And, whether he be wel or 0, he shal have for liverye .j. darre of bred, a galon of ale, a messe de grosse from the kitchen, a messe of rost ; & for his fee, w/i{ch is called petit ewe, betwixt Ester & whitsontide, a marcke bi the yere.
And a vallet of the same office without robes & wages, who shal serve in thoffice under his master, & shal take nothinge of the kinge, but meate & drinke in the hal, &, wel or il, for liveree, .j. darre of bred, one galon of ale, j messe de grosse from the kitchin.
2 The Esquillerye.
53. And a serjant of the * Scullery, who shal achate & purvey * esqutiier ffuel, coale, & al manner of vessel of brasse, of yron, & jfeust | wood, vfhich pertaine to the kitcheiu & potage, & divers other thinges belonging to his office ; & he shal spende them in due order as is most fit, & shal auwswere for them every day at the briefs to the clarke of the kitchen. He shal have every day for coch", j. galon of ale, iij candels, & whew it shal be needful, ij candles for his office, iiijd ob. a day wages, two robes yerely in cloth, or xl8. in mony. He shal' have his bed caried in the cariages of his office, &, wel or il, he shal take for liveree .j. darre of bredde, half a picher
1 herbergeowr crossed out. * p. 33.
THE SCULLERY. THE S AUGER Y. 37
of wine, half a galon of ale, a messe de grosse from the kitchen, & j. messe of rost.
e4™iiseryrdel And y valletes of the mistery of the scuUery, who
shal travel, & do as much as the serjant shal co??unau?zde them, according to reson, in thinges touching the offices. The one of them shal serve in the halle at one meale, & the other at an other. Each of them shal take a robe by the yere in cloth, or a marke in rnony; foure shillinges eight pence for shoes. Thei shal have betwixt them a bed caried in the cariage of the office ; & when he seigne. is let blood or sicke, for liveree .j. darre of bred, j. gallon
of ale, & a messe de grosse from the kitchera.
And a serjant of the scullery that shal receve the silver vessel into his custody, by noniber & by waight, that is, to saile chargeours esqueies. & esqueles. He shal keep them, & auwswere in the
warderobe at the yeres ende, both the nomber & the waight. He shal take ij candles for his office, iiijd ob. a day wages, ij robes yerely in cloth, or xlvj8 viijd in mony. And, let blood or sicke, he shal take for liveree, .j. darre of bred, .j. galon of ale, a messe de grosse from the kitchen, & a messe of rost.
Sausery.
54. And a serjant sauser, who shal buy & purvey floure for al manner of sauces & other thinges which are needful for the office of the Sausery of the kinges houshold, & spende the same in due manner as appertaiiieth, & he shal bake as belongeth to his office, & aunswere at the brefes to the clarke of kitchen. He shal receve in the warderobe his sausers of silver, & keepe them, & aunswere in the warderobe at the yeres ende for the nomber & waight. He shal have for liveree a l gallon of ale, iij candles, & for his [office], when need requires, thre candles ; vijd. ob. a day wages, half a picher of wine, half a galon of bere, a messe de grosse from the kitchew, & j. messe of rost.
And two valetes de mest^'er of the Sausery, who shal do as much as the serjant co7wmaundeth them, according to reson in matters pertaining to their office. The one of them shal serve at
1 p. 34.
38 PORTERS. THE MARSH ALSY.
one meale & the other at an-other. Each of them shal take yerly one robe in cloth, or a marke in mony, & iiij8 viijd for shoes. Thei shal have betwene them one bed, caried in the carige of that office ; and if any of them be let blood or sicke, he shal have for livery .j. darre of bredde, .j. galon [of] ale, a messe de grosse from the kitchen.
Porters.
55. And a serjant porter, -which shal keepe the gate where the kinge lieth, so as none enter in but such as of right ought. And that he suffer no man to carri out of the court, bred, wine, ale, viandes, littre, fuel, nor any other thinge but that which thei ought. And that nothing be caried out but certein liverees, & other thinges vfhich of right ought to be caried out. If ani do to the contrari, that he cause to arrest them, & him also that carrieth the thinge ; & that he shewe it in the next account before the steward & thresorer. And he shal not have under him in his office, but those onli which were the kinges robes. He shal not eat in the hal, but shal take his liveree, that is, everi day, j. darre of bred, a galon of ale, a messe de grosse from the kitchen, & a messe of rost. And being sicke, or let bloode, he shal have half a picher of wine, as other serjantes of the court. And shal take for cocfi, a galon of ale, iij candles ; & iij candles more for his office when need shal bee ; vijd ob. a day for wages ; two robes bi the yere in cloth, or xlvj" viijd in mony. And the valetes of thoffice under him, which shal aide him day & night, & as much as thei can do, touching al thinges pertayning to that office. Thei shal not eate in the hal ; but each of them shal take daily for livere, j. darre of bred, j. galon of ale, j. messe de grosse from the kitchen, & j. robe yerely in cloth, or a marke in mony, & iiij8 viijd for shoes.
Marshalsy.
56. And a chief clarke of the marshalsy, who shal receve the tallies of the purveiances made bi the clarke, chief purveiowr of the Avenery; & bi the yalletes, pztrveiors of the same office, together with the purveyances contained lin the same tallees. He shal make
1 p. 35.
THE MARSHALSY. CLERK OP AVENERY. WARDEN OF PALFREYS. 39
the brefes of hay, oates, littere, & al other thinges ~w7iich pertaino to the office of the marshalsy, according to the price, & the achates of the said purveiances; & shal also receve the tallees of harneys cartes ; & shal account weekely with the purveiors of al offices for harneis, & shal receve the parcels of them, so as he may account weekely before the steward & thresorer of al manner of herneys. He shal cause to be allowed everi dai in the rol of his office the wages of the clarkes, serj antes at armes in office, esquiers of the houshold w^ich have wages. He shal take for coch", j. picher of wine, ij ca?*dles, j tortiz ; ij robes yereli in cloth, or xlvj8 viijd in mony. And sicke or let blood, j. darre of bred, half a picher of wine, half a galon of ale, a messe de grosse from the kitchin, & a messe of rost. He shal have ij horses at livery for hay & oates, & one boy that shal have jd ob. a day wages.
AuSy^°fthe And a clarke chief purveiour of the avenerye, who shal make pwrveiance for hey & oates, litter, herneys, & other thinges necessari for the office of the marshalcy. He shal survey the pwrveiances made by the vallet-purveyowrs under him, & shal receve of them the taillees of purveiances made bi them, & whew he hath examined them, deliver them bi indenture to the chief clarke of the mareschalcy, together with the purveiances aforesaid ; & shal cause to be entred in a rolle with him-self the names of them that sold the thinges, so as thei mai certefy the warderobe if their be ani complaint that there is fraud in the tallees or pwveiances of herneys, apperteining to the office of marshalsy. The liverees Mat he shal make, when he is forth of the court about pwrveiances, the same being witnessed by the chief clarke of the marshalsy : he shal take iiijd ob. a day for his bouche1 in the marshalsy rolle, & liveree for j. horse, & jd. ob. a day for a boies wages ; ij robes yerely in cloth, or xl*. in mony. His bed shalbe caried in the cariage of his office ; & beinge let blood or sicke, he shal take .j. darre of bred, half a picher of wine, half a galon of ale, j. messe de grosse from the kitchin, & .j. messe of rost.
j^'wUden''^" 2 And a serjant herberjour, warden of the kinges pal- He shal keepe, or cause to be kept, the palfraies, 1 mouth, allowance. * p. 36,
40 HERBEUGERS FOR THE RIDING-HORSES, CARTS AND CART-HORSES.
destrers, coursers, & other horses of the kinges stable. He shal ride in the company of the kinge, & carri the houche l of those horses the kinge shalbe mounted on ; he shal bringe to the kinge the horse that he shal mount on, & shal receve him againe at his allighting. He shal make purveiance for al manner harneys appertaining to his office, bi the chief clark of the marshalsie's view, or on2 the clarke chief purveiowr of the avenery. He shal account once every weeke w/th the clarke of the marshalcy for al thinges that he hath, so as the said, chief clarke may accowzt for it before the Steward & the thresorer everi weeke. "When he is in Court, he shal eate in the hal ; where he is from court about the kinges busines, & the same teste- fied by the said clarke of the marshalsy, he shal have iiijd ob. a day wages in the rol of the marshalsy ; & liveree for ij horses, wages for one boy, two robes yereli in cloth, or xlvjs viijd in mony. And for coch", a galon of ale & iij candles. And being let blood or sicke, .j. darre of bred, half a picher of wine, half a galon of ale, a messe de grosse from the kitchin, & a messe of rost.
Hwberjour And a vallet herbergeour under him, who shal
herberge the destrers, palfries, coursers, & other norses of the kinges stable ; he shal dense & dresse the stables, & carry littere, hay, & oates to the stable for the same horses. He shal finde a cresset every night burning in the stable, & shal take ijd a day for the cresset, & ijd ob. a day for his wages ; j. robe yerely in cloth, or a marke in mony ; & iiij8 viijd for shoes, at ij seasons of the yeare. serjant And a serjant herbergeour of somme?-s3 & cart-horses ;
sommers & cart he shal cause to be made, & amende cartes that are
horses, chivalx
charetters. broken ; he shal pwrvey & buy al manner of harneys behofeful for the somers, & cartes bi the view of the chief clarke of the marshalsy, or chief purveiow?- of the avenery ; & he shal deliver the tallees of al thinges that he shal purvey, buy, or cause to be made or amended, to the chief clarke of the marshalsy; & shal account with him every weeke once of al that he hath purveyed & bought, so that the clarke may account for it weekly before the
1 cloths. Fr. ' Housse . . a foot-cloth for a horse. Housse . . Couered with a foot-cloth, as a horse ; with a Blanket, as a Bed'. — Cotgrave
2 of crossed through and op (?) written over.
3 sumpter-horses, who carried loads on their backs and sides.
YEOMAN-HERBERGER AND DOCTOR FOR THE HORSES. THE AVEXERY. 41
steward & thresorer; 1& the said herbergeowr shal cause to "be brought before the said chief clarke the cartes & harneis that can serve no longer, so as bi the testimony & survey of the said clarke, thei may be delivered where the Stewarde & thresorer shal appoint. He shal eate in the hal, when he is not abroade about his office ; & the?* if the chief clarke witnes the same w/th him, he shal have for his bouch, iiijd ob. a dai in the marshalcy roul, & liveree for one horse ; & jd. ob. a day wages for a boy ; ij robes yerely in cloth, or xl8 in mony. His bed shalbe caried in the cariage of his office ; & be he let blood or sicke, he shal take for liveree .j. darre of bred, .j. galon of ale, a messe de grosse from the kitchin, & a messe of rost.
HeTbergeor Vnder him their shalbe a vallet herbergeo?<r, who
shal herberge the said horses, soinmers, & chariters ; & shal oversee that these horses be convenientli served; & shal helpe to do al thinges of this office, as shalbe co?/miaunded or ordained by the sergeawt. His daies wages shalbe ijd ; he shal have yereli one robe in cloth, or a marc in mony ; & iiij* viijd for shoes twice a yere. Mar^iuui ^nd a seijant marshal, who shal take heed that the
horses be wel kept, & shal, whew need reqwireth, make marshauses masshes & medicines ; rece vinge mony for thinges medicinal perteining to his office in the warderobe. He shal render an account to the chief clarke of the marshalsy how he hath laied out the mony. ie mette du fee He shal take half the fee of the ferrurie, so as he be at half the coste of the ferrurye. He shal eate in the hal ; And whew he can not eate there bi reson of imploimentes of his office, the same being testefied bi the chief clarke of the marshalsy, he shal have iiijd ob. for his bouche in the marshalcy rolle, & liveree of hay & oates everi day for ij horses ; & jd. ob. a day wages for a boy ; two robes yereli in cloth, or xlvj9 viijd in mony. And being let bloode or sicke, j. darre of bred, j. galon of ale, j. messe de grosse from the kitchin, & .j. messe of rost. TwoVaiiets And ij valletes pwrveiowrs for the Avenery, who
Purueyor for the
Aueuery snai make the pwrveiances of hey, oates, littere, & other
thinges necessary for the horses expence, to the kinges best profet, &
1 p. 37.
42 GRANARY-PORTER. HORSE-DOCTOR's MAN.
lest grevance of the people, & that bi thadvise of their sovereignes. They Jshal make tallees to them that selle them any thinge, before thei take them out of their possession ; the foilles of those tallies thei shal deliver to the chief purveiowr of the avene?y, who shal examin them, & survey the thinges bought ; after that, those foilles, & al the vitailles & purveiances shalbe delivered to the chief clarke of the marshalsy, who shal cause them to be spent, & allowed in the rolle of his office ; & shal make the liveree of hay for horses her- berged out of the court, & deliver the parcelles of the liverees day by day to the clarke of the marshalsy uppon the briefs ; & shal take ijd a day wages, one robe yereli in cloth, or a marke in mony, & iiij8 viijd in shoes.
foMtoeeGaruerr And a vallct porter for the garner, who shal carry the ful sackas to the garner whew the pwrveiances come in ; he shal mesure the oates, both whew thei come in & issue forth; he shal keepe the sakes & mesures at his peril, & auwswere it to the chief clarke of the marshalsy. He shal cast the hay by *armefulles * bracees. for the horses livere that are in the houshold. He shal go before to receve houserome by delivere of the marshal har- bergeo?«*; & shal cause to be herberged, the garner chief of the marshalsy, the chief purveioitr, & others of the office. He shal have ijd a day wages, one robe yereli in cloth, or a marke in mony, & iiij8 viijd for shoes twice a yere. The mesures of thoffices of avenery shalbe according to the standard of englarad, so as the oates shalbe receved in, & delivered out by the same garner mesure. A vaiiet Camauer. And a vallet carnauer that hath knoledge in mar- rec"er°er' shausy & ferrurie, who shal loke to the sicke horses takew from the sommers & charetes,2 til thei be healed & able to travel, as the chief clarke of the marshalsy, the serjant marshal, & ferror shal appoint. He shal have ijd a day wages, one robe yereli in cloth, or x8 in mony ; & iiij8 viijd for shoes at two sesons of the yere.
There shalbe xx charettes for the offices, eache having five horses at liveree of hay, oates, & littre ; the forenamed ferrors shall shoe them.
1 p. 38. * Charette : f. A Chariot ; a Wagon. — Cotgrave.
CARTS AND DRIVERS. SOMERS AND SUMPTERS. HACKNEYMAN. 43
There shalbe also xx charetters, & each of them shal have a fore- rider ; which charetters & fore-riders shal drive the charettes, & keepe the horses, & receve livery of hay, oates, & littere from the office of the avenery, as the chief clarke of the marshalsy shal appoint. They shal receve charettes, & al manner harneis nedful for their l offices, of the serjeant herbergeowr for somers & charettes.
Each of these charetters shal take iijd a day for his wages, one robe bi the yere in cloth, or xx8 in mony ; & for his fore-rider, jd. ob. a day for wages, j. robe yereli in cloth, or half a marke in mony ; & for shoes for the fore-rider iiij8 viijd at two sesons of the yere. 21 somers. And xxiiij somers 2, wherof xvj for the kinges cham-
bre, & xviij for divers offices of the houshold ; for keeping of vrhich shalbe appointed xxiiij someters, who shal keepe these somers, & receve liveree of hay, oates, & littere from the office of the avenery ; & thei shalbe shod bi the fore-named ferrours. And thei shal receve of the serjant herbergeowr, saddles, bridles, halters, & other herneisses needful for the somers. Each of them shal have ijd a day wages, one robe yereli in cloth, or tenne shillinges in mony; & iiij8 viijd for shoes at two sesons of the yere.
Also in the kinges stable there shalbe as many valletes as horses. These valletes shal keepe the destrers, palfrey es, coursers, & other the kinges horses bi the appointment of the chief herbergeowr & gardein of the palfreis ; each of them shal have ijd a day wages, one robe yereli in cloth, or x8 in mony ; & iiij8 viijd for shoes at two seasons of the yeare. A Hacknyman. In the same stable shalbe an hackney maw, who shal
Mehakenede keepe *the hakene of the housej & + gnal fetch every
t querra ^y aj. j-ne garner the liveree of oates for the horses of the
t houses des
chivaix stable, & shal carry the j houses3 of the horses that
travel in the kinges cowpani for the same hakeney. He shal have ja ob. a day wages, one robe yereli in cloth, or half a mark in mony ; & iiij9 viijd for shoes.
serjant Marshall And a serjant, who shalbe a sufficient mareschal gardein ?e EO™ de haraz °^ *ke vonSe h°rses drawne § out of the kinges races4, &
1 p. 39. 2 Fr. Sommier : m. A Sumpter-horse. — Cotgrave.
3 Cloths or trappings : see p. 40, note 1. 4 Fr. race, brood.
44 STUD-GROOM. HUNTSMEN. THE KING'S HOUNDS.
other horses also that shalbe delivered him to keepe sometimes by the kinges coramaundemewt. He shal keepe these yonge horses wel & covenabli til thei be able to travel, & the kinge hath declared his plesure. This garden shal purvey & buy hay, oates, littere, & other thinges necessary for these horses, so as these1 purveiances 2& buy- inges be made for the kinges best profet & the peoples lest grevance. He shal ether make present paimewt, or give tallees to them that sel him any thinge so purveyed or bought, & shal have the sherif of the shere where he sojorneth, a witnesse of his doinges ; & the sherif shal testefy bi his le#res, & certefy to the kinges warderobe the pur- veiances, bargaines, & paimentes made bi the same serjant, so as their mai be no fraude, malice, nor other grevance done to the people of the curatry bi the serja?it gardein nor ani other that is in the sojorne. He shal have liveree of hay & oates for ij horses ; his boy shal have jd. ob. a day wages, & robes yereli in cloth, or xl* in niony. And he shal have as many valletes as horses, & noe more. Each of these valletes shal have ijd a day wages, one robe yereli in cloth, or xs in mony, & iiij8 viijd for shoes at two seasons of the yeare. Likewise he shal have a vallet ferrowr under him to shue the horses, who shal have ijd a day wages, one robe yereli in cloth, or x8 in mony ; & for shoes iiij8 viijd.
venours. Hunsmen.
57. And Thomas de Borhunt, who holdeth of the kinge in chief one plowe lande in Little weldon, in the county of Northampton, of the heritage of Margarette, the daughter & heir of John Lovel, now wife to the said Thomas, bi certaine service, to be the kinges hunsmaw for deere.
cMens deymerez jje ought to have in his custody xxiiij buckhoundes vj. Hverere & vj of the kinges graihoundes. He shal take for each
des cli iei is le Boy. J
doges puture .jd. ob. a day, & for eache of the ij vallet *bariis *barils jd. ob. a day wages ; & .j. robe yereli in cloth, or
tventrer a marke in mony, & shoes; j. fto vent8 the home shal have ijd a day wages, one robe yereli in cloth, or a marke in mony ;
1 MS. these these 2 p. 40. 3 blowe crossed through.
OTTERHUNTER. FERRETER. PARTRIDGER. BIRD-TAKER. 45
& iiij8 viijd for shoes. These dogges the same Thomas must keepe at his owne costes xl. dales in lent : xv. buckhoundes & one bemer. bemer. The residew of the l doges & the other berner
shalbe at the kinges costes, aswel in this season as al the rest shalbe the residew of the yeare.
The said Thomas at court shal have vijd ob. a day wages; & being from court in the kinges affaires xijd for wages & expenses ; two robes yereli in cloth, or xl8 in rnony. And Avhether he be let bloode or sicke, he shal have for liveree, j. darre of bred, j. galon of ale, one messe de grosse from the kitchin,' & a messe of rost.
And an otterhunt, who shal have in his custody twelve dogges runni??g at the ottre, & two of the kinges grayhoundes, & two boyes to keepe the dogges. He shal have for his owne wages ij1 a day, if he have not his diet in the hal amongst the valletes de mestier ; & for each of the boyes jd ob. a day ; & for him-self one robe yereli in cloth, or a mark in mony ; & iiij8 viijd for shoes.
ferretter.
58. And a ferretter, who shal have ij ferretes & a boy to help him to take conies whe?a he shalbe so charged bi the steward or thresorer. He shal take for his owne wages ijd a day ; for his boy jd ob. ; & for the puture of the ferretes jd ; & one robe yerely in cloth, or a marke in mony ; & iiij8 viijd by the yere for shoes.
A partringer.
59. And a partringer, who shal have in his custody t[w]o doges cochours, ij faucons for partriges; & he shal have for each doges puture ob., for ij faucons ob., for his owne wages ijd, & for j. boy .jd. ob. a daye ; one robe yereli in cloth, or a marke in mony ; & iiij8 viijd in shoes.
A birde-taker or Oyselour.
60. And an oyseloz^r, who shal have ijd a day wages if he have not his diet in the hal amongst1 the valletes de mesti'er, one robo yereli in cloth, or a mark in mony ; & for shoes iiijj viijd.
1 p. 41.
46 FISHERMAN. TRUMPETERS. MESSENGERS. ARCHERS. CHAPPELER.
A fisher.
61. And a fisher, who shal have ijd a day wages if he have znot his diet in the halle amongst* the valletes of raestier, & one robe yereli in cloth, or a marke in mony ; & for shoes iiij8 viijd.
Trompours, Trompetours.
62. There shalbe ij trompeters & two other minstrels, & some- time more & sometime lesse, who shal play before the kinge when [it shal] please him. Thei shal eate in the chambre or in the hal as thei shalbe cowmauftded; thei shal have wages & robes each according to his estate at the discretion of the steward & thresorer.
Messengers.
63. And xij messengers, who shal eate in the hal, & shal never goe out of the houshold except the[i] be sent of messages & have leave of the steward or thresorer. And if thei doe, thei shalbe put out of the houshold. And when thei shalbe sent of messages, their jornees shalbe certainli set downe ; & thei shal have iijd a day whilst thei are absent; & if thei returne not at the day assigned, or care not excuse thera-selves for some resonable cause, thei shal have the fore- said punishment ; & each of them shal have a robe of a sute by thew-selves, or a marke in mony; & iiij8 viijd for shoes.
Archers.
64. And xxiiij archers on foote for garde of the kinges body, who shal goe before the kinge as he travaleth thorough the cuntry. Each of these shal have iijd a day wages, one robe yereli of a sute by thewi-selves, or x" in mony ; & iiij8 viijd bi the yere for shoes.
2 A chappeler.
65. And a chappeler, who shal make the chapeux for the chapeux3 & esquiers of the houshold, & shal eate in the hal bi him-self of his ie relief de la proper table-cloth ; & shal carry the relikes of the vitails
1 p. 42. * p. 43. (? Chappelier : m. A maker of Hats ; or, of Gar-
lands.— Cotgrave.) 3 ? repeated, for ' knightes.'
BUTLER. THE BUYING AND MANAGEMENT OP WINES. 47
wherwith he shalbe served, without any other thinge takinge of the kinge.
66. Also it is ordained & expresly commaunded that the kinges ord. for the chief boteler from hence forward shal make purveiances Boteier. & buying of wines for the sustenance of his houshold so
wel & so conveniently that he & the good men which are nere him may be so honorabli served from that office as appertaineth for maintenance of the honowr of the lord of it, so as nether ani of the houshold nor others may have cause to slaunder the said house, to the lordes dishonoztr, thorough the Botelers fault; so as the pwr- veiances & buyinges be made to the lest damage & disturbance of the merchants as the butler can or may devise, so alwaies as our lord the kinge have his auncient prises & al other advantages w/tich of right he ought to have bi reson of his seigniory. • And after the boteler shal thus have bought his wines, & agreed with the mer- & d'achate86 chantes, let him presently cause the prisage wines & the wines he hath bought, presentli to be caried & lodged where the Steward1 & thresorer of the houshold shal appoint, & there let him deliver these wines by good indenture to the serjant boteler of the escanteiona houshold, in the houshold, with the scantelinges of the tonnes, under the merchantes scales that sold them, mentioning both the peeces of the wines, the prise, & the merchantes of whom thei shalbe bought, to-gether w/th al other charges ; even those wAich he shal have laid out about the cariages of them, or in other resonable manner, 2from the first buying, til the time thei be thus delivered into the houshold. And let thindenture be of three partes/so as one may remaine With the Boteler purveowr, an other with the serjant boteler in the houshold, & the other with the clarke of the botillery; bi which indenture the said clarke shal account with the chief Boteler purveowr, both for the price & the charges, & with the Botiler of the houshold how the wines are spent. After, when the wines are couched & setled, the controler knight vsher, or knight marshal of the halle, & clarke of the botery, shal view & tast them, whether thei be good & such as thei ought to be according to the prices in thindentures. And if thei be allowed for good, then shal 1 MS. Stweard a p. 44.
48 WINES. LODGING OF THE KING'S SERVANTS.
al the forrein charges comprised in thindenture be proportioned bi equal parcels after the number of tvmnes. And those charges shalbe allowed in the Buttery rolle according to the quaretiti of wine delivered out & spent every day. But if it be not thought the wines are aureswerable to the price thei are bought at, the fault shal immediateli be shewed to the Stewarde & tresurer, who shal cause snch amendemeret of it as the kinge be no loser, nor the house il served. And if it happen the same wines, or any parte of the??i, be not spent before the kinge depa?-te from the place where thei are laid in, there let them be rebailed l, redelivered to the chief purveiour to carry or keep them as the Steward & Thresorer shal give com- mauredemeret. And the charges he shalbe at a-new about those wines so removed, shalbe allowed him assone as thei are receved againe to the kinges use.
Also the other purveiowr shalbe charged that he cause to be brought to the houshold for the kinges owne mouth, as sone as he care, al the wines w/ti'ch he shal buy for the kinge of the auwcient prises ; w7iich if he can not convenientli do to the kinges profet, bi reson of the farre distance of place, then let him sel them, so as he aureswere the kinge uppore his account the highest price of the wines purveyed & bought.
2 Ordinances.
2. order for 67. Also it is ordained by our lord the kinge & his
Lodging of the
kinge* servant** counsel, for the ease of his people, that the * meney of hostiei his houshold that care not be lodged ether in the kinges
house or the towne it self where the kinge lodgeth, shal be lodged by the harbergers within the vierge, everi one according to his estate. That is to say, a knight with iiij horses, a clarke, a serjant, & an esqm'er, everi one according to the Avages he shal have of the kinge ; that is, at iiijd ob. one horse, viijd ob. two horses, xijd three horses, xvd iiij horses, aswel in sojorne & stay, as time of travel; so as the cu retry about the kinge may not wax deere by tsur- t surcark-e charge without reson.
The officers of houshold shalbe lodged as neere the cowrt as mai 1 crossed ihrovgh. * p. 45.
LODGING OP SERVANTS. RENDERING ACCOUNTS PROMPTLY. 49
be, to thende thei mai be reddi to do their duties as oftere as need shal require ; & Al others of the said meignee as neer as the cuwtry wil wel permit. Lodging shal so be delivered to everi man of the houshold, in such sort as he may have competent house roome at ease for him-self, his meignee, & his goodes. And it is * defendu * forbidden that any of the king^s meignee, after he is lodged, take Within that house any vittailes for him-self or his horses t sfir de 1'ostiei against the wil of the t master of the house, as longe as he may have the?«. else-where for his mony. And whe?i that wil not be, let him take them in the house, in the most curteous & ples- inge manner that may be, so as he pay mony to the valewe of the darres. darres, & that everi one of the meignee may, without
others impecheme«t, by vittailes needful for him wheresoever thei autru! i^ere^ s^a^e> + as wel within the precinct assigned to an other pr'^re18011 as ^is owne. And it is likewise forbidden, that any other of the kinges houshold, or other the good people within their liveree, to give or sel their goodes where thei plese, or to carry them to the market to make therof their profet at their wil & plesure, so as everi man mai be free to do & dispose of his owne goodes as pleseth him ; for the kinges purpose is not to abandon his § mesne subjected goodes to the violence & distresse of his § meyne
II herbergage bi colour of their ||lodginges. order that the *And to thende our sovereigne lord the kinge may
Herbirgers bee
convenient be served wheresoever he commeth, as appertaineth to t ^seigniory his ^[highnes, it is coramaunded & ordained that no ma?& be so hardy as to disturbe his ministres, to make their pztrveiance & achates for their mony where thei may do it best for his honour & profit ; & that, as wel for al the liverees appointed for others, as else- where, without any disturbance. And the kinge doth also cora- maunde that the officers performe it in as convenient sort as best behoveth for preservation of his honow.
G8. Also it is ordained that the steward & Thresorer shal have Accountsatshaii daily in the warderobe thaccowztes of the housholde^ in wihlntdafes. tyme of sojorne ; & if thei passe the thirde day of account, thei shal discharge the charges of the houshold that day.
1 p. 40.
HOUSEHOLD OED. 4
50 ACCOUNTS. FINES AND PUNISHMENTS FOB DEFAULT IX DUTY.
If the king travel, so as no account ca?i be taken, at every next sojorne thaccount of the arrerages shalbe harde ; & if it be not so done, thei shal acquite the one half of a daies charge.
69. Also it is ordained that al the serj antes of office w/wch are officers to * accountable, whether thei be towardes the chambre or
account daily, or
wa*Mrfeit tne kalle, snal come daily to account in the warderobe * de ia contee of the house, to aunswere for the parcels of their officers, unles thei can excuse them-selves for some good & resonable cause, tmestres so as the liverees of bred & wine, & other t necessaries which belongs to the account, may daily, whew occasion fitteth, be harde & reformed, as the discretion of the steward & thresorer shal thinke resonable.
70. And let al officers do that appertaineth to their places; if thei do not, at the first the steward & thresorer shal at the first fully & in faire manner warne them of it. If after thei offende, & have wages, thei shal lose their wages for a month ; & for the thirde offence, after 1 gentle admonition given, thei shal forfait their wages.
The seconde offence is losse of allowance for shues ; the third2, losse of his robe ; & the forth, forfaiteth the freedome of accesse to the kinges houshold, without hope of attajmng it againe. jderechef 71, j Furthermore it is ordained that no knight
esconduit"6 ' ' § shalbe barred the houshold ; yet none of them shalbe remahf<Hnncourt allowed a squier except his estate require it ; nether shal without Licence he make his abode there above three daies without the kinges special commaundement.
72. It is also ordained that the ordinances for the houshold wAz'ch were made at wodestoke, be observed in such manner as thei are ordained ; nameli, that the marshals or ushers of the hal shal not suffer that any, though he be of the kinges meigne, eate not in the halle, nor take any thinge out of the houshold, if bi the devised orders he be not allowed so to doe, but those only wfo'ch have robes of the kinge ; & none of them shal take wages for his diet in his liveree, alwaies excepted those times when strangers be receved & honored as thei ought to be. And if it happe?« that any of the houshold that ought not to eate in the halle, do eate there without 1 p. 47. s MS. seconde
REGULATIONS AS TO BOYS, YEOMEN, STRANGERS, ETC. 51
their leave w/^'ch have power to give leave, both he & the usher that suffreth him to come in shal incurre the paine before ordained.
73. And it is ordained that none shal remaine in any of the * esquii. offices of the panetry, Butery, kitchen, * scullery, sausery,
Napery, herbergerye, larder, pultry, marshalsy, avenery, Chauredlery, nor any other office of the houshold, but such as have a certaine office, & take the kinges or Queenes robes. If ani man be otherwise, he shalbe taken & put in prison til he be l delivered bi the Steward & thresorer in the ful account. And he that hath the custody of the office, & hath suffered him to be there, shalbe punished in like sorte. And if the vsher be guilty of it also, he shal endure like punishme?zt. garsons 74. It is likewise ordained that boyes of offices that
have robes allowed them, & diet in the hal, as those of the panetri, t barrens Gaiiea butteri, kitchew, & other offices of the houshold, & f welsh
pour garoons
Gaiies, ut opinor boies, archiers, messagers, or others, so as none may embesil the kinges almes. And if ani do, the chief Almner shal shew it at the account before the steward & thresorer as is aforesaid, who shal therupporc declare their plesure, uppon the foresaid paine.
75. It is also ordained that no valet de mesti'er shal from hence- forth have horses in Court, except he have certaine wages allowed him of the kinge for him & his horse. If ani other be founde to have a horse, the horse shalbe takew from him & delivered to the Almner ; & the Almner shal give him away, for godes sake. And this shalbe observed as many times as he is founde to have any horse.
76. It is also ordeined that no serjant vallet, nor other of the house, shal eat in other place then the hal, except he be let bloode bi licence of the Stewarde & thresorer, or others supplying their places, or be sicke, for which cause he should have his livery out of the housholde.
77. It is likewise commau/zded that no stranger eate in any of the offices, nor be receved into the?n bi them of the office, nor others of the houshold. If any of the houshold offend herein, he shal be punished as before. And the pantler, 2 butler, coke, & others that serve them, shal have the punishment before at the first ordained.
78. It is also ordained that no vallet de mesti'er have ani page
1 p. 48. * i>. 49.
52 GENERAL ORDERS. STEWARDS. COURSES AT MEALS.
but tliei of the kitchen, who shalbe two & two to a page. If ani man do otherwise, the doer, & he that suffereth it, having charge of him, shalbe punished as aforesaid.
79. It is ordained that no vallet de mestz'er in the kitchen, or any other office in the houshold, give away any thinge bi way of curtesye without their leave to whom it appe?laineth. If he doth it he shalbe punished, & he also that hath the custody of him.
80. It is ordained that no esquier, nor other, medle w/th the cari- age of bred, wine, or any vittailes after thei are set on the table, those onli excepted to whom that service pertaines bi reson of their offices. And if any of the houshold offende, he shal be punished as before.
81. ISTo knight of the houshold shal take any liveree, if [he] be of the houshold only, & not in any office.
82. It is ordained that the kinge & Queenes steward shal examine, once a weeke at the least, how many of the kinge & Queenes doges shal have liveree, & give co?nmaundenieMt to the clarke of the panetri to auwswerc at thaccouwt.
83. It is also ordained that to such Esquiers as have wages, & are sicke, l& the valletes de mestier when thei are sicke, have liveree according to their estate bi thappointmrat of the steward & thresorer.
84. It is also ordained that the great lorcles, w/Ji'ch have their iVlfios oTie dut8 ckam^er * appointed them in the same court wherin the kinge lyeth, shal have wine, candles, & liveree for their chamber- laine, according to the steward & thresorers appointment.
85. The Queenes steward & thresor£r shalbe alwaies at the account, to cause the messes to be examined, & the gentes de mestier, tdeversmadame tw/ji'ch are belonging to her highnes & her meignee, & to cause the outrages to be amended. And al the serjantes shalbe at the account to aunswere their owne doynges.
86. It is also ordained that the kinge shalbe served with iiij courses & no more, for him & the great lordes that eate at his table, & the Queene also. And that in al other places of his houshold, al shalbe served with three courses, save the boies, who shal have two.
87. It is ordained that al palfreours & somters of the kinges house, whatsoever thei be, shal have ijd a day. Those of the kinges
1 p. 50.
OF FEES FOR PRESENTS TO THE KING. A FOREGOER. 53
houshold that are weake & unable to travel, as valletes de mestier, charetters, somters, messagers, & al others, shalbe sent to divers hospitals & abbies that hold of the kinge, & are not formerly charged, & their thei shal have livelihod according to their estates.
88. No liveree, boiled or rawe, shalbe made in no parte l of the houshold ether of the kinge or Queene, but to the great pantery & dele grand buttery, kitchin, larder, & the great houshold for the
hostiel de vers le
meignee. meignee.
These ought to be the liverees of the houshold.
89. And it is ordained that al the presenter that from hewce- forth shalbe sent to our lord the kinge, shalbe delivered, without delay or advisement, to the serjant of the offices of his houshold, according to the nature of the presenter, so as thei w/n'ch shal have fees may have them from their warde, after thei have dereigned before the steward, thresorer, & the serjantes of thaccownt, what fee thei shal have for such a present. And if any ma?z, do ought against this ordenance, & take such fee without having it deraigned as aforesaid, if it be not out of the warde of the serjantes of thoffices of the houshold, whosoever he be that so doeth, shal immediateli acquit *demande the valew of the whol * present, vfhich shalbe sent to the kinge. And the thresorer of the warderobe, as sone as he shal knowe that such thinges are taken otherwise then out of the ser- jantes of the offices warde, be he knight, clarke, serjant, or vallet, that hath fees, wages, or robes of the kinge, so much in valew as the kinges whol present shal amount unto, shal without further judg- me?zt cause to be held guilty & set it uppow him that hath takew it. oustrenient And that valew shalbe recovered, ether from his fees,
attemdre
wages, or robes, as the valew may sonest be levied.
90. It is ordained & co?nmau«ded by our Lord the kinge, that tavantaiour their shalbe a fforegoer in the kinges houshold, but in manner hereafter writtew. And thei shalbe fore-goers for whom mew Avil auwswere, & their names shalbe delivered to the marshals. If their be any other take??, he shal forewzth be taken & imprisonned, 2& not be delivered without the kinges special co?nmau?«dme«t ; & no man shalbe avant-aloztr who hath for-jured the Court.
1 p. 51. 2 p. 52.
54 HERBERGERS FOR THE DIFFERENT HOUSEHOLD OFFICERS.
for the warderobe & al the clarkes therof j. herberger named, for the privy seale & al the clarkes j. herberger named,
for them vrhich carve1 before the kinge j. herberger named.
for the Butlers for the kinges mouth, & him )
i. herberger named. •which serveth the cuppe J
for the assayowrs for the kinges mouth j. herberger named,
for the 2 master paneters, & the valletes of
, j. herberger named. thai mistery under them ;
for the master Cokes for the kinges mouth, ) .
D ,, -, ,, 1- herberger named.
& valletes under them ;
for the Chaplins & the clarkes of the chappel j. herberger named,
for knightes having offices each his harbegeowr j. herberger named,
for the co?jtreroller j. herberger named,
for the coffrer j. herberger named,
for al the knightes vrhich ly together j. herberger named,
for the infantes in warde j. herberger named,
for the vshers of the chamber j. herberger named.
for the fruterer, nape?-er, Ewer, & their ) .
I j. herberger named, valletes of mistery )
for the squiers attendawtes on the kinge j. herberger named,
for al other esqmers attewdarctes in the hal j. herberger named.
for the chief butler & his companion & their ) .
> j. herberger named, valletes j J
for the clarke of the panetre, botery, & those )
> i. herberger named, under them ;
for the clarke of the kitchen, & achatowrs j. herberger named.
for ij master Cokes for the meignee, the ) .
j. herberger named, lardiner & the valletes ;
for the chaurcdelowr & the valletes of thai \ .
]. herberger named, mistery )
for the master Esquiller & one companion j. herberger named. 2 for the Saucerye & al those of thai office j. herberger named, for ij phisitiens j. herberger named,
for the kinges surgeon j. herberger named,
for al the valletes of #ie chambre j. herberger named.
1 trenchent * p, 53.
HERBERGERS. STRANGERS. OFFICERS OF THE MARSHAL. 55
for the porter & the valletes j. herberger named,
for the 2. gaytes & waffrers j. herberger named,
for the palfrers & coursers j. herberger named.
for Adam de Bowyer, John Hauberjozfr,
, j. herberger named. Robert Gynowr, Hugo Bungey )
for the baker & valletes j. herberger named,
for the avener & al under him j. herberger named,
for the ausmoner & al under him j. herberger named,
for the Pulleter, the herberger, & their valletes j. herberger named,
for the kinges confessoiw j. herberger named,
for al the minstrelx j. herberger named, for the marshals of the hal, the vshers, &
The wife of Simon the Euwar, for the naperye.
Annote the walsh, for the whol cojrai/zalty of the houshold.
j. herberger named, their servantes ;
for the fauconers j. herberger named.
for the huntsmen, ventrers, & the doges that )
, , I j. herberger named,
rurane at hares ) "
for the Somters & charetters j. herberger named.
for the Steward & Crown ers clarke j. herberger named.
91. Bribowrs ( Wilh'am Plane ) dame Guwnore for the chambre. )
a nuite C Maure ) christien Scot for the wardrobe. )
J
92. It is to be reme?wbred that owr lord the kinge hath com- mauwded his marshals, that thei serche from weeke to weeke if there be any stranger that foloweth 1 the court whom no maw avoweth, he shal for[th]with be taken & punished, as is formerli ordained.
93. And owr lord the kinge willeth that the place of the marshalcy of his houshold be charged with no other ministres then it ought of right, that is, with a Coroner & "his clarke for the kinge, & one knight & one clarke, one serjant, one vallet de mest^er to kepe the prisonne for the Erie marshal. And if the same ministers can not execute al the kinges commauwdemewtes & executions of the bills of the same place, o?jr lord the kinge wil[leth] that the sherifs & bailifs sworne for the cuwtry which the kinge cometh thorough, shalbe charged to aide the marshals to sarve the billes of the place,
1 p. 54.
56 OF LOOSE WOMEN, SUITORS, OFFICERS1 WIVES, ETC.
& do the kinges commaundeme«t, as tliei slialbe charged, whersoever the kinge shal comme.
94. And for-as-much as hideous complaintes & cryes come to the court day bi day, of great affraies & mischiefs done in the cuntry where the kinge goeth, by people that followe the court, without the avowry of any man, & bi women of folish life ; as for homicides, roberies, breking of houses, & wrongeful actes done by them. St. nicholas in the yeare of the raigne of OUT lord kinge Edwarde the xijth, in the citty of yorke, for the common profet of the cuntri, & to avoid the court of al manner of such people. And the kinge commauwdeth that al sutors avoide the court continually, but such as are in the Coroners rol in the marshalsy, & there entred & receved bi good mainprise. 'And if other be founde2 within the court or els-where within the vierge, folowing the Court after the kinge is removed out of the said cittie, 1hat he be taken & imprisoned, & not delivered without the steAvarde. And that no man follow the court that hath not a lord or master to avowe him. And that none of the kinges meignee, of what condition soever he be, knight or clarke, serjant, esquier, charetter or sompter boy, page or sutor, keepe his wife at the court, nor els-where as a Mower of the court ; but only such women to be there, w/»'ch are in chief w/th the kinge, or such as are intitled in the marshalsy in the Coroners roul, there to be imploied in ordhiancesdes certaine offices. If any other be founde there after * these ordinances proclaimed, such as keepe them there shal avoid the kinges houshold, except the kinge ple[se] to pardon them. And that tdefoievie none of the court leade with him any woman of t dis- honest life : if ani such womaw be founde, he that she avoweth her self by, shalbe taken & imprisoned, & not delivered but bi the Stewarde.
It is likewise [to be remembered, that3] a certaine paine is ordained for those men w/iich, after proclamation made, be their found, co?ztrari to these ordinances; first, thei shal forjure the houshold ; if after that thei be taken, thei shalbe layd up in yrons, & there continew xl. ;layes with bred & water; after which their bodies shalbe at the kinges plesure.
1 p. 53. 2 MS. finde. 3 ordained on the for crossed throvgJi.
WOMEN OF ILL LIFE. OFFICERS OF THE MARSHALCY. 57
ie Concerning women *of il life that follow the court
after thei have forsworne the court : being taken againe, thei shalbe marked in the fore-hed with, an hote iron. The thirde time thei shalbe imprisoned, as is aforesaid of men.
1A1 these pointer shalbe proclaimed in the houshold now at the first three daies, so as everi one that followeth the court may have resonable warninge ; & the yere after, it shalbe proclaimed everi sonday.
Also in as much as complaint hath been made to the saul Stewarde of the great charge of people that followe the marshalcy where-soever the kinge goe, in much greter number then was wont to be, or of right ought to be, suffered; concerning these, the Cou?rsel hath ordained that the auntiewt custome -which was used in the daies of the late kinge, & in the times of former erles, marshals, shal from henceforth be fulli held & used : — Nameli, there shalbe the Erie him-self in this place, & a knight lieutenant to the Earle, & a clarke unde?' him, & one other to write his rolles. The erle shal also have a serjant to make attachemerctes & herberges, & he shal have under him a foote-mare to doe execution of the billes. And the erle shal also have a vallet for the prison.
1 p. 56.
[Continued on the next page.]
p. 44. The Keeper of the King's Hounds. Compare the following from J. Bridges's History of Northamptonshire (ed. Kev. P. Whalley), 1791 ; vol. ii, p. 358, col. 2. "In the tenth year of Edw. II. died John Lovell, seized of one messuage and one carucate of land with its appurtenances in Weldon parva, which he held of the crown in capite, by the service of keeping, at hia own charge, fifteen of the king's hounds, every year in Lent. These were the lands, we suppose, which the sheriff of the county, in the first of Hen. III., was directed to give possession of to Hamon le Venor, or the Hunter. Leaving no male issue, the premises devolved to Margery, his daughter, the wife of Thomas de Borchunt. On paying a fine of xls. in the fourteenth of this reign for a relief, the said Thomas and Margery de Borchunte had livery of this estate. He died in the fourteenth year of Edw. III., Margery, his wife, surviving him, and was succeeded by John, his son, a minor under nineteen years of age."
58
[ORDINANCE FOR THE STATE OF THE WARDROBE AND THE ACCOUNT OF THE HOUSEHOLD.]
16. E. 2. (June 1323.1) [Ashm. MS. 1H7, art. iii, p. 56.]
The ordinance for the state of the warderobe, & the account of the houshold, made & assented to in the presence of our sovereigne lord the kinge, by the honorable fathers William de Melton, archbishop of yorke; Walter de Stapleton, bishop of Excester, Thresurer Walter de Norwich, Roger de Belers, & other barons of thexcheker, being of the kinges counsel, at Yorke, in the moneth of June, in the yere of the raigne of kinge Edwarde, sonne of kinge Edwarde the xvjth.
(1) for as much as the accountes of the warderobe 2are gretli de- laied for divers occasions, it is ordained that no mony be paied nor assigned from henceforth to make purveiance for the kinges houshold or other thinges, for vrhicb. the garden of the warderobe should ac- count, except it be bi his owne hande delivered, or paied by warrant of his lettres. It is also ordained that he shal a[l]waies have suf- ficient mony in the warderobe.
(2) Also th' account of the houshold expenses shalbe h[e]arde everi day, or everi other day whe?& the court sojorneth, except the steward & thresorer be imploied in other greter affaires. And the sta^tes of the houshold wil, that if three daies passe wtth-out account, whe/i the court sojorneth, the steward & thresorer shal pay of their owne purses one daies expenses ; & thei shal inflict the like penalti3 uppon the inferiowr officers if thei be not reddi to account everi daye.
(3) Also the great Butler shal make one view of al his office in the warderobe, the day after S* Hillary, & an other view at Sl John baptistes day, & a final account at martlemas, uppon the paine before written,
1 The following Englishing of the French original is also by Francis Tatc, A.D. 1601. * p. 57. 3 penance. .
THE TIMES FOR RENDERING ACCOUNTS. 59
(4) The clarke purveiowr of the great warderobe shal view his office once at S* Andrewe-tide, & againe in Trinity-weeke, & make a final account at michaelmas followinge uppon the former paine.
(5) Al other forrein ministers which ought to account in the warde- robe shal make a special view of their account every quarter or halfe yere, at the plesure of the gardein of the warderobe. So that the accountes of the warderobe for one quarter may be finished & per- fected in the next quarter after, & given up into thexcheker in the ende of the yere, the day after Candlemas in peaceable times, & so forth from yere to yere, without further delai or excuse.
(6) l Also that al the ministers that should account in the warderobe when thei are warned by the garden of the wardrobe, 2cowme not to take view, to account, or do that w/w'ch appertaineth to their account, then let them be put out of the kinges service for ever, & grevously punisfred. And let their names & their charge be delivered to the barons of thexcheker, to take their goodes, chattels, & body, & to sue them in the kinges behalfe, as such who should account according to the lawe & custome of thexcheker.
(7) Also the clarkes of the office shall account for their sommes by the moneth or bi the quarter, according to the discretion of garde?* of the warderobe, & that uppon the paine aforesaid.
(8) He that accounteth in the warderobe & is in arrerages, shalbe delivered to the marshalsy, & there detained til he have made agre- inent for his arrerages.
(9) And for as much as the last yeeres account is verri diffuse, & requireth great delay to have it wel arraied for the purveiances of vittails & paiment of wages in the time of warre, & many other waighti resons : It is ordained that the Coffrer that hath made the paimentes, take helpe to him if need be, & attend wholly to the arraying of the account, & let commaundement be given him in the kinges name to do it fulli & spedeli. And that an other be in his steed made Cofferer the beginning of the xvijth yere, in the meane time to hasten thaccountes of the yere past, for peraventure he can not do both but with great delay. And let him first heere the accountes of the houshold in the same houshold after the feast of S*
1 p. 58. * selonc les dites servies.
60 NO RASCALS. BUYING BEASTS AT FAIRS; AND FISH.
micliael. if the tliresurer of the warderobe thinke good to tarri at London to heere Hhe forren accounted, so as he may certefy thexcheker of such as come not to bringe them to account before him. And such Coifrer as shalbe so ordained a-new for the meane seson shal houlde the course aforesaid for thexpence of the warderobe.
(10) As to the houshold it-self, let a convenient mene be ordained, & the names in certain delivered to the said warden & to the clarke of the marshalsy.
And that the ministres of the houshold be fit & sufficient men, & raskals be removed from everi office.
(11) The paiment of thinges purveied for the houshold on ordinari daies, except the great purveiances & the pulletrie, shalbe made in the warderobe in the presence of the clarkes of the offices, for then the tresurer of the warderobe may better see & examine the achates for the kinges profet.
(1 2) Also for makinge the great pwrveiance in faires of great bestes, against the Parliament or great feast ; let the bestes be viewed when thei come to the Court, bi the steward & thresurer of the houshold if thei care attende it, or bi the Controller, the chiefe usher of the halle being a knight, & the clarke of the kitchen2 to whom it properli appertaineth to see such achates ; & if thei see the achate is convenient & fit, there, where time serveth, thei mai cause three of the bestes of that buy[i]ng to be killed, that is, one of the hyghest price, an other of a midle price, & a thirde of the loAvest price. And the Controller or his clarke should be at the cutting out of the bestes, & write downe how many messe the best beste wil make, how many the midle 3 beste, & how many the worst of the/re maketh. And this he must testefy at the account in the warderobe ; & if it happen their be any bestes which are not worth the price thei were bought at, thei may cast them uppore the buyer, so as if he have made a folish bargaine, the damage mai light uppon him.
(13) Touching the pwrveiance of heringe & great fish, let it be
1 p. 59.
2 See the duties of Henry VIIL's Clerk of the Kitchen and Controller, in Francis Thynne's Animadversions (Hindwords, p. xxii, xxxi, E. E. T. S., 18G5, 2nd ed. 1875) ; and these, and those of other kings' officers, in the Household Ordinances of the Society of Antiquaries. 3 p. 60.
WINES FOR THE PARLIAMENT. CLERKS OP THE MARSHALCY. Gl
ordained that it be done in due seson; & let the quantiti of the pwveiance & the price be forth-m'th certefied into the warderobe, & the fishe viewed bi the controller, chief e vsher of the hal, & the clarke of the kitchen, as is aforesaid of the pttrveiance of flesh. And it is to be knowen, that of so?nme manner of fish the hundred con- taineth six score, & of some other sort, nine score.
(14) Concerning the great pzwveiance of wines against parliament or solemne feast, let the pwrveiance be surveied as aforesaid, that is, everi clarke where the wines shalbe l couched, how many tunnes are in everi celler, & that everi tunne be fulle & tasted bi the Controller, chiefe vsher of the hal, clarke of the buttery, so as if any tonel be found to be corrupt in any sort, & not sound for mans body to drinke, let the botome of the tonel be knocked out, & the wine spilt, & the losse ly on the Butler which bought such wine. The number of tonnes & the prise shalbe testefied bi the controller in the warde- robe ; & after the parliament or feast ended, the kinge shal cause a * enoiiies view to be taken bi the controller, & the tonnes * perced, & then let it be examined whether the allowance of wine made in the houshold agree with the receit & remaines of the wine.
(15) 2Also in the office of the marshalsy there ought to be two clarkes & two valletes de mestier, wherof the one is named Clarke of the march" 3 : & the other clarke of the Avenery. The clarke of the avenery & one of the vallets de mestz'er shal go thorough the cuntry to make purveyance of hey & oates, & send it to the howshold ; & the clarke of the marchauZc?/ & the other vallet de mestier must remaine at the houshold to receve the said purveiance, & deliver it out for the kinges horses. And that dark of the merchauZcy t deit getter et fought to account & set downe daily in his roll what
enbrever
jvakent clarkes, valletes, serjantes, are at wages, when they Jbe
absent & whew they come ; & therof to make bills with his owne hand-writinge from halfe-yere to halfe-yere, to be delivered into the warderobe, for their accountes at the paimentes. If they do it not, they shalbe punished by the discretion of the steward & § gardein § master of the wardrobe.
(16) It must be remembred, concerning the Baker & his people,
1 herbergea. a p. 61. 3 market crossed through in MS.
62 THE KING S DAILY AND YEARLY OFFERINGS TO SHRINES, ETC.
that are at the kinges charge, that they deliver no more bred then strange bakers.
(17) It must be remembred that the kinge should offer every day a great peny, w/«'ch shal way vijd. This peny the thresorer of the » baudra warderobe shal * deliver to the kinge at foure feastes in
the yere ; that is to say, at the feast of al Saintes, New-yeres-tyde, Easter & Avhitsontide. And at these iiij feastes the thresorer & the Cofferer shaft briiige Cs. devided into ij silver basens, of \vhich they should profer to every one a peny, wTach wil offer in that chapel. And this they C07nmonlj do also at the service of the dead, w/w'ch t faits per espalte the specially done before the kinge in his chapel or other church.
lyflayne^1* -^so the kinge should offer in certaine uppon Jthe feast of Epiphany, a florence, with mirrh & incence, severally tyed in a silk cloth, in remembrance of the three kinges ; this offringe must be delivered hym by the said thresorer.
1Also the kinge ought, every feast of St. Thomas of Canterbz^n/, offer at the shrine of S* Tho. at Cant., or send one thither to offer for him at that feast, the floreins of Florence, in name of Chivage.
Also the kinge should offer certeinly at the crosse vpon the day of the great friday, five shillings, \\hich he was accustomed to fui^sTm^nT § receve to him. from the hand of his Chaplein to give £tapmkixfaireit for medicine to divers people, & to put therto other pur medicine v*. And if our lordes thorne be there, he should offer to the thorne iij8. And at the crosse of the resurrection, vppow Easter-day, v8.
Also the kinge doth accustomably offer a davon by special devocion, a florein of florence vppon the feast of S* John thevange- list in Christmas. And vppon the feast of the purification of our lady, the like floreins. When the kinge should offer mony to relikes or alters in churches, he should offer vij8 of custome. And of au?acient custome, the kinges Almoner should receve in the warderobe, at each of the foresaid foure feastes, xxv" for the pouerte of CC powre, in honour of the said feastes.
Hitherto the old parchemewt booke. 1 p. G2.
63
EXTKACTS FKOM
EDWARD IV'S HOUSEHOLD BOOK,
ASHMOLE MS. 1147*, AND HARLEIAN MS. 642,
SHOWING THE DUTIES OP HIS
SQUIRES, AND VALETS OR YEOMEN OF THE CHAMBER,
WITH
CHAUCER'S OATH
AS CONTROLLER OF THE CUSTOMS.
* The only clause in this Ashm. MS. 1147, art. iv, p. 34, applying to Chaucer's later office of Clerk of the Works, — which he held from July 12, 1389, to June 17, 1391, — is: —
" Ixij. Clarke of Werkis called by the noble Edward Clere d.es Covers du roy, preignt sa gage*, fees, et lautre choses appertenantes a son office, par 1'assignemeret du Tresorer Dengliterre, de hors le Charge du loistelle du Roy : This Clarke hath noe duty belonging to him in this houshold by vertue of his Office outward. But & he be appointed by the Souemigne of houshold to take Wages & Clothing in the houshold, it mought cause him to be more carefull to apply all necessary things to be made for the offices & office/'s in houshold, & theu he taketh liue/y as squiers iu houshold."
64. EDWARD IV'S HOUSEHOLD BOOK. ASHMOLE MS. 1117-
EXTRACTS FROM EDWARD IV'S HOUSEHOLD BOOK.
[Aslnn. MS. 1147, art. iv, p. 15, by Francis Tate.] Doinus Eegis Angl. t. E. 4.
Ca. xxxmo. Esqwz'ers for the body, iiij, of the noble patient con- dic/on, sitting in the Kinges Chamber & Hall with, a person of like se>-uice, & that his Knightes semice; taken for his Chamber & liuery at night, dimidium a chet lofe, j quart wine, j. gallon ale ; & for winter liuery, from alhollantide till Ester, j percher waxe, j CandZe, waxe, ij Candles parich, j t&Uwode dimidium wages in the Compting- house when he is presente in Court, daily allowed him1 vij d. ob., & Clothing with the houshold for winter & Som?ner, or els xls keeping wi'th/n this Court ; but ij serua?ztes ; liuery sufficiently for their horses in the Cuntry by the Herbenger. And if any of them be sicke, he shall take sicke liuery with Knightes for a while, litter & Rushes all the yeare &c. ij persones.
1 1 crosst out in MS.
EDWARD IV'S HOUSEHOLD BOOK. HARLEIAN MS. 642. 65
NIGER DOMUS REGIS EDWARDI IV.
(A.D. 1461—82.) [2Harl. MS. 642, leaf 38.]
icrr the IfofcB, fower, noble of Conditions, whereof allwaye two be attendant on the Kinges person, to array him and vnarray him, watche day and night, and to dresse him in his cloathes : and4 they be callers to the Chamberlaine, if any thinge lacke for his person or plesauncez : theyre 5 busines is in many secrettes, some sitting in the Kinges Chainbre, some in the hall, with persones of like seruice, which is callid ' Knyghtes Seruice,' Taking euerych of them for his Liuerey at night, dimidium cheete loofe, one quart wyn, one gallon ale ; And for winter Liuerey, from Alhallowin- tyde till Eastre, one percher wex, one candle wex, two candles paris, one tallwod6 dimid^wm, And wages in the Countinghouse : if he be presente in Court, daily, seauen pence halfepenny, and cloathing with the howsold, winter and summer7, or fortie shillings besides his other fee of lewelhouse, or of the Thesaurer of Englond; and besides, his watcheing cloathing of Charnbre, of the Kinges Ward- robe. He hath abyding into this Court but two servauntes, Liuerey sufficient for his horses in the Countrie by the herberger8. 9And if any Squier for the body be lett blood10, or elles forewatchid, he shall haue sike liuerey with Knightes, litter and Rushes all the yeare of the Sergeaunt Vsher of the hall and Chambre: oftentimes these stand in steade of Caruers and Cupbearers.
1 Printed in Household Ordinances, 1790, p. 36, from another MS., or some one's fancy, though the book says it's printed from Harl. 642.
2 The titlepage of the MS. is " Uasilica (Economia / Or severall Ordi- nances, / Rules and Orders for the Go/vernment of the Howsehold / of the Kings and Queenes of / England / And their Children, both of / former and of later times / An / Exact Index of which parti/culers is inserted in the next / page ensuinge / And a large Table is placed at the / end off the Booke of y" Contents / of the whole / "
3 MS. Contents (Tabula), ' De Scutiferarijs pro Corpore Regis, f. 38, a.'
4 MS. and if. s MS. his : print theyre. 6 print tallwood. 7 MS. sunner. 8 print Kings herberger. 9 leaf 38, back.
10 This letryng blode, or clystryng, is to avoyde pestylence ; and therefore the people take lyverey out of courte, and not for every syknesse in man con- tynuynge in this courte. H. Ord., p. 34, under Knyghts of Hoitsehold, xii. HOUSEHOLD ORD. 5
66 EDWARD IV'S HOUSEHOLD BOOK. ASHMOLE MS. 1147.
[Ashm. MS. 1147, art. iv, p. 18.]
Ca. xxxvj*0. yeomen of Chamber, iiij, to make the beddes, to beare & hold the torches before the King, to hang the Chamber, & such other services, at the Cowimaundeme?it of the Chamberlaine, or Gent1 Ysher in his absence. They eate in the Kinges Chamber or hall, as the Vshers will assigne, taking for their wages allowed, every man daily, yf he be presente in Court, by the Chekkeroll iijd, & Clothing With the houshold, winter & sommer, & changes for euery- ech of them yearly, or els in money xviij8, besides their watching clothing of the wardrober. The statutes of noble Edward will give one of them for his daily expenses out of Court, iiij d. Allsoe it hath bine accustomed, one of these yeomen to be yeoman Surgeon. Allsoe their expences out of Court, sent by the Chamber-lyen for matters of the Chamber, are payd in the lewel-house. And alwayes ij of these yeomen haue into the Court j honest seruant. The Remanent at their liuery, assigned by the Herbenger, with the yeo- men of Crowne. And if any of them be sicke, he taketh liuery, ij loues, j messe of great meat for all day, j gallow ale, & carriage of the King for their competent bedding, by the Comptrollers ouersight and assign ement. viij persons.
[Ashm. MS. 1147, art. iv, p. 26.]
Ca. xlviij. Squiers of houshold xl, and more yf it plese the King, with advise of his highe Counsell : chosen men in worship & of great worth ; Also to be of sundry shires, to knowe the disposicion of the Cuntries ; & of these, to be continually in Court, xx squiers attendcmtes vppon the Kinges person, in Riding and going, & to seme his table from serveyeng bourd & other places, as the Kinges
EDWARD IV'S HOUSEHOLD BOOK. HARLEIAN MS. 642. 67
De valectis Camere Regis1.
z<j$tomtn of (Ehatttbrs iitj, to make heddis, to beare or hold torches, to sett boardis, to apparell all Chambers, and such othir seruices as the Chamberlaine, or Vshers of Chambre, comaunde or assigne ; to attend the Chambre ; to watche the King by course ; to goe in messages, &c. ; Taking for there wages, as yomen of Crowne doe in the Checkerrole, and cloathing like3, beside there watchinge cloathing of the Kinges Wardrober. The statutes of noble Edward would giue but one of these, for his expenses out of Court, but fowerpence. And it hath bene scene often, that one of these yeomen hath be 4also yeoman Surgean, for twey causes. Also two of these dyne and sope in the Chambre ; Also there expenses out of Court, sent by the Chamberlaine or Vshers, then to be paid in the lewelhouse. And allway two of these yonien haue one honest seruant into Court. The remanent at theire liuerey, assigned by the herberger5, togedre, or with the yomen of crowne, sufficiently lodgid ; And if any of them be lett blood, or sicke, then to haue as the yomen of the Crowne6, and Carriage by the Controller competent; two men to a bedd.
[Harl MS. 642, leaf 55, H. Ord., p. 45.]
7 <Sqtttre0 ot ^0U0ol!b xl : or moe if it please the Kinge, by the aduise of his highe Counsell ; to be chosen men of their possession, worship, and wisdome ; Also to be of sundrie shires, by whome it may be knowne the disposition of the Countries : And of these, to be continually in this Court, twentie Squires attendants on the Kinges person, in ryding and goeing at all times; And to helpe
1 Tabula, leaf 5, back, with a wrong reference to the Groomes or Garciones. 3 leaf 43, back.
3 " dayly . . iii d., and clothing for wynter and somer, and chaunces yevely, or elles xviiis., besides theire watchyng clothing of the Kings warderobe." H. Ord., p. 38.
4 leaf 44. * print Kings herberger.
6 Daily, " one caste of bredde, one messe of greete mete, one gallon ale ; and if it be of greet siknesse, he must remove out of courte, or any other." H. Ord., p. 39.
7 De Armigeris hospicij, fol. 55 a, et 123 a, 132 a et b. Tabula, leaf 6*.
68 EDWARD IV'S HOUSEHOLD BOOK. ASHMOLE MS. 1147.
Sewer will assigne them. Alsoe by assent amongst them all, some to seme the Chamber at one tynie, some the Hall at an other -tyme, of euery messe that comweth from the dressing bourd to their handes for such seruice, Soe that thereof be nothing w/th-drawen by them, vppon such paine as the Steward, Tresorer, comptroller, or the ludges at the Compting bourd in their absence, after their demerits, will award ; They eating in the Hall, sitting togither at both meales after, as they seme, by assent. This was the old manner, both for honowr & profett of the King & his Court, euery each of them taketh for his liuery at night, dimidium gallon ale ; And for winter season, each of them ij Candles parice, j faggot or els dimidium iaUwood. And when any of them is presente in Court, him is allowed for wages daily in the Checkroll vijd. ob.1; And clothing winter & sommer, of the Comptinghouse, or els xl", it hath euer bine in speciall Charge to squiers in this Court to weare the Coulowr of the Kinges liuery Customably, for the more glory, & in worshippinge this honorable houshold. And euery of them to have into thes Court j honest servant, And liuery in the Cuntry for their horses and other servantes, or in the Towne, by the Harbenger deliuered sufficiently, as they be coupled bed fellowed. And if any of them be sicke in Court, or neere therto, He taketh for liuery, ij loues, ij messe of great meat, j gallon ale for all day, And litter all the yeare of the seriant Vsher, for their beddes in Court. And if any of these squiers be sent out of Court by Steward, Tresorer, Comptroller, or other of the comptinghouse, for any matter touching the comptinghouse or the houshold, then he hath daily allowed xijd. Alsoe they pay for the carriage of their bedding and ther Harnes in Court. And none of them taketh parte of any reward given to the houshold at any tyme, But if any such giver to Squiers of Houshold by themselues, a part from Chamber & Hall, & that by expresse names and wordes, they ought nor ar the[y] to depart from Court with-out leaue : by the speciall act of noble Edward, they shall not keepe noe houndes wj'thin the Court. iiijxx persons.
obolus is a halfpenny
EDWARD IV S HOUSEHOLD BOOK. HARLEUN MS. 642. 69
seme his table from the Surueying board, and from other places, as the Assewer will assigne ; also, by theire Comyn assent, to assigne amongest them selues, some to serue the Kinges Chambre, at one day, weeke1, or time; some to serue the hall at another time, of euery messe that cometh from the dressing bourd to there handes for such seruice, So that therof be nothing withdrawe by these Squires, vpon such payne as 2 Sty ward, Thesaurer, or Controller, or, in theire absence, other Judges at [the] Counting bourd, woole awarde, after there demerrittes. It may be that the King take[th] into housold in all, 3fortie Squires; and yet amongest them all, twentie take not the whole wages of the yeare ; wherfore the numbre of persons may be receaued and sufferid the better in the Checkerrolle, for a worship, and the Kinges profitt saued. They eaten in the hall, sitting togedre at any of the both mealis, as they serve ; some the first meate, some the latter, by assent. This hathe bene allway the manner amongest them, for honour [and] profitt to the Kinge, and ease to them selfe. euery each of them taketh for his Liuerey at night, dimidmm gallon ale ; And for winter season, each of them taketh two candles parris, one faggott or elles dimidmm tallwood ; and when any of them is present in Court, him is allowed for daily wagis in the Checkerroolle, seauen pence halfepenny, and cloathing winter and summer4, or elles fortie shillinges. It hath euer bene in speciall charge to Squires in this Court, to weare the Kinges liuerey 5 Customablely, for the more glorie, and in worshipping this honorable housold ; 6 and euery of them to haue into this Court one honest seruant, and suftisaunt liuerey, in the townes or Countrey, for theire horses and other serv- antes, by the herberger ; two gentlemen lodgid togedre, as they be coupled bedfellowes by the Gentlemen Vshers : And if any of them be lett blood, or sicke, in Court, or nighe therto, he taketh liuerey in eating daies, two loauis, two messe of grete meate, one gallon ale for all day, and litter, all the yeare, of the Sergeant Vsher of the hall for there bedis in Court ; And if any of these Squires be sent out of Court by [the] Styward, Thesaurer, Controller, or other of the Counting house, for matter touching the housold, then he hath daily
1 MS. wole, print weeke. 2 leaf 55, back. 3 print 60.
4 MS. sunner. s leaf 56. 6 Sidenote : One seruant a peice.
70 EDWARD IV'S HOUSEHOLD BOOK. HARLEIAN MS. 642.
allowed hym xijd "by petition. Also, they pay for there carriage of harneis in Court1. They take no part of the general! guiftes, neither with Chambre nor hall, But if the giuer giue them specially a parte by expresse name or wordes. none of these should depart from Court, but by license of Styward, Thesaurer, or souerainz of the Counting house, that knowe howe the King is accompanied best ; And to take a daye 2when they shall come againe, vpon paine of losse of wages at his next comeing. That nde Sergeant of office, nor Squire, nor yonian, nor groome, but as be appointed in this booke, to dyne or sope out of halle and3 Kinges Chambre; nor to4 withdrawe any seruice, or elles to hurt or little the Allmesse of hall or Chambre, vpon such paine as the soueraines of howsold woole award by the statutes of noble Edward the Third, In none office, &c. hit hath bene often, in daies bifore, comaundid by the Counting house, that in feriall dayes, after that the Kinge and Queene, and ther Chambres, and the soueraines of housold in the hall, be seruid, that then such honest yomen of howsold be callid or assignid to serue from the dressour to the hall, the remanent, specially suche as bere wages, that if any seruice be withdrawne by them, that then they to be Nota pro Antient corrected therfore. These Esquires of housold of old
order amongest . .
these Esquirs. be accustomed, winter and summer5, in afternoones and in eueninges, to drawe to Lordes Chambres within Court, there to keep honest company after there Cunninge, in talking of Cronicles of Kinges, and of others 6Pollicies, or in pipeing or harpeing, song- inges7, or other actes marcealls, to helpe to occupie the Court, and accompanie estraingers, till the time require of departing.
\_A Squire's yearly Allowances, and their Cost £51. Harl. MS. 642, leaf 57.]
8|p0mtt0 ncna zi bltinta que hie fundat sub tali \ forma, videlicet, vnius Armigeri de possessione clare in L. li. Anglia, iper Annum, super )
1 Sidenote : No Carriage. * leaf 56, back. 3 print or1. * print do. 5 MS. sunner. 6 leaf 57. I/or others read other, with the print in H. Ord. 7 print synginge. 6 This Latin and account are not in the printed H. Ord.
EDWARD IV'S HOUSEHOLD BOOK. HARLEIAN MS. 642. 71
Seneschallus siue Gubernator cuius- \
cunqwe domus, quod capiat primam Septimanam per I <;,•
polliciam in adiutorium totius Anni sequentis. Et quod I '
liabet de remanenfo' Stauro &c quando ineepit /
xiij loavis bake in housold, iij d.
viij gallons mene ale in housold, iiij d.
Pro Sidre to helpe the dayes, or mede — sine pretio.
in boefe daily, or mutton fresh, or elles all poudred ) , is more auaile, j v '
Motton dayly bought, ij d.
Pro dietan'o ad xx d. inde : Bacon, Porkes, veelis, venison, Pigges, Lambys, capones, hennys, Chickens, Cony, pidgeons, egges, milke, cheese of fower kyne to the paile, herbage, onions, garlike, &c., by husbandrie and helpe of one daye with another, de staure, vj d., Summa diet to xx d.
Summa Anni, xxiiij li. vj s.
eightpence.
1Item for wood, cole, Candle, Saute dayly, salte and j .. , otemeale, j ^
In like wise these twentie pence, in fishe daies, must be deuided by husbandrie and helpe of Biuers and pondes, &c.
Pro camera et reparacione vesture, simul cum obla- | tionibus et elemosinis. Summa per annum, j iiij li.
Pro necessary's domus emendis reparandis, cum ex- ) ««-! pensis forum, &c. Summa j
Pro emptione et excambijs equorum, carriagiorum, ) .... ,. feni, et aliorum, per Annum estimator, Summa j •*
Pro vadijs vnius Clirici, xl s. ; duorum valectorwm, — 1 iiij li. ; duorum garci'onum ad — xl s. ; et duorum pu[e]- \ ix li. rorum, — xx s. ; per An[n]um. Summa )
Pro robis x. personarum per Annum in lib[er]atione ; summa, Ls.
Pro canibus et nisis plus constant quam conferunt. ) ... ••••-, Summa ) UJS'
Pro fena et auenis de pratis et Campis domm, per \ Annum, et falcacione et impositione feni et litten*. > xxs. Summa )
Summa huius Domus, L. li-
Pro sex honestis vacuis personis seruientibus, absqwe paruulis et omnibus laborarijs infra, one bushell brasilij boni 2potest satis respondere ad xij gallons communis Ceruitij, ad valorem cuiusliiet gallowi, j s.
1 leaf 57, back. 2 leaf 58.
72 CHAUCER'S OATH AS CONTROLLER OP CUSTOMS.
CHAUCEE'S OATH AS CONTROLLER OF THE CUSTOMS.
[Tho' this is from an Elizabethan MS. we know how old forms of oaths continue, and we may fairly assume that this is the one Chaucer took on entering on his Custom-house duties in the Thames Street of his boyhood, in 1374, when he was about 34.]
[Ashm. MS. 1147, art. iv,page 77.] The Oth of the Comptroler of the Customes.
YE shall swere, that well and faithfully ye shall serve the kinge in thoffice of Comptroller of the Customes and the kinges Subsedies in the porte of L[ondon], and faithfully ye shall enter the thinges customeable wA-ich shall cum to the saide porte or passe from the same ; And that ye shall take noe gifte for your office doinge, nor for non other thinge w/w'ch may fall to the disadvauntage of the kinge ; Nor ye shall suffer noe merchandises, nor noe other thinges customeable, to passe out of the said porte without paying of due custome ; And that ye shall doe the said office, and dwell vpon) the same, in your proper person, without puttinge any Substitut vnder you. And ye shall writ* the rolles by jour owne hande demesned ; And the proffite of the kinge, ye shall awayte to doe as moche ! as in you is, accordinge to your knowledge and to your power : Soe god helpe you, and the holye Evangelises.
1 page 78.
73
GLOSSARIAL INDEX.
Abbies, the sick to be sent to, p.
53
Absence from Court, rules respect- ing (Edw. IV), 70 Account, nature of the, for xvith
year Edward II, 52 It is to be arranged speedily, 59 To be heard daily, 7, 58 For foreign ministers, 59 Penalty for not coming to, 59
Account in Wardrobe : Controller
to testify concerning beasts at,
60 Accountes of Housliold : Usher of
king's chamber to report daily
at, 18 Spicery clerk to answer for parcels,
etc. delivered at his office at, 10
Accounts, rule concerning, 49, 50
AccustomaWy, by custom, 62
Achate (purchase), 20, et passim. Chaucer Prologe, 1. 571. " O.Fr. Achepter, to buy ; Er. Acheter, etc." — Morris, Glossary.
Achates of flour to be made for king's best profit and people's least grievance, 25
Achators, 2, kitchen officers, 31. See Achates.
Adam de Bowyer, 55
Advisement, 53
Alters, scourers of kitchen uten- sils, 33
Ale, one galon, for steward's chamberlain, 6
Allowances (during absence) : to
horse doctor when absent from
Hall, iiij d. a day, 41 Baker, iiij d. ob. in pantry roll, 26 Herbergeour of cart horses when
abroad on business, iij d. a day,
41 Achators absent from Court for
their bouch, iiij d. ob., 31 To Hall valets de mestiers when
out of Court about their office,
ij d. a day, 21 Avenerye clerk when out of Court,
iiij d. ob. a day, 39 To valets of king's chamber when
sent out of Court, iii d. a day, 19
Allowances: to palfreours and
somters, ij d. a day, 52 Poulterer, xl s. a day, 35 Yalets de mestiers (Hall) for shoes,
iiij s. iiij d., 21, and throughout To almotier for distribution when
travelling, xiiij s. from wardrobe,
15 To surgeon for medicines, xls. a
year, 16 To waferer for his office, viij d. a
day in pantry roll, 25 To huntsman for each dog's puture,
or food, j d. a day, 44 Ferretter for puture of ferrets, j d.,
45 Partringer for two dogs' puture,
each, ob. ; for 2 falcons' puture,
or food, each, ob., 45 For lodging horses, 48 For horses to serjants at armes, 19 Valet herbergeour for cresset, ij d.,
40
74
GLOSSARIAL INDEX.
(Allowances continu'd) To baker for fornage, iij d. a day,
26 Lawnders for ashes and fuel, xxvj s.
viij d. at wardrobe, 27 To Squires of Household when ab- sent, 12 d. a day (Edw. IV), 68,
70 Allowances for Robes: Treasurer,
16 marks, 6 King's chamberlain, chamberlain
as banneret of household, 16
marks, 7 Controller's chamberlain, 8 marks, 8
2 clarks of counting table, each 16 s. 8 d., 8
Clerk privy seal, 8 marks, 9
3 clerks privy seal, money accord- ing to their wages, 9
Clerk purveyor for wardrobe, 8
marks, 9
Spicery clerk, 16 s. 8 d., 10 Under spicery clerk — clerk's robes,
20s., 12 Under usher of wardrobe, 40s.,
12
Valets de mestiers, 1 mark, 12 Fruiterer, 40 s., 13 Chandler, 46 s. 8 d., 14 Confessor's 3 boys, each 10 s. a
year, 14
Chief chaplain (dean), 8 marks, 15 Almoner, 8 marks, 15 Under almoner, 20 s., 16 Physician, 8 marks, 16 Surgeon, 8 marks, 16 Market coroner, 3 marks and a
naif, 17
3 squires for king's month, 40s., 18
12 squires for king's chamber, 40s.,
18 2 ushers of king's chamber, 40 s.,
18
4 squires for king's body (Edw. IV),
40 s., 64, 65 4 yeomen of chamber (Edw. IV),
18 s., 66, 67 2 valets of king's chamber, 1 mark,
19 30 Serjeants at armes, each 46 s. 8 d.,
20 Chief usher of Hall's chamberlain,
8 marks, 20
(Allowances for Robes continu'd) 2 Serjeant ushers of Hall, 1 mark,
21 2 knights marshals of Hall, 8
marks, 22 2 Serjeants marshals of Hall, 46 s.
8d., 22
2 assayers, 40 s., 22 24 Hall squires, 40 s., 23 Clerk of pantry and buttery, 46 3.
8 d., 23 Under clerk of pantry and buttery,
20s., 24
Serjeant paneter, 46 s. 8 d., 24 Serjeant paneter for king, 46 s. 8 d.,
24
Waferer, 40 s., 25 Serjeant baker, 46 s. 8 d., 26 Naper, 40 s., 26 Ewer, 40 s., 27 Launder, king's, 26 s. 8 d., 27 Launder of napery, 26 s. 8 d., 27 Chief butler, household, 46 s. 8 d.,
28 Serjeant butler, household, 46 s.
8 d., 28
Kitchen chief clerk, 46 s. 8 d., 31 2 achators, 46 s. 8 A, 31 2 cooks, king's, 46 s. 8 d., 32 2 cooks, household, 46 s. 8 d., 32 Lardner, 40 s., 35 Garbager, 20 s., 36 Scullery serjeant, 40s., 36 Scullery serjeant for silver, 46 s.
8d, 37
Porter, 47 s. 8 d., 38 Marshalsy clerk, 46 s. 8 d., 39 Avenry clerk, 40 s., 39 Warden of palfreys, 47 s. 8 d., 40 Herberger of sommers, 40 s., 41 Serjeant marshal (horse doctor), ^46s. 8d., 41 Valet carnaver, 10 s., 42 20 charioteers, 20 s., 43 23 someters, 10s., 43 12 messengers, 1 mark, 46 Valets, stable, 10 s., 43 Hackney man, £ mark, 43 23 archers, 10 s., 46 Stud-groom, 40 s., 44 Huntsman, 40s., 45 Ferreter, 1 mark, 45 Partringer, 1 mark, 45 Oyeselour, 1 mark, 45
GLOSSARIAL INDEX.
75
All Saints, 62 ; fuel for dinner- time allowed from, to Easter even, 6
Almoner, chief, 51, 62 ; chaplain,
15 Alms: food, etc. for almoner's
office, 15, 51 ' Annote the walsh,' 1 Annette the
Welshwoman or foreigner, 55 Apples provided by fruiterer, 13 Apposed, he shall be, 26
Archbishop of York, ordinances read and assented to in presence of, 5, 58
Archers, 46
twenty-three on foot, 51 Armes, serjants at, 19 Armourer, king's, charge for, 11 Arrerages, 50, 59 Ashes and fuel, allowances for, 27 Assay ers, 22
Asseour of king's table, 31 Assise, 13, fixed measure and
weight ordained by statute —
modern. Verb, to assize. Of bread, etc., to be proclaimed by
coroner, 17
Avant alour, foregoer, 53
Avenery, office of oats (Fr. avoine), 38, 51 ; to be surveyed by con- troller, 7
Clerk of the (Marshalsy), 61 Purveyances, etc., 41
Bailiffs, to aid marshals, 55 Bakehouse, 25 Baiter, 25, 61
bankins, banker, 21; Fr. "ban- quier, a bench-cloth, or a carpet for a forme or bench." — Cot- grave. To be kept by the Fuer.
Banneret, privileges of steward if
he be a, 5, 6
Privileges of chamberlayne if he be a, 6,7
Barils,^-, ?under, lower: Nourri dans vn barril. " Brought vp in a Tub (a speech vsed to the dis- grace, or as a description, of a simple, ignorant, vnexperienced, and home-bred hoydon)." — Cot- grave. It can hardly mean the servants of the 'Harillier ... an officer that tends, and lookes to, the caske of a great mans seller.'
Barons of Exchequer, 58 To sue those who do not come to the account, 59
Barthemew de Baddesmere, stew- ard of houshold, commanded to prepare ordinances, 5
Beare : allowances of 5 chamber- laynes, 6, 7 ; and other officers. 6-46
Beasts, purveyance of great, 60
Beds: in king's chamber to be
made by valets, 19 ; by yeomen.
66 Serjant of scullery's, to be carried
in carriages of his office, 36 1 for 2 buttery porters carried in
buttery carriage, 30
1 for 2 valets of scullery to be carried in carriages of office, 37
Under clerk and valets of pantry's to be carried in pantry charges, 24
2 sauser valets, 1 to be carried in carriage of their offices, 38
For pantry men to be carried in
pantry carriages, pp. 24, 25 Naper's, to be carriea in carriages
of his office, 26 1 for larder valets, and 1 for 2
larder porters, to be carried hi
larder carriages, 34
1 for 2 valets, bakers to be carried in bakehouse carriages, 26
For valets wine-drawer and verser to be carried in butler's cart, 29
2 valets of pitcher house carried in carriages of pitcher house, 29
"Under usher's to be carried in
carriages of wardrobe, 12 Yeomen of chamber, to have car-
76
GLOSSARIAL INDEX.
riage for one to each two of them (Edw. IV), 66
Bedes, confessor allowed livery for, from wardrobe, 14
Berner, dog, kept by king's hunts- man, 45
best best, 60
Bills of valets, etc., and their wages to be delivered to the wardrobe. 61 Executions of the, 55
Bishops of Ely, of Norwich, and of Salisbury, ordinances read and assented to in presence of, 5, 58 Of Exeter, 58
Bourd, dressing, 68 ; dresser,
kitchen dresser
Bourd, serving, ?side board, 67 Boys, physician allowed 3, 15
Almoner's boy, 16
Herberger of cart horses, 41
Ordinance concerning, 51
Ferretter's boy, 45
Partringer's, 45
2 Otter hunter's boys, 45
Avenery clerk's, 38
Chief clerk of Marshalsy's, 39
Stud-groom's, 44
King's kitchen valets', 32
Household kitchen valets', 33
Confessor to have 3, 14
Aker's, 33
Warden of palfrey's, 40
braces, armefulles, 42, margin
Bread, 61 ; paneter to receive in grosse, and answer for expenses to chief dark, 24
Liveree of, to be made in pantry, 23
Round, for all, 25
Pain de main, 25
Pantry clerk to be at receipt of, 23
Bread, allowances of: 24 squires, each 1 darre Pantry clerk, 1 darre Under clerk, 1 darre Chief paneter, 1 darre 2 valets pantry, each 1 darre Serjant paneter, 1 darre Serjant paneter's valet, 1 darre Valet purveyor of bread, 1 darre
(Bread continu'd) Waferer, 1 darre Baker, 1 darre Naper, 1 darre Valet naper, 1 darre Ewer, 1 darre Valet ewer, 1 darre Launder (washerman), 2 darres Launder of naperie, 2 darres Chief butler, 1 darre Serjant butler, houshold, 1 darre Serjant butler (king), 1 darre Valet of cuphouse, 1 darre Valet wine-drawer, 1 darre Valet verser, 1 darre 2 valets of pitcher house, each 1
darre
2 clerks of kitchen, each 1 darre Huntsman, 1 darre 2 achators, each 1 darre 2 serjant cooks, each 1 darre 5 kitchen valets (king's kitchen),
each 1 darre 5 household kitchen valets, each 1
darre 2 valets akers, each 1 darre
1 Lardner, 1 darre Treasurer's chamberlain, 1 darre Steward's chamberlain, 1 darre Chamberlain's chamberlain, 1 darre Controller's chamberlain, 1 darre Cofferer's chamberlain, 1 darre Counting table clerks, i.e. serjant's
liveree, 1 darre Clerk privy seal's chamberlain, 1
darre
Clerks of privy seal, 1 darre Purveyor's chamberlain, 1 darre Purveyor, 2 darres Spicery clerk, 1 darre Under spicery clerk, 1 darre Under usher of wardrobe, 1 darre Fruiterer, 7 darres Chandler, 1 darre
2 valets to work wax, each 1 darre Confessor, 3 darres
Larder usher, 1 darre Poulterer, 1 darre Valet poulterer, 1 darre Garbager, 1 darre Valet garbager, 1 darre 2 serjants of scullery, each 1 darre 2 valets scullery, each 1 darre 2 valets sausery, each 1 darre
GLOSSARIAL INDEX.
77
(Bread continu'd) Porter, 1 darre Valets' porters, each 1 darre Chief Marshalsy clerk, 1 darre Avenery clerk, 1 darre Warden of palfreys, 1 darre Seriant herberger of horses, 1 darre Servant marshal for horses, when
sick, 1 darre
2 valets to Hall ushers, each 1 darre 2 knights Hall marshals, each 2 darres
2 serjants Hall marshals, each 1 darre
Surveyor of dresser, 1 darre
3 assayers, each 1 darre Dean of chapel, 2 darres Almoner, 2 darres Almoner's office, 13 darres Under almoner, 1 darre Valet of almonry, 1 darre Physician, 3 darres Surgeon, 2 darres Market coroner, 1 darre
3 esquires for king's mouth, each 1 darre
12 squires of king's chamber, each
1 darre 2 ushers of king's chamber, each 1
darre
8 valets, 1 darre Knight chief usher's chamberlain,
1 darre
Under ushers of hall, each 1 darre Squires of household when sick, 2
loves (Edw. IV), 68, 69
4 squires for the body, a chet lofe (Edw. IV), 64, 65
Yeomen of chamber when sick, 2 loves (Edw. IV), 66
Breef = brief or abstract,
Of parcels delivered and spent in spicery, to be made every day, 10
Br eking of houses, 56 Bribours a Nuit, 55
Briefs, 24
Butler to answer at, daily to clerk
of buttery, 28 Serjant of scullery to answer to
clerk of kitchen at, for fuel, etc.,
36 Garbaper to answer daily at,
Of kitchen to be made by clerk every day at count in wardrobe, 30
BucJfhoundes, king's, 44
Huntsman to keep, 15, 45 busch, fuel, margin 36 Butchery, 34
Butler, chief, 27, 47
To view his office, 58
Loss on bad wine to fall on, 61 Buttery, 27
To be surveyed by controller, 7 Buttery and pantry, clarks of, 23 Buttery, 51
Liverees of wine and beer to be made in, 23
Buyinges, 47, 67 By colour of, 49 By delivere of, 42
Candles. See Lights. Candlemas, 59, February 2 Canvas, 10
Carnaver, valet, 42. Carnauer (if the reading is correct) may be a derivative from some word which must have been derived from euro, carnis (flesh), or per- haps it may be connected with euro, carra, carrnm (a cart). Both meanings would not be unsuit- able here. — J. H. Hessels.
Carriage of victuals, etc., 52
Carriages and Portages, in king's journeys, to be levied in rolle of spicery clerk, 10
Carriages (wardrobe), both for coffers, etc., and for beds, to be surveyed by spicery clerk, 10
Cart, butler's, 29 Cart horses, 40 Carts, 40
Cellars, 30 To be surveyed by controller, 7
Cerges, 15. Fr. "cierge: m. A
78
GLOSSARIAL INDEX.
big wax candle. Poincte . . . the middle-sized wax-candle vsed in Churches (the biggest being teamed Cierge, and the least Bougie}." — Cotgrave. Chamber, stewards of houshold's, 6
Thresorer of wardrobe, 6
Chamberlaine's, 6
Controller's, 7
Cofferer's, 8
Clerk privy seal, 9
3 clerks do., 9
Clerk purveyor for wardrobe's, 9
Clerk of spicery's, 10
Confessor's, 14
Almoner's, 15
Physician's, 16
Surgeon's, 16
Market coroner's, 17
Squires', of king's mouth, 18
Knight chief usher's, 20
Hall marshals', 22
Great lord's, 52
Squires for king's body (Edw. IV),
64, 65 Chaniberlayne, 6
Hugh de Dispenser, 5
Commands valets of king's cham- ber, 19
Steward's, 6
Treasurer's, 6
Controller's, 8
Cofferer's, 8
Warden of privy seal's, 9
Purveyor of wardrobe's, 9
To keep his master's bed
Knight chief usher of Hall's, 20
Great lord's, 52
Chandler, serjant, 13 Chapel, allowances for, 15 Chapeux, hats ; Fr. chapeaux, 46 Chaplein, 62
Chappeler, 46, note Treasurer of the wardrobe's, 6
Chappleins 5, 15
Cliareters, charioteers, drivers, 43
Charetes, 42, note
Cliariters, cart horses, 44
Chaucerer = chaussure, shoeing,
25, note Chaundlery, 51
Ckeeto, a diet loaf, lofe, 64, 65. Fr. "Pain rousset. Cheat, or boulted bread; houshold bread made of Wheat and Rie mingled." — Cot. " The second is the cheat or wheaton bread, so named bi- cause the colour ther of resem- bleth the graie or yellowish wheat, being cleane and well dressed ; and out of this is the coursest of the bran (vsuallie called gurgeons or pollard) taken." Harrison calls the mixt- corn bread by its usual name of " miscelin, that is, bread made of mingled corne." — Harrison's England, p. 155.
Cherries provided by fruiterer, 13
Chief usher, to see that food is good, 7
Chivage, 62. Low Latin CJiiva- ffium, Chavagium. " Capitis cen- sus ; cens du au seigneur tous les ans par chaque tete de ses hommes de corps : oL chavaige" — D'Arnis.
Christ ien Scot, 55
Cities, not to be charged hy mar- ket coroner for more than a night and day, 17
Clark, or clerk, for the pleas be- longing to stewardship, 6 Under almoner, 15 Clerk, of avenery, 39 Of briefs, 24 Controller's, 7 Clarks, counting table, 8
Dean of chapel's, 6, 15 Clerks of kitchen, 30, 31 Clark of kitchen to see that food
is good, 7 To view great beasts. See note, 60
Clerk of buttery to taste wines, 47 Clark, chief, of pantry and but- tery, 23
GLOSSARIAL INDEX.
Clerk, chief, of Marshalsy, 38
Of Marshalsea, 38, 60
Of the inarch, 61
Of the avenery (Marshalsy), 61
Purveyor of wardrobe, to charge king's taylor, armourer, etc., by indentures, 11 ; to view his office, 58
Of privy seal, 9. See Privy Seal.
Clerks, of the office, when they are
to account, 59 Spicery, 10
Clerk of Spicery to survey fruit provided by fruiterer. Its cost and cost of carriage, 13
Provides cloths and towels, 14
Assistant spicery, 12
Cloths allowed to confessor's boys,
14- Coal, to be purveyed by serjant
of scullery, 36
Coch, ' for their coch,' 8 and note, allowance for the night ; Er. couche, bed.
Cochours, Setters, dogs that lie down when they scent the game, 45
Cofferer, 8 To be superseded, 59
Confectioner of Spices, charge for,
11 Confections provided by clerk of
spicery, 13 Confessor, king's, 14
Contreroller, 7
To be at cutting up of beasts, 60 To taste wines, 47, 61
Controller, or Countreroller, of wardrobe, Sir Gilbert de Wigge- ton, 5
Controller, Comptroller of Cus- toms, oath of, 72 Cooks, 31
Coroner. See Market Coroner. Marshalsy to be charged with, for
king, 55 Couched, v. laid down — transitive :
applied to wines ; Fr. s. v. coucher, 61, 47
Council, ordinance of, concerning
Marshalsy, 57 Council, king's, 48
Count of the house, account of
household, 23 Counter-roll, of things issuing
from wardrobe to be kept by
controller, 7 Counting Table, 8
Clarks of, 8 Coursers, 40 Courses, number of, 52 Court, wherein king lieth, 52 Covenabli, Fr. convenablement, 44 Cresset, 40
Crosse, offering at, 62
Of resurrection, 62 Cup, squire to serve king with, 18
Cuppes, silver, butler to be an- swerafile for, 28
Darre = dole, Cotgrave, 6 and note.
Davon, 1 Fr. devant, used instead of the proper word devoir (see debvoir in Cotgrave), 62. In Irish, Mr Henuessy says that the word is da (two) bhon (groat or penny), pronounct davoun, 8 pence, by transition an offer- ing, in which sense he has often met with the word in Irish. But how it got into these Ordinances is the difficulty.
Dean of Chappel, 14, 15
Deer, huntsman for, 44
Dereigned, 53. Fr. " Desrener. To dereine ; to iustifie, or make good, the deuyall of an act or fact. Norm."— Cot.
Destrers, destriers, 40. Fr. "Des- trier : m. A steed, a great horse, or horse of seruice." — Cot.
Devised, settled, 50
80
GLOSS ABIAL INDEX.
Dimidium, half, 64, 65
Dinners, steward's chamberlayne allowed, when he will have them, 6
With king, chamberlayne, if ban- neret, allowed, 7
Dispenser, Hugh le, chamberlayne, commanded to prepare ordin- ances, 5
Dogs, 44, 45, 52 Di-esser, surveyor of, 22 Larderer to keep viandes at, 33
Earl Marshal, 35 Easier, 62
Knight chief usher of Hall's fee
payable at, and Michaelmas, 20 Easter Even, fuel for dinner-time
allowed from All Saints to, 6 Eggs, waferer to have, 25
Electuaries, provided by clerk of
spicery, 13 Elnes (? ells), 17 Ely, Bishop of, ordinances read
and assented to in presence of, 5 Embesil, embezzle, 51 Epiphany, 62
Esqiiier, knight chief usher's, 20 Esquillerye, scullery, 36
Ewer, 27 ; officer for water- ves- sels, L. aquarius, to help larder porters, 34 King's kitchen, 33 Excester, Exeter, Bishop of, 58
Exchequer, counter-roll to be tes- tified in, 7
Accounts of wardrobe to be de- livered to, 59
Expence, 35
Fairs, 60
Faucons, falcons, 45
Feasts, New Year's Tide and Whitsuntide, 6
Fees : of steward, 6 Payable at New Year's Tide and
Whitsunday in equal portions, 6 Garbagers, 1 mark a-year, 36 Butler, xx marks a-year, 27 Knights Marshals of Hall, 10
marks, 22 Knight's purveyor for wardrobe to
have his, out of the Court, 10 Chief usher of Hall's, x marks a-
year, 20 For presents, 53
Feriall dayes, 70, festival or feast days. Fr. " Ferial . . Of, or be- longing to, a holy day." — Cot- grave.
Ferretter, 45 Ferrettes, ferrets, 45
Ferrors, 42, 1 blacksmiths, shoers
of horses Ferrurie, 41
Feust, Fr. " Fust : m. Any staffe, stake, stocke, stumpe, trunke or log." — Cot. ; wood, 36, margin
Feust, cups of, 28
Figs, provided by clerk of spicery,
13
Fines, for neglect of duty, 50 Fines levied by Market Coroner
to be paid to wardrobe, 17 Fish, parting of, 7, 31 Fish, great, 60, 61 Fisher, 46
Flesh, cutting out of, 7
Achates of, 31 Florence, 62 Flour, sauser to purvey, 37
Failles of tallies, 23, 42
To be delivered to chiefs within xiij days after achate, 31
Foote-man under Earl Marshal, 57 Fore-goer, 53 For-jured the Court, 53 Fornage, baking, 26 and note Forren accountes, 60
GLOSSARIAL INDEX.
81
Forrein charges, 47
Forrein ministers to account in
wardrobe, 59 Fore-riders, 1 postilions, 43
Forewatcldd, tired out with watch- ing, 65 Fonvith, 25
Foule, fowls, chickens, 36 Fruiterer, 13
Fuel : Under ushers to make
liverees of, 21
To be purveyed bv serjant of scul- lery, 36
Fuer, 21 and note, the strewer of rushes in the hall
Garbager, 1 looker after the refuse
and offal, 36 Garden of the wardrobe : To pay
for household purveyances with
his own hand or by warrant of
his letters, 58
To fix time for the accounts, 59 Garner Chief of Marshalsy, 42 Gaytes, Herberger for the 2, 55
Giftes, king's, from wardrobe to be showed to treasurer of, 4 times a-year, 11
Gilbert de Wiggeton, 5 Godes, gen. in es., 51 Graihoundes, 44
Great Friday, 62, Good Friday,
Crucifixion day Great Meal, king's, 32 Great Roll of houshold expenses,
15 Gunnore, Dame, 55. . (This was
Queen Guinevere's name in some
old Romances.)
Hackney, 15
Serjants at arms to have one — som-
ter, 19 Hakeney, the, of the house, 43
HOUSEHOLD OBD.
Hackneyman, 43 Hall, 20 Chief usher to see that none dine
in, but those entitled, 20 Order concerning those who should
eat in, 50 People to be placed in, by knights
marshals, 21 Serjants marshals to appoint places
in, 23 Clerks of pantry and buttery to
serve in, at both meals, 23, 24 Pantry porters to carry bread at
alternate meals in, 24 Pantry valet to serve at one meal
in, 24
Valet ewer to serve in, 27 26 serjants at arms to lie in, 20
Hall Marshals, 21
Hall, diet in, allowed to Steward
of Household, if banneret, for 1
knight, 3 esquiers, and a dark ;
if knight, for 2 esquiers and a
clarke, 6 Thresorer of Wardrobe, for 1 chap-
lein, 1 clarke, and 2 esquiers, 6 Chamberlayne, if banneret, for 1
knight and 2 squires, 6 ; if
knight, for 2 esquiers, 7 Contreroller, for a dark and an
esquier, 7
Cofferer, for one esquier, 8 Clark of Privy Seal, for 1 esquier,
9 Clark Purveior of Great Wardrobe,
for 1 esquier, 9 Chief Chaplin or Dean of Chappel,
for 1 squier, 14
Almoiner or Almner, for 1 squier, 15 Under Almoner or Clark to Almoner,
15
Vallet of Almonery, 16 Valletes ofMisterie, 16 Cyrurgion, 16 Knight Marshal, for himself, dark,
and sergeaunt, 20 Knight Chief Usher of Hall, for 1
esquier, 20 liter, among the vallets de mestier,
21 Purveyor of Bread, a vallet de
mestier, 25
82
GLOSSARIAL INDEX.
(Hall continu'd)
2 Buttery Porters, vallets de mes-
tiers, 30 Clarkes of Kitchen, two, one chief,
the other under, to take one
meal a day each, 30, 31 2 Serjant Cooks, who shall serve at
one meal and eat at the other, 32 Vallet Garbager, 36 2 Vallets de Mestiers of the Scullery,
37 2 Vallets de Mestiers of the Sausery,
37 Warden of Palfreys (serjant her-
berjour), 40 Serjant Herberjour of Cart Horses.
40
Serjant Marshal (horse doctor), 41 Otterhunter, among the vallets de
mestiers, 45 Birde-taker or Oyselour, among the
vallets de mestier, 45 Fisher, among the vallets de mestier,
46
Two Trumpeters and two other min- strels, diet in chamber or Hall, 46 12 Messengers, 46 Chappeler (? hatmaker), to eat by
himself, 46
Harbergers. See Herbergers, 48
Harbinger, 1 Knight Marshal of
Hall to be, 21 1 Serjant Marshal of Hall to be, 22
Harde, heard, 50 Harneys, 40 Harneys cartes, 39
Harnis, 12 ; gear furniture. "0. Fr. harneis; Fr. harnois, all manner of harness, equipage fur- niture ; Ger. Harnisch, armour." — Morris, Glossary to Chaucer.
Herberged, to be, 42 Herbergeour, valet, 40
Herberjour, herbergers, warden of palfreys, 39
Herbergers, not to refused lodg- ings, etc., 49
Herbergers, or foregoers for differ- ent offices, 54, 55
Herbergerye, poultry out of, 34 Heringe, herrings, 60 Hideous complayntes, 56
Holle, whole, 24. Same as Chaucer's Hool, Hoole, Pro- logue, 1. 533, Squires Tale, 161. "A.S. halj whole, sound." - Morris.
Homicides, 56 Horse Doctor, 41
Horses: Avenery Clerk 1, 39 Chief Clerk of Marshalsy 2, 39 Ordinances respecting allowances
for, to Serjants at Arms, 19 Confessor allowed for 3, 14 Serjants at Arms, each 2, 19 Physician allowed for 3, 16 Under Almoner for 1, 16 Serjant Marshal (horse-doctor) 2,
41
Warden of Palfreys 2, 40 Stud-groom, guardian of young
horses, 2, 44 Squires for king's body allowed
(Edw. IV), 64, 65 No Valet de Mestier to have, 51 Hospitals, 53
Houclie, cloths, 40 and note Household, the great, 53
Household, uncertainty concerning duties and privileges of officers of, 5
King gives orders for reform of, 5 Ordinances, who prepared and as- sented to, 5
Ordinance respecting those of, who are sick, 53
Household officers to be lodged
near Court, 48
Names of, to be delivered to War- den and Clark of Marshalsea, 60
Houserome, houseroom, 42
Houses, trappings, horse-clothes,
43
Hugh le Despenser, 5 Hugo Bungey, 55 Hunsmen, huntsmen, 44
GLOSSARIAL INDEX.
83
Incense, 62
Indentures, taylor, armourer, pa- villioner, confectioner of spices to be charged by, by purveyor,
Indenture of wines, 3 parts, 47
Infantes de gard, 18
Infants (king's wards), 17, 18
Jewelhouse, fee of, 65 John Hauberjour, 55 John Lovel, 44
Keu, 14, a cook to dress the Con- fessor's victual. Fr. Queu, Queux: m. A Cooke. — Cot.
King, Warden of Palfreys to ride
with, etc., 40 Ordinances concerning his courses
at meat, etc., 52 To be preceded by Serjants at
Arms when on progress, 19 King's Chamber, Squires and
Ushers of, 18 Valets of, 19
4 Serjants at Arms to lie near, 20 Kitchen, 30—33
Knight of Household, 52
2 Marshals of Hall, 21 Knight Marshal, 20
Knights, lodging and following, 48 All knights admitted to household.
50 Chief Usher of Hall, 20
Knightes Service, 65
Knowen, past participle in -en, 61
Larder, 33, 51
To be surveyed by Controller, 7 Lardner, 33 Launder, for King's Chamher, 27
of Napery, 27 Lent, huntsman to keep dogs at
his own cost during, 45 Lieutenantes, Steward's and Trea- surer's, 32
Lights : Candles allowed to Stew- ard of Household, 12 ; p. 6 Thresorer of Wardrobe, 12 ; 6 Chamberlayne, 12; 6 Contreroller, 6 ; 7 Cofferer, chamber, 6; counting table, 12 or more ; p. 8
2 Clarkes of Counting Table and Coritrerollers Clark, 6 ; 8
Clerk of Privy Seal, 6 ; 9
3 Clerkes of Privy Seal, 6 ; 9 Clerk Purveyor for Wardrobe, 3 ; 9 Clerk of Spicery (chamber). 2;
(office), 3; 10
Uuder-Usher of Wardrobe, 3 ; 12 Fruiterer (chamber), 3 ; (office), 3;
lo
Chandler, 3 ; 13 King's Confessor, 3 ; 14 Dean of Chapel, with 5 chaplains,
6 clarks, 6 ; 14 Chapel, 6 ; 15 Almoner, 2 ; 15 Physician, 3 ; 16 Surgeon, 3; 16 Clerk Market Coroner, 2 ; 17
3 Squires of king's mouth, each 2 = 6 ; 18
Usher of king's chamber, 3 ; 18
4 Serjants at Arms, 2 ; 20 26 g. 20
Knight Chief Usher of Hall, 3 ; 20 2 Serjaut Ushers do., each 3 = 6;
20 2 Knights Marshal, each 3 = 6 ; 22
2 Serjants Marshal, each 3 = 6 ; 22 Surveyor of dresser, 3 ; 22
3 Assayers, each 2 = 6 ; 22 Clark of pantry and buttery, 2 ; 23 Chief Paneter, 3 ; office, 3 ; 24 Serjeant Paneter, 3 ; (office), 6 ; 24 Baker Serjeant, 3 ; (office), 2 ; 25 Naper Serjeant (office), 2 ; 26 Eawer (office), 2 ; 27
Launder for king's chamber, 2 ; 27 Lawender of Naperie, 2 ; 27 Botiller, chief, 3 ; 27 Botiller Serjeant, Houshold, 3
(office), 6; (cellar), 4; 28 Bottiller Serjeant, King's, 3;
(office), 3 ; 28 Pitcher, House, 2 valets (office), 2 ;
29 Clark of Kitchin, Chief, 2 ; 30
84
GLOSSARIAL INDEX.
(Lights continu'J) Achatours, 2, each 3 = 6; 31 Cooks, Serjant, to king, each 3=6 ;
32 Cooks, Serjant, for meisne, each 3
=6; 32
Lardiner Serjant, 3; (office), 3; 34 Garbager (office), 2 ; 36 Scullery Sarjeaunt, 3 ; (office), 2 ;
36 '
Scullery Sarjant (office), 2 ; 36 Sauser, 3 ; (office), 3 ; 36 Porter Serjant, 3 ; (office), 3 ; 38 Marshalsy Clark, 2 ; 39 Warden of Palfreys, 3 ; 40 Squires for king's body, 1 candle
wax, 2 candles Paris (Edw. IV),
64, 65 40 squires of household, 2 candles
parice (Edw. IV), 68, 69 Cerges (for chapel), 15 Cresset, 40 Torches, 6
Allowed to Steward of Household, 6 Treasurer of Wardrobe, 6 Chamberlain, 6 Contreroller, 7 Cofferer, 6 Clark Privy Seal, 9 Tortis, great candle of wax — Cot. ;
6 and note Allowed to Steward of Household,
3; 6
Treasurer, 3 ; 6 Chamberlain, 2; 6 Contrerollour, 2 ; 7
2 Clarks of Counting Table, 2 ; 8 Cofferer, 2 ; 6
Clarke Privy Seal, 2 ; 9
3 Clarkes Privy Scale, 2 ; 9 Clarke purveyor for Wardrobe, 1 ; 9 Spicery clarke, 1 ; 10 Confessor, 1 ; 14
Chaplains, 1 ; 14
Almoner, 1 ; 15
Physician, 1 ; 16
Surgeon, 1 ; 16
Market Coroner, 1 ; 17
3 Esquires for king's mouth, each
1; 18
36 Sergeaunts at Arms, 20 ; 20 Chief Usher of Hall, 1 ; 20 2 Knights Marshal of Hall, 2;
22
(Lights continu'd) Pantry clerk, 1 ; 23 Butler, 1 ; 27
Chief Clerk of Kitchen, 1 ; 30 Marshalsy clerk, 1 ; 39
Linnen doth, 10
Lisse of Hall,1 20 ; Lusse of Hall, 21. Lisse, ? peace, quiet, A.Sax. liss, li%s, tranquility (Stratmann) ; E.E. lythe sty lie and softe. — Promptorium. Lisse, lusse, ? list, Pr. Liste: f. A list, roll, check- roll, catalogue of names, &c.
Litter, 1 straw or rushes for bed- ding, ' litter all the year,' allowed to the chief officers, steward, etc. The Confessor and his companion to have litere for their beds all the year, 14 Under Ushers of Hall to make liverees of, 21
Little Weldon, 44
Livelihood, sick officers to have,
according to their estates, 53 Liverye, Liveree, etc., 6 et pas- sim ; = allowance, rations ; things delivered, livre Time for, of bread, wine, and beer,
23
Place for, 23, 53
No Knight of Household not hold- ing office to take, 52 Lodging, 48 London, 60
Malice, to do, 44
Manger, livere to be allowed to Counting- Table Clerks for, 8, breakfast and supper
Marcealles, actes, 70, martial Romance adjectives took the plural ending after plural nouns ; ' wateres priucipalles,' &c.
March, Marcham, clerk of the, 61. March ; marcham) ; merchant (if the readings are correct) would (according to their formation) be = marcatum, mercatum, mer- cadum, a market. Or perhaps
GLOSS ABIAL INDEX.
85
the word stands for marshalsy; but how, in such a case, to ac- count for the m'? — J. H. Hes- sels. " Marchand : m. ande : f. Of, or belonging to, a Marchant, or Market. Place marchande, The market place, or place of ordinarie bargaining, and pai- ments . . . Poids marchatid, The weight vsed by Marchants and Tradesmen." . . — Cotgrave.
Margarette Lovel, 44 Mark, gold coin worth (?) 13s. 4d. Steward of Household's fee, xx, 6 Market Coroner, 16 Marshal, Knight, or Earl, 20
Marshal, Mareshal, money rising from pleas in Hall to be delivered before, 17
Marshals of Hall, 21 Duties of, 50 To taste winesj 47
Marshals, to search for strangers,
55
Names of foregoers to be delivered to, 53
Marshalsy, 38, 51
Officers of, 55, 57, 61 Martlemas, 58 Master of the Wardrobe, Gardein,
61
Meane seson, meantime, 60 Medicine, offering for, 62
Meisne, household, 32. " O.Fr. Maisne, niesnee, meignee, a house- hold. Said to be from Low Lat. Maisnada (from Lat. minus natu], a company of menials." — Skeat.
Mene, a convenient, 60 Mercham, 61. See Marcham, 61 Merchants wine, 47 Messagers, 51
Messe de Grosse, 6 and note. Messe de grosse from the kitchen is allowed to various officers of household.
Messe of Host to be allowed to various officers. See 8 et supra. Messengers, 12; 46 Messes : to be examined, 52 In Hall to be set by assayers, 22 To be counted by serjants under
ushers, 21
In King's Chamber to be counted daily, 18
Michaelmas, Knight Chief Usher of Hall's fee payable at, and Easter, 20
Midle beste, beast of medium quality, 60
Ministers, penalty to, for not com- ing to the account, 59 Minstrels, 46
Monday, Controller visits offices, 7
Money, always to be sufficient in wardrobe, 58
Morters, 10. Fr. "mortier, a kind of small chamber-lamp." — Cot- grave. Mortar is still in use for a dumpty thick candle to stand in a saucer
Myrrh, 62
Nail, pay upon the, 35
Naper, care-taker of household
linen, 26 Naperie, 10, 51 To be delivered by Clerk Purveyor
of Wardrobe to Chief Usher of
Wardrobe, 10 To be received from Clerk of
Spicery, 26 New Year's tide, 62
Half-yearly fee payable at, 6 Northampton, county of, 44 Nortfiburghe, Sir Roger de, Thre-
sorer, commanded to prepare
ordinances, 5
Oath of Controller of Customs, 72 Ob, a half-penny, 8 et passim
86
GLOSSARIAL INDEX.
Offerings, 62
Offices, no strangers to be in, 51 To be surveyed by Controller, 7 To be visited daily by Chief Usher of Hall, 20
Officers, to account daily, 50 Answerable to Steward and Trea- surer, 50 Penalties for neglect of duty, 50
Old clothes, 26
Otterhunt, otter hunter, 45
Outrages to be amended, 52
Oyselour, bird-taker, 45
Pages, 51
Pain de main, fine bread, 25 Pain, penalty, 51 Palfreis, king's, 39, 40 Palfreours, 52 Paneters, 24
Pantry, to be surveyed by Con- troller, 7 Liverees of bread to be made in, 23
Pantry, king's, 24 Clarks of, 23 Valets and porters of, 24
Pantry clerk, to answer for dog's
liveree at account, 52 Parcels, specified quantities, as
required, 33 parich, Paris, 64, 65. A candle
called a Paris caudle. See Babees
Book Index.
Parliament or great feast, 60, 61
Partringer, the partridge keeper, 45
Patient, esquiers for the body, 4 ; of the noble patient condicion, 64. Fr. " Patient, Patient ; suf- fering, induring, bearing, abid- ing ; meeke, mild, quiet ; obe- dient .... Au patient demeurent les terres : Prov. The iust shall inherit the land (sayes the Psalm- ist)."— Cotgrave.
Pavillioner, king's, charges for, 1 1 Payments to be made in ward- robe, 60 Pears, provided by fruiterer, 13
Peeces of wines, 47, casks : see
Tonel, p. 89, col. 2, at foot. Penalties: for following the Court
without license, 56, 57 For delaying the account, 58 For not coming to the account
when summoned, 59 For being in arrears at the account
in the wardrobe, 59 For those who take fees for king's
presents, 53
Penij, a great, to be offered by king, 62
People: purveyance of wheat to be made for people's least griev- ance, 25
Percher wax, 64, 65. A large wax candle, probably stuck on a perch. See Babees Book Index.
Petit ewe, garbager's fee, 36
Physician, 15
Pitcher house, 29
Pleas of Hall, 17
Pleas, belonging to dark for
stewardship, 6 Poor, money for, 62 Porters, two Butlery, 30
Of Wardrobe, 12
Serjant, to keep gate, 38
Valets of pantry, 24
Potage, ? soups, stews, or depart- ment of pots, 36
Potager, King's kitchen, 32
Poultry office, "VVaferer to have eggs in, 25
Presents, taking, 53
No valet or other officer to give anything away without leave, 52
Prisage wines, 47. " Prisagium. — Auglis prisage, jus prisas capi- endi, vel ipse actus. Prisa. — Quidquid ex subditis et tenen-
GLOSSARIAL INDEX.
87
tibus capitur ad expensas regis et domini, quod legitime et de- bite persolvi debet; pr61evements operas sur les sujets ou les vas- saux pour faire face aux depenses du roi ou du seigneur ; ol. pi-is, prise. (Pass.) Prisa. — Jus quod- vis, exactio, jus capiendi ex sub- ditis ea quae domino necessaria sunt . . . droit de prendre pour son usage des vivres et des utensiles." — D'Arnis.
Privy Seal, Clerks of, to have chamber allowance together, 9
Pullaine, pullein, poultry Gar-
bager to receive, 36 Price to be set by valet de mes- tier, 35
Pulleter, 35
Pulletrye, 35
Poultry office, 60 Purification, feast of, 62 Purveyances, made by purveyor of the avenery, 38, 39
Great, 60
Purveyor : of auenerye, 39 Of fuel, 18 Of fuel for Hall, 20 Of wardrobe : his allowance, etc.,
9 ; his charge, 11, 12 Of wines, 48
Purveyors, things sent in by, to be surveyed by Chief Usher of Hall, 20
To be answerable for bad bargains, 60
Future, 44, 45. Low-Latin pu- tura, everything that serves as food for man or animal : see D'Arnis.
Queen, 52
Races, breeds, 43 and note
Raisins, provided by Clerk of
Spicery, 13 Raskals to be removed from
office, 60
Retailed, redeliverd, 48 Relikfs, remains of victuals. 46,
47
Relikes, money to be offered to, 62 Rent, " Till the king have given
him C. marks," land of that
yearly value, 10
Robe, loss of, a penalty, 50 Roberies, 56 Robert Grynour, 55
Robes allowed to all officers of household, except fruiterer, 6, 46. See Allowances.
Robes, king's, 38 Roger de Belers, 58
Roll to be kept by avenery clerk,
39
Roll of Buttery, 28 Purveyor of ales' wages in, 29 Butlery porters' wages in, 30 Roll of the Kitchen, valet's wages
in, 19 Hall valets de mestiers' allowances
in, 21
Wages of poulter valet in, 36 Larder porter's wages in, 34
Roll, Clerk of the Merchants (Marshalsy), 61
Roll, Marshalsy, 39 Warder of palfrey's wages in, 40 Coroner's, of Marshalsy, 56 Allowance of herberger of cart- horses in, 41
Roll, Pantry, 25
Allowance to baker in, 26 Rushes, 64, 65
Salces, sacks, 42
Sausery, 37, 51
Scantelinges of the tonnes, 47
Scrope, Henry de, Justice, ordi- nances read and assented to in presence of, 5
Scullery, 36, 51 Wal'erer to have fuel in, 25
88
GLOSSARIAL IXDEX.
Selling forbidden to officers of
household, 49
Serjant of household, liveree of, 8 Serjants at Armes, 19
Four to attend on ushers, etc., 20 Serjant: Baker, 25
Butler of Household, 28 ; of King, 28
Cokes, two for king's mouth, 31
Two for Meisne (household), 32
Garbager, 36
Herbergeour of sommers and cart- horses, 40
Herberjour Warden of palfreys, 39,40
Lardner, 33
Marshals of Hall, 21, 22
Marshal Guardian of young horses, 43,44
Marshal (horse-doctor), 41
Chief Paneter, 24
Porter to keep gate, 38
Pulleter, 35
Purveyor of wine, Chief Butler, 27
Sauser, 37
Of Scullery, 36 ; to receive silver vessels, 37
Under Ushers of Hall, 20
Valets must eat in Hall, 51
Serjants to be at account, 52
Servants —
2 yeomen of chamber to have 1
(Edw. IV), 66, 67 Squires cf household each to have
1 (Edw. IV), 68, 69 Squires for body allowed 2 (Edw.
IV), 64, 65 '
Service of the dmd, 62
Sextier, measure of wine, 6 and note
Sheriff of Shire to overlook stud- groom, 44
Sheriffs to assist marshals, 55
Shoes : all valets de mestiers iiij s.
viij d. yearly, 25 et supra Allowance for, to valets of king's
chamber, 19 Fore-riders, iiij s. viij d. ; someters,
iiij s. viij d., 43 Wardrobe porter allowed equal
portions at New Year and Whit- suntide, 13
Loss of allowance for, a punish- ment, 50
Sickness, liveree during, 52
Rules for charretters, etc., in, 53 Simon the Ewer, wife of, 55
Sojorne, time of king's residence,
the, 44 Someters, keepers of sumpter
horses, 43
Sommers, 40 and note Number of, 43
Somters, sumpter-horses, someters,
52 Sort, manner, 49
Sovereigns, superintendents, upper officers of the household, faults in weight of bread, etc., to be shewn to, by pantry clerk, 23
ieoY spicery, 10. Fr. "Espi- cerie: f. A Spicerie ; also, Spices. Espicier : m. A Grocer, a seller of Spices, a Drug-seller." — Cot- grave.
: to be surveyed by con- troller, 7 Clerk of, Chief Usher of Wardrobe,
his duties and allowances, 10 To give out Napery, 26
Spigurnel, Henry, Justice, ordin- ances read and assented to in presence of, 5
Squire, not allowed to Knight
unless his state require it, 50 To carve for king, 18
Squires, 3 Assayers, 22
24 Hall, 23
Of king's mouth, 18
Of king's chamber, 18
4 for the body (Edw. IV), 64, 65
Of household, 40 (Edw. IV), 66— 70
Their customs of meeting for talk- ing and singing, etc., 70
To wear the king's livery custom- ably, 68, 69
Rules respecting leave of absence, 70
GLOSSARIAL INDEX.
89
Yearly allowance to, and cost (Edw. IV), 70, 71
St Aiidrewe-tide, 59
St Hilary, 58, his day, Jan. 12
St John Baptists Day, 58, his
day. June 26
St John the Evangelist, 62 St Nicholas, 56
St Thomas of Canterbury, 62, his day, Dec. 21
Standard of measures, 42
Statutes of the Household con- cerning the account, 58 Steward of HoushoM, B. de
Badelesmere, 5 Steward: accounts daily, 7
Ordinance concerning, 5, 6
To be at account, 52
Penalty incurred by, for delaying the account, 58
To give orders concerning dog's liveree, 52
To charge baker to make purvey- ance of wheat, 25
To regulate expenses, etc. of king's wards, 17
Money rising from pleas in Hall to be delivered before, 17
May give orders to Serjants at Armes, 19
To command Hall Squires, 23
Persons arrested by porter to be carried before, 38
To punish defaulters, 50
Controller, Market Coroner to be
the, for pleas of Hall, 17 Steios, to be made by potager, 32
Strangers : to be honorably enter- tained in Hall, 20 Not to eat in offices, 51 Following Court to be punished, 55
Stretes, estreats, fines, 17 Stud-groom, 43, 44
Subjects, Eules for preventing violence and distress to, when the Court is travelling, 48, 49
Sufficiency, 5 ; Steward shall be a
man of good sufficiency, ? a man of gooci property, or, as we should say, of substance. " War- den of Privy Seal must be a man of sufficiency for that purpose," 9. Cf. Chaucer, Prologue, 1.490: "he cowde in little thing have suffi- saunce; " and Clerks Tale, 1. 759 : " As to his verray worldly suffi- sance." In both these passages we can trace the origin of ' suffi- ciency ' as used in the text. Sugar, Waferer to have, 25 Suppers, Steward's Chamberlayne allowed when he will have them, 6
With king allowed to Chamberlayn if banneret, 7
Surcharge, overcharge, 48 Surgeon, 16
1 yeoman to be (Edw. IV), 66, 67 Surveyor of Dresser, 22
Sutors, to be entered in coroner's roll of marshalsy, 56
Tattles, Tallies, 13, 38 Rule concerning, 29 Tor wheat bought to be given be- fore it passes into purveyor's hands, 25 To be made to them that sell bread,
25 For hay, oats, etc., 42
Tailor, charge of, 11
Tallwode dimidium, half a bundle of cut or chopt wood, 64, 65
Tankers, tankards ; butler to be answerable for, 28
Thomas de Borhunt, 44
Thorne, our Lord's, offering to, 62
Three Kings, 62
Thresorer, Sir Eoger de North- burghe, 5. See Treasurer.
Tonel, tun, 61. Fr. " Tonneau : m. A Tunne ; or (generally) any great vessell or peece of Caske tor Wine, &c. ; as a Tunne, Pipe, Hogshead, &c. Tonnelet : in. A
90
GLOSSARIAL INDEX.
little Tunne, or small peece of Caske. "— Cotgrave. Torches, Clerk of Spicery to sur- vey laying up of, 10. See Lights. Tortis, Clerk of Spicery to survey
laying up of, 10. See Lights. Towels, allowed to Confessor's
boys, 14 Traventers, trauntors, pedlars, 35
and note Treasurer of Wardrobe, 6
Accounts daily, 7
Name of, 58
To be at account, etc., 52
Penalty incurred by, for delaying the account, 58
May tarry in London, 59
To examine achates, 60
To charge baker to make purvey- ance of wheat, 25
May permit Clerks of Counting Table to dine in wardrobe, 8
To command Hall Squires, 23
Clerks of Privy Seal to have wages more or less at discretion of, 9
Persons arrested by porter to be carried before, 38
To punish those who take fees, 53
Trinity Week, 59 Trompours, trompetours, 46
Tunnes of wine to be examined by clerks and controller, 61
Under Almoner, 15
Under GZarA;, Pantry and Buttery,
23 Under Usher of Wardrobe, his
duties, etc., 12 Usher : King's kitchen, 33
Of Larder, 34 Ushers of Hall, 50 Of king's chamber, 18
Valets of office, Household kitchen
akers, 33 Vallets de Mestier, allowance for,
14
(Pallets de Mestier continu'd) Only kitchen, to have pages, 51 Of the Almonry, 15 2 Bakers, 26
Bird-taker's allowance as, 45 2 Butlery porters, 30 Valet Carnaver, 42 Of Cup House, 29 Ewer, 27 Fisher, 46 Fruiterer's, 13 Fuer, 21
1 Garbager, without robes and wages, 36
2 HaU, under Serjant Ushers, 21 Herbergeour, under Warden of
palfreys, 40
Herberger of cart horses, 41 2 Huntsman's valets barils, 44
1 Huntsman's valet to vent the horn, 44
Of king's chamber, 19
5 king's kitchen, 32
5 Household kitchen, 33
2 Larder porters, 34 Usher of larder, 34
For Marshalsy prison, 55, 57
Naper, 26
King's pantry, 24
Pantry, 24
Pantry purveyor of bread for
Household, 25 2, of pitcher house, 29
1, of poultry office, 35 Porter for garner, 42 Of porters' office, 38 Purveyor of ale, 29
2, purveyors for avenery, 41 Serjeant Purveyor's, 19
2, of sausery, 37 2, of scullery, 37 Stable-valet's, 43 Stud -groom's valets, same number
as horses, 44
Stud-groom's valet ferrour, 44 Verser, 29 Wine drawer, 29 2, to work wax, 14
Vent, to, the horn, 44 Verser, 29
Vessel, of brasse, etc., serjant of scullery to achate and purvey, 36
GLOSSARIAL INDEX.
91
Vierge, 17, 48, liberty or pre- cinct of a town. Fr. "Verge: f. . . A Sergeants verge or mace . . . It pouvoir de la verge, $• ser- genterie. The libertie, or pre- cinct, wherein a Sergeant may arrest, &c." — Cotgrave.
Vittailes, to be examined by con- troller, 7
Rule respecting insufficient, 7 Officers of Household, not to be taken into lodgings by, 49
Waf&rer, 25
Wages : of Clarks, Serjants at
Armes, and Squires of Houshold
in Marshalsy roll, 39 Loss of, a punishment, 50 Achators, vij d. ob., 31 Almoner's, viid. ob., 15 Archers, iij d. a day, 46 3 Assay ers, vij d. ob. a day, 22 Avenery clerks, vj d. ob. a day, 39 Baker, vij d. ob. a day, 26 Bakers, 2 Valets, ij d. a day in pan- try roll, 26
Bird-taker, ij d. a day, 45 Boys, Physician's three, j d. ob., 16 Boys, Confessor's three, each j d.
ob., 14 Boy, Herberger of cart horses', j d.
ob. a day, 41
Marshalsy boy, ij d. ob. a day, 39 Butler Serjant, Household, and
king's, both vij d. ob. a day, 28 2 Butlery porters, ij d. a day in
butlery roll, 30 Carnaver Valet, ij d. a day, 42 Charioteers, iij d. a day, 43 Chandler's, vij d. ob., 14 Dean of Chapel, amount not stated,
14
Dean's clarks, iii d. ob. a day, 15 Five Chaplains, viid. a day, 15 Clarks of Counting Table, vii d. ob.
a day, or iii d. ob. as their state,
etc., 8
Controller's, 8
Cooks, four, vii d. ob. a day, 32 Ewer's, iiij d. OD. a day, 21 Fore-riders, j d. a day, 43 Ferretter's, ij d. a day, 45
(Wages continu'd) Ferretter's boy, j d. a day, 45 Fisher, ij d. a day, 46 Fruiterer's, vii d. ob. a day, 13 Garner porter (valet), ij d. a day, 42 Hackneyman, j d. ob. a day, 43 24 Hall Squires, vij d. ob. a day, 23 Herberger of palfreys, etc. (valet),
ij d. a day, 40 Herberger of cart horses (valet),
ij d. a day, 41 Huntsman, Sir Thomas de Borhunt,
vij d. ob. a day ; when absent from
Court, xij d., 45 2 Huntsmen valets-barils, j d. ob. a
day, 44
Lardner's, iiij d. ob. a day, 34 Larder porter when absent from
Court, ij d. a day in kitchen roll,
Launder, king's, iiij d. ob. a day, 27 of N apery, iiij d. ob. a day,
27 Serjants Marshals of Hall, vij d. ob.
a day, 22 Messengers when absent, iij d. a
day,
Serjant Naper, iiij d. ob. a day, 26 Otterhunter's, ij d. a day, 45 ' Otterhunter's 2 boys, j d. ob. a day,
45
King's paneter, vii d. ob. a day, 24 Pantry clerk, vij d. ob. a day, 23 Pantry valet purveyor of bread,
when not able to be in Hall, ij d.
a day, 25
Partringer's, ij d. a day, 45 Partringer's boy, j d. ob. a day, 45 Porter, Serjant, yij d. ob. a day, 38
1 Poulter valet when out of Court on business, ij d. a day in kitchen roll, 36
Valet purveyor of ale, ij d. a day in buttery roll, 29
2 Purveyors of avenery (valets), ij d. a day, 42
Serjant sauser, vij d. ob. a day, 37 Scullery Serjant who keeps silver,
iiij d. ob. a day, 37 Serjant of scullery, iiij d. ob. a day,
36
Spicery clerk, 3 d. a day, 10 12 Squires of king's chamber, each
vij d. ob. a day
92
GLOSSABIAL INDEX.
(Wages continu'd)
3 Squires of king's mouth, each vii d. ob. a day, 18
4 Squires for the body, 7d. ob. a day (Edw. IV), 64, 65
40 Squires of household, 7d. ob.
a day (Edw. IV), 68 4 yeomen of chamber, 3 d., 66, 67 Someters, ij d. a day, 43 Stable valets, ij d. a day, 43 Stud-groom's boy, j d. a day, 44 Stud-groom's valets, ij d. a day, 44 Surgeon, xii d. a day Trumpeters and minstrels, at dis- cretion of Steward and Trea- surer, 46 Usher purveyor of fuel, vij d. ob. a
day, 18 Under Ushers of Hall, vii d. ob. a
day, 21 Under Ushers of Wardrobe, 3 d. ob.
by the day, 12 Waferer, vij d. ob. a day, 25 Warden of palfreys when absent
from Court, iiij a. ob. a day, 40 Warden of palfrey's boy, 40 Warden of Privy Seal to have, 9 Clerks of Privy Seal to have, 9 King's wards to have, according to
their estate, 17
Wardrobe porters, 2 d. a day, 12. See also Fees.
Walter de Norwich, 58 Walter de Stapleton, 58 • Warde, charge, control, 53 Warden, 60 Warden or Keeper of Privy Seal
has 2 messes de grosse, 9 Warden of palfreys, 39, 40 Wardens of Viandes, 18
Wardrobe, Purveyor of, 11 Chief Usher of. See Spicery clerk.
Wardrobe: Accounts, 49, 59 Rules concerning, 7, 11 Ordinance for the state of, when
and where made, 58 Writing concerning, to be done by
clerks of counting table under
cofferer, 8 Always to be sufficient money in, 58
(IFardrole continu'd)
Names of traventers to be entered in, 34
What clerk purveyor of, is to de- liver to chief usher of, 10
Waferer to have sugar in, 25
Serjant sauser to receive his saucers of silver in, 37
Serjant under Usher of, to lodge in, 12
Controller's dark and clarks of counting table to lie in, 8
Clerk purveyor for, to lie in, 9
Chandler to make his livery every day in, 13
Fines levied by Market Coroner to be paid into, 17
Money rising from pleas in Hall to be delivered in, 17
Purveyances of stud-groom to be certified to, 44
Sellers of wheat to be paid accord- ing to tallies and foils in, 26
Payments according to tallies to
be made in, 31 Wards, King's, 17, 18 Wax, 10 Weeke, weak, 52
Weights, measures, etc., to be ex- amined by Market Coroner, 17
Weights of wardrobe and spicery to be uniform with those used throughout the kingdom, 11
Welsh boys, 51
Wlieat, purveyance of, 25
Whitsontide, 62 Half-yearly fees payable at, 6
Wiggeton, Sir Gilbert de, Coun- treroller of warderobe, com- manded to prepare ordinances, 5
William de Molton, 58 William Plane Maure, 55
Wine allowed to : Achators, half
a pitcher, 31
Avenry clerk, half a pitcher, 39 Baker, half a pitcher, 26 Chief butler, j pitcher, 27 Serjant butler (Household), half a
pitcher, 28
GLOSSARIAL INDEX.
93
(Wine continu'd)
Serjant butler (king's), a pitcher,
28
Chandler, half a pitcher, 14 Chief chaplain, 1 pitcher, 15 Clarks of counting table, 2 pitchers,
8 Clerk of kitchen, 1 pitcher and a
half, 30
Cofferer allowed 1 pitcher, 8 Controller, 1 pitcher, 8 King's Confessor, 2 pitchers, 14 Cooks, four, half a pitcher each, 32 Knights Marshals of Hall, 1
pitcher, 22 Allowed to knights, chief usher's, 1
pitcher, 20
Lardner, half a pitcher, 34 Serjants Marshals of Hall, half a
pitcher, 22 Marshalsy, chief clerk, 1 pitcher
and a half, 39
Chief paneter, half a pitcher, 24 Pantry clerk, 1 pitcher and a half,
23
Physician, 1 gallon, 16 Serjants at Armes, 3 pitchers, 20 Serjant sauser, half a pitcher, 37 Squires for king's body, 1 quart
(Edw. IV), 64, 65 Serjant of scullery, half a pitcher,
37
Serjant porter, half a pitcher, 38 Steward, 1 sextier, 6
(Wine continn'd) Surgeon, 1 pitcher, 16 Surveyor of dresser, half a pitcher,
22 Under ushers Hall, half a pitcher,
21 Warden of palfreys, half a pitcher,
40
Wmedraicer, 29
Wines in grosse, controller to be at receipt of, 7
Wines: Purveyance of, etc., 47, 61 Quantity to be testified in ward- robe, 61
Wives, officers not to allow their,
to follow the Court, 56 Women : which are in chief with
the king, 56 Of foolish life, forbidden to follow
the Court, 56, 57 Punishment of, 57
Woodstock, ordinances at, 50, 58
Yeomen of chamber, 4 ; their duties, etc. (Edw. IV), 66, 67
York, Archbishop of, ordinances read and assented to in presence of, 5, 58
ZuJfur, sugar, 25 (margin)
JOHN CHU,DS AND SON, PRINTERS.
Among the Texts and Essays, $c., preparing for the Cliaucer Society are : —
Early English Pronunciation, with especial reference to Shakspere and Chaucer, by Alexander J. Ellis, Esq., F.R.S. Part V (to be ready in 1877).
Autotype Specimens of the chief Chaucer Manuscripts, chosen by F. J. Furnivall, Part I. \In the Press.
The Tale of Bei-yn, Part II. Introduction and Glossary.
Prof. Bernhard Ten-Brink's " CHAUCER : Studies on the History of his Devel- opement, and the Chronology of his "Writings," Part I, translated by Miss Ottilie Blind, and revisd by the Author.
Chaucer's Road to Canterbury, with Ogilby's Plan of it, 1675, and William Smith's Plan of the City of Canterbury in 1588 ; by the Rev. W. A. Scott Robertson, M.A., Hon. Sec. of the Kent Archaeological Institute.
Part II of Mr \V. M. Rossetti's Comparison of Chaucer's Troijlus and Cryseyde with Boccaccio's Filostrato.
Life-Records of Chaucer, Part III, The Household book of Isabella, wife of Prince Lionel, third son of Edward III, in which the name of GEOFFREY CHAUCER first occurs ; edited from the unique MS in the Brit. Museum, by Edward A. Bond, Esq., Keeper of the MSS. Part IV, Other Enrolments and Documents from the Public Record Office, the City of London Town-Clerk's Office, &c., edited by "Walford D Selby, Esq., and F. J. Furnivall, Esq., M.A.
'A detaild Comparison of Chaucer's Knight's Tale with the Teseide of Boccaccio,' by HENRY WARD, Esq., of the MS Department of the British Museum.
The third French work will be either Guillaume de Machault's Itemede de Fortune and Dit de la Fontaine Amoureuse (to compare with Chaucer's Dethe of Blaunche the Duchesse), or Jean de Meun's Livre de Melible et de Prudence (from Albertano of Brescia's Liber Consolationis, A.D. 1246), or Guillaume de Machault's Dit du Lyon, the possible original of Chaucer's lost Book of the Leo, edited from the MSS, for the first time, by Professor PAUL MEYER. This will be followd by such originals of Chaucer's other works as are known, but are not of easy access to subscribers.
by A:
. t IT. Ini: Glossary.
Bernhard Ten-BrinkV tory of his
opener' 1, translated by Miss Ottilie
and revisd by the Author.
Cha'.:- )gilby's Plan ol nd William
by the Rev. W. A. Scott Robertson, M.A.
V. M. Row.
'to.
E«q., andF. J. Fnrai. f.A*.
.rison of Chaucer's Knight's Tale rvtth the Teseideoi Boc. by H»SUT WARD, Esq., of the MS Department of the British Museum.
.edeMact.
D't-Uttg), ft Jen1 • " et dt I'ntdence (from Albertano of
Breacia's Libf Centolat
.
<• ',rkB M arc knovnx, but are not oi easy >\ \s. .
LIFE-RECOKDS OF CHAUCER
ill.
n
WIFE OF LIONEL, SRD SON OF KING EDWARD III, A.D. 1356-9.
A MS. EDITED BY
EDWARD A. BOND, C.B., LLD.
of teroit,
CO. SOMERSET, A.D. 1390—1400. BY
WALFORD D. SELBY, ESQ. WITH AN APPENDIX BY WALTER RYE, ESQ.,
ON CHAUCER'S GRANDFATHER, AND THE POET'S CONNECTION WITH LYNN AND NORFOLK.
PUBLISHED FOR THE CHAUCER SOCIETY
BY N. TRUBNER & CO., 57 & 59, LUDGATE HILL, LONDON, E.G.
1886.
Sctonb § trirs, NO. 21.
R. CLAY AND SONS, CHAUCER PRESS, BCNGAV.
95
CHAUCER IN THE HOUSEHOLD OF THE COUNTESS OF ULSTER,
FRAGMENTS OF
-of dtmmtess «f
WIFE OF LIONEL, SRD SON OF KING EDWARD THE THIRD, A.D. 1356-1359.
EDITED FROM THE ADDITIONAL MS. 18,632 IN THE BRITISH MUSEUM,
BY
EDWARD A. BOND, C.B., LL.D.,
PRINCIPAL LIBRARIAN OF THE BRITISH MUSEUM.
L1FE-UECORDS, 111.
97
NEW FACTS IN THE LIFE OF GEOFFREY CHAUCER,
[Reprinted with some alterations from the 'Fortnightly Review* of August 15, 1866, pp. 28-35.]
IN the year 1851 several volumes of manuscripts were purchased for the British Museum from the Earl of Denbigh. One of these — now the Additional MS. 18,632 — containing the " Storie of Thebes" by John Lydgate, and Occleve's poem " De regimine Principum," was found to have the covers lined with parchment leaves of old writing. They were clipped on one side, and were somewhat defaced ; but the first inspection sufficed to show that they were fragments of a Household Account of the middle of the fourteenth century, and a closer examination proved that the entries were dated by the years 30, 31, 32 and 33, evidently of the reign of Edward the Third, corresponding with the years 1356 to 1359, and that the name " Galfridus Chaucer " occurred more than once. A closer study of the items made it evident that the Account was kept for a lady, a Countess by rank ; that she resided principally at Hatfield in York- shire, 'then in the hands of the Crown ; that the Earl, her husband, was then living ; that she was nearly related to the Eoyal Family, and was in some way connected Avith Ireland ; that she frequently visited Campsey, in Suffolk ; and that she had a daughter, Philippa, who, though still an infant and under the care of a nurse, went through the ceremony of betrothal during the period of the Account. These facts sufficed to identify the lady of the Account with Elizabeth, daughter and heiress of William de Burgh, the last Earl of Ulster of that name, and wife of Lionel, third son of King Edward the Third. Her connection with the Koyal Family of England was twofold, by her marriage with Prince Lionel, and by descent from Joan of Acre, daughter of Edward I. She was heiress to immense
98 NEW FACTS IN THE LIFE OF GEOFFREY CHAUCER.
estates in Ireland. Her mother, Maud, sister of Henry first Duke of Lancaster, was at the time of the Account a nun in Campsey Priory; and her daughter Philippa was betrothed in the year 1358 to Edmund Mortimer, Earl of March. The lady herself had been left by the death of her father, when in her first year, the heiress of the earldom of Ulster, and had been brought up by Queen Philippa, to whom her wardship had been assigned by Edward III., in companionship with the royal children. As early as the year 1341, and when she was only nine years old, she was affianced by the King to his son Lionel, six years her junior. The betrothal was celebrated on the 15th of August, in that year, and the marriage took place in the year 1352.
Of the two leaves which remain of the Account, the one refers to payments made for the wardrobe, the other to donations. In each the date of every payment, as well as the place at which it was made, is recorded ; so that we are enabled to trace the movements of the lady herself by following the successive entries. Arranging the items of the two divisions of payments in one series, we obtain the following results : — The Countess was in London on the 4th of April, 1356. In June and July she was at Eeading, one of the royal residences, having apparently recently been at Southampton. On the 2nd of September she was at Stratford-le-Bow in company with her husband, Prince Lionel ; and, about the same time, a payment is made to a sumpter-man of the Abbot of Waltham for conducting the bed — as it is simply expressed in the Account, but which includes all the furniture belonging to it — of her daughter from Stratford to Campsey. There is nothing to show where she spent the winter of 1356 ; probably at Hatfield ; but early in April in 1357 we find her in London equipping herself for the festival of Easter, and also for a visit to the court at Windsor, to assist at a celebration of the feast of St. George. And at this period occur two entries showing that an entire suit of clothes, consisting of a paltock, or short cloak, a pair of red and black breeches, with shoes, was provided for Geoffrey Chaucer. Articles of dress are paid for also for an attendant on the Countess designated as Philippa Pan' — probably the contracted form of the word Panetaria — mistress of the
NEW FACTS IN THE LIFE OF GEOFFREY CHAUCER. 99
pantry. And, as establishing the antiquity of giving drink-money to workmen, it is worth noting that, in the payments made for these different articles of dress, certain sums are included as given to the working tailors for drink, " after the custom of London." On the 20th of May an article of dress, of which the name is lost by a defect in the leaf, is purchased for Geoffrey Chaucer in London; and attire is provided for the Countess herself in preparation for the feast of Pentecost to be celebrated at Woodstock. In July the Countess is at Doncaster and at Hatfield in Yorkshire, at which latter place she remains over Christmas. While there she receives letters from Ireland ; and a payment is made to a servant of the Duke of Lancaster for bringing a letter from his daughter Lady Blanche.
In December of the same year (1357) a man receives money for accompanying Philippa Pan' from a place named Pullesdon to Hat- field ; and this item is immediately followed by the entry of a donation of two shillings and sixpence to Geoffrey Chaucer " for necessaries at Christmas." At the same period a present of money is made to a servant of Lady Mowbray, sister to the Countess's mother, for coming with five horses from Axholme, the residence of ' Sir John Mowbray, to Hatfield, by the way of Blyth, the direct passage of the river being obstructed by the ice. At this time also John of Ghent, then Earl of Eichmond, must have been a visitor at Hatfield, for New- Year gifts are presented by the Countess to his cook and clerk of the kitchen.
The date of the next payment is the 4th of April, 1358, when sums are allowed to the Panetaria, the cook and the nurse, A.B. isss. of the Countess's daughter, for debts incurred at Campsey ; where it may be presumed the child had been taken, in order to be under the care of her grandmother, Prioress of the House, during the absence of the Earl and Countess on a visit to the court.
In the same month of the year 1358, considerable payments are made in equipping the Countess for the great feast of St. George, held at Windsor on this occasion with peculiar pomp and magnifi- cence ; and a bodice, lined with fur, is provided for her attendant Philippa Pan'. In the same month a payment is made for a mourning cloak, under the designation of a "rue-mantle," for the
100 NEW FACTS IN THE LIFE OF GEOFFKEY CHAUCER.
Countess : it is uncertain for what occasion. "We trace the move- ments of the Countess at a later period of the year from another authority ; for it is stated in a household account of the Dowager Queen Isabella that the Countess of Ulster supped with her at Hertford Castle on the 20th of July.
In August of 1358, the Countess was at Anglesey, and on the 1st of September in Liverpool. And in the latter month a black tunic, mantle and cape, are provided for her, as mourning for Queen Isabella, who had died on the 23rd of August. Subsequent entries show that the Countess attended at the Queen's funeral, which took place at the church of the Friars Minors, in Newgate Street, on the 27th of November. In September and October several entries occur for dress provided for Lady Philippa, the Countess's daughter, for the ceremony of her betrothal. Though almost an infant, she was affianced to Edmund Mortimer, Earl of March, either at this time, or, as elsewhere stated, in the spring of the following year.
On the 6th of November the Countess is at Eeading ; and shortly after we find her feeing the keeper of the lions in the Tower of London. Early in 1359, she makes a present of a mark to two minstrels of the Queen of Scotland, Johanna, sister of Edward III. and wife of David Bruce, King of Scotland, who had been in England since the spring of 1358, and had been residing with Queen Isabella at the time of her death. Shortly after this entry, a mark is paid to six valets of the Duke of Lancaster, for attending the Countess's chariot with torches from the Duke's hotel of the " Neyth " to her wardrobe in London. And at Lent of the same year, 1359, the Countess appears to have returned to Hatfield, where again a " rue-mantle " or mourning cloak is provided for her.
Now, that the Geoffrey Chaucer mentioned in these accounts is indeed the poet himself we can have no scruple in assuming, as his whole history shows him to have had close relations with the court, and as we know from authentic documents that he was pensioned by the Crown for services so early as the year 1367. The direct result, therefore, of these entries will be to show that his connection with the Royal Family dated from at least as early as the year 1357, and to explain the nature of it. For the character of the
NEW FACTS IN THE LIFE OF GEOFFREY CHAUCER. 101
entries renders it nearly certain that Chaucer was attached in some capacity to the service of either Prince Lionel himself or his Countess. The Countess of Ulster, as an heiress of great estates, and as the wife of a Prince of the Blood, may well be conceived to have had attendants of her own, in a measure independent of her husband's establishment, although, of course, united in the joint household ; and the names of the persons through whom the payments of wardrobe expenses in this Account are made are found in connection with her service, in public documents, prior to her marriage. Yet the paucity of the items for an account of three years' duration, and the length of interval between the dates of many of them, would seem to imply that the account mainly referred to periods when the Countess was living apart from her husband's household. In this case, the persons found in attendance on her might be regarded simply as belonging to the Prince's establishment, and temporarily engaged in her special service. Some five or six persons are named so repeatedly as to warrant the conclusion that they were more directly attached to her ; and it is remarkable that of the whole number only Chaucer and the lady styled Philippa Pan' are provided for from the Countess's wardrobe ; and Chaucer only in one instance.
But being evidently in some capacity in the household of the Prince and his Countess, we have to inquire what his position might have been. If we were certain of his age at this period we should have much assistance in determining the question ; but his bio- graphers are not agreed upon the year of his birth. On the faith of a monumental inscription of no earlier a date than the middle of the sixteenth century, this has been most commonly fixed at 1328. His own statement in the Scrope and Grosvenor cause, tried in October, 1386, that he was forty years of age and upwards and had borne arms twenty-seven years, has been disregarded. As some other wit- nesses have been proved to have been incorrect in the statement of their ages as much as from ten to twenty years, it has been argued that no reliance ought to be placed on this similar affirmation of Chaucer, if, as it is averred, it cannot readily be reconciled with other assumed dates in his biography. Surely, however, we ought to have some scruples in setting aside so important a statement from the
102 NEW FACTS IN THE LIFE OF GEOFFREY CHAUCER.
poet's own lips ; more especially as his additional and more precise assertions, that he had borne arms twenty-seven years and was taken prisoner at a particular place in France, are found to be verified by circumstances of the French invasion of the year 1359. If exact in one statement, why so extremely inaccurate in another ? Assume the age of forty-six to be implied by the expression of forty and upwards, and we fix the year of Chaucer's birth to 1340 ; so that, at the beginning of the year 1357, when he is first mentioned in these fragments, Chaucer would be about seventeen years of age ; and, if so, we may risk the conjecture that his position in Prince Lionel's household was that of a page, with which the entries would seem very well to agree. For instance, the amount paid for Chaucer's entire suit for his visit to Windsor, namely seven shillings — equivalent to about five pounds in modern money — is sufficiently high to accord with superior rank ; yet the payments made for him seem on a lower scale than those for other members of the household mentioned in the Account, and who, therefore, it may be presumed, were much his elders. The paltock, or short cloak, provided for him in 1357, cost four shillings ; while, in two other instances, a similar garment for other attendants is entered at six shillings and eightpence, and eight shillings and threepence. A Christmas present to Chaucer " for necessaries," as it is expressed, is put down at two shillings and sixpence; while to some other members of the household sums of thirteen shillings and eightpence, or twenty shillings, are presented.
Whether a page in the household of Prince Lionel, or a special attendant on the Countess of Ulster, it would appear that he was attached to their service certainly as early as the beginning of the year 1357, and was at that period at Hatfield, in Yorkshire; that he was present at the celebration of the feast of St. George, at Edward III.'s court, in attendance on the Countess, in April of that year ; that he followed the court to Woodstock ; and that he was again at Hatfield, probably from September, 1357, to the end of March, 1358, and would have witnessed there the reception of John of Ghent, then Earl of Richmond. We may infer that he was present at that most splendid entertainment given by Edward III. to the royal personages then in England — including the King of
NEW FACTS IN THE LIKE OF GEOFFREY CHAUCEU. 103
France, the Queen of Scotland, the King of Cyprus, and that saddest of figures in such a scene, the sister of the captive King of France and Edward's own mother, the almost-forgotten Queen Isabella — at what was ever after called the Great Feast of St. George in the same year; and that he was at Eeading with the court and at London in the following winter. The Earl and Countess would probably have spent part of the same season and the early part of 1359 at Hatfield; but in May, we know from other historical records that Prince Lionel, and doubtless his wife, the Countess of Ulster, were present at the wedding of John of Ghent and Lady Blanche of Lancaster, at Eeading, and at the famous joustings subsequently held in London in honour of that event. We may thus follow out Chaucer's course of life from the commencement of the year 1357 to the autumn of 1359, when he would have joined the royal army which invaded France, in the retinue of Prince Lionel, and in the course of which service, we know from his own information, he was made a prisoner by the French. A period of three years will be added to what is known of his biography ; these years belonging to the earlier part of his life, in which there is the most uncertainty, and a knowledge of which is most essential to the explanation of his after career. Moreover, the proof of his connection with Prince Lionel will give countenance to the assertion of Speght, rejected by later biographers, that Chaucer was present at the second marriage of the prince with Violante, daughter of Galeazzo Visconti, Lord of Milan, celebrated at that city in the year 1369, and at which he is said to have met the Italian poet Petrarch.
A special value of these facts will consist in their showing that, at the outset of his career, Chaucer would have had the benefit of society of the highest refinement, in personal attendance on a young and spirited prince of the blood ; that he would have had his imagination fed by scenes of the most brilliant court festivities ; and that he would have had the advantage of royal patrons in the early exercise of his genius. We learn too the probable origin of the interest in his fortunes shown throughout his life by John of Ghent, Duke of Lancaster. Entries in these fragments represent this prince, under his then title of Earl of Richmond, as a visitor at Hat field
104 NEW FACTS IN THE LIFE OF GEOFFREY CHAUCER.
at Christmas, in the year 1357, some fifteen months before his marriage with Lady Blanche of Lancaster, who is also mentioned as corresponding with the Countess of Ulster at this time. Her father, the Duke of Lancaster, was absent in France, where he held the office of Governor of Guienne ; and it is probable that she may have been on a visit at Axholme, the seat of Lord Mowbray, husband to her aunt, Lady Joan of Lancaster. Lady Mowbray was the sister of the Countess of Ulster's mother, and the two families appear in the Account in intimate intercourse.
Speculations suggest themselves that the Countess's attendant Philippa may have been Chaucer's future wife, also a Philippa as conjectured, and in the service of Queen Philippa in the year 1366. The Countess died in 1363, only four years after the period of the Account, and nothing would be more likely than that the principal lady of her household should have found shelter after her death in the family of her husband's mother.
I may add that the volume, to the covers of which these frag- ments were pasted, was given, in the year 1508, to the monastery of Amesbury by Richard "Wyginton. It was probably rebound there, these parchment leaves being used to strengthen the sides of the book. Amesbury was the retreat of more than one Princess of England; and an aunt of the Countess of Ulster — Isabella of Lancaster — was Abbess of the House at about the period of the Account.1
EDWARD A. BOXD.
1 In the original paper on these Fragments, printed in the Fortnightly Review, I had remarked on the illustration they seemed to afford to an interpretation of the poem known as "Chaucer's Dream," now no longer accepted as written by Chaucer himself.
NEW PACTS IN THE LIFE OF GEOFFREY CHAUCER. 1^5
FKAGMENTS OF AN ACCOUNT BOUND UP WITH A
MANUSCRIPT IN THE BEITISH MUSEUM;—
ADDITIONAL MS. 18,632.
pro facfara garniture Philippe ~Panetarie ex pre- foi. 2. t>. cepto domine apud "Reding xxiiij. die Juln anno xxx0., VIII. s .....
lecto bluetto n\ie dowu'ne reparando per iij. dies apud gardero&cm do?tti'ne Londo?«'e per visum et auxilm?» .... ham mense Octobm
a»no predwtfo, cuih'oet eorum per diem vj. d., IIII. s. VI. D. Pro opere linure ..... Londowz'e per Eobertam Pynel cum empfo'owe xij.
botens de panno pro dictis capis sub gM/'gite .... missis per
Dagenet versus Gasconia?^, primo die Decembris 'anno predicto,' II. s. IIII. D. v. operaton'ows conduciis . . . . n ' domine apud. gar-
derobam Londo?^^'e per v. dies contra iestum Pasche mense aprilis anno xxxj0., cuil*6et eorum per diem ........ VI. D. Pro
facfara xl. botens de panno Londom'e?m' pro ij. corsettzs dom'ne prece2)to ejusde?n, xij. die ....... III. s. VI. D. iij. operaton'ow*
conductis per Eober^Mm Pynel Londome et operantibus super ganu- turam domiue per iij. [dies contra festum\ Sancti Greoigtt mense Aprilis ' anno predicto,' cuih'oet eorum per diem vj. d., IIII. s. VI. n. ij. pagettes consimiliter ' ib^cZem. ' conduciis per ...... conse'?»^-
libus operilous, ut supra, per iiij. dies, eiisdem die et anno, cuih'oet eorum per diem iij.d., II. s ....... consimiliter 'ib^Jem' con-
ductis per dictum ~£iobertum pro cousimilibus operib^ ut supra, per v. dies et dimidium, eiisde?^ die et anno, cuik'^et eorwn per diem ...... j. pagetto consimiliter ' ibidem ' conducto per dt'ctam
Robertum pro consimilibus operibtis, ut supra, per v. dies et dimidium, eiisdewz die et anno, capienti [per diem. iij. d.] XVI. D., OB. Pro potacione de consuetttdwie Londo?weH^' data supradictis opcraioribus per vices per dt'c^m Robertum . . . . ....... VI. D. Pro
fac^ura j. paris manicarwra cape domi'ne Loudo^e'e per dictum fiobertum Pynel contra iestum predietum ........ XVI. s.
Pro fac^ura j. tum'ce Ph^7^>/>e Panetarie Londo/«'e contra dict/im festum per dictum "Robertum Pynel, II. s. VI. D ....... jGfalfr/-/'
Chaucer, Londom'e, xx°. die maii anno predicto, U.S. GylleZmo
106 XEW FACTS IN THE LIFE OF GEOFFREY CHAUCER.
gardfirooe pro iij. operatoribus garniture domine in
ebdomada ante Pentecosten apud "Wodestoke, anno predicto, III. s. Eidem Qyllelmo pro ij. [operatoribus] ibidem conductis pro con- similibus operibus domine, ut sujjra, per vj. dies in predicta ebdomada
anno predicto, cuih'iet eorum per diem
. . . [operatoribus] conductis ~Londonie per Robertum Pynel operan- tibus super garnituram domine ac eciam defectus lecti dominv ubi
necesse d. . ' ex precepto domine Combine/ per xx. dies
meusibus Novembris et Decembris anno xxj°v capientibus per diem TJ. d. , X. s. Cuidaw operator* [consimiliter] conducto per dictum Pynel operanti super garnituram domine per xij. dies ante JXativitct- tem domini l anno predicto,' capienti per diem v. d., [V. s. Cuidarri\ operator* consimiliter ibidem con^zwto per dictum Pynel pro con- similibus operibws doww'ne, ut supra, per vj. dies eiisdem diebz<s et anno, [capienti per diem\ iij. d., II. s. Duobzts operatoribus con- similiter ibidem conductis per dictum Pynel pro consimilibus operi- \)us domine, ut supra, [per duos] dies anno predicto, cuilifeet eorww per diem vj. d., II. s. v. operaioribus consimiliter ibidem conductis per dictum Pynel [pro consimilibus operi^ous domine, ut supra, in ebdomada ~Nativitatis contra iestum E^'phame ap^d Brestolh'am, per v. dies anno predicto, cuih'6et eoTum [v. d. per diem], XII. s. VI. D. Pro facfrira j. paris nianicar?^?^ cape domine per Robertum
Pynel contra dictum iestum, apud [rm/zo] predicto, XVI. s.
Pro potaczone data &upraA.ict\s operatoribus per predictum Pynel de
consnetudine I^ondonie per vices D. Pro x. libris can-
delarum Paris ' do ootono emptis p?-o operibzis swpradz'c^is per dtc^wm Pynel, precio libre ij. d., XX. D. \Quatuor operatoribus] conductis ~Londonie per Roberfwm Pynel ope?'ant^oz*s sz/^er garnituram domine
ibidem contra magnum iestum Sancti Georgii per vj. dies
anno xxxij0., cuih'&et eorum per diem vj. d., XII. s. Pro facfrira j.
corsetU' pro Philippa. Panetaria et pro opere peltn'e
ur' dicte Philippe, de precepto domine apud Wjndesoram xxj°. die
apnh's anno predicto, II. s. Peterkyn de la [ReoZe] [fac-
tti]ra j. mantclk' nigrt riuc ' riuemantelh' ' ad tax«??z, eiisde??z die et
anno, XIII. s. IIII. D. Cuidam operaton' con^Mcto
operanti SMj^er garn^tmim domtne apwd Anglesey per x. dies mense
NEW FACTS IN THE LIFE OF GEOFFREY CHAUCER. 107
Augiisti anno predicto, capienti per diem iiij. d.,
Pro factura j. corsetti dom'ne cum xx. botens de panno empfo's p?r
Robertom Pynel Londonie xxiiij. die
Pf0 facfura j. nigre tum'ce pro domina cum Ix. magm's
botens et Ix. minoribus pro eadem emptis Londonie iij°. [die Sep- tembris anno] xxxij0., III. s. VI. D. Eidem Johamii pro factura j. mantelH nigri cum j. nigra capa ib^em xiij°. [die Septembrisl} . . . s. IIII. D. Koberto Pynel pro 1. botens de panno empta? pro j. corsetto pro domma Comita'ssa et \\heratis Johanni Veisy \eisdem die ei\ anno, precio pecie j. d., IIII. s. II. D.
Summa pagine VIII. L. XII. s. VIII. D., OB.
iij. ope?-atorz6MS conducts Londow^e per Johannem Mas- foi. 2. synghaw ope?-antibws super guvnituram domine Philippe contra diem \sponscdium ?] in iiij. ebdomada mensz's Octobris anno xxxij0., cuilibek eoYum per diem vij. d., III. s. VI. D. Pro . . . [opemtoribus] con- ductis per dictum Massyngham pro consimilibiis operibws ut sup>-a per supradictos ij. dies anno predicto, cuiMbet eomm per diem .... XVIII. D. Cuidam operator* consimiliter ib^em conducio per de'c^m
~M.assynghctm pro consimilibus ope?ibws, ut supra, per vj. dies
anno predicto, capientibus per diem vij. d., III. s. VI. D. Cuidom operato?-i consimiliter ibi'Jem con^wcto per dictum [Massynghctm] ut swpra, per predicts vj. dies ' anno predicto,' capientibus per diem
vj. d., III. s. Pro xlviij. magnw botens de m'moribus emptls
per predict um Johannem pro gamitura dicte Philippe botunanda
Londo?w'e xxvij. die Septe?7i&r^s anno predicto viij.
operaton'ows consimiliter ibidem conrfwctis per dictum. Johannem ad taxara pro garn^wra dicte domine Philippe forranda [contra] dictum diem sponsalium * anno predicto,' cuih'&et eontm ij. s., XVI. s. Pro
viij. libris candellarMm de coten erap^'s per supradictis
anno predicto, precio libre ij. d., XVI. D. Pro xix. candeZw cere con-
similiter emptis ibz'dfem per predictum adaurat' et
serico- cerand' eadem vice et anno predicto, VI. D. Johanni Fidian
\garcioni camere domz'ne et operanti super predict
garm'tara per x. ' ultimos' dies mensz's Octobris anno predicto, III. s.
Pro factfura j. tunice et cape pro Reinpot Londora'e
vj. die Novembns anno predicto, II. s. iij. operaton'&ws conrfwctis
108 NEW FACTS IN THE LIFE OF GEOFFREY CHAUCER.
Londonte per operantibtis super garnitura
funebri domine Comitisse contra diem sepwltwre Isabelle Regine per vj. dies secede ebd[o?7iacZe], [cuilibet] eorum per diem vj. d., IX. s. Pro vj. libra's candelarww emptis per dictum Pynel pro operibus
supradictis anno pre[dicto] Pro potacione data supra.-
dictis operator ibus per vices tarn per manus Massy ngham quam
Eoberfr Pynel de consue[tudine Londonie] Petro-
kyn de la Eeole pro facrara j. nigri mantelK pro domzna contra
predicfrim diem sepwltwre xvj Joha?mi Veisy pro
furraci'one j. paris de botes pro dowma de nigro agno apud
eiisdem die \et anno] Duob^s operatori'ows
Londo?i^e per J. Yeysy operantz'ows ibidem supev garnitura domine
cornitisse per xij. dies contra ~Naiivitatem dommi ' anno
predicto,' cuili'oet eorum per diem vj. d., XII. s. Cuidam operator^ consimiliter ibidem cono^wcto [per Johannen\ Veisy pro consimilibus operibws domine ut siqwa per x. dies et dimidium contra festum pre- dictum anno predicto, ca[pienti per diem.~\ vj. d., V. s. III. D. Cuidam operator* consimiliter ibzWem concZwcto per Johannem ~Veisy pro con- similibus \pperil>us\ contra predz'c^m iestum per xj. dies et dimidium anno predicto, eapientibus per diem vj. d., V. s. IX. D. iij. [operaforv bus consimiliter] ibidem, conducts per dtc^wm Yeysy pro consimilibus operibMS domme, ut supra, contra iestum prediction per v. [dzes,] cuiL'oet eorum per diem vj. d., VII. s. VI. D. Cuidam operator^ consimiliter ibidem conducio per dictum \Veysy pro consimilibus] operibz^s domme, ut supra, contra predzc^Mm iestum. per ix. dies anno predicto, capienti per diem vj. d., IIII. s. VI. D. [Cuidani] opera- tori consimiliter ib^em conducio per predtc^wm Veysy pro consimi- libus operibMs domine ut supra per x. dies, ' anno predicto,' capienti [per diem vj. d.] V. s. v. operatoribws ' pellitoribzis ' consimiliter ib^em conduct^ per dictum Veysy pro garmYwa dowme supradicta [contra dictum] festum furranda cnm propn'is forruris domme, per v.
dies anno predicto, cuih'oet eorum per diem v Duobtts
operatori&Ms ' pellitoribus ' consimiliter ibidem conduct's per predtc- tum Veysy pro consimilibus operibws domme, ut supra, anno predicto, [eapientibus per] diem vj. d., VI. s. ij. operaton'ows pelliton&ws consimiliter ib«Wem conduct/* per dictum Veisy pro consimilibus
NEW FACTS IX THE LIFE OF GEOFFREY CHAUCER. 109
[operibus domine] per vij. dies anno predicto, cuiZioet eoium per die?n
vj. d., VII. s. Pro xxiiij. libris candellarwm de coten
tarn pro operibus taillerie qwam peltrie secundum ' consuetudinem ' Londom'e anno predicfo, precio libre ij. d., IIII. s. Pro potacione
d per dictum Veisy de consuetudme Londonie per vices
anno predicto III. s. IIII. D. Johaww Veisy existent
.... dictoK<m garniture domine per xij. dies confra festum Ifativi- tatis anno predicto, capienti per diem vj. d., VI. s. Johanni Sch[iw-
nare] ibidem super operibus pellitrie predicfe per viij.
dies ut supra, capientibus per diem iiij.d., II. s. VIII. D. ij. opera- toribus conduct^ Londom'e pro tapetis q»./ichssens maculaiis ad
hastilw^'a in Smetheueld mimda[ncfo's] prime ebdomade
qiiairagesime anno xxxiij0., euilibet eoium per diem vj.d., II. s.
Petrekyn de la Eeole mctntollo rino * riuemantello ' panni
nign pro domma, vj. die aprilis anno predicto, XIII. s. IIII. D.
Cuidara operatori
Summa pagine VII. L. XVII. s. I. D.
[DONA.]
Ex cons'imili dono domine ibidem eiisdem die et anno, t.mt. III. s. IIII. D. ij. somettaras Prioris Wjntoniensis euntibus cum herneszo domme Comitisse de Southam^towa usque Heding ex consimili dono domine . . . JumY anno predicto, III. s. IIII. D. Henn'co de Bokyngham ex consimili dono domine apwd Stretford .... ij°. die Septemfrm anno predicto, XL. s. NichoZao Fithe- lare ex consimili dono domine ibidem, [eiisdem die et] anno, VI. s. VIII. D. iij. hominibus Eoberti Sauage ducentifo<s domino Comiti et domine Comitisse .... am lineam et mantelkm de Hiberm'a usqwe Stretford ex parte di'c^i Robert, ex consimili dono [Nomine eiis]dem die et anno, XX. s. Cuidam somettario abbatis de Walthara ducenti lectwm domine [Comitisse de] Stretford usqrw? Campesse, ex consimili dono domine ibidem, eiisdem die et anno, III. s. IIII. D.
coquina domine Comitisse ex consimili dono domine
ioidem, eiisdem die et anno, XII. D. Johanni ulno et di-
midio riban largi de argento de cipre ab eo empfo et liberate Johawni
110 NEW FACTS IX THE LIFE OF GEOFFREY CHAUCER.
Prior ex consimili dono riband Londom'e, iiij°. die Aprilis
anno predicto, XIII. s. IIII. D. Eidera Jolianm
nlnts riban stricti consimiliter ab eo emptis et liberal's eidem Johtmni
de consimili dono dom?'ne pro manic?';? [rjiband ibidem,
eiisde?^ die et anno, II. s. X. D. Cuidom Paltokmakare Londow/e pro j. paltok [ab eodem empto ef\ liberate Galfn'cZo Chaucer de consimili dono domme ibidem, eiisdem die et anno, IIII. s. Pro j. pari .... i\\m ' nigro ' et rubeo et j. pari sottilarmm emptis Londo/we et liberatis eid^m Galfr/aY> de consimili dono domine ibidem [eiisdem die et ann]o, III. s. Jobanni "Weorstede pro j. riban largo
de arge?zte de cipre consimiliter ab eo empte [et liberate ] de
Burgh et ceteris de consimili dono domme apwd Wyndessore, xxij°.
die Apn'h's anno predicto ni Daute?-ne pro sotularibus
suis de consimili dono domme ibidem, eiisdem die et anno, V. D. Soihanni [Weorstede] [pro] j. riban aureo de cipre consimiliter ab eodem emp/o et liberate dommo Roberto Sauage militi de [consimili dono] do?m'ne Londo?iz'e, xx°. die Mail ' anno predicto,' X. s. Eidem Johanni Weorstede pro j. riban largo argenteo de \cipre consimiliter] ab eo empfo et liberate Johawni Prior ex consimili dono dowme
ibidem, eiisderre die et anno, XI. s am pro vj. paribus
BOtoIortttm consimiliter Londo?r?'e emptis et eidem liberatis pro nliis suis de consimili dono domine ibidem, [eiisdem die et] anno, II. s. ' I. D.' Cuid«»i Paltokmakare Londo?»'e p?-o j. paltok ' ab eo empte ' et liberate Johanni Hynton de [consimili dono\ domine apud Hattfo^Z ' ibidem,' xij. die Septembri* anno predicto, VIII. s. III. D. Pro j.
cinctz<ra cum j ib^em emptis et eidem Johawni liberal's de
consimili dono domine ibidem, eiisde?^ die et anno, III. s. IIII. D.
empte apwd Dancastre in festo beate Marie Magdalene,
et liberate Johanrai Hynton de consimili dono dorame
eodem festo anno predicto, XXX. s. Pro j. hakeneio consimiliter empto
apud HattfeZcZ et liberate cuidam valletto rok ' ex
consimili dono domme ib^Wem, eiisdem die et anno, VI. s. VIII. D. 'Eidem valletto [ducenti dictum] bakeneium de HattfeZo1 nsque Lon- doniam super secretis negotiis domine ex consimili dono do?/^'ne pro expends [suis, eiisdem] die et anno, VI. s. VIII. D. Jolianm Veisy et Jobanni. Schinnnre de consimili dono domine pro
NEW FACTS IN THE LIFE OF GEOFFREY CHAUCER. HI
ibidem, eiisde??i die et anno, IIII. s. Boberto Pynel et
Jolia/me uxon' eius de consimili dono Decembn's
~Londonie, eiisdem die et anno, XX. s. Stephawo Low vementi domme Comitisse cum ]ittens [Roberti £a]uage de Hibe?-m'a usque Hatt- ield de consimili dono do?mne, xx. die Decembris anno 'ipredicto,' VI. s. VIII. D. [CWa"am valetto ?~\ [d]ucis ~Lancastrie vewientz dom'ne Comitisse cum litteus damme Blanchte Lancas^n'e ex consimili dono domine, [eiisdem die] et anno, II. s. Cuidam gavcioni vewienti cum Philippo. Panettaria de Pullesdone usque HattfeZc? de \consimili dono domin\Q ibidem, eiisdem die et anno, XII. D. Galfrufo Chaucer de cons^'m^7i dono domme ibo'rfam. [j^ro necessariis contra festu]m ~Nativitatis ibidem, eiisdem die et anno, II. s. VI. D. Johawni Schyn- nare pro consimilibus necessariis [de consimili don]o domme ibidem eiisdem die et anno, II. s. Cuidam valetto domine de Moubray
vewienti clere Elen' et j. Brewes Dalham et Brestowe
cum v. eqm's de Insula de Oxholm per Ely the propter
congellacz'onem aqwar?/m inter HattfeZcZ et insulam predic^am ex consimili dono dorame ibidem, [eiisdem die et] anno, VI. s. VIII. D. Petro de With' pro annona sua de consimili dono domme f. 101.
ap?/d HattfeZci primo die Janua?-# Magistro Johtmni
Koc Connti's Hichmundie pro consimili annona de consimili dono domine ibidem, [eiisdem die et anno,] XIII. s. IIII. D. Johanni Lincolm'e clerico coqwme dicti Comiti's pro consimili annona sua [consimili dono domine] ibidem, eiisde?w die et anno, XIII. s. IIII. D. Kicanfo Zenelee pro conmnili annona ut supra [de consimili dono domine] ibidem, eiisdem die et anno, XIII. s. IIII. D. Cuidam gar-
cioni ISTichoZai Gernoun vewient* . , domine Comitisse de
Campesse usque HattfeM iij°. die Januarn' anno predicto, III. s. IIII. D. Hennco Cone pro j. lecto de rubeo weorstede cum iij. ridelh's et dimidio celare de rubeo ca[??,aoo] . . . . de rubeo canabo 1 ab eo emptis et liberatis Johanni Prior de consimili dono dowime Lon-
donie, xij LI. s. Dommo Thome capellano de capella
Hegine ex consimili dono domme ib^em, eiisdem [die et anno], . . . . . Thome Prior de consimili dono domme apzwl HattfeZd x°. die Decem&m ' anno predicto,' XX. s. Kicardo P[ynel de] consimili
1 The repetition is in the MS. LIFE-RECORDS, III.
112 NEW FACTS IN THE LIFE OF GEOFFREY CHAUCER.
dono domine ibidem, eiisdew die et anno, VIII. D. Gilberto de la Sancorie pro sumpt[ibus suis] apud Eltham de consimili dono domine, Londonie, xx°. die Decembris anno predicto, XXIX. s.
pro j. lecfo de dupplici weorstede ab eodem emp/o
et liberate Henn'co Kyng de consimili d[ono domine], primo die Marcii ANNO xxxii0., XXVI. s. VIII. D. Cnidam monaco claus^ri
ex consimili dono domine ibidem, eiisde?^ die et anno,
XIII. s. IIII. D. Bette pauetcm'e 'do??i/ne' . . . [ex consimili] dono dowme apud Campesse, iiij°. die Aprilis anno predicto, XX. s. Dionis/o coquinario predicte [filie domine ex consimili] dono eiusde?n ' domine ' ibidem, eiisdew die et anno, X. s. Agathe nu/n'ci p?-ed?'c^e
filte domine pro d[ebitis] de Campesse acquietandis ex
consimili dono domme per man/is Johannis ^lassingham ibidem,
eiisdew die [et anno] Symom Buchel pro iiij. nlnis rubezi
veluetti ab eode??i emptt-s et liberatis domino Roberto Savage . . .
Kyng ex consimili dono domine London/e, xij. die
april/s anno predicto, precio nlni xii. s., XL VIII. s
consimiliter ewptis "Londonie et liberatis Johanni de Hynton' de
consimili dono domine, ibidem eiisdm die et anno,
braccali consimiliter ibidem empfo et liberate eidem Johanni de
consimili dono domme ibidem, eiisde??^ die [et anno]
Symoni Yrichess de consz'?mli dono domine Londo?«'e xix°. die
Apn'lt's anno p?'ed^c#o, XII. D. H \jpro j. lecto] de blu
weorstede cnm iij. curtinis de Ynde card' et pro ij. libn's cord« de canabo [ab eo emptis et liberatis] ^icbolao Beknesfeld et Elene die sponsalium eomrndem ex consimili dono domine apud Angle
anno predz'cfo, XL VI II. s. Hanel Wyngare ex consimili
dono domine apud Lirpol primo die &\fptembris\ Hugoni
Withe, valletto Johannis Glanuille ve»ient^ domine Coraitisse cum hVferis avgento et fald . ... [ex consimili] dono domine ibidem, eiisde?« die et anno, XIII. s. IIII. D. Elene Beknesfeld de consimili [dono domine] ap?/d ~Londoniam anno predicto, VI. s. VIII. D. Gilot
gardero&e ex consimili dono domine ibidem Henr/co Kyng
de consimili dono do»u'ne apwd Reding, vj. die Rovembris anno
predicto, XIII. s. IIII. D [ex consimili] dono
domine ibidem eiisdew die et anno, II. s. Thome pagetto de camera
NEW FACTS IN THE LIFE OF GEOFFREY CHAUCER. 113
de consimili \_dono domine, eiiadem die] et anno, XVI. D. Custod/ Leonum apwd t«nira Londontenmm ex consimili dono domine ibidem,
VI. s. VIII. D. Thome page/fo de caraej'a pro j. pari
calcarmm ' empto ' ex consimili ' dono ' domine ibidem e[iisdem d/'i>
et anno] Wille/mo Hunte ex consimili dono do?nine,
ibidem, eiisdem die et anno, II. s. "Waltero George [ex consimili dono domine] eiisdew die et anno, III. s. IIII. D. ij. munestrall/.s-
Regine Scocie ex consimili dono domine ANNO
xxxiu.0, XIII. s. IIII. D. Pro j. paltok empfo ~Londonie et \iberato
Tho??^[e] ex consimili 'dono domine,' prooio oiuo,
eiisde?n die et anno, VI. s. VIII. D. vj. vallett/s dncis ~Lan[castrie]
ardentibus circa q?/adriga??i domine de hospicio dicti
ducis de le Neythe usque gavderobam London^ [de consimili dono domine], eiisdem die et anno, XIII. s. IIII. r>.
115
as jfortste of fo4 |
IN THE COUNTY OF SOMERSET,
14 EICH. II. TO 1 HEN. IV.
A.D. 1390-1— A.D. 1400.
WALFORD D. SELBY,
OF H. M. PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, EDITOR OF THE GENEALOGIST, ETC. ETC.
WITH AN APPENDIX ON
ii. Cottar's CDnnctfion toiitr f pit an\r
WALTER RYE,
AUTHOR OF NORFOLK TOPOGRAPHY, ETC. ETC.
117
GEOFFREY CHAUCER, FORESTER OF NORTH PETHERTON, CO. SOMERSET,
A.D. 1390-1—1400. [From ' 'flie Athcnanm,' 20th Nov., 1886,^?. 672-3.]
WHILE Chaucer students are toiling through the thousands of membranes of such bulky MSS. as the Coram Rege and De Banco Rolls in the hope of finding some fresh notices of the poet, it would appear as if standard works, printed, but insufficiently indexed, afford a far more limited hunting-ground, which has not yet been thoroughly exhausted. For the last few years no new Chaucer notices have been forthcoming, and if memory serves me, the latest discovery was due to the perseverance of Mr. Walter Rye. That energetic antiquary, following up his determination to make the poet a Norfolk man (born, perhaps, at Lynn), thought it as well to investigate an entry duly indexed in a volume entitled Placitorum Abbreviatio^ which was published by the Record Commissioners as far back as the year 1811 ; the result being that, assisted by Dr. F. J. Furnivall's earlier researches, a hitherto neglected reference to a Coram Rege Roll of the nineteenth year of Edward II. enabled Mr. Rye to ascertain, in addition to minor points, the correct name of the poet's grandfather, to wit, Robert le Chaucer.
Now, once more, a printed work, and one that has been before the world for a period of not less than ninety-five years, has furnished a clue of remarkable interest. The credit of the discovery of the reference, I should in the first place state, is due to Mr. William Floyd, an antiquary who is as well known for his valuable collec- tions of original notes from the public records as for his liberality in placing the contents of his note-books at the service of every inquirer. It was through an entry in one of Mr. Floyd's note-books that the curious deed relating to Chaucer's "raptus" of Cecilia Chaumpaigne was first discovered eleven years ago, and now again he comes forward with the startling piece of information to the
118 CHAUCER AS FORESTER OF N. PETHERTON, 1390-1 1400.
Chaucer searcher that the poet was Forester of North Petherton in the county of Somerset, and that he was succeeded in this post by a Thomas Chaucer. The authority for this statement is to be found on p. 62 of the third volume of Collinson's well-known History and Antiquities of the County of Somerset in the excellent account of North Petherton (vol. iii. pp. 54 — 74). In dealing with the history of the parish Collinson furnishes much precise information with regard to the Somerset forests,1 and, inter alia, he distinguishes between the " forestarii baronum et milituni," the " king's foresters," and the "foresters in fee." He then proceeds to trace the history of the office of king's forester within the park of Petherton. This account is brought down to one Sabina Peche, who " died 13 Edward II., and on her death Nicholas Peche her son paid his relief for her lands in Newton." Collinson then continues :
" Matthew, the son of this Nicholas Peche, sold all his right in a messuage called the Park-house, and in certain parcels of land in Newton and Exton, as also to the bailiwick of the forests of Pether- ton, Exmore, Neroche, Mendip, Selwood, and the custody of the warren of Somerton, to Sir Richard d'Amori, Knt. This sale was made 10 Edward III. All which lands and office were 31 Edw. III. (probably after another sale from the family of D'Amori) found to have leen part of the possessions of Roger Mortimer, Earl of March, in whose descendants, and the Dukes of York, it continued till the time of Edw. IV., when it came to the Crown."
Then follows immediately the passage which contains the new Chaucer note : —
" These foresters of the family of Mortimer, as also the Dukes of York, appointed substitutionary foresters, to whom (as it appears by the Park Eolls) their whole power was delegated, as far as relates to this part of North Petherton.
10 Ric. II. [June 1 386-7], 2 Richard Brittle, by the appointment of the Earl of March.
14 Ric. II. [22 June, 1390, to 21 June, 1391], Richard Brittle and Gefferey Chaucer, by the appointment of the Earl of March.
21 Ric. II. [1397-8], Getferey Chaucer, by Alianor, Countess of March.
4 Hen. V. [1416-17], Thomas Chaucer, by Edward,3 Earl of March.
1 On the subject of forest trespasses he incidentally remarks, that one early writer complained that it was by the forest laws safer to be a beast than a Christian man. 2 Collinson only gives the regnal years.
3 The name should be Edmund.
CHAUCER AS FORESTER OF N. PETHEUTOX, 1390-1 1400. 119
8 Hen. VI., William Wrothe and Thomas Attemore.
12 Hen. VI., William Wrothe.
29 Hen. VI., Sir William Bonville and Kichard Luttrell, by the Duke of York.
33 Hen. VI., Richard Stafford and Richard LuttrelL
38 Hen. VI., James Boteler, Earl of Ormond.
2 Edw. IV., Philip de St. Maur.
5 Edw. IV., John St. Albin, of Ash way.
14 Edw. IV., Sir Giles D'Aubeny, for life.
23 Hen. VII, Robert Wrothe, for thirty years. Soon after the expiration of which term, Sir Thomas Wrothe, son and heir of the said Robert, purchased, 3 Edw. VI., of that king the fee of the park and manor of Newton Regis. His descendants in the time of Queen Elizabeth pulled down the park-house, and carried the materials to a lodge called the Broad Lodge, which the late Sir Thomas Wroth improved to a handsome dwelling. The whole park l is now converted into farms, and belongs to Sir Thomas Acland, Bart., in right of his grandmother, eldest daughter and coheir of Sir Thomas Wroth."
Thus far Collinson, who, be it observed, fails to identify the poet in the " substitution ary forester" appointed 14 Ric. II. (A.D. 1390-1), and again in 21 Ric. II. (A.D. 1397-8). Now as this is the only notice, so far as I am aware, which connects the name of Geoffrey Chaucer with the county of Somerset, it may at first sight appear somewhat rash to identify this particular " Geoffrey Chaucer " as being the poet. It therefore becomes necessary to state the reasons for the identification. And, first, I believe I am strictly correct in stating that the names " Geoffrey" and " Thomas," taken in conjunction with the dates of the appointments, were alone amply sufficient to satisfy such a careful worker as Mr. Floyd as to the identity of the persons referred to. The name " Geoffrey " Chaucer, indeed, constitutes some sort of identification, inasmuch as no Geof- frey Chaucer other than the poet is known during the reign of Richard II. ; still this identification by the Christian name is not altogether convincing. It is, however, to be noticed that the appoint- ment was made by the Earl of March. The question then at once arises, Can any connection be traced between this Earl of March and Geoffrey Chau«er, the poet 1 I think so, and in this manner.
1 In this park was found the curious amulet of King Alfred mentioned in vol. i. p. 87.
120 CHAUCER AS FORESTER OF X. PETHERTOX, 1390-1 — MOO.
The earliest notice of the poet is one that was discovered twenty years ago by Mr. E A. Bond, the present Principal Librarian of the British Museum. Some fragments of parchment, which had been pasted down to the covers of an ancient manuscript (Add. MS. 18,632) to serve as a lining to the binding, proved on examination to be portions of a household account of Elizabeth, daughter and heiress of William de Burgh, the last Earl of Ulster of that name, and wife of Prince Lionel, third son of Edward III. ; and, strange to say. the name of Geoffrey Chaucer as a page in the household of Prince Lionel or a special attendant on the Countess of Ulster was found three times repeated on these very waste fragments, the earliest entry, under date April, 1357, relating to the gift of an entire suit of clothes to the future poet, consisting of a paltock or short cloak, a pair of red and black breeches, and a pair of shoes. A full account of these " K"ew Facts in the Life of Chaucer" was given by Mr. Bond in the Fortnightly Review for August 15th, 1866 (Xo. xxxi.). An exact transcript of these interesting fragments has also, I believe, been issued to members of the Chaucer Society within the last few months.1
Here at once we have the clue to the connection between Geoffrey Chaucer, the poet, and Eoger Mortimer, the fourth Earl of March, who is referred to by Collinson as appointing the foresters of Xorth Petherton. Briefly, this fourth Earl of March was grandson of Elizabeth de Burgh referred to above, as may be clearly seen by the annexed pedigree : —
Prince Lionel, Duke of Clarence, = Elizabeth de Burgh, to whom Geof- third son of Edward IIL | frey Chaucer was page (?) in 1357.
i — _^ — ^ — ^ —
Philippa, ob. Jan. 5, 5 Eich II. (see = Edmund Mortimer, 3rd Earl of Q.R. Anc. Misc. Bund. 198, No. 16). [ March.
Alionora, daughter of Thos. Holland, = Eoger Mortimer, 4th Earl of March, 2nd Earl of Kent, who reappointed who appointed Geoffrey Chaucer
Geoffrey Chaucer as Forester in 21 Forester of North Petherton in
Ric. II. (1397-8).2 1390-1. Ob. July 20, 22 Eic. H.3
1 It forms part of the present publication. F. J. F.
2 Collinson appears to be wrong iu this date, as a new appointment would hardly be required until the death of the earl. Perhaps it should be 22 Eic. II. (A.D. 1398-9).
3 See "March Lands" (Q.R. Anc. Misc. Bund. 198, No. 98), where the
CHAUCER AS FORESTER OF N. I'KTIIEKTON, 1390-1 — 1400. 121
"\Vith these facts before us, it seems perfectly reasonable to admit, without further proof, this identification of the Forester of North Petherton. " Unbelieving Thomases " are, however, abroad in these days of original research, and, therefore, to be accepted, important facts have to be proved, so to speak, " right up to the hilt." It becomes necessary, then, to adduce as much evidence as is possible in sxipport of every contention. In this particular case the year of the appointment is material. It is well known that Chaucer held the post of Comptroller of Customs in the Port of London up to the tenth year of the reign of Richard II. ; he then lost the appointment for some reason not satisfactorily explained. In 11 Richard II. (1387-8) Chaucer assigned his two pensions to one John Scalby. It would, therefore, appear that his income at this period was suffering a considerable reduction. In 13 Richard II. (1389-90), however, he obtained the appointment of Clerk of the King's Works at West- minster, but one John Gedney succeeded to the post in less than two years, to wit, in September, 1391 (15 Richard II.); and from this date the Chaucer notices in the Public Records dwindle away. But this is precisely the period when it is now announced that he held the forestership of North Petherton, and whether the appointment necessitated personal superintendence on the spot or not, an unsatis- factory gap in the poet's life is now filled up, and in a manner exactly in accordance with the poet's pecuniary requirements. The patron who gives him the appointment is one whom, with the ascertained facts of Chaucer's earlier career before us, we might have confidently named; and it must, moreover, be a matter of con- siderable interest to the wide circle eager to follow all the most minute events in the poet's life to learn now for the first time of what we may consider as a friendly connection, extending over more than forty years, between the poet and the distinguished descendants of Prince Lionel and Elizabeth, Countess of Ulster.
heading of the roll runs : " Quo die idem Rogerus obiit, post cujus mortem (lominium prssdictum devenit in manus dicti Regis nomine custodiac, ratione minoris tetatis Ed'i filii et heredis dicti Roger! comitis." Doyle's Official gives the date of the death of Earl Roger as "Aug. 15, 1398," but
the correctness of the date given above (July 20) is confirmed by another roll in the same bundle (No. 91), where it is lixed as " festuui Sancte Margarete Virginia."
122 CHAUCER AS FORESTER OF N. PETHERTON, 1390-1 — 14OO.
This is all the evidence I am at the moment prepared with in proof of the identification, and it is submitted, without further research, for the criticism of the students of Chaucer's life, with a view to elicit comments, and so to bring about a decision on the point one way or the other. In the event of the identification proving acceptable, this interesting item in the poet's life-story will duly find its place, together with any additional notes that others may be able to furnish, in the volume of Life-Records of Chaucer, which has for some years been in course of preparation for the Chaucer Society under the editorship of Dr. F. J. Furnivall and myself. I may add, incidentally, that in glancing over Collinson's pages I noted that a branch of the family of Hay run or Heron is mentioned in connection with North Petherton. On the Heron question I would refer my readers to Mrs. Haweis's careful summary of the poet's life in Belgrama for July, 1882.
In conclusion, it may be advantageous to indicate the line of future research suggested by this new " find." In the first place, an attempt should be at once made to trace the present whereabouts of the "Park Eolls," which, at the time Collinson wrote, before 1791, seem to have been in the possession of Sir Thomas Acland.1 These, if found, would certainly prove of great interest. The series is apparently defective, as a successor to Geoffrey Chaucer should have been appointed, according to present information, in the first year of Henry IV. Next, the Public Kecords offer some chance of further light on the particular point, if a careful examination were made of some bundles of Ministers' Accounts known as " March Lands " (Exch. Q.E. Ancient Miscellanea, Bundles 197 to 201).
I have already noted in the " descriptive slips " of these last- named records a " forester's " roll, dated 23 Eichard II., for North
1 Sir Thomas Acland, the present baronet, has most kindly allowed a search to be made in his muniment room at Killerton, by Mr. Winslow Jones, but without success. Sir Alexander Acland Hood has also thrown open his muniments at St. Audries, Bridgwater, with a like result. In the last-named baronet's possession are the MSS. collected by Mr. T. Palmer, from which Collinson compiled his History, and with reference to these Sir Alexander Hood writes : " I feel confident that Mr. Thomas Palmer saw the Rolls at Petherton Park. I have many of his manuscripts, and he always gives his authorities for his statements."
CHAUCER AS FORESTER OP N. PETHERTON, 1390-1 — 1400. 123
Petlierton (?), of which, however, the heading — with the usual bad luck attending the searches for original Chaucer documents — is defaced by galls, and all that remains of the name of the particular "forester "is the final portion, " war."1 But I am not at present satisfied that Hunter has properly assigned this roll to North Pether- ton. I may also add that Bundle 198 of " March Lands" contains several receipts given by Sir John Clanvowe,2 who, it will be remembered, was one of the witnesses to the " raptus " deed executed by Cecilia Chaumpaigne.
With reference to Thomas Chaucer, so much space has already been occupied with the identification of the father (?) that it will be better to leave the subject of his identity and connection with the poet for future consideration.
WALFORD D. SELBY.
P.S. — The foregoing may suggest to some the word-likeness sketched by a New England poet, which well accords with the new " find " :
An old man in a lodge within a park ;
The chamber walls depicted all around
With portraiture of huntsman, hawk, and hound,
And the hurt deer. He listeneth to the lark,
Whose song comes with the sunshine through the dark
Of painted glass in leaden lattice bound ;
He listeneth and he laugheth at the sound,
Then writeth in a book like any clerk.
He is the poet of the dawn, who wrote
The Canterbury Tales, and his old age
Made beautiful with song ; and as I read
I hear the crowing cock, I hear the note
Of lark and linnet, and from every page
Rise odours of ploughed field or flowery mead.
1 With the interpolation of a c between the letters w and a, this would do very well for the termination of the name " Chawcar." [A more careful examination of the MS. has proved that the name is " John Janesware." The roll is, therefore, not one of the series of " Park Rolls." Of course, if the Christian name were " Geoffrey," I should read it (i Jawesware."— W. D. S.]
2 The name is given incorrectly as " Clanebowe " in the " raptus " deed. [I have here made a mistake. The receipts are given by Sir Thomas Clanvowe, who may, or may not, have been a relation of Sir John. — W. D. S.]
CHAUCER.
From the Hiirleian .l/.S'. IN;,;.
125
APPENDIX.
i.
CHAUCER'S GRANDFATHER, ROBERT LE CHAUCER.
BY WALTER EYE. [From ' The Athencenm? 29 January, 1881.]
To make myself intelligible to these who have not studied the subject, I will restate the hitherto accepted pedigree in the words of Sir H. Nicolas. A Richard Chaucer, a vintner of London, who in his will, dated 1349, mentions only his wife Mary and her son Thomas Heyroun, is said to have had " by the said Mary (or some other wife) a son John Chaucer, who was also a citizen and vintner of London; for the said Thomas Heyroun by his will, dated on April 7th, 1349, .... appointed his brother [i. e. his half-brother] John Chaucer his executor," &c.
That this John Chaucer was the father of the poet seems abundantly proved, but an entry on mem. 13 of the Coram Rege Roll of Hilary 19 Edward II. (1326), as to a plea held at Norwich, equally abundantly proves that the poet's grandfather was Robert, and not Richard le Chaucer, as has hitherto been supposed.
For many reasons the entry is an interesting one, so I subjoin a translation of the first part of it ; the latter is chiefly taken up with technicalities : —
" London. — Agnes, the widow of Walter de Westhale, Thomas Stace, Geoffrey Stace, and Laurence ' Geffreyesman Stace,' 1 were attached to answer Richard le Chaucer of London and Mary Ins wife on a plea that whereas the custody of the land and heir of Rnhert le Chaucer until the same heir became of full age belonged to the said Robert and Mary (because the said Robert held his land in socage, and the said Mary is nearer in relationship to the heir of the said Robert), and (whereas) the said Richard and Mary long remained in
1 This curious way of describing "Laurence, the man of Geoffrey Stace." occurs again in a Patent Roll cited hereafter (18 Edvv. II., pt. 2, mem. 29d), where Hugh, the man of Philip Harueys, is described as " Hugo Phelippesmau Harneys."
126 CHAUCER'S GRANDFATHER, ROBERT LE CHAUCER.
full and peaceful seizin of such wardship, the said Agnes, Thomas, Geoffrey, and Laurence by force and arms took away John, the son and heir of the said Robert, who was under age and in the custody of the said Richard and Mary, and married him against the will of the said Eichard and Mary and of the said heir, and also did other unlawful acts against the said Richard and Mary, to the grave injury of the said Richard and Mary, and against the peace.
" And therefore the said Richard and Mary by their attorney complain that whereas the custody of the land and heir of the said Robert, viz. of one messuage with its appurtenances in Ipswich, until the full age of, &c., belonged, &c., because the said Robert held the said messuage in socage and the said Mary is nearer in relationship to the said Robert, viz. mother of the said heir, and formerly the icife of the said Robert, and (whereas) the said Richard and Mary remained in full and peaceful seizin of the said wardship for a long while, namely, for one year ; they, the said Agnes, Thomas, Geoffrey, and Laurence, on the Monday before the feast of St. Nicholas, in the eighteenth year of the present king, and against the will of the said Richard and Mary, stole and took away by force and arms, viz. swords, bows and arrows, the said John, son and heir of the said Robert, who was under age, viz. being under the age of fourteen years, and then in the wardship of the said Richard and Mary at London, namely, in the ward of Cordwanerstrete, and married him to one Joan, the daughter of Walter de Esthale^ and committed other unlawful acts, &c.
" Wherefore they say they are injured, and have suffered damage to the extent of 300Z."
The defence put in was
"that, according to the customs of the ' Burg ' of Ipswich from time to which, &c., any heir under age when his heirship shall descend to him shall remain in the charge of the nearest of his blood, but that his inheritance shall not descend to him till he has completed the age of twelve years, and shall know how to reckon and how to measure ; and they say that the said heir of the said Robert com- pleted the age of twelve years before the suing out of the said writ." 2
Most of the rest of the membrane is taken up with a long technical dispute as to jurisdiction, of which the Mayor and citizens of London apparently got the best, for the trial came on before R. Baynard and Harno de Chikewell and Nicholas de Farndon (the
1 No doubt a transcriber's error for Westhale. See the other authorities cited later.
2 And it is alleged that the said Agnes, Thomas, Geoffrey, and Laurence did not cause the said heir to be married.
CHAUCER'S GRANDFATHER, ROBERT LE CHAUCER. 127
two latter sitting on behalf of the City), at St. Martin's the Great (le Grand), London, on the Sunday next before the Nativity of the B. V. M., when, the defendants making default, a verdict was entered up for the plaintiffs for 250?. damages.
Dissatisfied with the verdict, Geoffrey Stace and his co-defend- ants in 2 Edw. III. (1328) attainted Eichard le Chaucer and his wife of perjury said to have been committed at the trial; but after a lengthened argument it was decided that no writ of attaint could lie as to the verdict of a jury within the City; so Geoffrey took nothing by his motion, but, on the other hand, was committed to the custody of the Marshal of the City on the old verdict found against him.
All this is set out at great length in the Liber Albus of the City of London (ed. 1859, vol. i. pp. 437-44), in which it was no doubt preserved because it was a valuable precedent for the City. As the entry winds up with a still valid reference to the Coram Rege Roll (before quoted) in these words, " Prout patet termino Sancti Hillarii anno regni patris Domini Regis nunc XIX. rotulo XIII. ," it certainly is hard to understand how Chaucerian collectors have omitted to follow up so very clear a clue.1
Still more strange is it that they should have left it to an out- sider to discover that Geoffrey Stace presented a petition to Parlia- ment in the same year (2 Edw. III., 1328, No. 6), praying for relief against the damages of 250?., which he alleged were excessive, on the ground that the heir's estate was only worth 20s. a year. This petition sets out all the proceedings, referring to John as " fuiz et heire Robert le Chaucier," but puts the finding of the jury thus : " Et trove fu q'ils avoient ravi le dit heire, mes ne mie marke" and alleges that "le dit heire est al large et ove les avantditz Richard et Marie demourant et nulson dismarie." I have not yet been able to ascertain the result of this petition.
From the three documents described above, therefore, it is clear that the Mary who was ultimately the wife of Richard Chaucer had
1 Riley, in his introduction to his Memorials^, xxxiv), mistakes the purport of the trial, and goes out of his way to say that " it does not throw any light," &c.
LIFE-RECORDS, III. 9
128 CHAUCEB'S GRANDFATHER, ROBERT LE CHAUCER.
been married twice before : once, to — Heyroun, by whom she had a son Thomas Heyroun, and once to Robert le Chaucer, by whom she had a son John Chaucer, the poet's father. The confusion has no doubt been caused by her having married two men of the same surname. It has always been hard to understand why, if Richard were John's father, he did not mention him in his will, which left all his property in charity ; but the present discovery clears away this difficulty.
The fact of Richard le Chaucer, his wife, and her son living in the ward of Cordwanerstrete, where dwelt the shoemakers and other workers in leather, should not be forgotten by those who claim a gentle, if not noble, descent for the poet, ignoring the fact that " Le Chaucer" simply means the " The Shoemaker." The arms borne by the poet seem to have been those of De Waldegrave differenced, and I think I have a clue which may show that the Chaucers followed the banner of this family into Aquitaine. This, however, is little better than a guess at present.1
We now come to the question as to who was this Robert le Chaucer, the poet's grandfather, and who were these Staces who took so lively an interest in his infant heir. On both points I can throw some little light, for I find on mem. 17 of the Fine Roll for 4 Edw. II. a commission, dated August 2nd (1310), appointing Robert le Chaucer one of the collectors in the port of London of the new customs upon wines granted by the merchants of Aquitaine, a post not unlike that afterwards filled in the same port by his grandson the poet.
At the same time Thomas Stace 2 was appointed to fill a similar office for Ipswich, so he and Robert Chaucer were brother officials, and no doubt thrown together in business matters. Can it be that Robert le Chaucer's wife was a sister or daughter of this Stace, and that the dispute was no more or less than a family quarrel 1 Such a supposition would account for the strong personal interest taken in it by the Staces. The expression on the Coram Rege Roll, that Mary, the wife of Richard, was nearer in relationship to her ward,
1 Has it ever been noticed that the arms on John Chaucer's seal are almost identical with those of Swinford ?
2 I find a John Stace occurring in the Hundred Roll for London circa 1274, and we know there were Chaucers in London as early as 1226.
CHAUCER'S GRANDFATHER, ROBERT LE CHAUCER. 129
would almost imply that some one concerned was also related in a more remote degree.
The theory that the abduction of December arose from a family dispute is partly borne out by the fact that on the previous Michael- mas a fine was levied (Suffolk Fines, 18 Edw. II., No. 156) between Agnes, the widow of Walter de Westhale, petent, and John de Reynes, parson of the church of Melton, and Richard de Glaunvile (no doubt trustees), tenants, as to two parts of the manor of Colesle and of land at Alderton, being in effect a settlement on the widow for life, remainder to Sibilla the daughter of Walter de Westhale and the heirs of her body, remainder to Joan her sister (to whom John Chaucer was afterwards forcibly married), and ultimate remainder to the said John Chaucer, son of Robert le Chaucer, and his heirs.
The motive of the abduction, therefore, is sufficiently evident. The abduction itself forcibly reminds us of the so-called " raptus " of Cecilia Chaumpaigne by the poet himself before 1380.
By the way, at p. 138 of Mr. FurnivaH's Forewords of 1875, a Pembrokeshire origin is suggested for those Chaumpaignes, but he has overlooked the fact that there were plenty of the name in Suffolk l contemporary with the poet, so the latter's adventure probably took place near the abode of his mother's family. Mr. Greenstreet is, I am happy to say, about to follow this clue up, so we shall probably soon know more not only of this affair, but as to what became of the Ipswich property once belonging to the Chaucers.
This, however, is a long digression, so I will return to Thomas Stace, who was burgess for Ipswich for various years between 1307 and 1327. He was also collector of the customs there in 1307 and 1308, and while bailiff in 1321 made seizures for the king's use in a way which caused a riot, particulars of which may be found on mem. 19d of the second part of the Patent Roll of 14 Edw. II. In 1324 he had ceased to be bailiff, and was implicated in another riot, this time against the bailiffs (see Patent Roll, 18 Edw. II., pt. ii. mem.
1 See Feet of Fines (Suffolk), 10, 15, 18, and 23 Edw. I., 17 Edw. II., 4 Edw. III., &c. The fact that there was a Robert Chaumpaigne a citizen of London in the same year as Cecilia released Chaucer has apparently hitherto escaped notice. See Inq. P.M. 3 R. II. No. 90.
*
130 CHAUCER'S GRANDFATHER, ROBERT LE CHAUCER.
29d). Also concerned in the latter disturbance were the other defendant Geoffrey Stace (burgess in 1311-17 and 1327, and probably his brother), and the latter's two brothers, Henry Stace and Nicholas Stace.
Both Thomas and Geoffrey Stace would, therefore, seem to have been masterful men, who would not have thought much of the forcible abduction and marriage of a boy. Whether the poet was of kin to this Geoffrey or not, it is not improbable that he owed his Christian name to him. And the poet's London contemporaries and possible brothers, Henry and Nicholas Chaucer (both of Cordwaner Street), may have been named after Henry and Nicholas Stace.
The descents of the poet's two grandfathers I will leave to those better qualified than I to puzzle out, but I may put forward a sug- gestion that Robert le Chaucer's family may have originally come from Norfolk. The old MS. history of Lynn (now unluckily lost) known as Lennce Rediviva (sic) states that the poet himself was born at Lynn, and there may have been some foundation for the story. There was a Benedict1 le Chaucer implicated in the great Norwich riot of 1272 (vide the last part of my Norfolk Antiquarian Miscellany, p. 30), and some of his relations may have been among those who fled from the consequences 'to a friendly city. That London was friendly to Norwich about this time I could prove if it were necessary, e. g. by the fact that the writer of the London chronicle in the Liber de Antiquis Legibus is the only one who warmly espouses the side of the Norwich citizens with relation to this riot. It is noteworthy that among those who were concerned in such disturbance I find the names of Le Blund, Le Fevere, De Heylesdon, Le Noreys, and De Stodeye, names which reappear in the next century as mayors, sheriffs, and prominent citizens of London.
There was, by the way, another Chaucer in Norwich, viz. "Walter le Chaucer, who was in 1292 a juror on an inquisition ad quod damnum as to the Friars Minors. Chaucer's writings contain several references to Norfolk, e. g. the Reeve who lived " byside the
1 John le Chaucer of London is said by Riley (Memorials, p. xxv) to have had a son Benedict, circa 1298.
CHAUCER'S CONNECTION WITH NORFOLK. 131
town men clepen Baldeswelle," Frere Nicholas of Linn the " reverend clerk," and the miller's wife who invokes the holy cross of Brom- holme ; while the bitterness against the Jews in the Prioress's Tale may well have sprung from family tales of the martyrdom of St. William of Norwich. Nor should it be forgotten that Thomas Chaucer, said to have been the poet's son, was (Jure nxoi"is) a Norfolk landowner. Still, with a chain of London Chaucers from 1226 downwards, I fear probabilities are against me.
II.
CHAUCER'S CONNECTION WITH LYNN AND NORFOLK.
BY WALTER RYE.i
THERE are several things which tell in favour of Chaucer having been closely connected with Lynn and Norfolk.
1. The MS. History of Lynn, called Lennce Rediviva, positively states that the poet was born at Lynn.2
2. We know that Lynn was a great wine port. Chaucer's grand- father Robert was a collector of wine duties in London in 1312, and his father John was a vintner of London in 1342. There was a Robert de London at Lynn in 1295 (Feet of Fines (Norfolk), Ed. I. No. 681), and again in 1307-9, and who imported and exported goods to and from Lynn in 1309. He was a Custom House officer there
1 From the Academy, 1885.
2 This history is said to have been written by Ben Adam for Edward IV. It was quoted by the Norfolk Tour of 1829 : — " In addition to these worthies of Lynn, the Lennae ftedeuiwa, upon what authority we know not, says, under the head ' Friars,' —
' Lynn had the honour to present the world With Geoffery Chaucer, Capgrave, and the curled Pate Albanus de Lenna, John Barstone, William Cocheford, John Thomson, Thomas Lainbe, and 't did afford The Court a jeaster, Hugh of Lynn was he, All famous in theyr time, Lynn, nursed by thee.' "
(Norfolk Tour, vol. i., p. 464, A.D. 1829.) Mr. Rye has not yet been able to trace this Lennce Rediviva. — F. J. F.
132 CHAUCER'S CONNECTION WITH NORFOLK.
in 1338 (Lynn Customs Roll, W.N., 1881). Again, there was a Geoffrey le Suter l exporting and importing goods from and to Lynn in 1324. Could he have been an uncle of the poet, after whom the latter was named?
3. Chaucer, we know, was patronised by John of Gaunt. How they became acquainted is not known. Is it not probable that John of Gaunt accompanied his father, Edward III., in one or more of the journeys we know the latter made to Lynn for the purpose of visiting his mother Isabella (the " she- wolf ") while she was at Eising Castle hard by1? She was there in 1357, when Chaucer was in Prince Lionel's household (p. 24, above).
4. Chaucer speaks of " Friar Nicholas of Lynn, that reverend clerk." Friar Nicholas wrote a treatise on the Astrolabe. Chaucer also wrote on the Astrolabe, A.D. 139 1.2 In 1386 this very Nicholas of Lynn, who was a Carmelite, composed a calendar for Chaucer's patron, John of Gaunt (Rawlinson MSS., Bodleian C. 895 ; Ashrnol. MSS., 5, 370, 391, v. fo. 4c).
5. Chaucer's alleged son, Thomas, married Matilda, daughter of Sir John Burghersh. John de Burghard was mayor of Lynn in 1331-2. N.B. It has been denied that Thomas was the poet's son, but he seems to have received grants from the poet's patron, John of Gaunt (Pet. to Parl., 11 Hen. V., p. 39a).
6. Chaucer speaks of the cross that St. Helen found — " The Holy Cross that St. Helen found" was the title of a Lynn guild, the certificate of which is still at the Eecord Office.3
1 This assumes the identity of Souter, a cobbler, with Chaucer, a maker of chattsses, which I cannot admit. They were distinct trades. — F. J. F.
2 See the edition by Skeat, for the Early English Text and Chaucer Societies, and the Arabian originals there cited. — F. J. F.
3 See English Gilds (E. E. Text Soc.), p. 83. " Lenne Episcopi. ... In )>e honour of ihesu crist, and of his moder seinte marie, and of alle holy halwen, and namelike [= specially] of \>e holy crouche \>&t seinte Eleyne founde. We schulle holde f>is gilde j?re moruwespeches bi £e ^er." There were many Holy Cross Gilds in England, and among them those of Stratford on Avon, and Birmingham (Engl. Gilds, p. 211 — 225, 239 — 250). Beverley had a Gild of St. Elene (ib. p. 148). As there was only one Holy Cross, that on which Christ is said to have died, and as the Legend was that Saint Helena found it 200 years after Christ's Resurrection, every one of the millions of references to the Cross in the Middle Ages was to 'the Holy Cross that Helen found,' tho' that exact phrase may not often occur. — F. J. F.
CHAUCER'S CONNECTION WITH NORFOLK. 133
7. Chaucer wrote the Shipman's Tale. The Shipman's Guild was another of the Lynn guilds.1
As to the other things pointing to Chaucer having been a Norfolk man (for other Norfolk Chaucers see Norf. Ant. Misc., ii. p. 550), or at all events well acquainted with Norfolk, take his references to
8. The Eeve who " lyved byside the town men clepen Baldes- welle " — a most obscure Norfolk village ;
9. The miller's wife who invokes the Holy Cross of Bromholme 2 — Bacton Abbey, on the east coast of Norfolk.
10. His reference to the alleged child murder by Jews is curious, and may refer to the "martyrdom" of St. William the Boy of Norwich. It is clear that he does not mean to refer to St. Hugh of Lincoln, for he says ... "Hugh of Lincoln slain also." Norfolk was perhaps more than any other part of England the scene of Jewish persecutions. Besides that arising from " St. William," there was the Jurnepin case of 1230, and most significant as bearing on the present inquiry, a cruel riot against the Lynn Jews in 1190.
11. Chaucer in the Nun's Priest's Tale has
" Certes he Jakke Straw and his meyne* Ne maden nevere schoutes half so shrille Whan that they wolden eny Flemyng kille." -
1 English Gilds (E. E. Text Soc.), p. 54 : it was "specialeke in J>e hono?/r of J?e exaltacion of }>e holy crouche." Mr. Rye allows that Lynn was not the only town in England whereat Shipmen were. — F. J. F.
2 A very common invocation. — F. J. F.
3 See Stowe's allusion to this in his Annales (1605), p. 458-9 : " There were that day beheaded manie as well Flemings as Englishmen for no cause, but to fulfill the crueltie of the rude Commons : for it JEFPEKY was a solemne pastime to them, if they could take any that was ^"^"f the not sworne to them, to take from such a one his hoode with Nunne* Prteit. their accustomed clamour, and forthwith to behead him : neither did they shew any reuerence vnto sacred places, for in the very Churches did they kill whom they had in hatred : they fetcht 13 Flemings out of the Augustine Friers church in London, and 17 out of another church, and 32 Flemings be- in the Vintree, and so forth in other places of the Citie, and in beaded. Southwarke, al which they beheaded except (p. 459), they could plainly pronounce ' bread and cheese ' ; for, if their speech sounded any thing on bret, or cawse, off went their heads, as a sure marke they were Flemings."
As I am copying from Stowe, I may as well add his account (p. 437) of Chaucer'* mission to Muntrenil and Paris in 1377, showing how some of the poet's companions were murderd :
"About the same time, the Earle of Salisbury, and Sir Richard AngUafoon
134 CHAUCER'S CONNECTION WITH NORFOLK.
Now the branch of the Wat Tyler — Jack Straw rebellion of 1381 — in Norfolk was that of John the Litester or ayer, who was defeated and hung at North "VValsham, one of his quarters being stuck up at Lynn. It is said that the Flemings introduced the woollen trade into Norfolk about 1336 at Worstead, the next parish to North "VValsham. In my Popular History of Norfolk I have pointed out that in all probability Litester and Cubit, his chief backer, were Worstead men, as both names occur in the Subsidy Eoll for that parish in 1315.
May not this passage of Chaucer elucidate an obscure corner of history, and show, that as far as Norfolk was concerned, the rising may have been only a riot against the industrious foreigners — just the same, in fact, as Appleyard's Conspiracy of 1570.
12. The name of Chaumpayne — familiar to Chaucer students in connection with the " raptus " — occurs at Fincham, near Lynn. If, as I think, it is the same as De Campanis, and Chaumpneys, it occurs in South Lynn itself.
Of course each of these points is nothing much in itself, but I venture to think that, taken as a whole, they are strongly in favour of my Lynn theory. Minor examples might be multiplied — for example, " the rule of St. Beneyt " was that of the best known Norfolk monastery ; that of St. Austyn was represented at Lynn ;
a Poyton, the Bishop of Saint Dauids, the Bishop of Hereford, oiTierswmt^uto GEFFREY CHAUCER, (the famous Poet of England,) and other, France. were sent into Fraunce to treate a peace, or at the least a truce
for two yeere or more ; but they could not obtaine any longer truce then for one moneth, which they vtterly refused. Whereupon they stayed in Fraunce about these things ; and some thinking they might safely haue passed betwixt Caleis and Douer, about fiftie taking Ship, were forthwith intercepted by the [French] Galleyes, and were all slaine, two men and two women only excepted,
euen in the very sight of the Townesmen of Caleys, they being Cajnalneot not able to give them any ayde. Sir Hugh Caluely being at Caleis. that present time Captaine of Caleys, tooke this so great an
iniurie in very euill part, especially for that it was done whilst they were yet
treating of peace ; but he could not helpe it ; wherefore forth- linakeg an in- ., . , . , - . . 3 ,
road into with he tooke with him a number of the best and chosen-
France.] out men, and purposing to requite this iniurie, made a roade
into France, killing a great number of men, and brought back with him a [CHAUCER'S great bootie of artillery and cattell. The messengers returned return to into England, and brought nothing backe with them, but
rumor and warre." — p. 437. (Prof. Arber reminds me of the passage. — F. J. F.)
CHAUCER'S CONNECTION WITH NORFOLK. 135
the Prioresses motto " Amor viucit omnia " was found on a ring recently picked up in Norfolk (Norf. Arch., vi. p. 385), and so on.
I will conclude with a note about Chaucer's wife, who is said to have been the sister of Catherine, first the concubine and then the wife of John of Gaunt, and the daughter of Sir Payne Koelt, or Eote, and whom he married before 1366.
The very existence of this knight has been doubted ; and con- sidering the Chaucers' close connection with the wine trade, it is much more likely she was related to Nicht Rote, a Bordeaux merchant, who was a trier of wine at London in 1387 (Riley's Memorials of London Life, pp. 409, 490, 504).
136
THE SHIPMAN. From the Ellesmere 3IS.
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