The two lists in the household books classify the members of the
household in different ways--one list according to function and the
other, apparently, according to length of service. The first is the
system according to which the schedule of names conjecturally dated
December 1368 [Footnote: Printed as number 53 of the Chaucer Records
(page 162).] was made, and the latter is the system governing the list
of September 1, 1369 (_number_ 58 Chaucer _Records_, page
_172_.) A glance at the second of these and comparison with the
first will show how it was made up. It classifies the esquires in two
groups--"esquiers de greindre estat" and "esquiers de meindre degree."
Looking at the names of the "esquiers de greindre estat" we notice that
the first thirteen are names which appear in the group of "esquiers" of
1368, that the next ten are identical--even in the order of
occurrence--with the list of "sergeantz des armes" of 1368, that the
following seven are the first seven in the list of "sergeantz des
offices parvantz furrures a chaperon" of 1368 (in the same order), that
then Andrew Tyndale who in 1368 was an "esquier ma dame" appears, and is
followed by the rest of, the "sergeantz des offices parvantz furrures,"
etc., (in the same order as in 1368) that the next six were in 1368
"esquiers ma dame," and that finally occur ten names not found in the
lists of 1368. From this comparison it is clear that the list of 1369
was made up from a series of lists of different departments in the
king's household.
The list of "esquiers de meindre degree" of 1369 was doubtless made in
the same way, although the evidence is not so conclusive. The first
twenty-two names correspond to names in the list of esquiers of 1368;
the next eleven occur in the list of "esquiers survenantz" of 1368; the
following five appear among the "esquiers ma dame" of 1368; the next
thirteen do not occur in the lists of 1368; but the following eight
correspond even in order to the list of "esquiers fauconers" of 1368. It
is therefore clear that we have here a cross division. That the list of
1368 gives a division according to function is clear from the titles of
all groups except one. The esquires classified as "fauconers"
"survenantz," "ma dame," etc., performed the functions suggested by
those titles--a fact which can be demonstrated by many references to the
function of these men in other documents. In the case of the one
exception, the "sergeantz des offices parvantz furrures a chaperon," it
is clear that they performed duties similar to those of the "esquiers
survenantz." For example, Richard des Armes was valet of the king's
arms; [Footnote: Exchequer, K. R. Accts. 392, 12, f. 36 dorso. idem. No.
15.] William Blacomore was one of the king's buyers, subordinate to the
purveyor of fresh and salt fish [Footnote: C. R. 1359 p. 545.] John de
Conyngsby was likewise a buyer of victuals for the household [Footnote:
Pet. Roll 276, mem. 4.], John Goderik and John Gosedene were cooks in
the household [Footnote: Pat. Roll 1378, p. 212, Devon's Issues, 1370, p.
311.]; Richard Leche was king's surgeon [Footnote: idem. P. 230 mem. not
numbered.], Thomas de Stanes was sub-purveyor of the poultry [Footnote:
C. R. 1359, p. 545.]; William Strete was the king's butler [Footnote:
Issues, P. 228, mem. 38.]; Edmond de Tettesworth was the king's
baker [Footnote: Pat. Roll, 1378, p. 224.], etc. Hence it is clear that
all these performed duties which in the main were of a menial character.
On the other hand, the division into two groups in the list of 1369
seems to indicate not the function of the esquires, but their rank in
the household. Their rank, in turn, appears to be determined by various
considerations--function (all the falconers of 1368 are enrolled among
the esquires of less degree in 1369), length of service, and to some
extent considerations which are not manifest. That length of service
played some part in the division seems clear from a study and comparison
of the careers of the various men. Since we are interested in knowing
particularly the significance of the classification of Chaucer who
appeared in 1368 as an esquier, I shall confine myself to a
consideration of the "esquiers" of that year. The names of the esquires
of greater degree with the date at which they are first mentioned in
connection with the household (in documents outside the household books)
follow:
Johan Herlyng. 18 Edward III (1344)
[Footnote: Abb. Rot. Orig., vol. 2, p.65.]
Wauter Whithors. 1343
[Footnote: C. R., p. 203.]
Johan de Beverle. 36 Edward III (1362)
[Footnote: Pat. Roll 265, mem. 17.]
Johan Romeseye. 35 Edward III (1361)
[Footnote: Pat. Roll 264, mem. 24.]
Wauter Walsh. 36 Edward III. (1362)
[Footnote: idem 266, men. 47.]
Roger Clebury. 1349
[Footnote: idem, p. 227.]
Helmyng Leget. 33 Edward III. (1359)
[Footnote: Issues, P. 223, mem. 32.]
Rauf de Knyveton. 35 Edward III. (1361)
[Footnote: Pat. Roll 264, mem. 18.]
Richard Torperle. 38 Edward III. (1364)
[Footnote: idem 272, mem. 22.]
Johan Northrugg. 37 Edward III. (1363)
[Footnote: Issues, P. 232, mem. 5.]
Hanyn Narrett. 38 Edward III. (1364)
[Footnote: Issues, P. 237, mem. 17.]
Symond de Bokenham. 37 Edward III. (1363)
[Footnote: Pat. Roll 267, mem. 7.]
Johan Legg. 36 Edward III. (1362)
[Footnote: idem 266, mem. 3.]
The "esquiers de meindre degree" follow:
Hugh Wake. 1353
[Footnote: idem, p. 380.]
Piers de Cornewaill. 37 Edward III. (1363)
[Footnote: idem 268, mem. 18.]
Robert Ferrers. 1370
[Footnote: Rymer III, 902.]
Robert Corby. 43 Edward III. (1369)
[Footnote: C. R. mem. 23, dorso. The last
two are difficult to distinguish from their fathers of the same
name who had been in the King's court before their time]
Collard Daubrichecourt. 44 Edward III. (1370)
[Footnote: Pat. Roll 281, mem. 18.]
Thomas Hauteyn. 41 Edward III. (1367)
[Footnote: idem 1399, p. 65. Issues, p. 250, mem. 2.]
Hugh Cheyne. 32 Edward III. (1358)
[Footnote: Cal. Pat. Roll 1378, p. 248.]
Thomas Foxle.
[Footnote: I cannot identify him surely; a Thomas de Foxle was in
the King's court in 4 Edw. III ff (Abb. Rot. Orig. II, p. 39); he was
growing old in 1352 (Cal. Pat. Roll, p. 270) and-died 30 Edw. III (Cal.
Inq. P. M. II 220, leaving his property to a son and heir John).]
Geffrey Chaucer.
Geffrey Styuecle. 31 Edward III. (1356)
[Footnote: Issues, p. 217, mem. 114. In
29 Edw. III in service of Countess of Ulster.]
Symon de Burgh. 44 Edward III. (1370)
[Footnote: Cal. Pat. Roll 1378, p. 189.]
Johan de Tychemerssh. No mention outside of household books, where he
appears for first time in 1368.
Robert la Zouche. 29 Edward III. (1355)
[Footnote: Issues, p. 213, mem. 24.]
Esmon Rose. 17 Edward III. (1343)
[Footnote: Cal. Pat. Roll 1348, p. 39.]
Laurence Hauberk. 1370
[Footnote: Issues 1370, Devon, pp. 136, 444.]
Griffith del Chambre. 28 Edward III. (1354)
[Footnote: Issues, p. 294, mem. 18.]
Johan de Thorpe. 30 Edward III. (1356)
[Footnote: idem, p. 214, mem. 8.]
Thomas Hertfordyngbury. 41 Edward III. (1367)
[Footnote: Pat. Roll 275, mem. 13.]
Hugh Straule. No certain mention as valet or esquire.
Hugh Lyngeyn. 37 Edward III. (1363)
[Footnote: Idem 267, mem. 37]
Nicholas Prage. 33 Edward III. (1359)
[Footnote: Exchequer K. R. Accts., Bundle 392, No. 15]
Richard Wirle. No record as valet or esquire of the king.
A comparison of the two sections shows that the first contains the names
of two men whose service goes back as far as 1343, 1344, and that it
contains the name of no one who was not by 1364 associated with the
court. The second section, on the other hand, contains but one name of a
date earlier than 1353 and several which do not occur in the records
before the time of this document, or in fact until a year or two later.
The fact however that in a number of cases the second section contains
names of men who entered the household years before others whose names
occur in the first section makes it seem probable that special
circumstances might influence the classification of a given esquire.
Linked with this problem of classification is one of nomenclature--the
use of the terms "vallettus" and "esquier" (or, the Latin equivalents of
the latter, "armiger" and "scutifer"). Chaucer scholars have generally
assumed that the term "esquier" represents a rank higher than
"vallettus." But they give no evidence in support, of this distinction,
and we are interested in knowing whether it is correct or not. A first
glance at the list of 1369, to be sure, and the observation that cooks
and falconers, a shoe-smith [Footnote: Pat. Roll 1378, p. 158] and a
larderer [Footnote: Issues (Devon) 1370, p. 45) are called "esquiers"
there, might lead one to think that the word can have but a vague force
and no real difference in meaning from "vallettus." But an examination
of other documents shows that the use of the term "esquier" in the
household lists does not represent the customary usage of the time. It
is to be noted for example that many of the "esquiers" of 1369,
practically all of the "esquiers des offices" [Footnote: For indication
of their function see p.14 etc.], and the "esquiers survenantz" of 1368
are not called esquires in the list of 1368, the Patent Rolls, Close
Rolls, Issue Rolls or Fine Rolls. William de Risceby and Thomas
Spigurnell are the only clear exceptions to this rule. Of the "esquiers
survenantz" I have noted eighteen references with mention of title, in
seventeen of which the man named is called "vallettus" or "serviens." Of
the "sergeantz des offices," Richard des Armes is called "vallettus" or
"serviens" in twelve different entries, never "esquier." [Footnote: Pat.
Roll 265, mem. 21, 279, mem. 5, 273 mem. 15, 355, mem. 8, Issues, p.
207, mem. 4, p. 217, mem. 29, etc.] I have noted thirty-five other
references to men in the same classification with the title "vallettus."
[Footnote: Pat. Roll 276, mem. 4 Issues P. 237, Pat. Roll 265, mem. 14,
266, mem. 9, idem, mem. 47, etc.] It is clear then that although the
usage is not strict these men were really of the rank of "vallettus,"
and that this rank was lower than that of "esquier." Possibly the
household books used the term "esquier" in this loose way out of
courtesy, but the other documents--which were strictly official--for the
most part used it more exactly in accordance with a man's actual rank.
From a study of the records of the "esquiers" of 1368 (the group to
which in that year Chaucer belonged) we learn further conditions under
which the terms "vallettus" and "armiger" or "scutifer" are used. In
nearly all cases these esquires in the early years of their career, are
called "vallettus," after some years of service they are occasionally
called "armiger," and finally after the passage of more years are always
called "armiger" or "scutifer." Demonstration of this fact would take
pages of mere references; but it can be indicated in a typical case,
that of Geoffrey Stucle, chosen because of the fact that his
classification is throughout the same as Chaucer's. In 31, 33, and 35
Edward III he is called "vallettus," in 36 Edward III, he appears once
as "scutifer," and twice as "vallettus"; in 37 Edward III he is once
named "vallettus"; in 38 Edward III he is called once "scutifer" and
another time "vallettus"; in 41 Edward III he is mentioned twice as
"vallettus"; in 42 and 43 Edward III he is "armiger"; in 47 Edward III
he is once "vallettus" and once "armiger"; in 49 Edward III he is called
"armiger" twice; in 50 Edward III, and 1 and 2 Richard II he is called
"armiger." [Footnote: Pat. Roll 269, mem. 43, 273 mem. 35, 265 mem. 1,
275 mem. 24, 293 mem. 19, 267 mem. 21, Issues p. 223, mem. 17, 222 mem.
20, A 169 mem. 130, p. 229, mem. 22, mem. 25 (twice) p. 217, mem. 14,
18, p. 235, mem. 1, 248 mem. not numbered, 249 mem. 4, 264 mem. not
numbered, 262 mem. 9, 271 mem. 17, 273 mem. 20. 295 mem. 11.] From this
and the other cases in the list of esquires, it is clear that the term
"esquier" (the equivalent of scutifer and armiger) indicates a rank
above that of "vallettus." The members of Chaucer's group, in nearly
every case, were at first entitled "valletti" and then in course of time
became "esquiers." Whatever may be the conclusion with regard to the
meaning of those titles, however, it is clear, from the facts cited
above, that the list of "esquiers" of 1368 and not that of the "esquiers
de meindre degree" of 1369, gives the names of the men who were actually
in the same class as Chaucer. Consequently in the consideration of the
esquires which follows greater attention will be paid to the "esquiers"
of 1368 than to the other classes.