The regular pay of an esquire of the household was seven pence halfpenny
a day. [Footnote: Cal. Pat. Roll 1380, p. 539, 1378, p. 288.] The pay of
a King's sergeant at arms was twelve pence a day--a sum usually granted
for life. [Footnote: Richard Imworth, Thomas Stafford, Thomas Staples,
Wauter de Leycester, etc., had grants of 12d. daily for life.] It is to
be observed, however, that the sergeants-at-arms received very few other
grants. The esquires, on the other hand, received extremely valuable
grants in great numbers. In particular they were given annuities, grants
of land, grants of office, custody of lands belonging to heirs under
age, usually with marriage of the heir, and corrodies at monasteries.
Taking up the first of these I shall confine myself to the "esquiers"
of 1368, since-from Chaucer's position in the lists in that year and in
1369--they would seem to be the men with whom Chaucer is to be
associated. In stating the amounts of the annuities I shall give the
total sum which each man received. The names follow in the order of the
lists of 1368.
Johan de Herlyng, L40, + L20 + L13,10s. 1d. + L12, 10s. [Footnote: Cal.
Pat. Roll 1378, p. 133.] Wauter Whithors, L40. [Footnote: idem 1386, p.
146.] Thomas Cheyne, L20. [Footnote: Issues A, 169, mem. 16.] Johan de
Beverle, L40; 8s. 9d. [Footnote: Devon's Issues 1370, p. 35.] Johan de
Romesey, L20. [Footnote: idem, p. 29. Issues, p. 258, mem, 14. ] Wauter
Walssh, L20. 7s Hugh Wake, L40. [Footnote: Devon's Issues 1370, p. 372.]
Roger Clebury, L10. [Footnote: P. 216, mem. 38.] Piers de Cornewaill,
L40. [Footnote: P. 241, mem. 11.] Robert de Ferers, no annuity found.
Elmyn Leget, 20m. [Footnote: Pat. Roll 260, mem. 3.] Robert de Corby,
L10. [Footnote: idem 291, mem. 1.] Collard Dabrichecourt, L10.
[Footnote: idem 281, mem. 18.] Thomas Hauteyn, L10. [Footnote: issues,
P. 250, mem. 2.] Hugh Cheyne, 10m. [Footnote: Pat. Roll 255, mem, 26.]
Thomas Foxle--no information whatever. [Footnote: Outside of these lists
I have been able to find no information about these men.] Geffrey
Chaucer. Geffrey Stuele, L20. [Footnote: Devon's Issues 1370, p. 301.]
Simond de Burgh, L10 + 10m. [Footnote: Cal. Pat. Roll 1378, pp.189,
192.] Johan Tichemerssh--no information whatever. [Footnote: See note,
preceding page.] Robert la Souche, L10. [Footnote: Issues, P. 228, mem]
Esmon Rose (and wife, Agnes Archer) 40m. [Footnote: Cal. Pat. Roll 1378p.
187.] Laurence Hauberk--no certain information as esquire. Griffith de
la Chambre, L 20. [Footnote: Issues P. 2 mem. 12. Cal. Pat . 1378, p.
157.] Johan de Thorp, 10 m. 4, Raulyn Erchedeakne--no information
whatever. [Footnote: See note, preceding page.] Rauf de Knyveton, 10 m.
[Footnote: Devon's Issues, 1370, p. 156.] Thomas Hertfordyngbury, L10.
[Footnote: Cal. Pat. Roll 1375, p. 217.] Hugh Strelley, 40 m. [Footnote:
Pat. Roll 295, mem. 4.] Hugh Lyngeyn, L20. [Footnote: Pat. Roll 1399,
176.] Nicholas Prage, 10m. [Footnote: Devon's Issues 1370, p. 216.]
Richard Torperle, 12d. daily. [Footnote: Cal. Pat. Roll 1378, p150.]
Richard Wirle, no annuity. Johan Northrugge, 10m. [Footnote: Issues, P.
237, mem. 1'7] Hanyn Narrett, L10. [Footnote: idem P. 237, mem. 17.]
Simond de Bokenham, L10. [Footnote: Cal. Pat. Roll 1378, p. 165.] Johan
Legge, 12d. daily 14 [Footnote: idem, p. 186.]
In only two cases in which we find other information about an esquire do
we find no annuity. In a few cases, I have been able to find out nothing
at all about the men. In all others, annuities ranging from ten marks up
to L86 are found. Apparently then the receipt of an annuity was
absolutely a normal feature of the career of an esquire.
None of the other forms of grants was given so systematically and
uniformly as that of annuities, but all of the others were very common.
The nature and extent of the grants of land, and of guardianships, will
appear in the accounts of the careers of individual esquires. They are
so irregular in their character, are changed so frequently and are given
on such varying 'conditions, that an accurate list could scarcely be
made.
The matter of grants of offices, particularly in the customs, is,
however, more easy to handle. At the time when Chaucer was given his
controllership, offices in the customs seem to have been used regularly
as sinecures for the esquires. In 1353 Griffith de la Chambre was
granted the office of gauging of wine in the towns of Lenn and Great
Yarmouth. [Footnote: Cal. Pat. Roll, p.11.] At the same time Roger
Clebury received a similar grant. [Footnote: Cal. Pat. Roll 1352, p.
411.] In 1343 William de Clopton had a grant for life of the
collectorship of the port of London with wages of L20. Apparently he did
not actually exercise the office because certain merchants to whom the
king had farmed the customs of the realm were directed to pay him his
wages. [Footnote: C. R. 1343, p. 194.] In 1347 he and John
Herlyng--another esquire--were collectors of the petty customs in
London. [Footnote: Rymer, vol. 3, p. 115.] In 1352 and again in 1355 his
deputy is specifically mentioned. [Footnote: Cal. Pat. Roll, 1352, p.
327; C. R. 1355, p. 166.] In 1346 John de Herlyng was granted the office
of controller of customs in Boston (Pat. Roll p. 204). In 1348 he was
granted the office of controller of wools, hides and wool-fells, wines
and all other merchandise at Newcastle-upon-Tyne with this added
provision, "furthermore because he stays continually in the King's
company by his order, he may substitute for himself a deputy, in the
said office," etc. [Footnote: Cal. Pat. Roll, p. 130.] In 1352 he was
controller of the customs in the port of Boston and likewise in that of
Lenne--with provision in the same terms as those above for a deputy in
the latter office--and collector of the petty custom in London--with
deputy. [Footnote: Cal. Pat. Roll, 1352, pp. 327, 348, 355.] In 1359 he
surrendered the office of controller of customs at Boston for an annuity
of ten marks. [Footnote: idem. 1378, p. 133.] At one time he was also
controller in the port of St. Botolph. [Footnote: Devon's Issues, 1370,
p. 381.] From the fact that the records show Herlyng was constantly in
the King's court, it is clear that he exercised all these offices by
deputy.
In 35 Edward III Helmyng Leget was granted the office of keeper of the
smaller piece of the seal for recognizances of debts in London,
[Footnote: Cal. Pat Roll 1377-8, p. 184.] with power to execute the
office by deputy. He held this office until 1389. [Footnote: Cal. Pat.
Roll, p. 106.] Edmund Rose held the office of keeper of the smaller
piece of the seal in Norwich, with deputy. [Footnote: Idem 1384, p.
380.] John de Thorp was in 1380 appointed controller of customs of
wines, wools, etc. at Southampton on condition that he execute the
office in person. [Footnote: Cal. Pat. Roll, p. 564.] Walter Whithors
held the offices of keeper of the smaller piece of the seal in York, in
1348, and tronager of wool in the port of Lenne in 1352 with deputy in
both offices. [Footnote: idem, pp. 143, 293.] In addition to offices in
the customs, places as parker of a King's forest, or keeper of a royal
castle were frequently given to the esquires. So Hugh Cheyne in 1378 had
the custody of Shrewsbury Castle with wages of seven pence halfpenny
therefor. [Footnote: Cal. Pat. Roll, p. 248.] Helmyng Leget and Thomas
Cheyne at various times held the office of constable of Windsor
Castle. [Footnote: Pat. Roll 279, mem. 33.] John de Beverle and Robert
Corby likewise had the constableship of the castle of Ledes. [Footnote:
idem 272, mem. 27, Exchequer K. R. Accts. 393-7.] William Archebald was
forester of the Forest of Braden. [Footnote: Pat. Roll 290, mem. 13.]
John de Beverle was parker of Eltham parks. [Footnote: Cal. Pat. Roll
1378-80, p. 143.] Walter Whithors in 1349 was steward of the forest of
Galtres. Many more examples of such grants of offices could be given.
Many of the esquires received corrodies--in most cases probably commuted
for a certain yearly sum. For example, William Archebald held a eorrody
at Glastonbury from 49 Edward III [Footnote: C. R. 213, mem. 17. ] on
and yet in 1378 is stated in the Patent Rolls to have been retained to
stay with the King. [Footnote: Cal. Pat. Roll, p. 135.] So it could be
shown in most cases that esquires holding corrodies did not by any means
live constantly in their monasteries. William Gambon, especially, could
scarcely have done so since he held corrodies at Salop, (Shrewsbury),
Hayles, Haylyng, St. Oswald de Nostell, Coventre and Wenlok, at the same
time. [Footnote: C. R. 235, mem. 22 dorso.] Other esquires who held
corrodies and the names of their monasteries follow: John Beauchamp,
Pershoore (Wigorn); [Footnote: C. R. 228, mem. 4 dorso.] John Salesbury,
Stanlee; [Footnote: idem 235, mem. 31 dorso.] Simon de Bokenham, Ely;
[Footnote: C. R. 235, mem. 26 dorso.] Helmyng Leget, Ramsey; [Footnote:
C. R. 235, mem. 10 dorso.] Roger Clebury, Shrewsbury; [Footnote: Cal. C.
R. 1356, p. 334.] Peter Cornwaill, Redyng; [Footnote: C. R. 215, mem. 7
dorso.] John Herlyng, Convent of Church of Christ, Canterbury;
[Footnote: C. R. 222, mem. 29 dorso.] Hugh Lyngeyn, Dunstaple;
[Footnote: C. R. 226, mem. 26 dorso.] Stephen Romylowe, Bardenay.
[Footnote: C. R. 221, mem. 41 dorso.]
Grants of wine are scarcely so common as the other kinds of grants and,
so far as I have found, they are not usually given to prominent
esquires. John Roos had a grant of two tuns of wine yearly; [Footnote:
Cal. Pat. Roll 1384, p. 446.] William Risceby of "one dolium" or two
pipes of Gascon wine; [Footnote: Pat. Roll 289 mem. 25.] William Strete
and William Archebald each of one tun of Gascon wine yearly; [Footnote:
Cal. Pat. Roll 1378, pp. 135, 227] John De Beverle and Thomas Cheyne
each of two dolia of Gascon wine yearly; [Footnote: Pat. Roll 271, mem.
21.] and Hugh Lyngeyn of one tun of red wine of Gascony
yearly. [Footnote: Cal. Pat. Roll 1399, p. 185.] One feature of the form
of royal grants remains to be mentioned. Writers on Chaucer have
frequently called attention to the fact that his grants contain a
statement that they are made for good service done. [Footnote: Cf. Hales,
Lounsbury ante.] This is merely a regular part of the form of a grant.
Any enrollments of grants--such as those noted on the preceding
page--will give examples of the use of this phrase. Further, the form of
grant practically always includes a characterization of the grantee as
"dilectus vallettus," "dilectus serviens," "dilectus armiger," etc.