[192]. Among other duties the usher lay at the door of his lord’s sleeping apartment. The Boke of Curtasye says the
‘Usher before the dore
In outer chambur lies on the flore.’
[193]. Our friends across the border have this surname in the form of ‘Chalmers.’
[194]. The more correct form is found in the name of ‘William Summaster,’ who is met with in an old Oxford record as having deposited, in 1462, a caution for ‘Sykyll-Halle,’ of which he was principal. (Vide Mun. Acad. Oxon.)
[195]. A strange and yet most natural change gradually crept over this word. There can be no doubt that the original ‘potager,’ or ‘potinger,’ had his place in the baronial household as the superintendent of the mess-making department. From his knowledge of herbs thus acquired he evidently came to be looked upon in a medicinal capacity. Thus the term came to be used synonymously with ‘apothecary.’ In the Archæologia (vol. xxii) we find it recorded that one of the horses connected with the household of James V. of Scotland was called ‘le Pottinger’—‘uno equo pharmacopile, vulgo le Pottinger.’ In an old university record, dated 1439, I find, too, a certain ‘Ralph Prestbury’ mentioned as sworn to keep the peace towards ‘Thomam Halle, potygare, alias chirurgicum.’ (Mun. Acad. Oxon., p. 523.) Probably, however, it was the lowly herbalist, rather than the professional druggist, who acquired the sobriquet.
[196]. Amongst other gifts from the City of London to the Black Prince on his return to London from Gascoigne, in 1371, were ‘48 esqueles and 24 saltcellars, weighing by goldsmiths’ weight, 76l. 5s.’ (Riley’s London, p. 350.) ‘The 11 messes to the children of the Kechyn, Squillery, and Pastrey, with Porters, Scowerers, and Turnbroches, every mess at 23l. 16s. 9½d., in all 261l. 13s. 7d.’ (Ord. Henry VIII. at Eltham.) Apart from such entries as ‘John le Squylier,’ or ‘Geoffrey le Squeller,’ the Parl. Rolls gave us a ‘John de la Squillerye.’
[197]. I may here mention that our brushes were almost entirely made of furze or ling; bristles were rarely used. Hence such a name as ‘Robert le Lingyure’ (H.R.), doubtless a maker and seller of brushes and brooms.
[198]. The ‘Promp. Par.’ has ‘Swyllare: Dysche-weschour.’
[199]. In an inventory of household chattels, dated so late as 1574, we find the furniture of the hall first described, and this begins, ‘A cupboard and a spence, 20s.; xxiii pewter dublers, 20s.; seventene sawsers and potingers, 6s.’ (Richmondshire Wills, p. 248.)