The official or servile class includes the manciple, or buyer for a fraternity of templars, otherwise called an achatour, whence Cator, Chaytor, Chater (Chapter III), [Footnote: Chater, Chaytor may be also from escheatour, an official who has given us the word cheat.] the Reeve, an estate steward, so crafty that—
"Ther nas baillif (Chapter IV), ne herde (Chapter III), nor oother hyne (Chapter III),
That he ne knew his sleights and his covyne"
(A, 603);
and finally the Cook, or Coke (Chapter I)—
"To boylle the chicknes and the marybones."
(A, 380.)
In a class by himself stands the grimmest figure of all, the Shipman, of whom we are told
"If that he faught, and hadde the hyer hond,
By water he sente hem hoom to every lond."
(A, 399.)
The same occupation has given the name Marner, for mariner, and Seaman, but the medieval forms of the rare name Saylor show that it is from Fr. sailleur, a dancer, an artist who also survives as Hopper and Leaper—