Master of Henxmen.
To shew the schools of urbanity and nurture of England; to learn them to ride cleanly and surely; to draw them also to justs; to learn them wear their harness; to have all courtesy in words, deeds, and degrees; diligently to keep them in rules of goings and sittings after they be of honour. Moreover to teach them sundry languages, and other learnings virtuous; to harping, to pipe, sing, and dance, with other honest and temperate behaving and patience; and to keep daily and weekly with these children due [discipline], with corrections in their chambers, according to such gentlemen; and each of them to be used to that thing of virtue that he shall be most apt to learn, with remembrance daily of God's service accustomed. This Master sitteth in the Hall next unto beneath these Henxmen, at the same board; to have his respects unto their demeanings, how mannerly they eat and drink; and to their communication, and other forms curial, after the book of urbanity. He taketh daily, if he be present in Court, wages, cloathing, and other liveries, as other Esquires of Household, save he is not charged with serving of the Hall. Carriage also for harness in Court competent by the Comptroller to be with the Henxmen his harness in Court; and to have into this Court one servant, whilst he is present; and sufficient liveries for his horses, in the town or country, by the Herberger. And if he be sick in Court, or let blood, he taketh two loaves, two mess of great meat, one gallon ternoise[160]. And for the fees that he claimeth among the Henxmen of all their apparel, the Chamberlain is the judge.
Squires of Household.
Forty, or more, if it please the King, by the advice of his High Council, to be chosen men of their profession, worship, and wisdom; also to be of sundry Shires, by whom it may be known the disposition of the Countries. And of these, to be continually in this Court Twenty Squires attendant upon the King's Person, in riding and going at all times, and to help serve his table from the Surveying-board, and from other places, as the Assewar will assign.—Also, by their common assent, to assign amongst themselves some to serve the King's Chamber, at one day, week, or time, some to serve the Hall at another time, of every mess that cometh from the dressing-board to their hands for such service, so that thereof be nothing withdrawn by the Squires, upon such pain as Steward, Treasurer, or Controller, or in their absence other Judges at the counting-board, will award, after their demerits.—They eat in the hall, sitting together at any of the both meals as they serve, some the first meal, some the latter, by assent. This hath be [been] always the manner amongst them for honour [and] profit to the King.—It may be, that the King taketh into Household in all Sixty Squires, and yet, amongst them all, Twenty take not the whole wages of the year [sic]; wherefore the number of persons may be received and suffered the better in the checque-roll for a worship, and the King's profit saved, and ease to them self.—Every of them taketh for his livery at night, half a gallon of ale; and for winter season, each of them taketh two candles parris, one faggot, or else half talwode.
When any of them is present in Court, he is allowed for daily wages, in the checque roll, seven-pence halfpenny, and clothing winter and summer; or else forty shillings. It hath ever been in special charge to Squires in this Court, to wear the King's Livery customably, for the more glory, and in worship of this honourable Household: and every of them to have in to this Court an honest servant, and sufficient livery in the towns or countries for their horses, and other servants, by the herberger. Two Gentlemen lodged together, and they be coupled bed-fellows by the Gentlemen Ushers.—And if any of them be let blood or sick in Court, or nigh, thereto, he taketh livery in eating days, two loaves, two mess of great meat, one gallon of ale, for all day, and litter all the year of the Serjeant Usher of the hall for their beds in Court.—And if any of these Squires be sent out of Court, by Steward, Treasurer, or Controller, or other of the counting-house, for matter touching the Household, then he hath daily allowed him twelve pence by petition. Also they pay for their carriage of harness in Court. They take no part of the general gifts, neither with chamber nor with hall, but if the giver give them specially a part by express name or words. None of these should depart from Court but by licence of Steward, Treasurer, or Sovereigns of the Counting-house, that know how the King is accompanied best: and to take a day when they should come again, upon pain of loss of wages at his next coming.—That no Serjeant of Office, nor Squire, nor Yeoman, nor Groom, but as be appointed in this Book, to dine or sup out of Hall and King's Chamber, nor to withdraw any service, or else to hurt or little the almesse [alms] of Hall or Chamber, upon such pain as the Sovereigns of Household will award by the Statutes of Noble Edward III. "In none office, &c."
It hath been often, in days before, commanded by the Counting-house, that in ferial days, after that the King and Queen, and their Chambers, and the Sovereigns of Household in the Hall, be served, that then such honest Yeomen of Household be called or assigned to serve from the dresser to the hall the remnant, specially such as bear wages, that, if any service be withdrawn by them, that then they to be corrected therefor.
These Squires of Household, of old, be accustomed, winter and summer, in afternoons and in evenings, to draw to Lord's Chambers within Court, there to keep honest company, after their cunning, in talking of chronicles of Kings, and of other policies, or in piping or harping, songings, or other acts marriables[161]; to help to occupy the Court, and accompany strangers, till the time require of departing.
"Item, that daily there awaite twenty-four Squires to serve the King and Queen, of whom twelve to serve at the first dinner, and to dine at the second; and the twelve sitting at the first dinner, to serve the second dinner, and there to awaite to serve the King and Queen[162]."
Dom. Regis Angliæ. The Esquires—"oftentimes these stand instead of Carvers and Cup-Bearers[162]."