[4.] If any one thinks it a bore to read these Prefaces, I can assure him it was a much greater bore to have to hunt up the material for them, and set aside other pressing business for it. But the Boke of Curtasye binding on editors does not allow them to present to their readers a text with no coat and trowsers on. If any Members should take offence at any expressions in this or any future Preface of mine, as a few did at some words in the last I wrote, I ask such Members to consider the first maxim in their Boke of Curtasye, Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth. Prefaces are gift horses; and if mine buck or shy now and then, I ask their riders to sit steady, and take it easy. On the present one at least they’ll be carried across some fresh country worth seeing.
[5.] scholars?
[6.] Sir H. Nicolas, in his Glossary to his Privy Purse Expenses of Henry VIII., p. 327, col. 2, says, “No word has been more commented upon than ‘Henchmen’ or Henxmen. Without entering into the controversy, it may be sufficient to state, that in the reign of Henry the Eighth it meant the pages of honour. They were the sons of gentlemen, and in public processions always walked near the monarch’s horse: a correct idea may be formed of their appearance from the representation of them in one of the pictures in the meeting room of the Society of Antiquarians. It seems from these entries (p. 79,* 125, 182, 209, 230, 265) that they lodged in the house of Johnson, the master of the king’s barge, and that the rent of it was 40s. per annum. Observations on the word will be found in Spelman’s Etymol., Pegge’s Curialia, from the Liber Niger, Edw. IV., Lodge’s Illustrations, vol. i. p. 359, the Northumberland Household Book, Blount’s Glossary.”
The Promptorium has “Heyncemann (henchemanne) Gerolocista, duorum generum, (gerolocista),” and Mr Way in his note says, “The pages of distinguished personages were called henxmen, as Spelman supposes, from Ger. hengst, a war-horse, or according to Bp. Percy, from their place being at the side or haunch of their lord.” See the rest of Mr Way’s note. He is a most provokingly careful editor. If ever you hit on a plum in your wanderings through other books you are sure to find it afterwards in one of Mr Way’s notes when you bethink yourself of turning to the Promptorium.
In Lord Percy’s Household (North. H. Book, p. 362) the Henchemen are mentioned next to the Earl’s own sons and their tutor (?) in the list of “Persones that shall attende upon my Lorde at his Borde Daily, ande have no more but his Revercion Except Brede and Drynk.”
My Lordes Secounde Son to serve as Kerver.
My Lordes Thurde Son as Sewer.
A Gentillman that shall attende upon my Lord’s Eldest Son in the rewarde, and appoynted Bicause he shall allwayes be with my Lord’s Sonnes for seynge the Orderynge of them.
My Lordes first Hauneshman to serve as Cupberer to my Lorde.
My Lords ijde Hanshman to serve as Cupberer to my Lady.