In the Historical collections of the noble families of Cavendishe, etc. the passage which contains the doubtful word is printed thus:—
"He [Sir Robert Harley, of Bramton, Herefordshire] was in the next year [1604], on the 16th of July, made forester of Boringwood, alias Bringwood forest, in com. Hereford, with the office of pokership, and custody of the forest or chace of Prestwood, for life."
Are we to read parkership or pokership? If pokership, what is its meaning?
Skelton, the rhymer, has parker for park-keeper, so that parkership is an admissable word; but I reject it on this occasion, as inapplicable to a forest or chace. I incline to believe that pokership is the true lection. Poke denoted a purse; witness Chaucer:—
"Gerveis answered; Certes, were it gold,
Or in a poke nobles all untold,
Thou shuldest it have."—C.T. v. 3777.
We do not find poker in Barret or Cotgrave; but if poke denoted a purse, poker might denote a purse-bearer or treasurer, and pokership, the office of purse-bearer. So we have BURSA, [Glossarivm manvale, 1772. I. 849.] bursar, bursarship, etc.
BOLTON CORNEY.