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EXTRACTS

FROM THE

LIBER NIGER

The Liber Niger Domûs Regis Angliæ [i. e. Edward IV.] contains Orders for his said Majesty's Household, anno 1478; and relates to the following Officers:

A Chamberlain.

Bannerets, or Bachelor Knights, to be
Carvers and Cup-bearers (four).

Knights of Household (twelve) to do the
Office of Ewerers.

A Secretary.

Chaplains (four).

Esquires for the Body (four).

A Sewer for the King.

Surveyor for the King, i. e. of the Dresser.
Wardrobe.

Gentlemen Ushers of Chamber (four).
Yeomen of the Crown (twenty-four).

* Harleian MSS. in the British Museum, No 369, corrected by No 642.

Yeomen of Chamber (four).

Wardrobe of Robes.

Wardrobe of Beds.

Grooms of Chamber (ten).
Pages of Chamber (four).
Jewel-house.

Doctor of Physic.
Master Surgeon.
Apothecary.

[blocks in formation]

Master of the Henchmen.

Squires of Household.

Kings of Arms, Heralds, and Pursuivants. Serjeants at Arms (four).

Minstrels (thirteen).

A Wayte. N. B. This Yeoman (for such was his rank) waiteth (i. e. playeth, I suppose) at the making of Knights of the Bath, watching upon them by nighttime in the Chapel. Wherefore he hath of fee all the watching cloathing that the Knights should wear upon [them.] Messagers (four).

Dean of the Chapel.

Chaplains, and Clerks of the Chapel

(twenty-six).

Yeomen of the Chapel (two).

Children of the Chapel (eight).

Clerk of the Closet.

Master of Grammar, to teach the Henx

men and Children of the Chapel.

Office of Vestiary, i. e. Vestry.

Clerk of Crown in Chancery.

Clerk of the Market.

Clerk of the Works.
Marriage of Wards.

Steward of Household.

Treasurer of Household.

Controller of Household.

Cofferer.

Clerks of Green Cloth.

EXTRACTS FROM THE LIBER NIGER.

KNIGHTS AND ESQUIRES OF THE BODY,

Item, that all Knights for the Body, CupBearers, and Knight Carvers, Squires for the Body, &c. be put to their attendance, and a

book thereof delivered from the King's Highness into the compting-house, for a quarter of a year; the quarters to begin at October, January, April, and July.

Among the provisions, it is said

Knights of the Body, Carvers, and CupBearers, [may have] every of them, two Yeomen sitting in the hall; and for their livery at night, one loaf and an half, and a gallon of ale; one talshed and an half, and three sizes of white lights *.

GENTLEMAN USHER.

Item, that the Marshall, ne Usher of the Chamber, send his rod by any mean person or persons, to pantry, buttery, or cellar, spicery, chaundry, or any other office; but go in his own person. But if he be occupied, so that he may not, then he send such one with his rod, as he will answer for on the morrow, and also that he will breve for, upon pain of six days wages.

* By white lights I understand tallow candles, they being so distinguished from wax in other places ; which last, I presume, at that time were yellow.

Item, that weekly there be warned and appointed by the Huishiers [Ushers] of the Chamber, [those] who shall attend and serve the King for the week next following, that is to say, Carvers, Sewers, Cup-Bearers, Squires for the Body, and others.

Item, that every Lord, Knight, and Esquire, as well Squire for the Body, as other within the Household, wear daily a collar of the King's livery about their nekket (sic) as to them appertaineth, and that none of the said Squires fail hereof, upon pain of losing a week's wages.

Item, that the liveries for All-night, for the King and Queen be set by day-light, from Candlemas to Michaelmas; and in the winter time, to eight of the clock at farthest.

Item, after the King and Queen's liveries delivered as aforesaid, no officer abide in his office, nor resort unto his said office after his departing, without a special commandment of the King or of the Queen; or else by special token from the Steward of the Household, or from the King or Queen's Chamberlains.

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