Chapter VI: ‘nicknames.’ (9)

In an inventory of household furniture, dated 1559, we have amongst
other articles, ‘One trussin bed with a teaster of yealow and chamlet,
one old arke, old hangyers of wull grene and red, 6_s._ 8_d._’
(_Richmondshire Wills_, p. 135.) Another writer, twenty years earlier,
relating the contents of the ‘mylke howse,’ includes ‘an arke, a tube
(tub), a stande, a chyrne.’ (P. 42, do.) The earliest instance of the
surname I have yet met with is found in the same book, where, in a
will dated 1556, the testator bequeaths a sheep to ‘Henry Arkwright.’
(Do. p. 155, note.) Both the ark itself and the trade are of North
English origin.

Footnote 273:

‘Shuxsmith’ seems but a corruption of this. The intermediate form is
found in _Wills and Inventories_ (Ch. Soc.), in the names of ‘Margerie
Shughsmythe’ and ‘Henry Shughsmythe.’

Footnote 274:

‘Buckler’ may be mentioned here. ‘John le Bockeler’ (A.), ‘Richard
Bokeler’ (Z).

Footnote 275:

With our ‘Locksmiths’ we must, of course, ally our ‘Lockmans,’
‘Lockyers,’ and ‘Lockers,’ and perchance ‘Lookers.’ We find a ‘Henry
le Lokier’ set down in the Hundred Rolls, and in an old Oxford record,
dated 1443, there occurs the name of ‘Robert Harward, loker,’ who
doubtless found plenty of employment in providing for the security of
the various rooms attached to the different colleges and halls. (_Mun.
Acad. Oxon._, p. 535.)

Footnote 276:

There are several single representatives of occupations connected with
the smith which I have not mentioned in the text, not having met with
any trace of their continued existence amongst us. Thus, in the
_London Memorials_ we find a ‘John Chietesmyth,’ which, so far, I have
found to be wholly unintelligible. I must say the same in regard to
‘Cokesmyth,’ occurring in the _Boldon Book_. ‘John Rodesmith,’ if not
a scribe’s error for ‘Redesmith,’ would be the manufacturer of the
then familiar ‘rood’ or ‘rode,’ the cross which we occasionally may
see still standing beside our old turnpikes. ‘William Watersmith,’ it
is quite reasonable, may have spent his energies on water-wheels and
such other machinery as helped to turn the mill. All these are now,
and probably were then, almost immediately obsolete. On the other
hand, we have ‘Wildsmith’ existing in our midst, only one
representative of which am I able to discover in our olden records. It
is just possible that, like the obsolete ‘Youngsmith,’ it originally
referred to the characteristics of the man as well as of his trade.

Footnote 277:

The roads between Cumberland and Northumberland were of the roughest
and most dangerous character till the seventeenth century, when
General Wade, in the course of his progress against the rebels, laid
down some of a better kind. The following couplet has been handed down
as the effort of some local poet:—

‘If you’d ever been here
When these roads were not made,
You would lift up your hands
And bless General Wade.’

Footnote 278:

In the Rolls of Parliament special mention is made of the King’s
Corser, he who acted as the king’s agent in regard to the purchase of
horses. A certain ‘Johannes Martyr, corsere,’ occurs in an old Oxford
record, dated 1451. (_Mun. Acad. Oxon._, p. 616.)

Footnote 279:

Thus, in the _Itinerarium of Richard I._, it is said that, after a
conflict with the Greeks, ‘Rex igitur cum persecutus esset imperatorem
fugientem lucratus est runcinum vel jumentum sacculo retro sellam
collocato,’ &c.—P. 191. We may quote, also, the _Wardrobe of Edward
I._: ‘Magistro Willelmo de Apperle, pro restauro unius runcini favi
appreciati pro Roberto de Burton, valletto suo, &c., 8_l._’—P. 172.

Footnote 280:

The _Test. Ebor._ (W. 2) gives us a ‘John Charioteer,’ and the _Cal.
Proc. Chancery_ (Z.Z.) a ‘Thomas Charietter.’

Footnote 281:

This is confirmed by the existence of ‘Chartman,’ more modernly
‘Cartman.’ A ‘John Chartman’ was rector of Sedistern, Norfolk, in
1361. (Blomefield.)

Footnote 282:

The following entry is found in the _Issue Rolls_: ‘To Master William
la Zousche, clerk of the king’s great wardrobe in money, paid to him
by the hands of John le Charer, for making a certain chariot for the
use and behoof of Lady Eleanor, the king’s sister, by writ of liberate
containing 1000_l._’ (_Issues of the Exchequer_, 6 Ed. III.) Capgrave,
too, may be cited. Writing of Helianore, daughter to the King of
France, when given to Richard of England, he says, under date 1394:
‘She was ful scarsly viii yere of age, but she brought oute of Frauns
xii chares ful of ladies and domicelles.’ Mr. Way says that in 1294
the use of this vehicle by the wives of wealthy citizens in Paris had
become so prevalent that it was forbidden them by an ordinance of
Philippe le Bel.

Footnote 283:

‘Couchman’ and ‘Coachman’ must be set here. ‘Aug. 4, 1640. Dorothy
Coachman, daughter of Tilney Coachman, buried’ (Smith’s Obituary, p.
17). This Tilney is recorded elsewhere as ‘Tilney Couchman.’ Mr.
Wedgewood says, ‘Coach. The Fr. _coucher_ became in Dutch _koetsen_—to
lie; whence “koetse,” a couch—a litter, a carriage in which you may
recline, a _coach_’ (p. 159). The twofold spelling of this Tilney’s
name is thus explained. Hence, too, ‘Couchmen’ represents but the
older form of ‘Coachman’—Richard Couchman, Z., ‘William Cowcheman,’
EE., John Coacheman, Z.

Footnote 284:

In the _York Pageant_ the ‘Sellers’ and the ‘Satellers’ went together.
The latter, doubtless, made satchels, and would differ little from the
‘bourser’ or ‘pouchemaker’ of that period. In the _Prompt. Parv._ we
find ‘Sele, horsys harneys.’ A ‘John de Essex, Selmakere,’ occurs in
the _London Records_, 1310, and a ‘Robert Newcomen, Sealmaker,’ 1311.
(Riley’s _London_, pp. xxii., xxx.) The latter, doubtless, was a maker
of seals, like some of the ‘le Selers’ of this period. I have
mentioned them elsewhere.

Footnote 285:

While, as I have just said, in the _York Pageant_ it is the
‘Satellers’ and ‘Sellers’ who go together, in the _Chester Play_ it is
the ‘Saddlers’ and ‘Fusterers.’

Footnote 286:

In Holland’s version of Pliny it is said that the Empress Poppæa ‘was
knowne to cause her ferrers ordinarily to shoe her coach horses and
other palfries, &c., with cleane gold.’ (Way’s _Prompt. Par._)

Footnote 287:

A suggestion I received at a dinner-table the other day that ‘ostler’
was merely a corruption of ‘oat-stealer’ I may as well mention here.
It is certainly suggestive, if not overburdened with accuracy.

Footnote 288:

‘William le Vendour’ is registered in the _Cal. Rot. Chartarum_.

Footnote 289:

Mr. Riley, in his interesting _Memorials of London_, quotes from the
_Rolls of Gaol Delivery_, temp. Edward I., the name of ‘Richard
Witbred, hodere,’ who had been slain in one of the city streets.
(Introduction, p. xi.)

Footnote 290:

An act of Edward VI. speaks of ‘the buying of anye corne, fyshe,
butter, or cheese by any suche Badger, Lader, Kyddier, or Carrier as
shal be assigned and allowed to that office.’ (5 & 6 Ed. VI. c. 14.) A
confirmation of this act by Elizabeth alters ‘Kyddier’ to ‘Kydder.’
The _lader_ was the old carrier or leader. I have deferred speaking of
him till my next chapter.

Footnote 291:

The greed of these strolling ecclesiastics is frequently alluded to in
the writings of this period. An old song on the Minorite friars says—

‘They preche alle of povert, but that love they naught,
For gode mete to their mouthe the toun is through sought.’
(_Pol. Poems_, vol. i. p. 270.)

Footnote 292:

An act was passed in Edward VI.’s reign to suppress in some degree the
number of this wandering fraternity:—‘Forasmuch as it is evident that
Tynkers, Pedlers, and such like vagrant persones are more hurtfull
than necessarie to the Commen Wealth of this realme, be it therefore
ordeyned ... that ... no person or persones commonly called Pedler,
Tynker, or Pety Chapman, shall wander or go from one towne to another,
or from place to place, out of the towne, parishe, or village, where
such person shall dwell, and sell pynnes, poyntes laces, gloves,
knyves, glasses, tapes, or any suche kynde of wares whatsoever, or
gather connye skynnes, &c.’ (5 & 6 Ed. VI. c. 21)

Footnote 293:

‘John le Coper’ is found in the Hundred Rolls.

Footnote 294:

‘Lambert Hardewareman’ (W. ii.) is met with in York in 1473. Whether
he was a travelling dealer or no, I cannot say.

Footnote 295:

It is to the humorous and familiar associations inseparably connected
with the early chapman we owe our ‘chap,’ a mere corruption of the
above.

Footnote 296:

Mr. William Markettman was appointed by the Committee of Plundered
Ministers in 1650 to the Rectory of Elstree. (Clutterbuck’s
_Hertford_, vol. i. 161.) ‘Articles exhibited against Clement
Marketman, executor of Clement Stuppeney, &c.’ (_State Papers_, July
25, 1623.)

Footnote 297:

‘Willmo Mone sometario ad unum somerum pro armis Regis.’ (_Wardrobe of
Edward I._, p. 77.)

Footnote 298:

Thus the somewhat incongruous expression in Psalm cxxvii. 1, ‘the
watchman waketh but in vain,’ is explained. That a sentinel should
require rousing is opposed to all our ideas of the duties associated
with this office. It should be ‘the watchman watcheth but in vain.’

Footnote 299:

It is in allusion to the disturbance thus created in the small hours
of the night we find a writer of the Stuart period saying, not
unwittily, to one thus rudely aroused:—

‘That you are vext their _wakes_ your neighbours keep
They guess it is, because you want your _sleep_:
I therefore wish that you your _sleep_ would take,
That they (without offence) might keep their _wake_.’
(Brand’s _Pop. Ant._ iii. 9.)

Footnote 300:

Isaac Wake was university orator in 1607. He preached Rainold’s
funeral sermon. Dr. Sleep was the leading preacher in Cambridge at the
same time. James I., who dearly loved a pun, said ‘he always felt
_inclined_ to Wake when he heard Sleep, and to Sleep when he heard
Wake,’ _i.e._, he could not decide on the relative merits of the two.
(Brooks’ _Puritans_, vol. ii. p. 180.)

Footnote 301:

Thus, in the _Winter’s Tale_, the servant says: ‘I have done. Come,
you promised me a tawdry-lace and a pair of gloves.’

Footnote 302:

A law was passed at Winchester in 1285 that no fair or market should
be held in the churchyard, as had previously been the case.

Footnote 303:

The same record, however, contains a ‘Fairman Alberd,’ so that, like
‘Coleman’ and ‘Bateman,’ it may have been but a personal name.

Footnote 304:

It is from this same root that our ‘Kemp’ is derived, meaning a
soldier.

Footnote 305:

In the Complaint of the Plowman, too, we are told that the priests
were always—

‘At the wrestling and the wake,
And chief chantours at the nale.’

Footnote 306:

In the _Household Book of the Earl of Northumberland_, in 1511, under
the head of ‘Rewards,’ is one of ‘6_s._ 8_d._ to the Kyngs and Queenes
Barward, if they have one, when they come to the Earl’ (Way). In the
Parliamentary Rolls mention is made concerning the ‘Beremaistre of the
Forest of Peake.’ It was not till 1835 that bear or bull baiting was
finally forbidden by Act of Parliament.

Footnote 307:

An old tavern-sign in Cheshire bore the following inscription:—

‘Good bear sold here,
Our own Bruin.’

The book which records this quotes from the _Congleton Town Register_:
‘1599.—Paid the bearward, 4_s._ 4_d._’ ‘1601.—Gave the bearward at the
great cock-fight, 6_s._ 8_d._’ (_Cheshire Ballads_, p. 259.)

Footnote 308:

A story is told of an officious clerk belonging to an old rural church
who, overwhelmed with the honour of having a bishop presiding at a
visitation there, ransacked his brains for something worthy the
occasion, and then in stentorian voice gave out, instead of the usual
Sternholdic lines, the following variation:—

‘Ye little hills and dales,
Why do ye skip and hop?
Is it because yer glad to see
His Grace the Lord Bish-op?’

Footnote 309:

Curiously enough, we have the name of ‘Robert Harpmaker’ mentioned in
an old Oxford record, 1452. (_Mun. Acad. Oxon._) This we may look
upon, therefore, as an old-standing nuisance.

Footnote 310:

Burton, in his _Anatomy of Melancholy_, says: ‘Let them freely feast,
sing, and dance, have their poppet-playes, hobby-horses, tabers,
crouds, bag-pipes,’ &c. (P. 276.)

Footnote 311:

The names of ‘William Elyott, luter,’ and ‘William Spenser, harpour,’
occur in 1432 in an old York will. (_Test. Eboracensia_, vol. ii. p.
21, Surtees Soc.) ‘Haunce (Hans) the luter’ and ‘Philip the luter’ are
frequently mentioned in _Privy Expenses_ (Princess Mary).

Footnote 312:

This name evidently lasted till the seventeenth century, for in 1641
an ‘Adam Orgener’ entered C. C. Coll. Cam. (_Vide_ Masters’ history of
that college.)

Footnote 313:

The ‘Rhymer’ is often mentioned as belonging to the royal or feudal
retinue. Like many of the above, he may be set among our list of early
officerships.

Footnote 314:

We may set here our ‘Bidders,’ or ‘Ernald le Bidere,’ as he was once
recorded. He was the general beggar of that day, and no doubt a rich
harvest would be the result of his attendance at the fair. Piers
Plowman says:—

‘Bidderes and beggares
Faste about yede,
With their belies and their bagges
Of bread ful y-crammed.’

‘Simon le Shobeggere’ (H.R.), or ‘Shoe-beggar,’ as I presume means,
seems to have followed a more particular line of business.

Footnote 315:

Here is Glyed Wolby of Gylforde squyere,
Andrew of Habyngedon, apell byer.

(_Cocke Lorelle’s Bote._)

I am afraid the reader will scarcely recognise ‘Wool-buyer’ in
‘Wolby,’ but I doubt not such was the trader referred to. ‘Geoffrey le
Wolle-byer’ occurs in the Parliamentary Writs.

Footnote 316:

One of Edward III.’s statutes says: ‘That a certain number of
portours, pakkers, gwynders (winders), and other laborers of wools and
all other merchandizes, be sufficiently ordained for the place where
the staple is.’ (_Stat. of Realm_, vol. i. p. 341.)

Footnote 317:

It is not impossible that this species of cloth was in use by the
lower classes for articles of apparel. Chaucer, in his _Romance_,
refers to such a habit when he says:—

‘She ne had on but a straite old sacke,
And many a cloute on it there stacke,
This was her cote, and her mantele.’

Footnote 318:

A prayer to the Commons, in 1464, respecting the importation of
foreign goods and merchandise, mentions ‘the makers of wollen cloth
within this Reame, as Wevers, Fullers, Dyers, _Kempsters_, Carders,
and Spynners.’ (_Rot. Parl._ Ed. IV.)

Footnote 319:

A recipe from an old Harleian MS. thus begins: ‘Recipe brawne of
capons or of hennys, and dry them wele, and towse them small.’

Footnote 320:

In the south walk, Westminster Abbey, are gravestones recording the
deaths of ‘George Slemaker,’ 1802, and ‘Susannah Slemaker,’ his widow,
1818. (_Vide_ Neale’s _Westminster Abbey_.)

Footnote 321:

Richard Slawright was prior of the Hermit Friars of St. Augustine
Warrington, in 1516. (_Warrington in 1465._ Ch. Soc., p. xliv.)

Footnote 322:

A chantry to the church of All Saints, York, was erected in the
fifteenth century by Adam del Bank, Littester.’ (_Hist. and Ant. of
York_, vol. ii. p. 269.) The _Promp. Par._ has ‘Lystare, or Lytaster
of cloth dyynge—Tinctor.’

Footnote 323:

‘William Fulman,’ a learned antiquary, died in 1688. (_Vide_ Dyce’s
_Shakespeare_, vol. i. p. 35.)

Footnote 324:

A statute of Elizabeth regarding the apprenticeship of poor children
includes among others, ‘Wollen-weaver, weaving housewiefes or
householde clothe onely and none other, Clothe-Fuller, otherwise
called Tucker, or Walker.’ (5 Eliz. c. 4, 23.) ‘Of William Reynolles,
walker, for half a pewe with Edward Doughtie, 3_s._ 4_d._’
(_Churchwardens’ Expenses, Ludlow_, p. 154 (1571), Cam. Soc.) In the
_Chester Play_ the ‘weavers and walkers’ marched together. (_Vide_
Appendix.)

Footnote 325:

This practice of treading the cloth is referred to in a complaint
concerning the fulling of caps and hats in fulling mills, made to
Edward IV. It begins by saying that hats, caps, and bonnets hitherto
had been made, wrought, fulled, and thicked in the wonted manner, that
is to say, with hands and feet—‘mayns et pees’—and then proceeds to
urge that the use of mills brought inferior articles into the market.
(_Stat. of Realm_, vol. ii. p. 473.)

Footnote 326:

A ‘John Wollebeter’ is mentioned in an old Suffolk will of 1370.

Footnote 327:

We have the word ‘bat’ used in Wicklyffe’s Testament: ‘In that hour
Jhesus seide to the people, as to a theef ye han gon out with swerdis
and battis to take me.’ (Matt. xxvi. 55.)

Footnote 328:

God made ‘ffor to cover us and clethe us also lyne, and wolle and
lethire.’ (_Mirror of St. Edmund_, Early Eng. Text Soc., p. 21.)

Footnote 329:

The bailiff of Norwich in 1250 was ‘Otto le Texter or Weaver.’ (_Hist.
Norfolk_, iii. 58.) ‘John Tixter’ was Mayor of Gloucester in 1270.
(Rudder’s _Gloucestershire_, p. 113.) On the 30th April 1873, the
_Manchester Courier_ announced ‘the suspension of Messrs. Textor and
Co., silk merchants, London.’

Footnote 330:

In the _Prompt. Parv._ we find the feminine termination to have been
in general use in Norfolk. The author has ‘pleykstare—candidarius,’
and further on, ‘whytstare, or pleykstare—candidarius, candidaria.’
Earlier in the work, too, occurs ‘bleystare, or wytstare (bleykester
or whytster)—candidarius.’ That the name lingered there for a
considerable period is proved by the fact of a ‘Robert Blaxter’
appearing as defendant in the Court of Chancery in a Norfolk case at
the close of the sixteenth century. (_Proceedings in Chancery_
(Elizabeth), vol. i. p. 250.) The earlier spelling is found in such
entries as ‘Will le Bleckestere’ (H.R.) or ‘Richard le Blekstare’ (P.
W.). Blackister, like Blaxter, still exists.

Footnote 331:

Sylkewomen, pursers, and garnysshers,
Tablemakers, sylkedyers, and shepsters.

(_Cocke Lorelle’s Bote._)

Footnote 332:

In _A Complaint of Artificers to Parliament_, in 1463, there is
included amongst other productions, ‘Laces, corses, ribans, frenges of
silke and of threde, threden laces, _throwen_ silke, silke in eny wise
embrauded.’ (_Rot. Parl._, Ed. IV.)

Footnote 333:

‘Edmund Barkmaker’ occurs in ‘Calendar to Pleadings.’ (Elizabeth.)

Footnote 334:

According to Strype, the ‘Company of Megusers’ dealt in the skins of
dead horses, and flayed them. He mentions ‘Walter le Whitawyer’ in the
same account. (_London_, vol. ii. p. 232.)

Footnote 335:

Since writing the above, I have discovered in the same rolls a
‘Gilbert _le_ Tower’ and a ‘Thomas _le_ Touere,’ proving my surmise to
be correct. The feminine form is also to be met with in a ‘Juliana le
Touestre,’ this entry, too, being found in the same register.

Footnote 336:

Many of these cries originated surnames, which, however, in most
cases, died with their owners. ‘Fresh-fish’ is found as the sobriquet
of a fishmonger; and ‘Coloppes,’ ‘Mackerell,’ and ‘Peascod,’ all
figure in the rolls of the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries.

Footnote 337:

A complaint of craftsmen presented to Parliament in the reign of
Edward IV. speaks of ‘silke in eny wise embrauded, golden laces, tyres
of silke or of gold, sadles,’ &c. (_Rot. Parl._)

Footnote 338:

The caul, or membrane occasionally found round the head of a
newly-born child, was ever preserved by the midwife, in accordance
with an old superstition, as a preservative against accidents, but
especially against drowning. So late as Feb. 27, 1813, the _Times_
newspaper had the following advertisement in its pages: ‘To persons
going to sea.—A child’s caul, in a perfect state, to be sold cheap.
Apply at 5, Duke Street, Manchester Square, where it may be seen.’ An
inventory of goods, dated 1575, we find thus beginning: ‘Imprimis, a
cubborde, 20_s._; a calle, 5_s._; a table, 3_s._ 4_d._’
(_Richmondshire Wills_, p. 259.) With regard to the caul as an article
of dress, we may quote the following: ‘Maydens wear sylken callis,
with the whyche they kepe in ordre theyr heare, made yellow with lye.’
(_Hormani Vulgaria._)

Footnote 339:

Query—Did ‘Richard le Couhelere,’ recorded in the Parliamentary Writs,
dress, prepare, and sell cow-heels? There is nothing improbable in it.

Footnote 340:

‘E qe chascun esquier porte _chapel_ des armes son Seigneur:’—‘And
that every esquire do bear a cap of the armes of his lord.’ (_Stat. of
Realm_, vol. i. p. 220.)

Footnote 341:

A complaint on the subject of hats, bonnets, and caps, in 1482, speaks
of these three specific articles as ‘hœures, bonnettez, et cappez.’
(_Stat. of Realm_, vol. ii. p. 473.) ‘Bonnet,’ I need scarcely add, is
here used, as it is still in Scotland to this day, as meaning a cap or
covering generally for the head.

Footnote 342:

The ecclesiastic tailor was not wanting, judging by such an entry as
‘Robert Vestment-maker’ (W. 2).

Footnote 343:

Talking of Latin forms, however, we are reminded that not unfrequently
an artisan of this class would be recorded as ‘William Scissor,’ or
‘Walter Cissor,’ a mode of writing the name very common in our more
formal records.

Footnote 344:

As a common instance of the transition process then at work we may
cite the name of ‘John le Wympler, Goldsmith,’ which occurs in the
London records of this time.

Footnote 345:

A ‘Robert Ornel, paternostrer,’ is mentioned, under date 1276, by the
same writer. (_Memorials of London_, p. xxi.)

Footnote 346:

‘Richard le Nedeler’ represented Chichester in Parliament in 1305.
(_Hist. West. Div. of Sussex._)

Footnote 347:

The different materials used for the manufacture of buttons are
incidentally declared in such entries as ‘Jacob le Horner et Botoner,’
or ‘John le Botoner et Latoner,’ found in the _Cal. and Inventories of
the Treasury_.

Footnote 348:

Among other entries in the _Liber Albus_ occurs a list of customs for
exposure of merchandise to sale:—

‘La charge de mercerie,
La charge de leyne d’Espagne,
La charge de canevas,
La charge de hapertas,
La charge de chalouns et draps du Reyns,’ etc.

An entry almost immediately ensuing, after mentioning most of the
above, when come to ‘hapertas,’ speaks of ‘haberdashery.’ (_Gildhallæ
Munimenta._)

Footnote 349:

Capgrave says that when Charles was at Constantinople the Emperor gave
him ‘a part of Jesu crowne, that flowered there in their sight, and a
nayle with which oure Lord was nayled to the tre, and a part of oure
Lordis crosse: _the smok of oure Ladi_: the armé of Seynt Simeon. Alle
these relikes broute he to Acon.’ (P. 106.)

Footnote 350:

‘A Marquise (to have) for his gowne, slope, and mantell, xvi yards,
and livery for xvi servants.’ (_A Book of Precedence._)

Footnote 351:

‘To William Courteray, of London, Embroiderer, in money paid to him
for orfries, and other things by him purchased for a velvet vest for
the King, therewith embroidered with pelicans, images, and tabernacles
of gold, etc., 20_l._’ (40 Edward III. _Issues of Exchequer_.)

‘Brouderers, strayners, and carpyte-makers.’
(_Cocke Lorelle’s Bote._)

Footnote 352:

As a proof of the costliness of this raised needlework, we may quote
the following entry found in the _Issues of the Exchequer_: ‘To
William Mugge, chaplain of the King’s Chapel at Windsor, in money paid
to Thomas Cheiner, of London, in discharge of 140_l._ lately due to
him for a vest of velvet embroidered with divers work, purchased by
him for the chaplain aforesaid.’ (24 Edward III.)

The higher nobility seem to have had their special embroiderers. There
was certainly a court craftsman of this kind. An act of the first year
of Edw. IV. speaks of ‘oure Glasier, Messagiers of oure Exchequer,
_Browderer_, Plumber, Joynour, Maker of Arrows within the Toure of
London,’ &c. (_Rot. Parl._ Edward IV.)

Footnote 353:

An act, elsewhere referred to, passed in the first year of Edward IV.,
mentions among others the ‘Keper of oure Armour in the Toure of
London, maker of Poyntes, Constable of oure Castell or Lordship of
Hadleigh,’ etc.—_Rot. Parl._ Edward IV.

Footnote 354:

‘Hugh le Ceinter’ was Mayor of Gloucester in the reign of Henry the
Third. (Rudder’s _Hist. Gloucestershire_, p. 113.) ‘Benet Seinturer’
was Sheriff of London in 1216. (Strype.)

Footnote 355:

Under date 1355, Mr. Riley, in his interesting _Memorials of London_,
gives the ‘Articles and Ordinances of the Braelers.’ He also has an
account of the burning of some gloves and _braels_ for being of false
make and fashion in 1350. (_Vide_ pp. 277 and 249.)

Footnote 356:

And ‘also, every sowtere that maketh shoon of new rothes’ lether,’
etc. (_Usages of Winchester. English Guilds_, 359.)

Footnote 357:

‘Item, received of John Bent and John Davies, cordiner, for one pew,
ii_s._’ 1571. (_Churchwardens’ Exp. Ludlow_, p. 148. Cam. Soc.)

Footnote 358:

In the Mysteries composed for the City Pageant by Randle, a monk of
Chester Abbey, in the thirteenth century, a part in it is directed to
be sustained by the ‘Corvesters and Shoemakers.’ (Ormerod’s
_Cheshire_, p. 301). In this case we have the strictly speaking Saxon
feminine termination appended to a Norman word. I have found three
‘Shoemakers.’ ‘Harry Shomaker’ was an attendant of the Princess Mary
(1542). (_Privy Purse Expenses_, p. 2.) ‘Christopher Shoomaker’ was
burnt at Newbury (1518), whose story is related by Foxe. The name
seems to have lingered on till the close of the xviiith cent., for it
is found in St. Anne’s register, Manchester, in 1781, as ‘Showmaker:’
‘Mary, wife of John Showmaker, buried Aug. 26, 1781.’ This spelling
reminds me of an entry in the Household of Princess Elizabeth, Cam.
Soc.:—‘Robert Waterman for showing (shoeing) xvii_s._’ (p. 29.)

‘And that the corvesers bye ther lether in the seid Gild-halle.’
(_Ordinances of Worcester, English Guilds_, 371).

Footnote 359:

Another form of the name and occupation is met with in the _Corp.
Christi Guild_, York, in the case of ‘Robert Patener, et Mariona uxor
ejus’ (W. ii.).

Footnote 360:

‘John Rykedon, patynmaker,’ occurs in the Patent Rolls (R.R., 1).

Footnote 361:

It is evidently in a depreciatory sense that Bishop Latimer in one of
his sermons makes use of this word, while his very employment of it
shows how familiar was its meaning as a term of occupation, even in
the sixteenth century. He says, speaking of a certain bishop, ‘There
stood by him a dubber, one Doctor Dubber: he dubbed him by-and-by, and
said,’ &c. Second Sermon before Edward VI.

Footnote 362:

The word was evidently in familiar use. Thus in the will of one
William Askame, dated 1390, it is said, ‘Item, Margaretæ prenticiæ
Willielmi Askham do et lego a fedir bedd and i matras, ii shetes and a
coverlet, i bacyn and i laver, and a bras potte and volette of crysp.
Item Johannæ Dagh crisp volet and a _chalon_.’—_Test. Ebor._, vol. i.
p. 130. (_Surt. Soc._)

‘And that no chalon of ray, or other chalon, shall be made, if it be
not of the ancient lawful assize, ordained by the good folks of the
trade.’ (Ext. from _Ordinances of the Tapicers_, Riley’s _London_, p.
179.)

‘Also, non of the Citee ne shal don werche qwyltes ne chalouns
withoute the walles of the Citee (_i.e._ Winchester).’ (_English
Guilds_, p. 351.)

The Chaloner is styled the ‘Chaloun-makyere’ in this ordinance.

Footnote 363:

In the Guild of St. George, Norwich, 1385, is mentioned the name of
‘Geoffrey Bedwevere.’ He would be either a quilter, or one of those
artisans alluded to by Cocke Lorelle.

‘Fyners, plummers, and peuters,
Bedmakers, fedbedmakers, and wyredrawers.’

Footnote 364:

I find several writers speaking (Mr. Riley among them) as if the
upholder was simply an undertaker. He may have been this, but it is
evident it was but a subordinate branch of his occupation. We find in
1445 a certain ‘Richard Upholder’ appraising the _bedroom_ furniture
of James Hedyan, the Principal of ‘Eagle Hall.’ (_Mun. Acad. Oxon._,
p. 544.)

Footnote 365:

The ordinances for the Guild of St. Katharine, Lynn, are signed by
‘Peter Tapeser.’—_English Guilds_, p. 68. (E. E. Text Soc.)

The following entry from the _Exchequer Issues_ will give the reader a
fair idea of the work that came under the tapiser’s hands:—‘To John
Flessh, tapestry maker. In money paid to him for a side cushion, or
carpet, a bench, and five cushions worked with the king’s arms ... to
be placed about, and hung at the back of the king’s justice seats of
his common bench within Westminster Hall.’—14 Henry VI.

Footnote 366:

It is only right to say that there seems to have been a term ‘coucher’
to imply one who resided in certain towns for purposes of trade of a
somewhat doubtful character. In this sense it was but a French
sobriquet, meaning in English ‘a lurker.’ A statute of Edward III.
concerning the prices of wine and their import speaks of ‘Cochoures
Engleys’ (English couchers, or lurkers), living in Rochelle, Bordeaux,
etc., who traded in wines. The tenor of the allusion to them, however,
is such that we could hardly expect them to be represented openly in
an English pageant.

Footnote 367:

An old Yorkshire will, dated 1383, contains the following bequest: ‘To
John Couper, a docer, and a new banaquer (a seat-cover) and ij cochyns
(cushions).’ (Surtees Soc.)

Footnote 368:

Beatrice ap Rice, laundress to Princess Mary (daughter of Henry
VIII.), is always set down as ‘Mistress Launder.’ ‘Item, paid for 2
lb. of starche for Mts Launder, viiid.’ (_Privy Purse Expenses_, p.
160.)

Footnote 369:

The ordinances of the Guild of the Purification, Bishop’s Lynn, 1367,
are signed by ‘Johannes Austyn, Baxter.’ (_English Guilds_, p. 90.)

Capgrave, under date 205 B.C., says, ‘In this same tyme lyved the
eloquent man which hite (was called) Plautus, and for al his eloquens
he was compelled for to dwel with a Baxter, and grinde his corn at a
querne.’

Footnote 370:

The curious name of ‘Sara le Bredemongestere’ occurs in the ‘London
Memorials’ (Riley).

Footnote 371:

It is in this more general sense we find the word used in our present
Authorized Version. Thus in Lev. ii. 4, it is said: ‘And if thou bring
an oblation of a meat offering baken in the oven, it shall be
unleavened cakes of fine flour mingled with oil, or unleavened wafers
anointed with oil.’—‘Pay to Ralph Crast the waferer, 40_s._ of our
gift.’ (‘Issues of Exchequer,’ 26 Henry III.)

Footnote 372:

This corruption seems to have early become the accepted one. A John
Flanner entered C.C. Col., Cambridge, in 1649. (_Hist. C.C. Coll._).
In 1641 another John Flanner was Rector of Kilverstone. (_Hist.
Norf._, I. 546.)

Footnote 373:

Since writing the above I have found a ‘William Buttyrman’ in the
_Test. Ebor._, vol. iii., Surtees Soc., but I can discover no trace of
its continuance beyond its immediate possessor.

Footnote 374:

The Hundred Rolls furnish us with the local ‘Adam del Cheshus,’
_i.e._, Cheese-house. He would be connected with some country dairy or
city store-room. The name is formed like ‘Malthus,’ from ‘Malt-house,’
or ‘Loftus,’ from ‘Loft-house.’

Footnote 375:

In the country, and more north, we shall scarcely find the term to
have made any way till even the fifteenth century. In the York Pageant
which occurred in 1415, and was supposed to represent, as a survey of
its programme shows it evidently did, every trade or occupation that
could claim the slightest right to attention, we do not find it having
a place. The ‘Spicers’ and ‘Sauce-makers’ are prominent, however, and
they, no doubt, even then were upholding the interests of the trade
which by-and-by was to go under this new sobriquet.

Footnote 376:

‘Joan Sausemaker’ occurs in the _Corpus Christi Guild_, York.

Footnote 377:

‘John Nutmaker’ gave to a loan upon Middlesex in 1463. (_Vide_
_Scobell’s Declarations of Parl._, 429.) This name has troubled me
much. Halliwell has ‘nut,’ a term for sweet-bread in the eastern
counties. Failing this, I can only suggest ‘nutmegger,’ and place it
among those set down in the text.

Footnote 378:

We are all familiar with the old adage,

‘After dinner sit awhile,
After supper walk a mile’:

it often used to puzzle me that this last line, while speaking from a
medical point of view, should so calmly give up the general question
as to whether suppers were or were not advisable as a part of the
domestic _régime_. When we remember, however, that the couplet
doubtless arose in a day when dinner was at twelve and supper at five
or six, we can better understand its intent.

Footnote 379:

William Fleshmonger, D.C.L., was Dean of Chichester in 1528. (_Hist.
Univ. Oxford._ Ackermann, p. 154.)

‘Also, the usage of fleshemongeres ys swych, that everych
fleshemongere’ not a freman shall pay 25_d._ a year to the King if he
have a stall. (_Usages of Winchester. English Gilds_, 354.)

Footnote 380:

The following list in one of our early statutes will help to
familiarize the reader’s mind with some of these mediæval Latinisms:

‘Item, sallarii, pelletarii, allutarii, sutores, cissores, fabri,
carpentarii, cementarii, tegularii, batellarii, carectarii, et
quicunque alii artifices non capiant pro labore et artificio suo,’
etc.

‘Item, quod carnifices, piscenarii, hostellarii, braciatores,
pistores, pulletarii et omnes alii venditores victualium teneantur
hujus-modi victualia vendere,’ etc. [_Stat. of Realm_, vol. 1. p.
308.)

The first list refers to the ‘saddlers, skinners, whitetawyers,
shoemakers, taylors, wrights, carpenters, masons, tylers, boatwrights,
and carters;’ the second to the ‘butchers, fishmongers, taverners,
brewers, bakers, and poulterers.’ With regard to the ‘Carnifex’ we may
add that among other items of expenditure belonging to Edw. I.’s Queen
at Cawood is mentioned ‘expensa duorum carnificum eosdem boves
emencium.’

Footnote 381:

‘Egeas Fisher, or Pessoner,’ was Mayor of Gloucester in 1241.
(Rudder’s _Gloucestershire_, p. 113.) ‘Ralf le Pecimer’ was bailiff of
Norwich in 1239. (_Blomefield_, iii. 58.) This is a manifest
corruption of Pessoner.

Footnote 382:

That this is the real origin of this name may be proved by 1 James I.
c. xxiii., which is entitled an ‘Acte for the better preservation of
Fishinge in the Counties of Somersett, Devon, and Cornwall, and for
the relief of Balkers, Conders, and Fishermen against malicious
suites.’ In it too is found the following: ‘And whereas also for the
necessarie use of the takinge of the said Herring ... divers persons
... called Balcors, Huors, Condors, Directors, or Guidors, at the
fishing tymes ... tyme out of mynde have used to watch and attend upon
the high hilles and grounde near adjoining to the sea coast ... for
the discoverie and givinge notice to the fisherman,’ etc. (_Stat. of
Realm._)

Footnote 383:

‘Lawrence Beerbrewer’ occurs in a Norfolk register. (_Hist. Norf._ iv.
357.) ‘Lambert Beerbrewer’ was one of the Corp. Christi Guild, York.
(Surt. Soc.)

Footnote 384:

‘Malter’ I have failed to discover in our archives, but ‘Aleyn le
Maltestere’ and ‘Hugh le Maltmakere’ are both found. On the other
hand, while I have no feminine ‘Tapster’ to adduce, I have hit upon
‘Robert le Tappere’ and ‘John le Tapper’ in two separate records.

Footnote 385:

A curious name is found in the St. Edmund’s Guild, Bishop’s Lynn, the
ordinances of which are signed by ‘Johannes Mashemaker’ (_English
Guilds_, p. 96), evidently a maker of mash-vats or of the mashel,
_i.e._, the rudder used for mixing the malt. (v. _Maschel Pr. Par._)

Footnote 386:

Another proof of this is contained in the fact that in all allusions
in our olden ordinances to false dealings in the brewing and sale of
ale the punishment affixed is that of the _tumbrel_, the instrument
for women, corresponding to the _pillory_ for men. I would not be
mistaken. I cannot doubt but that malster, tapster, baxter, webster,
and kempster were feminine occupations, and arose first in these forms
as such. But in the xivth century the distinction between ‘er’ and
‘ster’ was dropped through the Norman-French ‘ess’ becoming the
popular termination. As ‘ess’ became still more strongly imbedded in
the language, ‘ster’ came into but more irregular use, and by the time
of Elizabeth men spoke of ‘drugster,’ ‘teamster,’ ‘rhymster,’
‘whipster,’ ‘trickster,’ ‘gamester.’ (_English Accidence_, p. 90.)
That this confusion was marked even in the earlier part of the xivth
century, not to say the close of the xiiith, is clearly proved by such
registered names as ‘Thatcher’ and ‘Thaxter,’ ‘Palliser’ and
‘Pallister,’ ‘Hewer’ and ‘Hewster,’ ‘Begger’ and ‘Beggister,’
‘Blacker’ (bleacher) and ‘Blaxter,’ ‘Dyer’ and ‘Dyster,’ ‘Whiter’ and
‘Whitster,’ ‘Corviser’ and ‘Corvester,’ and ‘Bullinger,’ or
‘Billinger,’ and ‘Billingster.’ An old statute of Ed. III. (_Statute
Realm_, 1, 380) mentions ‘filesters,’ ‘throwsters,’ and ‘brawdesters;’
and Dr. Morris quotes ‘bellringster,’ ‘hoardster,’ and ‘washster.’
These latter are xiith and xiiith century words, and were strictly
confined to women.

Footnote 387:

I find the term used occupatively once. Cocke Lorelle speaks of

‘Spynsters, carders, and cappe-knytters.’

Footnote 388:

‘Juliana Rokster’ occurs in an old record of 1388 (R.R. 2). The ‘rock’
was the old distaff. (_Vide_ p. 74, note 2.)

Footnote 389:

‘Edmund le Tonder’ was bailiff of Norwich, 1237.

Footnote 390:

The bailiff of Gloucester, in the year 1300, was ‘Robert L’espicer, or
Apothecary.’ (Rudder’s _Gloucestershire_, p. 114.)

Footnote 391:

We have a similar curtailment in our ‘Prentices’ or ‘Prentis’s’
(relics of ‘William le Prentiz’ or ‘Nicholas Apprenticius’) a name of
the most familiar import at the time of which we are speaking. Chaucer
begins his ‘Cook’s Tale’ by saying—

‘A prentis whilom dwelt in our citee,
And of a craft of vitaillers was he.’

In the early days of national commerce and industry, when the jealousy
of foreign craftsmen was at its height, the prentice boys showed
themselves on various occasions a formidable body, capable of arousing
riots and tumults of the most serious character.

Footnote 392:

Early Eng. Text Soc., Extra Series, vol. viii. p. 6.

Footnote 393:

The surname of ‘Shaver’ was not unknown then as now. ‘Jeffery
Schavere’ was rector of Fincham, Norfolk, in 1409 (Blomefield). ‘Henry
Shavetail,’ an evident nickname, occurs in the Patent Rolls (R.R.1).

Footnote 394:

In a popular poem of Henry the Eighth’s time mention is made of—

‘Harpemakers, leches, and upholdsters,
Porters, fesycyens, and corsers.’

Footnote 395:

Johannes Thurton, Candelere. (Guild of St. George, Norwich.)

Footnote 396:

Thus we find in an indenture of Henry the Seventh’s reign it is said
at the close: ‘And over this oure said Souveraigne Lorde graunteth by
these presents to the said Abbas and Convent that they shall have as
well this present Indenture as all other grauntes necessary, ...
wythout eny fyne, fee, or other thyng to hym orto his use in his
Chauncerie, or Hanapore, or other place to be payde.’ (_Stat. of
Realm_, vol. ii. p. 671.)

Footnote 397:

_Vide_ Way’s _Prompt Parv._, p. 124.

Footnote 398:

Thus the author of _Cocke Lorelle’s Bote_ refers to—

‘Yermongers, pybakers, and waferers,
Fruyters, chesemongers, and mynstrelles.’

Footnote 399:

‘There dwelled also turners of beads, and they were
paternoster-makers’ (Stow, iii. 174). The term was evidently very
general.

Footnote 400:

‘Founders, laten-workers, and broche-makers.’ (_Cocke Lorelle’s
Bote._)

Footnote 401:

A law passed in the first year of Richard II. forbids halfpennies and
farthings to be melted for vessels or other things, on pain of
forfeiting the money so melted and the imprisonment of the
founder—‘surpeine de forfaitre del monoie founder et imprisonement del
foundour.’ (_Stat. Realm._) The ‘founder,’ as his name implies, melted
down the metal, and then poured it (fundere) into the mould. We still
speak familiarly of a foundry; but the term ‘founder’ as a worker
therein is now, I believe, obsolete. Such names, however, as ‘Robert
le Fundour’ or ‘John le Funder,’ whose descendants are still with us,
show that this was once in common use. As an additional proof that
they were formerly more distinctively engaged in the manufacture of
pots and vessels, we may state that in the York Pageant, elsewhere
spoken of, the ‘Pewterers’ and ‘Founders’ marched together. Speaking
of ‘Founder,’ we are reminded of ‘Alefounder.’ In 1374 William
Alefounder was Rector of Bichamwell. (_Hist. Norf._, vii. 295.) The
alefounder took his name from his duty as an inspector, appointed by
the Court Leet, of assizing and supervising the brewing of malt
liquor. He examined it as it was _poured_ out. Thus ‘fundere,’ and not
‘fundare,’ is its root. Another name he bore was that of ‘ale-conner.’
A poem of James the First’s reign says—

‘A nose he had that gan show,
What liquor he loved I trow;
For he had before long “seven yeare,
Been of the towne the ale-conner.”’

Footnote 402:

The following entry appears in the _Issues of Exchequer_:—‘20_l._ paid
to John le Discher, of London, for him and his companions to provide
plates, dishes, and saltsellers for the coronation.’ (1 Ed. II.)

Footnote 403:

As an illustration of the use to which the art of working in pewter
was put, we may instance one of the ‘Richmondshire Wills’ in which the
following articles of this mixture are bequeathed: ‘iij basyns, ij
uers, one doson plait trenchers, one brode charger, iiij potigers,
xx^{tie} platters, x dishes, and vj sausers.’ (_Surtees Soc._)

Footnote 404:

We find this now well-known surname thus spelt in a statute passed in
Elizabeth’s reign, in which are included the ‘lynnen-weaver, turner,
cowper, millers, earthen-potters.’ (5 Eliz. c. iv. 23.)

Footnote 405:

In the _Issues of the Exchequer_ we find a ‘Ric. le Cuver’ at one time
providing three _buckets_, and at another working with other eight
_carpenters_ upon the outer chamber of the King’s Court. (43 Henry
III.)

Footnote 406:

‘John Busheler’ occurs in Valor. Eccles. Henry VIII. He probably made
the old bushel measure, once in common use. ‘Is a candle bought to be
put under a bushel?’ (Mark iv. 26.)

Footnote 407:

Mr. Way, in his valuable series of notes to the _Promptorium
Parvulorum_, quotes a later Wicklyffite version, in which the ‘basket
of bulrushes’ in which Moses was placed is termed ‘a leep of segg’
(sedge). An old list of words which he also quotes has ‘a lepe maker,
cophinarius.’ (_Cath. Ang._) I mention this latter especially, as I
have not been able so far to light upon any instance of the sobriquet.
I have no hesitation in saying, however, that if ‘Leaper’ and
‘Leapman’ be not manufacturers, they have, at any rate, as
fish-sellers, originated from the same root. ‘And thei eeten and weren
fulfilled, and thei taken up that that lefte of relifs sevene leepis.’
(Matt. viii. 8. Wicklyffe.)

Footnote 408:

Thus in the Trevelyan papers (Cam. Soc.) we frequently come across
such a record as the following: ‘Item, to Edmund Peckham, coferer of
the Kinge’s House for th’expenses and charges, etc.’

Footnote 409:

The list of tradesmen in _Cock Lorelle’s Bote_ includes—

‘Pype-makers, wode-mongers, and orgyn-makers,
Coferers, carde-makers, and carvers.’

Footnote 410:

An Act of Edward VI. relative to the buying of tanned leather speaks
of the ‘mysterie of Coriar (currier), Cordewainer, Sadler, Cobler,
Girdler, Lether-seller, Bottelmaker.’ (3 and 4 Ed. VI. c. 6.)

Footnote 411:

‘William le Orbater’ (goldbeater) is also found in the Hundred Rolls.

Footnote 412:

A ‘Bartholomew le Tableter’ is also found in the ‘Memorials of London’
(Riley). The date being the same or nearly the same as that of
‘Bartholomew le Tabler’ inscribed in the Parliamentary Writs for the
capital, we may feel assured both are one and the same person.

Footnote 413:

‘And thei bikenyden to his fadir, that he wolde that he were clepid.
And he axinge a poyntel wrote seiynge Jon is his name.’ (Luke i. 63.
Wicklyffe.)

Footnote 414:

I have since discovered another instance of this name—‘To Bartholomew
le Orologius, after the arrival of William de Pikewell, 23 gallons.’
1286 (Domesday Book, St. Paul’s, Cam. Soc.).

Footnote 415:

‘Imprimis Thomæ Clokmaker for makyng of the sail when it was broken,
viii_s._’ 1428 (Pro. Ord. Privy Council).

Footnote 416:

Stowe and Strype, however, while aware of the corruption, were both
ignorant of its meaning. Speaking of the woodmongers, the former says,
‘Whether some of these woodmongers were called ‘Billiters’ from
dealing in billets I leave to conjecture. In the register of wills,
London, mention is made of one William Burford, billeytere.’ (ii. p.
226.) The Woodmongers were sellers of fuel. ‘Robert Wudemonger’ is
found in the H.R.

Footnote 417:

I may quote a statement recorded of Congham Manor. ‘In 1349 Thomas de
Baldeswell presented to the church aforesaid, as chief lord of this
fee; in 1367, Adam Humphrey, of Refham, and in 1385, but soon after,
in 1388, Adam Pyk; and in 1400, Edmund Belytter, alias Belzeter, who
with his parceners,’ &c. (_Hist. Norf._, viii. 383.) The said Edmund
is also met with elsewhere as ‘Belleyeter’ and Belyetter.’

Footnote 418:

Another ‘Ralph Balancer’ was sheriff of London in 1316.

Footnote 419:

This weight was abolished in 1351, and the balance made universal.
‘Item, whereas great damage and deceit is done to the people by a
weight which is called Auncel (par une pois qu’est appelle Aunsell),
it is accorded and established that this weight called Auncel betwixt
buyers and sellers shall be wholly put out, and that every person do
sell and buy by the balance.’ (_Stat. Realm_, vol. i. p. 321.) Cowell,
in his _Interpreter_, suggests as the origin of the term ‘auncel’
_handsale_, that is, that which is weighed by the poised hand!

Footnote 420:

Another form is found in 1389. William Parchmenter was seized for
holding independent views of the Sacraments. (Nicholls’ _Leicester_.)

Footnote 421:

In the _Exchequer Issues_ we find the following:—‘To John Heth, one of
the clerks in the office of privy seal of the Lord the King, in money,
paid to his own hands, in discharge of 66_s._ which the said Lord the
King, with the assent of his Council, commanded to be paid to the said
John, for 66 great “quaternes” of calf skins, purchased and provided
by the said John to write a Bible thereon for the use of the said
King.’ In an old Oxford indenture between the University and the Town,
dated 1459, we find the more usual ‘parchemener’ spelt ‘pergemener.’
The agreement includes ‘Alle Bedels with dailly servants, and their
householdes, alle stacioners, alle bokebynders, lympners, wryters,
pergemeners, barbours, the bellerynger of the universitie,’ &c. (_Mun.
Acad. Oxon._, p. 346.)

Footnote 422:

Another ordinance has the following:—‘And that all Jews shall dwell in
the Kings own cities and boroughs, where the chests of chirographs of
Jewry are wont to be’ (‘ou les Whuches (hutches) cirograffes de
Geuerie soleient estre’). [_Stat. of Realm_, vol. i. p. 221.)

Footnote 423:

‘Nicholas Cotes, lummer.’ (_Corpus Christi Guild_, York.)

Footnote 424:

In the _Mun. Acad. Oxon._, p. 550, we find a quarrel settled by the
Chancellor between ‘John Conaley, lymner,’ and ‘John Godsend,
stationarius.’ Through him it is arranged that the former shall occupy
himself in ‘liminando bene et fideliter libros suos.’ In the York
Pageant the ‘Escriveners’ and ‘Lumners’ went together.

Footnote 425:

Thus in Kaye’s description of the siege of Rhodes it is said: ‘Anone
after that the Rhodians had knowledge of thees werkes a shipman wel
experte in swymmyng, wente by nyghte and cutted the cordes fro’ the
ancre.’

Footnote 426:

In the _Itinerarium_ of Richard I. we find it recorded that while the
Christians were besieging Acre Saladin’s army began to hem them in.
‘In hoc itaque articulo positos visitavit eos Oriens exalto; nam ecce!
quinquagintas naves, _quas vulgo coggas dicunt_, cum duodecim millibus
armatorum, tanto gratias venerunt quanto nostris auxilium in angustia
majore rependunt.’—p. 64. The Cog was evidently in common use as a
transport. To judge from the following entries, it was, in some cases,
at any rate, of considerable size:—‘Henrico Aubyn, magistro _coge_
Sancti Marie, et 39 sociis suis nautis, 23_l._ 12_s._ 6_d._’ ‘Thomo de
Standanore, magistro _coge_ Sancti Thomæ, et 39 sociis suis, 23_l._
12_s._ 6_d._’ (Ed. I. Wardrobe.)

Footnote 427:

‘Benjamin Cogman’ occurs in an old Norfolk register. Hence ‘Cockman,’
like ‘Cocker,’ may in some instance belong to this more seafaring
occupation.

Footnote 428:

‘John Shipgroom’ occurs in the Rot. Orig. (G.); ‘John Shypward’ in
Cal. Rot. Chartarum (D.); and ‘Alexander Schipward’ in Rolls of Parl.
(H.).

Footnote 429:

‘Richard Drawater’ (A.) would be a nickname.

Footnote 430:

This word ‘lead’ is worthy of some extended notice. We still speak of
a _path_ leading our steps to a place, but we scarcely now would say
that _we_ lead our steps to it. Shakespeare, however, does so, where
Richard III. addresses Elizabeth—

‘Dorset your son, that with a fearful soul
Leads discontented steps in foreign soil.’

Several commentators on Shakespeare have proposed ‘treads’ in the
place of ‘leads,’ not knowing, seemingly, how familiar was this sense
of carrying or bearing in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. A
century earlier the Malvern Dreamer says—

‘And maketh of Lyere a lang cart
To leden all these othere:’

while just before he writes—

‘And cart-saddle the commissarie,
Oure cart shall he lede
And fecchen us vitailles.’

In North Yorkshire to this very day they do very little _carting_.
They all but invariably ‘lead hay,’ ‘lead corn,’ etc. An old form of
‘lead’ was ‘lode.’ We still talk of a ‘lode-stone.’ This explains such
an entry as ‘Emma le Lodere’ or ‘Agnes le Lodere.’ They were both
doubtless ‘leaders’ or ‘carriers,’ that is, wandering hucksters.

Footnote 431:

‘Item, that all wines, red and white, which shall come unto the said
realm shall be well and lawfully gauged by the King’s Gaugers, or
their deputies’ (‘bien et loialment gaugez par le gaujeour le Roi, ou
son deputé.’). (_Stat. of Realm_, vol. i. p. 331.)

Footnote 432:

An epitaph in St. Anthony’s, London, dated 1400, says of the deceased
that he was—

‘The King’s weigher more than yeres twentie,
Simon Street, callyd in my place.’
(_Maitland_, ii. 375.)

Footnote 433:

The local form is found in the case of ‘Jeffery Talbothe,’ a Norfolk
Rector in 1371. (Blomefield). The ‘receipt of custom’ is with
Wickliffe the ‘tolbothe.’

Footnote 434:

Skelton seems of the same mind as the author of _Cocke Lorelle_.

‘So many lollers,
So few true tollers,
So many pollers,
Saw I never.’

Footnote 435:

I need not remind the majority of my readers of the origin of our term
‘lumber room,’ that it is but a corruption of lombard-room, or the
chamber in which the mediæval pawnbroker stored up all his pledges.
Hence we now speak of any useless cumbrous articles as ‘lumber.’

Footnote 436:

Mr. Halliwell gives ‘chevisance,’ an agreement, and ‘chevish,’ to
bargain. Mr. Way commenting on ‘chevystyn,’ quotes Fabyan as saying—‘I
will assaye to have hys Erldom in morgage, for welle I knowe he must
chevyche for money to perfourme that journey.’ Mr. Wright’s Glossary
to _Piers Plowman_ has ‘chevysaunce, an agreement for borrowing
money.’ The word often occurs in mediæval writers, and no wonder at
least one surname arose as a consequence.

Footnote 437:

An act of Richard II. speaks of officers and ministers made by
brocage, and of their broggers, and of them that have taken the said
brocage, ‘pour brogage, et de lor broggers, et de,’ etc.

Footnote 438:

I use this phrase as the most convenient. I shall have to record many
descriptive compounds under every separate division, but it is the
most suited for my purpose, and will embrace all the more eccentric
nicknames that I have met with in my researches, especially those made
up of verb and substantive, a practice which opened out a wide field
for the inventive powers of our forefathers.

Footnote 439:

‘Lease to Thomas Unkle of a wood within the manor of Bolynbroke, Nov.
30, 1485.’ (Materials for Hist. Henry VII. 593 p.)

Footnote 440:

The English form of Guido was commonly Wydo—hence such entries as
‘Wydo Wodecok,’ or ‘William fil. Wydo.’ Thus, as I have already said,
‘Widowson’ may be a patronymic.

Footnote 441:

The curious name of ‘John Orphan-strange’ is found in a Cambridge
register for 1544. (_Hist. C.C. Coll. Cam._) Doubtless he had been a
foundling.

Footnote 442:

Some Norman-French terms of relationship have been translated,
resulting in names of utterly different sense. Thus Beaupere, a
stepfather, has become ‘Fairsire;’ ‘Beaufils,’ a step-son (still
surviving in Boffill), ‘Fairchild’; and ‘Beaufrere,’ a step-brother,
‘Fairbrother,’ or ‘Farebrother.’

Footnote 443:

‘Adam de Halfnaked’ (H.), ‘Adam de Halnaked’ (M.).

Footnote 444:

The Hundred Rolls have a ‘Henry Mucklebone.’

Footnote 445:

‘Lusty,’ ‘Fat,’ and ‘Stout’ evidently were not expressive enough for
some of our forefathers, to judge by such entries as ‘Henry Pudding,’
‘William Broadgirdel,’ or ‘Joan Broad-belt.’ The last still lives.

Footnote 446:

Epitaph on William Younger, Rector of Great-Melton, deceased March
6th, 1661, ætat. 57—

‘Younger he was by name, but not in grace,
Elder than he, in this, must give him place.’

(_Hist. of Norfolk_, vol. v. p. 13.) ‘Youngerman’ may be seen over a
shop in Cheetham Hill Road, Manchester.

Footnote 447:

‘Littler’ and ‘littlest’ were once the common degrees of comparison.
Shakespeare uses the superlative. Mr. Halliwell gives the Norfolk
dialect a large range. Besides ‘less’ and ‘least’ he adds ‘lesser’ and
‘lessest,’ ‘lesserer’ and ‘lesserest,’ ‘lesserer still’ and ‘lessest
of all,’ and ‘littler’ and ‘littlest.’

Footnote 448:

The former ‘Haut,’ that is, high or tall, is obsolete, I think.
‘Robert le Haut’ is met with in a Norfolk register. (_Hist. Norf._,
Index.)

Footnote 449:

It is curious to compare local registers with local dictionaries. Thus
the _Promptorium Parvulorum_ gives as a familiar Norfolk term in the
fourteenth century, ‘craske, fryke of fatte,’ or ‘lusty,’ as we should
now say. This crask was a vulgar form of the French ‘cras’ (Latin,
‘crassus’). Turning to our registers, we find that while our ‘Crass’s’
are found in our more general rolls as ‘Richard le Cras’ or ‘John le
Cras’ or ‘Stephen Crassus,’ our ‘Crasks’ must go to a Norfolk entry
for a ‘Walter le Crask.’ (_Vide Hist. Norfolk_, Index. Blomefield.)

Footnote 450:

‘Robert Manekin,’ A. Nevertheless this is a baptismal name also with
the diminutive ‘kin’ appended. ‘Manekyn le Heaumer,’ H.

Footnote 451:

‘To make a mow’ was to put on a mocking expression. The word was once
very familiar, though rarely used now. Bishop Bradford, speaking of
the Romish priesthood, says—‘They never preach forth the Lord’s death
but in mockery and mows.’ (_Parker Soc._, p. 395.) _Mow_ has no
relation to _mouth_.

Footnote 452:

‘William Malregard’ (T.), or ‘Geoffrey Malreward’ (T.), _i.e._
Evil-eye, would not possess enviable sobriquets, but the name lingered
on for several centuries.

Footnote 453:

‘John Monoculus’ occurs in _Memorials of Fountains Abbey_.

Footnote 454: