http://ia300143.us.archive.org/petabox/ ... tuoft.djvu
John
Jehan de Pelham, esquire and servant of Sir Vitus
John of Gaunt's Register, Volume 1
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Jehan de Pelham
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John of Gaunt's Register, Volume 1
He who does not give what he has will not get what he wants.
-
Jehan de Pelham
- Archive Member
- Posts: 11405
- Joined: Thu Jul 24, 2003 1:01 am
- Location: Outremer
- Contact:
The document is quite fascinating.
For example, as regards indentures and fealty in the late 14th century:
"The documents (See N08 775 to 870 and elsewhere passim) em-
bodying the bargains made between the Duke and his retainers,
described in this manuscript as "endentures", were bipartite
agreements of which each party retained the half to which the
seal of the other was attached.
Copies of such agreements form a not inconsiderable proportion
of this part of the Register, and account for a fair number of the
Knights and Esquires who are known from other evidence to have
formed the Duke's retinue at this period.
With some yariations, to suit the circumstances of particular
cases, their purport is as follows :
On the one hand the retainer binds himself to serve the Duke in
peace and war for life, wheresoever the Duke wills, well and
suitably arrayed.
The Duke of course made special bargains with well known
leaders, like Sir Hugh Calvyly, for a stated periods of military
service, but such a bargain did not constitute a H retainer".
The usual type of indenture relates only to the service of the
Knight or Esquire retained; occasionally a man of importance
contracts to bring a stated number of others of specified rank with
him to the wars, and arranges, for instance, for the attendance of
a chamberlain and one esquire or more when forming part of the
Duke's suite in peace.
Now and then the retainer qualifies his obligation to serve
wheresoever and whensoever the Duke pleases: Sir John Swinton,
the famous Scottish borderer (who won the battle of Otterbourne
and died at Homildon Hill) reserves his allegiance to his rightful
king; Sir William Beauchamp holds himself free for other adven-
tures when the Duke's service does not call." (italics mine)
All kinds of grist to mill fine...
John
Jehan de Pelham, esquire and servant of Sir Vitus
For example, as regards indentures and fealty in the late 14th century:
"The documents (See N08 775 to 870 and elsewhere passim) em-
bodying the bargains made between the Duke and his retainers,
described in this manuscript as "endentures", were bipartite
agreements of which each party retained the half to which the
seal of the other was attached.
Copies of such agreements form a not inconsiderable proportion
of this part of the Register, and account for a fair number of the
Knights and Esquires who are known from other evidence to have
formed the Duke's retinue at this period.
With some yariations, to suit the circumstances of particular
cases, their purport is as follows :
On the one hand the retainer binds himself to serve the Duke in
peace and war for life, wheresoever the Duke wills, well and
suitably arrayed.
The Duke of course made special bargains with well known
leaders, like Sir Hugh Calvyly, for a stated periods of military
service, but such a bargain did not constitute a H retainer".
The usual type of indenture relates only to the service of the
Knight or Esquire retained; occasionally a man of importance
contracts to bring a stated number of others of specified rank with
him to the wars, and arranges, for instance, for the attendance of
a chamberlain and one esquire or more when forming part of the
Duke's suite in peace.
Now and then the retainer qualifies his obligation to serve
wheresoever and whensoever the Duke pleases: Sir John Swinton,
the famous Scottish borderer (who won the battle of Otterbourne
and died at Homildon Hill) reserves his allegiance to his rightful
king; Sir William Beauchamp holds himself free for other adven-
tures when the Duke's service does not call." (italics mine)
All kinds of grist to mill fine...
John
Jehan de Pelham, esquire and servant of Sir Vitus
He who does not give what he has will not get what he wants.