Up and Down Stairs - Jeremy Musson [16]
The duty of a chamberlain is to be ‘diligent in office, neatly clad, his clothes not torn, hands and face well washed and head well kempt. He must be ever careful – not negligent – of fire and candle.’ Once again, the manner and conduct of the service are stressed. It is always more pleasant to be looked after by men who are in good spirits, although this is not always easy: ‘Be courteous, glad of cheer, quick of hearing in every way, and be ever on the lookout for things to do him pleasure; if you will acquire these qualities it may advance you well.’53
The very preparation of the master’s clothes fell to the chamberlain, to whom a yeoman and a groom of the chamber would report for more manual tasks: ‘See that your lord has a clean shirt and hose, a short coat, a doublet, and a long coat, if he wear such, his hose well brushed, his socks at hand, his shoes or slippers as brown as a water leech. In the morning, against your lord shall rise, take care that his linen be clean, and warm it at a clear fire, not smoky, if [it] be cold or freezing.’54
This is so practical and obvious that some sections of this treatise could equally have been applied to the Edwardian valet: ‘When he rises make ready the foot-sheet, and forget not to place a chair or some other seat with a cushion on it before the fire, with another cushion for the feet. Over the cushion and chair spread this sheet so as to cover them, and see that you have a kerchief and a comb to comb your lord’s head before he is fully dressed.’55
It is no wonder that, given the scope of medieval heating, the chamberlain would position the lord by his fire before he is dressed:
Then pray your lord in humble words to come to a good fire and array him thereby, and there to stand or stand pleasantly; and wait with due manners to assist him. First hold out to him his tunic, then his doublet while he puts in his arms, and have his stomacher well aired to keep off harm, as also his vamps [short stockings] and socks, so he shall go warm all day.
Then draw on his socks and his hose by the fire, and lace or buckle his shoes, draw his hosen on well and truss them up to the height that suits him, lace his doublet in every hole, and put round his neck and on his shoulders a kerchief; and then gently comb his head with an ivory comb, and give him water where with to wash his hands and face.
After that the chamberlain was to kneel and ask which robe or gown he wants. ‘Before he goes out, brush busily about him, and whether he wear satin, sendal, velvet, scarlet or grain, see that all be clean and nice.’56
After the lord has left, the room must be set straight, the bed made ‘mannerly’ and the fire laid ready. The wardrobe must also be attended to, the clothes kept well, with instructions ‘to brush them cleanly’ and inspect furs regularly against moths. Later,
when he has supped and goes to his chamber, spread forth your foot-sheet, as I have already shown you, take off his gown or whatever garment by the license of his estate he wear, and lay it up in such place as ye best know . . .
Put a mantle on his back to keep his body from cold, set him on the foot-sheet made ready as I have directed, and pull of[f] his shoes, socks and hosen, and throw these last over your shoulder, or hold them on your arm. Comb his hair, but first kneel down and put on his kerchief and nightcap wound in seemly fashion.
The bed and candles must be prepared, and, in a very human detail, the dogs and cats chased out of the chamber: ‘take no leave of your lord, but bow low to him and retire.’57
Every comfort was considered, a theme that lies at the heart of the role of the body-servant down the ages. The Book of Nurture gives memorable recipes for a sweet-smelling ‘bath or stew so-called’ and there