Portrayals - How is a Lord's Household in the Late 3rd
Quarter of the 15th Century in England Structured?
The household is made up of (listed in order of importance):
1) The LORD. This is Henry, Seventh Lord Grey of Codnor.
He is a Peer which means he has a seat in parliament. He is a rich
powerful gentlemen who owns many manors, is large landlord, and probably
may hold an appointed positions from the king. He is in charge. (The
LADY, his wife, has her own household with all of elements listed below).
2) The STEWARD. He is like the chief executive officer,
and is in charge when the Lord is not around. He runs the court and
the household. He is the top household officer. Maybe also be the chief
accountant, not sure. He is the managing agent of the Lord when it comes
to tenants, in other words.
3) The Chamber. This means the rooms at the upper end
of the hall where the Lord and his buddies live. It is headed by a CHAMBERLAIN,
who is a major household officer. Duties include household accounts
and running the chamber, the wardrobe and stuff like that (confused
a little on this). The Chamber includes GENTLEMEN OF THE CHAMBER. These
guys are usually high ranking gentlemen that hang out with the lord.
They are not really officers of the household, but they have a high
social status. This includes children being raised and educated by the
lord (not the Lord's children, they are raised by someone else in their
chamber). They all go out hunting, go to tournaments, play music together,
and generally have a good old time.
4) Marshalsea. This is the stables. It is run by the MARSHAL,
who is a major household officer. He is the chief law enforcement guy
and may be the main military commander as well. He presides over meals
and acts as the bailiff at trials. Also collects taxes, and carries
a baton called a "verge".
5) The Kitchen, Buttery, and Pantry. These are in the
part of the household bellow the hall. They are run by the Kitchener,
the Butler and the Pantler. They are minor household officers, gentlemen.
So, the household officers are the Steward, the Chamberlain,
the Marshal, and the Kitchener, Butler and Pantler. They run the workings
of the household.
Each department would have a few Yeomen working in the
department (they would do the actual work in the department) and a groom or too for grunt work (the
marshalsea would have many more grooms - more grunt work and grooming!).