messenger persona
Byron
I am new to the SCA (member 2 months, Kingdom Ansteorra, Barrony, Bryn
Gwlad). I have been doing some reading on the history of the middle ages,
and decided to develope a persona around the "Royal" or "Kings Messengers".
Below is a set of notes I took from the book, "The Kings Messengers,
1199-1377". At the end of the article is a short list of the names of some
of the Kings Messengers of that period. One of the names is "James the
Fly".
I wanted to use "James the Fly" as my SCA persona name, is that accectable?
Thanks for the help. Hope you find the notes useful.
Byron
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
The Kings Messengers, 1199-1377
A List of all known messengers, mounted and unmounted, who served John,
Henry III, and the first three Edwards
By Mary C. Hill
Alan Sutton Publishing Limited, 1994
ISBN 0 7509 0764 9
This book is a wonderful source for period, because it lists all the
messengers, for John, Henry III, Edward I, Edward II, and Edward III, from
direct sources in the "Wardrobe accounts", Exchequer Accounts, Chancery
Enrolments, and "The Black Prince's Register". Among the details of
medieval government revealed in these documents:
1) Messengers served as the link between the king and the sheriff in each
county.
2) Some sheriff's received messages every week, and all received at least
one message each month. The sheriff's were required to respond within 3
weeks as to the action they took on the received message.
3) Messages were sent for the following reasons, among others: to prohibit
tournaments when they could promote unrest or draw knights away from active
service; orders for collection of taxes; opening and closing of ports; the
election of knights; summons to parliament; and after each session of
parliament the sending of new statutes to the sheriff's.
4) Messengers also went to mayors, bailiffs of royal manors, officials of
all ports, and heads of religious houses.
5) When the king was on the move, messengers were often put in charge of the
Wardrobe equipment to over see the carters, particularly if money was to be
transported.
6) In 1308 two messengers, Willaim Barre and Robert Newington delivered to
the king a gold crown worth 30 pounds, a gold cup worth 40 pounds, and a
gold cruet worth 5 pounds. The weight of these items and their packing
required the hiring of a pack horse.
7) Messengers maintained contact with the kings representatives in Ireland
and France, eg the Seneschal of Gascony and the Constable of Bordeaux.
8) There were regular journeys to the Court of Rome and to Spain, Germany,
the Counts of Flanders and Hainault.
9) Messengers were assigned to escort foreign envoys and messengers in
England.
10) Messengers were given charge of prisoners and on occasion even arrested
wanted persons.
11) Mounted messengers received 3 pence a day, foot messengers 2 pence a
day.
12) Messengers were not expected to travel on Sunday.
13) Messengers had regular circuits: 1 day, up to 35 miles - Surrey, Kent,
Middlesex; 2 days up to 65 miles - Bucks, Beds, Cambs, Hunts, Herts, Essex,
Northhants, Hants, Oxford, Berks; 3 days, up to 96 miles - Wilts, Warwick,
Leics, Rutland; 4 days, up to 120 miles - Somerset, Dorset, Lincs, Notts,
Derby Norfolk, Suffolk, Glos, Worcs, Bristol; 5 days, up to 160 miles -
Devon, Hereford, Shropshire, Staffs; 6 days, up to 190 miles - Cornwall,
Yorks, Lancs, Cheshire; 8 days Northumperland, Cumberland, Westmorland,
Wales.
14) These circuits meant 30 to 35 miles a day, or 12 hours at about 3 miles
per hour on foot. Mounted men normally made the same time as they had to
rest their horse every 10 miles.
15) Return journeys were paid for by the receiving officer.
16) For the most part messengers of this period followed the old Roman
roads, or traveled on rivers.
17) Sometimes a younger messenger was sent out with an older messenger to be
taught the tricks of the trade and to learn the routes.
18) Attacks on the kings' messengers were rare and newsworthy, and almost
always occurred during wartime. Normally the kings' arms on the message
pouch guaranteed the messengers safety.
19) The kings messengers, had always served as a messenger for the queen,
one of the princes, the Chancellor, the Treasurer, the Wardrobe, or other
department. They were formally appointed and sworn in.
20) The messenger were 'made' by the treasurer of the Wardrobe, he took an
oath of loyalty to the king till death when on any business entrusted to
him, and obedience to his superiors.
21) After 1342, the messenger department was transferred to the Exchecquer.
In the fifteenth century, the heralds took over the messenger service.
22) Shoes, summer and winter, were provided to all messengers.
23) Mounted messengers were provided clothing, in 1221 they were provided
with tunics and supertunics of blue, and other clothing, summer or winter,
or an allowance to buy clothing. After the end of the 13th century, the
clothing was half blue, half striped, or half blue half pounacium patterned.
The full outfit was, scalloped hood with a feather and a scalloped cape, and
tunic that buttons down the front, and up the sleeves to the elbow. A belt
and a pouch bearing the royal arms. Or a box or hanaper in which messages
to different counties were kept separate in small leather bags. He wears
spurs on his boots. In winter his horse is shod with nailed shoes.
24) Foot messengers carries the same pouch or box, a long staff, a knife and
sword. His trousers reach to the knee and he wears close hose.
25) Between message runs the messenger remained at court and ate in the
hall. Horses were kept near the hall at the ready. No special lodging was
provided for messengers. They either slept in the hall or with their
horses.
26) The mounted messenger provided his own horse. If the horse died in
service, many times the king would provide a replacement.
27) Senior messengers had their own grooms.
28) Messengers could expect to receive gifts for bringing good news, and at
New Years.
29) If a messenger fell sick on a journey, his expenses during illness were
repaid.
30) Retirement and pensions were provided for messengers.
31) If a messenger died in service, his funeral was paid for by the
Wardrobe.
Some names of the mounted messengers (Nuncii Regis)
Richard of Alemaine
William of Alkham
Robin Blund
Arnold Bon
William Le Clerk
Jack Faukes
Walter Jolif (nickname Joly Wat)
Laurence the Messenger
John Le Irish
John of Paris
Thomas of Oxford
Geoffrey of Say
John Troll
Roger of Winchester
Some names of foot messengers (Cokini et Cursores)
Before 1253 foot messengers appear to have been called Cokini or "kitchen
knaves", after that time there were called Cursores or "runners".
Martin Ape
Roger of Bannebury
William of Burg
Robert of Chester
William of Coventry
Robert Crouland
Richard Tokesford
James the Fly
Richard Frere
Adam of Lanark
And many more.
Arval Benicoeur
> I am new to the SCA (member 2 months, Kingdom Ansteorra, Barrony, Bryn
> Gwlad). I have been doing some reading on the history of the middle ages,
> and decided to develope a persona around the "Royal" or "Kings Messengers".
> Below is a set of notes I took from the book, "The Kings Messengers,
> 1199-1377". At the end of the article is a short list of the names of some
> of the Kings Messengers of that period. One of the names is "James the
> Fly".
> I wanted to use "James the Fly" as my SCA persona name, is that accectable?
It is Society custom not to deliberately duplicate the name or identity of
a historical person. That custom isn't enforce by rules, but you probably
should think twice before violating it. The SCA College of Arms won't
register a name that duplicates the name of an important historical person,
but I'm sure <James the Fly> doesn't qualify for protection.
I don't know offhand what the byname "the Fly" meant; if no one beats me to
it, I'll look it up and let you know.
Arval
Brian M. Scott
>Byron <Byr...@ev1.net> wrote:
Not in Reaney & Wilson, and the OED doesn't really help much.
Considering senses attested early enough, it could be a nickname for a
small or insignificant person. However, Bardsley s.n. Flyor notes
<Alan le Flier> 17 Edward I, and my guess is that the byname refers to
his ability to move swiftly. Given that James was a messenger, I'd
not be surprised if his byname turned out to have a similar meaning.
Talan
Byron
of
> >a historical person. That custom isn't enforce by rules, but you
probably
> >should think twice before violating it. The SCA College of Arms won't
> >register a name that duplicates the name of an important historical
person,
> >but I'm sure <James the Fly> doesn't qualify for protection.
>
> >I don't know offhand what the byname "the Fly" meant; if no one beats me
to
> >it, I'll look it up and let you know.
>
> Not in Reaney & Wilson, and the OED doesn't really help much.
> Considering senses attested early enough, it could be a nickname for a
> small or insignificant person. However, Bardsley s.n. Flyor notes
> <Alan le Flier> 17 Edward I, and my guess is that the byname refers to
> his ability to move swiftly. Given that James was a messenger, I'd
> not be surprised if his byname turned out to have a similar meaning.
>
I beleive it is a byname. Many of the messengers were listed by bynames.
In fact some were listed as "William the messenger" or "John the herald"
etc. I believe "James the Fly" could have been given the byname either
because he was very swift in delivering messages, and/or because he had the
ability to sit quitly, listen, and gather intellegence (another duty of the
messengers) like a "fly on the wall". "Ability to move swiftly" is the
most likely.
As far as being an important person. He was not even that much noted as a
messenger at the time. I just thought it was a neat and unusual name.
Byron
Brian M. Scott
[...]
>> Not in Reaney & Wilson, and the OED doesn't really help much.
>> Considering senses attested early enough, it could be a nickname for a
>> small or insignificant person. However, Bardsley s.n. Flyor notes
>> <Alan le Flier> 17 Edward I, and my guess is that the byname refers to
>> his ability to move swiftly. Given that James was a messenger, I'd
>> not be surprised if his byname turned out to have a similar meaning.
>I beleive it is a byname.
Oh, there's no question about that.
> Many of the messengers were listed by bynames.
>In fact some were listed as "William the messenger" or "John the herald"
>etc. I believe "James the Fly" could have been given the byname either
>because he was very swift in delivering messages, and/or because he had the
>ability to sit quitly, listen, and gather intellegence (another duty of the
>messengers) like a "fly on the wall". "Ability to move swiftly" is the
>most likely.
Yes, that was my conjecture. However, it is also possible that he got
the byname because he was a small or insignificant man (or the
opposite, if the byname was given with ironical intent).
[...]
Talan
Neil Horne
> >because he was very swift in delivering messages, and/or because he had
the
> >ability to sit quitly, listen, and gather intellegence (another duty of
the
> >messengers) like a "fly on the wall". "Ability to move swiftly" is the
> >most likely.
Or perhaps he was just annoying, buzzing around like a fly
Nele
Brian M. Scott <b.s...@csuohio.edu> wrote in message
news:3bc3c7cb....@enews.newsguy.com...
> On Tue, 9 Oct 2001 20:47:56 -0500, "Byron" <Byr...@ev1.net> wrote:
>
> [...]
>
> >> Not in Reaney & Wilson, and the OED doesn't really help much.
> >> Considering senses attested early enough, it could be a nickname for a
> >> small or insignificant person. However, Bardsley s.n. Flyor notes
> >> <Alan le Flier> 17 Edward I, and my guess is that the byname refers to
> >> his ability to move swiftly. Given that James was a messenger, I'd
> >> not be surprised if his byname turned out to have a similar meaning.
>
> >I beleive it is a byname.
>
> Oh, there's no question about that.
>
> > Many of the messengers were listed by bynames.
> >In fact some were listed as "William the messenger" or "John the herald"
> >etc.
>