The Middleton Accounts of 1526: #30

The next two entries in the Middleton household accounts for Sir Henry Willoughby in 1526 were undated except for the month and, therefore, because of the preceding entry, must have been either the 30th or 31st. The first was described as a reward to Sir Henry’s huntsman when he broke his bow and the amount was 8 pence, which was the equivalent of about £14.71 today. The second was described as the costs of a pursuivant lying at Avery’s and the amount was 6 pence, which was the equivalent of about £11.03 today.

Unfortunately, we have not been able to determine the name of Sir Henry’s huntsman. The replacement bow was more than likely a standard everyday longbow made from English yew or the cheaper woods of ash, elm or hazel. All of these trees are known to have grown at Middleton and an inventory of Middleton Hall, dated 1550, noted the presence of 22 elm bows and one yew bow in one of the armouries.

The cost paid by Sir Henry for the bow is too low for a war bow or a crossbow. In the Tudor era the price of longbows was subject to strict state regulation and enforced price control. The price of the best quality yew longbow, made from imported wood, which was the upper benchmark, was capped by King Edward IV at 3 shillings 4 pence in 1482 (about £115.21 today). This cap remained until it was increased in 1541 to 6 shillings 8 pence (about £140.45 today). The cap was to ensure that all common men were able to afford a longbow given the mandate that required all men under the age of 60 to own and know how to use a longbow. Nevertheless, if the hunter had been required to purchase it himself, it would have been the equivalent of numerous days’ work.

Multiple members of the Avery family were in the service of Sir Henry Willoughby, including Hugh Avery who was bailiff of Middleton and keeper of Middleton Park at about this time.

A pursuivant is an officer of the College of Arms. The four English Pursuivants of Arms in Ordinary are: Bluemantle; Portcullis; Rouge Croix; and Rouge Dragon. In the Tudor era pursuivants could serve not only the Crown but also a very high-ranking nobleman. It is known that, in 1526, the Crown pursuivants were: Thomas Bysley as Bluemantle; Robert Fairy as Portcullis; Charles Wriothesley as Rouge Croix; and William Hastings as Rouge Dragon. Later in 1526, William Hastings was transferred to the household of Henry FitzRoy, Duke of Richmond, and was given the title of Nottingham Pursuivant.

Pursuivants in procession to St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle for the annual service of the Order of the Garter, 2006, by Philip Allfrey, CC BY-SA 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons

Pursuivants served as assistants to, ranking below, the heralds. Their most common function was to act as trusted official messengers, carrying highly confidential or important information and proclamations. However, they had other responsibilities. They could be despatched ahead of a visit to ensure logistical preparations were adequate. Furthermore, they also had the power to conduct criminal inquiries and make arrests. Finally, after the establishment of the College of Arms in 1484, they increasingly had a role in investigating and recording pedigrees of the lords of the manor throughout the country, verifying coat of arms usage and ensuring compliance with heraldic rules.

Further Reading: W. H. Stevenson, Report on the Manuscripts of Lord Middleton, Historical Manuscripts Commission, 1911. pp.383, 480.

Author - Debbie Jordan, Middleton Hall Volunteer.

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