In the _Staple
of News_ the Lady Pecunia is provided with a gentleman-usher.
of News_ the Lady Pecunia is provided with a gentleman-usher.
Ben Jonson - The Devil's Association
_ 2.
444: 'Methinks a
body's husband does not so well at court; a body's friend,
or so--but, husband! 'tis like your clog to your marmoset,' etc.
=4. 4. 134 your Gentleman-vsher. = 'Gentleman-Usher.
Originally a state-officer, attendant upon queens, and
other persons of high rank, as, in Henry VIII, Griffith is
gentleman-usher to Queen Catherine; afterwards a private
affectation of state, assumed by persons of distinction, or
those who pretended to be so, and particularly ladies. He
was then only a sort of upper servant, out of livery, whose
office was to hand his lady to her coach, and to walk before
her bare-headed, though in later times she leaned upon his
arm. '--Nares.
Cf. Dekker, _West-ward Hoe_, _Wks. _ 2. 324: 'Weare furnisht for
attendants as Ladies are, We have our fooles, and our Vshers. '
The sources for a study of the gentleman-usher are the present play,
_The Tale of a Tub_, and Chapman's _Gentleman Usher_.
In the _Staple
of News_ the Lady Pecunia is provided with a gentleman-usher. The
principal duties of this office seem to have consisted in being
sent on errands, handing the lady to her coach, and preceding her
on any occasion where ceremony was demanded. In Chapman's play
Lasso says that the disposition of his house for the reception of
guests was placed in the hands of this servant (cf. Chapman, _Wks. _
1. 263 f. ). Innumerable allusions occur in which the requirement
of going bare-headed is mentioned (see note on 4. 4. 202). Another
necessary quality was a fine pace, which is alluded to in the present
character's name (see also note 4. 4. 201). An excellent description
of the gentleman-usher will be found in Nares' _Glossary,_ quoting
from Lenton's _Leasures_, a book published in 1631, and now very rare.
=4. 4.
body's husband does not so well at court; a body's friend,
or so--but, husband! 'tis like your clog to your marmoset,' etc.
=4. 4. 134 your Gentleman-vsher. = 'Gentleman-Usher.
Originally a state-officer, attendant upon queens, and
other persons of high rank, as, in Henry VIII, Griffith is
gentleman-usher to Queen Catherine; afterwards a private
affectation of state, assumed by persons of distinction, or
those who pretended to be so, and particularly ladies. He
was then only a sort of upper servant, out of livery, whose
office was to hand his lady to her coach, and to walk before
her bare-headed, though in later times she leaned upon his
arm. '--Nares.
Cf. Dekker, _West-ward Hoe_, _Wks. _ 2. 324: 'Weare furnisht for
attendants as Ladies are, We have our fooles, and our Vshers. '
The sources for a study of the gentleman-usher are the present play,
_The Tale of a Tub_, and Chapman's _Gentleman Usher_.
In the _Staple
of News_ the Lady Pecunia is provided with a gentleman-usher. The
principal duties of this office seem to have consisted in being
sent on errands, handing the lady to her coach, and preceding her
on any occasion where ceremony was demanded. In Chapman's play
Lasso says that the disposition of his house for the reception of
guests was placed in the hands of this servant (cf. Chapman, _Wks. _
1. 263 f. ). Innumerable allusions occur in which the requirement
of going bare-headed is mentioned (see note on 4. 4. 202). Another
necessary quality was a fine pace, which is alluded to in the present
character's name (see also note 4. 4. 201). An excellent description
of the gentleman-usher will be found in Nares' _Glossary,_ quoting
from Lenton's _Leasures_, a book published in 1631, and now very rare.
=4. 4.
