CONSTITUTIO DOMUS REGIS

Establishment of the King's Household. This document was drawn up a short while after the death of Henry I in 1135, by the bureaucracy of the new king, Stephen, describing the arrangements and conditions of the household in the last years of Henry's life. It sets out the pay, allowances and living conditions of those who served the king, beginning with the *chancellor. The chancellor was to have 5s a day, with itemised food - *simnel bread - and specified quantities of wine and candles and so on. The description then passes through the ranks from master-butler to various *stewards, dispensers, naperers, cooks, and concludes with the *marshal. The keeper of the cups received three halfpence a day. These lower-paid workers had no food allowances specified; rather they were said to live in the household, meaning that 'customary food' was provided. -

Cf. Curia regis; Sextary