Was Kit Marlowe a page or squire?...
the world of pages, squires and knights in Tudor times
from the following, it doesn't seem likely that
a boy of a shoemaker family could become a page...
but if he was the son of William Parr, Marquess of
Northampton?? *then*, all would fit...
(quote)
http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/Chasm/7207/page.html
Boys destined to become knights are trained from early childhood in
the knightly arts. The first stage in their military apprenticeship
was served as a page in a noble's household. A page learned not only
about military matters but also about honor and courteous behavior,
especially towards women.
The son of a knight spent his earliest years with his nurse and
other women in the castle. During this time, he learned manners and
how to behave. Sometimes he was taught to read, but rarely to write.
In addition he started to learn to sing and play a musical instrument.
The turning point in his life came when he was given his first pony.
He was taught to look after horses and ride them expertly.
When he was about seven or eight, he was sent away from home to be
a page at the court of the king or some lord. A page's main duties
were to run errands, help the lady of the household with the chores,
and learn to come when he was called.
As he grew older, he was trained in the use of weapons,
particularly the sword and bow. He learned to handle a lance by
tilting (riding full speed) at the quintain, an upright post with a
pivoted crossbar with a shield on one end and a sack on another. The
idea is to hit the shield with his lance, and duck under the swinging
sack – most beginners are swept out of the saddle.
The page also started to learn the art of venery, or hunting. He
had to be able to recognize the spoor (footmarks) and the fewmets
(droppings) of the forest animals so that he could track them to their
lairs. To find his way safely through dense forest, he had to know how
to follow and leave a trail. Animals hunted included the otter,
badger, wild boar, red squirrel, roe deer, and bear. Hunting was
regarded as the ideal preparation for war. It required quick wits to
deal with unexpected developments.
A page also became familiar with falconry. When not hunting, the
falcon was kept hooded, and wore bells attached to its feet.
The Squire – a Knight in Training
At about 14, if the page had made satisfactory progress he became a
squire. He had the right to carry a shield emblazoned with armorial
bearings and to wear a helmet like a knight.
At this stage of training, he was placed with a knight who
continued his education and treated him as a companion and servant.
(unquote)
well, it's all most fascinating stuff,
anyway, isn't it!
I have enjoyed learning from this and
other sites...
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I'm adding,
on this subject,
the following from John Baker...
(quote)
"Sidney was there too. And for good reasons I have suggested that young
Marlowe was Sidney's page and thus was also there in the flesh. Here
are the reasons. A page begins at about age seven and Marlowe was
seven. Marlowe is missing from Canterbury until 1579, seven years
later, when he reappears ready to attend the KS's. Marlowe father
never counted on Chris to be a shoemaker and hired his own apprtces in
the absence of young Chris..something none of the biog. have noticed,
but important nevertheless. His father had an undisclosed source of
income and something that made him self important, but about which he
couldn't talk. I think it was his son's job. Someone pays his fees at
the K.S."
(unquote)
my notes to this...
1. Seven was the age Christopher Marlowe
was when William Parr died...
who is likely to be Christopher Marlowe's real father.
This would leave him without his father's help,
and indeed no Will was ever found.
2. Marlowe's (Canterbury) father would indeed not have
counted on him to be a shoemaker.
3. The undisclosed source of income and something that made
(John Marlowe)
self important...
how about payments from Parr's widow, or granted to the Marlowes
before Parr's death, or from relatives of William Parr...
4. School fees paid... see number 3, same thing.
This to me is all most interesting!
* * * * * *
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"Pages and Squires
Of course, it wasn't always war and chores. The squire also took
part in other important knightly duties such as singing, dancing, and
entertaining the ladies. He also learned how to read, write poetry,
and manage his business affairs. A squire's favorite pastime was
wrestling, fencing, boxing, and swimming. He enjoyed playing
backgammon and chess, too."
http://victorian.fortunecity.com/manet/394/page4b.htm
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"Page — The lowest rank on the road to becoming a knight. Beginning
at age 7, a page runs errands, waits tables, and is taught etiquette
by the Lady of the castle. The page would accompany his knight on the
field to help however he could. Already knowing how to ride, he now
learned horsemanship, training by leaping over ditches and walls,
being able to spring into the saddle without touching the stirrup, and
how to be as home on the back of a horse as on his own feet. He
practiced with light weapons: sword, lance, and bow.
He learned swimming and fencing and boxing, fighting mock contests
with other boys. He learned the arts of hunting and hawking"
http://www.bladezone.com/marshal/childhood.html
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"Page
Only a boy born into a family with royal ties or nobility and power
was ever given the opportunity to become a knight. Training began as
early as the age of seven when the boy would be sent to live in the
castle of the lord, who would often be a close friend or relative of
the boy's father.
The boy was now a Page, and learned a great deal through service to
his lord. He would run errands throughout the castle, perform numerous
services for the lord, noblemen, and ladies, and in general spend his
day in service.
His education included manners, reading, writing, arithmetic,
singing, dancing, playing the lute and sometimes other instruments,
religion, fencing skills, and especially equestrian skills. As he grew
older he helped his lord dress, served him his meals, and brought him
his food and drink throughout the day. He also served special quests
staying at the castle."
http://ok.quoteright.com/knighthoodhistory.htm
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It would require of course a noble connection...
easy in Kit Marlowe's case if he was the illegitimate
son of the Parr family or their relatives,
the Herbert/Earl of Pembroke family...
Maybe Shakespeare has some link like this too, or it is
true that his mother descends from the Earl of Warwick (de Arden).
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