Esquire

By Crusader1307

In The Middle Ages, an Esquire was any Attendant to a Nobleman or Knight. Their traditional services required them to maintain their Lord's Shield and Armor (in a high state of cleanliness and readiness, at ALL times). He was considered “learned”, in that it was The Esquire who instructed his Lord on such matters as “Courtly Love, Martial Arts and his Code of Chivalry”. Mostly Noble by birth, they had Page's (young boys), to attend to the more “menial” jobs of maintain a “happy Knight”. By the 16th Century, the title “Esquire” was used more by Royalty to denote their personal Servants and Administrators (within Court). An “Esquire” was higher in superiority to a “Gentleman”.