Editing Yeoman (section)

==== General Prologue: The Yeoman ====
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{{Main|General Prologue}}
[[File:LoC - West Wall Detail - Knight retinue.png|thumb|Knight Retinue detail from the wall mural depicting ''The Canterbury Tales'' in the Library of Congress North Reading Room in the John Adams Building. Note the green attire of The Yeoman, and his bow, quiver, buckler, and dagger.]]

In the ''General Prologue'', Chaucer describes The Yeoman as being the only servant The Knight wanted on the pilgrimage. From the way he was dressed, Chaucer supposes he is a [[Forester#Medieval foresters|forester]]. The man is wearing a green [[tunic#Germanic tunic|tunic]] and [[Hood (headgear)#History and description|hood]]. His hair is closely cropped, his face is tanned and weather-beaten, and his horn is slung from a green [[Baldric#In literature and culture|baldric]]. The Yeoman is well-armed. He carries a "mighty bow" in his hand with a sheaf of arrows hung from his belt. Chaucer points out that the peacock feather fletching was well-made. The archer obviously took great care when making his arrows. He also carries a sword, a [[buckler]], and a small dagger. (Note the similarity between this yeoman's [[accoutrements]] and those of the ''Yeomen of the King's Crown''.) The forester's final protection is a medal of [[Saint Christopher]], the patron saint of travelers.{{r|Harvard_Genl_Prolog|p=lines 101-17}}

Chaucer's description of a forester is based upon his experiences as a deputy forester of [[North Petherton Park]] in Somersetshire.{{r|1899_Skeat|p=xl}}

The very first line of The Yeoman's description is the statement the Knight wanted no other servant. Kenneth J Thompson quoted Earle Birney as saying that a forester was the only attendant the Knight needed; he was a "huntsman-forester, knight's bodyguard, squire's attendant, lord's retainer, king's foot-soldier".{{r|2006_Thompson|p=388}} The forester's job was to protect the ''vert and venison''<ref name=MED_vert-Venison/> – the deer and the [[Royal forest]] they inhabited. The foresters not only discouraged [[poaching]], but provided winter feed, and cared for newly born calves. The medieval English foresters also provided basic [[woodland management]] by preventing unauthorized grazing, and illegal logging. Another function of the forester was assist the King's Huntsmen in planning the [[Medieval hunting|royal hunts]]. The foresters knew the game animals, and where to find them.{{r|2006_Thompson|p=388}}

When his lord was campaigning in wartime, the forester was capable of providing additional meat for the lord's table. During the 1358–60 campaign in France, Edward III had 30 falconers on horseback, and 60 couples (or pairs) of hounds.{{r|2006_Thompson|p=390}}

The Yeoman has his "mighty bow" (most probably a longbow) at the ready, implying he is on duty serving as bodyguard against highwaymen and robbers. He carries a sheaf of arrows under his belt, which implies an [[Quiver#Arrow bag|arrow bag]] suspended from his belt.{{r|2006_Thompson|p=391}}

Chaucer's description of The Yeoman has been interpreted as an [[iconography|iconographic representation]] of the dutiful servant, diligent and always ready to serve.{{r|2006_Thompson|p=391}} In other words, the very picture of [[#Yeo Serv|yeoman service]].

Thompson quotes an interesting excerpt from the [[St Mary's Abbey, York#The Anonimalle Chronicle|Anonimalle Chronicle]]. It is part of the description of King John II's journey to London, after he had been captured by the [[Black Prince]] at the [[Battle of Poitiers]]:

:"On their way through England, the King of England aforesaid caused many lords and other people of the countryside to meet them, in a forest, dressed in coats and mantles of green. And when the said King of France passed through the said forest, the said men showed themselves in front of the King of France and his company, like robbers or malefactors with bows and arrows and with swords and bucklers; and the King of France marveled greatly at the sight, asking what manner of men these were. And the prince answered that these were men of England, forest-dweller, living as they pleased in the wild; and it was their custom to be arrayed thus every day."{{r|2006_Thompson|p=400-01}}

The encounter was obviously some political posturing staged by Edward III for the benefit of the French king. It displayed the opposition the French army would face should the King decide to invade England.