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The Yeomen of the Queen’s Guarde Valecti Garde (Corporis) Domini Regina Duties
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March 3, 2009
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The Yeomen of the Queen’s Guarde
Valecti Garde (Corporis) Domini Regina
Duties
A Yeoman During the Reign of Edward VI
The duties of the Yeomen of the Guard were many. Their paramount responsibility was to act as the personal bodyguard for the monarch. This was a very real responsibility, for the reigning monarch’s life was in real danger from various pretenders to the throne and enemy countries. It was the duty of the Yeomen of the Crown to Guard the Queen’s Person from direct physical attack. To this end, the Guards were required to attend the monarch 24 hours per day. Others watched the cooks prepare her food and then to taste it for poisons before allowing it to be served to her. They also checked gifts such as perfume and clothing for poisons. As well merely posting a guard around her bedchamber, some guards also searched it, the bed-curtains, and the bed before the Queen slept there. The task of searching and making the bed was assigned to the Yeoman Bed-Goer and the Yeoman Bed Hanger. The night watch is called "The Service of All Night."
One guard was assigned of looking after the Queen's clothing, the Yeoman of the Wardrobe. One of the men who held this post during Elizabeth's reign was Rauff Hope. It was his task to bring the clothing the Queen wished to wear to the Ladies of the Bedchamber, who would help her dress.
It was common for the reigning monarch to make "Royal Progresses" throughout the kingdom. As well as guarding the Queen, the Yeomen of the Guard would, on occasion, be sent ahead to acquire accommodations and to search for any dangers. Wherever the Queen held court, the Yeomen stationed themselves at the doors and in the halls leading to the Royal audience chamber, a practice known as "Lining the Approaches." Yeomen Ushers guarded the door to the Great Presence Chamber and kept order within. The Yeomen also performed "Back Stairs Duty." Each Royal palace or residence had a private back way in, which was guarded by the Yeomen, to allow persons, whom the King or Queen wanted to meet with secretly, to be brought in unseen. This is where the term "Back Stairs Influence" comes from.
A Yeoman During the Reign of Mary
A little known duty of the Yeomen of the Guard was to act as the bodyguard to the Viceroy of Ireland. Sixty members of the Guard accompanied Sir Henry Sidney for his protection while in Ireland. Also, thirty Yeomen of the Guard were given the duty of watching over Mary, Queen of Scots, during her stay at Tutbury Castle and Chartley House. The Yeomen were a military unit as well as being the personal bodyguard to the King. If the king went to war, then the Guards went with him to protect his person. They have fought in many battles along side the King and have even won two battle honors. The honors are for service at Tournai in 1514 and Boulogne in 1544 and can be seen on the Standard. The last monarch to personally fight a battle was George II and, of course, the Yeomen attended him there.
The Yeomen of the Guard had/have a ceremonial role as well. Henry VII gave them the responsibility for "The upholding of the dignity and the grandeur of the English crown in perpetuity, his successors, and the Kings and Queens of England for all time." Indeed, the modern Yeomen of the Guard is made up of men who have retired with distinguished military careers and who now serve in a purely ceremonial roles.
This site best viewed at 1024 x 768.
Last updated: March 3, 2009
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