Page

A **Page** or **Page Boy** is a young male attendant or servant, who can also be an appointed messenger in service of a nobleman. During wedding ceremonies, a page boy is often used as a symbolic attendant to carry the rings.

## History

### Noble Page

Pages acted as attendants to nobility, knights, lords, and government officials. Until the age of seven years, sons of noble families would receive training in manners and basic literacy from their mothers or other female relatives. Upon reaching seven years of age, boys were be sent to the castle, great house or the estate of noble families. This would match the age at which apprenticeships or servants' employment would be entered into by young males from lesser and lower social classes.

A young boy served as a page for about seven years, running messages, serving, cleaning clothing and weapons, and learning the basics of combat. He might be required to arm or dress the lord to whom he had been sent by his own family. Personal service of this nature was not considered as demeaning, in the context of shared noble status by page and lord. It was seen rather as a form of education in return for labour. While a page did not receive reimbursement other than clothing, accommodation and food, he could be rewarded for an exceptional act of service. In return for his work, the page would receive training in horse-riding, hunting, hawking and combat – the essential skills required of adult men of his rank in medieval society.

Less physical training included schooling in the playing of musical instruments, the composition and singing of songs, and the learning of board games such as chess. The initial education received as a child in reading and writing would be continued to a level of modest competence under the tuition of a chaplain or other cleric, and possibly from a grammar master. They also learned courtly manners and, in attending to the needs of their master, a degree of temporary humility.

Medieval pages might accompany their lords to war. While their roles in battle were generally limited to secondary assistance and minor support functions, pages might expect to participate directly in siege situations. This could occur when a castle was under attack and crossbows were available for use by pages among the defenders. The mechanical and long-range nature of these devices made them almost the only medieval weapon which could be employed effectively by a youth.

At age fourteen, the young noble could graduate to become a squire, and by age 21, perhaps a knight himself. These boys were often the scions of other great families who were sent to learn the ways of the manorial system by observation. Their residence in the house served as a goodwill gesture between the two families involved and helped them gain social and political contacts for their adult lives. A reference to this kind of page is found in the Christmas carol *Good King Wenceslaus*: "Hither, page, and stand by me, if thou know'st it, telling..."

A page may also have shared the broad designation of *quistroun* with various lower-status kitchen servants such as scullions or knaves.

### Household Page

Boys of humble background could gain the chance for a similar place in a great house. Pages also acted as apprentice footmen, and unlike the hall boys, who did heavy work, these pages performed light odd-jobs and stood in attendance wearing livery when guests were being received.