Hugh Denys

This office made its holder the King's closest courtier. The duties in the earliest days of this ancient post involved assisting the king in the performance in a decorous manner of his bodily function of excretion. Arrangements would have to be made for the custody of the ''stool'' itself (the word derives from Old English & Norse ''stul'', signifying "chair", or piece of furniture for sitting on), provision of a suitable room for the use thereof, with curtains, hangings being provided. Washing equipment would also have been required: water, bowls, towel etc. The royal accounts mention that Denys provided a perfumed "musk ball" in January 1496.<ref>Samuel Bentley, ''Excerpta Historica'' (London, 1831), p. 110.</ref>

This office made its holder the King's closest courtier. The duties in the earliest days of this ancient post involved assisting the king in the performance in a decorous manner of his bodily function of excretion. Arrangements would have to be made for the custody of the ''stool'' itself (the word derives from Old English & Norse ''stul'', signifying "chair", or piece of furniture for sitting on), provision of a suitable room for the use thereof, with curtains, hangings being provided. Washing equipment would also have been required: water, bowls, towel etc. The royal accounts mention that Denys provided a perfumed "musk ball" in January 1496.<ref>Samuel Bentley, ''Excerpta Historica'' (London, 1831), p. 110.</ref>

Clearly the office was one where the king would want to select a person in whose company he felt relaxed and comfortable. Hugh Denys also played the [[lute]] at court and bought books for Henry VII.<ref>Samuel Bentley, ''Excerpta Historica'' (London, 1831), pp. 105, 108.</ref> From this relationship grew the role of the Groom as a close adviser of the king. He had the king's ear, and this is likely to have given him power over the other courtiers, from their fear of his influence, and their desire to keep in his favour.

Clearly the office was one where the king would want to select a person in whose company he felt relaxed and comfortable. Hugh Denys accompanied the king as he played tennis. He also played the [[lute]] at court and bought books for Henry VII.<ref>Samuel Bentley, ''Excerpta Historica'' (London, 1831), pp. 101–102, 105, 108.</ref> From this relationship grew the role of the Groom as a close adviser of the king. He had the king's ear, and this is likely to have given him power over the other courtiers, from their fear of his influence, and their desire to keep in his favour.

By the reign of Henry VII, as exemplified in the person of Hugh Denys, the Groom of the Stool was a substantial man, from the gentry, married to an aristocratic wife, who died owning at least four manors (although possibly not all beneficially as will be discussed below). It is possible the role changed during Henry's reign, as Denys seems to have come into a lot of money late in life, as evidenced by the dates of purchase of his manors, and the funds may have come from perquisites or commissions retained from his various offices concerned with revenue collection, such as Gabler, Gauger and Ulnager. These latter are evidence as to how the role of Groom of the Stool changed into one of a financial function. Alternatively the manors may have been purchased in his name as investments beneficially owned by the royal privy purse.{{citation needed|date=April 2022}}

By the reign of Henry VII, as exemplified in the person of Hugh Denys, the Groom of the Stool was a substantial man, from the gentry, married to an aristocratic wife, who died owning at least four manors (although possibly not all beneficially as will be discussed below). It is possible the role changed during Henry's reign, as Denys seems to have come into a lot of money late in life, as evidenced by the dates of purchase of his manors, and the funds may have come from perquisites or commissions retained from his various offices concerned with revenue collection, such as Gabler, Gauger and Ulnager. These latter are evidence as to how the role of Groom of the Stool changed into one of a financial function. Alternatively the manors may have been purchased in his name as investments beneficially owned by the royal privy purse.{{citation needed|date=April 2022}}