Forms: α. 5– varlet (6 Sc. warllet, 7 varlett), 5–6 varlette; 6–7 varlot (6 Sc. war-). β. 6 verlet (-lett, -lette), 7 verlate; 6 verlot (Sc. wer-), -lotte. [a. OF. varlet (14th c.), var. of vaslet, vadlet, vallet VALET. Hence also med.L. varletus. In mod.F. varlet is restricted to the historical sense 1 b.]
1. A man or lad acting as an attendant or servant; a menial, a groom. Now arch.
α. 1456. Sir G. Haye, Law Arms (S.T.S.), 240. The varlet of the labourare, that is for to say his hyre man that dryvis the pleuche.
1483. Caxton, Gold. Leg., 154 b/2. I haue rychesses ynough, seruantes, varlettes,… and kynnysmen whiche serue me.
a. 1533. Ld. Berners, Huon, lv. 187. This varlet semeth rather sone to a kyng … then to be a varlet to a mynstrell.
1647. R. Stapylton, Juvenal, 94. She calls out to the varlets she doth keep,… Braine the dog’s master first, and then the cur.
1661. Blount, Glossogr. (ed. 2), Vadelet,… a Benchers Clerk or Servant. The Butlers of the house corruptly call them Varlets.
1684. Burnet, trans. More’s Utopia, 109. If it should so happen, that … all this Wealth should pass from the Master to the meanest Varlet of his whole Family.
1843. Carlyle, Past & Pr., II. viii. Lords and varlets, where are they?
1853. G. P. R. James, Agnes Sorel (1860), I. 124. Acquiring very rapidly from the different varlets and pages a vast amount of information.
β. 1509. Hawes, Past. Pleas., XXVI. (Percy Soc.), 114. Than on my jorney,… Wyth my verlet called Attendaunce, Forthe on I rode.
1513. Douglas, Æneid, XII. ii. 13. The byssy knaipis and verlettis of his stabill About thame [sc. the horses] stud.
1557. Tusser, 100 Points Husb., xli. Kepe neuer such seruantes, as doth thee no good, For nestling of verlettes … make[s] many a rich man to shet vp his doores.
b. spec. An attendant on a knight or other person of military importance. Now only Hist.
1470–85. Malory, Arthur, X. xiv. 434. Thenne this Knyght called to hym a varlette, and badde hym ryde vntyl younder fayr manoyre.
1485. Caxton, Paris & V. (1868), 69. Whan Parys coude wel speke mouryske, he and his varlet took the waye toward ynde.
1523. Ld. Berners, Froiss., I. xvi. 16. The archers who were to the nombre of iii. M. shotte faste theyr arowes, nat sparyng maisters nor varlettis.
a. 1548. Hall, Chron., Hen. V., 50. Divers beyng wounded wer releued by theyr varlettes and conveighed out of the felde.
1590. Spenser, F. Q., II. iv. 37. Far away they spyde A varlet running towards hastily…. Behind his backe he bore a brasen shield.
1606. Shaks., Tr. & Cr., I. i. 1. Call here my Varlet, Ile vnarme againe. Why should I warre without the wals of Troy?
1825. Scott, Talism., iii. Some fifty more men, archers and varlets included.
1864. Burton, Scot. Abr., I. iii. 123. In one month the French lost upwards of a hundred varlets.
1889. F. Cowper, Capt. of Wight, 167. Their esquires were waiting outside, and their varlets were leading their horses … up and down.
† c. Varlet of the chamber, VALET-DE-CHAMBRE. Obs.
1567. Throgmorton, in Robertson, Hist. Scot. (1851), II. 435. [She requested] to have her apothecary … and … to have a varlet of the chamber.
1588. Excheq. Rolls Scot., XXI. 403. To William Murray, varlett of his majesteis chalmer, for his pensioun.
1596. Nashe, Saffron Walden, Wks. (Grosart), III. 158. His voiage vnder Don Anthonio was nothing so great credit to him, as a French Varlet of the chamber is.
[1664. Butler, Hud., II. i. 406. ’Tis this that Proudest Dames enamors On Lacquies, and Varlets des-Chambres.]
† d. = SERGEANT sb. 8. Obs.
1598. B. Jonson, Ev. Man in Hum., IV. ix. Why, you were best get one o’ the varlets o’ the citie, a serieant.
1620. Melton, Astrolog., 73. Those that stand before both the Compters,… who appeare in the shapes of Sergeants, alias Varlets.
1638. Shirley, Mart. Soldier, V. I was first a Varlet, then a Bum-baily, now an under Jailor.
2. A person of a low, mean or knavish disposition; a knave, rogue, rascal.
In later use freq. without serious implication of bad qualities.
α. 1555. in Coverdale, Lett. Martyrs (1564), 173. Then my lord sayd, thou art a very varlet.
1584. R. Scot, Discov. Witchcr., XIV. iii. 297. A notable cousening varlot, who professed Alcumystrie.
1624. Bp. Mountagu, Immed. Addr., 213. Is not this a varlet in graine: a fit Patron of Inuocation?
1642. D. Rogers, Naaman, 307. All shall see that you were arrant varlots, such as Religion can receive no blemish from.
1726. Swift, Gulliver, II. v. A little contemptible varlet, without the least title to birth, person, wit.
1777. Sheridan, Trip Scarb., V. ii. Look, if the varlet has not the effrontery to call his lordship plain Thomas.
1822. W. Irving, Braceb. Hall, viii. A handsome boy,… but a mischievous varlet.
1853. Kane, Grinnell Exp., xl. (1856), 365. We are an uncouth, snobby, and withal, shabby-looking set of varlets.
1881. Besant & Rice, Chapl. of Fleet, I. x. In the doorway were the two impudent varlets, whom he called his clerks.
β. a. 1500. Image Hypocr., II. 518, in Skelton’s Wks. (1843), II. 429/1. The helper of harlettes, And captayne of verlettes, The cloke of all vnthriftes.
1573. Tusser, Husb. (1878), 144. Such Lords ill example doth giue, where verlets and drabs so may liue.
a. 1604. Hanmer, Chron. Irel. (1633), 29. Now see the villany of these verlates.
b. Employed as an abusive form of address.
1566. Adlington, Apuleius, 55. Thou presumest and thinkest, thou triflinge boye, thou verlette,… that thou arte most worthy and excellent.
1608. Sylvester, Du Bartas, II. iv. Schism, 116. Know you (varlets) whom you dally-with?
1676. D’Urfey, Mme. Fickle, III. i. Out of my doors thou Varlet; away.
1706. Addison, Rosamond, I. iii. Faithless Varlet, art thou there?
1773. Goldsm., Stoops to Conq., V. ii. And is it to you, you graceless varlet, I owe all this?
1829. Lytton, Devereux, II. iv. ‘Now for thee, varlet,’ cried Tarleton, brandishing his rapier.
1841. G. P. R. James, Brigand, iii. Run, sir varlet, run.
c. In the phr. to play the … varlet. Obs.
1579. Tomson, Calvin’s Serm. Tim., 871/1. To play the verie varlets against all goodnesse:… we see the wicked are giuen to this.
1615–20. C. More, Life Sir T. More (1828), 318. He fell to scoffing,… and played the very varlet with the king.
1651. D. Calderwood, Hist. Kirk (1843), II. 172. So faine would the comptroller have played a good varlett, and satisfeid the queene, or elles have made up his owne profite.
† d. transf. (See quot.) Obs.
1606. Shaks., Tr. & Cr., V. i. 18. Thou art thought to be Achilles male Varlot. Patr. Male Varlot you Rogue: What’s that? Ther. Why his masculine Whore.
† 3. The knave in cards. Obs. [So F. valet.]
1508. Kennedie, Flyting w. Dunbar, 43. Waik walidrag, and werlot [v.r. verlot] of the cairtis.
1579. Rice, Invective agst. Vices, B iv. [They] are more at quiete with the Ace, Kyng, Queene, or Varlet of Spades, then thei can be with a Spade to digge … for their liuyng. Ibid. Varlette of the Hartes.
1625. B. Jonson, Staple of N., IV. i. Mad. We call’d him a Coat-card O’ the last order. P. Iv. What’s that? a Knaue? Mad. Some readings haue it so, my manuscript Doth speake it, Varlet.
4. attrib. as varlet heretic, page, rebel.
1456. Sir G. Haye, Bk. Knighthood, Wks. (S.T.S.), II. 15. Thai ordanyt him a squier, and a varlet page to be ever contynualy at his bidding and service.
1553. T. Wilson, Rhet., 68. Did the maior of London thrust throughe Jacke Straw beinge but a verlet rebell, and onely disquietinge the Citye?
1563. Foxe, A. & M., 1581/2. He is the naughtiest verlet heretique, that euer I knewe.
¶ 5. App. used for WARLOCK.
1703. Brand, New Desc. Ork. & Zetland, viii. 110. There is a House called Kebister, where a Varlet or Wizard lived.
Hence Varletess, a female varlet.
1748. Richardson, Clarissa, I. xxxi. 196. It was more Pride than Love … that put me upon making such a confounded rout about losing this noble varletess. Ibid., VI. 96. Eight o’clock at Mid-summer, and these lazy varletesses (in full health) not come down yet to breakfast!
