Companions attended the higher ranking nobles as friends, confidants, and escorts. They were often a poorer relative, such as a cousin from a brother or sister that did not marry into nobility or wealth. Spinster women relatives frequently served as companions to the noble women of the household and accompanied them on trips into town, shopping, or when visiting other noble households. Companions would also aid in seeing to the needs of the noble, such as choosing what clothing to wear and helping to dress the noble.
