[N]With his harp in his hand, and dressed like a minstrel.Assumptâ manu citharâ ... professusmimum, qui hujusmodi arte stipem quotidianam mercaretur ... Jussus abire pretium cantus accepit.Malmesb.l. 2, c. 6. We see here that which was rewarded was (not any mimicry or tricks, but) hissinging (cantus); this proves beyond dispute, what was the nature of the entertainment Aulaff afforded them. Perhaps it is needless by this time to prove to the reader, thatmimusin middle latinity signifies a minstrel, andmimia, minstrelsy, or the minstrel-art. Should he doubt it, let him cast his eye over the two following extracts from Du Cange."Mimus: Musicus qui instrumentis musicis canit. Leges Palatinæ Jacobi II. Reg. Majoric. In domibus principum, ut tradit antiquitasmimiseu joculatores licitè possunt esse. Nam illorum officiam tribuit lutitiam ... Quapropter volumus et ordinamus, quod in nostra curia mimi debeant esse quinque, quorum duo sint tubicinatores, et tertius sit tabelerius (i. e. a player on the tabor.)[1122]Lit. remiss. ann. 1374. Ad mimos cornicitantes, seu bucinantes accesserunt."Mimia, Ludus Mimicus, Instrumentum (potius, Ars Joculatoria). Ann. 1482.... "Mimia & cantu victum acquiro."Du Cange,Gloss.tom. iv. 1762. Supp. c. 1225.
[N]With his harp in his hand, and dressed like a minstrel.Assumptâ manu citharâ ... professusmimum, qui hujusmodi arte stipem quotidianam mercaretur ... Jussus abire pretium cantus accepit.Malmesb.l. 2, c. 6. We see here that which was rewarded was (not any mimicry or tricks, but) hissinging (cantus); this proves beyond dispute, what was the nature of the entertainment Aulaff afforded them. Perhaps it is needless by this time to prove to the reader, thatmimusin middle latinity signifies a minstrel, andmimia, minstrelsy, or the minstrel-art. Should he doubt it, let him cast his eye over the two following extracts from Du Cange.
"Mimus: Musicus qui instrumentis musicis canit. Leges Palatinæ Jacobi II. Reg. Majoric. In domibus principum, ut tradit antiquitasmimiseu joculatores licitè possunt esse. Nam illorum officiam tribuit lutitiam ... Quapropter volumus et ordinamus, quod in nostra curia mimi debeant esse quinque, quorum duo sint tubicinatores, et tertius sit tabelerius (i. e. a player on the tabor.)[1122]Lit. remiss. ann. 1374. Ad mimos cornicitantes, seu bucinantes accesserunt."
Mimia, Ludus Mimicus, Instrumentum (potius, Ars Joculatoria). Ann. 1482.... "Mimia & cantu victum acquiro."
Du Cange,Gloss.tom. iv. 1762. Supp. c. 1225.
[O][To have been a Dane.] The northern historians produce such instances of the great respect shewn to the Danish scalds in the courts of our Anglo-Saxon kings, on account of their musical and poetic talents (notwithstanding they were of so hateful a nation), that, if a similar order of men had not existed here before, we cannot doubt but the profession would have been taken up by such of the natives as had a genius for poetry and music."Extant Rhythmi hoc ipso (Islandico) idiomate Angliæ, Hyberniæque Regibus oblati & liberaliter compensati, &c. Itaque hinc colligi potest linguam Danicam in aulis vicinorum regum, principumque familiarem fuisse, non secus ac hodie in aulis principum peregrina idiomata in deliciis haberi cernimus. Imprimis Vita Egilli Skallagrimii id invicto argumento adstruit. Quippe qui interrogatus ab Adalsteino, Angliæ rege, quomodo manus Eirici Blodoxii, Northumbriæ regis, postquam in ejus potestatem venerat, evasisset, cujus filium propinquosque occiderat, ... rei statim ordinem metro, nunc satis obscuro, exposuit, nequaquam ita narraturus non intelligenti."—Vid.plura apud Torfæi Præfat. adOrcad. Hist.fol.This same Egill was no less distinguished for his valour and skill as a soldier, than for his poetic and singing talents as a scald; and he was such a favourite with our king Athelstan that he at one time presented him with "duobus annulis & scriniis duobus bene magnis argento repletis.... Quinetiam hoc addidit, ut Egillus quidvis præterea a se petens, obtineret; bona mobilia, sive immobilia, præbendam vel præfecturas. Egillus porro regiam munificentiam gratus excipiens, Carmen Encomiasticon, à se, linguâ Norvegicâ, (quæ tum his regnis communis), compostum, regi dicat; ac pro eo, duas Marcas auri puri (pondus Marcæ ... 8 uncias æquabat) honorarii loco retulit."—Arngr. Jon. Rer. Islandic.lib. 2, p. 129.See more of Egill, inThe Five Pieces of Runic Poetry, p. 45, whose poem, there translated, is the most ancient piece all in rhime, that is, I conceive, now to be found in any European language, except Latin. See Egill's Islandic original, printed at the end of the English version in the saidFive Pieces, &c.
[O][To have been a Dane.] The northern historians produce such instances of the great respect shewn to the Danish scalds in the courts of our Anglo-Saxon kings, on account of their musical and poetic talents (notwithstanding they were of so hateful a nation), that, if a similar order of men had not existed here before, we cannot doubt but the profession would have been taken up by such of the natives as had a genius for poetry and music.
"Extant Rhythmi hoc ipso (Islandico) idiomate Angliæ, Hyberniæque Regibus oblati & liberaliter compensati, &c. Itaque hinc colligi potest linguam Danicam in aulis vicinorum regum, principumque familiarem fuisse, non secus ac hodie in aulis principum peregrina idiomata in deliciis haberi cernimus. Imprimis Vita Egilli Skallagrimii id invicto argumento adstruit. Quippe qui interrogatus ab Adalsteino, Angliæ rege, quomodo manus Eirici Blodoxii, Northumbriæ regis, postquam in ejus potestatem venerat, evasisset, cujus filium propinquosque occiderat, ... rei statim ordinem metro, nunc satis obscuro, exposuit, nequaquam ita narraturus non intelligenti."—Vid.plura apud Torfæi Præfat. adOrcad. Hist.fol.
This same Egill was no less distinguished for his valour and skill as a soldier, than for his poetic and singing talents as a scald; and he was such a favourite with our king Athelstan that he at one time presented him with "duobus annulis & scriniis duobus bene magnis argento repletis.... Quinetiam hoc addidit, ut Egillus quidvis præterea a se petens, obtineret; bona mobilia, sive immobilia, præbendam vel præfecturas. Egillus porro regiam munificentiam gratus excipiens, Carmen Encomiasticon, à se, linguâ Norvegicâ, (quæ tum his regnis communis), compostum, regi dicat; ac pro eo, duas Marcas auri puri (pondus Marcæ ... 8 uncias æquabat) honorarii loco retulit."—Arngr. Jon. Rer. Islandic.lib. 2, p. 129.
See more of Egill, inThe Five Pieces of Runic Poetry, p. 45, whose poem, there translated, is the most ancient piece all in rhime, that is, I conceive, now to be found in any European language, except Latin. See Egill's Islandic original, printed at the end of the English version in the saidFive Pieces, &c.
[P][If the Saxons had not been accustomed to have minstrels oftheir own ... and to shew favour and respect to the Danishscalds.] If this had not been the case, we may be assured, at least, that the stories given in the text could never have been recordedby writers who lived so near the Anglo-Saxon times as Malmesbury and Ingulphus, who, though they might be deceived as to particular facts, could not be so as to the general manners and customs, which prevailed so near their own times among their ancestors.
[P][If the Saxons had not been accustomed to have minstrels oftheir own ... and to shew favour and respect to the Danishscalds.] If this had not been the case, we may be assured, at least, that the stories given in the text could never have been recordedby writers who lived so near the Anglo-Saxon times as Malmesbury and Ingulphus, who, though they might be deceived as to particular facts, could not be so as to the general manners and customs, which prevailed so near their own times among their ancestors.
[Q]["In Doomesday Book" &c.] Extract. ex Libro Domesday: et vid. Anstis,Ord. Gart.ii. 304."Glowecesterscire.Fol. 162. col. 1.Berdic Joculator Regis habetiii.villas, et ibiv.car.nil redd."Thatjoculatoris properly a minstrel might be inferred from the two foregoing passages of Geoffery of Monmouth (v. Note[K]), where the word is used as equivalent tocitharistain one place, and tocantorin the other: this union forms the precise idea of the character.But more positive proofs have already offered,vid. supra, pp.385,399. See also p.409noteDu Cange'sGloss., vol. iii. c. 1543: "Jogulator pro Joculator.—Consilium Masil.an. 1381. Nullus Ministreys, seu Jogulator, audeat pinsare vel sonare instrumentum cujuscumque generis," &c. &c.As the minstrel was termed in Frenchjongleurandjugleur; so he was called in Spanishjutglarandjuglar. "Tenemos canciones y versos para recitar muy antiguos y memorias ciertas de los Juglares, que assistian en los banquetes, como los que pinta Homero."—Prolog. a las Comed. de Cervantes, 1749, 4to."El anno 1328, en las siestas de la Coronacion del Rey, Don Alonso el IV. de Aragon, ...[1123]el Juglar Ramaset cantò una Villanesca de la Composicion del ... infante (Don Pedro): y otro Juglar, llamado Novellet, recitò y representò en voz y sin cantar mas de 600 versos, que hizo el Infante en el metro, que llamaban Rima vulgar."—Ibid."Los Trobadores inventaron la Gaya Ciencia ... estos Trobadores, eran casi todos de la primera Nobleza. Es verdad, que ya entonces se havian entrometido entre las diversiones Cortesanos, los Contadores, los Cantores, los Juglares, los Truanes, y los Bufones."—Ibid.In England the king's juglar continued to have an establishment in the royal household down to the reign of Henry VIII. (vid. Note[Cc]). But in what sense the title was there applied does notappear. In Barklay'sEgloges, written circ. 1514, jugglers and pipers are mentioned together.Egl.iv. (vid. T. Warton's Hist. ii. 254).
[Q]["In Doomesday Book" &c.] Extract. ex Libro Domesday: et vid. Anstis,Ord. Gart.ii. 304.
"Glowecesterscire.
Fol. 162. col. 1.Berdic Joculator Regis habetiii.villas, et ibiv.car.nil redd."
Thatjoculatoris properly a minstrel might be inferred from the two foregoing passages of Geoffery of Monmouth (v. Note[K]), where the word is used as equivalent tocitharistain one place, and tocantorin the other: this union forms the precise idea of the character.
But more positive proofs have already offered,vid. supra, pp.385,399. See also p.409noteDu Cange'sGloss., vol. iii. c. 1543: "Jogulator pro Joculator.—Consilium Masil.an. 1381. Nullus Ministreys, seu Jogulator, audeat pinsare vel sonare instrumentum cujuscumque generis," &c. &c.
As the minstrel was termed in Frenchjongleurandjugleur; so he was called in Spanishjutglarandjuglar. "Tenemos canciones y versos para recitar muy antiguos y memorias ciertas de los Juglares, que assistian en los banquetes, como los que pinta Homero."—Prolog. a las Comed. de Cervantes, 1749, 4to.
"El anno 1328, en las siestas de la Coronacion del Rey, Don Alonso el IV. de Aragon, ...[1123]el Juglar Ramaset cantò una Villanesca de la Composicion del ... infante (Don Pedro): y otro Juglar, llamado Novellet, recitò y representò en voz y sin cantar mas de 600 versos, que hizo el Infante en el metro, que llamaban Rima vulgar."—Ibid.
"Los Trobadores inventaron la Gaya Ciencia ... estos Trobadores, eran casi todos de la primera Nobleza. Es verdad, que ya entonces se havian entrometido entre las diversiones Cortesanos, los Contadores, los Cantores, los Juglares, los Truanes, y los Bufones."—Ibid.
In England the king's juglar continued to have an establishment in the royal household down to the reign of Henry VIII. (vid. Note[Cc]). But in what sense the title was there applied does notappear. In Barklay'sEgloges, written circ. 1514, jugglers and pipers are mentioned together.Egl.iv. (vid. T. Warton's Hist. ii. 254).
[R][A valliant warrior, named Taillefer, &c.] See Du Cange, who produces this as an instance, "Quod Ministellorum munus interdum præstabant milites probatissimi. Le Roman De Vacce,MS."'Quant il virent Normanz venirMout veissiez Engleiz fremir....Taillefer qui mout bien chantoit,Sur un cheval, qui tost alloit,Devant euls aloit chantantDe Kallemaigne & de Roullant,Et d'Olivier de Vassaux,Qui mourruent en Rainschevaux.'"Qui quidem Taillefer a Gulielmo obtinuit ut primus in hostes irrueret, inter quos fortiter dimicando occubuit."—Gloss.tom. iv. 769, 770, 771."Les anciennes chroniques nous apprennent, qu'en premier rang de l' Armée Normande, un ecuyer nommé Taillefer, monté sur un cheval armé, chanta la Chanson De Roland, qui fut si long tems dans les bouches des François, sans qu'il soit resté le moindre fragment. Le Taillefer après avoir entonné le chanson que les soldats repetoient, se jetta le premier parmi les Anglois, et fut tué."—Voltaire,Add. Hist. Univ.p. 69.The reader will see an attempt to restore theChanson de Roland, with musical notes, in Dr. Burney'sHist.ii. p. 276. See more concerning the Song of Roland, vol. iii. appendix, sect. ii. note M.
[R][A valliant warrior, named Taillefer, &c.] See Du Cange, who produces this as an instance, "Quod Ministellorum munus interdum præstabant milites probatissimi. Le Roman De Vacce,MS.
"'Quant il virent Normanz venirMout veissiez Engleiz fremir....Taillefer qui mout bien chantoit,Sur un cheval, qui tost alloit,Devant euls aloit chantantDe Kallemaigne & de Roullant,Et d'Olivier de Vassaux,Qui mourruent en Rainschevaux.'
"'Quant il virent Normanz venirMout veissiez Engleiz fremir....Taillefer qui mout bien chantoit,Sur un cheval, qui tost alloit,Devant euls aloit chantantDe Kallemaigne & de Roullant,Et d'Olivier de Vassaux,Qui mourruent en Rainschevaux.'
"Qui quidem Taillefer a Gulielmo obtinuit ut primus in hostes irrueret, inter quos fortiter dimicando occubuit."—Gloss.tom. iv. 769, 770, 771.
"Les anciennes chroniques nous apprennent, qu'en premier rang de l' Armée Normande, un ecuyer nommé Taillefer, monté sur un cheval armé, chanta la Chanson De Roland, qui fut si long tems dans les bouches des François, sans qu'il soit resté le moindre fragment. Le Taillefer après avoir entonné le chanson que les soldats repetoient, se jetta le premier parmi les Anglois, et fut tué."—Voltaire,Add. Hist. Univ.p. 69.
The reader will see an attempt to restore theChanson de Roland, with musical notes, in Dr. Burney'sHist.ii. p. 276. See more concerning the Song of Roland, vol. iii. appendix, sect. ii. note M.
[S][An eminent French writer, &c.] "M. l'Eveque de la Ravaliere, qui avoit fait beaucoup de recherches sur nos anciennes Chansons, pretend que c'est à la Normandie que nous devons nos premiers Chansonniers, non à la Provence, et qu'il y avoit parmi nous des Chansons en langue vulgaire avant celles des Provençaus, mais posterieurement au Regne de Philippe I. ou à l'an 1100."—v.Revolutions de la Langue Françoise, à la suite des Poesies du Roide Navarre."Ce seroit une antériorité de plus d'un demi siécle à l'époque des premiers Troubadours, que leur historien Jean de Nostredame fixe à l'an 1162, &c."—Pref. a l'Anthologie Franç.8vo. 1765.This subject hath been since taken up and prosecuted at length in the Prefaces, &c. to M. Le Grand'sFabliaux ou Contes du XII.& du XIII. Siécle, Paris, 1788, 5 tom. 12mo. who seems pretty clearly to have established the priority and superior excellence ofthe old rimeurs of the north of France, over the troubadours of Provence, &c.
[S][An eminent French writer, &c.] "M. l'Eveque de la Ravaliere, qui avoit fait beaucoup de recherches sur nos anciennes Chansons, pretend que c'est à la Normandie que nous devons nos premiers Chansonniers, non à la Provence, et qu'il y avoit parmi nous des Chansons en langue vulgaire avant celles des Provençaus, mais posterieurement au Regne de Philippe I. ou à l'an 1100."—v.Revolutions de la Langue Françoise, à la suite des Poesies du Roide Navarre."Ce seroit une antériorité de plus d'un demi siécle à l'époque des premiers Troubadours, que leur historien Jean de Nostredame fixe à l'an 1162, &c."—Pref. a l'Anthologie Franç.8vo. 1765.
This subject hath been since taken up and prosecuted at length in the Prefaces, &c. to M. Le Grand'sFabliaux ou Contes du XII.& du XIII. Siécle, Paris, 1788, 5 tom. 12mo. who seems pretty clearly to have established the priority and superior excellence ofthe old rimeurs of the north of France, over the troubadours of Provence, &c.
[S2][Their own native gleemen or minstrels must be allowedto exist.] Of this we have proof positive in the old metrical romance ofHorn-Child, (vol. iii. appendix), which, although from the mention of Sarazens, &c. it must have been written at least after the first Crusade in 1096, yet from its Anglo-Saxon language or idiom, can scarce be dated later than within a century after the Conquest. This, as appears from its very exordium, was intended to be sung to a popular audience, whether it was composed by, or for, a gleeman, or minstrel. But it carries all the internal marks of being the production of such a composer. It appears of genuine English growth, for after a careful examination, I cannot discover any allusion to French or Norman customs, manners, composition or phraseology: no quotation "As the Romance sayth:" not a name or local reference which was likely to occur to a French rimeur. The proper names are all of northern extraction. Child Horn is the son of Allof (i.e.Olaf or Olave), king of Sudenne (I suppose Sweden), by his queen Godylde, or Godylt. Athulf and Fykenyld are the names of subjects. Eylmer or Aylmere is king of Westnesse (a part of Ireland), Rymenyld is his daughter; as Erminyld is of another king Thurstan; whose sons are Athyld and Beryld. Athelbrus is steward of K. Aylmer, &c. &c. All these savour only of a northern origin, and the whole piece is exactly such a performance as one would expect from a gleeman or minstrel of the north of England, who had derived his art and his ideas from his scaldic predecessors there. So that this probably is the original, from which was translated the old French fragment ofDan Horn, in the Harleyan MS. 527, mentioned by Tyrwhitt (Chaucer iv. 68), and by T. Warton (Hist. i. 38), whose extract fromHorn-Childis extremely incorrect.Compare the stile of Child-Horn with the Anglo-Saxon specimens in short verses and rhime, which are assigned to the century succeeding the Conquest, in Hickes'sThesaurus, tom. i. cap. 24, pp. 224 and 231.
[S2][Their own native gleemen or minstrels must be allowedto exist.] Of this we have proof positive in the old metrical romance ofHorn-Child, (vol. iii. appendix), which, although from the mention of Sarazens, &c. it must have been written at least after the first Crusade in 1096, yet from its Anglo-Saxon language or idiom, can scarce be dated later than within a century after the Conquest. This, as appears from its very exordium, was intended to be sung to a popular audience, whether it was composed by, or for, a gleeman, or minstrel. But it carries all the internal marks of being the production of such a composer. It appears of genuine English growth, for after a careful examination, I cannot discover any allusion to French or Norman customs, manners, composition or phraseology: no quotation "As the Romance sayth:" not a name or local reference which was likely to occur to a French rimeur. The proper names are all of northern extraction. Child Horn is the son of Allof (i.e.Olaf or Olave), king of Sudenne (I suppose Sweden), by his queen Godylde, or Godylt. Athulf and Fykenyld are the names of subjects. Eylmer or Aylmere is king of Westnesse (a part of Ireland), Rymenyld is his daughter; as Erminyld is of another king Thurstan; whose sons are Athyld and Beryld. Athelbrus is steward of K. Aylmer, &c. &c. All these savour only of a northern origin, and the whole piece is exactly such a performance as one would expect from a gleeman or minstrel of the north of England, who had derived his art and his ideas from his scaldic predecessors there. So that this probably is the original, from which was translated the old French fragment ofDan Horn, in the Harleyan MS. 527, mentioned by Tyrwhitt (Chaucer iv. 68), and by T. Warton (Hist. i. 38), whose extract fromHorn-Childis extremely incorrect.
Compare the stile of Child-Horn with the Anglo-Saxon specimens in short verses and rhime, which are assigned to the century succeeding the Conquest, in Hickes'sThesaurus, tom. i. cap. 24, pp. 224 and 231.
[T][The different production of the sedentary composer and therambling minstrel.] Among the old metrical romances, a very few are addressed to readers, or mention reading: these appear to have been composed by writers at their desk, and exhibit marks of more elaborate structure and invention. Such isEglamour of Artas(No. 20, vol. iii. appendix), of which I find in a MS. copy in the Cotton Library, A. 2, folio 3, the II. Fitte thus concludes:"... thus ferr have I red."Such isIpomydon(No. 23, iii. appendix), of which one of the divisions (Sign. E. ii. b. in pr. copy) ends thus:"Let hym go, God him spedeTyll efte-soone we of him reed (i.e.read)"So inAmys and Amylion[1124](No. 31. iii. appendix) in sta. 3d. we have"In Geste as we rede,"and similar phrases occur in stanzas 34, 125, 140, 196, &c.These are all studied compositions, in which the story is invented with more skill and ingenuity, and the style and colouring are of superior cast, to such as can with sufficient probability be attributed to the minstrels themselves.Of this class I conceive the romance ofHorn Child(mentioned in the last note,[S2], and in No. 1, vol. iii. appendix), which, from the naked unadorned simplicity of the story, I would attribute to such an origin.But more evidently is such theSquire of Lowe Degree(No. 24, iii. appendix), in which is no reference to any French original, nothing like the phrase which so frequently occurs in others, "As the Romance sayth,"[1125]or the like. And it is just such arambling performance, as one would expect from an itinerant bard. AndSuch also isA lytell Geste of Robyn Hode, &c.in eight fyttes, of which are extant two editions, 4to. in black letter, described more fully in this volume, book i. No. 8. This is not only of undoubted English growth, but, from the constant satire aimed at abbots and their convents, &c. could not possibly have been composed by any monk in his cell.Other instances might be produced; but especially of the former kind isSyr Launfal(No. 11, iii. appendix), the 121st st. of which has"In Romances as we rede."This is one of the best invented stories of that kind, and I believe the only one in which is inserted the name of the author.
[T][The different production of the sedentary composer and therambling minstrel.] Among the old metrical romances, a very few are addressed to readers, or mention reading: these appear to have been composed by writers at their desk, and exhibit marks of more elaborate structure and invention. Such isEglamour of Artas(No. 20, vol. iii. appendix), of which I find in a MS. copy in the Cotton Library, A. 2, folio 3, the II. Fitte thus concludes:
"... thus ferr have I red."
"... thus ferr have I red."
Such isIpomydon(No. 23, iii. appendix), of which one of the divisions (Sign. E. ii. b. in pr. copy) ends thus:
"Let hym go, God him spedeTyll efte-soone we of him reed (i.e.read)"
"Let hym go, God him spedeTyll efte-soone we of him reed (i.e.read)"
So inAmys and Amylion[1124](No. 31. iii. appendix) in sta. 3d. we have
"In Geste as we rede,"
"In Geste as we rede,"
and similar phrases occur in stanzas 34, 125, 140, 196, &c.
These are all studied compositions, in which the story is invented with more skill and ingenuity, and the style and colouring are of superior cast, to such as can with sufficient probability be attributed to the minstrels themselves.
Of this class I conceive the romance ofHorn Child(mentioned in the last note,[S2], and in No. 1, vol. iii. appendix), which, from the naked unadorned simplicity of the story, I would attribute to such an origin.
But more evidently is such theSquire of Lowe Degree(No. 24, iii. appendix), in which is no reference to any French original, nothing like the phrase which so frequently occurs in others, "As the Romance sayth,"[1125]or the like. And it is just such arambling performance, as one would expect from an itinerant bard. And
Such also isA lytell Geste of Robyn Hode, &c.in eight fyttes, of which are extant two editions, 4to. in black letter, described more fully in this volume, book i. No. 8. This is not only of undoubted English growth, but, from the constant satire aimed at abbots and their convents, &c. could not possibly have been composed by any monk in his cell.
Other instances might be produced; but especially of the former kind isSyr Launfal(No. 11, iii. appendix), the 121st st. of which has
"In Romances as we rede."
"In Romances as we rede."
This is one of the best invented stories of that kind, and I believe the only one in which is inserted the name of the author.
[T2]Royer or Raherus, the king's minstrel.He is recorded by Leland under both these names, in hisCollectanea, scil. vol. i. p. 61."Hospitale S. Bartholomæi in West-Smithfelde in London." Royer Mimus Regis fundator.""Hosp. Sti. Barthol. Londini. Raherus Mimus Regis H. 1. primus fundator, an. 1102, 3. H. 1. qui fundavit etiam Priorat. Sti. Barthol."—Ibid.p.99.Thatmimusis properly a minstrel in the sense affixed to the word in this essay, one extract from the accounts (Lat.computis) of the priory of Maxtock near Coventry, in 1441, will sufficiently show, scil.: "Dat. Sex. Mimis Dni. Clynton cantantibus, citharisantibus, ludentibus, &c. iiii. s." (T. Warton, ii. 106, note q.) The same year the prior gave to adoctor prædicansfor a sermon preached to them only 6d.In theMonasticon, tom. ii. p. 166, 167, is a curious history of the founder of this priory, and the cause of its erection: which seems exactly such a composition as one of those which were manufactured by Dr. Stone, the famous legend-maker, in 1380; (see T. Warton's curious account of him, in vol. ii. p. 190, note), who required no materials to assist him in composing his narratives, &c. For in this legend are no particulars given of the founder, but a recital of miraculous visions exciting him to this pious work, of its having been before revealed to K. Edward the Confessor, and predicted by three Grecians, &c. Even his minstrel profession is not mentioned, whether from ignorance or design, as the profession was perhaps falling into discredit when this legend was written. There is only a general indistinct account that he frequented royal and noble houses, where he ingratiated himselfsuavitate joculari. (This last is the only word that seems to have any appropriated meaning.) This will account for the indistinct, incoherent account given by Stow: "Rahere, a pleasant-witted gentleman, and therefore in his time called the King's Minstrel."—Surveyof Lond.ed. 1598, p. 308.
[T2]Royer or Raherus, the king's minstrel.He is recorded by Leland under both these names, in hisCollectanea, scil. vol. i. p. 61.
"Hospitale S. Bartholomæi in West-Smithfelde in London." Royer Mimus Regis fundator."
"Hosp. Sti. Barthol. Londini. Raherus Mimus Regis H. 1. primus fundator, an. 1102, 3. H. 1. qui fundavit etiam Priorat. Sti. Barthol."—Ibid.p.99.
Thatmimusis properly a minstrel in the sense affixed to the word in this essay, one extract from the accounts (Lat.computis) of the priory of Maxtock near Coventry, in 1441, will sufficiently show, scil.: "Dat. Sex. Mimis Dni. Clynton cantantibus, citharisantibus, ludentibus, &c. iiii. s." (T. Warton, ii. 106, note q.) The same year the prior gave to adoctor prædicansfor a sermon preached to them only 6d.
In theMonasticon, tom. ii. p. 166, 167, is a curious history of the founder of this priory, and the cause of its erection: which seems exactly such a composition as one of those which were manufactured by Dr. Stone, the famous legend-maker, in 1380; (see T. Warton's curious account of him, in vol. ii. p. 190, note), who required no materials to assist him in composing his narratives, &c. For in this legend are no particulars given of the founder, but a recital of miraculous visions exciting him to this pious work, of its having been before revealed to K. Edward the Confessor, and predicted by three Grecians, &c. Even his minstrel profession is not mentioned, whether from ignorance or design, as the profession was perhaps falling into discredit when this legend was written. There is only a general indistinct account that he frequented royal and noble houses, where he ingratiated himselfsuavitate joculari. (This last is the only word that seems to have any appropriated meaning.) This will account for the indistinct, incoherent account given by Stow: "Rahere, a pleasant-witted gentleman, and therefore in his time called the King's Minstrel."—Surveyof Lond.ed. 1598, p. 308.
[U][In the early times every harper was expected to sing.] See on this subject K. Alfred's version of Cædman, above in note[H]p.391.So inHorn-Child, K. Allof orders his steward Athelbrus to"—teche him of harpe and of song."In theSquire of Lowe Degreethe king offers to his daughter,"Ye shall have harpe, sautry,[1126]and song."And Chaucer, in his description of the limitour or mendicant friar, speaks of harping as inseparable from singing (i. p. 11, ver. 268):—"—in his harping, whan that he hadde songe."
[U][In the early times every harper was expected to sing.] See on this subject K. Alfred's version of Cædman, above in note[H]p.391.
So inHorn-Child, K. Allof orders his steward Athelbrus to
"—teche him of harpe and of song."
"—teche him of harpe and of song."
In theSquire of Lowe Degreethe king offers to his daughter,
"Ye shall have harpe, sautry,[1126]and song."
"Ye shall have harpe, sautry,[1126]and song."
And Chaucer, in his description of the limitour or mendicant friar, speaks of harping as inseparable from singing (i. p. 11, ver. 268):—
"—in his harping, whan that he hadde songe."
"—in his harping, whan that he hadde songe."
[U2][At the most accomplished, &c.] See Hoveden, p. 103, in the following passage, which had erroneously been applied to K. Richard himself, till Mr. Tyrwhitt ("Chaucer," iv. p. 62) shewed it to belong to his Chancellor: "Hic ad augmentum et famam sui nominis, emendicata carmina, et rhythmos adulatorios comparabat; et de regno Francorum Cantores et Joculatores muneribus allexerat, ut de illo canerent in plateis: et jam dicebatur ubique, quod non erat talis in orbe." For other particulars relating to this chancellor, see T. Warton'sHist.vol. ii. addit. to p. 113 of vol. i.
[U2][At the most accomplished, &c.] See Hoveden, p. 103, in the following passage, which had erroneously been applied to K. Richard himself, till Mr. Tyrwhitt ("Chaucer," iv. p. 62) shewed it to belong to his Chancellor: "Hic ad augmentum et famam sui nominis, emendicata carmina, et rhythmos adulatorios comparabat; et de regno Francorum Cantores et Joculatores muneribus allexerat, ut de illo canerent in plateis: et jam dicebatur ubique, quod non erat talis in orbe." For other particulars relating to this chancellor, see T. Warton'sHist.vol. ii. addit. to p. 113 of vol. i.
[U3][Both the Norman and English languages would beheard at the houses of the great.] A remarkable proof of this is that the most diligent inquirers after ancient English rhimes find the earliest they can discover in the mouths of the Norman nobles, such as that of Robert, Earl of Leicester, and his Flemings in 1173, temp. Hen. II. (little more than a century after the Conquest), recorded by Lambarde in hisDictionary of England, p. 36:"Hoppe Wyliken, hoppe WylikenIngland is thine and myne," &c.and that noted boast of Hugh Bigot, Earl of Norfolk, in the same reign of K. Henry II. vid.Camdeni Britannia(art. Suffolk), 1607, folio"Were I in my castle of BungeyVpon the riuer of WaueneyI would ne care for the king of Cockeney."Indeed, many of our old metrical romances, whether originally English, or translated from the French to be sung to an English audience, are addressed to persons of high rank, as appears from their beginning thus: "Listen, Lordings," and the like. These were prior to the time of Chaucer, as appears from vol. iii. appendix (sect. ii.). And yet to his time our Norman nobles are supposed to have adhered to their French language.
[U3][Both the Norman and English languages would beheard at the houses of the great.] A remarkable proof of this is that the most diligent inquirers after ancient English rhimes find the earliest they can discover in the mouths of the Norman nobles, such as that of Robert, Earl of Leicester, and his Flemings in 1173, temp. Hen. II. (little more than a century after the Conquest), recorded by Lambarde in hisDictionary of England, p. 36:
"Hoppe Wyliken, hoppe WylikenIngland is thine and myne," &c.
"Hoppe Wyliken, hoppe WylikenIngland is thine and myne," &c.
and that noted boast of Hugh Bigot, Earl of Norfolk, in the same reign of K. Henry II. vid.Camdeni Britannia(art. Suffolk), 1607, folio
"Were I in my castle of BungeyVpon the riuer of WaueneyI would ne care for the king of Cockeney."
"Were I in my castle of BungeyVpon the riuer of WaueneyI would ne care for the king of Cockeney."
Indeed, many of our old metrical romances, whether originally English, or translated from the French to be sung to an English audience, are addressed to persons of high rank, as appears from their beginning thus: "Listen, Lordings," and the like. These were prior to the time of Chaucer, as appears from vol. iii. appendix (sect. ii.). And yet to his time our Norman nobles are supposed to have adhered to their French language.
[V][That intercommunity, &c. between the French and EnglishMinstrels, &c.] This might, perhaps, in a great measure be re-referred even to the Norman Conquest, when the victors brought with them all their original opinions and fables; which could not fail to be adopted by the English minstrels and others who solicited their favour. This interchange, &c. between the minstrels of the two nations would be afterwards promoted by the great intercourse produced among all the nations of Christendom in the general crusades, and by that spirit of chivalry which led knights, and their attendants the heralds, and minstrels, &c. to ramble about continually from one court to another in order to be present at solemn turnaments, and other feats of arms.
[V][That intercommunity, &c. between the French and EnglishMinstrels, &c.] This might, perhaps, in a great measure be re-referred even to the Norman Conquest, when the victors brought with them all their original opinions and fables; which could not fail to be adopted by the English minstrels and others who solicited their favour. This interchange, &c. between the minstrels of the two nations would be afterwards promoted by the great intercourse produced among all the nations of Christendom in the general crusades, and by that spirit of chivalry which led knights, and their attendants the heralds, and minstrels, &c. to ramble about continually from one court to another in order to be present at solemn turnaments, and other feats of arms.
[V2][Is not the only instance, &c.] The constant admission granted to minstrels was so established a privilege, that it became a ready expedient to writers of fiction. Thus, in the old romance ofHorn-Child, the Princess Rymenyld being confined in an inaccessible castle, the prince, her lover, and some assistant knights with concealed arms assume the minstrel character, and approaching the castle with their "gleyinge" or minstrelsy, areheard by the lord of it, who being informed they were "harpeirs, jogelers, and fythelers,"[1127]has them admitted, when"Horn sette him abenche (i.e.on a bench).Is (i.e.his) harpe he gan clencheHe made Rymenild a lay."This sets the princess a weeping and leads to the catastrophe, for he immediately advances to "the Borde" or table, kills the ravisher, and releases the lady.
[V2][Is not the only instance, &c.] The constant admission granted to minstrels was so established a privilege, that it became a ready expedient to writers of fiction. Thus, in the old romance ofHorn-Child, the Princess Rymenyld being confined in an inaccessible castle, the prince, her lover, and some assistant knights with concealed arms assume the minstrel character, and approaching the castle with their "gleyinge" or minstrelsy, areheard by the lord of it, who being informed they were "harpeirs, jogelers, and fythelers,"[1127]has them admitted, when
"Horn sette him abenche (i.e.on a bench).Is (i.e.his) harpe he gan clencheHe made Rymenild a lay."
"Horn sette him abenche (i.e.on a bench).Is (i.e.his) harpe he gan clencheHe made Rymenild a lay."
This sets the princess a weeping and leads to the catastrophe, for he immediately advances to "the Borde" or table, kills the ravisher, and releases the lady.
[V3][...Assumed the dress and character of a harper, &c.] We have this curioushistoriettein the records of Lacock Nunnery in Wiltshire, which had been founded by this Countess of Salisbury. See Vincent'sDiscovery of Errors in Brookes Catalogue of Nobility, &c. folio, pp. 445-6, &c. Take the following extract, and see Dugdale'sBaron, i. p. 175."Ela uxor Gullielmi Longespee primi, nata fuit apud Ambresbiriam, patre et matre Normannis."Pater itaque ejus defectus senio migravit ad Christum, A.D. 1196. Mater ejus ante biennium obiit.... Interea Domina charissima clam per cognatos adducta fuit in Normanniam, & ibidem sub tutâ et arctâ custodiâ nutrita. Eodem tempore in Anglia fuit quidam miles nomine Gulielmus Talbot, qui induit se habitum Peregrini (Anglicè, a Pilgrim) in Normanniam transfretavit & moratus per duos annos, huc atque illuc vagans, ad explorandam dominam Elam Sarum. Et illâ inventâ, exuit habitum Peregrini, & induit se quasi Cytharisator & curiam ubi morabatur intravit. Et ut erat homo Jocosus, in Gestis Antiquorum valde peritus, ibidemgratanter fuit acceptus quasi familiaris. Et quando tempus aptum invenit, in Angliam repatriavit, habens secum istam venerabilem dominam Elam & hæredem Comitatus Sarum; & eam Regi Richardo præsentavit. Ac ille lætissime eam suscepit, & Fratri suo Guillelmo Longespee maritavit....A.D.1226 Dominus Guill. Longespee primus nonas Martii obiit. Ela vero uxor ejus et 7 annis supervixit.... Una die Duo monasteria fundavit primo mane xvi Kal. Maii.A.D.1232. apud Lacock, in quo sanctæ degunt Canonissæ.... Et Henton post nonam, anno vero ætatis suæ, xlv. &c."
[V3][...Assumed the dress and character of a harper, &c.] We have this curioushistoriettein the records of Lacock Nunnery in Wiltshire, which had been founded by this Countess of Salisbury. See Vincent'sDiscovery of Errors in Brookes Catalogue of Nobility, &c. folio, pp. 445-6, &c. Take the following extract, and see Dugdale'sBaron, i. p. 175.
"Ela uxor Gullielmi Longespee primi, nata fuit apud Ambresbiriam, patre et matre Normannis.
"Pater itaque ejus defectus senio migravit ad Christum, A.D. 1196. Mater ejus ante biennium obiit.... Interea Domina charissima clam per cognatos adducta fuit in Normanniam, & ibidem sub tutâ et arctâ custodiâ nutrita. Eodem tempore in Anglia fuit quidam miles nomine Gulielmus Talbot, qui induit se habitum Peregrini (Anglicè, a Pilgrim) in Normanniam transfretavit & moratus per duos annos, huc atque illuc vagans, ad explorandam dominam Elam Sarum. Et illâ inventâ, exuit habitum Peregrini, & induit se quasi Cytharisator & curiam ubi morabatur intravit. Et ut erat homo Jocosus, in Gestis Antiquorum valde peritus, ibidemgratanter fuit acceptus quasi familiaris. Et quando tempus aptum invenit, in Angliam repatriavit, habens secum istam venerabilem dominam Elam & hæredem Comitatus Sarum; & eam Regi Richardo præsentavit. Ac ille lætissime eam suscepit, & Fratri suo Guillelmo Longespee maritavit....
A.D.1226 Dominus Guill. Longespee primus nonas Martii obiit. Ela vero uxor ejus et 7 annis supervixit.... Una die Duo monasteria fundavit primo mane xvi Kal. Maii.A.D.1232. apud Lacock, in quo sanctæ degunt Canonissæ.... Et Henton post nonam, anno vero ætatis suæ, xlv. &c."
[W]For the preceding account Dugdale refers toMonast. Angl.i. (r. ii.) p. 185, but gives it as enlarged by D. Powel, in hisHist.of Cambria, p. 196, who is known to have followed ancient Welsh MSS. The words in the Monasticon are: "Qui accersitis Sutoribus Cestriæ et Histrionibus, festinanter cum exercitu suo venit domino suo facere succursum. Walenses vero videntes multitudinem magnam venientem, relictâ obsidione fugerunt.... Et propter hoc dedit comes antedictus.... Constabulario dominationem Sutorum et Histrionum. Constabularius vero retinuit sibi et hæredibus suis dominationem Sutorum: et Histrionum dedit vero Seneschallo." So the passage should apparently be pointed; but eitheretorveroseems redundant.We shall see below in note[Z]the proper import of the wordhistriones; but it is very remarkable that this is not the word used in the grant of the constable De Lacy to Dutton, but "magisterium omniumleccatorumetmeretriciumtotius Cestreshire, sicut liberius illum (sic) magisterium teneo de comite" (vid.Blount'sAncient Tenures, p. 156). Now, as under this grant the heirs of Dutton confessedly held for many ages amagisterialjurisdiction over all the minstrels and musicians of that county, and as it could not be conveyed by the wordmeretrices, the natural inference is, that the minstrels were expressed by the termleccatores. It is true, Du Cange compiling his Glossary could only find in the writers he consulted this word used in the abusive sense, often applied to every synonyme of the sportive and dissolute minstrel, viz.Scurra,vaniloquus,parasitus,epulo, &c. (This I conceive to be the proper arrangement of these explanations, which only express the character given to the minstrel elsewhere: see Du Cange,passim, and notes,[C],[E],[F],[I], iii. 2, &c.) But he quotes an ancient MS. in French metre, wherein the leccour (Lat.leccator) and the minstrel are joined together, as receiving from Charlemagne a grant of the territory of Provence, and from whom the Provençal troubadours were derived, &c. See the passage above in note[C]p. 387.The exception in favour of the family of Dutton is thus expressed in the statute, Anno 39, Eliz. chap. iv. entitled, "An Act for punishment of Rogues, Vagabonds, and Sturdy Beggars.""§ II.... All fencers, bearwards, common players of enterludes, and minstrels, wandering abroad (other than players of enterludes belonging to any baron of this realm, or any other honourable personage of greater degree, to be authorised to play under the hand and seal of arms of such baron or personage): all juglers, tinkers, pedlers, &c.... shall be adjudged and deemed rogues, vagabonds, and sturdy beggars, &c."§ X. Provided always that this act, or any thing therein contained, or any authority thereby given, shall not in any wise extend to disinherit, prejudice, or hinder John Dutton of Dutton, in the county of Chester, Esquire, his heirs or assigns, for, touching or concerning any liberty, preheminence, authority, jurisdiction, or inheritance, which the said John Dutton now lawfully useth, or hath, or lawfully may or ought to use within the county-palatine of Chester, and the county of the city of Chester, or either of them, by reason of any ancient charters of any kings of this land, or by reason of any prescription, usage, or title whatsoever."The same clauses are renewed in the last act on this subject, passed in the present reign of George III.
[W]For the preceding account Dugdale refers toMonast. Angl.i. (r. ii.) p. 185, but gives it as enlarged by D. Powel, in hisHist.of Cambria, p. 196, who is known to have followed ancient Welsh MSS. The words in the Monasticon are: "Qui accersitis Sutoribus Cestriæ et Histrionibus, festinanter cum exercitu suo venit domino suo facere succursum. Walenses vero videntes multitudinem magnam venientem, relictâ obsidione fugerunt.... Et propter hoc dedit comes antedictus.... Constabulario dominationem Sutorum et Histrionum. Constabularius vero retinuit sibi et hæredibus suis dominationem Sutorum: et Histrionum dedit vero Seneschallo." So the passage should apparently be pointed; but eitheretorveroseems redundant.
We shall see below in note[Z]the proper import of the wordhistriones; but it is very remarkable that this is not the word used in the grant of the constable De Lacy to Dutton, but "magisterium omniumleccatorumetmeretriciumtotius Cestreshire, sicut liberius illum (sic) magisterium teneo de comite" (vid.Blount'sAncient Tenures, p. 156). Now, as under this grant the heirs of Dutton confessedly held for many ages amagisterialjurisdiction over all the minstrels and musicians of that county, and as it could not be conveyed by the wordmeretrices, the natural inference is, that the minstrels were expressed by the termleccatores. It is true, Du Cange compiling his Glossary could only find in the writers he consulted this word used in the abusive sense, often applied to every synonyme of the sportive and dissolute minstrel, viz.Scurra,vaniloquus,parasitus,epulo, &c. (This I conceive to be the proper arrangement of these explanations, which only express the character given to the minstrel elsewhere: see Du Cange,passim, and notes,[C],[E],[F],[I], iii. 2, &c.) But he quotes an ancient MS. in French metre, wherein the leccour (Lat.leccator) and the minstrel are joined together, as receiving from Charlemagne a grant of the territory of Provence, and from whom the Provençal troubadours were derived, &c. See the passage above in note[C]p. 387.
The exception in favour of the family of Dutton is thus expressed in the statute, Anno 39, Eliz. chap. iv. entitled, "An Act for punishment of Rogues, Vagabonds, and Sturdy Beggars."
"§ II.... All fencers, bearwards, common players of enterludes, and minstrels, wandering abroad (other than players of enterludes belonging to any baron of this realm, or any other honourable personage of greater degree, to be authorised to play under the hand and seal of arms of such baron or personage): all juglers, tinkers, pedlers, &c.... shall be adjudged and deemed rogues, vagabonds, and sturdy beggars, &c.
"§ X. Provided always that this act, or any thing therein contained, or any authority thereby given, shall not in any wise extend to disinherit, prejudice, or hinder John Dutton of Dutton, in the county of Chester, Esquire, his heirs or assigns, for, touching or concerning any liberty, preheminence, authority, jurisdiction, or inheritance, which the said John Dutton now lawfully useth, or hath, or lawfully may or ought to use within the county-palatine of Chester, and the county of the city of Chester, or either of them, by reason of any ancient charters of any kings of this land, or by reason of any prescription, usage, or title whatsoever."
The same clauses are renewed in the last act on this subject, passed in the present reign of George III.
[X][Edward I ... at the knighting of his son, &c.] SeeNic. Triveti Annales, Oxon. 1719, 8vo. p. 342."In festo Pentecostes Rex filium suum armis militaribus cinxit, & cum eo Comites Warenniæ & Arundeliæ, aliosque, quorum numerus ducentos & quadraginta dicitur excessisse. Eodem die cum sedisset Rex in mensa, novis militibus circumdatus, ingressa Ministrellorum Multitudo, portantium multiplici ornatu amictum, ut milites præcipue novos invitarent, & inducerent, ad vovendum factum armorum aliquod coram signo."
[X][Edward I ... at the knighting of his son, &c.] SeeNic. Triveti Annales, Oxon. 1719, 8vo. p. 342.
"In festo Pentecostes Rex filium suum armis militaribus cinxit, & cum eo Comites Warenniæ & Arundeliæ, aliosque, quorum numerus ducentos & quadraginta dicitur excessisse. Eodem die cum sedisset Rex in mensa, novis militibus circumdatus, ingressa Ministrellorum Multitudo, portantium multiplici ornatu amictum, ut milites præcipue novos invitarent, & inducerent, ad vovendum factum armorum aliquod coram signo."
[Y][By an express regulation, &c.] See in Hearne'sAppend.ad Lelandi Collectan.vol. vi. p. 36. "A Dietarie, Writtes published after the Ordinance of Earles and Barons, Anno Dom. 1315.""Edward by the grace of God, &c. to sheriffes, &c., greetyng. Forasmuch as ... many idle persons, under colour of mynstrelsie, and going in messages, and other faigned busines, have ben and yet be receaved in other mens houses to meate and drynke, and be not therwith contented yf they be not largely consydered with gyftes of the Lordes of the houses, &c.... We wyllyng to restrayne such outrageous enterprises and idlenes, &c. have ordeyned ... that to the houses of prelates, earles, and barons, none resort to meate and drynke, unless he be a mynstrel, and of these minstrels that there come none except it be three or four minstrels of honour at the most in one day, unlesse he be desired of the Lorde of thehouse. And to the houses of meaner men that none come unlesse he be desired, and that such as shall come so, holde themselves contented with meate and drynke, and with such curtesie as the maister of the house wyl shewe unto them of his owne good wyll, without their askyng of any thyng. And yf any one do agaynst this ordinaunce, at the firste tyme he to lose his minstrelsie, and at the second tyme to forsweare his craft, and never to be receaved for a minstrell in any house.... Yeven at Langley the vi. day of August, in the ix yere of our reigne."These abuses arose again to as great a height as ever in little more than a century after; in consequence, I suppose, of the licentiousness that crept in during the civil wars of York and Lancaster. This appears from the charter, 9 E. IV. referred to in p. xlv. "Ex querulosâ insinuatione ... Ministrallorum nostrorum accepimus qualiter nonnulli rudes agricolæ & artifices diversarum misterarum regni nostri Angliæ, finxerunt se fore ministrallos, quorum aliqui liberatam nostram eis minime datam portarent, seipsos etiam fingentes esse minstrallos nostros proprios, cujus quidem liberatæ ac dictæ artis sive occupationis ministrallorum colore, in diversis partibus regni nostri prædicti grandes pecuniarum exactiones de ligeis nostris deceptive colligunt, &c."Abuses of this kind prevailed much later in Wales, as appears from the famous commission issued out in 9 Eliz. (1567) for bestowing the silver harp on the best minstrel, rythmer, or bard, in the principality of North Wales: of which a fuller account will be given below in note[Bb3].
[Y][By an express regulation, &c.] See in Hearne'sAppend.ad Lelandi Collectan.vol. vi. p. 36. "A Dietarie, Writtes published after the Ordinance of Earles and Barons, Anno Dom. 1315."
"Edward by the grace of God, &c. to sheriffes, &c., greetyng. Forasmuch as ... many idle persons, under colour of mynstrelsie, and going in messages, and other faigned busines, have ben and yet be receaved in other mens houses to meate and drynke, and be not therwith contented yf they be not largely consydered with gyftes of the Lordes of the houses, &c.... We wyllyng to restrayne such outrageous enterprises and idlenes, &c. have ordeyned ... that to the houses of prelates, earles, and barons, none resort to meate and drynke, unless he be a mynstrel, and of these minstrels that there come none except it be three or four minstrels of honour at the most in one day, unlesse he be desired of the Lorde of thehouse. And to the houses of meaner men that none come unlesse he be desired, and that such as shall come so, holde themselves contented with meate and drynke, and with such curtesie as the maister of the house wyl shewe unto them of his owne good wyll, without their askyng of any thyng. And yf any one do agaynst this ordinaunce, at the firste tyme he to lose his minstrelsie, and at the second tyme to forsweare his craft, and never to be receaved for a minstrell in any house.... Yeven at Langley the vi. day of August, in the ix yere of our reigne."
These abuses arose again to as great a height as ever in little more than a century after; in consequence, I suppose, of the licentiousness that crept in during the civil wars of York and Lancaster. This appears from the charter, 9 E. IV. referred to in p. xlv. "Ex querulosâ insinuatione ... Ministrallorum nostrorum accepimus qualiter nonnulli rudes agricolæ & artifices diversarum misterarum regni nostri Angliæ, finxerunt se fore ministrallos, quorum aliqui liberatam nostram eis minime datam portarent, seipsos etiam fingentes esse minstrallos nostros proprios, cujus quidem liberatæ ac dictæ artis sive occupationis ministrallorum colore, in diversis partibus regni nostri prædicti grandes pecuniarum exactiones de ligeis nostris deceptive colligunt, &c."
Abuses of this kind prevailed much later in Wales, as appears from the famous commission issued out in 9 Eliz. (1567) for bestowing the silver harp on the best minstrel, rythmer, or bard, in the principality of North Wales: of which a fuller account will be given below in note[Bb3].
[Z][It is thus related by Stow.] See his Survey of London, &c. fol. 1633, p. 521 (Acc. of Westm. Hall). Stow had this passage from Walsingham'sHist. Ang.... "Intravit quædam mulier ornata histrionali habitu, equum bonum insidens histrionaliter phaleratum, quæ mensas more histrionum circuivit; & tandem ad Regis mensam per gradus ascendit, & quandam literam coram rege posuit, & retracto fræno (salutatis ubique discumbentibus) prout venerat ita recessit," &c.Anglic. Norm. Script.&c. Franc. 1603, fol. p. 109.It may be observed here, that minstrels and others often rode on horseback up to the royal table, when the kings were feasting in their great halls. See in this vol. book I, No. 6.The answer of the porters (when they were afterwards blamed for admitting her) also deserves attention. "Non esse moris domus regiæ histriones ab ingressu quomodolibet prohibere, &c." Walsingh.That Stow rightly translated the Latin wordhistriohere byminstrel, meaning a musician that sung, and whose subjects were stories of chivalry, admits of easy proof; for in theGesta Romanorum,chap. cxi. Mercury is represented as coming to Argus in the character of a minstrel; when he "incepit, morehistrionicofabulas dicere, et plerumque cantare." (T. Warton, iii. p. li.) And Muratori cites a passage, in an old Italian chronicle, wherein mention is made of a stage erected at Milan: "Super quohistrionescantibant, sicut modo cantatur de Rolando et Oliverio."Antich.Ital.ii. p. 6. (Observ. on the Statutes, 4th edit. p. 362.)See also[E]p.388.[F]p.389.
[Z][It is thus related by Stow.] See his Survey of London, &c. fol. 1633, p. 521 (Acc. of Westm. Hall). Stow had this passage from Walsingham'sHist. Ang.... "Intravit quædam mulier ornata histrionali habitu, equum bonum insidens histrionaliter phaleratum, quæ mensas more histrionum circuivit; & tandem ad Regis mensam per gradus ascendit, & quandam literam coram rege posuit, & retracto fræno (salutatis ubique discumbentibus) prout venerat ita recessit," &c.Anglic. Norm. Script.&c. Franc. 1603, fol. p. 109.
It may be observed here, that minstrels and others often rode on horseback up to the royal table, when the kings were feasting in their great halls. See in this vol. book I, No. 6.
The answer of the porters (when they were afterwards blamed for admitting her) also deserves attention. "Non esse moris domus regiæ histriones ab ingressu quomodolibet prohibere, &c." Walsingh.
That Stow rightly translated the Latin wordhistriohere byminstrel, meaning a musician that sung, and whose subjects were stories of chivalry, admits of easy proof; for in theGesta Romanorum,chap. cxi. Mercury is represented as coming to Argus in the character of a minstrel; when he "incepit, morehistrionicofabulas dicere, et plerumque cantare." (T. Warton, iii. p. li.) And Muratori cites a passage, in an old Italian chronicle, wherein mention is made of a stage erected at Milan: "Super quohistrionescantibant, sicut modo cantatur de Rolando et Oliverio."Antich.Ital.ii. p. 6. (Observ. on the Statutes, 4th edit. p. 362.)
See also[E]p.388.[F]p.389.
[Aa][There should seem to have been women of this profession.] This may be inferred from the variety of names appropriated to them in the Middle Ages, viz. Anglo-Sax. Glιp-meꝺen (Glee-maiden), &c. ᵹlẏpιenꝺemaꝺen, ᵹlẏpbẏꝺeneꞅꞇꞃa. (vid. supra, p.393.) Fr.jengleresse, Med. Lat.joculatrix,ministralissa,fœminaministerialis, &c. (vid. Du Cange,Gloss. & Suppl.)See what is said in p.371concerning the "sisters of the fraternity of minstrels;" see also a passage quoted by Dr. Burney (ii. 315) from Muratori, of the chorus of women singing thro' the streets accompanied with musical instruments in 1268.Had the female described by Walsingham been atombestere, or dancing-woman (see Tyrwhitt'sChaucer, iv. 307, and v. Gloss.) that historian would probably have used the wordsaltatrix(see T. Warton, i. 240, note M.)Thesesaltatriceswere prohibited from exhibiting in churches and church-yards along withjoculatores,histriones, with whom they were sometimes classed, especially by the rigid ecclesiastics, who censured, in the severest terms, all these sportive characters (vid. T. Wartonin loco citato, and videsupranot. E, F, &c.).And here I would observe, that although Fauchet and other subsequent writers affect to arrange the several members of the minstrel profession under the different classes oftroverres(ortroubadours),chanterres,conteours, andjugleurs, &c. (vid. p.385) as if they were distinct and separate orders of men, clearly distinguished from each other by these appropriate terms, we find no sufficient grounds for this in the oldest writers; but the general names in Latin,histrio,mimus,joculator,ministrallus, &c. in French,menestrier,menestrel,jongleur,jugleur, &c. and in English,jogeleur,jugler,minstrels, and the like, seem to be given them indiscriminately. And one or other of these names seem to have been sometimes applied to every species of men, whose business it was to entertain or divert (joculari) whether with poesy, singing, music, or gesticulation, singly, or with a mixture of all these. Yet as all men of this sort were considered as belonging to one class, order or community (many of the above arts being sometimes exercised by the same person), they had all of them doubtless the same privileges, and it equally throws light upon the general history ofthe profession to shew what favour or encouragement was given, at any particular period of time, to any one branch of it. I have not therefore thought it needful to inquire whether, in the various passages quoted in these pages, the word minstrel, &c. is always to be understood in its exact and proper meaning of a singer to the harp, &c.That men of very different arts and talents were included under the common name of minstrels, &c. appears from a variety of authorities. Thus we havemenestrels de trompesandmenestrelsde bouchein the suppl. to Du Cange, c. 1227, and it appears still more evident from an old French rhymer, whom I shall quote at large:"Le Quens[1128]manda lesMenestrels;Et si a fet[1129]crier entre els,Qui la meillor truffe[1130]sauroitDire, ne faire, qu'il auroitSa robe d'escarlate nueve.L'uns Menestrels à l'autre reuveFere son mestier, tel qu'il sot,Li uns fet l'yvre, l'autre sot;Li uns chante, li autre note;Et li autres dit la riote;Et li autres la jenglerie;[1131]Cil qui sevent de jonglerieVielent par devant le Conte;Aucuns ja qui fabliaus conteIl i ot dit mainte risée," &c.Fabliaux et Contes, 12mo. tom. ii. p. 161.And what species of entertainment was afforded by the ancientjuggleurswe learn from the following citation from an old romance, written in 1230:"Quand les tables ostees furentC'iljuggleursin pies esturentS'ont vielles, et harpes priseesChansons, sons, vers, et reprisesEtgesteschantè nos ont."Sir J. Hawkins, ii. 44, fromAndr. du Chene. See also Tyrwhitt'sChaucer, iv. p. 299.All the before mentioned sports went by the general name ofministralcia ministellorum ludicra, &c.—Charta an.1377,apudRymer, vii. p. 160. "Peracto autem prandio, ascendebat D. Rex in cameram suam cum Prælatis Magnatibus & Proceribus prædictis: & deinceps Magnates, Milites & Domini, aliique Generosi diem illum, usque ad tempus cœnæ, in tripudiis, coreis & solempnibus Ministralciis, præ gaudio solempnitatis illius continuarunt." (Du Cange,Gloss.773.) This was at the coronation of K. Richard II.It was common for the minstrels to dance, as well as to harp and sing (see above, note[E], p.389); thus in the old Romance ofTiranteel Blanco, Val. 1511, the 14th cap. lib. 2, begins thus: "Despues qui las Mesas fueron alçadas vinieron los Ministriles; y delante del rey, y de la Reyna dançaron un rato: y despues truxeron colacion."They also probably, among their other feats, played tricks of slight of hand, hence the word jugler came to signify a performer of legerdemain; and it was sometimes used in this sense (to which it is now appropriated) even so early as the time of Chaucer, who in hisSquire's Tale, (ii. 108) speaks of the horse of brass, as:"——likeAn apparence ymade by som magike,AsJogeloursplaien at thise festes grete."See also theFrere's Tale, i. p. 279, v. 7049.
[Aa][There should seem to have been women of this profession.] This may be inferred from the variety of names appropriated to them in the Middle Ages, viz. Anglo-Sax. Glιp-meꝺen (Glee-maiden), &c. ᵹlẏpιenꝺemaꝺen, ᵹlẏpbẏꝺeneꞅꞇꞃa. (vid. supra, p.393.) Fr.jengleresse, Med. Lat.joculatrix,ministralissa,fœminaministerialis, &c. (vid. Du Cange,Gloss. & Suppl.)
See what is said in p.371concerning the "sisters of the fraternity of minstrels;" see also a passage quoted by Dr. Burney (ii. 315) from Muratori, of the chorus of women singing thro' the streets accompanied with musical instruments in 1268.
Had the female described by Walsingham been atombestere, or dancing-woman (see Tyrwhitt'sChaucer, iv. 307, and v. Gloss.) that historian would probably have used the wordsaltatrix(see T. Warton, i. 240, note M.)
Thesesaltatriceswere prohibited from exhibiting in churches and church-yards along withjoculatores,histriones, with whom they were sometimes classed, especially by the rigid ecclesiastics, who censured, in the severest terms, all these sportive characters (vid. T. Wartonin loco citato, and videsupranot. E, F, &c.).
And here I would observe, that although Fauchet and other subsequent writers affect to arrange the several members of the minstrel profession under the different classes oftroverres(ortroubadours),chanterres,conteours, andjugleurs, &c. (vid. p.385) as if they were distinct and separate orders of men, clearly distinguished from each other by these appropriate terms, we find no sufficient grounds for this in the oldest writers; but the general names in Latin,histrio,mimus,joculator,ministrallus, &c. in French,menestrier,menestrel,jongleur,jugleur, &c. and in English,jogeleur,jugler,minstrels, and the like, seem to be given them indiscriminately. And one or other of these names seem to have been sometimes applied to every species of men, whose business it was to entertain or divert (joculari) whether with poesy, singing, music, or gesticulation, singly, or with a mixture of all these. Yet as all men of this sort were considered as belonging to one class, order or community (many of the above arts being sometimes exercised by the same person), they had all of them doubtless the same privileges, and it equally throws light upon the general history ofthe profession to shew what favour or encouragement was given, at any particular period of time, to any one branch of it. I have not therefore thought it needful to inquire whether, in the various passages quoted in these pages, the word minstrel, &c. is always to be understood in its exact and proper meaning of a singer to the harp, &c.
That men of very different arts and talents were included under the common name of minstrels, &c. appears from a variety of authorities. Thus we havemenestrels de trompesandmenestrelsde bouchein the suppl. to Du Cange, c. 1227, and it appears still more evident from an old French rhymer, whom I shall quote at large:
"Le Quens[1128]manda lesMenestrels;Et si a fet[1129]crier entre els,Qui la meillor truffe[1130]sauroitDire, ne faire, qu'il auroitSa robe d'escarlate nueve.L'uns Menestrels à l'autre reuveFere son mestier, tel qu'il sot,Li uns fet l'yvre, l'autre sot;Li uns chante, li autre note;Et li autres dit la riote;Et li autres la jenglerie;[1131]Cil qui sevent de jonglerieVielent par devant le Conte;Aucuns ja qui fabliaus conteIl i ot dit mainte risée," &c.
"Le Quens[1128]manda lesMenestrels;Et si a fet[1129]crier entre els,Qui la meillor truffe[1130]sauroitDire, ne faire, qu'il auroitSa robe d'escarlate nueve.L'uns Menestrels à l'autre reuveFere son mestier, tel qu'il sot,Li uns fet l'yvre, l'autre sot;Li uns chante, li autre note;Et li autres dit la riote;Et li autres la jenglerie;[1131]Cil qui sevent de jonglerieVielent par devant le Conte;Aucuns ja qui fabliaus conteIl i ot dit mainte risée," &c.
Fabliaux et Contes, 12mo. tom. ii. p. 161.
And what species of entertainment was afforded by the ancientjuggleurswe learn from the following citation from an old romance, written in 1230:
"Quand les tables ostees furentC'iljuggleursin pies esturentS'ont vielles, et harpes priseesChansons, sons, vers, et reprisesEtgesteschantè nos ont."
"Quand les tables ostees furentC'iljuggleursin pies esturentS'ont vielles, et harpes priseesChansons, sons, vers, et reprisesEtgesteschantè nos ont."
Sir J. Hawkins, ii. 44, fromAndr. du Chene. See also Tyrwhitt'sChaucer, iv. p. 299.
All the before mentioned sports went by the general name ofministralcia ministellorum ludicra, &c.—Charta an.1377,apudRymer, vii. p. 160. "Peracto autem prandio, ascendebat D. Rex in cameram suam cum Prælatis Magnatibus & Proceribus prædictis: & deinceps Magnates, Milites & Domini, aliique Generosi diem illum, usque ad tempus cœnæ, in tripudiis, coreis & solempnibus Ministralciis, præ gaudio solempnitatis illius continuarunt." (Du Cange,Gloss.773.) This was at the coronation of K. Richard II.
It was common for the minstrels to dance, as well as to harp and sing (see above, note[E], p.389); thus in the old Romance ofTiranteel Blanco, Val. 1511, the 14th cap. lib. 2, begins thus: "Despues qui las Mesas fueron alçadas vinieron los Ministriles; y delante del rey, y de la Reyna dançaron un rato: y despues truxeron colacion."
They also probably, among their other feats, played tricks of slight of hand, hence the word jugler came to signify a performer of legerdemain; and it was sometimes used in this sense (to which it is now appropriated) even so early as the time of Chaucer, who in hisSquire's Tale, (ii. 108) speaks of the horse of brass, as:
"——likeAn apparence ymade by som magike,AsJogeloursplaien at thise festes grete."
"——likeAn apparence ymade by som magike,AsJogeloursplaien at thise festes grete."
See also theFrere's Tale, i. p. 279, v. 7049.
[Aa2][Females playing on the harp.] Thus in the old romance of "Syr Degore (or Degree," No. 22, iii. appendix) we have (Sign. D. i.):"The lady, that was so faire and bright,Upon her bed she sate down ryght;She harped notes swete and fine.(Her mayds filled a piece of wine.)And Syr Degore, sate him downe,For to hear the harpes sowne."The 4th line being omitted in the pr. copy, is supplied from the folio MS.In theSquyr of lowe Degree(No. 24, iii. appendix) the king says to his daughter (Sign. D. i.):"Ye were wont to harpe and syng,And be the meryest in chamber comyng."In theCarle of Carlisle, (No. 10. iii. appendix) we have the following passage (folio MS. p.451, v. 217)."Downe came a lady faire and free,And sett her on the Carles knee:One whiles shee harped another whiles song,Both of paramours and louinge amonge."And in the Romance ofEger and Grime(No. 12, iii. appendix), we have (ibid.p.127, col. 2) in part i. v. 263:"The ladye fayre of hew and hydeShee sate downe by the bed sideShee laid a souter (psaltry) vpon her kneeTheron shee plaid full lovesomelye.... And her 2 maydens sweetlye sange."A similar passage occurs in part iv, v. 129 (p. 136.)—But these instances are sufficient.
[Aa2][Females playing on the harp.] Thus in the old romance of "Syr Degore (or Degree," No. 22, iii. appendix) we have (Sign. D. i.):
"The lady, that was so faire and bright,Upon her bed she sate down ryght;She harped notes swete and fine.(Her mayds filled a piece of wine.)And Syr Degore, sate him downe,For to hear the harpes sowne."
"The lady, that was so faire and bright,Upon her bed she sate down ryght;She harped notes swete and fine.(Her mayds filled a piece of wine.)And Syr Degore, sate him downe,For to hear the harpes sowne."
The 4th line being omitted in the pr. copy, is supplied from the folio MS.
In theSquyr of lowe Degree(No. 24, iii. appendix) the king says to his daughter (Sign. D. i.):
"Ye were wont to harpe and syng,And be the meryest in chamber comyng."
"Ye were wont to harpe and syng,And be the meryest in chamber comyng."
In theCarle of Carlisle, (No. 10. iii. appendix) we have the following passage (folio MS. p.451, v. 217).
"Downe came a lady faire and free,And sett her on the Carles knee:One whiles shee harped another whiles song,Both of paramours and louinge amonge."
"Downe came a lady faire and free,And sett her on the Carles knee:One whiles shee harped another whiles song,Both of paramours and louinge amonge."
And in the Romance ofEger and Grime(No. 12, iii. appendix), we have (ibid.p.127, col. 2) in part i. v. 263:
"The ladye fayre of hew and hydeShee sate downe by the bed sideShee laid a souter (psaltry) vpon her kneeTheron shee plaid full lovesomelye.... And her 2 maydens sweetlye sange."
"The ladye fayre of hew and hydeShee sate downe by the bed sideShee laid a souter (psaltry) vpon her kneeTheron shee plaid full lovesomelye.... And her 2 maydens sweetlye sange."
A similar passage occurs in part iv, v. 129 (p. 136.)—But these instances are sufficient.