Chapter XXV: Humanism and Mediaevalism (2)

A street in Paris known at the end of the thirteenth century as the ‘_rue aus Jugléeurs_,’ came later to be known as the _rue des Ménétriers_ (Bernhard, iii. 378). This is significant of a new tendency in nomenclature which appears with the growth during the fourteenth century of the household entertainers at the expense of their unattached brethren of the road. _Minister_ is classical Latin for ‘inferior’ and so ‘personal attendant.’ The _ministeriales_ of the later Empire are officers personally appointed by the Emperor. Towards the end of the thirteenth century _minister_, with its diminutives _ministellus_ and _ministrallus_ (French _menestrel_), can be seen passing from the general sense of ‘household attendant’ to the special sense of ‘household _ioculator_.’ A harper was one of the _ministri_ of Prince Edward in 1270 (vol. i. p. 49). Gautier, ii. 13, 51, quotes _li famles_ (_famuli_) as a synonym for such _ioculatores_, and such doublets as ‘menestrel et serviteur,’ ‘menestrel et varlet de chambre.’ The _ministeralli_ of Philip IV in 1288 include, with the musicians, the _rex heraudum_ and the _rex ribaldorum_. From the beginning of the fourteenth century, however, _ministrallus_, with French _menestrel_, _menestrier_, and English _menestrel_, _mynstral_, is firmly established in the special sense. The antithesis between the _ministrallus_ and the unattached _ioculator_ appears in the terminology of the 1321 statutes of the Paris guild, ‘menestreus et menestrelles, jougleurs et jougleresses’; but even this disappears, and the new group of terms becomes equivalent to the _ioculator_ group in its widest sense. So too, _ministralcia_, _menestrardie_, _minstralcie_, although chiefly used, as by Chaucer, for music, are not confined to that; e.g. _Derby Accounts_, 109, ‘cuidam tumblere facienti ministralciam suam.’ The word is here approaching very near its kinsman _métier_ (vol. ii. p. 105). Wright-Wülcker, 596, 693, quotes from the fifteenth-century glossaries, ‘_simphonia_, mynstrylsy,’ and ‘_mimilogium_, mynstrisye.’

_Ioculator_ and _ministrallus_ are in their technical sense post-classical. But it is to be noted that the classical _histrio_ and _mimus_, widened in connotation to an exact equivalent with these, remain in full use throughout the Middle Ages. They are indeed the more literary and learned words, as may be seen from the fact that they did not give rise to Romance or English forms; but they are not differentiated as to meaning. In particular, I do not find that _mimus_ is used, as I have occasionally for convenience used it, to denote the lower minstrel of classical origin, as against the higher minstrel or _scôp_. Here are a few of many passages which go to establish this complete fourfold equivalence of _ioculator_, _ministrallus_, _mimus_ and _histrio_; _Gloss._ in _B.N. MS._ 4883ᵃ, f. 67ᵇ (Du Méril, _Or. Lat._ 23) ‘istriones sunt ioculatores’; _Constit. regis Minorcae_ (1337, Mabillon, _Acta SS. Bened. Ian._ iii. 27) ‘In domibus principum, ut tradit antiquitas, mimi seu ioculatores licite possunt esse’; _Conc. Lateran._ (1215), c. 16 ‘mimis, ioculatoribus et histrionibus non intendant.’ This triple formula, often repeated by ecclesiastics, is of course conjunctive, like ‘rogues and vagabonds.’ Guy of Amiens (†1068) calls Taillefer both _histrio_ and _mimus_ (vol. i. p. 43). At the beginning of the sixteenth century the royal minstrels are _histriones_ in the accounts of Shrewsbury, _ministralli_ in those of Winchester College (_App. E._ (_iv_)), _mimi_ in those of Beverley (Leach, _Beverley MSS._ 171). The _ioculator regis_, as already said, is by this time distinct. The Scottish royal minstrels appear in the Exchequer Rolls for 1433-50 as _mimi_, _histriones_, _ioculatores_ (_L. H. T. Accounts_, i, cxcix). The town musicians of Beverley, besides their specific names of _waits_ and _spiculatores_, have indifferently those of _histriones_, _ministralli_, _mimi_ (Leach, _Beverley MSS._ _passim_). It is largely a matter of the personal taste of the scribe. Thus the Shrewsbury accounts have both _histriones_ and _menstralles_ in 1401, _histriones_ in 1442, _ministralli_ regularly from 1457 to 1479, and _histriones_ regularly from 1483 onwards.

Many other names for minstrels, besides these dominant four, have been collected by scholars (Gautier, ii. 10; Julleville, _Les Com._ 17; Gröber, ii. 489; Bédier, 366). From the compliments exchanged in the _fabliau_ of _Des Deux Bordeors Ribaux_ (Montaiglon-Raynaud, i. 1) one may extract the equivalence of _menestrel_, _trouvère_, _ribaud_, _bordeor_, _jougleur_, _chanteur_, _lecheor_, _pantonnier_. Of such subordinate names many are specific, and have been dealt with in their turn in chh. iii, iv. Others, again, are abusive, and found chiefly in the mouths of ecclesiastics, or as distinctive of the lower orders of minstrels. There are _garcio_, _nebulo_, _delusor_, _saccularius_, _bufo_, _ribaud_, _harlot_. There are _bourdyour_, _japer_, _gabber_, _jangler_ (vol. i. p. 84). There is _scurra_, an early and favourite term of this class; cf. Ælfric’s gloss (Ducange, s.v. _Iocista_), ‘_Mimus_, _iocista_, _scurra_, gligmon’; Wright-Wülcker, 693 (fifteenth-century gloss), ‘_scurra_, harlot’; and vol. i. p. 32. There is _leccator_, _leccour_ (cf. above and _App. F._ s.v. _Chester_). And finally, there are a few terms of general, but not very common, application. _Scenici_ and _thymelici_ come from the early Christian prohibitions (vol. i. pp. 12, 17, 24). More important are a group derived from _ludus_, which like _jeu_ has itself the widest possible sense, covering every possible kind of amusement. The _Sarum Statutes_ of 1319, in a _titulus_ dealing with _histriones_, speak of those ‘qui “menestralli” et quandoque “ludorum homines” vulgari eloquio nuncupantur’ (vol. i. p. 40). In the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries appear such terms as _lusor_, _lusiator_, _ludens_, _interlusor_, _interludens_. The two latter of these are always specific, meaning ‘actor’; the three former are usually so, although they may occasionally have the more general sense, and this is probably also true of the English _player_. This question is more fully discussed in vol. i. pp. 84, 393, and vol. ii. p. 185.

C

COURT MINSTRELSY IN 1306

[From _Manners and Household Expenses of England in the
Thirteenth and Fifteenth Centuries_, 141 (Roxburghe Club,
1841), from Exchequer Roll (King’s Remembrancer’s Dept.)
in Rolls Office. The Pentecost feast of 1306 was that at
which Prince Edward, who became in the next year Edward II,
was knighted. It is described in the _Annales Londonienses_
(_Chronicles of Edward I and Edward II_, R. S. i. 146).]

Solutio facta diversis Menestrallis die Pentecostes anno xxxiiiiᵗᵒ.

[A. D. 1306.]

Le Roy de Champaigne }
Le Roy Capenny } cuilibet v._marc._;
Le Roy Baisescue } summa, xvj._li._
Le Roy Marchis } i._marc._
Le Roy Robert }

Phelippe de Caumbereye lx._s._; summa, lx._s._

} cuilibet iiij._marc._;
Robert le Boistous } summa,
Gerard de Boloigne } c. vj._s._ viij._d._
}

Bruant } cuilibet xl._s._;
Northfolke } summa, iiij._li._

Carltone }
Maistre Adam le Boscu } cuilibet xx._s._;
Devenays } summa, lx._s._

Artisien } cuilibet xxx._s._;
Lucat } summa, iiij._li._
Henuer } [x._s._]

Le menestral Mons. de Montmaranci }
Le Roy Druet }
Janin le Lutour }
Gillotin le Sautreour }
Gillet de Roos }
Ricard de Haleford }
Le Petit Gauteron } cuilibet xl._s._;
Baudec le Tabourer } summa, xxvj._li._
Ernolet }
Mahu qui est ove la dammoisele de Baar }
Janin de Brebant }
Martinet qui est ove le Conte de Warwike }
Gauteron le Grant }

Le Harpour Levesque de Duresme x._s._

Guillaume le Harpour qui est ove le Patriarke }
Robert de Clou }
Maistre Adam de Reve }
Henri le Gigour }
Corraud son compaignon }
Le tierz Gigour }
Gillot le Harpour } cuilibet ij._marc._;
Johan de Newentone } summa,
Hugethun le Harpour lour compaignon } xxj._li._ di._marc._
Adekin son compaignon }
Adam de Werintone }
Adam de Grimmeshawe }
Hamond Lestivour }
Mahuet qui est ove Mons. de Tounny }
Johan de Mochelneye }
Janin Lorganistre }
Simond le Messager }

Les ij. Trumpours Mons. Thomas de Brothertone }
Martinet le Taborour }
Richard Rounlo }
Richard Hendelek }
Janin de La Tour son compaignon }
Johan le Waffrer le Roy }
Pilk }
Januche } }
Gillot } Trumpours Mons. le Prince }
Le Nakarier }
Le Gitarer } cuilibet j._marc._;
Merlin } summa, xl._marc._
Tomasin, Vilour Mons. Le Prince }
Raulin qui est ove le Conte Mareschal }
Esvillie qui est ove Mons. Pierres de Maule }
Grendone }
Le Taborer La Dame de Audham }
Gaunsaillie }
Guillaume sanz maniere }
Lambyn Clay }
Jaques Le Mascun }
Son compaignon }
Mahu du North }
Le menestral ove les cloches }
Les iij. menestraus Mons. de Hastinges }
Thomelin de Thounleie }
Les ij. Trompours le Comte de Hereforde }
Perle in the eghe }
Son compaignon }
Janyn le Sautreour qui est ove Mons. de Percy }
Les ij. Trumpours le Comte de Lancastre }
Mellet }
Henri de Nushom }
Janyn le Citoler }

Gilliame }
Fairfax } cuilibet xx._s._;
Monet } summa, iiij._li._
Hanecocke de Blithe }

Summa totalis,—cxiiij._li._ x._s._—Et issi demoerent des cc._marc._, pur partir entre les autres menestraus de la commune,—xviij._li._ xvj._s._ viij._d._—Et a ceste partie faire sunt assigne Le Roy Baisescu, Le Roy Marchis, Le Roy Robert, et Le Roy Druet, Gauteron le Graunt, Gauteron le Petit, Martinet le Vilour qui est ove le Conte de Warewike, et del hostiel Mons. le Prince, ij. serjantz darmes ... clerke.

[Five lines of which only a few words are legible.]

Richard le Harpour qui est ove le Conte de Gloucestre.
Wauter Bracon Trounpour
Wauter le Trounpour
Johan le Croudere
Tegwaret Croudere
Geffrai le Estiveur
Guillot le Taborer
Guillot le Vileur
Robert le Vilour
Jake de Vescy
Richard Whetacre

A ceux xj., por toute la commune, xvii._li._ iiii._s._ viii._d._

_Denarii dati Menestrallis._

Vidulatori Dominae de Wak’ v._s._
Laurentio Citharistae di._marc._
Johanni du Chat, cum Domino J. de Bur’ di._marc._
Mellers v._s._
Parvo Willielmo, Organistae Comtissae Herefordiae v._s._
Ricardo de Quitacre, Citharistae di._marc._
Ricardo de Leylonde, Citharistae di._marc._
Carleton Haralde v._s._
Gilloto Vidulatori Comitis Arundelliae di._marc._
Amakyn Citharistae Principis v._s._
Bolthede v._s._
Nagary le Crouder Principis v._s._
Matheu le Harpour v._s._
Johanni le Barber v._s._
ij. Trumpatoribus J. de Segrave di._marc._
Ricardo Vidulatori Comitis Lancastriae v._s._
Johanni Waffrarario Comitis Lancastriae xl._d._
Sagard Crouther xl._d._
William de Grymesar’, Harpour xl._d._
Citharistae Comitissae Lancastriae xl._d._
ij. Menestrallis J. de Ber[wyke] xl._d._
Henrico de Blida xl._d._
Ricardo Citharistae xl._d._
William de Duffelde xl._d._
v. Trumpatoribus Principis, pueris, cuilibet ij._s._ x._s._ in _toto._
iiijᵒʳ. Vigil’ Regis, cuilibet di._marc._ xx._s._
Adinet le Harpour
Perote le Taborer
Adae de Swylingtone Citharistae ij._s._
David le Crouther xij._d._
Lion de Normanville ij._s._
Gerardo xij._d._
Ricardo Citharistae ij._s._
Roberto de Colecestria iij._s._
Jhanni le Crouther de Salopia xij._d._
Johanni le Vilour domini J. Renaude xij._d._
Johanni de Trenham, Citharistae ij._s._
Willielmo Woderove, Trumpatori ij._s._
Johanni Citharistae J. de Clyntone ij._s._
Waltero de Brayles xij._d._
Roberto Citharistae Abbatis de Abbyndone xij._d._
Galfredo Trumpatori domini R. de Monte Alto
Richero socio suo ij._s._
Thomae le Croudere ij._s._
Rogero de Corleye, Trumpatori ij._s._
Audoeno le Crouther xij._d._
Hugoni Daa Citharistae ij._s._
Andreae Vidulatori de Hor’ ij._s._
Roberto de Scardeburghe xij._d._
Guilloto le Taborer Comitis Warrewici iij._s._
Paul’ Menestrallo Comitis Marescalli iij._s._
Matheo Waffraris domini R. de Monte Alto ij._s._
iij. diversis menestrallis, cuilibet iij._s._ ix._s._
Galfrido Citharistae Comitis Warrenniae ij._s._
Matill’ Makejoye xij._d._
Johanni Trumpatori domini R. de Filii Pagani xij._d._
Adae Citharistae domini J. Lestraunge xij._d._
Reginaldo le Menteur, Menestrallo domini J. de Buteturt xij._d._
Perle in the Eghe xij._d._
Gilloto Citharistae Domini P. de Malo Lacu x._s._
Roberto Gaunsillie xl._d._ Item. xl._d._
Jacke de Vescy di._marc._
Magistro Waltero Leskirmissour et fratri suo, cuilibet iij._s._ vj._s._

D

THE MINSTREL HIERARCHY

The term _rex_ is not seldom applied as a distinction amongst minstrels. At the wedding of Joan of England in 1290 were present King Grey of England and King Caupenny of Scotland, together with Poveret, minstrel of the Marshal of Champagne (Chappell, i. 15). Poveret is perhaps the ‘roy de Champaigne’ of the 1306 list, which also includes the ‘roys’ Capenny, Baisescue, Marchis, Robert, and Druet (_Appendix C_). A ‘rex Robertus,’ together with ‘rex Pagius de Hollandia,’ reappears in accounts of the reign of Edward II (1307-27), while one of the minstrels of the king was William de Morlee, ‘roy de North’ (Percy, 416-8; cf. vol. i. p. 49). In France a list of the ‘ministeralli’ of Philip IV in 1288 includes the ‘rex Flaiolatus,’ ‘rex Heraudum,’ and ‘rex Ribaldorum.’ A certain Pariset, who was minstrel to the Comte de Poitiers in 1314, signs the statutes of the Paris guild in 1321 as ‘Pariset, menestrel le roy,’ and the various ‘roys des menestreuls du royaume de France’ who appear in and after 1338 may have been heads at once of the king’s household minstrels and of the guild (_Appendix F_; cf. Bernhard, iii. 380). Further, the title is claimed by the authors of various pieces of minstrel literature. ‘Adenet le roi’ is the author of _Cleomadès_ (Paris, 84; Percy, 416-8), and ‘Huon le roi,’ perhaps identical with ‘Huon de Cambrai’ and ‘Huon Paucele,’ of the _fabliau_ of _Du Vair Palefroi_ (Bédier, 438; Montaiglon-Raynaud, i. 3). The term _rex_ is of course common enough in connexion with temporary or permanent associations of all sorts, and is probably of folk origin (vol. i. chaps. iv, viii). It is possible that some of these ‘rois’ may have been crowned by ‘puis’ (Lavoix, ii. 377), but it is more probable that they had some official pre-eminence amongst their fellows, and perhaps some jurisdiction, territorial or otherwise. Clearly this was the case with the ‘roy des ministralx’ at Tutbury. The appearance of the ‘rex Flaiolatus’ with the ‘rex Heraudum’ and the ‘rex Ribaldorum’ in the French list of 1288 is thus significant, for the latter had just such a jurisdiction over the riff-raff of the court (Ducange, s.v.), and I conceive the relation of the minstrel ‘roys’ to their fellows to have been much that of the ‘Kings at arms’ to the ordinary heralds. It seems that minstrels and heralds belonged to the same class of _ministri_. The order of the Emperor Henry II (vol. i. p. 52) couples ‘ioculatores et armaturi’ and ‘Carleton Haralde’ is actually rewarded in the 1306 list (_App. C_, p. 237). If one may quote a Celtic parallel, the _Arwyddfardd_ or heralds formed a regular division (†1100) of Welsh minstrelsy (E. David, _La Poésie et la Musique dans la Cambrie_, 72-91). Under Richard II the head of the English royal minstrels was a _rex_, but from 1464 onwards the term used is _marescallus_ (Rymer, xi. 512), and this again may be paralleled from the supreme position of the Earl Marshal in heraldry. At the head of the Earl of Lancaster’s minstrels in 1308 was an _armiger_. I only find this term again in the burlesque account of the ‘auncient minstrell’ shown before Elizabeth at Kenilworth (_Appendix H_). He was ‘a squier minstrel of Middilsex’ and, as he bore the arms of Islington, presumably a ‘wait.’

E

EXTRACTS FROM ACCOUNT BOOKS

I. DURHAM PRIORY.

[The entries, unless otherwise specified, are amongst the
extracts (generally of _Dona Prioris_) from the Bursars’ Rolls
between 1278 and 1371, printed by Canon Fowler in vols. ii,
iii of the _Durham Account Rolls_ (Surtees Soc.). _D. H. B._ =
_Durham Household Book_ (Surtees Soc.), _F. P._ = _Inventories
and Account Rolls of Finchale Priory_ (Surtees Soc.). This
was a cell of Durham Priory. The minstrelsy often took place
at the _ludi Domini Prioris_, either in his _camera_ (_D. A._
ii. 424) or at Beaurepaire, Witton, or other _maneria_ of
the Priory. There seem to have been in most years four _ludi
ordinarii_ (_D. A._ ii. 296), though occasionally only two or
three are mentioned. These were at the feasts of Candlemas,
Easter, St. John Baptist, and All Saints (_D. A._ i. 242, iii.
932). But the Prior, Sub-Prior, and brethren seem often to have
been _ludentes_, _spatiantes_, or _in recreacione_ (_D. A._ i.
118, 235), without much regard to fixed dates. In 1438-9 they
were _ludentes_ for as much as eleven weeks and four days at
Beaurepaire (_D. A._ i. 71). See also _D. A._ i. 16, 116, 120,
129, 137, 138, 142, 166, 207, 263; ii. 287, 419, 456, 515; iii.
810, s.vv. _Ludi_, &c.; _D. H. B._ 9, 13, 54, 141, 240, 339;
_F. P._ 30, ccxcv, ccccxxxvi.]

1278. Menestrallo Regis Scociae.
Menestrallo de Novo Castro.

1299. Roberto le Taburer.

1300-1. Cuidam hystrioni Regis.

1302-3. Histrionibus domini Regis.

1310-11. Hugoni de Helmeslaye stulto domini Regis.
Cuidam Iugulatori d’ni Regis.
Cuidam Cytharistae.

†1310. Histrionibus d’ni H. de Bello Monte.
In scissura tunicae stulti.
†1315. Histrionibus ad Natale.

1330-1. In uno garniamento pro Thoma fatuo empto.
Histrionibus ad Natale.
” in fest. S. Cuthberti in Marcio.
” ad fest. S. Cuthberti in Sept.
” d’ni Henrici de Beaumond.
Citharistae (in another roll ‘citharatori’) d’ni Roberti de
Horneclyff ex precepto Prioris.

1333-4. Duobus histrionibus in die Veneris proximo post octavam beati
Martini.
Histrionibus d’ni Regis quando d’nus noster Rex rediit de
Novo Castro.
Stulto d’ni Episcopi.
Histrionibus comitis Warenne.
Histrionibus Regis Scociae.

1334-5. Histrionibus ad Natale.

1335-6. Histrionibus d’ni Regis Scociae.
Duobus histrionibus die Sci. Cuthberti.
Duobus histrionibus ex precepto Prioris.
Histrionibus Novi Castri ad fest. S. Cuthberti.
Histrionibus d’ni R. de Nevill, per Priorem.
In 1 Cythara empta pro Thom. Harpour. 3ˢ.
Cuidam histrioni apud Beaurepaire per R. de Cotam ex dono
Prioris.
Thomae fatuo ex precepto eiusdem.

†1335. Istrionibus d’ni Regis.
Istrionibus Reginae apud Pytingdon.
Istrionibus [die Dominica proxima post festum Epiphaniae, quo
die d’nus Episcopus epulabatur cum Priore].
Will’o de Sutton, Citharaedo d’ni Galfridi Lescrop eodem die.
Istrionibus die Natalis Domini.

†1336. Duobus istrionibus d’ni Regis.
Edmundo de Kendall, Cytharaeto, de dono Prioris ad Pascha.
Menestrallis de dono [quando Episcopus epulabatur cum Priore].

†1337. In 1 pari sotularium pro Thoma fatuo.

1338-9. Several payments to ‘istriones’ and ‘menestralli.’
In 4 ulnis burelli scacciati emptis pro garniamento Thomae
Fole per preceptum Prioris.

1339-40. In panno empto in foro Dunelm. pro uno garniamento pro Thoma
fatuo.
Willelmo Piper istrioni d’ni Radulphi de Nevill die
Circumcisionis.

1341. Pelidod et duobus sociis suis histrionibus d’ni Regis post
Natale Domini.

1341-42. In garniamentis emptis pro ... Thoma fatuo (and similar
entries, or for ‘Russet,’ ‘pannus,’ ‘Candelwykstret’ in
other years).

†1343. Various payments to ‘Istriones.’

1347-8. ‘Istrionibus,’ &c.

1350-51. Istrionibus ad Natale.
” ad S. Cuthbertum in Sept.

1355-6. Will’o Pyper et aliis istrionibus ad Natale.
Item duobus istrionibus d’ni Episcopi et duobus istrionibus
Comitis de Norhamton in festo Sci. Cuthberti in Marcio.
Item istrionibus d’ni Episcopi ad festum Paschae.
Item istrionibus in festo Sci. Cuthberti in Sept.

1356-7. In sepultura Thomae fatui et necessariis expensis circa
corpus eius, per manus d’ni Prioris (similar entry in
miscellaneous roll, ‘Thomae Fole,’ _D. A._ iii. 719).
Diversis ministrallis (_D. A._ iii. 718).

†1357. Et Will’o Blyndharpour ad Natale.
Et Ioh’i Harpour d’ni Ioh’is de Streuelyn et Will’o
Blyndharpour de Novo Castro.
Et duobus Trompours Comitis de Norhamton apud Wyuestow.
Et cuidam Harpour vocato Rygeway.
Istrionibus d’ni Episcopi (and Harpers, &c.).

†1360. Petro Crouder apud Pityngton, per Capellanum.
Item eidem Petro pro uno quarterio ordii sibi dato per
Priorem.
Duobus Istrionibus Episcopi in festo Assensionis Domini.
Et cuidam Istrioni Maioris villae Novi Castri per Capellanum.

1360-61. Will’o Pyper et aliis istrionibus ad Natale per manus Ioh’is
del Sayles.
Cuidam Welsharpour d’ni Will’i de Dalton.
Item histrionibus aliorum dominorum.

1361-2. In uno viro ludenti in uno loyt et uxori eius cantanti apud
Bewrpayr (_D. A._ i. 127, _Hostiller’s Accounts_).

1362. Item cuidam histrioni harper episcopi Norwychiae in festo
Transl. Sᶜⁱ. Cuthberti.
Cuidam Istrioni Jestour Jawdewyne in festo Natalis Domini.
Will’o yᵉ kakeharpour ad idem festum.
Et Barry similem sibi ad id. festum.
Et cuidam ystrioni caeco franco cum uno puero fratre suo.
Barry harper ex precepto Prioris in una tunica empta.

1363-4. Item cantoribus in Adventu Domini cum histrionibus ibidem
ex dono Prioris.
Item cuidam histrioni die Dominica _Quasimodo geniti_.

1364-5. To two players of the Lord Duke at the said feast (of St.
Cuthbert) (Raine, _St. Cuthbert_, 109, _Surtees Soc._).

1365-6. Barry Harpour, ystrionibus, &c.

1366-8. Ministrallis, Istrionibus.

1368-9. Rob’o Trompour et Will’o Fergos ministrallo in die Sci.
Cuthberti.

1373-4. Duobus Ministrallis cum uno Weyng.

1374. 12 ministrallis in festo Sᶜⁱ. Cuthb.

1375-6. Ministrall. in die S. Cuthb. in Mar.
Cuidam ministrallo ludenti coram domino Priori in camera sua.
Tribus ministrallis Comitis del Marchie ludentibus coram
domino Priore.
Cuidam ministrallo domini Regis veniente cum domino de Neuill.
12 ministrallis in festo Sci. Cuthb. in Sept.
4 ministrallis domini Principis in festo exaltacionis Sᶜᵉ.
Crucis.
Cuidam ministrallo in festo Sᶜⁱ. Mathaei.
Ministrallis in festo Sᶜⁱ. Cuthb. in Marcio anno Domini, &c.
lxxvᵗᵒ.
Duobus ministrallis in die Pasche.

1376-7. Willielmo Fergos et Rogero Harpour caeco ad Natale Domini.
Aliis ministrallis domini de Percy in eadem fest.

1377-8. Haraldis, histrionibus et nunciis, ut patet per cedulam.

1378-9. Histrionibus ... dominorum Regis, Ducis, et aliorum dominorum.

1380-1. Iohanni Momford ministrallo domini Regis.

1381-2. Ministrallis domini de Neuill apud Beaurepaire cum domina de
Lomly.
Ministrallo domini Ducis cum uno saltante in camera domini
Prioris.
(and others.)

1384-5. Ministrallis domini Regis.

1394-5. Ministrallis in festo S. Cuthb., Henrici Percy, domini Ducis
Lancastr., domini de Neuill, Ducis Eborac., de Scocia,
comitis Canciae, ad Nat. Domini, de Hilton, Ric. Brome
ministrallo, in fest. S. Cuthb. in Marc.
Uni Trompet domini Regis.
Uni Rotour de Scocia.

1395. Item, in vino, speciebus, in donis datis Confratribus,
ministrallis et aliis diversis, ex curialitate (_F. P._
cxv).

1399-1400. Ministrallis.

1401-2. Ministrallis.

1416-7. Ministrallis.
Diversis pueris ludentibus coram eodem priore in festo Sᶜⁱ.
Stephani hoc anno.

1441-2. Per ... capellanum [et] ... per bursarium ministrallis domini
Regis et aliorum dominorum supervenientibus.

1446-7. Ministrallis.

1449-50. Ministrallis.

1464-5. Et solvit Iohanni Andrewson et sociis suis operantibus pro
nova tectura unius camerae vocatae le Playerchambre
(_F. P._ ccxcv).

1465. Item j por de ferro in camera Prioris, j in le plaer cha ...
(_F. P._ ccxcviii).

1496. Paid to Robert Walssch for two days playing John Gibson of
Elvet ‘herper’ (_D. H. B._ 340).

1532-3. ... bus lusoribus ... Regis, in regardis, in auro, 15ˢ.
Et custodi ursorum et cimearum dominae Principis.
Et capellano, per bursarium, pro 4 lusoribus domini Comitis
de Darby, in auro, 7ˢ. 6ᵈ. (_D. H. B._ 143, the last two
items crossed out).

1536-7. In diversis donis datis ministrallis diversorum dominorum.

1538. Paid to the ministrels (_ministrallis_) at ‘le musters’ upon
‘le Gelymore.’

1539-40. Paid to the players (_lusoribus_) of Auklande at Christmas
before Master Hyndley, as a present (_D. H. B._ 340).

1554-5. [Cathedral Account.] Paid for two mynstralles.

II. MAXSTOKE PRIORY.

[Printed by Hazlitt-Warton, ii. 97, ‘_ex orig. penes me_.’]

‘In the Prior’s accounts of the Augustine canons of Maxstoke in Warwickshire, of various years in the reign of Henry VI (1422-61), one of the styles or regular heads is _De Ioculatoribus et Mimis_....

Ioculatori in septimana S. Michaelis, ivᵈ.
Citharistae tempore natalis domini et aliis iocatoribus, ivᵈ.
Mimis de Solihull, viᵈ.
Mimis de Coventry, xxᵈ.
Mimo domini Ferrers, viᵈ.
Lusoribus de Eton, viiiᵈ.
Lusoribus de Coventry, viiiᵈ.
Lusoribus de Daventry, xiiᵈ.
Mimis de Coventry, xiiᵈ.
Mimis domini de Asteley, xiiᵈ.
Item iiij mimis domini de Warewyck, xᵈ.
Mimo caeco, iiᵈ.
Sex mimis domini de Clynton.
Duobus mimis de Rugeby, xᵈ.
Cuidam citharistae, viᵈ.
Mimis domini de Asteley, xxᵈ.
Cuidam citharistae, viᵈ.
Citharistae de Coventry, viᵈ.
Duobus citharistis de Coventry, viiiᵈ.
Mimis de Rugeby, viiiᵈ.
Mimis domini de Buckeridge, xxᵈ.
Mimis domini de Stafford, iiˢ.
Lusoribus de Coleshille, viijᵈ....
[1432] Dat. duobus mimis de Coventry in die consecrationis Prioris,
xiiᵈ.’

III. THETFORD PRIORY.

[From Collier, i. 55, 84, on the authority of a ‘MS. of the
expenses of the Priory of Thetford, from 1461 to 1540, lately
in the collection of Mr. Craven Orde, and now of the Duke of
Newcastle.’]

‘The mention of “plays” and “players” does not begin until the 13ᵗʰ of Henry VII; but “Minstrels” and “Waytes” are often spoken of there as receiving rewards from the convent. The following entries, regarding “plays” and “players,” occur between the 13ᵗʰ and 23ʳᵈ of Henry VII:—

13 Henry VII [1497-8].
Itᵐ. sol. in regard 12 capital plays, 4ˢ.
Itᵐ. sol. to menstrell and players in festo Epiphaniae, 2ˢ.

19 Henry VII [1503-4].
Itᵐ. sol. to the play of Mydenale, 12ᵈ.

21 Henry VII [1505-6].
Itᵐ. sol. in regard lusoribus et menstrall, 17ᵈ.

23 Henry VII [1507-8].
Itᵐ. sol. in regard lusoribus div. vices, 3ˢ 4ᵈ.
Itᵐ. sol. in regard to Ixworth play, 16ᵈ.
Itᵐ. sol. in regard to Schelfanger play, 4ᵈ.

... From the 1ˢᵗ to the 31ˢᵗ Henry VIII, the King’s players, the King’s jugglers, the King’s minstrels, and the King’s bearwards were visitors of Thetford, and were paid various sums, from 4ᵈ to 6ˢ 8ᵈ, by the Prior of the convent there, as appears by the entries in the account-book during that period. On one occasion, 16 Henry VIII, Cornyshe, “the master of the King’s chapel,” was paid 3ˢ 4ᵈ by the prior; but he was then, probably, attendant upon the King, who is not unfrequently spoken of as having arrived, and being lodged at the Priory. Mr. Brandon and Mr. Smith are more than once rewarded as “Jugglers of the King.” The Queen’s players, the Prince’s players, and the players of the Queen of France, also experienced the liberality of the Prior, as well as those of the Duke of Norfolk, the Duke of Suffolk, the Earl and Countess of Derby, Lord and Lady Fitzwater, the Lord Privy Seal, the Lord Chancellor, Sir Thomas Challoner and two gentlemen who are called Marks and Barney.’

IV. WINCHESTER COLLEGE.

[Extracts from _computi_ partly by Hazlitt-Warton, ii. 98,
and partly by M. E. C. Walcott, _William of Wykeham and his
Colleges_, 206. The _satrapae_ of 1466 and 1479 are said by
Mr. Walcott to have been local notables, but a collation to
them would not cost so little or be grouped with rewards to
minstrels in the _computus_. Ducange says that the word is used
‘pro quodam ministro vel satellite.’ The Magdalen accounts
use it for the ‘serjeants’ of the mayor of Oxford (Macray,
_Register_, i. 15).]

1400. In dono lusoribus civitatis Wynton venient. ad collegium cum
suo tripudio ex curialitate, xijᵈ.

1412. In dat. Ricᵒ. Kent bochier tempore regno suo vocat. Somerkyng,
xijᵈ.

1415. In dat. diversis hominibus de Ropley venientibus ad coll. die
Sanct. Innoc. et tripudiantibus et cantantibus in aula coram
Epō. scholarium, xxᵈ.

1422. Dat. histrioni dⁿⁱ epi Wynton et ioculatori ejusdem 5ᵗⁱ die
Ianuarii, cuilibet, xxᵈ.

1425. Dat. Gloucester ioculatori ludenti coram custode et sociis
penultimo die Iulii, ob reverentiam ducis Exon. xijᵈ.

1426. Dat. ministrellis d. epi Wynton tempore Nat. Dni. ex curialitate
et honestate, ijˢ viiiᵈ.
Dat. ij ministrallis comitissae de Westmorland vęnient’ ad coll.
xxᵈ.

1433. In dat. mimis dⁿⁱ cardinalis venient’ ad collegium erga festum
natale Dⁿⁱ iiijˢ.

1462. Dat’ Epo Nicholatensi visitanti Dominum custodem in hospitio suo
de nocte Sᵗⁱ. Nicholai, iiijᵈ.

1464. Et in dat. ministrallis comitis Kanciae venient. ad coll. in mense
Iulii, iiijˢ iiijᵈ.

1466. Et in dat. satrapis Wynton venientibus ad coll. festo Epiphaniae,
cum ijˢ dat. iiij. interludentibus et J. Meke citharistae eodem
festo, iiijˢ.

1467. Et in datis iiijᵒʳ mimis dom. de Arundell venient. ad coll. xiij.
die Febr. ex curialitate dom. custodis, ijˢ.
In dat. Ioh. Pontisbery et socio ludentibus in aula in die
circumcisionis, ijˢ.

1471. In dat. uni famulo dⁿⁱ regis Angliae venienti ad collegium cum
Leone mense Ianuarii, xxᵈ.

1472. Et in dat. ministrallis dom. Regis cum viijᵈ. dat. duobus
Berewardis ducis Clarentiae, xxᵈ.
Et in dat. Iohanni Stulto quondam dom. de Warewyco, cum iiijᵈ
dat. Thomae Nevyle taborario.
Et in datis duobus ministrallis ducis Glocestriae, cum iiijᵈ.
dat. uni ministrallo ducis de Northumberland, viijᵈ.
Et in datis duobus citharatoribus ad vices venient. ad collegium
viijᵈ.

1477. Et in dat. ministrallis dom. Principis venient. ad coll. festo
Ascensionis Domini, cum xxᵈ. dat. ministrallis dom. Regis, vˢ.

1479. Et in datis satrapis Wynton venientibus ad coll. festo Epiphaniae,
cum xijᵈ dat. ministrallis dom. episcopi venient. ad coll.
infra octavas epiphaniae, iiiˢ.
Dat. lusoribus de civitate Winton. venientibus ad collegium in
apparatu suo mens. Iulii, vˢ vijᵈ.

1481. Et in sol. ministrallis dom. regis venientibus ad collegium xv
die Aprilis cum xijᵈ solut. ministrallis dom. episcopi Wynton
venientibus ad collegium iᵒ die Iunii, iiijˢ iiijᵈ.
Et in dat. ministrallis dom. Arundell ven. ad coll. cum viijᵈ dat.
ministrallis dom. de la Warr, ijˢ iijᵈ.

1483. Sol. ministrallis dom. regis, ven. ad coll. iijˢ iiijᵈ.

1484. Et in dat. uni ministrallo dom. principis et in aliis ministrallis
ducis Glocestriae v die Iulii, xxᵈ.

1536. In dat. ministrallis dⁿⁱ regis venientibus ad coll. xiij die April
pro regardo, ijˢ.

1573. In regardis dat’ tibicinis dominae reginae cum vino, vijˢ iiijᵈ.
In regardis dat. lusoribus dominae reginae, vjˢ viijᵈ.

V. MAGDALEN COLLEGE, OXFORD.

[Extracts from account books made by J. R. Bloxam and W.
D. Macray, _A Register of the Members of St. Mary Magdalen
College, Oxford_, First Series, ii. 235; New Series, i. 3; ii.
3. The dates given below are for the year in which the account
begins.]

1481. pro cerothecis pro chorustis, iiijᵈ.

1482. vᵒ die Decembris pro cerothecis episcopi in festo S. Nicholai
iiijᵈ.

1483. pro cerothecis datis ad honorem Sancti Nicolai duobus choristis,
viijᵈ.

1484. pro cerothecis Episcopi in festo Sancti Nicholai et eius crucem
ferentis, viijᵈ.

1485. ‘Ursarii’ of Lord Stanley dined with the Fellows.

1486. pro factura sepulturae erga pascham, xijᵈ.
‘Sex vagatores’ dined with the servants.
Solut. viᵒ die Ian. citharistis et mimis tempore ludi in aula in
regardo, in tempore Nativitatis Domini, viijᵈ.
Solut. pro quodam ornamento lusorum vocato _ly Cape mayntenawnce_,
ixᵈ.

1487. pro vestimentis lusorum tempore Nativ. Domini, consilio unius
decani, iiˢ ijᵈ.
pro clavis ad pannos in ornatum aulae pendendos, jᵈ.

1488. Sol. Iohanni Wynman pro scriptura unius libri de servicio episcopi
pro die Innocencium, vᵈ.

1490. Singers from Abingdon, London and Hereford entertained.

1494. Sol. Pescode servanti quandam bestiam vocatam _ly merumsytt_ ex
consilio seniorum, quia Rex erat apud Woodstocke, xijᵈ.

1495. Sol. Henrico Mertyn pro lino, _alyn_, et aliis emptis pro ludo in
die Paschae, xvijᵈ ob.
Sol. Pescod ducenti duo animalia nuncupata _mermosettes_.

1502. Sol. in expensis factis tempore Nativitatis Domini, in biberiis
post interludia et alia, xiijˢ iiijᵈ.

1506. To John Burgess, B.A., ... xᵈ were paid for writing out a
miracle-play (‘scriptura lusi’) of Sᵗ. Mary Magd., and vˢ.
for some music; and viijᵈ to a man who brought some songs
from Edward Martyn, M.A. For his diligence with regard to the
above miracle-play, Kendall, a clerk, was rewarded with iˢ.
pro expensis mimi, iiijˢ, at Christmas.

1507. in quatuor refectionibus citharistae, at Epiphany.

1508. Sol. famulo Regis ducenti ursam ad collegium, ex mandato
Vice-presidentis, xijᵈ.

1509. Sol. pane, cibo et aliis datis pueris ludentibus in die Paschae,
mandato Vicepr. xvijᵈ ob.

1510. Sol. pro expensis factis in aula tempore Nativitatis Domini, xiijˢ
iiijᵈ.
Sol. cuidam mimo tempore Nativitatis Domini in regardo, viijᵈ.

1512. Sol. Petro Pyper pro pypyng in interludio nocte Sancti Iohannis,
vjᵈ.
Sol. Iohanni Tabourner pro lusione in interludio Octavis
Epiphaniae, vjᵈ.
Sol. Roberto Johnson pro una tunica pro interludiis, iiijˢ.

1514. pro carnibus [? carbonibus] consumptis in capella tribus noctibus
ante Pascha et in tempore Nativitatis, ijˢ.

1518. To Perrot, the Master of the choristers, ‘pro tinctura et
factura tunicae eius qui ageret partem Christi et pro crinibus
mulieribus, ijˢ vjᵈ.’

1520. pro pane ... datis clericis in vigiliis Sᵗⁱ. Nicolai.
pro cerothecis puerorum in festo Sancti Nicolai.

1526. pro merendis datis episcopo capellanis clericis et aliis in
vigilia Sᵗ. Nicolai.

1529. pro ... episcopo Nicholai.

1530. pro pueris in festo Sancti Nicholai.

1531. Solut. mimis dominae principisshae, xxᵈ.
Pro biberio dato sociis et scolaribus post interludia in tempore
Natalis Domini, vjˢ viijᵈ.

1532. To the Queen’s players, by the President’s order, xiiᵈ.
pro biberio dato sociis post ludum baccalaureorum in magna aula,
vjˢ viijᵈ.

1535. pro merenda facta in vigilia Sancti Nicolai.
Actors at Christmas, iiiiˢ iiijᵈ.
pro merenda facta post comediam actam, ixˢ iijᵈ.
‘ioculatoribus Regis,’ by the President’s order, xxᵈ.

1536. pro biberio in nocte Sancti Nicholai.
Sol. mimo pro solatiis factis sociis et scholasticis tempore
Nativitatis Domini, viijˢ.

1537. pro carbonibus consumptis in sacrario, per custodes sepulchri,
et per pueros in festis hiemalibus, ijˢ [and in other years].

1539. pro bellariis datis sociis cum ageretur comedia, viijˢ.

1540. pro epulis datis sociis eo tempore quo agebatur tragedia, viijˢ
iiijᵈ.
pro bellariis datis sociis et clericis vigilia divi Nicolai, iiijˢ
viijᵈ.
pro pane et potu datis semicommunariis dum curabant publicam
exhibere comediam, xxᵈ.

1541. A ‘tympanista’ was hired at Christmas and comedies acted.

1554. 30 Ian. in adventu [dom. Matravers] ad tragedias per duas noctes,
xlijˢ viijᵈ ob.
Pro epulis datis sociis post exactas tragedias, xˢ ixᵈ.

The only Elizabethan entry I need note is:—

1561. Sol. Joyner, pictori, depingenti portenta religiosorum in
spectaculo Baulino, iijˢ iiijᵈ ... depingenti nomina
haeresium in spectaculo (in aula) quod choristarum
moderator [Richard Baull] ordinavit.

VI. SHREWSBURY CORPORATION.

[Extracts from the Bailiffs’ accounts by Owen and Blakeway,
_Hist. of Shrewsbury_ (1825), i. 262, 267, 275, 284, 290, 292,
325 sqq.; and by W. D. Macray in _Hist. MSS._ xv. 10. 25. It
is not always clear to which calendar year an entry belongs.
The accounts run from Michaelmas to Michaelmas, but Owen and
Blakeway generally quote entries under one calendar year and
sometimes under one regnal year.]

1401. ‘Histriones’ of the Prince and the Earl of Stafford.
‘Menstralles’ of the Earls of Worcester and Stafford.

1409. Players [i.e. in these early accounts, ‘histriones,’ not ‘lusores’]
of the countess and earl of Arundel, of Lord Powis, Lord Talbot,
and Lord Furnivall.
Players ‘in honorem villae’ at the marriage of a cousin of David
Holbache.

1437. Minstrels of earl of Stafford.

1438. Livery to two town minstrels, ‘voc. _waytes_.’

1442. Some town minstrels called ‘histriones.’ In same year,
‘histrionibus regis,’ and in subsequent years ‘histrionibus’
of earl of Shrewsbury and others, including one ‘voc. Trumpet.’

1450. Players and minstrels at coming of duke of York from Ireland.

1457. Denaria soluta uni ministrallo domini principis [Edward] pro
honestate villae.
Quatuor ministrallis domini ducis de Bukyngham.
Duobus ministrallis d’ni de Powys.
1 lagenae vini de Ruyn dictis ministrallis.
Denaria data uni ministrallo d’ni principis et suo puero.
iiij. ministrallis d’ni ducis de Eboraco.
iv. ministrellis d’ni ducis de Excestro.

1474. Regardo ministrallis d’ni ducis de Clarence.

1478. Waltero Harper ministrallo d’ni principis.
Regardo dato uni ministrallo ducis Gloucestris vocato le Taborer.
Regardo sex ministrallis d’ni Regis.

1479. Soluta pro liberata ministrallorum vocatorum Wayts, quilibet eorum.
Soluta pro conductu unius ministralli vocati Wayt a villa de
Norhampton usque Salop.
Soluta pro quodam regardo dato uni ministrallo d’ni Regis via
elemosinaria causa eius paupertatis et aetatis.

[From this point _histriones_ replaces _ministralli_ in the
accounts.]

1483. Soluta pro quodam regardo dato sex histrionibus domini Regis pro
honestate villae.
Pro vino dato dictis histrionibus in praesencia ballivorum et
aliorum proborum hominum pro honestate villae.
Pro liberatura communium histrionum vocatorum le Wayts villae.
Soluta ursenario domini Regis pro honestate villae.

1495. Pro vino dato domino Principi [Arthur] ad ludum in quarell.

1496. Wine given to the minstrels of our Lord the King.
To the King’s minstrels.
To the Queen’s minstrels.
To the Prince’s players.
To the Earl of Derby’s players.
To the Earl of Shrewsbury’s players.

1503. In regardo dato ij Walicis histrionibus domini Regis.

1510. ‘Lusoribus’ in feast of Pentecost.
‘Histrionibus’ of Earl of Shrewsbury and King.

1516. In vino, pomis, waffers, et aliis novellis datis et expenditis
super abbatem Salop et famulos suos ad ludum et demonstrationem
martiriorum Felicianae et Sabinae in quarera post muros.
In regardo dato lusoris eiusdem martirii tunc temporis hoc anno.

1517. Regardo ursinario comitis Oxoniae.
In regardo dato ursinario domini Regis pro agitacione bestiarum
suarum ultra denarios tunc ibidem collectos.

1518. In vino expendito super tres reges Coloniae equitantibus in
interludio pro solacio villae Salop in festo Pentecost.

1520. Ralph Hubard, minstrel of Lord de ‘Mountegyle.’
In regardo dato iiijᵒʳ interlusoribus comitis Arundele
ostendentibus ballivis et comparibus suis diversa interludia.
Et in vino dato eis et aliis extraneis personis intuentibus
interludia, ultra denarios collectos.
In regardo dato histrionibus Iohannis Talbot militis pro melodia
eorum facta in presencia ballivorum.
In regardo dato iij histrionibus comitis Arundelle pro honestate
villae Salop.
In regardo dato Benet & Welles histrionibus comitis Salop.
In regardo ij histrionibus comitissae de Derby pro honestate
villae Salop.
Et in vino expendito per ballivos et compares suos audientes
melodiam eorum.
Histrionibus domini Regis ex consuetudine.
In regardo dato et vino expendito super Willelmum More histrionem
domini Regis eo quod est caecus et principalis citherator
Angliae.

1521. Regardo dato M. Brandon ioculatori domini Regis pro honestate
villae
Et in vino expendito par ballivos & compares suos videntes lusum
et ioculationem dicti ioculatoris ultra ij denarios collectos
de qualibet persona villae extraneis exceptis.
Soluta pro una roba nova depicta, sotularibus & aliis necessariis
regardis & expensis factis super Ricardum Glasyer, abbatem de
Marham, pro honestate & iocunditate villae.
In regardo dato portitori communis campanae circa villam pro
proclamacione facta pro attendencia facienda super abbatem
de Marham tempore Maii hoc anno.
In regardo dato iiijᵒʳ histrionibus domini Regis de consuetudine.
Histrionibus comitis Derby.
Regardo dato ursinario ducis Suffolke ultra 2ˢ. 3ᵈ. de pecuniis
collectis de circumstantibus ad agitacionem ursarum suarum.
Pro ursinario domini marchionis Dorsett.

1522. ‘Ursenarius’ of duke of Suffolk.
In regardo dato ioculatori domini Regis.

1524. ‘Histrio’ of Henry Knight.
‘Histriones’ of Earl of Derby.
‘Histriones’ of Lord Mount Egle.

1525. In regardo dato iiij histrionibus comitis Arundell.
Et in vino expendito super ballivos & compares suos audientes
melodiam et ludentes inspicientes.
In regardo dato iiijᵒʳ interlusoribus ducis Suffolk.
Interludes of the Lady Princess, and wine spent at hearing their
interludes.

1526. In regardo dato custodi cameli domini Regis ostendenti ballivis
et comparibus suis ioca illius cameli.
Interlusoribus dominae principissae.
Ralph Hubard, minstrel of Lord de ‘Mountegyle,’ with one Lokkett.

1527. In regardo dato lusoribus villae tempore veris et mensis Maii pro
iocunditate villae.
Interlusoribus dominae principissae.
Interluders of our Lord the King.
‘Histriones,’ of Sir John Talbot, Arthur Neuton and Sir John
Lyngen.

1528. ‘Ursenarius’ of marquis of Exeter.

1530. ‘Histrio’ of baron of Burford.

1531. Data interlusoribus dominae principissae.

1533. Soluta Thomae Eton pro factura unius mansionis de duobus stagiis
pro domino presidenti [Bishop of Exeter] et ballivis tempore
ludi septimana Pentecostes.
Et in regardo dato lusoribus ad dictum lusum et pro reparacione
ornamentorum suorum.
In vino dato domino presidenti & ballivis in mansione sua tempore
lusi in Quarrera pone muros.
In regardo dato lusoribus & interlusoribus domini Regis
ostendentibus & offerentibus ioca sua.
Et in vino expendito super eos et comitivam ballivorum & comparium
suorum audientium & supervidentium lusum & melodiam eorum.
In expensis factis in garniamentis, liberatis et histrion[ibus]
pro domino abbate de Marham tempore mensis Maii pro honestate
villae hoc anno.

1535. In regardo m[agistro] Brandon, ioculatori domini Regis.
In regardo dato histrionibus extraneis melodiam et cantilenas
eorum coram ballivis et comparibus pronunciantibus.

1538. Data in regardo lusoribus domini privati sigilli.
Data in regarda lusoribus domini principis [Edward].
Expendita super lusores domini principis, domini privati sigilli,
domini visitatoris ... pro honestate villae.
‘Histriones’ of Sir Thomas Cornewall and of Thomas Newport.
Rogero Philipps, goldsmyth, pro argento et emendacione colarium
histrionum villae.
‘Ursenarius’ of marquis of Exeter.

1540. Data in regardo quibusdam interlusoribus de Wrexam ludentibus
coram ballivis et comparibus suis in vino tunc expendito.
‘Item, Mr. Bayleffes left on pᵈ more the same day at aftʳ the play.
‘Item, the vj men spend appon the kyng’s pleyers in wyne.
‘Item, there was left on pᵈ by Mr. Bayleffs wᵗ my Lorde Prinssys
plears on Sonday after Seint Bartlaumew day.
‘Item, there was sent them the nyght to supper a poˡ of red and
a poˡ of claret.
‘Item, Mr. Bayleffs left on pᵈ on Sonday after owre Lade day wyth
my Lord Prinsys plears.’
Cuidam iugulatori ludenti coram ballivis.

1541. ‘Ursenario ducis Norfoxiae.’

1542. In vino dato interlusoribus post interlusum in cimitirio sancti
Cedde coram commissariis domini Regis ballivis et aliis.
Cuidem ursuario de la Northewiche.
Ursiatori praepotentis viri comitis Derby ad ij tempora.
Pro reparacione et pictura ornamentorum abbatis de Mayvole.
Et soluta pro una toga de nova facta dicto abbati de Mayvole.
Soluta Ricardo Glasier pro labore suo in ludendo abbatem de
Mardall.

1548. Interlusoribus ludentibus cum domino abbate de Marall.
Soluta Iohanni Mason, peynter, pro pictura togae pro dicto domino
de Marrall.
In regardo istrionibus ludentibus ante viros armatos.
Cuidam istrioni ludenti ante viros equiles equitantes ad Scociam.

1549. James Lockwood ‘servienti et gestatori domini Regis.’
Interluders of Sir John Bridges and of Sir Edward Braye.
William Taylor, and others, interluders of the town of Salop,
playing there in the month of May.
‘Histriones’ of William Sheldon and of Lord Ferrers [last use of
term histrio].

1552. Interluders of Lord Russell.
Soluta domino de abbott Marram et pro apparatu eorum videlicet
pro calciamentis tunicis et aliis vestibus.

1553. Expendita per ballivos et associatos suos die lunae in le Whitson
wuck post visum lusum.
Pro tunicis et aliis vestimentis ac pistura eorundem pro Robyn
Hood.
In vino dato eisdem interlusoribus.
In regardo le tomlers.

1554. In regardo Thomae Staney le jugler.
Wyett le gester.

1559. Regardo lusiatoribus domini Stafford.

1561. Item, gyvyn unto my lord Wyllybe’s playarys in reward.
Item, spent at the gullet on the saem playarys.

1565. To Master Baly Pursell with the Quenes players.

1566. Yeven Mr. Justes Throgmerton’s mynstrell.

1574. Paid and geven to my L. Sandwayes man, the berwart.
The players of noblemen and others and ber-wards of noblemen and
mynstrells of noblemen, this yere, viiiˡⁱ xˢ viijᵈ.

1576. Leid out to my lord of Derby and my lord Staffart’s musicions.

1582. Bestowed on her Majesty’s players this yere.

1591. To my lord of Derby’s musysyons, and to the erle of Woster’s
players ... to my L. Beachem men, beinge players.

[From _Books of Council Orders in Hist. MSS._ xv. 13, 16, 18.]

1556. 16 May. The bailiffs to set forward the stage play this next
Whitsontide for the worship of the town and not to disburse
above £5 about the furniture of the play.

1570. 8 July. Lease of pasture ‘behind the walles, exceptinge the
Quarrell where the plases have bine accustomyd to be usyd.’

1575. 17 July. Five marks to be given to Mr. Churchyard for his pains
taken in setting forth the show against the Queen’s coming,
being sent hither by the Lord President.

VII. THE HOWARDS OF STOKE-BY-NAYLAND, ESSEX.

[From accounts of Sir John Howard, in _Manners and Household
Expenses_ (Roxburghe Club, 1841), 325, 511.]

2 May, 1465. Item that he [my master] delyverd the pleyers at Moleyns
[a servant of Sir John’s] weddynge, ijˢ.

12 Jan. 1466. And the sonday nexte after the xij day, I ȝafe to the
pleyeres of Stoke, ijˢ.

[From accounts of John, Lord Howard, afterwards Duke of
Norfolk, in _Household Books of John, Duke of Norfolk, and
Thomas, Earl of Surrey_ (ed. Collier, Roxburghe Club, 1844),
104, 145, 146, 148, 149, 202, 336, 339.]

29 Aug. 1481. I paid to the pleirs of Turton [Thorington] Strete, xxᵈ.

26 Dec. 1481. Item, the xxvj day of December, my Lord toke the Plaiers
of Kokesale [Coggeshall], iijˢ iiijᵈ.

27 Dec. 1481. Item, to the Plaiers of Hadley [Hadleigh], and the olde
man and ij. children, vjˢ viijᵈ.

7 Jan. 1482. Item, to the Plaiers of Esterforde, iijˢ iiijᵈ.

9 Jan. 1482. Item, to Senclowe, that he paid to my Lord of Essex
[Henry Bourchier] men, plaiers, xxᵈ.
Thei are of Canans.

22 May, 1482. Item, that my Lord yaffe to the cherche on Whitson Monday
at the pley, xˢ.

25 Dec. 1482. Item, on Crystemas day, my Lord gaff to iiij pleyers of
my lord of Gloucestres, iijˢ iiijᵈ.
Item, the same day, my Lord gaff to iiij pleyers of
Coksale, iijˢ iiijᵈ.

9 Jan. 1483. Item, the same day, my Lord paid to Garard, of Sudbury,
for all suche stoffe as folewyth, that he bought for
the Dysgysing [a schedule of paper, gunpowder,
‘arsowde,’ pack-thread, &c., follows]. Summe totall,
xxjˢ ob.

[From accounts of Thomas, Earl of Surrey, in _Household Books_
(_ut supra_), 515, 517, 519.]

20 Dec. 1490. Payd for xviij yardes of lynen cloth, that M. Leynthorpe
had for dysgysyng, at iiijᵈ the yard, ... vjˢ iiijᵈ.

[Other expenses for the disguising follow.]

27 Dec. 1490. Item, payd to the playars of Chemsford, vjˢ. viijᵈ.

2 Jan. 1491. Item, the said day, in reward to the panget [pageant (?)],
iijˢ iiijᵈ.
Item, payd to ——, when he went to Bury to fach stuff for
dygysers on Saynt Stevens day, xvjᵈ.

8 Jan. 1492. Item, in reward to the players of Lanam [Lavenham], xlˢ.

[The Howard accounts also include many payments for minstrelsy,
&c. The Duke of Norfolk kept singers, a harper, children of the
chapel, and two fools, ‘Tom Fool’ and Richard, ‘the fool of the
kitchen.’]

VIII. THE ENGLISH COURT.

[From Rymer, _Foedera_, x. 387. A memorandum _de strenis,
liberatis et expensis_, at Christmas, 1427.]

A Jakke Travail et ses compaignons feisans diverses jeuues et entreludes
dedeins le feste de Noell devant notre dit sire le roi, 4 lib.

Et as autres jeweis de Abyndon feisantz autres entreludes dedeins le dit
feste de Noel, 20 sol.

[Extracted by Collier, i. 50, from the _Household Book_ of
Henry VII, 1491-1505, and the _Book of King’s Payments_,
1506-9. I cannot identify the former; the latter appears to be
vol. 214 of the _Miscellanea of the Treasury of the Receipt of
the Exchequer_ (Scargill-Bird, _Guide to the Public Records_,
228). I omit, here and below, entries referring to minstrelsy,
disguisings, and plays by the King’s players and the Chapel.
Probably some of the performances were given at London;
others before the King on progress. I have corrected some of
Collier’s dates from the similar entries in Bentley, _Excerpta
Historica_, 85, taken from a transcript in _B. M. Add. MS._
7099.]

1 Jan. 1492. To my Lorde of Oxon pleyers, in rewarde, £1.

7 Jan. 1493. To my Lorde of Northumberlande Pleyers, in rewarde, £1.

1 Jan. 1494. To four Pleyers of Essex in rewarde, £1.
To the Pleyers of Wymborne Minster, £1.

6 Jan. 1494. To the Frenche Pleyers for a rewarde, £1.

31 Dec. 1494. To 3 Pleyers of Wycombe in rewarde, 13ˢ 4ᵈ.

4 Jan. 1495. To the Frenshe Pleyers in rewarde, £2.

20 July, 1498. To the pleyers of London in rewarde, 10ˢ.

14 June, 1499. To the pleyers with Marvells, £4.

6 Aug. 1501. To the Pleyers at Myles End, 3ˢ 4ᵈ.

2 Jan. 1503. To the Pleyers of Essex in rewarde, £1.

20 May, 1505. To the Players of Kingeston toward the bilding of the
churche steple, in almasse, 3ˢ 4ᵈ.

1 Jan. 1506. To the players that played afore the Lord Stewarde in
the Hall opon Sonday nyght, 6ˢ 8ᵈ.
To my lorde Princes players that played in hall on
new-yeres even, 10ˢ.

25 Dec. 1506. To the Players that played affore the Lord Stewarde
in the Hall opon Tewesday nyght, 10ˢ.

2 Jan. 1509. To my lord of Buckingham’s pleyers that playd in the
Hall at Grenewich, 6ˢ 8ᵈ.

[Extracted by Collier, i. 76, from the _Book of King’s
Payments_ for 1509-17, now vol. 215 of the _Miscellanea of the
Treasury of the Receipt of the Exchequer_. The document is more
fully analysed in Brewer, ii. 1441. It is an account of the
Treasurer of the Chamber.]

6 Jan. 1512. To the Players that cam out of Suffolke, that playd
affore the Lorde Stewarde in the Kings Hall opon Monday
nyght, 13ˢ 4ᵈ.

1 Jan. 1515. To the Erle of Wiltyshires playres, that shulde have
played in the Kings Hall oppon Thursday at nyght, in
rewarde, 13ˢ 4ᵈ.

1 Jan. 1516. To the Erle of Wilshire’s players, 13ˢ 4ᵈ.

[From _Accounts of Treasurer of Chamber_ in _Trevelyan Papers_
(C.S.), i. 146, 161, 174.]

1 Jan. 1530. To the Prince’s plaiers.

1 Jan. 1531. To the Princes pleyers.
Item, paid to certain Players of Coventrye, as in wey
of the Kinges rewarde, for playnge in the Corte this
last Cristmas.

1 Jan. 1532. To the Princesse plaiers.

F

MINSTREL GUILDS

A. FRANCE.

1. _Arras_, †1105.

The famous _Pui d’Arras_ (vols. i. p. 376, ii. p. 88) was in a sense a minstrel guild. According to tradition a plague was stayed by a simultaneous apparition of the Virgin in a dream to two minstrels, which led to the acquisition of ‘le joyel d’Arras,’ the miraculous ‘cierge de notre Dame.’ This was about 1105, and the result was the foundation of the _Confrérie_ or _Carité de N. D. des Ardents_, which afterwards developed into the _pui_. This was not confined to minstrels, but they were predominant. The _Statutes_ say, ‘Ceste carité est estorée des jogleors, et les jogleors en sont signors[680].’ The objects of the _pui_, however, were religious, social, and literary. It was not a craft guild, such as grew up two centuries later.

2. _Paris_, 1321.

Ordinances were made in 1321 ‘à l’acort du commun des menestreus et menestrelles, jougleurs et jougleresses’ of Paris for the reformation of their ‘mestier,’ and registered with the provost of Paris in 1341. They chiefly regulate the employment of minstrels within the city. The ‘mestres du dit mestier’ are to be ‘ii ou iii preudes hommes’ appointed by the provost on behalf of the King. A number of ‘guètes’ and other minstrels sign, beginning with ‘Pariset, menestrel le roy,’ and ending with ‘Jaque le Jougleur.’ As a possible head of the ‘mestier’ is named ‘li prevost de Saint-Julian.’ This seems to contemplate the foundation of the _hospice et confrérie_ under the patronage of SS. Julian and Genesius, and in close connexion with the ‘mestier,’ which actually took place 1328-35. But in the later Statutes of 1407 the head of the guild is called the ‘roy des ménestriers,’ and as by this time the guild seems to claim some authority over the whole of France, it is probable that this ‘roy’ was identical with the ‘roy des menestreuls du royaume de France,’ a title which occurs in various documents from 1338 onwards. He may also have been identical with the ‘roy’ of the King’s household minstrels (cf. p. 239). The Paris guild lasted until the suppression of all such privileged bodies in 1776[681].

3. _Chauny._

The corporation of ‘les Trompettes jougleurs’ of Chauny was founded during the fifteenth century. This town claimed to provide _bateleurs_ for all the north of France[682].

B. ENGLAND.

There are two early jurisdictions over minstrelsy, which are not strictly of the nature of guilds.

1. _Chester._

Tradition has it that †1210 Randal Blundeville, Earl of Chester, besieged by the Welsh in Rhuddlan Castle, was relieved by Roger Lacy, constable of Cheshire, with a mob of riff-raff from Chester Midsummer fair. Randal gave to Lacy, and Lacy’s son John gave to his steward Hugh de Dutton and his heirs the ‘magistratum omnium leccatorum et meretricum totius Cestriae.’ The fact of the jurisdiction is undoubted. It was reserved by the charter to the London guild in 1469, claimed by Laurence de Dutton in 1499, admitted upon an action of _quo warranto_ as a right ‘from time immemorial,’ further reserved in the first Vagrant Act (1572) which specifically included minstrels, and in the successive Acts of 1597, 1603, 1628, 1641, 1713, 1740, 1744. It lapsed when this last Act was repealed in 1822. Up to 1756 the heir of Dutton regularly held his _curia Minstralciae_ at Chester Midsummer fair, and issued licences to fiddlers in the city and county for a fee of 4½_d._, afterwards raised to 2_s._ 6_d._ Thomas Dutton (1569-1614), under puritan influences, inserted a proviso against piping and dancing on Sundays[683].

2. _Tutbury._

Letters patent of John of Gaunt dated 1380 and confirmed by an ‘inspeximus’ of Henry VI in 1443 assigned ‘le roy des ministralx’ in the honour of Tutbury to arrest all minstrels within the honour not doing service on the feast of the Assumption. It was a custom that the prior of Tutbury should provide a bull for a bull-running by the assembled minstrels on this feast. The court was still held by an annual ‘king of the fiddlers,’ with the steward and bailiff of the honour (including Staffs., Derby, Notts., Leicester, and Warwick), at the end of the seventeenth century, and the minstrels claimed to be exempt, like those of Chester, from vagrancy legislation. But their rights were not reserved, either by the Charter of 1469 or the Vagrant Acts[684].

The first English craft guild of minstrels is later by a century and a half than that of Paris.

3. _London._

A charter of Edward IV (1469), ‘ex querelosa insinuatione dilectorum nobis Walteri Haliday, marescalli [and seven others] ministrallorum nostrorum,’ declares that ‘nonnulli rudes Agricolae et Artifices diversarum Misterarum Regni nostri Angliae finxerunt se fore Ministrallos. Quorum aliqui Liberatam nostram, eis minime datam, portarunt, seipsos etiam fingentes esse Ministrallos nostros proprios. Cuius quidem Liberatae ac dictae Artis sive Occupationis Ministrallorum colore in diversis Partibus Regni nostri praedicti grandes Pecuniarum Exactiones de Ligeis nostris deceptive colligunt et recipiunt.’ Hence illegitimate competition with the real minstrels, decay of the art, and neglect of agriculture. The charter then does two things. It makes the royal minstrels a corporation with a marshall elected by themselves, and it puts them at the head of a ‘Fraternitatem sive Gildam’ of minstrels already existing in the chapel of the Virgin in St. Paul’s, and in the royal free chapel of St. Anthony. All minstrels in the country are to join this guild or be suppressed. It is to have two _custodes_ and to make statutes and ordinances. The jurisdiction of Dutton over Chester minstrels is, as already stated, reserved[685]. A ‘serviens’ or ‘serjeant’ seems to have been an officer of the guild[686]. With this exception nothing more is heard of it until 1594, when a dispute as to the office of the Master of the Musicians’ Company called for the intervention of the Lord Keeper[687].’ In 1604 the Company received a new charter, which gave it jurisdiction within the city and a radius of three miles from its boundaries. It was further restricted to the city itself under Charles I. It still exists as the Corporation of the Master, Wardens, and Commonalty of the Art or Science of the Musicians of London[688].