"Quant il virent Normanz venir Qui moururent en Rainschevaux. Qui quidem Taillefer a Gulielmo obtinuit ut priinus 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 écuyer 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 la chanson que les soldats répétoient, se jetta le premier parmi les Anglois, et fut tué." [Voltaire Add. Hist. Univ. p. 69. The reader will see an attempt to restore the Chanson de Roland, with musical notes, in Dr. Burney's Hist. ii. p. 276.-See more concerning the Song of Roland, Series the Third. p. 189. Note (m.) "M. (S)" An eminent French writer," &c.] l'Evêque de la Ravaliere, qui avoit fait beaucoup de recherches sur nos anciennes Chansons, prétend que c'est à la Normandie que nous devons nos preiniers Chansonniers, non à la Provence, et qu'il y avoit parmi nous des Chansons en langue vulgaire avant celles de Provençaus, mais postérieurement au Regne Philippe I, ou à l'an 1100." [v. Révolutions de la Langue Françoise, à la suite des Poesies du Roi de Navarre.] "Ce seroit une antériorité de plus d'une demi siecle à l'époque des premiers Troubadours, que leur historien Jean de Nostredame fixe à l'an 1162," &c. Pref. à l'Anthologie Franç. 8vo. 1765. This subject hath since been taken up and prosecuted at length in the Prefaces, &c. to M. Le Grand's," Fabliaux ou Contes du xie et du xe Siecle, Paris, 1788," 5 tom. 12mo. who pretty clearly to have established the priority and superior excellence of the old Rimeurs of the North of France over the Troubadours of Provence, &c. seems (S 2) "Their own native Gleemen or Minstrels must be allowed to exist."] Of this we have proof positive in the old metrical Romance of Horn-Child (Series the Third, No. 1, p. 192.) 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 ge nuine 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), Rumenyld 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 of Dan Horn, in the Harleyan MS. 527, mentioned by Tyrwhitt, (Chaucer iv. 68,) and by T. Warton (Hist. i. 38), whose extract from Horn-Child is extremely in correct. Compare the style of Child-Horn with the AngloSaxon specimens in short verses and rime, which are assigned to the century succeeding the Conquest, in Hickes's Thesaurus, tom. i. cap. 24, p. 224 and 231. (T)"The different production of the sedentary composer and the rambling 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 is Eglamour of Artas (Series the third, No. 20, p. 194,) 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 is Ipomydon (Series the third, No. 23, p. 195,) of which one of the divisions (Sign. E. ii. b. in pr. copy) ends thus, Let hym go, God him spede, Tyll efte-soone we of him reed [i. e. read.] So in Amys and Amylion* (Series the third, No. 31, p. 195), 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 of Horn Child (mentioned in the last note (S2) and in Series It ought to have been observed in its proper place in Series the third, No. 31, p. 195, that Amys and Amylion were no otherwise "Brothers" than as being fast friends: as was suggested by the learned Dr. Samuel Pegge, who was so obliging as to favour the Essayist formerly with acurious transcript of this poem accompanied with valuable illustrations, &c.; and that it was his opinion that both the fragment of the "Lady Beellesnt" mentioned in the same No. 31, and also the mutilated Tale, No. 37, (p. 37,) were only imperfect copies of the above romance of " Amys and Amylion," which contains the two lines quoted in No. 37. the Third, No. 192. p. 2.) which, from the naked unadorned simplicity of the story, I would attribute to such an origin. But more evidently is such the Squire of Low Degree, (Series the third, No. 24. p. 195.) in which is no reference to any French original, nothing like the phrase, which so frequently occurs in others, "As the romance sayth," or the like. And it is just such a rambling performance as one would expect from an itinerant Bard. And Such also is A lytell Geste of Robyn Hode, &c. in 8 Fyttes, of which are extant two editions, 4to, in black-letter, described more fully in page 21 of this work. 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 is Syr Launfal, Series the third, No. 2, p. 192), the 121st. of which has Hospitale S. Bartholomai in West Smithfelde in London. "Royer Mimus Regis fundator." Hosp. Sti. Barthol. Londini. "Raberus Mimus Regis H. 1, primus fundator, an. 1102, 3 H. 1, qui fundavit etiam Priorat. Sti. Barthol." Ibid. page 99. That Mimus is 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. Mimus Dni. Clynton cantantibus, citharisantibus, ludentibus, &c. iiiis. (T. Warton, ii. 106, note q.) The same year, the prior gave to a doctor prædicans, for a sermon preached to them, only 6d. In the Monasticon, 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 (U 2) "As the most accomplished," &c.] See Hoveden, p. 103, in the following passage, which had erroneously been applied to King Richard himself, till Mr. Tyrwhitt (Chaucer, iv. p. 62,) showed it to belong to his Chancelor. 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 Chancelor, see T. Warton's Hist. vol. ii. Addit. to p. 113 of vol. i. (U 3) Both the Norman,and English languages would be heard at the houses of the great."] A remarkable proof of this is, that the most diligent inquirers after ancient English rimes 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 his dictionary of England, p. 36. Hoppe Wyliken, hoppe Wyliken Ingland is thine and myne, &c. And that noted boast of Hugh Bigot, Earl of Norfolk, in the same reign of King Henry II. vid. Camdeni Britania, (art. Suffolk) 1607, folio. Were I in my castle of Bungey I 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 ad dressed to persons of high rank, as appears from The Harp (Lat. Cithara) differed from the Sautry, or Psaltry (Lat. Psalterium) in that the former was a stringed instrument, and the latter was mounted with wire: there was also some difference in the construction of the bellies, &c. See "Bartholomæus de proprietatibus rerum," as Englished by Trevisa and Eatman, ed. 1584, in Sir J. Haw kins' Hist. ii. p. 285. their beginning thus-" Listen, lordings," and the like These were prior to the time of Chaucer, as appears from vol. iii. p. 190, et seqq. 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 English minstrels," &c,] This might perhaps, in a great measure, be 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 2) "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 of Horn-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, are heard by the lord of it, who being informed they were "harpeirs, jogelers, aud fythelers," has them admitted, when .. (V 3) "assumed the dress and character of a harper, &c."] We have this curious historiette in the records of Lacock Nunnery, in Wiltshire, which had been founded by this Countess of Salisbury. See Vincent's Discovery of Errors in Brooke's Catalogue of Nobility, &c. folio, page 445-6, &c. Take the following extract (and see Dugdale's Baron. 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 Jogeler (Lat. Jaculator) was a very ancient name for a Minstrel. Of what nature the performance of the Joculator was, we may learn from the Register of St. Swithin's Priory at Winchester (T. Wartou, i. 69.) "Et cantabat JOCULATOR quidam nomine Herebertus Canticum Colbrondi, necnon Gestum Emme regine a judicio ignis liberate, in aula Prioris." His instrument was sometimes the Fythele, or Fiddle, Lat. Fidicula: which occurs in the Anglo-Saxon Lexicon. On this subject we have a curious passage from a MS. of the Lives of the Saints in metre, supposed to be earlier than the year 1200, (T. Warton's Hist. i. p. 17,) viz. Christofre him served longe The kynge loved melodye much of fithele aad of songe: cognatos adducta fuit in Normanniam, et ibidem sub tutâ et arctà custodià nutrita. Eodem tempore in Anglia fuit quidam miles nomine Gulielmus Talbot, qui induit se habitum Peregrini [Anglice, a pilgrim] in Normanniam transfretavit et moratus per duos annos, huc atque illuc vagans, ad explorandam dominam Elam Sarum, Et illà inventa exuit habitum Peregrini, et induit se quasi Cytharisator et curiam ubi morabatur intravit. Et ut erat homo Jocosus, in Gestis Antiquorum valde peritus, ibidem gratanter fuit acceptus quasi familiaris. Et quando tempus aptum invenit, in Angliam repatriavit, habens secum istam venerabilem dominam Elam et hæredam comitatus Sarum; et eam Regi Richardo præsentavit. Ac ille lætissime eam suscepit, et Fratri suo Guilellmo Longespee maritavit.... "A.D. 1226, Dominus Guill. Longespee primus nonas Martii obiit. Ela vero uxor ejus 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 to Monast. Angl. i. [r. ii.] p. 185, but gives it as enlarged by D. Powel, in his Hist. 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 either et or vero seems redundant.) We shall see below in note (Z) the proper import of the word Histriones: but it is very remarkable that this is not the word used in the grant of the Constable De Lacy to Dutton, but "Magisterium omnium Leccatorum et Meretricium totius Cestreshire, sicut liberius illum [sic] Magisterium teneo de Comite." (vid. Blount's Ancient Tenures, p. 156.) Now, as under this grant the heirs of Dutton confessedly held for many ages a magisterial jurisdiction over all the Minstrels and Musicians of that County, and as it could not be conveyed by the word Meretricis, the natural inference is that the Minstrels were expressed by the term Leccatores. 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, víz. 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). 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) pag. xxv. 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 aught 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 Geo. III. (X) "Edward I. ...at the knighting of his son," &c.] See Nic. Triveti Annales, Oxon. 1719, 8vo. p. 342. "In festo Pentecostes Rex filium suum armis militaribus cinxit, et cum eo Comites Warenniæ et Arundeliæ, aliosque, quorum numerus ducentos et 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, et inducerent, ad vovendum factum armorum aliquod coram signo." (Y) "By an express regulation, &c."] See in Hearne's Append. 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. greetying. 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 suche outrageous enterprises and idleness, &c. have ordeyned.... that to the houses of Prelates, Earles, and Barons, none resort to meate and drynke, unlesse 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 the House. 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 time he to lose his Minstrelsie, and at the second tyme to forsweare his craft, and never to be receaved for a Minstrel 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 et 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 (B b 3). .... (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's Hist. Ang... "Intravit quædam mulier ornata Histrionali habitu, equum bonum insidens Histrionaliter phaleratum, quæ mensas more Histrionum circuivit; et tandem ad Regis mensam per gradus ascendit, et quandam literam coram rege posuit, et 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 work, page 18. The answer of the Porters (when they were afterwards blamed for admitting her) also deserves attention. Non esse moris domus regia Histriones ab ingressu quomodolibet prohibere," &c. Walsingh. " That Stow rightly translated the Latin word Histrio here by Minstrel, meaning a musician that sung, whose subjects were stories of chivalry, admits of easy proof: for in the Gesta Romanorum, chap. cxi. Mercury is represented as coming to Argus in the character of a Minstrel; when he incipit, more Histrionico, fabulas 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 quo Histriones cantabant, sicut modo cantatur de Rolando et Oliverio." Antich. Ital. ii. p. 6. (Observ. on the Statutes, 4th. edit. p. 362.) See also (E) pag. xxv. &c. (F) p. xxvi. &c. (A a) "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. Clipmeden, [Glee-maiden] &c. glypiendemaden, glypbydenertna. vid. supra p. xxvi.) Fr. Jengleresse, Med. Lat. Joculatrix, Ministralissa, Femina Ministerialis, &c. (vid. Du Cange Gloss. and Suppl.) See what is said in page xlv. concerning 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 through the streets accompanied with musical instruments in 1268. Had the female described by Walsingham been a Tombestere, or dancing-woman (see Tyrwhitt's Chaucer, iv. 307, and v. Gloss.), that historian would probably have used the word Saltatrix. (See T. Warton, i. 240, note m.) These Saltatrices were prohibited from exhibiting in churches and church-yards along with Joculatores, Histriones, with whom they were sometimes classed, especially by the rigid ecclesiastics, who censured, in the severest terms, all these sportive characters. (Vid. T. Warton, in loco citato, et vide supra not. (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 of Troverres (or Troubadours) Chanterres, Conteours, and Jugleurs,&c. (vid. page lx.), 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, Minstrel, and the like, seem to be given them indiscriminately. And one or other of these names seems 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 of the profession, to show 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 have Menestrels de Trompes, and Menestrels de Bouche, in 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 manda les Menestrels; *Le Compte. Et si a fett crier entre els, + fait. Qui la meillor truffet sauroit Sornette, [a gibe, Dire, ne faire, qu'il auroit (a jest, or flouting.] Sa robe d'escarlate neuve. L'uns Menestrels à l'autre reuve Fere 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; S'ont vielles, et harpes prisees Chansons, sons, vers, et reprisas Et gestes, chanté nos ont." Sir J. Hawkins, ii. 44, from Andr. Du Chene. See also Tyrwhitt's Chaucer, iv. p. 299. All the before mentioned sports went by the general name of Ministralcia, Ministellorum Ludicra, &c.-" Charta an. 1377, apud Rymer, vii. p. 160. 'Peracto autem prandio, ascendebat D. Rex in cameram suam cum Prælatis, Magnatibus, et Proceribus prædictis: et deinceps Magnates Milites, et Domini, aliique Generosi diem illum, usque ad tempus cœnæ, in Tripediis coreis et solempnibus Ministralciis, præ gaudio solempnitatis illius continuarunt.'" (Du Cange, Gloss. 773.) [This was at the Coronation of King Richard II.] It was common for the minstrels to dance, as well as to harp and sing (see above, note (E) p. lxiv.) Thus, in the old romance of Tirante el Blanco; Val. 1511, the 14th cap. lib. ii. begins thus, Despues que 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 sleight 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 his Squire's Tale (ii. 108) speaks of the horse of brass, as like An apparence ymade by som magike, (A a 2)" Females playing on the Harp."] Thus in the old Romance of Syr Degore (or Degree," Series the third, No. 22. p. 194.) we have [Sign. D. i.] The lady, that was so faire and bright, The 4th line being omitted in the pr. copy is supplied from the folio MS. In the "Squyr of lowe Degree"(Series the third, No. 24, p. 195.) the king says to his daughter [Sign. D. i.] Ye were wont to harpe and syng, And be the meryest in chamber comyng. In the "Carle of Carlisle," (Series the third, No. 193, p. 29.) 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 of " Eger and Grime" (Series the third, No. 12, p. 194.) we have [Ibid. p. 127. col. 2.] in Part I. v. 263. The ladye fayre of hew and hyde ... And her 2 maydens sweetlye sange. A similar passage occurs in Part IV. v. 129. (page 136.) But these instances are sufficient. |