times, and had before them too many recent monuments of the Anglo-Saxon nation,
not to know what was conformable to the genius and manners of that people; and
therefore we may presume that their relations prove at least the existence of the
customs and habits they attribute to our forefathers before the Conquest, whatever
becomes of the particular incidents and events themselves. If this be admitted, we
shall not want sufficient proofs to show that Minstrelsy and Song were not extinct
among the Anglo-Saxons, and that the professor of them here, if not quite so
respectable a personage as the Danish Scald, was yet highly favoured and protected,
and continued still to enjoy considerable privileges.
Even so early as the first invasion of Britain by the Saxons an incident is
recorded to have happened which, if true, shows that the Minstrel or Bard was not
unknown among this people, and that their princes themselves could, upon occasion,
assume that character. Colgrin, son of that Ella who was elected king or leader of the
Saxons in the room of Hengist,[11] was shut up in York, and closely besieged by
Arthur and his Britons. Badulph, brother of Colgrin, wanted to gain access to him, and
to apprize him of a reinforcement which was coming from Germany. He had no other
way to accomplish his design but to assume the character of a Minstrel. He therefore
shaved his head and beard, and, dressing himself in the habit of that profession, took
his harp in his hand. In this disguise he walked up and down the trenches without
suspicion, playing all the while upon his instrument as a Harper. By little and little he
advanced near to the walls of the city, and making himself known to the sentinels,
was in the night drawn up by a rope.
Although the above fact comes only from the suspicious pen of Geoffrey of
Monmouth (K), the judicious reader will not too hastily reject it, because if such a fact
really happened, it could only be known to us through the medium of the British
writers: for the first Saxons, a martial but unlettered people, had no historians of their
own, and Geoffrey, with all his fables, is allowed to have recorded many true events
that have escaped other annalists.
We do not, however, want instances of a less fabulous era, and more
indubitable authority; for later history affords us two remarkable facts (L), which I
think clearly show that the same arts of poetry and song, which were so much admired
among the Danes, were by no means unknown or neglected in this sister nation; and
that the privileges and honours which were so lavishly bestowed upon the northern
Scalds were not wholly withheld from the Anglo-Saxon Minstrels.
Our great King Alfred, who is expressly said to have excelled in music,[12]
being desirous to learn the true situation of the Danish army, which had invaded his
realm, assumed the dress and character of a minstrel (M); when, taking his harp, and
one of the most trusty of his friends disguised as a servant[13] (for in the early times it
was not unusual for a minstrel to have a servant to carry his harp), he went with the
utmost security into the Danish camp; and, thought he could not but be known to be a
Saxon by his dialect, the character he had assumed procured him a hospitable
reception. He was admitted to entertain the king at table, and stayed among them long
enough to contrive that assault which afterwards destroyed them. This was in the year
878.
About sixty years after,[14] a Danish king made use of the same disguise to
explore the camp of our king Athelstan. With his harp in his hand, and dressed like a
minstrel (N), Aulaff,[15] king of the Danes, went among the Saxon tents; and taking
his stand near the king's pavilion, began to play, and was immediately admitted. There