character among the Anglo-Saxons. The same also may be inferred from the relation
of William of Malmesbury, who outlived Ingolphus but thirty-three years.[16] Both
these writers had doubtless recourse to innumerable records and authentic memorials
of the Anglo-Saxon times which never descended down to us; their testimony
therefore is too positive and full to he overturned by the mere silence of the two or
three slight Anglo-Saxon epitomes that are now remaining:-- Vide note (G).
As for Asser Menevensis, who has given a somewhat more particular detail of
Alfred's actions, and yet takes no notice of the following story, it will not be difficult
to account for his silence, if we consider that he was a rigid monk, and that the
Minstrels, however acceptable to the laity, were never much respected by men of the
more strict monastic profession, especially before the Norman Conquest, when they
would be considered as brethren of the Pagan Scalds[17]. Asser therefore might not
regard Alfred's skill in Minstrelsy in a very favorable light; and might be induced to
drop the circumstance related below, as reflecting, in his opinion, no great honour on
his patron.
The learned editor of Alfred's life in Latin, after having examined the scene of
action in person, and weighed all the circumstances of the event, determines, from the
whole collective evidence, that Alfred could never have gained the victory he did, if
he had not with his own eyes previously seen the disposition of the enemy by such a
stratagem as is here described.-- Vide Annot. in Ælfr. Mag. Vitum, p. 33. Oxon. 1678,
fol.
(M)Alfred... assumed the dress and character of a Minstrel.] "Fingens se
joculatorem, assumpta cithara," &c.-- Ingulphi Hist. p. 869. "Sub specieMimi... ut
Joculatoriæprofessor artis."-- Gum. Malmesb. l. ii, c. iv. p. 43. That both Joculator
and mimus signify literally a Minstrel, see proved in notes (B) (K) (N) (Q) &c. See
also note (GG).
Malmesbury adds, "Unius tantum fidelissimi fruebatur conscientia." As this
confidant does not appear to have assumed the disguise of a Minstrel himself, I
conclude that he only appeared as the Minstrel's attendant. Now that the Minstrel had
sometimes his servant or attendant to carry his harp, and even to sing to his music, we
have many instances in the old metrical romances, and even some in this present
collection.-- See King Estmere; Glasgerion, &c. Among the French and Provencal
bards, theTrouverre, or Inventor, was generally attended with his singer, who
sometimes also played on the harp, or other musical instrument. "Quelque fois durant
le repas d'un prince on voyoit arriver un Trouverre inconu avec ses Menestrels ou
Jongleours, et il leur faisoit chanter sur leurs harpes ou vielles les vers qu'il avoit
composés. Ceux qui faisoient les SONS aussi bien que les MOTS etoient les plus
estimés"-- Fontenelle,Hist. du Théatre.
That Alfred excelled in music is positively asserted by Bale, who doubtless
had it from some ancient MS., many of which subsisted in his time that are now lost:
as also by Sir J. Spelman, who, we may conclude, had good authority for this
anecdote, as he is known to have compiled his life of Alfred from authentic materials
collected by his learned father: this writer informs us hat Alfred "provided himself of
musicians, not common, or such as knew but the practick part, but men skilful in the
art itself, whose skill and service he yet further improved with his own instruction," p.
- This proves Alfred at least to have understood the theory of music; and how
could this have been acquired without practising on some instrument? which we have
seen above, note (H), was so extremely common with the Anglo-Saxons, even in