such intolerable multitude within the Principality in North Wales, that not only
gentlemen and others by their shameless disorders are oftentimes disquieted in their
habitations, but also expertMinstrelsandMusicians in tonge and cunyngethereby
much discouraged," &c., and "hindred [of] livings and preferment," &c., it appoints a
time and place, wherein all "persons that intend to maintain their living by name or
colour ofMinstrels, Rythmers,orBards," within five shires of N. Wales, "shall appear
to show their learnings accordingly," &c. And the Commissioners are required to
admit such as shall be found worthy, into and under the degrees heretofore in use, so
that they may "use, exercise, and follow the sciences and faculties of their professions
in such decent order as shall appertain to each of their degrees." And the rest are to
return to some honest labour, &c., upon pain to be taken as sturdy and idle vagabonds,
&c.
(BB4) Holingshed translated this passage from Tho. de Elmham's "Vita et Gesta
Henrici V." scil. "Soli Omnipotenti Deo se velle victoriam imputari... in tantum,
quod cantus de suo triumpho fieri, seu per Citharistas vel alias quoscunque cantari
penitus prohibebat." [Edit. Hearnii, 1727, p. 72.] As in his version Holingshed
attributes the making as well as singing ditties to Minstrels, it is plain he knew that
men of this profession had been accustomed to do both.
(CC)The Houshold Book, &c.] See
Section V.
"Of the Noumbre of all my Lords Servaunts."
"Item, Mynstralls in Houshold iij. viz. A Taberett, a Luyte, and a Rebecc."
[The rebeck was a kind of fiddle with three strings.]
Sect. XLIV. 3.
"Rewardis to his Lordshipis Servaunts," &c.
"Item, My Lorde usith ande accustomyth to gyf yerly, when his Lordschipp is
at home, to his Mynstraills that be daly in his Houshold, as his Tabret, Lute, ande
Rebeck, upon New-Yeres-day in the mornynge when they doe play at my Lordis
chambre doure for his Lordschipe and my Lady, xx. s. Viz. xiij. s. iiij. d. for my
Lorde, and vj. s. viij. d. for my Lady, if sche be at my Lords fyndynge, and not at hir
owen; and for playing at my Lordis sone and heir chaumbre doure, the Lord Percy, ij.
s. And for playinge at the chaumbre doures of my Lords yonger Sonnes, my yonge
Maisters, after viii. d. the pece for every of then.-- xxiij. s. iiij. d."
Sect. XLIV. 2.
"Rewardis to be yeven to strangers, as Players, Mynstraills, or any other," &c.
"Furst, my Lorde usith and accustomyth to gyf to the Kings Jugler;... When
they custome to come unte hym yerely, vj. s. viij. d.
"Item, my Lord usith and accustomyth to gyf yerely the Kynge or the Queenes
Barwarde, if they have one, when they custom to come unto hym yerely,-- vj. s. viij.
d.
Item, my Lorde usith and accustomyth to gyfe yerly to every Erlis Mynstrellis,
when they custome to come to hym yerely, iij. s. iiij. d. Ande if they come to my Lord
seldome, ones in ij. or iij. yeres, than vj. s. viij. d.