into the royal presence, and had something peculiarly splendid in their dress. It is thus
related by Stowe (Z):
"In the year 1310, Edward the Second did solemnize his feast of Pentecost at
Westminster, in the great hall: where sitting royally at the table with his peers about
him, there entered a womanadorned like a Minstrel, sitting on a great horse trapped,
as Minstrels then used; who rode round about the tables, shewing pastime; and at
length came up to the King's table and laid before him a letter, and forthwith turning
her horse, saluted every one and departed." The subject of this letter was a
remonstrance to the king on the favours heaped by him on his minions, to the neglect
of his knights and faithful servants.
The privileged character of a minstrel was employed on this occasion, as sure
of gaining an easy admittance; and a female the rather deputed to assume it, that, in
ease of detection, her sex might disarm the king's resentment. This is offered on a
supposition that she was not a real minstrel; for there should seen to have been
women of this profession (AA), as well as of the other sex; and no accomplishment is
so constantly attributed to females, by our ancient bards, as their singing to, and
playing on, the harp (AA2).
In the fourth year of King Richard II., John of Gaunt erected at Tutbury, in
Staffordshire, a Court of Minstrels, similar to that annually kept at Chester, and
which, like a Court-Leet or Court-Baron, had a legal jurisdiction, with full power to
receive suit and service from the men of this profession within five neighbouring
counties, to enact laws and determine their controversies; and to apprehend and arrest
such of them as should refuse to appear at the said court, annually held on the 10th of
August. For this they had a charter, by which they were empowered to appoint a King
of the Minstrels, with four officers to preside over them (BB). These were every year
elected with great ceremony; the whole form of which, as observed in 1680, is
described by Dr. Plot:[38] in whose time, however, they appear to have lost their
singing talents, and to have confined all their skill to wind and string music.[39]
The minstrels seem to have been in many respects upon the same footing as
the heralds; and the King of the Minstrels, like the King-at-Arms, was both here and
on the continent an usual officer in the courts of princes. Thus we have in the reign of
King Edward I. mention of a King Robert, and others. And in 16 Edward II. is a grant
to William de Morlee, "the King's Minstrel, styledRoy de North"[40], of houses
which had belonged to another king, John le Boteler (BB2). Rymer hath also printed a
licence granted by King Richard II. in 1387, to John Caumz, the King ofhis
Minstrels, to pass the seas, recommending him to the protection and kind treatment of
all his subjects and allies.[41]
In the subsequent reign of King Henry IV. we meet with no particulars relating
to the Minstrels in England, but we find in the Statute Book a severe law passed
against their brethren, the Welsh Bards; whom our ancestors could not distinguish
from their ownRimours, Minstralx; for by these names they describe them (BB3).
This act plainly shows, that far from being extirpated by the rigorous policy of Ring
Edward I., this order of men were still able to alarm the English Government, which
attributed to them "many diseases and mischiefs in Wales," and prohibited their
meetings and contributions.
When his heroic son, King Henry V., was preparing his great voyage for
France, in 1415, an express order was given for his minstrels, fifteen in number, to