This is one of the best invented stories of that kind, and I believe the only one
in which is inserted the name of the author.
(T2)Royer or Raherus, the King's Minstrel.] He is recorded by Leland under both
these names, in his Collectanea, scil. vol. i. p. 61.
"Hospitale S. Bartholomæi in West Smithfelde in London. Royer Mimus
Regis fundator."
"Hosp. Sti. Barthol. Londini.
Raherus Mimus Regis H. 1, primus fundator, an. 1102, 3 H. 1, qui fundavit
etiam Priorat. Sti. Barthol."-- Ibid. p. 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. Mimis Dni. Clynton
cantantibus, citharisantibus, ludentibus," &c. iiiis. (T. Warton, ii. 106, note q.) The
same year the Prior gave to adoctor prædicans, for a sermon preached to them, only
6d.
In the Monasticon, tom. ii. pp. 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 to King Edward the Confessor, and
predicted by three Grecians, &c. Even his minstrel profession is not mentioned,
whether from ignorance or design, as the profession was perhaps falling into discredit
when this legend was written. There is only a general indistinct account that he
frequented royal and noble houses, where he ingratiated himselfsuavitate joculari.
(This last is the only word that seems to have any appropriated meaning.) This will
account for the indistinct incoherent account given by Stow. "Rahere, a pleasant-
witted gentleman, and therefore in his time called the King's Minstrel."--Survey of
Lond. Ed. 1598, p. 308.
(U)In the early times, every Harper was expected to sing.] See on this subject King
Alfred's Version of Cædmon, above in note (H). So inHorn-Child, King Allof orders
his steward Athelbrus to
"-- teche him of harpe and of song."
In the Squire of Lowe Degree, the King offers to his daughter,
"Ye shall have harpe, sautry,[23] and song."
And Chaucer, in his description of the Limitour, or Mendicant Friar, speaks of
harping as inseparable from singing (i. p. 11, ver. 268),
"-- in his harping, whan that he hadde songe."(U2)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. page 62) showed it to belong to his Chancellor. "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