the harp would necessarily be a solitary performer, we must not expect to find him in
the band along with the trumpeters, fluters, &c.
However, as we sometimes find mention of "Minstrels of Music:"[34] so at
other times we hear of "expert Minstrels and musicians of tongue and cunning"
(BB3)[35]; meaning doubtless by the former singers, and probably by the latter phrase
composers of songs. Even "Minstrels Music" seems to be applied to the species of
verse used by Minstrels in the passage quoted below.[36]
But although, from the predominancy of instrumental music, minstrelsy was at
length chiefly to be understood in this sense, yet it was still applied to the poetry of
Minstrels so late as the time of Queen Elizabeth, as appears in the following extract
from Puttenham'sArte of Eng. Poesie, p. 9. Who, speaking of the first composers of
Latin verses in rhyme, says, "all that they wrote to the favor or prayse of Princes they
did it in such manner of Minstralsie; and thought themselves no small fooles, when
they could make their verses go all in ryme,"
I shall conclude this subject with the following description of Minstrelcy given
by John Lidgate at the beginning of the fifteenth century, as it shows what a variety of
entertainments were then comprehended under this term, together with every kind of
instrumental music then in use.
"-- Al maner MYNSTRALCYE,
That any man kan specifye.
Ffor there were Rotys of Almayne,
And eke of Arragon, and Spayne
SONGES, Stampes, and eke Daunces;
Divers plente of plesaunces:
And many unkouth NOTYS NEW
OF SWICHE FOLKE AS LOVID TREUE.[37]
And instrumentys, that did excelle,
Many moo than I kan telle,
Harpys, Fythales, and eke Rotys
Well according to her (i.e. their) notys,
Lutys, Ribibles, and Geternes,
More for estatys, than tavernes:
Orgay[n]s, Cytolis, Monacordys.--
There were Trumpes, and Trumpettes,
Lowde Shall[m]ys, and Doucettes.
T. Warton, ii. 225, note (*).
END OF THE ESSAYThe foregoing Essay on the Ancient Minstrels has been very much enlarged and
improved since the first Edition, with respect to the Anglo-Saxon Minstrels, in
consequence of some objections proposed by the reverend and learned Mr. Pegge,
which the reader may find in the second volume of the ARCHÆOLOGIA, printed by
the Antiquarian Society; but which that gentleman has since retracted in the most
liberal and candid manner in the third volume of the ARCHÆOLOGIA, No. xxxiv. p.
310.
And in consequence of similar objections respecting the English Minstrels
after the Conquest, the subsequent part hath been much enlarged, and additional light
thrown upon the subject; which, to prevent cavil, hath been extended to Minstrelsy in
all its branches, as it was established in England, whether by natives or foreigners.