wages in cheque roale allowed iiijd. ob. or else iijd. by the discresshon of the steuarde and tressorere, and that, aftere his cominge and diseruinge: also cloathinge with the houshold yeomen or mynstrelles like to the wages that he takethe ; and he be syke he taketh twoe loves, ij messe of greate meate, one gallon ale. Also he partethe with the housholde of general gyfts, and hathe his beddinge carried by the comptrollers assygment; and under this yeoman to be a groome watere. Yf he can excuse the yeoman in his absence, that he taketh rewarde, clotheinge, meat, and all other things lyke to other grooms of houshold. Also this yeoman-waighte, at the making of Knightes of the Bathe, for his attendance upon them by nighte-tyme, in watching in the chappelle, hath to his fee all the watchinge-clothing that the knight shall wear uppon him.”[1]
As the encouragement given to minstrels at great houses lessened, so did their respectability, or relative station in society; besides which, their wandering propensities tended to promote irregular habits. In Henry the Fourth’s time it was found necessary to lay a restraint on their proceedings; and in the fourth year of his reign an act was passed for that purpose, though it is confined to Wales, which was probably a favourite place of resort. The act was altered in 26th and 27th of Henry VIII. and here follows in its original classical language.
“Item, pur eschuir pluseurs diseases & meschiefs qont advenuz devaunt ces heures en in terre de Gales por pluseurs westours rymours ministralx & autres vacabondes ordeignez est & establiz qe nul westour
- ↑ Burney’s History of Music, vol. ii. pp. 431-2, citing Liber Niger Domus Regis.
