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The Bay State Monthly, Volume 3, No. 2 by Various
page 111 of 141 (78%)
fourteenth century, says:


"There were many Mynstrels as well of hys own as of strangers, and
eache of them dyd their devoyres in their facalties. The same day
the Earl of Foix gave to Hauralds and Minstrelles the sum of 500
franks, and gave to the Duke of Tonrayns Mynstreles gouns of cloth
of gold furred with ermyne valued at 200 franks."


The courts of kings swarmed with these merry singers in the Dark Ages,
and such sums were expended upon them, that they often drained the royal
treasuries. In William's army there was a brave warrior named Taillefer,
who was as renowned for minstrelsy as for arms. Like Tyrtæus and Alemon,
in Sparta, he inspired his comrades with courage by his martial strains,
and actually led the van in the fight against the English, chanting the
praises of Charlemagne, and Roland. Richard Coeur de Lion was a
distinguished patron of minstrels as well as "the mirror of chivalry."
He was sought out in his prison in Austria by a faithful harper who made
himself known by singing a French song under the window of the castle in
which the king was confined. Blondel was the harper's name. The French
song translated reads thus:


"Your beauty, lady fair,
None views without delight;
But still so cold an air
No passion can excite.
Yet still I patient see
While all are shun'd like me.
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