Minstrels.
Thirteen; whereof one is Verger, that directeth them all in festival days to their stations, to blowings and pipings to such offices as must be warned to prepare for the King and his Household, at meats and suppers, to be the more ready in all services; and all these sitting in the Hall together, whereof some use trumpets, some shalmuse[165] and small pipes, and some are strange-men coming to this Court at five feasts of the year; and then to take their wages of Household after four-pence halfpenny a day, if they be present in Court; and then they to avoid the next day after the feasts be done. Besides each of them another reward yearly, taking [taken] of the King, in the Receipt of the Chequer, and cloathing with the Household, winter and summer, or twenty shillings a-piece, and livery in Court at even—amongst them all four gallons of ale; and for winter season, three candles wax, six candles p'is, four tallow candles, and sufficient lodging, by the Herbergers for them and their horses in the Court. Also having in the Court two servants, honest, to bear the trumpets, pipes, and other instruments; and a torch for winter nights, whilst they blow to suppers, and other revels at Chaundry. And always two of these persons to continue in Court in wages, being present to warn at the King's ridings, when he goeth to horseback, as oft as it shall require. And by their blowings the Household-men may follow in the countries. And if any of these two Minstrels be sick in Court, he taketh two loaves, a mess of great meat, a gallon of ale. They have part of any rewards given to the Household. And if it please the King to have two strange Minstrels to continue in like wise. The King woll not for his worship that his Minstrels be too presumptuous, nor too familiar, to ask any rewards of the Lords of his land, remembering "De Henrico Secundo Imperatore, qui omnes Joculatores suos et ... monuerit ut nullus eorum in ejus nomine, vel dummodo steterunt in servicio suo, nihil ab aliquo in regno suo deberent petere donandum, scilicet, quod ipsi Domini donatores pro Regis amore citius pauperibus erogarent."