[230] Collier, i. 41.
[231] Strutt, 194; Gautier, ii. 173-8; H. Lavoix, ii. 198. They are called Scolae ministrorum, Scolae mimorum. They can be traced to the fourteenth century. Genève and Bourg-en-Bresse also had them. The Paris statutes of 1407 (cf. Appendix F) require a licence from the roi des ménestrels for such an assembly. A Beauvais computus (1402) has ‘Dati sunt de gratia panes ducenti capitulares mimis in hac civitate de diversis partibus pro cantilenis novis addiscendis confluentibus.’
[232] Hearne, Appendix ad Lelandi Collectanea, vi. 36; Percy, 367. The proclamation is dated Aug. 6, 9 Edw. II (i. e. 1315).
[233] No technical term seems, however, intended in Launfal (ed. Ritson), 668:
‘They hadde menstrales of moch honours,
Fydelers, sytolyrs, and trompours.’
[234] C. J. Ribton-Turner, Vagrants and Vagrancy, chs. 3, 4, 5. The proclamation of 1284 against ‘Westours, Bards, and Rhymers and other idlers and vagabonds, who live on the gifts called Cymmortha,’ and the Act of 1402 (4 Hen. IV, c. 27) in the same sense, seem only to refer to the Welsh bards (cf. p. 77).
[235] Ribton-Turner, 107 (14 Eliz. c. 5). Whipping is provided for ‘all Fencers Bearewardes Comon Players in Enterludes & Minstrels, not belonging to any Baron of this Realme or towards any other honourable personage of greater Degree; all Juglers Pedlars Tynkers and Petye Chapmen; whiche said Fencers Bearewardes comon Players in Enterludes Mynstrels Juglers Pedlars Tynkers & Petye Chapmen, shall wander abroade and have not Lycense of two Justices of the Peace at the leaste, whereof one to be of the Quorum, wher and in what Shier they shall happen to wander.’ The terms of 39 Eliz. c. 4 (1597-8) are very similar, but 1 Jac. I, c. 7 (1603-4), took away the exemption for noblemen’s servants.
[236] Appendix F.
[237] Gautier, ii. 156; Ducange, s.v. Ministelli.