ancient MSS. in the British Museum, and other reposi tories, were owing to the kind fervices of THOMAS ASTLE, Efq. to whom the publick is indebted for the curious Preface and Index annexed to the Harleyan Catalogue. The worthy Librarian of the Society of Antiquaries, Mr. NORRIS, deferved acknowledgement for the obliging manner in which he gave the Editor accefs to the volumes under his care. In Mr. GARRICK'S curious collection of old plays are many fearce pieces of ancient poetry, with the free ufe of which he indulged the Editor in the politeft manner. To the Rev. Dr. BIRCH he is indebted for the ufe of feveral ancient and valuable tracts. To the friendship of Dr. SAMUEL JOHNSON he owes many valuable hints for the conduct of the work. And, if the Gloffaries are more exact and curious than might be expected in fo flight a publication, it is to be afcribed to the fupervifal of a friend;' who ftands at this time the first in the world for northern literature, and whofe learning is better known and refpected in foreign nations than in his own country. It is perhaps needlefs to name the Rev. Mr. LYE, Editor of Junius's Etymologicum, and of the Gothic Gospels.

edition of Chaucer's "Canterbury Tales," 5 vols. 8vo. is a standard book, and fhews how an ancient English claffic should be published. The Editor was alfo favoured with many valuable remarks and corrections from the Rev. GEO. ASHBY, late fellow of St. John's College, in Cambridge, which are not particularly pointed out because they occur fo often. He was no lefs obliged to THOMAS BUTLER, Efq. F. A. S. agent to the Duke of Northumberland, and Clerk of the Peace for the county of Middlefex; whose extenfive knowledge of ancient writings, records, and hiftory, have been of great ufe to the Editor in his attempts to illuftrate the literature or manners of our ancestors. Some valuable remarks were procured by SAMUEL PEGGE, Efq. author of that curious work the "Curialia," 4to.; but this impreffion was too far advanced to profit by them all; which hath also been the cafe with a series of learned and ingenious annotations inferted in the Gentleman's Magazine for Auguft, 1793, April, June, July, and October, 1794, and which, it is hoped, will be continued.

* Since Keeper of the Records in the Tower,

The NAMES of so many men of learning and cha racter the Editor hopes will ferve as an amulet to guard him from every unfavourable cenfure, for having beftowed any attention on a parcel of OLD BALLADS. It was at the request of many of these gentlemen, and of others eminent for their genius and tafte, that this little work was undertaken. To prepare it for the press has been the amusement of now and then a vacant hour amid the leifure and retirement of rural life, and hath only ferved as a relaxation from graver ftudies. It has been taken up at different times, and often thrown aside for many months, during an interval of four or five years. This has occafioned fome inconfiftencies and repetitions, which the candid reader will pardon. As great care has been taken to admit nothing immoral and indecent, the Editor hopes he need not be ashamed of having bestowed fome of his idle hours on the ancient literature of our own country, or in refcuing from oblivion fome pieces (though but the amufements of our ancestors) which tend to place in a striking light their tafte, genius, fentiments, or manners.

Except in one Paragraph, and in the Notes fubjoined, this Preface is given with little variation from the firft edition in MDCCLXV.

AN

AN

ESSAY

ON

THE ANCIENT MINSTRELS

IN ENGLAND.

HE MINSTRELS (A) were an order of men in the middle ages, who fubfifted by the arts of poetry and mufic, and fang to the harp verfes compofed by themselves, or others * They also appear to have accompanied their fongs with mimicry and action; and to have practifed fuch various means of diverting as were much admired in thofe rude times, and fupplied the want of more refined entertainment (B). These arts rendered them extremely popular and accep table in this and all the neighbouring countries; where no high fcene of feftivity was esteemed complete, that was not fet off with the exercise of their talents; and where, fo long as the fpirit of chivalry fubfifted, they were protected and careffed, because their fongs tended to do honour to the ruling paffion of the times, and to encourage and foment a martial spirit.

(A) The larger Notes and Illustrations referred to by the capital Letters (A) (B) &c. are thrown together to the end of this Effay.

* Wedded to no hypothefis, the author hath readily corrected any mistakes which have been proved to be in this ESSAY; and confidering the novelty of the fubject, and the time, and place, when and where he first took it up, many fuch had been excufable. -That the term MINSTREL was not confined, as fome contend, to a meer Mufician, in this country, any more than on the continent, will be confidered more fully in the laft Note (G g.) at the end of this Effay.

The MINSTRELS feem to have been the genuine fucceffors of the ancient BARDS (C), who under different names were admired and revered, from the earli ft ages, among the people of Gaul, Britain, Ireland, and the North; and indeed by almost all the first inhabitants of Europe, whether of Celtic or Gothic race; but by none more than by our own Teutonic ancestors, particularly by all the Danish tribes. Among thef they were distinguished by the name of s LDS, a word which denotes "Smoothers and Polishers of language §". The origin of their art was attributed to ODIN OF WODEN, the father of their Gods; and the profeffors of it were held in the highest eftimation. Their fkill was confidered as fomething divine; their perfons were deemed facred; their attendance was folicited by kings; and they were every where loaded with honours and rewards. In fhort, poets and their art were held among them in that rude admiration, which is ever fhewn by an ignorant people to fuch as excel them in intellectual accomplishments.

As thefe honours were paid to Poetry and Song, from the earliest times, in thofe countries which our AngloSaxon ancestors inhabited before their removal into Bri tain, we may reasonably conclude, that they would not lay afide all their regard for men of this fort immediately on quitting their German forests. At least fo long as they retained their ancient manners and opinions, they would still hold them in high eftimation. But as the

*Vid. Pelloutier Hift. des Celtes. tom. 1. 1. 2. c. 6. 10. +Tacit. de Mor. Germ. cap. 2.

-

Vid. Bartholin. de Caufis contemptæ a Danis mortis: lib. 1. cap. 10. -Wormij Literatura Runic. ad finem. See alfo "Northern Antiquities, or, A Description of the Manners, Cuf"toms, &c. of the ancient Danes and other northern nations: from "the French of M. Mallet." London, printed for T. Carnan, 1770, 2 vol. 8vo.

"

§ Torfæi Præfat. ad Orcad. Hift.-Pref. to "Five pieces of Runic Poetry," &c.

Saxons,

Saxons, foon after their establishment in this island, were converted to Christianity; in proportion as literature prevailed among them, this rude admiration would begin to abate; and Poetry would be no longer a pecu. liar profeffion. Thus the POET and the MINSTREL early with us became two perfons (D). Poetry was cultivated by men of letters indifcriminately; and many of the most popular rhimes were compofed amidit the lei fure and retirement of monafteries. But the Minstrels continued a diftinct order of men for many ages after the Norman conqueft; and got their livelihood by finging verfes to the harp at the houses of the great (B). There they were ftill hofpitably and refpectfully received, and retained many of the honours fhewn to their predeceffors the BARDS and SCALDS (F). And though, as their art declined, many of them only recited the compofitions of others, fome of them ftill compofed fongs themselves, and all of them could probably invent a few ftanzas on, occafion. I have no doubt but most of the old heroic Ballads in this collection were composed by this order of men. For although fome of the larger metrical Romances might come from the pen of the monks or others, yet the fmaller narratives were probably compofed by the Minstrels, who fang them. From the amazing variations which occur in different copies of the old pieces, it is evident they made no fcruple to alter each other's productions; and the reciter added or omitted whole ftanzas according to his own fancy or convenience.

In the early ages, as was hinted above, the profeffion of oral itinerant Poet was held in the utmost reverence among all the Danish tribes; and therefore we might have concluded, that it was not unknown or unrespected among their Saxon brethren in Britain, even if History had been altogether filent on this fubject. The original country of our Anglo-Saxon Ancestors is well known to have lien chiefly in the Cimbric Cherfonefe, in the tracts of land fince diftinguished by the name of Jutland, Angelen,

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