"[2]
Call hither, cries Sir Thopas, minstrels and gestours, "for
to tellen tales"--
"Of romances that been royales,
Of popes and of cardinals,
And eek of love-lykinge." (II. 2035-40).
[1] Troilus, Bk. v. Il. 1797-98.
[2] Piers Plowman.
Rhymers and poets had these entertainments in mind
when they wrote--
"And red wher-so thou be, or elles songe,
That thou be understonde I god beseche,"
cries Chaucer.[1] Note also the preliminary request for
silence and attention at the beginning of Sir Thopas--
"Listeth, lordes, in good entent,
And I wol telle verrayment
Of mirthe and of solas [solace];
Al of a kuyght was fair and gent [gallant]
In bataille and in tourneyment,
His name was Sir Thopas."
[1] Hous of Fame, 1. 1198.
At the beginning of his metrical chronicle of England
Robert Mannyng of Brunne begs the "Lordynges that be
now here" to listen to the story of England, as he had
found it and Englished it for the solace of those "lewed"
men who knew not Latin or French.[1]
[1] Furnivall's ed., Rolls S., pt. 1, p. 1.
References to these minstrels are common--
"I warne you furst at the beginninge,
That I will make no vain carpinge [talk]
Of cedes of armys ne of amours,
As dus mynstrelles and jestours,
That makys carpinge in many a place
Of Octoviane and Isembrase,
And of many other jestes,
And namely, when they come to festes;
Ne of the life of Bevys of Hampton,
That was a knight of gret renoun,
Ne of Sir Gye of Warwyke.
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