poems of his compofing. Here he will fee him mixing in the company of kings without ceremony: no mean proof of the great antiquity of this poem. The farther we carry our inquiries back, the greater respect we find paid to the profeffors of poetry and mufic among all the Celtic and Gothic nations. Their character was deemed fo facred, that under its fanction our famous king Alfred (as we have already feen §) made no fcruple to enter the Danish camp, and was at once admitted to the king's head-quarters*. Our post has fuggefted the fame expedient to the heroes of this ballad. All the hiftories of the North are full of the great reverence paid to this order of men. Harold Harfagre, a celebrated' king of Norway, was wont to feat them at his table above all the officers of his court: and we find another Norwegian king placing five of them by his fide in a day of battle, that they might be eye-witnesses of the great exploits they were to celebrate .As to Eftmere's riding into the hall while the kings were at table, this was ufual in the ages of chivalry; and even to this day we fee a relic of this custom still kept up, in the champion's riding into Westminster-hall during the coronation dinner ‡. Earken to me, gentlemen, HE Come and you shall heare; Ile tell you of two of the boldest brethren, That ever born y-were. The tone of them was Adler yonge, The tother was kyng Eftmere ; See the Effay on the ancient Minstrels prefixed to this Vol. 5 The Even fo late as the time of Froiffart, we find Minstrels and Heralds mentioned together, as those who might fecurely go into an enemy's country. Cap. cxl. t Bartholini Antiq. Dan. p. 173.Defcript. of the anc. Danes, Vol. 1. p. 386. 389. &c. See also the account of Edw. II. in the Effay on the Mnftrels. The were as bolde men in their deedes, As they were drinking ale and wine Then befpake him kyng Estmere, And answered him hastilee : I knowe not that ladye in any lande, Kyng Adland hath a daughter, brother, Sayes, Reade me, reade me, deare brother, Throughout merrye England, Where we might find a meffenger 15 20 Nowe Chrift thee fave, good king Adlànd; Nowe Chrift thee fave and fee. Sayd, You be welcome, king Eftmere, Right hartilye unto mee. You have a daughter, fayd Adler yonge, Yesterdaye was at my deare daughter Syr Bremor the kyng of Spayne; The kyng of Spayne is a foule paynìm, And pitye it were that fayre ladyè Shold marrye a heathen hound. 45 50 But But grant to me, fayes kyng Eftmere, That I may fee your daughter deare Althoughe itt is seven yeare and more 55 fake 60 Downe then came that mayden fayre, And halfe a hondred of bolde knightes, To bring her from bowre to hall; And eke as manye gentle fquieres, To waite upon them all. The talents of golde, were on her head fette, And everye rynge on her fmalle fingèr, Shone of the chrystall free. Sayes, Chrift you fave, my deare madàme; Sayes, Chrift you fave and fee. Sayes, You be welcome, kyng Eftmere, Right welcome unto mee. 65 70 And iff you love me, as you faye, 75 So well and hartilèe, All Then bespake her father deare: My daughter, 1 faye naye; Remember well the kyng of Spayne, What he fayd yesterdaye. He wold pull downe my halles and castles, And reave me of my lyfe : And ever I feare that paynim kyng, Iff I reave him of his wyfe. Your caftles and your towres, father, ; And therefore of that foule paynìm Wee neede not ftande in doubte. Plyght me your troth, nowe, kyng Eftmère, By heaven and your righte hand, That you will marrye me to your wyfe, Then kyng Eftmere he plight his troth That he wolde marrye her to his wyfe, And he tooke leave of that ladye fayre, To goe to his owne countree, ૩૦ 85 90 95 100 То |