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 curious tracts. To the friendship of Mr. JOHNSON he owes many valuable hints for the conduct of the work. And if the glof faries 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 firft in the world for northern literature; and whofe learning is better known and respected in foreign natious, than in his own country. It is perhaps needless to name the Rev. Mr. LYE, Editor of Junius's Etymologicum and of the Gothic gofpels.

The NAMES of fo many men of learning and character the Editor hopes will ferve as an amulet to guard him from every unfavourable cenfure, for having be stowed any attention on a parcel of OLD BALLADS. It was at the requeft 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 prefs Has been the amufement 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 afide 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 refcning from oblivion fome pieces (tho' but the amusements of our ancestors) which tend to place in a striking light, their tafte, genius, fentiments, or manners.

MDCCLXV.

ADVER

ADVERTISEMENT

TO

THE SECOND EDITION.

TH HE favourable reception given by the Public te this little work, in taking off a numerous impreffion in a fhort time, has made it incumbent on the Editor to render it lefs unworthy their acceptance. He has therefore, in this SECOND EDITION, Corrected fuch mistakes as he had detected in the FIRST; he has alfo inferted fuch further Illustrations as had either occurred to himself or his friends; he hath given a new Arrangement of fome few pieces, which did not ftand before in the order of time; and he has met with more perfect or more ancient copies of fome of the others. He determined with himself not to admit any additional poems, and he thinks he fhall hardly be deemed to have departed from his refolution, by adding three small fonnets, which had a particular reference to others before inferted. The principal alterations will be found in the ESSAYS, which later difcoveries have enabled him to improve: particularly the firft ON THE ANCIENT MINSTRELS: This he has almoft entirely new-written, in confequence of fome confiderable information, which has lately occurred to him on this fubject.

VOL. I.

MDCCLXVI.

The larger NOTES and ILLUSTRATIONS belonging to the following ESSAY, not to incumber the pages, are thrown together to the end, and are referred to by the capital letters (A.) (B.) &c.

AÑ

ES SA

ΟΝ ΤΗ Ε

Y

ANCIENT ENGLISH MINSTRELS.

I. TH HE MINSTRELS (A) were an order of men in the middle ages, who united the arts of poetry and mufic, and fung verfes to the harp of their own compofing. They alfo appear to have accompanied their fongs with mimicry and action; and to have practifed fuch various means of diverting as were much admired in those rude times, and fupplied the want of more refined entertainments (B). These arts rendered them extremely popular and acceptable in this and all the neighbouring countries; where no high scene of feftivity was esteemed complete, that was not set off with the exercife of their talents; and where, fo long as the spirit 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.

The MINSTRELS feem to have been the genuine fucceffors of the ancient BARDS (C), who under different names were admired and revered, from the earliest 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,

a 2

* Vid. Pelloutier Hift, des Celtes. tom. p. 1, 2. c. 6.10.

ancestorst, particularly by all the Danish tribes . By thefe they were distinguished by the name of SCALDS, a word which denotes "Smoothers and Polishers of language §". The origin of their art was attributed to ODIN or WODEN, the father of their Gods; and the profeffors of it were held in the highest estimation. Their skill 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 fhown by an ignorant people to fuch as excel them in intellectual accomplishments (D).

As thefe honours were paid to Poetry and Song, from the earliest times, in thofe countries which our Anglo-Saxon ancestors inhabited before their removal into Britain, we may reafonably conclude, that they would not lay afide all their regard for men of this fort immediately on quitting their German forefts. At leaft fo long as they retained their ancient manners and opinions, they would ftill hold them in high estimation. But as the Saxons, foon after their establishment in this ifland, 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 peculiar profeffion. Thus the POET and the MINSTEL early with us became two perfons (E). Poetry was cultivated by men of letters indifcriminately; and many of the most popular rhimes were compofed amidst the leifure and retirement of monafteries.

Tacit. de Mor. Germ. cap. 2.

cap. 10.

| Vid. Bartholin. de Caufis contemptæ a Danis mortis. lib. 1. -Wormij Literatura Runic. ad finem.-See alio "A "Description of the Manners, Cuftoms, &c. of the ancient Danes " and other northern nations from the French of M. Mallet." ^2 vol. 8vo.

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