KING ESTMERE.

the

THE high antiquity of this ballad, is inferred from its speaking familiarly of the Moorish Kings of Spain ("the King of Spayne is a foule Paynim)," as a circumstance well known to its contemporaries. These infidels, who had over-run the finest countries of the East, effected a lodgment in Spain, about the year 700, under the general name of Moors and Saracens, and established several governments or kingdoms, particularly at Cordova and Grenada. And although they were constantly beset by the Christian subjects of the ancient Gothic conquerors, they continued to possess part of the kingdom until year 1492; a period of upwards of seven hundred years, when they were at length finally expelled. We may therefore assign to the following composition, as early a date as the year 1400; particularly as its representations of manners and customs are exactly suitable to the character and simplicity of that early period. Dr. Percy notices the high estimation and honour in which it clothes the character of the MINSTREL. "Here he will see one of them represented mounted on a fine horse, accompanied with an attendant to bear his harp after him, and to sing the poems of his composingmixing in the company of kings without ceremony: no mean proof of the great antiquity of this poem." The limits of a note render it impossible to give here even a faint outline of the history of the progress and succession of Minstrelsy in Europe, a subject of high interest to the feelings, as, in its full extent and antiquity, it comprehends not only classical, but sacred and venerable associations, connected with the earliest records of mankind. appears, in ali countries, to have been one of the first and most favourite methods of preserving tradition, and the exploits of admired heroes. A valuable account of the minstrelsy of the middle ages will be found in Percy's Reliques, and Ritson's Ancient Songs, and in the works of Ellis and Warton: and Dr. Burney's History of Music contains almost all that could be wished on the general history of the science. It may be here observed,

Song

that the art of singing in parts, which is supposed to have been utterly unknown to the ancient Greeks and Romans, was practised by the ancient northern nations, the Scandinavians, whether Danes called Dacians, or Icelanders, Norwegians, and others, at a very early period. And we are informed by Giraldus Cambrensis, that the inhabitants of the North of England beyond the Humber, were acquainted with the treble and bass, which they had learned from the Danes, &c., who made frequent expeditions and seizures on that coast; and that they alone had this knowledge. Giraldus wrote about the year 1180. "Later writers, however, incline to believe, that they had learned it from the method observed in chanting the service, by the monks of Wearmouth, in the bishopric of Durham."-RITSON. Perhaps from both; but Mr. Ritson has here stopped short in his explanation, as he might thus have traced it to Rome. The Editor makes no apology for introducing some particulars, which he considers interesting, derived from the works of the Venerable Bede, who was a monk of Wearmouth Abbey, as given in Warton's History of English Poetry. In the year 688, Pope Vitellian appointed, as Archbishop of Canterbury, Theodore, a Roman monk, and formerly a Greek priest at Tarsus in Cilicia; who, besides the Greek and Latin languages, was skilled in poetry, astronomy, arithmetic, and church-music. There returned with him to England, one Benedict Biscop (afterwards St. Benedict), a Northumbrian ecclesiastic, who had made frequent journeys to Rome, and who now, by means of workmen from France, built the monastery of Wearmouth; the church of which was of stone, in the Roman style, and the walls and roof ornamented with scriptural pictures, which he bought at Rome; and the windows filled with glass, by French glaziers. "In one of his expeditions to Rome, he brought over John, arch-chantor of St. Peter's, who introduced the Roman method of singing mass.' "He taught the monks of Benedict's Abbey; and all the singers of the monasteries of that province came from various parts to hear him sing." And about the same time, Acca, bishop of Hexham, in Northumberland, having finished his cathedral, by the help of Italian artists, invited from Kent a celebrated chanter, named Maban, and employed, for twelve years, his talents in introducing a new and improved style of church-music throughout his diocese.-See Dissertation ii., Warton's History, 4to ed., 1774. From this tuition of their forefathers by the Danish Scalds, is supposed to have arisen the constant superiority of the minstrels of the North Country."

HEARKEN to me, gentlemen,

Come, and you shall hear,

I'll tell you of two of the boldest brethren,

That ever born y-were.

с

The one of them was Adler young,
The other was King Estmere,
They were as bold men in their deeds,
As any were, far and near.

As they were drinking ale and wine,
Within King Estmere's hall-
When will ye marry a wife, brother,
A wife to glad us all?

Then bespake him King Estmere,
And answered him hastily,
I know not that lady in any land,
That's able to marry with me.

King Adland hath a daughter, brother,
Men call her bright and sheen,
If I were king here in your stead,
That lady should be my queen

Says, read † me, read me, dear brother,
Throughout merry England,
Where we might find a messenger,

Betwixt us two to send.

Says, you shall ride yourself, brother,

I'll bear your company;

Many through false messengers are deceived,

And I fear lest so should we.

Thus they renisht ‡ them to ride

Of two good renisht steeds,

And when they came to King Adland's hall,

Of red gold shone their weeds.

*Fit, suitable.

+ Or rede, advise, from the Saxon.

Adorned, or furnished. Dr. Percy thinks, possibly, from the Latin, reniteo. Weeds was an old word for clothes, still in some measure retained. Gold has generally the epithet of red, in old ballads and romances.

And when they came to King Adland's hall,

Before the goodly gate,

There they found good King Adland,

Rearing himself thereat. *

Now Christ thee save, good King Adland,
Now Christ you save and see!

Said, you be welcome, King Estmere,
Right heartily to me.

You have a daughter, said Adler young,
Men call her bright and sheen,
My brother would marry her to his wife,
Of England to be queen.

Yesterday, was at my

dear daughter,

Sir Bremor, the King of Spain,

And then she nicked him of nay, †

And I doubt she will do you the same.

The King of Spain is a foul paynim,
And 'lieveth on Mahound,
And pity it were that fair lady
Should marry a heathen hound.

But grant to me, says King Estmere,
my love I you pray,

For

That I may see your daughter dear,

Before I go hence away.

* A curious specimen of simplicity in manners. Dr. Percy compares it with Mentes, king of the Taphians, lolling at Ulysses' gate, to inquire for that monarch, when he had landed from a voyage in his own merchant-ship.Odyssey, i. 105.

The entire simplicity of the passage has evaporated in the smooth translation of Pope.

* Cut him short, as now would be said, with a refusal.

The usual method in which the Christians then pronounced the name of Mahomet, or properly, Mohammed.

Although it is seven years and more
Since my daughter was in hall,

She shall come once down for your sake,
To glad my guests all.

Down then came that maiden fair
With ladies laced in pall,

And half a hundred of bold knights,
To bring them from bower to hall,
And as many gentle squires,

To tend upon them all.

The talents of gold were on her head set,
Hanged low down to her knee,
And every ring on her small finger
Shone of the crystal free.

Says, God you save, my dear madam,
Says, God you save and see!

Said, you be welcome, King Estmere,
Right welcome unto me.

And if you love me, as you say,
So well and heartily,

All that ever you are coming about,
Soon sped now it shall be.

Then bespake her father dear,
My daughter, I say nay,
Remember well the King of Spain

What he said yesterday.

He would pull down my halls and castles,

And reave me of my life;

I cannot blame him if he do,

If I reave him of his wife.

Your castles and your towers, father,

Are strongly built about;