Note 1117 — APPENDIX I. AN ESSAY ON THE ANCIENT MINSTRELS IN ENGLAND. (continued 2)

Geoffrey of Monmouth is probably here describing the appearance of the joculatores or minstrels, as it was in his own time. For they apparently derived this part of their dress, &c. from the mimi of the ancient Romans, who had their heads and beards shaven (see above p. 383 note [1105]), as they likewise did the mimickry, and other arts of diverting, which they superadded to the composing and singing to the harp heroic songs, &c. which they inherited from their own progenitors the bards and scalds of the ancient Celtic and Gothic nations. The Longobardi had, like other northern people, brought these with them into Italy. For "in the year 774, when Charlemagne entered Italy and found his passage impeded, he was met by a minstrel of Lombardy, whose song promised him success and victory. Contigit joculatorem ex Longobardorum gente ad Carolum venire, et cantiunculam a se compositam, rotando in conspectu suorum, cantare." Tom. ii. p. 2. Chron. Monast. Noval. lib. iii. cap. x. p. 717. (T. Warton's Hist. vol. ii. Emend. of vol. i. p. 113.)