Note N — APPENDIX I. AN ESSAY ON THE ANCIENT MINSTRELS IN ENGLAND.

With his harp in his hand, and dressed like a minstrel. Assumptâ manu citharâ ... professus mimum, qui hujusmodi arte stipem quotidianam mercaretur ... Jussus abire pretium cantus accepit. Malmesb. l. 2, c. 6. We see here that which was rewarded was (not any mimicry or tricks, but) his singing (cantus); this proves beyond dispute, what was the nature of the entertainment Aulaff afforded them. Perhaps it is needless by this time to prove to the reader, that mimus in middle latinity signifies a minstrel, and mimia, minstrelsy, or the minstrel-art. Should he doubt it, let him cast his eye over the two following extracts from Du Cange.