Note 239 — Chapter III · THE MINSTREL LIFE
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Gautier, ii. 160. Richard Swinfield, bishop of Hereford, more than once rewarded minstrels on his episcopal rounds (J. Webb, Household Expenses of Richard de Swinfield, C. S. i. 152, 155). The bishops of Durham in 1355, Norwich in 1362, and Winchester in 1374, 1422, and 1481 had ‘minstrels of honour,’ like any secular noble (see Appendix E, &c.). Even the austere Robert Grosseteste had his private harper, if we may credit Mannyng, 150:
‘He louede moche to here the harpe; For mannys wyt hyt makyth sharpe. Next hys chaumbre, besyde hys stody, Hys harpers chaumbre was fast therby.’
Mannyng represents Grosseteste as excusing his predilection by a reference to King David.