Note 1 — THE MINSTREL; OR, THE PROGRESS OF GENIUS. BOOK I.
Reading edition
There is hardly an ancient ballad, or romance wherein a Minstrel or a Harper appears, but he is characterized, by way of eminence, to have been "of the north countrie." It is probable, that under this appellation were formerly comprehended all the provinces to the north of the Trent. See Percy's Essay on the English Minstrels.