﻿472 A>f ACCOUNT OF THE BAZEEGUIIS, 



formed themsehes into a compan}^ and obtained a 

 charter — the police fVequentlv' repressed their hcen- 

 tioiisiess, and re<iuhited tlieir conduct. Philip Au- 

 gustas b.inishcd them the first year of his reis^n ; but 

 they were recalled hy his successors, and united un- 

 der the general name of Minstrelsy, Ijaviiig a Chief 

 appointed over them, who was called the A/w^of the 

 Minstrels. Lcvv'is the IXth exempted them from a 

 tariff or toll at the entrance at Paris, on condition 

 (hat they would sing a song, and iwdXit ihtix monkeifs 

 dance to the toil-men, &c. &c. 



'' The associated minstrels inhabited a particulai* 

 street, to which they gave the name it still retains, 

 it was here that the public was pro\ idcd with musi- 

 cians for weddings and parties of pleasure. But, as 

 a greater number of them attended such occasions 

 than were ordered, and all expected to be paid the 

 same price," 'MVilliam de Crirmont, Provost of 

 Paris 1:331, prohibited the Ju7igleurs and Jtin- 

 gleuresses from going to those, who required their 

 perfoimance, in greater numbers than had been sti- 

 pulated, upon a severe penalty. In 1395, their li- 

 bertinism and immoralities again incurred the cen- 

 sure of government, by which it v\as strictly en- 

 joined, that they should henceforth, neither in pub- 

 lic or private, speak, act, or sing any thing that was 

 indecorous or unfit for modest eyes and ears, upon, 

 pain of two monthf? imprisonment and living upon 

 bread and water." I-ut let us hear one of the jug- 

 glers relate his own story. After speaking of his 

 power in music, he proceeds : 



** I from lovers tokens bear, 

 I can flowry chaplets weave, 

 Amorous belts can well prepare, 

 And with courteous speech deceive. 

 Joint stool feats to shew I'm able, 

 I can make the beetle run, 



AU 



