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of several Anglo-Norman Poets of the 13th Century.
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were very numerous. But if he does not forgive them for composing these dramas, in which were represented to the people the courage and patience of the martyrs (in a manner it must be allowed which violated historical truth, but which, however, neither hurt the morals, nor the fundamental points of religion), it may be easily imagined with what ardour our poet would decry the minstrels, who, by the recital of romantic and amorous adventures, brought prematurely forward, and roused the passions. With this moral object, he declares to them that he knows of no employment so dangerous, and even prefers a life supported by begging.

But while he decries the "Miracles" because they were composed

    earls of Flanders; but this name was more usually given to a kind of buffoon, or juggler, who had succeeded to the historians. The greatest part of them were of Provence; they understood music, and played on instruments. They connected themselves with the Troubadours, or Trouveurs, poets in vogue since the eleventh century, whose productions they sang and performed. By these means they got admittance into the palaces of kings and princes, by whom they were rewarded with magnificent presents. They were also called Jugleurs, Jongleurs, and the women Jongleresses.

    At the end of the fourteenth century the Trouveurs and the Jongleurs separated themselves into two bodies; the one under the name of Jongleurs joined singing and the recitation of verses to the sound of inftruments; the others under the name of Joueurs (Joculatores) amused the people by sleight of hand, &c. &c. like the jugglers of this day. About the time of Philip Auguste the Jongleurs came to disgrace because poetry was little in esteem at that time, more particularly after the death of the count of Champagne, who composed so many amorous verses for queen Blanche. The name of Jongleurs became so contemptible that it was applied only to jugglers, and at length, as they repeated nothing but buffoonery, the term Jonglerie signified falsehood, and they used the words jongler and jaugler to signify to lie. It is for this reason that Philip Auguste drove them from his dominions. They, however, reappeared, and were tolerated in the following part of the reigns of this prince and of the kings that succeeded him. They all took the name of Jongleurs, as the most ancient. They lived all in one street, then called Rue des Jongleurs, now de S. Julien des Menestriers; that is, street of the Jugglers, now of St. Julien of the Minstrels. Communicated by Mr. Moysant. I. H. M.

of

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