An anonymous Cornish miracle play, Ordinale de Origine Mundi puts the following words into the mouth of King David:
Wethong menstrels ha tabours
trey-hans harpes ha trompours
cythol crowd fylh ha savtry
psalmus gyttrens ha nakrys
organs in weth cymbalys
recordys ha symphony. |
[Blow minstrels and tabors
Three hundred harps and trumpets
Citole, crowd, fiddle, and psaltery
Shawms, gitterns and nakers
Organs, also cymbals
Recorders and symphony.] |
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1470
"To Robert Stowe alias Taberer, a canon of the monastery of Osney (de Oseneya) by Oxford
in the diocese of Lincoln. Dispensation to receive and retain [for life] a[ny] benefice [with cure] wont
to be assigned to secular clerks…, and to resign it, simply or for exchange, when he pleases”
‘Calendar of Papal Registers Relating To Great Britain and Ireland: Volume 12, 1458-1471 |
1470-71 Winchester, Hampshire, External expenses
“given to Thomas Nevyle, taborer, 12d”
Winchester College Bursars' Accounts, Winchester College Archives: 22140 |
Import lists for the Port of London Apr - June 1481 included:
" From the ship of Lubert van Boke called Mary of the Steelyard
" 1,000 beads, 8 girdles, 30 doz. razors, 3 pcs. lawn, 1 doz. [S tabor] pipes"
'Petty Custom Account 1480-1: Imports: (nos 109-157)', The overseas trade of London: exchequer customs accounts: 1480-1
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Import lists for the Port of London July 1481 included:
" 1,000 wimble ('wynnell) [S 'wymbull'] irons, 2 doz. wimbles, 1 doz. tabor pipes"
'Petty Custom Account 1480-1: Imports: (nos 158-196)', The overseas trade of London: exchequer customs accounts: 1480-1 |
15th century poem:
“…A man may dryfe for the the day that long tyme dwellis
With harpyng and pipyng, and other mery spellis,
With gle, and wyth game…'"
'CHRISTMAS:ITS ORIGIN AND ASSOCIATIONS,TOGETHER WITH ITS HISTORICAL EVENTS AND FESTIVE
CELEBRATIONS DURING NINETEEN CENTURIES:' by W. F. DAWSON |
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aristocratic and royal household accounts |
1426-7
“And 8d to the pipers as a reward at Perkins' (house)....”
Cofferers' Accounts of the Gild Merchant, Reading, Berkshire |
"The royal household ordinances of 1455 specified four minstrels with another nine minstrels coming to Court
at the principal feasts of the year. The Liber Niger of Edward IV’s reign, (ordinances governing the household),
required two minstrels to remain
in Court at all times, with the addition of two string-minstrels if the king wished:
the other minstrels were
required to come to Court for the five principal feasts and to leave Court the day after
each feast was finished."
'Secular Musicians in Late Medieval England' |
COVENTRY GILD-ACCOUNTS 1449–1502
Waldinsfeld, 11 December.Gift: to Martinettus the taborer, 10.0d
25 Ed 1: Add 7965
Gift of 6.8d to Robinettus le Taborer de York, making his minstrelsy before the king: Boneye, 8 Decembe
29 Ed I: Add 7966A. Controller’s Book
Prests to Bandettus, the king’s taborer
31 Ed I: Add 17360. Controller’s Accounts
Necessaries 11d to Martinettus the taborer, for the repairing of drums of the king’s sons and for moneys paid
by him for parchment for the covering of the said drums: London, 18 November.
Gifts Windsor, 6 January.
to Martinettus the taborer and William and John the trumpeters, minstrels of the lords, making their minstrelsy
in the presence of the same on the vigil and day of Epiphany on account of the king’s celebrations, of the gift
and favour of the said lords, 20.0d:
Robes money for an annual robe inc Martinettus the taborer
money to the minstrels as above for winter and summer shoes
Winter liveries to the household: details of cloth for robes to the minstrels inc Martinettus the taborer
34 Ed I: E101.368.12. Accounts of the household of Thomas and Edmund, the king’s sons
Roll of payments and gifts to minstrels at Pentecost
to The taborer of the lady Audham.
Guillot the taborer
Perotus the taborer.
minstrels in French
Bandet le Tabourer.
Bandettus le Tabourer
Martinet le Tabourer
Ed I: E101.369.6.
Prest to Clays, taborer
2 – 3 Ed III: E101.384.1. Controller’s Accounts
The minstrels: inc Cleys, taborer
4 Ed III: E101.385.4. Keeper’s Livery Roll |
THE HOWARD ACCOUNTS 1462–1485
Entries relating to minstrels in the transcribed accounts of Sir John Howard, successively
Lord Howard and Duke of Norfolk.
1482 1 August: 1d paid for a pipe for the fool.
to Martinettus the taborer, 10.0d
Gift of 6.8d to Robinettus le Taborer de York, making his minstrelsy before the king: Boneye, 8 December.
Prests to Bandettus, the king’s taborer
25 Ed 1: Add 7965
Accounts of the household of Thomas and Edmund, the king’s sons
Necessaries
11d to Martinettus the taborer, for the repairing of drums of the king’s sons and for moneys paid by him for parchment
for the covering of the said drums: London, 18 November.
Gifts
To Martinettus the taborer and William and John the trumpeters, minstrels of the lords, making their minstrelsy
in the presence of the same on the vigil and day of Epiphany on account of the king’s celebrations, of the gift
and favour of the said lords, 20.0d: Windsor, 6 January.
Robes
Winter liveries to the household: details of cloth for robes to the minstrels,
viz., William Barbitonsor,
John the trumpeter, William his fellow and Martinettus the taborer.
34 Ed I: E101.368.12
.Roll of payments and gifts to minstrels at Pentecost
payments
The taborer of the lady Audham.
Guillot the taborer.
Perotus the taborer.
3.0d to Guillotus, taborer of the Earl of Warwick.
Martinet the taborer.
3.10½d owed to Bandettus the taborer.
5 Ed II: E101.374.16
Prest to King Robert, taborer, and his four companions, soldiers of the garrison of Berwick.
2 – 3 Ed III: E101.384.1. Controller’s Accounts
Prest to Clays, taborer.
4 Ed III: E101.385.4. Keeper’s Livery Roll
“the minstrels are: (16 including) Cleys, taborer
Money for winter robes, annis 15, 16 and 17, to Lambert, taborer
Payment of 38.0d of the 60.0d owed to Lambert, taborer.
34 Ed I: E101.369.6
A total of £12.5.4d owed to Lambert, taborer, for wages and robes.
Robes and Shoes Money to many servants of the household for winter and summer robes,
including Lamkin, taborer
c. 21 Ed III: E101.391.9. Keeper’s Accounts
30th November: Details of gowns made against the feast of Christmas for the king’s minstrels, Lambekin, taborer
37 – 38 Ed III: E101.394.16. Livery Roll, 29 June, 37 Ed III – 29 June, 38 Ed III
26th November Details of robes for Christmas for the king’s minstrels, Lambekin, taborer
34 – 35 Ed III: E101.393.15. Livery Roll, 1 November, 34 Ed III – 28 June, 35 Ed III
28 November, Details of robes delivered to the minstrels for Christmas Lambekin, taborer
6th December,, Details of robes delivered to the minstrels for Christmas
Liveries to the minstrels Lamkin, taborer
48 Ed III – 1 Ric II: E101.397.20. Keeper’s Livery Roll, 24 November, 48 Ed III – 6 July, 1 Ric II
1 October,
4 May: gift of 66.8d to a strange taborer.
28th December 20.0d to two taborers and a tumbler.
13 – 15 Hen VII: E101.414.16. Journal (English) 13 Hen VII – 30 September, 15 Hen VII
1464
23 January: a new gown and 3d delivered to the taboret
29 March, at London: payment of 20d to the taboret.
Payments for doublets and hose for the taboret and others.
11 May: payment of 4d for a headstall for the taboret.
1 June, at Newark: payment of 2d for cord for the taboret’s tabor.
St. James’s Day, 25 July: 2.4d delivered to the taboret to buy himself a pair of hose.
1465
May: gift of 12d to the taboret at Moleyn’s wedding.
1466
8 April: gift of 8d to the taboret.
17 September:94 gift of 3.4d to the taboret of Lord Wenlock.
1467
Part of a list of retainers for an expedition to the north, probably that of 1464.
It includes John Symond, taboret,
to whom was delivered a jacket and 12d on his wages, 7 October
1463-4
3 Ed IV. List of Howard’s stud when he was with the Duke of Norfolk at Holt Castle, , dated 25 January,
It includes the taboret, mounted upon Little Morel.
List, dated 13 September, 11 Ed IV, probably of those who went to Calais with Howard after his appointment
as Deputy Governor there. It includes Janen, taboret
1481
List of those who accompanied Howard to Scotland, 23 February – 17 August, includes the following:
Roger, taboret, and his fellow.
The Taborets: Pierson of Cromer, John Wright, Thomas Comford, Harry Gamelgay, Thomas Brome, Strong of Cromer and Tornors of Horsfield.
parchment to repair a tabor (1481)
To Christopher and Valentine, taborets, 16d to make their gowns with; 5.0d to buy themselves hose;
5.10½d paid for their gowns; 4.0d in prest
Payments to Christopher and Valentine, taborets: 5.10½d for a gown for each of them; 2.8d to make their gowns;
5.0d to buy hose for themselves; a prest of 4.0d; 2.2d to Valentine for his expenses in going to Southampton;
8d to each of them on the 11 March; 2.0d on the 22 April to buy themselves bonnets, shirts and other “gere”;
and 3.4d on 13 August at Harwich.
11 March: 16d to the taborets for drink-money.
undated: 4d to the taborets for parchment.
24 March: 12d to the taborets to buy shoes.
26 March: 4d to the taborets.
7 April: 6.8d to a friar to go to Stoke to ...98 the taborets.
16 April: 16d to a man that carried the taborets’ “stuff”
15 April?: 16d to the taborets.
21 April: 2.0d to the taborets to buy “gere
5 May: 2.0d paid for two pairs of shipmen’s hose for the taborets.
9 May: 12d to the taborets of the “Spaniard”.
21 May, at Powers: 10d paid for the taborets’ bedding.
c.13 August: 3.4d to the taborets, for their wages.
27 August: 12d to the Waits of London.
6.8d to Christopher, taboret, to buy “gere”.
20d to Valentine, taboret.
29 August: 12d to the taborets.
6 September, at Wivenhoe: 8d to the taborets and others, for their breakfast.
14 September: 3.4d to Christopher, taboret, 6.8d to Valentine, taboret.
amongst a list of servants Robert Strong and the taborets
1483
22nd August at Thetford 8d to a taboret.
16 September, in Sussex: 11d to the taboret for his horse and his supper.
19 October: 2.4d to the taboret for his tabor
3.8d to Roger Taber |
Household of Thomas, Earl of Surrey
1491 5-8 January: payment of 40d to the taboret of Lord Berners.
1489
4 May: 28.0d to Pringill, to mend his tabor.120
1496
29 June: gift of 14.0d to William and John Pais, taborers.
1497
6 March, at Stirling: gift of 27.0d to the taborer that played to the king, and the rope-dancer with him.
28 March Easter rewards to the minstrels, at Stirling : 36.0d to William and Pais, taborers, and a rope-dancer with them.
9.0d to Ansle, taborer.
12 June, in Melrose: 18.0d to William and Pais, taborers.
23 September: gift of 18.0d to Pais, taborer, and Bennet, fiddler.
18 December: gift of 18.0d to Adam Boyd, taborer. |
[Ed All this information was extracted from a thesis which is no longer online. Please notify me if this is your work.] |
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The Coronation of Richard III: The Extant Documents, 1983 |
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“…Some civic minstrels were temporarily employed at Court. William Scarlett of Canterbury may be one
of the men of that name (the elder, the younger) listed among the ‘taborets and trumpets’ at Richard III’s
coronation in 1483; … William may have joined relatives in royal service; Edmund Scarlett was also among
those taborers and trumpeters in 1483…”
‘Civic Minstrels in Late Medieval England: New Light on Duties and Careers’ by Richard Rastall, 2021 |
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