Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-03-31

sccess to the traditionary tales OF tne
country, they were likely 10 be consid-
cred as the most authentic depositsrics OF
these narratives. Both Robert de
Bruune and Wyntown testify 70 their
eminence over the ninstrels OF other
countries and IL is certainly worthy OF
note that while Erceldoune, Kendall, and
Hucheon. all poets OF the North. arc
celebrated by the early historians, and
while all our manuscripts contain metri-
cal romances in the northern dialect we
do not possess one anterior to the time
Of CHANGER which can be ascrlbed to .
poet OF south Britain.
The high estimation in which the
genuine MINISTRIES were held, the honors
bestowed on them, and the privileges
they enjoyed led TO limitations OF their
dress aud appearance by "yagabonds,
idiers. and rogues, who sought to bene-
fit by their advantages and distinctions,
and ct last it became necessary to pro-
tect the dignity and responsibility OF the
true minstrels from the encroachments
of these adventures. In 1910 1t was
enacted that " Forasmuch as many idle
persons, under color of minstrelsy
have ben. and yet be receaved to meste
and drynke, and be not Herewith con-
tent il they be not largely con-
sidered with gyftes" the law, there
fore, Restraints the number OF minstrels
to be admitted into the houses Of pre-
lates, earls, and barons to three or four
a day, and that none come to "meaner
men unless desired. This enactment
had very little effect the Ministries in
creased in number up to the time OF
James VI. QJ79), and even to a much
later date, if we are TO put any faith IN
the statements OF some of the older
writers. Long before this, however, the
genuine MINISTRIES had descended from
their formerly high estate, and were now
mostly confined to the lower orders. The
fine poem by which DIR. Besttie is chiefly
remembered preserves to US n true de
scription of the ancient minstrel as he
was known TO early Scotland.
As with the bards the musical instru-
ment of the minstrels was the harp. In
deed, the terms minstrel aud harper are
frequently used anonymously, the in
strument being always closely associated
with the song. This may be seen by re-
ferring to some Of the Gaelic poems
printed in the Dean of Linsmore's col
lection already mentioned. We may in
stance particularly one of the fragments
of this collection, in which the poet ex-
presses pity for an old bard
Who cannot put aside his harp.
Yes cannot sing rs he would wish
When men can neither hear his harp,
Nor understand the song no sings.
The harp seems to have been popular
in many countries from very early
date. Skill on the instrument consti-
tuted q part of the usual requirements
of the educated class among the Celts,
as well as among the Danes and Anglo
Ssxons. At the banquets OF the latter
the harp passed from hand to hand
among the company. According to
Bede, the Saxon poet Cpdmon, in the
seventh century, being incapable of
playing, used TO retire from the table in
order to conceal mis- ignorance OF the ar.
so generally practiced among his coun-
trymen. The story of King Alfred
(37S) disguised as harper and
playing n the Danish camp Is generally
familiar. Tho introduction of the In
strumeut into Scotland must have taken
place al an early period, and is generally
believed to have been due to the Irish,
with whom the harp was q special favo-
rite. So early as the sixth century, il
we are TO credit the old writers, more
than one third of the male population OF
Ireland were harpers; aud the Irish
harp, as musical instrument has been
frequently extolled never more so. per
haps, than by Lord Bacon in his "Sylva
Syivarum. Buchanan states that
Ethodius, the twenty-ffth Scottish mon
arch, kept an Irish harper in
his palace, and references are fire.
uuently made in ancient history to the
superiority of the Irish players. Rory
O'Cahan, mentioned by Scott in "The
Legend Of Montrose as 1.-the most ia
nous harper in the western Highlands, u
delighted the ears of James and his
Court by his brilliant execution. Den
MS IIempson whose harp, by the way,
is still preserved played before the Pre-
tender in Edinburgh and Echlin
O'Kane, alluded to 10y Boswell in the
Tour in the Hebrides," after exhibit
inc his skill on the Continent, resided
for several years in Scotland before his
death, and was we'll known in the neigh
borhood OF Blair, Athol, and Dunkeld.
in entry in the document from which
re have already quoted bears indirect
testimony to the superiority OF the Irish
harpers: May, 1890. Till ane Ersche
harper at We Kings command, xvliis.
1t must not be supposed, however,
that the Scotch failed in their cultiya-
ton Of the instrument, or that its use
was confined to the bards and minstrels.
On the contrary, it WIS for a considera-
bic time the fayorite instrument at court
and in the houses of the nobility, and il
was only by the introduction of keyed
instruments that it fell into disuse.
James !. to his other accomplishments
added that of playing the harp. Mary
Queen of Scots not only played
the instrument herself, but did
much 10 encourage others to learn
IL. VII lnc OtNdolOn VI AANA WON
10 the Athole family she instituted a
kind of competition among the local
harpers. The best player was found to
be Beatrix Gardyn, OF Banchory, and
the Queen rewarded her with very fine
instrument as a prize. This identical
harp is now, or was lately, in the pos
session OF gentleman at Dalguise. ID
is a small instrument compared with the
modern harp, being fitted with twenty
eight strings, the longest extending
twenty-four inches and the shortest two
aud q half inches. The Scotch, it may
be noted, strung their harps with wire
and brass strings, (which they strike,
says an old writer, with their nayles
growing long"
An occasional bard or harper was TO
be met with in Scotland as late as the