Francorum Cantores & Joculatores allexerat ut de illo canerent in Plateis, & dicebatur ubique quod non erat talis in orbe.

That these Songsters and Jefters were brought from France is most falfe. France had no pretentions thereabouts in those days. Those Countreys were Fiefs of the Empire. Frederick I. had Enfeoffed Ramond Berenger of the County of Provence, Forcalquiers, and places adjacent, as not long after Frederick II. inftall'd William au courb nez, Prince of Orange, King of Arles and Viennes which family had formerly poffefs'd Provence. As truly, he might have faid, they were brought from Spain: for Ildefonfo King of Arragon, Count of Provence, Barcelona, &c. had given and fettled on his Son this County of Provence. It may be noted that about the fame time that the Provencial Poetry did flourish, did alfo fpring up that Herefy of the Albigenfes that fo much alarm'd the Popish World, and coft fo many Crufades to fupprefs them. Ramond Count of Tholoufe was the Protector of the Albigenfes, and was also a principal Patron of these Poets. Guilhem of Agoult, Albert of Sifteron, Rambald of Orange (names now reviv'd by the Duke of Savoy) and the like, were Provencial Poets; All the Princes that were in league

league together to fupport the Albigenfes against France and the Pope, did encourage and patronize these Poets, amongst the rest a King of Arragon loit his life in the quarrel, at a Battel where Simon Monfort did command as chief of the Crusade.

From hence we may gather why the Monks were so angry at thefe Singers and Jefters. And did not like that the King fhould be fo familiar with them.

One of them with King Richard was Anfelm Faydet, of whom Petrarch.

Anfelmo

mille altri ne vidi: a cui la lingua Lancia & Spada fu fempre, scudo & elmo

I faw, with many others, Anfelm there, Whofe tongue was shield and belmet, fword (and Spear.

This Anfelm was wont to writeComedies, and Tragedies; which in his own Country he could fell for 2 or 3000 livres Turnois; and fome for more: And had several acted at his own charge. After King Richards death, he married a Nun, a Dame of quality, out of a Nunnery at Aix. And af ter went to live with the Marquefs of Monferrat, who took part with the Count of Tholoufe: And to him Anfelm ventur'd to fhow

F 3

fhow a Comedy; which till then he had kept fecret from every body and there had it acted.

In one of his Poems he describes the Par lace of Love, his Court, his State, his Power, which Petrarch changed, and fafhion'd to his mind, and calls it, in his Book, il triumfo di amore.

Another of these Jesters was Fouchet of Marfeilles, who upon the death of King Richard, went home, turn'd Monk, and rofe to be Archbishop of Tholofe. Dante has him in his Paradise, and Petrarch of him thus

Folchetto: ch'a Marfilia il nome ha date. & a Genova tolto: & al' eftremo

Cangio, per miglior patria, habite & ftato,

Another of these ( with Jeffrey King Richard's Brother) was Jeffrey Rudel, of whom Petrarch,

Gianfre Rudel, ch' uso la vela e'l reme
A cercar la fua morte--:-

Whilft this Poet was with our Prince Jeffrey, he was told, by Pilgrims that came from the Holy Land, fo many fine things of the Countess of Tripoly, that he could say no longer.

He

He puts on a Pilgrims Weeds, takes t Voyage to Tripoly, fell fick by the way, and ere he came a-fhore was almost dead. The Countess inform'd of this Errantry,went to the Ship, took him by the hand. He opened his Eyes, faid, Having feen her, he was fatisfied; fo departed this life.

She made for him a most splendid Funeral, provided him a Tomb of Porphyry, and his Epitaph in Arabick Verfe: And had his Sonnets all curioufly copied over, and illumin'd, with Letters of Gold; was taken with Melancholy, and turned Nun: One of the Songs made in his Voyage, was this:

Trat, & dolent m'en partray
s'yeu non vey eft' amour de luench.
e non fay qu' ouras la veyray,
car fon trop noftras terras luench.
Dieu que fes tout quant veu, e vay :
e form' á quest' amour de luench,
my don poder al cor, car bay
efper vezer l'amour de luench.
Segnour, tenes my per veray,
l'amour qu'ay vers ella de laench,
m'en efchai

car per un

ben

que

ba mille mals tant foy de luench. Ja d'autre amour non janziray s'yeu nen jau deft' amour de luench. F 4

q'una

q'una plus bella non en sa
en luec que fia, ny pres, ny luench,

Sad and heavy fhould I part,
but for this Love so far away 3
not knowing what my ways may thwart,
my Native Land fo far away.
Thou that of all things Maker art,
and form'ft this Love So far away;
give body's ftrength, then shan't I start,
from feeing her fo far away.
How true a Love to pure defert,

my Love to her fo far away! eas'd once, a thousand times I fmart, whilft, ab! fhe is fo far away. None other Love, none other Dart I feel, but hers fo far away, but fairer never touch'd an heart, than hers that is so far away.

CHAP.