RICHARD RASTALL is Emeritus Professor of Historical Musicology at The University of Leeds and a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries. ANDREW TAYLOR is Professor of English at the University of Ottawa.

Rastall and Taylor contribute to the continuing efforts to move away from romanticized images of the Middle Ages peddled by modern myth. In doing so they reveal just how little we concretely know about medieval minstrelsy, but cement its study as a fascinating window through which we can gain a deeper understanding of the people and culture of late medieval England.

• Part I. Minstrels and Minstrelsy in the Elite Households1 The royal households and their minstrels2 The life of a royal minstrel3 Recruitment, training and retirement4 Minstrelsy at Court5 Minstrelsy in noble and ecclesiastical householdsPart II . Urban Minstrelsy6 Minstrelsy in the towns7 Civic minstrelsPart III. On the Road8 Minstrels on the road9 Minstrel itineraries10 The regulation and protection of minstrelsPart IV . Minstrel Performance11 The enigma of the minstrels' songsAndrew Taylor12 Professional recitation before the fourteenth century Andrew Taylor13 Minstrels and heralds and chivalric fameAndrew Taylor14 Instruments and performers15 The instrumental repertory in EnglandEnvoiBibliographyIndex

RICHARD RASTALL is Emeritus Professor of Historical Musicology at The University of Leeds and a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries. ANDREW TAYLOR is Professor of English at the University of Ottawa.

Rastall and Taylor contribute to the continuing efforts to move away from romanticized images of the Middle Ages peddled by modern myth. In doing so they reveal just how little we concretely know about medieval minstrelsy, but cement its study as a fascinating window through which we can gain a deeper understanding of the people and culture of late medieval England.

• Part I. Minstrels and Minstrelsy in the Elite Households1 The royal households and their minstrels2 The life of a royal minstrel3 Recruitment, training and retirement4 Minstrelsy at Court5 Minstrelsy in noble and ecclesiastical householdsPart II . Urban Minstrelsy6 Minstrelsy in the towns7 Civic minstrelsPart III. On the Road8 Minstrels on the road9 Minstrel itineraries10 The regulation and protection of minstrelsPart IV . Minstrel Performance11 The enigma of the minstrels' songsAndrew Taylor12 Professional recitation before the fourteenth century Andrew Taylor13 Minstrels and heralds and chivalric fameAndrew Taylor14 Instruments and performers15 The instrumental repertory in EnglandEnvoiBibliographyIndex