Page:A History of Domestic Manners and Sentiments in England During the Middle Ages.djvu/200

 i8o Hi/Jory of Domejiic Mcmners that if it were not lor the news he had brought, he would have his head cut off immediately. The jogeleur hallened his departure, for the time he remained there feemed very long." The relult of this adventure was the attack upon and llaughter of Moris Fitz-Roger by Fulk Fitz-Warine. Some time after this, Fulk Fitz-Warine, having recovered his caftle of AVhittington, was lamenting over the lots of his friend. Sir Audulf de Bracy, who had fallen into the hands of king John's emiffaries, and was a prifoner in Shrewibury caftle, where king John had come to make his temporary refidence, and again afked the aid of John de Raunpaygne, who promifed to make a vilit to the king. " John de Raunpaygne knew enough of tabor, harp, fiddle, citole, and joglery ; and he attired himfelf very richly, like an earl or baron, and he caufed his hair and all his body to be entirely dyed as black as jet, fo that nothing was white except his teeth. And he hung round his neck a very handfome tabor, and then, mounting a handfome palfrey, rode through the town of Shrewibury to the gate of the callle ; and by many a one was he looked at. John came before the king, and placed himfelf on his knees, and faluted the king very courteoully. The king returned his lalutation, and aiked him whence he came. ' Sire,' laid he, 'I am an Ethiopian minftrel, born in Ethiopia.' Said the king, 'Are all the people in your land of your colour?' 'Yea, my lord, man and woman.' .... John, during the day, made great minftrelfy of tabor and other inftruments. When the king was gone to bed. Sir Henry de Audeley fent for the black minftrel, and led him into his chamber. And they made great melody 3 and when Sir Henry had drunk well, then he faid to a valet, *■ Go and fetch Sir Audulf de Bracy, whom the king will put to death to-morrow; for he fliall have a good night of it before his death.' The valet foon brought Sir Audulf into the chamber. Then they talked and plaj^ed. John commenced a long which Sir Audulf ufed to fing ; Sir Audulf raifed his head, looked at him full in the face, and with great difficulty recognifed him. Sir Henry alked for fome drink 3 John was very ferviceable, jumped nimbly on his feet, and ferved the cup before them all. John was lly, he threw a powder into the cup, which nobody perceived, for he was a good jogeleur, and all who drunk became fo fleepy that, foon after drinking.