Page:Gesta Romanorum - Swan - Wright - 1.djvu/514

340 readers of those ages knew: and what related even to pagan Rome, the parent of the more modern papal metropolis of Christianity was regarded with a superstitious veneration, and often magnified with miraculous additions." Diss. on the Gest. Rom.

"This story is told by Caxton in the, under the life of Pelagian the Pope, entitled, Here foloweth the lyf of Saynt Pelagyen the pope, with many other hystoryes and gestys of the Lombardes, and of Machomete, with other cronycles. The are fertile in legendary matter, and furnished Jacobus de Voragine, Caxton's original, with many marvellous histories. Caxton, from the gestis of the Lombardis, gives a wonderful account of a pestilence in Italy, under the reign of king Gilbert."—. The Golden Legende enters somewhat into the life of the emperor Henry after he came to the throne. Amongst other matters, he "put out of his countree all the juglers and gave to poor people all y$t$ was wont to be giuen to mynstrelles."—Fol. ccclxii. Whence it would appear that jugglers and minstrels were the same.