1538. Paid to the ministrels (_ministrallis_) at ‘le musters’ upon ‘le Gelymore.’ 1539-40. Paid to the players (_lusoribus_) of Auklande at Christmas before Master Hyndley, as a present (_D. H. B._ 340). 1554-5. [Cathedral Account.] Paid for two mynstralles. II. MAXSTOKE PRIORY. [Printed by Hazlitt-Warton, ii. 97, ‘_ex orig. penes me_.’] ‘In the Prior’s accounts of the Augustine canons of Maxstoke in Warwickshire, of various years in the reign of Henry VI (1422-61), one of the styles or regular heads is _De Ioculatoribus et Mimis_.... Ioculatori in septimana S. Michaelis, ivᵈ. Citharistae tempore natalis domini et aliis iocatoribus, ivᵈ. Mimis de Solihull, viᵈ. Mimis de Coventry, xxᵈ. Mimo domini Ferrers, viᵈ. Lusoribus de Eton, viiiᵈ. Lusoribus de Coventry, viiiᵈ. Lusoribus de Daventry, xiiᵈ. Mimis de Coventry, xiiᵈ. Mimis domini de Asteley, xiiᵈ. Item iiij mimis domini de Warewyck, xᵈ. Mimo caeco, iiᵈ. Sex mimis domini de Clynton. Duobus mimis de Rugeby, xᵈ. Cuidam citharistae, viᵈ. Mimis domini de Asteley, xxᵈ. Cuidam citharistae, viᵈ. Citharistae de Coventry, viᵈ. Duobus citharistis de Coventry, viiiᵈ. Mimis de Rugeby, viiiᵈ. Mimis domini de Buckeridge, xxᵈ. Mimis domini de Stafford, iiˢ. Lusoribus de Coleshille, viijᵈ.... [1432] Dat. duobus mimis de Coventry in die consecrationis Prioris, xiiᵈ.’ III. THETFORD PRIORY. [From Collier, i. 55, 84, on the authority of a ‘MS. of the expenses of the Priory of Thetford, from 1461 to 1540, lately in the collection of Mr. Craven Orde, and now of the Duke of Newcastle.’] ‘The mention of “plays” and “players” does not begin until the 13ᵗʰ of Henry VII; but “Minstrels” and “Waytes” are often spoken of there as receiving rewards from the convent. The following entries, regarding “plays” and “players,” occur between the 13ᵗʰ and 23ʳᵈ of Henry VII:— 13 Henry VII [1497-8]. Itᵐ. sol. in regard 12 capital plays, 4ˢ. Itᵐ. sol. to menstrell and players in festo Epiphaniae, 2ˢ. 19 Henry VII [1503-4]. Itᵐ. sol. to the play of Mydenale, 12ᵈ. 21 Henry VII [1505-6]. Itᵐ. sol. in regard lusoribus et menstrall, 17ᵈ. 23 Henry VII [1507-8]. Itᵐ. sol. in regard lusoribus div. vices, 3ˢ 4ᵈ. Itᵐ. sol. in regard to Ixworth play, 16ᵈ. Itᵐ. sol. in regard to Schelfanger play, 4ᵈ.