Add MS 89350

The manuscript, written in several hands, concerns the Minstrels’ Court at Tutbury Castle in Staffordshire, an annual event dating back to the time of John of Gaunt (1340-1399). The Minstrels’ Court was held around the time of the Feast of the Assumption and included the appointment of a jury, several stewards and a ‘King’ with the task of imposing penalties on any minstrel brought before the court for behaviour contrary to the society. As well as a description of the proceedings, the volume includes three versions of the Steward’s charge or address, with similar structure and repeated phrases, each. Title inscription of front of wrapper: 'Charge in the Minstrell Court held at Tutbury Castle 1776'. Inscription on back of wrapper: 'The Minstrell Court'.

ff. 1-2. ‘The manner of keeping the Minstrels Court in Tutbury Castle’. Description of the proceedings and the oaths.

ff. 3-7r, and 8r. The Steward’s charge or address , which describes the origins of the Minstrels’ Court, the art and theory of music, referring to John Playford, Marin Mersenne, Robert Boyle and Athanasius Kircher, and ends with a general inquiry into the behaviour of the minstrels since the last Court. Begins: ‘Gentlemen of these Enquests. The Annuall Custome & Usage of this Honourable Antient Court having now called you together something I suppose is expected should be said of the Delightfull Art & Harmonious Science [music] you profess’. The text includes corrections, interpolations and an added postscript. Two different versions of the address are at ff. 17-19 and ff. 20-26.

ff. 7v. Addison: Soft moving sounds & heav’nly Airs (poem, written in a different hand).

ff. 8v-10, 16. Blank.

ff. 11-15. Transcribed extract from Robert Plot’s Natural History of Staffordshire (1686), chapter X, recounting the history of the Minstrel’s Court and the traditional bull running which was held during the feast, explaining how the bull was prepared for the occasion.

ff. 17-19. The steward’s charge or address. Another version, in a different hand, focusing on the physics of music, harmony and discord. Begins: ‘Gentlemen of these Inquests. The annual custom & usage of this honorable and ancient Court makes it necessary for me to mention to you something of the Delightful Art and harmonious science you profess.’ The text includes numerous corrections and alterations.. Two different versions of the address are at ff. 3-7r and 8r, and ff. 20-26.

ff. 20-27r. The steward’s charge or address. Another version, in a different hand. Begins: ‘Gentlemen of these Inquests [crossed out]. The annual custome & usage of this honorable and ancient Court makes it necessary for me to mention to you something of the Nature, Antiquity Force and Reputation of Musick’. The text includes numerous corrections and alterations. Two different versions of the address are at ff. 3-7r and 8r, and ff. 20-26.

f. 28 v. ‘It is the Air that distributes the harmony of a Consort to the Audience all around with the utmost exactness’ [etc.]. Paragraph on the transmission of music, its variety and range of effects.