Medieval Minstrels

Medieval minstrels were often employed as court musicians - "minstrel" means a "little servant". Other "wandering minstrels" would move from village to village and from town to town acting as "newscasters" speading news, often in the form of song. Some minstrels would have skills other than playing music such as juggling, acrobatics, fire eating, jestering and reciting poems and stories.

During the Middle Ages the reputation of wandering minstels took a downturn with "rude rustics and articifers" pretending to be minstrels and generally causing havoc. This led in 1469 to King Edward IV ordering all minstrels to join a guild called the Guild of Royal Minstrels. Those who did not join the guild had to stop being minstrels.

Life as a minstrel in the Middle Ages could be hard - many were paid "in kind" often receiving food and lodging in return for their services, or even gifts such as clothes. Some even supplemented their income by working in the fields at harvest time or sowing crops. Some minstrels took to travelling in groups for reasons of safety and to be able to command higher fees and attract larger audiences.

Lee Gillett has been a member of established medieval music group The Troubadours for many years and is now also available for booking as a solo costumed medieval minstrel.

Click here to hear a sound sample of Lee playing the medieval bagpipe.

As well as appearing solo, Lee can be booked as part of the 3 piece medieval band The Troubadours or as one part of a medieval duo with one other minstrel. It may also be possible for Lee to appear at your event at no cost! Please enquire for details.