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| A minstrel was a medieval bard who performed songs told stories about distant places or about (real or imaginary) historical events. Though minstrels created their own tales, often they would memorize and embellish the works of others. Frequently they were retained by royalty and high society. As the courts became more sophisticated, minstrels were eventually replaced at court by the troubadours, and many became wandering minstrels, performing in the streets and becoming well liked until the middle of the Renaissance, despite a decline beginning in the late 15th century. Minstrelsy fed into later traditions of itinerant entertainers, which continued to be moderately strong into the early 20th century, and which has some continuity down to today's buskers or street musicians. Initially, minstrels were simply servants at Court (the name literally means "little servant"), and entertained the lord and courtiers with chansons de qeste or their local equivalent.
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| Edward the Humble |
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