Minstrel

A court musician or entertainer of the 12th through 17th centuries who performed professionally. Minstrels could either be employed at a single court, or would wander from court to court throughout the countryside. Most often, a minstrel could perform on more than one instrument, sing, and compose songs.The word minstrel has been used loosely to indicate a musical entertainer, providing his own accompaniment to his singing. The medieval minstrel, a secular musician, flourished between the 13th and 15th century, generally as an itinerant singer.