Rimourae.—Rymours were included in the list of the Irish Mimi, whom in 1435 William Lawles, Marshall of the Liege English Mimi of Ireland, was authorized to arrest, on pretence that they acted as guides to the Irish enemy. Were they better actors and more popular than the English? Lawles' commission is thus given: ‘Rex, Willielmum Lawles Marescallum Ligeorum mimorum Hiberniae recitat quod Hibernici mimi, ut Clarsaghours (harpers), tympanours (drummers), crowthores (fiddlers?) kerraghers (gamblers), rymours, skelaghes (story tellers), bardes et alii veniunt inter Anglicos Hiberniae exercentes minstralcias et artes suos, postmodumque vadunt ad Hibernicos inimicos et deveniunt inductores ipsorum super eosdem ligeos Regis, contra formam statutorum Kilkenniae (40 Ed. III.) assignavit ad dictos Clarsaghours &c. capiendos.’ Dub. Ap. 1.—Rot. Pat. 13 H. VI. 86.
In the account of John Andowe, Procurator of the Economy of St. Patrick's for the year 1509 (Mason's St. Patrick's, Append. No. xvii.) are charged 3s. 1d. for Thomas Mayowe ‘ludenti cum vii luminibus’ at Christmas and Candlemas, and 4s. 7d. for the Players ‘cum Angelo magno et parvo ac dracone’ at Whitsuntide. See also Walker's Hist. Essay on the Irish Stage, Transactions R. I. A., vol. ii.