Texts and manuscripts

The classification established by Alfonso X for the xograres in the Declaratio left a deep mark on the manuscript tradition of Galician-Portuguese lyric poetry itself. As previously indicated, Renaissance apographers reveal that in their model there was an anthology of Galician xograres, named so according to the geographical origin of many of the authors who make up the work and their social status (Oliveira 1994: 199-205). The curious thing is that this compilation (Tavani 1969: 172-174) begins with a codicological rubric that reads as follows: On this leaf adeante the love songs begin. First troubadour Bernal de Bonavalle ( B , f. 225v, col. a). If the poets gathered in the aforementioned collection were all socially “marked” for being xograres, the fact that the rubric just cited qualifies them as “troubadours” seems to find a reasonable explanation if it is postulated that the compiler who conceived it had in mind the guidelines that Alfonso X had given in the opinion addressed to Riquier, in which, as already specified, he had stipulated that only those xograres who masterfully handled the art of versification and music could be considered troubadours (Oliveira (1995: 44-45) and who, therefore, were worthy of being welcomed at the courts as they occupied the upper group of “xograría”. This hypothesis has its consequences in the dating of this florilegium, which, despite being annexed to the manuscript tradition at a late period, must have been forged in the vein of the authorized Declaratio . It was probably the integration of xograresque texts into songbooks from the last quarter of the 13th century that explains that, at the At the end of the love songs of the Galician xograres, two texts by another xograre who was active for a time in the Portuguese court of Don Denis are added: Johan, a resident of Leon ( B 1117, V 713). This unknown author (who, according to the texts preserved in the codices, did not cultivate the 'sanctuary song') is, without a doubt, the one who offers the most recent chronology of the entire group, as can be deduced from the lament he addresses to Don Denis himself after his death (7 January 1325).

Although there are minstrels for whom the codices preserve songs from the three major genres or at least two, for others they only transmit friend songs and, specifically, sanctuary songs. It is not easy to specify the reasons behind such a choice, since this could obey both strictly material causes and a selection criterion made by a compiler interested only in collecting texts of that poetic modality. This last possibility is particularly visible in the textual series that covers from Golparro ( B 1266, V 872) to Johan de Requeixo ( B 1293, V 898). The only text found displaced from this sector is the famous song of Mendiño ( B 852 , V 438). Explaining the placement of Seia m'eu in the hermitage of Saint Simion in the songbooks is a complex issue. Although, at first instance, one might think that the text was not part of the "anthology of Galician toys" and that, therefore, its transfer to the manuscripts was carried out by a different compiler, the truth is that the data we have do not are conclusive. The song is placed in the primitive section of friend songs, but right after an area in which only texts by noble authors are reproduced, so its insertion in that place is still suspicious. On the other hand, the poem emerges at the end of the primitive amigo sector, precisely in the area where texts from other genres begin to be copied. Thus, after Mendinho, the songbooks transcribe love songs by Afonso Paez de Braga, Men Rodriguez de Briteiros and Johan Mendiz de Briteiros, and the compilation of clerics, which mixes songs from the love and satirical register. Faced with this material situation, we cannot discard the hypothesis that the text of the jograr was accommodated in its current location due to the problems that occurred when the scriptoria gave up following the distribution of the songs by genres in the organization of the compilations. This change of direction, implemented in the phase known as the second level of formation of song writers (ended ca. 1350, Oliveira 1994: 115-121 and 191-211), brought with it numerous alterations in the placement of texts and authors, and, perhaps, a of these alterations could be the cause of Mendiño's cantiga moving away from the songs of the other juglars.

Sanctuary songs

MedDBBVtroubadourstartsanctuary
11,10663265Airas CarpanchoFor making a pilgrimage, pug'en my heartSantiago
136,4735336But ViviaezPoys our mothers go to San SimonSan Simon de Val de Prados
6,4738339Afonso Lopez de BaianIt was me, fremosa, to praySanta Maria das Leiras
6,5739341Afonso Lopez de BaianGo quer'oj'eu, fremosa, from the heartSanta Maria das Leiras
6,2740342Afonso Lopez de BaianThey told me the news, which is very good for meSanta Maria das Leiras
*114,2843429Father Gomez CharinhoOh Santiago, known master!Santiago (?)
98,1852438MeendinhoI sat in the hermitage of San SimiónSan Simeon
*14,3874458Airas NuñezThe Santiagu'en pilgrimage comeSantiago
150,4940528Sancho SanchezOn another day, in San SalvadorSan Salvador
122,51118709But from BardiaSanhudo is my friend and I don't knowSanta Marta
122,41119710But from BardiaMy friend swore to meSanta Marta
122,11120712But from BardiaMy friend got upsetSanta Marta
123,11128720But from VeerOh God, what a pain that I haveSanta Maria de Julhan
123,21130722But from VeerI made Santa Maria go my friendSanta Maria de Julhan
123,51131723But from VeerOf my friend, whom I love wellSanta Maria de Julhan
*22,131138729Bernal de BonavalWell, you tell me, friend, you want better than meBonaval
*22,191139730Bernal de BonavalIf you see my friendBonaval
*22,71140731Bernal de BonavalDiss'a fremosa in Bonaval assyBonaval
*22,161141732Bernal de BonavalI want to beg you, mha madr'e mha senhorBonaval
77,201142734Johan ServandoWhen I went to San Servando I went here for a daySan Servando
77,151143735Johan ServandoGo if you want my friendSan Servando
77,21144736Johan ServandoTo San Servand'en oraçonSan Servando
77,31145737Johan ServandoSan Servando was my friendSan Servando
77,191146738Johan ServandoNow they are going to San Servando donas do a pilgrimageSan Servando
77,41147739Johan ServandoTo San Servand', and now they are all going to praySan Servando
77,211148740Johan ServandoIf my friend San Servando wentSan Servando
77,171149741Johan ServandoMy dear mother, and don't keep meSan Servando
77,221149(bis)742Johan ServandoTrist'and'eu, velid, and well volo I saySan Servando
77,131151744Johan ServandoI went to San Servando to see my friendSan Servando
77,121143a746Johan ServandoDaughter, what you want is goodSan Servando
77,71144a747Johan ServandoThey told me that he wanted to goSan Servando
77,181145a748Johan ServandoMy friend, who makes me liveSan Servando
77,91146a749Johan ServandoDonas go to San Servando muytas oj'en pilgrimageSan Servando
77,161147a750Johan ServandoYou want to go, friendSan Servando
110,11200805Nuno TreezSince when you left hereSan Clemenço do Mar
110,41201806Nuno TreezSan Clemenço do MarSan Clemenço do Mar
110,31202807Nuno TreezI'm not going to San Clemenço to pray and I have a great reasonSan Clemenço do Mar
110,21203808Nuno TreezI was in San Clemenço, and I had gone to praySan Clemenço do Mar
95,71239844Martin PadrozelosGreat season my friendSan Salvador de Valongo
95,31240845Martin PadrozelosAmig', she complained to meSan Salvador de Valongo
95,91241846Martin PadrozelosMadr', my friend sent it to youSan Salvador de Valongo
95,11242847Martin PadrozelosOh my friend, poor thingSan Salvador de Valongo
95,101243848Martin PadrozelosFor God's sake don't step on youSan Salvador de Valongo
95,61245850Martin PadrozelosYou, my friend, were from hereSan Salvador de Valongo
95,81246851Martin PadrozelosId'oj', oh my friend, read'a San SalvadorSan Salvador de Valongo
86,101253858Lopo, playBy God, I beg you, mother, to tell meSt. Luther
86,41254859Lopo, playThey told me now about my loverSt. Luther
86,21255860Lopo, playAssanhou se madr', what I want great goodSt. Luther
58,11266872I hitBad fac'eu velid, I'm not going nowSan Treeçon
65,21267873Johan de CangasIn San Mamed'u you knowSan Mamede do Mar
65,31268874Johan de CangasIt was I, madr', I took care of San Mamed'uSan Mamede do Mar
65,11269875Johan de CangasFriend, if you want my great goodSan Mamede do Mar
93,31270876Martin de GinzoHow I live poor, mother, for my friendSanta Cecilia
93,71271877Martin de GinzoIf it's enough for you, mother, this daySanta Cecilia
93,81272878Martin de GinzoTreides, ai mia madr', in pilgrimageSanta Cecilia
93,51273879Martin de GinzoI can't, mother, go to Santa CeciliaSanta Cecilia
93,21274880Martin de GinzoO virtues of Saint CeciliaSanta Cecilia
93,41275881Martin de GinzoDon't tell me, mother, bad, and I'll goSanta Cecilia
93,61276882Martin de GinzoI have never seen a better hermitage, nor a more holy oneSanta Cecilia
*91,41279885Martin CodaxMandad'ey with meVigo
*91,51280886Martin CodaxMy sister Fremosa, treydes with meVigo
*91,11281887Martin CodaxOh God, if you know my friendVigo
*91,31283889Martin CodaxSacred wine, in VigoVigo
15,41285891Airas PaezI want to go to Santa María de ReçaSanta Maria de Reça
15,31286892Airas PaezFor seeing him in love, which I haven't seen muchSanta Maria de Reça
39,11288893Fernan do LagoGoing to Santa Maria do Lagu'ei great flavorSanta Maria do Lago
67,41289894Johan de RequeixoI went on a pilgrimage to Faro with my friendSanta Maria do Faro
67,11290895Johan de RequeixoI will go to Far'un daySanta Maria do Faro
67,51291896Johan de RequeixoWell, you, daughter, want very great goodSanta Maria do Faro
67,31292897Johan de RequeixoI want to attend to the message sent to me by my friendSanta Maria do Faro
67,21293898Johan de RequeixoFriend, whoever heardSanta Maria do Faro