Wealthy people in the Middle Ages employed minstrels to entertain them in their homes. Minstrels told stories, recited poems, sang ballads and played musical instruments. They were usually well paid. For example, in 1322 Agnes the Redhead received 4 shillings from Edward II for just one performance.

There were also wandering minstrels who spent their time travelling round the country. They performed in taverns, market-places or any other place they could find an audience who were willing to pay them.

The ballads sung by the wandering minstrels were different from those performed by the minstrels employed by the lords. These ballads were sung in English instead of Latin and French. Employing simple rhymes, these ballads told stories that were of interest to ordinary people.

Ballads often dealt with the problems of the poor. For example, The Song of the Husbandman tells the story of a farmer who has to sell his agricultural equipment and the seed for next season's crops in order to pay his taxes. "To find money for the king I sold my seed. Wherefore my land lies fallow and learns to sleep. They fetched the fair cattle from my fold, and when I think of my welfare I nearly weep! Thus many bold beggars are born... People are in such a plight that they can give no more. I suspect that if they had a leader, they would revolt."

Ballads sung by minstrels often dealt with rebellion. The most popular character in these ballads was Robin Hood. Honest men who had been forced to become outlaws by cruel government officials or corrupt members of the clergy, were a common theme in these ballads. The peasants in the Middle Ages particularly seemed to like ballads that told of outlaws who stole from the rich to give to the poor.

Minstrels not only entertained people with their ballads. They were also a source of news. As villeins were not allowed to leave the village, they relied on minstrels to bring them information about what was going on in the rest of the country.

The king and his nobles considered wandering minstrels to be dangerous people. Some religious leaders, such as Thomas de Cobham, Bishop of Worcester, called for these wandering minstrels to be arrested: "There are actors who have musical instruments for men's delight. Some haunt public drinking houses and other assemblies, where they sing many songs to move men to mischievous behaviour... But there are others who sing about the lives of princes".

In 1402 a law was passed against wandering minstrels in Wales who were accused of encouraging support for the revolt of Owain Glyndŵr. Another law was passed in 1469 which said that all minstrels would have to be checked by the king's royal minstrels before being given permission to perform in front of an audience. However, these laws were impossible to enforce and wandering minstrels continued to be active throughout the Middle Ages.