Town Waits and Their Tunes Author(s): Joseph C.

Bridge Reviewed work(s): Source: Proceedings of the Musical Association, 54th Sess. (1927 - 1928), pp. 63-92 Published by: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. on behalf of the Royal Musical Association Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/765559 . Accessed: 26/09/2012 04:11
Your use of the JSTOR archive indicates your acceptance of the Terms & Conditions of Use, available at . http://www.jstor.org/page/info/about/policies/terms.jsp

.
JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range of content in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new forms of scholarship. For more information about JSTOR, please contact support@jstor.org.

Royal Musical Association and Taylor & Francis, Ltd. are collaborating with JSTOR to digitize, preserve and extend access to Proceedings of the Musical Association.

http://www.jstor.org

FEBRUARY21, 1928.

TOWN

WAITS

AND

THEIR

TUNES.
F.S.A.,

BY PROFESSOR JOSEPH C. BRIDGE, M.A., D.Mus., F.R.HisT. S., ETC.

PRESIDENT OF THE ASSOCIATION.

of of the nightwiththe effect breaks upon the mid-watches perfect harmony." So writes Washington Irving, and though the experiencesof those present will perhaps fail we may, I think, to endorsethis description, spend an hour in consideringthe origin,history, decay and disprofitably appearance of this old musical combination. Very little justice has been done to them by historical writers. Mrs. J. R. Green in her. otherwise excellent Town life in the Fifteenth Centurydismisses them in a single sentence,but I hope to show you that they were and in manycases skilfulmusicians. townofficials, important In the first place let me say that Wait was a Watchman. The word may be traced throughvarious Teutonic dialects fromthe Anglo-Saxon Wacian, up to the modernGerman Wachter-both meaning to watch, or guard. The earliest mentionof the word seems to be in a treatiseDe Naturis who Reruwn, by Alexander Neckham,Abbotof Circencester, died in the earlypart of the thirteenth century.Assint etiam et clancxcubicevigiles (veytes) cornibus suis strepitulm facientes. "Let there also be watchmen(\,aytes) gorunm on guard makinga loud noise and din withtheirhorns."I could not pronouncethe W and the The Norman-French " was a word becomes Guet and Gaite, so that " bon-gaite morningsalutation,and old writers,misled by this, often speak of les waytsor le wayt as if the name came fromthe French. It has given us the occupational surnames of Gait (common in Durham and on the Northernborder) and Wait (common in Chester and on the Welsh border), also Wakeman (as at Ripon).
'Quoted by IM. Arthur F. Hill in his article on " Waits" in the Handbook of the Worshipful Company of Musicians.

PART I.-THEIR ORIGIN. " THE music of Waits-rude as may be their minstrelsy-

64

Town Waits and their Tunes

First of all then they were night watchmenin Castles and walled towns who "piped watch" at stated hours during the night-perhaps for the purpose of changing guard-and awoke certain persons at appointed times by soft music at their chamber doors-giving "bon-gaite." to a typicalwait in a nobleman's Here are the instructions castle temp.: Edward IV (1461-1483). 2 "a wayte that nightly from Michelmas to Shreve Thorsdaye pipeth the watch within this Courte foure bon tymes,in the somers nyghtesII times and makeyth as well for fear gayte at everychamberdoor and offyce of pickersand pillers."3 He had an allowance for livery(i.e. food) and clothing. walls is called One of the towersof Newcastle-upon-Tyne the " Waits' Tower." We also find tenure of land by wait-service. Temp.. Henry III. Simon le Wayte held a virgate of land at or watch; and in of beingcastle-wayte bytenour Rockingham Cornwall the tenantsof the Duchy who kept watch at the at Launcestonowed suit to a special courtin the castle-gate nature of a Court Baron, called the Curia Vigiliae, Curia de Gayt4,or WayternessCourt. When Castles were disused and towns grew large and demanded better protectionthan a musical policeman,a proper watch was formedand the waits became a mere or town band, and, in most places, musical combination, civic officers. In Richard Isaac's Memorials of the City of Exeter he received states" 1408. The musicalweightes(sic) were first of in thisCity." This is the earliestmention and entertained the waits as a civic bodythatI have metwith. Then follow Coventry,1424, Norwich,1433. Doncaster, 1457.-" Allan Pyper and William Pyper are elected Pipers or Wayts." Chester, 1484-5.-Petition of William Master, Thomas Burton to Sir John Savage Williams and Christopher (Mayor) and the Justicesasking " For the roome and charge of the Waitemen of the said City in place of Wm. Smethlydeceased." of EdwardIV. establishment of thehousehold ' Thieves.
Regis whichcontainsan account 'From the Liber Niger Donmus

Town Waits and their Tunes

65

existed for some timein The office of Wait had therefore the city. We have seen a wait's duty in a private castle temp. Edward IV. Now let us see what he did some eighty years later as a citymusicianat Norwich. 1552.-" This day it is agreed by this house thatthe waytes and licens every Sonday of this Citie shall have liberty at nightand otherhollydays at night,betwixtthis and Michaelmas next comyng,to come to the Guyldhall: and upon the netherleades of the same Hall next to the Counsail House, shall betwixtethq hours of 6 and 8 of the clok at night, blow and playe upon theirinstrumentsthe space of half an houre,to the rejoicingand comfortof the hearersthereof." Again,4 " The waites i.e. the musiciansof the City who attend ye Maior, and Aldermen on principal Festivals to and from Church, at public feasts. The word 'waite' signifies watchingand still the late form remains of their goingabout the CitywiththeirmusickfromHallowmanssto Christmasplaying upder ye windows of all good citizens and biddingym good morrowby name. .... They divide the City into four parts-to one part one nightto another ye next and so go over ye whole in fourtimes,viz., Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday morningsfrommidnight to about daylight, and then begin again, and in Xmas time they go about dayly to receive benevolence of the Citizens for ye same." s It is open to doubt whetherthese nightlyperformances were always welcome. Barclay in his Ship of Fools says, " What joy have ye to wanderthus by night Save that ill-doersalways hate the light," and in John Cleland's " Essay on the originof the Musical Waits at Christmas" appended to his Way of Things by Words and to Words by Things (8vo. 1766) is the followingpassage upon these nocturnaldisturbersof our slumbers: " But at the ancient yule, or Christmastime especially, the drearinessof the weather, the lengthof the night, would naturally require something extraordinaryto wake and rouse men fromtheirnaturalinclination to restand froma warm bed at that hour. The summons,then,to the Wakes
s Kirkpatrick. 4 Kirkpatrick.

66

Town Waits and their Tunes

of that season, were given by music going the rounds of invitation to the mirthand festivalswhich were awaiting them. In. this therewas some propriety--some object: but whereis thereany in such a solemnpiece of banteras that of music going the rounds and disturbing people in vain? excitedon the holiFor surelyany meditation to be thereby ness of the ensuingday could hardlybe of great avail, in a bed betweensleepingand waking. But such is the power of customto perpetuate absurdities."6 ,There is a paper in the Tatler,7which says " By letters we have advice that the youngladies of fromNottingham, that place complainfor want of sleep, by reason of certain riotous lovers, who for this last summerhave very much infestedthe streetof that eminentCity with Violins and Bass-viols, between the hours of twelve and four in the morning." The writerthenproceedsto say " as the customprevails at present, thereis scarce a young man of any fashionin who does notmake love withthetownmusic; a Corporation the waits often help him throughhis courtship,and my ?500 by a friendBanister 8 has told me he was proffered young fellowto play but one winterunder the window of a lady that was a great fortune but more cruel than ordinary." of the waits was to meetany illustrious Anotherfunction when he arrivedat theirtown and play him to his stranger lodgings. This was always a great perquisiteof the Waits of Bath who were good musicians.Pepys-no mean judgesays (June 13th,1668). " By and by comes music to play to me,extraordinary good as ever I heardat London,almost or anywhere." So Matthew Bramble in Smollett's HumphreyClinker was serenaded on his arrival in Bath. At Whitehaven the waits attended weddings and the arrival of seafaringmen from their voyages, and also in Liverpool where " they were in the habit of going to the houses of the Masters of vessels on the day after that of theirarrivalin port,and playingbeforetheirdoors by way of welcomingthemhome." In the Gentleman'sMagazine, February, 1756, we find that in making the freemen of Alnwick,9 "They are bells and met by womendressed up with ribbons, generally
6N and Q III. 1. 337. by Addison. 9th, 1710. Probablywritten 7No. 222, September of a Wait. son the 8He was 9 Northumberland.

Town Waits and their Tunes

67

who welcome themwith dancing garlands of gum-flowers, and singing and are called timber-waits; players on waits being an old word for those who play on timbrels, musical instruments in the streets."10 Now let us considersome of these town waits. First of all we naturallyturn to the City of London. But we not only have the City Waits but Waits in all the wards such as Blackfriars,Tower Hamlets, Southwark, Finsbury,and also in the City of Westminster.Charles II at his entryinto London was entertained by music from eight waits in Crutched Friars, six in Aldgate and six in Leadenhall Street. we have veryinteresting Early in the seventeenth century in Beaumontand Fletcher'samusingComedyof references the Knight of the BurningPestle-written c. 1613. " Hark! are the Waits abroad? Be softer! Prithee 'tis privatemusic and then comes the amusing dialogueCITIZEN :What stately music have you? You have shawms? PROLOGUE: Shawms?
CITIZEN:

No.

No? I'm a thiefif my mind did not give me so. Ralph plays a stately part and he must needs have shawms. I'll be at the charge of them myselfrather than we'll be withoutthem.

PROLOGUE:

So you are like to be.

have theWaits of Southwark ! They are as rare fellows as any are in England; and thatwill fetchthemall o'er the waterwitha vengence, as if theywere mad. You shall have them." PROLOGUE: In Shirley'splay of The Wittyfair one c. 1633, he says, " We will have the City Waits down with us and a noise of trumpets." And a few years later, in 1656, when " after the Davenant gave his dramatic entertainment of the ancients" it included a " Concert of music mnanner the Waits of London "-Yet in thatveryyear in a imitating debate on a " Bill touchingrogues, vagabonds and sturdy
I am by no means satisfied that this derivationis correct, but 1o no one has been able to explain the term in any other way.

CITIZEN: Why so I will be. There's two shillings-Let's

68

Town Waits and their Tunes

beggars,"in Cromwell'sParliamentof 1656, Mr. Robinson would be included,as hoped that "fiddlers and minstrels the manners of thepeople and inflame their theydid corrupt debauchery by lewd and obscene songs." Sir Thomas Wroth "would have harpers included," and another worthy member ejaculated, " Pipers should be comprehended" whereuponAlderman Hooke said, "I hope you intendnot to includethe waits of the cityof London which of men's houses in the night."" are a great preservation Ned Ward in his London Spy gives an amusingaccount of the City Waits, speaking in very disparagingtermsof their nightlyperformances, whereuponhe says his friend tootersof thetown; and have music? These are the topping gowns, silver chains,and salaries for playingLilla Bullera the City." Marry,said to my Lord Mayor's horse through I, if his horse liked their music no betterthan I do, he his his riderfor hiringsuch bugbearsto affront would fling ambleship.' For my part, when you told me they were Waits, I thoughtthey had been the Polanders; and was never so afraid, but that their bears had been dancing behind them." A centurylater Burney tells us that BlackfriarsWaits were the best, but Hawkins seems to show that Tower Hamlets ran themclose. Now let us turn back to the City of London Waits. At the Court of Burgmoteof Canterbury, 1490, we find full particularsof the yearlyWatch which it is " enacted and agreed everymaier shall continueand kepe in the even of the Translationof St. Thomas the Martier." and " of the Mayor, Sheriff There was a grand " riding Aldermenand the hired music shows " Solut XI dies Julii 5s. "; and TubicensisLondoniensibus pro vigilia Sci Thomxe in English:we have a later entry " In rewarde yeven to the Wayts of London on Seynt Thomas nightgoingbeforethe Watche 5s." 12 used horns and trumpets.There is The waits evidently whichsays-" Godfrey in the London Guildhalla tombstone the Trompourlies here,God on his soul have mercy,"and there is, or was, a Trump St. near the Guildhall where doubtlessthe Waits lived.
" N and Q. I. 3. 171. " It is obvious thatthe Canterbury Waits were not veryefficient. laughed at him. .
.

. " Why what," says he, " don't you love

Town Waits and their Tunes

69

Thomas Morley in dedicatinghis " Consort Lessons " to the Lord Mayor and Aldermenin 1599 says " as the ancient customof this mosthonorableand renownedCityhathever been to retainand maintainexcellentand expertmusicians to adorn your Honour's favours, feasts and solemn meetings-to these your Lordship's waytes, I recommendthe same-to yr servants' careful and skilful handling"; and in 1582, Dudley,Earl of Leicester,writesto the Corporation asking that a protege of his should be admitteda Waite. These two instancesshow how great was the reputation of the City Waits. It will easily be seen that these town bands must supply themselveswith special music and almost every town had its own particulartune, a few of which are still extant. Some are evidentlyfor wind and some for stringinstruments,but all are of a simple nature, for they had to be memorised and moreover often played with very cold fingers.The Cityof London tuneis the onlyone we possess that is partlyvocal, but we have evidenceof vocal tunes at York and other places. The old German Watchmen had theirown songs, and in some out of the way places have themeven at the presentday; and you will remember one in the third act of The Meistersinger. These songs were generallybased upon the notes of the Horn and so is our London example. Now some of the Waits were excellentmusicians and soloists. Orlando Gibbonswas the son of a CambridgeWait, and his brother, Ferdinando, was a Lincoln Wait. John Bannisterwas the son of a wait of St. Giles in the Fields, and Farmer and Nicholas Staggins were sons of London Waits. Burneytells us that " Woodcock, one of the Waits of Herefordwas sent for far and near to perform Vivaldi's Cuckoo Concertowhich was the wonder and delightof all of CountryConcerts." frequenters At Shrewsbury, William More was "the principal Cithernplayerin England." William Hirst of Rotherhamin his will, May 17th,1622, gave to his son Henry-being one of the Waits of Retford of music and all my tooles where-" all my instruments with I do make instruments of musique." Hawkins has left us an interesting sketch of a Tower Hamlets Wait-He says :"John Ravenscroftwas one of the waits of the Tower Hamlets and in the band of Goodman's Fields playhouse

70

Town Waits and their Tunes

He died about1745.14 remarkable." to the to correspond LondonWaitswereninein number Muses. In 1789 therewere eight. In 1802 theywere In 1854in was decided to fillno by Trumpeters. replaced and it was morevacancies.In 1914 theywere abolished of the Household decided to employthe Trumpeters in their stead. Cavalry
We will now performthe followingWait Tunes :(1) London Waits-First version from The Dancing Master, 1665. (2) London Waits-A more modernversion.

which he was a perwas a Ripieno violin,notwithstanding formergood enoughto lead in any such concertsas those above described, and to say the truthwas able to do justice to a Concertoof Corelli or an Overture of Handel. He was much soughtafterto play at balls and dancingparties, and was singularly excellentin the playingof Hornpipesin which he had a mannerthat none could imitate. It seems that this was a kind of music which of all othershe most to these affected;so that by dint of a fancyaccommodated little essays, he was enabled to compose airs of this kind equal to thoseof the ablestmasters;and yet so littlewas he acquainted with the rules of compositionthat for suiting them with basses he was indebted to others.'3....... Ravenscroft was a very corpulent man, a circumstance which made the neatness of his performancethe more

(3) ColchesterWaits-The "oysterousboisterous"town of Colchester, as Theodore Hook terms it, was very early celebratedfor its waits. The steward of Lord John Howard ("Jockey of Norfolk") c. 1469, says " Item, the 21st day of April, my master gaffto the Waytes of Colchester,is. 4d." (4) Tower Hamlets-Two of Ravenscroft'sHornpipes. [At this point of the lecturethe Rev. Canon Galpin also showed a real old "Wayte-pipe" and played London Waits, second version.]
" Burney says " I remembervery well in my musical life and have heard one of the four waits of Shrewsbury vamp a bass on all occasions, being unable to read one that was written." MS. quoted by Hill. This wait and Ravenscroft would have made a good pair. " Why a fat man cannot play well on a violin I have yet to discover !

Town Waits and their Tunes

PART II.--MINSTRELS AND WAITS.

71

To resume. Althougha Wait was necessarilya minstrel was not a Wait. everyminstrel At Shrewsbury," 1479. Pd. for livery of the minstrels called Waits each of themVs." " Pd. forbringing At Shrewsbury, a minstrel called a Wayte fromNorthampton to Shrewsbury."IllIs. In London, 1502, five of the City Waits petitionedthe " would not Corporationcomplainingthat the " mynstrels allow them to " trade" withinthe city unless theybecame membersof the Craft. of Minstrelswas also keptquite At Chesterthe Fraternity apart from the City Waits. At York, on the other hand, the Guild of Minstrels (revised at the late date of 1593 when Guilds were decaying) includedthe Waits. Such Guilds were Trades Unions and governedby similar and "peaceful picketing" was freelyindulged restrictions, in. No minstrel at York could accept an apprenticefor less than seven years withthe exceptionof the Waits who were were more allowed to hire assistance when civic functions numerousor more pressingthan usual. No musiciancould in thatCityunless he were a memberof the Guild, perform and we findthatat Doncaster but suchrulesled to retaliation, an itinerantmusician was promptlyordered to leave the town because " he was one of the Waytes of York." York assisted in the Minster were good musiciansand frequently services. 1602.-The Earl of Mar, the Scotch Ambassador,came to York and attended service and we find--"To the Waites for their Music at services to the same Lo: Imbasiator 13/4. 1623.-The Cathedral Rolls give " Item. To the Waytes of York for playing in the Quire five services this year 33/4." At Chesterthe Dean and Chapterpaid to the Waits, 1591, XIId., in 1666,?1 Os. Od.,in 1668, 10s. At Durham,November,1733. The Dean and Chapteragreed " to add five pounds a year to Peter Blenkinsopp's salary upon his givingup his wait's place." Blenkinsopp was one of the singing men and would scarcely be fitfor daily service after being out all nightas a wait.
7 Vol. 54

72

Town Waits and their Tunes

A very tighthand was kept on the Waits by the Civic authorities. Coventry,1467.-" Also yt ye wayts of yis Cite yt now be and hereaftto be shall not passe yis Cite but to Abbott's and Priors withinten myles of yis Cite." This rule was enacted in many places. York, 1561.-Thomas a Wait has " respite to learne and songsbelongin the instruments and applie himself ing to the sayd wayts, and to leave his unthrifty gamyngupon payne to be putte forthof that office." were held at defiance. the Civic authorities But sometimes Robert Gryce,a Doncaster Wait in 1594, was a terrible thorn in the side of the Common Council there. He had and been assaulted in the townby a citizenand his servant, these personsbeforethe local bench instead of summoning he had not the slightest faith)he went (in whichapparently to London and took out a writ in the Court of Queen's Bench,and so on August20th,it was " agreed at a Common Council,held in the Guildhall,thatRobertGryce,one of the because Waits of the town,be displaced fromthe said office he has sued the Queen's writ out of the Queen's Bench to bind to the peace William Clarke of this town and William Battye his servant,instead of demandingthe writ at the hands of the Mayor or other justice of the peace within and disgrace. thistown,to theirgreatdiscredit thereof beingmade to Edward Stanhope, "Upon complaint Esqr., one of the Council of the North and Recorder of Doncaster he (Gryce) was sent for and moved to stay his deniedto do, warrantforthe peace whichhe utterly former whereupon the Common Council was called and it was agreed thathe should be displaced." At Durham we findsimilarinsubordination. DEPOSITIONS. COURT CONSISTORY May 9th, 1684.-" Ralph Sherwood,one of thewaits or musicians of the Cittie of Durham lays information, that about Christmaslast JohnHarrison,Esq., Mayor of the Cittie of Durham did discharge and forbidd Thomas Waide, one of the Waits of the said Cittie, that he should play noe more publiquelyin the said did take the Cittie nor suburbsthereofand thereupon silver badge of the said cittie fromhim for indecent

Town Waits and their Tunes

73

expressions-he has plaied since as well by himselfe alone as some time in the companyof this informant and his partner, sayinghe will soe doe, beinga freeman of the Cittie of Durham, agst all opposicion whatsoever." But undoubtedly Waits were troublesome people. Althoughtheymade harmonyfor others,theywere rarely harmoniousamongstthemselves. 15 For sheer unresolved discord the Waits of Leicester seem the worst. They were dismissed from officein 1563 and again in 1602. " The now are therefore Waits because theycannotagree together 16 dismissedfrombeing the Town Waits fromhenceforth." but in 1670 they Some years later theywere re-instituted, were again dismissed and the Waits from Northampton were appointedto play in theirstead on Easter Monday, in 1640,an Escutcheonpreviously At Canterbury, painted for the waits to wear is recalled " on account of disorders and misbehaviour,"but, says an old writer, "upon the of the idle restoration of the Monarchy1660 and the return to jollityand revelry theywere again part of theCommunity 17 Not a verygood testimonial this! to perform." permitted and left the At Chester,1612, they disappeared entirely, Corporationin the lurch. Chester, 1612.-" Geo. Callie Musitian exhibitethhis peticiandesiringthat he and his fellow musitiansmay be admitted Waytes of this Cittieinsteadof the waytes of his own charge to instruments now absent,finding performthe service; which is deferredto be graunted what are becomeof theould untillit may be understode waytes" ! 18 What became of them I have never discovered. They were meteoricand vanished into space!
" It is only fair,however,to give the followingfromthe Wakefield CathedralRegisters"The Waites of this town of Wakefield beganetheirWatch upon the 17thday of Octoberin theyear of our Lord God, 1670. Their names are as follows:Wm. Shaw, Thomas Watson. It is hoped this fraternal spiritlasted! "6See "The Drama," etc., in Leicester by William Kelly. This resolvedthe discord! " Brent " Canterbury in the olden time." "'Chester during the Plantagenetand Tudor periods," by the Rev. Canon Morris,p. 348.
Thos. Shaw, fratres in unum."

74

Town Waits and their Tunes

from " swelled head " as Many waits probablysuffered between good playerswere in demandand therewas rivalry towns and bribery to obtain theirservices. neighbouring " Rochester,February 6th, 1640.-Edward Rolfe and John Aleworth, Musicians, were sworne this day Freemen of this Citty,and in regard their freedoms were given them freelyby the Citty,theydo promise in lieue thereof to play through the Citty every morningupon theirlowde musickecalled the weightes between Hollantide and Candlemas as is usually done in the Cittyes of London and Canterbury." such professionalmusicians During the Commonwealth lost theiremployment, so at Exeter, in 1660, " the musical waits aftermanyyears sequestration were restored to their places and pensions." And as late as 1667 at York " Four waits were admitted of the City,gratis." freemen We shall now perform the following tunes:(5) York Waits-This is an old hornpipe-Early in the eighteenth centurysome doggerel rhymeswere fitted to it and it was sold as a broadside.19 The words are scarcely worth quoting or reprinting. (6) Stamford Waits-This is from an old MS. in the British Museum c. 1690. Waits-A verydelightful Minuet. (7) Warrington
PART III.-ORGANISATION.

The numbersvaried. There was no rule on the subject. in 1423,fixedthe numberat four. Leicesterhad Coventry, three in 1524 increased to five (c. 1660) and later to six. Norwich had five,sometimessix. Chester had three and later four. Bristol had four, but in January,1619, the and Council thoughtthat the band needed strengthening resolved to give 26/8d. " to a fifth man to play with the other musitions of the City on the saggebuttto make up a " had already been bought fifthpart."20 The " saggebutt for ?4 in 1611. London had nine-equalling the numberof
"'A copy is in Cheetham'sLibrary,Manchester.The words are Waits and Minstrels of bygoneYork" by givenin " The Christmas T. P. Cooper. "2Latimer's "Annals of Bristol 17th C."

Town Waits and their Tunes

75

Muses. There was generally a chiefwait to keep order and organisetheirservices. At Coventry,1435, it was enacted "that the Trumpet schall have the rule of the wayteand of thembe Cheffe." At York the Chief Wait " wore on his head a red tattered or pinked cap, a badge of some antiquity,the origin of whichhas not been discovered." At Liverpool, appropriately enough,the chief was called the " Captain of the Waits." At Leicester,the Trumpetplayerwas chief. At Norwich he was styled the " Headman." At London, in 1660 the CityWaits appeared in theirgowns and silverchains " with one quartermaster, one conductor." Each Wait had a boy under him as an apprenticeto the art, and these apprenticeswere under the strictestrules and were not admittedas Waits untiltheyhad duly passed an examination. At Kingston-on-Hullthe Coopers Hall was used as an instruction room fortheapprentices.Such was the resultant noise however that an objection was lodged by the neighbours. Sometimes the Waits had outside instruction :-Doncaster, May 13th, 1763. "Ordered that if Mr. Miller, the will undertaketo instruct the Corporationband of organist, music to play on the hautboyand Bassoon, the Corporation will be at the expense of the instruments." 21
DRESS AND BADGES.

The Waits were always providedwithofficial dress. This was generallygiven every second year. London.-Blue gowns, red sleeves and red cap. Leicester.-Orange or tawney, and later, scarlet gowns edged with silver lace, and later with gold lace. Changed into cloaks. The cost in 1524 was 16s. and in 1677 ?10 17s. 8d. Norwich.-Cloaks of blue stamellcloth,and robes. Henry VI, 1433-4of the vesture "To Richard Pindaunce in fullpayment of the wayts this year 35s. 4d." Henry VI, 1437-8"To Simon alsoken for four robes for the Wayts and for one robe for Thomas Aylemer33s. 11d."
"No one undertakes to pay Mr. MillerI

76

Town Waits and their Tunes

Stamford.-Scarlet cloaks and gold lace. York.-Scarlet gowns and gold laced hats and a " pinked" cap for the principalwait. Livery provided every six years. Northampton.-When they met the Judges of Assize the four Waits wore long black gowns-a depressingand dress! symbolical Doncaster.-November 4th, 1708,order " thatthe chamberlains do buy at the Corporation'scharge three cloaks of scarlettcolouredcloth for the waits or music of the Corporationbut at the decease or departureof any of the paid waits out of this town the cloaks shall be left to the use of the Corporation." On the sleeves of these gowns or on theircloaks many Waits wore an embroidered badge. This was a survivalor of the badges worn by the dependents of great an imitation noblemen. a gown and Leicester,in 1583, also gave each apprentice ordered " scutcheonsor cinquefoilsto be worn suspended by green ribbonsor laces about theirnecks." But the greatestglory of the Waits was in the Silver Collars, badges and chains with which theywere provided by many Corporations. Some of these were unfortunately sold when the MunicipalReformAct of 1835 was passed,22 but some examples have been recovered and we have a of others. These badges were of considerable description value and the Waits had to enterinto a bond to monetary them up in good conditionon demand. re-deliver The followingis a list of badges and chains now in or knownto have been so in past times,but I do existence, has thatit is exhaustive. Such a list,however, not guarantee neveryet been publishedand thismay be founduseful. Bristol.-Two badges (but no chains) now in possessionof the Corporation. The badges were, firstof all, enamelledshields temp. Queen Mary, but later were fixedon to roundelswith bordersc. 1683. They are 2j incheslong and beautiful of civicauthorto readof theproceedings "2It is extraordinary heads entirely ties at thatperiod.They seemto have lost their
resolved and Leicesteris a typical instance.In 1836thatCorporation that "the true dignityof the Mayoralty does not consist in and so theyproceededto sell fivemaces,the antiquated pageantry," silver plate, the waits' collars and other reliques. They were no worse than many othertowns however.

I:'::-:`iii`N --:i---:-_:-.: i~::i:.-lii_:-:--: .:-_ : 4g, :ii:-~iii -_ii_

~t-iL-~N:7
Wait's Badge, 1683 Water Bailiff'sBadge, 1758 CITY OF BRISTOL

:j:::::(::
:i:-:::i :::::? ii-i-:::::i:::ii:ii?i i::-::i:~::::-: :;:-:: :::::::: ::::_-::i::r ::::::::::j: i8

:i::::::::: :i:::_`

::::::::::-

::::`-:i-:-::i-:i:-i:i:::__--::::::-l ::: :-:_:::-:_::::::-::;:::::_:-: :::: ::::-::::-," ::::::: :~:: ::: ::::::: :::? ::j:::a::,

::::::::

iiiii-i:iji':irji~-ii i::::--:: ::: -:::::::::::::::::: ::: ::-::::::: :::i:::j:::: :::::j::::::':;: ~1::: :::::::-: ":::-::::::::::::'::: ::--i~:(::::ii:-':-:::-:-:--: 1::: ::::::: ~ 8:i_-i:ii:liii-i:i::_::?::'::: :-':'::: :::-:':-:::--:--::: ::::::j: :1::_:::: :_:_:::__:i ::j: :::::; ,:i:::-r:::::::::::: _i:::::: :::::::j::-::~: :::::': :::':: ":: :i::_L:::::_ ;?':::::':"

_i-i:i-::i

:ii:::: _:::::

i::::i :::_::::: :::::ji

::::::?::: ;::::::::

1:::

BEVERLEY Wait's Chain and Badge

Town Waits and their Tunes

77

specimensof art. Since 1715 theyhave been worn by the City Trumpeters. "A vacancy having occurredin the band of civic musicians,the Mayor and Aldermen elected David Hughes and ordered that he enter into of the chain and the usual bond for the re-delivery badge worn by the said Wait player and pay ?10 to the widow of his predecessor." Beverley.-Badges and Chains sold in 1636 (?) but two have since been recoveredand belong to the Corporation. They date from1550. The chains have a numberof tabletsand links alternately in the formof displayedeagles and beavers.23 Canterbury.-A silver badge was used worth 100 shillings. This was returnedat the end of the year to the City Chamberlain. Coventry.-Silver badges and chains sold in 1710. Leicester.-Three silverbadges and chainsor collars. These were sold in 1836 but one has been recoveredand is now in the Museum. In 1539 the " Weyts Collars" weighed twenty-three ounces and a half, and theywere subject to hard wear by the entriesof repairs:1548, " an ounce of silver and twelvepence in wayght ... for the reparacions. " ... ... ... 9s. 1576, "paid to Dodd the Goldsmith for xv ounces of silver for the 'Weytes Collars' and for mending ?5 10s. Od. or makingof themnew." ... ... 1614, " mending the Muzicans silver collars and scutcheonthat wanted certen peeces of silver." 5s. When the numberof waits increasedribbonwas bought for the extra players to hang their " scutcheons" on1618. Paid for two yards of ribbon for one of the wayts to hinge his scutchinin att the maior's feast. 1621. For two yards of ribbon for the waits boyes to ... 13d. ...... hang their schuchionsin broade ribin 1626. Payed for two elnes of eightpennie ... ... to hang the waits collars in Is. 4d. 1562. Each wait had to finda suretyfor the returnof " collar." In 1583 two suretiesfromeach were demanded.
a curious legend 23These are in a very rare form illustrating regarding beavers which will be found in the Itinerary of Giraldus Cambrensis.EverymanEdn., p. 108.

78

Town Waits and their Tunes

Norwich.-Two collars or chains of silver parcel-gilt with chains in existence. The chains are badge. The finest formedof 14 turreted castles of silver with gilt portcullises, alternatingwith as many gilt lions passant c. 1550. Armsof Norwichon the Escutcheon. guardant. Henry VI, 1432-3. "To Richard Beve Goldsmithfor silver skochonof the Arms of the City for a minstrel six and a quarterounces minustwo (histrion)weighing dwt. at thirty-two pence the ounce and making the ... ... ... ... ... 24s. 6d. same, ... 1630. " It is orderedJohn Alken, a wait, has a silver chayne guilt weighingnine ouces and a quarter of an ounce, one Trumpett,two Sackbutts and one and on Flagge so long tymeonly thathe holds office demand must deliver them up whole, sound and unminished." Stamford.-The Waits badges are of silver and six in number-Four dated 1691and two 1823. Theyare in the formof shieldsmeasuring31 by 21 inchesbearingthe Warenne. On the reverse townsarmsEngland impaling of the older badge is engraved " The town arms of Stamford in the County of Lincoln, 1691," and on the later ones " The Corporationof Stamford,1823." coats. They were worn on the sleeves of the official Wakefield.-One badge of silver five inches long, charged and " WakefieldWaits, 1688." with a fleur-de-lis silver badges but they are nonhad York and Ripon existent. When the waits went round to the houses of the citizens to ask for donations or Christmas vails it was customaryto display their silver badge as showing their bona-fides. PARTIV.-INSTRUMENTS. These varied, but there is littledoubt that at firstthey and better as being more effective were wind instruments heard in the open air. Early playersused Trumpets (called shawms) and other but most of the earlier waits seem to brass instruments, of the Hautboy have been very partial to an instrument familywhich was called a wayte. There has been great took its name from the instrument discussionas to whether the player or vice versa; but therecan be no doubt on the matter,for we have the derivationof Wait or Watchman,

:-i-:i:i-il :i-,'i:l:lil:i'i'iil-l:iiij.jijii'l:i liiiiii~iiiiii-i ii iii:ii :il -::... ..... :....-._: :rl i::i:'iiiii:i?:i:: --i: i:i-i-i:i-i-i: :jll:ili:il ::j:i:li:.i~ii:'--i;`::j:iiiii)ia:iiij .....-.._ :: ::j::::::::::j::::::::j: ::: :::::::::::i:::::::::: :i:ii:iliiiiii-i:i:i;iiiii,:al-ii il-'iii~:'-'-': ~iiiiiiiaii;i?:':i:iil:: :_:,I_:II::::''I:':i:`l:::::l.i:~..:19 ,,,,,.,,;iiiii'iiiiiiii:~l-iijiii :?s r: ~~::::::::i::i::::::::::: ::::::::::: ::::?..?.--.--.:::::i;:::j i:::::::::-:1:' ;--::::::::::l:l:l:i:l:li:i:l:i:_::: - :-:-::-?:::: :?:: ::::::-:r :1-:::: :::::I: ::: ::::::: ki-l( ~'? ,-,~ ~''i'i~:iij.i::iii:!i:iii?:?iiiiirnili: ::i:-:i::i::i:::::~j-~i~i-~?:~i i:i';-llliill.:-;l:iil::ii iii:i.::j:l::i8::~~ iiiiiii;iiiiiiiijiii'.':iir:Ji?ili::~ :iiiiiiiiiiii-ii8i:jiii~iiii~ii :i: :i-::i-::i`ii-i'i--iI:iiiliiiiii ~i-aiiiriiiiii:'i!ii?i~:ii -:::::li:::l li:ilil:?li'il:i iilj?.i~Miiil-iiii? 'iii'iiiiii;iiFiii:i:j:;':i:i liililii iii:iijiiiiiiiiiiii'i:?iii~ili'Zi ii:.''~?i;irli~,iiiiiiiifi;)ii':~i -::: :::::::i::::::::::::::::::::::: ::::?::::i::i::: i:i ...... iilii4iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiliii iliiiij~aii? :: -:::::i:I:I:::::::i:::i::::-:i?liii:i:li iii~iiriiiiiiiiiii iii::iiiiliiiiiliii-ii~ii:ii-jii-iii::ii :::::: :-':I?I-I:I ::l:i?l::l:l:'i:::. ..-...-.-_ ...li::; -I:i:i~-i:i::l:i:: i::::::::::: :::::::;::::::i: --'-'~'' ''----''"':?-~??~?:~~::i iii ilijiiiiii:iiiiiiiiiiil:iiiiliiiiiiiiii

iiiii'i;?i(:lri;i-ii -i:::l.:_::::::-::i:-l:l?:;i:;i:::I::-: ::::::::::::::::j:::: ::: ::: ::i:::::::i:::::: x~;::.~:::::_: ::i::::: ::: ::::::::::::::j::: :::::::::::::: ??--??-i:ililiiiiii-ililililijli-jii :i:i:; ..... ::: :::::::j::i::::::: :: iiiiiiiliii iii iiiii;ii'iiiij .... ::: :::::::::::j::::::: :::::::::: i-~-ili ili'ili-iiiiiirlilililiiiiii~ Wi:'~iii-Biiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii(iiFd~iil n:i;:iii-l :-::::-:?;::::::: :::?:j:::?:::::::?:?::::::::::: ::I8:I:i:l:;l::l:l::::::: ::::::: :::::::i::i:::::::::::::::::??:: ~~lil:-lilii:i8:ilil::::::':: :1 1~.1:~.i1?:1:j:11~llllli:il::l: ....-..-:-

I" [

::::?:: -::::-:::::: ::::i::-::::::::::i:::::::j:: :::::::::-j:;::::::? '--I:l:l::i:'':ili::?: :I:.::: ::: :I: :-: :::l::;l:il:i:i:i:l:I I:l:lti: I:i:l:i:X: ::-:::i:::i:I:::::;:::i:::::: i:i::::~i::iii:: :: :i: :I:-:I::i: ::: :::l:::::i:i:i:::: ::::::::: I:Il:I:l:i:':' I:I:I:I:::1: ~: :I:_: Il?i :: :::,::::::i::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: :::::: :::: ::::::::::: ''''':il;iliiili.':iI'il:i;ijijlj::ipj :ii:::j ::r?::?:::--: :?:-: ::::? ::: :::::::::::::::j:::-:-:?::-::-.:_:::::::l::i::::: -j:z:j~::~i::::::?:?:31~1:il'-l'i ::ifi: II liliiil!i:::::::::::: ~iiiiii I-:l:_i:i i:::----i i-i:i:-:::::-::::: ;I!iii:iiii-: II1III:--__:1:::__-_-_ :::: ::: :: ::::::'::::'::: ?~:~::~i:i~iiill :.:..: ::::. ::: .....-.. :. ::l:::i:?::::i:-::i9DiS~i:lzi-i-iiiililii: :~::I::::::-:-:I:: ::::-:: :::::::::::'::'::':: iiii~iic:i:i:l:i:l: :::.: :::::: .:::?::::::::::: :?::-:?:?:?: :i?:?:?:?:,?:?:-::?i::j::::::: ::: ::::::: .. : :.:I:

WAKEFIELD Wait's badge. Suspended from a ribbon

. I IN

vo 177? .
NORWICH Wait's chain and badge

STAMFORD Wait's badge. Worn on the sleeve of gown

Town Waits and their Tunes

79

whateverfor wayteas an instrubut we have no derivation ment other than that it was derived from the player.24 These " waytes" were the later Cornetts; as time went on were added thoughthesemusthave been stringinstruments ratherfeebleout of doors and theycould not have been used when the Waits rode in processionsas theyoftenhad to do. were providedby thetownand the instruments Sometimes sometimes by the players, and this last arrangement naturallygive rise to many squabbles. Chester, 1590. " William Massie Mayor. At which day matter was in question between Ales Williams, late wife of Thomas Williams, late one of the Waytsmen of the Cittie on the one part, and Christopher Burton and William Maddock the other Waitman of the said Cittie, for and concerning their instruments of music, viz. the howboies, the Recorders, the a part Cornetsand Violens whereofthe said Ales claymeth which as to her said late husbandin his lief tymebelonginge, and soe are now theydeny to yeld unto: but are contented agreed and it is now fullyordered by assent, that the said for ever remayneconshall from hensfforth instruments tinue and bee the own propergoods of the said Waitesmen or else to remayne and of the survivorsof them..... foreverto the said Citie. ... ." Norwich, 1622. " The Waytes dischargedand desired to deliver their instruments several of which they had sold, but delivered as follows: Three Sackbuts, four Hoboyes and an old one broken, two Tenor Cornetts,one Treble Recorder,two Counter-TenorRecorders,fiveChaynes and five Flaggs." The waytes are again permitted to use their profession and promiseto bringin ?4 in lieu of the Sackbut theyhad sold. or shawm had a bannerattached. Every trumpet " Norwich. Pd for four new bannersof the wayts shalms made of whyteand red damaske." At Leicester when the Waits "effects" were sold in 1636 theirinstruments consistedof " Two horns,two clarionets, four piccaloes (probablyRecorders) and a bassoon."
"Pype" was graduallydropped and "wayt" only remained. No doubt this is the solution. He explained this at the meeting.
" Canon Galpin has met with the old form of "wayte-pipe."

8o

Town Waits and their Tunes

THE WAITS' WAGES.

The standingwage was not large,but it was substantially increased by the fees received for riding in processions, playing at mayors' banquets, weddings,etc., and it must that the waits were a Trade Union and be remembered allowed no " free trade" in music. Leicester regulations maybe takenas typical(spellingmodernised). In 1581. " It is agreed that everyInhabitant or housekeeperin Leicester be taxed (at the disof shall reasonable ability) (being cretionof Mr. Mayor) what theyshall quarterly give to the In consideraof towards their the living. amending Waytes tion whereofthe said Waytes shall keep the Town, and to play every night and morningorderly,both winter and and not to go forthof the town to play except to summer, fairs and weddings, and then by licence of Mr. Mayor. Item, that no strangers,viz. Waytes, minstrelsor other musicianswhatsoeverbe suffered to play withinthis town, neither at weddingsnor fairtimesor any othertimeswhatsoever." Next year, 1582, it is agreed that the twenty-four (i.e. leadingmenof the town) shall give twelvepence per quarter and forty-eight sixpenceper quarterfor Wayts' wages and to be taxed by the Mayor fromtime the otherinhabitants were sixpenceand threeto time. Later the fixedpayments in 1603. pence respectively a salary of ?5 per In 1628 they received collectively, annumand theircloaks and liveriesso thattheymust have looked to casual work for most of theirremuneration. Stamford Waits.-(Four in number) received 50s. per annum and had to play three nights a week from at which time SS. Simon and Jude Fair to Christmas, for a gratuity. they called on the inhabitants Coventry,1458.-" Hit was ordyredyt an honest man in everyward should be assyned by ye Meir to go wt ye at the peticonof Wayts,to gader theirwages quarterly then beying." ye Wayts As late as 1833 London Waits received ?5 13s. 4d. per annumand ?2 16s. Od. forlivery.
WAITS AS PLAYERS OF INTERLUDES, ETC.

The Waits from early times took part in public Plays, Interludes,Pageants, etc. In fact no public ceremonyor processionwas completewithoutthem,and theyfrequently

Town Waits and their Tunes

81

rode on horseback. They were sometimescalled " actors " 1483-" For the liveryof the or " histriones."Shrewsbury, Common histrionescalled the waytes of the town 15s." 25 In the household book of Hickling Priory amongst the itemsof expense in the year 1517-18is " Regiis histrionibus vocatiswaytes."26 Here the King's playersare accorded the title. At York, the Guild of Minstrels (including the Waits) were bound at their own charge "to bring forth and viz. Herod cawese to be plaied thepageantof Corpus Christi, and Messenger enquiringethe Thre Kyngs of the Child at the charg accustomedto be broughtforth Jesu,sometime of the late Masons of this Cittyeon Corpus ChristiDay." 27 AlthoughChester was the home of one of our greatest series of Miracle plays,the Waits were not much employed of minstrels, as the City could draw on a large fraternity and the musiciansfromthe Monastery. At Coventry, in 1474, at the "Receavyng Prynce Edwarde " when he came out of Wales, various pageants of with speeches were given attended with " mynstrallcy the Wayts of the Cite." In 1511 a play of The Holy Martyr St. George was at which at Basingbourne,in Cambridgeshire, represented and three waits of Cambridge" assisted. "a mynstrell Norwich, 1550.-"This Paggeante was done by the wagghtsof the Cytteof Norwich. There was a Skaffoold made at Sancte Peters of Houndegate Church. Styelle rounde like a Pavyllion: Richele adorned, full of targetts, with a Morien on the topp standingnaked, with a targett and a great Darte in his hand; within which stood an Auncyentepersonage who representedTyme, hauing the the profollowing speeche to the Mayor as he came forby, cession, etc." Again at Norwichin 1570 " the whole companyof waytes of this Citie did come into this Court and craved that they mighthave leve to play comodies and Interludesand such otherpieces and Tragedes whichshall seem to themmeete; which petitionis granted,theynot playingin the Tyme of Divine Service and Sermons." " Owenand Blakeway, History of Shrewsbury. " N. and Q., v. 10,494.

MSS. Committee vol. 32, p. 191. Historical *"The Antiquary, 14thReport.

3 Eliz. xxIIr. * York Corporation Minutes,

82

Town Waits and their Tunes

At Lincoln,a mostcuriousChristmas or poem was recited for sung by the three City Waits as a warningbeforehand the right keeping of Christmas time. This was called " CryingChristmas." three senators or (1565).-The Three waits personified wise men, and each in turn sang one verse. I select three verses:First Senator. the schepperdes did obey, The Aungellswithmyrthe When theysang Gloria in Excelsis in tunesmysticall; The byrdeswith solemnyte sang on everyspray, in everystall. And the beastes forjoye made reverence Second Senator. hartlet us be meryeall Thereforewitha contrite Havyng a stedfastfaithand a love most amyable, Disdayningno man of power greate or small For a crewell oppressoris nothyng commendable. Third Senator. That is the chiefecause hitherwe were sent, To gyve the people warningto have all thyngs perfitly, For theythatdo not,breaketh Mr. Mayor's commandement musttheybe. 29 And accordingto the order,punysshed existedup to the This tendency to dramaticperformance end of the 17th century. In 1677, before the Lord Mayor of London, one of the Waits "with a well-composedvoice " began a new song and thenanotherwait " being attiredlike of entertainment withappropriate actionand audible voice to New-Bedlamite the second song to the tune of Tom-a-Bedlam." singeth The nextyear " the Citymusic,aftera littleconsideration one withanother,concludeto habitthemand consultation of a song in threeparts in stilo selves for the performance recitativo on a musicalinterlude personsbythree presented Crab, a West Countryman, Swab, a Seaman, and Self, a Citizen. Crab sings a few notes of the Canarysand danced to it." The next year, 1679,beforethe Lord Mayor,a wait froliccalled the Coronation of Canary."30 sang " a pertinent
the brotherof Orlando Gibbons,was a Lincoln "gFerdinando, kindly (Information Wait, and no doubt often"cryed Christmas." suppliedby Dr. W. H. GrattanFlood). " Waits" by F. A. Hadlam in Musical News, 30 See an articleon 1915. September,

Town Waits and their Tunes

PART V.-THE WAITS OF NORWICH.

83

There is scarcelya town of any size that could not coninformation as to the Waits, but I .tributesome interesting of the mustconcludemy paper witha few more particulars most celebratedof all, viz. those of the City of Norwich. I have already mentioned instruments and theirinterludes, beautifulchains of office.They were undoubtedly singers, actors and instrumentalists of more than ordinaryability and theirfame was widespread. In 1578, Queen Elizabeth made a great entry into Norwich and " at the gate of the citywere placed the loud musick, who cheerfullyand melodiously welcomed Her Majesty into the city, this song being sung by the best voices in the choir." Two of the verses are appended. The dew of heaven drops this day On dry and barren ground, Wherefore at fruitfulhearts I sing Of drum and trumpetsound. Yield that is due, show what is meet, To make our joy the more, In our good hope and her good praise, We never saw before. Full many a winter have we seen And many storms withall Since here we saw a King or Queen In pomp and princelypall. Whereforemake feastand bow quite still And now to triumphfall With dutylet us show good will To glad both great and small. The dew of heaven,etc. At numerousother points in the City Her Majesty was so thatit is quite possible greetedwithsongs and interludes, that the traditionis true which tells us that she gave each of the five waits an instrument and also a house in King Street. The waits also frequented an old house called "The Music House" which was anciently the great messuage of Moses the Jew,-" a great man in the time of William Rufus." And now Sir Francis Drake comes on the scene. Though not a gentlemanborn yet he kept up great state when in commandof his ship, and we have a vivid pictureof the

84

Town Waits and their Tunes

man and his ship's company,when he made his celebrated voyage round the world, fromthe pen of Don Francisco Zarate, the Captain of a Spanish frigate capturedby Drake on April 4th, 1579. The Captain dined at Drake's table and writesas follows:" He has with him nine or ten younggentlemen, younger sons of the leading men in England who formhis Council; he calls them togetheron every occasion and hears what they have to say, but he is not bound by their advice thoughhe may be guided by it. He has no privacy. These of whom I speak all dine at his table. . . . the serviceis of silverrichly gilt and engravedwithhis arms; he too has all possible luxuries even to perfumes, manyof which he told me were given him by the Queen. None of thesegentlemen sits down or puts on his hat in his presence without repeated permission. He dines and sups to the music of Violins." we do not know who these violinistswere Unfortunately who went this wonderful voyage,but if theysurvivedthey must have been very proud musiciansfor the rest of their lives. Alfred Noyes has celebrated them in his poem " The Golden Hind, a song of the skilled musicians of Francis Drake." 31 In 1589 Drake was preparingto sail as second in command of a fleetunder Sir JohnNorris in order to " singe the King of Spain's beard," and this timehe applied to the Corporationof Norwich,for the Waits to accompanyhim must as his privateband. It is obvious thattheirreputation on this have stood high and we should know more probably Unpoint, if we had Sir Francis' letter before us. the Corporation archives from thiswas purloined fortunately many years ago. But we do know what was said in reply, for we have two Corporation Minutes-January25th,1589. " This day was redd in the Court,a lettersent to Master fromSir Francis Drake, wherebye Mair and his brethren he desyreththat the Waytes of this Citie may be sent to the Waytes voyage; whereunto hym,to go the new intended being here called do all assent, whereupon it is agreed that theyshould have vi cloaks of stemellcloth made them redybeforetheygo; and thata wagon shall be providedto and that theyshall have carrythemand theirinstruments, iiiilb to buye them,threenew howboyesand one treblerecorder, and xlb. to bear their chargys; and that the Citie
3

It has beenset to music by Dr. Silver.

Town Waits and their Tunes

85

shall hyre the wagon and paye for it. Also that the shall pay Peter Spratt xs. 3d., for a saquebut Chamberlyn before case; and the Waytes to delyverto the Chamberlyn theygo the citie'scheanes." " 1589.-The xxviith of January. Payed to Mr. Petters, forcloathforall theWaytes' Cloaks,and fortheir Alderman, Lace, making,and other thingsbestowedupon them,when they went the Portugal Voyage, by the request of Sir Francis Drake, wh money was payed by warrante xxxix, ixs, iiijd." The voyage was a failure, for it accomplished little was enormous. beyondburningCorunna,and the mortality Of the six waits only two returned. An historicalstudy often leads to interesting bye-paths and we have one here. All know the old ballad of the Babes in the Wood, but manydo not know thatthis is foundedon fact,and thatthe wicked Uncle lived not far from Norwich. In the old ballads which describe the calamitieswhich fell upon him for his awful crimewe find: " In the voyageto PortugalTwo of his sons did die." 32 They were in the same expeditionas the Waits. Norwich soon recovered the loss of the old waits, and in a few years they had as good a set as before who are duly described by Kemp, the great Morris Dancer, who undertookfor a wager to dance the Morris all the way fromLondon to Norwich,and has left us an account of it. " Passing the gate..... .I got thorow that narrow preaze into the open market-place;where on the crosse, ready prepared, stood the Citty Waytes, wh not a little refreshedmy weariness with toylingthorow so narrow a lane as thepeopleleftme : such Waytes (under Benedicitebe it spoken) fewe Citties in our Realme have the like, none in windinstruments, their better;who beside theirexcellency rare cunning on the Vyoll and Violin, theyr voices be everieone of themable to serve in any Cathedral admirable, for Quiristers."33 Church in Christendoome I might say muchmore,but if I did thenI fearyou would be going to sleep like the " Babes in the Wood " coveredup with the leaves of this lecture. So here endeththe Lay of the Last Minstrel"Vocatus Wayt."
32

The Norfolk Chronicle, July27th,1907,articleby J. C. Tingey. Wonder Nine (1600),p. 17. Dales 3 Kemp's

86

Town Waits and their Tunes

We will concludewith:Gavotte. (1) Oxford Waits-a pretty I Chester Waits-which, think(thoughperhapsI am (2) biassed), as best of all the Waits' tunes. I do not performSavile's The Waits, as that vocal compositionis so well known. of J. W. Arrowsmith, My best thanksare due to the firm Ltd., Bristol, for permissionto use the block of Bristol Waits' Badges; to the Town Clerk of Beverley (J. of the Waits' Chains; to Dennett,Esq.), for photographs the Town Clerk of Norwich (Noel B. Rudd, Esq.), for the loan of a block of a Wait's Collar; to the Town Clerk of Stamford(Charles Atter,Esq.), for a Wait's Badge; to the Town Clerk of Wakefield (A. C. Allibone, Esq.); to H. Parkin, Esq., Curator of the Wakefield Museum, for a Wait's Badge; to JohnCamidge,Esq., organistof Beverley Minster; to Dr. Bates, organist of Norwich Cathedral, and to the Rev. Ernest H. Knight,Succentorof Durham Cathedral. The performersat the lecture were: Pianoforte,The Lecturer; Violin, Joshua Goldstein; Horn, C. F. Peters (Scholars of TrinityCollege of Music).

Town Waits and their Tunes TOWER HAMLETS

Horpipe By JOHN RAVENSCROFT

87

(one of the Waits).

VIoLI N.

L I Ir 2 - ~ - ~ -~

... , ....::

~j

l o w
~
..

---

fE
9!U---._.

T" A-l

w l.

-It

AR
j~
m/
',..-

I - m~f " ------.-ic .. .. . .

.......
"I

--r .-

..,-A

1W
... _ . .. .

.. . . ... .

F I 6:E! OR I ME
.._

,? .-,'n-----i-'. f_ __
:_"--

_mJ
__.

-_-Czz
--

.r-.-_

... I--"----

-'

--

---,=----z' .

..

--- -

W.

?
Z Z

" t ".---'
I_

_
3

.J
-L.TI

8Vol. 54

LL

8 Vol. 54

88

Town Waits and their Tunes

WORKSOP.
From a MS.c.z6oo

VIOLIN.
___-A

Ir
.

Z3..__.__i_4_, P. ne-

-z--?LZ._

Ir

-------

:i*t
P ---t -..

VIOLIN.

WARIRNGTON

MP

--'

-..7. . ...

f..a.__________ p
" ''

Town Waitsand theirTunes OXFORD.

Gavotte VIOLIN.

89

wS_

-.. ri4-

*,I,

-.1...2---!a

t -,

Aa

----" -I--'. .. .. .. . .. ------? .

!d -------

90o
VIOLItN.
Hornpipe

Town Waitsand theirTunes YORK.

of the Olden Time"

-A

~ ,~ ;If,';

jr-A _-a--"

-~?JZK

,-

--0- P.

. -,.

failed to findit there.

" butI have in "Apollo's Healsoquotes Waits" as being "Bristol Banquet

Town Waits and their Tunes DISCUSSION.

91

I am veryglad our President, withhis usual power of researchand accuracy,has told us that the idea of the minstrel-watchman or " wait" takinghis name he played upon, is a mistake. fromthe instrument originally to add further confirmation and Perhaps I may be permitted a suggestionas to the way in which the mistakearose. Latin dictionary I found the word In a fifteenth century (calamaula) which means a " reed pipe" and fromwhich we get the word " Chalumeau" or " Shawm "), translated into English as "'the wayte pipe." But in a seventeenth in the BritishMuseum thereis a sketch manuscript century : " a Howboye or of a shawmwiththe following description a Wayte or a Shawm," showingthatin the ordinaryspeech of that time the word "pipe" was carelesslyomittedafter " wayte" and so themistakecame about. Halliwell gives the word "wait," insteadof "wait pipe,"as meaningthe hautboy; and he mentionsanother curious provincialism, namely a " wait treble,"whichhe says is a sortof bagpipe: by"treble" was evidentlymeant " triple"; for the bagpipe, with its chanter and two drones, is a threefoldshawm or "wait pipe." We know how popular the shawm or the hautboywas for you recollectthat in "Othello" with these minstrels, as Shakespeare brings in players on wind instruments serenaders at the Castle. They no doubt were the town "waits" and certainly played on shawms; for as they are the clown entersand says, " Why masters,have beginning, been in Naples thattheyspeak i' the noise your instruments used had thus?", alluding to the fact that the instruments a veryreedytone. paper he May I thankour President for the interesting has given us, so full of reliablestatistics? If I may say so, I was attractedto the Meetingnot only by the subject,but that the President himselfwas going to by the statement read the paper.
CANON GALPIN: MR. W. W. COBBETT: I readinoneof William Gardiner's books-he was a wool-spinnerin Leicester and a great which illustrates amateurof music-the following, the fact were thenused by the waits. that stringinstruments "In thedead of night.. . on one occasion I heardthewaits parade the market-place, playingthe Minuet fromHaydn's Quartet in D minor,and was much thrilled."

92

Town Waits and their Tunes

time I have ever read of any DR. BRIDGE: It is the first definite piece that they played of that kind. was thepiano partplayed? MR. Fox : On whatinstrument the bass viol, horns and bassoons; but I had to make the part myself. pianoforte We are very much obliged indeed to Canon Galpin for thatreallyvaluable instruand bringing cominghereto-night it but being able to play it. ment,and not only bringing The Meeting terminatedwith a very hearty Vote of Thanks to the Presidentfor his address,whichwas carried by prolongedacclamation.
THE CHAIRMAN: Theyscraped awaywiththeviolinand