CLASSIFIED CATALOGUE BRAND MATERIAL.
OF
{Cotithiued frotn Vol. XXIX. p. 74.)
[k) Strolling Visitors.
Waits (instrumental musicians : 1
generally perform during
night of Dec. 24-25).
Employed by municipality
[obs] - - - -
Licensed to solicit money
within definite area (down
to 1820-30) Entirely independent ; and
lingered into 19th century " Timbrel-waits " (tin-kettle
music by boys, before
Christmas)
" Bletherhead bands " (nigger minstrels) perambulate streets - . -
Carol-singers (perform at house- doors, night or day, some- times with instrumental accompaniment Sing on church-tower -
At holy wells . - _ In Minstrels' Gallery -
LOCALITY.
Berwick, Scarboro", Don- caster, Nottingham, Cambridge, Leicester, Chester, etc.
London Parishes. Country towns (sporadic) .
Wolverhampton, York- shire towns.
Bradford.
General.
Berks. (Newbury), Hants.
(Crondall). West Cornwall. Exeter Cathedral.
'But the name i.s often applied to .singers, e.g. "The singing waits, a merry throng " (Clare, The Shep/ierifs Kalendar).
