Popular Music Of The Olden Time Vol 2

Ancient Songs, Ballads, & Dance Tunes, Sheet Music & Lyrics - online book

	REIGN OF CHARLES II.                                          549
	chorister in any cathedral church. One Richard Reede, a wait of Cambridge, is mentioned by Mr. Sandys, as having received 20s. for his attendance at a gentleman's mansion during the Christmas of 1574. Some of the tunes which the waits of different towns played, are contained in The Dancing Master of 1665 (among the violin tunes at the end), and others in Apollo's Banquet, 1669. The York Waits seem to have chosen a hornpipe tune, which was printed in broadsides, with words by Mr. Durden. From these the following are selected, as descriptive of the custom in that city, about the end of the 17th century :__
		" In a winter's morning, Long before the dawning, Ere the cock did crow, Or stars their light withdraw, Wak'd by a hornpipe pretty, Play'd along York city, By th' help of o'ernight's bottle, Damon made this ditty, .... In a winter's night, By moon or lanthorn light, 'Through hail, rain, frost, or snow, Their rounds the music go ; Clad each in frieze or blanket (For either heav'n be thanked), Lin'd with wine a quart, Or ale a double tankard. Burglars scud away, And bar guests dare not stay, Of claret, snoring sots Dream o'er their pipes and pots, Till their brisk helpmates wake 'em,
			To find the pleasant Cliff, That plays the Bigadoon. *             *            *            # Candles, four in the pound, Lead up the jolly Bound, Whilst cornet shrill i' th' middle Marches, and merry fiddle, Curtal with deep hum, hum, Cries, we come, we come, come, And theorbo loudly answers, Thrum, thrum, thrum, thrum, thrum. But, their fingers frost-nipt, So many notes are o'erslipt, That you'd take sometimes The Waits for the Minster chimes : Then, Sirs, to hear their music Would make both me and you sick, And much more to hear a roopy fiddler call (With voice, as Moll would cry, " Come, shrimps or cockles buy"), " Past three, fair frosty morn,
	Hoping music will make 'em               Good morrow, my masters all." The following was composed by Jeremiah Savile, and is on the last page of Pktyford's Musical Companion, 1673, entitled The Waits :—