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Source: London Labour and the London Poor Henry Mayhew (1861) Of the ChauntersMinstrelsy fell gradually from its high estate, and fell so low that, in the 39th year of Elizabeth's reign the minstrels were classed in a penal statute with rogues, vagabonds, and sturdy beggars! Putenham, in his `Arte of English Poesie' (1589), speaks of taverne minstrels that give a fit of mirth for a groat. One of the statutes enacted in Cromwell's Protectorate was directed against all persons commonly called fidlers or minstrells.In the present day the running patterer is accompanied generally by a chaunter. The chaunter now not only sings, but fiddles. The running performer takes his stand with the chaunter in any promising place, and as the songs which are the most popular are sometimes spoken as well as sung, the performers are in their proper capacity, for the patterer not only speaks, but speaks more than is set down for him, while the chaunter fiddles and sings. I am told that there are only fifty running patterers who are regularly their own chaunters, fiddling to their songs. Two of these men are known as Brummagem Jack, and the Country Paganini. |