In an article, "Concerning Christmas," in _Belgravia_ (vol. 6, new series, p. 326), we read: "It may not, perhaps, be generally known that, in the year of grace 1871, 'Waits' are regularly sworn before the Court of Burgesses at Westminster, and act under the authority of a warrant, signed by the clerk, and sealed with the arms of the city and liberty; in addition to which they are bound to provide themselves with a silver badge, also bearing the arms of Westminster." The modern waits have entirely departed from any pretence of allusion to Christ-tide, and play indifferently the last things out in dance music, operatic airs, or music-hall songs; and they act upon people according to their various temperaments, some liking to "hear the waits," whilst others roundly anathematise them for disturbing their slumbers. CHAPTER IX Christ-tide Carols--The days of Yule--A Carol for Christ-tide--"Lullaby"--The Cherry-tree Carol--Dives and Lazarus. The singing of carols is now confined to Christmas day; but it was not always so, appropriate carols being sung during the Christ-tide preceding the day of the Nativity--such, for instance, as the following examples. The first is taken from Sloane MS. 2593, in the British Museum, and in this one I have preserved the old spelling, which is ascribed to the time of Henry VI. It will be seen that Christ-tide is prolonged till Candlemas day, the Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which is kept on the 2nd of February, on which day all Christ-tide decorations are taken down. Make we myrth For Crystes byrth, And syng we 3ole[26] tyl Candelmes. The fyrst day of 3ole have we in mynd, How God was man born of oure kynd: For he the bondes wold onbynd Of all oure synnes and wykednes. The secund day we syng of Stevene, That stoned and steyyd up even To God that he saw stond in hevyn, And crounned was for hys prouesse. The iij day longeth to sent Johan, That was Cristys darlyng, derer non, Whom he betok, whan he shuld gon, Hys moder der for hyr clennesse, The iiij day of the chyldren 3ong, That Herowd to deth had do with wrong, And Crist thei coud non tell with tong, But with ther blod bar hym wytnesse. The v day longeth to sent Thomas,[27] That as a strong pyller of bras, Held up the chyrch, and sclayn he was, For he sted with ry3twesnesse. The viij day tok Jhesu hys name, That saved mankynd fro syn and shame, And circumsysed was for no blame, But for ensample of meknesse. The xij day offerd to hym kynges iij, Gold, myr, and cence, thes gyftes free, For God, and man, and kyng was he, Thus worschyppyd thei his worthynes. On the xl day cam Mary myld, Unto the temple with hyr chyld, To shew hyr clen that never was fylyd, And therwith endyth Chrystmes. [Footnote 26: Yule.]