Lot Essay
This waits badge was worn around the neck of one of the town waits, corporation minstels or musical watchmen who sang the hours of the night and warned the towns people of fire and other dangers in "rude rhyme". One badge is preserved in the collection of the Leicester Museum. Originally the waits wore silver collars and a fine scarlett livery with silver, and later gold, lace. The waits played every morning and night and at all major feasts. They supplemented the gratuities and stipends they received from the townspeople and council by playing at weddings. They received the badge on their appointment to the office, having provided two sureties for the safekeeping of the badge. The badges were returned to the council upon death or dismissal from the office. Three surviving badges, five maces and a great quantity of town plate was sold during a six-day sale held on 27 January 1836, following the passing of the Municipal Corporation Reform Act after which the council decided that "the true dignity of the mayoralty does not consist of antiquated pageantry". One of the three badges was later re-purchased by the town council and is listed by Jewitt and Hope, op cit, as being in the collection of the Leicester Museum.