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Whether they _legally_ could tour freely after 1572 I can't answer, but that they most certainly did do so is not in question. From the published REED volumes' patron appendices you can put together a long list of waits on the road. Additionally (I'm in the middle of writing something else and thus have the evidence literally to hand), in the West Riding of Yorkshire we have records for the following traveling waits and musicians on the road as well as in their home sites: Barnsley, Bradford, Darton, Doncaster, Elland, Giggleswick, Halifax, Hatfield, Heptonstall, Knaresborough, Leeds, Pateley Bridge, Pontefract, Ripon, Rotherham, Rothwell, Selby, Sheffield (town), Sheffield (Talbots' patronage), Skipton (town), Skipton Castle (Cliffords' patronage), Snaith, Thornhill (Saviles' patronage), Wakefield, Wentworth Woodhouse (Wentworths' patronage), Wigglesworth. Hope this helps--you may find yourself drawing a distinction between the law and the reality, which hardly would be a first for REED. All best, Barbara D. Palmer ----- Original Message ----- From: "Paulette Marty" <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Tuesday, May 28, 2002 8:48 PM Subject: Town minstrels Does anyone know whether town minstrels could tour freely after the 1572 Act against vagabonds? The Act does not explicitly exempt them from prosecution, but if a traveling minstrel clearly indicated (by badge or some other method) that he was a civic retainer, would he be prosecuted? I would appreciate any information on this or any suggestions of where to look for information. Thanks, Paulette Marty