The musicians of York are listed chronologically and most entries are taken from the register of York freemen (Surtees Society vols. XCVI, CII; Malden J. Sessions of York, 1989). Where the name is [bracketed] thus it does not occur in the roll of freemen but the musician is first known in another source at the given date.

W = certainly a waite w = possibly a waite

PIPER:   Considering that continental civic musicians in the 14th and 15th centuries were, more often than not, referred to as pfeifer, pijper, piffero etc., I contend that piper in the York freemens' roll might have meant waite in some cases. Thus I have added "w".

MINSTREL:   The meaning of minstrel is less precise than piper, yet waites can be found in other town records in which officers termed minstrel were unequivocally waites. Indeed, the 1433 entry in the York house books trium ministrallorum ciuitatis is closely followed in 1434 with lez Waytes ciuitatis - no doubt there. Also Johannes Shene, free as a mynstrall in 1440 was recorded as wate in his will of 1483. I could prefix many more names "w", and in earlier records they might indeed have been waites. However, in the 16^th century, when the waites are usually named, minstrel must refer, in many cases, to other musicians. It is impossible to say where to draw the line, so I have resisted the temptation and not added "w" even where it might be reasonable to do so.

The current total of named York musicians up to 1836 is 212 of whom 74 may be designated probable or possible waites.

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