An Essay on the Meaning of the Word FIT. ..............................................................
The word Fit, for Part, often occurs in our ancient ballads and metrical
romances; which being divided into several parts for the convenience of singing them
at public entertainments, were in the intervals of the feast sung by Fits, or
intermissions. So Puttenham in hisArt of English Poesie, 1589, says, "the Epithalamie
was divided by breaches into three partes to serve for three several Fits, or times to be
sung."-- p. 41.
From the same writer we learn some curious particulars relative to the state of
ballad-singing in that age, that will throw light on the present subject: speaking of the
quick returns of one manner of tune in the short measures used by common rhymers;
these, he says, "glut the eare, unless it be in small and popular musickes, sung by
these Cantabanqui, upon benches and barrels heads, where they have none other
audience then boys or countrey fellowes, that passe by them in the streete; or else by
blind harpers, or such like taverne minstrels, that give a Fit of mirth for agroat...
their matter being for the most part stories of old time, as the tale of Sir Topas, the
reportes of Bevis of Southampton, Guy of Warwicke, Adam Bell and Clymme of the
Clough, and such other old romances or historical rimes, made purposely for
recreation of the common people at Christmasse dinners and brideales, and in
tavernes and alehouses, and such other places of base resorte." p. 69.
This species of entertainment which seems to have been handed down from
the ancient bards, was in the time of Puttenham falling into neglect; but that it was
not, even then, wholly excluded more genteel assemblies, he gives us room to infer
from another passage, "We ourselves," says this courtly[1] writer, "have written for
pleasure a little brief romance, or historical ditty in the English tong of the Isle of
Great Britaine in short and long meetres, and by breaches or divisions [i.e.Fits] to be
more commodiously sung to the harpe in places of assembly, where the company shal
be desirous to heare of old adventures, and valiaunces of noble knights in times past,
as are those of King Arthur and his knights of the Round Table, Sir Bevys of
Southampton, Guy of Warwicke, and others like."-- p. 33.
In more ancient times no grand scene of festivity was complete without one of
these reciters to entertain the company with feats of arms, and tales of knighthood, or,
as one of these old minstrels says, in the beginning of an ancient romance onGuy and
Colbronde, in the Editor's folio MS.--
"When meate and drinke is great plentyè,
And lords and ladyes still wil bee,
And sitt and solace lythe;[2]
Then itt is time for mee to speake
Of keene knightes, and kempès great,
Such carping for to kythe."
If we consider that a groat in the age of Elizabeth was more than equivalent to
a shilling now, we shall find that the old harpers were even then, when their art was
on the decline, upon a far more reputable footing than the ballad-singers of our time.
The reciting of one such ballad as that of theBeggar of Bednall-green, in two parts,
was rewarded with half a crown of our money. And that they made a very respectable
appearance, we may learn from the dress of the old beggar, in the preceding ballad,
where he comes into company in the habit and character of one of these minstrels,
being not known to be the bride's father, till after her speech, ver. 63. The exordium of
his song, and his claiming a groat for his reward, ver. 80, are peculiarly characteristic