From "Domestic Occurrences" in The Gentleman's Magazine, Volume 92, Part 2, page 558:

Monday, Dec. 16. [1822] ...

Christmas Waits.—Charles Clapp, Benjamin Jackson, Denis Jelks, and Robert Prinset, were brought to Bow-street Office, by O. Bond the constable, charged with performing on several musical instruments in St. Martin's-lane, at half-past twelve o'clock this morning, by Mr. Munroe, the authorized principal Wait, appointed by the Court of Burgesses for the City and Liberty of Westminster, who alone considers himself entitled, by his appointment, to apply for Christmas-boxes. He also urged that the prisoners, acting as minstrels, came under the meaning of the Vagrant Act, alluded to in the. 17th Geo. II.; however, on reference to the last Vagrant Act of the present King, the word "minstrels" is omitted; consequently they arc no longer cognizable under that Act of Parliament; and in addition to that, Mr. Charles Clapp, one of the prisoners, produced his indenture of having served seven years as an apprentice to the profession of a musician to Mr. Clay, who held the same appointment as Mr. Munroe does under the Court of Burgesses. The prisoners were discharged, after receiving an admonition from Mr. Halls, the sitting Magistrate, not to collect Christmas-boxes.

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From The London Literary Gazette, Vol. 12, December 27, 1828:

THE PARISH WAITS.

The following is a verbatim copy of a printed bill left by a party of these nuisances and sleepbreakers.

"To the ladles and gentlemen residing in Brunswick, Tavistock, and Euston Squares, Burton Crescent, and neighbourhood. Ladles and Gentlemen,—With sensible recollection of by-gone patronage, your 'Wandering Melodists, the Christmas Waits,' beg to offer their best compliments on the approaching festival. The Band on this occasion, as heretofore, has been numerous and select, and trust to merit that liberal diffusion of your favours which has enlivened our homes and cheered our hearts for a series of years. We trust our sprightly notes of melody, awaking sweet Echo on the dull ear of Night, has stole on your gentle slumbers, and again lulled you to repose with the soothing candanza of the lullaby.

"M. Putnam and J. Lawless, Violins, 6, Swinton Place, Bagnigge Wells Road, and 33, Middlesex Street, Somers Town; J. Sayer, Clarionet. 23, Hertford Street, Somers Town; E. Smith, Double Bass, 16, Little Coram Street; J. Smith, Violoncello, T. Shambler, Flute, 7, Swinton Place, Bagnigge Wells Road.

"Having redeemed our pledge, we shall have the honour of paying our personal respects in the holyday week. In respectfully taking our leave, we beg to remind you, that as some who are pretenders to the Magic Wand of Apollo, would attempt to impose on your liberality, and defraud us of your favours, it may be necessary to say, that we will produce a book with a printed label, containing our names, instruments, and addresses as above."