FLORAL DIRECTORY.
Glaucus Aletris. Veltheimia glauca.
Dedicated to St. John Lateran.
[382] Whiffler, Mr. Douce says, in his “Illustrations of Shakspeare,” is a term undoubtedly borrowed from whiffle, another name for a fife or small flute; for whifflers were originally those who preceded armies or processions, as fifers or pipers: in process of time the term whiffler, which had been always used in the sense of a fifer, came to signify any person who went before in a procession. He observes, that Minshew defines him to be a club or staff-bearer, and that it appears, whifflers carried white staves, as in the annual feast of the printers, founders, and ink-makers, described by Randle Holme.
Mr. Archdeacon Nares, in his Glossary, cites Grose’s mention of the whifflers at Norwich, who make way for the corporation by flourishing their swords.
A friend informs me, that the dexterity of the Norwich whifflers in turning their swords to every possible direction is amazing.
Mr. Archdeacon Nares remarks, that in the city of London, young freemen, who march at the head of their proper companies on the lord Mayor’s day, sometimes with flags, were called whifflers, or bachelor whifflers, not because they cleared the way, but because they went first as whifflers did; and he quotes a character in the old play of the City Match, saying, “I look’d the next lord mayor’s day to see you o’ the livery, or one of the bachelor whifflers.”
Hone on Mysteries.
[383] Dr. Drake’s Shakspeare and his Times, vol. ii.