The musical entertainment at such places of resort at that period was said by Hawkins to be hardly deserving the name of concert, i . e ., concerted music, for the instruments were limited to violins, hautboys, and trumpets playing in unison, and when a bass was introduced it was merely to support a simple ballad or dance-tune . " The musick plays, and'tis such music as quickly will make me or you sick ", comments an old writer upon the efforts of a rival establishment; and Ned Ward describes the combination of attractions at Sadler's Wells in the lines:
