CHAP. I.

ALL things in the Church, and in its Service, would be so contriv'd and order'd, that the Common-Poor-Ignorant-People might be so much capable as 'tis possible of Apprehending, Discerning or Understanding; so, as they might unite their Voices, Hearts and Affections together with the Congregation, and the Service. The which can­not more hopefully be effected, or brought to pass, than by ma­king all things in the Service plain and easie to their Capacities.

Now as to Musick, 'tis known and observed by Experience, The benefit of short and uniform Ayrs. that Short-square-even and uniform-Ayres are both Pleasant, and readily Apprehended and Learned by most.

And as there are likewise a great number, who are but indiffe­rently inclined by Nature to Singing, who notwithstanding, if they were considered after this manner, together with what I shall further make mention of, would make a very good Assistance in the Chorus, which otherwise are utterly debarr'd, and made uncapable.

There are two things very considerable as to this Preparation of good Singing in Churches.

First, the Poetry. Secondly, the Composition of Musick. For Psalms what manner of Poetry best.

The Poetry would be, 1. Even and uniform, as to the number of Feet in each Staff.

2ly. Every Staff of the same Psalm would correspond with the [Page 2] first Staff, in the same order of Feet; otherwise the same Tune which his the first Staff, will not serve the whole Psalm.

There would not be too great a varie­ty.Again, (as to the whole number of Psalms) there would not be too great a variety of Poetical forms or shapes in the Staves: Be­cause that then a fewer number of Tunes might serve for the whole; so that if the Book of Psalms were composed by an Ex­cellent Poet, and as Excellent a Musician, into a matter of 8, 10, or 12 Varieties, and those Varieties even, smooth, short, and uniform to themselves, it might be enough, and doubtless conduce very much to the drawing in of a Congregational-good-Quire.

But if the Poetry be too various and intricate, as I will instance in that Excellent Piece of Mr. or Dr. Woodford's, (which I have lately seen) in which there is scarcely two of the whole number of his Psalms which are of the same order or quantity of Fee [...] quite through his whole Book, and several of them un-uniform to them­selves, viz. not one Staff like another of the self-same Psalm. I say, that although it be an Excellent Piece, for a Poet to look up­on, yet it is not a fit Piece to be composed for the use of a Con­gregational Quire, for those Reasons aforesaid. There being work more than enough, for a most excellent Musician during his whole life, to compose proper and fit Ayres to those Psalms, but never to have them Sung by any Country or City Congregation.

For those Ayres which are intricate and un-uniform (the which I call unnatural, as those must needs be) are difficult to be Sung, especially by those who have no Skill.

The Poet and the Composer to be of the same under­standing.The Poet therefore and the Composer ought both to be so much of the same Understanding in each Art, that these, or such like Observations might guide them both. And doubtless he is to be look'd upon as the most exquisite Poet, who is that able to com­mand his Fancy.

The Common Rhimes and Phrases in our Psalms are many of them very absurd and ridiculous, and it is to be wished that they might be amended. Many of our old Psalm Tunes excel­lent. But many of our old Psalm Tunes are so ex­cellently good, that I will be bold to say, Art cannot mend them or make better.

I conceive it might be very well worth a Considerative Poet's undertaking, to suit some of those Psalms which need amend­ment, to some of those our old good Tunes; because those Tunes are already apprehended and learned by most of the Common Peo­ple. The benefit of retaining them. Therefore they will the more readily embrace a new Altera­tion, when as they find they are not too much puzzled with No­velty, but can bring them with ease into their old Tunes.

Concerning the Compo­ser, and his Observations in Composing.As for the Composition, making, or inventing Tunes for the Church-Psalms, it would, First, be done by a Chief Musician, accor­ding to the Example of the Prophet King David.

Secondly, the Musician should observe to cast all such Psalms as are concerning Humiliation, Confession, Supplication, Lamenta­tion or Sorrow, &c. into a flat, solemn, mournful Key; and on the contrary, all such as are concerning Rejoycing, Praising of God, giving Thanks, or extolling his wondrous works or goodness, &c. [Page 3] into a sharp, sprightly, brisk Key; contriving for both as much Majesty and Stateliness as can be found out in the Art, which abounds with plenty; observing the nature of the words, so as to suit them with the same likeness of conceit or humour from his Art. There being a very great affinity, nearness, The great af­finity betwixt Language and Musick too much neg­lected; and known to ve­ry few▪ naturalness or sameness betwixt Language and Musick, although not known to many. And it is a bemoanable pity to consider how few there are who know, but fewer who consider, what wonderful-powerful-efficacious Virtues and Operations Musick has upon the Souls and Spirits of Men Divinely-bent. And to publish here what I am able to say in this particular, according to a daily experience which (I thank God) I have of it, will be look'd upon as a piece of Vanity, there­fore (as to that) I shall be silent, and so proceed to my intended purpose of giving Directions for the best way of Singing Psalms in Parochial Churches; concerning which there are two ways which I have prompted unto, so that either may be followed to very good purpose, but both together put into Practice will be most magnificent, and is as followeth.

CHAP. II. Concerning Parochial Musick, viz. Singing of Psalms in Churches.

I Shall not need to blazon it abroad in Print, how miserably the Prophet David's Psalms are (as I may say) tortur'd or tormented, and the Service of God dishonoured, made course, or ridiculous thereby; seeing the generall outcries of most Parochial Churches in the Nation are more than sufficient to declare and make mani­fest the same, so often as they make any attempt to sing at those Psalms.

Therefore I will say no more to that particular, nor rubb that sore place. Only thus much I will presume to say, viz. That (sure) it were far better never to sing at all in Churches, or in Gods Ser­vice, than to sing out of Tune: that is, not in Harmonical Conchord or Agreement.

For as I often use to say, The significa­tion of Con­chords and Dischords in Musick. that as Conchording unity in Musick is a lively and very significant simile of God, and Heavenly joyes and felicities, so on the contrary, Jarring Discords are as apt a simile of the Devil, or Hellish tortures.

This observation is clear enough to all who understand those Admirable-Divine-Mysteries, which lie couch't in Musick, and This (too much neglected) part thereof (Singing.)

Certainly the first Institution of Singing of Divine Hymns and Psalms in Churches was, both to illustrate and adorn the Service, and likewise to be as a means or an occasion of help towards the raising of our Affections and Devotions, to praise and extoll God's Holy Name.

[Page 4] How Christ's Church was exhorted to Sing with a Grace, and to make melody.'Tis very well worth noting how St. Paul instructed the Ephe­sians, chap. 5. vers. 18, & 19. Thus. Be fulfilled with the Spirit, speaking to your selves in Psalms and Hymns, and spiritual Songs; singing and making melody to the Lord in your hearts, &c.

So likewise doth he exhort the Colossians, chap. 3. vers. 16. in these words: Let the word of Christ dwell in you plenteously in all wisedom, teaching and admonishing your own selves in Psalms and Hymns, and spiritual Songs, singing with a Grace in your hearts to the Lord.

This was (we may see) the undoubted practice and endeavour of Christ's Church in His, and the Apostles time, not only to Sing, but to Sing with a Grace and making melody. The which two things are not possibly to be done, without some skill, and singing in Tune.

And that ( viz, Singing in Tune) I do confidently affirm can never be done, except there be some other way found out than that which at the present is generally in practice in our Churches; the which I shall by and by demonstrate and make very plain, by undeniable Arguments.

But first I desire that Those foregoing Admonitions of St. Paul might be a little better taken notice of than generally they are.

And because I am as much a Divine (I mean a Priest, and Son of the Church) as a Master in Musick: I will take the liberty to give my Explanation of those words of St. Paul, yet humbly sub­mitting to better Judgments.

St. Paul speaks to the Colossians thus: Let the word of Christ dwell in you plenteously in all wisedom, teaching and admonish­ing your own selves in Psalms and Hymns, The Explana­tion of St. Paul's words. and spiritual Songs, &c. which to me seems as much as if he should have said, Let that word which Christ formerly spake unto you about such things dwell in you, or be remembred by you, &c.

Whence I do inferr thus much, viz. that it was Christs own in­struction, direction, advice, or command formerly given unto them, to teach and admonish one another in that very exercise of Singing of Psalms, &c. otherwise what can be meant by that saying of St. Paul's, Let the words of Christ dwell in you, but that Christ had taught and admonished them before concerning it, and so that by their diligence and careful practice therein (which was a piece of wisedom in them so to do, in regard they had been for­merly so admonished by Christ) they might thereby be enabled so to Sing, as it might be both graceful, and melodious.

The Reason why Christ and St. Paul gave this ear­nest Instructi­on.For without all question Christ (who was the wisedom of his Father) was not ignorant of the least secret or mysterie in any Art whatsoever, nor of any thing that might conduce to the Be­nefit or Compleating of any Performance in reference to any un­dertaking. Christ knew the difficulty of that service of Singing so very well, that (I am subject to believe) therefore it was that he had formerly by his own word admonished them to that Duty of practising and teaching one another: And therefore likewise was it, that St. Paul thus was to re-mind them of it, their Duty; [Page 5] well knowing how very needfull such a piece of practice was to the right performing of so solemn and Saint-like a Duty, in that it was as a Sacrifice done unto God. And how subject men are to do it lamely or ill-favour'dly without skill, care, or practice, is too manifest by the general ignorance in that quality of Singing, which may be perceived in most, who chiefly should, or ought to have so much skill in it, as both to perform in it themselves, and also to teach and admonish those who are weak or ignorant, according to that Exhortation of the Apostle in those last quoted places. By which Exhortation it plainly appears, Singing of Psalms no slight or neg­ligent busi­ness, as too often is seen▪ that Singing of Psalms is not a Duty of so slight or negligent regard, as all those who do not en­able themselves to have that skill, seem to believe it is, otherwise (sure) they would not be so idle, careless or negligent, to make so slight of it, as not to endeavour for so much skill (at least) as to be able to set or lead a Psalm-Tune by the Rule of Art, which a Child may be taught to do in a months time or less.

And those who have not that faculty, nor do endeavour so far as in them lies to obtain it, shall never make me believe that they have the word of Christ dwelling in them plenteously, &c. let them talk never so fairly and well.

Yet I will not deny but some there are who by Nature are ab­solutely uncapable of Singing any Tune Harmonically Who are to be excus'd from it.

Such, I say, after they have endeavour'd all they can, and find that impossibility of attaining it, are justly excusable.

Provided they still encourage and promote it in others. But cer­tainly all Christians who are in Nature capable of it, Who are cul­pable▪ and do neg­lect it, are culpable before God.

Now by what I have here said it cannot but appear, that Sing­ing of Psalms is both a Christian mans Duty, and ought to be his great care to do it well, and no ways slightly or negligently.

But because this Duty is generally neglected in most Parochial Congregations in the Nation, and that they are also at a loss how to have it well performed, (and I do confidently affirm that 'tis ab­solutely impossible ever to have the Psalms rightly and well per­formed according to the common way used throughout the Na­tion) I will (here following) first give my Reasons why I thus conclude, as also propose an absolute-certain and infallible way, Impossible to have the Psalms con­stantly well Sung, but by some other means than formerly. how to have them well and rightly performed.

CHAP. III.

ANd as concerning this matter, I will not deliver my Opinion, but my practical Experience, Knowledge and Judgment ▪ both according to the rules of Reason, and above 50 years experience and practice in this Art of Singing. And thus I proceed.

First, It is to be noted what a general defect, Note how hard it is to Sing in Tune. or insufficiency there is in Nature, observable in all Voices whatever; so that let [Page 6] the most curious, tractablest, and best accomplish'd Voice, adjoyned to the most exact Ear, both which uniting in one person, together with the most perfect and profound skill in the Art of Musick that can be imagined; Proved by the rule of Reason and Experi­ence in the Art. this person (I say) shall not assure himself to be able to Sing any one Song (although never so well practis'd in it) of the length of one of our ordinary Church-Psalms, but that he shall be prov'd to have Sung out of Tune, before he hath finished that Song.

This is a real Truth, which I doubt not but all experienced Ma­sters in the Art will affirm with me; Experience having all along confirmed this thing, (viz.) That no Voice has ever been found able (certainly) to sing steadily and perfectly in Tune, and to continue it long, without the assistance of some Instrument, but that it would ei­ther Rise or Fall some small matter from the first pitch it began at be­fore it had made an end.

Yet I will not say that it is so impossible but that by chance it may be done, but not certainly.

Nor need any one fear to lay a good wager against the most con­fident Attempter of such an undertaking; especially when the Key shall be given him from another person, ☞ as always the Psalm-Tunes are (in Churches) given by the Clarks.

The conse­quence, pro­ving the ne­cessity of some assistance.Now what I would inferr from hence, is this, viz. That if such an absolute Voice as I have made mention of, shall be thus uncer­tain of Singing in Tune, &c. what shall the unskilfull-inharmoni­ous-course-grain'd-harsh-Voice be able to do without some certain help or support? most apparent it is, that it must needs Sing mise­rably out of Tune, and all others who venture at it thus confusedly, without regard, skill, or any other help besides their own igno­rance, &c. And this is the general condition of most of our Paro­chial Quires. And certainly God Almighty can take no delight or pleasure in such halt, lame and blind Sacrifices.

Therefore I say, and advise, that if you will Sing Psalms in Churches, Sing in Tune.

But now you will say, That's impossible by your own Argu­ments. I say so still. Why, what will you have us to do? you'l say. Note just here what you are to do. Still I say, Either Sing in Tune, or Sing not at all. Why then you'l say, Sure we must not Sing at all. I say not so, but yet I say Sing, for Christ has bid you Sing, and Sing in Tune too, or with a Grace, which can never be without it, viz. Singing in Tune. How can that be? why now I'le tell you how, viz.

The certain way how to Sing Psalms well and in Tune accor­ding to the best Advice.If you will Sing well and in Tune, the first thing you are to do is to take the advice of St. Paul, which is to teach and admonish one another, as before he has directed you unto, in Psalms and Hymns, and spiritual Songs, &c. This is his advice and counsel; and if it be worth any thing take notice of it: but if you think it be not worth noting, continue still in your ignorance, but yet speak plainly and out-right what you think, ☞ viz. That St. Paul's counsel is not worth a Rush, and that you care not a pin for it: Plain dealing's a Jewel you know; and this would be far better so to say, and make an end of the business and trouble, than to guggle [Page 7] and gull, or sooth up your selves in a false shew, Hypocritically seeming to approve of his counsel, in doing of some slight things scurvily, which please your own lazie humours, and are things of little labour and small cost: But where you can swallow such gob­lets, (I mean, as to save both your pains, and your purse) let St. Paul go whistle with his Psalms, and give his counsel to those who have nothing else to do.

These, or such like close-lurking-sayings, Arguments or Thinkings must needs be supposed to be the result of such strange and gross negligence, which is generally found, and too apparent in most Pa­rish Congregations.

But now methinks I hear some of the most ingenuous and pious of you say, Alas, how is it possible that we should teach and ad­monish one another according to St. Paul's directions and advice? since none of us have any (the least) skill in the Art of Singing, nor was it ever put to us; and so are utterly destitute of all hopes of ever attaining to that ability.

Truly this is a very sad complaint, and much to be lamented. And the first thing I shall say unto it is this, viz. The more shame be upon your Parents and your selves for it.

But here secondly I would ask this one Question, A very perti­nent Question. viz. Whether you think that St. Paul was such an impertinent Fellow (as by your neglect he seems to be made) to counsel and advise the Colossians to a thing with such Emphasis, as here in this place he doth, where he saith, Let the word of Christ dwell in you plenteously in all wise­dom, teaching and admonishing one another in Psalms and Hymns, and spiritual Songs; Singing with a Grace in your Hearts unto the Lord: if it were not a matter of more then ordinary concern? Sure, sure, sure, Singing of Psalms and spiritual Hymns by Art and skill (though it be much out of fashion, and slightly regarded, or ill-favourdly performed by most, or very many) is a thing of so much wisedom, whereby good Christians might shew the plenteous­ness of Christs word dwelling in them, that it would undoubtedly most gloriously become the gravity, splendour, or function of the most illustrious, even Princes themselves; and if so, then question­less All others.

CHAP. IV.

DAvid the King, and the beloved Prophet of God, was called the sweet Singer of Israel, 2 Sam. 23.1. which denotes to us, that he did not only satisfie himself with that most eminent Quire that ever mention was made of in the whole World, The most magnificent Quire that ever was in the world. viz. 4000 persons, of Princes, Priests and Levites, and the very best of the People, who praised the Lord with Instruments, which he (David the King) himself had made, 1 Chron. 23.5. But without all que­stion he himself was a performer amongst them, yea and a very [Page 8] skilfull one too: otherwise he would never have made, or given directions for those Instruments, much less have assumed that Name of the sweet Singer of Israel.

Now upon a solemn consideration of these things, how really true they were, how wonderfully Glorious they must needs be, con­sidering that choice and curious care which was taken in the pre­paration for that Service, and how exceedingly acceptable they were unto God Almighty; for 'tis doubly worth my writing and your reading to take notice of that place of Scripture which here I will set down, viz. 2 Chron. 5.12, 13, 14. the words are these: ‘And when the Priests were come out of the Sanctuary, Note care­fully. (for they were all sanctified) and the Levites the singers of all sorts being clad in fine linen, stood with Cymbals, and with Viols, and Harps, at the East-end of the Altar, and with them an hundred and twenty Priests, blowing with Trumpets; And they were all as one, blowing Trumpets and singing, and made one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the Lord; ☞ And when they lifted up their voice, with Trumpets, and Cymbals, and with Instruments of Mu­sick, The wonder­full effects of Musick and that Quire. and when they praised the Lord, singing, For he is good, be­cause his mercy lasteth for ever: Then the house was filled with the Glory of the Lord, so that the Priest could not stand to minister.’

These things, I say, upon a solemn consideration how exceed­ing acceptable this Service (thus unanimously and univocally offer'd) was unto the Almighty, should stir us up, and rouze us from that drowsiness, or lethargie of stupidity, which has well-nigh benum'd us into an insensibility, and an uncapableness of understanding any thing in these Divine Mysteries.

How Musick has come to be underva­lued.And certainly Musick, (especially such Singing, I mean, with the skill and Art thereof) for want of a true rational and pious consideration of its unexpressible excellency and Divine worth and use, has come to fall into the conceits of most men, (and which is most to be lamented, of some who pass for learned and pious Di­vines) an inferiour-low-slighted-undervalu'd-regardless-despicable-needless Thing, and not at all thought fit to be brought into the House and Service of God.

And others again there are who can just endure it there, but take no care to understand any thing in it, letting it pass for an Airy-vapour, a pretty Toy to keep them from sleeping, and so forth.

Yet ( thanks be to God) some there are who on the contrary are more considerative, pious and worthy, who esteem it (as in­deed it is most fit to be esteem'd) an Ordinance of God, otherwise why should the Apostle Paul so pressingly call upon the Colossians to let Christs words dwell with them plenteously in reference to it, as hath been before declared sufficiently.

I will now proceed and make good my Promise; and propose an undoubted way how the Psalms may be exactly performed, to the great illustration of the Service of the Church, your own comforts, and the Glory of God; infinitely beyond whatever has been, or can be by the contrary.

[Page 9]And because I have made it manifest how difficult a thing it is for any person to Sing in Tune alone; but ten times more difficult when he is within hearing of any who sings out of Tune; (nor is it possible for any to do it) It is to be noted, Note when 'tis impossible to sing in Tune. that where Nature is deficient, or obstructed, God Almighty has infus'd into the Vnder­standings of men wit and ingenuity, by Art to be assisting unto it.

And it is known by all experience, that there are certain ways found out in this Art to cause men and women, who are but of indifferent capacities, (as to Musick) so to Sing in Tune that (at the worst) they shall not interrupt or disturb any who are with­in hearing of them, but (with a very little use and practice) they shall assist and augment the Chorus to very good purpose.

CHAP. V.

NOw as to this, The best assist­ance for Voi­ces in singing Psalms. there is no better way than to Sing to some cer­tain Instrument, nor is there any Instrument so proper for a Church as an Organ; so that it will follow by right reason in con­sequence, that if you will Sing Psalms in Churches well, and in Tune, you must needs have an Organ to Sing unto; by which means the whole Congregation will be drawn (or as it were compell'd) into Harmonical unity; even so, that 'tis impossible for any person, When impos­sible to sing out of Tune. who has but a common or indifferent Ear, (as most people have) to Sing out of Tune.

This is the way, and None in compare unto it; nor can the per­formance be excellent without it, or as it ought to be.

For when we Sing unto God, we ought to Sing chearfully, and with a loud voice, and heartily to rejoyce: The Scriptures make mention of all this, and much more, as I have quoted elsewhere sufficiently in this Book.

'Tis sad to hear what whining, toting, yelling, The sad Sing­ing in most Country Churches. or screeking there is in many Country Congregations, as if the people were affrighted, or distracted. And all is for want of such a way and remedy as This is.

Now if (by what I have hitherto said) I may (happily) have gained so much credit as thus far to be believed by any, as I doubt not but I have with the rational and ingenuous-well-composed-wil­ling-good-Christians, who would gladly serve God aright, if possi­bly they knew but how; yet methinks I hear them make this scruple, and doubt whether or no this thing be possible ever to be attain'd unto, saying, What! An Organ in our poor Parish Church? and An Organist too? (for if we have the one, we must have the other) This sure can never be; which way can we compass two such difficult things as These? Answer. Most easily.

But before I shew you the way, I would propose unto your consideration only these two things, which will be a right prepara­tive to the business.

[Page 10] Two needfull things by way of preparation towards a right singing the Psalms, ea­sily attainable.The first is, I would have you seriously to consider what it is you are about, when you pretend to offer this Sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving to the Great God, Creator of Heaven and Earth; and likewise consider and ask your self this Question, viz. If you ought not to perform that Service in the most exact, sincere, and excellent manner that possibly you can imagine lies in you, both as to Body, Soul, Spirit, and Estate. This you must needs grant is your Duty, and that you cannot think any thing too good, too pre­cious, or too dear unto you to part withall for his Service. All this I am confident you will say is true.

Now take heed you lye not to God: For if you say it, and are unwilling to doe it, you do worse than lye, for you know your Masters will, but do it not.

The second thing I would have you consider is, only to exa­mine well where the main impediment, stop, or hindrance lies, and if you can once find it out, remove it.

This with the former will certainly put you upon doing the business.

And now methinks I hear you cry out aloud and say, that truly if we knew how to raise an Organ, we would have it very suddenly.

An easie way how to pro­cure an Organ in every Pa­rish Church.If therefore ye be brought but to this place, doubt it not; for I make no question but to put you into a ready way, which is this: viz. First I would have you propose to your selves some very great and urgent occasion, or necessity for a speedy raising of a sum of Money, supposing such an one as this; viz. the Parliament has made a great Tax to run quite through the Nation, such an one as the last 18 months Tax, or rather the Chimney-money; and it must be paid in presently, without any contradiction or delay.

This I know you would most certainly prepare to do, without accounting it impossible.

Now I say, do but suppose this, or some such like thing, and pre­sently go about getting up the money, every man his share, and lay it by for that use, till your Organ be ready, and you will soon see it set up in your Parish Church, to your great content and com­mendations.

The Charge of procuring an Organ in every Parish Church.The matter of 30, 40, 50, or 60 pounds will procure a very good Instrument, fit for most little Churches, and so accordingly in pro­portion for greater.

Therefore now chear up, the way is plain and easie, if you be willing, and dare but venture thus much upon the account of Gods Service, (supposing he has commanded you to this small, or great Tax.) Thus much for an Organ.

But now as to an Organist; That is such a difficult business, as I I believe you'l think absolutely impossible ever to be obtained; a constant Charge! a Terrible business!

For how many hundred Parish Churches are there in England? and there must be so many Organists at a yearly charge, whereas when our Organ is once set up, a small matter will maintain it for ever; But as to the charge of an Organist, this is sad.

[Page 11]Now for your comfort know, that this is ten times more easie and feasible than that other of the Organ; and that after ye are once gotten into the way, you will have Organists grow up a­mongst you as your Corn grows in your Fields, without much of your Cost, and less of your Care.

CHAP. VI. How to procure an Organist.

THe certain way I will propose shall be This: viz. First, A far easier way how to procure an Organist. I will suppose you have a Parish Clark, and such an one as is able to set and lead a Psalm, although it be never so indifferently.

Now This being granted, I may say, that I will, or any Musick Master will, or many more Inferiours, (as Virginal-Players, or many Organ-makers, or the like) I say, any of those will teach such a Parish Clark how to pulse or strike most of our common Psalm-Tunes, usually Sung in our Churches, for a trifle, (viz. 20, 30, or 40 shillings;) and so well, Note, Note. that he need never bestow more cost to perform that Duty sufficiently during his life.

This I believe no judicious person in the Art will doubt of. And then, when this Clark is thus well accomplish'd, he will be so doated upon by all the pretty ingenuous Children, and Young men in the Parish, that scarcely any of them, but will be begging now and then a shilling or two of their Parents to give the Clark, that he may teach them to pulse a Psalm-Tune; the which any such Child or Youth will be able to do in a week or fortnights time very well.

And then again each Youth will be as ambitious to pulse that Psalm-Tune in publick to the Congregation, and no doubt but shall do it sufficiently well.

And thus by little and little, the Parish in a short time will swarm, or abound with Organists, and sufficient enough for that Service.

For you must know, What is one of the most easie perfor­mances in Musicks Art. (and I intreat you to believe me) that (seriously) it is one of the most easie pieces of performance in all Instrumental Musick, to pulse one of our Psalm-Tunes truly and well, after a very little shewing upon an Organ.

The Clark likewise will quickly get in his Money, by this means.

And I suppose no Parent will grutch it him, but rather rejoyce in it.

‘Thus may you perceive how very easily, and certainly these two Great difficulties may be overcome, and with nothing so much as with a willing mind.’

‘Therefore, be but willingly resolv'd, and the work will soon be done.’

[Page 12] ‘And now again methinks I see some of you tossing up your Caps, and crying aloud, We will have an Organ, and an Organist too; for 'tis but laying out a little dirty money: and how can we lay it out better, than in that Service we offer up unto God? and who should we bestow it upon, if not upon Him, and His Service.’

This is a very right and an absolute good Resolve; persist in it, and you will do well, and doubtless find much content and satis­faction in your so doing.

A most excel­lent Benefit arising to all young Chil­dren.For there lies link'd to This an unknown, and unapprehended Great good Benefit, which would redound certainly to All, or most young Children, who by this means would in their minorities be so sweetly tinctur'd, or seasoned, (as I may say) or brought into a kind of familiarity or acquaintance with the harmless-innocent-delights of such pure and undefilable practices, as that it would be a great means to win them to the love of Virtue, and to disdain, contemn and slight those common gross ill practices, which most Children are incident to fall into in their ordinary and accustomed pursuits.

For if they be once truly principled in the Grounds of Piety and Musick when they are young, they will be like well-season'd Vessels, fit to receive all other good things to be put into them: And I am not only subject to believe, but am very confident, that the vast Jarrings, and Dischording-untunablenesses, over-spreading the face of the whole Earth, might be much rectified, and put into Tune sooner this way, than by any other way ( without a miracle) that can be thought upon.

This I speak from an experience in my own Soul, who am a man subject to the passions and imperfections of the worst of men: Yet by This virtue, This sublime Elixir of Musical and Harmonical Divi­nity, have found as much (in a comparative way) as this comes to, upon my own Soul and violent passions.

It cannot be too often repeated, how the Evil Spirit departed from Saul, when David played upon his Harp: True Musick being a certain Divine-Magical-Spell, Musick is a Divine-Magi­cal-Spell a­gainst the Devil. against all Diabolical operations in the Souls of Men. But how little This is taken notice of, be­lieved, or regarded by most, is grievous and lamentable to be thought upon.

Well; Let thus much suffice as to an encouragement towards an Organ, and an endeavour to have good Church-Musick after this manner, which is the most easie and sure way I can think upon: ‘ An Organ being such a prevailing, or commanding Instrument, and so naturally-suitable to our humane Organs, viz. our Voices, that after a little time of use and custom to it, there will scarce be one Voice in an hundred, but will be drawn in, and be able to uni [...] Harmonically, and to very-very good purpose, although he or she ☞should have no skill at all in Song, but by a meer natural apti­tude they shall do it well.’

CHAP. VII. How Psalms may be well performed in Churches without an Organ.

HAving laid you down the most certain, easie, The best way for a certain and continual Quire in eve­ry Parish, or a National Quire. and excellent way of Singing Psalms to an Organ, which (whatever else can be said or contriv'd) shall (still) be the most glorious, mag­nificent, and a stately-steady way. Yet because I know there are many who take Boggle at the very Name of an Organ, and yet otherwise (perhaps) would be content to Sing Psalms well if they knew how.

I will therefore (according to my best Ability) put them into a most substantial and infallible way, whereby the Psalms shall not only be well Sung, and gracefully; but that there shall also be an ability of teaching and admonishing one another perpetually: (But it is suppos'd they must follow my counsel.)

And as to This, it must be consider'd, that nothing of Excel­lency or of High-worth can be done without Forecast, Care, and Industry.

Therefore if we think this Thing we are talking about be such a Thing, viz. of Excellency, or High-worth, and worthy of our Fore­cast, Care, and Industry: Then I say there is no way but one to compass or effect it. That is,

We must once more Face about, and back again to Good old St. Paul, (one of Christs Deputies) and try if his counsel be like yet to do us any good, who says still, Teach and admonish one another in Psalms, &c. (These words must not be raz'd out of the Gospel.)

But as to This, 'tis already confess'd, that none of you are able to teach or admonish in That Faculty; and it may be some of you are grown so old, and others too full of more necessary Business in your Worldly Affairs, than to look after such needless things of this nature, due to God and his Service, (for so it must needs be judg'd of all, who do so shamefully neglect it.)

But although you will not trouble your selves in This matter, yet it cannot be thought, but that you'l find some little scruples, or motions of Conscience, secretly whispering and telling you, (as it doth all sorts of Sinners) That you ought to do it, and that it is your Duty so to do it. For 'tis Christs own Order to St. Paul to put you in mind of it, (as hath been already prov'd) and no humour or conceit of mine, but Christ's and St. Paul's, (if you dare, and will call it so:) Therefore look to it, as you intend to answer for the contrary.

But now (to ease you a little of that burthen of Conscience) I'le tell you how you may in some measure make amends for your former neglect, if first (after your true Repentance) you'l strive but to bring up your Children so, as (in time to come) they may [Page 14] be enabled to understand, and capable to perform in this so Chri­stian a Duty.

And This must be done by putting them to learn the Art and skill of Song, or Singing.

Now this again will seem a hard task for those who love their Money better than the Service of God. Pretend not to serve God at all except, &c. And to such I say, Pretend not to serve God at all, or else serve him as he hath commanded you; You must bestow something upon Him and his Service.

Imitate that most eminent pattern and example, which you will find in the 2 Sam. 24. & 24. no worse Person then a Prophet and a King, who would not offer up That unto God which cost him nought; yea although he might have had it freely given him, as there you may read he might.

Consider, I say, and bestow something upon God; or if not upon Him, bestow it upon your Children for shame.

The many Be­nefits attend­ing those who attain to skill in Musick.For this Quality of Musick is a Gentile Quality at the very worst: And it will adorn your Children much more than ten times the cost can be worth, which you shall bestow upon them in the gain­ing of it.

Besides, it will make them acceptable to all ingenuous people, and valued amongst the best.

They will be more capable of Preferment in the world, in case of any necessity.

Moreover, the great content and delight your selves will daily take in them, and they in themselves, in that they are made fit In­struments to serve God in the best of his daily Services, which is to Sing, and set forth his praises, in imitation of the glorious Saints and Angels, in his Heavenly Quire, where they eternally sing and re­joyce before God.

And now methinks I hear some of you say, that you would gladly have your Children learn this so excellent a Quality, if you knew how to have them taught.

To this I must confess I know not readily how to assist you, (the Harvest is great, and the Labourers but few) yet I doubt not but to find out a way how to advise you.

The truth is, there is so great a barrenness of Musical Assistants in most Country Towns, caused through the neglect, disesteem, or the undervaluing of this Divine Quality in some, and also through the ill use, and abuse of it in others, that at the present it will be something difficult to have all Children taught who live remote from great Towns.

But if I could be assured that you all would be as willing to promote the business, as I am willing and ready to advise you, I question not but that I have already found out the way for it: As thus.

CHAP. VIII.

WHeresoever you send your Children to School, How all Chil­dren may be so brought up as they may be usefull in the Church and Service ever after. (I mean to the Grammar-School) indent so with the Master, that your Children shall be taught one hour every day to Sing, or one half day in every week at least, either by himself, or by some Mu­sick-Master whom he should procure: And no doubt but (if you will pay for it) the business may be effected.

For there are divers who are able to teach to Sing, and many more would quickly be, if such a general course were determin'd upon throughout the Nation.

There would scarcely be a Schoolmaster, but would, or might be easily able himself to do the business, once in a quarter or half a year; and in a short time every senior Boy in the School will be able to do it sufficiently well.

And this is the most certain, easie, and substantial way, that can possibly be advis'd unto.

And thus, as before I told you, how that your Organists would grow up amongst you, as your Corn grew in the Fields, so now (if such a course as This would be taken) will your Quiresters increase even into swarms like your Bees in your Gardens, by which means the next Generation will be plentifully able to follow St. Paul's Counsel, namely, A perpetual ability to fol­low St. Paul's counsel. to teach and admonish one another in Psalms and Hymns, and spiritual Songs, and to Sing with a Grace in their hearts and voices unto the Lord, and to the setting forth of his glori­ous praise.

Which that they may do, I pray God to give all Parents of ingenuous Children so much Grace, as to bestow this little-poor-trifle upon them, (I mean, that pitifull-inconsiderable-cost) in their Educations extraordinary, the which will extraordinarily much conduce to their Advantages, your own Comforts, the Churches Ser­vice, and the Glory of God.

Thus have I with much ardency and zeal for God, and with no less love and affection unto his true Service, and unto all Christian people, laid down two undoubted certain-good wayes of Singing Psalms well; and either of which will serve very well, but both together much-much better.

And if neither of These two ways shall be thought fit to be fol­lowed, nor some other way, that may be equivalent (at least) thereunto; whereby the Common way of Singing may be amended, so as the Service may not become injured or blemished thereby; it were far better sure only to have the Psalms Read, and never more pretend, or offer at the Singing of them.

CHAP. IX.

I Will now conclude all with this general and very needfull Cau­tion to all Christians, of what Ranks or Qualities soever, (for it highly concerns every one to take especial notice of it:) And it is this, viz.

A very need­full Caution for every Christian to take notice of.That every Person (who at any time shall attempt to Sing a Psalm in the Church) do well consider what it is he is about, or in doing at that time; and whether or no that performance be not, or ought not to be esteemed as a Sacrifice which he is then offer­ing up unto God? The which surely cannot be denied.

And if so, then to consider farther the Nature of a Sacrifice, and how it ought to be prepar'd and offer'd.

Now to know all this, and clearly to understand it, there is no readier way than to turn to the 22 d. Chapter of Leviticus, and read from the 17 th. verse to the end of that Chapter.

But more especially take notice of verse the 19 th. where 'tis said thus, (by Gods own Commandment unto Moses.)

Concerning the Sacrifices offered unto God, and the Purity of them. Ye shall offer of a free mind a Male without a blemish, &c.

Where note, first, that the Sacrifices offer'd unto God, should be done willingly and freely, and not by compulsion or force.

Again, in the 20 th. verse, Ye shall not offer any thing that hath a blemish, for that shall not be acceptable.

Again, verse 21. His offering shall be perfect, no blemish in it.

And in verse the 22 d. (mark well) Blind, or Broken, or Maimed, or having a Wen, or Scurvy, or Scabby, or Ill-favour'd, &c. these shall ye not offer unto the Lord.

Note here how often 'tis press'd verse after verse, [ not having blemish.]

[...]. 1.1 [...]. [...]um. 28 [...]1. Deut. [...]5 21.1 [...].1. Ezek. 4 [...].22. Eccl 35.12. &c.Sure 'tis of very great concern. And to this very purpose I could quote you many more places quite through the whole Levitical Law, as in the margent here I have set some down; whereby you may plainly see your own Duty, and the great Care you ought to take therein.

An Object or against Sacri­fices.But here an Objector tells me, that then, under the Law, such Sacrifices were indeed so and so performed; but now, under the Gospel, there are no such things to be done.

Answered.To the which I first answer thus, That herein we may be said to be the more beholding unto God Almighty, who has disburthen'd us of such grievous burthens.

And I cannot but so call them grievous, because when I reflect upon the great charge, constant trouble and attendance belonging unto them, ☞ and also upon the general covetousness, and griping hu­mours of too too many in these our dayes, and how loath they are to bestow any thing either upon the Church, or its Services, or upon God himself.

And that if now they were called so constantly to bring in of the best and fattest of their Herds and Flocks, as then they were; [Page 17] how loath, I say, and grudgingly surely would they do it? and not at all freely, and of a willing mind, as God requires it.

I say, when I consider upon these things, I cannot but still say we are much beholding unto God, for so great an ease and freedom, both to our Purses and Persons in that particular.

But now secondly, What are the Christians Sa­crifices. although we are not commanded any of these things under the Gospel, yet we cannot deny but that we are to do some Duties to God, which stand in the room of those Legal Sacrifices; ☜ the which can be none other than the Sacrifices of Praise, Thanksgiving, Adoration, and sincere Devotion, &c.

These certainly every good Christian will affirm to be still due un­to God; nor can it be deny'd, but that these ought to be done without blemish; that is, not Blindly, Maimedly, Scurvily, Scabbily, or Ill-favour'dly, according to the words before recited.

Now I say, how these Sacrifices in our time are generally per­formed, is the thing chiefly to be noted and regarded.

Nor is there any better way to examine them, The Best way to Examine them. than according to the last repeated words which God spake unto Moses his Ser­vant, saying,

Speak unto Aaron and his Sons, and to all the Children of Israel, &c.

‘Ye shall offer of a free mind, a Male without a blemish unto the Lord; not Blind, nor Broken, or Maimed, or having a Wen, or Scur­vy, or Scabby, or Ill-favour'd, &c.’

‘Which to me seems as if Christ Jesus, or any of his Deputies, (viz. St. Paul, &c.) should say now unto Aaron, viz. the Arch­bishop; and to his Sons, viz. the whole Clergie; and unto the peo­ple of Israel, viz. the whole Christian Congregational Churches, (none excepted,)’

‘Ye shall offer these Sacrifices of Praise and Thanksgiving, How they are to be perfor­med. viz. Psalms, and Hymns, and spiritual Songs, of a free mind, viz. libe­rally, willingly, chearfully, and without constraint or grudging.’

‘A Male without a blemish, viz. the most principal piece of In­dustry, which Art or Nature has furnish'd you with ability to per­form with.’

‘Not Blind, viz. not ignorantly, but skilfully, (for we ought to be skilfull in the Service of God.)’

‘Nor Broken, viz. not divided, but united.’

‘Nor Maimed, viz. not out of Tune, but in Conchord.’

‘Nor having a Wen, viz. not having any superfluous vain actions either of Ostentation, or seeming Holiness; but in all humility, and simplicity of heart.’

‘Nor Scurvy, viz. not envious at another who has a better faculty then your self; but rather rejoyce in him, and applaud him.’

‘Nor Scabby, viz. not giving any infectious ill examples, in su­perfluity of gorgeous Attire, (beyond your Degree, Rank, or Quality) by Pride, or other impurity, but in all purity and humi­lity both of body and mind,’

‘Nor Ill favour'dly, viz. no conceited humorous behaviours or affected gestures, [Page 18] unbecoming the Service of God, but in all comliness, sincere-pious-gravity and sobriety.’

‘Thus may the Sacrifices of Praise and Thanksgiving be offered up unto God, ☞ and accepted of Him; but otherwise not.’

The Chief Note.Therefore it behoves every Christian to examine himself, how he is affected when he is in these Performances, and above all whe­ther his Heart go along with his Voice or not; without the which all will be but as vain babling, sounding Brass or Tinckling Cymbals.

And thus have I according to my small Talent, cast into Gods Treasury my little Mite, sincerely praying Him so to bless it, as it may become of some good use to my Fellow-Christians, to the Praise and Glory of His Eternal Name. Amen.

CHAP. X. Concerning the great Excellency and Eminency of a Psalm well Sung.

I Will now in the Conclusion of this Discourse, adde only one Chapter more, in making mention, both of the Time and Place, when and where was heard (I believe) the most remarkable, Where and when has been the Best sing­ing of Psalms that ever the Author heard. and most excellent Singing of Psalms, that has been known or remem­bred any where in These our latter Ages.

But most certain I am, that to my self, it was the very best Har­monical-Musick that ever I heard; yea far excelling all other either private, or publick Cathedral-Musick; and infinitely beyond all ver­bal expression or conceiving.

The Time when, was in the year 1644. the Place where, was in the stately Cathedral Church of the Loyal City York.

And because by the occasion of it, you may the better appre­hend, and the more easily be brought to believe the gloriousness and illustriousness of that Performance; I will here (in a Short seeming-Digression) declare it unto you: As also something of more then ordinary remark, relating to that Time and Place.

The occasion of that Sing­ing.The occasion of it was, the great and close Siege which was then laid to that City, and strictly maintain'd for eleven weeks space, by three very notable and considerable great Armies, viz. the Scotch, the Northern, and the Southern; whose three Generals were these, for the Scotch, the old Earl of Leven, viz. David Lessley, (alias Lashley;) for the Northern, the old Ferdinando Lord Fairfax; for the Southern, the Earl of Manchester: And whose three Chief Com­manders next themselves, were, for the Scotch, Lieutenant-General —; for the Northern, Sir Thomas (now Lord) Fair­fax; and for the Southern, Oliver Cromwell, (afterwards Lord Protector.)

[Page 19]By This occasion, there were shut up within that City, abun­dance of People of the best Rank and Quality, viz. Lords, Knights, and Gentlemen of the Countries round about, besides the Soul­diers and Citizens, who all or most of them came constantly every Sunday, to hear Publick Prayers and Sermon in that spacious Church.

And indeed their Number was so exceeding great, that the Church was (as I may say) even cramming or squeezing full.

Now here you must take notice, A Good Cu­stom▪ not com­monly used in Cathedrals. that they had then a Custom in that Church, (which I hear not of in any other Cathedral, which was) that always before the Sermon, the whole Congregation sang a Psalm, together with the Quire and the Organ; And you must also know, that there was then a most Excellent-large-plump-lusty-full-speaking-Organ, which cost (as I am credibly informed) a thousand pounds.

This Organ, I say, (when the Psalm was set before the Sermon) being let out, into all its Fulness of Stops, together with the Quire, began the Psalm.

But when That Vast-Conchording-Vnity of the whole Congrega­tional-Chorus, came (as I may say) Thundering in, even so, as it made the very Ground shake under us; The unuttera­ble Excellen­cy and Bene­fit of a Psalm Rightly sung. (Oh the unutterable ravish­ing Soul's delight!) In the which I was so transported, and wrapt up into High Contemplations, that there was no room left in my whole Man, viz. Body, Soul and Spirit, for any thing below Divine and Heavenly Raptures; Nor could there possibly be any Thing in Earth, to which That very Singing might be truly compar'd, ex­cept the Right apprehensions or conceivings of That glorious and miraculous Quire, recorded in the Scriptures, at the Dedication of the Temple, of which you may read in the 2 Chron. ch. 5. to the end; but more particularly eminent in the two last verses of that Chapter, where King Solomon (the wisest of men) had congre­gated the most Glorious Quire that ever was known of in all the world: And at their Singing of Psalms, Praises, or Thanksgivings, the Glory of the Lord came down amongst them, as there you may read.

I say, the true apprehensions of This Quire, comes nearest of any thing to be admitted as a Comparison.

But yet still beyond This, I can truly say, it was usefull to me in a much higher manner, viz. even as a most lively Similitude, ☜ idem. or Representation of the Beatifical, Coelestial, or Angelical Quires above, which continually Rejoyce before God, Adoring and singing Praises to Him and of Him in all Eternity.

But still further, that I may endeavour to make this something more livelily apprehended, or understood to be a real true Thing;

It would be considered, that if at any Time, or Place, such a congregated Number could perform such an outward Service to the Almighty, with True-ardent-inward-Devotion, Fervency and Affectionate-zeal, in expectation to have it accepted by Him; Doubtless it ought to be believ'd, that it might be and was done There, and Then.

[Page 20]Because that at That Time, the desperateness and dismaidness of their Danger could not but draw them unto it, in regard the Enemy was so very near, and Fierce upon them, especially on That side the City where the Church stood; who had planted their Great Guns so mischievously against the Church, and with which constantly in Prayers time they would not fail to make their Hellish disturbance, A strange piece of Hea­thenish Inci­vility of the Enemy in time of Divine Service. by shooting against and battering the Church, in so much that some­times a Canon Bullet has come in at the windows, and bounc'd about from Pillar to Pillar, (even like some Furious Fiend, or Evil Spirit) backwards and forwards, and all manner of side-ways, as it has happened to meet with square or round Opposition amongst the Pillars, in its Returns or Rebounds, untill its Force has been quite spent.

And here there is one thing most eminently remarkable, and well worth noting, which was, That in all the whole time of the Siege, there was not any one Person (that I could hear of) did (in the Church) receive the least Harm by any of their Devillish Canon Shot: And I verily believe, there were constantly many more then a thousand Persons at That Service every Sunday, during the whole Time of that Siege.

Thus much shall suffice to notifie the ( General-unknown or unconceiv'd) Excellency and Divine worth of Singing Psalms well.

I will now proceed to Cathedral Musick.

CHAP. XI. Concerning Cathedrall Musick.

HAving said so much concerning Parochial Musick in the pre­ceding Part, there is but little left for me now to say as to This, because the Fundamental Supports of Both being the very same, the very same Fundamental Rules ought to be observed in Both.

That is, The best way to Refine and Illustrate Ca­thedral Mu­sick. that All who have any Relation to the Service of the Church, to be able to teach and admonish one another in Psalms and Hymns and spiritual Songs; And to Sing with a Grace in their Hearts unto the Lord: For there is nothing wanting in the Cathe­dral Musick of our Nation, so much as This.

And if This One Thing were but done, This Alone would do The Work; viz. Refine, Illustrate, and make a Glorious Quire, in imita­tion of That in King Solomon's time, mentioned before in the 2 Chron. ch. 5. which undoubtedly was The Pattern or Original from whence All Cathedral Musick was first deriv'd; and in Allu­sion to which it is still (even) kept Alive, or used to this day in All Cathedrals: Yet Infinitely short of what was Then.

But why we in These our Dayes should come so short of Them, I can see no reasonable cause for in Nature or Art; because we are without doubt in all outward Respects, in as good a capacity as They then were, if not in a far better.

For we have in This our Nation a large Collection, Our Cathedral Store, of the best Pieces of Art in the world. Store or Pro­vision of the very Best Pieces of Art (properly fit for That Service) that can be produced in the whole World.

Made by the most Principal and Choice Masters in That Art; so magnificently lofty and sublime, that (truly I believe) it is impossi­ble they should ever be Excelled by Art or Industry.

For certainly we (in these our latter Ages) are arrived to that Eminent height of Knowledge, Skill and Excellent Proficiency, both as to Composition and Expression, Vocal and Instrumental, which never was before attained unto in This Art.

Except it might possibly be by Those most Excellent and Choice Musicians which the Holy Scriptures make mention of in King David and King Solomon's time, those Prophetical Singers, Asaph, Haman, Jeduthun, together with their Sons, Priests and Levites, and the rest of that Vast Quire, the like to which was never any known to be in the world.

And therefore we may probably be thought to have the very Best, Vtmost and Principal Part of That Knowledge and Skill, Never to be Exceeded or Excelled. which the Almighty has permitted and thought sufficient for the Sons of men to enjoy Here, till transplanted Hence.

And also in regard there is Nothing remaining of their Art, Skill, or Labours in this kind; And likewise in that the World has la­bour'd ever since in this most worthy and profound Art, and nothing [Page 22] is produceable which may be compared to what at This Day we do most happily enjoy; yet too much unhappy in that so few know, or endeavour to understand the Thing, much less the unexpressible Good of it; and therefore make not the Right use thereof, (nor can,) but rather (on the contrary) slight, disregard, contemn, or prophane it.

Therefore I say, we may with much Reason conclude, that we are arrived to the utmost height that is permitted the Sons of men to reach unto.

And the rather we may so conclude, in that if it be considered how in This present Age, (if we seem not to decline, or go back­wards, The most Ex­cellent Works of best Au­thors. yet) we nothing at all Excell or Exceed those Divine Works of the foregoing, and never to be forgotten admired rare Authors of the last Century of Years, whose Names are recorded in our Church-Books, and (doubtless) will be preserved, as precious Monu­ments and Examples to all after Generations, so long as the World and the Church endure.

The consideration of these things should excite and stir us up to endeavour more after the Knowledge, Skill, and true Vnderstanding of it, and its Divine Vse, than is generally known or done.

The most Ex­cellent Singers of this our Age.2dly. We have likewise in This our Nation, Men most Excellent­ly skilfull and Expert, as to the Art of Singing; sufficiently able to perform Those so Eminent and Artificial Composures and Services, far beyond whatever History or Record makes mention of, since those Prophetical Singers.

The perpetual Allowances given to the Church.3dly. We have also Pious and very worthy Donations, Stipends or Allowances left us, by the Devout Zeal of many our Godly and very Exemplary Predecessors, towards a perpetual maintaining of That so Glorious and Illustrious Service.

Stately Chur­ches built us.4thly. We have moreover many stately and magnificent Stru­ctures, ready built us, by the Care, Industry and Cost of Those our Benefactors, fit for such Services.

Now all These Things considered, and Thus concurring, how should it be doubted, but that we must necessarily have Excellent, and most Exquisite Church-Musick?

The truth is, I do not doubt it, but can say, I Know, and am Assured that we have, in some Places.

But this also I must needs say, that in many, or most Places, it is Deficient, Low, Thin and Poor; and the Great Grief is, in that it cannot possibly be Better'd or Amended, (Rebus sic stantibus) as the Constitution of things stand at present, except there be some other way found out for its Assistance, then now is.

Now here it may be demanded, what way that should, or might be?

The best way to discover the defects in our Church-Musick.The which to answer Rightly, can be done no better way then first to consider well, what may be the Defect; which still can be no better way done, or discerned, then by making a Comparison, betwixt the Original Sampler, and the Sample, and by observing how They agree, or differ, or what likeness or unlikeness there may be between Them.

[Page 23]The Sampler or Pattern is express'd before, viz. the Cathedral Musick of King Solomon's Temple.

And here I confess I could make a Long-comparative-Recital, be­tween what was Then, and what is Now; but I shall forbear That (in This Place) and leave it to the Considerations and Apprehen­sions of the Learned and Skilfull in the Art, and shall only speak something to the Defect.

And as to That, it is most apparently to be seen, and in these two Respects.

First, By the General Thinness of most Quires, Two Defects generally in Cathedral Musick. viz. the Paucity or small number of Clarks belonging to each Quire.

Secondly, By the Disability or Insufficiency of most of Those Clarks.

Now the Thinness of our Quires will appear by This, viz. that in most Quires there is but allotted One Man to a Part; and by reason of which it is impossible to have That Service constantly performed, although but in a very ordinary manner, ( Thinly, yea very Thinly) because that often by reason of Sickness, Indis­positions, Hoarceness, Colds, Business, and many other Accidents and necessary Occasions, Men must be Absent, Disabled, or Impedited from doing Their Duties; so that at such Times, the Service must suffer: And such like Accidents happen too often.

Then again, 2dly. As to the Insufficiency of many of Those (Few) elected Clerks; it is likewise apparent, that very Few of Them are (or can possibly be) Masters in the Art of Song, or Singing; much less in the Art of Musick in general.

And except they be Masters in the Art of Singing, (which is no such easie Task as is vulgarly thought to be) They are not to be accounted Fit for the Performance of That Choice Duty, which is the most Eminent Piece of Our Church Service.

If therefore These two Defects were Well Weighed, and consi­dered upon, So, as they might possibly be Remedied; doubtless our Church-Musick would be Exceedingly much Refin'd, and Im­proved; otherwise Not.

And now because it must needs seem a Hard matter to Rectifie These two so very Great Difficulties, in regard they proceed from an Occult, Remote, or seeming undiscernable Cause; I will first lay open That unperceivable Cause, and then shew how both Those former Difficulties may (very probably) be Overcome, or Rectified.

And as to this Cause of the Thinness and mean performance of our Cathedral Musick in the general; The undiscer­nable but true Cause of the Defects in our Church-Mu­sick laid open.

I conceive it proceeds from nothing so much as from the low Esteem, and great Disregard, which most People have, and all along have had of it, in These latter Ages, since the first Institution Thereof.

The which may be well perceived, in that there is Nothing, or very Little (to be seen or heard of) Given from any late Bene­factors, towards the Augmenting or Maintaining of it, since the first very liberal and well-meaning Founders large Bounties and [Page 24] Donations; which although They were very large, liberal, and sufficient Then, yet They are Now in a manner as it were shrunk to Nothing.

This very Thing, I say, must needs argue a general Low, Slight, and Disregardless value or Esteem had unto This Service.

Whereas (on the contrary) if we cast our Eyes about, into any County, City, Town-Corporate, or Vniversity, &c. we may soon find out Numbers of late Benefactors or Donors, to sundry and various intended Good Ends and Purposes.

As, viz. so much given for Ever (in Good Lands) towards the maintaining of a Lecture, a Free-School, an Almes-house, a Fellow­ship, a Scholarship, Building of Churches, Chappels, Monuments, or such like.

But still we see This very Excellent, and most Glorious piece of the Church-Service, to stand Forlornly Thin, and very meanly ac­commodated or Provided for.

No late Bene­factors to­wards that Service of the Church.No Great-Rich-Men (Living or Dying) in These our latter Ages, so much as Thinking, or taking the Least Notice of its Absolute and very Great Necessities, so as to bequeath some small matter towards its Needfull Augmentation and Illustration.

And that there is such an absolute Necessity, must needs appear, if it shall be consider'd, what manner of pittifull-low and mean Allowances the Poor Servants of the Church (in such Places) are Generally forc'd to Live upon; The Clerks Statutable Wages. where Their Yearly Wages are in some Quires not exceeding eight, ten, or twelve pounds a year; but none amounting to One quarter so much as may sufficiently, or comfortably maintain such Officers, according to the Nature or Dignity of Their Places, in These our Excessively-heightned and Dear Times.

Large, liberal and sufficient when.Yet I do verily believe, that such Stipends or Wages might plen­tifully suffice Them, in Those former Cheap Times, when (as I have heard) Good Wheat was bought for 4 d. the Bushel; and so in proportion (doubtless) all other Commodities answerably low-priz'd and Cheap: And Money Then (on the contrary) at a High value.

So that (without all Question) such a Provision of eight, ten, or twelve pounds a year, was Then a very Considerable, Ample and suffi­cient Provision; [...] insuffi­cient, and the Reason why. whereas Now, All things being so mightily alter'd from Cheapness to Dearness, it must needs be judg'd a very Low, Inconsiderable, Insufficient, Vnbecoming and Vncomfortable Liveli­hood, for such an Officer of the Church, who (according to the Ex­hortation of the Prophet King David) should Sing chearfully unto God, and Heartily Rejoyce.

But Alas! Alas! He or They have little Heart or Courage, in These our Griping Dayes, So to Do; but rather on the contrary, to make Sowr Faces, and Cry, or Roar out aloud, and say, Who will do us any Good? &c. For We and our Families are almost starv'd.

And how should they be thought otherwise then well-nigh starv'd; were it not for that Notable piece of Connivance, or Con­trivance [Page 25] of the worthy Prelates and Masters of our Churches, who suffer Them to Work and Labour (otherwise) for Their necessary Livelihoods; some in one Calling, and some in another, viz. in the Barbers Trade, the Shoe-makers Trade, the Taylors Trade, the Smiths Trade, and divers other (some) more Inferiour Trades or Professions, (God knows.)

These Things, although they seem to the Eyes of some very com­mendable and plausible; yet to others Not; who say, 'tis rather a kind of Dishonour to the Function of a Church-man, and his Office, &c.

Yet I confess, considering the urgent Necessity; as First, That no more then Statutable-denominated-Wages can be had;

Then 2dly. That Meat, Drink, Cloaths, and House-Rent must be had for Themselves, Wives and Children:

Therefore of Two Evils the Less is always to be chosen.

So that in This Hard Case, there is a seeming kind of Necessity (pleaded for) to make Choice of such Men into Those Places, as will Sing so well as They Can, for so much Money, although they be of other Trades and Professions.

And indeed This is the Real, True, and Miserable Condition of the Church-Service, (in That kind) and of Those Poor-drudg­ing-Clarks of Quires generally at This Day, The great need of some new Bene­factors. for want of some Open-hearted-Good-willing-Benefactors, to This Choice Piece of the Service.

So that considering the Old-nominated-Statutable-Wages, being (as I have said) but So or So; and those who list not to Sing (as generally most of them do) So or So, for So Much, may go Whistle if they will; for they are like to get No More; there be­ing No other Provision (as 'tis said) left, by the Precise Words of the Statutes. (A sad Case indeed, in These Miserable-hard-dear-Griping-Times!)

Now I say, These Things considered how certainly True they are, first in reference to the Clarks Pitifull-poor-Wages, and likewise to the general Dead-heartedness, or Zeal-benumb'd-Frozen-Affections in These our Times, towards the Incouragement of Such Things; how can it be imagined, that such Clarks should be Fit and Able Performers in That Duty, which necessarily depends upon Education, Breeding, and Skill in That Quality of Musick, which is both a Costly, Carefull, and a Laborious-Attainment, not at all acquirable (in its Excellency) by any Inferiour-low-capaci­tated Men.

Nor can Such Men be any way Capable of getting It, in That Condition They Now are in; and very few of Them brings it with Them into Those Places, (as is too generally seen.)

And here to say what I my self have been an Experimental Witness of, for more then these 50 years, (in which I have been all along a Member of the Church, and in That particular Service) would be too tedious and uncomely a Recital in This Place.

Therefore out of a very Real and True Respect, which I bear to the Honour of our Church and its Service, I shall forbear.

[Page 26] The Author's Good Hopes.Yet hoping, that This Little which I have here said, may (one time or other) happily appear unto the Eyes, and enter into the Hearts of some Considerative, worthy, Able, and Willing-Good-Chri­stians, who may possibly think it (as indeed it is) a Most Ne­cessary piece of Renowned and Christian Benefactorship, to Assist (by Augmentation) our Cathedral Musick in These Two former recited needfull Respects.

And in the mean time, till This shall happen to be done, by the Large-heartedness, Freeness and Zealousness of some such Nobly-minded Benefactors, (Lovers of That Art and Service;) There can doubtless be found out no better present Remedy, then has been already (above) mentioned; which is, by adhering to, and putting into Practice, the Counsel and Advice of Good St. Paul; which as it has been the Alpha of This my Discourse, so likewise must it be the Omega; The Alpha and Omega of this Discourse. viz. that every one who is Related to, and receives Benefit of the Church, (being in a Fit Capacity there­unto) endeavour to have so much Skill, as to be Able to Teach and Admonish one another in Psalms and Hymns and spiritual Songs, &c.

For doubtless there cannot possibly be found out or thought up­on a Better or more Certain way than That, especially in This so Difficult a Case.

CHAP. XII.

Many of the Masters of our Church very Skilfull at this Day, to the great advan­tage of the Service.AND that there are many such Able, and very Skilfull-worthy Persons, Masters of Our Church at This Day, who are Thus Extraordinarily Qualified, is sufficiently known, to Their own de­served Great Commendations, and the Churches most happy and ne­cessary Support.

Who so often as They can be Resident; Themselves not only help to bear up the Burthen of That most Excellent Service, by uniting their Voices (in Skill) together with the Quire; But also by rea­son of Their so Great Knowledge and Vnderstanding in the Art, are able to discover any the least Fault or Blemish in the Service, com­mitted by others who are less Skilfull: And Thereby become much more Vsefull and Helpfull in that particular Service, in many Re­spects, than otherwise They could possibly be, (had they but little or No skill in the Art.)

For They give Example to others Profitably; Rectifie Errours Ef­fectually; and Reprove Ignorance or Insufficiency Knowingly and Confidently.

Whereas on the contrary, I have known a Reverend Dean of a Quire (a very notable, A notable Story of a confident ig­norant Clark. smart-spirited Gentleman) Egregiously Baffled by one of the present Clarks; who to my knowledge was more Ig­norant in the Art of Song, then a Boy might be thought to be, who had Learn'd to Sing but only One month; yet could make a shift [Page 27] to Sing most of the Common Services and Anthems, by long use and habit, (with the Rest) pritty well, (as Birds in Cages use to whistle their Old Notes.)

Yet I say, This Dean being known by This Bold-Confident-Dunce-Clark (who you must know took himself to be a kind of Pot-Wit) to have No Skill at all in the Art of Musick; The Dean, I say, upon a Time (after Prayers) coming out and following This Great-Jolly-Boon-Fellow, and as he was pulling off his Surplice, be­gan to Rebuke him sharply, (and indeed very justly) for a Gross Absurdity committed by Him in That very Service Time, by reason of his Great-Dunstical-Insufficiency in Singing of an Anthem alone; in which he was so Notoriously and Ridiculously Out, as caused All, or most of the Young People then present, to burst out into Laugh­ter, to the Great Blemish of the Church-Service, and the Dishonour of God, (at That Time, and in That Place.)

But Thus it fell out, (in short) viz. that after the Angry Dean had Ruffled him soundly in very smart Language, so that he thought he had given him Shame enough for his Insufficiency and Duncery;

How think ye This Blade came off?

Why, most Notably, The strange Confidence and shrewd Wit of an ig­norant Clark of a Quire. and in such a manner as made all the stan­ders by Wonder and Admire Him; venting himself in These very Words, (for I my self was both an Eye and Ear witness) with a most stern Angry Countenance, and a vehement Rattling Voice, even so as he made the Church Ring withall, saying, Sir-r-r-r (shaking his head) I'd ha' you know I Sing after the Rate of so much a Year, (naming his Wages) and except ye Mend my Wages, I am resolv'd Never to sing Better whilst I live.

Hark ye Here, Gentlemen! was there ever a more Nicking piece of shrewd Wit, so suddenly shew'd upon the Occasion, than This was? Yea, or more Notable and Effectual to the Purpose? as you shall hear, by the Sequel.

For the Cholerick Dean was so fully and sufficiently Answer'd, that turning immediately away from him, without one word more, He Hasted out of the Church, but Never after found the least Fault with This Jolly Brave Clark; who was Hugg'd more then sufficient­ly by all the Rest of the Puny-Poor-Fellow-Clarks, for This his He­roick Vindication and Wit.

I have here set down This Story out of no Jocundity, or Jolly-Light-Humour, (God knows) but only to shew what Confidence many such Ignorant Clarks have grown up unto, meerly as it were to shrowd themselves in their Insufficiency; and seemingly like­wise to Justifie the same, only for want of Better or more sufficient Allowances.

Therefore that they might be void of All Excuse, An assured way to take off all Excuse for Faults committed by the Clarks. and also be in a Capacity to be Able Performers, there can be but One way to Effect it; which is, that if it were possible, Their Wages might be Enlarg'd, so that They might be taken off, from all other Imployments what­ever, and wholly attend and wait upon the Church, and Its Ser­vice; by which means they would not only have All the oppor­tunities [Page 28] imaginable for their Improvements in the Art, whereby to gain perfect Skill, &c. but also it would be no small Inducement (but a main Motive) to Encourage, or win Them to Sanctified and Pious Lives and Conversations; An assured way to stop all the mouths of the Adver­saries of This Service. the which questionless would so Amplifie and Adorn (yea make Amiable) the whole Service, that the very worst of its Enemies, must necessarily (at least) stop their mouths from speaking Evil either against It or Them, (which too many do;) if not also be a means whereby to draw Them into a Love and Delight of That Service.

This I humbly conceive may be a Business worthy Considera­tion; But which way to bring it to pass is the Great Difficulty, for want of Open-hearted New Benefactors, which we are utterly desti­tute of in These our Days.

However, I am not doubtfull but I shall here propose a Way, both very Natural and suitable, if it may only find Favour in the Eyes of our Reverend and worthy Masters and Rulers of our Church, (for it solely depends upon their Goodness, Good-wills and Kindness.)

A way propo­sed for a pre­sent Help.The way is This, viz. That considering there is Much given by the Old Founders and Benefactors in Good Lands for Ever, toward the maintaining of the Church, its Officers and Services; And all which Lands, have undoubtedly been mightily Improved, as to the Increase of Rents, for Stipends, Wages or Dividends, &c.

If therefore, in regard of This; and also, that the Poor Clarks Proportion of Lands (if any such may be thought to be, which in Reason might well be conceived to be) yet stands at a stay, and no­thing at all Improved since the first beginning, by any sign's of In­crease coming to Them, (Poor men.)

And that the seeming present urgent necessity of Augmentation in That kind does so plainly appear, and as it were Cry out aloud for some Relief or Assistance, and no other Hopes or Expectation in any kind (effectual) can Probably be Thought upon, Hoped for, or Expected.

How the Busi­ness might be much assisted, in case of no more Bene­factors.I say, if therefore (in This sad Case) They Themselves would please to be so kind, as to Condescend a little, and allow Them some­thing (if not the whole) of such Improvements, Proportionable to Those Ancient (former denominated) Statutable Wages of 8, 10, or 12 l. a year, &c. to the present very needfull support of Them and the Service; the Business (no question) might (in This re­spect) be Effectually done.

And This I presume cannot be thought an Vnsuitable, Vnna­tural, or Vnreasonable Remedy or way, and therefore may as Reasonable be allow'd an Humble Desire, or a Longing Ex­pectation.

But if This cannot be Had, Things are like to stand as They do, without any Hopes of Refinement or Improvement.

And thus I humbly leave them to the Wise, Just, and Pious Considerations of All Those who have to do, and are chiefly con­cern'd in This Great and most Eminent Affair of our Church-Musick.

[Page 29]Very much more might be said (in divers and sundry Parti­culars) concerning This Business of Cathedral Musick; But These Two chiefly being the Principal and Main Considerable Things, whereby our Service can possibly be thought any way to be Illu­strated, (and by No other way Imaginable) for if They were once perfectly and sufficiently Effected, These two main things provided for, would draw All whatever else is needful. they would consequently draw after them, or to them, whatever else might be thought needfull; Therefore I say, These Two Things, viz. the Thinness or Weakness of most of Our Quires, and the too low Wages or Allowance of the present few Clarks, would necessarily be provided for, or else it is in vain to think of, or expect any Illustration of That Service, otherwise then what at the present we now enjoy.

Therefore I shall here conclude All, with my very Hearty Prayers, and Fervent Desire, that (as This most Illustrious and Best Piece of our Publick Church-Service to the Almighty, has in All Ages been had in high veneration and esteem amongst the Saints and Servants of God, even from the first Institution of it, The high Ve­neration in all Ages had unto This Service. all along down through the Law and the Gospel, until This day) it might still Flourish; and more and more appear to be (what indeed it is, if Rightly performed) THE MOST EXCELLENT AND MOST GLORIOUS THING IN THE WHOLE WORLD.

Which that it may,

The God of all Harmony, No Illustrati­on conceiva­ble like This, and which must needs be Acceptable unto the Al­mighty. bring into Concord and Perfect Vnity All Dissenting, Jarring, and Discording Christians, so that they may have a Right Discerning of the True Worship and Service of Him; And if it be possible, that they might Joyn Hearts, Affections, and Voices in the Publick Assemblies; in Zeal to God, and Love to one another.

By which means only, might our Christian Oblations, and Sacri­fices of Praise, Thanksgiving and Adoration, be both Augmented, Refined and Illustrated, and also assuredly Acceptable unto Him; As are Those of the Coelestial Quires Above, whose Eternal Work and Recreation is, Only Singing, and Rejoycing before Him the Eternal Being, in Vnutterable and Vnconceivable Allelujahs.

Glory be to God.

The Second Part. The LUTE made Easie.
CHAP. I.

THat the LVTE was a Hard or very Difficult Instrument to Play well upon, is confessed; And the Reasons why, shall here be given: But that it is Now Easie, and very Familiar, is as Certainly True; And the Reasons shall likewise be given.

The First and Chief Reason that it was Hard in former Times, The first and Chief Reason why the Lute was Hard, by fewness of Strings▪ was, Because they had to their Lutes but Few Strings; viz. to some 10, some 12, and some 14 Strings, which in the beginning of my Time were almost altogether in Vse; (and is this present Year 1675. Fifty four years since I first began to undertake That Instrument.)

But soon after, they began to adde more Strings unto Their Lutes, so that we had Lutes of 16, 18, and 20 Strings; which they finding to be so Great a Convenience, stayed not long till they added more, to the Number of 24, where we now rest satisfied; only upon my Theorboes I put 26 Strings, for some Good Reasons I shall be able to give in due Time and Place.

Now (having but yet said so) I will Prove it very manifestly: Proved by Good Reason. Thus therefore;

To be expected to Perform much, and to be Confin'd and Limi­ted to Straitness, or Narrow Bounds, certainly must needs be concluded more Difficult, than where there is Liberty, Scope, and Freedom.

This is the very Case between the Lutes of Former Times, and the Lutes of This present Age.

Yet a little more fully, especially to Those who are Vnexpe­rienc'd in the Art or Instrument.

You must know, that he who undertakes the Lute, will meet with things becoming the Lute, viz. Composures of Parts, with much variety of Trebles, Basses, and Inner Parts.

All which upon the Old Lutes, by reason of the Fewness of Strings, was (really) extreme Hard to perform.

And from Thence chiefly did it derive the name of Hardness, Vulgar Er­rours conti­nue long. or a Hard Instrument; which ever since (through the Ignorance of People) hath continued upon It.

Whereas Now, (on the contrary) as Really as it was Then Hard, so Truly is it become Easie, and very Familiarly Pleasant to the Learner, by reason of the Increase of Strings.

[Page 40] A Second Rea­son is, from the Workmen in those days.Secondly, The Work-men of Those Times did not Lay their Lutes so well, fine, and easie for the Fingers, as now by experience our late Work-men have been inform'd to Rectifie; which is a very great, yea a main matter in the Vse of the Lute. (A more parti­cular explanation of This, shall be when I come to shew the whole Order of the Instrument.)

A Third Rea­son, from the Closeness of Masters.A Third and very Considerable Reason is, From the Closeness of Masters in the Art, who (all along) have been extreme Shie in revealing the Occult and Hidden Secrets of the Lute.

The French (who were generally accounted Great Masters) seldom or never would prick their Lessons as They Play'd them, much less Reveal any thing (further than of necessity they must) to the thorough understanding of the Art, or Instrument, which I shall make manifest and very plain.

Nor was there, nor yet is there Any Thing more constantly to be observed among Masters, than to be Very Sparing in their Com­munications concerning Openness, Plainness, and Freeness; either with Parting with their Lessons, or Imparting much of Their Skill to their Scholars; more than to shew them the Ordinary way how to play such and such Lessons.

This hath been, and still is the Common Humour, ever since my Time.

‘So that it is no marvel, that it continues Dark and Hidden to All, excepting some Few, who make it their Chief Work to Practise, and Search into its Secrets.’

‘Which when they have done, and with Long Pains, and much Labour obtained, THEY DYE, AND ALL THEIR SKILL AND EXPERIENCE DYES WITH THEM. ☞’

‘So that the next Generation is still to seek, and begin again a-New, for such Attainments.’

‘ Note, that rarely not a­bove one or two Eminent Lute-Masters in an Age.And it may be noted, That seldome in an Age appears above One or Two who are Excellent or Rare Artists in This kind.’

‘So that (to Magnifie, and make Themselves more Illustrious) they keep All close to Themselves, communicating Nothing but upon a Pecuniary Account.’

‘This must needs make Easie Things Hard, and Long before they be known in a General way, so as they may become Easie.’

‘Whereas, if such knowing Masters, would be so kind to their Fellow-Creatures, as to Reveal and Discover their Knowledge and Experience (whilst They Liv'd) more freely, or at least leave it be­hind them to be published to the world for a Common Good after their Decease, it would much redound to the facilitating of the Art, and Gratifying of Posterity.’

‘Which by the Grace of God I will make my Business to do, ac­cording to my Best Abilities, and Vnderstanding in the Art.’

[Page 41]Thus much I think may be sufficient to gain Belief, that the Lute must needs have had such Impediments, by reason of which, it might well be accounted a Hard Instrument.

The which being taken away, I doubt not but it will appear both Easie, and very Delightfull.

Now I will give you some Reasons why it is become Easie; The first Rea­son why the Lute is be­come Easie, yet a seeming Riddle. and is, by the Increase of Strings; which (although it may seem a Riddle to some) is most True.

And here you must take notice, that when we say a Lute of 12 Strings, there are but 6; and likewise a Lute of 24 Strings, there are but 12▪ (as to substantial Vse.)

For we always Tune and strike two Strings together as one.

So that in the Old Time upon their Lutes of 12 Strings (as to use) they had but 6: Therefore were they constrain'd to ex­treme hard, cross, and wringing Stops, both above and below upon the Finger-board.

Yea, such Stops have I seen, that I do still wonder how a Mans Hand could stretch to perform some of them, and with such swift­ness of Time as has been set down.

Whereas Now, by the Addition of six Ranks of Strings, All those hard cross-grain'd Stops are undone, and brought to a Natural Form, and Aptitude for the Hand; And are so very Easie, A Child in half an hour able to per­form the har­dest stops up­on the Lute. that an Ingenious Child in half an hours time, may readily Form its Hand to the whole Number of Hard Stops, ordinarily in use, and generally Requirable for the necessary scope of Lute-play.

The which I shall most plainly Demonstrate, when I come to in­form the Learner and set down the Rudiments thereof.

Again, A second Rea­son why easier, in 3 Respects. There is found by Experience a Better manner of Laying our Lutes, (as we term it) which is done, by causing the Finger-board, 1. to lye a little Round, or Vp in the middle; as also that the Bridge (answerably) rise a little Round to it.

Then 2dly. to lay the Strings so close to the Finger-board, that the Strings may almost seem to touch the first Fret. This is call'd Laying of a Lute Fine, when all the Strings lye near the Frets.

3dly. Laying the Ranks of Strings so carefully, that the Pairs may be conveniently Near, and the Ranks pritty wide.

By which means we have a more ready and certain Command over them, for neat and clean Play.

These things were not in the Old Lutes so regarded, as may still appear by many of Them, yet to be met withall.

‘The Instrument-makers were not Then acquainted with That Secret, which assuredly is such an extraordinary Great Advan­tage to the Hand; That if Two Equal Players of a years standing, Note. should either of them take up a several Lute, the one well Lay'd, and order'd as I have described; and the other Ill Lay'd, (as were generally the Old Lutes) it would be judg'd by their difference in Play, that the One having learn'd a Year, the Other had not learn'd above a Quarter.’

‘This I do assure you is a most Certain Truth.’

‘Therefore you may very well conclude from these Reasons [Page 42] only, there must needs be a Great Facility in Playing upon These Lutes of Our Time, Whence the name of Hard­ness is deriv'd. more than upon Those of the Old Time: From whence hath come, and still remains most Falsly, the name of Hardness.’

Now besides all These Reasons for Advantage and Easiness, (which I doubt not but do seem apparent to the Reader) being only in the Instrument, which Time and Experience hath reformed; It will not be unreasonable to conclude, Advantages from the Ar­tist included. but that there are, or may be likewise several other Advantages from the Artist, whereby the Work may be made more Easie.

Otherwise we have laboured many years in Vain, which would be too great a Disparagement unto us of This present Age to be Guilty of; since it is generally seen and known, that in All Arts, Time and Experience finds out more Compendious and Ready ways to perfect and accomplish their Works in, than was known in the Beginning and Infancy of Arts.

Some of them named.I will nominate some Particulars here in reference to the Great Benefit of the Scholar, and towards the facilitating of the Work.

The First shall be, I would (by all means) that the Scholar be taught to String his Instrument, with Good and True Strings; also to Fret it, and to know when the Frets stand Right or Wrong, which may be easily and quickly done.

Secondly, That the Scholar be taught (so soon as possibly may be) to Tune the Lute, which likewise may in a reasonable Time be done.

A wofull mis­chief to Lear­ners.For, the want of such Skill, is not only a great Discouragement to the Learners, and also a great Hindrance to their Proficiency; but is a Grand Cause of much Corruption of the True Distinguishing-Musical-Faculty of their Ear.

For, long and much use of Playing with an Instrument out of Tune, does habituate and wont them so to False Sounds, that at last they grow Careless, ☞ and scarcely ever after become Good and Accurate Tuners.

This I have prov'd by Experience.

The Helps to All This I shall set down in its proper place, when I come to Instruct my Scholar in the Documents of Lute-play.

CHAP. II.

NOw after all this that hath been said, I cannot but hope that Those many False and Ignorant Out-cries against the Lute will be laid aside, and deem'd (as indeed they are) False.

I will here Name some of Them;

First, That it is the Hardest Instrument in the World. Common Aspersions upon the Lute.

Secondly, That it will take up the Time of an Apprenticeship to play well upon It.

Thirdly, That it makes Young People grow awry.

Fourthly, That it is a very Chargeable Instrument to keep; so that one had as good keep a Horse as a Lute, for Cost.

Fifthly, That it is a Womans Instrument.

Sixthly, and Lastly, (which is the most Childish of all the rest) It is out of Fashion.

I will here give a short (but True) Answer to each of These Aspersions.

And as to the First, viz. that it is the Hardest Instrument, &c. The first Aspersion answered. I suppose my former Reasons may sufficiently convince any Reason­able Person of the contrary; However (in that This is the main Ob­jection) I will spend a little more labour against it, than against any of the Rest; And doubt not but so clearly to Rectifie that Errour, that whosoever will rightly consider what I shall here write con­cerning it, will never more give Credit to that Flim-Flam-Ignorant saying of the Vulgar.

To which purpose I will make a Comparison betwixt the Lute and the Viol.

The Viol is confess'd to be a Plausible Instrument; The Lute is prov'd as Ea­sie, as is the Viol, by Rea­son. and no Affrightment to any Person to undertake it; and in a short time they do much upon it.

Now that the Lute must needs be so Easie as the Viol, examine them Both after This Right manner, by way of Comparison; not comparing the Musick of the one with the Musick of the other, for that is confess'd by All in General, that the LUTE IS THE RAREST AND MOST EXCELLENT PORTABLE INSTRU­MENT IN THE WORLD, but barely as they are Instruments, and as to the performance upon either.

And in such a Comparison we must consider, What makes an Instrument of Strings hard or easie. what it is that makes an Instrument of Strings Hard or Easie.

The Answer to which must be, The Number of Strings, and the Grasping, or Stopping of That Number. Well then;

The Viol hath six Strings, The Compa­rison between the Lute and the Viol. which are all used in Grasping or Stopping.

The Lute likewise hath but six Strings, which are used in Gras­ping or Stopping; For although it have 12 Strings, all the other Ranks of Basses are not used at all in Stopping: But only struck open with the Thumb, which serve both to Amplifie the Harmony, as also very much to facilitate the Stops or Grasps of those other six Strings.

[Page 44]Now if This be True, (as I appeal to All the Experienc'd Men in our Quality, whether This be not Truly declared;) How then must it not needs be, but that the Lute is as Easie as the Viol?

But to This I know it will be presently objected, That Those Basses are very Hard to be Hit, so that the Lute must needs be Harder thereby.

To which I answer, No. But on the contrary, the Lute-play is made far more Easie (in its general scope) thereby, as I shall make appear.

Now therefore that you may perceive what an Easie matter it is, (viz.) to Hit those six Basses, (which Thing in all my whole Progress of Teaching (Young or Old) seldom or never was above One quarter of an Hours work;)

And to make you understand the Easiness of it, consider it thus, in a plain and homely Comparison, viz.

An apt Com­parison.Suppose you had Fix'd before you upon a Table, six or seven Ranks of Strings, in that nature as Country-People (many of them) have at the end of some Cupboards, fastned on with Nails at each end; And so, lifted up a little from the Table or Cupboard with small Stones or Sticks, to cause them to rise and sound from the Wood.

How easily, I say, could not any Ingenuous Child strike Those six or seven Ranks in Order; First as resembling the Bells, and then with as little trouble strike them out of Order into Changes; And so presently be able (looking off) to do the same? I say, He or She who could not do such a thing pritty perfectly in less than a quarter of an hour, either would have a very Ill opinion of Themselves for Blockishness or Doltishness, or had cause enough so to have.

Now the Truth is, those six Ranks of the Lute Basses (which are never stopt) have no other manner of use than those upon the Country-Peoples Cupboards.

Nay it shall appear, they must needs be Easier to Hit certain than such like of the Cupboard; because the Country-People do it without a Rule (and yet by Habit) well enough; whereas we have an Infallible Rule by which we can scarcely miss, except on pur­pose; which is, the setting down of the Little Finger in a certain place by the Bridge, so that with opening the Hand by way of Span, we ascertain our selves (after a little use) with the Thumb to reach to what Bass we please, without the least impediment to any our other Performances.

And now methinks I hear some say, you will make the Lute too Easie, if you go on in this manner.

Half the Per­formance of the Right HandWhy, truly I cannot tell how to speak otherwise than True: It is even so, and no otherwise; And which to do, is Half the performance of the Right Hand; And the other Half, which is to be performed with the Two Fore-fingers, is (upon the matter) as Easie, The whole. if not Easier: So that there you have Half Lute-play already set forth.

But I shall begin my Work out of Order; therefore I will break [Page 45] off This Discourse, and desire your Patience till I come orderly un­to it; And then if you will but give me the Attentive Reading, as also laying what you read to your Reason and Considera­tion, I do not doubt but I shall be the occasion of many Good Lutenists.

Now by what has been here declared, Several Asper­sions against the Lute an­swered. how can any Rational man think the Lute the Hardest Instrument in the World? or that it is not, as I have explain'd it to be, Full as Easie as the Viol?

I wish I were to try it out with any man for a Considerable Wa­ger, to see what we could bring a couple of Scholars unto (one upon the Lute, and the other upon the Viol) in the space but of one Quar­ter of a Year.

But here I desire that none will make a Bad Construction of This my seeming Challenge; For I Challenge None: neither will any, I hope, take it as an Affront, for truly I mean no such thing; But only for the Lutes sake, I say, If I were Challeng'd in such a way, to try if I would make Good what I have thus set down here concerning the Lute; I should very gladly imbrace the Challenge, (as I said) for the Lutes sake, and the Lovers thereof, that it should be seen I do affirm nothing, but what I would make Good by such an Adventure.

Thus much against the First Aspersion, viz. That the Lute is a Hard Instrument.

That the Lute will take up the Time of an Apprenticeship, The second Aspersion, and the Answer to it. before one can Play well upon it, is a very False Aspersion, and a manifest Injury done both unto It, and to all the Lovers of It: As by ma­ny years Experience I can Justifie, and by eminent Performances upon that Instrument by divers very Worthy Persons; several such at this present remaining in our University of Cambridge, who have not been at It from their first undertaking yet a full Year; and in one Quarter of a Year could play extremely well, even to Admiration.

I shall forbear here to Name Them, lest I may (in so doing with­out their consent) give an occasion of Offence.

However in that This may be taken as an Excuse, and in that I have undertaken to prove the Falsity of the Lutes Aspersions, I will take the liberty of naming One Person as a sufficient proof to this purpose, who is my Youngest Son, (named John Mace; A most abso­lute and suffi­cient proof of the Lutes ea­siness, &c.) And has very lately undertaken both the Lute and Viol, contrary to my expectation or knowledge, till of late; nor have I Assisted Him much in either, since I knew His drift.

But as to His Performance upon the Lute, I do here most so­lemnly and really affirm, I have not taught him, nor spent so much time with him in the way of teaching, as in the whole (since his first beginning with it) will make up the quantity of one Day; (if I should say half a Day, I am assured I Lye not.)

The Chief Advantage he has had towards it, This was writ in the year 1672. has been the Perusal of This my Work since I made it: And at Christmass last was a Twelve-month, viz. 1671. there was not one word of it writ; but since that time wholly Compos'd thus as you see.

[Page 46]This Young man (my Son) has been indeed very Inquisitive con­cerning the Nature of my Work, and has so far Div'd into It, as (to speak modestly, yet truly of him) I believe he understands it so sufficiently, and has gain'd a Hand upon the Lute so Notably, for his short time of Inspection, that let whomsoever please (to inform Themselves of the Truth of what I have here writ) Call him out for My Witness; who I hope (and doubt not but in a short time) will make as Able a Master-Teacher both upon the Lute and Viol, as need to Vndertake Them.

I must be Pardon'd for This my so strange, and seeming-Boasting way in His Commendations; yet I neither Boast, nor purposely speak in His Commendations; only for the Lutes, and Truths sake, (having, amongst many, none I may make so bold with as I may with Him) I do in this manner attest (by This Proof) the ex­treme Falsity of This second Aspersion upon It, viz. That One must be an Apprenticeship at It before they can Play well: which is so ab­solutely False, That I do still affirm, that an Ingenuous Child may be made to Play very well in one Quarter of a Year.

Let thus much suffice to Contradict so Gross a Mistake.

The third Aspersion answered.The Third Aspersion upon the Lute is, That it causeth Young Folks to grow awry.

To This I can only say, That in my whole Time I yet never knew one Person, Young or Old, that grew Awry by That Vndertaking.

Yet do believe it is possible, if (through their own Negligence, and their Teachers Disregard, and Vnskilfulness) they be suffer'd to Practise in an Ill and wrong Posture.

So may they do by several other Exercises and Imployments, (which is often seen.)

But let Them be first set Right to the Lute, according to such Di­rections as hereafter I shall set down, it shall be impossible for any Per­son to grow Awry by Lute-play.

This Aspersion I doubt not but will appear False, like All the Rest, when you shall (with your Reason) consider of the Exactness of my Rules and Order.

The fourth Aspersion answered. That one had as good keep a Horse (for Cost) as a Lute, is the Fourth Objection.

This likewise is so Gross an Errour, that I have disprov'd it all my Life long; and which All my Scholars will affirm, if need were; of whom I never took more than five shillings the Quarter to main­tain each Lute with Strings; only for the first Stringing I ever took ten shillings.

I do confess Those who will be Prodigal, and Extraordinary Cu­rious, may spend as much as may maintain two or three Horses, and Men to Ride upon them too, if they please.

But 20 s. per Ann. is an Ordinary Charge; and much more they need not spend, to practise very hard.

The fifth Aspersion answered.The Fifth Aspersion is, That it is a Womans Instrument.

If This were True, I cannot understand why It should suffer any Disparagement for That; but rather that It should have the more Reputation and Honour.

[Page 47]I suppose I need not make any Arguments to prove That.

But according to Their Sence of Aspersion, I deny it to be a Wo­mans Instrument so, as by That means It shall become less Fit for the Vse of a Man.

For if by That Saying They would insinuate, That it is a Weak, Feeble, Soft Instrument, as to the sound; what can that signifie whereby to make it a Womans Instrument more than a Mans?

But whereas first they say, It is the Hardest Instrument in the World; That shews They Contradict Themselves in This particular; and conclude by That Saying, It cannot so properly be called a Womans Instrument, in regard They are the Weaker Vessels; and therefore not so Fit to set upon and attempt the Mastery of Things of such Difficulty.

Therefore if still They will needs put it upon the Woman, I say, the more shame for Them; And so much for That.

Now Lastly, whereas They most Sillily say, It is out of Fashion. The sixth Aspersion answered.

I say, the Greater Pity, and still the Greater shame for a Man to Refuse the Vse of the most Excellent Thing in Its kind; and especially, Because it is out of Fashion! which, although it be Thus Aspers'd, (as I have here mentioned) by the Ignorant and In­considerate, yet notwithstanding It has This General Applause and Praise, viz. THAT IT IS THE BEST MUSICK IN THE WORLD.

This is acknowledg'd by All who are men of Knowledge and Experience in the Art, (unprejudic'd;) and if together with This so High, so True, so Deserved and most Vncontroulable Commenda­tions, it shall also appear (by This my Faithfull and Well-intended Work) Easie, yea Very-very Easie; there is no doubt but It will come into Fashion again with All wise Folks.

Thus having (I hope) to full satisfaction explained the Matter, I doubt not but the Lute henceforward will be more look'd after and esteemed than of late years it has been.

I will now draw nearer to The Work it self, and provide my Scholar with a Fit and Good Instrument.

CHAP. III.

First provide a good and fit siz'd Lute.THe first thing to be thought upon before you begin to Learn, must be to get a Good Lute, and of a Fit Size for your Hand: In reference to which I shall give this Advice, by These Directions following.

A common Errour in Learners.It is very usual with many, at the first to make shift with al­most any Instrument for a Tryal, (as they say) be it never so Bad or Vnfit.

Now I must assure Them, who do so, do themselves much Wrong, and to their great prejudice; as by Experience I have proved.

For I have known some Young Persons so Discouraged, under the Sence and Inconvenience of a Bad and Ill-contriv'd Instrument, that in short time they have grown Out of Love with their Vnder­taking, and have indeed been so quite Discouraged Thereby, that they have wholly left it off, and never Return'd again; whereas others on the contrary, who have had Apt and Good Instruments, have come on exceeding Delightfully to Themselves, their Teachers, and Others.

I shall therefore advise All Learners, At First to provide them with Good Instruments; and then they will proceed Chearfully.

How to know and chuse a good Lute.Now to know a Good Instrument, is something Hard for a Young Scholar; therefore he must take the Advice of some Friend who hath Skill. Yet for his better Information, I shall give him some General Hints and Signs how he shall know a Good one.

First, know that an Old Lute is better than a New one: Then, The Venice Lutes are commonly Good; which you shall know by the writing within, right against the Knot, with the Au­thor's Name.

There are diversities of Mens Names in Lutes; but the Chief Name we most esteem, Laux Maller Lutes the best. is Laux Maller, ever written with Text Letters: Two of which Lutes I have seen (pittifull Old, Batter'd, Crack'd Things) valued at 100 l. a piece.

Mr. Gootiere, the Famous Lutenist in His Time, shew'd me One of Them, which the King paid 100 l. for.

And Mr. Edw. Jones (one of Mr. Gootiere's Scholars) had the other, A true Story of a Lute. which He so valued; And made a Bargain with a Mer­chant, who desired to have It with him in His Travels, (for his Experience;) And if He lik'd It when he returned, was to give Mr. Jones 100 l. for It; But if he Refus'd it at the Price set, he was to return the Lute safe, and to pay 20 l. for His Experience and Vse of It, for that Journey.

I have often seen Lutes of three or four pounds price, far more Illustrious and Taking, to a common Eye.

Therefore I say, it is a Difficult Thing for an unexperienc'd Per­son to Chuse a Good Lute.

The next thing to be observed is, the Shape of the Lute.

[Page 49]The Shape generally esteemed, is the Pearl-Mould; The best shape of a Lute. yet I have known very excellent Good Ones of several Shapes or Moulds: But I do acknowledge for constancy, the Pearl-Mould is Best, both for Sound, and Comliness, as also for the more conveniency in holding or using.

Then again observe the Number of Ribbs.

The Compleat Number (most esteemed) is Nine; How many Ribbs best. yet there are very Good Ones of several Numbers.

Next, what Wood is Best for the Ribbs.

The Air-wood is absolutely the Best. What Wood best.

And next to that, Our English Maple.

But there are very Good Lutes of several Woods; as Plum-Tree, Pear-Tree, Yew, Rosemary-Air, Ash, Ebony, and Ivory, &c. The two last (though most Costly, and Taking to a common Eye) are the worst.

Next, observe the Colour; What Colour best. which is the Dark-black-reddish-Colour; though I believe it contributes nothing at all to the sound; only the Best Authors did use to lay on That Colour, espe­cially Laux Maller.

Thus much for the Choice of your Lutes by the Back-sides.

Then for the Bellies, The choice of the Belly of a Lute. make choice of the finest-grain'd Wood you can, free from Knots or Obstructions, which you may easily perceive to hinder the Grain of the Belly for Running smooth to your Eye, as it were by small Strings or Threads of Wood from the Bridge upward, &c.

The Best Wood is call'd Cullin-cliff; and is no other than the finest sort of Firr, and the choicest part of That Firr.

I have seen some of Cyprus very Good, but none like the Cullin-cliff.

The Knot or Rose in the Lute Belly, would be little, The Knot or Rose. and smooth­ly cut.

If there be any Cracks in Back or Belly, let not them trouble you, except They be Cross-wayes; Those are to be disliked: But if Long-wayes with the Grain of the Wood, it makes no great matter, so as they be neatly and well glewed together again.

And before you part from the Belly, The Barrs. try whether the Barrs (which are within to strengthen and keep It straite and tite) be all fast; which you may do, by gently knocking the Belly all along, round about, and then in the midst, with one of your Knuckels; and if any thing be either loose in It, or about It, you may easily perceive It, by a little Fuzzing or Hizzing; but if all be sound, you shall hear nothing but a Tight-plump and Twank­ing-knock.

Then lastly about the Belly, see that the Bridge be close, The Bridge, and its dan­gers. Trimly and firmly Glew'd to the Belly, without any the least sign of part­ing: For if it begin never so little to part, you shall be sure (the next moist season, if you leave it abroad, especially in a damp room) to have It come off, and so endanger the Belly, in bringing some part of It along with it, which is a common decay in many a Good Lute.

[Page 50]After you have thus survey'd the Back and Belly, cast your Eye up towards the Neck and Heads;

The length and thickness of the Neck.And in the Neck observe the Length thereof, which you shall know to be Good or Bad, according to the Number of Frets It car­ries: If it carry less then Nine, it is too short; and if more, it is too long: Therefore Nine is esteemed the Best Number of a True-siz'd Neck.

Yet I had rather have a Neck too long, than too short:

For if it be too long, (in which are two Inconveniences, viz. the one will cause Strings to break too fast, the other makes the di­stances of the Frets too wide) I can cut that Neck shorter, without any Inconvenience at all to the Instrument; But if it be too short, there is no Handsome Remedy but to have a New Neck.

Again, the Neck would not be over Thick or Gouty, to cause too great an Extention in the opening of the Hand, in the Grasp or Vse of It; which will be unpleasant to the Practitioner.

About an Inch Thick at the first Fret, is a good scantling for an ordinary siz'd Lute, and so increasing in Thickness almost insensi­bly down to the last Fret.

But for my own part, I did not care how Thin it were, provi­ded it were so strong, as (by the strength of the Strings pulling) it did not come forwards, by which means many a Lute is caused to Lye too Course.

The Finger-board to lye Round.The Finger-board is the next thing to be minded; which would be made of Hard Wood, of which Ebony is both Handsomest and the Best.

See that it be not Joynted or Pieced upon the very Edges, which if they be, (as sometimes they are) will hinder the Frets from running smoothly, when you have occasion to put them on, or move them.

Again, observe how It lyes, whether Flat, or a little Round un­der the Frets, from the Treble to the 5 th. or 6 th. Strings.

If it lye Flat, it lyes Not well; which was the General Fault of the Old Work-men a hundred years ago, and since; till of later Times we find that a Round-laid Finger-board, is a Great Advan­tage to the easie stopping of a String, especially in Cross-stops.

The two Heads.The next things you are to view are the Two Heads, the one Turned back, which must carry 16 Strings, (accounting the Treble Peg double) and the Vpright Head must carry 8; all which make a 24- Strung-Lute.

The more neat Those Heads are wrought, the more Commenda­ble; Yet they adde nothing to the Sound, but it is the Back and Belly, which Principally give the Sound; and we use to say, the Belly is the Chief producer thereof.

The Pegs the greatest trou­ble about an Instrument.Then look well unto the Pegs, that They be Truly Fitted; for if They be not, you will find more Trouble by reason of Them, than by any other Thing about the Lute.

The first thing you must observe is, whether They be exactly Fitted at both ends, that is, that they Bite equally stiff at both Holes; for if they be slack at one Hole, and stiff at the other, they [Page 51] will constantly be slipping, and so the Tuner loseth much Labour and Time.

And you must know, that From the Badness of the Pegs, arise several Inconveniences;

The first I have named, viz. the Loss of Labour. 7 Inconveni­ences attend­ing them.

The 2d. is, the Loss of Time; for I have known some so ex­treme long in Tuning their Lutes and Viols, by reason only of Bad Pegs, that They have wearied out their Auditors before they began to Play.

A 3d. Inconvenience is, that oftentimes, if a High-stretch'd small String happen to slip down, it is in great danger to break at the next winding up, especially in wet moist weather, and that It have been long slack.

The 4th. is, that when a String hath been slipt slack, it will not stand in Tune, under many Amendments; for it is continually in stretching it self, till it come to Its highest stretch.

A 5th. is, that in the midst of a Consort, All the Company must leave off, because of some Eminent String slipping.

A 6th. is, that sometimes ye shall have such a Rap upon the Knuckels, by a sharp-edg'd Peg, and a stiff strong String, that the very Skin will be taken off.

And 7thly. It is oftentimes an occasion of the Thrusting off the Treble-Peg-Nut, and sometime of the Vpper long Head;

And I have seen the Neck of an Old Viol, thrust off into two pieces, by reason of the Badness of the Pegs, meerly with the Anger and hasty Choller of Him that has been Tuning.

Now I say that These are very Great Inconveniences, and do adde much to the Trouble and Hardness of the Instrument.

I shall therefore inform you how ye may Help All These with Ease; viz. Thus.

When you perceive any Peg to be troubled with the slippery Disease, assure your self he will never grow better of Himself, without some of Your Care; therefore take Him out, and examine the Cause.

For there are Three Causes of a Pegs slipping; Three Causes of a Pegs slip­ping.

The One is, the not equal Fitting or Biting at both the Holes; therefore you must observe at which Hole it bites least; for if it bite hard at the wide Hole, which is the thickest part of your Peg, The first Cause. and slack at the other, then your String will constantly slip down, so soon as the Peg or Hole is worn smooth.

But if it bite hard at the small end, and slack at the great, it will not so often slip, but many times cause your Peg to twist in pieces.

Now the Remedy for all this, is only to scrape the Peg a little smaller at the end which is too Thick, so long, till upon Tryal you find that It bite at both ends a-like.

Another cause of a Pegs slipping is, when both ends are equal, The second Cause. yet both the Peg and the Holes are worn smooth, (being made of soft Wood;) wherefore so near as you can have all your Pegs of Hard Wood, (and without Sap) as of Plum-Tree, Box, or Ebony, &c.

[Page 52]The Remedy for This Inconvenience, is only to scrape the Peg at both ends a little, and then rub it at the two biting places with a piece of Chalk, and then▪ It will stick fast.

The third Cause.A third and very Common Cause, is from the putting on of the String, which although the Pegs be never so well Fitted and Good; yet if the String be put on so, that in the twisting about the Peg at either end, the String lye too near the Cheeks of the Pin-holes, it hinders the Peg from biting.

And I have often seen some Fumblers, Fret and Vex Themselves a quarter of an hour or more, to fasten such a Peg, and when 'twas done, by and by slip again; And so Ignorant have They been of the Cause, that they have not so much as try'd to see if it might be mended, but Cry out, Oh here's a base Peg, or something like it.

Now the Remedy for This is the Easiest of all, and lies only in the Care of the Putter on of the String, to see that it lye wholly Clear from both the sides.

And take This Rule along with you, never to twist too much String upon the Peg.

The common Destruction of a good String.This fault of the Putter on is very often the Destruction of a Good String, than which, a man had better sometimes lose a Shilling: For the Trebles, and Seconds, (which are the most Chargeable and Breaking Strings) come where you will, you shall find Them most commonly close and hard wound up to the Cheek of the Peg-holes, by which means the String is so pinch'd and squeez'd, that it is not Long-liv'd after; And then they Cry out, Oh these are base rotten Strings, &c.

I have insisted the longer upon These Inconveniences of the Pegs, because I know they are so generally Common: And indeed if regarded, they will contribute much ease and pleasure to All, but especially to Learners.

I have now run through all the particular parts of the Out-side of the Lute, excepting the Five Nutts, which the Strings lye upon; And on purpose I have let them alone till Now in the last place, be­cause they so necessarily relate to the Stringing of the Lute, which is the next thing to be done.

The ordering of the Five Nutts.And as to Those Nutts, there is not much to be said concerning Them; yet so much, as cannot be left unsaid without a Great De­fect to the Business.

First then, they are most generally made of Ivory, (which is Best) and do require a Curious Care in the accurate Laying, and Notching of Them, according to the right Distances between Ranks and Ranks, Pairs and Pairs; A Rule for which take Thus.

First you must lay your Long Nutt (which must carry seven Ranks of Strings, besides the Treble String) in a Notch cut out of the Plate of the Finger-board, fit for Its proportion, and so neatly, that the Top of the Neck of the Lute, and the Top of the Nutt, may joyn equally-even in all that same length, to the end that the Strings which must be twisted upon the Pegs, may lye smooth upon that part of the Flatness of the Neck, immediately joyning to the Nutt; [Page 53] which will secure the Strings from being Cut with the sharpness of the Edge of the Nutt.

Then after it is thus Truly Layd, you must cast for the True Lay­ing and Dividing the Ranks of the Strings.

To the doing of which, you must first of all take a Treble String, The best way to Rank the Strings truly. and fasten it in the first Hole of the Bridge, (which is for the Tre­ble String;) then bring that String up to the Treble Nutt or Peg, and there hold It in your Left hand in such a place, as It may lye all along within a little less than a quarter of an Inch of the out-side of the Finger-board; and when it so lyes, take a Knife and make a little impression upon the Nutt, just under the String, which must serve for your Mark, and must afterwards be Filed down deep enough for the String to lye in: But let that alone till you have first marked the Places, for all the Strings to lye in; which may be done with a Pencill, or a Pen and Ink.

After your Treble Notch is thus marked, then put on your eighth String (next) upon the Bridge, and draw it up to the other end of the Nutt, as you did the Treble, and so make Its mark.

Thus then having the Two Extremes of your Nutt, it will be easie to mark out the Places for all the rest proportionably.

Yet observing, that the Pairs of the 2 ds, 3 ds, 4 ths, and 5 ths, would be a very little closer together, than those of the 6 ths, 7 ths, and 8 ths. The reason I give is, because they are always in the use of stopping, and so may the more easily be stopp'd close, clean, and sure, than if they lay wider.

But here you must Note of what Length the Nutt should be.

The Length of the Nutt of a Full-siz'd Consort Lute, Of what length the Long Nutt should be. fit for a Mans Hand, or a Womans, would be just Two Inches, quarter and half quarter long; and in a Nutt of This proportion, you will have full scope and freedom to lay your Strings so conveniently wide, that they shall all speak Clear, and your stopping will be very Roomey and Large; which is a mighty matter for Clear and Good Play: Yet too much Room is an Inconvenience.

But upon Little-siz'd-Lutes, for Children, or the like, the Nutts must be shorter, according to Discretion and Proportion.

Thus when you have Mark'd, and Rank'd all your Strings, and that you see the Distances please you well, then take off your Nutt, and with a fine smooth File, cut the Notches to a convenient depth, so that all your Strings may lye at an even and equal height, from the Finger-board, which would be about the thickness of a Half-Crown, or a little more; and will be a convenient Height to let the Strings have scope enough to whirle about with clearness of Sound, and not to touch the First Fret.

There is one thing more concerning the Shape of the Nutt, Note a great Conveniency towards easie Play, by the Shape of the Nutt. very considerable, for easie and neat Performance in Lute-play; viz. that Care be taken to File the Nutt thinner a little towards the 3 ds, 2 ds, and Treble, than it is in the farther part: The Player will find much advantage in his Play by this very Observation.

Then, when your Long Nutt is thus far in Order, you must take It and Pollish It very well, (but especially the Notches;) the [Page 54] which to do is Thus; How to Pollish the Nutts. viz. take a piece of New Neats-Leather, and a little scrap'd Chalk wet in Spittle, which with good Pains must be Rubb'd so long, till you be assur'd that the Notches at the Bot­tom be very Smooth and Glib, so that the String in the winding up may have no Impediment either in Gauling, or in Sticking fast in the Nutt, which are very Common Inconveniences, to the Loss of many a Good String.

Clear it with a Dry Linen Cloath.

This being done, you may proceed to the Stringing your Lute, which must have a Peculiar Direction.

Let your Four little Nutts alone, till you have Strung so far.

All These Things which I have set down, (although I say you must do Thus, The Reason of the necessity of knowing these Things. and So) are not properly a Work for You to do, (except you will be Ingenuous and Mechanical) but for the In­strument-Maker; And when ever you Buy a Lute, it ought to be Thus Fitted: Yet because I know that sometimes Work-men are Careless, and suffer Instruments to go out of their hands Defective in many such respects; and also that I would have you able to Judge of These so necessary Concernments, Therefore I have Thus given you Information, that thereby You may have any thing amended, before it comes out of their Hands.

As also, that many times you living in the Country, far from Work-men, may either Your self be able to mend any such Fault, or give Directions to some Ingenuous Country Work-man to assist You Therein.

CHAP. IV. Concerning the Mechanical Order of the LUTE.

ANd now I talk of living in the Country, it puts me in mind of One very needfull Thing, which whosoever lives far from Work-men, and keeps a Lute, cannot be without the knowledge of, without extraordinary Inconvenience; which is, How to take off a Lute Belly, and set it on again Compleatly, and is a Great Curio­sity to perform well and neatly.

A Lute Belly often in need to be taken off.And you must know, that once in a Year or two, if you have not very Good luck, you will be constrained to have It taken off.

Because the Belly being so very Thin, and only supported with six or seven small weak Barrs, and by the constant stretch of the Strings, (which is a Great strength) the Belly will commonly Sink upon the First Barr next above the Bridge, but sometimes upon any other, and so cause It to let go Its hold at the ends of the Barr, and then your Lute will Jarr, and Grow unpleasant.

And if it be not timely amended, worse Inconveniences will fol­low, which may endanger the spoiling of the Belly.

[Page 55]Therefore when ever a Barr is loose, let it be quickly amended, or presently set your Lute down to a Lower Pitch, or untwist your Strings, and Lay it by, till you can get It mended.

Now therefore that you may know how to Help your self, by your self, or by your own Directions to any Country Work-man, as need shall be; I will shew you; and give you a Reason why.

For I have known a Lute sent 50 or 60 miles to be mended of a very small mischance, Danger in sending a Lute far to be mended. (scarce worth 12 d. for the mending) which besides the Trouble, and cost of Carriage, has been Broke all to pieces in the Return: So, farewell Lute, and all the Cost.

This Thing therefore which I am about here to set down, is of such absolute Necessity, that 'tis fit for all Persons who keep Lutes, to be acquainted with it.

The way unto it is Thus:

First, Implements fit to be had always in rea­diness. 1. A Glew-Pot. 2. Glew and Izing-glass. you must be provided of some certain little necessary In­struments or Tools, fit for such an Vndertaking.

The first may be a Glew-Pot, of about a Pint, made of Lead.

2dly. Have ever in readiness some of the Clearest and Best made Glew, together with Izing-glass, (both which mixt together make the Best Glew.)

3dly. Let your Smith make you a Four-square Iron, 3. An Iron. about the length of your Middle Finger, and about three quarters of an Inch square, Filed flat and smooth at one end, and at the other let there be a long Shank (much like to a Steel-stick, but Thicker) with a sharp end to run into some Handle of Wood, to hold it by; but if you had two of These, the other about a quarter so thick, it were better for some small uses.

4thly. You must have a Curious sharp Chizzel, 4. A Chizzel. about an Inch broad; but if you had two or three, you would find conveniency by them, some broader and narrower.

5thly. A little Working-Knife; such, 5. A Knife. are most commonly made of pieces of Broken-Good-Blades: One of them fastned into a pritty Thick Haft of Wood or Bone, leaving the Blade out about two or three Inches, and then Grind it down upon the Back to a very sharp Point, and set to a Good Edge, it will serve you for many Good Vses, either in Cutting, Carving, making Pens, &c. which is called a Working-Knife.

The 6th. is, a little Three-square File, 6. A File. which must serve to make Notches in the Nutts, or Ruff and fit the Pegs, as need shall require.

The 7th. and last is an Aul, a pritty strong and straight one, 7. An Aul. which you will find a necessary use of.

These seven Implements will take up no great matter of Room in the Corner of any Gentlemans Study, being all put up in one little Box, so that at any time they may be in readiness, and not to seek.

I would have added unto them a Whetstone, of a fine and smart Gritt; for your Chizzel and Knife must always be kept very sharp.

And being Thus Accommodated, you may (when occasion is) fall to work on This manner; viz.

[Page 56] Preparations towards ta­king off the Belly.First, untwist your Strings, only so much, as you may have Li­berty to take them from the Bridge; which when you have done, draw those of the first Head all together through your Hand, and twist them about that Head and Pegs: Then take the other four Ranks of Basses, and do the like with them, amongst the Peg's of the Long Head.

This being done, your Strings will be safe, and well out of your way, and ready to find their Places in the putting on again.

If any of your Nutts fall off, you must be carefull they be not Lost.

How to take off the Lace.Proceed next to the taking off the Lace, and if it be a Parch­ment, you may be the bolder with it, and never fear the spoiling it, for you must have a New one put on.

But if it be Silk or Silver, and that it shall serve again, take This Course with it:

First, have a Dish of Water, and set it close by you upon a Table, and with a Linen rag, (wet in the water) anoint (as it were, or bedabble) the Lace all over, about half a quarter of an hour toge­ther; and then warm all your Lace over with your Iron, being red hot, drawing your Hand slowly and closely, from place to place, till you think the Lace is hot quite through, (but take heed of Burn­ing) and when you have so done, you may take the Lace at one end, and draw it off, so easily as if It had never been Glewed, with­out the least damage to your Lace at all.

How to take off the Belly.This being done, Attempt the Belly after the same manner, but yet with more Caution: And as you used the Lace with your wet rag, so use the Edge of the Belly all over where the Lace was, (but with more Time, at least a quarter of an hour) and especially That uppermost flat-narrowest-part of the Belly next the lowest Fret, (at least an Inch and a half) for that part lyes Glewed upon so much of the Finger-board, and will ask good Suppleing with Water and Heat, before it will yield.

Thus when you have well Suppled It, take your Red hot Iron, and heat it very well all over, till you think the Glew within is dissolved.

Then take your Little Working-Knife, and begin to try to get it between the Belly and the Back, Note. at the Bottom first; at which place take notice that the Belly lies upon a Flat, about a quarter of an Inch, the whole square of the Bottom; so that you must put in your Knife accordingly.

And if you have Wetted, and Heated enough, your Knife shall find an easie Entrance; which if you find not, Wet and Heat that part still again where you are at work, till you perceive it will willingly yield to the gentle force of your Hand and Knife: So when that Flat bottom is opened; Wet and Warm again a little further up­wards (an Inch or two) well, and then put in your Knife again, and when you feel a Barr, then get your Knife under that Barr, and so gently force it, till you perceive It loose. And so from Barr to Barr, till you come to the Top-broad-flat-place; The which place you must again Wet and Heat very well and thorowly, and then [Page 57] taking the bottom of the Belly (which is loose) in one hand, and the Neck of the Lute in the other, you will find (with a little for­cing) that it will come off very readily; but if need be, you may take a broad Meat-knife, and getting it underneath within, help it to part by degrees.

And now your Lute is quite undone, The Lute un­done. you must get it mended again as well as you can.

A Carefull Messenger to London will do very well; a convenient Box, and an Easie-going Horse, or a Coach, will be very needfull; for 'tis in a wofull Pickle; a man would scarcely think it would ever come to good again: Well, fear it not.

And now because I have been an occasion why 'tis brought to This pass, and also that 'tis pitty a Good Instrument should be en­danger'd in such a Long and Hazardous Journey, I will direct you how you shall Mend it, and put it together again, without the least prejudice, and to very Good advantage.

Therefore begin where you left off, that is, with the Belly, and before you lay it by, take your Hot Iron, (viz. not red hot, but only so hot as it may lye upon the Belly and not discolour or scorch it;) I say, take such an Iron, and laying that end of the Belly (which you last took off) upon a Table, with the Inside outwards, and holding it at the bottom with one hand, and the Iron in the other, and all to be-heat It, by which means you will straighten It again after that bending, which was caus'd by the taking off; (for Heat will set any thing straight, or awry.)

And in that manner may you likewise straighten any part of a Belly, which oftentimes will be risen or swell'd to an unevenness.

This being done, lay your Iron away, How to find the Faults in a Belly. and begin to view the Belly all over on the Inside, and find out what Barrs are loose, and what Cracks there are, which by your Eye (oftentimes) you will hardly find, especially in the Knot: Therefore to make All sure, take the Belly in one hand, and with the other, Knock it gently all over with your Knuckle upon the outside, by which means you may discover the least Crack or Looseness of any Barr, by the shattering or Fuzzing it will make, (if you be not Deaf.)

Then, when you have found out what Faults you can, The work is half done; Therefore to Work; and first mend all the Cracks, How to mend a Crack. before you meddle with fastning any Barr; which to do well and neatly, you must first cleanse all the Belly within, from any Old Glew, or such Patches as may hinder, (if any such be) which (with a scorching hot Iron) will presently come off.

Then with your broad Chizzel scrape and make all clean.

And for the mending a Crack, it is only taking a little Thin Glew upon the tip of a Thin-cut-stick or Chip, (for you need no Brush, as Joyners do) which you may with the assistance of your Finger, (opening the Joynt or Crack with a small force) let in, and rub a little Glew, only enough to wet every part of the Crack; which when you have done, then take your Hot Iron, and hold it so close, as may thorowly heat both the Glew and the Belly, which will cause the Glew to incorporate, and take fast hold of the Wood.

[Page 58]Then laying the Belly flat upon some smooth place, Press the Joynt close and even with your Fingers, and then lay all along upon the Crack a little slip of Paper, about a quarter of an Inch broad, or less, wet with Glew very thinly, and with your hot Iron fasten on the Paper, which will immediately cause that Crack to be as Firm as any part of the Belly.

Note how hot the Iron must be.And here you must note, that your Iron must be so hot, as to scorch the Paper, and the out-edges of the Glew only, and not at all to scorch the Belly; for by that little scorching the Crack is more quickly and strongly mended: Thus much for mending a Crack ei­ther in Back or Belly, &c.

Only Note, that if you find the Belly or Back in any such part to be Infirm or weak, with Worm-holes or the like, you may either let such Paper remain on still, or adde a larger Paper or Parchment, as you see cause, either upon That, or instead of It: Yet I do not allow of too much Lining, No lining of Cracks but up­on Necessity. either in Back or Belly, the which do Clog an Instrument, and dull the Sound of It; But upon Necessity (in some cases) it must be done.

Note further as to the General use of Glew, whensoever you have occasion to Vse it, be sure to cleanse away all the Old Glew first very well; because that New Glew will not take any fast hold upon Old; and that must be done by a Scorching Iron, as aforesaid.

The Barrs mending.Thus having mended all the Cracks, fall to work upon those Barrs you find Loose, which most commonly be at the Ends about an Inch or two, and are likewise easily mended, first by heating and cleansing off the Old Glew, and then, with your thin Glew-stick, put a little Glew between the Belly and Barr; then laying your Belly upon a smooth Table, heat again the Barr and Belly with your Iron as it lyes, and so hold it down close to the Table till it be cold, which will be in less than half a quarter of an hour.

But because you may (if you will) be eased of so much trouble of Holding, it will be convenient that you have in readiness two or three pair of little slips of Trenchers, such as Boys make for Snap­pers, about an Inch broad, and 4, 5, or 6 Inches long.

Tye these, two and two together, at one end with a strong Pack-thread, and they will serve to slip over the Barr end, and so hold It and the Belly very close: These you may let stay on so long as you please, which will save you so much Labour and Time, the which you may spend in doing another, or any thing else needfull.

These are very necessary Implements, fit to put up with the rest of your Tools, to be in readiness when need requires.

Then when all your Barrs are thus well mended, lay by your Belly Carefully, lest any body Tamper with It, before It be well dry and hardned, which in 5 or 6 Hours will be sufficiently fit to be han­dled again, if it be a dry-warm-season; but if not, then set it in some Chimney-Corner, (only within the Ayr of the Fire;) for too much Heat will warpe and prejudice the Belly.

[Page 59]Thus you must do if you be in Hast; but if not, it were better to stay till next day, before you handle It any more.

Then you may confidently prepare for a Conjunction Copula­tive; first by cleansing all the superfluous roughness, of Glew and Pa­per, remaining about Those mended Places; the which to do is a Cu­riosity: But Thus must you do it.

If you have a less Iron, heat it and use it; if not, The cleansing of all Glewed places. your other may do well enough: I say, Heat It to such a height, that you may nimbly and lightly touch, and scorch all those Rough Places, either of Glew or Paper; But take heed of scorching the Belly, or over­heating the Joynts lately Glewed, lest your work come in Pieces again.

When you have thus scorched all, and would have them come off, then take your Chizzel, (your Belly being laid Flat upon a Table) and scrape gently all Those Places, and all will come off very cleanly, as you would desire, to the very Wood: But if at the first time all comes not off, as you would desire, Then, lightly, and with a quick touch of a Hot Iron, scorch it again, and so time after time, by little and little, you must work, till you see All clear and smooth.

Take notice, that in cleansing off Glew, and Paper by scorching, An especial Note concer­ning cleansing off Old Glew or New. it is only to be done in the Inside of Instruments; for it will spoil the Gloss or Varnish of the Outside of any.

The Outsides therefore must ever be cleansed by moisture only.

There is but One thing more to do, before you joyn Back and Belly again, which is, to cleanse carefully every Barr end, and the whole Round-side-edge, of the Back and Belly, with the Two Flats, at Tops and bottoms; All which must be done as aforesaid, with a Scorching Iron first, and then with your Working-knife, or Chiz­zel, take off the Scorchings, to the clean Wood, that the New Glew may take fast hold; which being done, proceed in This manner.

First bring your Back and Belly together, and see if they will fit; by which doing, you will perceive (it may be) some little Impediment, or Fault, fit to be amended, before you come to Glew­ing, and so do and try till you are fully satisfied that all is clear and fit; Then fear nothing, but boldly proceed to the Vniting, which must be done after This manner.

Take your Aul, The Uniting of Back and Belly. and after you have laid the Belly True in the uppermost Flat, (which you cannot well miss of, because the Points of the Neck will give you infallible directions) I say, when you are fully satisfied, that your Neck lieth close, direct, and right to the Top, then (with your Aul) prick a Hole quite through the Belly, in the midst of that upper Flat, and joyn Belly and Back together; A Choice piece of Cu­riosity. then when you have thus Fitted them, pluck out your Aul again; for This doing is but as a Mark or Direction for you, against you have occasion to come There again, (which shall be very soon.)

Now to your Glew-Pot, with Back and Belly, and begin with which you please, and anoint all the Edges Carefully round, where [Page 60] you know they must Joyn, and every Barr-end be sure you touch well, and when Both are thus Carefully done, (for here lies the strength of the Work) then (having a Good Fire ready) bring Both to the Fire, and warm them a little, and clap them quickly to­gether, and with your Aul prick and fasten them together at the Top in the same Hole which before you Joyned them at.

Take heed of clogging with too much Glew.But here in This Work you must be exactly Carefull, that you Clog neither the Back nor Belly, with the least drop of Glew more than is needfull; for all superfluity of Glew, is hurtfull to the Sound of an Instrument.

Now having in readiness your Great Iron, red hot, heat the Edges thorowly all over, and then especially the upper Flat where your Aul sticks, till you perceive the Glew is become warm and thin.

Then begin with your upper Flat, and with your Fingers you may Force it close to its old and true place, and then with little pieces of Paper, (so big as pence, or two-pences, wet with Glew) cover all the upper Flat in the Joynts, yet leaving about a Straw­bredth or two betwixt Paper and Paper, so that you may see how the Joynt joyns, and presently scorch on those Papers, one after another, leaning pritty hard upon each one, with the squared end of your broad Iron, which must not be too Hot, for fear of burning the Belly, yet hot enough to scorch the Papers, and the superfluous Glew, into a Crustiness.

This being done, it will be a good Guidance to make It fall right all along; Then after this manner proceed Inch by Inch, first on one side, and then on the other, (for if you Glew all one side first, you may chance find it fall uneven at last:) Therefore have a Care often to be viewing how it fadges on both sides, and be sure at every Barr, you thrust it so close as possibly you can, with your Thumb and Fingers; and Paper it well all the way with Scorching, as above­said, and when you have rounded It Thus, lay it by till next day before you cleanse off Those Papers, &c.

But if you be in hast, you may cleanse It within 6 or 7 hours after, provided you handle it gently, otherwise you may loosen something within.

And to cleanse It, only do Thus;

How to cleanse the Lute.Take a dish of Water, and with a Rag bemoisten all those scorch'd Papers and Glew, often renewing the moisture, (yet but a little at a time) and once in Half an Hour, they will be so soft, that only with your Nails lightly running them backwards upon It, it will all come off as you will have it.

Note.And here I would have you Note, and Remember, that you use no other Toole saving your Nails, for any such work; because you may Gaul and blemish the Instrument with any hard Toole; but your Nails will not Hurt it, if you take Care.

When This is done, proceed to the putting on of your Lace, or Parchment, which if it be the Old Lace, you shall first lay it in wa­ter a while to steep, both to dissolve the Old Glew, and also to make it Gentle and plyable, and when it is steep'd enough, you may with the Edge of a Knife run off all the Old Slime and Glew, which with [Page 61] twice or thrice drawing over, betwixt your Thumb and Finger gently, will be done, and then 'tis fit to be put on.