ating."
It seems that the smaller viols disappeared in England towards the end of
the seventeenth century, but the type of viol corresponding to the
violoncello "held its own for nearly another hundred years," when it at
last yielded to the more modern instrument.

Under the heading "Concerning the _Viol_ and _Musick_ in general," Mace
writes (p. 231):--

"It may be thought, I am so great a _Lover of It_ [the Lute], that I make
_Light Esteem_ of any other _Instrument_, besides; which _Truly_ I do
not; but _Love the Viol_ in a _very High Degree_; yea, close unto the
Lute. . . .

"I cannot understand, how _Arts and Sciences_ should be subject unto any
such _Phantastical_, _Giddy_, or _Inconsiderate Toyish Conceits_, as ever
to be said to be _in Fashion_, _or out of Fashion_.

[Picture: PLATE IV. The Tromba Marina]

"I remember there was a _Fashion_, not many Years since, for _Women in
their Apparel_ to be so _Pent up by the Straitness_, _and Stiffness_ of
their _Gown-Shoulder-Sleeves_, that _They_ could not so much as _Scratch
their Heads_ for the _Necessary Remove of a Biting Louse_; nor _Elevate
their Arms scarcely to feed themselves Handsomely_; nor _Carve a Dish of
Meat at a Table_, but their _whole_ Body must needs _Bend towards the
Dish_."

And here we must leave Thomas Mace (who with all his oddities is a
lovable and genuine writer) and pass on to the "scoulding" violin--to use
his own phrase--an instrument he considered as only suitable for "any
extraordinary Jolly or Jocund Consort-Occasion."

The violin, which finally ousted the treble viol, seems indeed to have
had a humble beginning in fairs and country revels: but six violins were
included in Henry VIII.'s band, where they were played by Italian
musicians. Violins did not rapidly make their way to popularity, and
Playford (1660) describes these instruments--rather condescendingly--as
"a cheerful and spritely instrument much practised of late." He speaks,
too, of a bass violin, _i.e._ the violoncello.

The chapter ends with a description of the tromba marina, which is not
marine trumpet, but a curious elongated box-like instrument with a single
string, which is sounded with a bow and wakens the harmony of the
sympathetic strings within the body of the instrument. Mr Galpin's
instrument was discovered in an old farmhouse in Cheshire (Plate IV.).

Chapter vi. is chiefly devoted to the organistrum or hurdy-gurdy (Plate
V.). This i