Books › the history of the violin, 1864 › scan 272
Scan 272
the history of the violin, 1864
4 lines. Read by computer on 28 September 2026. Printed page 250. See the scan on archive.org.
1grant of 20l. to buy stuff for the same. There can be but little doubt that many other makers of lutes and viols were in existence at the same time and previously, but no record of their names has been preserved. The maker's name of the instrument of the violin kind formerly mentioned, and considered to have been made by command of Queen Elizabeth, and given to Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, is not known; but an engraving on the tail-pin, J1578P, is supposed to signify the year it was made in, and the initials of his name. Whoever he was, whether English or foreign, he must have seen the true violin, as the improved form of sound-hole is used, and only four strings are applied. Between the years 1562 and 1598 there would be living several instrument makers held in much esteem; and Thomas Mace, in his curious and eccentric book, "Musick's Monument," published in 1676, mentions some of them; however, it had better be told in his own style:—"Your best provision, (and most compleat) will be a Good Chest of Viols; Six, in number; viz. 2 Basses, 2 Tenors, and 2 Trebles: All truly, and Proportionally suited.—Of such, there are no better in the world, than those of Aldred, Jay, Smith, (yet the Highest in Esteem are) Bolles, and Ross, (one Bass of Bolles's, I have known valued at 100l.) These were Old; but we have now, very excellent good Workmen, who (no doubt) can work as well as those, if they be so well paid for their work, as they were; yet we chiefly value Old Instruments, before new; for by experience, they are found to be far the best."
3We do not learn of any line of succession from Aldred or Bolles; they seem to be the last of their race as musical instrument makers. With regard to the other names, a little more detail can be given; and those of
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