Page:Rolland - A musical tour through the land of the past.djvu/45

Rh And I have said nothing of the other maid, Barker, of whom Pepys says: "and I do clearly find that as to manner of singing the latter do much the better."

All those who visit this musical household are themselves performers:—Pepys' relatives, his brother and sister-in-law, who play excellently on the bass viol; and his friends, who are all musicians, good or bad. The ladies play the lute, the viol or the harpsichord; sometimes they display so much perseverance that they eventually tire their hearers.

All the great personages of the day are able to play and sing. Pepys' patron, Lord Sandwich, takes part with him in little concerts of chamber music and composes anthems for three voices. Wherever one goes one hears music.

For example, at the eating-houses:

Carried my wife and Miss Pierce to Clothworkers' Hall, to dinner, … Our entertainment very good, a brave

1em