Page:The Early English Organ Builders and their work.djvu/112

 absolutely necessary, that impartiall Judges (and such as are the best Judges of Musick) be forthwith nominated by both Houses, to determine the Controversie betweene the two Organ-makers, whose Instrument is the best, which this Society are ready to doe, and desire their Mastershippes of the Middle Temple to join with them therein, in order to the speedy putting an end to so troublesome a Difference,"

and appointed a Committee, of five members of their body, with instructions that they:—

"'or any three of them doe at a Conference deliver the answer above mentioned, and they are hereby empowered to enter into a Treaty with a like number of the Masters of the Bench of the Middle Temple, in order to the speedy settling this Affair.'"

"The Committee thus appointed"' says Mr. Macrory, "appear to have entered upon their duties immediately, and to have fully considered the subject of the organs, not only with respect to the appointment of the 'impartiall Judges,' but also the respective prices and number of pipes in each instrument, for, two days afterwards, an answer was sent from the Middle Temple, from which the following extracts are taken":—

"June 24th, 1685.—The Masters of the Bench of the Middle Temple now say:—

"1. That they cannot imagine how the Masters of the Inner Temple can pretend any ill