A Bass-Viol of 1584
“While cleaning the attic of the house of Dr John I. Orton yesterday, workmen found an old church bass-viol. Inside the viol is engraved the name of the maker and the date, ‘G. Billini-Onna, 1584.’ Experts place its value at at least $1000. The viol has been in the possession of the Orton family for three generations but for a number of years has been missing.”—Newhaven Register, 1902.
Extracts from Anthony Wood’s Diary
“The 25th December 1656, Th. I paid young Mr Bishop 3s. for mending my base violl.
“February 18th, 1658, to Bishop for mending my viol 1s., to Rich for my shoes and spent 1s.
“25th, for violl strings, 7d.; the same, for my musick meeting, 9d.”
Epitaph said to be on Johan Jenkins’ Gravestone
“Under this stone rare Jenkyns lye
The Master of the Musick Art,
Whom from the Earth, the God on high
Called up to him to bear his part