His gown had long sleeves down to mid-leg, lined with white cotton. His doublet-sleeves of black worsted; upon them a pair of poynets of tawny chamlet, laced along the wrist with blue threaden points; a wealt towards the hand of fustian-a-napes. A pair of red neather stocks, a pair of pumps on his feet, with a cross cut at the toes for corns; not new indeed, yet cleanly blackt with soot, and shining as a shoeing horn. About his neck a red ribband suitable to his girdle. His harp in good grace dependant before him. His wrest (tuning key) tyed to a green lace and hanging by. Under the gorget of his gown a fair chain of silver as a squire minstrel of Middlesex, that travelled the country this summer season, unto fairs and worshipful mens houses. From his chain hung a scutcheon, with metal and color, resplendent upon his breast, of the ancient arms of Islington.' One so attired could be no mean person, but the profession in the time of Elizabeth became so degraded as to be filled with idle and dissolute characters. In Wales its respectability has been upheld longer than in any part of Europe, and till lately some of the most ancient families retained their bard as an officer in the household. In the improved state of music, the harp seldom appears in the orchestra. Not having that variety of effect which belongs to the piano-forte, it is only in particular movements that it is used. Its dense and rigid tone is peculiarly adapted to mark the |