In the foregoing pages I have spoken of Purcell's father and uncle, but made no mention of his ancestry. Nothing absolutely certain is known of them. Various surmises have been made from time to time, and as the name of Purcel had been common in Ireland for some centuries,[57] people have endeavoured to trace the composer's family in that country, but no reason or evidence has as yet been found for supposing that Purcell inherited Celtic blood.

The national archives preserved at Somerset House furnish material for speculation in this matter; the following wills may very probably have been made by some of the great composer's ancestors:—

"Will proved 1547 (43 Alen.)

John Fyssher, gentⁿ of Hen. VII., Hen. VIII., and Edw. VI. chapels—

'to my Cosyn,[58] John Pursell, XX^s sterling, all my londes in Clevedon and Clopton: ... Countie of Somers nye to Bristowe;' to brother David Fyssher of Shrewsbury for life and after to Cosyn Nicholas pursell and heirs for ever."

The parish registers of St. Margaret's, Westminster, contain occasional mention of the name of Pursell or Purcell, the earliest being 1575; but whether the records before 1658 refer to members of the composer's family it has not been possible to determine.

Purcell's mother died in August, 1699, having survived her son nearly four years; her burial is recorded in the books of St. Margaret's, Westminster, thus:—"Mrs. Eliz^th Pursell, Ch.[59] August 26, 1699;" her estate was "administered to" on the 7th of the following September by her daughter Katherine, who had been baptized in Westminster Abbey on the 13th of March, 1662. This younger sister of Purcell was married on the 20th June, 1691, to the Rev. William Sale, of Sheldwich, Kent.

Purcell had two brothers, Edward and Daniel: the former was born in 1653. The story of his life is briefly told in the inscription placed on his gravestone in the chancel of Wytham Church, near Oxford:

"Here lyeth the body of Edward Purcell, eldest son of Mr. Purcell, gentleman of the Royal Chapel, and brother to Mr. Henry Purcell so much renowned for his skill in musick. He was gentleman usher to King Charles the 2nd, and lieutenant in Col. Trelawney's regiment of foot, in which for his many gallant actions in the wars of Ireland and Flanders he was gradually advanced to the honour of Lieutenant-colonel. He assisted Sir George Rook in the taking of Gibraltar, and the Prince of Hesse in the memorable defence of it. He followed that Prince to Barcelona, was at the taking of Mountjoy where that brave Prince was killed; and continued to signalize his courage in the siege and taking of the city in the year 1705. He enjoyed the glory of his great services till the much lamented death of his late mistress, Queen Anne, when, decayed with age and broken with misfortunes, he retired to the house of the Right Hon. Montague, Earl of Abingdon, and died June 20, 1717, aged 64."

Daniel Purcell was a younger brother of the great composer; the exact date of his birth is not known, but it is believed to have been about 1660. Of his early musical training nothing has been ascertained, he was too young when his father died to have received any instructions from him; possibly in his boyhood he may not have shown remarkable traits of musical ability; and in his more mature years his undoubted talent was altogether over-shadowed by the superior genius of his brother, to whom he was indebted for some part of the practical and theoretical knowledge of music he possessed. The first official appointment with which we can identify him is that of organist of Magdalen College, Oxford, to which he succeeded in 1686, soon after the ejectment from that post of Dr. Benjamin Rogers, who with the other fellows of the College was unjustly expelled by James II. In 1693 Daniel Purcell composed music for a "Saint Cecilia's Day Ode" written by Thomas Yalden, which is believed to have been performed at Oxford. He resigned his appointment at Magdalen College in 1695, in order that he might reside in London, and in the following year, 1696, composed music for the tragedy "Ibrahim XII.," written by Mary Pix; also for an opera called "Brutus of Alba, or Augusta's Triumph." This was written by George Powell, the comedian, and John Verbruggen; it was performed at the theatre in Dorset Gardens in the following year. The songs were immediately published with a dedication "to P. Norton and A. Henley, Esquires." In 1697, in conjunction with Jeremiah Clarke, he composed music for Settle's opera, "The New World in the Moon," and also for D'Urfey's opera, "Cynthia and Endymion." In 1698 he composed songs for a tragedy, "Phaeton, or the Fatal Divorce," written by Gildon, also an ode for the Princess Anne's birthday,[60] and an ode for Saint Cecilia's Day, written by Bishop.[61] In 1699, he was associated with Jeremiah Clarke and Leveridge in composing music for "The Island Princess," an opera by Motteux, and he also composed music for a "Saint Cecilia Ode" written by Addison for performance at Oxford. In 1700 he composed the work which has generally been considered his greatest success, an opera entitled "The Grove, or Love's Paradise," written by J. Oldmixon, and performed at Drury Lane. Daniel Purcell is said to have designed and penned this music whilst staying with his patron, Anthony Henley, of the Grange, in Hampshire, or at the residence of Philip Norton, of Southwick, in the same county, another of his patrons, who was in the habit of entertaining his friends in the summer time with dramatic representations.

On the 21st of March, 1699,[62] the following advertisement appeared in the London Gazette:—

"Several persons of quality, having for the encouragement of musick advanced 200 guineas, to be distributed in 4 prizes, the first of 100, the second of 50, the third of 30, and the fourth of 20 guineas, to such masters as shall be adjudged to compose the best; this is therefore to give notice, that those who intend to put in for the prizes are to repair to Jacob Tonson at Gray's-Inn Gate, before Easter next day, where they may be further informed."

The Earl of Halifax was the originator and one of the principal contributors to the prize fund; he was also one of the adjudicators. The poem selected for the composers to exercise their skill and fancy on was "The Judgment of Paris," written by Congreve. The first prize was won by John Weldon,[63] the second by John Eccles, the third by Daniel Purcell, and the fourth by Godfrey Finger.

The prize compositions of Daniel Purcell and Eccles were speedily published, but Weldon's work remains in MS., as does also that by Finger, who was so annoyed at the small success his composition achieved that he left England in disgust.

In 1701 Daniel Purcell composed music for "The Unhappy Penitent," a tragedy by Catherine Trotter; in 1702 for "The Inconstant," a comedy by Farquhar. In the Diverting Post, October 28th, 1704, we read—

"The Play-house in the Hay-Market (the architect being John Vanbrugh, Esq.), built by the subscription money of most of our Nobility, is almost finish'd: in the meantime two operas, translated from the Italian by good Hands, are setting to musick, one by Mr. Daniel Purcel, which is called 'Orlando Furioso,' and the other by Mr. Clayton: both operas are to be perform'd by the best artists, eminent both for Vocal and Instrumental Musick, at the Opening of the House."

This composition was very highly commended in the Muses Mercury, 1707, which speaks also in warm terms of a masque set by Daniel Purcell called "Orpheus and Euridice." In 1707 he composed a "Saint Cecilia Ode," which was performed at Oxford in St. Mary's Hall.

An advertisement in the Spectator, No. 340, March 31, 1712, tells us—

"On Wednesday the 3rd of April, at Stationers' Hall, Mr. Daniel Purcell, brother of the memorable Mr. Henry Purcell, will exhibit an entertainment of Vocal and Instrumental Musick entirely new, and all parts to be performed with the greatest excellence."

Amongst his compositions, printed and manuscript; not already mentioned, are Anthems, Songs for the plays "The Careless Husband," "The Humor of the Age," and "Magbeth."[64] "Sonatas or Solos for the violin with a thorough bass for the harpsichord, or bass-violin." "Sonatas for flute and bass," and "A Lamentation for the Death of Mr. Henry Purcell."

The words of this "Lamentation" were written by Nahum Tate, and conclude with the following lines:—

Daniel Purcell was appointed organist of St. Andrew, Holborn, in 1713, and retained the position until his death in 1717. Sir John Hawkins in his History,[65] says:—

"The occasion of Daniel Purcell's coming to London was as follows:—Dr. Sacheverell, who had been a friend of his brother Henry, having been presented to the living of St. Andrew, Holborn, found an organ in the church of Harris's building, which having never been paid for, had from the time of its erection, in 1699, been shut up. The Doctor upon his coming to the living, by a collection from the parishioners, raised money to pay for it; but the title to the place of organist was litigated, the right of election being in question between the rector, the vestry, and the parish at large. Nevertheless he invited Daniel Purcell to London, and he accepted it; but in February, 1717, the vestry, which in that parish is a select one, thought proper to elect Mr. Maurice Greene, afterwards Dr. Greene, in preference to Purcell, who submitted to stand as a candidate. In the year following Greene was made organist of St. Paul's, and Daniel Purcell being then dead, his nephew Edward was a candidate for the place; but it was conferred on Mr. John Isum, who died in June, 1726."

That Hawkins has made a series of mistakes in the above statement, is clear from the following advertisement, which appeared in the Daily Courant, December 12, 1717:—

"Whereas Edward Purcell, only son to the Famous Mr. Henry Purcell, stands candidate for the Organist's place of St. Andrew, Holborn, in the room of his uncle Mr. Daniel Purcell, deceased,—This is to give notice, that the place is to be decided by a general Poll of Housekeepers of the said Parish, whom he humbly hopes, notwithstanding the false and malicious reports of his being a Papist, will be assistant to him in obtaining the said place.

"N.B.—The election will begin upon Tuesday the 17th, at nine in the morning, and continue till Friday following, to four in the afternoon."

This shows that Daniel vacated his organistship by death. Unfortunately the parish book which might tell us the result of the election by the householders cannot be found; but it evidently was not permitted to be a final decision, for on the 17th of the ensuing February, 1718, a Vestry was held, of which the following is a minute:—[66]

"The question being put whether the vestry should take the election of an organist into their nomination, it was agreed in the affirmative.

"The candidates were—

"Mr. Green is elected Organist of the Parish of St. Andrew, Holborn."

The strokes show that Greene was elected by six votes, seemingly the whole vestry, as no votes are marked against the names of the other candidates. Greene, however, soon resigned the appointment, and a new election took place.

"1718, 3^d of April, Mr. Green y^e Organist being elected Organist of St. Paul's and his place as Organist of this Church being become vacant, the Vestry do order his salary be continued to Sunday the 4th of May. It is also ordered that such person who shall be elected Organist of this Parish in the room of Mr. Green, shall be obliged to a constant personall attendance on all Sundays and Holydays.

"The several candidates—

"Agreed that Mr. John Isham be elected Organist of the Parish Church in the room of Mr. Green, and that he have a yearly salary of Fifty pounds payd him out of the Bells and Palls."

Here again Edward Purcell was unsuccessful, Mr. John Isham obtaining eleven votes.

After the death of Daniel Purcell the following advertisement appeared in the Post Boy, Saturday, 26th April, 1718:—

"Musick this day published, Being a choice Collection, &c., to which is added all the Psalm tunes by the late Mr. Daniel Purcell."

This work was probably the curious collection still extant bearing the following title: "The Psalms Set full for the Organ or Harpsichord as they are Plaid in Churches and Chappels in the maner given out; as also with their interludes of great Variety, by Mr. Dan^l Purcell, late Organist of St. Andrew's, Holbourn."

Daniel Purcell is credited by Hawkins as having been more skilful and successful as a punster than as a composer. Of his puns we have now no evidence upon which to form a judgment, but his music exists to show that the historian's verdict is not always to be relied on.

Of the children of Henry Purcell mention has already been made: he had six in all, three of them, John Baptista, Thomas, and Henry, died in infancy, during the lifetime of their father; and it is probable that a fourth child, Mary Peters, survived him but a few months. The daughter Frances, who was born in 1688, outlived both her parents; her mother immediately before her death, in February, 1706, nominated Frances as her executrix and residuary legatee: accordingly she proved the will on the 4th July following. She married Leonard Welsted, a poet and dramatist, son of the Rev. Leonard Welsted, Rector of Abington, Northamptonshire. Welsted had been a King's scholar at Westminster School, from whence he was elected to Trinity College, Cambridge. "When very young he married the daughter of Henry Purcell, the celebrated musician, and obtained an appointment in the Secretary of State's office."[67]

The young couple were of the same age, and must have married when nineteen, as the register of St. Margaret's, Westminster, records the baptism of their daughter Frances on the 2nd of September, 1708.[68] Mrs. Welsted died in 1724, not having attained the age of her celebrated father, and the daughter died in 1726, aged eighteen.

Purcell's youngest son, Edward, born in 1689, was the only one who survived him, and like his father, was but six years old when he became an orphan. His mother had promised her dying husband carefully to attend to the child's education, a promise she conscientiously and affectionately kept for ten years, until 1706, when she died, leaving the lad of sixteen to the guidance of his sister Frances, who was but two years older. The children, however, possessed many influential friends, and in the following year, 1707, Frances married. We know nothing more of Edward's doings for a few succeeding years, but it is probable that he married in 1710, as the register-book of St. Margaret's, Westminster, contains the entry of a baptism on "May 4th, 1711, of Frances, daughter of Edward and Anne Purcell, born on 19th April." The register-book of St. Martin-in-the-Fields for 1716 contains a baptismal entry which seems to refer to a son of Edward Purcell: "Dec. 11, Henry, son of Edward and Anne Purcell, born 26 Nov." In 1717 Edward was a candidate for the organist's place of St. Andrew's, Holborn, as I have shown when speaking of Daniel Purcell; but Edward was, as we have seen, unsuccessful, not only on that occasion, but also in 1718 when he again applied for the appointment. In 1726, on the 8th of July, he was made organist of St. Margaret's, Westminster, and it is said that he succeeded his father as organist of St. Clement's, Eastcheap. In 1738 he was enrolled amongst the first list of members and founders of the "Society of Musicians," now known as the "Royal Society of Musicians," and it is supposed that he died in 1740, as in that year he ceased to be organist of St. Margaret's, Westminster. His successor was appointed on the 6th of August, 1740.

He had a son, the date of whose birth I have not been able to trace, who was named Edward Henry. Hawkins blunders here again: he says Edward Purcell "was succeeded by his son Henry, who had been bred up in the King's Chapel under Mr. Gates. This Henry became also organist of St. Edmund the King, London, and after that of St. John, Hackney. He died about twenty-five years ago.[69] His father was a good organist, but himself a very indifferent one."

The statement is brimful of errors, as we shall see.

Chamberlaine's MagnÆ Britannia Notitia, 1737, on page 219, gives the "children's names" of the Chapel Royal,[70] and there we find Edward Henry Purcell. The correctness of the name is confirmed by an entry in a magnificent book of music now in the Queen's library in Buckingham Palace. The volume is wholly in Henry Purcell's autograph. It had belonged to Edward Purcell, and contains an entry in his hand: "Score booke—Anthems and Welcome Songs, and other songs, all by my father." At the other end of the book is an autograph inscription, "E^d H. Purcell, Grandson to the Author of this book."

In 1753, August 11th, the vestry of St. John, Hackney,

"Resolved and agreed that y^e place of organist of the Parish be and is declared vacant; agreed that the sallary of y^e organist of the Parish be settled.

"Organist his duty.—That the salary of the organist shall for the future be £20 by the year, and that for his said salary he shall attend all Sundays in the year, and on all days whenever a sermon shall be preached, Fast-days excepted, and that on every Sunday throughout the year a voluntary shall be played after both morning and evening service."

"Ordered, that an advertisement be published in the paper called the Daily Advertiser, that the place of Organist of this Parish is vacant, and that all persons who are willing to be candidates for the same may apply to Mr. Ch.-warden Barnard."

"On the 22nd Sept., 1753, the candidates appeared separately before the Vestry, 'and a Vestry was held to choose an organist.' Candidates being—

"The majority being for Mr. Ed. Hen. Purcell, he was declared Organist of this Parish till Easter next."

The parish books show that he was re-elected annually down to Easter Tuesday, April 24, 1764, when there is an entry—

"Complaint having been made against Edward Henry Purcell the present organist. Resolved—That the Vestry Clerk do write to the said Edward Henry Purcell and acquaint him that the Vestry insists on his being regular in his attendance, and that he do give in the name of his Deputy to the Churchwardens, and also give notice from time to time to the Churchwardens for the time being when he shall charge him and who he shall appoint in his stead."

"April 30, 1764. The Vestry Clerk acquainted the Vestry that he had wrote to Mr. Purcell the Organist agreeable to the Resolution of the last Vestry. Resolved that the choice of an organist be deferred until the next Vestry and that Mr. Purcell do officiate in the meantime."

There is also an entry made by the Vestry Clerk, April, 1764: "N.B.—Wrote to him and he said he would name his deputy."

On Easter Tuesday, April 8th, 1765, the Vestry minutes record the appointment of organ-blower, but no mention is made of the organist; we may therefore infer that Purcell was not continued in the post, as in the following year, 1766, we read—

"Resolved that David L^d Heureux organist, Sarah Palmer organ-blower, Be and they are hereby continued in their respective offices at their annual Sallarys until Easter Tuesday next."

ORGANISTS OF WESTMINSTER ABBEY.

MASTERS OF THE CHORISTER BOYS OF WESTMINSTER ABBEY.

MUSIC COPYISTS OF WESTMINSTER ABBEY.

CHRONOLOGICAL MEMORANDA.