Mr. Ferraby then entertained his Majesty at the
Bush, in Cotefield, with bucoliques of his own making and composing,
of four parts; which were sung by his parishioners, who wore frocks
and whippes like carters. Whilst his majesty was thus diverted, the
eight bells (of which he was the cause) did ring, and the organ was
played on for state; and after this musicall entertainment he
entertained his Majesty with a foot-ball match of his own
parishioners. This parish in those dayes would have challenged all
England for musique, foot-ball, and ringing. For this entertainment
his Majesty made him one of his chaplains in ordinary.
When Queen Anne† returned from Bathe, he made an entertainment for her
Majesty on Canning's-down, sc. at Shepherds-shard,‡ at Wensditch,
with a pastorall performed by himself and his parishioners in
shepherds' weeds. A copie of his song was printed within a compartment
excellently well engraved and designed, with goates, pipes, sheep
hooks, cornucopias, &c. [Aubrey has transcribed it into his
manuscript. It appears that it was sung as above mentioned on the
llth of June 1613; being "voyc't in four parts compleatly musicall";
and we are told that "it was by her Highnesse not only most gratiously
accepted and approved, but also bounteously rewarded; and by the right
honourable, worshipfull, and the rest of the generall hearers and
beholders, worthily applauded". See this also noticed in Wood's "Fasti
Oxonienses", under "Ferebe", and in Nichols's Progresses, &c.
Pages:
234
235
236
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
258