J 



28 SKETCH OF THE HISTORY OF THE 



alfo on this inflrumcnt that the harpers were accuf- 

 tomed to play in the nianfions of the Welfli princes 

 and nobility. — For many centuries it had only a 

 fingle row of firings, and it was fo fmall as to be 

 much confined in the compafs of its notes. In this 

 ftate it was necelTary to tune it entirely afrcfli when- 

 ever the performer wiflied to change the key he was 

 playing in. When, however, an accidental fliarp 

 or flat was requifite in the middle of a tune, the 

 performer was able to produce this by running up 

 his hand cloie to the uppermoft bar, and flopping 

 the firing with, his thumb, whilfl at the fame time 

 he dexteroufly played the, note with his finger. This 

 piece of dexterity is now entirely loft. — ^By the 

 bardic lavvs, the under-grcU.luat,^s were only allowed 

 to ufe harps ilrung with horfes hair, curioufly plaited, 

 and not with cat-gut, like the harps of the prefent 

 day. The bodies of fbme of thefe were covered 

 with leather, over the wood, which was fewed at 

 the back extremely tight. The pegs wi|h which 

 the firings were fcrewed were made of bone or 

 ivory. It appears that fome of thefe - inflruments 

 were remaining even fo lately as in the beginning of 

 the fifteenth century -, for a minflrel of this period 

 thus defcribes himlelf and his harp : 



If I iiave my harp, I care for no more, 



It is my treafure, I keep it in (lore ; 



For my harp is made of a good mare's ficin, 



The firings be of horfehair, it maketh good din. 



My f'ng, and my voice, and my harp do agree. 



Much like the buzzing o£ an humble bee j 



Yet 



