A TOUR ROUND NORTH WALES. 285 



Leland, yet it has in general, been con- 

 fidered of fuch high antiquity, as to af- 

 ford a probable conjecture that it might 

 have been the prototype, of the whole 

 fidicinal fpecies of mufical inftruments. 

 Butler, in his Hudibras, feems to hint at 

 it's having been fuch : 



His fiddte is your proper purchafe, 

 Won in the fervice of the churches; 

 And by your doom muft be allow'd 

 To be, or be no more a Crtnvd* 



Spenfer feems alfo to have been ac- 

 quainted with this inftrument, when he 

 lays, 



Hark, how the rainftrils 'gin to fhrill aloud, 

 Their merry mufic that refound$ from far; 



The pipe, the tabor, and the trembling crwad, 

 That well agree withouten breach or jar. 



It does not appear to have been pecu- 

 liar to Wales, for amongft the outfide 

 ornaments of the Abbey of Melrofs, in 

 Scotland, which was built about the 



* A performer on the Crwth was called a Crvvther, 

 hence no doubl originated Butler's name of Crowdero, in 



Hudibras. 



time 



