Another warrant under the signet gives an order to the treasurer of the chamber for the time being, "to pay unto Thomas Purcell (one of His Majesty's Musicians in Ordinary, in the place of Dr. John Wilson, deceased), the wages and fee of £20 by the day, and £16 2_s._ 6_d._ yearly for a livery, payable quarterly, from Lady-day 1674, and to continue during His Majesty's pleasure."
Thomas Purcell lived till 1682, so that he had the satisfaction of witnessing the extraordinary development of his nephew's genius, and could also rejoice to see the general recognition of his merits, and of the honourable rewards he was so rapidly acquiring. When, at last, full of years and honours, Thomas departed this life, he was buried near his brother in the cloisters of Westminster Abbey. We seek in vain for the musical compositions of either Henry (the elder) or of Thomas: with the exception of a few chants in common use in our cathedrals, nothing of their work remains to us.
When Henry Purcell, the younger, became a chorister in the Chapel Royal at six years of age, the master of the boys was Captain Henry Cooke, an old musician, who had belonged to the chapel of Charles I., but who, on the breaking out of civil war, had laid aside the peaceful art of music to engage in the rough dissonances of battle and strife, and changed his service from that of a Royal musician to become a Royalist soldier. In the latter capacity he won a captain's commission, and possibly it was not less as a reward for his devotion and bravery on behalf of his king than as a recognition of his musical ability that Charles II. appointed him "Master of the Children of the Chapel." That he was well qualified for the post can be shown by reference to the opinions of his contemporaries, and also to the numerous compositions of his still extant in manuscript.
Pepys' Diary contains frequent reference to Cooke, and his compositions:--
"After sermon a brave anthem of Captain Cooke's which he himself sang, and the king was well pleased with it." (Aug. 12, 1660.)
"A poor dry sermon, but a very good anthem of Captain Cooke's afterwards." (Oct. 7, 1660.)
"To Whitehall Chapel with Mr. Childe, and there did hear Captain Cooke and his boys make trial of an anthem against to-morrow, which was brave musique." (Feb. 23, 1661.)