"Choristicus-- Et in denariis solutis Henry Purcell, Pro datum chorist ad--lxviˢ viyᵈ Intoto hoc anno xxxiy£ viˢ viyᵈ. Ac etiam et contess Henᵒ Purcell, pro Chorist. xx£. Organista Chr. Gibbons £10.
"To Mr. Chaunter for nine Holly days-- On All Saints day 39_s._ } The first of November " } Christmas day " } Epiphany " } £ _s._ Candlemas day " } 8 12 Lady day " } Easter day " } Whitson day " } St. Peter's day " }
"To George Dalham, for tuning the organ this year, 40_s._[6]
"To John Hill,[7] for playing on the cornett in the church this year, £4.
"To the organist for rent of his house, £8.
"Given to the organist[8] out of the rents at the taking of his degree, £5.
"Given by order to the christened Turke--nil.[9]
"Jan. 11, 1664--"J. DOLBEN, _Decanus_. WAL. JONES, _Sub Decanus_. H. KILLIGREW. S. BOLTON. CHARLES GIBBES. ROBT. SOUTH. RIC. PERRINCHIEF."
In addition to the before-mentioned appointments at the Chapel Royal and Westminster Abbey held by Purcell, senior, we find that he was also a member of the Royal band. The old cheque-book of the Chapel Royal in recording his death places the matter beyond doubt:--
"These are to certify that Mr. Henry Purcell, who succeeded Segnor Angello in his place of the private musicke; that the said Mr. Henry Purcell took possession of his place in the year 1663, upon St. Thomas's day; deceased the 11th August, 1664. These are to certifye the death of Mr. Henry Purcell.
"HENRY COOKE. THO. PURCELL. ALPHONSO MARSH. GREGORY THORNDALE. EDWARD COLMAN."
It is clear from the foregoing account of the numerous important musical posts which the father held, that he was a man of considerable ability, and fully equal to the task of guiding and fostering the musical predilections of his infant son; and there can be no doubt that Henry Purcell received his earliest instructions in the art of music from his father. When the latter died he was buried in the cloisters of Westminster Abbey; his age has not been ascertained, but presumably he was but a young man--perhaps he was naturally weak in constitution--and from him the boy Henry may have inherited the seeds of consumption. The elder Purcell died in 1664, at which time the young Henry was just six years old, and with his natural genius he had doubtless already acquired some considerable skill in music. It is certain that he was immediately admitted as a chorister of the Chapel Royal. Happily for him he had been left by his father to the guardianship of his uncle Thomas Purcell, who most warmly and affectionately endeavoured to supply the place of the lost parent by adopting the orphan as his own son.