Thomas Purcell and Pelham Humphries were also associated as masters of the King's band of "four-and-twenty fiddlers;" but Purcell was chief and leader, either by virtue of seniority or special appointment.
A curious document in Thomas Purcell's autograph is preserved by the "Royal Society of Musicians," which gives the names of the gentlemen of the band and other interesting particulars; it reads as follows:--
"The names of the Genᵗ of his Maᵗᴵᵉˢ Private Musick who are to attend his Maᵗᴵᵉ at Windsor paid out the Excheker:
Tho. Mr. Purcell } 200 0 0 Pelham Mr. Humphreys } Joᴺ. Mr. Hardinge 40 0 0 Wᵐ. Mr. Howes 46 10 10 Tho. Mr. Blagrave, Seigʳ. 40 9 2 Alphonso Mr. March 40 0 0 Joᴺ. Mr. Goodgroome 40 0 0 Nat. Mr. Wattkins 40 0 0 Math. Mr. Lock 40 0 0 Joᴺ. Mr. Clayton 152 13 4 Isaac Mr. Stagins, Seigʳ. 46 10 10 Nich. Mr. Stagings, Junʳ. 46 10 10 Tho. Mr. Battes 90 0 0 John Mr. Lilly 40 0 0 Hen. Mr. Gregory 60 0 0 Theophilus Mr. Hills 46 10 10 Henry Mr. Madge 86 12 8 John Mr. Gombell 46 10 10 Richᵈ. Mr. Dorney 20 0 0 Joᴺ. Mr. Banister, Seigʳ. 100 0 0 Phil. Mr. Beckett 60 2 6 Roᵇ. Mr. Blagrave, Junʳ. 58 14 2 John Mr. Singleton 46 10 10 Robt. Mr. Strange 46 10 10 --------------
"15 May, 1674. These 24 Gent. of his Maᵗᴵᵉˢ private musick are to attend at Windsore. "T. PURCELL."
In the original of the foregoing document the Christian names were evidently prefixed after the list had been written out; the spelling of the surnames is curious; Stagins, father and son are spelt differently; another proof, if it were required, of the utter indifference to such matters at that period.
Pepys in his Diary (Dec. 19, 1666) made an entry that "many of the musique are ready to starve, they being five years behindhand for their wages." This irregularity of payment of the "King's musique" seems to have continued, for we find in the accounts of the "Treasurer of the Chamber," the following record:--
"Paid to Thomas Pursell at xxᴸᴵ pr. ann. for Wages, and xvjᴸᴵ ijˢ vjᵈ pr. ann. for a Livery, due for fower yeares and 3 quarters ended at Mic'mas, 1672.
Thomas Purcell was evidently a popular man, and on the 24th of June, 1672, he was elected "Marshall of the Corporation of Musique in Westminster," in room of Captain Cooke,[10] who resigned "by reason of sicknesse." Two years later he received another court appointment from the King; a state paper preserved in the Record Office tells us that he succeeded "John Wilson, deceased, to hold during His Majesty's pleasure, with the fee of £20 per annum, payable quarterly out of the Exchequer, to commence 25th March, 1674," subscribed by warrant from the Earl of Burlington, Master of His Majesty's Household.