worthy encouragement. I cast away a crowne among them, and so to the
'Change and among the Linnen Wholesale Drapers to enquire about Callicos,
to see what can be done with them for the supplying our want of Bewpers
for flaggs, and I think I shall do something therein to good purpose for
the King. So to the Coffeehouse, and there fell in discourse with the
Secretary of the Virtuosi of Gresham College, and had very fine discourse
with him. He tells me of a new invented instrument to be tried before the
College anon, and I intend to see it. So to Trinity House, and there I
dined among the old dull fellows, and so home and to my office a while,
and then comes Mr. Cocker to see me, and I discoursed with him about his
writing and ability of sight, and how I shall do to get some glasse or
other to helpe my eyes by candlelight; and he tells me he will bring me
the helps he hath within a day or two, and shew me what he do. Thence to
the Musique-meeting at the Postoffice, where I was once before. And
thither anon come all the Gresham College, and a great deal of noble
company: and the new instrument was brought called the Arched Viall,

["There seems to be a curious fate reigning over the instruments
which have the word 'arch' prefixed to their name. They have no
vitality, and somehow or other come to grief. Even the famous
archlute, which was still a living thing in the time of Handel, has
now disappeared from the concert room and joined Mr. Pepys's 'Arched
Viall' in the limbo of things forgotten . . . . Mr. Pepys's
verdict that it would never do . . . has been fully confirmed by
the event, as his predictions usually were, being indeed always
founded on calm judgment and close observation."--B. (Hueffer's
Italian and other Studies, 1883, p. 263).]

where being tuned with lute-strings, and played on with kees like an
organ, a piece of parchment is always kept moving; and the strings, which