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^icturws,* in considerable numbers, adorned the houses of the opu-lent, and those of value had curtains drawn before them. Shakspeare,in many instances, notices the practice, and its usefulness. Sir Toby Belch , in Twelfth Night, inquires—

“ Wherefore are these things hid? wherefore have these gifts a curtain before them?are they like to take dust, like Mistress Mall’s picture ?”—Act I. Scene 3.

And in Troilus and Cressida , Pandarus says to Cressida—

“ Come draw this curtain, and let’s see your picture .”—Act III. Scene 2.

Other passages from the great bard might be adduced; but Mr. Doucequotes one from Deloney’s “ Pleasant History of Jacke of Newberry,"which is conclusive as to the custom. “ In a faire large parlour,which was wainscotted round about, Jacke of Newberry had fifteenefaire pictures hanging, which were covered with curtains of greenesilke, frienged with gold, which he would often shew to his friendsand servants.” The most valuable pictures are still so preserved inthe galleries of our own time.

iHuStcal Jnstrummte. — In the inventories of private apartmentsa pair of virginals is generally mentioned; and these seem to have beenalmost the only instruments on which the ladies of former days practised.!Indeed, as minstrels were either kept on the establishments of the

* Henry VIII. ’s painters had liveries, the cost of which was xxijs. vjd. each, includingtwo shillings, the allowance for the badges which were affixed to them. Hans Holbein , whowas one of the king’s painters, had a salary of 30?. a-year, as appears by an “ Item, Paide by the kyngis highnes commaundement, certefied by my lorde pryviseales lettres to HansHolbenne, paynter, in the advauncement of his hole yeres wagis before hande, aftre therate of xxxli. by yere .”—Privy Purse Expenses.

t Needle-work seems to have been the great occupation of the ladies. Queen Elizabethwas eminent both for her skill and industry as a needlewoman. “ The various kinds of