Biography of Christoper Gibbons 1615-1676

On or before 22 Aug 1615 Christoper Gibbons was born. He was baptised on 22 Aug 1615.

Pepy's Diary. 19 May 1661. Then to my Lord's, where we went and sat talking and laughing in the drawing-room a great while. All our talk about their going to sea this voyage, which Capt. Ferrers is in some doubt whether he shall go or no, but swears that he would go, if he were sure never to come back again; and I, giving him some hopes, he grew so mad with joy that he fell a-dancing and leaping like a madman. Now it fell out so that the balcone windows were open, and he went to the rayle and made an offer to leap over, and asked what if he should leap over there. I told him I would give him £40 if he did not go to sea. With that thought I shut the doors, and W. Howe hindered him all we could; yet he opened them again, and, with a vault, leaps down into the garden:-the greatest and most desperate frolic that ever I saw in my life. I run to see what was become of him, and we found him crawled upon his knees, but could not rise; so we went down into the garden and dragged him to the bench, where he looked like a dead man, but could not stir; and, though he had broke nothing, yet his pain in his back was such as he could not endure. With this, my Lord (who was in the little new room) come to us in amaze, and bid us carry him up, which, by our strength, we did, and so laid him in East's bed, by the door; where he lay in great pain. We sent for a doctor and chyrurgeon, but none to be found, till by-and-by by chance comes in Dr. Clerke, who is afeard of him. So we sent to get a lodging for him, and I went up to my Lord, where Captain Cooke (age 45), Mr. Gibbons (age 45), and others of the King's musicians were come to present my Lord with some songs and symphonys, which were performed very finely.

Pepy's Diary. 13 Jun 1662. Thence to my Lady's, and there dined with her, Mr. Laxton, Gibbons (age 46), and Goldgroove with us, and after dinner some musique, and so home to my business, and in the evening my wife and I, and Sarah and the boy, a most pleasant walk to Halfway house, and so home and to bed.

Pepy's Diary. 21 Dec 1662. Thence walked to White Hall, and there to chappell, and from thence up stairs, and up and down the house and gallerys on the King's and Queen's (age 24) side, and so through the garden to my Lord's lodgings, where there was Mr. Gibbons (age 47), Madge, and Mallard, and Pagett; and by and by comes in my Lord Sandwich (age 37), and so we had great store of good musique.

Pepy's Diary. 27 May 1663. After dinner (Mr. Gibbons (age 47) being come in also before dinner done) to musique, they played a good Fancy, to which my Lord is fallen again, and says he cannot endure a merry tune, which is a strange turn of his humour, after he has for two or three years flung off the practice of Fancies and played only fidlers' tunes.

Pepy's Diary. 23 Dec 1666. So set them down at White Hall, and I to the Chapel to find Dr. Gibbons (age 51), and from him to the Harp and Ball to transcribe the treble which I would have him to set a bass to. But this took me so much time, and it growing night, I was fearful of missing a coach, and therefore took a coach and to rights to call Michell and his wife at their father Howlett's, and so home, it being cold, and the ground all snow.... They gone I to my chamber, and with my brother and wife did number all my books in my closet, and took a list of their names, which pleases me mightily, and is a jobb I wanted much to have done. Then to supper and to bed.

Pepy's Diary. 24 Feb 1668. Thence to the Exchange [Map] and left her; while meeting Dr. Gibbons (age 52) there, he and I to see an organ at the Dean of Westminster's lodgings at the Abby, the Bishop of Rochester (age 43); where he lives like a great prelate, his lodgings being very good; though at present under great disgrace at Court, being put by his Clerk of the Closet's place. I saw his lady, of whom the 'Terræ filius' of Oxford was once so merry1 and two children, whereof one a very pretty little boy, like him, so fat and black. Here I saw the organ; but it is too big for my house, and the fashion do not please me enough; and therefore will not have it.

Note 1. A scholar appointed to make a satirical and jesting speech at an Act in the University of Oxford. Mr. Christopher Wordsworth gives, in his "Social Life at the English Universities in the Eighteenth Century", 1874, a list of terra-filii from 1591 to 1713 (pp. 296- 298, 680). The 'Terræ filius' was sometimes expelled the university on account of the licence of his speech. The practice was discontinued early in the eighteenth century.

Pepy's Diary. 03 Aug 1668. Up, and by water to White Hall and St. James's, where I did much business, and about noon meeting Dr. Gibbons (age 52), carried him to the Sun taverne, in King Street, and there made him, and some friends of his, drink; among others, Captain Silas Taylor (age 44), and here did get Gibbons to promise me some things for my flageolets.

On 20 Oct 1676 Christoper Gibbons (age 61) died.