_John of Padua_ (Vol. v., pp. 79. 161.).--I am afraid we are not likely
to obtain much additional information about John of Padua. The only
account of him which I have ever met with is contained in the Earl of
Orford's _Works_ (vol. iii. p. 100. et seqq., edit. 1798). The warrant,
dated 1544, is there copied from Rymer's _Foedera_?; and from an
expression which it contains, the inference is drawn that "John of Padua
was not only an architect, but musician." I am not aware whether or no
there is any other authority for such inference, but, if there is not, I
submit that the evidence is far from conclusive. The words in the
warrant run thus: A fee of two shillings per diem is granted to John,
"in consideratione boni et fidelis servitii quod dilectus serviens
noster Johannes de Padua nobis in architecture, ac _aliis in re musica
inventis_ impendit ac impendere intendit."
Now, Sir, I submit that _res musica_, in this passage, is used in the
same sense as the Greek ἡ μουσικὴ for "the fine arts;" and
that the passage can have no reference to the art of the musician.
If John of Padua had been a musician, we should most probably meet with
his name in some of the accounts of plays and pageants during this
reign; and the silence of your correspondents seems to imply that no
information concerning him is to be obtained from those sources.
In the absence of further proof, then, I have no hesitation in proposing
to the critical readers of "N. & Q.," a resolution that, It is the
opinion of this council that there is no sufficient evidence that John
of Padua was a musician.