office. It may be that the Middle Temple succeeded in their desire to have him decide ‘the matter in difference,’ or as suggested in a note to the above account in Dr. Rimbault's ‘History of the Organ,’ page 77, ‘that the contest was decided by vote. Jefferies happened to be "of the house," and it fell to his lot to give the casting vote.’ Many other writers have ascribed the decision to Jefferies, but I presume they all derived their information from the same source as did Burney."
The exact date of the termination of this celebrated "battle of the organs" does not appear, but it may fairly be stated as being about the end of 1687, or beginning of 1688. The original deed of sale bears date, June 20, 1688, and is still preserved in the Middle Temple. It read as follows:
"June 21, 1688.
Mr. Bernard Smythe's Bargaine and Sale of ye Organ in ye Temple Church to both ye Societys of ye Temple.
"Know all men by these presents, That I, Bernard Smyth, of London, Gent., for and in consideration of one thousand pounds of lawfull money of England to me paid (to wit) Five hundred pounds, parte thereof, by the Treasurer of the Society of the Middle Temple London, and the other moiety by the Treasurer of the
