The earliest existing printed copies of these tunes are dated 1686, but he reprinted the "Quickstep" in 1689, under the title of "A new Irish tune," in a work called _Musick's Handmaid for the Virginals or Harpsichord_; and he again used the tune as a ground-bass to a piece of incidental music in the play of _The Gordian Knot Unty'd_. The music of "Lillibullero" remains in use to this day in the north of Ireland as a political and party tune, but its use is discontinued by our military bands out of respect for the feelings of our Irish Roman Catholic brethren. In 1687 Henry Playford published _A Pastoral Elegy on the Death of Mr. John Playford, the Words by Mr. Tate, set to Musick by Mr. Henry Purcell_. It has commonly been believed that this was an elegy on "honest John," as he was familiarly called, but in truth it was in memory of the youngest son of the celebrated old publisher. We have no particulars of his death, but judging from the words of the elegy it must have occurred suddenly:-- "Then waste no more in sighs your breath, Nor think his fate was hard; There's no such thing as sudden death To those that always are prepar'd." This John Playford was only twenty-one years of age when he died; he had commenced business as a music publisher, and would seem to have been remarkable for amiability and piety. In January, 1688, Purcell, by virtue of his office as "composer in ordinary to his Majesty," received instructions from the King, James II., to compose an anthem to be performed at the Chapel Royal on the 25th of that month, a day which was commanded to be observed as a general thanksgiving in London and twelve miles round, in consequence of the supposed pregnancy of the Queen. As news travelled but slowly in those days, places beyond the radius named were commanded to keep the 29th as a day of joyful thanksgiving. For the occasion Purcell wrote the anthem commencing, "Blessed are they that fear the Lord;" it is scored for the usual solo voices and chorus, with accompaniments for the organ and quartet of strings. In May, 1688, Purcell had a daughter born; she was baptized in Westminster Abbey, receiving the name of Frances. This child attained to years of maturity, surviving both her father and her mother. This year was a troublous one; the political horizon was black, and the national fortunes were in great jeopardy, people had small time or inclination for public amusements, but Purcell contributed music for at least one play, _The Fool's Preferment, or the Three Dukes of Dunstable_, a comedy by D'Urfey. The songs were sung by William Mountford, who, Colley Cibber says,[35] "sung a clear counter-tenor, and had a melodious warbling throat." "His voice was clear, full, and melodious."