Ribibe

Well, my friend, and where is your ribibe, or such like instrument, belonging to a minstrel?

"The tones of lutes and ribibes [translating German Ribeben] I have right masterly and fine As ordered by imperial might.

The tone of the rubebe was similar to that of the lower register of the modern viola. As it possessed but two strings, however, its range was necessarily limited.

The Rybybe is well portrayed among the Norman carvings of the twelfth century which adorn the south doorway of Barfreston Church in Kent (Plate XV).

Over the high-altar at Gloucester the bosses, which are foliated in the rest of the choir, represent angel-musicians, whose varied orchestra would have out-rivalled that of Nebuchadnezzar the King; harp, hutchet and psaltery; lute, clarion, shawm; bag-pipe, ribibe, gittern; bozine, symphony, cymbals; organ, tabor and timbrel, the very names ring in one's ears like the stately cadences of celestial music.

The rebec or ribibe, a favourite instrument with Chaucer, may be counted as one of the precursors of our violin.

The Persian hunting scene, the Arabian ribibi. Here, that is, in Janequin we find ground for one of the basic dissociations of music.

Or some good ribibe about Kentish Town or Hogsden, you would hang now for a witch