The Lizard (tenor cornett) click on image for lizard sound (104 kb wav) or here for same in mp3 format

The tenor of the zink family (also known as lysard or lysarden) has the peculiar curved shape of a flattened letter s. Besides giving the instrument its name, this shape helps the player cover the finger holes on this longer zink. The holes for each hand happen to be in the portion of the curves which are closest to the player. The lizard's tone is pleasing, yet rather foggy. It blends well with voices and plays on one of the inner voices of an ensemble. A Lyserden is listed in the waits' band of Exeter in 1575 and a lysarden appears in the inventory made in 1602 of the instruments at Hengrave Hall, Suffolk, that belonged to Thomas Kytson. Refer to the serpent page to see the bass of the cornett family. Musica Antiqua's collection includes a replica by Moeck Musica Antiqua Instruments

Additional Resources:

• W. L. Woodfill: Musicians in English Society from Elizabeth I to Charles I, (Princeton, NJ, 1953)
• F. W. Galpin: Old English Instruments of Music (London, 1910)