It was in vain for the Lord Oxford of the day, sneering at Raleigh's sudden elevation, to complain that as on the virginals, so in the State, "Jacks went up, and heads went down."
"The Ancien Regime"
Charles Kingsley
Of course it is understood that both types of virginals as well as the spinet and the harpsichord were keyed chordophones employing the plucking action of jacks and plectra.
"Italian Harpsichord-Building in the 16th and 17th Centuries"
John D. Shortridge
Queen Elizabeth, also, amused herself not only with the lute, the virginals, and her voice, but also with the violin.
"Famous Violinists of To-day and Yesterday"
Henry C. Lahee