University of Virginia Library

This excellent philosophical song appears to have been famous in the sixteenth century. It is quoted by Ben Jonson in his play of “Every man out of his humour,” first acted in 1599. A. 1. sc. 1. where an impatient person says,

“I am no such pil'd cynique to beleeve
“That beggery is the onely happinesse,

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“Or, with a number of these patient fooles,
“To sing, “My minde to me a kingdome is,”
“When the lanke hungrie belly barkes for foode.”

It is here chiefly printed from a thin quarto Musick-book, intitled, “Bassus. Psalmes, Sonets and Songs of sadnes and pietie, made into Musicke of five parts: &c. By William Byrd, one of the Gent. of the Queenes Maiesties honorable Chappell.—Printed by Thomas East, &c.” 4to. no date: but Ames in his Typog. has mentioned another edit. of the same book, dated 1588, which I take to have been later than this of ours.

Some improvements and an additional stanza (sc. the 5th.) were had from two other ancient copies; one of them in black letter in the Pepys Collection, thus inscribed, “A sweet and pleasant sonet, entituled, “My Minde to me a Kingdom is. To the tune of, In Crete, &c.”

To these last were subjoined four other stanzas, as part of the same poem, and were accordingly so printed in our first edit. but as they are given separate by Byrd, as an independent piece, they are accordingly so printed here: See below, Song VII.