University of Virginia Library

In Approbation of this Worke.

In former Age, among Musicians rare,
Regard was had of Measures then in vse
And Characters; ordain'd by speciall care,
Least after-Cōmers should the same abuse,
But for as much as those Composers Sage
Occasion had not to apply each thing
Vnto the divers Humours which this Age
Hath studied out, and to the world doth bring:
I well approue this Authors Diligence,
Who by his Labour Characters hath found,
To shew what bare to fore by negligence
Hath beene omitted, and for certaine ground
To make that plaine, that wanting was before
In Measures, Times, Prolations well obseru'd.
Wherein his Commendations is the more,
His Songs, and Skill high Praise hath well deseru'd.

Of this Ensuing Discourse.

Markes that did limit Lands is former times
None durst remain so much the common good
Preuail'd with all men; 'twas the worst of crimes.
The like in Musicke may be vnderstood,
For That the treasure of the Soule is next
To the rich Store-house of Diuinity:
Both comfort Soules that are with care perplext
and set the Spirit Both from passions free.
The Markes that limit Musicke heere are taught,
So fixt of ould, which none by right can change,
Though Vse much alteration hath wrought,
To Musickes Fathers that would now seeme strange.
The best embrace, which herein you may finde,
And th'Author praise for his good Worke, and Minde.

Iohn Dowland Bachelar of Musicke, and Lutenist to the Kings Sacred Maiestie, in commendation of this Worke.

Figurate Musicke doth in each Degree
Require it Notes, of seuerall Quantity;
By Perfect, or Imperfect Measure chang'd:
And that of More, or Lesse, whose Markes were rang'd
By Number, Circle, and Poynt: but various vse
Of vnskild Composers did induce
Confusion, which made muddy and obscure,
What first Inuention fram'd most cleere, and pure.
Those, (worthy Ravenscroft) are restrain'd by Thee
To me fixt Forme: and that approu'd by Me.

In the most iust praise of, Musicke, this praiseworthy Worke, and my deare, vertuous, and right expert friend, the most iudicious Author.

The ten-fold Orbes of Heauen are said to moue
By Musicke; for, they make Harmonious din:
And all the Powres subordinate aboue
Spend Time, nay, spend Æternity therein.
If Musicke then, moue all that All doth moue;
That's not compriz'd in ALL that spights her State:
If not in ALL, it's nought; which who doth loue
is worse then nought, to loue what Heau'n doth hate:
For, NOVGHT is nothing; sith it was not made
By that great WORD, without which made was nought:
Then, if that nought but NOVGHT doe her inuade,
Like God, her goodnesse is surmounting THOVGHT!
But no man is so ill that hath no good;
So, no man in the Abstract can be nought:
Then 'tis no man that hates sweete Musickes moode,
But Some-thing worse then all that can be thought.
A Beast? O no: A Monster? neither. Then
Is it a Deuill? Nothing lesse: for, these
Haue Beings with an Angell, or a Man;
But that exists not, that sweete Notes displease.
FORMES, Essence giue to Man, Beast, Fish, & Fowle;
Then Men WERE not, had they no Soule (their Forme)
But Musickes haters haue no Forme, nor Soule;
So, they (like Sinne) exist but to enorme,
For, had they Soules produc'd in Harmony,
Or rather Are it selfe (some Wise euouch)
They would be ravisht with her Suauity,
And turn'd Cœlestiall with her Heauenly Touch!
But, let them goe as more than mortall Sinne
'Gainst Wisedomes Spirit, not to be forgiuen:
While thou dost wooe the Soules, which thou dost winne
With thy sweet Notes (deere Friend) to mind but Heau'n.
Thy Nature, Manners, and thy Notes doe make
A Three-fold-Cord, to drawe all hearts it gaines:
Thy Musickes Cordes hold Eares and Eyes awake
(Yet lullaby in pleasure) with their Straines.
So, then this latter Musicke (though alone)
'Twixt Fame and Thee doth make an Vnison,
Through which consent, though Deaths clouds thee o're run
Thy glory still shall shine, and cloud the Sun.

In Approbation of this ensuing Discourse, and the Author therof my deare friend, Maister Thomas Ravenscroft.

Arts are much alt'red from their Pristine State,
Humors and Fancies so prædominate.
Ould Artists though they were Plaine, yet were Sure,
Their Præcepts and their Principles were Pure:
But now a dayes We scarce retaine the Grounds,
W'are so Extrauagant beyond our Bounds.
Among the Rest, Musicke (that noble Art)
In this sad Elegie must beare a Part;
Whose Purity was such in times of yore,
(When Theory the Practise went before)
That then She was had in as great Esteeme
As now of Her the Vulgar basely Deeme.
Errors in Figures, Characters, and Note
Doe Now cause many Teach, and Learne by rote.
This my deare Friend doth seeke beere to amend;
Wherein he trauaild farre, great paines did spend
To right his Mother; he seekes to reduce
Her to her auntient Grounds, and former Vse,
To beate downe Common Practise, that doth range
Among the Commons, and her Præcepts change.
Heere shall you finde of Measures diuers sorts,
For Church, for Madrigalls, for sundry Sports;
Heere shall you finde true Iudgement, store of reading,
All for the Ould true Rules of Musicke pleading.
Numbers of 3. among the Meane respected
Are hence exil'd, and (worthily) reiected,
As being crept in by Custome, and Vse
Among the Vulgars, which the Wise refuse.
Much might be said more of this little Booke:
But let the Reader iudge that on't shall looke.
This of the Author onely I will say,
That in One poynt to no man he giues way;
Composing of a Song vnto some Ditty
He is so Iudicious and so Witty,
That waighing first the Nature of each Word
He findes fit Notes, that thereunto accord,
Making both Sound and Sence well to agree;
Witnesse his sundry Songs of Harmonie.
What shall I say more? this Worke I approoue,
And for his Skill, and Paines the Author loue.

To him that reades.

Concord and Discord still haue beene at ods
Since the first howre the Heathens made them Gods.
In euery Profession, Trade, or Art
They draw their swords, and each Wit takes a part.
There's neither Starre that moues, nor Hearbe that growes,
But they Dispute vpon't with Words, or Blowes.
'Mongst which Musitians, hanging vp their Harpes
Doe growe to fall Flat out, for Flats and Sharpes,
And by their Discord make that Art vneuen,
Whose Concord should expresse that Peace in Heauen:
But heere is One, whose Doue-like Pen of Peace
Striues to out-flie such Strife, and make it cease;
And Discord brings with Concord to agree,
That from their Strife he raises Harmonie.
He that for Loue doth This, and not for Gaine,
Must needes haue Praise, the proper due for Paine.

To my deare Friend Maister Thomas Ravenscroft, vpon this Worke.

I Prophesie (deare Friend) that thou which giu'st
The Dead deserued Bayes, shalt while thou liu'st
Neuer want Garlands of that Sacred Tree
To Crowne thee in Æternall memorie:
Thou that hast made the dying Coales to Glowe
Of ould Ed. Piers his name; which now shall growe
('Gainst all that enuious or malicious bee)
In high Opinion 'mongst Posteritie;
Nor shall they touch Worth without Reuerence,
In whome once dwelt such perfect Excellence
In Heaun'ly Musicke; I may call it so,
If ould Pythagoras said truely, who
Affirm'd that the Sphæres Cælestiall
Are in their Motion truly Musicall:
And Man, in whome is found a humane Minde,
(Then Whome, (Angells except) who e're could finde
A Nobler Creature) some affirme consisteth
Onely of Harmony, wherein existeth
The Soule of Musicke; and yet (but for Thee)
This Man had dy'd to all mens memorie;
Whose Name (now cleans'd from rust) this Worke of thine
(While there are Times or Men) I doe deuine
Shall keepe Aliue; nor shall thy owne Name die,
But by this Worke liue to Æternitie:
And from it men hereafter shall pull out
Scourges, to lash the base Mechanicke Rout
Of Mercenary Minstrels, who haue made
(To their owne scorne) this Noble Art, a Trade.

Hunting, & Hawking

[1]
A Hunts vp.

2
For Hunting.

Hey trola, trola, hey trola

Hey trola, trola, hey trola. trola, there, there boyes there hoicka, hoick, whoope Crie there they goe, crie, there they goe, they goe, they are at a fault. Boy winde the Horne, Horne, Boy, winde the Horne,

The Hunting of the Hare.

Horne, Horne: Sing tiue, tiue, tiue

Horne, Horne: Sing tiue, tiue, tiue, Now in full crie, with yeeble yable, gibble gabble, hey, with with gibble gabble hey, with hey with hey, the Hounds doe knocke it lustily, with open mouth and lustie crye.

3
A Hawkes-vp, for a Hunts vp.

4
Hawking for the Partridge.

Sith Sickles & the sheering Sythe

Sith Sickles & the sheering Sythe, hath shorne the Feilds of late, now shall our Hawkes & we be blythe, Dame Partridge ware your pate: our murdring Kites, in all their flights, wil sild or neuer neuer neuer feld or neuer misse, To trusse you euer euer euer euer, & make your bale our blisse, whur ret Duty, whur ret Beauty ret, whur ret Loue, whur ret, hey dogs hey

ware haunt, hey Sempster, ret Faver, ret minx, ret Dido, ret Ciuill, ret Lemmon, ret, whur, whur, let flie let flie O well flowne: well flowne eager Kite, marke, marke, O marke belowe the Ley, this was a fayre, most fayre and Kingly flight, we Falkners thus make sullen Kites yeeld pleasure fit for Kings, & sport with them and in those delights, and oft, and oft in other things, and oft in other things. sport with them, and with them in those delights, & oft in other things, and oft oft in other things.

5
For the Hearne and Ducke.

Lver Faulkne

Lver Faulkne: sluer, giue warning to the Feild, let flye let flye, make mounting Hearnes to yeilde.

Dye fearfull Duckes, and climbe no more so high, The Nyas Hauke will kisse the Azure Skie. But when our Soare Haukes flye, & stiffe windes blowe: then long to late we Faulkners, crye hey lo, hey lo, hey lo. hey lo, hey lo. But when &c.

Dauncing.

6
The Fayries Daunce.

Dare you haunt our hallowed greene,
none but Fayries heere are seene,
downe and sleepe, wake and weepe:
pinch himblacke, and pinch him blew,
that seekes to steale a louer true.
When you come to hear vs sing,
or to tread our Fayrie ring,
pinch him blacke & pinch him blew,
O thus our nayles shall handle you, thus our nayles shall handle you.

7
The Satyres Daunce.

Round a round a keep your ring
to the gloriousSunne, we sing
Hoe! he that weares the flaming rayes,
and the Imperiall Crowne of Bayes,
Him with shoutes and songs we praise,
that in his bountie would vouchsafe,
to grace the humble, humble
Syluans & their shaggy race.

8
The Urchins Daunce.

By the moone we sport & play,
with the night begins our day,
as we friske the dew doth fall,
trip it, little Vrchins all,
lightly as the little bee,
two by two, and three by three,
and about, about goe we.

9
The Elues Daunce.

Round about in a faire ring a

Round about in a faire ring a, thus we daunce and thus we sing a, trip and trip and goe, too and fro and fro, too and fro, too and fro, ouer this greene a, all about, in and out, all about, in and out ouer this greene a. all about, &c.

Drinking.

[10 Trudge away quickly & fill the black Bole]

11
Of Drinking.

12
Ale and Tobacco.

Enamoring.

[13 What seekes thou foole?]

What seekes thou foole

What seekes thou foole, what seeks thou foole in this place? thou foole, thou foole, gay cloaths and a purse of gould, foole foole, foole foole, whom a woman sets to schoole foole foole, whom a woman sets to schoole, whom &c.

14
The Seruant of his Mistris.

15
Of Enamoring.

The Mistris of her Seruant.

Loue for such a chery lip

Loue for such a chery lip, &c.

16
Their Mariage Zolemnized.

Leaue of Hymen

Leaue of Hymen, and let vs borrow to bid the Sunne good morrow, good morrow good morrow. See the Sunne cannot refraine, but doth rise and giue againe, that which you of Hymen borrow, and with smiling bidst good morrow, good morrow to the Sunne, and to our Brides good-night to your sweet Beauties, sweet Beauties touch your side.

17
Hodge Trillindle to his Zweet hort Malkyn.

Coame Malkyn, hurle thine oyz at Hodge Trillindle

Coame Malkyn, hurle thine oyz at Hodge Trillindle, And zet a zide thy Distaue thy Distaue and thy Zpindle, a little little tyny let a ma brast my minde, to thee which I haue vownd as ghurst as ghinde, yet loaue ma (Zweet, Zweet, Zweet,) a little tyny vit, and wee a little little Wedelocke wooll gommit, a little little tyny Wedelocke wooll gommit, y vaith wooll wee, wooll wee, that wee wooll y vaith lo.

18
Malkinz anzwer to Hodge Trillindle.

Yo tell yo tell ma zo

Yo tell yo tell ma zo: but Roger I cha vound your words but wynde: thon not for vorty bound, wooll I beeleaue yo vurther thon Ich zee your words and deeds loyke Beeans and Bacoan gree: But if yol loaue ma long a little little vit, Thon wedlocke Ich a little wool gomit, A little little tyny wedlocke wool gommit y vayth wooll I, thot ich wooll thot Ich wooll I vayth lo.

19
Their Goncluzion.

Ich con but zweare

Ich con but zweare, &c. Thon Roger zweare yo wooll be virmer thon yo weare: zo Roger zweare an oape hold Hodge O hold, oie to wyd yo gape, O hold, O hold, thowlt byte I zweare my wozen. Ich do good Hodge thon zweare no more, Ich wooll bee thoyne and God a bee vore, Ich be thoyne, & God a beevore.

Thon geat wee Growdes ond Boagbipes ond ond Boagbipes, Harbes ond Dabors to leead vs on to eand ower loaues to eand ower loaues great labors, to eand ower loaues great labors

20
Their Wedlocke.

A borgens a borgens, che hard long a goe

A borgens a borgens, che hard long a goe bee merry merry ond a vig vor woe, O tis faliant zport, then let this Burden zweet ly zung be ztill, A Borgens a Borgen bee't good be it ill, A

A Borgens a Borgen, vor weale or vor woe. So euer led dis bleasing Borden goe, So bleasing Burden goe.