The Lute Appendix iv f
TO THE RIGHT HONO-
RABLE ROBERT EARLE OF
Salisbury, Viscount Cranborne, Baron of Essingdon,
Lord High Treasurer of England, Principall Secretarie to the Kings most
excellent Maiestie, Maister of the Courts of Wards and Liueries,
Chancellor of the most famous Vniuersitie of Cambridge, Knight
of the most Noble order of the Garter, and one of his Maiesties
most honourable Priuie Counsell.
Your high Place, your princely Honours and Vertues, the hereditary vigilance and wisedome, wherwith Hercules-like, you assist the protection of the whole State: Though these (most honored Lord) are powerfull enticements to draw all sorts to the desire of your most Noble protection. Yet besides all these (in more particular by your Lordships speciall Fauours and Graces) am I emboldened to present this Father of Musicke Ornithoparchus to your worthyest Patronage, whose approvued Works in my trauailes (for the common good of our Musitians) I haue reduced into our English Language. Beseeching your Lordship (as a chief Author of all our good) graciously to receiue this poore presentment, whereby your Lordship shall encourage me to a future taske, more new in subiect, and as memorable in worth. Euery Plant brings forth his like, and of Musitians, Musicke is the fruit. Moreover such is your diuine Disposition that both you excellently understand, and royally entertaine the Exercise of Musicke, which mind-tempering Art, the graue Luther was not affraid to place in the next seat to Divinity. My daily prayers (which are a poore mans best wealth) shall humbly sollicite the Author of all Harmonie for a continuall encrease of your Honors present happinesse with long life, and a successiue blessing to your generous posteritie.
Your Lordships humbly deuoted
Iohn Douland.
To the Reader.
EXcellent men haue at all times in all Arts deliuered to Posteritie their observations, thereby bringing Arts to a certainty and perfection. Among which there is no Writer more worthy in the Art of Musicke, than this Author Ornithoparcus, whose Worke, as I haue made it familiar to all that speak our Language, so I could wish that the rest in this kinde were by the like meanes drawne into our knowledge, since (I am assured) that there is nothing can more advance the apprehension of Musicke, than the reading of such Writers as haue both skilfully and diligently set downe the precepts thereof. My industry and on-set herein if you friendly accept (being now returned home to remaine) shall encourage me shortly to diuulge a more peculiar worke of mine owne: namely, My Observations and Directions concerning the Art of Lute-playing: which Instrument as of all that are portable, is, and euer hath been most in request, so is it the hardest to mannage with cunning and order, with the true nature of fingering: which skill hath as yet no Writer been rightly expressed: what by my endeuours may therein be attained, I leaue to your future Iudgement, when time shall produce that which is already almost ready for the Haruest. Vale, From my house in Fetter-lane this tenth of Aprill. 1609.
Your Friend,
Iohn Douland.
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Digital score of Micrologus at the International Music Score Library Project may be found here.
return to Appendix iv John Dowland In His Own Words
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Walter Bitner 