FAr be it from me ( gentle friend ) in the humor of vaineglorie to recommend these my silly labours to the presse , and by the presse to thee , vnder a further hope of thy better censure then of their little-worth : for hitherto could I neuer stande so well conceipted of my selfe in selfe-opinion , nor by perswasion of others , to enworthy them of thee in this publike forme . But the time nowe presenting occasion by a wrong proffered from a meere stranger vnto me , who ( without my knowledge of either man or meane ) hath deliuered in common to the worlds view certiane corrupt coppies of my Idles , ( the vntimely fruits of my youth , begotten in the cradle and infancy of my slender skill ) I am therfore with a more easie reason led to call home mine own mangled children to the originall place of their natiuity : both in respect of their immaturitie , and the disguised countenance wherin they liue abroad . And to purchase thy better conceipt , with a more pleasing rellish to thy chast eares then their bastarde barbarisme since their first escape from me could promise , I haue indeuored my selfe in a carefull reuisitation , to regenerate and newly replant them , by purging them of those vnsauory corruptions , which I know could not choose but giue offence to thee as well as to my selfe . Such therefore as they nowe are , with a liberall consent I do freely commend them to thy handes and good vsage , as the true images of their father ; whome I haue appointed to attend thee in all their best seruices . And in their deseruings if they haue any , giue them leaue I pray thee , ( as well for their dutie towardes me as their willingnesse to serue thee ) meekely in my name to craue but good acceptance . Thou shalt find them of seuerall natures and offices : which I haue accordingly marshalled in such methode and forme , as to my iudgement may best beseeme thee in degrees of thine habilitie to entertaine them . For in the front of the booke ( as the first step or key to open a way to thy beginnings ) I haue prefixed some fewe tastes , which by another name I call Praeludia : things short and not hard : deliuered vnto thee of purpose to guide thy hand to some proper vse of plaie , and withall to search and feele if thy Cytharn be well in tune : thinges verie well also becomming any man as a preface before he shall proceede to do any determinate matter . Next vnto them as in an orderly consequence I haue conioyned the most vsuall and familiar grounds of these our times , for consort or thine owne priuate selfe : together with some such other light fansies of vulgar tunes for variety as I could best call to memory : wherein happilie some men in the condition of their own nature may hould themselues better pleased then in things of more worth . All which I haue layde downe with as much facilitie and ease for a schollers encouragement as my poore wits could fashion , obseruing such formality as may wel stand with a tollerable allowance in the nature of the Instrument . To these as thy increase of performance riseth , haue I annexed some of the same groundes in variable diuision : done after a more quicke and hard maner of plaie : thereby to teach thee the neerest course to shift thy hand from string to string . Lastly , ( as a complet summary of this little worke ) I conclude with thinges graue and more iudicious then the rest with their Bases in prickesong notes , which I haue set downe on euery Page opposite to the same lesson . These thinges being of another stampe , doe carry their naturall partes tyed together in a different nature , with some reasonable good cordes and bindinges after a more heedfull manner of composition , which in the first obiect to thine eye and finger by a superficiall passage , may amate and withhould thy forwardnesse , because they will appeare more seuere and painfull then do lie in common custome . Howbeit I wish thee not to desist , but rather aduance thy best conceiptes with a resolution , for I haue prepared nothing which hath not beene , is not , and may bee commanded by the hand : for all are comprehended within the limits of hand-reach . And therefore ( good friend if thou do respectiuely performe them in a true obseruation and orderlie rule of plaie , they shal leaue in thee a better impression of their worth then the other first sortes , and feede thee ( no doubt ) with a pleasing humor of passion and sweet melancholy . Mine they were once , now are they euer thine , begotten , bred , and borne to doe thee seruice . Vse them therefore : and m● , ( if thou please ) as but in common curtesie I hope thou wilt . And if the liberty of hereafter-times shall occasion me in this kind to enlarge my further paines , I will sende some others of my children in the quest of their brethren : which proouing better schollers shall also teach thee to handle sixe strings , where now thou hast but foure . In the meane time I wish to please thee , and thee to please thy selfe in a liberall saciety if it bee heere . And if happily ( euen in a narrow search ) thou do but meet with any one digestiue portion of contentment from among these my little ones , I shall hould my selfe bound in euer-redoubling thanks for thy fauorable acceptation , and rest thine in all loue , and my best means to pleasure thee .