YOV are hartelie welcome into the countrie , and the better welcome , for that you come at the first sending for , for it is an old saying , that cunning men are curious , especiallie Musitions .

Sir , if I had thought I should not haue beene welcome , you might haue thought me vnwise to haue taken all this paines : againe , it was my promise to instruct your children , and am readie at your pleasure ; but I pray you , why should Musitions bee more curious then others .

In keeping your promise , you haue done well , and so well as I can , I will answere your demaund : in mine opinion , I think it impossible to be a good Musition , except a man be seene in all the seauen liberall Sciences , for I know many great clarkes in Diuinitie , Phisicke , Law , Philosophie , &c. that haue small , or no knowledge at all in Musick ; nay , some that quite reiect it . Now sith it behoueth a good Musition to bee somewhat seene in all Arts , I conclude , that this all ( with the help of an od crotchet ) is the reason why Musitions are so curious .

Trulie sir , your concluding all , is both short & sharp , how be it I must graunt you this , that it is behouefull a Musition that would bee excellent , to be seene in all or the most part of the seauen liberall Arts , and so neere as I can , I will shew you which , and how necessarie those are , that a Musition ought not to be ignorant off . First hee must be a diuine , that is , he must be diuinelie giuen , he must aboue all things serue God , that God may blesse him , in all his good indeuoures ; hee must read the scriptures , for it is the fountaine of all knowledge , & it teacheth the diuine harmonie of the soule of man : for Musicke is none other then a perfect harmonie , whose diuinitie is seene in the perfectnesse of his proportions , as , his vnison sheweth the vnitie , from whence all other , ( concords , discords , consonancies , or others whatsoeuer ) springeth , next his vnitie , his third : ( which is the perfectest concord that is in all Musicke ) representeth the perfect , & most holie Trinitie ; his fift , ( the most perfect consonance in all Musicke , for that it is the verie essence of all concords ) representeth the perfection of that most perfect number of fiue , which made the perfect atonement , betweene God , and man ; His eight , ( which as it is , but as his vnison , ) representeth his Alpha and Omega : & as what is aboue his eight , is but as a repetition , as from his vnison , as it were a new beginning ; so it sheweth our returne from whence we came , as it were , in notes of Musicke , in a long or short time , sweet or sowre composition , and thus , ( I hope , without offence to that most holie Alpha and Omega ) I conclude , the necessitie of diuinitie in a Musition . Now that a Musition should bee a Phisition , I see no such necessitie , But that Musicke is Phisical , it is plainlie seene by those maladies it cureth . As it cureth melancholie ; it much preuaileth against madnesse ; If a man be in paines of the gout , of any wound , or of the head , it much mittigateth the furie therof : and it is said , that Musicke hath a salue for euerie sore . But of necessitie , a Musition must be a perfect Arethmatition , for that Musicke consisteth altogether of true number , and proportion , and thus , at this so cheefe , and necessarie science of Arithmaticke , I hould it best to stay the processe of Musicke , as touching the necessitie of other than these , which I haue mentioned to bee fit in a good Musition .

I like you wel , & loue your Musicke the better , for your good discourse therof , and my hope is ( in a maner ) alreadie satisfied , but notwithstanding , there remaineth in mee , a little spark of feare of an euell that may happen , after all your paines taken , and my cost bestowed .

Why sir , it may bee you feare least your children should die , when you haue brought them vp well , and bestowed great cost vpon them , or if they should proue vnkinde hereafter , or if they should set light by that good qualitie , which cost them so little , and you so much .

You say well good Timotheus , all this is to be doubted , but I feare none so much as the last , which is , that they will be carelesse and forgetfull , of so excellent a qualitie as is playing vpon the Lute ; and my feare is the greater , for that it was mine owne fault , that in my youth could haue played so well , as any in those daies , and now it is as cleane forgotten , and which is more , I haue no willing mind in the world , either to practise ( to recouer that I lost , ) or to learne a new : for the play that is now , and the lessons ( that are now a daies ) are so curiouslie set , that we of the olde mine , are smoakt vp like to sea cole , and this age , hath the golden ore , and sparkling diamondes of diuine Musitions , that for mine owne part , I am content , to giue place both to youth , and the time , onelie content to be an auditore , and louer of the best ,

Now truely Timotheus , I am perswaded you haue hit the marke , and when it went so hard with them in such easie , and simple stuff , as then they vsed , what shift would they make to play at the first sight ( in these daies ) an indifferent lesson set , if they were now liuing , but I pray you can you play any lesson at the first sight , and also teach others to doe the same .

Yea Sir , that I can , or else I were not worthy to be a teacher , for it hath ben the most part of my studie to bring the Lute , Citharen , ( and other instruments of Musick ) into a method by generall rules , most perfect and easie , so that with my instructions , one ( that cannot vse the Lute , or other instrument ) may verie readilie attaine to a good habit therof .

Well Timotheus , the verie truth is , I haue hard so much as you say , & therfore in the name of God , begin with my children when you please , and God willing ) you shall bee pleased for your paines , but I will make this condition with you ( good Timotheus ) that you shall giue me leaue to aske you some questions , by the way , in your instructions , for it doth me good to heare your reason , how say you Timotheus , are you content it shall bee so ?

With all my hart Sir , for by so doing , I shall daylie injoy your good companie , and with all , it will greatlie further the profit of your children , and with the more ease , and comfort passe ouer the tediousnes of teaching .

I thanke you Timotheus , but what if you did first write downe all such rules ( as you vse for instruction ) that they may from the beginning , ( hauing them by hart ) do nothing but that they may haue it in memorie and grounded by reason .

You say well it shall bee so , and at your pleasure aske what questions you please , and I will shew you the reason for it to the full , and I hope such as shall satisfie you fullie , wherefore in the name of God I thus begin . First it behoueth a scholer to haue a verie good instrument verie well strung , faire to the eie , and easie to reach any stop whatsoeuer , and verie well-sounding .

Why , mee thinks it were no great matter what instrument a beginner hath , considering that for the most part , young beginners , soone make old instruments , as young scholers soone make old bookes .

Indeede to haue a good instrument lieth as much in the habilitie of the parents or friends , as also in their good wils to haue it so ; but why I think it good to haue ( if it were possible ) euen the verie best instrument for a learner at the first , is this : a good instrument will please a learner euery way , for it delighteth them to looke and behold it now & then , likewise they loue easie and smooth instruments , and although they can do but little , yet it will sound well , and so incourage them to learne with delight , whereas contrariwise , a bad or dull instrument will quell their spirits quite , so that in a long time , or neuer , will they profit in their forced labours .

I promise you , it now seemeth to mee verie good reason that it should bee so , and againe it is an old and true saying , that one good thing is euer worth ten bad , also there is small losse in a good thing , it euer yeldeth monie with profit : well here is a Lute according to your desire in all points , I pray you goe forward good Timotheus .

Now you haue a good Lute , it behoueth you to loue it and vse it well , for by the vsage you shall shew your loue , therfore marke how you ought to vse your Lute , aboue all things , keepe it from wet , for wet will spoile the strings and make loose the ribs , and when you haue done playing vpon it , put it vp into the case , putting the Trebles a little down , but first you shall learne to handle your Lute with a comelie grace , readie to play with delight , and to this purpose in the name of God , doe as I shall instruct you .

GENERALL RVLES .

FIrst sitting vpright with your bodie , leane the edge of the Lute against the table , and your bodie against the Lute , not too hard for hurting your Lute , neither to softlie for letting of it fall , for the table , your bodie , and your right arme , must so poyes the Lute , that you may haue your left hand at libertie to carie to , and fro , at your pleasure , letting the middle part of the neck of the Lute , slide vp and downe the brawne of the thumb which is against the nayle of the said thumb , houlding out the wrest of the hand , and alwaies carrying your thumb against your forefinger in any stop whatsoeuer , for so shall your hand be the more comelie , the more readie , and with the more ease , stop any stop the cleaner , now for your right hand , called the striking hand leane vpon the bellie of the Lute with your little finger onelie , & that , neither to far from the Treble strings , neither to neere , and although you ought to leane lightlie , yet carie your hand steddilie , not sliding out of his place , also remembring , to leane lightlie vpon your anne vpon your Lute , for otherwise it will paine the sinewes and hinder your play . All the aforesaid had , both in memorie and practise ; ( the houlding of your Lute , carrying of your hand , and sitting vpright with your bodie , I mean ) then ( in the name of God ) houlding the Lute ( as is aforesaid ) comelie with your thumb against your forefinger ( as it were readie to stop , yet but onelie houlding your Lute then with the thumb of your right hand ( houlding the rest of the fingers straight forth before your thumb ( neither to neere the strings nor too farre off , begin to strik the first string downward with the thumb onelie , and also striking with your thumb behind your fingers say : Base , Tenor , Contra-tenor , Great Meanes , Small meanes Treble . This done : then begin at the Trebles and so goe vpward viz. backward , striking them string by string with your forefinger before your thumb , that is , houlding downe your thumb behind your fingers , and name them in order saying , Treble Small Meanes , Great Meanes , Contratenor , Tenor , Base , this doing so oft , downward and vpward , nameing them , and also striking them with the thumb behind the fingers , that you haue it most perfect and readie both in mind & fingers . This perfectlie had : learne to know your frets in order , and in stoping them comelie , cleanlie , & stronglie , the first string or Treble , stopped in the first fret , by the head of the Lute with the fore-finger , is in the Treble , and so stopped in the small meanes , great meanes &c. The first fret is the second fret is the third fret is and so forth vntill you come to which is the last fret about the neck of the Lute , but you may glue on more fretts in fit place and space ( vntill you come to . Againe if you haue 14. 16. or 18. strings , those bases are called Diapasones , now hauing the names & knowledge of the strings and stops perfectly by roate , you shall also learne to know them by booke ( called Tableture . )

Now truely Timoth: I like this method verie well , for I perceiue , great reason in it : But we ( in old time ) haue bene taught with rigour , not by reason , & that made vs then run , now vnregarded ; for I see , that the houlding of the thombe alwaies against the fore-finger , giueth ( not onely a great ease , & grace to the player ) but also , it determineth a certain limitation to the hand , as of necessitie it must be so : proceed good Timotheus .

Sir , by this you see , how necessarie a thing it is , to know how to hould an instrument , before it is to know how to stop it , and likewise , how fit it is to know ( both how to hould , & what to stop , first by roate , before it were fit to learne by the booke : for quell the spirits , & quaile delight . Now you know how to hold your Lute ; also , what the strings and stops are , without booke : Now you shall learne what they be by the booke ; look how you name them vpon the Lute in order , vpward , and downward , so these lines , by the like denomination , shall signifie vnto you what strings they be by Tableture . Example .

Treble . Small Meanes . Great Meanes , Contra-tenor . Tenor. Base .

SOme in the steed of (i) put y and although you , heere see but six single lines , and vpon the Lute euerie string double , you shall vnderstand , that two strings are in one tune , & also beare the name but of one string : as Base , not Bases , Tenor , not Tenors . Now let vs proceede , to learne a lesson by the booke . But first take this lesson by the way , offer not rashly to stop or strike , but be well aduised , with what finger to stop , & with what to strike , and for that purpose , mark what figure standeth vnder the letter , whether the figure of 1. 2. 3. or 4. for these figures represent the 4. fingers of the left or stopping hand . The figure of 1. representeth the first or fore-finger . 2. the second . 3. the third , and 4. the little finger . Also that letter which is to be striken downward , and if there be a prick vnder the letter , that letter must be striken vpward : this well noted , begin to play these stops and strokes following , striking them by 4. and 4. all in one length of time , vntill you can play it a pace , or runne it quick .

Doe these points perfectly , not striuing at it , but with such ease , as if you did it carelesly , obseruing the carriage both of hand & body ; & when you are weary , leaue it , and to it againe , but go to it with a willing minde .

How would you haue them learne this lesson , not knowing the tymes ouer head ? were it not necessarie to teach them that first ?

No , for the time without stops or tune , is but an abstract , & my purpose is , first to teach them the stops , & then the times with all afterwards : & therfore , I haue set it with all one time ouer head , as you see , vntill the lesson be perfectly had , & both the name & nature of that time well committed to memory , and this lesson had , than will I instruct them in all the varieties of tymes : as followeth .

Well when they can run this point or treble ( as you call it ) by 4. and 4. together in order , a Quauer or Semiquauer time , what is therby to be noted , or learned , as a profit attained towards the readie playing of a lesson at the first sight , which they neuer see before .

It is a verie necessarie question which you demaund , and you shall vnderstand , how necessarie , true , and perfect a rule it is , which not knowne , it is impossible that euer one should play a lesson , either at the first sight , or cunningly : For first , where you see a letter or stop without any prick vnder it , you shall for euer in the like stop , strike it downward , for two reasons , the first is , if it stand alone , that is , if it be a and the next a or the first a and the second a the first a the next a going so inseuerall times , as thus . These are said to stand alone , that is , not being accompanied with fellows , all of one time , either Cratchets , Quauers , or Semiquauers : as thus ,

And also being of a long tyme , as Semibrefes and Minoms , for it is a generall rule , that euerie stroke , is more naturall to be striken downward , than vpward ; but the swiftnesse of tyme , is the cause of striking vpward , and the farnesse off , of seconding a point , as thus : for heere in the treble being the first of a point , is striken vpward , which if the point were all of one string , or still the next vnto it , thus : Going in 4. and 4. then for euer , the first is downe , the second is vp ; so that if the pricks were away , this is a generall rule . Now by this rule , you may by occasion , strike twice down together ; as if you haue a point begin thus , Heere the first is downeward , because it stands alone ; And the second , is striken downeward , because it is the first of a point ; this is one necessarie rule , and also profitable . The second rule is , you see in the first point , how you vse but two fingers in all the whole lesson , that is , the fore-finger & the second alwaies houlding your thoumb against your fore-finger . Now , it is a generall rule , that where you leaue no stop , leaue no finger ; and where you leaue a stop , leaue a finger , as this example following sheweth .

In mine opinion , you haue spoke so much as may be spoken , for the left hand in all points : but I pray you , are there not the like rules for the right hand , called the striking hand .

Yes Sir , that there be : for what auaileth it to stop neuer so neate , fine and cleane , and if it be flubberd with a bad touch , or stroke : therefore , let these rules following , be obserued diligently , without the which , all fine play of the Lute is spoild , and nothing worth . Note , that you strike cleane , plump together in a full stroke of many parts or strings , sometimes loude , sometimes soft , letting your right hand , answere the left hand at the instant , striuing with no stroke : and to conclude , the touch of the one hand , to answere the stop of the other hand , in the full harmony of consent , ( called a Simpathie , ) and then to know what strings to strike , with what fingers , mark all these rules following , and let them not be forgotten .

You haue heard , that euery strok is more naturally to be striken downeward then vpward , which is very true , but aboue all , the Bases are to be striken downeward , and for the same purpose , you see how aptly the thumb fitteth that office , and likewise the fingers remaine as readie to strike vpward and meet the thumbe with their troupes of notes , as who should say the one were readie to aid the other ; and so they bee , yet sometimes seuerall , one afore the other , as sometimes first the thumbe , and the fingers after , sometimes the fingers first , and the thumbe after , and sometimes both together , as heere vnderneath you see .

Heere , the Tenor beginneth the point with open striken downeward with the thumbe , and in the Treble followes striken vpward with the third finger , next in the Contratenor striken downeward with the thumbe , & last of the 4 followes in the small Meanes , striken vpward with the second finger . And now the reason why in the Treble and in the small Meanes , are striken vpward with the third and second fingers , is this , the more strings are betweene the Base and Trebles , the more fingers are left betweene the the thumb and little finger , and likewise the fewer strings the fewer fingers , as you see aboue mentioned .

Againe where you see three prickes vnder any letter as thus you shall strike that letter vpward with the third finger , and so when you see two prickes thus vpward with the second , and one pricke with the fore finger as thus . It skils not what letter , or strng it is , but if a point begin with two letters together , although it follow the point either in the Trebles , Meanes , or Bases , yet shall the second of the point be striken vpward as for example .

Although this at the first , seeme hard to vnderstand , yet it standeth with very good reason , and it must be wonne with labour and diligence , and when a man hath said neuer so much , or all that hee can say , yet there will somewhat remaine for a learner to finde out and consider vpon by himselfe . Yet is there remaining ( to speake of two especiall points behind , which is , when and how to vse a fall with a relish , and also a rule to tune the Lute .

You say very true Sir , and one more then you thinke off , not lesse needefull then any of the rest , and that is this : remember alwaies to keepe your hands cleane , and your nailes short , and also earely and late to practise , Quia Labor vincet omnia . Now to your fall with a relish , or a fall without a relish : take this for a generall rule , that all fals in what stop soeuer , in a flat note , must bee performed with the neerest finger to the halfe notes , and in a sharp note or stop , with the neerest and strongest finger to a full note . As heere you see vnderneath for example .

Heere the stops where is placed , must haue his fall from in the same string where is placed , ( the finger laid along in . ) must haue his fall from in the same strings , in the next where is in the Treble , because is sharp , must haue his fall from the full note , and hauing had his fall , may so bee held still without mouing the forefinger , and the relish continued ( with the little finger ) in which is vnder halfe note , and so of all the rest .

Now you shall learne to tune your Lute , and for a generall rule , first set vp the Treble , so high as you dare venter for breaking , setting them both in one tune or sound called an vnison ; then in the like sort set vp the small Meanes , stopping them in , and making them in agree with the Trebles in , which is likewise an vnison . Likewise make the great Meanes in an vnison with the small Meanes in , the Contratenor in an vnison with the great Meanes in , the Tenor in with the Contra-tenor in , and likewise the Base being stopped in to agree with the Tenor in in the vnison , as appeareth in the forme following .

Now I thanke you Timotheus , for all your paines , I like it passing well . Now set downe some lessons , for now there remaineth onely them behind .

I hope I haue not erred verie much in my indeauours , and for lessons , you shall haue some of all sorts , but yet ( besides lessons ) there is this that followeth remaining , to be spoken off .

When you haue learned all the rules spoken off before perfectly , and can giue a good essay of any lesson at the first sight . Yet this one rule more , shall fullie conclude , what hath or can bee said concerning the playing of a lesson at the first sight . Therefore whensoeuer there is a lesson giuen you to play at the first sight . First looke it ouer before you offer to play it , for these reasons following .