At the close of the reign of Queen Elizabeth, a musical work of an extraordinary character issued from the press of that industrious printer Thomas Este, the history of which it will be my endeavour to elucidate in the present communication. The title-page runs as follows:—
"MADRIGALES. THE TRIUMPHES OF ORIANA, to 5 and 6 voices: composed by divers severall aucthors. Newly published by Thomas Morley, Batcheler of Musick, and one of the gentlemen of hir Majesties honorable Chappell, 1601. In London, Printed by Thomas Este, the assigne of Thomas Morley. Cum privilegio Regiæ Majestatis."
The dedication is addressed—
"To the Right Honorable the Lord Charles Howard, Earle of Notingham, Baron of Effingham, Knight of the Noble order of the Garter, Lord High Admirall of England, Ireland, and Wales, &c., and one of her Majesties most honorable Privie Counsell."
As all that is known, with certainty, of the origin of this work consists in the title-page and the dedication, I shall make no apology for quoting the latter at length:—
"Right Honorable,
"I have adventured to dedicate these few discordant tunes to be censured by the ingenious disposition of your Lordship's Honorable rare perfection, perswading my selfe, that these labours, composed by me and others (as in the survey hereof, your Lordship may well perceive), may not by any meanes passe, without the malignitie of some malitious Momus, whose malice (being as toothsome as the adder's sting), couched in the progres of a wayfayring man's passage, might make him retire though almost at his journeyes end. Two speciall motives have imbouldened me (Right Honorable) in this my proceeding. First, for that I consider, that as the body cannot bee without the shadow, so Homer (the Prince of Poets) may not be without a Zoilist: The second and last is (the most forcible motive), I know (not onely by report, but also by experiment) your Lordship to bee not onely Philomusus, a lover of the Muses, and of learning; but Philomathes, a personage always desirous (though in all Arts sufficiently skilfull) to come to a more high perfection or Summum bonum. I will not trouble your Lordship with to to [sic] tedious circumstances, onely I humbly intreat your Lordship (in the name of many) to patronage this work with no lesse acceptance, then I with a willing and kinde hart dedicate it. So shall I think the initium of this worke not onely happely begun, but to bee finited with a more happie period.
"Your Honour's devoted in all dutie,
"THOMAS MORELY."
The Triumphs of Oriana consists of twenty-five madrigals, set by the most eminent musicians of the day, and edited (as the title-page and dedication show) by Thomas Morley, a most "rare and cunning musician," and moreover an especial favourite with the reigning queen, in whose honour the work is said to have been composed.