THE CITTHARN SCHOOL, BY ANTONY HOLBORN Gentleman, and servant to her most excellent Majesty. Hereunto are added six short AERS Neapolitan like to three voices, without the Instrument: done by his brother WILLIAM HOLBORN. VERITAS TVA VSQVE AD NUBES printer's or publisher's device AT LONDON. Printed by Peter Short, dwelling on Breadstreet hill at the sign of the Star 1597. TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE, NOBLE, AND MOST WORTHY LORD, THOMAS LORD BURGH, BARON GAINS BURGHE, LORD GOVERNOR FOR HER MAJESTY OF HER TOWN OF BREILL, AND THE FORTS OF CLAYBURGH AND MEWENNOORT IN THE COUNTY OF HOLLAND IN THE LOW COUNTRIES, KNIGHT OF THE MOST HONOURABLE ORDER OF THE GARTIER, LORD DEPUTY AND GOVERNOR GENERAL FOR HER MAJESTY OF HER REALM OF IRELAND. RIght honourable and thrice noble Lord: (the sole true patron of all virtue and my poor deservings) I have long wrestled in the labour of my best wits, to betoken to your L. self as the choice of a world, some acceptable pledge or testimonial acknowledgement of my love, duty and thankfulness: which in the b●st allowance from my weak fortunes I can in no sort better appoint then by this my silly Citharn School. For as among other your many graceful virtues I know your L. liveth judicially accompanied with a love to Music irremovable, both art and nature tying you thereunto in a bond of great right by your own most excellent managing of all kinds of Instruments gentile, so am I most assured that this little Wanton hath not the least, but a prime place in the commanding performance of your pleasures: wherein as well others as myself which hold it in profession, are bound even in a general assent to humble our best doings to your honourable and learned fingers. By which reason alone were there none other (under your L. good favour I speak it) this slender work of mine may as in a law full birthright challenge the inheritance of protection from you. Howbeit, neither arrogantly nor too presumptuously do I dare to present it unto you, but dutifully, reverently, and in every good sort best becoming me, as an open badge by which the world shall not deny, but know me to be yours. Most humbly therefore beseeching your L. good acceptance hereof, and in the continuance of your honourable favours, to hold of me as the man that hath ever lived in a religious desire to do you all honour and service, I take my leave. Your L. ever most faithfully devoted ANTONY HOLBORN. Ni merear moriar. To the proficient Scholar or lover of the Cittharn. FAr be it from me (gentle friend) in the humour of vainglory to recommend these my silly labours to the press, and by the press to thee, under a further hope of thy better censure than of their littleworth: for hitherto could I never stand so well conceited of myself in self-opinion, nor by persuasion of others, to enworthy them of thee in this public form. But the time now presenting occasion by a wrong proffered from a mere stranger unto me, who (without my knowledge of either man or mean) hath delivered in common to the world's view certianes corrupt copies of my Idles, (the untimely fruits of my youth, begotten in the cradle and infancy of my slender skill) I am therefore with a more easy reason led to call home mine own mangled children to the original place of their nativity: both in respect of their immaturitie, and the disguised countenance wherein they live abroad. And to purchase thy better conceit, with a more pleasing relish to thy chaste ears then their bastard barbarism since their first escape from me could promise, I have endeavoured myself in a careful revisitation, to regenerate and newly replant them, by purging them of those unsavoury corruptions, which I know could not choose but give offence to thee as well as to myself. Such therefore as they now are, with a liberal consent I do freely commend them to thy hands and good usage, as the true images of their father; whom I have appointed to attend thee in all their best services. And in their deservings if they have any, give them leave I pray thee, (as well for their duty towards me as their willingness to serve thee) meekly in my name to crave but good acceptance. Thou shalt find them of several natures and offices: which I have accordingly marshaled in such method and form, as to my judgement may best beseem thee in degrees of thine ability to entertain them. For in the front of the book (as the first step or key to open a way to thy beginnings) I have prefixed some few tastes, which by another name I call Praeludia: things short and not hard: delivered unto thee of purpose to guide thy hand to some proper use of play, and withal to search and feel if thy Cytharn be well in tune: things very well also becoming any man as a preface before he shall proceed to do any determinate matter. Next unto them as in an orderly consequence I have conjoined the most usual and familiar grounds of these our times, for consort or thine own private self: together with some such other light fancies of vulgar tunes for variety as I could best call to memory: wherein happily some men in the condition of their own nature may hold themselves better pleased then in things of more worth. All which I have laid down with as much facility and ease for a scholars encouragement as my poor wits could fashion, observing such formality as may well stand with a tolerable allowance in the nature of the Instrument. To these as thy increase of performance riseth, have I annexed some of the same grounds in variable division: done after a more quick and hard manner of play: thereby to teach thee the nearest course to shift thy hand from string to string. Lastly, (as a complete summary of this little work) I conclude with things grave and more judicious than the rest with their Bases in pricksong notes, which I have set down on every Page opposite to the same lesson. These things being of another stamp, do carry their natural parts tied together in a different nature, with some reasonable good cords and bindings after a more heedful manner of composition, which in the first object to thine eye and finger by a superficial passage, may amate and withhold thy forwardness, because they will appear more severe and painful then do lie in common custom. Howbeit I wish thee not to desist, but rather advance thy best conceits with a resolution, for I have prepared nothing which hath not been, is not, and may be commanded by the hand: for all are comprehended within the limits of hand-reach. And therefore (good friend if thou do respectively perform them in a true observation and orderly rule of play, they shall leave in thee a better impression of their worth than the other first sorts, and feed thee (no doubt) with a pleasing humour of passion and sweet melancholy. Mine they were once, now are they ever thine, begotten, bred, and borne to do thee service. Use them therefore: and m●, (if thou please) as but in common courtesy I hope thou wilt. And if the liberty of hereafter-times shall occasion me in this kind to enlarge my further pains, I will send some others of my children in the quest of their brethren: which proving better scholars shall also teach thee to handle six strings, where now thou hast but four. In the mean time I wish to please thee, and thee to please thyself in a liberal satiety if it be here. And if happily (even in a narrow search) thou do but meet with any one digestive portion of contentment from among these my little ones, I shall hold myself bound in ever-redoubling thanks for thy favourable acceptation, and rest thine in all love, and my best means to pleasure thee. Ant: Holborn. PRaeludium. PRaeludium. PRaeludium. PRaeludium. PRaeludium, PRaeludium. pavane passamezo. Galliard. PAuane Quadro. pavane lafoy vecchio. Verte fol. THe old Almain. THe voice. IN peascod time, Verte fol. THe Spanish pavane. QVi passi. AS I went to Walsingham. MOunsiers Almaigne. THe Miller. WHat you will, THe maidens of the Country. AIyg. BOnny sweet Robin. A French toy. GO from my window. Sick sick and very sick. PAuane Quadro. Verte fol. pavane passamezo. Verte fol. Verte fol. Verte fol. pavane passamezo. Verte fol. Verte fol. GAlliard pessamezo. PAuane Quadro. Verte fol. Verte fol. PAuanela vecchio. Verte fol. Verte fol. PAuane Quadro. Verte fol. Verte fol. Verte fol. A Horn pipe. Verte fol. Verte fol. pavane. pavane. Master Earl's pavane. Master Earl's Pavane. pavane. pavane. pavane. pavane. pavane. pavane. ALmayne. ALmaine. Galliard. Galliard. Master Birds Galliard. Master Birds Galliard. Galliard GAlliard. GAlliard. Galliard. GAlliard. GAlliard. GAlliard. Galliard. Galliard. GAlliard. ALmaine. ALmaine. GAlliard. GAlliard. Galliard. Galliard. ALmaine. ALmayne. ALmayne. ALmayne. GAlliard. GAlliard. ALmaine. ALmayne. GAlliard. GAlliard. THe Lullaby. The Lullaby. Cantus. FAntasia. Trium vocum. Tenor. FAntasia. Trium vocum. FAntasia. Trium vocum. Bassus. FAntasia. Trium vocum. Cantus. Tenor. Bassus. Cantus. Tenor. Bassus. Cantus. Tenor. Bassus. Cantus. FAntasi. Trium vocum. Tenor. FAntasia. Trium vocum. FAntasia. Trium vocum. Bassus. Fantasy. Trium vocum. Cantus. Tenor. Bassus. Cantus. Tenor. Bassus. Cantus. Tenor. Bassus. THe farewell. THe farewell. Ant. Holborn. Ni merear moriar. Hereafter do follow Six short Aers or Canzonets to three voices, being the first fruits of Composition, done by his brother William Holborn. ALTUS. CHange then for lo she changeth fa la la fa la la And af╌ter new love rangeth fa la la fa la la la. I, change and quite her, No no love and spite her. Fa la la la fa la la la la. BASSUS. Change then for lo she chaingeth Fa fa fa lafoy And af╌ter new loves raingeth Fa fa fa la la I, change & quite her, No no no no love and spite her fa CANTUS. CHange then for lo she changeth fa la la fa And af╌ter new loves rangeth fa la la fa la la la. I, change and quite her, No no no love and spite her. Fa la la la fa la fa la la la. la la la la fa la la. ALTUS. SInce Bonny-boots was dead that so divine╌ly Can to't and foot it could to't & foot it to't and foot it (o he did it finely We near went more a may╌ing Nor hard that sweet that sweet fala╌ing. Fa la la la la la that sweet fala╌ing. BASSUS: SInce Bonny-boots was dead that so divinely could to't and foot it to't and foot it (o he did it finely) We near went more a CANTUS. SInce Bonny-boots was dead that so divine╌ly Can too and foot it could to't and foot it (o he did it finely) We near went more a may╌ing, Nor had that sweet that sweet fala╌ing, fa la la la la la la that sweet falaing. maying a maying, Nor hard that sweet fala╌ing fa la la la la that sweet falaing. ALTUS. Here rest my thoughts, what needeth all this hasting To fry in pangs and torment everlasting. And yet my Heart is even to you as cruel, Her eye the flame but my Heart lends the fu╌ell. BASSUS. Here rest my thoughts what needeth all this hasting To fry in pangs and torment everlasting. And yet my heart is CANTUS. Here rest my thoughts, what needeth all this hasting? hasting? To fry in pangs and torment ever╌last╌ing. And yet my Heart is even to you as cruel, Her eye the flame the flame but my Heart lends the fuel. even to you as cruel Her eye the flame but my heart lends the fuel. ALTUS. SWeet I grant that I am as black and homely and homely As thou art fair and come╌ly But ah why dost thou fly me Were I a Moor thou couldst no less set by me no less set by me. BASSUS. SWeet, I grant that I am as black and homely As thou art fair and comely, But ah why dost thou fly me? Were I a Moor thou CANTUS. Sweet I grant that I am as black that I am as black I grant that I am as black and homely, As thou art fair and comely As thou art fair & come╌ly. But ah why dost thou fly why dost thou fly me? Were I a moor were I a more thou couldst no less set by me. couldst not less set by me. ALTUS. GVsh forth my tears forth my tears and stay the burning ei╌ther of my poor heart or her eyes choose you whe╌ther Oh peevish fond desi╌er For out alas alas for out alas alas my sighs my sighs my sighs still blow the fire. BASSUS. GVsh forth my tears & stay the burning either of my poor heart or her eyes choose you whether Oh peevish fond desire For CANTUS. GVsh forth forth my tears and stay the burning the bur╌ning either Of my poor heart or her eyes choose you whe╌ther Oh (most) peevish fond de╌sire: For out alas alas out alas my sighs my sighs out alas my sighs still blow the fire. out alas my sighs still blow still blow the fire. ALTUS. SIt still & stir not stur not, Lady Here it is cool & shady, Fa la la la la la la Fa la la la la la la la. O no away away away O no away I dare not Let me then kiss & spare not Fa la la la la la la la Fa la la la la la la la fa la la la la fa la la la. BASSUS. SIt still & stir not Lady Here it is cool & shady Fa la la la la la la fa la la la la la la la O no away away I dare CANTUS. SIt still and stir not stir not, Lady here it is cool & shady Fa la la la la la la fa la la la la la O no away away I dare not O no away away I dare not. Let me then kiss: & spare not Fa la la la la la fa la la la fa la la la la fa la la la. not I dare not, Let me then kiss: & spare not Fa la la la la la la la fa la la la fa la la la la la la la la la. 1597. H D OS HOMINI SVBLIME DEDIT printer's or publisher's device AT LONDON. Printed by Peter Short, dwelling on Breadstreet hill at the sign of the Star