PARTHENIA or THE MAIDENHEAD of the first music that ever was printed for the VIRGINALS▪ COMPOSED By three famous Masters: William Byrd Dr: john Bull, & Orlando Gibbons Gentlemen of his Ma.tie most Illustrious Chapel. Engraven by William Hole.   depiction of a woman playing a virginal (keyed instrument) 
Lond: print: for N ris Dor: Euans: Cum privilegio. Are to be sold by G. Lowe print● in Lon….   

TO THE HIGH & MIGHTY and magnificent Princes Frederick Electo Palatine of the rain: and his betrothed Lady, Elizabeth the only daughter of my Lord the king.  
The virgin PARTHENIA (whilst yet I may I offer up to your virgin Highnesses. To you (Gracious Lady even from the birth she was intended: and now I trust shallbe more welcome having learned to tune and twine togeith these next neighbour letter's E and F. the vowel that makes so sweet a Consonant. Her notes so linked and wedded together seem lively hieroglyphics of the harmony of marriage. the high and holy State wherinto you shortly must be incorporate. This small work (yet first in this kind) was only meant for this lesser world: howbeit under your shadows (in your sunshine I should say rather; that is, your sweet and glorious Consort it may sound & relish in the ears of the greater. For Music like that miraculous tongue of the Apostles having but one and the same Character is alike known to all the sundry nations of the world. And what wonder sine Harmony is the Soul thereof multipliciously varied of four bare notes as the Body is of the four Elements. These lessons were composed by three famous Masters in the faculties. whereof one had the herewith to be your teacher most Illustrious lady; and had he not had it before thereby deserved the style of a Doctor. If to their greatr grace, your Grace will vouchsafe to lend your white hands they will arrive with more pleasure at the princely ears of your GREAT FREDRICK. Our lord jesus who hath honoured marriage with his dear presence and first miracle, extraordinarily done at the instance of his maiden mother, eternally bless you maids and married.  
your Highnesses most humbly William Hole   

Mr. HUGH HOLLAND On his worthy friend W: H: & his Triumuiri of Music.  

List to that sweet Recorder;  
How daintily this BIRD his notes doth vary,  
As if he were the Nightingalls own brother!  
Lo where doth pace in order  
A braver BULL than did Europacary:  
Nay set all Europe show me such an other.  
Orlando though was counted musics father;  
Yet this ORLANDO parallels di Lasso:  
Whose triple praise would tyre a very jasso;  
Then hecre in one these three men rather hear thou  
And praise th'air songs: & sing his praise who, married  
Those notes so well which they so sweetly varied.    

Mr: GEO: CHAPMAN In worthy love of this new work, and the most Authentical Authors.  

By these choice lessons of these Music Masters;  
Ancient, and heightened with the Arts full Bowls  
Let all our modern, mere Fantastic Tasters,  
(Whose Art but foreign Novelty extols)  
Rule and confine their fancies; and prefer  
The constant right. & depth Art should Induce;  
To all light flashes, by whose light they ere;  
This witty Age, hath wisdom lest in use;  
The World, old growing, Old, with it, grow Men;  
Their skills decaying, like their bodies strength;  
Young Men, to old are now out children:  
First Rules of Art, increase still with their lengthe.  
Which see in this new work, yet never seen:  
Art, the more old, grows ever the more green.    


Preludium.  
I.  Mr. William Bird. 
  

Pavana. Sr: Wm Petre  
II.  William Bird 
 
 
finis   

Galiardo.  
III.  William Bird 
 
finis   

Preludium  
FOUR  W m Bird 
  

Galiardo Mris mary Brownlo.  
V  Will: Bird 
 
  

Pavana. The Earl of Salisbury.  
VI  Will: Bird 
  

Galiardo  
VII.  
  

Galiardo. Secundo Mris: Marry Brownlo  
VIII.  
 Will Bird 
finis   

Preludiu '  
IX.  
 Mr. Dr. Bull  

Pavana. St: Thomas Wake  
X.  Dr: Bull 
 
  

Galiardo. St: Thomas Wake  
XI.  Dr: Bull 
 
  

Pavana  
XII.  
 
  

Galiardo.  
XIII.  Dr: Bull 
  

Galiardo  
XIIII.  
  

Galiardo  
XV.  Dr: Bull 
 
finis   

Galiardo  
XVI.  Orlando Gibbons 
 
  

Fantazia of four parts  
XVII.  
 
 Orl: Gib:  

The lord of Salisbury his Pavin  
XVIII.  
 Orl: Gib:  

Galiardo  
XIX.  
 
 Orl: Gib:  

The Queen's Command  
XX.  Orl: Gib: 
  

Preludium  
XXI.  Orlando Gibbons 
 
Finis    


Pasted on back of title page of PARTHENIA (HN 14176)  
  

Verso of leaf pasted on back of dedicatory page of PARTHENIA (HN 14176)  
The Gift of Mr. Wm. Plater 1769  
Parthenia 1613