Dowland was born around 1563 and became such an outstanding lutenist, that it was almost taken for granted that he would be appointed to the royal court. But his application was rejected, and in pique he went to live in first in Germany and then Italy where his music did take on much of the style of composition of the great Italian masters.

Having discovered the plot and communicated it to the court, he returned to England with the hope that this time he would be given that court position for Queen Elizabeth. He was again unsuccessful - what gratitude!

Before departing to central Europe, once again, he demonstrated how much England was missing by publishing 'The First Book of Songs or Ayres of Foure Partes with Tabliture for Lute'. It was reprinted several times, and his fame spread so wide that he was appointed lutenist to King Christian IV of Denmark in 1598. It was while there he wrote the 'Lachrimae, or Seaven Teares Figvred in Seaven Passionate Pauans, with di