Note 1. “A book may be very rare and very worthless: that I admit. But an examination of the present volume will show that some choice lyrics have lain hidden out of sight for nearly three centuries. How many readers have heard of Captain Tobias Hume? He published, in 1605, The First Part of Airs, French, Polish and others together. Among these Airs I found the flawless verses that I have placed at the beginning of my anthology. Fain would I change that note. Surely few, even among the very elect, have sung Love’s praises in happier accents of heartful devotion. Captain Hume wrote the music, but I know not who wrote the verses.” (Bullen, Introduction to Lyrics from the Elizabethan Song-Books, pp. vii, viii.) [back]
