To the courteous Reader.

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I Do not doubt, but many (who have known my dispo-
sition in times past) will wonder that (amongst so many
excellent Musicians as be in this our country at this
time, and far better furnished with learning than my
self,) I have taken upon me to set out that in our vul-
gar tongue, which of all other things has been in wri-
ting least known to our countrymen, and most in practice.
Yet if they would consider the reasons moving me
thereunto: they would not only leave to marvel, but
also think me worthy, if not of praise, yet of pardon for
my pains. First, the earnest entreaty of my friends
daily requesting, importuning, and as it were adjuring
me by the love of my country, which next unto the glory of God, ought to be most dear to
every man. Which reason so often told and repeated to me by them, chiefly caused me
yield to their honest request in taking in hand this work which now I publish to the view
of the world: Not so much seeking thereby any name or glory, (though no honest mind
does contemn that also, and I might more largely by other means and less labor have ob-
tained) as in some sort to further the studies of them, who (being endowed with good na-
tural wits, and well inclined to learn that divine Art of Music) are destitute of suf-
ficient masters. Lastly, the solitary life which I lead (being compelled to keep at home)
caused me to be glad to find any thing wherein to keep myself exercised for the benefit
of my country. But as concerning the book itself, if I had before I began it, imagined
half the pains and labor which it cost me, I would sooner have been persuaded to a-
ny thing, than to have taken in hand such a tedious piece of work, like unto a great Sea,
which the further I entered into, the more I saw before me unpassed: So that at length
despairing ever to make an end (seeing that grow so big in my hands, which I thought
to have shut up in two or three sheets of paper,) I laid it aside, in full determination to
have proceeded no further, but to have left it off as shamefully as it was foolishly begun.
But then being admonished by some of my friends, that it were pity to lose the fruits of
the employment of so many good hours, and how justly I should be condemned of ignorant
presumption, in taking that in hand which I could not perform, if I did not go forward:
I resolved to endure whatsoever pain, labor, loss of time and expense, and what not?
rather than to leave that unbrought to an end, in the which I was so far engulfed.
Taking therefore those precepts which being a child I learned, and laying them together
in order, I began to compare them with some other of the same kind, set down by some
late writers: But then was I in a worse case than before. For I found such diversity be-
twixt them, that I knew not which part said truest, or whom I might best believe. Then
was I forced to run to the works of many, both strangers and English men, (whose la-
bors together with their names had been buried with me in perpetual oblivion, if it
had not been for this occasion) for a solution and clearing of my doubt. But to my great
grief, then did I see the most part of mine own precepts false and easy to be confuted by
the works of Taverner, Fairfax, Cooper, and infinite more, whose names it would be
too tedious to set down in this place. But what labor it was to tumble, toss, & search so
many books, & with what toil & weariness I was enforced to compare the parts for try-
ing out the value of some notes, (spending whole days, yea & many times weeks for the
demonstration of one example, which one would have thought might in a moment have
been set down,) I leave to thy discretion to consider: and none can fully understand, but
he who has had or shall have occasion to do the like. As for the method of the book,