“Wishing unto your Honour a continual harmony, composed of a comfortable delight of body, goods, and good name, with a daily increase of honour.”

A graceful wish for balanced well-being in health, prosperity, reputation and status, framed in musical terms · Dedication to Arthur Lord Chichester, Second Set of Madrigals (1618)

• Harmony
• Prosperity
• Wish

“But whatsoever they are, yours they are, and for you only they were made. It was your good countenance that did encourage me to this; your love to music doth not only challenge it of me, but even the uttermost that music's art can afford; which if it were in me, I would most willingly offer to you.”

Acknowledging that the works were composed solely for his patron and inspired by his encouragement and love of music · Dedication to Sir William Norris, First Set of English Madrigals (1604)

• Gratitude
• Music
• Patronage

“In truth I must confess, they are like young birds feared out of the nest before they be well feathered, and find no place so fit to light on as on the branches of your favour: where (such is your love to me and music) I hope they will be so shrouded in the leaves of your good liking, that you will give leave neither to any ravenous kite nor crafty fowler (I mean neither to any open-mouthed Momus nor more sly detractor) to devour, or harm them, that cannot succour nor shift for themselves.”

Comparing his new compositions to vulnerable fledglings in need of a patron's protective favour against critics · Dedication to Sir William Norris, First Set of English Madrigals (1604)

• Criticism
• Music
• Patronage