“I shall then be as far from fearing detraction and censure, as I am free from affecting glory and praise.” Finding safety from critics in a refusal of personal glory · Dedication to the Earl of Hertford, A Booke of Ayres, 1606 Courage Criticism Modesty
“I am ambitious of nothing but your Lordship's favourable acceptance and protection.” Limiting ambition to a patron's acceptance of a first published work · Dedication to the Earl of Hertford, A Booke of Ayres, 1606 Ambition Humility Patronage
“Their want of worth could not divert my purpose from publishing to the world the zeal I bear to thankfulness.” Offering the book as an act of gratitude rather than a claim of merit · Dedication to the Earl of Hertford, A Booke of Ayres, 1606 Gratitude Humility Writing
“What delight or sweetness soever these my simple travels may bring to such generous spirits as bear affection to this quality was inspired me by no other power than the influence of your favour.” Tracing the sweetness of his songs to the encouragement of patronage · Dedication to the Earl of Hertford, A Booke of Ayres, 1606 Gratitude Inspiration Music
“The poorness of my merit holds least proportion with the largeness of your grace, and my utmost desert can reach no further than humbly to acknowledge it.” A court musician's modest measure of his own deserts against a patron's favour · Dedication to the Earl of Hertford, A Booke of Ayres, 1606 Gratitude Humility Merit
“In both are the Muses greatly honoured, and we their servants highly blessed, whose studious labours have received their life, growth, and perfection, cherished and enabled by the warmth your beams have cast upon them.” Crediting a patron's favour with the life and growth of a musician's work · Dedication to the Earl of Hertford, A Booke of Ayres, 1606 Growth Music Patronage
“It is a question hardly to be determined whether Music may esteem herself more graced by the singular skill and exquisite knowledge wherewith your Lordship is endued, or by the many benefits your bounty hath conferred on the professors of that faculty.” Setting musical skill and generous patronage as twin honours to the art · Dedication to the Earl of Hertford, A Booke of Ayres, 1606 Music Patronage Skill
