A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Jones, Robert

by William H. Husk

JONES, Robert, Mus. Bac., a celebrated lutenist, published in 1601 'The First Booke of Ayres,'—one of the pieces in which, 'Farewell deere love' (alluded to by Shakspere in 'Twelfth Night'), is printed in score in J. S. Smith's 'Musica Antiqua,'— and 'The Second Booke of Songs and Ayres, set out to the Lute, the Base Violl the playne way, or the Base by tableture after the leero fashion '; a song from which—'My love bound me with a kisse,' is likewise given in 'Musica Antiqua.' He contributed the madrigal, 'Faire Oriana, seeming to wink at folly,' to 'The Triumphes of Oriana,' published in the same year. In 1607 he published 'The First Set of Madrigals of 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 parts, for Viols and Voices, or for Voices alone, or as you please,' and in 1608 'Ultimum Vale, or the Third Book of Ayres of 1, 2, and 4 Voyces.' In 1609 appeared 'A Musicall Dreame, or the Fourth Booke of Ayres; The first part is for the Lute, two voyces and the Viole de Gambo: The second part is for the Lute, the Viole and four voices to sing: The third part is for one voyce alone, or to the Lute, the Base Viole, or to both if you please, whereof two are Italian Ayres.' In 1611 he published 'The Muse's Gardin for delight, or the Fift Booke of Ayres only for the Lute, the basse Violl and the Voyce.' He contributed three pieces to Leighton's 'Teares or Lamentacions' published in 1614. In 1616 Jones, in conjunction with Philip Rossetor, Philip Kingman and Ralph Reeve, obtained a privy seal for a patent authorising them to erect a theatre, for the use of the Children of the Revels to the Queen, within the precinct of Blackfriars, near Puddle Wharf, on the site of a house occupied by Jones. But the Lord Mayor and Aldermen were opposed to the scheme, and procured from the Privy Council an order prohibiting the building being so applied, and by their influence Jones and his fellows were compelled to dismantle their house and surrender their patent.

[ W. H. H. ]