Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Ford, Thomas (d.1648)
FORD, THOMAS (d. 1648), composer, was one of the musicians of Henry, Prince of Wales. The appendix to Dr. Birch's ‘Life’ of the prince shows that in 1611 Ford received a salary of 30l. per annum, which was soon afterwards increased to 40l. He with the rest of the musicians may possibly have been appointed before the prince was created Prince of Wales (see Birch, p. 427 n.) It is probable that after the prince's death the salaries were continued, for in 1626 he received a grant of 80l. per annum, ‘40l. for the place he formerly held, and 40l. for that which John Ballard deceased held’ (Rymer, Fœdera, ed. 1715, xviii. 728). In 1607 he published ‘Musicke of Sundrie Kindes. Set forth in two Bookes. The first whereof are Aries (sic) for four Voices to the Lute, Orphorion, or Basse-Viol, with a Dialogue for two Voices, and two Basse-Viols in parts tunde the Lute way. The second are Pavens, Galiards, Almaines, Toies, Iigges, Thumpes, and such like, for two Basse-Viols, the Liera way, so made as the greatest number may serve to play alone, very easy to be performde. Composed by Thomas Ford. Imprinted at London by Iohn Windet at the Assignes of William Barley, and are to be sold by Iohn Browne in Saint Dunstons churchyard in Fleetstreet, 1607.’ The first book, containing eleven songs, among which are the celebrated ‘Since first I saw your face,’ and ‘There is a Lady sweet and kind,’ is dedicated to Sir Richard Weston, and the second, containing eighteen pieces, to Sir Richard Tichborne. An anthem, in five parts, ‘Let God arise,’ is printed in the Musical Antiquarian Society's publication for 1845 (p. 61), from a set of manuscript part-books in the possession of the editor, Mr. Rimbault, and formerly in that of John Evelyn. Ford contributed to Sir William Leighton's ‘Tears and Lamentacions of a Sorrowfull Soule’ (1614) two anthems, ‘Almighty God, which hast me brought,’ for four voices with lute and treble-viol, and ‘Not unto us’ for five voices. In Hilton's ‘Catch that catch can’ (1652) three sacred canons by Ford are contained: ‘I am so weary’ (reprinted in Burney's Hist. iii. 415), ‘O Lord, I lift my heart to Thee,’ and ‘Look down, O Lord’ (ib. p. 416). Another canon, ‘Haste thee, O Lord,’ contained in Tudway's collection (Harl. MS. 7337), ascribed to Ramsey, is considered by Mr. T. Oliphant to be by Ford (pencil note in MS.). Ford died in November 1648, and was buried on the 17th in St. Margaret's, Westminster.
[Hawkins's Hist. ed. 1853, pp. 566, 570; Birch's Life of Henry, Prince of Wales, 1760, pp. 427, 455, 467; Grove's Dict. i. 540; Registers of St. Margaret's, Westminster; authorities quoted above.]