2. "All creatures now are merry-minded, The shepherds' daughters playing, The nimphes are fa-la-la-ing; Yond bugle was well-winded. At Oriana's presence each thing smileth, The flowres themselves discover, Birds over her do hover, Musick the time beguileth. See where she comes, with flow'ry garlands crowned; Queene of all Queenes renowned: Then sang the shepherds and nymphs of Diana, Long live faire Oriana."
3. "Thus _Bonny-bootes_ the birthday celebrated Of hir his Lady dearest; Fair Oriana, which to his hart was neerest. The nymphs and shepherds feasted With clowted creame, and to sing were requested. Loe! here the fair, created (Quoth he) the world's chiefe goddesse. Sing then, for she is _Bonny-bootes'_ sweet mistres. Then sang the shepherds and nymphs of Diana, Long live faire Oriana."
4. "Come blessed bird! and with thy sugred rellish, Help our declining quire not to embellish; For _Bonny-bootes_ that so aloft would fetch it, Oh! he is dead, and none of us can reach it! Then tune to us, sweet bird, thy shrill recorder, And I, Elpin and Dorus, For fault of better, will serve in the chorus. Begin; and we will follow thee in order. Then sang the wood-born minstrel of Diana, Long live faire Oriana."
Now a question arises, who was the _Bonny-boots_ mentioned in the two last-quoted madrigals?
Sir John Hawkins has the following hypothesis:
"Bonny-boots seems to be a nick-name for some famous singer, who, because of his excellent voice, or for some other reason, had the permission to call the queen his lady. Possibly the person meant might be one Mr. Hale, of whom mention is made by Sir William Segar, in his account of a solemn tilt, or exercise of arms, held in the year 1590 before Queen Elizabeth, in the Tiltyard at Westminster, with emblematical representations and music, in which the above-mentioned Mr. Hale performed a part, by singing a song, &c. Sir William Segar also says of this person, that he was her majesty's servant, a gentleman in that art excellent, and for his voice both commendable and admirable."--_Hist. of Music_, vol. iii. p. 406.
Some gallant, high in favour with the Lady Oriana (Queen Elizabeth), is evidently alluded to in these madrigals; but I cannot agree with Sir John Hawkins, that a public singer like Mr. Hale would be permitted "to call the queen his lady." The idea is too absurd for a moment's consideration. Another conjecture is, that the individual designated _Bonny-boots_ was the Earl of Essex; but I shall here quote two extracts from a curious and rare work published by Thomas Morley in 1597, and entitled "_Canzonets, or Little Short Aers to Five and Six Voices_: Printed by Peter Short," &c.:--