"MADRIGALES. THE TRIUMPHES OF ORIANA, to 5 and 6 voices: composed by divers severall aucthors. Newly published by Thomas Morley, Batcheler of Musick, and one of the gentlemen of hir Majesties honorable Chappell, 1601. In London, Printed by Thomas Este, the assigne of Thomas Morley. _Cum privilegio Regiæ Majestatis._"
"To the Right Honorable the Lord Charles Howard, Earle of Notingham, Baron of Effingham, Knight of the Noble order of the Garter, Lord High Admirall of England, Ireland, and Wales, &c., and one of her Majesties most honorable Privie Counsell."
As all that is known, with _certainty_, of the _origin_ of this work consists in the title-page and the dedication, I shall make no apology for quoting the latter at length:--
"I have adventured to dedicate these few discordant tunes to be censured by the ingenious disposition of your Lordship's Honorable rare perfection, perswading my selfe, that these labours, composed by me and others (as in the survey hereof, your Lordship may well perceive), may not by any meanes passe, without the malignitie of some malitious _Momus_, whose malice (being as toothsome as the _adder's_ sting), couched in the progres of a wayfayring man's passage, might make him retire though almost at his journeyes end. Two speciall motives have imbouldened me (Right Honorable) in this my proceeding. First, for that I consider, that as the body cannot bee without the shadow, so _Homer_ (the Prince of Poets) may not be without a Zoilist: The second and last is (the most forcible motive), I know (not onely by report, but also by experiment) your Lordship to bee not onely _Philomusus_, a lover of the _Muses_, and of learning; but _Philomathes_, a personage always desirous (though in all Arts sufficiently skilfull) to come to a more high perfection or _Summum bonum_. I will not trouble your Lordship with to to [_sic_] tedious circumstances, onely I humbly intreat your Lordship (in the name of many) to patronage this work with no lesse acceptance, then I with a willing and kinde hart dedicate it. So shall I think the _initium_ of this worke not onely happely begun, but to bee _finited_ with a more happie period.
_The Triumphs of Oriana_ consists of twenty-five madrigals, set by the most eminent musicians of the day, and edited (as the title-page and dedication show) by Thomas Morley, a most "rare and cunning musician," and moreover an especial favourite with the reigning queen, in whose honour the work is said to have been composed.