(b Maidstone, 1592; d Kimberley, 27 Oct 1678). English composer. A lutenist and lyra viol player, he was in London in 1634 and was appointed a court theorbo player in 1660. He lived with several East Anglian families, including Roger North's at Kirtling, Cambs. (1660-66), but was never officially attached to any. He was important for his consort music, notably for viols, which were widely popular among amateur players; his c 800 surviving pieces are pre-eminent in lyrical invention, structural organization and sonority. He had a command of the English virtuoso ‘division’ style. He composed both in the traditional many-voice consort style and in the new Italian three-part manner, often writing for treble, two basses and organ or two trebles and bass, moving towards a new violin-influenced phrase structure.
