An Altus partbook from a set originally of five volumes. Copied by a single scribe. Many pieces have text incipits or titles only; probably copied for instrumental performance. Of English provenance; probably originated in the household of Edward Paston (1550-1630) of Norfolk, a country gentleman and collector of music. Not copied by one of Paston's usual scribes; perhaps compiled for younger member of Paston family, or copied by a visiting musician for his own use, from sources owned by Paston (BrettEP). Owned in 1670 by Stephen Aldhouse of Matlask, Norfolk, a witness to Paston's will. Purchased by British Museum at a Quaritch sale in 1852.

New covers of red cloth on cardboard

not indicated

New pencil foliation in each book includes original parchment flyleaves.

No initials or decoration

iii paper + ii parchment + 67 paper + ii paper

1 Mass, 80 Mass Ordinary sections or fragments, 18 Requiem Mass sections or fragments, 2 Mass Proper sections, 4 Magnificat sections, 1 hymn, 1 Lamentation, 32 motets, 9 anthems, 49 English secular pieces, 8 Italian secular pieces, 3 Latin secular pieces, 3 French secular pieces, 4 textless pieces (including 1 In nomine, 1 Fantasia, and 1 piece with title "Miserere") = 215

Bateson-1, Bianciardi-1, Byrd-18, Byrd/(A. Ferrabosco I)1, Cobbold-13, Crecquillon-1, Deering-1, A. Ferrabosco I [Alfonso; Alphonso]-7, A. Ferrabosco I/(Byrd)-2, A. Ferrabosco I/(Philippe de Monte)-1, (Kirbye)-1, Lange [Gregorio Languio]-1, Lassus [Orlando]-1, Philippe de Monte-2, Morley-1, J. Mundy-1, W. Mundy-1, (J. or W.? Mundy)-1, Pallavicino-1, R. Parsons I-1, Patrick-1, P. Philips-2, Shepherd-2, Stevenson-1, Tallis-4, Tallis/(Byrd)-1, Taverner-8, Tomkins-1, Orazio Vecchi-1, Victoria-65 + 31?, Weelkes-11, R. White-4, Wilbye-1, T. Wilkinson-1, anon-34

4 partbooks of an original 5 (D-ii paper + ii parchment + 69 paper + i paper folios, A-iii paper + ii parchment + 67 paper + ii paper, T-ii paper + ii parchment + 55 paper + i paper, B-iii paper + ii parchment + 67 paper + i paper), 147-52 x 293-302. New pencil foliation in each book includes original parchment flyleaves. New covers of red cloth on cardboard. No index. Copied by a single scribe. No initials or decoration. Many pieces have text incipits or titles only; probably copied for instrumental performance.

Ca. 1615 (JosephT). Of English provenance; probably originated in the household of Edward Paston (1550-1630) of Norfolk, a country gentleman and collector of music. Not copied by one of Paston's usual scribes; perhaps compiled for younger member of Paston family, or copied by a visiting musician for his own use, from sources owned by Paston (BrettEP). Owned in 1670 by Stephen Aldhouse of Matlask, Norfolk, a witness to Paston's will. Purchased by British Museum at a Quaritch sale in 1852.

Vol 4

Contents: 1 Mass, 2 Kyries, 3 Glorias, 3 Credos, 8 Agnus, 9 Requiem Mass sections, 48 Mass Ordinary sections, 4 Magnificat sections, 1 Lamentation, 28 motets, 10 motet sections, 9 anthems, 49 English secular pieces, 7 Italian secular pieces, 5 French secular pieces, 1 Latin secular piece, 9 instrumental pieces (Fantasias, In nomines, Misereres, etc.) = 197 + 1 duplicate = 198

Composers: Bateson-1, Bianciardi-1, Byrd-18, Byrd/(A. Ferrabosco I)-1, Cob-bold-13, Crecquillon-1, Deering-1, A. Ferrabosco I [Alfonso; Alphonso]-4, A. Ferrabosco I/(Byrd)-2, A. Ferrabosco I/(Philippe de Monte)-1, A. Ferrabosco I/ (Mosto)-1, A. Ferrabosco I/(Striggio)-1, A. Ferrabosco I/(Tye)-1, (Kirbye)-1, Lange-1, Lassus [Orlando]-1, Philippe de Monte-2, Morley-1, J. Mundy-1, W. Mundy-1, (J. or W.? Mundy)-1, Pallavicino-1, R. Parsons I-1, Patrick-1, P. Philips-2, Shepherd-2, Stevenson-1, Tallis-4, Tallis/(Byrd)-1, Taverner-9, Tomkins-1, Orazio Vecchi-1, Victoria-79, Weelkes-11, R. White-4, Wilbye-1, T. Wilkinson-1, anon-22