Henry Lawes
(1596 - 1662)

English composer, brother of William Lawes, possibly a pupil 
of John Cooper (Coperario). Lawes tutored the daughters of 
the Earl of Bridgewater, to whom he dedicated his first book 
of Ayres and Dialoguesof 1653. He was named a Gentleman 
of the Chapel Royal in 1626, and a member of the King's 
Musick in 1631, a court post which as a Royalist he lost during 
the Commonwealth. 

Henry Lawes was the most prolific song composer in England 
at that time (he left over 430 songs), sensitive to the feeling and 
diction of the poems he set. His best songs were of the serious 
and declamatory type, in an expressionistic rather than melodious 
style. His masque music is important; at Milton's request he wrote 
music for Comus, performed at Ludlow Castle in July 1634; he 
also acted in it. He wrote music for plays by Herrick and 
Cartwright, and also two books of psalms for private devotions.


excerpted from:
(http://www.hoasm.org/IVM/Englandthru1635.html)
My thanks to Chris Whent for his outstanding site and pages 
of information which I absolutely recommend to the reader, 
as well as for his radio programme, likewise recommended.
