I've noticed several Dowland pieces with titles honoring governmental and military figures (the Earl of Essex, a naval admiral, etc.).
The dedications strike the modern taste as greasy -- none of us would compose a marching band piece (much less a lute piece) personally to a distant military or political figure. How does one explain this striking difference in taste? Does a monarchist mindset produce such servility? Perhaps Dowland really knew and admired these people?
