John Dowland - The right honourable Robert, Earl of Essex, his Galliard played on acoustic guitar

Robert Devereux, the 2nd Earl of Essex, first came to court in 1584, and by 1587 had become a favorite of queen Elisabeth I, who relished his lively mind and eloquence as well as his skills as a showman. He was politically ambitious and an excellent general. The queen commisioned her court lutenist Dowland to compose a song that would match the Earl’s attributes. In 1601 the Earl led an unsuccesful rebellion against the queen and was executed. Despite Robert’s many great quality’s, he certainly wasn’t very grateful...