Very little is known about Ciconia‘s early life. He was born in around 1370, probably one of the many illegitimate children of Johannes Ciconia of Liège (a priest) and a woman of high birth. According to Vatican records Ciconia…

Henry Fitzalan (1512-1580) was the 19th Earl of Arundel managed to serve a succession of Tudor monarchs (Henry VIII was his Godfather) without losing either his land or his titles. Or his head. He achieved this despite his involvement in…

John Playford was a bookseller who held a monopoly on music publishing in England under the Commonwealth (1649–60), and during the reign of Charles II. Samuel Pepys was a valued customer; John Blow and Henry Purcell attended his funeral and…