Briefwisseling. Deel 6: 1663-1687

[p. 204]

6594. Aan Lady Swann¹⁾. (K.A.)

I have been tossed up and down in so many voyages for the service of my Master all this yeare, that in good faith I was not able to perform so much as in letters the duties I owed to the best of my frends. Your ladyship, I hope, will not onely suffer to bee called of that number, but allso to be accounted amongst those of whose goodness and discretion I do hold myself most sure. Upon this ground, Madam, I venture to give you thanks so many monthes after for the most civil letter you were pleased to send me in June past; the bearer was a yong man your ladyship did recommend unto me for a rare master upon the viol. He will beare me witness that at the same instant he saw me, I stood booted for a journey, which was to last longer then he seemed willing to stay at the Haghe; so I did adress him to a frend of mine, who keepes a weekly college of violmusick at his howse. At my return this frend indeed made me a report of the yong mans excellent hand and skill, but that in the scarsitie of liefhebbers we live in, he was not able to procure him a reasonable number of scollars by which he might be able to subsist in this place, so that being forced to seeke elsewhere a better opportunitie, he was gone for Amsterdam, where we heare he thrives well, leaving me some hope to hear him, which I doe hartily wish for, making no question but what your ladyship hath approoved must be no indifferent thing. I hope, Madam, that, having so much care of us, you doe not neglect your owne selfe, but that living there in a place where musick, and specially that of the virginals, hath ever florished in a high degree, your ladyship doth endeavour to heare and to doe things beyond what ever we heard of her most masterly hands.

For my part, though age doe not lessen my wonted love and inclination to harmony, since I am deprived of my best auditor, which was my second son - whom the King of France keepeth from me by an honorable pension of 6000 gl. a yeare - I doe find my self so alone for musical communications, and in this towne so many monsters, which are asses without eares, that I think it scarce worth my paines to produce anything new. Lately I fell upon Froberghers²⁾ compositions, of which he sent me a good deale since last yeare, comming downe the Rhine. I met him at the court of the Elector of Mentz³⁾, where I receaved a great deale of honour and civilitie, as allso from two other of those Electors upon the same coast, but nothing pleased me so much, as to heare that excellent Frobergher his rare improvements and to see him take the patience to heare me with some indifferent satisfaction. As for his lessons, I have a way to transport them upon the lute, in such a manner that Joff.^w Casembroot⁴⁾ hath the goodness to consider them, which is all I can say for my greatest advantage, till I may be so happie as to make your ladyship an earwitness of my wonder. God knoweth when, and if ever this shall be, for even in writing this, Madam, I forgot I have all the while been entertaining my public enemie. Is not this a miserable distraction, by which we are bound to look upon one another quite otherwise then we have done all our lifetime?

1) Kopie van andere hand. De brief is gedeeltelijk uitgegeven door J.A. Worp in Tijdschr. der Vereen. voor Noord-Nederlands muziekgeschiedenis, V, 1897, blz. 135.

2) Zie V, blz. 20.

3) Zie blz. 154.

4) Zie IV, blz. 490.

[p. 205]

For the publick indeed it is so, but in private, Madam, I am to you what I have ever been, and make no question but you will say so much from your side. And so I dare conclude, there is no discord of states and princes able to disturb the old innocent harmony of our souls. I hope your ladyship will doe me the favour to lett me haere from her, when it may be without her incommodity, for indeed and in all sinceritie I am and shall be as long as I live ..... Haghe, this 29 Decemb. 1666.