William Lawes (April 1602 – 24 September 1645), now relatively unknown, was once referred to by the king as the "Father of Musick". He was a musician at the court of Charles 1st where he composed secular music and songs for court masques. He is most remembered today for his sublime viol consort suites for between three and six players and his lyra viol music. William Lawes was killed near Chester during the Civil War. An interesting page on that episode can be found here. The author of his epitaph took the opportubity to take a not so tasteful nab at his political opponents: "Will. Lawes was slain by such whose wills were laws".

These extraordinary duets are preserved at the Bodleian library, Oxford (Mus Sch B2). I provide the facsimile and a transcription in the original tuning.