Andreas Ornithoparcus his Micrologus, or Introduction: containing the art of singing Digested into foure bookes. Not onely profitable, but also necessary for all that are studious of musicke. Also the dimension and perfect vse of the monochord, according to Guido Aretinus. By Iohn Douland lutenist, lute-player, and Bachelor of Musicke in both the Vniuersities. 1609.

THE FOVRTH CHAPTER.

Of Moode, Time, and Prolation.

THe degrees of Musick, by which we know the value of the principal figures, are three: to wit, Mood, Time, and Prolation. Neither doth any of them deale vpon all Notes, but each onely with certaine

Notes that belong to each. As Moode dealeth with Largs, and Longs; Time, with Breefes; Prolation, with Semibreefes.

A Moode (as Franchinus saith in the second Booke, cap. 7. of his Pract:) is the measure of Longs in Largs, or of Breefes in Longs. Or it is the beginning of the quantitie of Largs and Longs, measuring them either by the number of two or the number of three. For euery Figure is measured by a dou∣ble value.

To wit, by the number of	Two,	and so is called	Perfect,	because we make 3. perfect, and limit the imperfect by 2.
Three,	Imperfect,

Of the Diuision of Moode.

Moode (as it is here taken) is two-fold; to wit, The greater, which is in the Largs and Longs, and the lesser, which is in the Longs and Breefes. And each of these is diuided into the perfect and imperfect.

Of the greater Moode.

THe greater perfect Moode is, when a Larg containes in it three Longs: or it is the measuring of three Longs in one Larg. The signe hereof is a perfect circle accompanied with the number of three, thus; O3. The grea∣ter imperfect is a Larg, comprehending in it two Longs: which is knowne by an imperfect circle, ioyned to the number of three, thus; C3.

Of the lesser Moode.

THe lesser perfect Mood is a Long hauing in it three Breefes. Or it is the measuring of three Breefes in one Long, whose signe is a perfect Circle, accompanied with the number of 2, thus; O2. But the lesser imperfect, is a Long which is to be measured onely with two Breefes. The signe of this is the absence of the number of 2. Or a Semicircle ioyned to a number of 2. thus; C2. O. C. as followeth:

Of Time.

TIme is a Breefe which containes in it two or three Semibreefes. Or it is the measuring of two or three Semibreefes in one Breefe. And it is two-fold, to wit, perfect: and this is a Breefe measured with three Semibreefes. Whose signe is the number of three ioyned with a Circle or a Semicircle, or a perfect Circle set without a number, thus; O3. C3. O. The imperfect is, wherein a Breefe is measured onely by two Semibreefes. Which is knowne by the number of two ioyned with a perfect Circle, or a Semicircle, or a Se∣micircle without a number, thus; O2. C2.

Of Prolation.

WHerefore Prolation is the essentiall quantitie of Semibreefes: or it is the setting of two or three Minims against one Semibreefe. And it is twofold, to wit the greater, (which is a Semibreefe measured by three Minims, or the comprehending of three Minims in one Semibreefe, whose signe is a point inclosed in a signe thus, 〈☐☐〉〈☐☐〉) The lesser Prolation is a Semibreefe mea∣sured with two Minims onely, whose signe is the absence of a pricke. For Franchinus saith, They carry with them the imperfecting of the figure, when the signes are wanting, thus: 〈♫〉〈♫〉 Time perfect. Imperf. time. Greater Prol. Lesse Prolation.

There was one well seen in this Art, that made this vnderwritten Example of these three degrees, reasonable learnedly and compendiously for the help of yong beginners: which (by his fauour) wee will not thinke vnwor∣thy to set downe here. 〈♫〉〈♫〉 The Tenor, in the lesser Moode perfect. The Descant, in the greater Prolation. 〈♫〉〈♫〉 The Base, in time perfect.