William Byrd: This sweet and merry month of May
One of Byrd's few secular pieces, this was included in Thomas Watson's The First sett, Of Italian Madrigalls Englished, of 1590. Note the popular practice of praising Elizabeth in the text.

This sweet and merry month of May,
While Nature wantons in her prime,
And birds do sing, and beasts do play
For pleasure of the joyful time,
I choose the first for holiday,
And greet [Eliza with a rhyme:
O beauteous Queen of second Troy,]
Take well in worth a simple toy.

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