John Dowland (1563 - 1626) was an English Renaissance composer, lutenist, and singer. The Earl of Essex Galliard was first published in 1605 in Lachrimae, or Seven Tears (No.12)
He is best known today for his melancholy songs such as "Come, heavy sleep", "Come again", "Flow my tears", "I saw my Lady weepe", "Now o now I needs must part" and "In darkness let me dwell", but his instrumental music has undergone a major revival, and with the 20th century's early music revival, has been a continuing source of repertoire for lutenists and classical guitarists.