Henry Lawes (1596-1662) has long been acknowledged as the leading English songwriter of the period of Charles I. He collaborated with Milton in Comus (1634) and among his hundreds of songs are settings of many famous lyrics by Cavalier poets such as Carew, Herrick, and Suckling. New recordings and musical editions of his work reflect his continued and increasing importance. This study, the first published since 1940, combines an account of his life with an analysis of his development as a songwriter.