Thomas Tallis was an Englishman, born about 1520, and at an early age
was a boy chorister at St. Paul's. After his voice changed, he played
the organ at Waltham Abbey, and some time later was chosen organist
royal to Queen Elizabeth. His pecuniary returns for his talent did not
make him rich, though he bore the title after 1542 of Gentleman of the
Chapel Royal, for his stipend was sevenpence a day. Some gain may
possibly have come to him, however, from his publication, late in life,
under the queen's special patent, of a collection of hymns and tunes.

He wrote much and was the real founder of the English Church school of
composers, but though St. Paul's was at one time well supplied with his
motets and anthems, it is impossible now to give a list of Tallis'
compositions for the Church. His music was written originally to Latin
words, but when, after the Reformation, the use of vernacular hymns, was
introduced he probably adapted his scores to either language.

It is inferred that he was in attendance on Queen Elizabeth at her
palace in Greenwich when he died, for he was buried in the old parish
church there in November, 1585. The rustic rhymer who indited his
epitaph evidently did the best he could to embalm the virtues of the
great musician as a man, a citizen, and a husband:

Enterred here doth ly a worthy wyght,
Who for long time in musick bore the bell:
His name to shew was Thomas Tallis hyght;
In honest vertuous lyff he dyd excell.

He served long tyme in chappel with grete prayse,
Fower sovereygnes reignes, (a thing not often seene);
I mean King Henry and Prince Edward's dayes,