Whilst the greatest effort has been made to ensure the quality of this text, due to the historical nature of this content, in some rare cases there may be minor issues with legibility. These biographies, undertaken at the earnest suggestion of the late Dr. John Farmer, m.a., Baliol College, Oxford, were commenced to ascertain to what extent the greatest musicians had employed the guitar and mandolin. The research once begun, a revelation of the early and honourable position of these instruments dawned, unfolding facts hitherto undreamed of, and culminating in the present volume.