A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Parsons, Robert
PARSONS, Robert, a native of Exeter, was on Oct. 17, 1563, sworn a gentleman of the Chapel Royal. He is said, but erroneously, to have been organist of Westminster Abbey. He composed some church music. A Morning, Communion, and Evening Service is printed in Barnard's 'Selected Church Musick,' and a Burial Service in Low's 'Directions,' 1664. An anthem, 'Deliver us from our enemies,' is contained in the Tudway Collection (Harl. MS. 7339), and an 'In Nomine,' and a madrigal, 'Enforced by love and feare,' are in Add. MS. 11,586. Three services and an anthem, 'Ah, helpless wretch,' are in Barnard's MS. collections in the Sacred Harmonic Society's Library. Many of his compositions are extant in MS. in the library of Christ Church, Oxford. He was drowned in the Trent at Newark, Jan. 25, 1569–70.
John Parsons, probably his son, was in 1616 appointed one of the parish clerks and also organist of St. Margaret's, Westminster. On Dec. 7, 1621 he was appointed organist and master of the choristers of Westminster Abbey. A Burial Service by him is contained in a MS. volume in the library of the Sacred Harmonic Society. He died in 1623, and was buried, Aug. 3, in the cloisters of Westminster. A quaint epitaph on him is preserved in Camden's 'Remains.'