Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Gregory, William (d.1663)
GREGORY, WILLIAM (d. 1663), composer, became violinist and wind-instrument musician in the household of Charles I in 1626, and held the same position in the household of Charles II from 1661 to 1663. His compositions include an almain, coranto, sarabande, and jigge in Playford's ‘Court Ayres’ (1655), and vocal numbers for one or more voices in the ‘Treasury of Musick’ (1669), ‘Musical Companion’ (1673), and ‘Ayres and Dialogues’ (1676 to 1683). Hawkins quotes the anthems, ‘Out of the deep,’ and ‘O Lord, thou hast cast us out,’ as the best known of Gregory's works. He died in August or September 1663, bequeathing sums to be paid from his wages due out of the treasury to his wife Mary, to two daughters Mary G. and Elizabeth Starke, to a daughter-in-law, and to a granddaughter. The residue was to go to his son, Henry Gregory, a member of the king's band in 1662 and 1674. A ‘John Gregory, singing man,’ was buried at Westminster Abbey in 1617. Prince Gregory was gentleman of the Chapel Royal from 1740 to 1755.
[State Papers, Dom. Ser. Charles I, 21 Feb. 1626, Charles II, 1661, 26 Aug. 1662, 24 July and September 1663; J. Playford's publications as quoted above; Registers of Wills, P. C. C. 114, Juxon; Wood's MS. Lives (Bodleian); Hawkins's History of Music, p. 713; Burney's History of Music, iii. 465; Dict. of Musicians, 1827, p. 299; Rimbault's Memoirs of Roger North, p. 98; Harleian Society's Publications, x. 114; Rimbault's Old Cheque Book, p. 53; Gent. Mag. 1755, p. 572.]