Tobias Hume served as a professional soldier in the armies of Sweden and of Russia and spent his final years, from 1629, as a pensioner in the Charterhouse almshouses in London. He was a strong champion of the viol as an instrument that was quite the equal of the lute.

Instrumental and Vocal Music

Hume published in 1605 The First Booke of Ayres, following this two years later with Captain Humes Poeticall Musicke. These are varied collections, including songs and instrumental music. The earlier publication is of particular importance in the music it contains for the instrument that Hume specially favoured, the lyra viol (a smaller form of bass viol).