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Peter Philips was an English composer and organist who spent most of his adult life in the Spanish Netherlands, and therefore has often been regarded as a member of the Flemish school. Because he was Roman Catholic, he had to flee England in 1582, and eventually took residence in Brussels. He went to Rome first, where he served the English College for three years, and then traveled together with his new master Lord Thomas Pag et for five years. In 1597, he began his service with the Archduke Albert in Brussels and retained his position as one of three organists of the vice-regal chapel until his death. Apart from William Byrd, Philips was the most published English composer of his time. Most of his early compositions are secular, but after 1603 they are exclusively sacred. He was also one of the major keyboard players of the time, and some of his pieces are included in the Fitzwilliam Virginal Book.