Robert Ballard II was a French lutenist and composer, probably born in Paris around 1572 or 1575. His father, Robert Ballard Senior, headed the music-publishing house Le Roy & Ballard, founded in 1551 with cousin Adrian Le Roy. From 1612 Ballard served the French regent Maria de Medici and tutored the young King Louis XIII. In 1618 he became a lutenist and composer, “Musicien ordinaire du roi,” at the royal court.

Ballard’s compositions include two books of lute music published by his brother Pierre, who took over the family’s music-publishing business: Premier Livre de tablature de luth (1611) and Diverses Pièces mises sur le luth (1614). He served as lutenist and composer at the French royal court, holding the title “Musicien ordinaire du roi” from 1618.

Sources:

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Ballard_II
• https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1617274