The
description
of
a
Masque
,
Presented
in
the
Banqueting
roome
at
Whitehall
,
On
St.
Stephens
night
last
:
At
the
Mariage
of
the
right
Honourable
the
Earle
of
Somerset
,
&
the
right
noble
the
Lady
Frances
Howard
.
IN
ancient
times
,
whē
any
man
sought
to
shadowe
or
heighten
his
Inuention
,
he
had
store
of
feyned
persons
readie
for
his
purpose
;
As
Satyres
,
Nymphes
&
their
like
:
such
were
then
in
request
and
beliefe
among
the
vulgar
.
But
in
our
dayes
,
although
they
haue
not
vtterly
lost
their
vse
,
yet
finde
they
so
litle
credit
,
that
our
moderne
writers
haue
rather
transferd
their
fictions
to
the
persons
of
Enchaunters
&
Commaunders
of
Spirits
,
as
that
excellent
Poet
Torquato
Tasso
hath
done
,
and
many
others
.
In
imitation
of
them
(
having
a
presentation
in
hand
for
Persons
of
high
State
)
I
grounded
my
whole
Inuention
vpon
Inchauntmens
and
severall
transformations
:
The
work-manship
whereof
was
vndertaken
by
M.
Constantine
an
Italian
,
Architect
to
our
late
Prince
Henry
:
but
he
being
too
much
of
him selfe
,
and
no
way
to
be
drawne
to
impart
his
intentions
,
fayled
so
farre
in
the
assurance
he
gaue
,
that
the
mayne
inuention
euen
at
the
last
cast
,
was
of
force
drawne
into
a
farre
narrower
compasse
then
was
from
the
beginning
intended
:
The
description
whereof
as
it
was
performed
,
I
will
as
briefely
as
I
can
deliver
.
The
place
wherein
the
Maske
was
presented
,
being
the
Banquetting
house
at
White
Hall
:
the
vpper
part
,
where
the
State
is
placed
,
was
Theatred
with
Pillars
,
Scaffolds
,
and
all
things
answerable
to
the
sides
of
the
Roome
.
At
the
lower
end
of
the
Hall
before
the
Sceane
was
made
an
Arch
Tryvmphall
,
passing
beautifull
,
which
enclosed
the
whole
Workes
:
The
Sceane
it selfe
(
the
Curtaine
being
drawne
)
was
in
this
manner
diuided
.
On
the
vpper
part
there
was
formed
a
Skye
with
Clowdes
very
arteficially
shadowed
.
On
either
side
of
the
Sceane
belowe
was
set
a
high
Promontory
,
and
on
either
of
them
stood
three
large
pillars
of
golde
:
the
one
Promontory
was
bounded
with
a
Rocke
standing
in
the
Sea
,
the
other
with
a
Wood
;
In
the
midst
betwene
them
apeared
a
Sea
in
perspectiue
with
ships
,
some
cunningly
painted
,
some
arteficially
sayling
.
On
the
front
of
the
Sceane
,
on
either
side
was
a
beautifull
garden
,
with
sixe
seates
a
peece
to
receaue
the
Maskers
:
behinde
them
the
mayne
Land
,
and
in
the
middest
a
paire
of
stayres
made
exceeding
curiously
in
the
forme
of
a
Schalop
shell
.
And
in
this
manner
was
the
eye
first
of
all
entertayned
.
After
the
King
,
Queene
,
and
Prince
were
placed
,
and
preparation
was
made
for
the
beginning
of
the
Maske
,
there
entred
foure
Squires
,
who
as
soone
as
they
approached
neare
the
Presence
,
humbly
bowing
themselues
,
spake
as
followeth
.
The
first
Squire
.
THat
fruite
that
neither
dreads
the
Syrian
heats
,
Nor
the
sharp
frosts
which
churlish
Boreas
threats
,
The
fruite
of
Peace
,
and
Ioy
our
wishes
bring
To
this
high
State
,
in
a
Perpetuall
Spring
.
Then
pardon
(
Sacred
Maiestie
)
our
griefe
Vnseasonably
that
presseth
for
reliefe
.
The
ground
wherof
(
if
your
blest
eares
can
spare
A
short
space
of
Attention
)
we
'le
declare
.
GReat
Honors
Herrald
Fame
hauing
Proclaym'd
This
Nuptiall
feast
,
and
with
it
all
enflam'd
▪
From
euery
quarter
of
the
earth
three
Knights
In
Courtship
seene
,
as
well
as
Martiall
fights
)
Assembled
in
the
Continent
,
and
there
Decreed
this
night
A
solemne
Seruice
here
.
For
which
,
by
sixe
and
sixe
embarqu'd
they
were
In
seuerall
Keeles
;
their
Sayles
for
Britaine
bent
.
But
(
they
that
neuer
fauour'd
good
intent
)
Deformed
Errour
that
enchaunting
fiend
,
And
wing-tongu'd
Rumor
his
infernall
freind
,
With
Curiositie
and
Credulitie
,
Both
Sorceresses
,
all
in
hate
agree
Our
purpose
to
divert
,
in
vaine
they
striue
,
For
we
in
spight
of
them
came
neere
t'
ariue
,
When
sodainly
(
as
Heauen
and
hell
had
met
)
A
storme
confus'd
against
our
Tackle
beat
,
Seuering
the
Ships
:
but
after
what
befell
Let
these
relate
,
my
tongu's
too
weake
to
tell
.
The
second
Squire
.
A
Strange
and
sad
Ostent
our
Knights
distrest
,
For
while
the
Tempests
fierye
rage
increast
,
About
our
Deckes
and
Hatches
,
loe
,
appeare
Serpents
,
as
Lerna
had
beene
pour'd
out
there
Crawling
about
vs
,
which
feare
to
eschew
The
Knights
the
Tackle
climb'd
,
and
hung
in
view
,
When
violently
a
flash
of
lighning
came
,
And
from
our
sights
did
beare
them
in
the
flame
.
Which
past
,
no
Serpent
there
was
to
be
seene
,
And
all
was
husht
,
as
storme
had
neuer
beene
.
The
third
Squire
.
AT
Sea
,
their
mischeifes
grewe
,
but
ours
at
Land
,
For
being
by
chance
arriu'd
,
while
our
Knights
stand
To
view
their
storme-tost
friends
on
two
Cliffes
neere
,
Thence
loe
they
vanish'd
,
and
sixe
Pillars
were
Fixt
in
their
footsteps
,
Pillars
all
of
golde
,
Faire
to
our
eyes
,
but
wofull
to
beholde
.
The
fourth
Squire
.
THus
with
prodigious
hate
and
crueltie
,
Our
good
Knights
for
their
loue
afflicted
be
,
But
,
ō
protect
vs
now
,
Maiesticke
Grace
,
For
see
,
those
curst
Enchanters
presse
in
place
That
our
past
sorrowes
wrought
:
these
,
these
alone
Turne
all
the
world
into
confusion
.
Towards
the
end
of
this
speech
,
two
Enchanters
,
and
two
Enchanteresses
appeare
:
Error
first
,
in
a
skin
coate
scaled
like
a
Serpent
,
and
an
antick
habit
painted
with
Snakes
,
a
haire
of
curled
Snakes
,
and
a
deformed
visard
.
With
him
Rumor
in
a
skin
coate
full
of
winged
Tongues
,
and
ouer
it
an
antick
robe
,
on
his
head
a
Cap
like
a
tongue
,
with
a
large
paire
of
wings
to
it
.
Curiosity
in
a
skin
coate
full
of
eyes
,
and
an
antick
habit
ouer
it
,
a
fantastick
Cap
full
of
Eyes
.
Credulity
in
the
like
habit
painted
with
eares
,
and
an
antick
Cap
full
of
eares
.
When
they
had
whispered
a
while
as
if
they
had
reioyced
at
the
wrongs
which
they
had
done
to
the
Knights
,
the
Musick
and
their
Daunce
began
:
strait
forth
rusht
the
foure
Windes
confusedly
,
the
Easterne
winde
in
a
skin
coate
of
the
colour
of
the
Sun-rising
,
with
a
yellow
haire
,
and
wings
both
on
his
shoulders
and
feete
.
The
Westerne
Winde
in
a
skin
coate
of
darke
crimson
,
with
crimson
haire
and
wings
.
The
Southerne
Winde
in
a
darke
russet
skin
coate
,
haire
and
wings
sutable
.
The
Northern
winde
in
a
grisled
skin
coate
,
with
haire
and
wings
accordingly
.
After
them
in
confusion
came
the
foure
Elements
:
Earth
,
in
a
skin
coate
of
grasse
greene
,
a
mantle
painted
full
of
trees
,
plants
,
and
flowers
,
and
on
his
head
an
oke
growing
.
Water
,
in
a
skin
coate
waved
,
with
a
mantle
full
of
fishes
,
on
his
head
a
Dolphin
.
Ayre
,
in
a
skye-coloured
skin
coate
,
with
a
mantle
painted
with
Fowle
,
and
on
his
head
an
Eagle
.
Fire
,
in
a
skin
coate
,
and
a
mantle
painted
with
flames
:
on
his
head
a
cap
of
flames
,
with
a
Salamander
in
the
midst
thereof
.
Then
entred
the
foure
parts
of
the
earth
in
a
confused
measure
.
Europe
in
the
habit
of
an
Empresse
,
with
an
Emperiall
Crowne
on
her
head
.
Asia
in
a
Persian
Ladies
habit
with
a
Crowne
on
her
head
.
Africa
like
a
Queene
of
the
Moores
,
with
a
crown
.
America
in
a
skin
coate
of
the
colour
of
the
iuyce
of
Mulberies
,
on
her
head
large
round
brims
of
many
coloured
feathers
,
and
in
the
midst
of
it
a
small
Crowne
.
All
these
hauing
daunced
together
in
a
strange
kinde
of
confusion
;
past
away
,
by
foure
and
foure
.
At
which
time
,
Eternity
appeared
in
a
long
blew
Taffata
robe
,
painted
with
Starres
,
and
on
her
head
a
Crowne
.
Next
,
came
the
three
Destinies
,
in
long
robes
of
white
Taffata
like
aged
women
,
with
Garlands
of
Narcissus
Flowers
on
their
heads
,
and
in
their
left
hands
they
carried
distaffes
according
to
the
descriptions
of
Plato
and
Catullus
,
but
in
their
right
hands
they
carried
altogether
a
Tree
of
Golde
.
After
them
,
came
Harmony
with
nine
Musitians
more
,
in
long
Taffata
robes
and
caps
of
Tinsell
,
with
Garlands
guilt
,
playing
and
singing
this
Song
.
Chorus
.
Vanish
,
vanish
hence
confusion
,
Dimme
not
Hymens
goulden
light
With
false
illusion
.
The
Fates
shall
doe
him
right
,
And
faire
Eternitie
,
Who
passe
through
all
enchantements
fre
:
Eternitie
singes
alone
.
Bring
away
this
Sacred
Tree
,
The
Tree
of
Grace
,
and
Bountie
,
Set
it
in
Bel-Annas
eye
,
For
she
,
she
,
only
she
Can
all
Knotted
spels
vnty
.
Pull'd
from
the
Stocke
,
let
her
blest
Hands
conuay
To
any
suppliant
Hand
,
a
bough
,
And
let
that
Hand
,
aduance
it
now
Against
a
Charme
,
that
Charme
shall
fade
away
.
Toward
the
ende
of
this
Song
the
three
,
destinies
set
the
Tree
of
Golde
before
the
Queene
.
Chorus
.
Since
Knightly
valour
rescues
Dames
distressed
,
By
Vertuous
Dames
,
let
charm'd
Knights
be
released
.
After
this
Chorus
,
one
of
the
Squires
speakes
.
SInce
Knights
by
valour
Rescue
Dames
distrest
,
Let
them
be
by
the
Queene
of
Dames
releast
:
So
sing
the
Destinyes
,
who
neuer
erre
,
Fixing
this
Tree
of
Grace
and
Bountie
heere
,
From
which
,
for
our
enchaunted
Knights
we
craue
A
branche
,
pull'd
by
your
Sacred
Hand
,
to
haue
;
That
we
may
beare
it
as
the
Fates
direct
,
And
manifest
your
glory
in
the'ffect
.
In
vertues
fauour
then
,
and
Pittie
now
,
(
Great
Queene
)
vouchsafe
vs
a
diuine
touch't
bough
.
At
the
end
of
this
speech
,
the
Queene
puld
a
branch
from
the
Tree
and
gaue
it
to
a
Nobleman
who
deliuered
it
to
one
of
the
Squires
.
A
Song
whilè
the
Squires
descend
With
the
bough
,
toward
the
Scene
.
Goe
happy
man
like
th'
Euening
Starre
,
Whose
beames
to
Bride-groomes
well-come
are
.
May
neither
Hagge
,
nor
Feind
withstand
The
pow're
of
thy
Victorious
Hand
.
The
Vncharm'd
Knights
surrender
now
,
By
vertue
of
thy
raised
Bough
.
Away
Enchauntements
,
Vanish
quite
,
No
more
delay
our
longing
sight
:
'T
is
fruitelesse
to
contend
with
Fate
,
Who
giues
vs
pow're
against
your
hate
.
Braue
Knights
,
in
Courtly
pompe
appeare
,
For
now
are
you
long
look't
for
heere
.
Then
out
of
the
ayre
a
cloude
descends
,
discouering
sixe
of
the
Knights
alike
,
in
strange
and
sumptuous
atires
,
and
withall
on
either
side
of
the
Cloud
,
on
the
two
Promontories
,
the
other
sixe
Maskers
are
sodainly
transformed
our
of
the
pillars
of
golde
,
at
which
time
,
while
they
all
come
forward
to
the
dancing
place
,
this
Chorus
is
sung
,
&
on
the
sodaine
the
whole
Sceane
is
changed
:
for
whereas
before
all
seemed
to
be
done
at
the
sea
and
sea
coast
,
now
the
Promontories
are
sodainly
remooved
,
and
London
with
the
Thames
is
very
arteficially
presented
in
their
place
.
The
Squire
lifts
vp
the
Bough
.
Chorus
.
Vertue
and
Grace
,
in
spight
of
Charmes
,
Haue
now
redeem'd
our
men
at
Armes
.
Ther
's
no
inchauntement
can
withstand
,
Where
Fate
directs
the
happy
hand
.
The
Maskers
first
Daunce
.
The
third
Song
of
three
partes
,
with
a
Chorus
of
fiue
partes
,
sung
after
the
first
Daunce
.
VVHile
dancing
rests
,
fit
place
to
musicke
graunting
,
Good
spels
the
Fates
shall
breath
,
al
enuy
daunting
Kind
eares
with
ioy
enchaunting
,
chaunting
.
Chorus
.
Io
,
Io
Hymen
.
Like
lookes
,
like
hearts
,
like
loues
are
linck't
together
,
So
must
the
Fates
be
pleas'd
,
so
come
they
hether
,
To
make
this
Ioy
perseuer
euer
.
Chorus
.
Io
,
Io
Hymen
.
Loue
decks
the
spring
,
her
buds
to
th'
ayre
exposing
,
Such
fire
here
in
these
bridall
Breasts
reposing
We
leaue
with
charmes
enclosing
,
closing
.
Chorus
.
Io
,
Io
Hymen
.
The
Maskers
second
Daunce
.
The
fourth
Song
a
Dialogue
of
three
with
a
Chorus
after
the
second
Daunce
.
1
LEt
vs
now
sing
of
Loues
delight
,
For
he
alone
is
Lord
to
night
.
2
Some
friendship
betweene
man
,
and
man
prefer
,
But
I
th'
affection
betweene
man
and
wife
.
3
What
good
can
be
in
life
,
Whereof
no
fruites
appeare
?
1
Set
is
that
Tree
in
ill
houre
,
That
yeilds
neither
fruite
nor
flowre
.
2
2
How
can
man
Perpetuall
be
,
but
in
his
owne
Posteritie
?
Chorus
.
That
pleasure
is
of
all
most
bountifull
and
kinde
,
That
fades
not
straight
,
but
leaues
a
liuing
Ioy
behinde
.
After
this
Dialogue
the
Maskers
daunce
with
the
Ladies
,
wherein
spending
as
much
time
as
they
held
fitting
,
they
returned
to
the
seates
prouided
for
them
.
Straight
in
the
Thames
appeared
foure
Barges
with
skippers
in
them
,
&
withall
this
song
was
sung
.
Come
a
shore
,
come
merrie
mates
,
With
your
nimble
heeles
,
and
pates
:
Summon
eu'ry
man
his
Knight
,
Enough
honour'd
is
this
night
.
Now
,
let
your
Sea-borne
Goddesse
come
.
Quench
these
lights
,
and
make
all
dombe
.
Some
sleepe
,
others
let
her
call
,
And
so
Godnight
to
all
,
godnight
to
all
.
At
the
conclusion
of
this
song
arriued
twelue
skippers
in
red
capps
,
with
short
cassocks
and
long
slopps
wide
at
the
knees
,
of
white
canvas
striped
with
crimson
,
white
gloves
and
Pomps
,
and
red
stockins
:
these
twelue
daunced
a
brave
and
lively
daunce
,
shouting
and
tryvmphing
after
their
manner
.
After
this
followed
the
Maskers
last
daunce
,
wherewith
they
retyred
.
At
the
Embarking
of
the
Knights
,
the
Squires
approach
the
state
,
and
speake
.
The
first
Squire
.
ALl
that
was
euer
ask't
,
by
vow
of
Ioue
,
To
blesse
a
state
with
,
Plentie
,
Honor
Loue
,
Power
,
Triumph
,
priuate
pleasure
,
publique
peace
,
Sweete
springs
,
and
Autumn's
filld
with
due
increase
,
All
these
;
and
what
good
els
,
thought
can
supplie
.
Euer
attend
your
Triple
Maiestie
.
The
second
Squire
.
ALl
blessings
which
the
Fates
,
Propheticke
Sung
,
At
Peleus
Nuptialls
,
and
what
euer
tongue
Can
figure
more
,
this
night
,
and
aye
betide
,
The
honour'd
Bride-groome
,
and
the
honourd
Bride
.
All
the
Squires
together
.
Thus
speakes
in
vs
th'
affection
of
our
Knights
,
Wishing
you
health
,
and
Miriads
of
goodnights
.
The
Squires
speeches
being
ended
,
this
Song
is
Sung
while
the
Boates
passe
away
.
Hast
aboord
,
hast
now
away
,
Hymen
frownes
,
at
your
delay
:
Hymen
doth
long
nights
affect
;
Yeild
him
then
his
due
respect
.
The
Sea-borne
Goddesse
straight
will
come
,
Quench
these
lights
,
and
make
all
dombe
.
Some
Sleepe
,
others
she
will
call
,
And
so
godnight
to
all
,
godnight
to
all
.
FINIS
.