THE MASQUE OF THE GENTLEMEN OF GRAYS-INNE AND THE INNER-TEMPLE.

The quarto is as follows:

THE MASKE OF | THE INNER TEMPLE AND | GRAYES INNE, GRAYES INNE | and the Inner Temple, presented before his | Majestie, the Queenes, &c.

This Maske was appointed to have beene presented the Shrove-tuesday before, at which time the Maskers with their attendants and divers others gallant young Gentlemen of both houses, as their convoy, set forth from Winchester house which was the Rende vous towards the Court, about seven of the clocke at night.

This voyage by water was performed in great Triumph. The gentlemen Maskers being placed by themselves in the Kings royall barge with the rich furniture of state, and adorned with a great number of lights placed in such order as might make best shew.

They were attended with a multitude of barges and gallies, with all variety of lowde Musicke, and severall peales of Ordnance. And led by two Admiralls.

Of this shew his Majesty was gratiously pleased to take view, with the Prince, the Count Palatine, and the Lady Elizabeth: their highnesses at the windowes of his privy gallerie upon the water, till their landing, which was at the privy staires: where they were most honorablie received by the Lord Chamberlaine, and so conducted to the Vestry.

The Hall was by that time filled with company of very good fashion, but yet so as a very great number of principall Ladies, and other noble persons were not yet come in, wherby it was foreseen that the roome would be so scanted as might have been inconvenient. And there upon his Majesty was most gratiously pleased with the consent of the gentlemen Maskers, to put off the night until Saturday following with this special favour and priviledge, that there should bee no let, as to the outward ceremony of magnificence untill that time.

At the day that it was presented, there was a choice roome reserved for the gentlemen, of both their houses, who comming in troope about seven of the clocke, received that speciall honor and noble favour, as to be brought to their places, by the Right Honourable the Earle of Northampton, Lord Privie Seale.

Yee that spared no time nor travell, in the setting forth, ordering, & furnishing of this Masque, being the first fruits of honor in this kinde, which these two societies have offered to his Majestie: Will not thinke much now to looke backe upon the effects of your owne care and worke: for that whereof the successe was then doubtfull, is now happily performed and gratiously accepted. And that which you were then to thinke of in straites of time, you may now peruse at leysure. And you Sir Francis Bacon especially, as you did then by your countenance, and loving affection advance it, so let your good word grace it, and defend it, which is able to adde value to the greatest, and least matters.

THE DEVISE OR | ARGUMENT OF THE | MASQUE.

Jupiter and Juno willing to doe honour to the Mariage of the two famous Rivers Thamesis and Rhene, imploy their Messengers severally, Mercurie and Iris for that purpose. They meete and contend: then Mercurie for his part brings forth an Anti-masque all of Spirits or divine Natures: but yet not of one kinde or liverie (because that had been so much in use heretofore) but as it were in consort like to broken Musicke. And preserving the proprietie of the devise; for that Rivers in nature are maintained either by Springs from beneath, or Shewers from above: He raiseth foure of the Naiades out of the Fountaines, and bringeth downe five of the Hyades out of the Cloudes to daunce; hereupon Iris scoffes at Mercurie for that hee had devised a daunce but of one Sexe, which could have no life: but Mercurie who was provided for that exception, and in token that the Match should be blessed both with Love and Riches calleth forth out of the Groves foure Cupids, and brings downe from Jupiters Altar foure Statuaes of gold and silver to daunce with the Nymphes and Starres: in which daunce the Cupids being blinde, and the Statuaes having but halfe life put into them, and retaining still somewhat of their old nature, giveth fit occasion to new and strange varieties both in the Musick and paces. This was the first Anti-masque.

Then Iris for her part in scorne of this high flying devise, and in token that the Match shall likewise be blessed with the love of the Common People, calles to Flora her confederate (for that the Moneths of flowers are likewise the Moneths of sweete shewers, and Raine-bowes) to bring in a May-daunce or Rurall daunce, consisting likewise not of any suted persons, but of a confusion, or commixture of all such persons as are naturall and proper for Countrey sports. This is the second Anti-masque.

Then Mercurie and Iris after this vying one upon the other, seeme to leave their contention: and Mercurie by the consent of Iris brings downe the Olympian Knights, intimating that Jupiter having after a long discontinuance revived the Olympian games, and summoned thereunto from all parts the liveliest, & activest persons that were, had enjoyned them before they fell to their games to doe honour to these Nuptials. The Olympian games portend to the Match, Celebritie, Victorie, and Felicitie. This was the maine Masque.

The Fabricke was a Mountaine with two descents, and severed with two Travesses.

At the entrance of the King.

The first Travers was drawne, and the lower descent of the Mountaine discovered; which was the Pendant of a hill to life, with divers boscages and Grovets upon the steepe or hanging grounds thereof, and at the foote of the Hill, foure delicate Fountaines running with water and bordered with sedges and water flowers.

Iris first appeared, and presently after Mercurie striving to overtake her.

Iris apparelled in a robe of discoulored Taffita figured in variable colours, like the Raine-bowe, a cloudie wreath on her head, and Tresses.

Mercurie in doublet and hose of white Taffita, a white hat, wings on his shoulders and feet, his Caduceus in his hand, speaking to Iris as followeth.

Mercurie.

Stay, Stay.
Stay light foot Iris, for thou strivest in vaine,
My wings are nimbler then thy feete.

Iris.

Away,
Dissembling Mercury; my messages
Aske honest haste, not like those wanton ones
Your thundring father sends.

Mercurie.

Stay foolish Maid,
Or I will take my rise upon a hill,
When I perceive thee seated in a cloud,
In all the painted glorie that thou hast,
And never cease to clap my willing wings,
Till I catch hold of thy discolour'd Bow,
And shiver it beyond the angry power
Of your curst Mistresse, to make up againe.

Iris.

Hermes forbeare, Juno will chide and strike;
Is great Jove jealous that I am imploy'd
On her love errands? she did never yet
Claspe weake mortalitie in her white armes,
As he hath often done: I onely come
To celebrate the long wisht Nuptials,
Heere in Olympia, which are now perform'd
Betwixt two goodly Rivers, which have mixt
Their gentle rising waves, and are to grow
Into a thousand streames, great as themselves;
I need not name them, for the sound is lowde
In heaven and earth, and I am sent from her
The Queene of Mariage, that was present heere,
And smil'd to see them joyne, and hath not chid
Since it was done: good Hermes let me go.

Mercurie.

Nay you must stay, Joves message is the same,
Whose eies are lightning, and whose voice is thunder,
Whose breath is any winde, he will, who knowes
How to be first on earth as well as heaven.

Iris.

But what hath he to doe with Nuptiall rights?
Let him keepe state upon his starry throne,
And fright poore mortals with his thunderbolts,
Leaving to us the mutuall darts of eyes.

Mercurie.

Alas, when ever offer'd he t'abridge
Your Ladies power, but onely now in these,
Whose match concernes his generall government?
Hath not each god a part in these high joyes?
And shall not he the King of gods presume
Without proud Junoes licence? let her know
That when enamor'd Jove first gave her power
To linke soft hearts in Undissolved bonds,
He then foresaw, and to himselfe reserv'd
The honor of this Mariage: thou shalt stand
Still as a Rocke, while I to blesse this feast
Will summon up with my all charming rod,
The Nymphes of fountains, from whose watry locks
Hung with the dew of blessing and encrease,
The greedie Rivers take their nourishment.
You Nymphes, who bathing in your loved springs,
Beheld these Rivers in their infancie,
And joy'd to see them, when their circled heads
Refresht' the aire, and spread the ground with flowers:
Rise from your Wells, and with your nimble feete
Performe that office to this happie paire;
Which in these plaines, you to Alpheus did;
When passing hence through many seas unmixt,
He gained the favour of his Arethuse.

Immediatlie upon which speech foure Naiades arise gentlie out of their severall Fountaines, and present themselves upon the Stage, attired in long habits of sea-greene Taffita, with bubbles of Christall intermixt with powdering of silver resembling drops of water; blewish Tresses on their heads, garlands of Water-Lillies. They fall into a Measure, daunce a little, then make a stand.

Iris.

Is Hermes growne a lover, by what power
Unknowne to us, calls he the Naiades?

Mercurie.

Presumptuous Iris, I could make thee daunce
Till thou forgott'st thy Ladies messages,
And rann'st backe crying to her, thou shall know
My power is more, onely my breath, and this
Shall move fix'd starres, and force the firmament
To yeeld the Hyades, who governe showers,
And dewie clouds, in whose dispersed drops
Thou form'st the shape of thy deceitfull Bow.
You maids, who yearely at appointed times,
Advance with kindly teares, the gentle flouds,
Descend, and powre your blessing on these streames,
Which rolling downe from heaven aspiring hils,
And now united in the fruitfull vales;
Beare all before them ravisht with their joy,
And swell in glorie till they know no bounds.

Five Hyades descend softly in a cloud from the firmament, to the middle part of the hill, apparelled in skie coloured Taffita robes, spangled like the Heavens, golden Tresses, and each a faire Starre on their head, from thence descend to the Stage, at whose sight the Naiades seeming to rejoyce, meete and joyne in a dance.

Iris.

Great witte and power hath Hermes to contrive
A livelesse dance, which of one sexe consists.

Mercurie.

Alas poore Iris, Venus hath in store
A secret Ambush of her winged boyes,
Who lurking long within these pleasant groves;
First strucke these Lovers with their equall darts,
Those Cupids shall come forth, and joyne with these,
To honor that which they themselves begun.

Enter foure Cupids from each side of the Boscage, attired in flame coloured Taffita close to their bodie like naked Boyes, with Bowes, Arrowes, and wings of gold: Chaplets of flowers on their heads, hoodwinckt with Tiffiny scarfs, who joyne with the Nymphes, and the Hyades in another daunce. That ended, Iris speakes.

Iris.

Behold the Statuaes which wise Vulcan plac'd
Under the Altar of Olympian Jove,
Shall daunce for joy of these great Nuptialls:
And gave to them an Artificiall life,
See how they move, drawne by this heavenly joy,
Like the wilde trees, which follow'd Orpheus Harpe.

The Statuaes enter, supposed to be before descended from Joves Altar, and to have been prepared in the covert with the Cupids, attending their call.

These Statuaes were attired in cases of gold and silver close to their bodie, faces, hands and feete, nothing seene but gold and silver, as if they had been solid Images of mettall, Tresses of haire as they had been of mettall imbossed, girdles and small aprons of oaken leaves, as if they likewise had been carved or molded out of the mettall: at their comming, the Musicke changed from Violins to Hoboyes, Cornets, &c. And the ayre of the Musicke was utterly turned into a soft time, with drawing notes, excellently expressing their natures, and the Measure likewise was fitted unto the same, and the Statuaes placed in such severall postures, sometimes all together in the Center of the daunce, and sometimes in the foure utmost Angles, as was very gracefull besides the noveltie: and so concluded the first Anti-masque.

Mercurie.

And what will Junoes Iris do for her?

Iris.

Just match this shew; or my Invention failes,
Had it beene worthier, I would have invok'd
The blazing Comets, Clouds and falling Starres,
And all my kindred Meteors of the Ayre
To have excell'd it, but I now must strive
To imitate Confusion, therefore thou
Delightfull Flora, if thou ever felt'st
Encrease of sweetnesse in those blooming plants,
On which the homes of my faire bow decline;
Send hither all the Rurall company,
Which decke the May-games with their Countrey sports;
Juno will have it so.

The second Anti-masque rush in, daunce their Measure, and as rudely depart, consisting of a Pedant.

May Lord,	May Lady.
Servingman,	Chambermaide.
A Countrey Clowne, or Shepheard,	Countrey Wench.
An Host,	Hostesse.
A Hee Baboone,	Shee Baboone.
A Hee Foole,	Shee Foole ushering them in.

All these persons apparelled to the life, the Men issuing out of one side of the Boscage, and the Woemen from the other: the Musicke was extremely well fitted, having such a spirit of Countrey jolitie, as can hardly be imagined, but the perpetuall laughter and applause was above the Musicke.

The dance likewise was of the same strain, and the Dancers, or rather Actors expressed every one their part so naturally, and aptly, as when a Mans eye was caught with the one, and then past on to the other, hee could not satisfie himselfe which did best. It pleased his Majestie to call for it againe at the end, as he did likewise for the first Anti-masque, but one of the Statuaes by that time was undressed.

Mercurie.

Iris we strive,
Like windes at libertie, who should do worst
Ere we returne. If Juno be the Queene
Of Mariage, let her give happie way
To what is done, in honor of the State
She governes.

Iris.

Hermes, so it may be done
Meerely in honor of the State, and these
That now have prov'd it, not to satisfie
The lust of Jupiter, in having thankes
More then his Juno, if thy snakie rod
Have power to search the heavens, or sound the sea,
Or call together all the ends of earth,
To bring in any thing that may do grace
To us, and these; do it, we shall be pleas'd.

Mercury.

Then know that from the mouth of Jove himselfe,
Whose words have wings, and need not to be borne;
I tooke a message, and I bare it through
A thousand yeelding clouds, and never stai'd
Till his high will was done: the Olympian games
Which long have slept, at these wish'd Nuptials,
He pleas'd to have renew'd, and all his Knights
Are gathered hither, who within their tents
Rest on this hill, upon whose rising head.
Behold Joves Altar, and his blessed Priests
Moving about it: come you holy men,
And with your voices draw these youthes along,
That till Joves musicke call them to their games,
Their active sports may give a blest content
To those, for whom they are againe begun.

The Maine Masque.

The second Travers is drawne, and the higher ascent of the Mountaine is discovered, wherein upon a levell after a great rise of the Hill, were placed two Pavilions: open in the front of them, the Pavilions were to sight as of cloth of gold, and they were trimmed on the inside with rich Armour and Militarie furniture hanged up as upon the walles, and behind the Tents there were represented in prospective, the tops of divers other Tents, as if it had been a Campe. In these Pavilions were placed fifteene Olympian Knights, upon seates a little imbowed neere the forme of a Croisant, and the Knights appeared first, as consecrated persons all in vailes, like to Coapes, of silver Tiffinie, gathered, and falling a large compasse about them, and over their heads high Miters with long pendants behind falling from them, the Miters were so high, that they received their hats and feathers, that nothing was seene but vaile: in the midst betweene both the Tents upon the very top of the hill, being a higher levell then that of the Tents, was placed Jupiters Altar gilt, with three great Tapers upon golden Candlesticks burning upon it: and the foure Statuaes, two of gold, and two of silver, as supporters, and Jupiters Priests in white robes about it.

Upon the sight of the King, the vailes of the Knights did fall easilie from them, and they appeared in their owne habit.

The Knights attire.

Arming doublets of Carnation satten embrodered with Blazing Starres of silver plate, with powderings of smaller Starres betwixt, gorgets of silver maile, long hose of the same, with the doublets laide with silver lace spangled, and enricht with embroderie betweene the lace: Carnation silke stockins imbrodered all over, garters and roses sutable: Pumpes of Carnaiton satten imbrodered as the doublets, hats of the same stuffe and embroderie cut like a helmet before, the hinder part cut into Scallops, answering the skirts of their doublets: the bands of the hats were wreathes of silver in forme of garlands of wilde Olives, white feathers with one fall of Carnation, Belts of the same stuffe and embrodered with the doublet: Silver swords, little Italian bands and cuffes embrodered with silver, faire long Tresses of haire.

The Priests habits.

Long roabes of white Taffita, long white heads of haire. The high Priest a cap of white silke shagge close to his head, with two labels at the eares, the midst rising in forme of a Pyramis, in the top thereof a branch of silver, every Priest playing upon a Lute: twelve in number.

The Priests descend and sing this song following, after whom the Knights likewise descend: first laying aside their vailes, belts, and swords.

The first Song.

Shake off your heavy traunce,
And leape into a daunce,
Such as no mortals use to treade,
Fit only for Apollo
To play to, for the Moone to lead,
And all the Starres to follow.

The Knights by this time are all descended and fallen into their place, and then daunce their first Measure.

The second Song.

On blessed youthes, for Jove doth pause
Laying aside his graver lawes
For this device,
And at the wedding such a paire,
Each daunce is taken for a praier,
Each song a sacrifice.

The Knights daunce their second Measure.

The third Song.

Single.

More pleasing were these sweet delights,
If Ladies mov'd as well as Knights;
Runne ev'ry one of you and catch
A Nymph in honor of this match;
And whisper boldly in her eare,
Jove will but laugh, if you forsweare.

All.

And this dayes sinnes he doth resolve
That we his Priests should all absolve.

The Knights take their Ladies to daunce with them Galliards, Durets, Corantoes, &c. and leade them to their places. Then loude Musicke sound's, supposed to call them to their Olympian games.

The fourth Song.

Ye should stay longer if we durst,
Away, alas that he that first
Gave Time wilde wings to fly away,
Hath now no power to make him stay.
But though these games must needs be plaid,
I would this Paire, when they are laid,
And not a creature nie them,
Could catch his scythe, as he doth passe,
And cut his wings, and breake his glasse,
And keepe him ever by them.

The Knights daunce their parting Measure and ascend, put on their Swords and Belts, during which time the Priests sing the fifth and last Song.

Peace and silence be the guide
To the Man, and to the Bride,
If there be a joy yet new
In mariage, let it fall on you,
That all the world may wonder.
If we should stay, we should doe worse,
And turne our blessing to a curse,
By keeping you asunder.

FINIS.

Q = Quarto. A = First folio. B = Second folio.

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