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To the Right Vertuous, and Hono- rable,the Lord and Lady HAYES |
 Hould I presume to separate you now,That were so lately ioyn'de by holy vow? For whome this golden dreame which I report, Begot so many waking eyes at Court, And for whose grace so many nobles chang'd, Their names and habites from themselues estrang'd? Accept together, and together view This little worke which all belongs to you, And liue together many blessed dayes, To propagate the honour'd name of HAYES. |
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Epigramma. |
 aredem (vt spes est) pariet noua nupta Scot'Anglum,Quem gignet post hac ille, Britannus erit, Sicnoua posteritas ex regnis orta duobus, Vtrinquè egregios nobilitabit auos. |
S in battailes, so in all other actions that are to
bee reported, the first, and most necessary part is the discription of the
place, with his oportunities, and properties, whether they be naturall, or
artificiall. The greate hall ( wherein the Maske was presented) receiued
this diuision, and order: The vpper part where the cloth & chaire of
State were plac't, had scaffoldes and seates on eyther side continued to the
skreene; right before it was made a partition for the dauncing place; on the
right hand whereof were consorted ten Musitions, with Basse and Meane Lutes,
a Bandora, a double Sack-bott, and an Harpsicord, with two
treble Violins; on the other side somewhat neerer the skreene were plac't
9. Violins and three Lutes, and to answere both the Consorts (as it were in
a triangle) sixe Cornets, and sixe Chappell voyces, were seated almost right
against them, in a place raised higher in respect of the pearcing sound
of those Instruments; eighteen foote from the skreen, an other Stage was
raised higher by a yearde then that which was prepared for dancing: This
higher Stage was all enclosed with a double vale, so artificially painted,
that it seemed as if darke clouds had hung before it : within that shrowde
was concealed a greene valley, with greene trees round about it, and in the
midst of them nine golden trees of fifteene foote high, with armes and
braunches very glorious to behold : From the which groue toward the State was
made a broade descent to the dauncing place, iust in the midst of it; on
either hand were two ascents, like the sides of two hilles, drest with
shrubbes and trees; that on the right hand leading to the bowre of Flora:
the other to the house of Night; which bowre and house were plac't
opposite at either end of the skreene, and betweene them both was raised a hill,
hanging like a cliffe ouer the groue belowe, and on the top of it a goodly
large tree was set, supposed to be the tree of Diana; behind the which
toward the window was a small descent, with an other spreading hill that climed
vp to the toppe of the window, with many trees on the height of it, whereby
those that played on the Hoboyes at the Kings entrance into the hall
were shadowed : The bowre of Flora was very spacious, garnisht with
all kind of flowers, and flowrie branches with lights in them ; the house of
Night ample, and stately, with blacke pillors, whereon many starres of
gold were fixt : within it when it was emptie, appeared nothing but
cloudes and starres, and on the top of it stood three Turrets vnderpropt with
small blacke starred pillers, the middlemost being highest and greatest, the
other two of equall proportion : about it were plac't on wyer artificial
Battes, and Owles continually mouing : with many other inuentions, the which
for breuitie sake I passe by with silence.
L O R A the Queene of Flowers, attired
in a changeable Taffatie Gowne, with a large vale embrodered with flowers, a
Crowne of flowers, and white buskins painted with flowers.
Ow hath Flora rob'd her bowers