British Library, Harley
6947, fol. 143. (JnB 686)
Summary of the masque on a single paper sheet, bound in a
folio-sized volume of miscellaneous verse and prose in Latin and English, in many
different hands. H&S, 7.318-19, suggest that this 'Argument' was submitted to the
Court before the performance of
Queens
. This is unproven, though it seems a plausible inference. The scribe imagines the
twelve performers divided up into three groups of four individuals. In the transcription
below, the "2 follores" refers to the second and third group of four performers; and
"the 3
... which is the last and most eminent" refers to the third
group. There are some differences between this description and the masque as performed:
here the Dame is named 'Ate', and queen
Hypsicratea was eventually substituted for the queen
named here as Atalanta.
[fol. 143]
When the kinge is set and the full expectation of the
spectacle raised there shalbe hearde a strange murmur with a kinde of hollowe and
infernall musicke when sodainely an orcus or poeticall Hil is
discouered and from the sides of it comminge forth a maske of hags or Sorceresses
seue rally attired, with thire spindles reeles and other magicall
instruments makinge a confused noise with strange gestures. Thire names are
Ignorance, Falshoode, suspicion, Credulity, Murmur, Impudencie, Malice, slaunder,
Execration, Bitternes, and Furythe opposites of glory To these
comes Ate the goddes of mischiefe and makinge vp the 12 bids them and
encourageth them to goe forwarde to disturbe the ^ ⎡peace of the⎤ night and
place, as they doe to all goodnes, wherevpon fallinge a fresh to thire daunces and
incantation: on the instant a loude triumphant musicke sounds at which as at a blast
they all vanish, and the place is changed into a bewetifull and magnificent buildinge
to
shewe that the sounde of a virtuous fame is able to scatter and affright all that
threaten yt. out of this place comes forth a person signifiinge Heriocke
Virtue, the father of goode fame. He tels that this was the pallace of his
daughter, where there were a selecte number of Queenes who for thire virtues while
they
were on earth haue had the honour since to liue celebrated in the pallace of Fame
foreuer. These hearinge of the graces of Bellanna
queene of the ocean, and knowinge that she alone
possest all these virtues which were in them deuided and that yet the best and most
soueraigne place of that pallace was uoyde they were desirous to gratifie her with
that
honour in her life time which noe other might hope to enioie after death. which she
vouchsafeinge, at whiche time he shewes the queene and the ladies sittinge in a Portico,
they were not only kepte from obliuion but once againe made visible to the light.
And to
such a light as from whome euer she her selfe out of her
tw
trewest virtue
acknoweledged to receiue all her lustre At this the musickes sounds while they are
descendinge, and the gates openinge belowe the first 4 are discouered in a chariotte
which comes forth drawne with Panthers, the 2 follores drawne by Eagles, and so the
3
by lions in wic which they ride aboute
which is the last
and most eminent with the statue of fame on the tope
[fol. 143v]
of
yt for her Maiestie drawne by Lions in which they ride about the stage
as in a solemne triumph ouer those vices which were flede before them,
and so turninge all thre in face to the kinge, her maiesties chariot beinge in the
midle
they come
fo
forth and daunce in thire different habits accordinge to the
different nations where they are.
These be the names of the twelue Queenes.
Bellanna quene of of the ocean
Penthesilea
queene of the Amazons
Thomiris
queene of the Scythians
Camilla
queene of the Voscians
Tenobia
queene of the Palmarians
Artemesia
queen of the Carians
Berenice
queene of the AEgiptians
Bundrica
queene of the Icenians
Valasca
queene of the Bohemians
Cindace
queene of ye AEthiopians
Atalanta
queene of the AEtoleans
Amalasanta
queene of the Gothes
Bibliography
H&S, 7.318-9 (appendix 14)