THE worthy custome of honoring worthy
Mariages, with these noble Solemnities, hath,
of late yeares, aduanc'd it selfe frequently with
vs; to the reputation no lesse of our Court, then
Nobles: expressing besides (through the diffi-
culties of expence, and trauel, with the cheere-
fullnesse of vndertaking) a most reall affection
in the Personaters, to those, for whose sake they
would sustaine these Persons. It behoues then
vs, that are trusted with a part of their honour,
in these Celebrations, to do nothing in them, be-
neath the dignity of either. With this præpo-
sed part of iudgement, I aduenture to giue that
abroad which in my first conception, I inten-
ded honorably fit: and (though it hath labor'd
since, vnder censure) I, that know Truth to bee
alwaies of one stature, and so like a rule, as
who bendes it the least way, must needes doe an
iniury to the right, cannot but smile at their ty-
ranous ignorance, that will offer to slight mee,
(in these things beeing an artificer) and giue
themselufes a peremptory licence to iudge,
who haue neuer touch'd so much as to the
barke, or vtter shell of any Knowledge. But,
their daring dwell, with them. They haue
found a place, to powre out their follies, and
I a seate, to sleepe out the passage.
The Scene to this Masque[unclear: ,] was a high, steepe,
red Cliffe[unclear: ,] aduancing it selfe into the Cloudes,
figuring the place[unclear: ,] from whence (as I haue
beene, not fabulously, informed) the honora-
ble Family of the Radcliffes first tooke their
name (à cliuo rubro) and is to be written with
that Orthography; as I haue obseru'd out of
Maister Cambden, in his mention of the Earles
of Sussex. This Cliffe was also a note of height,
greatnesse, and antiquity; before which, on the
two sides, were erected two Pilasters, chardg'd
with spoiles and Trophæes, of Loue, and his Mo-
ther, consecrate to Mariage; Amongst which
were old & yong persons figur'd, bound with
roses, the wedding garments, rockes, and
spindles, hearts transfixt with arrowes, others
flaming, Virgins girdles, gyrlonds, and worlds
of such like; all wrought round and bold: and
ouer-head two Personages, Triumph and Victo-
ry, in flying postures, and twise so big as the
life, in place of the Arch, and holding a gyr-
lond of Myrtle for the Key. All which, with
the Pillars, seem'd to be of burnished gold, and
embossd out of the mettall. Beyond the Cliffe
was seene nothing but Clouds, thick, and ob-
scure; till on the sodaine, with a solemne
musicke, a bright skie breaking forth; there
were discouered, first two aDoues, then two
bSwannes with Siluer geeres, drawing forth a
triumphant Chariot; in which Venus sate,
crowned with her starre, and beneath her the
three Graces, or Charites, AGLAIA, THALIA,
EVPHROSYNE, all attir'd according to theyr
antique figures. These, from theyr Chariot,
alighted on the top of the Cliffe, & descending
by certayne abrupt & winding passages, Venus
hauing left her Starre, only, flaming in her seate,
came to the earth, the Graces throwing gyrlonds
all the way, and began to speake.
IT is no common cause, yee will conceiue,
My louely Graces, makes your Goddesse leaue
Her state in heauen, to night, to visit earth.
Loue late is fled away, my eldest birth,
Cupid, whome I did ioy to call my Sonne;
And, whome long absent, Venus is vndone.
Spy, if you can, his footsteps on this greene;
For here, (as I am told) he late hath beene.
Withadiuers of his brethren, lending light
From theyr best flames, to guild a glorious night;
Which I not grudge at, being done for her,
Whose honors, to mine owne, I still preferre.
But he, not yet returning, I'am in feare,
Some gentle Grace, or innocent Beauty, here,
Be taken with him: or he hath surpris'd
A second Psyche, and liues here disguis'd.
Find yee no tract of his straid feet?
Gr. I: Not I.
Gr: 2. Nor I.
Gr: 3. Nor I.
VE: Stay nymphs, we will
try thē
Aneerer way. Looke all these Ladyes eyes,
And see if there he not concealed lyes;
Or in theyr bosomes, 'twixt theyr swelling brests;
(The Wag affects to make himselfe such nests)
Perchance, he'hath got some simple heart, to hide
His subtle shape in: I will haue him cry'd.
And all his vertues told. That, when they know
What spright he is, she soone may let him goe,
That guards him now; and thinke herselfe right blest,
To be so timely rid of such a guest.
Begin soft Graces, and proclaime reward
To her that brings him in. Speake, to be heard.
Beauties, haue yee seene this Toy,
Calleda Loue, a little boy,
Almost naked, wanton, blind,
Cruell now; and then as kind?
If he be amongst yee, say;
He is Venus Run-away.
Shee, that will but now discouer
Where the winged Wag doth houer,
Shall, to night, receiue a kisse,
How, or where herselfe would wish:
But, who brings him to his Mother,
Shall haue that kisse, and another.
H' hath of marckes about him plenty:
You shall know him, among twenty.
All his body is a fire,
And his breath a flame entire,
That being shot, like lightning, in,
Wounds the heart, but not the skinne.
At his sight, theb Sunne hath turned,
Neptune in the waters, burned;
cHell hath felt a greater heate:
Ioue himselfe forsooke his seate:
From the Center, to the Sky,
Are hisd Trophæes reared hie.
Wings hee hath, which though yee clippe,
He will leape from lippe, to lippe,
Ouer liuer, lights, and heart,
But not stay in any part;
And, if chance his arrow misses,
He will shoote himselfe, in kisses.
He doth beare a golden Bow
And a Quiuer, hanging low,
Full of arrowes, that out-braue
Dian's shafts: where, if he haue
Any head more sharpe then other,
With that first he strikes his Mother.
Sill the fayrest are his fuell.
When his daies are to be cruell,
Louers hearts are all his food;
And his bathes their warmest bloud:
Nought but wounds his hand doth season;
And he hates none like to reason.
Trust him not: his words though sweete,
Seldome with his heart do meete.
All his practise is deceipt;
Euery guift it is abayte;
Not a kisse but poyson beares;
And most treason in his teares.
Idle Minutes are his Raigne;
Then, the stragler makes his gayne,
By presenting Maydes with Toyes,
And would haue yee thinke 'hem Ioyes:
'Tis the ambition of the Elfe,
To'haue all childish, as himselfe.
If by these yee please to know him,
Beauties, be not nice, but show him.
Though yee had a will, to hide him,
Now, we hope, ye'll not abide him.
Since yee heare his falserplay:
And that he is Venus Run-away.
At this, from behind the, Trophæes Cupiddis-
couerd himselfe, and came forth armed: aten-
ded with twelue Boyes most antickly attir'd,
that represented, the sports, and pretty light-
nesses, that accompany Loue, vnder the titles of
Ioci, and Risus; and are sayd to waite on Venus,
as shee is Præfect of Mariage. Which Horat.
consents togCar. lib. I. Ode. 2.
COme my little Iocound Sports,
Come away; The time now sorts
With your pastime: This same Night
Is Cupid's Day. Aduance your Light.
With your Reuell fill the Roome,
That our triumphes be not dumb.
Wherewith they fell into a subtle capric-
cious Daunce, to as odde a Musique, each of them
bearing two torches, and nodding with their
antique faces, with other variety of ridiculous
gesture, which gaue much occasion of mirth, &
delight; to the Spectators. The Daunce ended.
Cupid went forward.
VVEll done Antiques; Now my Bow,
And my Quiuer beare to show;
That these Beauties, here, may know
By what armes this feat was done,
That hath so much honor wonne,
Vnto VENVS, and her Sonne.
At which his Mother apprehended him: and
circling him in, with the Graces, began to de-
mand.
VVHat feat, what honor is it, that you boast,
My little Stragler? I had giuen you lost,
With all your games, here
CV: Mother?
VEN: yes sir, she.
What might your glorious cause of triumphe bee?
Ha' you shota Minerua, or the Thespian Dames?
Heat agedb Ops againe, with youthfull flames?
Or haue you made the colder Moone to visit
Once more, a sheepcoate? say, what conquest is it
Can make you hope such a renowne to winne?
Is there a second Hercules brought to spinne?
Or, for some new disguise leaues Ioue his Thunder?
NOr that, nor those, and yet no lesse a wonder;
which to tell I may not stay,
And there slips from her.
cHYMEN'S presence bids away;
'Tis, allready, at his Night,
He can giue you farther light.
You, my sports, may here abide
Till I call, to light the Bryde.
VENVS, is this a time to quit your carre?
To stoope to earth? to leaue, alone, your starre,
Without your influence? and, a on such a Night,
Which should be crown'd with your most chearing sight?
As you were ignorant of what were done
By Cupids hand, your all-triumphing Sonne?
Looke on this State, and if you yet not know
What Crowne there shines, whose Scepter here doth grow,
Thinke on thy lou'db ÆNEAS, and what name,
Maro the golden trumpet of his fame,
Gaue him, read thou in this. A Prince, that drawes
By' example, more; then others do by lawes:
That is so iust to his great act, and thought,
To do, not what Kings may, but what Kings ought.
Who, out of piety, vnto peace, is vow'd;
To spare his subiects, yet to quell the proud.
And dares esteeme it the first fortitude,
To haue his passions, foes at home, subdued.
That was reseru'd, vntill the Parcæ spunne
Their whitest woll; & then, his thred begun
Which thred whēc Treason would haue burst, a
(To day renown'd, & added to my roule)
Oppos'd; & by, that act, to his name did bring Soule
The honor, tod be Sauer of his King.
This King; whose worth (if Gods for vertue loue)
Should Venus with the same affections moue,
As her ÆNEAS; and no lesse endeare
Her loue to his safety, then when she did cheare,
(aAfter a tempest) long afflicted Troy,
Vpon the Lybian shore; and brought them ioy.
I Loue, and know his vertues, and do boast
Mine owne renowne, when I renowne him most.
My Cupid's absence I forgiue, and praise,
That me to such a present grace could raise.
His Champion shall, hereafter, be my care;
But speake his Bryde, and what her vertues are.
SHe is a noble Virgin, stil'd the Maide
Of the Red-cliffe, and hath her dowry waigh'd;
No lesse in Vertue, blood, and forme, than gold.
Thence, where my Pillars reard you may behold,
Fill'd with Loues Trophæs) doth shee take her
Those Pillars did vxoriousd VVLCAN frame name.
Against this Day, and vnderneath that hill
He, and his Cyclopes are forging still
Some strange, & curious peece, t'adorne the Night,
And giue these graced Nuptials greater light.
Here VVLCAN presented himselfe (as
ouer-hearing HYMEN) attir'd in a cassock
girt to him, with bare armes, his hayre and
beard rough; his Hatte of blew, and ending in
a Cone: In his hand, a hammer, and tongs: as
comming from the Forge.
VVHich I haue done; the best of all my life:
And haue my end, if it but please my Wife,
And she commend it, to the labor'd worth.
Cleaue solid Rock, and bring the wonder forth.
At which, with a loud, and full musique, the
Cliffe parted in the midst, and discouered an
illustrous Concaue fill'd with an ample and glis-
tering light, in which, an artificiall Spheare was
made, of siluer, eighteene Foote in the Diame-
ter, that turned perpetually; the Coluri were
heightend with gold; so were the Arctick, and
Antarctick circles, the Tropicks, the Æquinoc-
tiall, the Meridian, and Horizon; onely the Zo-
diack was of pure gold: In which the Masquers
vnder the Characters of the twelue Signes were
plac'd, answering them in Number. Whose of-
fices, with the whole frame, as it turned, Vulcan
went forward, to describe.
IT is a Spheare, I'haue formed round, and euen,
In due proportion to the Spheare of Heauen,
With all his lines, and circles; that compose
The perfect'st forme, and aptly do disclose
The Heauen of marriage: which I title it.
Within whose Zodiack, I haue made to sit,
In order of the Signes, twelue sacred Powers,
That are præsiding at all Nuptiall howers:
1. The first, in Aries place, respecteth pride
Of Youth; and beauty; graces in the Bride.
2. In Taurus, he loues strength, and manlinesse;
The virtues, which the Bridegrome should pro-.
3. In Gemini, that noble powre is showne, (fesse
That twins their hearts; and doth, of two, make one.
4. In Cancer, He that bids the Wife giue way.
With backward yeelding, to her Husbands sway.
5. In Leo, he that doth instill the heate
Into the man: which, from the following seate,
6. Is tempred so, as he that lookes from thence
Sees, yet, they keepe a Virgin innocence.
7. In Libra's roome, rules he that doth supply
All happy beds with sweete æquality.
8. The Scorpions place he fills, that makes the iarres,
And stings in wedlock; little strifes, & wars:
9. Which he, in th' Archers throne, doth soone re-moue
By making, with his shafts, new wounds of loue.
10. And those the Follower, with more heate, in-spires;
As, in the Goate, the Sun renewes his fires.
11. In wet Aquarius stead, reignes hee, that sho-wers
Fertility vpon the geniall bowers.
12. Last, in the Fishes place, sits he, doth say;
In maried ioyes, al should be dumbe, as they.
And this hath Vulcan, for his Venus, done,
To grace the chaster triumphe of her Sonne.
AND for this guift, will I to heauen returne,
And vowe, for euer, that my lamp shall burne
With pure and chastest fire; or a neuer shine,
But when it mixeth with thy Spheare, and mine.
Here Venus returnd to her Chariot with the
Graces: while Vulcan calling out the Priests of
Hymen who were the Musitians, was interrup-
ted by Pyracmon, one of the Cyclops; of whome,
with the other two, Brontes, and Steropes, see
bVir. Æneid.
Sing then yee Priests.
—Stay Vulcan shall not these
Come forth and daunce?
COme here thē, Brontes, beare a Cyclops part,
And Steropes, both with your sledges stand,
And strike a time vnto them, as they land;
And as they forwards come, still guyde their paces
In musicall, and sweete proportion'd graces;
Whyle I vpon the worke, and frame attend,
And Hymens Priests forth, at their seasons, send
To chaunt their hymnes; and make this square ad-mire
Our great Artificer, the God of Fire.
Here, the Musitians attir'd in yellow, with
wreathes of Marioram, and veiles, like Hymens
Priests, sung the first staffe of the following Epi-
thalamion: which, because it was sung in peices,
betweene the Daunces, shew'd to be so many se-
uerallSongs; but was made to be read an intire
Poeme. After the Song, they came forth (de-
scending in an oblique motion) from the Zodi-
acke, and daunc'd their first Daunce; Then, Mu-
sique interpos'd (but varied with voyces, onely
keeping the same Chorus) they daunc'd their
second Daunce. So after, their third, and fourth
Daunces; which were all full of elegancy, and
curious deuice. The two latter were made
by Mr. Thomas Giles, the two first by Mr.
Hie: Herne: who, in the persons of the two Cy-
clopes, beat a time to them, with their hammers.
The Tunes were Mr. Alphonso Ferrabosco's.
The deuice and act of the Scene, Mr. Ynigo
Iones his, with addition of the Trophæes. For the
Inuention of the whole & the Verses, Assertor
qui dicat esse meos, Imponet plagiario pudorem.
The attire of the Masquers, throughout, was
most gracefull, and noble; pertaking of the best
both antient and later figure. The colours Car-
nation, and Siluer, enrich'd both with embro-
dery, and lace. The dressing of their heads, Fe-
thers, and Iewells; and so excellently order'd,
to the rest of the habit, as all would suffer vn-
der any description, after the shew. Their Per-
formance of all so magnificent, & illustrous, that
nothing can adde to the seale of it, but the sub-
scription of their Names.
The Duke of LENOX.
Earle of ARVNDELL.
Ea. of PENBROKE.
Ea. of MONTGOMERY.
Lo. D'AVBIGNY.
Lo. of WALDEN.
Lo. HEY.
Lo. SANKRE.
Sir. RO. RICHE.
Sir. IO. KENNETHIE.
Mr. ERSSKINS.
VP Youthes and Virgins, vp, and praise
The God, whose Nights out-shine his daies;
HYMEN, whose hallowed rites
Could neuer boast of brighter lightes:
Whose bands passe libertee.
Two of your troope, that, with the morne were free
Are, now, wag'd to his warre.
And what they are,
If you'll perfection see,
Your selues must be.
Shine HESPERVS, shine forth, thou wished Starre.
What Ioy, or honors can compare
With holy Nuptialls, when they are
Made out of æquall parts
Of yeares, of states, of hands, of hearts?
When, in the happy choyce,
The Spouse, & Spoused haue the formost voyce!
Such, glad of HYMENS warre,
Liue what they are,
And long perfection see:
And such ours bee.
Shine Hesperus, shine forth thou wished Starre.
The solemne state of this one Night
Were fit to last an Ages light;
But there are rites behind
Haue lesse of state, but more of kind:
Loues wealthy croppe of kisses,
And fruitfull haruest of his Mothers blisses.
Sound then to HYMENS warre.
That what these are,
Who will perfection see,
May hast to bee.
Shine Hesperus, shine forth thou wished Starre.
Loues common wealth consists of toyes;
His councell are those antique Boyes,
Games, Laughters, Sports, Delights,
That triumphe with him on these nightes:
To whome we must giue way,
For now their raigne beginnes, & lasts till day.
They sweeten HYMENS warre,
And, in that iarre,
Make all, that married be,
Perfection see.
Shine Hesperus, shine forth thou wished Starre.
Why stayes the Bride-groome to inuade
Her, that would be a Matron made;
Good-night, whilst yet we may
Good-night, to you a Virgin, say:
To morrow, rise the same
Youra Mother is, and vse a nobler name.
Speed well in HYMEN'S warre,
That, what you are,
By your perfection, wee
And all may see.
Shine Hesperus, shine forth thou wished Starre.
To night is Venus vigil kept.
This night no Bridegroome euer slept;
And if the fayre Bride doo,
The married say, 'tis his fault, too.
Wake then; and let your lightes
Wake too: for they'l tell nothing of your nightes.
But, that in HYMENS warre,
You perfect are.
And such perfection, wee
Do pray, should be.
Shine Hesperus, shine forth thou wished Starre.
That, ere the rosy-fingerd Morne
Behold nine moones there may be borne
A Babe, t' vphold the fame
Of Radcliffes bloud, and Ramsey's name:
That may, in his great seed,
Weare the long honors of his Fathers deed.
Such fruicts of Hymens warre
Most perfect are;
And all perfection, wee
Wish, you should see.
Shine Hesperus, shine forth, thou wished Starre.