University of Virginia Library

THE PREFACE TO the Reader.

For so much as shewes and spectacles of this nature, are vsually registred, among the memorable acts of the time, beeing Complements of state, both to shew magnificence and to celebrate the feasts to our greatest respects: it is expected (according now fo the custome) that I, beeing imployed in the busines, should publish a discription and forme of the late Mask, wherewithall it pleased the Queenes most excellent Maiestie to solemnize the creation of the high and mightie Prince Henry, Prince of Wales, in regard to preserue the memorie thereof, and to satisfie their desires, who could haue no other notice, but by others report of what was done. Which I doe not, out of a desire, to be seene in pamphlets, or of forwardnes to shew my inuētion therin: for I thank God, I labour not with that disease of ostentation, nor affect to be known to be the man digitoque monstrarier, hic est, hauing my name already wider in this kind, then I desire, and more in the winde then I would. Neither doe I seeke in the divulging hereof, to giue it other colours then those it wore, or to make an Apologie of what I haue done: knowing, howsoeuer, it must passe the way of censure,

whereunto I see all publications (of what nature soeuer) are liable. And my long experience of the world hath taught me this, that neuer Remonstrances nor Apologies could euer get ouer the streame of opinion, to doe good on the other side, where contrarie affection, and conceipt had to doe: but onely serued to entertaine their owne partialnesse, who were fore-perswaded, and so was a labour in vaine. And it is oftentimes an argument of pusilanimitie, and may make vt iudicium nostrum, metus videatur, and render a good cause suspected by too much labouring to defend it, which might be the reason that some of the late greatest Princes of Christendome would neuer haue their vndertakings made good by such courses, but with silence indured (and in a most wittie age) the greatest batterie of paper that could possibly be made, & neuer once recharged the least ordinance of a pen against it, counting it their glorie to do whilest other talked. And shall we who are the poore Inginers for shadowes, & frame onely images of no result, thinke to oppresse the rough censures of those, who notwithstanding all our labour will like according to their taste, or seeke to auoid them by flying to an Army of Authors as idle as our selues? Seeing there is nothing done or written, but incounters with detraction and opposition, which is an excellent argument of all our imbecillities & might allay our presumption, when we shall see our greatest knowledges not to be fixt, but rowle according to the vncertaine motion of opinion, and controwleable by any surly shew of reason, which we find is double edged and strikes euery way alike. And therefore I do not see why any man should rate his owne at that valew, and set so low prises vpon other mens abilities. L'homme vaut l'homme, a man is worth a man, and none hath gotten so high a station of vnderstanding, but he shall find others that are built on an equall floore with him, and haue as far a prospect as he, which when al is done, is but in a region subiect to al passiōs & imperfections.

And for these figures of mine, if they come not drawn in all proportions to the life of antiquity (from whose tyrannie, I see no reason why we may not emancipate our inuentions, and be as free as they, to vse our owne images) yet I know them such as were proper to the busines, and discharged those parts for which they serued, with as good correspondencie, as our appointed limitations would permit.

But in these things wherein the onely life consists in shew: the arte and inuention of the Architect giues the greatest grace, and is of most importance: ours, the least part and of least note in the time of the performance thereof, and therefore haue I interserted the discription of the artificiall part which only speakes M. Inago Iones.