The Lyon, and the Camell.
On the Lyon and Camell, we doe figuratiuely
personate Neptune and his Queene Amphitrita,
who first seated their sonne Albion in
this land. And in them we figure Poetically, that
as they then triumphed in their sonnes happy fortune,
so now they cannot chuse but do the like, seeing
what happy successe hath thereon ensued, to renowne
this Countrey from time to time. And as
times haue altred former harshe inciuilities, bringing
the state to more perfect shape of Maiestie,
so (as occasion serues) do they likewise laye their
borrowed formes aside, and speak according to the
nature of the present busines in hand, without any
imputation of grosnesse or error, considering the
lawes of Poesie grants such allowance and libertye.
Corineus and Goemagot, appearing in the shape and
proportion of huge Giants, for the more grace &
beauty of the show, we place as guides to Britaniaes
mount, and being fetterd vnto it in chaines of
golde, they seeme (as it were) to drawe the whole
frame, shewing much enuy and contention, whoe
shall exceed most in duty and seruice.
The Pageant.
On a Mount triangular, as the Island of Britayne
it selfe is described to bee, we seate in
the Supreame place, vnder the shape
of a fayre and beautifull Nymph,
Britania hir selfe
accosted with
Brutes deuided kingdoms, in the like
female representations,
Loegria, Cambria, and
Albania.
Brytania speaking to
Brute her Conqueror,
(who is seated somwhat lower, in the habite of an
aduenturous warlike
Troyan) tels him, that she had
still continued her name of
Albion, but for his conquest
of her virgine honour, which since it was by
heauen so appointed, she reckons it to be the very
best of her fortunes.
Brute shewes her, what height
of happinesse she hath attained vnto by his victorie,
being before a vast Wildernes, inhabited by
Giantes, and a meere den of Monsters:
Goemagot
and his barbarous brood, being quite subdued, his
ciuill followers, first taught her modest manners,
and the meanes how to raigne as an Imperial lady,
building his
Troya noua by the riuer
Thamesis, and
beautifieng his land with other Citties beside. But
then the three Virgin kingdomes seeme to reproue
him, for his ouermuch fond loue to his sons, and
deuiding her (who was one sole Monarchy) into
three seueral estates, the hurt and inconuenience
whereon ensuing, each one of them modestly deliuered
vnto him. He staies their further progres
in reproofe, by his and their now present reuyued
condition, beeing raised againe by the powerfull
vertue of Poesie (after such length of time) to behold
Britaniaes former Felicity againe, and that
the same
Albania, where
Humber slew his son
Albanact,
had bred a second
Brute, by the blessed mariage
of
Margaret, eldest daughter to king
Henrie
the seauenth, to
Iames the fourth king of
Scotland,
of whom our second
Brute (Royall king
Iames) is
truely and rightfully descended: by whose happye
comming to the Crowne,
England, Wales, &
Scotland,
by the first
Brute seuered and diuided, is in our
second
Brute re-united, and made one happy
Britania
again: Peace and quietnesse bringing that to
passe, which warre nor any other meanes could attaine
vnto. For ioy of which sacred Vnion and combination,
Locrine, Camber, and
Albanact, figured
there also in their antique estates, deliuer vp theyr
Crownes and Scepters, applauding the day of this
long-wisht coniunction, and
Troya-noua (now
London)
incites fair
Thamesis, and the riuers that bounded
the seuered kingdoms, (personated in faire and
beautifull
Nymphs) to sing
Pæans and songs of tryumph,
in honor of our second
Brute, Royall King
Iames. Thamesis, as Queene of all
Britaines riuers,
begins the triumphal course of solemne reioysing.
Next her,
Sauerne, that took her name of
Sabrina,
begotten by
Locrine on faire
Elstrid, and both mother
and daughter were drowned in that riuer, by
Guendolenaes command, the wife to
Locrine, dooth
the like. Lastly,
Humber, whose name was deriued
from
Humber king of the
Scythians, who being pursued
by
Locrine and
Camber, in reuenge of theyr
Brothers death, was inforced to leap into that Ryuer,
and there drowned himselfe, of whom I finde
these verses written.
Dum fugit obstat ei flumen submergitur illic,
Deque suo tribuit nomine nomen aquæ.
What further may be required, to expresse Britaniaes
triumph more perfectly to the life, with al the
other personages her seruants and attendantes, is
more at large set downe in the seuerall speeches,
which I haue hereto annexed as most meet & conuenient.
