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On the vpper part there was formed a Skye with Clowdes very arteficially shadowed. On either side of the Sceane belowe was set a high Promontory, and on either of them stood three large pillars of golde: the one Promontory was bounded with a Rocke standing in the Sea, the other with a Wood; In the midst betwene them apeared a Sea in perspectiue with ships, some cunningly painted, some arteficially sayling. On the front of the Sceane, on either side was a beautiful garden, with sixe seates a peece to receaue the Maskers: behinde them the mayne Land, and in the middest a paire of stayres made exceeding curiously in the forme of a Schalop shell. And in this manner was the eye first of all entertayned. After the King, Queene, and Prince were placed, and preparation was made for the beginning of the Maske, there entred foure Squires, who as soone as they approached neare the Presence, humbly bowing themselues, spake as followeth.
The first Squire.

The second Squire.
A strange and sad Ostent our Knights distrest,
For while the Tempests fierye rage increast,
About our Deckes and Hatches, loe, appeare
Serpents, as Lerna had beene pour'd out there
Crawling about vs, which feare to eschew
The Knights the Tackle climb'd, and hung in view,
When violently a flash of lighning came,
And from our sights did beare them in the flame.
Which past, no Serpent there was to be seene,
And all was husht, as storme had neuer beene.

The third Squire.
At Sea, their mischeifes grewe, but ours at Land,
For being by chance arriu'd, while our Knights stand
To view their storme-tost friends on two Cliffes neere,
Thence loe they vanish'd, and sixe Pillars were
Fixt in their footsteps, Pillars all of golde,
Faire to our eyes, but wofull to beholde.

The fourth Squire.
Thus with prodigious hate and crueltie,
Our good Knights for their loue afflicted be,
But, ô protect vs now, Maiesticke Grace,
For see, those curst Enchanters presse in place
That our past sorrowes wrought: these, these alone
Turne all the world into confusion.

Towards the end of this speech, two Enchanters, and two Enchanteresses appeare: Error first, in a skin coate scaled like a Serpent, and an antick habit painted with Snakes, a haire of curled Snakes, and a deformed visard. With him Rumor in a skin coate full of winged Tongues, and ouer it an antick robe, on his head a Cap like a tongue, with a large paire of wings to it.

Curiosity in a skin coate full of eyes, and an antick habit ouer it, a fantastick Cap full of Eyes.

Credulity in the like habit painted with eares, and an antick Cap full of eares.

When they had whispered a while as if they had reioyced at the wrongs which they had done to the Knights, the Musick and their Daunce began: strait forth rusht the foure Windes confusedly, the Easterne winde in a skin coate of the colour of the Sunrising,

with a yellow haire, and wings both on his shoulders and feete.

The Westerne Winde in a skin coate of darke crimson, with crimson haire and wings.

The Southerne Winde in a darke russet skin coate, haire and wings sutable.

The Northern winde in a grisled skin coate, with haire and wings accordingly.

After them in confusion came the foure Elements: Earth, in a skin coate of grasse greene, a mantle painted full of trees, plants, and flowers, and on his head an oke growing.

Water, in a skin coate waved, with a mantle full of fishes, on his head a Dolphin.

Ayre, in a skye coloured skin coate, with a mantle painted with Fowle, and on his head an Eagle.

Fire, in a skin coate, and a mantle painted with flames: on his head a cap of flames, with a Salamander in the midst thereof.

Then entred the foure parts of the earth in a confused measure.

Europe in the habit of an Empresse, with an Emperiall Crowne on her head.

Asia in a Persian Ladies habit with a Crowne on her head.

Africa like a Queene of the Moores, with a crown.

America in a skin coate of the colour of the iuyce of Mulberies, on her head large round brims of many coloured feathers, and in the midst of it a small Crowne.

All these hauing daunced together in a strange kinde of confusion; past away, by foure and foure.

At which time, Eternity appeared in a long blew Taffata robe, painted with Starres, and on her head a Crowne.

Next, came the three Destinies, in long robes of white Taffata like aged women, with Garlands of Narcissus Flowers on their heads, and in their left hands they carried distaffes according to the descriptions of Plato and Catullus, but in their right hands they carried altogether a Tree of Golde.

After them, came Harmony with nine Musitians more, in long Taffata robes and caps of Tinsell, with Garlands guilt, playing and singing this Song.

Chorus.
Vanish, vanish hence confusion,
Dimme not Hymens goulden light
With false illusion.
The Fates shall doe him right,
And faire Eternitie,
Who passe through all enchantements free.

Eternitie singes alone.
Bring away this Sacred Tree,
The Tree of Grace, and Bountie,
Set it in Bel-Annas eye,
For she, she, only she
Can all Knotted spels vnty.
Pull'd from the Stocke, let her blest Hands conuay
To any suppliant Hand, a bough,
And let that Hand advance it now
Against a Charme, that Charme shall fade away.

Toward the ende of this Song the three, destinies set the Tree of Golde before the Queene.
Chorus.
Since Knightly valour rescues Dames distressed,
By Vertuous Dames, let charm'd Knights be released.

After this Chorus, one of the Squires speakes.
Since Knights by valour Rescue Dames distrest,
Let them be by the Queene of Dames releast:
So sing the Destinyes, who neuer erre,
Fixing this Tree of Grace and Bountie heere,
From which, for our enchaunted Knights we craue
A branche, pull'd by your Sacred Hand, to haue;
That we may beare it as the Fates direct,
And manifest your glory in the'ffect.
In vertues fauour then, and Pittie now,
(Great Queene) vouchsafe vs a diuine touch't bough.

At the end of this speech, the Queene puld a branch from the Tree and gaue it to a Nobleman who deliuered it to one of the Squires.
A Song while the Squires descend With the bough, toward the Scene.

Then out of the ayre a cloude descends, discouering sixe of the Knights alike, in strange and sumptuous atires, and withall on either side of the Cloud, on the two Promontories, the other sixe Maskers are sodainly transformed out of the pillars of golde, at which time, while they all come forward to the dancing place, this Chorus is sung, & on the sodaine the whole Sceane is changed: for whereas before all seemed to be done at the sea and sea coast, now the Promontories are sodainly remooved, and London with the Thames is very arteficially presented their place.
The Squire lifts vp the Bough.
Chorus.
Vertue and Grace, in spight of Charmes,
Haue now redeem'd our men at Armes.
Ther's no inchauntement can withstand,
Where Fate directs the happy hand.

The Maskers first Daunce.
The third Song of three partes, with a Chorus of fiue partes, sung after the first Daunce.

VVhile dancing rests, fit place to musicke graunting,
Good spels the Fates shall breath, al enuy daunting
Kind cares with Ioy enchaunting, chaunting.

Chorus.
Io, Io Hymen.


Like lookes, like hearts, like loues are linck't together,
So must the Fates be pleas'd, so come they hether,
To make this Ioy perseuer euer.

Chorus.
Io, Io Hymen.


Loue decks the spring, her buds to th'ayre exposing,
Such fire here in these bridall Breasts reposing
We leaue with charmes enclosing, closing.

Chorus.
Io, Io Hymen.

The Maskers second Daunce.
The fourth Song a Dialogue of three with a Chorus after the second Daunce.
1
Let vs now sing of Loues delight,
For he alone is Lord to night.

2
Some friendship betweene man, and man prefer,
But I th'affection betweene man and wife.

3
What good can be in life,
Where of no fruites appeare?

1
Set is that Tree in ill houre,
That yeilds neither fruite nor flowre.

2
How can man Perpetuall be,
but in his owne Posteritie?

Chorus.
That pleasure is of all most bountifull and kinde,
That fades not straight, but leaues a liuing Ioy behinde.

After this Dialogue the Maskers daunce with the Ladies, wherein spending as much time as they held fitting, they returned to the seates prouided for them.
Straight in the Thames appeared foure Barges with skippers in them, & withall this song was sung.
Come a shore, come merrie mates,
With your nimble heeles, and pates:
Summon eu'ry man his Knight,
Enough honour'd is this night.
Now, let your Sea-borne Goddesse come.
Quench these lights, and make all dombe.
Some sleepe, others let her call,
And so Godnight to all, godnight to all.

At the conclusion of this song arriued twelue skippers in red capps, with short cassocks and long slopps wide at the knees, of white canvas striped with crimson, white gloves and Pomps, and red

stockins: these twelue daunced a brave and lively daunce, shouting and tryvmphing after their manner.

After this followed the Maskers last daunce, wherewith they retyred.

At the Embarking of the Knights, the Squires approach the state, and speake.

The first Squire.
All that was euer ask't, by vow of Ioue,
To blesse a state with, Plentie, Honor Loue,
Power, Triumph, priuate pleasure, publique peace,
Sweete springs, and Autumn's filld with due increase,
All these; and what good els, thought can supplie.
Euer attend your Triple Maiestie.

The second Squire.
All blessings which the Fates, Propheticke Sung,
At Peleus Nuptialls, and what euer tongue
Can figure more, this night, and aye betide,
The honour'd Bride-groome, and the honourd Bride.

All the Squires together.
Thus speakes in vs th'affection of our Knights,
Wishing you health, and Miriads of goodnights.

The Squires speeches being ended, this Song is Sung while the Boates passe away.