In ancient times, whē
any man sought to shadowe or
heighten his Inuention, he had
store of feyned persons readie
for his purpose; As Satyres,
Nymphes & their
like: such were
then in request and beliefe among
the vulgar. But in our dayes, although they
haue not vtterly lost their vse, yet finde they so litle
credit, that our moderne writers haue rather transferd
their fictions to the persons of Enchaunters &
Commaunders of Spirits, as that excellent Poet
Torquato Tasso hath done, and many others.
In imitation of them (having a presentation in
for Persons of high State) I grounded my
whole Inuention vpon Inchauntmens and severall
transformations: The work-manship whereof was
vndertaken by M.
Constantine an Italian, Architect to
our late Prince
Henry: but he being too much of him
selfe, and no way to be drawne to impart his intentions,
fayled so farre in the assurance he gaue, that
the mayne inuention euen at the last cast, was of
force drawne into a farre narrower compasse then
was from the beginning intended: The description
whereof as it was performed, I will as briefely as I
can deliver. The place wherein the Maske was presented,
being the Banquetting house at White Hall:
the vpper part, where the State is placed, was Theatred
with Pillars, Scaffolds, and all things answerable
to the sides of the Roome. At the lower end of
the Hall before the Sceane was made an Arch Tryvmphall,
passing beautifull, which enclosed the
whole Workes: The Sceane it selfe (the Curtaine
being drawne) was in this manner diuided.
