University of Virginia Library

For as much as this late Entertainment hath beene much desired in writing, both of such as were present at the performance thereof, as also of many which are yet strangers both to the busines and place: it shall be conuenient, in this generall publication, a little to touch at the description and situation of Cawsome seate. The house is fairely built of bricke, mounted on the hill-side of a Parke, within view of Redding, they being seuered about the space of two miles. Before the Parke-gate, directly opposite to the House, a new passage was forced through earable-land, that was lately paled in, it being from the Parke about two flight-shots in length: at the further end whereof, vpon the Queenes approch, a Cynick appeared out of a Bower, drest in a skin-coate, with Bases of greene Calico, set thicke with leaues and boughes: his nakednesse being also artificially shadowed with leaues; on his head he wore a false haire, blacke and disordered, stucke carelessely with flowers.
The speech of the Cynick to the Queene and her Traine.
Cynick.

Stay; whether you humane be or diuine; here
is no passage; see you not the earth furrowed?
the region solitarie? Cities and Courts fit tumultuous
multitudes: this is a place of silence; heere a kingdome
I enjoy without people; my selfe commands, my selfe obeyes;
Host, Cooke, and Guest my selfe; I reape without
sowing, owe all to Nature, to none other beholding: my
skinne is my coate, my ornaments these boughes and
flowers, this Bower my house, the earth my bed, herbes
my food, water my drinke; I want no sleepe, nor health;
I enuie none, nor am enuied, neither feare I, nor hope, nor
ioy, nor grieue: if this be happinesse, I haue it; which you
all the depend on others seruice, or command, want:
will you be happy? be priuate; turne Pallaces to Hermitages,
noies to silence, outward felicitie, to inward content.

A stranger on horse-back was purposely thrust into the troupe disguised, and wrapt in a cloake that he might passe vnknowne, who at the conclusion of this speech beganne to discouer himselfe as a fantastick Traueller in a silken sute of strange Checker-worke, made vp after the Italian cut, with an Italian hat, a band of gold and silke, answering the colours of his sute, with a Courtly feather, long guilt spurres, and all things answerable.
The Trauellers speech on horse-back.
Trauell.

Whether trauels thy tongue ill nurtur'd man?
thy manners shew madnesse, thy nakednesse pouertie, thy
resolution folly; since none will vndertake thy presumption;
let mee descend, that I may make thy ignorance
know how much it hath injured sacred eares.

The Traueller then dismounts and giues his cloake and horse to his Foot-man, in the meane time the Cynick speakes.
Cyn.

Naked I am, and so is truth; plaine, and so is honestie;
I feare no mans encounter, since my cause deserues
neither excuse, nor blame.

Trau.

Shall I now chide or pitie thee? thou art as miserable
in life, as foolish in thy opinion; answere me; doest
thou thinke that all happinesse consists in solitarinesse?

Cyn.

I doe.

Trau.

And are they vnhappy that abide in societie?

Cyn.

They are.

Trau.

Doest thou esteeme it a good thing to liue?

Cyn.

The best of things.

Trau.

Hadst thou not a Father and Mother?

Cyn.

Yes.

Trau.

Did they not liue in societie?

Cyn.

They did.

Trau.

And wert not thou one of their societie, when
they bred thee, instructing thee to goe, and speake?

Cyn.

True.

Trau.

Thy birth then and speech inspite of thy splene
make thee sociable, goe, thou art but a vaine-glorious
counterfait, and wanting that which should make thee
happie, contemnest the meanes; view but the heau'ns, is
there not above vs a Sunne and Moone, giuing and receiuing
light? are there not millions of Starres that participate
their glorious beames? is there any Element simple?
is there not a mixture of all things? and wouldst thou only
be singular? action is the end of life, vertue the crowne
of action, society the subject of vertue, friendship the band
of societie, solitarinesse the breach. Thou art yet yong,
and faire enough, wert thou not barbarous, thy soule
poore wretch is farre out of tune, make it musicall, come,
follow me, and learne to liue.

Cyn.

I am conquered by reason, and humbly aske
pardon for my error, henceforth my heart shall honour
greatnesse, and loue societie; leade now, and I will follow
as good a fellow as the best.

The Traueller and Cynick instantly mount on horse-backe, and hasten to the Parke-gate, where they are receiued by two Keepers, formally attired in greene Perpetuana, with ierkins and long hose, all things else being in colour sutable, hauing either of them a horne hanging formally at their backes, and on their heads they had greene Mommoth-caps, with greene feathers, the one of them in his hand bearing a hooke-bill, and the other a long pike-staffe, both painted greene: with them stood two Robin-Hood-men, in sutes of greene striped with blacke, drest in doublets with great bellies and wide sleeues, shaped fardinggale-wise at the shoulders, without wings; their hose were round, with long greene stockings; on their heads they wore broad flat caps with greene feathers crosse quite ouer them, carrying greene Bowes in their hands, and grenee Arrowes by their sides.
In this space Cornets at sundrie places intertaine the time, till the Queene with her traine is entred into the Parke: and then one of the Keepers presents her with this short speech.
Keeper.

More then most welcome, renowned and gracious
Queene, since your presence vouchsafes to beautifie
these woods, whereof I am Keeper, be it your pleasure to
accept such rude intertainment, as a rough Wood-man
can yeeld. This is to vs a high holy-day, and henceforth
yearly shall bee kept and celebrated with our Countrie
sports, in honour of so Royall a guest; come friends and
fellowes now prepare your voices, and present your ioyes
in a Siluan dance.

Here standing on a smooth greene, and enuironed with the Horse-men, they present a Song of fiue Parts, and withall a liuely

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Siluan-dance of sixe persons: the Robin-hood-men faine two Trebles, one of the Keepers with the Cynick sing two Countertenors, the other Keeper the Base; but the Traueller being not able to sing, gapes in silence, and expresseth his humour in Antike gestures.
A Song and Dance of sixe, two Keepers, two Robinhood-men, the fantastick Traueller, and the Cynick.

This song being sung and danced twice ouer, they fall instantly into a kinde of Curranta, with these wordes following.

In the end whereof the two Keepers carrie away the Cynick; and the two Robin-hood-men the Traueller, when presently Cornets begins againe to sound in seuerall places, and so continue with varietie, while the Queen passeth through a long smooth greene way, set on each side with Trees in equall distance; all this while her Maiestie being carried in her Caroch.

But because some wet had fallen that day in the forenoone (though the Garden-walks were made artificially smooth & drie) yet all her foot-way was spred with broad cloth, and so soone as her Maiestie with her traine were all entred into the Bower Garden, a Gardiner with his Man and Boy, issued out of an Arbour to giue her Highnesse entertainment: The Gardener was suted in gray with a ierkin double iagged all about the wings & skirts, he had a paire of great slops with a cod-peece, and buttoned Gamachios all of the same stuffe: on his head he had a strawne hat, pibaldly drest with flowers, and in his hand a siluered spade: His man was also suted in gray with a great buttoned flap on his ierkin, hauing large wings and skirts, with a paire of great slops and Gamachios of the same, on his head he had a strawne hat, and in his hand a siluered Mattox: The Gardiners Boy was in a prettie

sute of flowrie stuffe, with a siluered Rake in his hand: when they approched neere the Queene, they all valed Bonet, and lowting low, the Gardner began after his anticke fashion this speech.

Gard.

Most magnificent and peerelesse Diety, loe I the
surueyer of Lady Floras workes, welcome your grace with
fragrant phrases into her Bowers, beseeching your greatnesse
to beare with the late woodden entertainment of
the Wood-men, for Woods are more full of weeds then
wits, but gardens are weeded, and Gardners witty, as may
appeare by me. I haue flowers for all fancies, Tyme for
truth, Rosemary for remembrance, Roses for loue, Hartsease
for ioy, and thousands more, which all harmoniously
reioyce at your presence; but my selfe, with these my
Paradisians heere, will make you such musick, as the wilde
Wooddists shall bee ashamed to heare the report of it.
Come sirs prune your pipes, and tune your strings, and agree
together like birds of a feather.

A Song of a treble and base, sung by the Gardiners boy and man, to musicke of Instruments, that was readie to second them in the Arbour.

After this song, the Gardiner speakes againe.
Gard.

Wonder not (great Goddesse) at the sweetnesse
of our Garden-aire (though passing sweet it be) Flora hath
perfumed it for you (Flora our mistresse, and your seruant)
who enuites you yet further into her Paradise; shee inuisibly
will leade your grace the way, and we (as our duetie
is) visibly stay behinde.

From thence the Queene ascends by a few steps into the vpper Garden, at the end whereof, neere the house, this Song was sung by an excellent counter-tenor voice, with rare varietie of diuision vnto two vnusuall instruments, all being concealed within the Arbour.


So ended the entertainment without the House for that time, and the Queenes pleasure being that night to suppe priuately: The Kings Violins attended her with their sollemnest musick, as an excellent consort in like manner did the next day at dinner.
Supper being ended, her Maiestie accompanied with many Lords and Ladies came into the Hall, and rested Her selfe in Her Chaire of State, the Scaffoldes of the Hall being on all partes filled with beholders of worth, suddainely forth came the Traueller, Gardiner, Cynicke, with the rest of their crue, and others furnished with their Instruments, and in maner following entertaine the time.
Traueller.

A hall, a hall for men of moment; Rationals, and
Irrationals; but yet not all of one breeding. For I
an Academicke am, refined by trauell that haue
learn'd what to Courtship belongs, and so deuine a presence
as this; if we presse past good manners, laugh at our
follies, for you cannot shew vs more fauour, then to laugh
at vs. If we proue ridiculous in your sights, we are gracious;
and therefore wee beseech you to laugh at vs. For
mine owne part (I thanke my Starres for it) I haue beene
laught at in most parts of Christendome.

Gardiner.

I can neither bragge of my Trauels, nor
yet am ashamed of my profession; I make sweet walkes
for faire Ladies; Flowers I prepare to adorne them; close
Arbours I build wherein their Loues vnseene may court
them; and who can doe Ladies better seruice, or more
acceptable? when I was a Child and lay in my Cradle, (a
very pretie Child) I remember well that Lady Venus appeared
vnto me, and setting a Siluer Spade and Rake by
my Pillow, bad me proue a Gardiner; I told my Mother
of it (as became the duetie of a good Child) whereupon
shee prouided straight for mee two great Platters full of
Pappe; which hauing duetifully deuoured, I grew to this

portrature you see, sprung sodainely out of my Cabine,
and fell to my profession.

Trau.

Verily by thy discourse thou hast Trauelled
much, and I am asham'd of my selfe that I come so farre
behind thee; as not once to haue yet mentioned Venus or
Cupid, or any other of the gods to haue appeared to mee.
But I will henceforth boast truely, that I haue now seene
a Dietie as farre beyond theirs, as the beautie of light is
beyond darknesse, or this Feast whereof we haue had our
share, is beyond thy Sallets.

Cynick.

Sure I am, it hath stir'd vp strange thoughts in
me; neuer knew I the difference betweene Wine and Water
before. Bacchus hath opened mine eyes, I now see brauerie
and admire it, beautie & adore it. I find my Armes
naked, my discourse rude, but my heart soft as Waxe,
ready to melt with the least beame of a faire eye, which
(till this time) was as vntractable as Iron.

Gard.

I much ioy in thy conuersion, thou hast long
beene a mad fellow, and now prouest a good fellow, let
vs all therefore ioyne together sociably in a Song, to the
honour of good fellowship.

Cyn.

A very Musicall motion, and I agree to it.

Trau.

Sing that sing can, for my part I will onely while
you sing, keepe time with my gestures.A la more du France.

A Song of three Voyces with diuers Instruments.

At the end of this Song, enters Siluanus, shapt after the description of the ancient Writers; His lower parts like a Goate, and his vpper parts in an anticke habit of rich Taffatie, cut into Leaues, and on his head he had a false. Haire, with a wreath of long Boughes and Lillies, that hung dangling about his necke, and in his hand a Cypresse branch, in memorie of his loue Cyparissus, The Gardiner espying him speakes thus.
Gard.

Silence sirs, here comes Siluanus god of these
Woods, whose presence is rare, and importes some noueltie.

Trau.

Let vs giue place, for this place is fitter for Dieties
then vs.

They all vanish and leaue Siluanus alone, who comming neerer to the State, and making a low Congee, speakes.
Silvanvs.
That health which harbours in the fresh air'd groues,
Those pleasures which greene hill and valley moues,
Siluanus the commander of them all,
Here offers to this State Emperiall;
Which as a homager he visites now,
And to a greater power his power doth bow,
With all, thus much his duetie signifies:
That there are certaine Semideities,
Belonging to his Siluan walkes, who come
Led with the Musicke of a Spritely drome,
To keepe the night awake and honour you,
(Great Queene) to whom all Honours they hold due,
So rest you full of ioy, and wisht content,
Which though it be not giuen, 'tis fairely ment.

At the end of this speech there is suddainly heard a great noise of drums and phifes, and way being made, eight Pages first enter, with greene torches in their hands lighted; their sutes were of greene Satten, with cloakes and caps of the same, richly and strangely set forth: Presently after them the eight Maskers came, in rich imbrodered sutes of greene Satten with high hats of the same, and all their acoutrements answerable to such Noble and Princely personages, as they concealed vnder their visards, and so they instantly fell into a new dance: at the end whereof they tooke forth the Ladies, and danced with them, and so well was the Queene pleased with her intertainment, that shee vouchsafed to make her selfe the head of their Reuels, and graciously to adorne the place with her personall dancing: much of the night being thus spent with varietie of dances, the Maskers made a conclusion with a second new dance.
At the Queenes parting on wednesday in the afternoone, the Gardiner with his Man and Boy and three handsome Countrie Maides, the one bearing a rich bagge with linnen in it, the second a rich apron, and the third a rich mantle, appeare all out of an Arbour in the lower Garden, and meeting the Queene, the Gardiner presents this speech.
Gardiner.
Stay Goddesse, stay a little space,
Our poore Countrie loue to grace,
Since we dare not too long stay you,
Accept at our hands, we pray you,
These meane presents to expresse
Greater loue, then we professe,
Or can vtter now for woe
Of your parting hast'ned so.
Gifts these are, such as were wrought
By their hands, that them haue brought,
Home-bred things, which they presumed,
After I had them perfumed
With my flowrie incantation,
To giue you in presentation
At your parting, come feate Lasses
With fine cursies, and smooth faces,
Offer vp your simple toyes
To the Mistris of our ioyes;
While we the sad time prolong
With a mournefull parting song.


A Song of three voices continuing while the presents are deliuered and receiued.