THE TRUE description of a Royal mask.  
PRESENTED AT HAMPton Court, upon Sunday night, being the eight of january. 1604.  
AND Personated by the queen's most Excellent Majesty, attended by Eleven Ladies of Honour.  
LONDON Printed by Edward Allde, and are to be sold at the Long Shop, adjoining unto S. Mildred's Church in the Poultry. 1604.   

THE TRUE description Of a Royal mask. Presented at Hampton Court upon Sunday night being the eight day of january. 1604.  
The Night appareled in a black vesture set with Stars coming from below, and approaching near unto the Temple erected toward the upper end of the Hall: wakens her Son Somnus that there lies sleeping in a Cave; with this speech. 
AWake dark sleep, rouse thee from out thy Cave;  
Thy Mother Night, that bred thee in her womb,  
And fed thee first with silence and with ease,  
Doth here thy shadowed operations crave.  
And therefore wake my son, awake and come:  
Strike with thy Horny wand, the spirits of these  
That here expect some pleasing novelties;  
And make their slumber to beget strange sights.  
Strange visions and unusual properties,  
Unseen of latter ages, ancient rites;  
Of gifts divine, wrapped up in Mysteries,  
Make this to seem a Temple in their sight:  
Whose main support, holy religion, frame,  
And wisdom, courage, Temperance and right:  
Make seem the pillars that sustain the same,  
Shadow some Sibyl to attend the rites;  
And to describe the power that shall resort,  
With the interpretation of the benefits  
They bring in Clouds, & what they do import,  
Yet make them to protend the true desire  
Of those that wish them, waking real things;  
Whilst I will hovering here aloof retire,  
And cover all things with my sable wings.  
Some. Dear Mother Night, I your commandment  
Obey, and dreams t'interpret dreams, will make  
As waking curiosity is wont.  
Though better dreams asleep, the dreams awake  
And this White Horny wand shall work the deed:  
Whose power, doth figures of the light present,  
When from this sable Radius doth proceed  
Nought but confused dark shows to no intent:  
And therefore go bright visions, entertain  
All round about, whilst I'll to sleep again.   
Iris the Messenger of the Goddesses, descending from the Mountain where they were assembled, decked in the colour of the Rainbow, speaks as followeth. 
I The daughter of wonder, now made the Messenger of power; here descended, to signify the coming of a Celestial presence of Goddesses, determined this fair Temple of peace, with holy hands and devout desires, have dedicated to unity and concord: and leaving to themselves in Ouidos Ida Paphos their ancient delighting places of Greece and Asia, now made the seats of Barbarism, and spoil, vouchsafe to take their recreation, here, upon the Western Mount of mighty brittany, the Land of Civil Music and of rest: And are pleased to appear in the self-same figures, wherein antiquity hath formerly clothed them; and as they have been cast in the imagination of pity, who hath given mortal shapes to the gifts and effects of an eternal power: For that those beautiful Characters of sense were easier to be read, than their mystical Ideas, dispersed in that wide and incomprehensible volume of Nature. And well have mortal men appareled all the virtues, all the graces, all blessings, with that shape wherewith themselves are most delighted, and which work the best motions, and best represent the beauty of heavenly powers. And therefore, reverend Prophetess, who hear attendest upon the devotions of this place, prepare thyself for those rites that pertain to thy function, and the honour of such deities. And to the end thou mayst have a fore-notion what powers, and who they are that come; take here this Prospective, and herein note and tell what thou seest: For well mayst thou there observe their shadows, but their presence will bereave thee of all, save admiration and amazement. For who can look upon such powers and speak? And so I leave thee.   
Sybilla decked as a Nun, in black upon White, having received this Message, and the Prospective, useth these words. 
WHat have I seen? Where am I? Or do I see at all? or am I anywhere? What? was this IRIS the Messenger of JUNO, or else, but a fantasma or imagination? Will the Divine Goddesses vouchsafe to visit this poor Temple? Shall I be blessed to entertain so great powers? It can be but a dream; yet such great powers have blessed as humble Roofs, and use it of no other respect, than their own great favours to shine where they will. But what Prospective is this? or what shall I herein see? O admirable powers! what sights are these?  

JUNO.  
FIrst, here Imperial JUNO in her chair,  
With Sceptre of command, for kingdoms large:  
Ascends, all clad in colours of the air,  
Crowned with bright Stars, to signify her charge.   

PALLAS.  
Next, warlike PALLAS, in her helmet dressed,  
With Lance of winning; Target of defence:  
In whom both wit and courage are expressed,  
To get with glory, hold with providence.   

VENUS.  
Then lovely VENUS in bright Majesty,  
Appears with mild aspect in Dove-like-hue,  
With th' all-combining scarf of amity;  
T'engird strange Nations with affections true.   

DIANA.  
Next, chaste DIANA in her robes of green,  
With weapons of the Wood herself addrests,  
To bless the Forest where her power is seen,  
T'hold peace with all the World, but with wild beasts.   

VESTA.  
Then comely VESTA with her flames of zeal  
Presents herself, clad in white purity,  
Whose book the soul's sweet comfort doth reveal,  
By th'ever burning lamp of piety.   

PROSERPINA.  
Next, rich PROSERPINA with flames of gold,  
Whose estate, although within the earth, yet she  
Comes from above, and in her hand doth hold  
The Mine of wealth, with cheerful Majesty.   

MACARIA.  
Then all in purple robes, rich Happiness:  
Next her appears, bearing in either hand,  
Th'ensigns both of wealth and wit; t'express,  
That by them both, her Majesty doth stand.   

CONCORDJA.  
Then all in particoloured robes appears  
In White and Crimson-graceful Concord, rest  
With knots of union; and in hand she bears  
The happy joined Roses of our rest.   

ASTRAEA.  
Clear-eyed ASTRAEA next, with reverend brow,  
Clad in Celestial hue, which best she likes:  
Comes with her balance, and her sword to show,  
That first her judgement weighs before it strikes.   

FLORA.  
Then cheerful FLORA, all adorned with flowers,  
Who clothes the earth with beauty and delight,  
In thousand sundry suits, whilst shining hours,  
Will scarce afford a darkness to the Night.   

CERES.  
Next, plenteous CERES in her harvest weed,  
Crowned with theincrease of what she gave to keep,  
To Gratitude and Faith in whom we need:  
Who sows on Virtue, shall with glory reap.   

TETHIS.  
Lastly comes TETHIS, Albion's dearest Love,  
Whom she in faithful arms doth deign t'embrace:  
And brings the Trident of her power t'approve  
Her favour and respect to do him grace.  

Thus have I read their shadows, but behold:  
In glory where they come as IRIS told.     
The three Graces march before the Goddesses, descending down the Mountain with loud Music, and coming up to the upper end, stay and sing this Song, whilst the Goddesses go up to the Temple with Presents, and from them, march down the Hall. 

The Song.  

DEsert, Reward, and Gratitude,  
The Graces of Society:  
Do here with hand in hand conclude,  
The blessed chain of amity.  
1. For I deserve. 2. I give. 3. I thank:  
All. Thanks, gifts, deserts thus join in rank.   

we yield the splendent rays of light,  
Unto the blessings that descend;  
The grace whereof with more delight,  
The well disposing doth commend,  
Whilst gratitude, rewards, deserts,  
Please, win, draw on, and couple hearts.   

For worth, and power, and due respect,  
Deserves, bestows, returns with grace;  
The meed, reward, the kind effect,  
That gives the world a cheerful face.  
And turning in this course of right,  
Makes virtue move with true delight.     
The Song being ended, and the Maskers in the midst of the Hall, disposing themselves to their dance, Sibilla having placed their several Presents on the Altar, uttereth these words. 
O Power of powers, grant to our vows we pray,  
That these fair blessings which we here arrest,  
In figures left us here, in substance, may  
Be those great props of glory and respect.  
Let Kingdoms large, let armed Policy,  
Mild Love, true Zeal, right shooting at the white,  
Of brave designs, let Wealth, felicity,  
justice, and Concord, Pleasure, Plenty, Might  
And power by Sea, with grace proportionate,  
Make glorious both this Kingdom and Estate.  After this the Maskers danced their own measures, which being ended, & they ready to take out the Lords, the three Graces sing. 


I.  
WHilst worth with honour, make their choice,  
For measured motions ordered right:  
Now let us likewise give a voice,  
Unto the touch of our delight.   

II.  
FOr comforts locked up without sound,  
Are th'unborn Children of the thought:  
Like unto Treasures never found,  
That buried low, are left forgot.   

III.  
Where words or glory do not show,  
There like brave actions without Frame,  
It seems like plants not set to grow,  
Or as a tomb without a name.     
The Maskers having ended the Dancing with the Lords: IRIS, gives warning of their departure, in this manner, IRIS. 
AS I was the joyful Messenger, to notify the coming of these divine powers; so am I now the same of their departure, who having clothed themselves with these appearances, do now return back Spheres of there own being from whence they are. But yet of myself, this much I must reveal, though against the warrant of a Messenger, who, I know had better to fail in obedience, than in presumption, that these Deities by (the motion of the all-directing Pallas, the glorious Patroness of this mighty Monarchy) descending in the Majesty of their invisible essences, upon yonder Mountain; found there the best and most worthy, the best of Ladies, disporting herself with the choicest attendants, whose forms they presently took, as delighting to be in the best built Temples of beauty and honour, and in them vouchsafed to appear in this manner, being otherwise no objects for mortal eyes.  
And no doubt, but that in respect or the persons, under whose beautiful coverings they have thus presented themselves? these Deities will be pleased, the rather at their invocation, knowing all their desires to be such, as evermore to grace this glorious Monarchy, with the Royal effects of these blessings represented.  After this, they fell to a short parting Dance, and so ascended the Mountain in the same order as they came down.  
FINIS.