THE honourable entertainment gieuen to the queens majesty in progress, at Eluetham in Hampshire, by the right honourable the earl of Hertford. 1591 coat of arms of Edward Seymour, Earl of Hertford A L'AMY FIDELE POVR jamais LONDON. Printed by John wolf, and are to bee sold at the little Shop over against the great South door of Paules. 1591. The Proëme. BEfore I declare the just time or manner of her majesties arrival and entertainment at Eluetham, it is needful( for the Readers better understanding of every part and process in my discourse) that I set down as well the conveniency of the place, as also the suffising, by art and labour, of what the place in itself could not afford on the sudden, for receipt of so great a majesty, and so honourable a train. Eluetham house being situate in a park but of two miles in compass or thereabouts, and of no great receipt, as being none of the earls chief mansion houses; yet for the desire he had to show his unfeigned love, and loyal duty to her most gracious highnesse, purposing to visit him in this her late progress, whereof he had to understand by the ordinary guess, as also by his honourable good friends in Court, near to her majesty: his Honor with all expedition set Artificers a work, to the number of three hundred, many daies before her majesties arrival, to enlarge his house with new rooms and offices. Whereof I omit to speak how many were destined to the offices of the queens household, and will only make mention of other such buildings, as were raised on the sudden, fourteen score off from the house on a hill side, within the said park, for entertainment of Nobles, Gentlemen, and others whatsoever. First there was made a room of Estate for the Nobles, and at the end thereof a withdrawing place for her majesty. The outsides of the walls were all covered with boughs, and clusters of ripe hasell nuts, the insides with Arras, the roof of the place with works of Iuy leaves, the floor with sweet herbs and green rushes. near adjoining unto this, were many offices new builded; as namely, Spicerie, Larderie, Chaundrie, Wine-seller, Ewery, and Panterie: all which were tiled. Not far off, was erected a large Hall, for entertainment of Knights, Ladies, and Gentlemen of chief account. There was also a several place for her majesties footmen, and their friends. Then was there a long bower for her majesties Guard. An other for other Officers of her Ma. house. An other to entertain all comers, suitors, and such like. An other for my Lords Steward, to keep his table in. An other for his Gentlemen that waited. Most of these foresaid rooms were furnished with tables, and the tables carried 23. yards in length. moreover on the same hill, there was raised a great common buttrey. A pitcher house. A large pastery, with siue ovens new built, some of them fourteen foot deep. A great kitchen with four ranges, and a boiling place for small boiled meats. An other kitchen with a very long range, for the waste, to serve all comers. A boiling house for the great boiler. A room for the scullery. An other room for the Cookes lodgings. Some of these were covered with canvas, and other some with boards. between my Lords house and the foresaid hill, where these rooms were raised, there had been made in the bottom by handy labour, a goodly pond, cut to the perfect figure of a half moon. In this pond were three notable grounds, where hence to present her M. with sports, and pastimes. The first was a Ship Ile of 100. foot in length, and 40. foot broad: bearing three trees orderly set for 3. masts. The second was a Fort 20. foot square every way, and overgrown with willows. The 3.& last was a Snayl mount, rising to four circles of green privy hedges, the whole in height twenty foot, and forty foot broad at the bottom. These three places were equally distant from the sides of the pond, and every one by a just measured proportion distant from other. In the said water were diuers boats prepared for music; but especially there was a Pinnace, full furnished with masts, yards, sails, anchors, cables, and all other ordinary tackling;& with iron pieces; and lastly with flags, streamers, and pendants, to the number of twelve, all painted with diuers colours, and sundry devises. To what use these particulars served, it shall evidently appear by that which followeth. And therefore I am to request the gentle Reader, that when any of these places are briefly specified in the sequel of this discourse, it will please him to haue reference to this fore-description; that in avoiding tantilogies, or reiterations, I may not seem to them obscure, whom I study to please with my plainness. For Proeme these may suffice: now to the matter itself: that it may be ultimum inexecutione( to use the old phrase) quod primum fuit in intentione, as is usual to good carpenters, who intending to build a house, yet first lay their foundation,& square many a post, and fasten many a rafter, before the house be set up: what they first purposed is last done. And thus much for excuse of a long foundation to a short building. The first daies entertainment. ON the twentith day of september being monday, my Lord of Hertford joyfully expecting her majesties coming to Eluetham to supper, as her Highnes had promised: after dinner, when every other needful place or point of service was established and set in order, for so great an entertainment, about three of the clock his Honor seing all his Retinew well mounted and ready to attend his pleasure, he drew them secretly into a chief thicket of the park, where in few words, but well couched to the purpose, he put them in mind, what quietness, and what diligence, or other duty they were to use at that present: that their service might first work her majesties content,& thereby his Honor, and lastly their own credite, with increase of his love& favour towards them. This done, my Lord with his train( amounting to the number of 3. hundred, and most of them wearing chains of gold about their necks, and in their hats Yellow and Black feathers) met with her majesty two miles off, then coming to Eluetham from her own house of Odiham four miles from thence. As my lord in this first action showed himself dutiful, so her majesty was to him and his most gracious, as also in the sequel between five& six of the clock, when her Highnes being most honourably atteded, entred into Eluetham park, and was more then half way between the Park gate& the house, a Poet saluted her with a latin Oration in heroical verse, I mean veridicus vates, a soothe saying Poet, nothing inferior for truth, and little for delivery of his mind, to an ordinary Orator. This Poet was clad in green, to signify the ioy of his thoughts, at her entrance a laurel garland on his head, to express that Apollo was patron of his studies: an olive branch in his hand, to declare what continual peace and plenty he did both wish and abode her majesty: and lastly booted, to betoken that he was vates cothurnatus, and not a loose or know creeping Prophet, as Poets are interpnted by some idle or envious ignorants. This Poets boy offered him a cushion at his first kneeling to her majesty, but he refused it, saying as followeth. The Poet to his boy offering him a Cushion. Non iam puluillis opus est, said cord sereno: Nam plusquám solitis istic aduoluimur aris. The Poets speech to her majesty. NVper ad Aönium flexo dum poplite fontem Indulsi placido, Phoebi sub pectine, somne, Veridicos inter vates, quos Entheus ardour Possidet,& virtus nullis offusa lituris, Talia securo cantabant carmina Musae. Aspicis insueto tingentem lumine coelum Anglorum nostro maiorem nomine Nympham as, humerósque Deae similem, dum tuta Semeri Tecta petit, qualis dilecta Philaemonis olim Cannea coelicolûm subijt magalia rector? Olli tu blandas humili dic ore salutes: Nos dabimus numeros, numeros dabit ipsus Apollo. said metues Tantae summas attingere lauds: Nam specie Solem, Superos virtutibus aequans, Maiestate locum, sacrisque timoribus implet. Doctior est nobis,& nobis praesidet vna: Ditior est Ponto, Pontum quoque temperat vna: Pulchrior est nymphis, et nymphis imperat vna Dignior est divis,& divos allicit vna. En supplex adsum, Musarum numine ductus, Et meritis ( Augusta) tuis, o dulcis Elisa, front serenata modicum dignare poëtam, Né mea vernantem deponant tempora laurum, Et miser in cantu mortar. Senámque Semeri Obsequiosa meis conduit persona sub vmbris: Qui fert ore preces, oculo foecundat oliuam; Officium precibus, pacem designat oliua; Affectum docet officijs,& place quietem; Mentes affectu mulcebit, membra quiet. Hi mores, haec vera tui persona Semeri, cvi laetum sine te nihil, illaetabile tecum Est nihil. En rident ad vestros omnia vultus suaviter, immensum donec fulgoribus orbem Elisabetha novis imples: nox inuidet vna: Astra said invidiae tollunt mala signatenebras. Caetera, qua possunt, sacrae gratantur Elisae Laetitia, promptósque ferunt in gaudia vultus. Limulus insultat per pictos hoedus agellos Passibus obtortis; et for vum bucula taurum Blanda petit; tremulus turgescit frondibus arbos, Graminibus pratum, generosa pampinus vua: Et tenui latices in arena dulce susurrant, Insuetúmque melos: Te, te, dulcissima Princeps, Terra, polus, fluuij, plantae, pecudésque salutant: Dúmque tuam cupidè mirantur singula formam, Infixis haerent oculis, nequeuntque tuendo Expleri; solitis said nunc liberrima curis, In placidos abeunt animos: non semina vermes, Non cerui metuunt casses, non herba calorem, Non viscum volucres, non fruges grandinis ictum. Oistos ( Augusta) dies, o proffer in annos; Et lustrum ex annis, è lustris saecula surgant; E saeclis aeuum, nullo numerabile motu: Vt nostros dudum quotquot risere dolores, Gaudia iam numerent, intabescántque videndo. En, iter obiecto quà clauserat obice livor, Virtutis famulae Charites, castríque superni Custodes Horae, blandissima numina, iunctim Iam tollunt remoras, vt arenam floribus ornent. Ergò age, supplicibus succeed penatibus hospes, Et nutu moderare tuo: Tibi singula parent, Et nisi parêrent Tibi singula, tota perirent. Dicite Iō Paean, et Iō ter dicite Paean, Spargite floor vias,& mollem cantibus auram. Because all our countrymen are not Latinists, I think it not amiss to set this down in English, that all may bee indifferently partakers of the Poets meaning. The Poets speech to his boy offering him a Cushion. Now let us use no Cushions, but faire hearts: For now we kneel to more then usual Saints. The Poets speech to her majesty. WHile at the fountain of the sacred hill, under Apollos lute, I sweetly slept, 'mongst prophets full possessed with holy fury, And with true virtue, voided of all disdain: The Muses sung, and waked me with these words. Seest thou that English nymph, in face and shape Resembling some great Goddesse, and whose beams do sprinkle heaven with unacquainted light, While shee doth visit Semers fraudlesse house, As jupiter did honour with his presence The poor thatched cottage, where Philaemon dwelled? See thou salute her with an humble voice; Phoebus, and we, will let thee lack no verses. But dare not once aspire to touch her praise, Who like the sun for show, to Gods for virtue, fills all with majesty, and holy fear. More learned then ourselves, shee ruleth us: More rich then seas, shee doth command the seas: More fair then nymphs, she governs al the nymphs More worthy then the Gods, shee wins the Gods. Behold ( Augusta) thy poor suppliant Is here, at their desire, but thy desert. O sweet Elisa, grace me with a look, Or from my brows this laurel wreathe will fall, And I unhappy die amid my song. under my person Semer hides himself, His mouth yields prayers, his eye the olive branch; His prayers betoken duty, th'O live peace; His duty argues love, his peace faire rest; His love will smooth your mind, faire rest your body. This is your Semers heart and quality: To whom all things are joys, while thou art present, To whom nothing is pleasing, in thine absence. Behold, on thee how each thing sweetly smiles, To see thy brightness glad our hemisphere: Night only envies: whom faire stars do cross: All other creatures strive to show their joys. The crooked-winding kid trips ore the lawns; The milkewhite heafer wantons with the bull; The trees show pleasure with their quiuiring leaves, The meadow with new grass, the vine with grapes, The running brooks with sweet and silver sound. Thee, thee ( Sweet Princes) heaven,& earth,& floods, And plants, and beasts, salute with one accord: And while they gaze on thy perfections, Their eyes desire is never satisfied. Thy presence frees each thing, that lived in doubt: No seeds now fear the biting of the worm; Nor deere the toils; nor grass the parching heat; Nor Birds the snare; nor corn the storm of hail. O Empresse, o draw forth these dayes to yeares, Yeeres to an age, ages to eternity: That such as lately joyed to see our sorrows, May sorrow now, to see our perfect joys. Behold where all the Graces, virtues maids, And lightfoote hours, the guardians of heau'ns gate, With joined forces do remove those blocks, Which envy laid in majesties highway. Come therefore, come under our humble roof, And with a beck command what it contains: For all is thine: each part obeys thy will; Did not each part obey, the whole should perish. Sing songs faire Nymphs, sing sweet triumphal songs, Fill ways with flowers, and th'ayr with harmony. While the Poet was pronouncing this oration, six Virgins were behind him, busily removing blocks out of her majesties way; which blocks were supposed to bee laid there by the person of envy, whose condition is, to envy at every good thing, but especially to malice the proceedings of virtue, and the glory of true majesty. Three of these Virgins represented the three Graces, and the other three, the hours, which by the Poets are feigned to be the guardians of heaven gates. They were all attired in gowns of taffata sarsenet of diuers colours, with flowery garlands on their heads, and baskets full of sweet herbs and flowers upon their arms. When the Poets speech was happily ended, and in a scroll delivered to her majesty( for such was her gracious acceptance, that she deigned to receive it with her own hand) then these six Virgins, after performance of their humble reverence to her highnesse, walked on before her towards the house, strewing the way with flowers, and singing a sweet song of six parts to this ditty, which followeth. The ditty of the six Virgins song. WIth fragrant flowers we strew the way And make this our chief holiday: For though this climb were blessed of yore, Yet was it never proud before, O beauteous queen of second Troy, Accept of our unfeigned ioy. Now th'ayre is sweeter then sweet balm, And Satyrs dance about the palm: Now earth with verdure newly dight, gives perfect sign of her delight. O beauteous queen of second Troy, Accept of our unfeigned ioy. Now birds record new harmony, And trees do whistle melody: Now every thing that nature breeds, Doth clad itself in pleasant weeds. O beauteous queen of second Troy, Accept of our unfeigned ioy. This song ended with her majesties entrance into the house: where shee had not restend her a quarter of an hour: but from the Snail-mount, and the Ship-Ile in the Pond( both being near under the prospect of her gallery window) there was a long volley of Chambers discharged. After this, supper was served in, first to her majesty, and then to the Nobles and others. Were it not that I would not seem to flatter the honourable minded earl: or, but that I fear to displease him, who rather desired to express his loyal duty in his liberal bounty, then to hear of it again, I could here willingly particulate the store of his cheer and provision, as likewise the careful and kind diligence of his servants, expressed in their quiet service to her majesty, and the Nobility, and by their loving entertainment to all other, friends, or strangers. But I leave the bounty of the one, and the industry of the others, to the just report of such as beholded, or tasted the plentiful abundance of that time and place. After supper was ended, her majesty graciously admitted unto her presence a notable consort of six musicians, which my Lord of Hertford had provided to entertain her majesty withall, at her will and pleasure, and when it should seem good to her highnesse. Their music so highly pleased her, that in grace and favour thereof, she gave a new name unto one of their Pauans, made long since by Master Thomas Morley, then Organist of Paules Church. These are the chief points, which I noted in the first daies entertainment. Now therefore it followeth, that I proceed to the second. THE SECOND daies entertainment. ON the next day following, being Tuesday, and Saint Mathewes festival, the forenoon was so wet and stormy, that nothing of pleasure could bee presented her majesty. Yet it held up a little before dinner time, and all the day after: where otherwise faire sports would haue been butted in foul weather. This day her majesty dined, with her Nobles about her in the room of estate, new builded on the hil side, above the pounds head. Ther sate below her, many Lords, Ladies,& Knights. The manner of service, and abundance of dainties, I omit vpon just consideration, as also the Ordinance discharged in the beginning of dinner. Presently after dinner, my Lord of Hertford caused a large canopy of estate to bee set at the pounds head, for her majesty to sit under, and to view some sports prepared in the water. The canopy was of green satin, lined with green taffeta sarsenet; every seam covered with a broad silver lace; valenced about, and fringed with green silk and silver, more then a handbredth in depth; supported with four silver pillars movable; and decked above head with four white plumes, spangled with silver. This canopy being upheld by four of my lords chief Gentlemen, and tapestry spread all about the ponds head, her majesty about four of the clock came, and sate under it, to expect the issue of some devise, being advertised, that there was some such thing towards. At the further end of the pond, there was a Bower, close built to the brink thereof; out of which ther went a pompous array of seapersons, which waded bresthigh, or swam till they approached near the seat of her majesty. Nereus, the prophet of the sea, attired in red silk, and having a cornerd-cappe on his curlde head, did swim before the rest, as their pastor& guide. After him came five Tritons brest-high in the water, all with grisly heads, and beards of diuers colours and fashions, and all five cheerfully sounding their Trumpets. After them went two other Gods of the sea, Neptune and Oceanus, leading between them that Pinnace, whereof I spake in the beginning of this Treatise. In the pinnace were three Virgins, which with their Cornets played Scottish Gigs, made three parts in one. There was also in the said pinnace an other Nymph of the sea, name Neaera, the old supposed love of sylvanus, a God of the woods. near to her were placed three excellent voices, to sing to one lute, and in two other boats hard by, other lutes and voices to answer by manner of echo: after the pinnace,& two other boats, which were drawn after it by other Sea-gods, the rest of the train followed brest-high in the water, all attired in ugly marine suits, and every one armed with a huge wooden squirt in his hand: to what end it shal appear hereafter. In their marching towards the pond, all along the middle of the current, the Tritons sounded one half of the way, and then they ceasing, the Cornets played their Scottish gigs. The melody was sweet,& the show stately. By the way it is ●●●●●ll to touch here many things abruptly, for the better understanding of that which followeth. First, that in the Pinnace are two jewels to be presented her majesty: the one by Nereus, the other by Neaera. Secondly, that the Fort in the Pond, is round environed with armed men. Thirdly, that the Snayle-mount now resembleth a monster, having horns full of wild-fire continually burning. And lastly, that the God Siluanus, lieth with his train not far off in the woods, and will shortly salute her majesty, and present her with a holly scutcheon, wherein Apollo had long since written her praises. All this remembered and considered, I now return to the Sea-gods, who having under the conduct of Nereus brought the Pinnace near before her majesty, Nereus made his Oration, as followeth; but before he began, he made a privy sign unto one of his train, which was gotten up into the Shippe-Ile, directly before her majesty, and he presently did cast himself down, doing a Summerset from the Ile into the water, and then swam to his company. The Oration of Nereus to her majesty. FAire Cinthia the wide Oceans Empresse, I watery Nereus hovered on the cost To greet your majesty with this my train Of dancing Tritons, and shrill singing nymphs. But all in vain: Elisa was not there; For which our Neptune grieud, and blamd the star, Whose thwarting influence dashed our longing hope. Therefore impatient, that this worthless earth Should bear your Highnes weight, and we sea Gods, ( Whose jealous waves haue swallowd up your foes, And to your realm are walls impregnable) With such large favour seldom time are graced: I from the deeps haue drawn this winding slud, Whose crescent form figures the rich increase Of all that sweet Elisa holdeth dear. And with me came gould-brested India, Who daunted at your sight, leaped to the shore, And sprinkling endless treasure on this Ile, Left me this jewel to present your Grace, For him, that under you doth hold this place. See where her ship remaines, whose silkewouen takling Is turned to twigs, and threefold mast to trees, receiving life from verdure of your looks; ( For what cannot your gracious looks eflect?) You ugly monster creeping from the South, To spoil these blessed fields of Albion, By self same beams is changed into a snail, Whose bulrush horns are not of force to hurt. As this snail is, so be thine enemies, And never yet did Nereus wish in vain. That Fort did Neptune raise, for your defence; And in this bark, which gods hale near the shore, White footed Thetis sends her music maids, To please Elisaes ears with harmony. Hear them fair queen: and when their music ends, My Triton shall awake the Syluane Gods, To do their homage to your majesty. This Oration being delivered, and withall the present whereof he spake, which was hidden in a purse of green rushes, cunningly woauen together: immediately the three voices in the Pinnace sung a song to the Lute with excellent divisions, and the end of every verse was replied by Lutes and voices in the other boat somewhat a far off, as if they had been echoes. THe Sea nymphs ditty. HOw 'haps that now, when prime is don, An other spring time is begun? Our hemisphere is overrun, With beauty of a second sun. echo. A second Sun. WHat second Sun hath rays so bright, To cause this unacquainted light? Tis faire Elisaes matchless Grace, Who with her beams doth bless the place, echo. Doth bless the place. This song being ended, Nereus commanded the five Tritons to sound. Then came sylvanus with his attendants from the wood: himself attired from the middle downwards to the knee, in Kiddes skins, with the hair on, his legs, body and face naked, but died over with saffron, and his head hooded with a goates skin, and two little horns over his forehead, bearing in his right hand an olive three, and in his left a scutcheon, whereof I spake somewhat before. his followers were all covered with Iuy leaves, and bare in their hands bows made like darts. At their reproach near her majesty, sylvanus spake as followeth, and delivered up his scutcheon, engraven with golden characters, Nereus and his train still continuing near her Highnesse. The Oration of sylvanus. sylvanus comes from out the privy groaues, To honor her, whom all the world adores, Faire Cinthia, whom no sooner Nature framed, And decked with Fortunes, and with virtues dower, But strait admiring what her skill had wrought, Shee broke the mould: that never sun might see The like to Albions queen for excellence. Twas not the Tritons ayr-enforcing shell, As they perhaps would proudly make their vaunt, But those faire beams, that shoot from majesty, Which drew our eyes to wonder at thy worth. That worth breeds wonder; wonder holy fear; And holy fear unfeigned reverence. Amongst the wanton dayes of golden age Apollo playing in our pleasant shades, And printing oracles in every lease, Let fall this sacred scutcheon from his breast, Wherein is writ, Detur dignissimae. O therefore hold, what heaven hath made thy right, I but in duty yield desert her due. Nereus. But see sylvanus where thy love doth sit, sylvanus. My sweet Neaera? was her ear so near? O set my hearts delight vpon this bank, That in compassion of old sufferance, Shee may relent in sight of beauties queen. Nereus. On this condition shall shee come on shore. That with thy hand thou plight a solemn vow, Not to profane her undefiled state. sylvanus. Here, take my hand, and therewithal I vow, Nereus. That water will extinguish wanton fire. Nereus in pronouncing this last line, did pluck sylvanus over head and ears into the water, where all the sea Gods laughing, did insult over him. In the mean while her majesty perused the verses written in the scutcheon, which were these. Aönijs prior,& divis es pulchrior alti AEquoris, ac nymphis es prior Idalijs. Idalijs prior es nymphis, ac aequoris alti. Pulchrior& divis, ac prior Aönijs. over these verses was this poesy written. Detur dignissimae. After that the sea Gods had sufficiently duckt sylvanus, they suffered him to creep to the land, where he no sooner set footing, but crying Reuenge, Reuenge, he and his, begun a skirmish with those of the water, the one side throwing their darts, and the other using their squirtes, and the Tritons sounding a point of war. At the last Nereus partend the fray with a line or two, grounded on the excellence of her Maiestyes presence, as being always friend to peace, and enemy to war. Then sylvanus with his followers retired to the woods, and Neaera his faire love in the Pinnace, presenting her majesty a Sea jewel, bearing the form of a fan, spake unto her as followeth. The Oration of faire Neaera. WHen Neptune late bestowed on me this bark, And sent by me this present to your Grace: Thus Nereus sung, who never sings but truth. Thine eyes ( Neaera) shall in time behold A sea-borne queen, worthy to govern Kings, On her depends the Fortune of thy boat, If shee but name it with a blissful word. And view it with her life inspiring beams. Her beams yield gentle influence, like fair stars, Her silver sounding word is prophesy. speak sacred sibyl, give some prosperous name, That it may dare attempt a golden fleece, Or dive for pearls, and lay them in thy lap. For wind and waves, and all the world besides, Will make her way, whom thou shalt doom to bliss, For what is Sybils speech, but oracle? Here her majesty name the Pinnace the Bonaduenture, and Neaera went on with her speech as followeth. I Now Neaeraes bark is fortunate, And in thy service shall employ her sail, And often make return to thy avail. O live in endless ioy, with glorious famed, Sound Trumpets, sound, in honor of her name. Then did Nereus retire back to his bower with all his train following him, in self same order as they came forth before, the Tritons sounding their Trumpets one half of the way, and the Cornets playing the other half. And here ended the second daies pastime, to the so great liking of her majesty, that her gracious approbation thereof, was to the Actors more then a double reward, and yet withal, her Highnes bestowed a largess upon them the next day after before shee departed. THE third daies entertainment. ON Wednesday morning, about nine of the clock, as her majesty opened a casement of her gallery windovv, ther were three excellent musicans, who being disguised in ancient country attire, did greet her with a pleasant song of Coridon and Phyllida, made in three parts of purpose. The song, as well for the worth of the ditty, as for the aptness of the note thereto applied, it pleased her Highnesse, after it had been once sung, to command it again, and highly to grace it with her cheerful acceptance and commendation. The Plowmans Song. IN the merry month of May, In a morn, by break of day, Forth J walked by the wood side, Where as May was i●●●s pride. There I spied all alone Phyllida and Corydon. Much ado there was God wot, He would love, and she would not. She said, never man was true: He said, none was false to you. He said, he had loved her long: She said, love should haue no wrong. Coridon would kiss her then: She said, maides must kiss no men. Till they did for good and all. Then she made the shepherd call All the heauens to witness truth, never loved a truer youth. Thus with many a pretty oath, Yea and nay, and faith and troth, Such as silly shepherds use, When they will not love abuse. love, which had been long deluded, Was with kisses sweet concluded: And Phyllida with garlands gay, Was made the Lady of the May. The same day after din, about three of the clock, ten of my L. of Hertfords seruants, al Somersetshire men, in a square green Court, before her majesties window, did hang up lines, squaring out the form of a Tennis-court, and making a cross line in the middle. In this square they( being stripped out of their doublets) played five to five with the hand-ball, at board and cord( as they term it) to so great liking of her highnes, that she graciously deyned to behold their pastime more then an hour and a half. After supper there were two delights presented unto her majesty: curious fireworks, and a sumptuous banquet: the first from the three islands in the pond, the second in a low gallery in her majesties privy garden. But I will first briefly speak of the fire-works. First there was a peal of a hundred Chambers discharged from the Snail-mount: in counter whereof, a like peal was discharged from the Ship-Ile,& some great ordinance withall. Then was ther a Castle of fire-works of al sorts, which played in the Fort. Answerable to that ther was in the Snail-mount, a Globe of all maner of fireworks, as big as a barrel. When these were spent on either side, there were many running rockets upon lines, which past between the Snaylemount, and the Castle in the Fort. On either side were many fire wheels, pikes of pleasure,& balls of wild fire, which burned in the water. During the time of these fireworks in the water, there was a banquet served all in glass and silver, into the low gallery in the Garden, from a hill side fourteen score off, by two hundred of my Lord of Hertfordes Gentlemen, every one carrying so many dishes, that the whole number amounted to a thousand: and there were to light them in their way, a hundred torch-bearers. To satisfy the curious, I will here set down some particulars in the banquet. Her majesties arms in sugar-worke. The several arms of all our nobility in sugarworke. Many men and women in sugar-worke, and some enforced by hand. Castles, Forts, Ordinance, Drummers, Trumpeters, and privy-councillors of all sorts in sugar-worke. Lions, Vnicorns, bears, Horses, Camels, bulls, Rams, Dogges, tigers, Elephants, Antelops, Dromedaries, Apes, and all other beasts in sugar-worke. eagles, Falcons, Cranes, Bustardes, Heronshawes, Bytters, Pheasants, Partridges, quails, larks, sparrows, Pigeons, cocks, Oules, and all that fly, in sugar-worke. Snakes, adders, vipers, frogs, toads, and all kind of worms in sugar-worke. Mermaides, whales, dolphins, cungars, sturgions, pikes, carps, breams, and all sorts of fishes, in sugarworke. All these were standing dishes of sugar-work. The self same devises were also there all in flatworke. moreover these particulars following, and many such like, were in flat sugar-worke, and sinamond. March-panes, grapes, oysters, muscles, cockles, periwinckles, crabs, lobsters. apple, pears, and plums, of all sorts. preserves, suckats, iellies, leeches, marmelats, pasts comfits, of all sorts. THE fourth daies entertainment. ON Thursday morning, her majesty was no sooner ready, and at her Gallery window, looking into the Garden, but there began three Cornets to play certain fantastike dances, at the measure whereof the Fayery queen came into the garden, dancing with her maides about her. Sheebrought with her a garland made in form of an imperial crown, within the sight of her majesty, shee fixed vpon a silver staff, and sticking the staff into the ground, spake as followeth. The speech of the Fairy queen to her majesty. I That abide in places under ground, Aureola, the queen of Fairy land, That every night in rings of painted flowers turn round, and carroll out Elisaes name: Hearing, that Nereus and the Syluane Gods Haue lately welcomde your imperial Grace, Oapend the earth with this enchanting wand, To do my duty to your majesty. And humbly to salute you with this Chaplet, given me by Auberon, the Fairy King. Bright shining Phoebe, that in humane shape, hidest heauens perfection, vouchsafe t' accept it: And I Aureola, beloved in heaven, ( For amorous stars fall nightly in my lap) Will cause that heauens enlarge thy golden dayes, And cut them short, that envy at thy praise. After this speech, the Fairy queen and her maides danced about the garland, singing a song of six partes, with the music of an exquisite consort, wherein was the Lute, Bandora, Base-violl, Citterne, Treble-violl, and Flute, and this was the Fairies song. ELisa is the fairest queen, That ever trod vpon this green. Elisaes eyes are blessed stars, Jnducing peace, subduing warres. Elisaes hand is crystal bright, Her words are balm, her looks are light. Elisaes breast is that faire hill, Where virtue dwells, and sacred skill, O blessed bee each day and hour, Where sweet Elisa builds her bower. This spectacle and music, so delighted her majesty, that shee desired to see and hear it twice over: and then dismissed the actors with thankes, and with a gracious largesse which of her exceeding goodness shee bestowed upon them. Within an hour after, her majesty departed with her Nobles, from Eluetham. On the one fide of her way as shee past through the park, there was placed sitting on the Pond side, Nereus and all the Sea-gods in their former attire: on her left hand, sylvanus and his company: in the way before her the three Graces, and the three hours: all of them on every side wringing their hands, and showing sign of sorrow for her departure. While she beholded this dum show, the Poet made her a short Oration, as followeth. The Poets speech at her majesties departure. O See sweet Cynthia, how the watery gods, Which joyed of late to view thy glorious beams, At this retire do wail and wring their hands, Distilling from their eyes salt showers of tears, To bring in winter with their wet lament: For how can summer stay, when sun departs? See where sylvanus sits, and sadly mourns, To think that Autumn with his withered wings Will bring in tempest, when thy beams are hence: For how can summer stay, when sun departs? See where those Graces,& those hours of heaven Which at thy coming sung triumphal songs, And smoothd the way, and strewd it with sweet flowers, Now, if they durst, would stop it with green bows, Least by thine absence the yeeres pride decay: For how can summer stay, when sun departs? leaves fall, grass dies, beasts of the wood hang head, Birds cease to sing, and every creature wailes, To see the season alter with this change: For how can summer stay, when sun departs? O, either stay, or soon return again, For summers parting is the countries pain. After this, as her majesty passed through the park gate, there was a consort of musicians hidden in a bower, to whose playing this ditty of Come again was sung, with excellent division, by two, that were cunning. O Come again faire Natures treasure, Whose looks yield joys exceeding measure. O come again heau'ns chief delight, Thine absence makes eternal night, O come again worlds starbright eye, Whose presence doth adorn the sky. O come again sweet beauties sun: When thou art gone, our joys are done. Her majesty was so highly pleased with this and the rest, that shee openly protested to my Lord of Hertford, that the beginning, process, and end of this his entertainment was so honourable, as hereafter he should find the reward thereof in her especial favour. And many and most happy yeares may her gracious majesty continue, to favour and foster him, and all others which do truly love and honor her. FINIS.