THe Kings Majeſties Maſque being performed, the Queene commanded Inigo Iones Surveyor of her Majeſties works, to make a new ſubject of a Maſque for her ſelfe, that with high and hearty invention, might give occaſion for variety of Scenes, ſtrange aparitions, Songs, Muſick and dancing of ſeverall kinds; from whence doth reſult the true pleaſure peculiar to our Engliſh Maſques, which by ſtrangers and travellers of judgement, are held to be as noble and ingenious, as thoſe of any other nations: This being ſuddainly done and ſhewed her Majeſtie, and ſhee approving it, the worke was ſet in hand, and with all celerity performed in ſhorter time, than any thing here hath beene done in this kind.

The invention conſiſting of darkneſſe and light, the night preſents the firſt Antimaſques and ſleepe with his three principall children, the Antimaſques of dreams: The ſubject of the maine Maſque of light, was thus introduc'd. The Muſes being long ſince drawne out of Greece by the fierce Thratians, their groves withered and all their ſprings dryed up, and out of Italy by the barbarous Goths and vandals, they wandred here and there indecently without their ornaments and inſtruments: The Arch-Flamines and Flamines their Prophetick Prieſts being conſtrained either to live in diſguiſes, or hide their heads in caves, and in ſome places, whenſoever they began to appeare, they were together with peace driven out by warre, and in the more civiliz'd parts, where they hop'd to have taken ſome reſt, envy and avarice by clipping the wings of Fame drave them into a perpetuall ſtorme, till by the divine mindes of theſe incomparable Paire, the Muſes and they were received into protection, and eſtabliſht in this monarchy, to the incouragement and ſecurity of thoſe well-borne wits repreſented by the Prophetick Prieſts of the Britanides. The Scene where this goddeſſe of brightneſſe was diſcovered, was ſtiled the garden of the Britanides, or Muſes of great Brittaine, not inferiour in beautie to that of the Heſperides, or that of Alcinous, celebrated by Homer. The concluſion of all was an applauſe and confirmation of thoſe Deities or ſecond cauſes by whoſe influence at this prefixed time, the Britanides and their Prophetick Prieſts were to be eſtabliſht in this garden, by the unanimous and magnificent vertues of the King and Queenes Majeſties making this happy Iſland a patterne to all Nations, as Greece was amongſt the Ancients.

The ornament which ſerv'd as a Bordure to encloſe the Scene, was raiſed on two round Baſements, on which were Satyres bigger than the life, bearing baskets of fruits, and knots of young Satyres clinging about their leggs in extravagant poſtures: above theſe ran comicements, which made the ground of a ſecond order, wherein were termes of women fained of ſilver, and children in their naturall colours ſtanding on arches, ſome wantoniſing about thoſe termes, and others holding great vizards before their faces: On the heads of the Termes were cuſhions which ſerved for capitals, that bore the finiſhing of compoſed frontiſpices of great ſcrowles with frutages, from whence hung lighted Lamps.

In the Freeze above was other young Satyres, which ſeem'd oppreſſ'd with the burthen of great feſtons, the husks of which were tied up in knots to a double compartiment compoſed of ſcrowles, quadratures, and Maſque heads, in the midſt hung a drapery fained, of cloth of ſilver, and in it was written LVMINALIA: under all this ranne a large valens of gold embroidered with flowers and great Taſſels.

The Kings Majeſtie being ſeated under the State, the curtaine in an inſtant diſappear'd diſcovering a Scene all of darkneſſe, the neerer part woody, and farther off more open with a calme River, that tooke the ſhadowes of the Trees by the light of the Moone, that appear'd ſhining in the River; there being no more light to lighten the whole Scene than ſerved to diſtinguiſh the ſeverall grounds, that ſeemed to run farre in from the eye, with this Scene of darkneſſe was heard the voyces of Birds of Night.

This ſtrange Scene having a while entertained the ſight of the ſpectators, there aroſe out of the hollow caverns of the earth a duskie cloud, and on it a Chariot enricht and drawne by two great owles, on this ſate a matron in a purple robe, with ſtarres of gold and large black wings diſplaied, her browne haire looſe, and on her head a vaile of ruſſet cipreſſe, with a picked crowne and a golden Scepter in her hand; Repreſenting night: ſhe tels ſhe came to give repoſe to the labours of mortals: but ſeing all things here tending to feaſts and revels, ſhee with her attendants will give her aſſiſtance, though it ſerve but as a foile to ſet off more nobler repreſentations.

There came out from the ſides of the Scene ſix perſons, Oblivion, Silence, and the foure nocturnall houres or vigils, all attendants on the night.

Oblivion a young man naked, and a greene mantle tucked about his ſhoulders, and upon his head a cuckoe.

Silence an old man in a skin coat cloſe to his body ſet full of eyes, his mantle tawny, and a girland of Peach-tree about his head.

The firſt vigill in a robe of blue, with a red mantle, her haire hanging downe in locks, and a bat ſetting before.

The ſecond habited as the former, but the colours ſomwhat darker, on her head a ſcritch-owle.

The third in purple, and black, on her head a dormouſe.

The fourth in watchet and carnation, her haire mixt with ſilver like dew, and a little Swan on her head, all theſe colours were appropriated to the ſeverall nocturnall houres.

The Chariot of Night being arrived to the middle of the aire, ſtaid, and after ſome dialogue with her attendants, ſhee aſcends ſinging, and is hidden in the clouds.

Theſe Antimaſques being paſt, the ſcene of night vaniſhed; and a new and ſtrange Proſpect of Chimeras appea'rd, with ſome trees of an unuſuall forme, Mountaines of gold, Towers falling, Windmils, and other extravagant edifices, and in the further part a great City ſuſtain'd by a Rain-bow, all which repreſented the City of Sleepe.

One of the Vigils in ſong called forth Sleepe, who appeared comming out of a darke cave, with three of his principall ſonnes.

Morpheus the preſenter of humane ſhapes.

Iceles, of fearfull viſions.

And Phantaſte, of any thing that may be imagined.

Sleepe, a fat man in a blacke robe, and over it a white mantle, on his head a girland of Grapes, with a Dormouſe ſitting before, in his hand a golden wand.

Morpheus in a robe of cloth of gold, his mantle Blue, on his head a girland of Poppy.

Iceles, in a browniſh fleſh colour cloſe to him, like the naked, a red mantle, great Bats wings on his ſhoulders; on his head a bend ſet with flames.

Phantaſte, in a white robe of cloth of ſilver, a greene mantle, and on his head a dreſſing of ſeverall coloured feathers.

The ſong ended, the ſonnes of Sleepe bring in theſe Antimaſques of dreames.

An Ignis Fatuus, leading 4. Clownes that ſeeme to walke in their ſleepe.

4. Witches.

1. Devill in the ſhape of a Goat.

Robin-goodfellow.

1. Dairy-maid.

1. Kitchin-maid.