ALBIONS TRIVMPH.
PERSONATED IN A Maske at Court.
By the Kings Maiestie and his Lords.
The Sunday after Twelfe Night. 1631.
LONDON, Printed by Aug: Mathewes for Robert Allet at the Blacke Beare in Pauls Churchyard. 1631.
[Page] [Page 1]
ALBIONS TRIVMPH.
THe King and Queenes Maiesty having signified their pleasure to haue a new Maske this New yeare, Master Inigo Iones and I were employed in the Invention And we agreed the subiect of it should be a Triumphe in ALBIPOLIS the chiefe City of ALBION. The Triumpher, ALBANACTVS, And ALBA this Ilands Goddesse. Names not improper, eyther for the Place, or for the Persons: ALBION being (as it once was) taken for England; ALBANACTVS, for the King, Quasi in Albania natus: Borne in Scotland. And ALBA, for the Queene whose native Beauties have a great affinity with all Purity and Whitenesse. The Kings [Page 2] devoting himselfe to this Goddesse, is but the seeking of that happy Vnion which was preordeyned by the greatest of the Gods. IOVE therefore sends downe MERCVRY to ALBA, to acquaint her that he had decreed a Tryumph, which (a farre of) she might behold: Concealing his further Councells, vntill ALBANACTVS were subdued to Love and Chastity, by CVPID and DIANA, who descend, and having conquerd the Conquerer, They shew him the Queene. The King, yeilds, And presents himselfe a Suppliant, to the Goddesse ALBA. She embraces him, And makes him Copartner of her Deity.
The Description of the SCENE.
The first thing that presented it selfe to the eye, was the Ornament that went about the Scene: in the middest of which, was placed a great Armes of the Kings, with Angels holding an Emperiall Crowne, from which hung a Drapery, of crimson Velvet, fringed with gold, tackt in severall knotts, that on each-side, with many folds, was wound about a Pillaster; in the [Page 3] freeze, were festones of severall fruites in their naturall colours, on which, in gratious postures lay Children sleeping; at each end was a double sheild, with a Gorgons head, and at the foot of the pillasters, on each side, stood two Women, the one young, in a watchet Robe looking vpwards, and on her head, a paire of Compasses of gold, the poynts standing towards Heaven: the other more ancient, and of a venerable aspect, apparreled in tawney, looking downewards; in the one hand a long ruler, and in the other, a great paire of iron Compasses, one poynt whereof, stood on the ground, and the other touched part of the ruler. Above their heads, were fixt, compertiments of a new composition, and in that over the first, was written Theorica, and over the second Practica, shewing that by these two, all works of Architecture, and Ingining have their perfection. The Curtaine being suddenly drawne vp, the first Sceane appeared, which represented a Romane Atrium, with high Collombs of white Marble, and ornaments of Architecture of a composed maner of great proiecture, enricht with carving, and betweene every retorne of these Collombs, stood Statues of gold on round pedestalls, and beyond these, were other peeces of Architecture of a Pallace royall.
[Page 6] Over all was a serene skie, out of which a cloude began to breake foorth, and as it discended, a person was discovered, sitting in it, which by his Petasus and Caduceus, was knowne to be Mercury, the messenger of Iove.
The third Song.
When MERCVRY is Re-assum'd into Heaven in Pompe. Here the Scene is changed into the Forum of the City of Albipolis, and Albanactus triumphing, attended like a Roman Emperor is seene a farre off to passe in pomp.
The Scene is turned into an Amphitheater, with people sitting in it, a Patritian and a Plebeian come forth, &c.
Though I have earn'd it with the sweat of my browes in Ianuary, yet I am glad I saw it, for there never was such a sight seene.
See it, yes, and feele it too. Every one there (I can assure you) went not vpon his owne feete.
They did so, for some rid me. Some trode on my toes. Some cryed, some kept it in; for my part, I confest all, for feare I should have beene p [...]est to death.
Though thy body was pincht, thine eyes were feasted.
You had the better friends sir, I pray where sate you?
Is not your studdy backward? with a shop-light in it, where one can see nothing but the skye?
If what I saw was but a shew, what you saw was but a shadow, or at the most a Vision. For it seemes your body kept home, though your spirit walkt.
It did so. And travelled to better purpose then most men doe, that goe, and see, and say, but know nothing.
To confute that Heresie of yours, I have gone, and seene, and know, but I will say nothing.
That's impossible; The meate thou hast lately fed vpon, is so windy, out it must, thou wilt burst else.
ALBANACTVS CAESAR from his sumptuous Pallace, through the high-streets of ALBIPOLIS rid Triumphing, on a Chariot, made—
Of wood, perhaps guilt, perhaps gold. But I will save you all those charges, if you will goe on to the Persons, and let the Pagents alone.
Sir I saw him not as he was borne, naked, but since you affect such brevity, I saw the King and a great deale more, and so I turn'd my backe, and went away.
When you beginne to tell your dreames, I'le not iogge you, till you wake of your selfe.
I am not angry, but a little short-winded vpon occasion. Yet to give you some satisfaction because you have done me wrong. Before CAESAR March't Captive Kings, with their hands bound. And Ladies, with their Armes acrosse, furious wild Beasts, great Giants, and little Dwarfes with Lictors, and Pictors, and a number of Prie [...]ts that were as you would have them, In their shirts. These with certaine Princes that were behind him: made vp a Triumph too great to come out of any mortall mans mouth.
I meane in words. But as you hunt me you would hunt a Hare off her leggs.
I confesse thou hast made more haste, then good speede: But for a supplement to thy lame Story, Know, I have seene this brave ALBANACIVS CAESAR, seene him with the eyes of vnderstanding, vew'd all his Actions; look't into his Mind: which I finde armed with so many morall vertues that he dayly Conquers a world of Vices, which are wild Beasts indeede.
For example Ambition, is a Lyon; Cruelty, a Beare; Avarice, a Wolfe. Yet He subdues them all. To be short, no Vyce is so small, to scape him: Nor so great, but he overcomes it: And in that fashion he Triumphes overall the Kings, and Queenes that went before him. All his Passions, are his true Subiects: And Knowledge, Iudgment, Merit, Bounty and the like, are fit Comma ders, for such a Generall, Th [...]se Triumph with him, And these are the Princes you saw about him. And this Publius, is more then you can finde in the streete.
Why beforehand I know there will be Gladiators, Saltators, and sights to please the People. Wert not thou better stay here, and see CAESAR present himselfe to this fayre Goddesse, seeking sweete rest, after all his labors.
At this time, I am. For I will goe with thee, if it be but to teach thee to Reade in thy owne Booke. Outsides, have Insides, Shells, have Kernells in them. And vnder every Fable, nay (almost) vnder every thing, lyes a Morrall.
What art thou doing Publius.
If there lye not a Morall vnder it, then have you taught me false Doctrine.
Such thankes have they that teach such Sch [...]llers. Come away Foole, they beginne to throng to the Theater.
Such kind of pastimes as Victorious Emperors were wont to present as Spectacles to the People, are h [...]e produced for Anti-Maskes vpon the s [...]age.
- [Page 12]First, Fooles 6
- Secondly, Saltaters or Tumblers. 7
- Thirdly, Pugili or Buffeters 3
- Fourthly, Satyrslike Dauncers 2
- Fiftly, One Giant, and Pigmies 5
- Sixtly, Gladiators or Fencers 4
- Seventhly, Mimioks or Morescoes 7
The Description of the Maskers and the Place.
The Scene is changed into a pleasant Grove of straight Trees, which rising by degrees to a high place, openeth it selfe to discover the aspect of a stately Temple; All which, was sacred to IOVE; In this groue, satt the Emperour ALBANACTVS, attended by fourteene Consuls, [Page 13] who stood about him, not set in ranks, but in severall gratious postures, attending his commands: his habite, like a Romane Emperour in a Curase of yellow Sattin embrodered with siluer, his gorget clincant, cut round, and on his breast an Angels head imbost of gold, the Labells of the sleeues, and short Bases of watchet embrodered with the same, the vnder sleeues, and long stockings of white, on his head a Burgonet richly enchast with siluer, turn'd vp before in a serowle, with an artificiall wreath of Lawrell, out of which, sprang rayes like a piked Crowne, the habite of the Consuls were after the same manner, excepting the rayes of gold, issuing from his Lawrell wreath.
The Dialogue betweene CVPID and DIANA.
The KING and the Maskers dance the mayne Maske.
Afterward taking his seat by the Queene. The Scene is varied into a Landscipt, in which was a prospect of the Kings Pallace of Whitehall, and part of the Citie of London, seene a farre off, and presently the whole heauen opened, [Page 17] and in a bright cloud were seene sitting fiue persons, representing Innocency, Iustice, Religion, affection to the Countrey, & Concord, being all Companions of Peace, and thus attired. Innocency, a woman in a pure white robe, with a garland of flowers on her head: Iustice, a woman in a yallow garment richly adorned, her mantle white, and on her head golden rayes, in her right hand a sword, and in the middest thereof an Emperiall Crowne: Religion, a woman in a short Surplusse of lavvne full gathered about the neck, and vnder it a garment of watchet, with a short vale of siluer and about her head, beames of gold like the Sunne, and in her left hand, shee held a booke open: Affection to the Countrey, a young man in a Coat armour of yallow, with a purple Mantle, his buskins adorned, his plumed Helme of siluer, and in his hand a Garland of long grasse: Concord, a man in a skie coloured Robe, and a yallow Mantle; on his head a Garland of wheate, and in his hand a bunch of arrowes tyed together with a white band, these moving towards the earth sing together as followeth. Praysing their Piety, and wishing they may perpetuate themselues by a Royall Posterity, Present them with severall Gifts.
The Maskers Names.
The KING
- 1 E. Holland
- 2 E. Newport
- 3 Lo. Doncaster
- 4 L. Donluce
- 5 L. Wharton
- 6 L. Paget
- 7 L. Bruce
- 8 Sr. Rob. Stanley
- 9 Mr. Goringe.
- 10 Sr Wil: Brooke
- 11 Sr. Iohn Mainard
- 12 Mr. Dimmock
- 13 Mr. Abercromy
- 14 Mr. Murrey