Masquarade du ciel presented to the great Queene of the little vvorld. A celestiall map, representing the true site and motions of the heavenly bodies, through the yeeres 1639, 1640, &c. Shadowing the late commotions, between Saturn and Mercury, about the northern Thule. With the happy peace and union, through the whole little world, made by the goodnesse of Phebus and his royall Phebe. By J.S.

The Severall Scenes, Anti∣masques, and Entries, in This Device of HEAVEN.

THE GENERALL SCENE, is the LIT∣TLE WORLD, or Isle of BRITAIN; centred within the Sphears of Heaven. page 1.

The GREAT QUEENE being seated under a Royall State, a Cloud rising, brings up the First Scene: A Scene of Darknesse, Nightwork, Thunder, Light∣ning, with all Attendants of Storme and Tempest.

NIGHT enters in a hideous shape, holding a Land∣skip of Horror, inscribed in a strange Dialect (to cause more Admiration) ΣKOTOS : But soaring up too neere the State, is amaz'd at such a Majestie; and, as dazled with that unexpected Brightnesse, is forced to retire in most confused haste; in which She lost two of Her Attendants, SILENCE and OBLIVION: Which were still retained behinde Her, as Foyles to grace the following Scene of glorious Brightnesse, rising up like a cleere Day, dawning out of blackest Clouds. p. 3, 4.

In this Scene, Two Celestiall HEROINS de∣scend from the Sphears; Presenting the Plot of the Masque, to the GREAT QUEENE; with a Petition inviting Her, to vouchsafe Her presence to the HERO'S of Heaven, now ready to attend Her, whose Beauty might supply the want of PHEBUS Rayes, who was alrea∣dy Masked within the Sphe••••, expecting Her pre∣sence. page 4.

These two, re-ascending in a glorious Rain-bow, Sing the first Song to the GREAT QUEENE: who, rising up in a Rosie coloured Cloud, was presently seene, En∣tring among the Masquers, personating PHEBE; and at the end of the Masque, was againe seene with Her Royall PHEBUS under the State; while a Celestiall Cho••us en∣ters singing, and concludes the Masque. page 19.

The Plot of the Masque (presented by ASTRONOMIA and ASTROLOGIA) consists of two Parts, or Maps: The one Ce∣lestiall, the other Terrestriall.

The Celestiall Map , is a most true and exact draught o•• the Site and Motions of the SUN, MOONE, VENUS, SATURN, MERCURY, JUPITER and MARS; with other Heaven∣ly Bodies, through the yeeres, 1639, 1640, &c.

The Terrestriall Map, is truly to represent, How all Those Moti∣ons were shadowed upon Earth, for all That time. But, this last Map (or History) is not yet fully perfected, because the exact pro∣portion 'twixt Heaven and Earth, is not yet concluded on, by the best ASTRONOMERS.

The Celestiall and Terrestriall Maps, sha∣dowed Both together in one compendious Scheme; being an Epitomy of the following Masque.

PHEBUS, pleasing to blesse the Southern World with his Chiefest Residence, deputes MERCURY to the Northern THULE ; but SATURN (having pre-posses∣sion) drives MERCURY back, from THULE. This Quarrell is shadowed in the Antimasque of Night-work, inscribed ΣKOTOS. pag. 3.

MERCURY imploreth PHEBUS; Who, in much Goodnesse, condescendeth to take a Northerne Pro∣gresse toward THULE, to reconcile these Two; yet, lest They should prove Contumacious, He advanceth in Warre-like manner; attended with JUPITER, MARS, and all their Satellites. pag. 9.

But PHEBE'S Royall Goodnesse vouchsafeth to Me∣diate Peace; which PHEBUS granteth to his Dearest PHEBE: and so, SATURN and MERCURY are againe setled by PHEBUS in their proper Places.

Onely MARS, is Enemy to This Peace, and by divers assayes, Labours to break it. But, PHEBE still opposeth Him; and so prevaileth, that MARS Fals downe as Thunder-struck; yeelding himself Prisoner to PHEBUS.

PHEBUS returneth again (leading MARS a Captive-Prisoner) to His wonted Southern Residence; to the con∣tent and Joy of All. pag. 12.13.

At His Return, VENUS petitioneth for Her old Friend MARS, and begg••th His Liberty; which at length, PHEBUS granteth, in much Royall Goodnesse; which (to all ingenuous Noble Spirits) is a Bond, much more Strong, then any Chaine, then any Fetter.

MARS released (being more inraged at His Imprison∣ment) Plots to incense SATURN and MERCURY againe; and after divers assayes, at length prevailes so farre, that SATURN begins againe to frown on MERCURY: which MARS so foments, that, ere long, MERCURY is again dri∣ven out of THULE, and forced to re-implore PHEBUS.

PHEBUS condescendeth to take a Second Progresse toward THULE: yet resolving, rather to prevaile with gentle Rayes of wonted Goodnesse, then by Thunderbolts.

But PHEBE again vouchsafeth to interpose Her selfe; prevailing with PHEBUS, to summon His Grand Coun∣cell of all the Seeming Deities. pag. 14.

Who meeting in AREOPAGUS , joyntly agree to Arraigne MARS, for rebelling against PHEBUS; disturbing the Peace mediated by PHEBE; incensing SATURN, and with him joyntly opposing MERCURY.

MARS thus arraigned, was Cast, by joynt consent, of all the Deities; and adjudged to forfeit all His Honours, Dignities, Priviledges, &c. to His Soveraigne PHEBUS; and for ever to be excluded from the Number of Gods.

PHEBUS Returneth again to His wonted Southern Re∣sidence, in Great glory: while PHEBE still condescendeth to mediate a perfect Peace; for which, Her Royall Good∣nesse p••evaileth with PHEBUS, to continue His Great Councell; and to summon all the CAUSES into JUPITERS HALL, the Great Councell-Place for all the Gods.

Here, SATURN and MERCURY resigne up all Their Possessions, Claimes, &c. into PHEBUS Hands, acknow∣ledging Their dependance on His Royall Favour.

PHEBUS receiveth them with wonted Goodnesse; Which alone moveth Him not onely to re-invest them with all Former Priviledges; but also to smile on them with new addition of Royall Favours; well knowing, that Royall Goodnesse, is still wont to Finde, or Make, Loyall Subjects of all Noble Spirits. pag. 16.

Thus at length, is a most Happy Peace effected through the whole LITTLE WORLD: at which all the CAUSES joyntly petition, for an Eternall Memoriall of the Royall Goodnesse of PHEBUS and His Royall PHEBE.

Who (after a Bright Cloud of thinne Exhalations had opened it selfe and disappeared) are Both seen resting under the Royall State; to the greatest content and Joy of All. Witnessed by a Generall Applause, first begun among all the Deities in Heaven; and being thence reflected through the whole Scene, was againe counter-echoed by all the Sphears.

Whence issueth a Celestiall Chorus singing, and congra∣tulating the most Happy Peace, and Vnion of the Little World, made by the Royall Goodnesse of PHEBUS, and His Royall PHEBE.

Notes

• Signifying Darknesse.
• Astronomia & Astrologia.
• This Map is fully represen∣ted in the Masque Vnmaskt.
• Of this THVLE; as of Sa∣turn and M••rc••ries Right to it; and quar••ell for it•• a••e large Note••, both in the Mar∣gents of the Masque, and after the Masque.
• MARCH 1639. APRIL 1639. MAY 1639.
• JUNE.
• JULY.
• AUGUST.
• Throu••h the ••est of 1639 and great Pa••t o•• 1640.
• 1640.
• SEPTEMBER.
• M••rs-Hill. S••e ••he Ma••gin••ll N••tes. p••g 1.
• OCTOBER.
• NOVEMB••R, &c.