The Queenes Maiesties entertainement at VVoodstock

followeth brought no lesse like to the Queenes maiestie: and al the rest that were present: for at his comming hee caused them to dismount themselues and said:

You must fight no more, most valiant Knightes: vyolenee must giue place to vertue, and the Doubtfull hazzard you be in, by a most no∣ble helpe must be ended. Therefore ceasse your fighte and followe me, so shall you heare that you would least beleeue, and shall haue with me that shal most behooue you. And you fayre Lady, fal into this fellowship, where it shall appeare Sibilla said trewe, and your infortunes shall haue ende.

This said, he bringeth them al to y^e place where the Quenes Maiestie stood (in a fine Bower made of purpose couered with greene Iuie, and seates made of earthe with sweete smelling hearbes, (euen suche a place as you shall coniecture) and after some reuerence beginning his tale, hee shewed a great proofe of his audacity, in which tale if you marke the woords w^t this pre∣sent world, or were acquainted with the state of the deuises, you shoulde finde no lesse hidden then vttered, and no lesse vttered then shoulde deserue a double reading ouer, euen of those (with whom I finde you a companion) that haue disposed their houres to the study of great matters.

Heere followeth Hemetes tale.

Moste excellent Princes, forepoynted from aboue with youre pre∣sence and your vertue to profite more then you are aware of, howe much you are bound to the immortall Goddes, and mortall men are bound to you, our present case will partely prooue: But before you vnderstand the woorth of your vertue, maye it please you to heare the variablenesse of our aduentures. Not long since in the Countrie of Cambia which is situate neere the mouth of the riche Riuer Indus, a mightie Duke bare dominion called Occanon: who had heire to his estate but one onely Daughter named Caudina:

this Lady then more fayrer then fortunate, liued most deere to her father and best beloued of his people: But to prooue that Beautie is not always a benifit, nor highest states be euer the happiest, it chā∣ced within a while that Caudina being sought vnto by sundry that were great, and serued by many that were worthie, had more com∣petitors of her beautie then did either well content her, or proued commodious vnto them: for loue, which is not led by order nor chosen by appoyntemente, had limed her affections vnreasonably with the liking of a knight, of estate but meane, but of value very greate called Contarenus who as he exceedinglie loued her, so the desires of diuers others was somewhat for his glorye, but nothing for his gain. In smal proces of time the seecret fires of their fācies discouered by the smoake of their desires, bewrayed this matter vnto her father long time before they woulde. The Duke dissem∣bling what he sawe, but determined to disapoynt that he most mis∣sliked, neither made challenge to the Knighte, nor charged his Daughter for any loue was betwixt them, but deuised a way as he thought more sure, (but as it proued moste sorrowfull) to set these louers asunder by the worke of an inchantresse most cunning in her kind: he caused Contarenus, to be conueyed vp and carried in the ayre frō the cost of Cambia to the very boūds of the Occean sea: whiche cost Occanon twentye thousande Crownes (a deere price for repentāce:) but it is no nouelty for Princes to make their wils verie costly, and sometime to pay deere for their own displea∣sures. Contarenus thus strangely deuided from his ioye and per∣plexed aboue measure was charged by the inchantresse to weare this punishment with patience, which necessitie did put on, and de∣stiny would put off: and ere seuen yeeres came about, she truely as∣sured him, he should haue for his reward the height of his desire: but first he should fight with the hardiest knight, and see the wor∣thiest Lady of the world. The whilst shee told him, hee must there take the gard of a blinde Hermit, who shoulde recouer his sight, and he his satisfaction, both at one time, so shee lefte him on the earth, and tooke her way again into the ayre. Caudina now lacking log that she looked for, the sight & seruice of her knight, fel soon

in those diseases that accompany such desires as to be acombred with mistrust, curiositye, and exceeding vnrest.

At last as Princes doe fewe thinges priuily, but they haue partakers of their Councel: & heires to crowns lack neuer seruants of hope, which be curious to please thē: The deuise and dealing of Occanon came to the eares of his daugh∣ter, which beeing told her:

And is it euen so, quoth Candina? care kings for no right? then right cares for no kingdomes. It is neither the court of Occanon, nor the coūtrey of Camb. that I can account of, if Contarenus be gone: Farewel most vnhappy coūtrey, and most cruel Father, that turnes me to this fortune, to follow my fates, which ney∣ther greatnes of estate nor hazard of mine aduenture shal make mee forsake: but if I lose not my life, I wil finde Contarenus, if he be in the world. This said, she pursueth her most hard determinations, and ta∣king onely two Damsels with her in simple habit, with such things as were necessary, she straightwaies conueyed her selfe most closely from the borders of Camb. & with toyle too long to tell, passed perils past beliefe, til at last she arri••ed at the grate of Sibilla, where, by chaunce she met with a most noble knight eclipped Loricus, by loue likewyse drawen thither, to learn what should betyde him. This Loricus loued a Lady that was matchlesse, in such maner as is strange, for after much deuise to attaine but the fauour that she would be pleased, hee myght but loue her without looking froward: and seeing no glaunce of her lyking (his vttermost deuotion) to find surely out her fancie (whiche she carried most closely,) he made a straunge assay with all the sem∣blance that might be. He shewed to set by her but lightly, that was so sought for of all, and the better to couler the passion, hee was not able to conquer, hee made shew of choise of a new mistris, that liued eue∣ry day in her eye: A peece sure of pri•••• but farre from such a pearle, as his heart onely esteemed. And to this Idoll he seemed to offer all hys loue and seruice, leauing no manner of obseruaunce vndone, that to loue appertayned: As wearing her colours on his backe, her pictures in his bosome, keeping her company aboue all others, and continuing most at her commandement: which espyed by this Lady (that indeed was liked no more) for whatsoeuer man may thinke might become or content though she cared not for his choyse, yet he shewed scorne of

his change: and by iealousie disclosed that which loue could not dis∣couer. Which Loricus perceiuing, he fel by & by to consider, that the want of his worth made his seruice vnaccepted, and no impossibility in her will to receiue one too serue her, that merited the honour of such fauour. Therefore hee left his owne countrey, and betooke him∣selfe altogether to trauel, and to armes, desiring with most indeuour but to deserue that reputation as this great and noble mistris woulde but thinke him worthy to be hers, though she would neuer bee none of his; so thinking no toyle too tough, nor no attempt too hard to at∣tayne to renown, he wandred through the world till he came by pain∣full wayes to Sibillas grate, where he met with Caudina. Where these two louers hauing occasion to vnfold al their fortunes: the Lady see∣king to know the end of her trauel, and the knight aduise for the ease of his hope, they both receiued this answeare of Sibilla: That as they were nowe coupled by this fortune, so they should neuer depart fel∣lowship, till they had found out a place, where men were most strōg, womē most fayre, the countrey most fertile, the people most wealthy, the gouernment most iust, and the Princes most worthy: so shoulde the Lady see that would content her, so shoulde the knight heare that might comfort him. Now most deere and best deseruing Lady, it falles to my purpose, and your praise, to say somewhat of my selfe. Olde though you see me here, & wrinckled and cast into a corner, yet once haue I been otherwise: A knight knowne and accounted of, with the best of the world: and liuing in court of most fame amongst a swarm of knights and Ladies of great woorth and vertue, where beauty bade the basse & desire sought the gole. It chaunced me to loue a Lady, to be beloued of Loue himselfe, if he could but haue seene her: but as she was such as did excell, so was she of woonderfull condition, wythout disdaine to be desired, but most dainty to bee dealt with: for touch her, & she wil turne to 20. diuers shapes, yet to none but to content, as me thought, that thought stil to touch her, was a heauen: & so it see∣med by my hold that was so loth to let her go. Till (alas) it liked her at last to put on the shape of a Tigris so terrible to behold, as I durst hold her no longer, and being so escaped, I could neuer more sette eie on her. Madam, thus began my paine, but you heare not yet my punish∣ment:

beeing shifted from the sighte of that I sought aboue the world, and then little delighting to looke on any thing els, I tooke by & by a Pilgrimage to Paphos in Cyprus, trusting to heare of my mi∣stris there, where Venus was most honoured. Whither when I came, as I began to step in at the doore of her temple, I was sodainly stroken blind••••••••stonied at my mischaunce, and vnderstanding not the cause thereo••••••fell downe on my knees and said: O fairest of the Goddesses and farthest from cruelty, what hath been my fault, that thou art thus offended? Thy folly & presumption (quoth Venus Chaplen as I gesse) from my youth vp quoth I, haue I euer been an honourer of vertue, a delighter in learning, and a seruaunt of Loue. But it is no parted affe∣ction quoth he, that Venus wilbe honoured with. Books and beauty make no match, and it is an whole man or no man, that this Goddesse wil haue to serue her, and therwithal taking me by the shoulders, he thrust me out of the Temple. So with sighes and sorrow I sate down in the porch, making intercessiō to Apollo (the peculiar God I honored) to haue compassion on my estate: Now faithfull prayers beyng hard ere they be ended: Mercury comes vnto me, and bid me be of good comfort, the goddesses be alfound to haue this fault: Diana with A∣cteō: Pallas with Arachne: Iuno with Tirecias, were angry aboue measure: so is Venus now with thee, the cause with the remedy shall be told thee at Delphos, whither straight I must carry thee. Which he had no sooner spoken, but by & by I was set in the temple of Apollo. Where first demanding my fault, the Oracle made answere: Thy feare and not thy faith: and what quoth I, may be my remedy? The best be∣sides the beautifullest, the Oracle straight answered. And with this A∣pollo his priest tooke me by the hand, recounting vnto me the whole course of my life, whom I loued, and how I lost her. And when I told him of the faithfulnes of my seruice. & the faithfulnes of my meaning, of the variablenes of her conditiō, and at the last of the fearefulnes of her apperāce: Ah, good Hemetes quoth he, it is not the kind of womē to be cruell, it is but their countenance, & touching their variablenes, who wil not apply himselfe thereto, shall not muche please them, nor long hold them, neither is it to be found fault with. Nature her selfe loues variety, so it be done without deceit. Nowe for thy faithfulnes it

sufficeth not, the seruants of Venus must not onely haue faith, but al∣so lacke feare, feare lost thee thy mistris, and thy boldnes to enter in∣to Venus Temple, being vnacceptable, made her strike thee blind. But Apollo bid me tell thee, the Gods wil receiue, whom women for sake, thy eyes shut vp from delight, shall geue thy minde more open vnder∣standing: this punishment shall be thy profite, Venus can barre thee but from her felicity of loue: but for the deuotion thou bearest to A∣pollo, hee giues thee this gift, to be able to discipher the destinie of e∣uery one in loue, and better to aduise them, then the best of her Dar∣lings. And furthermore, doth promise thee, that in reuolution of yeres thou shalt recouer thy sight: but this shall not betide thee till at one time, and in one place, in a countrie of most peace, two of the most va∣liant knights shal fight, two of the most constant louers shal meet, and the most vertuous Lady of the world shall be there to looke on. And when thy eyes shal beholde what thy heart delighteth in, euen a Lady in whom inhabiteth the most vertue, Learning, and beauty, that euer yet was in creature, then shal they be opened, and that shall bee thy warrant.

Al Apollo sayeth is sooth: the while, it is determined that thou shalte dwell in an Hermitage, where nothing that longes vntoo Natures vse, shall bee lackinge vntoo thee: so sodainelye I was shifted vnto this hill harde by, where I haue wintered manye a yeere farre from the woes and wronges, the worlde besides is full of. And nowe beste Ladye and moste beautifull, so tearmed of the Oracle, and so thought of in the world: what the Inchantresse tolde Contarenus: Sibilla shewed Caudina, and Loricus: and Apollo said to me, by your most happy comming is veryfied, The most hardy knights Cont. and Lori. haue here fought, the most constant Louers Cont and Caudina here be met, and I poore Hemetes (as the knight knowes ful lōg blind) haue receiued my sight. Al which happened by vertue of your grace, which the best so much honor, & we most boūd vnto you: and so I present these noble persos to please you with their seruice, & my self to serue you euer with my prayers, & leauing these Louers to their delights, must leaue Loric. to this aduise. Knight, pro∣secute thy purpose, it is noble, learning by me not to feare of thy self to

take paine: remembring, nothing notable is woon without difficulty, Hercules had by his laboures his renowne, and his end by his Loue: Loricus, thy end wilbe reward, at least most reputation, with noblest women most esteemed. But I feare I haue too lōg tyred your most no∣ble eares, & therfore only now I beseech your Ma. with your happye presence to honor my poore home, whither straight I mean to guide you.

This Learned or long tale being brought to his end: the poore Hermit loden as it were with beades and other such ornaments of his professiō, begins to tread the way before the Queen, which her Maiestie espying, refused her steed, and betook her self in like sort to the use of her feet, & accompanying the Hermit (her self waited on of the rest) fel into some discourse & praise of his good tale, which not ended, or rather scarce fully begun, the Q. Ma. had in sight the house, which indeede was a place by art so reared from the ground, as neuer before, nor hereafter, shal I see y^e like. First it was incōpassed the number of 200. paces round with lat¦tise, the place of the princes entrance bedect with Iuy & spanges of gold plate, the glimering wherof was such, that men of great iudgement might haue held themselues at stay. The ground frō thence reared litle & litle to the altitude of forty foot or more, the path in mounting couered with fresh turues, with such art, that a great many made question of his skil, which was y^e Layer. The way was railed with lattice, beset with sweet flowres & Iuy, as before: aboue in the house was a Table made in order of a halfe moon or more, couered w^t green turues (& so replenished w^t sorts of dainty, & those diuers dishes belōging to banquet, that the be∣holders might wel haue though, Iupit. had hoped the connuing, & trusted the pleasing by banquet of his faire Europa.) At one ende therof somwhat distāt, frō y^e other, was placed another table (but round) with a chayre costly made of Crymson veluet, imbrodred with branches & pictures of wild beasts & trees, as it had beene a peece of woorke made in the desartes. But leaste I hold you too longe, this mounte made, as I haue sayde, aboute an Oake, the toppe whereof was inforced by strength too bende

downe her branches to couer the house, whiche was done wyth such art, that y^e praise of the beholders comming wold haue suf∣ficed the woorker for his trauel: although hee was not so satisfied for his skil, by more then 40. pounds. A number of fine Pictures with posies of the Noble or men of great credite, was in like sort hanging there, where with many were in loue, and aboue the rest the French Embassadour, whiche was present at these sightes, made great suite to haue some of them. The whiche posies, with some perfect note of their pictures, I would haue presented vnto you: but because the Allegories are hard to be vnderstood, with∣out some knowledge of the inuentors, I haue chosen my tyme rather when my selfe shall be present, & more the sooner, because I woulde leaue nothing vnfulfilled of my firste determination. Now Hemetes hauing brought her Maiesty to the entraunce of this place sayde:

Here most Noble Lady, hauing now brought you to this most simple Hermitage, where you shal see smal cunning, but of nature, & no cost, but of good wil, my houre approching for my orrisones (which accor∣ding to my vow I must neuer breake) I must here leaue your maiestie, promising to pray, as for my selfe, that whosoeuer wish you best, may neuer wish in vayne.

Thus the Hermite departes, & the Queenes Maiesty ad∣dresseth her selfe with merry cheere to banqueting, which to en∣crease a diuine sound of vnacquainted instruments in the hollow roome vnder the house, made such stroakes of pleasure, & moued such delights, that if Apollo himselfe had byn there, I thinke hee would haue intreated the learning of their skill, or at the leaste forgotten the pleasant remembrance of his sweete Daphnes. Her Maiesty thus in the middest of this mirth might espy the Queen of the Fayry drawen with 6. children in a waggon of state: the Boies bravely attired, & her selfe very costly apparrelled, whose present shew might wel argue her immortality, and presenting her selfe to the Queens Maiesty, she spake as followeth.

As I did roame abroade in wooddy range, In shade to shun the heate of Sunny day:

I met a sorrowing knight in passion strange. by whom I learned, that coasting on this way I should ere long your highnesse here espie, to whom who beares a greatar loue then I?

Which then tooke roote still mounting vp on height, when I behelde you last nigh to this place, with gratious speech appeasing cruell fighte. This loue hath caused me transforme my face, and in your hue to come before your eyne, now white, then blacke, your frende the fayery Queene.

Which marking all, as all to me is knowen, your face, your grace, your gouerment of state, your passing sprite whereby your same is blowen: doe knowe by certein skill you haue no mate: and that no man throughout the worlde hath seene a prince that may compare with th' English Queene.

This knowledge kends in me so hot desire to see your highnesse here in this my walke as since your parting hence I flam'de in fire till your returne that I might heare you talke, that none to you a better harte doth beare my selfe in speech to you might make it cleare.

In signe whereof accept most sacred Queene, this simple token wrought within this woode, which as but base so better should haue beene If I had not at suddaine vnderstoode of your arriuall here, which made me take what came to hande, and no great choyse to make.

Her speache thus ended shee deliuered her gifte, whiche was a goune for her Maiestie of greate price, whereon the imbroderer

had bestowed the summe of his conning, which she receiued with yelding thanks: to whom the fayry Dueene replied:

The thing is farre beneth both your desert, and my desire, yet am I glad to heare your highnesse take it thus in so good parte, which for my selfe, if it like you to weare: then shall I reape the frute of happie minde, as honored by you the honor of your kinde.

To gratifie the rest of the Ladies present, there was deuised many excellente and fine smelling Nosegayes made of all cul∣lers to euery one whereof was annexed a posy of two verses, gi∣uen by a handmayde of the fayry Queene, and one aboue the rest of greatest price for the Queenes Maiestie with her posie in I∣talian, which because I neither understoode it, nor scarce canne write it to be understood: I leaue also till my next cōmig to vi∣site you: for the rest as they weare giuen, I haue sette downe: euery seuerall posie was fayre written and bordered about con∣ningly with seuerall branches excellent to beholde.

L. Darby.

The vertues foure went wandring once and harbarlesse astray, Till Darby gaue them roome to rest whereas they now may stay.

L. War∣wicke.

If your desertes surpassed not my silly pen and speache, Some other mē shuld view them then, which now do passe my reach.

L. Huns∣don.

For husbande, children, and your selfe, or ornaments of fame, You are aboue comparison, a right thrice happie dame,

L. Ha∣ward.

The meanes that make a mother bleste, you haue a frutefull race, A noble dame, a patient wife, whats this but blessed case.

L. Susan.

Take heede least in a moode, dame Venus worke your wooe, For spight of right must worke in her, you passe her beautie so.

L. Mary Uere.

Where vertue, birth, and beauty to, are thus in one mould cast, This place to simple' is for her seate with gods let her be plast.

Mistris Skidmore.

Trustie and true, secrete and sage in place where you do serue. With wise foresight these prayses loe your worthinesse deserue.

M. Parry.

For longe and faithfull seruice sake which hath abidden tuche, good Parry is a paragon, shew me a nother suche.

M. Ab∣bington.

Good liking vppon choise made way, to bring you first in place, Which you mainteine by modest meane still in your Princes grace.

M. Sidney

Tho yonge in yeares yet olde in wit, a gest dew to your race, If you holde on as you begine who ist youle not deface?

M. Hoptō

Whē Phebus saw fayre Hopton come to Court & leaue the towre, He spread his beames with merry lookes that erst before did lower.

M. Kath••∣rin Ho∣warde.

For noble race, and vertues giftes, compare you with the best, Who list to seeke, in you shall finde, no lesse then in the rest.

M. Gar∣ret.

Whie doe men set their sights to feede on Pictures set in goulde? sith Garret giues the very vewe of natures modest moulde.

M. Brid∣ges.

In guesse is guile, coniectures fayle, your graces be well knowen: Which who denies, fame saith he lies, by whom the brute is blowen.

M. Bur∣rough.

Apollo seeing his Burroughes browes his Daphne did forgette, so stald in stay, so rapped in loue as he standes musing yet.

Mistris Knowles.

You gallants giue the roome a Dame of price doth come, Coniecture what your bragges may be whē she hath cast the summe

M. Frances Howarde:

Somme say dame nature tooke in care, to keepe Cornelias moulde, But Howardes 'tis about her neecke eframed in finest goulde.

I think (good sir) I haue within little repeated the names of those that were Ladies and maides of Honor, at these sightes, wherein you shall see the vaine, that runneth to the liking of such kinds. Now her Maiestie being risen: with good cheere, accompanied with the Queene of the fay r ye and the Ladye Caudina; she commeth from her banquite, and at her departure the Lady Caudina sayth:

Let thankes suffice in worde where strength in pow're doth faynte. lette pith in prayer from Heauen to craue requite,

stande for reward to such a sacred Saint. in whom on earth the goddes in Heauen delighte, whose moulde when nature made she gan to stande, in wonder of the worke she had in hande.

The goddes for all their good bestowed on man, accept our speeche, as fruite of thankfull hearte: which sith it is the vtmost that we can, let humble thankes be price for your deserte. Contente your selfe with that contentes the gods, twixt whome and you I see such little oddes.

The daye thus spente, her Maiestie tooke her coach with ioy in remembring what had passed, recounting with her selfe and others how well she had spente the after noone, and as it fell of necessitie in her waye homewarde, closelie in an Oke she hearde y^e sound both of voice and instrument of y^e excelentest now liuing whose pleasantnesse therin bred a great liking w^t a willing eare to y^e purport which I haue hardly gotton to present you withal: assuredlie I see greate inuention therein, and yet no more then the iust fame of the deuiser doth both deserue and carrie.

The songe in the Oke

The man whose thoughts against him doe conspire, in whome mishap her story did depante: The man of woo, the matter of desire, free of the dead that liues in endlesse plainte: His sprite am I within this desart wonne, to rewe his case whose cause I cannot shune.

Dispaire my name who neuer seeke releife, frended of none, vnto my selfe my foe, An idle care mayntayned by firme beleife, that prayse of faith shall through my tormentes growe. And count the hopes that other hartes doe ease, but base conceates the common sorte to please.

I am most sure that I shall not attaine, the onely good wherein the ioy doth lye. I haue no power my passions to refraine, but wayle the want which nought els may supply. Whereby my life the shape of death, must beare that death, which feeles the worst that life doth feare.

But what auailes with Tragical complaint, not hoping helpe, the furies to awake? Or why should I the happie mindes acquaint with dolefull tunes, their setled peace to shake? O yee that here behold infortunes fare, there is no griefe that may with mine compare.

Now was it darke nighte, and her Maiestie filled with con∣ceites, returneth home, leauing earnest command that the whole in order as it fell, should be brought her in writing, which being done, as I heare, she vsed, besides her owne skill, the helpe of the deuisors, & how thinges were made I know not, but sure I am her Maiesty hath often in speech some part hereof with mirth at the remembrance.

But to keepe my promise for the rest, I will begin in order to make you priuy of the sequele: which indeed followeth, as an apt consequent to what is past. Therefore shal you vnderstande, that vpon the 20. day of the same moneth, the Queene being dis∣posed to spend her time with some delightes, this Comedy was presented, acted before her Maiesty.

And the more to egge you forward with desire of the end, assure your selfe, it was as well thought of, as anye thinge euer done before her Maiestie, not onely of her, but of the rest: in such sort, that her Graces passions, and other the Ladies could not but shew it selfe in open place more then euer hath beene seene.