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The Deuice of the Maske
THe Sunne willing to doe honour to a Marriage, betweene two noble per∣sons of the greatest Island of his vni∣uersall Empire, writeth his Letter of Commission to the two Seasons of the yeare, the Winter and the Spring, to visite and present them on his part, directing the Winter to present them with sports, such as are com∣monly called by the name of Christmasse sportes, or Carnaual sportes, and the Spring, with other sportes of more Magnificence.
And more especially, that Winter for his part take knowledge of a certaine Challenge which had beene lately sent and accepted betweene Silenus and Kana∣sha vpon this point; That Wine was more woorthy then Tobacco, and did more cheere and relieue the spirits of man. This to be tried at two weapons, at Song and at Dance, and requiring the Winter to giue order that the same Challenge be performed in the dayes of So∣lemnitie of the same Marriage.
The same Letter containeth a second Speciall di∣rection to the Spring, that whereas of ancient time certaine beautifull youths had bin transformed from Men to Flowers, and had so continued till this time, that now they should be returned againe into Men,