A crystal mirror hangeth at her breast,
By which men's consciences are search'd, and drest :
On her coach-wheels Hypocrisy lies rack'd;
And squint-eyed Slander, with Vain-glory back’d.
Her bright eyes burn to dust, in which shines Fate :
An angel ushers her triumphant gate,
Whilst with her fingers fans of stars she twists,
And with them beats back Error, clad in mists.
Eternal Unity behind her shines,
That fire and water, earth and air combines.
Her voice is like a trumpet loud and shrill,
Which bids all sounds in earth, and heaven be still.
And see ! descended from her chariot now,
In this related

pomp

she visits you.

Enter TRUTH. Truth. Honour to all that honour nuptials, To whose fair lot, in justice, now it falls, That this my counterfeit be here disclosed, Who, for virginity, hath herself opposed. Nor though my brightness do undo her charms, Let these her knights think, that their equal arms Are wrong’d therein : For valour wins applause, That dares but to maintain the weaker cause. And princes, see, 'tis mere Opinion That in Truth's forced robe, for Truth hath gone! Her gaudy colours, pieced with many folds, Shew what uncertainties she ever holds : Vanish, adulterate Truth! and never dare With proud maids praise, to press where nuptials are. And, champions, since you see the truth I held, To sacred Hymen, reconciled, yield :

not then born) speaks, is another question. And Mr. Todd “has been induced (he says) to make large extracts from a MS. Masque by Marston, that the reader may comprehend the nature of those entertainments.” (Arcades, 132.) This is the more kind and considerate, as nothing on this head is to be found elsewhere.

Nor (so to yield) think it the least despight : “It is a conquest to submit to right.”

This royal judge of our contention Will prop, I know, what I have undergone ; To whose right sacred highness I resign, Low at his feet, this starry crown of mine, To shew his rule and judgment is divine; These doves to him I consecrate withal, To note his innocence, without spot, or gall; These serpents, for his wisdom : and these rays, To shew, his piercing splendor: these bright keys Designing power to ope the ported skies, And speak their glories to his subjects' eyes.

Lastly, this heart, with which all hearts be true :

And truth in him make treason ever rue. With this they were led forth, hand in hand, reconciled,

as in triumph. And thus the solemnities ended. Vivite concordes, et nostrum discite munus.

THE HUE AND CRY, &c.] This Masque, which I have called the Hue and Cry after Cupid, bears the following title in the folio, 1616. The Description of the Masque with the Nuptial Songs, at the Lord Viscount Haddington's Marriage at Court, on the ShroveTuesday at Night, 1608. The 4to. 1608, adds after Nuptial Songs

-"celebrating the happy marriage of John Lord Ramsey, Viscount Hadington, with the Lady Elizabeth Ratcliffe, daughter to the Right Honourable Robert Earl of Sussex.” With this motto :

"Acceleret partu decimum bona Cynthia mensem." This Masque was celebrated with the utmost magnificence. Rowland White, a courtier, and a very intelligent correspondent of the earl of Shrewsbury, thus writes from Whitehall. “ The K. is newlie gon to Tibballes for 6 daies. The Spanish Embassador hath invited the 15 ladies that were of the Q®. maske, (the Masque of Beauty, see p. 38,) to dinner upon Thursday next, and they are to bring wh them whom they please, whout limitačon. The great Maske intended for my L. Haddington's marriage is now the only thing thought upon at Court, by 5 English ; L. Arundel, L. Pemb. L. Montgomery, L. Theoph. Howard, and Sir Rob'. Rich; and by 7 Scottes ; D. Lenox, D'Aubigny, Hay, M'. of Mar, young Erskine, Sankier, and Kenedie : Yt will cost them about 300l. a man.' Lodge's Illustrations, vol. iii. p. 343.

John lord Ramsey, the bridegroom, was one of the persons present at the assault upon James, Aug. 3, 1600, at Perth, when he killed the earl of Gowrie with his own hand, and was rewarded with a pension and the title of viscount Haddington. He was greatly beloved by the king, of which he continued to receive many substantial proofs, till having, in March, 1612, struck another favourite, Philip, earl of Montgomery, on the race-course at Croydon, he was forbid the court. James recalled him some time afterwards, and in 1620, created him baron of Kingston-upon-Thames, and earl of Holderness.

The bride, whom Arthur Wilson calls “one of the prime beauties of the kingdom,” did not live to enjoy this last honour. She died of the small pox, and Bishop Corbett wrote an “Elegia” on the occasion, strangely compounded, as the fashion then was, of wit and woe. She was "girld and boy'd,” he says; but none of her offspring seem to have long survived her.

:

THE HUE AND CRY AFTER

CUPID.

HE worthy custom of honouring worthy marriages, with these noble solemnities, hath of late years advanced itself frequently with us; to the reputation no

less of our court, than nobles: expressing besides (through the difficulties of expense and travel, with the cheerfulness of undertaking) a most real affection in the personaters, to those, for whose sake they would sustain these persons. It behoves then us, that are trusted with a part of their honour in these celebrations, to do nothing in them beneath the dignity of either. With this proposed part of judgment, I adventure to give that abroad, which in my first conception I intended honourably fit : and, though it hath labour'd since, under censure, I, that know truth to be always of one stature, and so like a rule, as who bends it the least way, musts needs do an injury to the right, cannot but smile at their tyrannous ignorance, that will offer to slight me (in these things being an artificer) and give themselves a peremptory license to judge who have never touched so much as to the bark, or utter shell of any knowledge. But their daring dwell with them. They have found a place to pour out their follies; and I a seat, to sleep out

a

the passage.