The Honor of the Inns of Court Gentlemen:
OR,
A briefe recitall of the Magnificent and matchlesse show, that past from Hatton and Ely house in Holborne to
White-hall on Munday night, being the third of February: [a]nd the next day after Candlemas.
To the tune of our noble King in his Progresse.
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MY noble Muse assist mee,
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that I may with credit
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undergoe my taske,
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A humor hath possest mee,
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To write a new ditty,
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of the triumphant Maske,
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Which lately was performed
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in high magnifique sort,
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To the honor of those Gentry,
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that live at the Inns of Court.
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These Noble minded Gallants,
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to shew their true love,
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to our Royall King and Queene,
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Did largely spend their talents,
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To make a faire shew.
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that the like was never seene.
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To let downe all exactly,
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my skil comes far too short,
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To the honor of those Gentry,
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that live at the Inns of Court.
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The next day after Candlemas,
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betwixt the houres
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of seven and nine at night,
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This stately company did passe
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From Hatton-house in Holborne,
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unto White-hall in sight:
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Of such a peerelesse object,
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no age can make report,
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To the honor of those Gentry,
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that live at the Inns of Court.
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A various crew of Anticks all
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which severall humors
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in shape did represent,
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The number of them was not small,
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Which to the spectators
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gave wonderful content:
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Each one in his due posture,
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did shew exceeding sport,
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To the honor of those Gentry,
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that live at the Inns of Court.
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A hundred sweet yong Gentlemen,
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that all upon great Horses,
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were mounted gallantly,
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Clad in white cloath of Tissue then,
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And red and white Feathers,
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most glorious to the eye:
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In equipage most sumptuous,
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they past in solemne sort,
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These were the brave young Gentry,
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that live at the Inns of Court,
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By two and two, and foure and foure,
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they slowly did ride,
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on their proud and haughty Steeds,
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Search al the Lands in Europe ore,
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No men both in person
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and face these men exceeds:
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Their time was long in passing,
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yet people thought 'twas short,
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So much they praysd these Gentry,
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that live at the inns of Court.
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The Drums and trumpets loudly,
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did sound before
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this Heroick company,
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The Horses danced proudly,
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As sensible
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of this so high solemnity:
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Their footmen did attend them,
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in brave and solemne sort,
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To the honour of those Gentry, etc.
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The second part, To the same tune
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BUt that which admiration
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exacts from all men,
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that saw or heard of it,
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Was the Charets,
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Which is a fashion
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for mighty Princes and Conquerors most fit,
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The glory of this action
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exceedeth all report.
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To the honour of those Gentry
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that live at the Innes of Court.
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Just sixe there were in Number,
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in those the Maskers
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themselves did sit in State,
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Which made the people to wonder,
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And ravished the Senses
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of all that there did waite,
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The oldest man alive
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cannot of the like report.
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To the honour of those Gentry
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that live at the Innes of Court.
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Two Charets had foure horses each,
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that went by two and two
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the rest did goe by foure a breast,
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In order without any breach:
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A thing which of all things
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becomes a triumph best,
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No one did breake aray,
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but went on in sober sort.
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To the honour of those Gentry
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that live at the Innes of Court.
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Our gracious King with his deare Queene,
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did sit to behold
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this so beautiful a show,
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It joy'd their hearts when they had seen,
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The true and Loyal love,
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that their subjects to them owe:
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Unto their long liv'd credit,
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they shewd their Princely sport.
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To the honour of those Gentry
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that live at the Innes of Court.
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Many thousand pounds of gold tis thought
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hath not the charge
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of this matchlesse maske defrayd,
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Yet let no Critick deeme that naught
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Which hath on a sudden
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employ'd so many a trade,
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Young people may hereafter
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unto their young report
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The honour of those Gentry
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that live at the Innes of Court.
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No Prince throughout al Christendome
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can like to our King,
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of so strange a triumph boast,
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Those strangers that doe hither come,
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Wil spread our Ilands glory
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abroad in many a coast,
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For al their quaint devises,
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to this must come farre short.
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To the honour of those Gentry
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that live at the Innes of Court.
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