The speeches and honorable entertainment giuen to the Queenes Maiestie in progresse, at Cowdrey in Sussex, by the right honorable the Lord Montacute. 1591

THE HONORABLE Entertainment giuen to her Maiestie in Progresse at Cowdray in Sussex by the Lord Montecute Anno. 1591. August . 14.

THe Queens MAIESTY came with a great traine to the right Honorable the Lorde Montacutes , vpon saterdaie being the 14 daie of Auguste about eight of the clocke at night . Where vpon sight of her Maiestie , loud musicke sounded , which at her enteraunce on the bridge suddenly ceased . Then was a speech deliuered by a personage in armour , standing betweene two Porters , carued out of wood , he resembling the third : holding his club in one hand , and a key of golde in the other , as followeth .

Saterday .

The Porters speech .

THe walles of Thebes were raised by Musicke : by musick these are kept from falling . It was a prophesie since the first stone was layde , that these walles should shake , and the roofe totter , till the wisest , the fairest and most fortunate of all creatures , should by her first steppe make the foundation staid : and by the glaunce of her eyes make the Turret steddie . I haue beene here a Porter manie yeeres , many Ladies haue entred passing amiable , many verie wise , none so happie . These my fellow Porters thinking there could bee none such , fell on sleepe , and so incurde the seconde curse of the prophesie , which is , neuer againe to awake : Marke how they looke more like postes then Porters , reteining onlie their shapes , but depriued of their sences . I thought rather to cut off my eie liddes , then to winke till I saw the ende . And now it is : for the musick is at an end , this house immoueable , your vertue immortall . O miracle of time , Natures glorie , Fortunes Empresse , the worlds wonder ! Soft , this is the Poets part , and not the Porters . I haue nothing to present but the crest of mine office , this keie : Enter , possesse all , to whom the heauens haue vouchsafed all . As for the owner of this house , mine honourable Lord , his tongue is the keie of his heart : and his heart the locke of his soule . Therefore what he speakes you may constantlie beleeue : which is , that in duetie and seruice to your Maiestie , he would be second to none : in praieng for your happinesse , equall to anie .

Tuus O Regina quod optas Explorare fauor : huic iussa capescere fas est .

Mundaie .

ON Munday at 8. of the clock in the morning , her Highnes took horse with all her Traine , and rode into the Parke : where was a delicate Bowre prepared , vnder the which were placed her Highnes Musitians , and this dittie following song while her Maiestie shot at the Deere .

A Dittie . BEhold her lockes like wiers of beaten gold , her eies like starres that twinkle in the skie , Her heauenly face not framd of earthly molde , Her voice that founds Apollos melodie , The miracle of time , the worlds storie , Fortunes Queen , Loues treasure , Natures glory . No flattering hope she likes , blind Fortunes bait nor shadowes of delight , fond fansies glasse , Nor charmes that do inchant , false artes deceit , nor fading ioyes , which time makes swiftly pas But chast desires which beateth all these downe , A Goddesse looke is worth a Monarchs crowne . Goddesse and Monarch of his happie Ile , vouchsafe this bow which is an huntresse part Your eies are arrows though they seeme to smile which neuer glanst but gald the stateliest hart , Strike one , strike all , for none at all can flie , They gaze you in the face although they die .

Then rode hir Grace to Cowdrey to dinner , and aboute sixe of the clocke in the euening from a Turret sawe sixteene Buckes ( all hauing fayre lawe ) pulled downe with Greyhoundes in a laund .

Tewsdaie .

On Tewsdaie her Maiestie went to dinner to the Priory , where my Lord himselfe kept house , and there was she and her Lordes most bountifully feasted .

The Pilgrimes speech .

FAirest of all creatures vouchsaf to heare the prayer of a Pilgrime , which shall be short , and the petition which is but reasonable . God graunt the worlde maie ende with your life , and your life more happie then anie in the world : that is my praier . I haue trauelled manie Countries , and in all Countries desire antiquities . In this Iland ( but a spanne in respect of the world ) and in this Shire ( but a finger in regard of your Realme ) I haue heard great cause of wonder , some of complaint . Harde by , and so neere as your Maiestie shall almost passe by , I sawe on Oke , whose statelines nayled mine cies to the branches , and the ornamentes beguiled my thoughtes with astonishment . I thought it free , being in the fielde , but I found it not so . For at the verie entrie I mette I know not with what rough-hewed Ruffian , whose armes wer carued out of knotty box , for I could receue nothing of him but boxes , so hastie was he to strike , he had no leysure to speake . I thought there were more waies to the wood then one , and finding another passage , I found also a Ladie verie faire , but passing frowarde , whose words set mee in a greater heate then the blowes . I asked her name , she said it was Peace . I wondred that Peace could neuer holde her peace . I cannot perswade my selfe since that time , but that there is a waspes nest in mine eares . I returned discontent . But if it will please your Highnesse to view it , that rude Champion at your faire feete will laie downe his foule head : and at your becke that Ladie will make her mouth her tongues mue . Happelie your Maiestie shall finde some content : I more antiquities .

Then did the Pilgrime conduct her Highnes to an Oke not farre off , whereon her Maiesties armes , and all the armes of the Noblemen , and Gentlemen of that Shire , were hanged in Escutchions most beutifull , and a wilde man cladde in Iuie , at the sight of her Highnesse spake as foloweth .

The wilde mans speech at the tree .

MIghtie Princesse , whose happines is attended by the heauens , and whose gouernment is wondered at vpon the earth : vouchsafe to heare why this passage is kept , and this Oke honoured . The whole world is drawen in a mappe : the heauens in a Globe : and this Shire shrunke in a Tree : that what your Maiestie hath often heard off with some comfort , you may now beholde with full content . This Oke , from whose bodie so many armes doe spread : and out of whose armes so many fingers spring : resembles in parte your strength & happinesse . Strength , in the number and the honour : happinesse , in the trueth and consent . All heartes of Oke , then which nothing surer : nothing sounder . All wouen in one roote , then which nothing more constant , nothing more naturall . The wall of this Shire is the sea , strong , but rampired with true hearts , inuincible : where euery priuate mans eie is a Beacon to discouer : euerie noble mans power a Bulwarke to defende . Here they are all differing somewhat in degrees , not in dutie : the greatnes of the branches , not the greenesse . Your majesty they account the Oke , the tree of Iupiter , whose root is so deeplie fastened , that treacherie , though shee vndermine to the centre , cannot finde the windings , and whose toppe is so highlie reared , that enuie , though she shoote on copheigth , cannot reach her , vnder whose armes they haue both shade and shelter . Well not they that your enemies lightnings are but flashes , and their thunder which filles the whole world with a noise of conquest , shall end with a softe shower of Retreate . Be then as confident in your steppes , as Caesar was in his Fortune . His proceedings but of conceit : yours of vertue . Abroad courage hath made you feared , at home honoured clemencie . Clemencie which the owner of this Groue hath tasted : in such sort , that his thoughts are become his hearts laberinth , surprized with ioie and loialtie . Ioy without measure , loyaltie without end , liuing in no other ayer , then that which breathes your Maiesties safetie .

For himselfe , and all these honourable Lords , and Gentlemen , whose shieldes your Maiestie doeth here beholde , I can say this , that as the veines are dispersed through all the bodie , yet when the heart feeleth any extreame passion , sende all their bloud to the heart for comfort : so they being in diuers places , when your Maiestie shall but stande in feare of any daunger , will bring their bodies , their purses , their soules , to your Highnesse , being their heart , their head , and their Soueraigne . This passage is kept straight , and the Pilgrime I feare hath complained : but such a disguised worlde it is that one can scarce know a Pilgrime from a Priest , a ●●●●er from a Gentleman , nor a man from a woman Euerie one seeming to be that which they are not , onely do practise what they should not . The heauens guide you , your Maiestie gouernes vs : though our peace bee enuied , by you we hope it shall be eternall .

Elizabetha Deus nobis haec otia foecit .

The Dittie . THere is a bird that builds her neast with spice , and built , the Sun to ashes doth her burne , Out of whose sinders doth another rise . & she by scorching beames to dust doth turne : Thus life a death , and death a life doth proue , The rarest thing on earth except my loue . My loue that makes his neast with high desires , and is by beauties blaze to ashes brought , Out of the which do breake out greater fires , they quenched by disdain consume to nought , And out of nought my cleerest loue doth rise , True loue if often slaine but neuer dies . True loue which springs , though Fortune on it tread as camomel by pressing down doth grow Or as the Palme that higher reares his head , when men great burrhens on the branches throw Loue fansies birth , Fidelitie the wombe , the Nurse Delight , Ingratitude the tombe .

Then vppon the winding of a Corne was 〈◊〉 most excellent crie of hounds , with whome h●● Maiestie hunted and had good sport .

Wednesdaie .

On wednesdaie the Lords and Ladies dined in the walkes , feasted most sumptuously . In the euening her Maiestie comming to take the pleasure of the walkes , was delighted with most delicate musicke , and brought to a goodly Fishpond where was an Angler , that taking no notice of hir Maiestie , spake as followeth .

The Anglers Speech .

NExt rowing in a Westerne barge well fare Angling , I haue bin here this two houres and cannot catch an oyster . It may he for lacke of a bait , & that were hard in this nibling world , where euerie man laies bait for another . In the Citie merchants bait their tongues with a lie and an oath , and so make simple men swallow deceitfull wares : and fishing for commoditie is growen so farre , that men are become fishes , for Lande lords put such sweete baits on rackt rents , that as good it were to be a perch in a pikes belly , as a Tenant in theyr farmes . All our trade is growen to trecherie , for now fish are caught with medicins : which are as vnwholsom as loue procured by withchcraft vnfortunate . We Anglers make our lines of diuers colours , according to the kindes of waters : so doe men their loues , aiming at the complexion of the faces . Thus Marchandize , Loue , and Lordships sucke venom out of vertue . I think I shal fish all daie and catch a frog , the cause is neither in the line , the hooke , nor the bait , but some thing there is ouer beautifull which stayeth the verie Minow ( of all fish the most eager ) from biting . For this we Anglers obserue , that the shadow of a man turneth backe the fish . What will then the sight of a Goddesse ? T is best angling in a lowring daie , for here the Sunne so glisters , that the fish see my hooke through my bait . But soft here be the Netters , these be they that cannot content them with a dish of fish for their supper , but will draw a whole pond for the market .

This saide , he espied a Fisherman , drawing his nettes towarde where hir Maiestie was . And calling alowde to him . Ho Sirra ( quoth the Anggler ) What shall I giue thee for thy draught , If there be neuer a whale in it take it for a Noble quoth the Netter .

Ang.

Be there any maydes there ?

Net .

Maydes foole , they be sea fish .

Ang.

Why ?

Net .

Venus was borne of the Sea , and t is reason she should haue maydes to attend hir .

Then turned he to the Queene , and after a small pawse , spake as followeth .

MADAME , it is an olde saying , There is no fishing to the sea , nor seruice to the King : but it holdes when the sea is calme & the king vertuous . Your vertue doth make Enuie blush , and Enuie stands amazed at your happines . I come not to tell the art of fishing , nor the natures of fish , nor their daintines , but with a poore Fisher mans wishe , that all the hollowe heartes to your Maiestie were in my net , and if there bee more then it will holde , I woulde they were in the sea till I went thether a fishing .

There bee some so muddie minded , that they can not liue in a cleere riuer but a standing poole , as camells will not drinke till they haue troubled the water with their feet : so can they neuer stanch their thirst , till they haue disturbd the state with their trecheries . Soft , these are no fancies for fisher men . Yes true hearts are as good as full purses , the one the sinewes of war , the other the armes . A dish of fish is an vnworthie present for a prince to accept : there be some carpes amongst them , no carpers of states , if there be , I would they might bee handled lyke carpes , their tongues pulled out . Some pearches there are I am sure , and if anie pearch higher than in dutie they ought , I would they might sodenly picke ouer the pearch for me . What so euer there is , if it be good it is all yours , most excellent Ladie , that are best worthie of the greatest good .

That ended ,

This Song of the Fisher man . THE fish that seeks for food in siluer streame is vnawares beguiled with the hooke , And tender harts when lest of loue they dreame , do swallow beauties bait , a louely looke . The fish that shuns to bite , in net doth hit , The heart that scapes the eie is caught by wit . The thing cald Loue , poore Fisher men do feele rich pearles are found in hard & homely shels Our habits base , but hearts as true as steele , sad lookes deep sighs , flat faith are all our spels , And when to vs our loues seeme faire to bee . We court them thus Loue me and I le loue thee . And if they saie our loue is fondly made , we neuer leaue till on their hearts we lite , Anglers haue patience by their proper trade , and are content to tarrie till they bite , Of all the fish that in the waters moue , We count them lumps that will not bite at loue .

For the rest of the Entertainment , honorable feasting , and abundance of all things that might manifest a liberall and loyall heart , because I was not there , I cannot set downe , thus much by report I heare , & by the words , of those that deserue credite , that it was such as much contented her Maiestie , and made many others to wonder . And so her Maiestie well pleased with her welcome , & he throughly comforted with her Highnesse gracious acceptance , shee went from thence to Chichester .