This device gave her majesty much pleasure.

Another very magnificent affair, with gates of jasper and marble, was
placed across the market-place, five female figures on the stage above
representing the _City_, _Deborah_, _Judith_, _Hester_, and _Martia_ (a
queen); whose chief, the _City_, was spokeswoman first, and was succeeded
by the others each in turn. All that they said we dare not tarry to
repeat; the City expressed herself in some hundred lines of poetry, the
rest rather more briefly. "Whom fame resounds with thundering trump;"
"Flower of Grace, Prince of God's Elect;" "Mighty Queen, finger of the
Lord," and such like hyperbole, made up the substance of their flattery.
We know the good Queen Bess was somewhat fond of such food, but we think
even her taste must have been somewhat palled with the specimens offered
on this occasion. Others of a similar character were scattered along her
pathway to the cathedral. After service she retired to her quarters at
the palace of the bishop. On the Monday the deviser planned a scheme by
which her majesty was enticed abroad by the invitation of Mercury, who
was sent in a coach covered with birds and little angels in the air and
clouds, a tower in the middle, decked with gold and jewels, topped by a
plume of feathers, spangled and trimmed most gorgeously; Mercury himself
in blue satin, lined with cloth of gold, with garments cut and slashed
according to the most approved fashion of the day, a peaked hat, made to
"_cut the wind_," a pair of wings on his head and his _heels_; in his
hand a golden rod with another pair of wings. The horses of his coach
were painted and furnished each with wings, and made to "drive with speed
that might resemble flying;" and in this guise did Mercury present
himself before the window at the palace, and tripping from his throne,
made his most humble obeisance and lengthy speech, all which most
graciously was received by her majesty. Thus ended this day's sport.

On Tuesday, as her majesty proceeded to Cossey Park, for the purpose of
enjoying a day's hunt, another pageant was got up by the industrious
devisor, the subject of which was, Cupid in Search of a Home--not,
however, much worth detailing. Wednesday her majesty dined at Surrey
House with Lord Surrey, at which banquet the French ambassadors are said
to have been present; and a pageant was prepared for the occasion, but
the rooms seem to have been rather too small to admit the compan