, the
casualties of rain and wind having no power there, to disturb the
arrangements got up with so much labour and cost. After a magnificent
banquet in the common council chamber, above the assize court, a princely
masque of gods and goddesses, richly apparelled, was presented before her
majesty.

_Mercury_ entered first, followed by two torch-bearers, in purple taffeta
mandillions, laid with silver lace; then the musicians, dressed in long
vestures of white silk girded about them, and garlands on their heads;
next came _Jupiter and Juno_, _Mars and Venus_, _Apollo and Pallas_,
_Neptune and Diana_, and lastly _Cupid_, between each couple two
torch-bearers. Thus they marched round the chamber, and Mercury
delivered his message to the queen.

"The good-meaning mayor and all his brethren, with the rest, have not
rested from praying to the gods, to prosper thy coming hither; and
the gods themselves, moved by their unfeigned prayers, are ready in
person to bid thee welcome; and I, Mercury, the god of merchants and
merchandise, and therefore a favourer of the citizens, being thought
meetest am chosen fittest to signify the same. Gods there be, also,
which cannot come, being tied by the time of the year, as Ceres in
harvest, Bacchus in wines, Pomona in orchards. Only Hymeneus denieth
his good-will either in presence or in person; notwithstanding Diana
hast so counter-checked him, therefore, as he shall hereafter be at
your commandment. For my part, as I am a rejoicer at your coming, so
am I furtherer of your welcome hither, and for this time I bid you
farewell."

All then marched about again, at the close of each circuit, stopping for
the gods to present each a gift to her majesty; Jupiter, a riding wand of
whalebone, curiously wrought; Mars, a _fair pair of knives_; Venus, a
white dove; Apollo, a musical instrument, called a bandonet; Pallas, a
book of _wisdom_; Neptune, a fish; Diana, a bow and arrows, of silver;
Cupid, an arrow of gold, with these lines on the shaft--

"My colour _joy_, my substance _pure_,
My _virtue_ such as shall endure."

The queen received the gifts with gracious condescension, listening the
while to the verses recited by the gods as accompaniments.

On Friday, being the day fixed for her majesty's departure, the devisor
prepared one last grand spectacle, water spirits, to the sound of whose
timbrels was spoken "her majesty's fare