Chapter VI (4)

"This Bill subscribed with all their handes was seene and allowed by all the Masters, who promised rather more than lesse than that which was demanded. But concerninge the other Bill for Subsidyes, it was answered that it was not in their power to grant it without the President, whose cominge home was every day expected: against which time it was provided, and delivered unto him; who together with the 10 Seniors, was loath to grant any thinge till they were certified what sportes should bee, of what quality & charge, that so they might the better proportion the one to the other, the meanes to the matter: They were allso willinge to knowe what particular Men would take upon them the care of furnishinge particular nightes. For they would by no meanes relye upon generall promises because they were not ignorant how that which concerneth all in generall is by no man in speciall regarded. Wherfore they beinge somewhat, although not fully, satisfied in their demaundes by some of the Masters, whom they seemed cheefly to trust with the whole businesse, the Bill was againe perused, and every man ceazed in manner and forme followinge:

"'The coppye of an auncient Act for taxes and subsidyes made in the
raygne of our Predecessor of famous memorye, in this Parliament
held in Aula Regni the vi^{th} of November 1577 and now for Our
Self new ratified and published, anno regni jº November 7º 1607.

"'Because all lovinge & loyall Subjects doe owe not onely themselves, but allso their landes, livinges, goodes, and what soever they call theirs, to the good of the Commonwealth, and estate under which they peaceably enjoy all, It is further enacted that no man dissemble his estate, or hide his abilitye, but be willinge at all times to pay such duetyes, taxes, and subsidies, as shall be lawfully demaunded & thought reasonable without the hinderance of his owne estate, upon payne of forfettinge himself and his goodes whatsoever.'

[List of contributions amounting to 52^{li} xiii^{s.} vii]

"Though the whole company had thus largely contributed towards the ensuinge sportes, yet it was found that when all thinges necessary should be layed toegether, a great sum of money would be wantinge, and therfore a course was thought upon of sendinge out privie Seales to able & willinge Gentlemen which had been sometimes Fellowes or commoners of the Colledge that it would please them to better the stocke, and out of their good will contribute somewhat towardes the Prince's Revells."

Then followed the form of the writ issued, "To our trustye and welbeloved Knight, or Esquire," &c. "Given under our privye Seale at our Pallace of St. John's in Oxen, the seventh of December in the first yeare of our rayne, 1607." Then follow "the names of those who were served with this writt, and who most willingly obeyed upon the receipt thereof," contributing altogether xvi^{li} x^{s} 0. "Others were served and bragd of it, as though they had given, but sent nothing."

"For all these Subsidies at home, and helpes abroad, yet it was founde that in the ende there would rather be want (as indeed it happened) than any superfluitye, and therfore the Prince tooke order with the Bowsers to send out warrantes to all the Tenantes & other friendes of the Colledge, that they should send in extraordinary provision against every Feast, which accordingly was performed; some sendinge money, some wine, some venison, some other provision, every one accordinge to his abilitye.

"All thinges beinge thus sufficiently (as it was thought) provided for, the Councell table, with the Lord himself, mett together to nominate officers & to appoint the day of the Prince's publike installment which was agreed should be on St. Andrews Day at night; because at that time the Colledge allso was to chouse their new officers for the yeare followinge.

"Now for that they would not playnely and barely install him without any farther ceremonies, it was thought fitt that his whole ensuinge Regiment (for good lucke sake) should be consecrated to the _Deitie of Fortune_, as the sole Mistres and Patronesse of his estate, and therfore a schollerlike devise called _Ara Fortunæ_ was provided for his installment; which was performed in manner & forme followinge:

ARA FORTUNÆ.

_Inter-locutores._

Princeps. Fortuna. Tolmæa. Thesaurarius. Camerarius. Jurisconsultus. Philosophus. Rusticus. Stultus. Rebellis Primus. ---- Secundus. ---- Tertius. ---- Quartus. Nuncius.

* * * * *

[The Drama is not given on account of its length. And it will be remarked that, whenever asterisks are substituted, some portion of the MS. has been omitted.]

"This showe by ourselves was not thought worthye of a stage or scaffoldes, and therfore after supper the tables were onlye sett together, which was not done with out great toyle & difficulty, by reason of the great multitude of people (which, by the default of the dorekeepers, and divers others, every man bringinge in his friends) had filled the Hall before wee thought of it. But for all this it began before 8 of clock, and was well liked by the whole audience, who, how unrulye so ever they meante to bee afterwardes, resolved I think at first with their good applause and quiet behaviour to drawe us on so farr, as wee should not bee able to returne backwardes without shame & discreditt. They gave us at the ende 4 severall & generall plaudites; at the 2 wherof the Canopie which hunge over the Altare of Fortune (as it had been frighted with the noise, or meante to signifie that 2 plaudites were as much as it deserved) suddenly fell downe; but it was cleanly supported by some of the standers by till the company was voyded, that none but our selves took notice of it.

"Some upon the sight of this Showe (for the better enoblinge of his person, and drawinge his pedigree even from the Godes because the Prince's name was Tucker, and the last Prince before him was Dr. Case) made this conceipt that _Casus et Fortuna genuerunt [Greek: Tycheron] Principem Fortunatum_--so the one his father, and the other his mother.

"Another accident worthy observation (and which was allso then observed) was that the Foole carelesly sittinge downe at the Prince's feete brake his staff in the midst, whence wee could not but directly gather a verye ill omen, that the default and follye of some would bee the very breaknecke of our ensueing sports, which how it fell out, I leave to the censures of others; our selves (I am sure) were guilty to our selves of many weaknesses and faultes, the number wherof were increased by the crossinge untowardnesse, and backwardnesse of divers of the Prince's neerest followers, nay the Prince himself had some weaknesses which did much prejudice his state, wherof the chiefest weere his openesse, and familiaritye with all sortes, beinge unwillinge to displease eny, yet not able to please all. But to proceede:--On St. Thomas day at night the officers before elect were solemnly proclaimed by a Sergeant at armes, and an Herauld, the trumpetts soundinge beetwixt every title. This proclamation after it was read, was for a time hunge up in the Hall, that every man might the better understande the qualitie of his owne place, and they that were of lower, or no place, might learne what duety to performe to others.

"The manner wherof was as followeth:

"Whereas by the contagious poyson, and spreadinge malice
of some ill disposed persons, hath been threatned not
onelye the danger of subvertinge peaceable & orderlye proceedinges,
but the allmost utter annihilatinge of auncient &
laudable customes--It hath been thought convenient, or
rather absolutely necessarye for the avoydinge of a most
dangerous ensuinge Anarchie, a more settled order of
goverment, for the better safetye of all well meaninge
Subjects, and curbinge of discontented, headstronge persons,
should bee established. And whereas through wante of good
lawes by wise and discreet Magistrates to bee duely and
truely executed, a giddye conceipt hath possest the
mindes of manye turbulent spirites, of endueringe no
superiour, hardly an equall, whereby the common-wealth
might growe to bee a manye-headed monster--It hath
been provided by the staide and mature deliberations of
well-experienced governours and provident counsellours, that
one whose highe deserts might answere his high advancement
should bee sett over all to the rulinge and directinge
of all--Therefore by these presentes bee it knowne unto
all of what estate or condicion soever whome it shall
concerne that Thomas Tucker, an honorable wise & learned
Gentleman to the great comeforte of the weale-publique from
hence-forth to be reputed, taken and obayed for the true,
onely and undoubted Monarche of this revellinge Climate,
whom the generall consent and joynte approbation of the
whole Common-wealth hath invested and crowned with
these honours and titles followinge:

"The most magnificent and renowned Thomas by the favour
of Fortune, Prince of Alba Fortunata, Lord St. Johns,
high Regent of the Hall, Duke of St. Giles, Marquesse
of Magdalens, Landgrave of the Grove, County Palatine
of the Cloisters, Chiefe Bailiffe of the Beaumonts, high
Ruler of Rome, Maister of the Manor of Waltham, Governour
of Gloster-greene, sole Commaunder of all Titles, Tourneaments,
and Triumphes, Superintendent in all Solemnities
whatsoever.

"Now because they whom the unknowne cares, & unweildie burdens of a sole regiment shall relie upon, neede extraordinary helpe in the more than ordinarye affaires, Hee hath as well for the better discharge & ease of those royall duetyes (as it were) which attend on his place, as for the avoidinge the odious & ingratefull suspition of a single dominion, and private Tyranye, selected and chosen unto himself a grave and learned assistance both for Councell and government, whom, and every of which, his princely will is, shall in their severall places & dignities bee both honoured and obeid, with no lesse respect and observance than if himself were there present in person. And that carelesse ignorance may bee no lawfull excuse for the breach of his will therin hee hath appointed their severall names and titles, with their subordinate officers and deputies to be signified & proclaimed to all his lovinge and leige Subjects, in manner followinge:

"The right gracious John Duke of Groveland, Earle de Bello-Monte,
Baron Smith, chiefe Ranger of the Woods & Forests, great Master of
the Prince's Game, hath for his subordinate officers--

Sir Frauncis Hudson, Keeper of the Parkes, & Warder of the
Warrens.

Sir Thomas Grice, Forrester & Sargeaunt of the Woodhowse.

"The right honourable Rowland Lord Juxon, Lord Chauncelour, Keeper of
the Great Seale, Signer of all publicke Charters, Allower of all
Priviledges, hath for his subordinate officers.

Sir William Dickenson, Master of the Requests, & the Prince's
Remembrancer.

Sir Owen Vertue, Clerke of the Signet, and Chafer of Waxe.

"The right honourable Thomas Lord Downer, Lord high Treasurer,
Receaver General of all Rents, Revenues, Subsidies, belonginge by
Nature, custome or accident to the Prince; the great Payemaster
of all necessary charges appertayninge to the Court, hath for his
subordinate Officers--

Sir John Williamson, Steward of the Household, Disburser for the
Familye.

Sir Christopher Wren, Cofferer, and Clerke of the Exchequer.

"The right honourable Joseph Lord Fletcher, Lord high Admirall,
great Commaunder of all the narrow seas, floods and passages;
Surveyor of the Navye, Mayster of the Ordinance, hath for his
subordinate Officers,

Sir Stephen Angier, Warden of the Cinque Ports, and
Victualler of the Fleet.

Sir Anthony Steevens, Captayne of the Guard.

"The right honourable Richard Lord Baylie, Lord high Marshall,
President of all Titles, and Tourneaments, Commander in all
Triumphes, Suppressor of suddayne tumultes, Supervisor of all
games, and publique pastimes, hath for his subordinate Officers,

Sir William Blagrove, Master of the Revells.

Sir John Hungerford, Knight Marshall, severe Commander of the
Wayes for the Prince's passage.

"The right honourable John Lord Towse, Lord high Chamberlayne,
Purveyor for the Prince's pallace, Overseer of all feasts and
banquets, furnisher of all Chambers, and Galleries, Examiner
of all private pastimes, hath for his subordinate Officers,

Sir Richard Swinerton} the Prince's Wards and
Sir William Cheyney } Squiers of his bodye.

Mr. Edward Cooper, Groome-Porter.

"The right honourable Richard Lord Holbrooke, Comptroller
Generall, Chiefe overseer of all Purseavants, Orderer of all
household Servaunts, hath for his subordinate officers,

Sir Thomas Stanley} Sergeaunts at Armes & Gentlemen Ushers
Mr. John Alford } to the Prince

Mr. Brian Nailor, Master of the Robes of State, Keeper of the
Wardrobe, and Surveyor of Liveries.

"The right honourable James Lord Berbloke, principall Secretarye,
Lord privye Seale, designer of all Embasies, Drawer of all Edicts
and Letters, Scribe to the State, hath for his subordinate Officers,

Sir Thomas Clarke, Master of the Roles, & Prothonotarye.

Mr. Marcheaumount Nedham, Clerke of the Councell-table.

"The right honourable John Lord English, Lord Chiefe Justice, Examiner
of all causes Capitall; Sessor upon life and death, Judge of
controversies criminall, hath for his subordinate Officers,

Sir John Alder, Attourney Generall, and the Prince's Solicitor.

Mr. John Sackevile, Baylife Erraunt.

"Now because good Governours without good laws, carefull Magistrates without wholesome Statutes are like dumb (though paynted) images, or unweapon'd soldiers--Hee of his absolute authoritye, conferred upon him in the late free election, doth ratifie and establish all such Decrees and Statutes, as Hee now findeth wisely and warely ordayned of his famous Predecessor; promisinge onely by a full and severe execution to put life in their dead remembrance, Adding moreover some few cautions to be observed in his ensuinge Triumphs."

These statutes were ratified and established by the Prince "at our Manor of Whites-Hall, December the 21st in the first of our Raygne."

"The same night the Prince, with the rest of his Councell meetinge at the high table in the Hall, a Bill was preferred by the Lord Treasurer for the advancement of Mr. Henery Swinarton to the Earldome of Cloyster-sheere, and the over-seeinge of the Princes great Librarye." After due consideration, "the Prince at length graunted the request, and his title was presently drawne by the Clerke of the Councell-table, and pronounced in manner followinge:

"The right honourable Henry Lord Swinarton, Earle of Cloister-Sheer,
Barron of the Garden, chiefe Master of the Presse, and overseer of
the Prince's great Librarye, hath for his subordinate Officers,

Mr. William Rippin, Surveyor of the Walkes.

Mr. Christopher Riley, Corrector of the Printe.

"From this time forward, and not before, the Prince was thought fully to be instal'd, and the forme of government fully established, in-so-much that none might or durst contradict anything which was appoynted by himself, or any of his officers.

"The Holy-dayes beinge now at hand, his privye-chamber was provided and furnisht, wherein a chayre of state was placed upon a carpett with a cloth of state hanged over it, newly made for the same purpose. On Christmas Day in the morninge he was attended on to prayers by the whole companye of the Bacchelours, and some others of his Gentlemen Ushers, bare before him. At dinner beinge sett downe in the Hall at the high table in the Vice-president's place (for the President himself was then allso present) he was served with 20 dishes to a messe, all which were brought in by Gentlemen of the Howse attired in his Guard's coats, ushered in by the Lord Comptroller, and other Officers of the Hall. The first messe was a Boar's Head, which was carried by the tallest and lustiest of all the Guard, before whom (as attendants) wente first, one attired in a horseman's coate, with a Boars-speare in his hande, next to him an other Huntsman in greene, with a bloody faucion drawne; next to him 2 Pages in tafatye sarcenet, each of them with a messe of mustard; next to whome came hee that carried the Boares-head crost with a greene silk scarfe, by which hunge the empty scabbard of the faulcion which was carried before him. As they entered the Hall, he sang this Christmas Caroll, the three last verses of everie staffe beinge repeated after him by the whole companye:

1. The Boare is dead,
Loe, here is his head,
What man could have done more
Than his head off to strike,
Meleager like,
And bringe it as I doe before?

2. He livinge spoyled
Where good men toyled,
Which made kinde Ceres sorrye;
But now dead and drawne,
Is very good brawne,
And wee have brought it for you.

3. Then sett downe the Swineyard,
The foe to the Vineyard,
Lett Bacchus crowne his fall,
Lett this Boare's-head and mustard
Stand for Pigg, Goose, and Custard,
And so you are wellcome all.

"At this time, as on all other Holy-dayes, the Princes allowed Musitions (which were sent for from Readinge, because our owne Town Musick had given us the slipp, as they use to doe at that time when we had most need of them) played all dinner time, and allso at supper. The Prince as ofte as hee satt in the Hall was attended on by a Commoner and Scholler of the Colledge in tafaty sarcenett. After supper there was a private Showe performed in the manner of an Interlude, contayninge the order of the Saturnalls, and shewinge the first cause of Christmas-candles, and in the ende there was an application made to the Day and Nativitie of Christ, all which was performed in manner followinge:

SATURNALIA.

Hercules Curius Doulus

* * * * *

"This shew was very well liked of our selves, and the better: first, because itt was the voluntary service of a younge youth; nexte, because there were no strangers to trouble us.

"St. Steevens day was past over in silence, and so had St. John's day also; butt that some of the Prince's honest neighbours of St. Giles's presented him with a maske, or morris, which though it were but rudely performed, yet itt being so freely and lovingly profered, it could not but bee as lovingly received.

"The same nighte, the twelve daies were suddenly, and as it were extempore, brought in, to offer their service to the Prince, the holy-daies speaking Latine, and the working-daies English, the transition was this:

Yee see these working-daies they weare no satten,
And I assure you they can speake no Latten;
But if you please to stay a-while,
Some shepheard for them will change the style.

"After some few daunces the Prince, not much liking the sporte (for that most of them were out both in their speeches and measures, having but thought of this devise some few houres before) rose, and lefte the hall, after whose departure, an honest fellow to breake of the sportes for that night, and to void the company made suddenly this Epilogue:

These daunces were perform'd of yore
By many worthy Elfes,
Now if you will have any more
Pray shake your heeles your selves.

"The next day being Innocents-day, it was expected, and partly determined by our selves, that the Tragedy of _Philomela_ should have been publickly acted, which (as wee thought) would well have fitted the day, by reason of the murder of Innocent Itis. But the carpenters being no way ready with the stage, or scaffolds (whereof notwithstanding some were made before Christmas), wee were constrained to deferre it till the nexte day, which was the 29th of December.

PHILOMELA.

Tereus, Rex Thraciæ. Progne, Regina, Uxor Terei, Eugenes, a consilijs Terei. Phaulus, Seruus Terei, Tres Socii Terei a Classe, Ancilla Prognes. Philomela, Soror Prognes Itis, Filius Pronges et Terei Ancilla Philomelæ. Faustulus, Pastor Regius. Faustula, Pastoris Filia.

Chorus.

Terra Mare.

* * * * *

"The whole play was wel acted and wel liked.

"New-yeare's eve was wholly spent in preparation for the Prince's triumphs, so that nothing was done or expected that night.

"Next day in the morning (beeing New-yeare's-day) the Prince sent Mr. Richard Swinnerton, one of the Squires of his body to Mr. President with a paire of gloves, charging him to say nothing but these two verses:

The Prince and his Councell, in signe of their loves,
Present you, their President, with these paire of gloves.

"There was some what else written in the paper which covered them, but what it is uncertaine.

"At night were celebrated the Prince's triumphs, at which time onely and never before nor after he was carryed in full state from his pallace to the hall, where in the sight of the whole University a supplication was presented unto him by Time and seconded with a shew called _Times Complaint_. It was performed in manner and forme following:

TIME'S COMPLAINT.

Time. Veritas, the Daughter of Time. Opinion } Seducers of Veritas. Error } Studioso, a Scholler. Manco, a lame Souldiour. Clinias, a poore Country-man. Humphry Swallow, a drunken Cob Goodwife Spiggot, an Ale-wife. Philonices, a rangling Lawyer. Seruus Philonices. Bellicoso, a Casheere Corporall.