which Paulan Atticks Laert. Ep•menid Philostrat Apolon c. than Courteous to strange Men * * Xenoph. de Pulit Athen. SUCH is the Celestiall THEORY of SATURN and MERCURY and such in part the Chymicall the Po•ticall may be next and then Platonicall With Poets and all Poeticall Writters Each of these Hero's was {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} tho one more specially which I may translate though others will not A Man A Star A God But how or why is worth inquiry Whether Multiplicity of Gods came first from old Phoenicians as Sanchun from him Philo Biblius from Both Eusebius 6 6 Preparat lib. 1. or else from AEgypt First thence to the Phoenicians by Cadmus to Chaldee by Belus to Greece by Orpheus as Diodorus oft affirmes 7 7 Diodor lib. 1. cap. 1.2.6 lib. 5. cap. 1. Or first from Chaldeans by Belus and from him to All other Colonies Belus omnes à Belo as some maintaine 8 8 Sr W. Ral. Purcha• Genebrard c. Confounding Gods Idols and Images I now Dispute not THIS the Best of Heathens Uncompell'd confess 9 9 Diod. lib. 1. pt. 1. cap. 2. Plat Chratyl Plutarch Philos. Op•n as among the Iewes Maim•••d Mor N•b lib. 3. c. 30. and This Ranck of Gods the Iewes called The Host of Heaven Men in the World they knew not how except like the New Sun-borne Mice on Nilus Banks 9 9 Diod. lib. 1. pt. 1. cap. 2. Plat Chratyl Plutarch Philos. Op•n as among the Iewes Maim•••d Mor N•b lib. 3. c. 30. and This Ranck of Gods the Iewes called The Host of Heaven by Nature soon wanting and by Instinct as soon seeking some God out of all Entities chose to Deifie the Best to Sense in sted of Better Heaven first and Heavenly Bodies of which to Males they suited Femals out of Earth This Lower World coupling Celestials to Terrestrials to make compleat Generations the Mother EARTH and HEAVEN the Father whose Influence in sweet Showers and Heavenly Dews They thought the best Gonorrhea 10 10 Plutarch as before Thus the Starry Heaven The Highest Sphear then known was but Husband to this Lowest Earth Celi•s to Vesta the next Sphear of SATURN to Rhea for so they call the Element of Water 11 11 From the Greek {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} to Flow JUPITER to JUNO the Spheare of Ayre the SUN was Husband to the MOONE which they thought but the Best and Highest EARTH or Earthly World 12 12 Plutarch of the Moones Spots THESE were a while so Happy to be Gods alone But without Temples Altars Images til Belus time 13 13 Euseb. prep. lib. 1. cap. 9. Yet so that Wise men were not so Sottish as to Deifie Dead lumps of Earth or Fire or any sensless Body Heaven or Earth affordeth But They thought All these were Animate at least Actuate by some Living G•nius Which they called the Soule or Intelligence of HEAVEN SATURN JUPITER c. And to Th•se was given Deity and Worship Yet under the Names of the Spheares Globes Elements and Bodies Which each Genius was thought either to Informe as a Soule or Assist and Actuate as a Separate Intelligence 1 1 The Platonists rather thought these Genii of the Spheares c Informing Souls but the Peripateticks some others would have them Seperate Intelligences But •re long Fond Superstition borne long before but now Creeping out of its Cradle began to View think Faire call Good Admire Deifie and Worship each Mortall which in Virtue I meane Vice hath stept but halfe a step above beyond the Lowest dregs of Basest Vulgars 2 2 Belus is thought to bee the First of these Men-Gods whence the Iewes call•d all such Baalim from B•lus the first Baal This Apotheosis or Art of Godding Men grew at length so Rif• that Embryons could no sooner Breath nay even in their First Grave or Winding sheet of Wombe much lesse be Borne I meane Buried in this great Tombe which we call This World but they were streight forc'd to heare though not to answer the Vows and Prayers of some Sottish Priest ready to proclaime them Gods Yet at first while Madnesse was yet content to be an Infant Dead Men were only made as only able to •eare that Heavy Name of Deity 3 3 Yet at death so usuall that {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} and {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} to Die and to be consecrate or made a God are Terms almost Synonymous in old Greeks Philo Byb Diodor. Porphyr• Lucian c. 4 4 This second rank of Men-Gods was derided by all the world almost yea by those that could well digest the Former Naturall Gods or Armies of Heaven Xenophon de Dictis So ratis and the Scholiast on Aristop•anes Nubes Hence we finde Two Ranks of Gods in all Heathen Divines Immortall Mortall so Biblius Naturall Politick so Tully Celestiall Terrestriall so Diodorus in the places prais'd before to which Varro addes a third Poeticall But These were but Pictures or Shadows of the former Reals When Art had thus learn'd to Make more Gods then Nature could invent while Men Horses Dogs 5 5 Euseb. Prep. lib. 2. cap. 1. did long to Die and so be Deified Lest the World should be confounded in its Vows to Namelesse Gods and Distinct Names would quickly Fayle to so Numberlesse a Number These Second Gods were wisely made to Share in Name 6 6 Diodor. lib. 1. cap. 1.2 T•ll de Nat. Deorum c. Plutarch Defect Oracl as well as Nature with the First which were Naturall Immortall Celestiall Bodies as was said before Hence start up so many Celii Saturns Iupiters Mercuries c. as were Infamous Famous men in AEgypt Greece or any Country else Yet usually with this Decorum first observ'd in Heaven the First Founder of any Family of Note was forc'd a Name-sake upon Celius The Next Heire on Saturn the Third on Iupiter and so on in Order of Heavenly Bodies Nay yet more These Men-Gods were as the World was taught at Death Translated to the Spheares of Those Starrs whose Name they bore or Nature most resembled while here they lived 7 7 Hence most Emphatically were these Dii mino•um Gentium called DEASTRI GOD-STARS men deified into Stars and hence perhaps came As•er to bee T•rminus minuens as in Philosophast•r Grammaticaster c. Isis' Epitaph in Diodorus is not the Thousand instance might be given yet prove enough Being Translated to Heaven They were thought by some to commence Severall Degrees First Heroes and then D•mons 8 8 Plutarch Desect Oracl Plutarch Pl•cit P•ilos lib. 8. Hesiod Op. Di. l 1. vers 121. Though some more nicely distinguish thus Daemons were properly Naturall Intelligences the True Genii of the Sphears and Starrs never Tainted with Fleshy Bodies But Hero's were These Artificiall Deities Snatcht up to Heaven out of Dead Bodies 1 1
This Masquarade Du Ciel may be printed HENRY HERBERT Novemb. 24. 1640. In hoc tantùm peccat quòd nihil peccat I. T. MASQUARADE DU CIEL Presented to the GREAT QUEENE of the LITTLE VVORLD A CELESTIALL MAP REPRESENTING The True Site and Motions of the Heavenly Bodies through the yeeres 1639 1640 c. SHADOWING The late Commotions between SATURN and MERCURY about the Northern THULE With the Happy PEACE and UNION through the whole LITTLE WORLD made by the Goodnesse of PHEBUS and His Royall PHEBE By I. S. LONDON Printed by K. B. for S. C. 1640. TO THE QUEENE MADAME IT cannot be presumption to present That Which to detaine were Sacriledge my Plea is I Durst not but Bring the Letters which HEAVEN Sends It endites what Earth writes in THIS most specially Which it hath Signed with its owne Hand and Sealed with its owne Signet Yet if unacquainted with its Hand I mistake the Superscription and present it amisse my Hope is Such Royall Goodnesse may yet Pardon MADAME Your Majesties most Humble Servant I. S. PHEBVS and His Royall PHEBE King and Queene of Heaven Poëticall Names compounded of Greek words signi•ying Light and Life Both which come from the Sunne and Moone SATVRN The coldest Planet remotest from the Sunne and This Earth With Poets a Great God which being a Northern Genius they make to reside about THVLE a cold North Iland belonging to the Crown of SCOTLAND as appeares in the Notes after the M•sque MERCVRY in Heaven a Little Planet little in Body but great in Influence with Poets the Great God of Learning Patron of Schollers and all Ecclesiasticall men IVPITER with Poets Saturns sonne in Heaven a Planet neare the Sunne MARS a Fiery Planet The Poeticall God of Warre and a Generall Enemy to all Peace VENVS a Great Bright Planet going sometimes behinde but often before the Sunne in Heaven With Poets an Old Great Goddesse and as Great a Friend to Mars Enemy to Peace Corona Borea Celestiall Heroins waiting on PHEBE Lyra Celestiall Heroins waiting on PHEBE Aquila Celestiall Heroins waiting on PHEBE Coma Berenices Celestiall Heroins waiting on PHEBE Cassiopea Celestiall Heroins waiting on PHEBE Most of these Persons are more fully expre•t page 6. The Severall Scenes Antimasques and Entries in This Device of HEAVEN THE GENERALL SCENE is the LITTLE WORLD or Isle of BRITAIN centred within the Sphears of Heaven page 1. The GREAT QUEENE being seated under a Royall State a Cloud rising brings up the First Scene A Scene of Darknesse Nightwork Thunder Lightning with all Attendants of Storme and Tempest NIGHT enters in a hideous shape holding a Landskip of Horror inscribed in a strange Dialect to cause more Admiration ΣKOTOS * * Signifying Darknesse But soaring up too neere the State is amaz'd at such a Majestie and as dazled with that unexpected Brightnesse is forced to retire in most confused haste in which She lost two of Her Attendants SILENCE and OBLIVION Which were still retained behinde Her as Foyles to grace the following Scene of glorious Brightnesse rising up like a cleere Day dawning out of blackest Clouds p. 3 4. In this Scene Two Celestiall HEROINS * * Astronomia Astrologia descend from the Sphears Presenting the Plot of the Masque to the GREAT QUEENE with a Petition inviting Her to vouchsafe Her presence to the HERO'S of Heaven now ready to attend Her whose Beauty might supply the want of PHEBUS Rayes who was already Masked within the Sphe•• expecting Her presence page 4. These two re-ascending in a glorious Rain-bow Sing the first Song to the GREAT QUEENE who rising up in a Rosie coloured Cloud was presently seene Entring among the Masquers personating PHEBE and at the end of the Masque was againe seene with Her Royall PHEBUS under the State while a Celestiall Cho•us enters singing and concludes the Masque page 19. The Plot of the Masque presented by ASTRONOMIA and ASTROLOGIA consists of two Parts or Maps The one Celestiall the other Terrestriall The Celestiall Map * * This Map is fully represented in the Masque Vnmaskt is a most true and exact draught o• the Site and Motions of the SUN MOONE VENUS SATURN MERCURY JUPITER and MARS with other Heavenly Bodies through the yeeres 1639 1640 c. The Terrestriall Map is truly to represent How all Those Motions were shadowed upon Earth for all That time But this last Map or History is not yet fully perfected because the exact proportion 'twixt Heaven and Earth is not yet concluded on by the best ASTRONOMERS The Celestiall and Terrestriall Maps shadowed Both together in one compendious Scheme being an Epitomy of the following Masque PHEBUS pleasing to blesse the Southern World with his Chiefest Residence deputes MERCURY to the Northern THULE * * Of this THVLE as of Saturn and M•rc•ries Right to it and quar•ell for it• a•e large Note• both in the Margents of the Masque and after the Masque but SATURN having pre-possession drives MERCURY back from THULE This Quarrell is shadowed in the Antimasque of Night-work inscribed ΣKOTOS pag. 3. MARCH 1639. APRIL 1639. MAY 1639. MERCURY imploreth PHEBUS Who in much Goodnesse condescendeth to take a Northerne Progresse toward THULE to reconcile these Two yet lest They should prove Contumacious He advanceth in Warre-like manner attended with JUPITER MARS and all their Satellites pag. 9. JUNE But PHEBE'S Royall Goodnesse vouchsafeth to Mediate Peace which PHEBUS granteth to his Dearest PHEBE and so SATURN and MERCURY are againe setled by PHEBUS in their proper Places Onely MARS is Enemy to This Peace and by divers assayes Labours to break it But PHEBE still opposeth Him and so prevaileth that MARS Fals downe as Thunder-struck yeelding himself Prisoner to PHEBUS JULY PHEBUS returneth again leading MARS a Captive-Prisoner to His wonted Southern Residence to the content and Joy of All pag. 12.13 At His Return VENUS petitioneth for Her old Friend MARS and begg•th His Liberty which at length AUGUST PHEBUS granteth in much Royall Goodnesse which to all ingenuous Noble Spirits is a Bond much more Strong then any Chaine then any Fetter MARS released being more inraged at His Imprisonment Plots to incense SATURN and MERCURY againe Through the •est of 1639 and great Pa•t o• 1640. and after divers assayes at length prevailes so farre that SATURN begins againe to frown on MERCURY which MARS so foments that ere long MERCURY is again driven out of THULE and forced to re-implore PHEBUS PHEBUS condescendeth to take a Second Progresse toward THULE 1640. yet resolving rather to prevaile with gentle Rayes of wonted Goodnesse then by Thunderbolts But PHEBE again vouchsafeth to interpose Her selfe prevailing with PHEBUS SEPTEMBER to summon His Grand Councell of all the Seeming Deities pag. 14. Who meeting in AREOPAGUS * * M•rs-Hill S•e the Ma•gin•ll N•tes pag 1. joyntly agree to Arraigne MARS for rebelling against PHEBUS disturbing the Peace mediated by PHEBE incensing SATURN and
Actions Thirdly for all this Time He hath been much strengthned by divers good Aspects from some of the Chief Heavenly Bodies For besides many good Fixt Stars both in AQUARIUS and in Trine or Sextile to AQUARIUS He was well aspected by JUPITER most of all this time Which is more Prevalent because JUPITER hath been much in his own House and Ioy SAGITARIUS which of it selfe also smiles on AQUARIUS in a friendly Sextile And all Astrologers say SATURN being well aspected by JUPITER specially from SAGITARIUS makes great Councellors Whence come so many Great events upon JUPITER'S Conjunction with SATURN Of which Conjunctions the greatest and most remarkable for Europe that yet ever was will be in February 1643 but in PISCES as was said before Againe He hath of late been much and oft aspected by MARS in it selfe no good aspect I confesse yet such as joyned with MERCURIE'S Former Irritation must needs much inrage SATURN and so by a kind of Antiperistasis must needs make him much more Vigorous and Active for Such is Nature still when provoked by some Opposite Hence Astrologers say MARS with SATURN makes most fierce and desperate Souldiers But though SATURN hath been very well setled in his own AQUARIUS or THULE and there hath beene very Strong and Active ever since the end of 1637 Yet is his Strength never like to appeare more than in the latter halfe of 1640 and great part of 1641. For besides his Constant good Aspect with JUPITER either in a Sextile or mutuall reception all that Time He will also be a great Significator through all the Summer and Dominus Autumni as Astrologers speak for 1640. in 1641 also there's scarce a Quarter or a New Moon in which SATURN is not one great Significator if not Dominus Ascendentis Which makes it very probable he will be very Active and Prevalent for that Time also * * Apertio Portarum of which Astrolog•rs speake so much is a great Crisis of Heaven attended with some notable Alterat•ons of Ayre c. by some great Aspect b•twee•e Planets of Contrary Houses Chiefly betweene the Sun Moone and Saturn whose Houses in Heaven are op•osite to the Sun and Moones Such a Great Apersion will be in Feb. 1641. but a Greater in 1643. Another Argument of This is the Good Aspects which SATURN is like to have at least for some of That Time from the SUN and MOONE King and Queene of Heaven For though the SUN be directly Opposite to SATURN with MARS in August 1640 and continues Frowning most of that yeare yet in the beginning of December He begins to Smile on him in a gracious Sextile while the MOON also is very neere And in February 1641 The SUN and SATURN meet The MOON being also in a Trine with SATURN which is like to produce some notable Event but 'tis in PISCES for such Meetings and Aspects of the SUN and SATURN still cause Apertiones maximas A Third Probability of This may be the extraordinary great and frequent Aspects of MARS on SATURN never more than through that Time which is more Prevalent because MARS is for the most part Dominus Anni 1640 Receiving his Commission from a great Meeting of Heavenly Bodies in SATURN'S Houses at the beginning of that yeere also though SATURN be Dominus Autu•ni yet MARS is with him in Ascendente But JUPITER aspecting and tempring MARS makes him lesse Formidable Three or Foure times in the SUMMER of 1640 MARS being with SATURN will joyntly oppose the SUN and MERCURY The last time is about the Meeting of the Deities in Areopagus and this last is like much to hinder the Pacification but that MARS is presently dispoyled of all power to hurt as is said before pag. 14. And though MARS do oft Frown on MERCURY through 1641 yet being much in his Detriment and Fall and Tempered also by JUPITER All is like to End well But setting aside This Present Quarrell Their Constant Antipathy wants neither Symptomes nor Causes as many appeare in all their Theory SATURN'S Motion very Slow except in his Aux His Influence very Cold melancholy also and flegmatick except tempred with JUPITER or MARS Being Remotest from this Earth and from the SUN the King of Heaven and so of a Cold Temper and Dusky Leaden Colour Whence not only Chymists but Astrologers are even forced to call him Lord of Lead and such like Dark Black Coaly Substances dugg out of the Earth specially in North Climats MERCURIE'S Theory is of all the Planets most abstruce perplext and intricat Though He be Least in Body but the Moon yet not so in Influence For in this He yelds to none but the SUN and MOON King and Queen of Heaven Aspecting These His Influence is Good to whome Ho•oscopall For These He makes Schollers Ecclesiasticall Men yea oft They say Bishops and Prelats• Yet His Influence is most inconstant Whence His Epithets not only with Poets but Astrologers are Ancops Versatilis Versipellis c. Yea the Chameleon of Heaven at which Plotinus could laugh when most serious * * Ficin. Prolog. in Plotin Enead 2. lib. 3. cap. 1. Aspecting SATURN Hee useth to Frown Being as Swift Active and usually Hot as SATURN is Slow and Cold Hence Their Aspects raise Great Stormes Wind Thunder c * * Suff•ci•nt instance of this may be the stormes c. like to attend the Opposition 〈◊〉 Mercury by •atu•n 〈◊〉 Ma•s about Aug. 16• Great alterations in the Ayre in Mens bodies Yea in whole States c. if Astrologers deceive us not For from his swift motion and sudden mutations in Site and Place They use to ascribe to Him I know not why most of the changes in Wind and Weather Temper in Mans Body Policy in each State Religion in each Church c. but specially if Dominus Anni as he was of late Yet Astrologers though Picus 1 1 Pic. Mirand. in Astrol. lib. 17. cap. 5. laugh them to scorn make him a Constant Friend to the X• Religion which yet Bacon saith 1 1 Pic. Mirand. in Astrol. lib. 17. cap. 5. he makes as Abstruce Perplext and Intricate as his Motions are in all his Epicycles In this also he is Contrary to SATURN who some say 1 1 Pic. Mirand. in Astrol. lib. 17. cap. 5. useth to Patronize the Iewish Religion Because forsooth their Sabbath was on His Day with us now called Saturday or SATURN'S Day though some derive it otherwise 2 2 Verstegan A•tiquit which Reason of Bacons is of kin to that of Plutarch 3 3 Plutarch Symp. l. 4. qu. 5. who will needs have The Jews Sabbath a Feast to Bacchus who was saith he sirnamed Sabbazios But I know not where For Aristophanes 4 4 Aristoph Aves Tull. 2d Leg. will have Sabbazios Banisht as a Strange un-heard-of God except he could find shelter in Athens no lesse Superstitious to strange Gods 5 5 Hence come Those Altars to Strang• Gods of
And •or this were they called Dii Animal•s Manii c. Tull. de •egib Servius in Indice Turnebus in Adv••sar lib. 19. cap. 29. And from This doubtlesse sprang the Fables of so many Metamorphiz'd into Starrs and Heavenly Constellations which are more then are leaves in Ovids Metamorphosis Yea so Deeply Rooted in Earth though their Tops were in Heaven were These Deastri that when Other better Deities came to be known in the World Yet Superstition could not part with so Faire and Numerous an Off-spring to detaine which was at length Invented This Plot that though These might not be made Termini Cultus Yet they should still remaine as Media Mediators 2 2 Plato in Chrat•l Apul de Daemon Socrat. Rossel in Pimand lib. 2. com 9. qu • Plu•tarch as before forsooth between poore Living Men and the Great Celestiall Gods that were too High and Farr from any Familiar converse with Men To These DEASTERS were made the First Images Columns Temples and Idoll Altars 3 3 H•rmes As•lepi•d Euseb. Pr•p • 5. cap. 2.8 9. Herodot Clio. All which were but as Traps to catch and hold some Godded-Soule for more familiar converse on Earth Charmed from Heaven 4 4 For Carmina de Caelo possunt d•duc•re Lunam For The Supream Celestiall Gods neither could nor would be so intrapt as These good Godded-Soules that once knew how sweet it was to play and roule themselves in Earthly Bodies and so were kept in Heaven Much against their wils which in their wonted Liberty much rather would have chanted to an Organ here below then be ravisht with the Harmony of all the Spheares above For besides the old Sweet Musick they were wont to have on Earth They found Heaven at length so crowded that though content to Sweat yet stay they could not unless so contract that a Milion might stand on the point of a Needle Yea and so could scarce any place be left in Heaven for Better I meane Worss Deasters which in following Ages came Thither Hoping to find as much Ease and Rome in Heaven as They had found or made in Earth One of the First DEASTERS was MERCURY Not that Late Grecian Boy of yesterday But an Old AEgyptian as Diodorus or a Phenician Philistine or Chananite as Sanchun 5 5 Euseb. Prep. lib. 1. cap. 10. will have him And if we place him first in Palestina we doubt not but the Mediterranean Stream might with ease bring him thence not only down the Ostia Nili and Ostia Tibridis but also to most places of Europe specially to Ilands whose Seas are continued to the Mediterranean Many Mercuries we find in old Historians and what was done by All the Poets in a Rapsody ascribe to One thereby making him a most prodigious Monster no Man much lesse a God yet good enough for a Deaster Of Five or more Mercuries The most famous was the AEgyptian THEUT or THEOT 6 6 The First AEgyptian Month. for so they write him whence came the Month THOTH and whence perhaps came {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} to be the commune Name of God with Greeks whose Divinity was first AEgyptian though I know both Plutarch and Plato too 1 1 Plut. Philos. Placit. Plat. Cratyl otherwise derive the Greek {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} A Great God to all AEgyptians was this THEOT whom old Greeks call {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} and by this Name often named in Eusebius 2 2 Prep. cap. 10. Taught perhaps by Pythagoras who alluding as it may be to this Great AEgyptian God was wont to call God {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} which name of God Plato could well Etymologise when in the Great God he could find nothing but {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Vnum Idem While in Materials scarce ought but {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} and in the best Spirituals else much {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} and but a little {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Whence he came to know Parmenides meaning at which he startled so when young who was wont to say One was all and all One meaning there was but One True Entity 3 3 Plato in his Parmenid• Timeus Chratylus c. One because Infinite All else were but shadows of This One but in themselves {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Not True Beings as Plato often speakes Most think this AEgyptian THEUT or First Mercury the First Lawgiver 4 4 Plat. Minos wi•h Ficin Which may be true if taken cum grano salis For Tutor he was to Isis who first governed by Written Laws if Diodorus deceive us not Hence is that in Her Epitaph WHAT I BOUND NONE COULD LOOSE 5 5 Diod Sicul lib. 1. This Mercury they say First Founded Schooles Compos'd an Alphabet and taught to speak with Grace and Accent right Which Art he prescribed by Rules of Musick whose severall Tones the Three Best at least 6 6 Diapason Diapente Epitrite He found by comparing Summer with Winter in a meane proportion of Spring 7 7 Rossell in Pimand Which way I more admire then that of Pythagoras who found all Musicall Proportions by weighing the Smiths Hammers which he heard make sweet consort by knapping on the Anvill 8 8 Ficinus on Timeus From his teaching to speak well he was called Hermes because {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} which Etymology Plato 9 9 Plat Chratyl might learne in every leafe almost of Homer Hence in each Sacrifice were Tongues sacred to Mercury While the Praeco cryed Favete linguis 10 10 Scholiast in Aristoph Plut. Nub. which with them was that {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} of which Plato discourseth so Divinely Hence was Mercury stiled God of Eloquence and all Learning Patron of Schollers and all Ecclesiasticall persons Yea to make him Eloquence it selfe seemed no Harsh Trope And because Eloquence can insinuate it selfe into every man and steale his Affections his Heart himselfe Hence Mercury with all the Poets hath still Heard Vafer Versutus Callidus Fur c. Yea so Notorious a Theefe that no sooner Borne but in his Cradle were found 11 11 Lucian Dialog: Apoll Vulcan Mars Sword Venus Girdle Vulcans Tongs Apollo's Harp Iupiters Scepter Only He spared His Thunderbolts because so Heavy and Hot would burn his fingers who ever dreaded Fire as was said before and might roare so lowd that all the Gods might wake and so descry some of his Knaveries For all could not be Seen or Known SATURN with Poets was King of Cre•t and being •ranslated into Heaven There became One of Their First Deasters Yet I find a SATURN much Elder then That Cretian was or could be of whom Sanchu• at large 1 1 Euseb. Prep. lib. 1. cap. 10. speaking •f Phenicia Theolog. There was of old saith he in Palestina One called ELIOWN
with him joyntly opposing MERCURY MARS thus arraigned was Cast by joynt consent of all the Deities and adjudged to forfeit all His Honours Dignities Priviledges c. to His Soveraigne PHEBUS and for ever to be excluded from the Number of Gods PHEBUS Returneth again to His wonted Southern Residence OCTOBER in Great glory while PHEBE still condescendeth to mediate a perfect Peace for which Her Royall Goodnesse p•evaileth with PHEBUS to continue His Great Councell and to summon all the CAUSES into JUPITERS HALL the Great Councell-Place for all the Gods NOVEMB•R c. Here SATURN and MERCURY resigne up all Their Possessions Claimes c. into PHEBUS Hands acknowledging Their dependance on His Royall Favour PHEBUS receiveth them with wonted Goodnesse Which alone moveth Him not onely to re-invest them with all Former Priviledges but also to smile on them with new addition of Royall Favours well knowing that Royall Goodnesse is still wont to Finde or Make Loyall Subjects of all Noble Spirits pag. 16. Thus at length is a most Happy Peace effected through the whole LITTLE WORLD at which all the CAUSES joyntly petition for an Eternall Memoriall of the Royall Goodnesse of PHEBUS and His Royall PHEBE Who after a Bright Cloud of thinne Exhalations had opened it selfe and disappeared are Both seen resting under the Royall State to the greatest content and Joy of All Witnessed by a Generall Applause first begun among all the Deities in Heaven and being thence reflected through the whole Scene was againe counter-echoed by all the Sphears Whence issueth a Celestiall Chorus singing and congratulating the most Happy Peace and Vnion of the Little World made by the Royall Goodnesse of PHEBUS and His Royall PHEBE MASQUERADE DU CIEL Presented to the Great Queene of the LITTLE WORLD THE SCENE was centred within a circle of Magnifique Portico's THE SPHEARS of HEAVEN and GLOBE of EARTH all fairely Vaulted yet so artificially poyzed with such curious Proportion that without pressure They supported their Supporters Which seemed Silver Pilasters inter-veyn'd with Streaming Sprigs of finest Gold Over these ran an Architrave Freez yet shooting up so farr from the eye that it lost somewhat of its luster and seemed but Pearle filleted with sparkles of richest Diamonds The outward Balcon's for fenestello's had a continued Chrystall Work backt with a most glorious prospect which quickly lost the eye midst Orient Colours streamed with Azure at greatest distance Within These was a stately Fabrick curiously couched into a Sphear intermixtly waved with foure Elements and foyled about with a Perspective of Clouds over which at distance NATURE hovered with an aspect that seemed to admire rather then view Arts choise Composure On This a Curious Balestrata finely rais'd seeming a LITTLE WORLD Rising up from within a Greater THE LITTLE WORLD or ISLE of BRITAIN The Great Globe's Epitomy Natures Second Draught at which Shee smil'd to see her selfe growne an Artist in more compleat Limning For Her Former lines seemed but as imperfect Assayes of what she meant to draw in This Her Master-peece of all which with a modest scorne seemed to disdaine all Admiration Its utmost Verge was an Artificiall Border made of a Naturall Sea most lively exprest flowing into a Circle whose in-most Area seeming an Iland of Mosaique Work Terrast with antick knots was the Basis to a Royall State blest with the Presence of the GREAT QUEENE Over whom ran a most glorious Canopy in which the Graces were seene each with her silver needle Enameling rather then Embroyd'ring and so neatly were the Flowers contriv'd that with humble reverence they All inclined to the GREAT QUEENE as the Heliotropion to the Sunne seeming to acknowledge their Colour to Her Lippe their Sweetnesse to Her Breath Toward the Fringe the Graces met and with a pleasant smile all at once reflected on the last made but first intended Flower finely purled with BRITTANNOCLEA 1 1 •••tain•••lory which was the Soule to This Body the Motto impres'd on This Device of HEAVEN The Colour most in Eye was the Rosie-Lilly-sweetly-mixt Carnation yet changeably inclining toward Crimson which seemed but a Naturall modest Blush at the presence of the GREAT QUEENE Who sate Circled about with a Glory of Rayes which yet needed not to expresse Her Whom all knew the QUEENE of glorious Brightnesse The fayrest Idea of perfect Beauty and among Mortals Vertue's choisest Sample• which She makes a Pattern for Her Fairest Draughts One whom Nature had taught with best grace to adorne Majestie and with the Luster of Her least rayes to dazle Glory Her selfe who now stood at distance Blushing yet ambitious to attend this GREAT QUEEN Blessing the State• On either hand stood a ROYALL PRINCE Both which were Darlings to the same Nature which at Their Birth thought it no Solecisme to cloath Maturity with •oungest yeers Both with a Youthfull yet gracefull blush seemed to Smile as seeing themselves laden with O•hers Hopes while They stood as Centre to all the Lines of future Felicity Over One of them hovered a Crowne with this Motto DON DES CIEUX 2 2 A Gift f•om Hea•en Neere These were placed Two Fayrest Young Ladies in Rich attire Carnation guarded with silver deluces Their Haire knotted with Starrs and powdered with Golden Attoms rais'd up with a Dazling Ray darted out from that Sphear of Brightnesse fixed under the Royall State At whose beck a Cloud• in an instant Rising discovered THE FIRST SCENE A SCENE of DARKNES an Impresse of Horror a Chaos f•lt though not See•e NIGHT not content with her wonted Sables affects now a more dismall hue Enters presenting Terror in a Lantskip shadowed with blackest colours The Inscription in a strange Dialect speaking more admiration ΣKOTOS 1 1 A Greek wo•d sig•ify•ng DARKNES 2 2 NIGHT-WORK b•ing also a desc••ption of THVLE In this Antim••••• inscribe• ΣKOTOS is preshadowed the whole P•ot o• the Masque more particul•rly personated afterwards in severall Entries First Saturne and Mercuries Quarrell about the Northern THVLE and th•n the Pacification interrupted awhile by MARS but at length happily perfected by the Goodnesse of PHE•VS and his Royall PHEBE Steepe rising Hils farr off mocking night at noone with shady tops of pathlesse groves fill halfe the Scene Leaving for the nighest part a Solitary Valley divided with a River whose purling Streames murmuring through broken rocks taught the Woods beyond to Tremble Their boughs and leaves being shadowed on the Water by the glimring MOONE Whose weake Beames Refracted with frequent flashes of Lightning breaking out from blackest Clouds made up a Faint Light much more dismall then Darknesse For 'twas only enough to make Dark Coufusion seeme more Horrid These Trembling measures traced in full time to the crowing of Cocks only ecchoed in saddest reports from farthest distance interrupted with harsh unpleasing kroaking and hideous Scritchings of Nights Forlorne Creatures made up the Musick that best accords with Nights Discord This Scene presents the Antimasques acted
None asked more for more could not be said more could not be Thought Yet one thing more there was at which both Art and Nature stood amaz'd each thinking That the others Skill Which it selfe durst not presume to owne This was a most Naturall Likenesse Propo•tion Feature yea Identity it selfe between This Faire and Glorious PHEBE now over the State 1 1 In the bright Clouds of Heaven and That as Faire Great and Glorious a QUEEN seene before under it Most of the Spectators •ot having eyes to see One Sunne much lesse Two at once thought Both Those but One yet with severall names in severall Places So over the State They called Her PHEBE but under it The GREAT QUEENE as of old to the Poets The same Deity was but in severall Places PHEBE DIANA and PROS••PINA Yet some few that saw with Thoughts as well as eyes Thought the One only Reall The other Representative as Reflected on some choisest Chrystall fixt or moved sooner then Thought yet still after the Motions of the GREAT QUEENE But some Sublimate Rosie-Crucians that were present with their Spectacles not yet content would needs dive to the Bottome of their Deepest Chrysiple to search out This artificiall Mysterie of Nature In discussing of which They had almost made another Antimasque or peece of Night-worke by profound Mysticall Disputations whether Art or Nature Sense or Reason could best separate abstract a• least prescind a Sprightly Genius from its Body which they called the Carcer Animae the Night of Light the Terrean Hecceity of an Etheriall Quiddity so that the same Suppositum might exist in Two distinct Individuums For such they thought the Existence of these Masquers both in Heaven and Earth at the same instant And these suttle Losophers which was best of all thought this Tactulum of theirs a fine Grace to this Masque of Heaven Hoping their Bandore might happly doe as much for the Bass at the next Confort as the Gras-hopper once did for the broken Treble 2 2 Rhodigin Var• Lect• In the meane time not pauzing for this Harmonicall Discord below the Musick suddenly brake forth above most melodiously continued with a sweet though saddest Ditty whose Ayre was thought to be the same with That composed at the Sad parting of the Grecian Princes from their Ladies towards Troy While the Musick began to pauze with a most patheticall melting Note PHEBUS Riseth and with a most Emphaticall aspect parteth from His Dearest PHEBE * * March 25. 1639. the Sunne parted from the Moone the King of Heaven from His Q•eene and went Northward in the Ecli•tick Being then in ARIES the first of all the Nort••rn Signes How t•is a• a•l the rest was sha•owed o• e••th a•o•t t•at t•me ••lon•s to History to •ecord as in a true Terrestriall Map parallell to this Celestiall whose Eyes onely and they fainted too were left able to breath out a Sighing Vale The occasion of This Saddest Parting was some Important Businesse of HEAVEN at which PHEBUS himselfe pleased to advance Northward there to make Two Enemies One Friend Condescending thus to interpose Himselfe though below Himselfe rather then by a Thunder-bolt to deale with Both at greater distance THE MATTER WAS THIS PHEBUS pleasing to blesse the Southern World with his chiefest Res•dence Deputed MERCURY to the utmost Northern THULE 1 1 Of this THVLE also of Saturn and Mercuries•ight to it and Quarrell for it are la•ge no•es annext to the end of the Masque But MERCURY is shrewdly there Oppos'd by SATURN upon an old Grudge ere-since MERCURY so sorely foyled CUPID SATURNS grandchild Manet altâ mente repostum Yet at p•esent SATURN pretends another quarrell pleading Those cold North Climats subject unto Him in PHEBUS absence and to assert his cause besides present Possession almost the best Point in Law He produceth an Old Charter Patent under PHEBUS Broad Seale on which Nature had stampt the Armes 2 2 The Signe of the Lion in Heaven •s by all Astrologers made the proper Palace of t•e S•n and so the Device of PHEBVS of HEAVEN MERCURY offers Dispute and doubts not to make his Cause good by force of Argument But Saturn could handle his Sithe much better then a Syllogism yet had Logick enough to hold His owne Conclusion and deny MERCURIES Assumption of ought belonging to Him yea confessing He could not Dispute He thought best to Moderate and Himselfe will Determine MERCURIES Thesi• And in Conclusion Be it Right or Wrong Hee Forceth MERCURY to goe back as he came and which was more wilily directs That Back-motion into a FALL 3 3 Divers times since 1637 was M•rcury the Planet driven out of AQVARIVS SATVRNS house shado•ed here under the n•me of THVLE and Forced int•PISCES which S•gne all Astrologers call Mercuries Fall MERCURY Falling Protests against SATURNS Injurious Act and to Right Himselfe Appeales to PHEBUS 4 4 MERCVRY Fa•ling into PISCES in March 1639 seemes to appeale to the Su• who was then in PISCES a So•t•ern Signe while SATURN Reprotests and Antiprotests Trusting to the Goodnesse of his Cause not knowing that a New Patent might suspend an Old Charter that was never made or meant to be Eternall To Compose this quarrell PHEBUS Himselfe condescended to take a North progresse towards THULE 1 1 As soone as MERCVRY had thus f•llen and appea•ed the Sunne presently left the Sout•e•n Signes and advanced Nor••wa•d in the Ecliptick y•t in •arrelike manne• for ARIES the first of the North•rn signes into which the Sun then entred is by all Astrologers called the House of MARS and so of Warre and left SATURN should prove contumacious which some feared He advanceth in Warlike manner Sending also MARS before Him to attend MERCURY who without PHEBU'S speciall Favour was like to prove by much too weake for SATURN MARS goeth before toward MERCURY Yet by the Way lingreth a while in VENUS House on old acquaintance But to his Great losse and detriment for PHEBUS will anon revenge it 2 2 MARS then also became Northern both in Latitude and Longitude and went before the Sun toward GEMINI MERCVRIES House Yet by the way lingred awhile in TAVRVS VENVS House but to his hurt for TAVRVS is also called MARS Detriment This is also Poeticall alluding to t•e old Fab•e of MARS with VENVS taken •y t•e Sun JUPITER followes PHEBUS with His Thunderbolts but at distance and not without some seeming great Reluctancy going Backward oft as he seemed to step forward For loth he was to hurt his Old Fa•her yet much more loth to be disloyall to his Soveraigne PHEBUS 3 3 IVPITER with the Poets SATVRNS sonne the• followed the Sun in SAGITARIVS so at distance but with seeming Reluctancy being Retrog•ade Both at length are well prevented by PHEBE'S Wisdome Whose Royall Goodnesse vouchsafeth to mediate PEACE which PHEBUS Granteth to His Dearest PHEBE And so being Reconciled casts His wonted Gracious Aspect upon SATURN Who was thus againe setled
Palaces Leo and Cancer in the Midst betweene Mercurie's Houses Gemini and Virgo on either side of which are Venus Houses Taurus and Libra With Chymists MERCURY is Cold and Moyst and so fittest to reside in Cold Moyst Ilands Such as THULE These also perceive his Great Favours with and neere approach to the Sun and Moon King and Queen of Mettals Gold and Silver Hence they say Silver commes neerest to Gold in Forme and Purity but Mercury Quicksilver 2 2 This is Mercurius Princi•iatus as th•y call it For Mer•ur•us Princ•pians is one of t•ose T•ree Active Pri•ci•les in each •ody which are SAL SVLPHVR and MERCVRY SAL whence comes Taste represents •arth in the Gr•at Wo•ld SVLPHVR Fire hence S•ell and •rom SAL and SVLPHVR so or so mixt comes such or such a Colo•r MERCVRY• like Ayre and Water moyst and cold must st•ll bed•w the SAL a•d SVLPHVR else they crumble into Atoms for N•turall Heat must have Foment from Radicall Moystu•e to supply whi•h some s•eke •o finde an Artificial••alsom• of Nature in Matter and Gravity though of all Mettals He be most Crude and Indigested From this neere Approach of Quicksilver to Gold in Matter and Gravity Some Sublimate Rosy-Crucian Alchymists have made deep Plots with Sulphur to make Their Mercury become Sol of a Subject a King in Mettals of Quicksilver Gold But True Mercu•y cannot harbour Trayterous Inclinations Hence Their Sulphureous Devices vanish like Powder Plots And by Best Philosophers 3 3 Sr. Fr. Bacon Na• Hist. Cent 4. Exp. 327. Fernel de abdit Rer•m Ca•sis 'tis now concluded that though the True Elixar might or could be found 4 4 G•ber A••bs Raymund Lull c. the Art of which was long among the Arabs AEgyptians also till Diocletia• burnt Their books yet Mercury could never make Good Gold King of Mettals because They say 3 3 Sr. Fr. Bacon Na• Hist. Cent 4. Exp. 327. Fernel de abdit Rer•m Ca•sis He cannot indure the Tryall of fire Chymicall sure they meane and not the old Saxon Ordeire per fire 5 5 Ve•steg Antiquit. Cambd. c. which Tryed Good Emma Because He hath still had as much Antypathy to VULCAN as Sympathy to VENUS But because This is a Masque of Heaven and SATURN and MERCURY Heavenly Bodies It will not bee amisse to seeke out some place in Heaven that may parallell THULE upon Earth And no Place in all the Zodiack seems so fit as AQUARIUS a most Cold Moyst Signe under which also the Poets place all Cold Ilands and Manilius in speciall seemes to place THULE 6 6 See Scaliger on Manil. Now as the Poets make SATURNS cheife Residence in the Chroniaen Sea about THUL• so do all Astrologers make it in AQUARIUS which is with them Saturns House and Ioy And This AQUARIUS The Celestiall THULE may well be the Celestiall Scene of SATURN and MERCURIES Quarrell as THULE was the Terrestriall For of all Places in the Zodiack AQUARIUS seems most Ominou• to M•RCURY Who can never stay Long there but is either driven Back becomming Retrograde or else Forced into PISCES which with all Astrologers is called MERCURIE'S FALL 7 7 As appeares by the Scheam•of He•ven annext to the •n• of the Masque pag. 19. Now although This Constant Antipathy between These Two in Heaven hath still been observed by all Astrologers in all Ages yet it was never so strong or strongly actuate as through the Stadium of This Masque viz from 1637 c 1 1 To that Great Con•u•ct•o• of SATVRN and IVPITER with the rest of the P•anets but MARS in PISCES •eb 1643. of w•ich before in the Ma•que Vnmaskt pag 16. p 24. THE CAUSES OF WHICH SEEM THESE First MERCURIES Great Irritation of SATUR• by his New Patent or Deputation into His THULE or AQUARIUS The Date of which New C•••ission seemes to be about the end of 1637 for a little before That Time MERCURY was Meridionall and waited on the SUN with more than usuall Favour and there seemed to receive a New Commission to enter SATURN'S THULE with more than usuall Authority For presently on this He enters AQUARIUS Saturns Possession and in it is very Quick and Active Videant Astronomi But ere long SATURN bestirs himselfe and without long dispute be it Right or Wrong Drives his New Guest out and forceth him to Fall into PISCES And though MERCURY did oft assay to enter again yet SATURN as oft Drove him out 2 2 S•e the place and motions of these Planets in Ianuary 1638. also Ianuary and March 1639. There is n• Disputing with a crooked Sithe till at length being quite driven out and Hopelesse Hee make his addresse to the SUN seeming to implore His help at which the SUN left the Southern Signes and advanced Northward in the Ecliptick in Warlick manner Entring ARIES the First of Northern Signes and House of MARS and so of War MARS being the God of War with all the Poets And Here begins PHEBUS• First North Progresse 3 3 In March 1639. see the Masque pag. 8 9. with all the Scenes and Entries following in This Masque of Heaven The Second Cause may seem MERCURIE'S most Unfortunat Debility and Extraordinary Weaknes in Heaven by so frequent Retrogradations Detriments Peregrinations Fals c. never more through all This Time but specially Anni 1640. and 1641. Which is like to produce Those effects which for about These yeares were long since foretold by the best Astronomers France ever had 4 4 See Predict Par Iea• Pe•it pour l'Annee Mil six cens quarante quaran•e un Impri•è à Troyes 1625. Predictions Admirables de Michel Nostradamus Centur. XI Imp•im• à Paris 1605. Which is yet more remarkable and seemes more Ominous in that there are so many and Great Meetings of the Heavenly Bodies through this Stadium in PISCES 5 5 See Ian. Feb. 1640. 1641. 1642. 1643. This last viz. Feb. 1643 is the most notable Conjunction yet ever was which was still accounted the FALL of MERCURY A Third Cause may be SATURNS Extraordinary Strength Vigour and Activity which hath been in Heaven all this •ime For First for 30 years last past SATURN was not so well setled in his own possession as he began to be about the end of 1637. For till that Time He came not to his House and Joy AQUARIUS in which when he came he found MERCURY Acting his New Commission and no sooner saw him but he drives him out even the next day and forceth him to Fall into PISCES 6 6 Let Astronomers examine the Motions of these two Planets through December 1637. and Iannuary 1638. as was said before Againe at his comming Home then He was in his A•x being in the Apex or Apogeum of his Epicycle and very neere the Apex of his Eccentrick Which as still hath been observed makes him more Swift in his Motions and more Active in all his