England being of our Society deserved honouraâ—le Remembrance for his liberal and noble Mindfulness of us and our State who undesired sent to the Prince as a Token of his Lordship's Favour 10 l. and a Purse of â—ine rich Needle-work When all these things sorted so well to our Desires and that there was good hope of â—ffecting that that was taken in hand there was dispatched from our State a Messenger to our ancient allied Friend the Inner Temple that they might be acquainted with our Proceedings and also to be invited to participate of our Honour which to them was most acceptable as by the Process of their Letters and ours mutually sent may appear The Copies of the Letters that passed betwixt the two most flourishing Estates of the Grayans and Templarians To the most Honourable and Prudent the Governors Assistants and Society of the Inner Temple Most Grave and Noble WE have upon good Consideration made choice of a Prince to be predominant in our State of Purpoole for some important Causes that require an Head or Leader And as we have ever had great Cause by the Warrant of Experience to assure our selves of your unfeigned Love and Amity so we are upon this Occasion and in the Name of our Prince Elect to pray you that it may be continued and in Demonstration thereof that you will be pleased to assist us with your Counsel in the Person of an Ambassador that may be Resident here amongst us and be a Minister of Correspondence between us and to advise of such Affairs as the Effects whereof we hope shall sort to the Benefit of both our Estates And so being ready to requite you with all good Offices we leave you to the Protection of the Almighty Your most Loving Friend and Ally Grays-Inn Dated at our Court of Graya this 14 th of December 1594. To the most honourable State of the Grayans Right Honourable and most firmly United IF our Deserts were any way answerable to the great Expectation of your good Proceedings we might with more Boldness accomplish the Request of your kind Letters whereby it pleaseth you to interest us in the Honour of your Actions which we cannot but acknowledge for a great Courtesie and Kindness a thing proper to you in all your Courses and Endeavours and repute it a great Honour intended towards our selves In respect whereof we yield with all Good Will to that which your honourable Letters import as your Kindness and the Bond of our ancient Amity and League requireth and deserveth Your assured Friend The State of Templaria From Templaria the 18 th of December 1594. The Order of the Prince of Purpoole's Proceedings with his Officers and Attendants at his honourable Inthronization which was likewise obsâ—rved in all his solemn Marches on grand Days and like Occasions which Place every Officer did duly attend during the Reign of His Highness's Government A Marshal A Marshal Trumpets Trumpets Pursuevant at Arms Lanye Towns-men in the Prince's Livery with Halberts Yeomen of the Guaâ—d three Couples Captain of the Guard Grimes Baron of the Grand Port Dudley Baron of the Base Port Grante Gentlemen for Entertainment three Couples Binge c. Baron of the Petty Port Williams Baron of the New Port Lovel Gentlemen for Entertainment three Couples Wentworth Zukenden Forrest Lieutenant of the Pensioners Tonstal Gentlemen-Pensioners twelve Couples viz. Lawson Devereux Stapleton Daniel Rotts Anderson Glascott Elken Davison cum reliquis Chief Ranger and Master of the Game Forrest Master of the Revels Lambert Master of the Revellers Tevery Captain of the Pensioners Cooke Sewer Archer Carver Moseley Another Sewer Drewry Cup-bearer Painter Groom-porter Bennet Sheriff Leach Clerk of the Council Iones Clerk of the Parliament Clerk of the Crown Downes Orator Heke Recorder Starkey Sollicitor Dunne Serjeant Goldsmith Speaker of the Parliament Bâ—llen Commissary Greenwood Attorney Holt. Serjeant Hitchcombe Master of the Requests Faldo Chancellor of the Exchequer Kitts Master of the Wards and Idiots Ellis Reader Cobb Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer Briggs Master of the Rolls Hetlen Lord Chief Baron of the Common Pleas Damporte Lord Chief Justice of the Prince's Bench Crew Master of the Ordnance Fitz-Williams Lieutenant of the Tower Lloyd Master of the Jewel-house Darlen Treasurer of the House-hold Smith Knight-Marshal Bell. Master of the Ward-robe Conney Comptroller of the House-hold Bouthe Bishod of St. Giles's in the Fields Dandye Steward of the House-hold Smith Lord Warden of the four Ports Damporte Secretary of State Iones Lord Admiral Cecill Richard. Lord Treasurer Morrey Lord Great Chamberlain Southworth Lord High Constable Lord Marshal Knaplock Lord Privy Seal Lamphew Lord Chamberlain of the House-hold Markham Lord High Steward Kempe Lord Chancellor Iohnson Archbishop of St. Andrews in Holborn Bush. Serjeant at Arms with the Mace Flemming Gentleman-Usher Chevett The Shield of Pegasus for the Inner-Temple Scevington Serjeant at Arms with the Sword Glascott Gentleman-Usher Paylor The Shield of the Griffin for Grays-Inn Wickliffe The King at Arms Perkinson The great Shield of the Prince's Arms Cobley The Prince of Purpoole Helmes A Page of Honour Wandforde Gentlemen of the Privy Chamber six Couples A Page of Honour Butler Roger. Vice-Chamberlain Butler Thomas Master of the Horse Fitz-Hugh Yeomen of the Guard three Couples Towns-men in Liveries The Family and Followers Upon the 20 th Day of December being St. Thomas's Eve the Prince with all his Train in Order as above set down marched from his Lodging to the great Hall and there took his place in his Throne under a rich Cloth of State His Counsellors and great Lords were placed about him and before him below the Half-pace at a Table sate his learned Council and Lawyers the rest of the Officers and Attendants took their proper Places as belonged to their Condition Then the Trumpets were commanded to sound thrice which being done the King at Arms in his rich Surcoat of Arms stood forth before the Prince and proclaimed his Style as followeth By the sacred Laws of Arms and authorized Ceremonies of the same maugre the Conceit of any Malecontent I do pronounce my Sovereign Liege Lord Sir Henry rightfully to be the high and mighty Prince of Purpoole Arch-Duke of Stapulia and Bernardia Duke of the High and Nether Holborn Marquis of St. Giles's and Tottenham Count Palatine of Bloomsbury and Clerkenwell Great Lord of the Cantons of Islington c. Knight of the most honourable Order of the Helmet and Sovereign of the same After that the King at Arms had thus proclaimed his Style the Trumpets sounded again and then entred the Prince's Champion all in compleat Armour on Horse-back and so came riding round about the Fire and in the midst of the Hall stayed and made his Challenge in these Words following If there be any Man of high Degree or low that will say that my Sovereign is not rightly Prince of Purpoole as by his King at Arms right-now hath been proclaimed I am ready here to maintain
but in a sort discontended and displeased After their Departure the Throngs and Tumults did somewhat cease although so much of them continued as was able to disorder and confound any good Inventions whatsoever In regard whereof as also for that the Sports intended were especially for the gracing of the Templarians it was thought good not to offer any thing of Account saving Dancing and Revelling with Gentlewomen and after such Sports a Comedy of Errors like to Plautus his Menechmus was played by the Players So that Night was begun and continued to the end in nothing but Confusion and Errors whereupon it was ever afterwards called The Night of Errors This mischanceful Accident sorting so ill to the great prejudice of the rest of our Proceedings was a great Discouragement and Disparagement to our whole State yet it gave occasion to the Lawyers of the Prince's Council the next Night after Revels to read a Commission of Oyer and Terminer directed to certain Noble-men and Lords of His Highness's Council and others that they should enquire or cause Enquiry to be made of some great Disorders and Abuses lately done and committed within His Highness's Dominions of Purpoole especially by Sorceries and Inchantments and namely of a great Witchcraft used the Night before whereby there were great Disorders and Misdemeanours by Hurly-burlies Crowds Errors Confusions vain Representations and Shews to the utter Discredâ—t of our State and Policy The next Night upon this Occasion we preferred Judgments thick and threefold which were read publickly by the Clerk of the Crown being all against a Sorcerer or Conjurer that was supposed to be the Cause of that confused Inconvenience Therein was contained How he had caused the Stage to be built and Scaffolds to be reared to the top of the House to increase Expectation Also how he had caused divers Ladies and Gentlewomen and others of good Condition to be invited to our Sports also our dearest Friend the State of Templaria to be disgraced and disappointed of their kind Entertainment deserved and intended Also that he caused Throngs and Tumults Crowds and Outrages to disturb our whole Proceedings And Lastly that he had â—oisted a Company of base and common Fellows to make up our Disorders with a Play of Errors and Confusions and that that Night had gained to us Discredit and it self a Nick-name of Errors All which were against the Crown and Dignity of our Sovereign Lord the Prince of Purpoole Under Colour of these Proceedings were laid open to the View all the Causes of note that were committed by our chiefest States-men in the Government of our Principality and every Officer in any great Place that had not performed his Duty in that Service was taxed hereby from the highest to the lowest not sparing the Guard and Porters that suffered so many disordered Persons to enter in aâ— the Court-Gates Upon whose aforesaid Indictments the Prisoner was arraâ—gned at the Bar being brought thither by the Lieutenant of the Tower for at that time the Stocks were graced with that Name and the Sheriff impannelled a Jury of Twenty four Gentlemen that were to give their Verdict upon the Evidence given The Prisoner appealed to the Prince his Excellency for Justice and humbly desired that it would please His Highness to understand the Truth of the Matter by his Supplication which he had ready to be offered to the Master of the Requests The Prince gave leave to the Master of the Requests that he should read the Petition wherein was a Disclosure of all the Knavery and Juggling of the Attorney and Sollicitor which had brought all this Law-stuff on purpose to blind the Eyes of his Excellency and all the honourable Court there going about to make them think that those things which they all saw and preceived sensibly to be in very deed done and actually performed were nothing else but vain Illusions Fancies Dreams and Enchantments and to be wrought and compassâ—d by the Means of a poor harmless Wretch that never had heard of such great Matters in all his Life Whereas the very Fault was in the Negligence of the Prince's Council Lords and Officers of his State that had the Rule of the Roast and by whose Advice the Commonwealth was so soundly mis-governed To prove these things to be true he â—rought divers Instances of great Absurdities committed by the greatest and made such Allegations as could not be denied These were done by some that were touched by the Attornâ—y and Sollicitor in their former Proceedings and they used the Prisoners Names for means of Quittance with them in that behalf But the Prince and States-men being pinched on both sides by both the Parties were not a little offended at the great Liberty that they had taken in censuring so far of His Highness's Government and thereupon the Prisoner was freed and pardoned the Attorney Sollicitor Master of the Requests and those that were aâ—quainted with the Draught of the Petition were all of them commanded to the Tower so the Lieutenant took charge of them And this was the End of our Law-sports concerning the Night of Errors When we were wearied with mocking thus at our own Follies at length there was a great Consultation had for the Recovery of our lost Honour It was then concluded that first the Prince's Council should be reformed and some graver Conceipts should have their places to advise upon those things that were propounded to be done afterward Therefore upon better Consideration there were divers Plots and Devices intended against the Friday after New-years-day being the 3 d. of Ianuary And to prevent all unruly Tumults and former Inconveniences there was provided a Watch of Armed Men to ward at the four Ports and Whifflers to make good Order under the four Barons and the Lord Warden to over-see them all that none but those that were of good Condition might be suffered to be let into the Court And the like Officers were every where appointed On the 3 d. of Ianuary at Night there was a most honourable Presence of Great and Noble Personages that came as invited to our Prince as namely the Right Honourable the Lord Keeper the Earls of Shrewsbury Cumberland Northumberland Southampton and Essex the Lords Buckhurst Windsor Mountjoy Sheffield Compton Rich Burleygh Mounteagle and the Lord Thomas Howard Sir Thomas Henneage Sir Robert Cecill with a great number of Knights Ladies and very worshipful Personages All which had convenient Places and very good Entertainment to their good Liking and Contentment When they were all thus placed and setled in very good Order the Prince came into the Hall with his wonted State and ascended his Throne at the high End of the Hall under His Highness's Arms and after him came the Ambassador of Templaria with his Train likewise and was placed by the Prince as he was before his Train also had Places reserved for them and were provided for them particularly Then after variety of Musick they were presented with this Device At
the side of the Hall behind a Curtain was erected an Altar to the Goddess of Amity her Arch-Flamen ready to attend the Sacrifice and Incense that should by her Servants be offered unto her Round about the same sate Nymphs and Fairies with Instruments of Musick and made very pleasant Melody with Viols and Voices and sang Hymns and Praises to her Deity Then issued forth of another Room the first pair of Friends which were Theseus and Perithous they came in Arm in Arm and offered Incense upon the Altar to their Goddess which shined and burned very clear without Blemish which being done they departed Then likewise came Achilles and Patroclus after them Pilades and Orestes then Scipio and Lelius And all these did in all things as the former and so departed Lastly were presented Graius and Templarius and they two came lovingly Arm in Arm to the Altar and offered their Incense as the rest but the Goddess did not accept of their Service which appeared by the troubled Smoak and dark Vapour that choaked the Flame and smothered the clear burning thereof Hereat the Arch-Flamen willing to pacifie the angry Goddess preferred certain mystical Ceremonies and Invocations and commanded the Nymphs to sing some Hymns of Pacification to her Deity and caused them to make proffer of their Devotion again which they did and then the Flame burnt more clear than at any time before and continued longer in brightness and shining to them than to any of those Pairs of Friends that had gone before them and so they departed Then the Arch-Flamen did pronounce Grayus and Templarius to be as true and perfect Friends and so familiarly united and linked with the Bond and League of sincere Friendship and Amity as ever were Theseus and Perithous Achilles and Patroclus Pilades and Orestes or Scipio and Lelius and therewithal did further divine that this Love should â—e perpetual And Lastly denounced an heavy Curse on them that â—hall any way go about to break or weaken the same and an Happiness to them that study and labour to eternize it for ever So with sweet and pleasant Melody the Curtain was drawn as it was at the first Thus was this Shew ended which was devised to that End that those that were present might understand that the Unkindness which was growing betwixt the Templarians and us by reason of the former Night of Errors and the uncivil Behaviour wherewith they were entertainedâ— as before I have partly touched was now clean rooted out and forgotten and that we now were more firm Friends and kind Lovers than ever before we had been contrary to the evil Reports that some Enviers of our Happiness had sown abroad The Prince then spake to the Ambassador that the Shew had contented him exceedingly the rather that it appeared thereby that their ancient Amity was so fresh and flourishing that no Friendship in the World hath been compared to the Love and Good Will of the Grayans and Templarians And to the end that he might shew that the Conceipt was pleasing unto him His Highness offered the Lord Ambassador and some of his Retinue with the Knighthood of the Helmet an Order of his own Institution To that end His Excellency called to him his King at Arms and willed him to place the Ambassador and some of his Followers and also some of his own Court that they might receive the Dignity at his hands which being done and the Master of the Jewels attending with the Collar of the Order the Prince came down from his Chair of State and took a Collar and put it about the Lord Ambassador's Neck he kneeling down on his Left Knee and said unto him Sois Chivaler and so was done to the rest to the number of Twenty four So the Prince and the Lord Ambassador took their Places again in their Chairs and the rest according to their Condition Then Helmet His Highness's King at Arms stood forth before the Prince in his Surcoat of Arms and caused the Trumpets to sound and made his Speech as doth follow The most mighty and puissant Prince Sir Henry my gracious Lord and Sovereign Prince of Purpoole Arch-Duke of Stapulia and Bernardia Duke of High and Nether Holborn Marquis of St. Giles's and Tottenham Count Palatine of Bloomsbury and Clerkenwell great Lord of the Cantons of Islington Kentish-Town Paddington and Knights-bridge hath heretofore for the special gracing of the Nobility of his Realm and honouring the Deserts of Strangers his Favourites instituted a most honourable Order of Knighthood of the Helmet whereof His Honour is Sovereign in Memory of the Arms he beareth worthily given to one of his noble Ancestors many Years past for saving the Life of his then Sovereign in regard that as the Helmet defendeth the chiefest part of the Body the Head so did he guard and defend the sacred Person of the Prince the Head of the State. His Highness at this time had made choice of a Number of vertuous and noâ—le Personages to admit them into his honourable Society whose good Example may be a Spur and Encouragement to the young Nobility of his Dominions to cause them to aspire to the heighth of all honourable Deserts To the honourable Order are annexed strict Rules of Arms and Civil Government religiously to be observed by all those that are admitted to this Dignity â—ou therefore most noble Gentlemen whom His Highness at this time so greatly honoureth with his Royal Order you must every one of you kiss your Helmet and thereby promise and vow to observe and practise or otherwise as the Case shall require shun and avoid all these Constitutions and Ordinances which out of the Records of my Office of Arms I shall read unto you Then the King at Arms took his Book and turned to the Articles of the Orders and read them as followeth Imprimis EVery Knight of this honourable Order whether he be a Natural Subject or Stranger born shall promise never to bear Arms against His Highness's Sacred Person nor his State but to assist him in all his lawful Wars and maintain all his just Pretences and Titles especially His Highness's Title to the Land of the Amazons and the Cape of Good Hope Itemâ— No Knight of this Order shall in point of Honour resort to any Grammar-rules out of the Books De Dullo or such like but shall out of his own brave Mind and natural Courage deliver himself from Scorns as to his own Discretion shall seem convenient Item No Knight of this Order shall be inquisitive towards any Lady or Gentlewoman whether her Beauty be English or Italian or whether with Care taking she have added half a Foot to her Stature but shall â—ake all to the best Neither shall any Knight of the aforesaid Order presume to affirm that Faces were better twenty Years ago than they are at this present time except such Knight have passed three Climacterical Years Item Every Knight of this Order is bound to perform all requisite and
being thrice done there entred the King at Arms and in the midst of them said as followeth ON the bâ—half of my Sovereign Lord Sir Henry the Right Excellent and Aâ—l-conquering Prince of Purpoole Arch-Duke of Stapulia and Bernardia Duke oâ— High and Netâ—er Holborn Marquis of St. Giles's and Tottenham Count Pâ—lâ—tine of Bloomsbury and Clâ—râ—â—nwell great Lord of the Canâ—ons of Islington Kentish-Town Paddington and Knights-bridge Kâ—ight of the mâ—st Herâ—icâ—l Order of the Helmet and Sâ—vereign of the same I Hâ—s Excellency's King at Armâ— dispatched from his Royal Nâ—vâ— triumphantly returning from his glorious Conquests of the Negarian Tartars do in His Highnessâ—s Nâ—me command all his Officers Knights and Pensioners to give their Attendance on His Highness's Person at his Port of Black-wallia on the 1stâ— of February And His Highness hath further commanded me to give notice to all his Servants within his Dominions of whatsoever Condition that they be ready to perform all Oâ—â—ices of Oâ—edience and Subjection as well becometh their Loyalty to so Gracious a Sovereignâ— When this News of the Prince's Return out of Russia was thus sent abroad and that it was known that His Highness was to come by Greenwich where the Court then lay it was given the Gentlemen to understand that Her Majesty did expect that in passing by our Prince should land and do his Homage the rather because in Christmas there was great Expectation of his coming thither to present Her Majesty with some Pass-time and none performed Whereupon it was determined that in passing by there should be a Letter directed to Sir Thomas Heneage our honourable good Friend that he should excuse us for that time which Letter hereafter is set down Upon the 1st of February the Prince and his Train were met at Black-wall from whence they came upon the River of Thames in a very gallant Shew Being come so near his own Country he left his Navy of Ships as not fit for so short a Cut and the matter not being very great or dangerous and he and his Retinue took to them fifteen Barges bravely furnished with Standards Pendants Flags and Streamers There was also in every Barge Musick and Trumpets and in some Ordnance and Shot Being thus gallantly appointed we came on our Way by the Stairs at Greenwich where the Ordnance was shot off and the whole Navy made a Sail round about and the second time when the Admiral in which the Prince was came directly before the Court-Stairs His Highness dispatched two Gentlemen with Letters to the Right Honourable Sir Thomas Heneage the Copy whereof followeth Henry Prince of Purpoole to the Right Honourable Sir Thomas Heneage Most Honourable Knight I Have now accomplished a most tedious and hazardous Iourney though very honourable into Russia and returning within the view of the Court of your renowned Queen my gracious Sovereign to whom I acknowledge Homage and Service I thought good in passing by to kiss her sacred Hands as a Tender of the Zeal and Duty I owe unto Her Majesty but in making the Offer I found my Desire was greater than the Ability of my Body which by length of my Iourney and my Sickness at Sea is so weakned as it were very dangerous for me to adventure it Therefore most honourable Friend let me intreat you to make my humble Excuse to Her Majesty for this present and to certifie Her Highness that I do hope by the Assistance of the Divine Providence to recover my former Strength about Shrovetide at which time I intend to repair to Her Majesty's Court if it may stand with her gracious Pleasure to offer my Service and relate the Success of my Iourney And â—o praying your Honour to return me Her Majesty's Answer I wish you all Honour and Happiness Dated from Ship-board at our Ark of Vanity the 1st of February 1594. The Letter being deliveâ—ed and Her Majesty made acquainted with the Contents her gracious Answer was That if the Letter had not excused his Passing by he should have done Homage before he had gone away although he had been a greater Prince than he was Yet she said she liked well his gallant Shews that were made at his Triumphant Return And Her Highness added further That if he would come at Shrovetide he and his Followers should have Entertainment according to his Dignity And the Messenger returned Answer The Prince and his Company continued their Course until they came to the Tower where by Her Majesâ—y's Commandment he was welcomed with a Volley of great Ordnance by the Lieutenant of the Tower. At the Tower-hill there waited for the Prince's Lâ—nding Men attending with Horses very gallantly Appointed for all the Company to the number of one hundred the most of them being great Horses and the rest very choice Geldings and all very bravely furnished with all things necessary So the Prince â—eing moanted and his Company in Order as before sâ—t down eveâ—y Man according to his Office with the Ensign thereof they rode very gallantly through Tower-street Fen-church-street Grace-câ—urcâ—-street Corn-hill Cheap-side and so through St. Paul's Church-yard where at St Paul's School His Highness was entertained with an Oration made â—y one of the Scholars of that School the Copy whâ—râ—of followeth Henrico Illustrissimo Potentissimo Purpoolae Principi Archi-duci Stapuliae Bernardiae Superioris Inferioris Holborn Duci Sancti Aegidii Tottenham Marchioni de Clerkenwell Bloomsbury Comiti Palatino Domino magno Cantonum de Islington Kentish-Town Paddington Knights-bridge Heroici Ordinis Galcotae Equiti Aurato ejusdem Domino Serenissimo IMportunum fortasse suerit Purpooliensis Princeps Serenissime apud tantam Majestatem tâ—am tam intempestivo tempore perorare Vix enim sperare ausus sum velle te qui tantam personam sustines tuumque hunc comitatum verè Aulicum post victorias partas terrâ marique maximas ad vocem puerilem in mediâ instructissimi triumphi solemnitate consistere Verum per affibilitatem in summis principibus semper laudatissimam liceat mihi proetereunti celsitudini tuae musarum nostrarum benevolentiam offerre gratulationem hanc meam qualemcunque post tam illustrem tuum triumphantem ac per totum orbem divulgatum è Russiâ reditum kâc meâ oratione Generosis omnibus testatum relinquere Quamvis enim subitò nobis excidat ad tantam Majestatem quasi obstupescat oratio gratulatio tamen quae magis sit offerri quaeque sit officii amoris erga virtutes Generosas plenior afferri certè quidem non potest Nonne vides civitatem ipsam quasi sedibus suis convulsam ad congratulandum tanto Principi procedere Quid existimas totum hunc concursum cogitare In cujus ora vultusque horum omnium oculos conjectos putas Quem sensum reddis amicorum nostrorum Quid cupimus Quid optamus Quid agimus Nonne ut tam voluntates nostras testemur quam victoriis gratulemur tuis Quid igitur mirum si
Gesta Grayorum OR THE HISTORY Of the High and mighty PRINCE HENRY Prince of Purpoole Arch-Duke of 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 Duke of 〈◊〉 and 〈…〉 Marquis of St. 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 Count Palatine of 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 Great Lord of the Cantons of 〈…〉 and 〈…〉 Knight of the most Heroical Order of the Helmeâ—â— and Sovereign of the 〈◊〉 Who Reigned and Died A.D. 1594. TOGETHER WITH A Masque as it was presented by 〈…〉 Command for the Entertainment of 〈…〉 who with the 〈◊〉 of both 〈◊〉 was present thereat LONDON Printed for 〈…〉 at this Shop in the 〈…〉 MDCLXXXVIII Price one Shilling To the Most Honourable MATTHEW SMYTH Esq COMPTROLLER OF THE Honourable Society OF THE INNER-TEMPLE SIR THE State of Purpoole so long obscur'd in it self could no otherwise express its Grandeur but by shewing to Posterity what it was This moved those ingenious Gentlemen to leave to succeeding Times the Memory of those Actions which they themselves had done not for the vain Air of Popularity but generously to give an Example which others might desire to follow Accordingly they have by this History set forth their Actions which seem to be writ with the same Gallantry of Spirit as they were done The Language it self is all that Age could afford which allowing something for the Modern Dress and Words in Fashion is not beneath any we have now It was for that Reason thought necessary not to clip any thing which though it may seem odd yet naturally begets a Veneration upon Account of its Antiquity What more could they have wished than to have found a Patron worthy the protecting the Memory of such a Prince And what more can they require than the Safety of your Patronage It was Fortune undoubtedly that reserved it for this happy Opportunity of coming forth under your Protection That strict Alliance which ever was betwixt your States seems to ask it of you as the only Person in whom are revived the ancient Honours of both Houses It was certainly a publick Sense of the same personal Abilities which made that Prince so conspicuous that gives us all a publick View of those Vertues so much admired in private Sir 'T is for these Reasons humbly offerred to you presuming upon a favourable Acceptance of that which naturally falls under your Care. May Time perfect the Character already so well begun that Posterity may hear you equal if not greater than the Prince of Purpoole I am SIR Your HONOUR' 's Most Obedient Servant W. C. Gesta Grayorum OR THE HISTORY OF THE PRINCE OF PURPOOLE Anno Domini 1594. THE great number of gallant Gentlemen that Grays-Inn afforded at ordinary Revels betwixt All-hollontide and Christmas exceeding therein the rest of the Houses of Court gave occasion to some Well-willers of our Sports and Favourers of our Credit to wish an Head answerable to so noble a Body and a Leader to so gallant a Company Which Motion was more willingly hearkened unto in regard that such Pass-times had been intermitted by the space of three or four Years by reason of Sickness and Discontinuances After many Consultations had hereupon by the Youths and others that were most forward herein at length about the 12 th of December with the Consent and Assistance of the Readers and Ancients it was determined that there should be elected a Prince of Purpoole to govern our State for the time which was intended to be for the Credit of Grays Inn and rather to be performed by witty Inventions than chargeable Expences Whereupon presently they made choice of one Mr. Henry Hâ—lmes a Norfolk-Gentleman who was thought to be accomplished with all good Parts fit for so great a Dignity and was also a very proper Man of Personage and very active in Dancing and Revelling Then was his Privy Council assigned him to advise of State-Matters and the Government of his Dominions His Lodging also was provided according to State as the Presence-chamber and the Council-chamber Also all Officers of State of the Law and of the House-hold There were also appointed Gentlemen-Pensioners to attend on his Person and a Guard with their Captain for his Defence The next thing thought upon as most necessary was Provision of Treasure for the Support of his State and Dignity To this purpose there was granted a Benevolence by those that were then in his Court abiding and for those that were not in the House there were Letters directed to them in nature of Privy Seals to injoin them not only to be present and give their Attendance at his Court but also that they should contribute to the defraying of so great a Charge as was guessed to be requisite for the performance of so great Intendments The Form of the Privy Seals directed to the Foreigners upon occasion as is aforesaid YOur Friends of the Society of Grays-Inn now residing there have thought good to elect a Prince to govern the State of the Signiory now by Dis-continuance much impaired in the ancient Honour wherein heretofore it hath excelled all other of like Dignity These are therefore in the Name of the said Prince to require you forthwith to resort to the Court there holden to assist the Proceedings with your Person and withal upon the Receipt hereof to make Contribution of such Benevolence as may express your good Affection to the State and be answerable to your Quality We have appointed our wellâ— beloved Edward Jones our Foreign Collector who shall attend you by himself or by his Deputy Your Loving Friend Grays-Inn Dated at our Court of Graya the 13 th of December 1594. If upon the Receipt of these Letters they returned Answer again that they would be present in Person at our Sports as divers did not taking notice of the further meaning therein expressed they were served with an Alias as followeth To our Trusty and Well Beloved W. B. at L. give These WHereas upon our former Letters to you which required your Personal Appearance and Contribution you have returned us Answer that you will be present without satisfying the residue of the Contents for the Benevolence These are therefore to will and require you forthwith upon the Receipt hereof to send for your part such Supply by this Bearer as to you for the defraying so great a Charge shall seem convenient And herein you shall perform a Duty to the House and avoid that ill Opinion which some Vngentlemanly Spirits have purchased by their uncivil Answers to our Letters directed to them whose Demeanour shall be laid to their Câ—arge when Time serveth and in the mean time Order shall be taken that their Names and Defaults shall be proclaimed in our publick Assemblies to their great Dis-credit c. Your Loving Friend Grays-Inn By this means the Prince's Treasure was well increased as also by the great Bounty of divers honourable Favourers of our State that imparted their Liberality to the setting forward of our intended Pass-times Amongst the rest the Right Honourable Sir William Cecill Kt. Lord Treasurer of
in Islington continuing a Virgin after the Age of Fourteen Years one hundred thousand Millions Sterling Iordano Surtano de Kentish-Town holdeth the Canton of Kentish-Town of the Prince of Purpoole in Tail-general at the Will of the said Prince as of his Mannor of Deep-Inn in his Province of Islington by the Veirge according to the Custom of the said Mannor That when any of the Prince's Oâ—ficers or Family do resort thither for Change of Air or else Variety of Diet as weary of Court-Liâ—e and such Provision he do provide for a Mess of the Yeomen of the Guard or any of the Black-Guard or such lâ—ke inferior Officers so coming eight Loins of Mutton which are sound well fed and not infectious and for every Gentleman-Pensioner or other of good Quality Coneys Pidgeons Chickens or such dainty Morsels But the said Iordano is not bound by his Tenure to boil roast or bake the same or meddle further than the bare Delivery of the said Cates and so to leave them to the handling dressing and breaking up of themselves and rendring for a Fine to the Prince one thousand five hundred Marks Markasius Rusticanus and Hieronymus Paludensis de Knights-bridge do hold the Village of Knights-bridge with the Appurtenances in Knights-bridgâ— oâ— the Prince of Purpoole by Villenage in base Tenure that they two shall jointly find three hundred able and sufficient labouring Men with Instruments and Tools necessary for the making clean of all Channels Sinks Creeks and Gutters within all the Cities of His Highness's Dominions and also shall cleanse and keep clean all and all manner of Ponds Puddles Dams Springs Locks Runlets Becks Water-gates Sluces Passages strait Entrances and dangerous Quagmires and also shall repair and mend all common Hâ—gh and Low-Ways by laying Stones in the Pits and naughty places thereof and also that they do not suffer the aforesaid places to go to decay through their deâ—ault and lack of looking unto or neglect of doing their parts and duties therein The Tenures being thus read by the Sollâ—citor then were called by their Names those Homagers that were to perform their Services according to their Tenures Upon the Summons given Alfonso de Stapuliâ— and Davillo de Bernardia came to the Prince's Foot-stool and offâ—â—ed a Coronet according to their Service and did Homage to His Highness in solemn manner kneeling according to the Order in such Cases accustomed The rest that appeared were deferred to better leisure and they that made default were fined at great Sums and their Defaults recorded There was a Parliament intended and summoned but by reason that some special Officers that were by necessary Occasions urged to be absent without whose Presence it could not be performed it was dashed And in that Point our Purpose was frustrate saving only in two Branches of it The one was a Subsidy granted by the Commons of his Dominions towards the Support of His Highness's Port and Sports The other was by his gracious general and free Pardon Henry Prince of Purpoole Arch-Duke of Stapulia and Bernardia Duke of High and Nether Holborn Marquis of St. Giles's and Tottenham Count Palatine of Bloomsbury and Clerkenwell Great Lord of the Canton of Islington Kentish-Town Paddington and Knights-bridge Knight of the most Heroical Order of the Helmet and Sovereign of the same To all and all manner of Persons to whom these Presents shall appertain Greeting IN tender regard and gracious Consideration of the humble Affection of our Loyal Lords and Subjects and by understanding that by often violating of laudable Customs Prescriptions and Laws divers have incurred inevitable and incurable Dangers of Lands Goods Life and Members if it be not by our Clemency redressed respected and pardoned We therefore hoping for better Obedience and Observation of our said Laws and Customs do grant and publish this our general and free Pardon of all Dangers Pains Penalties Forfeitures or Oâ—fences whereunto and wherewith they are not charged or chargeable by reason of Mis-government Mis-demeanour Mis-behaviour or Fault either of Commission or Omission or otherwise howsoever or whatsoever It is therefore Our Will and Pleasure that all and every publick Person and Persons whether they be Strangers or Naturals within Our Dominions be by virtue hereof excused suspended and discharged from all and all manner of Treasons Contempts Offences Trespasses Forcible Entries Intrusions Disseisins Torts Wrongs Injuries Over-throws Over-thwartings Cross-bitings Coney-catchings Frauds Conclusions Fictions Fractions Fashions Fancies or Ostentations Also all and all manner of Errors Misprisions Mistakings Overtakings Double-dealings Combinations Confederacies Conjunctions Oppositions Interpositions Suppositions and Suppositaries Also all and all manner of Intermedlance or Medlance Privy-searches Routs and Riots Incumberances Pluralities Formalities Deformalities Disturbances Duplicities Jeofails in Insufficiencies or Defects Also all and all manner of Sorceries Inchantments Conjurations Spells or Charms All Destructions Obstructions and Constructions All Evasions Invasions Charges Surcharges Discharges Commandsâ— Countermands Checks Counter-checks and Counter-buffs Also all and all manner of Inhibitions Prohibitions Insurrections Corrections Conspiracies Concavities Coinings Superfluities Washings Clippings and Shavings All and all manner of Multiplications Inanities Installations Destillations Constillations Necromancies and Incantations All and all manner of Mis-â—easance Non-feasance or too much Feasance All Attempts or Adventures Skirmages Assaults Grapplings Closings or Encounters All Mis-prisonments or Resâ—raints of Body or Member And all and all manner of Pains and Penalties Personal or Pecuniary whatsoever committed made or done against Our Crown and Dignity Peace Prerogatives Laws and Customs which shall not herein hereafter be in some sort expressed mentioned intended or excepted Except and always fore-prized out of this general and free Pardon All and every such Pâ—rson and Persons as shall imagine think suppose or speak and utter aâ—y â—alse seditious ignominious or slanderous Words Reports Rumours or Opinions against the Dignity or His Excellency's honourable Actions Counsels Consultations or State of the Prince his Court Counsellors Nobles Knights and Officers Except All such Persons as now or hereafter shall be advanced admitted or induced to any corporal or personal Benefice Administration Charge or Cure of any mannâ—r of Personage and shall not be personally resident commorant or incumbent in at or upon the whole or some part or parcâ—l of the said Benefice Administration or Cure but absent himself wilfully or negligently by the space of fourscore Days Nights or Hours and not having any special substituted instituted or inducted Vicar incumbent or concumbent daily or any other time duly to express enjoy and supply his Absence Room or Vacation Except All such Pâ—rsons as have or shall have any Charge Occasion Chance Opportunity or possible Means to entertain serve recreate delight or discourse with any vertuous or honourable Lady or Gentlewoman Matron or Maid publickly privately or familiarly and shall faint fail or be deemed to faint or fail in Courage or Countenance Semblance Gesture Voice Speech or Attempt or in Act or Adventure or in
most pleasant Musick After their Departure entred the six Knights in a very stately Mask and danced a new devised Measure and after that they took to them Ladies and Gentlewomen and danced with them their Galliards and so departed with Musick Which being doneâ— the Trumpets were commanded to sound and then the King at Arms came in before the Prince and told His Honour that there was arrived an Ambassador from the mighty Emperor of Russia and Moscovy that had some Matters of Weight to make known to His Highness So the Prince willed that he should be admitted into his Presence who came in Attire of Russia accompanied with two of his own Country in like Habit When they were come in presence of the Prince the Ambassador made his Obeysance and took out Letters of Credence and humbly delivered them to the Prince who gave them to the King at Arms to be read publickly as followeth To the most High and Mighty Henry Prince of Purpoole THeodore Evanwhich the great and mighty Emperor of all Russia Valderomia Muscovia and Nevogordia King of Rasan and of Astrakan Lord of Plescoe and Sinelescoe Prince of Tnaria Sâ—goria Perma Vachekey and Bolgaria Lord and great Duke of Valhadha Norgordia in the Country of Cherenega and also of Rescod Polotzkoe Ogdor and Belesor sole Prince of Lothekey Rostow Geroslave the white Lake Liselrund Owdoria Condencia and Fludoria great Ruler and Commander of Siberia and of all the North-side and Lord Governor of many other Countries and Provinces To the most mighty and glorious renowned Henry Prince of Purpoole Arch-Duke of Stapulia and Bernardia Duke of High and Nether Holborn Marquis of St. Giles's and Tottenham Count Palatine of Bloomsbury and Clerkenwell great Lord of the Cantons of Islington Kentish-Town Paddington and Knights-Bridge Knight of the most Heroical Order of the Helmet and Sovereign of the same All Health and glorious Renown We have thought good Most Invincible Prince upon some Accidents of Importance happened to our State wherein the Worthiness of some of your Subjects remaining here have increased your Fame to dispatch to your Highness Our most faithful Councellor Faman Bega to intreat with you in Our Name of certain important Affairs Which though We must confess do concern Vs in Policy to have an effectual Regard unto yet withal they are such as may minister Occasion to your Highness to add Beams of Honour to your Praise and Glory which hath already in a manner equalled the Light of Heaven in Brightness which is seen throughout the whole World. We refer you herein for the Particulars to such Instructions as We have under Our own Hand delivered to this our present Ambassador Wherein as also in any other Points whereof he shall treat with your Highness in Our Name and Affairs We pray your Sacred Majesty to give Credit to him as if Our self were present and treated with you in Persâ—n And so We wish to your Excellency all Happiness answerable to your Peerless Vertue Dated at Our Imperial City of Mosco When the King at Arms had read this Letter the Ambassador made this Speech to the Prince Most Excellâ—nt Prince FAme seemed to the Emperor my Sovereign to do your Highness Right by filling the World with the Renown of your Princely Vertues and Valour of your brave Court till of late the gallant Behaviour and heroical Prowess of divers your Knights of the Helmet whom the good Fortune of Russia addressed to your cold Climate discovered that Famâ— to be either envious in suppressing a great part of your Valour or unable to set forth so admirable Vertues to their full Merits For by these five Knights whose greatest Vaunts were that they were your Excellency's Servants an exceeding number of Bigarian Tartars whose vagabond In-roads and inhumane Fierceness insested his Borders captivated his People burnt his Cities and spoiled whole Provinces was by a most wonderful Victory repulsed and beaten back And withal by their brave Conduct they surâ—â—â—zed another Army of Ne-gro-Tartars whose wretched Devices ceased not to work the Confusion and Combustion of our whole Country and diverted their barbarous Cruelty where it might do us most damage These same worthy Knights before they could receive that Honour wherewith my Soveraign intended to adorn their Vertues did withdraw themselves and are retired as His Majesty is informed to your Court. Whereupon he sent me partly to congratulate your Happiness who deserve to command over such a number of gallant Gentlemen but especially to conjure your Excellency according to the ancient League and Amity continued betwixt you that you would send him these six Knights accompanied with an hundred other of the same Order for he doubteth not but by their Vertues accompanied and attended with his own Forces who are in largeness of Dominion and number of People and all other Warlike Furniture and Provision inferiour to no Earthly Potentate that these Runagate Tartars shall be again confined to their Deserts with their memorable Slaughter and your common Glory and Profit Common indeed both to your Highness and him inasmuch as His Imperial Majesty contented only with Security and Assurance of his People and Borders will permit all those large Territories and battable Grounds which now serve those Vermine for Pasturage be sorted into several Governments and strengthned with Forts and Castles by your Direction to be holden of your Excellency as Commendations by the Knights of special Vertue and Merit of your Order So shall you with honourable Commodity have a perpetual Exercise of your Vertues become a Bulwark of Christendom and by raising continual Trophies of strengthned Tartars keep the Glory of your Vertue in everlasting Flourish My Sovereign not doubting but that your Resolution will be conformable to your magnanimous Vertue and his honourable Demand charged me only to sollicite Expedition such as the Necessity of his People and Country doth require In the mean time he hath sent your Excâ—llency for a Present a Ship laden with divers of the best and fairest Fruits and other richest Commodities of our Country Not so much by Gifts to draw on your speedy Help to which he knoweth the Truth and Justice of the Case will be a Spur sufficient or for Complement of an ordinary and seldom omitted Companion of great Embassies but rather for a Seal and Testimony of the exceeding Honour that he beareth to your matchless Vertue and the great Love he beareth to your incomparable Person The Present is at your next Haven ready to be offerâ—d to your Sacred Hands at your convenient leisure together with some small Gifts sent to those valiant Knights whose highly deserving Vertues my Sovereign meaneth at their long expected Return to his Court to crown with a Garland more worthy his Greatness and their Merits The Answer of the Prince to the former Speech Russia Lord THe Emperor your Master is happy in having so honourable a Gentleman as your self to do him Service He shall well perceive that there is
nothing in the World more acceptable to Vs than the Friendship of a Prince so mighty and illustrious We account amongst our greatest Happinesses tâ—is honourable Embassage His Presents are so large and bountiful as We have right good Occasion to hold him the most free and magnificent Prince in the World. We joy to hear of his hardy Adventures that by Our Knights in those Parts have been atchieved They may be glad that our worthy Brother invited them to so high an Enterprize wherein they may do themselves Honour and His Greatness Service Rest and refresh your Lordship this present for now We bid you welcome Assure your self your Request is already granted and that in far greater Measure than you expecâ—â—d or desired When the Prince had thus spoken the Ambassador was placed in a Chair near the Prince and then was served up a Running Banquet for the Prince and the Lordâ— present and the rest with variety of Musick Whilst thâ—se things were thus a doing there came a Post-boy with Letters of Intelligence concerning the State from divers Parts of His Highnessâ—s Provinces and delivered them to the Secretary who made the Prince acquainted therewith and caused them to be read openly and publickly A Letter of Advertisement from Knights-bridge to the Honourable Council I Beseech your Honours to advertise His Highness that in His Excellency's Canton of Knights-bridge there do haunt certain Foreigners that sieze upon all Passengers taking from them by force their Goods under a pretence that being Merchants Strangers and using Traffick into His Highness's Territories of Clerken-well Islington and elsewhere they have robbed of their Goods spoiled of their Wares whereby they were utterly undone And that His Honour of his good Will hath been pleased to grant them Letters of Reprisal to recover their Loss of them that come next to their Hands By colour whereof they lay hold of all that pass by without respect Some of their Names as I understand are Johannes Shagbag Robertus Untruss James Rapax alià s Capax There do reign likewise thereabouts another sort of dangerous People under the Name of poor Soldiers that say they were mamed and lost their Limbs in His Honour's Service and Wars against the Amazons and they pretend to have Pass-ports from their Captains Some of them say they have served under Sir Robert Kemp and Sir William Cooke others under William Knaplocks Lord Marshal Sir Francis Marham Captain Crymes Captain Conny Yelverton Hugan Sir Francis Davison and some other of good Place Some say that they were mamed with Fire-locks others in the Trenches others in going with their Captains to discover Ambuscadoes of the Enemy and to view the Forts others in standing Sentry whilst the Captains were busied in entring the Breach others in the very Approach at the first But the number of them is great and the same inclined to do much Mischief Another sort there is that pretend that they have Protections to beg in regard of their Losses by Shipwreck upon certain Rocks of Hazard Barred Quarter-trays High-men and Low-men Bom-Cards the Sands of Bowle-Allies the Shelf of New-Cut the Gulf of Myne and Gill and such other like places of Peril Some of them are called by the Names of Harry Ordinary Jack Moneyless Will Cog-all and Roger Spend-all These aforesaid People do gather together in great numbers and His Excellency's Subjects hereabouts stand in great fear of Outrages by them to be committed except His Highness do prevent the same and that speedily by sending some of the Captains aforesaid to disperse them Your Honours at Command Henry Brownbill From Knights-bridge Ian. 5. 1594. Another Letter from Sea directed to the Lord Admiral BY my Letters given at Pont-Holborn the Last of December I gave your Honour to understand that His Excellency's Merchants of Purpoole began to surcease their Traffick to Clerkenwell Newington and Bank-side and such like Roads of Charge and Discharge because they feared lest certain Rovers which lay hovering about the Narrow Seas should intercept them in their Voyages Since which time may it please your Honour I have discovered an huge Armado of French Amazons to the number of seven hundred Caracts Galeasses great Galeasses and tall Ships besides Pinnaces Frigots Carvels Shallops and such small Vessels innumerable which being dispersed into sundry Creeks work daily much damage to all sorts of People and Adventurers hold in durance not suffering one Man to escape till he have turned French. Divers Ensigns Standards Pendants Tilting-staves short Trunchions for the principal Officers and such like Provision for His Excellency's Triumphs they have cast over-board for no other Cause save that his Subjects were bound inward from Gelderland a Nation that they have always hated Besides that they exact so unreasonably of those that trade into Netherland that they leave them neither Lands Goods nor good Wares Also they sink all those that use any Dealings with the People of Cleive without respect whether he be Merchant or Man of War. To conclude they burn all those Vessels that transport any dry Wares into the Low-Countries Moreover I am to advertise your Honour that on the 9 th Day of Ianuary in the Straits of the Gulf of Clerkenwell there was an hot Skirmish between a Merchant of St. Giles's called Amarpso and the Admiral of the Amazons called the Rowse-flower wherein the Merchant having gained the Wind came up with her in such close manner that he brake his Bolt-sprite in her hinder Quarter Yet notwithstanding the Fight continued fiercely on either part two long Hours and more in which time our Gunner being a very expert Soldier shot her â—our or five times under Water Then the Merchant perceiving his Powder to be spent was inforced to grapple and so with great Resolution laid her a-board on the Waste which he found stoutly defended by the French yet at length being driven from their close Fight they were constrained to keep under Hatches where one of the Soldiers entring spied Fire in the Gun-room notwithstandingâ— he descended very desperately Then the Admiral seeing no hope to escape fired her Powder and burnt her self The Soldiers and the Ship which as I after learned was of an incomparable Burthen insomuch that she had been known to have born nine hundred fighting Men in her Poup Her chief Lading was Cochenella Musk Guaiacum Tabaco and Le grand Vezolle The chief of Account that were blown up were Catharina Dardana Pecta de Lee and Maria de Rotulis The rich Carrick of Newington coming to rescue their Admiral were so close at fight when she was fired that the Flame of the Wild-fire caught hold of tâ—eir Captain 's inner Cabbin and had not one Barbara de Chirurgia been ready with his Syringe to have cast on Water Milk Lotium and such like cooling Liquors and there quenched the Wild-fire betimes they had been both doubtless consumed to Ashes But by his Care and Coming they are both escaped alive though shrewdly scorched and are taken Prisoners