Page:The Works of Ben Jonson - Gifford - Volume 7.djvu/298

, &c.] The lord Hay had been sent on a grand embassy to France in 1616, ostensibly to congratulate the king of France on his marriage with the infanta of Spain, but with private instructions to endeavour to discover if there was any likelihood of forming a match between the prince (Charles) and the daughter of Henry IV. Nothing in the annals of diplomacy had ever equalled the splendor, not to say the preposterous extravagance, of this nobleman's public entry into Paris. "Six trumpeters and two marshals in tawny velvet liveries, completely suited and laced all over with gold richly and closely laid, led the way; the ambassador followed with a great train of pages and footmen in the same rich livery, encircling his horse, and the rest of his retinue according to their qualities and degrees in as much bravery as they could devise or procure, followed in couples to the wonderment of the beholders, who filled the windows, balconies and streets." This is but a small part of what is said by Arthur Wilson on the subject; who seems almost at a loss for language to convey an adequate idea of the costly pageantry. "After the Ambassador had been feasted magnificently (he adds) with all his gallant train, in several places, to shew the grandeur of France, he came back and practised it here, making many times, upon several occasions, such stupendious feasts, and heaped banquets, as if all the creatures had contributed to his excess." Life of James, p. 94. It was on one of these "occasions" that the present entertainment (which I have called the Masque of Lethe,) was presented.