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 ourselves 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. Townsmen in the Prince's Livery, with Halberts couples Grimes Baron of the Grand Port. Dudley Grante Lord Admiral Dandye Smith Damporte . Jones . Cecill (R.) Baron of the Base Port. Gentlemen for Entertainment three couples Baron of the Petty Port Gentlemen for Entertainment Lieutenant of the Pensioners Tonstal Gentlemen-Pensioners, twelve couples, Lord High Constable Lord Chamberlain of the Morrey Southworth Knaplock Lamphew Markham Kempe Johnson Bush . Flemming Chevett The Shield of Pegasus, for The Family, and Followers. Upon the 20th 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 on his throne, under a rich cloth of state: his counsellors and great lords were placed about him, and before him. Below the half-place, at a table, sat his learned council and lawyers; the rest of the officers and attendants took their proper places, as belonged to their condition. Then, the trumpets having upon command sounded thrice, 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 malcontent), I do pronounce my sovereign liege lord, SIR HENRY, rightfully to be the high and mighty Prince of Peerpoole, 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 this proclamation, the trumpet sounded again; and then entered the Prince's Champion, in complete armour, on horseback, and so came riding round about the fire, and in the midst of the Hall staid, 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 Peerpoole, as by his King at Arms right now hath been proclaimed, I am ready here to maintain that he lieth as a false traitor; and I do challenge, in combat, to fight with him, either now, or at any time or place appointed. And, in token hereof, gage my gauntlet, as the Prince's true Knight, and his Champion." When the champion had thus made his challenge, he departed: the trumpets were commanded to sound, and the king at Arms blazoned his highness's arms, as followeth : "The most mighty Prince of Peerpoole, &c., beareth the shield of the highest Jupiter. In point, a sacred Imperial Diadem, safely guarded by the helmet of the great Goddess Pallas, from the violence of the darts, bullets, and bolts of Saturn, Momus, and the Idiot all environed with the ribands of loyalty, having a pendant of the most heroical Order of Knighthood of the Helmet; the word hereunto, Sic vertus honorem. For his Highness's crest, the glorious planet Sol, coursing through the twelve signs of the zodiac, on a celestial globe, moved upon the two poles, arctic and antarctic; with this motto, Dum totum peragruverit orbem. All set upon a chaphew: Mars turned up, Luna mantelled, Sapphire doubled, Pearl supported by two anciently renowned and glorious griffins, which have been always in league with the honourable Pegasus." The conceit hereof was to show that the Prince, whose private arms were three helmets, should defend his honor by virtue, from reprehensions of mal-contents, carpers, and fools. The riband of blue, with a helmet pendant, in imitation of St. George. In his crest, his government for the twelve days of Christmas was resembled to the sun's passing the twelve signs, though the Prince's course had some odd degrees beyond that time: but he was wholly supported by the griffins; for Grays-Inn gentlemen, and not the treasure of the house, was charged. After these things thus done, the attorney stood up and made a speech of gratulation to the Prince, and therein showed the singular perfections of his sovereign; whereby he took occasion also to move the subjects to be forward to perform all obedience and service to his excellency; as also to furnish his wants, if it were requisite; and, in a word, persuaded the people that they were happy in having such a prince to rule over them. He likewise assured the prince that he also was most happy in having rule over such dutiful and loving subjects, that would not think any thing, were it lands, goods, or life, too dear to be at his highness's command and service. To which his highness made answer, "That he did acknowledge himself to be deeply bound to their merits, and in that regard did promise that he would be a gracious and loving prince to so well deserving subjects." And concluded with good liking and commendations of their proceedings. Then the solicitor, having certain great old books and records lying before him, made this speech to his honor as followeth : "Most Excellent Prince, "High superiority and dominion is illustrated and adorned by the humble services of noble and mighty personages and therefore, amidst the garland of your royalties of your crown, this is a principal flower, that in your provinces and territories divers mighty and puissant potentates are your homagers and vassals; and, although infinite are your feodaries, which by their tenures do perform royal service to your sacred person, pay huge sums into your treasury and exchequer, and maintain whole legions for the defence of your country; yet some special persons there are, charged by their tenures to do special service at this your glorious inthronization; whose tenures, for their strangeness, are admirable; for their value, inestimable; and for their worthiness, incomparable: the particulars whereof do here appear in your excellency's records, in the book of Dooms-day, remaining in your exchequer, in the 50th and 500th chest there." "The names of such Homagers and Tributaries as hold any Signiories, Lordships, Lands, Privileges, or Liberties under his Honour, and the Tenures and Services belonging to the same, as fol loweth :: "Alfonso de Stapulia, and Davillo de Bernardia, hold the arch-dukedoms of Stapulia and Bernardia of the Prince of Peerpoole, by grand serjeantry, and castle-guard of the castles of Stapulia and Bernardia, and to right and relieve all wants and wrongs of all ladies, matrons, and maids, within the said arch-duchy; and rendering, on the day of his excellency's coronation, a coronet of gold, and yearly five hundred millions, sterling. "Marotto Marquarillo, de Holborn, holdeth the manors of High and Nether Holborn by Cornage in Capite, of the Prince of Peerpoole, and rendering on the day of his honour's coronation, for every of the prince's pensioners, one milk-white doe, to be bestowed on them by the prince, for a favour, or new-year's-night-gift; and rendering yearly two hundred millions sterling. Lucy Negro, Abbess de Clerkenwell, holdeth the nunnery of Clerkenwell, with the lands and privileges thereunto belonging, of the Prince of Peerpoole by night-service in Cauda, and to find a choir of nuns, with burning lamps, to chant Placebo to the gentlemen of the prince's privy-chamber, on the day of his excellency's coronation. "Ruffiano de St. Giles's holdeth the town of St. Giles's by cornage in Cauda, of the Prince of Peerpoole, and rendering, on the day of his excellency's coronation, two ambling easie paced gennets, for the prince's two pages of honour, and rendering yearly two hundred millions sterling. "Cornelius Combaldus, de Tottenham, holdeth the grange of Tottenham of the Prince of Peerpoole, in free and common soccage, by the twenty-fourth part of a night's fee, and by yielding yearly four quarters of rye, and threescore double duckets on the feast of St. Pan cras. "Bartholomew de Bloomsbury holdeth a thousand hides in Bloomsbury, of the Prince of Peerpoole, by escuage in certain, and rendering, on the day of his excellency's coronation, a ring to be run at by the knights of the prince's band, and the mark to be his trophy that shall be adjudged the bravest courser ; and rendering yearly fifty millions sterling. "Amarillo de Paddington holdeth an hundred ox-gangs of land in Paddington, of the Prince of Peerpoole, by petty-serjeantry, that when the prince maketh a voyage royal against the Amazons, to subdue and bring them under, he do find, at his own charge, a thousand men, well furnished with long and strong morris-pikes, black bills, or halberts, with morians on their heads; and rendering yearly four hundred millions sterling. "Bawdwine de Islington holdeth the town of Islington of the Prince of Peerpoole, by grand-searjeantry; and rendering, at the coronation of his honour, one hundred thousand millions sterling. "Jordano Surtano de Kentish Town holdeth the canton of Kentish Town of the Prince of Peerpoole, in tail-general, at the will of the said prince, as of his manor of Deep Inn, in his province of Islington by the veirge, according to the custom of the said mauor; that when any of the prince's officers or family do resort thither for change of air, or else variety of diet, as weary of court-life, and such provision, he do provide for a mess of the yeomen of the guard, or any of the black-guard, or such like inferior officer 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, pigeons, chickens, or such dainty morsel. But the said Jordano 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 rendering for a fine to the prince one thousand five hundred marks. "Markasius Burticanus and Hieronymus Paludensis de Knightsbridge do hold the village of Knightsbridge, with the appurtenances in Knightsbridge, of the Prince of Peerpoole, by villenage in bare tenure, that they two shall jointly find three hundred and fifty 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, slimes, passages, strait entrances, and dangerous quagmires, and also shall repair and mend all common low and high 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 default, and lack of looking unto, or neglect of doing their parts and duties therein." The tenures being thus read by the solicitor, then were called by their names those homagers that were to perform their services according to their tenures. Upon the summons given, Alfonso de Stapulia and Davillo de Bernardia came to the prince's footstool, and offered 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 default recorded. Then was a parliament summoned, but by reason that some special officers were compelled to be absent, without whose presence it could not be holdenit did not meet. Yet was a subsidy raised of the commons towards the support of his highness's port and sports; and a general and free pardon was issued, except for manifold offences therein set forth [as the same doth at large in print appear]; on which pardon having been read by the solicitor, the prince made a speech, wherein he gave his subjects to understand that, although in clemency he pardoned all offences to that present time, yet he meant not to give occasion of presumption in breaking his laws, and the customs of his dominions and government. In this speech he desired that the wronged should make their causes known to himself by petition to the master of requests: and he excused the causes of the great taxes and sums of money that were levied; because his predecessors had not left his coffers full of treasure, nor his crown furnished as became the dignity of so great a prince. Then his highness called for the master of the revels, and willed him to pass the time in dancing: so his gentlemen-pensioners and attendants, very gallantly appointed in thirty couples, danced the old measures, and their galliards, and other kinds of dances, revelling till it was very late; and so spent the rest of their performance in those exercises, until it pleased his honor to depart to his lodging with sound of trumpets, and his attendants in order as before set forth. This was the conclusion of the first grand night; the performances whereof increased expectation of great things to ensue insomuch that it urged to greater state than was at the first intended. And therefore, besides all the sumptuous service that was continually done the prince in a princely manner, and besides the usual daily revels and sports, divers grand nights were appointed for the reception of strangers to the pastimes and sports. Upon the next grand night, being Innocent's Day at night, there was a great presence of lords, ladies, and worshipful personages, expectant of a notable performance, which had been intended; but the multitude was so exceedingly great that there was no convenient room for those that were to be the actors, by reason whereof, very good inventions and conceits could not have opportunity to be applauded, which otherwise would have yielded great content to the beholders. Upon which night the Inner Temple, the ancient friend and ally of Grays Inn, sent its Ambassador to the Prince, as from Frederick Templarius, their Emperor, who was then busied in his wars against the Turk. The ambassador came to the court of Graya, very gallantly appointed, and attended by a great number of brave gentlemen, about nine o'clock at night. Upon whose coming thither, the king at arms gave notice thereof to the prince, then sitting in his chair of state, and showed that the Templarian ambassador seemed to be of very good sort, because so well attended; and his highness ordered certain of his nobles and lords to conduct him into the hall. So he was brought into the presence with sound of trumpets, the king at arms and lords of portpoole marching before him in order; and he was graciously received by the prince, and placed in a chair beside his highness. But, before the Templarian ambassador took his seat, he made a speech to the prince, wherein he declared that his highness's great renown was famed throughout all the world, and had reached the ears of his sovereign master, Frederick Templarius, while then warring beyond sea, who had sent him his ambassador to reside at his excellency's court, which function, the ambassador said, he was the more willing to accomplish, because the state of Graya had graced Templaria with an ambassador about thirty years before, upon like occasion. To which speech the prince of Graya made suitable answer, with commendations and welcome to the ambassador and his favorites, for their master's sake, and their own good deserts and condition. When the ambassador was seated, and something notable was to be performed for disport and delight, there arose such a disordered tumult, that there was no opportunity to effect that which was designed; inasmuch as a great number of worshipful personages would not be dis placed, from the stage, together with gentlewomen whose sex did privilege them; and though the prince and his officers endeavoured a reformation, yet there was no hope of redress for the present. And the lord ambassador and his train thought that they were not so kindly entertained as they expected, and thereupon would not stay longer at that time, but quitted the presence discontented and displeased. After their departure, so much of the throng and tumults did continue, as to disorder and confound any good inventions. In regard whereof, as also because the sports intended were especially for honorable entertainment of the Templarians, it was thought good not to attempt anything of account, except 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 begun and continued to the end in nothing but confusion and errors; whereupon, it was afterwards called "The Night of Errors." This mischance was a great discouragement and disparagement to the state of Graya, and gave occasion to the lawyers of the prince's council, on the next night after the revels, to read a commission of Oyer and Terminer, directing certain noblemen and lords of his highness's council to cause enquiry of the great disorders and abuses done and committed, and of certain sorceries, enchantments, and witchcraft the night before, whereby there were raised great hurley-burlies, crowds, errors, confusions, vain representations and shows, to the utter discredit of the state, and to the great damage of his highness's dominion of Portpool. The next night judgments were preferred by the officers of the crown, setting forth that a certain sorcerer or conjurer, then prisoner, had caused a stage to be built, and certain scaffolds to be reared, and expectations raised, and had also caused divers ladies, gentlemen, and others, of good condition, to be invited to the sports, and they, and the state of Templaria, to be disgraced and disappointed, by the bringing in of crowds, and the foisting a company of base and common fellows, to the confusion of the state, and against the crown and dignity of his sovereign highness, the prince of Peerpoole. Whereupon the prisoner so charged, being arraigned at the bar, humbly |