oses, gilliflowers, pinks, and odoriferous
herbs. Garlands of artificial flowers were interspersed; likewise
imitations in satin, silk, and gold, of various trees, herbs, and
fruits, not to be found in those parts. All this had been accomplished
with great pains by the ladies of the queen's mimic court, Sir John
Finett superintending "_The Bower of Beautie_," as his peculiar
province. To Sir George Goring were allotted the bears, satyrs, imps,
angels, gods, and other like rabble, who were taught with much labour
and difficulty, in so short a space, their several parts.

Sir John Finett had received a mandate to be near the king during the
acts, that he might be instructed in their several uses and designs,
Buckingham having signified his wish to sport a mask on the occasion;
Sir John, therefore, much to his regret, was completely debarred from
approaching his mistress.

The king's coming was announced by a flourish of trumpets, and a loud
bray from the delighted multitude, who sent up a shout that shook the
very foundations.

Under a pavilion of crimson cloth, decked with fringes and valences of
gold, walked forth the monarch. He leaned familiarly on the arm of his
host, who, together with Sir John Finett, was in immediate attendance.
After the king's train had passed, came a troop of morris-dancers, and
the hobby-horse, who frolicked in a most ungainly fashion round the
Bower of Beautie, kissing hands, and making many salutations towards
their enthralled queen. Next came out a bear and a lion, accompanied by
a thing intended to represent an ape, whose office it was to torment
these grave animals with his tricks. But so encumbered were they in
their disguise,--a heavy covering of bucks' skins and long wool,--that
they had much ado to keep on their clothes, while attempting to resent
the indignities they endured.

"Hang thee, Will--keep thy paws off my tail," said lion: "Dost not see I
shall be uncovered before the king?"

"I'll baste thine hide," said bear, "if thou meddlest any more with
mine."

The ape had settled himself on the back of this august-looking animal,
from whence he was suddenly dislodged, much to the delight and
entertainment of the king, who laughed heartily at his disaster. The
ravenous animals were on their way to the bower, there to watch for the
captives, making great demonstrations all the while of their
bloodthirsty intent.

Bear and lion accordingly squatted down before it, making as tho