London and Its Environs Described, vol. 4 (of 6): Containing an Account of Whatever is Most Remarkable for Grandeur, Elegance, Curiosity or Use, in the City and in the Country Twenty Miles Round ItAnonymous
History
London and Its Environs Described, vol. 4 (of 6): Containing an Account of Whatever is Most Remarkable for Grandeur, Elegance, Curiosity or Use, in the City and in the Country Twenty Miles Round It
Anonymous
London (England) -- Description and travel -- Early works to 1800; London (England) -- Gazetteers -- Early works to 1800
Then came another fellow with a capon upon his fist, and a bunch of
carrots upon his head, representing a projector, who begged a patent of
monopoly, as the first inventor of the art of feeding capons fat with
carrots.
Several other projectors were personated in this antimasque, which
pleased the spectators the more, because an information was thus
covertly given to the King, of the unfitness and ridiculousness of these
projects against the law. The Attorney Noy, who had most knowledge of
them, had a great hand in this antimasque of the projectors.
After this and the rest of the antimasques, came six of the chief
musicians on horseback upon foot-cloths, and in the habits of Heathen
priests, footmen carrying torches by their sides. These were followed by
a large open chariot, drawn by six fine horses with large plumes of
feathers on their heads and cruppers. In this chariot were about a dozen
persons, in the habits of Gods and Goddesses, many footmen walking an
all sides with torches.
This chariot was followed by six more of the musicians on horseback,
dressed and attended with torches like the former, proceeding before
another large open chariot, drawn by six fine horses, with feathers,
liveries, and torches, like the other. Within it were twelve musicians,
as variously dressed as the others, to represent, like them, Pagan
deities. These chariots were made for this occasion, and, preceding the
grand masquers chariots, played upon excellent loud music all the way.
After this chariot came six more musicians, dressed and attended like
the former, followed by the first chariot of the grand masquers, which
was not so large as those that went before, but was curiously carved and
painted. It was in the form of a Roman triumphal chariot, and richly
painted with crimson and silver all over, not excepting the wheels. It
was drawn by four horses all in a breast, covered to the heels with
crimson and silver tissue, and with huge plumes of red and white
feathers on their heads and cruppers. The coachman’s cap and feather,
his long coat, his cushion, and his very whip, were of the same stuff
and colour. In this chariot sat the four grand masquers of Gray’s Inn,
who were handsome young gentlemen. Their habits, doublets, trunk hose
and caps, were of the richest tissue, covered as thick with silver
spangles as they could be placed; large white silk stockings up to their
trunk hose, and very fine sprigs in their caps.
On each side of the chariot were four footmen, in liveries of the colour
of the chariot, carrying huge flambeaus, which, with the torches, gave
the greatest lustre to the paintings, spangles and habits.
After this chariot came six more musicians, in habits like the former,
followed by the second chariot, which differed only from the other in
its being painted silver and blue. The chariot and horses were covered
with tissue of blue and silver, as the former was with silver and
crimson.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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