126 A BOOK OF ENGLISH GARDENS 



grave, serious people like Sir Francis Bacon, who 

 wrote an essay upon the subject of " Masques and 

 Triumphs," in which he gives little information con- 

 cerning them, but says, " Let the scenes abound 

 with light, specially coloured and varied ; and let 

 the Masquers and any other, that are to come down 

 from the scene, have some motions upon the scene 

 itself before their coming down ; for it draws the 

 eye strangely, and makes it with great pleasure to 

 desire to see that it cannot perfectly discern," and 

 much more concerning light and colour. 



The first Court Masque that combined the great 

 talents of Jonson and Jones was given at White- 

 hall on Twelfth Night in 1609, and was called 

 "The Masque of Blackness." It was the first 

 entertainment given by the Queen (Anne of 

 Denmark), and the subject was suggested by 

 her. 



Of all the necessary scenery, etc., Jonson gives a 

 minute description, and jealously adds at the end, 

 " So much for the bodily part which was of Master 

 Inigo Jones design and art." 



This Masque cost ,3,000 to produce, which 

 shows on what a lavish scale James I. was willing 

 to pay for his entertainments very unlike his 

 economical predecessor, Queen Elizabeth, who only 

 cared for her subjects to provide such costly 

 pleasures for her amusement. 



Of all the Masques arranged and written by 



