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The Masque at Ashby Castle or Entertainment at Ashby was written by John Marston for Henry Hastings, 5th Earl of Huntingdon and Elizabeth Hastings, Countess of Huntingdon performed at Ashby de la Zouch Castle for Alice Spencer, Countess of Derby in August 1607.^[1]

Elements of the masque and entertainment at Ashby can be related to Alice, Countess of Derby's own Harefield Entertainment for Elizabeth I in 1602. At Ashby the masque celebrated the alleged transformative powers of the patron's mother-in-law.^[2]

Welcome

The entertainment consisted of a welcome for the Countess of Derby, followed by a masque.^[3] The castle was decorated with flags and the appearance of the gatehouse was enhanced. The countess was met at the gate by Merimna, an old enchantress dressed in crimson velvet, with a pale face and black hair, who declared she should not pass where Saturn, Lord of Sadness, held court. Saturn came out of the castle, and banished Mirimna, as the countess' "fair presence" forced him relent. The "all happy-making dame" was allowed to enter the castle.^[4]

As the party entered the castle the enchantress Merimna reappeared in white at top of the stairs, saying how she and her company had been transformed by the countess' eyes. She presented the Countess with an embroidered waistcoat.^[5]

Masque

Next there was a masque of four knights and four gentlemen. Cynthia, the moon, riding in her chariot on a cloud was revealed in the Great Chamber, and there was a dialogue between her and Ariadne, who was seated on a cloud. The clouds moved up and down the height of great chamber, as Ariadne ascended to speak to Cynthia.^[6] After a song, a curtain was drawn to reveal the eight male masquers in a woodland setting. Their costumes resembled classical armour, like Roman Mercury.^[7]

There was a song, Audacious Night inviting the audience to dance.

Audacious night make bold the lip

Now all court chaster pleasure

Whilst to Apollo's harp you trip

And tread the gracious measure

Now meet, now break, then feign a warlike sally

So Cynthia sports, and so the gods may dally

During this song, the male masquers presented their shields, and took ladies from the audience to dance with them.^[8] The eight masquers at Hampton Court in The Masque of Indian and China Knights had similarly presented shields before inviting ladies to dance.^[9]

At some point in the festivities, verses by William Skipwith were addressed to, or recited by 14 women; Lady Derby; Lady Huntingdon; Lady Hunsdon; Elizabeth, Jane, Lady Berkeley; Margaret, Lady Stanhope; Lady Compton; Bridget, Lady Feilding; Mrs Gresley; Susanna, Mrs Gresley; Dorothy, Mrs Pakington; Mrs K. Fisher; Mrs Sacheverell; Mrs M. Fisher; Mrs Davers; Mrs Egerton.^[10] The verses are part of lottery, a gift giving ceremony, like that at Harefield in 1602.^[11]

As the Countess of Derby left Ashby, there was an eclogue between a nymph and shepherd,^[12] and Niobe met her in the park and gave her a cabinet.^[13]

References

^ John Nichols, Progresses of James the First, vol. 2 (London, 1828), p. 146
^ Elizabeth Kolkovich, The Elizabethan Country House Entertainment (Cambridge, 2016), p. 120: James Knowles, 'Marston, Skipwith, and the Entertainment at Ashby', English Manuscript Studies, 3 (1992), pp. 137-192.
^ Martin Wiggins & Catherine Richardson, British Drama, 1533-1642: 1603-1608, vol. 5 (Oxford, 2015), pp. 401-4.
^ John Nichols, Progresses of James the First, vol. 2 (London, 1828), pp. 147-8.
^ John Nichols, Progresses of James the First, vol. 2 (London, 1828), p. 148.
^ Mark Girouard, Life in the English Country House (London, 1978), pp. 88-9: Lucy Worsley, Cavalier: The Story Of A 17th-Century Playboy (London, 2011), p. 165.
^ John Nichols, Progresses of James the First, vol. 2 (London, 1828), p. 148-50.
^ John Nichols, Progresses of James the First, vol. 2 (London, 1828), p. 151: Mark Girouard, Life in the English Country House (London, 1978), pp. 88-9.
^ Martin Butler, The Stuart Court Masque and Political Culture (Cambridge, 2008), pp. 63, 66: Leeds Barroll, Anna of Denmark, Queen of England: A Cultural Biography (Philadelphia, 2001), p. 86.
^ John Nichols, Progresses of James the First, vol. 2 (London, 1828), p. 152: James Knowles, 'Identifying the Speakers: The Entertainment at Ashby', Notes and Queries, vol. 35, issue 4 (December 1988), pp. 489–490.
^ Elizabeth Kolkovich, 'Performing Patronage, Crafting Alliances: Ladies' Lotteries in English Pageantry', Christina Luckyj, Niamh J. O'Leary, The Politics of Female Alliance in Early Modern England (University of Nebraska, 2017), pp. 118-122.
^ Matthew Steggle, 'John Marston's Entertainment at Ashby and the Fleet Conduit Eclogue', Susan P. Cerasano, Medieval and Renaissance Drama in England, vol. 19 (2006) pp. 249-255.
^ John Nichols, Progresses of James the First, vol. 2 (London, 1828), p. 146.