and socks of gold, having his haire laid out, and
dressed in forme of a woman! There was another
ware legge-harnesse, and bare a target, a sallet,
and a speare like a martial souldier: after him
marched one attired in purple with vergers before
him like a magistrate! after him followed one with
a maurell, a staffe, a paire of pantofles, and with
a gray beard, signifying a philosopher: after
him went one with line, betokening a fowler, another
with hookes declaring a fisher: I saw there a
meeke and tame beare, which in matron habite was carried
on a stoole: An Ape with a bonet on his head,
and covered with lawne, resemling a shepheard, and
bearing a cup of gold in his hand: an Asse which
had wings glewed to his backe, and went after an old
man, whereby you would judge the one to be Pegasus,
and the other Bellephoron. Amongst the pleasures
and popular delectations, which wandered hither and
thither, you might see the pompe of the goddesse triumphantly
march forward: The woman attired in white vestiments,
and rejoicing, in that they bare garlands and flowers
upon their heads, bedspread the waies with hearbes,
which they bare in their aprons, where this regall
and devout procession should passe: Other caried
glasses on their backes, to testifie obeisance to
the goddess which came after. Other bare combs
of Ivory, and declared by their gesture and motions
of their armes, that they were ordained and readie
to dresse the goddesse: Others dropped in the
wayes as they went Balme and other pretious ointments:
Then came a great number, as well of men as women,
with Candels, torches, and other lights, doing honour
to the celestiall goddesse: After that sounded
the musical harmony of instruments: then came
a faire companie of youth, apparelled in white vestiments,
singing both meter and verse, with a comely grade
which some studious Poet had made in honour of the
Muses: In the meane season, arrived the blowers
of trumpets, which were dedicated unto Serapes, and
to the temple before them were officers and beadles,
preparing roome for the goddess to passe. Then
came the great company of men and women, which had
taken divine orders, whose garments glistered all
the streets over. The women had their haire annointed
and their heads covered with linnen: but the
men had their crownes shaven, which were the terrene
stars of the goddesse, holding in their hand instruments
of brasse, silver and gold, which rendered a pleasant
sound.
The principall Priests which were apparelled with white surplesses hanging downe to the ground, bare the relikes of the puissant goddesse. One carried in his hand a light, not unlike to those which we used in our houses, saving that in the middle thereof appeared a bole which rendred a more bright flame. The second attired hike the other bare in his hand an Altar, which the goddesse her selfe named the succor of nations. The third held a tree of palme with leaves of gold, and the verge of Mercurie. The fourth shewed out a token of equitie by his left hand,