The Entertainment Of The Kings Of Great Britain And Denmark

''The Entertainment of the Two Kings of Great Britain and Denmark'' or ''The Hours'' was written by Ben Jonson and performed at Theobalds House on 24 July 1606 . John Harington of Kelston described a masque of Solomon and Sheba, performed one day after dinner. There is some doubt over Harington's account. In May 1607 another masque ''An Entertainment of the King James and Queen Anne at Theobalds'' was performed when the keys of the house were given to Anne of Denmark.

Royal visit in 1606

James VI and I and his brother-in-law Christian IV of Denmark rode in coaches from Blackwall to Theobalds at Cheshunt. Ben Jonson wrote a Latin entertainment for their arrival. They stayed four days and hunted in the woods and chases nearby. On Sunday 27 August there was a fish supper. The dishes had pendants attached with arms of England and Denmark, and the theme of the visit, "Welcome and Welcome Still" in gilt letters. On Monday the royal party moved to Greenwich Palace, where they were welcomed by Anne of Denmark. She had recently lost her child Sophia.

The visit cost Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury £1,180 including presents worth £284. Sugar treats were supplied by Robert Walthew, sergeant of the royal confectionary. Some of the gold and silver plate used at meals was hired from the goldsmith John Williams. Cecil paid Inigo Jones £23 for making and designing masque scenery.

Welcome Still

According to one account the way near the house was strewn with artificial green oak leaves with the gilded word, "Welcome". A description printed in ''The King of Denmarkes Welcome'' explains there was an artificial tree at the entrance gates with green silk leaves. There were speeches of welcome, and then the welcoming leaves were shed like confetti on the royal party and there was a song, ''Welcome Still".

Entertainment of the Two Kings

At the porch of Theobalds there were three Hours seated on clouds. Their Greek names were ''Eunomie'' Law, ''Dice'' Justice, and ''Irene'' Peace. Their crowns had emblems of a sun-dial, a clock, and an hour-glass. A short speech in English alluded to the leaves of welcome. The speech was repeated in Latin for Christian IV. The entrance was decorated with a Latin inscription, and epigrams addressed to both kings, and to James and Christian IV. Another pair of epigrams was displayed when the two kings left on 28 July.

Solomon and Sheba

A letter of John Harington's letter to a Secretary Barlow describing a masque at Theobalds for the two kings is frequently quoted. Harington said that during the Danish royal visit gentlemen and even ladies abandoned "their sobriety, and are seen to roll about in intoxication". Following a great feast at Theobalds, the "representation of Solomon and Sheba was made". Harington says a lady acting the part of the Queen of Sheba tripped on the steps of the royal dais, throwing her casket of gifts, apparently a tray of desserts, at Christian IV. Napkins were brought to clean up. He tried to dance with Sheba, but fell over. James was put in bed, but his clothes were still covered with "wine, cream, jelly, beverage, cakes, spices and other good matters". The masque continued with Hope, Faith, and Charity, but Hope drunkenly forgot her speech, Faith was also drunk, Charity exited to join Hope and Faith who were now vomiting in the lower hall. Victory and Peace addressed Christian IV. Victory, played by a female courtier, was also drunk and taken to bed. Peace was seen fighting her attendants with an olive branch.

Historians are sceptical about this account, not only for its exaggeration for comic effect, but the differences between the action described and other court masques, and the prominent speaking parts given to female courtiers. Usually speaking roles were given to boy actors, not aristocratic women as implied by Harington. Most of the ladies of the queen's court would have been with her at Greenwich.

Entertainment of the King and Queen at Theobalds in 1607

In 1607 Robert Cecil gave ownership of Theobalds to Anne of Denmark in a property exchange with King James for the manor and Palace of Hatfield. The royal family came to Theobalds in May and there was hunting and jousting in the queen's honour. Ben Jonson wrote another masque, known by the title of a published version, ''An Entertainment of the King James and Queen Anne at Theobalds'' (1616), for Friday 22 May 1607.

The masque was presented in a gallery after dinner. A white curtain was drawn to reveal a "gloomy obscure place, hung all with black silks". The Genius of the House, the spirit of place, learns from Rumour that Robert Cecil is leaving. A prophecy written in an adamantine book reveals that the greatest king, the fairy queen, and two unsurpassed princes, (Prince Henry (1594-1612) and Charles de Lorraine, Prince Joinville (1571-1640)), are to be entertained at Theobalds. The Fates or Parcae assure the Genius that Cecil is delighted to give the house to Anne of Denmark, "Bel-Anna". They convince him to accept their change management gladly. The Genius delivers the keys of the house to the queen.

In praise of Anne of Denmark, the fate Atropos told the Genius:
:She is the grace of all that are;
:And like Eliza now a star,
:Unto her crown, and lasting praise,
:Thy humbler walls at first did raise;
:So shall BEL-ANNA them protect;
:And this is all the Fates can say;
:Which first believe, and then obey.

There is a contemporary version of the dialogue in French verse, presumably for the benefit of the Prince of Joinville. In 1591 Queen Elizabeth had been entertained by the ''Hermit's Welcome at Theobalds'' in which the gardener discovers a jewel casket bearing a prophecy.Elizabeth Zeman Kolkovich, ''The Elizabethan Country House Entertainment: Print Performance and Gender'' (Cambridge, 2016), p. 43.

References

External links

British Library Festival Books: ''The King of Denmarkes welcome: Containing his ariuall, abode, and entertainement, both in the Citie and other places'' London, 1606

{{DEFAULTSORT:Entertainment of the Two Kings
Masques by Ben Jonson
English Renaissance plays
Court of James VI and I
History of Hertfordshire
1606 plays