 | The Magnificent Entertainment |  |
Oratio habita, & ad Regem, & coram Rege præ schola Paulina.
Breuis
ero, ne ingratus sim, Rex serenissime,
licet, & plané, & plenè putem Regem tam
prudentem, in tam profusa suorum lætitia,
ita se hodie patientia contra taedium armauisse,
ne vllius tœdij ip sum posset tœdere. A Edificium
hoc magno sumptu suo extructum Dominus
Johannes Collettus Ecclesiae Paulinæ
Decanus, sub Henrico septimo, maiestatis tuæ
prudentissimo abauo, erudiendae pueritiæ consecrauit,
vt huius scholæ infantia tuo in Regnum
Anglicanum iure coetanea existat. Tanta
magnificentia conditum parique magnificentia
dotatum fidelissimæ Mercerorum huius
vrbis primaria semper, hodie etiam Prætoriæ
societati tuendum testamento moriens
commendauit. Quæ societas, & demortui
fundatoris spei, & nostræ educationis studio fidem
suam sanctissimè exoluit. Hic nos cum
multis alijs erudimur, qui communi nomine
totius pueritiæ Anglicanæ, a Domino Rege,
humillimè tamen contendimus, vt quemadmodum
sua ætatis ratione, in omni re adultioribus
prospicit, ita in summae spei Principis
Henrici gratiam tenerioribus, parique cum ipso
ætate pueris, in scholarum cura velit etiam
consulere. Uirgæ enim obsequium, sceptri obedientiā
& parit, & præit inquit preceptor meus.
Quique metu didicit iuuenis parere puerque,
grandibus imperiis officiosus erit. Habent
scholæ Anglicanae multa, in quibus Regiam
maiestatis correctionem efflagitant, ne inde in
Academias implumes euolent vnde in Rempublicam
implumiores etiam è prima nuditate
emittuntur. Quod malum à Preceptore
nostro accepimus: qui annos iam
quatuor supra quinquaginta publice, priuatimque
erudiendæ pueritiae praefuit, &
hæc scholarum errata, cum aliquo etiam dolore
suo, & passim, & sparsim deprehendit. Nostra
hæc schola fundatorem Collettum hominē tam
pium; tutores Merceros homines tam fidos
cousequuta, quam esset fœlix, si placeret,
Domino etiam Regi, quod Regibus Angliae,
ad summam apud suos charitatem saepissimè
profuit, huic Mercerorum principi societati,
huic vrbi ornamentum, quantum societati
honestamentum, Quantum Ycholas nostræ
emolumentum? Quantus etiam Regi ipsi honos
inde accederet, mauult, qui hoc vult alias inter
alia per otium Regi suo apperire, quam hodie
cum tædio & præter aream eidem explicare.
Omnipotĕs Deus Iesus Christus & oum eo, ac per
cum noster, et Pater, et Deus serenissimum
Regĕ Iacobum, honoratissimam Reginam Annam,
nobilissimum Principem Henricum, reliquamque
Regiæ stirpis ad omnia summa natam
sobolem diu nobis ita incolumes tueatur,
vt cum huius vitæ secundissimum curriculum
confeceritis, beatissimam vitæ cælestis
æternitatem cousequamini. Dixi.
Our next Arch of triumph, was erected aboue the Conduit in Fleetstreete, into which (as into the long and beauteous gallery of the Citie) his Maiestie being entered; a fane off (as if it had beene some swelling Promentory, or rather some inchanted Castle guarded by tenne thousand harmelesse spirits) did his eye encounter another Towre of Pleasure.
Fourescore and ten foote in height, and fiftie in breadth; the gate twentie foote in the perpendicular line, and fourteene in the ground line: The two Posternes were answerable to these that are set downe before: ouer the posternes riz vp in proportionable measures, two turrets, with battlementes on the tops: The middest of the building was laid open to the world, and great reason it should be so, for the Globe of the world, was there seene to mooue, being fild with all the degrees, and states that are in the land: and these were the mechanicall and dead limmes of this carued bodie. As touching those that had the vse of motion in it, and for a need durst haue spoken, but that there was no stuffe fit for their mouthes.
The principall and worthiest was Astræa, (Iustice) sitting aloft, as being newly descended from heauen, gloriously attirde; all her garments being thickely strewed with starres: a crowne of starres on her head: a Siluer veile couering her eyes. Hauing tolde you that her name was Iustice, I hope you will not put mee to describe what properties
Directly vnder her, in a Cant by her selfe, was Arate (vertue) inthronde, her garments white, her head crowned, and vnder her Fortuna: her foote treading on the Globe, that moude beneath her: Intimating, that his Maiesties fortune, was aboue the world, but his vertues aboue his fortune.
Enuy, vnhandsomely attirde all in blacke, her haire of the same colour, filletted about with snakes, stood in a darke and obscure place by her selfe, neere vnto Vertue, but making shew of a fearefulnesse to approach her and the light: yet still & anon, casting her eyes, sometimes to the one side beneath, where on seuerall Greeces sate the foure cardinall vertues: Viz.
- Iustitia.
- Fortitudo.
- Temperantia.
- Prudentia.
And sometimes throwing a distorted and repining countenance to the other opposite seate, on which, his Maiesties foure kingdomes were aduanced. Viz.
- England.
- Scotland.
- France.
- Ireland.
All of them, in rich Robes and Mantles; crownes on their heads, and Scepters with pensild scutchions
The foure Elements in proper shapes, (artificially and aptly expressing their qualities) vpon the approch of his Maiestie, went round in a proportionable and euen circle, touching that cantle of the Globe, (which was open) to the full view of his Maiestie, which being done, they bestowed themselues in such comely order, and stood so, as if the Eronie had beene held vp on the tops of their fingers.
vpon distinct Ascensions, (nearly raisde within the hollow wombe of the Globe) were placed all the states of the land, from the Nobleman to the Ploughman, among whom there was not one word to bee heard, for you must imagine as Virgil saith:
Ægl. 4.
Magnus ab integro seclorum nascitur ordo.
Lam redit at virgo redeunt Saturnia regna.
Astræa.
That it was now the golden world, in which there were few parts.
All the tongues that went in this place, was the tongue of Zeale, whose personage was put on by W. Bourne, one of the seruants to the young Prince.
[Zeale.]
And thus went his speach.
Seemde to mooue backward, at the funerall pile,
Of her dead female Maiestie. All stares
From Nobles downe to spirits of meaner Fares,
As if these men had bin Th' Antipodes,
But see, the vertue of a Regall eye,
Th'attractiue wonder of mans Maiestie,
Our Globe is drawne in a right line agen,
And now appeare new faces, and new men.
The Elements, Earth, Water, Ayre, and Fire,
(Which euer clipt a naturall desire,
To combat each with other, being at first,)
Created enemies to fight their worst,
See at the peacefull presence of their King,
How quietly they moude, without their sting:
Earth not deuouring, Fire not defacing,
Water not drowning, & the Ayre not chasing:
But proping the queint Fabrick that heere stands,
Without the violence of their wrathfull hands.
Aboue the world, and all our humaine wits,
But thy hye Vertue aboue that: what pen,
Or Art, or braine can reach thy vertue then?
At whose immortall brightnes and true light,
Enuies infectious eyes haue lost their sight,
Her snakes (not daring to shoot-forth their stings
Gainst such a glorious obiect) downe she stings
Their forkes of Venome into her owne mawe,
Whilst her ranke teeth the glittering poisons chawe,
For tis the property of Enuies blood,
To dry away at euery kingdomes good,
Especially when shee had eyes to view,
These foure maine vertues figurde all in you,
Iustice in causes, Fortitude gainst foes,
Temprance in spleene, and Prudence in all those,
Contaynes foure Kingdomes by your entrance blest
By Bruce diuided, but by you alone,
All are againe vnited and made One,
Whose fruitfull glories shine so far and euen,
They touch not onely earth, but they kisse heauen,
From whence Astræa is descended hither,
Who with our last Queenes Spirit, fled vp thither,
Fore-knowing on the earth, she could not rest,
Till you had lockt her in your rightfull brest.
And therefore all Estates, whose proper Arts,
Liue by the breath of Maiestie, had harts
Burning in holy Zeales immaculate fires,
With quenchles Ardors, and vnstaind desires,
To see what they now see, your powerful Grace,
Reflecting joyes on every subjects face
These paynted flames and yellow burning Stripes,
Vpon this roab, being but as showes and types,
Of that great Zeale. And therefore in the name
Of this glad Citie, whither no Prince euer came,
More lou'd, more long'd for, lowely I intreate,
You'ld be to her as gracious as y'are great:
So with reuerberate shoutes our Globe shall ring,
The Musicks close being thus: God saue our King.
If there be any glorie to be won by writing these lynes, I do freelie bestow it (as his due) on Thô. Middleton, in whose braine they were begotten, though they were deliuered heere: Qua nos non fes imnes ipsi, vix ea nostra voco.
But hauing peiced vp our wings now againe with our owne feathers; suffer vs a while to be pruning them, and to lay them smooth, whilst this song, which
Cant.
Why are seas of people flowing?
Tell mee, tell me Rumor,
Though it be thy Humor
More often to belying,
Than from thy breath to haue trueth flying:
Yet alter, now that fashion,
And without the streame of passion,
Let thy voyce swim smooth and cleare,
When words want gilding, then they are most deere
Of Heau'n, through Heau'ns seauen siluer gates,
All in glory riding
(Backs of Clowds bestriding)
The milky waie do couer,
With starry Path being measur'd ouer,
The Deities conuent,
In Ioues high Court of Parliament.
Rumor thou doest loose thine aymes,
This is not Ioue, but One, as great, King IAMES.
And now take we our flight vp to Temple-bar, (the other ende of this our Gallery) where by this time, his Majestie is vpon the poynt of giuing a gratious and Princely Fare-well to the Lord Major, and the Citie: But that his eye meeting a seauenth beautifull object, is invited by that, to delay awhile his (lamented) departure.
The Front or Surface of it was proportioned in euery respect like a Temple, being dedicated to Ianus as by this inscriptiō ouer the Ianus head may appeare.
The height of the whole Aedifice, from the grownd line to the top, was 57 foote, the full bredth of it 18. foote: the thicknes of the Passage 12.
- 1. The principall person, Peace.
- 2. By her stood, Wealth.
- 3. Beneath the feet of Peace, lay Mars (War) groueling.
- 4. And vpon her right hand (but with some little descent) was seated Quiet, the first hand-maid of Peace.
- 5. Shee had lying at her feete, Tumult.
- 6. On the other side was the seconde hand-mayd, Libertie at whose feete lay a Catte.
- 7. This person trod vpon Seruitude.
- 8. The third handmaid was Safety.
- 9. Beneath her was Danger,
- 10. The fourth attendant was, Fælicitie:
- 11. At her feete, Vnhappines.
Within the Temple was an Altar, to which, vpon the approch of the King, a Flamin appeares, and to him, the former Genius of the Citie.
The effect of whose speech was, that whereas the Flamin came to performe rites there, in honour of one Anna a goddesse of the Romaines, the Genius vowes, that none shall doe Sacrifice there, but himselfe, the offring that he makes being, the Heart of the Citie, &c.
And thus haue wee (lowely and aloofe) followed our Soueraigne through the seauen Triumphal gates of this his Court Royall, which name, as London receiued at the rysing of the Sunne; so now at his going from her (euen in a moment) She lost that honour: And being (like an Actor on a Stage) stript out of her borrowed Majestie, she resignes her former shape & title of Citie, nor is it quite lost, considering it went along with him, to whom it is due. For such Vertue is begotten in Princes, that their verie presence hath power to turne a Village to a Citie, and to make a Citie appeare great as a Kingdome. Behold how glorious a Flower, Happinesse is, but how fading. The Minutes (that lackey at the heeles of Time) run not faster away then do our joyes. What tongue could haue exprest the raptures on which the soule of the Citie was carried beyond it selfe, for the space of manie houres? What wealth could haue allurde her to haue closde her eies, at the comming of her King, and yet See, her Bridegrome is but stept from her, and in a Minute (nay in shorter time, then a thought can be borne) is she made a Widdow. All her consolation being now to repeate ouer by roate those Honors, which lately she had perfectly by hart: And to tell of those joyes, which but euen now, shee reallie behelde; yet thus of her absent, beloued, do I
Virg.
In freta dum Fluvii Current: dum montibus umbrae,,
Lustrabunt Convexa, Polus du sidera pascit,
Semper Honos, Nomenque tuum, Laudesque manebunt.
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