University of Virginia Library

The Shippe called the Royall EXCHANGE.
Maister.
All hayle faire London, to behold thy Towers,
After our voyage long and dangerous:
Is Seamens comfort, thankes vnto those powers.
That in all perils haue preserued vs.
Our Royall Exchange hath made a rich returne,
Laden with Spices, Silkes, and Indico,
Our wiues that for our absence long did mourne,
Now find release from all their former woe.

Mate.
Maister good newes, our Owner, as I heare,
Is this day sworne in Londons Maioralty:

Boy.
Maister tis true, for, see what troupes appeare,
Of Cittizens, to beare him company.
Harke how the Drums and Trumpets cheerely sound,
To solemnize the triumph of this day,
Shall we do nothing, but be idle found,
On such a generall mirthfull Holyday?

Maister.
Take of our Pepper, of our Cloues and Mace,
And liberally bestow them round about,
Tis our ships luggage, and in such a case,
I know our Owner meanes to beare vs out.
Then, in his honor: And that company,
Whose loue and bounty this day doth declare,
Hurle Boy, hurle Mate. And Gunner, see you ply
Your Ordinance, and of fireworkes make no spare,
To adde the very vttermost we may,
To make this vp a cheerefull Holi-day.

The Lyon, and the Camell.

On the Lyon and Camell, we doe figuratiuely personate Neptune and his Queene Amphitrita, who first seated their sonne Albion in this land. And in them we figure Poetically, that as they then triumphed in their sonnes happy fortune, so now they cannot chuse but do the like, seeing what happy successe hath thereon ensued, to renowne this Countrey from time to time. And as times haue altred former harshe inciuilities, bringing the state to more perfect shape of Maiestie, so (as occasion serues) do they likewise laye their borrowed formes aside, and speak according to the nature of the present busines in hand, without any imputation of grosnesse or error, considering the lawes of Poesie grants such allowance and libertye. Corineus and Goemagot, appearing in the shape and proportion of huge Giants, for the more grace & beauty of the show, we place as guides to Britaniaes mount, and being fetterd vnto it in chaines of golde, they seeme (as it were) to drawe the whole frame, shewing much enuy and contention, whoe shall exceed most in duty and seruice.

The Pageant.

On a Mount triangular, as the Island of Britayne it selfe is described to bee, we seate in the Supreame place, vnder the shape

of a fayre and beautifull Nymph, Britania hir selfe accosted with Brutes deuided kingdoms, in the like female representations, Loegria, Cambria, and Albania. Brytania speaking to Brute her Conqueror, (who is seated somwhat lower, in the habite of an aduenturous warlike Troyan) tels him, that she had still continued her name of Albion, but for his conquest of her virgine honour, which since it was by heauen so appointed, she reckons it to be the very best of her fortunes. Brute shewes her, what height of happinesse she hath attained vnto by his victorie, being before a vast Wildernes, inhabited by Giantes, and a meere den of Monsters: Goemagot and his barbarous brood, being quite subdued, his ciuill followers, first taught her modest manners, and the meanes how to raigne as an Imperial lady, building his Troya noua by the riuer Thamesis, and beautifieng his land with other Citties beside. But then the three Virgin kingdomes seeme to reproue him, for his ouermuch fond loue to his sons, and deuiding her (who was one sole Monarchy) into three seueral estates, the hurt and inconuenience whereon ensuing, each one of them modestly deliuered vnto him. He staies their further progres in reproofe, by his and their now present reuyued condition, beeing raised againe by the powerfull vertue of Poesie (after such length of time) to behold Britaniaes former Felicity againe, and that the same Albania, where Humber slew his son Albanact, had bred a second Brute, by the blessed mariage of Margaret, eldest daughter to king Henrie the seauenth, to Iames the fourth king of Scotland, of whom our second Brute (Royall king Iames) is truely and rightfully descended: by whose happye comming to the Crowne, England, Wales, & Scotland, by the first Brute seuered and diuided, is in our second Brute re-united, and made one happy Britania again: Peace and quietnesse bringing that to passe, which warre nor any other meanes could attaine vnto. For ioy of which sacred Vnion and combination, Locrine, Camber, and Albanact, figured there also in their antique estates, deliuer vp theyr Crownes and Scepters, applauding the day of this long-wisht coniunction, and Troya-noua (now London) incites fair Thamesis, and the riuers that bounded the seuered kingdoms, (personated in faire and beautifull Nymphs) to sing Pæans and songs of tryumph, in honor of our second Brute, Royall King Iames. Thamesis, as Queene of all Britaines riuers, begins the triumphal course of solemne reioysing. Next her, Sauerne, that took her name of Sabrina, begotten by Locrine on faire Elstrid, and both mother and daughter were drowned in that riuer, by Guendolenaes command, the wife to Locrine, dooth the like. Lastly, Humber, whose name was deriued from Humber king of the Scythians, who being pursued by Locrine and Camber, in reuenge of theyr Brothers death, was inforced to leap into that Ryuer, and there drowned himselfe, of whom I finde these verses written.

What further may be required, to expresse Britaniaes triumph more perfectly to the life, with al the other personages her seruants and attendantes, is more at large set downe in the seuerall speeches, which I haue hereto annexed as most meet & conuenient.

The speeches deliuered by the seuerall children, according to their degrees of seating in the PAGEANT.
Britannia.
I that sometime was termed Albion,
After the name of Neptunes valiant Sonne:
Albion the Gyant, and so had still held on,
But that my conquest, first by thee begun,
Hath in fames Chronicle such honor woon,

Albania in Greece.

That thy first setting from Albania,
Crownd me thy virgin Queene Britania.

BRUTE.

LOEGRIA.
But she whom thou hadst made one Monarchy
To be so seuerd, to thy sonnes might shew
Some signe of loue, to her small courtesie,
When three possesse what one did solie owe,
It makes more waies to harme then many know.
And so proou'd that deuision of the land,
It brought in warre that hellish fierbrand.

CAMBRIA.
The king of Hunnes entred Albania,
Slew Albanact thy Sonne, and there bare sway,
Till Locrine rose with valiant Cambria,
And to reuendge their Brothers death made way,
Which instantly they did without delay,
And made that Riuer beare the proud kings name,
That thus intruded, drownd him in the same.

ALBANIA.
Faire Elstrid taken in that fatall fight,
And Locrines loue to her, wrong to his wife,
Duke Corineus daughter, deare delight,
That reft both her and Locrine of his life,
Opened a gap to much more dismall strife,
Of all which heauy haps there had bin none,
Had Brute left me one gouernor alone.

BRUTE.

LOCRINE.
England, that first was cald Loegria,
After my name, when I commanded heere:
Giues backe hir due vnto Britannia,
And doth her true borne sonne in right prefer,
Before deuided rule, irreguler.
Wishing my brethren in like sort resigne,
A sacred vnion once more to combine.

CAMBER.
I yeelded long ago, and dyd in heart,
Allow Britanniaes first created name,
My true borne Brutes haue euer tooke her part
And to their last houre will maintaine the same.

ALBANACT.
It is no meruaile though you gladly yeeld,
When the all-ruling power doth so commaund,
I bring that Monarch now into the field,
With peace and plenty in his sacred hand,
To make Britannia one vnited land:
And when I brought him, after times will say
It was Britanniaes happy Holi-day.

Troya Nova.
Then you faire Swans in Thamesis that swim,
And you chose Nymphes that do delight to plaie
On Humber and faire Sauerne, welcome him
In Canzons, Iigges and many a Roun-delay
that from the North brought you this blessed day.
And in one tunefull harmonie lets sing,
Welcome King Iames, welcome bright Britaines King.

Thamesis.
I that am Queene of all Britanniaes streames,
The Oceans darling and endeard delight,
that wanton daily with the Sunnes guilt beames
and ore my bosome suffer daie and night,
Faire flotes of ships to saile in goodlie sight:
Vnto my second Brute shall homelie sing,
Welcome King Iames, welcome great Britaines King.

Savarne.
Faire Elstrids and Sabrinaes fatall graue,
(Whereby the name of Sauerne fell to me:)
When Locrines Quendoline in anger gaue,
My wombe to be their dismall tragedie,
Whereof my Nymphes (as yet) talke mournfullie,
Vnto my second Brute do likewise sing,
Welcome King Iames, welcome great Britaines King.

HVMBER.
Proud Scithians Humber that slew Albanact,
Whose brethren forcst him to a shamefull flight,
When in my watrie armes his life I wrackt,
I tooke his name, and kept it as my right,
For which my Nymphes still dauncing in delight,
With me these Peans and sweet Canzons sing,
Welcome King Iames, our second Brute and king.

The Chariot.
Pheme
Riding before it.

Tapeinotes.
Edward the third, whose Noble name I beare,
Hearing the Loue and royall amity,
That good report gaue of them euery where,
Preseruing peace and kinde socitie,
In his first yeare vnto this Companie,
He gaue this Charter to confirme their Guilde:
And they inioyd it, as his Highnesse wilde.

EROS.
To build this body on a stronger frame,
Richard the second gaue authoritie,
A Mayster and foure keepers they should name,
and full elect to sway their mysterie,
Granting them power to haue a Lyuerie,
and hold a Feast on saint Iohn Baptist day,
Yearelie for euer, as they do and may.

Eleutheriotes.
To fortifie a worke so well begun,
Henrie the fourth did liberally create:
(Beside the former fauours to them doone,)
Their Guilde a Brother-hood incorporate,
And thought it no disgrace to his high state,
To weare the Clothing of the Companie,
A most Maiestike royall courtesie.

Sophrosyne.
Henry the fift my war-like Lord maintainde
His fathers loue to this socyetie,

AGNITES.
Of my sixt Henry they as freely gainde,
all former graunts in self-same qualitie,
He wore their clothing, milde and graciously:
For Princes loose no part of dignity,
In beeing affable, it addes to Maiesty.

Hypomonè.
Thus long a Mayster and foure keepers stood,
Till my fourth Edward changde the keepers name
To Wardens: for the strength of Brother-hood,
And thus at first Mayster and Wardens came.

Epimeleia.
And for they traded, as no men did more,
With forren Realmes, by clothes and Merchandize,
Returning hither other Countries store,
Of what might best be our commodities,
Henry the seuenth a gracious king, and wise,
To Merchant-Taylors did exchange their name:
Since when, with credite they haue kept the same.

PHEME.
But sacred Lady, deigne me so much grace,
As tell me, why that seat is vnsupplied,
Being the most eminent and chiefest place,
With State, with Crowne and Scepter dignified?

Epimeleia.
Haue our discourses (Pheme) let thee know,
That seauen Kings haue borne free brethrens name,
Of this Societie, and may not time bestow
an eight, when Heauen shall so appoint the same?

PHEME.

Three Dukes, three Earles, foure Lords of Noble name
all in one yeare did ioyne in Brother-hood:

In the yeare 1390. Edward Duke of Yorke. Thomas,
Duke of Glocester. Henry Duke of Hereford
and Earle of Darby, vvho afterward vvas K. Henry
the fourth. Edvvard, Earle of Rutlande. Thomas
Earle of Warvvick. Iohn Holland, Earle of Huntingdon.
Iohn, Lord Ros. Rafe Lord Nevill. Thomas L.
Furniuall. Reignald, Lord Gray of Rithin.

I finde beside great Lords from France there came
To hold like league, and do them any good:

Gaylard, Lord Danuers. Barard, Lord Delamote,
Barard, Lord Montferrant, &c.

Yet no imbasing to their heigth in bloud:
For they accounted honor then most hie,
When it was held vp by communitie.

Neptune
on the Lyon.

Amphitrita.

Neptune.