University of Virginia Library

The Deuice.

Saint George, Saint Andrew, (the Patrons of both Kingdomes) hauing along time lookt vpon each other, with countenances rather of meere strangers, then of such neare Neighbours, vpon the present aspect of his Maiesties approach toward London, were (in his sight) to issue from two seuerall places on horsebacke, and in compleate Armour, their Brestes and Caparisons suited with the Armes of England and Scotland, (as they are now quartered) to testifie their leagued Combination, and newe sworne Brother-hood. These two armed Knights, encountring one another on the way, were to ride hand in hand, till they met his Maiestie. But the strangenesse of this newly-begotten amitie, flying ouer the earth, It calles vp the Genius of the Cittie, who (not so much mazde, as wondring at the Noueltie) Intersepts their Passage.

And most aptly (in our Iudgement) might this Domesticum Numen (the Genius of the place) lay iust clayme to this preheminence of first bestowing Salutations and welcomes on his Maiestie, Genius being held (Inter fictor Deo), to be God of Hospitalitie and Pleasure: and none but such a one was meet to receiue so excellent and princely a Guest.

Or if not worthy, for those two former respects: Yet being Deus Generationis, and hauing a power aswell ouer Countries hearbs and trees, as ouer men, and the Cittie hauing now put on a Regeneratiue, or new birth; the induction of such a Person, might (without a Warrant from the court of Critists) passe very currant.

To make a false florish here with the borrowed weapons of all the old Maisters of the noble Science of Poesie, and to keepe a tyrannicall coyle, in Anatomizing Genius, from head to foote, (only to shew how nimbly we can carue vp the whole messe of the Poets) were to play the Executioner, and to lay out Cities houshold God on the rack, to make him confesse, how many paire of Latin sheets, we haue shaken & cut into shreds to make him a garment. Such feates of Actiuitie are stale, and common among Schollers, (before whome it is protested we come not now (in a Pageant) to Play a Maisters prize) For Nunc ego ventosæ Plebis suffragia venor.

The multitude is now to be our Audience, whose heads would miserably runne a wooll-gathering, if we doo but offer to breake them with hard words. But suppose (by the way) contrary to the opinion of all the Doctors) that our Genius (in regarde the place is Feminine, and the person it selfe, drawne Figura Humana, sed Ambiguo sexu) should at this time be thrust into womans apparell. It is no Schisme: be it so: our Genius is then a Female, Antique; and reuerend both in yeares and habit: a Chaplet of mingled flowres, Inter wouen with branches of the Plane Tree (crowning her Temples: her haire long and white: her Vesture a loose roabe, Changeable and powdred with Starres: And being (on horsebacke likewise) thus furnished, this was the tune of her voyes.

Genius Locj.
Stay : wee coniure you, by that Potent Name,
Of which each Letter's (now) a triple charme:
Stay; and deliuer vs, of whence you are,
And why you beare (alone) th'ostent of Warre,
When all hands else reare Oliue-boughs and Palme:
And Halcyonean dayes assure all's calme.
When euery tongue speakes Musick: when each Pen
(Dul'd and dyde blacke in Galle) is white agen,
And dipt in Nectar, which by Delphick-fire
Being heated, melts into an Orphean-quire.
When Troyes proud buildings shew like Fairie-bowers,
And Streets (like Gardens) are perfum'd with Flowers:
And Windowes glazde onely with wondring eyes;
(In a Kings looke such admiration lyes!)
And when soft handed Peace, so sweetly thriues,
That Bees in Souldiers Helmets build their Hiues:
When Ioy a tip-toe stands on Fortunes Wheele,
In silken Robes: How dare you shine in Steele?

Saint George.
Ladie, What are you that so question vs?

Genius.
I charge you therefore say, for what you come?
What are you?

Both.
Knights at Armes.

S. George.
Saint George.

Saint Andrew.
Saint Andrew.
For Scotlands honour I.

S. George.
For Englands I
Both sworne into a League of Vnitie.

Genius.
I clap my hands for Ioy, and seate you both
Next to my heart: In leaues of purest golde,
This most auspicious loue shall be enrold.
Be ioynde to vs: And as to earth we bowe,
So, to those royall feet, bend your steelde brow.
In name of all these Senators, (on whom
Vertue builds more, then these of Antique Rome)
Shouting a cheerefull welcome: Since no clyme,
Nor Age that has gon or'e the head of Time,
Did e're cast vp such Ioyes, nor the like Summe
(But here) shall stand in the world, yeares to come,
Dread King, our hearts make good, what words do want,
To bid thee boldly enter Troynouant.

This should haue beene the first Offring of the Citties Loue: But his Maiestie not making his Entrance (according to expectation) It was (not vtterly throwne from the Alter) but layd by.

By this time Imagine, that Poets (who drawe speaking Pictures) and Painters (who make dumbe Poesie) had their heads & hands full; the one for natiue and sweet Inuention: the other for liuely Illustration of what the former should deuise: Both of them emulously contending (but not striuing) with the proprest and brightest Colours of Wit and Art, to set out the beautie of the great Triumphant day.

For more exact and formall managing of which Businesse, a Select number both of Aldermen and Commoners (like so many Romane Ædiles) were (Communi Consilio) chosen forth, to whose discretion, the Charge, Contriuings, Proiects, and all other Dependences, owing to so troublesome a worke, was intirely, and Iudicially committed.

Many dayes were thriftily consumed, to molde the bodies of these Tryumphes comely, and to the honour of the Place: & at last, the stuffe whereof to frame them, was beaten out. The Soule that should giue life, & a tongue to this Entertainment, being to breathe out of Writers Pens. The Limmes of it to lye at the hard-handed mercy of Mychanitiens.

In a moment therefore of Time, are Carpenters, Ioyners, Caruers, and other Artificers sweating at their Chizzells.

Not a finger but had an Office: He was held vnworthy euer after to sucke the Hony-dew of Peace, that (against his comming, by whom our Peace weares a triple Wreathe) would offer to play the Droane. The Streets are surueyed; heigthes, breadths, and distances taken, as it were to make Fortifications, for the Solemnities. Seauen pieces of ground, (like so many fieldes for a battaile) are plotted foorth, vppon which these Arches of Tryumph must shew themselues in their glorie: aloft, in the ende doe they aduance their proude fore-heads.

Euen childrē (might they haue bin suffred) would gladly haue spent their little strength, about the Engines, that mounted vp the Frames: Such a fire of loue and ioy, was kindled in euery brest.

The day (for whose sake, these wonders of Wood, clymde thus into the clowdes) is now come; being so earely vp by reason of Artificiall Lights, which wakened it, that the Sunne ouer-slept himselfe, and rose not in many houres after, yet bringing with it into the very bosome of the Cittie, a world of people. The Streets seemde to bee paued with men: Stalles in stead of rich wares were set out with children, open Casements fild vp with women.

All Glasse windowes taken downe, but in their places, sparkeled so many eyes, that had it not bene the day, the light which reflected from them, was sufficient to haue made one: hee that should haue compared the emptie and vntroden walkes of London, which were to be seen in that late mortally-destroying Deluge, with the thronged streetes now, might haue belieued, that vpon this day, began a new Creation, & that the Citie was the onely Workhouse wherein sundry Nations were made.

A goodly and ciuil order was obserued, in Martialling all the Companies according to their degrees: The first beginning at the vpper end of Saint Marks Lane, and the last reaching aboue the Conduit in Fleetstreete: their Seats, being double-railde: vpon the vpper part wheron they leaned, the Streamers, Ensignes, and Bannerets, of each particular Company decently fixed: And directly against them, (euen quite through the body of the Citie, so hie as to Temple-Barre) a single Raile (in faire distance from the other) was likewise erected to put off the multitude. Amongst whose tongues (which in such Consorts neuer lye still,) tho there were no Musicke, yet as the Poet sayes:

Nothing that they speake could bee made any thing, yet all that was spoken, sounded to this purpose, that still his Maiestie was comming. They haue their longings: And behold, A farre off they spie him, richly mounted on a white Iennet, vnder a rich Canopy, sustained by eight Barons of the Cinqueports; the Tower seruing that morning but for his with-drawing Chamber, wherein hee made him ready: and from thence stept presently into his Citie of London, which for the time might worthily borrow the name of his Court Royall: His passage alongst that Court, offering it selfe for more State) through seuen Gates, of which the first was erected at Fanchurch.
Thus presenting it selfe.
It was an vpright Flat-square, (for it contained fiftie foote in the perpendiculer, and fiftie foote in the Ground-lyne) the vpper roofe thereof (one distinct Grices) bore vp the true moddells of all the notable Houses, Turrets, and Steeples, within the Citie. The Gate vnder which his Maiestie did passe, was 12. foote wide, and 18. foote hie: A Posterne likewise (at one side of it) being foure foote wide, and 8. foote in heigth: On either side of the Gate, stood a great French Terme, of stone, aduanced vpon wodden Pedestalls; two half Pilasters of Rustick, standing ouer their heads. I could shoote more Arrowes at this marke, and teach you without the Carpenters Rule how to measure all the proportions belonging to this Fabrick. But an excellent hand being at this instant curiously describing all the seuen, and bestowing on them their faire prospectiue limmes, your eye shall hereafter rather be delighted in beholding those Pictures, than now be wearied in looking vpon mine.

• 1 The highest Person was The Brittayne Monarchy.
• 2 At her feet, sate Diuine Wisdome.
• 3 Beneath her, stood The Genius of the City, A man.
• 4 At his right hand was placed a Personage, figuring, The Counsell of the City.
• 5 Vnder all these lay a person representing Thamesis the Riuer.

Sixe other persons (being daughters to Genius) were aduaunced aboue him, on a spreading Ascent, of which the first was,

• 1 Gladnesse.
• 2 The second, Veneration.
• 3 The third, Promptitude.
• 4 The fourth, Vigilance.
• 5 The fift, Louing affection.
• 6 The sixth, Vnanimity.

Of all which personages, Genius and Thamesis were the only Speakers: Thamesis being presented by one of the children of her Maiesties Reuels: Genius by M. Allin (seruant to the young Prince) his gratulatory speach (which was deliuered with excellent Action, and a well tun'de audible voyce) being to this effect:

That London may be prowd to behold this day, and therefore in name of the Lord Maior and Aldermen, the Councell, Commoners and Multitude, the heartiest Welcome is tendered to his Maiesty, that euer was bestowed on any King, &c.

Which Banquet being taken away with sound

of Musicke, there, ready for the purpose, his Maiestie made his entrance into this his Court Royall: vnder this first Gate, vpon the Battlements of the worke, in great Capitalls was inscribed, thus:

And vnder that, in a smaller (but not different) Caracter, was written,

Too short a time (in their opinions that were glewed there together so many houres, to behold him) did his Maiestie dwell vpon this first place: yet too long it seemed to other happy Spirits, that higher vp in these Elizian fields awaited for his presence: he sets on therefore (like the Sunne in his Zodiaque) bountifully dispersing his beames amongst particular Nations: the brightnesse and warmth of which, was now spent first vpon the Italians, & next vpon the Belgians: The space of ground, on which their magnificent Arches were builded, being not vnworthy to beare the name of the great Hall to this our Court Royal: wherein was to be heard & seene the sundry languages & habits of Strangers, which vnder Princes Roofes render excellent harmony.

In a paire of Scales doe I weigh these two Nations, and finde them (neither in hearty loue to his

Maiestie, in aduancement of the Cities honor, nor in forwardnesse to glorifie these Triumphes) to differ one graine.

To dispute which haue done best, were to doubt that one had done well. Call their inuentions therefore Twynnes: or if they themselues doe not like that name, (for happily they are emulous of one glory) yet thus may we speake of them.

Because, whosoeuer (fixis oculis) beholds their proportions,

The street, vpon whose breast, this Italian Iewell

was worne, was neuer worthy of that name which it carries, till this houre: For here did the Kings eye meete a second Obiect, that inticed him by tarrying to giue honor to the place. And thus did the queintnesse of the Engine seeme to discouer it selfe before him.