The Trivmphs of Health and Prosperity | ||
If you should search all Chronicles, Histories, Records, in what Language or Letter soeuer; if the Inquisitiue Man should waste the deere Treasure of his Time and Ey-sight, He shall conclude his life onely with this certainety, that there is no Subiect vpon earth receiued into the place of his Gouernement with the like State and Magnificence, as is his Maiesties great Substitute into his Honorable charge the Citty of London, bearing the Inscription of the Chamber Royall: which that it may now appeare to the world no lesse illustrated with brotherly Affection then former Tryumphall times haue beene partakers of, this takes delight
And first to enter the worthy loue of his honorable Society, for his Lordships returne from Westminster, hauing receiued some seruice by water, by the Triumphant Chariot of Honor, the first that attends his Lordships most wished Arriuall, beares the Title of the Beautifull Hill, or Fragrant Garden, with flowry bankes, neere to which, Lambes and Sheepe are a grazing, this platforme so cast into a Hill, is adorned and garnisht with all variety of Odoriferous flowers, on the top Archt with an Artificial and curious Raine bow, which both shewes the Antiquity of colours, the diuersity and Noblenesse, and how much the more glorious and highly to be esteem'd, they being presented in that blessed Couenant of Mercy, the Bow in the Clouds, the worke it selfe incompast with all various fruites, and beares the name of the most pleasant garden of England (the Noble City of London) the flowers intimating the sweete odors of their Vertue and Goodnesses, and the fruites of their workes of Iustice and Charity, which haue bene both Honorable Brothers, and bounteous benefactors of this antient Fraternity, who are presented in the deuice following, vnder the types and figures of their Vertues in their life
The Speech in the Hill where the Raine-bow appeares.
A cloude of griefe hath showrde vpon the face
Of this sad City, and vsurpt the place
Of Ioy and Cheerfulnesse, wearing the forme,
Of a long blacke Ecclipse in a rough storme,
With flowers of Teares this garden was oreflowne,
Till mercy was like the blest Rain-bow showne.
Behold what figure now the City beares,
Like Iems vnvalued, her best joyes she weares;
Glad as a faithfull Hand-mayde to obay,
And waite vpon the Honour of this Day;
Triumph, and Pompe had almost lost their right:
The Garden springs agen, the Violet Beds,
The lofty Flowers beare vp their fragrant heads;
Fruit ouer-lade their Trees, Barnes cracke with store,
And yet how much the Heavens wept before:
Threatning a second mourning, who so dull,
But must acknowledge Mercie was at full.
In these two mighty blessings; what's requir'd?
That which in conscience ought to be desir'd;
Care and Vprightnesse in the Magistrates place,
And in all men Obedience, Truth and Grace.
After this awaites his Lordships approach, a Maister-peece of Triumph, called the Sanctuary of Prosperity, on the Top Arch of which hangs the Golden Fleece, which raises the worthy memory of that most famous and renowned Brother of this Company, Sir Francis Drake, who in two yeares and ten moneths did incompasse the whole world, deseruing an eminent remembrance in this Sanctuary, who neuer returned to his Countrey without the Golden Fleece of Honour and Victory. The foure faire Corinthian Columnes or Pillars, imply the foure principall Vertues, Wisedome, Iustice, Fortitude, Temperance, the especiall vpholders of Kingdomes, Cities
The Speech in the Sanctuary vpon the Fleece.
If Iason with the noble hopes of Greece,
Who did from Colchis fetch the Golden Fleece,
Deserue a Story of immortall fame,
That both the Asiaes celebrate his name,
What Honor, Celebration and Renowne,
In Vertues right, ought justly to be showne,
To the faire memory of Sir Francis Drake;
Englands true Iason, who did boldly make
So many rare Adventures, which were held
For worth, vnmatcht, danger, vnparaleld,
Neuer returning to his Countries Eye,
Without the Golden Fleece of Victory.
The World's a Sea, and euery Magistrate
Takes a yeares Voyage, when he takes this state,
Nor on these Seas, are there lesse dangers found,
Then those, on which the bold Adventurer's bound:
For Rockes, gulfes, quicke-sands, here is malice, spite,
Enuy, Detraction of all Noble Right;
Vessels of Honor, those doe threaten more,
Then any Ruine betweene Sea and Shore.
And spite of Spites, thou bringst the Fleece of fame.
Passing from this, and more to encourage the Noble endeauours of the Magistrate, his Lordship and the worthy Company, is gracefully Conducted toward the Chariot of Honor, on the most Eminent seate thereof is Gouernement Illustrated, it being the proper Vertue by which we rayse the noble memory of Sir Henry Fitz-Alwin, who held the Seate of Magistracy in this City twenty foure yeares together, a most renowned Brother of this Company: In like manner, the Worthy Sir Iohn Norman first rowed in Barge to Westminster with silver Oares, vnder the person of Munificence: Sir Simon Eyre that built Leaden Hall, a Granary for the poore, vnder the Type of Piety, Et sic de cæteris. This Chariot drawne by two Golden pellited Lyons, beeing the proper Supporters of the Companies Armes, those two that haue their Seates vpon the Lyons, presenting Power and Honor, the one in a little Streamer or Banneret, bearing the armes of the present Lord Major; the other the late, the truely Generous and Worthy, Sir Allen Cotton Knight, a bounteous
VVith just propriety dos this City stand,
As fixt by fate, ith' middle of the Land,
It ha's as in the body the Heartes place,
Fit for her workes of Piety and Grace:
The Head her Soueraigne, vnto whom she sends
All duties that just seruice comprehends;
The Eyes may be compar'd (at wisedomes rate)
To the illustrious Councellors of State,
Set in that Orbe of Royalty, to giue light
To noble actions, Starres of truth and right:
The Lips, the Reuerend Cleargy, Iudges, all
That pronounce Lawes Diuine, or Temporall;
So I descend vnto the Heart agen:
The place where now you are, witnesse the loue,
True Brother-hoods cost and Tryumph, all which moue
In this most graue Solemnity, and in this
The Cities generall loue abstracted is:
And as the Heart in it's meridian seate,
Is stil'd the Fountayne of the bodies heate:
The first thing receiues life, the last that dyes,
Those properties experience well applies
To this most loyall City, that hath beene
In former ages as in these times seene;
The Fountayne of Affection, Duty, Zeale,
And taught all Cities through the Common-weale,
The first that receiues quickning life and spirit,
From the Kings grace, which stil she striues to inherit
And like the Heart will be the last that dyes,
In any duty toward good supplies:
What can expresse affections nobler fruite,
Both to the King, and You, his Substitute.
At the close of this Speech, this Chariot of Honor, and Sanctuary of Prosperity, with all her gracefull Concomitants, and the two other parts of Tryumph, take leaue of his Lordship for that time, and rest from service till the great Feast at
The last Speech.
Mercies faire Object, the Cælestiall Bow,
As in the morning it began to show,
It closes vp this great Tryumphall day,
And by example showes the Yeare, the Way,
It must with Mercy both begin and end;
It is a yeare that crownes the life of man,
Brings him to Peace with Honor and what can
Be more desir'd, 'tis vertues harvest time,
When Grauity and Iudgements in their prime,
To speake more happily, 'tis a time giuen
To treasure vp good Actions fit for Heauen,
To a Brother hood of Honor thou art fixt
That has stood long faire in just Vertues eye;
For within twelue yeares space, thou art the Sixt,
That has bin Lord Major of this Company:
This is no vsuall grace, being now the last,
Close the Worke Nobly vp, that what is past,
And knowne to be good in the former Fiue:
May in thy present Care be kept aliue;
Then is thy Brotherhood for their Loue and Cost,
Requited amply; but thy owne Soule most.
Health and a happy Peace fill all thy dayes,
VVhen thy Yeare ends, may then begin thy prayse.
The Trivmphs of Health and Prosperity | ||