 | Londons lus Honorarium |  |
Are two craggy Rockes, plac'd directly opposit, of that distance that the Barges may passe betwixt them: these are full of monsters, as Serpents, Snakes, Dragons, &c. some spitting Fier, others vomiting water, in the bases thereof, nothing to be seene, but the sad relicks of shipwracke in broken Barkes and split Vessels, &c. The one is cald Silla,
Vlisses
his speech.
Sands, Shelves, and Syrtes, and upon them stand
Boasting of nought save shipwrake spoyle and strage.
This Sylla, that Charibdis, (dangerous both)
Plac't in the way you rowe to take your oath.
To ingurdge and swallow you, ther's way to scape;
Vlisses by his wisedome found it, steare
You by his Compasse, and the way lyes cleare,
Will you know how? looke upward then; and sayle
By the signe Libra, that Celestiall scale,
Jn which (some write) the Sunne at his creation
First shone; and is to these times a relation
Of Divine Justice: Jt in justice shind,
Doe you so (Lord) and be like it divind.
To the right hand nor left, and so evade
Malicious envie (never out of action,)
Smooth visadgd flattery, and blacke mouthd detraction,
Sedition, whisprings, murmuring, private hate,
All ambushing, the godlike Magistrate.
One singes connivence, th'other would inchaunt
With partiall sentence; and a third ascribes,
Jn pleasing tunes, a right to gifts and bribes;
Sweetning the eare, and every other sence,
That place, and office, may with these dispence.
They come from foule brests, and inpostum'd throats,
Sea monsters they be stiled, but much (nay more,
'Tis to be doubted,) they frequent the shoare.
To their inchantments, with an heart sincere;
They fayling to indanger your estate,
Will from the rocks themselves precipitate.
And celebrate this Annuall Ovation;
Whilst you nor this way, nor to that way leane,
But shunne th' extreames, to keepe the golden meane.
This glorious City, Europs chiefest minion,
Most happy in so great a Kings dominion:
Into whose charge this day doth you invest,
Shall her in you, and you in her make blest.
The first show by Land, (presented in Pauls
The first show
by land.
Church yard, is a greene and pleasant Hill, adorned
with all the Flowers of the spring, upon
which is erected a faire and flourishing tree,
furnished with variety of faire and pleasant
fruite, under which tree, and in the most eminent
place of the Hill, sitteth a woman of beautifull
aspect, apparrelled like Summer: Her
motto, Civitas bene Gubernata, i. a City well governed.
Tymes
speech
Yet not the same, old Time is each day new,
Who doth the future lockt up houres inlarge,
To welcome you to this great Cities charge.
Time, who hath brought you hither (grave and great)
To inaugure you, in your Prætorium seate:
Thus much with griefe doth of himselfe professe
Nothing's more precious, and esteemed lesse.
Yet you have made great use of me, to aspire
This eminence, by desert, when in full quire
Meete you on all sides, and with Time rejoyce.
These Graces that attend her, (every thing)
As fruitfull trees, greene plants, flowers of choise smell,
All Emblems af a City governd well;
Which must be now your charge. The Labels here
Mixt with the leaves will shew what fruit they beare:
The feare of God, a Magistrate discreete,
Iustice, and Equity: when with these meete,
Obedience unto Rulers, Vnity,
Plaine and just dealing, Zeale, and Industry:
Jn such blest symptoms where these shall agree,
Cities, shall like perpetuall Summers bee.
And (doubtlesse) all will march, as you shall tread:
You are the Captaine, doe but bravely stand
To oppose vice, see, all this goodly band
Now in their City Liveries will apply
Themselves to follow, where your Colours fly.
You are the chiefe, defend my daughter Truth,
And then both Health and Poverty, Age and Youth,
Will follow this your Standard, to oppose
Errour, Sedition, Hate, (the common foes.)
But pardon Time (grave Lord) who speaks to thee;
As well what thou now art, as ought to be.
A Cities Symbole, ruind, and trod downe.
A Tree that bare bad fruit; Dissimulation,
Pride, Malice, Envy, Atheisme, Supplantation,
Ill Government, Prophannes, Fraud, Oppressiō,
Neglect of vertue, Freedome to transgression,
Obedience, here with power did disagree,
All which faire London be still farre from thee.
The second show by land.
The second show by Land, is presented in the upper part of Cheapside, which is a Chariot; The two beasts that are placed before it, are a Lyon passant, and a white Vnicorne in the same posture, on whose backs are seated two Ladies, the one representing Justice upon the Lyon, the other Mercy upon the Vnicorne. The motto which Justice beareth, is Rebelles protero; the inscription which Mercy carrieth, is Jmbelles protego: Herein is intimated, that by these types and symboles of Honour (represented in these noble beasts belonging io his Majestie) all other inferiour magistracies and governments either in Common weales, or private Societies, receive both being and supportance.
The prime Lady seated in the first and most eminent place of the Chariot, representeth London, behinde whom, and on either side, diverse others of the chiefe Cities of the Kingdome take place: As Westminster, Yorke, Bristoll, Oxford, Lincolne, Exeter, &c. All these are to be distinguished by their severall Escutchons; to them London being Speaker, directeth the first part of her speech as followeth.
London
the speaker.
May these my two each Ladies ever smile.
(Justice, and mercy) on you. You we know
Are come to grace this our triumphant show.
And of your curtesy, the hand to kisse
Of London, this faire lands Metropolis.
If to behold above you, windowes glas'd
With Diomonds 'sted of glasse? Starres hither sent,
This day to deck our lower Firmament?
Jncompasse me? So that no place is found.
Jn all my large streets empty? My yssue spred
In number more then stones whereon they tread.
To see my Temples, Houses, even all places.
With people covered, as Jf, Tyl'd with faces?
This joy? the fruits of a continued peace,
The way to thrive; to prosper in each calling,
The weake, and shrinking states, to keepe from falling,
Behold; my motto shall all this display,
Reade and observe it well: Serve and obay.
Obedience though it humbly doth begin,
Jt soone augments unto a Magozin
Of plenty, in all Citties 'tis the grownd,
And doth like harmony in musicke sound:
Nations and Common weales, by it alone
Flourish: Jt incorporates, many into one,
And makes vnanimous peace content and joy,
Which pride, doth still Insidiate to destrsy.
Both borne and bred i'th circuit of my wals,
By vertue and example, have made plaine,
How others may like eminence attaine.
That Citties to this City may still throng,
To view my annuall tryumphs, and so grace,
Those honored Pretors that supply this place.
Next after the Chariot, are borne the two rocks, Sylla and Caribdis, which before were presented upon the water: upon the top of the
The third shew by Land Presented neere vnto the great Crosle in Cheape-side, beareth the title of the Palace of Honour: A faire and Curious structure archt and Tarrest aboue, on the Top of which standeth Honour, a Glorious presens, and ritchly habited, shee in her speech directed to the right Honorable: the Lord Maior, discouers all the true and direct wayes to attaine vnto her as, first:
- A King: Eyther by succession or Election.
- A Souldier, by valour and martiall Discipline
- A Churchman by Learning and degrees in scooles
- A Statesman by Trauell and Language &c.
- A Lord Maior by Commerce and Trafficke both
- By Sea and Land, by the Inriching of the Kingdome,
- and Honour of our Nation.
The Palace of Honour is thus governed
- Industry Controwler, his Word Negotior
- Charity Steward, the Word Miserior.
- Liberality Treasurer, the Word Largior,
- Innocence and Deuotion Henchmen the words. Patior: Precor.
And so of the rest, and according to this Pallace of Honour is facioned not onely the management of the whole Citty in generall: but the House and Family of the Lord Maior in particular.
Before in the Front of this pallace is seated Saint Katherin, the Lady and Patronesse of this Worshipfull Society of whom I will giue you this short Character the name it selfe imports in the Originall. Omnis ruina, which (as some interpret it) is as much as to say, the fall and ruin of all the workes of the Diuell: Others deriue the word from Catena, a Chaine wherein all cheife Vertues and Graces are concatinated and link't together, so much for her name.
For her birth, shee was lineally descended from the Roman Emperours, the daughter of Costus the sonne of Constantine which Costns was Crowned King of Armenia, for Constantine hauing conquered
Constantine after the death of his first Wife made an expedition from Roome, and hauing Conquered this Kingdome of Great Britaine: he tooke to his Second Wife Helena, which Helena was she that found the Crosse vpon which the Sauiour of the World was Crucified, &c.
Costus Dying whilst Katherine was yet young, and shee being all that Time liuing in Famogosta, (a cheife City because shee was there Proclaimed and Crowned was called Queene of Famogosta, she liued and dyed a Virgin and a Martyr vnder the Tiranny of Maxentius, whose Empresse, with many other great & eminent persons she had before conuerted to the Faith. So much for her character Her speech to the Lord Maior as followeth.
[Katherine.]
The Lady patronesse of this Society,
A queene, a Virgin, and a Martir: All
My Atributes: Inuite you to this Hall
Cald Honours pallace: nor is this my Wheele,
Blind Fortunes Embleame, she that makes to reele;
Kingdomes and Common weales, all turning round,
Some to aduance, and others to Confound:
Stedfast in Hope, and Constant in Deuotion.
Orbicularly, still mouing to Saluation:
That's to the Primus motor: from whom Flowes,
All Goodnesse, Vertue: There, true Honour growes,
Which: If you will attaine t'must be your care.
(Graue Magistrate.) Jnstated as you are.
To keepe this Curoular action, in your charge,
To Curbe the' opressor, the opprest to inlarge;
To be the Widdowes Husband, th' Orphants Father,
The blindmans eye, the lame mans fool: so gather
(A treasure beyond valew, by your place;
More then Earths Honour,) trew Cælestiall grace,
Ayme first at that: what other Honors be,
Honour Herselfe can best Instruct thats shee.
At that word shee poynteth vpward to a Glorious presens which personates Honor in the top of the pallace, who thus secondeth Saint Katherens Speech.
Honours
Speech.
Yet it is dificult and hard.
If Kings Arriue to my profection
Tis by Succession, or Election
When Fortitude doth Action grace,
The Souldier then with me takes place
When Stooddy, Knowledge and degree
Makes Scollers Eminent heere with mee;
The Trauilar, when many a land
He hath 'peir'st for language, and much knowes
A great respected statesman growes.
Who weare this Scarlet, vse that Swoord
Collar, and Cap of Maintenance.
These are no things, that come by chance
Or got by sleeping but auerse
From these I am paind: by care, Commerce,
The hazarding of Goods, and men
To Pyrats Rocks, shelues, Tempest, when?
You through a Wildernesse of Seas,
Dangers of wrack, Surprise, Desease
Make new descoveryes, for a lasting story
Of this our Kingdomes fame and Nations glory
Thus is that Collar, and your Scarlet worne,
And for such cause, the Sworde before you Borne.
They are the emblems of your Power, and heere
Though curb'd within the Linemet of one yeare,
Yet manadge as they ought by your Indeuour
Shall make your name (as new) Honored for euer
Vnto which Pallace of peace, rest and blisse,
Supply of all things, where nought wanting is
Would these that shall succcede you know the way?
Tis plaine, God, the King Serue and Obay.
I cannot heare forget that in the presentment of
Night growes, Inuiting you to rest, prepare
To rise to morrrw to a whole Yeares care,
Enuy still waites on Honour, then prouide
Vlisses Wisdome may be still your guide
To stere you through all dangers: Husband Time
That this day brings you to a place sublime,
By the Supporture of his daughter Truth
This Ancient Citty in her pristine Youth,
Your sword may reestablish: and so bring
Her still to florish; like that lasting Spring
That London in whose Circuit you were bred
And borne therein, to be the Cheife and Head
Drawne by these two beasts in an Equall line
May in your Mercy and your Iustice shine.
So Honour who this day did you Inuite
Vnto Her palace bids you thus Good Night.
No following day but adde to your Renowne
And this your Charge, with numerous Blessings crowne.
I haue forborne to spend much paper in neede lesse and Inpertinent deciphering the worke, or explaining the habits of the persons, as being freely exposed to the publicke view of all the Spectators. The maine show, being performed by the most excellent in that kind, Miaster Gerard Christmas hath exprest hia Modals to bee exquisite (as hauing spared nei-ther Cost nor care, either in the Figures or ornaments. I shall not neede to point vnto them to say, this is a Lyon, and that an Vnicorne, &c. For of this Artist, I may bouldly and freely thus much speake, though many about the towne may enuie their worke, yet with all their indeuor they shall not be able to compare with their worth. I Conclude with Plautus in sticho: Nam curiosus est nemoqui non fit male volus.
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