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The show by Water.

It representeth Arion with his Harpe in his hand, riding vpon the backe of a Dolphin, behinde him for ornament old Oceanus and Amphetrite, mounted vpon two Sea-horses, holding each of them a Staffe and a Banner, wherein are displayde the Armes of the two Sheriues now in place, of him it is thus commented.

Arion was borne in Methimnus, whom Pyranthus, (Or as Gellius and Herodatus please to name him) Periander, for his excellent skill vpon the Harpe, greatly delighted

in: Dycæarchus describeth him for a noble Dithirambick Poet. He hauing got great store of Treasure, was desirous to crosse from Corinth into Sicilia and Italy, to whom Apollo appeares (the night before his imbarking) in a Dreame, and willed him to attire himselfe in his Robe and Lawrell, and to be ready in any danger to sing vnto his Harpe, and not to feare any thing. The next day (being farre from shoare) the Marriners hauing notice what Treasure hee had aboord, conspired amongst themselues to cast him into the Sea, which hee perceiuing, begged of them so much respite, that habited as hee was, hee might sing one funerall farewell to his Harpe, which granted, so sweete was his Harmony, that the Dolphins came sporting about the shippe, as much delighted with his Musicke: amongst whom hee cast himselfe, and they supported him, and bore him backe vnto Corinth; where hauing told this wonderment, the King graciously entertayned him; soone after the same Barke being by a tempest drouen into the same Harbour, notice thereof beeing giuen vnto the King, hee strictly questioned them concerning Arion, they affirm'd him to bee dead at Sea, to which when they had sworne, hee caused Arion suddenly to appeare before them, who confounded with shame, were commanded to death: Apollo after translated Arion for his Musicke, and the Dolphin for his Pitty amongst the Starres.

Arions
Speech directed to the Riuer Thames.

Perseus, Andromeda with the Sea-monster are onely shewed vpon the Water, but their expression I referre to their place by Land.

Of which the first presentment is in Pauls Churchyard:

Namely, St. Katherine, Patronesse of this Worshipfull Company, vpon a Lyon, bordered about with the Sea-waues, (the Armes of the Haberdashers) shee is Crowned as being a Queene, bearing a Wheele in her hand, full of sharpe cutting Irons, the Embleame of her Martyrdome: Her attendants to beautifie the plat-forme, are foure Virgins, Humility the first: Of which Vertue Seneca thus speaketh, Laus vera humili sepe contingit viro. The second Truth, which scaleth the Heauens, illustateth the Earth, maintaineth Iustice, gouerneth Cities, kils Hatred, cherisheth Loue, and discouereth Treasons: The third Zeale, of which it is thus sayd; Office is strengthned by Zeale, and Zeale maketh authority invincible. The fourth, Constancy: according with that of Lucan, Intrepidus quicunque datis mihi Numina mortem Accipiam—

All which are necessary in a Magistrate, as needfull in a Martyr: Of the Etymologie of her Name, her Royal Birth, her Breeding, her Life and Death, in the last yeeres Discourse I gaue a large Charactar, and therefore preceede to her Speech, which is as followeth.

St. Katherines
Speech.

The second show by Land.

This discouereth Andromeda the Daughter of King Cepheus, and Cassiopeia, tide to a Rocke, and ready to bee deuoured by a Sea-monster: But rescued by Perseus the Sonne of Iupiter and Danae, who is mounted vpon a Pegasus, or Winged-horse, who is sayd to bee bred from Neptune and Medusa, and in Hellicon a Mountaine in Boetia, striking a Stone with his hoofe, opend that Fountaine

called (from him) Hyppocrene, much celebrated by the Muses. Perseus in one hand hath an Harpe or crooked Sword, and vpon his left arme a Shield with a Gorgons head figured therein: In Perseus are comprehended all the prime Vertues acquired in a Noble Magistrate: In Andromeda Chastity and Innocence: I cannot heere insist vpon the Hystory, but rather referre the Reader to Ouid, who hath most elegantly expressed it; but come to the Speech deliuered by Perseus.

Perseus
his Speech.

The third show by Land.

This is more Mimicall then Materiall, and inserted for

the Vulgar, who rather loue to feast their eyes, then to banquet their eares: and therefore though it bee allowed place amongst the rest: (as in all Professions wee see Dunces amongst Doctors, Simple amongst Subtle, and Fooles intermixt with Wisemen to fill vp number) as doubting whether it can wel appollogy for it selfe or no, at this time I affoord it no tongue.

The fourth show by Land.

The Right Honourable the Lord Maior in present, though free of this Worshipfull Company of the Haberdashers, (at whose sole charge, the High Solemnity of this Day is celebrated) yet was by Profession a Mercer, and his chiefe Trading was in Florence for Sattins, Taffaties, and Sarsnets; in Luca for Taffaties and Sarsnets, in

Gene for Gene Veluets, Damasks, &c. In Bolognia for Sattius, Cypresse, and Sarsnets. As also in Pysa, now because the materialls of which these Stuffes are made, are brought from the farthest remote Countries vpon the backs of Cammels, Mules, Dromidaries and Elephants: I made choice of this Beast, especially, of whose incomparable strength and most pregnant vnderstanding, if any desire to be fully satisfied, I must referre them to Pliny, Gesner, but more essentially to Don Sebastian de Cobarruias Orozco En el Tesoro de la Lengua Castellana, (from whom Minshaw borrowed his Etymologicall Spanish Dictionary) vpon the word Elephante, where are diuers Stories of them, which but for the Grauity of the Author, might almost appeare incredible. The Elephant is guided by an Indian, vpon his backe is a faire Castle furnisht with change and variety of obiects, &c. the Speech deliuered by the Indian as followeth.

The Indians Speech.

The fift show by Land.

Is the Scaturigo or Fountaine of Vertue, from which all Arts and Sciences are watered: I neede not to spend Time in the description thereof, it being able sufficiently to expresse it selfe, the nature thereof being in the Poeme layd opun euen vnto the meanest capacity. There are twelue sundry persons to beautifie the Modell, suiting with the number of the twelue Companies, as the Saints that patronize them; and euery of them a Shield on their arme, bearing their seueral Scutchions properly belonging to the

Halls. The Speech from the Fountaine is thus deliuered.

The Speech vpon the Fountaine.
Twelue houres twice told, distinguish night and Day,
Twelue Cæsars of the Iulian Line did sway
Romes Empire, and in euery case of striffe
Where Action's tryde; or if concerning life,
Twelue makes the Iury full: the Zodaiacke Lines
Are likewise fild by twelue Celestiall Signes,
Amongst which one in your Emblazons borne
Is numbred by the name of Capricorne.
Twelue Sibills we account, and they fore-told
Things hapned since, although they spake of old
By twelue: the blest Word in the Church instated
Was at the first divuldg'd and propagated.
Twelue Companies you are in Chiefe, 12. heere
Present that number with those Armes they beare.
And hence the Inundant Scaturigo growes,
Which through our Kingdomes large Dominions flowes,
By founded Schooles, by Colledges, by Trade,
By Trafficke, by Commerce, by Proiect, layd.
For thrifty Bargaine and all competent Gayne,
As swell arising from the Hand as Brayne.
London the Mother and the Fountaine stil'd.
And you of all her Sonnes now eldest Child;
(Heire to her great good Workes) incourage still
Those pious Acts, and by Example fill
Voide places with the like, and in this State
You beare, as being now chiefe Magistrate:
So order this your numerous Charge, that they
May God, the King, Your selfe Serue and Obey.

A word or two concerning the supporters of the Armes

of this Worshipfull Company. Parmenisius a Greeke Author thus relates, King Melloseus who ruled in Creete, had two Daughters, to whom Iupiter in his Infancy was sent to be nursed, to preserue him from the fury of his Father Saturne: but they being at that time dry-brested, caused him to sucke of a Goate called Amalthæa, by whose Milke hee was nourished, till the time that hee came to be weyned, (this Goate vsually brought forth two twins) Iupiter after in requitall of so great a benefit receiued by her, translated her amongst the Starres. This Goate is that Capricornus one of the 12. Celestiall Signes, The two Kidds (her twins) placed in the Heauens else, were first obserued by the great Astrologer Cleostrates Tenedius. The last Speech at Night is deliuered by Arion, which is a short commemoration of the former passages of the Dayes Triumph in these wordes following.

[Arion.]
Now hath the Sun put off his golden beames,
Watring his hot Steeds in cold Ister streames,
And tyr'd with his dayes trauell, in the West
Tooke vp his Inne: But ere you goe to rest,
Remember what Arion still proclaimes
In the due honour of the noble Thames.
Next, how your Queene-like Saint directs the way
For you to rule, for others to obey.
Then to be cal'd Ioues Sonne you haue the Grace,
And that in Perseus figured is your Place.
That in this able Elephant's implyde
Your Strength to beare, your Iudgement to decyde.
Last, that you are the Spring and Fountaine made
To water euery Science, Art, and Trade;
Obseruing those, your Honour shall shine bright,
And so a happy and most blest good-night.

I come last to the Artist, the Moddellor and Composer of these seuerall Peeces, Maister Gerard Christmas, of whom (si paruis componert, magnalicet) as Augustus Cæsar,

speaking of Rome, boasted, that hee found it of Bricke, but hee left it built of Marble: So he who found these Pageants and showes of Wicker and Paper, rather appearing monstrous and prodigious Births, then any Beast (presented in them) in the least kind imitating Nature: hath reduc't them to that sollidity and substance for the Materialls, that they are so farre from one dayes washing to deface them, that the weathering of many Winters can not impeach them: and for their excellent Figures and well-proportioned lineaments, (by none preceeding him) that could be sayd to bee paralleld: In regard therefore there bee so many strangers of all Countries, and such as can iudge of Workemanship, come to be spectators of these Annuall Triumphs, I could wish that the vndertaking thereof might be hereafter conferd (for the Honour of the Citty) vpon men like able and sufficient. For his owne particular I conclude: Hunc aliquis vix imitando superare potest.