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Mercatura , i. Merchandise, the Greekes call Emporia, and Emporos a Merchant, the Hebrewes Meker. From hence (it seemes) the Poets call Hermes (the Sonne of Iupiter and Maia) Mercury, making him the God of Merchants and Merchandise. The mistery whereof hath in the ancient times beene held glorious, and the professors thereof illustrious as those, by whose Aduenture and Industry vnknowne Countries haue beene discouered, Friendship with forreigne Princes contracted, barbarous Nations to humane gentlenesse and courtesie reduced, and all such vsefull commodities in forreigne Climats abounding, and in their owne wanting, made conducible and frequent, nay, many of them haue not beene onely the Erectors of braue and goodly structures, but the Founders of great and famous Cities: (for so sayth Plutarch in Solon) Merchandise it selfe, according to Aristotle, consisteth of three things, Nauigation, Fœneration, and Negotiation, all which are commendably approued, if considerately and conscionably vsed.

Eight Offices of Piety are in a Merchant required. 1. Rectitudo conscientiæ, Vprightnesse of Conscience, which

is most acceptable to the Creator, (and therefore ought to be more prized by the Creature) then any vaine-glorious Title: as stiled by our best Theologists, the indulgent Mother of all Vertues whatsoeuer. 2. Simulationis & dissimulationis seclusio, i. A seclusion or separation from all dissembling or equivocation. 3. Fraudem deuitare, i. To abandon all fraud or deceite in bargaining, but in all Couenants and Contracts to obserue truth and irreprooueable fidelity. 4. Iustitiam exerceri, i. To exercise Iustice: which excludeth the practice of Iniury, Extortion, and Oppression. 5. Superbiam deponere, To lay by all pride, for (as diuine Plato sayth) Hee who knoweth himselfe best, esteemeth of himselfe the least: Wee reade also in Socrates, that pride is a vice which of young men ought to be carefully auoided, of old men vtterly abiured, of all men suspected and feared. 6. Beneficientia vti, i. Out of his abundance to bee open-handed vnto all, but especially vnto the poore and indigent. 7. Auaritiam frœnare, i. To bridle the insatiate desire of getting, for the auaritious man wanteth as well what he hath, as what he hath not: who hath great trauaile in gathering Wealth, more danger in keeping it, much Law in defending it, most torment in departing from it. 8. Sollicitudines resecare, i. To renounce all care and trouble of minde, which may hinder Diuine contemplation, but rather to fixe his thoughts vpon that Heauenly treasure which the Moath corrupteth not, the Fire cannot waste, nor the Sea wracke: All these things desireable being knowne to be eminent in your Lordship, was the maine inducement to intitle this present Show by this apt Denomination, Londini Emporia: Further of Merchants we reade Horace thus,

Impiger extremos currit Mercator ad Indos,
Per mare pauperiem fugiens, per saxa per ignes.
The Merchant to the farthest Indies flies,
Through seas, rockes, fires, lest Want should him surprise.

Concerning this Company of the Cloath-workers, none hath beene more ancient, as claiming their place from the first institution, and though in count the last of Twelue, yet eueryway equall with the first or any: the reasons are pregnant, and briefely these: The Nobility of the Land are called Pares, (that is) Peeres. For their parity and equality, as hauing preualent voyces in the high Session, or Court of Parliament. The two famous Vniuersities are equall Sisters: neyther can one claime priority aboue the other, yet because they cannot be named at once, those of Cambridge say, Cambridge and Oxford: Those of Oxford say, Oxford and Cambridge, which neither addeth nor detracteth from the other: In all numbers there is a compulsiue necessity of order, onely for method sake, not that we can properly say, this Figure in it selfe is better then that, being all of them onely helpers to make vp an Account: since that all the Lord Maiors of this honourable City: (from which of the Twelue Companies soeuer they be Elected) beare one Sword, receiue one Power, and retaine like Authority: (There being no difference at all in place, office, or in granting Priuiledges or Immunities &c.) I hold them all equall without difference, or if any shall claime priority or precedence aboue the rest, let it bee conferr'd vpon that which breedeth the best Magistrates, and of this Company haue beene these after named, not of the least Eminence, as Sir William Hart, L. Maior Anno 1559. Sir Rowland Hayward An. 1570. who was twice L. Maior at the least. Sir Iames Howell An. 1574. Sir Edward Osborne An. 1583. Thomas Skinner, who dyed before hee was Knighted, 1596. Sir Iohn Spencer An. 1594. Sir Michael Moseley 1599. Sir Iohn Watts 1606. And now this present yeare 1633. the Right Honourable Ralph Freeman: Neyther is it the least Honour to this right Worshipfull Fraternity, that it pleased Royall King Iames, (of sacred memory)

besides diuers others of the Nobility, to enter into the freedome and brother-hood of this Company.