University of Virginia Library

All Triumphes have their Titles, and so this, according to the nature thereof, beareth a name: It is called Londini Κατοπτρον, that is, Speculum, more plainly, Londons Mirrour, neither altogether unproperly so termed, since she in her selfe may not onely perspicuously behold her owne vertues, but all forraigne Cities by her, how to correct their vices.

Her Antiquity she deriveth from Brute, lineally discended from Æneas, the sonne of Anchises and Venus, and by him erected, about the yeare of the world two thousand eight hundred fifty five: before the Nativity of our blessed Saviour, one thousand one hundred and eight: first cald by him Trinovantum, or Troy-novant,

New Troy, to continue the remembrance of the old, and after, in the processe of time Caier Lud, that is, Luds Towne, of King Lud, who not onely greatly repaired the City, but increased it with goodly and gorgeous buildings; in the West part whereof, he built a strong gate, which hee called after his owne name Lud gate, and so from Luds Towne, by contraction of the word and dialect used in those times, it came since to be called London.

I will not insist to speake of the name of Maior, which implyeth as much as the greater, or more prime person; such were the Prætors, or Prœfecti in Rome, neither were the Dictators any more, till Julius Cæsar aiming at the Imperiall Purple, was not content with that annuall honour, which was to passe successively from one to another, but he caused himselfe to be Elected Perpetuus Dictator, which was in effect no lesse than Emperor.

And for the name of Elder-man, or Alder-man, it is so ancient, that learned Master Cambden in in his Britan. remembreth unto us, that in the daies of Royal King Edgar, a noble Earle, and of the Royall blood, whose name was Alwin, was in such favour with the King, that be was stiled

Healf Kunning, or halfe King, and had the stile of Alderman of all England: This man was the first founder of a famous Monastery in the Isle of Ely, where his body lies interred, upon whose Tombe was an inscription in Latin, which I have, verbatim, thus turned into English, Here resteth Alwin, couzen to King Edgar, Alderman of all England, and of this Holy Abbey the miraculous founder. And so much (being tide to a briefe discourse) may serve for the Antiquity of London, and the Titles for Maior or Alderman.

I come now to the Speculum, or Mirrour. Plutarch tels us, That a glasse in which a man or woman behold their faces, is of no estimation or value (though the frame thereof be never so richly deckt with gold & gemmes, unlesse it represent unto us the true figure and obiect. Moreover, that such are foolish and flattering glasses, which make a sad face to looke pleasant, or a merry countenance melancholy: but a perfect and a true Christall, without any falsity or flattery, rendreth every obiect its true forme, and proper figure, distinguishing a smile from a wrincle; and such are the meanes many times to bridle our refractory affections: for who being in a violent rage, would be pleased that his servant should bring him a glasse wherein hee might behold

the torvity and strange alteration of his countenance? Minerva playing upon a Pipe, was mockt by a Satyre in these words.

Non te decet forma istæc, pone fistulas,
Et Arma capesse componens recte genus.
That visage mis-becomes, thy Pipe
Cast from thee, Warlike dame,
Take unto thee thy wonted Armes,
And keepe thy Cheekes in frame.

But though she despised his Councell for the present, when after, playing upon the same Pipe, in which she so much delighted, shee beheld in a river such a change in her face, shee cast it from her, and broke it asunder, as knowing that the sweetnes of her musick could not countervaile or recompence that deformity which it put upon her countenance, and therefore I have purposed so true and exact a Mirrour, that in it may be discovered as well that which beautifies the governour, as deformes the government.

One thing more is necessitously to be added, and then I fall upon the showes in present agitation: namely, that the fellowship of the Merchant Adventurers of England were first trusted with the sole venting of the manufacture of Cloth out of this kingdome, & have for above

this 4 hundred years traded in a priviledged, & wel governed course, in Germany, the Low Countries, &c. and have beene the chiefe meanes to raise the manufacture of all wollen commodities to that height in which it now existeth, which is the most famous staple of the Land, and whereby the poore in all Countries are plentifully maintained: and of this Company his Lordship is free: as also of the Levant, or Turkey, and of the East India Company, whose trading hath beene, and is in these forraine adventures: also who spent many yeares and a great part of his youth abroad in other Countries.