University of Virginia Library

What Honor can bee greater to a Kingdome, than to haue a Citty for beauty, able to match with the Fairest in the World? A Citty, renowned Abroad, admired at Home. London, and her Royall Daughter (Westminster) are the Representatiue body of the general State; for, here our Kings and Queenes keepe their Courts; heere are our Princes, the Peeres, Nobility, Gentry, Lords Spirituall and Temporall, with the Numerous Communalty.

London in Forraine Countries is called the Queene of Cities, and the Queene-mother ouer her owne. She is her Kings Chamber-royall, his Golden-Key: His Store-house: The Magazine of Merchandize; the Mistris of Sciences; a Nurse to all the Shieres in England.

So famous shee is for her Buildings, that Troy has leap'd out of her own Cinders, to build Her Wals. So remarkable for Priority and Power, that hers is the Master-wheele of the whole Kingdome: As that moues, so the maine Engine works.

London is Admirall ouer the Nauy royall of Cities: And as she sayles, the whole Fleete of them keepe their course.

Fully to write downe all the Titles, Stiles, and Honors of this our Metrapolis, would weary a 1000. pennes: Apollo shall haue a New Garland of Bayes, to vndertake it.

As thus in State, shee her selfe is Glorious; so haue all our Kings held it fit to make her chiefe Ruler eminent, and answerable to her greatnesse. The Prætorian Dignity is therefore come from the ancient Romans, to inuest with Robes of Honor, our Lord Maior of London: Their Consuls are our Sheriefes; their Senators our Aldermen.

The extention of a Lord Maiors power, is euery yeare to bee seene both by Land and Water: Downe as low as Lee in Essex: Vp, as high as Stanes in Middlesex: In both which places, he keepes personall Courts. His House is a Chancery: He the Chancellor to mittigate the fury of Law: Hee the Moderator betweene the griping Rich and the wrangling Poore.

All the City Orphans call him Father: All the Widdowes call him their Champion. His Table lyes spread to Courtiers, and Free to all Gentlemen of fashion.

More to Proclaime his Greatnesse, what Vice-roy is install'd with louder popular acclamations? What Deputie to his Soraigne goes along with such Triumphes? To behold them, Kings, Queenes, Princes, and Embassadors (from all parts of the World) haue with Admiration, reioyced.

These Triumphall passages are full of Magnificence for State, Munificence for Cost, and Beneficence for doing good. For besides all the twelue Companies, (euery one of which is a gayner by this imployment:) it would puzzle a good memory

to reckon vp all those Trades-men (with other extraordinary Professions which liue not in the City) who get money by this Action.

Then by this meanes, are euery Yeare added to those that were before, three Faire, Spacious, and Pallacious Houses, Beautified, Painted, and Adorned.

The Lord Maior of London (like a Prince) hath likewise his Variety of Noble Recreations: As Hunting, Shooting, Wrastling, before him, and such like.

Thus hauing (as it were in Lantschip) a farre off shewne you the Toppes onely of our City-Buildings; and in a little Picture drawne the Face of her Authority, giuing but a glimpse of her Prætor as hee passes by; let mee now open a Booke to you, of all those Ceremonies, which this great Festiuall day hath prouided to Attend vppon him, and doe him Honor.