 | Brittannia's Honor |  |
The second Presentation, New Troyes Tree of Honor.
A Person in a rich Romane Antique Habit, with an ornament of Steeples, Towers, and Turrets on her head, Sits in a queint Arbor, Interwouen with seuerall Branches of Flowers.
In her Left hand, she holds a golden Truncheon (leaning on the ground) to shew that shees a Leader & Conductresse of a Mighty People: Her Right Hand (thrusting through the Arbor) takes hold of a Tree, out of which spread Twelue Maine and Goodly Branches.
This Lady (thus sitting) Represents London: The Tree (guarded, and supported by her) The 12. Superior Companies.
Vpon euery particular Branch, is bestowed the Armes of some One of the Twelue, exprest in the True Cullors within a faire shield. The highest Branch of all (as ouer-topping the Rest at This Time) bearing the Armes of the Skinners in a more large and glorious Escuchion.
Among the Leaues in the Top, is a Tablet, in which is written, in letters of gold, Viutte Concordes, Liue in Loue: or Agree in one.
Ouer the Person, Representing London, is likewise Inscribed in golden Capitals, This,
Me Cunctus Lauro perducit ad astra Triumphus.Each Triumph Crown'd with Bayes,
Mee to the Starres does raize.
In places conuenient, and in a Triangular forme, vnder the twelue branches of the Tree, are seated Minerua, (Inuentresse and Patronesse of Artes, Handy-crafts, and Trades) in Ornaments proper to her quality: And not farre from her, is Bellona goddesse of VVarre, in a Martiall habit, on her head a Helme and Plume, and in her hands a golden Speare and Shield, with Medusaes head. Heereby intimating, that both Artes and Armes, are (in a high degree and fulnesse of honor,) nurc'd vp and maintain'd by and in the City: And, that either of them flourish brauely vnder the shaddow and protection of the twelue Branches, shooting forth from that. New Troy's Tree of Honor.
Vpon a border of Flowers, inclosing this Tree, are fitly bestowed the Armes of as many of the inferior Companies in lesse Escucheons, as for the quantity of roome, can there be hansomely placed.
VVithin the same Border, (where lesse Trees also grow) are presented Peace, Religion, Ciuill Gouernment, Iustice, Learning, Industry, and close to Industry, Honor. For as all these are golden Columnes, to beare vp the Glories of the City, so is the City an indulgent and carefull Mother, to bring vp them to their Glories. And as these twelue Noble Branches couer these Persons, (as it were with the wings of Angels,) so the Persons watch day and night to defend the twelue Branches.
These Persons are adorned fitting their state and condition, and hold such properties in their hands, as of right belong vnto them.
1. Peace hath a Doue on her fist, and a Palme-tree Branch in her hand.
2. Religion is in a white glittering roabe, with a Coronet of Starres on her head, holding in one hand, a Booke open, in the other, a golden ladder, (embleme of prayer, by whose
3. Ciuill Gouernment is in a roabe full of eyes, and a Dyall in her hand to expresse her Vigilance: For shee must watch euery houre, and keepe all eyes open, yet all little enough.
4. Iustice holds a Sword.
5. Learning a Booke, and a Iacobs Staffe.
6. Industry, a golden Hammer, and a Sea-mans Compasse, as taking paines to get wealth, both by Sea and Land.
7. Honor sits in Scarlet.
The Person, in whom is figured London, is the speaker, who thus salutes his Lordship.
(My long expected Prætor,) O before
You looke on Others, fixe your eyes on Mee,
On Mee, your second Mother, (London.) Shee
Whom all Great Brittaines Citties, stile their Queene,
For still I am, and haue her Darling beene.
And Reading, fals blind at my dazling Glories,
But now the Snow of age, couers my head:
As therefore you, by Mee haue vp bin bred,
You (Sir) must Nurse me now: With a quicke eye
View then my Tree of Honor, branching high
For hundreds of past yeares, with 12. large Stems,
Twelue Noble Companies, which like 12. Iems
So shine, they adde new Sun beames to the Day:
A soft hand, on the Topping-branch, for there
(Thriue the Roote well) your Selfe grows al this yeare:
The lesser twigges which lowly runne along
My tall Tree, Border, you must shield from wrong,
There the poore Bee, (the sweating Trades-man) flies
For Artes and Armes, must at your Board haue roome,
Your Gates will spred, the Rich to entertaine,
But whilst the Mighty ones within remaine,
And feast: Remember at the same Gate stands
The Poore, with crying Papers in their hands,
To watch when Iustice vp the Glasse shall turne,
Let those sands runne, the Poore can neuer mourne.
Dangers farre off, which strike ere home they flie;
Kisse Peace; let Order euer steere the Helme,
Left-handed Rule, a State does ouer-whelme.
The Plot of Ground, y'are trusted with, lies here,
(A Citty,) and your care must all bee spent,
To prune aud and dresse the Tree of Gouernment.
And Murmurations against those sit high,
May your yeares last day, end as this beginnes,
Sphær'd in the loues of Noble Citizens.
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