University of Virginia Library

For the solemne feast of Easter last, vpon the Times of that blessed and laudable Custome of Celebrating the memory of Pious workes in this Cittie, at Saint Mary Spittle.

At the House of the Right Honorable Sir Francis Ihones, L. Maior.

The Inuention.
The foure Seasons of the Yeare, Spring, Summer, Autumne and Winter, In a Song into foure parts diuided, Call vp Flora, the Goddesse of the Spring, who in a Bower, deckt with Artificiall Flowers, appeares vpon the Musicall Inuocation.
Flora, rising in her Bower, calls forth two of her Seruants.
Flo.
Where's Hyacinth! the Boy Appollo loude,
And turnde into a Flower?

Hy.
Here, Queene of sweetnes.

Flo.
Adonis! thou that for thy beauteous chastity,
Wert turnde into the chastest of all Flowers,
(The closse-infolded Rose) blowen into Blushes
It is so mayden-modest,

Ad.
What's thy pleasure
Faire Empresse of sweete Odours,

Flo.
Willing Seruants!
I haue Employment for you both, and speedy,

Both.
We waite with much Ioy to receiue the charge on't;

Flo.
Hast, to the two Assisting Magistrates,
Those worthy Citty Consulls,
Beare our sweete wishes to e'm, and speake Ioy
From vs, to both their Feasts,
And to that part of their Graue-worthy Guesse
Which here we misse to day, though here be those
Whom we ought more especially to Honor,
Say though we cannot there our selfe appeare,
Because we owe our greater seruice here,
Yet that they shal not faile of all their due,
We send the wishes of our Heart by you.

Hy.
Which shall be faithfully tendred,

Flo.
Tis presum'd;
But to this faire Assembly present now
I, and these yeelding Sweets all their heads bow
In honour of this Feast, of the Day, chiefe,
Made solemne by the workes of your Reliefe,
Your Cares, your Charities, the holy Vse
Of pious exercise; all which infuse
Blessings into your Fortunes, you abound
In temporall things, 'cause blessed fruits are found
Vpon the Stocks you graft on, marke the Encrease;
You plant poore Orphans in a ground of Peace,
And carefully prouide, when fruit time comes,
You gather Heauens Ioyes for't, in infinite Summes;
This day you view'd the Garden of those Deeds,
That blesse the Founders; and all those succeeds
In Zeale and Imitation; you saw there,
Vertues true Paradise, drest with your Care;
(Your most religious Care) and those Blew Sets,
They are the Cities Bancke of Violets
That smels most sweet to Heauen; neuer cease then
You worthy Præsidents for Times and Men,
Till Charitie spring, (by your Examples giuen)
As thick on Earth, as Rewards stand in Heauen;
If there were sloth or faintnes tow'ard good works;
(As blest be Heauen there is not) Time instructs,
The Season of the Yeare, for as the Ground,
The heauiest and dul'st Creature can be found,
Yet now begins both in her Meades and Bowers blest,
To offer vp her Sacrifice, in Flowers,
How much more ought that Earth with a Soule
Which is of euery of you here possest,
To spring forth Workes of Piety and Loue,
To gratifie those Dewes fall from Aboue;
And as the humblest Flower that euer grew,
Ha's not his Sent alone, but Vertue too,
Good for Mans griefes; so tis not Mans full Fame
To haue a Christian Sauour, or a Name,
An empty voice of Charity and Reliefe,
He must apply Ease to his Brothers griefe;
“Faith is the Sent and Odour of the Flower,
“But Work's the Vertue, that makes good the power;
Tis like the Tincture of those Roabes you weare,
In which cleare Vesture you to me appeare
Like Borders of faire Roses; and worne hie
Vpon the Cities forehead; that rich Dye
As it is reuerend, honourable, graue,
So it is pretious, wholesome; which doth craue
A double Vertue at the Wearers hands,
Iustice and Mercy; by which goodnesse stands:
Thus Honour still claimes Vertue for his Due,
And may both euer lay iust claime to you:
What? the foure Seasons of the Yeare struck dumbe?
I lookt for a kind Welcome, now Im'e come.

2. Song, by the foure Seasons! called the Song of Flowers.
Spr.
Welcome , O welcome, Queene of sweetnes welcome, in the noblest manner,
With all thy Flowers, thy sweete breath't Maides of Honour;

Sum.
Flower gentle! I begin with Thee,

Aut.
Fayre Flower of Chrystall! that's for me,

Spr.
Apples of Loue! there sweetnesse dwels;

Win.
Puh, giue me Canterbury Bels;

Spr.
Faire double-Gold cups, griefes expelling,

Sum.
Agnus Castus, all excelling,

Aut.
Venus Bath! the loueliest pride of Iune,

Win.
Giue me that Flower, cald, Go to bed at noone,

Spr.
Blessed Thistle, fam'd for good,

Sum.
Shepheards Pouch, for stanching blood,

Aut.
Faire yallow Knight-wort, for a foule relapse,

Win.
And Ladies-Mantle, good for Maydens Paps,

Spr.
Tuft Hyacinth! that crownes the Bower,
Cal'd of some, the Virgins Flower;

Win.
Take that for me, more good I feele
In Ruffling Robin, and Larkes Heele.

Spr.
There is a Sweete, Vnnamed yet,
The root is white, the Marke of pure Delight,
Bearing his Flowers faire and hie,
The colour like a purple Dye:

Win.
What is the name tis blest withall?

Spr.
Liue-long! it so the Shepheards call;

Win.
Liue-long? tis Vertues promis'd Due
And may it Long remaine with You
Honor'd Patrons,
Vertuous Matrons,
Whose Lifes and Acts this City graces,
Daily striuing,
And reuiuing
Workes worthy your renowne and places.

Flo.
So ya're confirm'd; from your harmonious Closes
May Sweetnesse drop, as Hony-Dew from Roses,
Then turning, to the Lord Mayor and Aldermen.
A blessed Health possesse you, and a long,
That in this latter Spring of your graue yeares,
You may be greene in Vertues, and grow strong
In works of Grace, which soules to Heauen endeers;
your good Cares, here, Iustice, and well spent houres
Crowne you hereafter with eternall Flowers.

Hyacinth, and Adonis, sent forth by Flora, to the 2. other Feasts, thus sets off their Employments.

The goddesse Flora, Empresse of the Spring,
Chusing (this Feast) her Flowry Soiourning,
Vnder the Roofe of the chiefe Magistrate,
Whose power layes iust claime to the greatest state,
Hath sent me forth, not meanest in her Grace,
To breath forth her sweet wishes to this place;
First to the Master of this bounteous Feast,
To speake her ioy; next, to each worthy Guest;
And though she cannot now her Selfe appeare,
Because she owes her greater Seruice there,
Yer her Hearts Loue to euery one I bring,
To whom sh'as sent a Present of the Spring.

Then fals into the former speech of Flora, making Use of her diuine instructions.