Brittannia's Honor: Brightly shining in seuerall Magnificent Shewes or Pageants, to Celebrate the Solemnity of the Right Honorable RICHARD DEANE, at his Inauguration into the Majoralty of the Honorable Citty of London, on Wensday the 29. of October. 1628.
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.
[Page]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 Praetorian 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 [Page] 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 Praetor 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.
The first Shew, is called a Sea-Consort.
The first Salutation being on the VVater, is furnished with Persons and Properties fitting the quality of that Element. An Artificiall Rocke therefore is queintly contriued: On whose highest Ascent fits Amphitrite Queene of the Seas, habited to her State; a Mantle frindg'd with siluer crossing her Body: Her hayre long, and disheuelled, on her head, a phantasticke dressing made out of a Fishes writhen shell, interwouen with Pearle, the shell is siluer, on the top of it stands an Artificiall moouing Torroyse: On each side of her, swimme two Mermaides. These two intic'd by the variety of seuerall instruments (ecchoing to one another) haue followed the SeaSoueraigne, and waite vppon her, as Maides of Honor.
Round about the Rocke are Sea-Nimphes, and in places conuenient for them are bestowed our three famous Riuers, Humber, Trent, and Seuerne, aptly attired according to the quality of such Marine Persons, who play vpon Cornets.
[Page]Amphitryte is the Speaker. From whom are deliuered these lines.
And so the Cornets playing one to Another, they goe forward. If her Maiestie be pleased on the Water, or Land, to Honor These Tryumphes with her Presence; This following Speech [Page] in French is then deliuered to her, with a Booke of the Presentatiens, All the Couer, being set thicke with Flowre de Luces in Gold.
VOicy, maintenant les Quatre Elements qui vos Attendent pour vous faire Honneur. L'eau est Couverte de Triomphes flottans, pour Dancer en L'Air: E'L'Air est Remply de Mille Echos, & Retentit de la doulce Musique, que leur voix resonne, pour Attirer vos oreilles fauorables à les Escouter. Puis vous auez sur la, Terre dix mille Mains qui vous Applaudissent pour Ioy & Allegresse quelles ressentent de voir vostre Maieste dans la Ville. L'Element du Feu, Bruit & Tonne vostre Bien Venue. Vos Subjects accourent à grand Foùlle, rauis de voir les Graces qui ont choisi leur Throsne sur vostre Front. Toutes les Deliees d' Amour se Iouënt sur vos paupieres, La Rose d' Angleterre, & les Fleurs de lis de France S'entrebaisent sur le Vermeil de vos Iouës. Soyez Saine comme le printemps, Glorieuse comme l'Este, Autant Fructeuse que la vigne. Que seurte guarde, & Enuironne vostre Chariot le Iour: Et le Sommeil dore Dresse & orne vostre Chambre de Nuict. Viuez longuement: Viuez Heureuze: Viuez aimee, & Cherie. Bonte vous guarde; Vertu vous Couronne; Et les Anges vous guident.
Thus Englished.
BEhold, the foure Elements waite vpon you to do you Honor: Water hath prouided Floating Tryumphes to Dance in the Aire: In the Aire are a Thousand Ecchoes with Musick in their Mouthes, to Intice you to heare them: On the Shore shall ten thousand paire of hands giue you Plaudits in the Citty: The Element of Fire, Thunders aloud your welcomes. Thronges of Subjects here, are glad to see the Graces Inthroand on your Forehead: All the Delicacies of [Page] Loue, playing on your Eye-lids, The Roses of England, and the Lillies of France, Kissing one Another on your cheekes. Be you healthfull as the Spring; Glorious as Summer: Fruitfu [...]l as the Vine: Safety runne along your Chariot by Day; Golden Slumbers dresse vp your Chamber at Night.
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 Flower [...].
In her Left han [...], 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 si [...]ting) 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, Viuite Concordes, Liue in Loue: Or Agree in one.
Ouer the Person, Representing London, is likewise Inscribed in golden Capitals, This,
[Page]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, in her hands a golden Speare and Shield, with Medusaes [...]ad. 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 [Page] steppes wee climbe to Heauen.)
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.
Our third Presentation is call'd, The Glory of Furres.
THis is a Chariot Triumphant, garnished with Trophies of Armors. It is drawne by two Luzernes, The Supporters of the Skinners Armes. On the two Luzernes ride two Antickes, who dance to a Drum beating before them, there aptly placed. At the vpper end of this Chariot, in the most eminent Seate, carrying the proportion of a Throne, are aduanced a Russian Prince and Princesse; richly habited in Furres, to the custome of the Country.
1. Vnder them, sits an old Lord, Furred vp to his chin in a short cloake.
[Page]2. By him, a Lady with Martin skinnes about her necke, and her hands in a Muffe.
3. Then, a Iudge in Robes Furred.
4. Then, an Vniuersity Doctor, in his Robes furred.
5. Then, a Fro [...] in a short furred Cassocke, girt to her.
6. Then a Skipper in a furred Cap.
I [...] all these Persons, is an implication of the necessary, anci [...]nt and general vse of Furres, from the highest to the lowest.
On the Top of this Throne, (at the foure corners) are erect [...]d the Armes of the Citty, in foure Pendants: On the point of the [...]ore front, a large square Banner plaies with the wind, which Fame (who is in this Chariot,) holds in her hand, as she stands vpright, Being the Speaker.
The fourth Presentation is Called Brittannia's watch-Tower.
THis is a Magnificent Structure, Aduancing it selfe from the Platforme, or Ground-worke vpward, with the Bew [...]y of eight Antique Termes, By whose strength is supported a Foure square Building; The Toppe of which is a Watch-Tower, or Lanthorne, with eight Columnes of siluer: And, on the Highest poynt of this Watch-Tower, is Aduanced a Banner, bearing the Cullo [...]s of the Kingdome.
At foure Corners of the vpper Square, stand foure Pendants; [Page] In which are the Armes of the foure Companies of which his Lordship is Free.
At rach end of this Platforme, stands a great Corynthian Brazen Pillar, on a Pedestall of Marble.
On the Capitals of those Pillars, stand two Angels, in Postures ready to flye: holding Garlands of Victory in one hand, stucke with White and Red Roses, and Branches of Palme in the other.
The Capitals and Bases of the Pillars are Gold, and are Emblemes of the two Houses of Yorke and Lancaster; once diuided, but now Ioyned into One Glorious Building, to Support This Royal Kingdom, & Consequently This Citty.
At Night, in place of the Angels, are set two Great Lights: and so is the Watch-Tower at that Time, Filld with lighted Tapers.
Vpon the same Square, in foure seuerall Places, are Aduanced foure stately Pyramides, being Figures, of the foure Kingdomes Embellished with Escutcheons.
In the vpper seate of all (fashioned into a Throne) is placed Britannia, Maiestically attirde, fitting to her Greatnesse.
Beneath Her, and round about Her, are these Petsons: viz. Magnanimity with a drawne Sword.
A Shipwright with a Mallet, holding a Scutcheon, in which is drawne a Ship vnder sayle. Then, A person representing Victory, with a Palme Tree. Prouidence with a Trumpet, ready to Foresee Dangers, and awaken Men to meete them.
All These haue bene, and still are, Watch-Towers, and Lanthornes, in the Nighrs of Feare and Trouble, to Guard the Kingdome, and in the Kingdome, This Citty.
In other Eminent places are seated some of those Kiuges of England(in Robes Ermynd) whose loues and Royall fauors, in former times were Watch-Towers to Grace London, [Page] stucke full with the Beames and Lights of Honors, Titles, Offices, Magistracies and Royalties, which they Bestowed vppon Her.
Edward Confessor, called Londons Chiefe Ruler, a Port-reue. Richard 1. appointed two Bayliffes ouer London.
King Iohn gaue the Citty a Lord Maior and two Sheriffes. Henry 3. added Aldermen.
These were Tender ouer the Renowne of the Citty, and still heaped on her head, Royalties vpon Royalties.
And albeit most of our Kinges, haue in most of all of the twelue Companies, Entred their Names, as Free of the Societies, thereby to Royallize their Brotherhoods: And that many of our Kinges likewise, besides Princes and Great Personages, haue bin Free of This Company, whose Names I forbeare to set downe, because they haue in former yeeres beene fully exprest: yet no Company, did euer, or can hereafter, receiue such Graces from Kinges, as This Antient, and Honord Corporation of Skinners, hath had, and still haue, In regard that All our Kinges and Princes, sit in their high Courts of Parliament in Robes Ermynd, (being the richest Furre) the workemanship of which goes through the Skinners fingers, wearing likewise vnder their Crownes, Royall Caps of Honor Ermynd.
Three of such Crownes, beeing the rich Armes of This Company, thereby expressing as well their Honor, as Antiquity.
Britannia deliuers thus much.
The last Presentation is called the Sun's Bower.
The vpper part of this, is adorned with seuerall Flowers, which in [...]erwou [...]n together, dresse vp a comely Greene Arbor, in which the Sunne si [...]s, with golden Beames about his Face; [Page] an Attire glittering like gold; and a mantle bright as his garment, fringed with gold, his haire curled and yellow. About him are placed, Spring, Summer, Autumne, and Winter, in proper Habiliments. Beneath these, is a VVildernesse, in which are many sorts of such Beasts, whose rich Skinnes serue for Furres: As the Reare, Wolfe, Leopard, Luzerne, Cat- A-Mountaine, Foxes, Sables, Connies, Ferrets, Squirrels, &c. Of these Beasts, some are climbing, some standing, some grinning, with liuely, naturall postures. In a Scrole, hanging on a Bough, This is written in Cap [...]tall letters.
Sol is the Speaker.
The Sunne at Night being couered with a vaile of Darknesse: The Person, representing London, thus takes leaue.
Let it be no Ostentation in Me the Inuentor, to speak thus much in praise of the workes, that for many yeares, none haue beene able to Match them for curiosity: They are not Vast, but Neate, and Comprehend as much Arte for Architecture, as can be bestowed vpon such little Bodies. The commendations of which must liue vppon Mr. Gerard Chrismas the Father, and Mr. Iohn Chrismas the Sonne.