Troia Noua Triumphans. London Triumphing.
TRyumphes, are the most choice and daintiest fruit that spring from Peace and Abundance; Loue begets them; and Much Cost brings them forth. Expectation feeds vpon them, but seldome to a surfeite, for when she is most full, her longing wants something to be satisfied. So inticing a shape they carry, that Princes themselues take pleasure to behold them; they with delight; common people with admiration. They are now and then the Rich and Glorious Fires of Bounty, State and Magnificence, giuing light and beauty to the Courts of Kings: And now and then, it is but a debt payd to Time and Custome: And out of that dept come These. Ryot hauing no hand in laying out the Expences, and yet no hand in plucking backe what is held decent to be bestowed. A sumptuous Thriftinesse in these Ciuil Ceremonies managing All. For it were not laudable, in a City (so rarely gouerned and tempered) superfluously to exceed; As contrariwise it is much honor to her (when the Day of spending comes) not to be sparing in any thing. For the Chaires of Magistrates ought to be adorned, and to shine like the Chariot which caries the Sunne; And Beames (if it were possible) must be thought to be shot from the One as from the Other: As well to dazle and amaze the common [Page] Eye, as to make it learne that there is some Excellent, and Extraordinary Arme from heauen thrust downe to exalt a Superior man, that thereby the Gazer may be drawne to more obedience and admiration.
In a happy houre therefore did your Lordship take vpon you this inseperable burden (of Honor and Cares) because your selfe being Generous of mind, haue met with men, and with a Company equall to your Selfe in Spirit. And vpon as fortunate a Tree haue they ingrafted their Bounty; the fruites whereof shoot forth and ripen, are gathered, and taste sweetly, in the mouthes not onely of this Citty, but also of our best-to-be-beloued friends, the Noblest strangers. Vpon whom, though none but our Soueraigne King can bestow Royall welcomes; yet shall it be a Memoriall of an Exemplary Loue and Duty (in those who are at the Cost of these Triumphs) to haue added some Heightning more to them then was intended at first, of purpose to do honor to their Prince and Countrey. And I make no doubt, but many worthy Companies in this City could gladly be content to be partners in the Disbursements, so they might be sharers in the Glory. For to haue bene leaden-winged now, what infamy could be greater? When all the streames of Nobility and Gentry, run with the Tide hither. When all Eares lye listning for no newes but of Feasts and Triumphs: All Eyes still open to behold them: And all harts and hands to applaud them: When the heape of our Soueraignes Kingdomes are drawne in Little: and to be seene within the Walles of this City. Then to haue tied Bounty in too straight a girdle: Proh scelus infandum! No; she hath worne her garments loose, her lippes haue [Page] bene free in Welcomes, her purse open, and her hands liberall. If you thinke I set a flattering glasse before you, do but so much as lanch into the Riuer, and there the Thames it selfe shall shew you all the Honors, which this day hath bestowed vpon her: And that done, step againe vpon the Land, and Fame will with her owne Trumpet proclaime what I speake; And her I hope you cannot deny to beleeue, hauing at least twenty thousand eyes about her, to witnesse whether she be a Truetong'd Fame or a Lying.
By this time the Lord Maior hath taken his oath, is seated in his barge againe; a lowd thundring peale of Chambers giue him a Fare-well as he passes by. And see! how quickly we are in ken of land, as suddenly therefore let vs leap on shore, and there obserue what honorable entertainement the Citty affoords to their new Praetor, and what ioyfull salutations to her noble Visitants.
The first Triumph on the Land.
THE Lord Maior, and Companyes being landed, the first Deuice which is presented to him on the shore, stands ready to receiue him at the end of Pauls-Chayne, (on the south side the Church) and this it is.
A Sea-Chariot artificially made, proper for a God of the sea to sit in; shippes dancing round about it, with Dolphins and other great Fishes playing or lying at the foot of the same, is drawne by two Sea-horses.
Neptune.
In this Chariot sits Neptune, his head circled with a Coronet of siluer, Scollup-shels, stucke with branches of [Page] Corrall, and hung thicke [...] with ropes of pearle; because such things as these are the treasures of the Deepe, and are found in the shels of fishes. In his hand he holds a siluer Trident, or Three-forked-Mace, by which some Writers will haue signified the three Naturall qualiies proper to Waters; as those of fountaines to bee of a delitious taste, and Christalline colour: those of the Sea, to bee saltish and vnpleasant, and the colour sullen, and greenish: And lastly, those of standing Lakes, neither sweet nor bitter, nor cleere, nor cloudy, but altogether vnwholesome for the taste, and loathsome to the eye. His roabe and mantle with other ornaments are correspondent to the quality of his person; Buskins of pearle and cockle-shels being worne vpon his legges. At the lower part of this Chariot sit Mer-maids, who for their excellency in beauty, aboue any other creatures belonging to the sea, are preferred to bee still in the eye of Neptune.
At Neptunes foot sits Luna (the Moone) who beeing gouernesse of the sea, & all petty Flouds, as from whose influence they receiue their ebbings and flowings, challenges to herselfe this honour, to haue rule and command of those Horses that draw the Chariot, and therefore she holds their reynes in her hands.
She is atired in light roabes fitting her state and condition, with a siluer Crescent on her head, expressing both her power and property.
The whole Chariot figuring in it selfe that vast compasse which the sea makes about the body of the earth: whose Globicall Rotundity is Hieroglifically represented by the wheele of the Chariot.
[Page]Before this Chariot ride foure Trytons, who are feyned by Poets to bee Trumpeters to Neptune, and for that cause make way before him, holding strange Trumpets in their hands, which they sound as they passe along, their habits being Antike, and Sea-like, and sitting vpon foure seuerall fishes, viz. two Dolphins, and two Mer-maids, which are not (after the old procreation) begotten of painted cloath, and browne paper, but are liuing beasts, so queintly disguised like the natural fishes, of purpose to auoyd the trouble and pestering of Porters, who with much noyse and little comlinesse are euery yeare most vnnecessarily imployed.
The time being ripe, when the scope of this Deuice is to be deliuered, Neptunes breath goeth forth in these following Speeches.
Neptunes Speeches.
[Page]The Trytons then sownding, according to his command, Neptune in his Chariot passeth along before the Lord Maior. The foure Windes (habilimented to their quality, and hauing both Faces and Limbes proportionable to their blustring and boisterous condition) driue forward that Ship of which Neptune spake. And this concludes this first Triumph on the Land.
These two Shewes passe on vntill they come into Pauls-Church-yard, where standes another Chariot; the former Chariot of Neptune, with the Ship, beeing conueyd into Cheap-side, this other then takes the place: And this is the Deuice.
The second Land-Triumph.
IT is the Throne of Vertue, gloriously adorned & beautified with all things that are fit to expresse the Seat of so noble and diuine a Person.
Vpon the height, and most eminent place (as worthiest to be exalted) sits Arete (Vertue) herselfe; her temples shining with a Diadem of starres, to shew that her Descent is onely from heauen: her roabes are rich, her mantle white (figuring Innocency) and powdred with starres of gold, as an Embleme that she puts vpon Men, the garments of eternity.
Beneath Her, in distinct places, sit the Seauen liberall Sciences, viz. Grammer, Rhetoricke, Logicke, Musicke, Arithmetike, Geometry, Astronomy.
Hauing those roomes alotted them, as being Mothers to all Trades, Professions, Mysteries and Societies, and the readiest guide to Vertue. Their habits are Light Roabes, [Page] and Loose (for Knowledge should be free.) On their heads they weare garlands of Roses, mixt with other flowers, whose sweet Smels are arguments of their cleere and vnspotted thoughts, not corrupted with uice. Euery one carrying in her hand, a Symbole, or Badge of that Learning which she professeth.
At the backe of this Chariot sit foure Cupids, to signifie that vertue is most honored when she is followed by Loue.
This Throne, or Chariot, is drawne by foure Horses: vpon the two formost ride Time and Mercury: the first, the Begetter and Bringer forth of all things in the world, the second, the God of Wisedome and Eloquence. On the other two Horses ride Desire and Industry; it beeing intimated hereby, that Tyme giues wings to Wisedome, and sharpens it, Wisedome sets Desire a burning, to attaine to Vertue, and that Burning Desire begets Industry (earnestnestly to pursue her.) And all these (together) make men in Loue with Arts, Trades, Sciences, and Knowledge, which are the onely staires and ascensions to the Throne of Vertue, and the onely glory and vpholdings of Cities. Time hath his wings, Glasse, and Sythe, which cuts downe All.
Mercury hath his Caduceus, or Charming Rod, his fethered Hat, his Wings, and other properties fitting his condition, Desire caries a burning heart in her hand.
Industry is in the shape of an old Country-man, bearing on his shoulder a Spade, as the Embleme of Labour.
Before this Chariot, or Throne (as Guardians and Protectors to Vertue, to Arts, and to the rest; and as Assistants to Him who is Chiefe within the Citty for that yeare) are mounted vpon horsebacke twelue Persons (two by two) [Page] representing the twelue superior Companyes, euery one carrying vpon his left arme a faire Shield with the armes in it of one of the twelue Companies, and in his right hand a launce with a light streamer or pendant on the top of it, and euery horse led and attended by a Footman.
The Lord Maior beeing approached to this Throne, Vertue thus salutes him.
The Speech of ARETE (Vertue.)
This Chariot or Throne of Vertue is then set forward, and followes that of Neptune, this taking place iust before the Lord Maior: And this concludes the second Triumphant shew.
The third Deuice.
THe third Deuice is a Forlorne Castle, built close to the little Conduit in Cheap-side, by which as the Throne of Vertue comes neerer and neerer, there appeare aboue (on the battlements) Enuy, as chiefe Commandresse of that infernall Place, and euery part of it guarded with persons representing all those that are fellowes and followers of Enuy: As Ignorance, Sloth, Oppression, Disdaine, &c. Enuy her selfe being attired like a Fury, her haire full of Snakes, her countenance pallid, meagre and leane, her body naked, in her hand a knot of Snakes, crawling and writhen about her arme.
The rest of her litter are in as vgly shapes as the Dam, euery one of thē being arm'd with black bowes, & arrows ready to bee shot at Vertue. At the gates of this Fort of Furies, stand Ryot and Calumny, in the shapes of Gyants, with clubs, who offer to keep back the Chariot of Vertue, [Page] and to stop her passage. All the rest likewise on the battlements offering to discharge their blacke Artillery at her: but she onely holding vp her bright shield, dazzles them, and confounds them, they all on a sudden shrinking in their heads, vntill the Chariot be past, and then all of them appearing againe: their arrowes, which they shoote vp into the aire, breake there out in fire-workes, as hauing no power to do wrong to so sacred a Deity as Vertue.
This caue of Monsters stands fixed to the Conduit, in which Enuie onely breathes out her poyson to this purpose.
The speech of Enuy.
Either during this speech, or else when it is done, certaine Rockets flye vp into the aire; The Throne of Vertue passing on still, neuer staying, but speaking still those her two last lines, albeit, shee bee out of the hearing of Enuy: and the other of Enuies Faction, crying still, shoote, shoote, but seeing they preuaile not, all retire in, and are not seene till the Throne comes backe againe.
And this concludes this Triumphant assault of Enuy: her conquest is to come.
The fourth Deuice.
THIS Throne of Vertue passeth along vntill it come to the Crosse in Cheape, where the presentation of another Triumph attends to welcome the Lord Maior, in his passage, the Chariot of Vertue is drawne then along, this other that followes taking her place, the Deuice bearing this argument.
Vertue hauing by helpe of her followers, conducted [Page] the Lord Maior safely, euē, as it were, through the iawes of Enuy and all her Monsters: The next and highest honour shee can bring him to, is to make him ariue at the house of Fame, And that is this Pageant. In the vpper seat sits Fame crowned in rich attire, a Trumpet in her hand, &c. In other seuerall places sit Kings, Princes, and Noble persons, who haue benefice of the Marchant-tailors: A perticular roome being reserued for one that represents the person of Henry the now Prince of Wales.
The onely speaker heere is Fame her selfe, whose wordes sound out these glad welcomes.
The speech of Fame.
Those Princes and Dukes (besides the Kings nominated before) are these.
- Iohn Duke of Lancaster.
- Edmond Duke of Yorke.
- The Duke of Gloster.
- The Duke of Surrey.
- Humfry Duke of Gloster.
- Richard Duke of Yorke.
- G [...]orge D. of Clarence.
- Duke of Suffolke
- Iohn D. of Norfolke
- George D. of Bedford.
[Page] Edward D. of Buckingham, In the time of Henry the 7. with others, whose Rol is too long, here to be opened. The Queene spoken of, was Anne wife to Richard the 2.
Dukes wiues these, viz.
The Dutchesse of Gloster. In the time of Richard the 2. Elionor Dutchesse of Gloster. In the time of H. the 5.
Now for Prelates, I reckon onely these,
- The Prior of Saint Bartholmewes,
- And his Sub-prior.
- The Prior of Elsing-spittle,
- Thomas Arundell Arch-bishop of Canterbury
- Henry Bewfort Bishop of Winton.
- The Abbot of Barmondsey.
- The Abbot of Towrchill.
- Philip Morgan Bishop of Worster.
- The Abbot of Tower-hill.
- The Prior of Saint Mary Ouery.
- The Prior of Saint Trinity in Cree-church.
- The Abbot and Prior of Westminster.
- Kemp Bishop of London.
- W. Wainfleete B. of Winchester.
- George Neuill Bishop of VVinchester, and Chauncelor of England.
- Iohn May Abbot of Chertsay,
- Laurence Bishop of Durham.
- Iohn Russell Bishop of Rochester.
If I should lengthen this number, it were but to trouble you with a large Index of names onely, which I am loath to do, knowing your expectation is to bee otherwise feasted.
[Page]The Speech of Fame therefore being ended, as 'tis set downe before, this Temple of Hers takes place next before the Lord Maior, those of Neptune and Vertue marching in precedent order. And as this Temple is carryed along, a Song is heard, the Musicke being queintly conueyed in a priuate roome, and not a person discouered.
THE SONG.
And this concludes this fourth Triumph, till his Lordships returne from the Guild-hall.
[Page]In returning backe from the Guild-hall, to performe the Ceremoniall customes in Pauls Church, these shewes march in the same order as before: and comming with the Throne of Vertue, Enuy and her crue are as busie againe, Enuy vttering some three or foure lines toward the end of her speech onely: As thus:
This done, or as it is in doing, those twelue that ride armed discharge their Pistols, at which Enuy, and the rest, vanish, and are seene no more.
When the Lord Maior is (with all the rest of their Triumphes) brought home, Iustice (for a fare-well) is mounted on some couenient scaffold close to his entrance at his Gate, who thus salutes him.
The speech of IVSTICE.
THe Title-page of this Booke makes promise of all the Shewes by water, as of these On the Land; but Apollo hauing no hand in them, I suffer them to dye by that which fed them; that is to say, Powder & Smoake. Their thunder (according to the old Gally-foyst-fashion) was too lowd for any of the Nine Muses to be bidden to it. I had deuiz'd O [...]e, altogether Musicall, but Times Glasse could spare no Sand, nor lend conuenient Howres for the performance of it. Night cuts off the glory of this Day, and so consequently of these Triumphes, whose brightnesse beeing ecclipsed, my labours can yeeld no longer shadow. They are ended, but my Loue and Duty to your Lordship shall neuer.