IN my Addreſs to the Company of Clothworkers, I am entred within thoſe Walls that lead me to a very fair Survey of no common Worth and Merit. For I may juſtly concede You this Fair Renown, viz. That the whole Grandeur of England is in a high meaſure owing to your worthy Society. For as the Gold of our Fleece, and the Wealth of our LOOM is in a manner our whole Engliſh Peru: And the back of the Sheep, and not the Entrayls of the Earth is our chief Mine of Riches. The Silkworm is no Spinſter of ours; and our Wheele and our Webb, Gentlemen, are all your own.

Thus as Trade is the life-blood of the Engliſh Nation, and indeed the very Supporter of the Crown; ſo the greateſt Branch of the Engliſh Trade lies in the Clothworkers Hands. Our Floating Caſtles, I confeſs, Our Naval Commerce, bring us in both the Or and the Argent, and indeed the whole wealth of the World: They bring it in, 'tis true, but when throughly examined, 'tis Your CLOTH ſends out to fetch 'em. And thus whilſt the Imperial Britannia is ſo formidable to her Foes, and ſo potent to her Friends, her Strength and her Power, when duly conſider'd, to the Clothworkers Honour I may juſtly ſay, 'tis Your Shuttle nerves her Arm, and Your Woof that enrobes her Glory.

But not to inſiſt upon that ſingle Merit alone, the Extent of Your Trade, and the Reputation You have acquired, theſe being no more than the common work of Your Induſtry; no, I have a Diviner Theme before me, the Hundreds of Your poor Penſioners that yearly taſte Your Bread, and wear Your Cloth, a Cloth ſo worne, poſſibly the faireſt Web in Your whole Loom.

Nor, Gentlemen, is Your Bounteous Goodneſs bounded here, Your Charity confined within Your own Gates, Your own Hoſpitable Roof only: but Your more ſpreading Acts of Mercy and Humanity have a yet larger Extent. Thoſe two fair Siſters, the Vniverſities, both Rivals to Your kind Favours, lay their equal claim to Your Gracious Smiles, witneſs your conſtant and generous Exhibitions, Your cheriſhing Hand towards the Nurſery of Arts and Sciences.

Thus not only our great Channel of Trade runs through the worthy Clothworkers, but the two Great Fountains of Learning too muſt acknowledge You their Patrons and Benefactors. Nay, Your goodneſs deſeends to cheriſh Literature, even in Inferiour Schools of Youth, ſupported and maintained by You; and not only ſo but communicates its cheriſhing warmth to Age and Grey Hairs; when beſides Your Penſioners at home, ſo many Alms-houſes of both Sexes look up to the Honourable Clothworkers for their feeding Hand.

In recounting the Clothworkers Worth, not to walk further into ſo ſpacious a Field, 'tis ſufficient that Your Charity alone diſplays You truly Honourable. For Charity as it is the higheſt Heavenly Vertue, ſo ir carries likewiſe the higheſt worldly Honour too. For whatever great Names and gay Scutcheons, thoſe emptier Blazons of Worth and Dignity may pretend; there's no Grandeur nor Magnificence equals this. For even Statues and Pyramids are but faint Memorials, and ſpeak but dead Praiſe; whilſt fed Mouths and cloathed Nakedneſs are the living Monuments of Honour. The cheerful and Thankful Praiers of the Poor are of all the loudeſt Trumps of Fame, for their ſound reaches Heaven, and makes the ſweeteſt and moſt greatful Muſick there.

And Gentlemen, as thoſe ſoft Airs create ſo divine a Harmonies; to encreaſe that tuneful Quire, may You never want that generous and continued Succeſſion of Charity, thoſe daily Benefactors with full Hands and open Hearts, who in pious emulation of the fair Examples before 'em, ſhall ſtudy to copy from ſuch Illuſtrious Patterns; ſo feed the hungry Bellies, ſo cover the naked Backs, and ſo warm the chilling Roofs, till in reward of the drooping Heads they raiſe here below, they come to crown their own above; which with laſt hearty wiſh

1. THE Maſter, Wardens, and Aſſiſtants, in Gowns faced with Foins.

2. The Livery in their Gowns Faced with Budg, and their Hoods.

3. Forty Foins Batchelors in Gowns and Scarlet Hoods.

4. Forty Budg-Batchelors in Gowns and Scarlet Hoods.

5. Forty Gentlemen Uſhers in Velvet Coats, each of them a Chain of Gold about his Shoulder, and a White-ſtaff in his Hand.

7. Several Drums and Fifes with Scarfs, and the Colours of the Company in their Hats, Black and White.

7. The Serjeant Trumpet and Twenty four Trumpets more, whereof Sixteen are their Majeſties, the Serjeant Trumpet wearing Two Scarfs Black and White.

8. The Drum-Major to the King, wearing a Shoulder Scarf of the Companies Colours; with others of Their Majeſties Drums and Fifes.

9. The Two City-Marſhals, each of them Mounted on Horſeback, with Rich Furniture, Hooſings, and Crupper all Embroidered: Six Servants likewiſe Mounted to Attend, with Scarfs, and Colours of the Companies.

10. The Foot-Marſhal with a Scarf, and Six Attendants in Colours.

11. The Maſter of Defence with the ſame Scarf and Colours, Eight Perſons of the ſame Science to Attend him.

12. Twenty Penſioners with Coats and Caps, employed in carrying of Sandards and Banners.

13. Seventy two Penſioners in Blew Gowns and White Caps, each of them carrying a Javelling in one Hand, and a Target in other, wherein is Painted the Coat Armour of their Founders, and Benefactors of the Company.

Thus order'd, and accommodated, they are committed to the management of the Foot Marſhal, who diſtributes them in Seven Diviſions, rank'd all two by two, beginning with the inferior part of the Standard Bearers. In the head of them are placed two Drums, one Fife, and one Gentleman, bearing the Companies Arms.

In the Rear of them, two Gentlmen bearing Banners containing the Arms of the deceaſed Benefactors.

After them march the aged Penſioners in Gowns, and in the Center of them fall two Drums.

In the Rear of them three Drums, one Fife, and two Gentlemen in Pluſh-Coats, bearing two Banners, one of Their Majeſties, the other of the Companies. After them Six Gentlemen Uſhers, followed by the Budg Batchelors.

The next, two Gentlemen bearing two other Banners. After them Six Gentlemen Uſhers, ſucceeded by the Foyns Batchelors.

In the Rear fall in two Drums, and a Fife. The two Gentlemen, one bearing my Lord MAYORS, the other the Citys Banner. Then Twelve Gentlemen Uſhers, and after them the Court of Aſſiſtance, which makes the laſt Diviſion.

The Right Honourable the LORD MAYOR, with the principal Aldermen and Sherifs, Mounts his Horſe, with the the Aldermen two by two, the Sherifs in the Rear.

In this Equipage of two and two, the whole Body move toward Grocers-Hall, where the Lord Mayor Ellect joyns with the Old Lord Mayor and his Retinue: whence all of them in this Order march to Three Crane-Wharf, their entering into their ſeveral Barges which are gloriouſly adorned with Flags and Pendants, His Lordſhip and this Gallant Company Landing at Weſtminſter, He is conducted to the Exchequer-Bar; their takeing the Oaths to their Majeſties, he returns again by Water to Black-Fryars Stairs, with Drums beating, &c.

There his Lordſhip, and the ſeveral Companys landing from their Reſpective Barges, the reſt of the Attendants that went not to Weſtminſter, waiting for his Reception, the whole Body moves in Order before him to Cheap-ſide, where his Lordſhip is ſaluted with the Firſt Pageant.

A Stately Pyramid ſtands erected upon four Rich Columns wreathed round with Golden Laurel, and other Ornaments. Round this chief Pyramide upon the Corinſh of the Columns ſtand four ſmaller Pyramids, all of them hung with Trophies as being the Acquiſitions of Soveraign Power. In the front of the Pageant, ſits Auguſta repreſenting London, with three other Figures, viz. Concord, Prudence, and Juſtice. Beneath are planted 4 Figures more, viz. Europe, Aſia, Africa, and America, the other four Thames, Tyber, Nile and Indus. Intimating that the whole World, by way of Trade and Commerce contributes to the Wealth and Grandeur of London. The whole Prgeant is duly applyed to My Lord, as being the Repreſentative of Majeſty within the City of London.