Londons Tempe.
WEre it possible for a Man, in the Compasse of a Day, to behold (as the Sunne does) All the Citties in the World, as if he went with Walking Beames about him; That Man should neuer see in any Part of the yeare, Any Citty, so Magnificently Adorned with All Sorts of Tryumphes, variety of Musicke, of Brauery, of Bewty, of Feastings, of Ciuill (yet Rich) Ceremonies, with gallant Lords and Ladies, and Thronges of People as London is inriched with, on the first Day, that Her Great Lord (or Lord Maior, for tis all one) Takes, That Office vpon him.
In former Ages, He was not Encompast with such Glories, No such Firmaments of Starres were to be seene in Cheape-side: Thames dranke no such Costly Healthes to London, as hee does Now. But as Troynouant spred in Fame, so our English Kinges, shined vpon her with Fauours.
In Those Home-spun Times, They had no Collars of SS, no Mace, Sword, nor Cap of Maintenance, [Page]These came by Degrees, as Additamenta Honoris, additions or Ensignes of more Honour, Conferd by seuerall Princes on this Citty: For, in the time of Edward Confessor, the chiefe Ruler of the Citty was called Reeue, Greeue, or Portreeue: The next to him in authority, Prouost.
Then in the first of Richard 1. two Bayliffes carried the sway: This continued till the ninth of King Iohn, who by Letters Patents gaue the Citizens power, yearely to choose themselues a Lord Maior, and two Sheriffes.
Then, King Henry 3. made the first Aldermen in London (yet the Name of Ealdorman was knowne in the Saxons time, for Alwin in the reigne of Edgar, was Alderman of All England, that is to say, Chiefe Iustice:) and those Aldermen of London, had Rule then (as Now) ouer the Wardes of the Citty, but were euerie yeare changed, as the Shreiffes are in these dayes.
Then Edward 1. ordained that the Lord Maior, should in the Kings absence, sit in all Places within London, as Chiefe Iustice; And that euery Alderman that had bin Lord Mayor, should be a Iustice of Peace for London and Middlesex all his life after.
Then, in the reigne of Henry 7. Sr. John Shaw Goldsmith, being Lord Maior, caused the Aldermen to ride from the Guild-hall to the water side, when he went to take his Oath at Westminster, (where before they Rode [Page]by land thither,) and at his returne to ride againe to the Guild-hall, there to dine, all the Kitchens, and other Offices there, Being built by Him: since which time, the Feast has there bin kept: for before, it was either at Grocers Hall, or the Merchantaylors.
Thus small Rootes grow in time to Caedars, shallow streames, to riuers, and a Hand of Gouernment to be the strongest Arme in a Kingdome. Thus you see London in her meane attyre, then in Robes Maiestical; and sitting in that Pompe, cast your Eye, vpon those alluring Obiects, which she her selfe Beholds with Admiration.
The first.
The first Scaene is a Water-worke, presented by Oceanus, King of the Sea (from whose Name the Vniuersall Maine Sea is called the Ocean) He, to celebrate the Ceremonies and Honors, due to this great Festiuall, and to shew the world his Marine Chariot, sits Triumphantly in the Vast (but Queint) shell of a siluer Scollup, Reyning in the heads of two wild Seahorses, proportioned to the life, their maynes falling about their neckes, shining with curles of gold.
On his head, which (as his Beard) is knotted, long, carelesly spred, and white, is placd, a Diadem, whose Bottome, is a conceited Coronet of gold; The middle ouer that, is a Coronet of siluer Scollops, and on the [Page]top a faire spreading branch of Corrall, interwouen thickly with Pearle. In his right hand, a golden Trident, or three forked Scepter.
His habit is Antique, the stuffe watchet, and siluer: a mantle crossing his body, with siluer waues, Bases, and Buskins cut likewise at the top into siluer scollups. And in this language he congratulates his Lordship.
Oceanus his Specch.
The second Presentation.
The Inuention is a Proud swelling Sea, on whose Waues is borne vp, a sea Lyon, as a proper and eminent Body, to Marshall in the following Triumphes; In reguard it is one of the supporters of the East Indian Company, of which his Lordship is free, and a great aduenturer. And these Marine creatures, are the more fitly imployed, In regard also, that his Lordship is Maior of the Staple, Gouernour of the French Company, and free of the East-land Company.
On this Lyon (which is cut out of w [...]d to the life) rides Tethys wife to Oceanus, and Queene of the Sea; for why should the King of waues be in such a glorious progresse without his Queene, or she without him? They both therefore twin themselues together to heighten these solemnities.
Her haire is long, and Disheuelled, on her head, an antique sea-tyre, encompast with a Coronall of gold and pearle, her garments rich, and proper to her quality, with a Taffaty mantle fringed with siluer crossing her body. Her right hand, supporting a large streamer, in which are the Lord Maiors armes.
On each side of this Lyon, attend a Mermaid, and [Page]Merman, holding two Banners, with the Armes of the two New Shrieues, seuerall fishes swimming as it were about the border. And these two hauing dispatched on the water, hasten to aduance themselues on Land.
The third.
The third show is an Estridge, cut out of timber to the life, biting a horse-shoe. On this Bird rides an Indian boy, holding in one hand a long Tobacco pipe, in the other a dart. His attire is proper to the Country.
At the foure angels of the square where the Estridg stands, are plac'd a Turke, and a Persian. A pikeman & a Musketeere.
The fourth.
The fourth presentation is called the Lemnian Forge. In it are Vulcan, the Smith of Lemnos, with his seruants (the Cyclopes) whose names are Pyracmon, Brontes & Sceropes, working at the Anuile Their habite are wast coates, and lether approns: their haire blacke and shaggy, in knotted curles.
A fire is seene in the Forge, Bellowes blowing, some filing, some at other workes; Thunder and Lightning on occasion. As the Smiths are at worke, they sing in praise of Iron, the Anuile and Hammer: by the concordant stroakes and soundes of which, Tuballcayne became the first inuentor of Musicke.
The Song.
Cupid sits in one place of this Forge; on his head a curld yellow haire, his eyes hid in Lawne, a Bow and Quiuer, his armour. Wings at his backe; his body in light colours, a changeable silke mantle crossing it: Golden and siluer arrowes, are euer and anon reached vp to him, which hee shootes vpward into the aire, and is still supplied with more from the Forge.
On the top sits Ioue, in a rich Antique habite, a long white reuerend hayre on his head, a beard long and curld: A Mace of Triple fire in his hand burning who calling to Vulcan, This language passes betweene them. Ioue. Ho Vulcan.
The Fift.
The fift Presentation is called Londons Tempe, or The Field of Happinesse; thereby redecting vpon the name of Campe-bell, or Le Beu Champe, A faire and glorious field. It is an arbor, supported by 4 Great Termes: On the 4 Angles, or corners ouer the Termes, are placed 4 Pendants with armes in them.
It is round about furnished with trees and flowers: the vpper part with seuerall fruites: Intimating that as London is the best-stored Garden in the Kingdome for Plants, Herbes, Flowers, Rootes, and such like; So, on this day it is the most glorious Citty in the Christian world.
And therefore Tytan (one of the names of the Sun) in all his splendor, with Flora, Ceres, Pomona, Ver and Estas, are seated in this Tempe; on the top of all stands a Lyons head, being the Lord Maiors Crest.
Tytan being the Speaker, does in this language court his Lordship to attention.
Tytan his Specch.
The sixth and last Presentation.
This is called Apollo's pallace: because 7. persons representing the 7 liberall Sciences are richly Inthroned [Page]in this Citty. Those 7 are in loose roabes of seuerall cullors, with mantles according, and holding in their hands Escutcheons, with Emblemes in them proper to euery one quality.
The body of this worke is supported by 12 siluer Columnes. At the foure angles of it, foure Pendants play with the Wind. On the top is erected a square Tower, supported by foure golden Columes. In euery square is presented the Embosd antique head of an Emperour, figuring the 4. Monarches of the world, and in them, pointing at foure Kingdomes.
Apollo is the chiefe person; on his head a garland of bayes; In his hand a Lute; Some Hypercriticall Censurer perhaps, will aske, why hauing Tytan, I should bring in Apollo, sithence they both are names proper to the Sunne. But the yongest Nouice in Poetry can answer for me, that the Sunne when he shines in heauen is called Tytan, but being on Earth (as he is here) we call him Apollo. Thus therefore Apollo tunes his voyce.
Apoloes speech.
APollo neuer stucke in Admiration till now: My Delphos is remouen hither; my Oracles are spoken here: Here the Sages vtter their wisedome, Here the Sybels their diuine verses.
I see Senators this day in Scarlet riding to the Capitoll, and to morrow the same men riding vp and [Page]downe the field in Armors Gowned Citizens, and Warlike Gowne-men. The Gunne here giues place, and the owne takes the vpper hand. The Gowne and the Gunne march in one File together.
Happy King that has such people, happy Land in such a King! Happy Pretor so grac'd with Honors! Happy Senators so obayed by Citizens. And happy Citizens that can command such Triumphes.
Good in your full glories: whilst Apollo, and these Mistresses of the Learned Sciences, waft you to that Honourable shore; whither Time bids you hasten to arriue.
A speech at Night, at taken leaue of his Lordship at his Gate, by Oceans.
Thus much, his owne worth, cryes vp the Workman (M. Gerard Chrismas) for his Inuention, that all the peeces were exact, and set forth liuely, with much Cost. And this yeere, giues one Remarkeable Note to after times, that all the Barges followed one another (euery Company in their degree) in a Stately and Maiesticall order. This being the Inuention of a Noble Citizen, one of the Captaines of the Citty.