PIsces, being the last of the
Signes, and the Wayne of the Sunnes Glory; how fitly and desiredly now the Sunne enters into
Aries, for the comfort and refreshing of the Creatures, and may bee properly called the
Spring time of Right and Iustice; obserued by the Shepheards Kalender in the Mountaine, to proue a happy Yeare for poore mens causes, Widdowes, & Orphans Comforts; so much to make good the Sunnes Entrance into that noble Signe; I doubt not but the Beames of his Iustice will make good themselues.
And first, to begin with the Worthy loue of his Honourable Societie to his Lordship, after his Honours returne from Westminster, hauing receiued some seruice vpon the water: the first Tryumph by land attends his Lordships most wished arriuall, in
Pauls Church-yard, which is a Chariot most Artfully framed & adorned, bearing the Title of the Chariot of
Honour: In which Chariot many Worthies are plac'd, that haue got Trophies of
Honour by their
[Page] Labours & Deserts, such as
Iason, whose Illustration of Honour is the Golden Fleece,
Hercules with his
Ne plus vltra, vpon Pilasters of Siluer, a fayre Globe, for conquering
Alexander; a Gilt Lawrell for triumphant
Caesar, &c.
Iason at the approach of his Lordship, being the Personage most proper (by his Manifestation) for the Societies Honour, lends a voyce to these following words.
The Speech presented by Jason.
BE fauourable Fates! and a faire Skie
Smile on this Expedition,
Phoebus Eye
Looke cheerefully,—the Barke is vnder Sayle
For a Yeares voyage, and a blessed Gale
Be euer with it; 'Tis for Iustice bound,
A Coast, that's not by euery Compasse found;
And goes for Honour, Lifes most precious Trading,
May it returne with most Illustrious Lading;
A thing both wisht and hop'te for;—I am Hee
To all Aduenturous Voyages, a free
And bountifull well-wisher, by my Name
High
Iason, first Aduenturer for
Fame,
which now rewards my danger, and o're-tops
The Memory of all Perill, or her stops;
Assisted by the noble Hopes of Greece,
'Twas I from
Colchis fetcht the Golden Fleece;
Am One of the first Brothers (on Record)
Of Honour got by Danger: So, great Lord!
There is no Voyage set forth to Renowne,
That do's not sometimes meete with Skies that frowne,
[Page] With Gusts of Enuie, Billowes of despight,
Which makes the Purchase once atchieu'd, more bright:
"State is a Sea; he must be wise indeede
"That sounds It's Depth, or can the Quick sands heede,
And Honour is so nice and rare a Prize,
'Tis watcht by Dragons, Venamous Enemies;
Then no small care belongs too't,—but as I
With my assisting
Argonautes, did try
The Vtmost of Aduenture, and with bold
And constant Courage, brought the Fleece of Gold;
Whose Illustration decks my Memory
Through all Posterities, naming but Mee:
So, Man of Merit, neuer faint or feare,
Thou hast th' Assistance of Graue
Senators, here,
Thy Worthy Brethren; some of which haue past
All dangerous Gulfes, and in their bright
Fames plac't,
They can Instruct and guide thee; and each one
That must aduenture, and are comming on
To this great Expedition, They will bee
Cheerefull and forward to Encourage Thee;
And Blessings fall in a most infinite Summe
Both on those past, Thy Selfe, and those to come.
Passing from this, and more to encourage the labour of the Magistrate, hee is now conducted to the Master-Triumph called the
Tower of
Vertue, which for the strength, safety and perpetuity, beares the Name of the
Brazen Tower; of which,
Integrety keepes the Keyes,
Vertue being indeed as a Brazen wall to a City or Common-wealth, & to Illustrate the prosperity it brings to a Kingdome, the Top-Turrets or Pinacles of this Brazen Tower shine bright like Golde, and vpon the Gilded Battlements thereof, stand 6. Knights, 3. in Siluered, and 3. in Gilt Armour, as
Vertues Standerbearers or Champions, holding 6. little Streamers, or siluer Bannerets, in each of which are displayed
[Page] the Armes of a Noble Brother and Benefactor,
Fa
[...]e sounding forth their praises to the world, for the Encouragement of after Ages, and
Antiquity the Register of Fame containing in her Golden Legend, their Names & Titles; as that of Sir
Henry Fitz-Aiwin Draper, L. Maior foure and Twenty yeares together; Sir
Iohn Norman, the first that was rowed in Barge to
Westminster with Siluer Oares, at his owne cost and charges; Sir
Francis Drake, the
Sonne of
Fame, who in two Yeares and tenne Monthes, did cast a Girdle about the world: The vnparaleld, Sir
Symon Eyre, who built
Leaden Hall (at his owne cost a Storehouse for the Poore both in the vpper Lofts and lower; the Generous & memorable Sir
Richard Champion, and Sir
Iohn Milborne, two bountifull Benefactors; Sir
Richard Hardell in the Seat of Magistracy 6. yeares together, Sir
Iohn Poultney, 4. yeares, which Sir
Iohn founded a Colledge in the Parish of S
t.
Lawrence Poultney, by
Candlewicke streete,
Iohn Hinde, a Reedifier of the Parish Church of S
t.
Swithin by
London Stone. Sir
Richard Pipe, who being Free of the
Leather sellers, was also from them translated to the Ancient and Honorable Society of
Drapers; and many whose names for breuities cause I must omit, and hasten to the Honour and Seruice of the Time present: From the Tower,
Fame a personage properly adorned, thus salutes the Great M
r. of the Day and Triumph.
The Salutation of Fame.
VVElcome to
Vertues Fortresse, strong, and cleere,
Thou art not onely safe, but glorious, heere;
It is a Tower of Brightnes; such his
Truth,
Whose Strength and Grace feeles a perpetuall Youth;
The walls are Brasse, the Pyramid's fine Gold;
Which showes, 'tis
Safeties and
Prosperities Hold;
Cleare
Conscience, is Lieutenant;
Prouidence, there,
Watchfulnes, Wisedome, Constancy, Zeale, Care,
Are the sixe Warders; keepe the Watch-Tower sure,
That nothing enters but what's iust and pure,
[Page] For which effect, both to affright and shame
All slothfull Blouds, that blush to looke on
Fame,
An Ensigne of good Actions Each displayes,
That worthy Workes may iustly owne their Praise;
And which is cleareliest to be vnderstood,
Thine, shines amidst thy Glorious Brotherhood,
Circled with Armes of Honour, by those, past,
As now with
Loues Armes, by the Present, grac't,
And how thy
Word do's thy true
Worth display;
Fortunae Mater, Diligentia,
Faire
Fortunes Mother (all may reade, and see)
Is
Diligence, endeuouring
Industrie:
See here the Glory of Illustrious Acts
All of thy owne Fraternity, whose Tracts
'Tis comely to pursue all Thy Lifes Race,
Taking their Vertues, as thou hold'st their place:
Some, Colledge Founders, Temple-Beautifiers,
Whose blest Soules sing now in caelestiall Quires;
Erecters some, of Granaries for the Poore,
Though now conuerted to some Rich mens Store
(The more the Ages misery) some so rare
For this Fam'd Citties Gouernment, and Care,
They kept the Seate foure Yeares, with a faire name,
Some sixe; but One, (the Miracle of
Fame)
Which no Society, or
Time can match,
Twenty foure Yeares compleate, he was
Truths watch,
He went so right and Euen; and the Hand
Of that faire Motion, Bribe could ne're make stand.
And as Men se their Watches by the Sunne,
Set Iusti
[...]e but by that which Hee h
[...]s done,
And keepe it Euen, so, from Men to Men,
No Magistrate neede stirre the worke agen:
[...]
[...]
[Page] It lights into a Noble hand to Day,
And ha's past many; Many more, it may.
By this Tower of
Vertue, his Lordship being gracefully conducted toward the new Standard, one in a cloudy Ruinous Habit Leaning vpon the Turret, at a Trumpets sounding, suddenly starts and wakes, and in Amazement throwes off his vnseemely Garments.
What Noyse is this? Makes me from Ruines Wombe,
Hah? blesse me, (
Time) how braue am I become?
Fame fixt vpon my Head? beneath me, round,
The Figures of Illustrious Princes, crownde
As well for Goodnes, as for State by Birth,
Which makes e'm true Heires both to Heauen and Earth?
Iust 6 in Number; and all blessed Names,
Two
Henryes, Edward, Mary, Eliza, Iames,
(That Ioy of honest Hearts;) and there behold
His honour'd Substitute, whom Worth makes bold
To vndergoe the Weight of this Degree;
Vertues faire Aedifice rais'd vp like mee:
Why here's the Cities Goodnes; showen in either,
To raise two worthy Buildings both together;
For when they made that Lords Election free
I gesse, that Time their charge did perfect Mee:
Nay note the Cities Bountie in both, still,
When they restore a Ruine, 'tis their Will
To be so Noble in their Cost and Care
All blemish is forgot, when they repaire:
For what ha's beene Reedified alate
But lifts it's Head vp, in more glorious State:
"'Tis Grown a Principle; Ruines, built agen,
"Come betterd both in Monuments and Men:
[Page] The Instance is apparent; On then,
Lord,
Ee'n at thy Entraence thou'dst a
Great mans Word;
The noblest Testimonie of faire Worth
That euer Lord had, when he first stood forth
Presented by the Citie: Loose not then
A Praise so deere, bestowde not on all Men;
Striue to preserue this Famous Citties pea
[...]e
Begun by yon' first King, which do's encrease
Now by the last; from
Henry that ioynde Roses
To
Iames that Vnites Kingdomes, who encloses
All in the Armes of
Loue, Malic't of None,
Our Hearts find that, whē Neighbouring Kingdoms grone;
Which in the Magistrates Duty, may well moue
A Zealous Care, in all, a Thankfull Loue.
After this, for the full close of the Fore-noones Triumph; neere
S. Lawrence Lane, stands a Mountaine Artfully raysde and replenisht with fine woolly Creatures;
Phoebus on the Top shining in a full Glory, being circled with the 12. Caelestiall Signes,
Aries plac't neere the principall Rayes, the proper Signe for Illustration; thus greetes his Lordship.
Bright Thoughts, Ioy and Alacrity of Heart
Blesse thy great Vndertakings, 'tis the part
And property of
Phoebus, with his Rayes,
To cheere and to Illumine Good-mens Wayes;
Eagle-Eyde Actions, that dare behold
His Sparkling Globe, depart, tryed all like Gold;
'Tis Bribery and Iniustice, Deedes of Night
That flye the Sunne-beame, which makes good Works bright
Thine looke vppon't, Vndazled, as one Beame
Faces another, as wee match a Iem
[Page] With her Refulgent fellow; from Thy Worth
Example Sparkles, as a Starre shootes forth:
This
Mount, the Type of Eminence and place,
Resembles Magistracies Seate, and Grace;
The
Sunne, the Magistrate himselfe, Implyes;
These woolly Creatures, all that Part which Lyes
Vnder His charge and office, (not vnfit)
Since Kings and Rulers are (in
holy Writ)
With Shepheards paraleld, nay from Shepheards Rear'd,
And People and the Flock as oft cohaerd;
Now, as it is the Bounty of the
Sunne
To spread his Splendors, and make Gladnes runne
Ouer the drooping Creatures; it ought so
To be His proper
Vertue, that do's owe
To
Iustice his lifes Flame, (shot from Aboue)
To cheere oppressed Right with lookes of
Loue,
Which nothing doubted;
Truths reward light on you,
The Beames of all cleare Comforts shine vpon You.
The Great Feast ended, the whole state of the Triumph attends vpon his Lordship both to
Paules, and homeward; and neare the Entrance of his Lordships House, two Partes of the Triumph stand ready planted,
viz. The Brazen Tower, and the Triple-Crowned Fountaine of Iustice; this Fountaine being adorn'd with the liuely Figures of all those Graces and Vertues which belong to the faithfull discharging of so high an Office; as Iustice, Sincerity, Meeknes, Wisedome, Prouidence, Aequality, Industry, Truth, Peace, Patience, Hope, Harmony; all Illustrated by proper Emblems and expressions; as
Iustice, by a Sword;
Sincerity, by a Lambe;
Meeknes, by a Doue;
Wisd
[...]me by a Serpent;
Prouidence, by an Aegle;
Aequality, by a siluerd Ballance:
Industry, by a golden Ball, on which stands a
Cupid; intimating, that Industry brings both Wealth and Loue;
Truth with a
[...]anae of Starres, with which she chases away Error;
[Page]
Peace, with a Branch of Laurell;
Patience, a Sprig of Palme;
Hope, by a siluer'd Anchor;
Harmony, by a Swan; Each at Night holding a bright burning Tapor in her hand, as a Manifestation of Purity: His Lordship being in sight, and drawing neare to his Entrance;
Fame, from the Brazen Tower closes vp the Triumph, his Lordships honourable welcome, with the noble Demonstration of his worthy Fraternities Affection; in this concluding Speech.
Fame.
I Cannot better the Comparison
Of thy faire
Brotherhoods Loue, then to the
Sunne
After a great Ecclipse; for as the
Sphaere
Of that Caelestiall Motion, shines more cheere
After the Interposing Part is spent,
Then to the Eye before the Darknes went
Ouer the bright Orbe; so Their Loue is showne
With a Content past Expectation▪
A
Care that ha's beene comely, and a Cost
That ha's beene Decent; cheerefull, which is most;
Fit for the Seruice of so great a State,
So fam'd a Cittie, and a Magistrate.
So worthy of it all, ha's beene bestowde
Vpon thy Triumph, which ha's clearely shorrde
The Loues of thy Fraternity, as great;
For thy first Welcome to thy honour'd Seate:
And happily is Cost requited then,
"When Men Grace Triumphs, more then Triumphs, Men;
"Diamonds will shine though set in Lead, True worth
"Stands alwayes in least neede of setting forth:
What makes Lesse Noyse then
Merit? or Lesse Showe
Then
Vertue? 'tis the Vndeseruers, owe
All to Vaine-glory, and to Rumour, still;
Building their Praises on the Vulgar Will;
[Page] All their Good, is without e'm, not their owne,
When wise men to their Vertues are best Knowne:
Behold you' Fountaine with the Tripled Crowne,
And through a Cloude the Sunne-beame piercing downe,
So is the worthy Magistrate made vp;
The Triple Crowne, is
Charity, Faith, and
Hope,
Those three Caelestiall Sisters, the Cloude too
That's
Care, and yet you see the Beame strikes through;
A Care discharg'd with Honour, it presages,
And may it so continue, to all Ages;
It is thy
Brotherhoods Armes, how well it fits
Both Thee, and All, that for Truthes Honour sits:
The Time of Rest drawes neere; Triumph must cease
Ioy to thy Heart, to all a Blessed peace.
FINIS.