The Tryumphs of Honor and Industry.
A Solemnity performed through the City, at Confirmation and establishment of the Right Honorable, GEORGE BOVVLES, In the Office of his Maiesties Lieuetenant, the Lord Mayor of the famous Citty of London.
Taking beginning at his Lordships going, and proceeding after his Returne from receiuing the Oath of Maioralty at westminster, on the morrow next after Simon and Iudes day October 29. 1617.
LONDON, Printed by Nicholas Okes, 1617.
To the Worthy Deseruer of all the Costs and Triumphs, which the Noble Society of Grocers in bounteous measure bestow on him, the Right Honourable, GEORGE BOVVLES, Lord Mayor of the famous City of London.
O Ʋt of the slightest labours and imployments there may that Vertue sometimes arise, that may enlighten the best part of man, nor haue these kind of Tryumphs an idle Rellish, especially if they be Artfully accomplisht, vnder such an esteemed [Page] slightnesse may often lurke that fire that may shame the best perfection: For instance, what greater meanes for the imitation of Vertue and Noblenesse can any where present it selfe with more Alacrity to the Beholder, then the Memorable Fames of those Worthies in the Castle, manifested by their Escutchions of Armes, the onely Symboles of Honor and Antiquity. The Honorable Seate that is reserued, all men haue hope, that your Iustice and Goodnesse will exactly merit, to the Honor of which I commend your Lordships Vertues, remaining
The Tryumphs of Honour and Industry.
IT hath beene twice my fortune in short time to haue imploiment for this Noble Societye, where I haue alwayes mette with men of much vnderstanding, and no lesse bounty, to whom cost appeares but as a shadow, so there be fulnesse of content in the performance of the solemnity, which that the world may iudge of, for whose pleasure & satisfaction, custome hath yeerly framde it, (but chiefly for the honor of the City) it begins to present it selfe, not without forme and order, which is required in the meanest emploiment.
The first Inuention.
A Company of Indians, attired according to the true Nature of their Country, seeming for the most part naked, are set at worke in an Iland of growing spices; some planting Nutmeg Trees, some other spice trees, of all kinds, some gathering the fruits, some making vp bags of Pepper, euery one seuerally imploide; These Indians are al actiue youths, who ceasing in their labours, dance about the trees, both to giue content to themselues and the spectators.
After this shew of dauncing Indians in the Iland, followes triumphantly a rich personage, presenting India, (the Seate of Merchandise) this India sits on the top of an Illustrious Chariot, on the one side of her sits trafficke or merchandize, on the other side, Industry, both fitted and adorned according to the property of their natures, Industry holding a golden Ball in her hand vpon which stāds a Cupid, signifying that Industry gets both wealth and loue, and with her associate Trafficke or Merchandize, who holds a Globe in her hand, knits loue and peaec amongst all Nations, to the better expressing of which, if you giue attention to Industry, that now sets forward to speake, it will be yours more exactly.
The speech of Industry in the Chariot.
[Page]And that you may take the better note of their adornments, India whose seate is the most eminent, for her expression, holdes in her hand a wedge of golde, trafficke her associate, a Globe, Industry a faire golden Ball in her hand, vpon which stands a goldē Cupid, Fortune exprest with a siluer wheele, Successe holding a painted Ship in a Hauen, wealth a golden key where her heart lyes, Vertue bearing for her manifestation, a siluer shield, Grace holding in her hand a booke, Perfection, a crowne of gold.
At which words the Pageant of seuerall Nations, which is purposely planted neer the sound of the words, mooues with a kind of affectionate ioy, both at the honor of the dayes triumph, and the prosperity of Loue, which by the vertue of Traffick, is likely euer to continue, and for a good Omen of the Euerlasting continuance of it, on the top of this curious and triumphant Pageant, shoots vp a Laurell tree the leaues spotted with gold, about which sit six celestial figures, presenting Peace, Prosperity, Loue, Ʋnity, Plenty, & Fidelity, Peace holding a branch of Palme, Prosperity a Laurell, Loue, two ioynd hands, Ʋnity two Turtles, Plenty holding fruits, Fidelity a siluer anchor. But before I entred so far I should haue showde you the zeale and loue of the Frenchman and Spaniard, which now I hope will not appeare vnseasonably, who not content with a silent ioy like the rest of the Nations, haue a thirst to [Page] vtter their gladnesse, though vnderstood of a small number, which is this.
The short speech deliuered by the Frenchman in French.
La multitude m'ayant monte sur ce haut lieu, pour contempler le glorieux triumphe de ceste Iournee, le voy quen quelque sorte la noble dignite de la treshonorable societe des Grociers y est representee, dont mesiouissant par dessus tous, le leur souhaite & a Monsegneur le Mayre le Comble de touttes nobles & heureuses fortunes.
The same in English.
IT is my ioy chiefly, (and I stand for thousands) to see the glory of this triumphant day, which in some measure requires the noble worthinesse of the Honourable Society of Grocers, to whom and to my Lord Mayor I wish all good successes.
This Frenchman no sooner sets a period to his speech, but the Spanyard in zeale as vertuous as he, vtters himselfe to the purpose of these words.
The Spanyards speech in Spanish.
Ningunas de todas estas naciones conciben maior y ver dadera alegria en este triumphante y glorioso dia que yo, no, minguna de todas ellas, porque agora [Page] que me parece▪ que son tan ricas, es senal que los de my naciòn en tratando con ellas receberan, mayor prouecho dellas, Al my senior Don Maior todas buenas y dichosas fortunas, Y a los de la honrada Compania de Especicros dichosos dessi eos, Y assi dios guarde a my senior Don Maior, y rogo à dios que todo el anno siguiente, puede ser tan dichoso, como esta entrada suya, a la digmday de lu seniora, Guarde dios a su sennoria.
The same in English.
NOne of all these Nations, conceiue more true ioy at this triumphant day, then my self, to my Lord Mayor all faire and noble fortunes, and to the worthy Society of Grocers, all happy wishes, and I pray heauen, that all the yeere following may be as happy and successefull, as this first entrance to your dignity.
This expression of their ioy and loue hauing spent it selfe, I know you cannot part contented, without their seuerall inscriptions; now the fauour and helpe must be in you, to conceiue our breadth and limits, and not to thinke we can in these customary bounds comprehend all the nations, but so many as shall serue to giue content to the vnderstander, which thus produce themselues.
- [Page] An Englishman.
- A Frenchman.
- An Irishman.
- A Spanyard.
- A Turke.
- A Iew.
- A Dane.
- A Polander.
- A Barbarian.
- A Ruscian or Moscouian.
This fully exprest, I arriue now at that part of Tryumph, which my Desire euer hastned to come to, this Castle of Fame or Honor, which Industry brings her Sonnes vnto in their Reuerend Ages.
In the front of this Castle, Reward and Industry deckt in bright Robes, keepe a Seate betweene them for him to whom the Dayes honour is dedicated, shewing how many worthy [Page] [...] [Page] [...] [Page] Sonnes of the Citty, and of the same Society, haue by their Truth, Desert and Industry come to the like honour before him, where on a sudden is shewne diuerse of the same Right Worshipfull Society of Grocers, manifested both by their good gouernment in their Times, as also by their Escuchions of Armes, as an example and encouragement to all Vertuous and Industrious deseruers in time to come: And in honour of Antiquity is shewne that Antient and Memorable Worthy of the Grocers Company, Andrew Bockrill, who was Maior of London the sixteenth yeare of Henry the third, 1231. and continued so Mayor seuen yeares together.
Likewise for the greater honour of the Company, is also shewne in this Castle of Fame, the Noble Allen de la Zouch, Grocer, who was Maior of London the two and fiftieth yeare of the same Henry the third, which Allen de la Zouch, for his good Gouernement in the Time of his Maioralty, was by the sayd King Henry the third, made both a Baron of this Realme, and Lord Chiefe Iustice of England: Also that Famous Worthy, Sir Thomas Knoles, Grocer, twice Maior of this Honorable Citty, which Sir Thomas begunne at his owne charge that famous building of Guild-hall in London, and other Memorable workes, both in this Citty, and in his owne Company, so much Worthinesse being [Page] the Lustre of this Castle, and ought indeed to be the Imitation of the Beholder.
My Lord no sooner approaches, but Reward a Partner with Iustice in keeping that Seate of Honor, as ouer-ioyde at the sight of him, appeares too free and forward in the Resignation.
About this Castle of Fame are plast many honorable figures, as Truth, Antiquity, Harmony, Fame, Desert, Good works, on the top of the castle, Honour, Religion, Piety, Commiseration; the workes of those whose memories shine in this Castle.
If you looke vpon Truth first, you shall finde her properly exprest, holding in her right hand a Sunne, in the other a Fanne of Stars, Antiquity with a scrowle in her hand, as keeper of Honors Records; Harmony holding a golden Lute, and Fame not without her siluer trumpet, for desert tis glorious through her owne brightnesse, but [Page] holdes nothing; good works exprest with a Colledge or Hospitall.
On the toppe of the Castle, Honor manifested by a faire Starre in his hand, Religion with a Temple on her head, Piety with an Altar, Commiseration with a melting or burning Heart.
And not to haue our speakers forgotten, ( Reward and Iustice) with whom wee entred this part of Triumph, Rewarde holding a wreath of gold, ready for a deseruer; and Iustice furnisht with her Sword and ballance.
All this seruice is performed before the Feast, some in Pauls Church-yard, some in Cheap-side, at which place the whole Triumphe meets, both Castle and Iland, that gaue delight vpon the water, And now (as duety binds me) I commend my Lord and his right honorable Guesse to the solemne pleasure of the feast, from whence I presume all Epicurisme is banisht; for where Honor is master of the feast, Moderation and Grauity are alwayes attendants.
The feast being ended at Guild-hall, my Lord (as yeerly custome inuites him) goes accompanied with the triumphe towards S. Pauls, to performe the noble and reuerend ceremonies which diuine Antiquity vertuously ordained, and is no lesse then faithfully obserude, which is no meane lustre to the City, Holy seruice and ceremonies accomplisht, he returnes by torch-light to his owne house, the whole triumphe plac't in [Page] comely order before him, and at the entrance of his gate, Honor a glorious person, from the top of the Castle giues life to these following words.
The speech of Honor from the top of the Castle, at the entrance of my Lord Mayors Gate.
No sooner the speech is ended, but the triumph is dissolud, and not possible to scape the hands of the defacer, things that for their quaintnesse (I dare so farre commend them) haue not beene vsually seen throgh the City; the credit of which workmāship I must iustly lay vpon the deserts of M r. Rowland Bucket, chiefe master of the work; yet not forgetting the faithfull care and industry of my well approoued friend, Master Henry Wilde, and Master Iacob Challoner, partners in the businesse.
The season cuts me off, & after this dayes trouble I am as willing to take my rest.