The Triumphs of London, For the Inauguration of the Right Honourable Sir Thomas Abney, Kt. LORD MAYOR OF THE City of LONDON.
CONTAINING A Description of the PAGEANTS, toget [...] with the Publick Speeche [...] and the whole Solemnity of th [...] Day.
Performed on Tuesday the 29th of October, 1700.
All set forth at the proper Cost and Charge of the Honourable Company of FISHMONGERS.
Published by Authority.
LONDON: Printed for R. Barnham in Little Britain. 1700.
To the Right Honourable Sir Thomas Abney, Kt. Lord Mayor of the City of London.
AS there's a large Distinction betwixt the Honour of the Magistracy, and that of the Magistrate; the First being that which he finds in his High Seat, and the Last that which he brings himself thither with him: So there's nothing more happy then when the Perfections of the One aggrandi [...] the Glory of the Other.
The fair Hopes your Lordship gives us on this Occasion are not a little conspicuous, when your whole Conduct of Life has appear'd so singularly eminent, in that Serenity of Temper, being of so pacifick a Disposition in all your Converse with Mankind; that were the general Genius of Humane Race but moulded like your own; I might say, with a great deal of Truth, Enmity and Discord had been Names unknown to the World; and that warmest Smile of Heaven, the Blessing of Peace, had been an Universal and Everlasting Inheritance.
In your Lordship's Advancement to the Pretorian Dignity, I cannot tell what Pride there may be in the [Page]Robe, I am sure there will be none in the Wearer. Nor can the CHAIR raise you so high, but your own Innate Goodness and Humanity will still sit uppermost.
How far these Signal Virtues, accompanied by your Lordship's no less eminent Prudence, may qualify you for the Magistrate, were a needless Description.
But in all our Assurance of your Lordship's steering Hand at this Honourable Helm; as Commendable as that Important Part, the Execution of Right and Equity may be; yet 'tis not All the World expects. The Governing Head of this Glorious City, in no other Capacity than her Supreme Administrator of Justice, does not fully answer that Figure and Character he bears. For, to say Truth, the Precepts or Decrees of his Ministerial Authority, are not so much the Edicts of Guildhall, as of St. Stephen's Chappel: With the Law on one Side, and the Obligation of his Oath on th [...] other, in that part of his Greatness, viz. his Post of Trust and Power, he may be said, in some measure, only to Obey when he Commands. That Judiciary Administration therefore, as being no more than the Performance of his Duty (not to derogate from the Glory of Magistracy) is not his highest Desert.
No, my Lord, as the City of London is that Metropolis, that bears her Head so high, without a Vanity, above any of her European Rivals; so her Eyes look up with no common Expectation from her commanding Magistrate. 'Tis his publick Acts of Munificence and Hospitality; in short, the keeping up the Grandeur of the CHAIR, and thereby rendring himself the more Worthy of that Exalted Station, those being his [Page]own free and voluntary Grace and Goodness, that must compleat the shining Merit of a Mayoralty. 'Tis the Generous Accession to Dignity is always the Noblest. That's the only Glorious Ambition of a Magistrate, when he aspires to a Post of Honour more to do Good in it, than to reap Good from it. 'Tis on these Foundations only that the Glory of a Year may support the Reputation of a whole Life, and transmit a Lasting Fragrance to the very Memory of a truly Honourable Magistrate.
Now, my Lord, not doubting but your Lordship makes your Entry with these Generous Resolutions, 'tis to that True Pretorian Greatness, that I make you this hearty Congratulation, from,
Most Dutiful Servant,
E. SETTLE
TO THE Worshipful Company OF FISHMONGERS.
WHen I enter the Walls of your Honourable Foundation, methinks your very Constitution seems to stand upon one of the fairest Basis of all the Societies of Trade through the whole Nation. For INDƲSTRY, that Virtue, which is the Support of Kingdoms, more particularly shines in your Sphere. The Product of most other Industrious Arts, Professions or Manufactures, seems to be but a stinted Wealth. In our Drapery, for Instance, or our Tillage, we can spin out our Wooll no farther than our Sheeps Backs can bear; nor heap our Granaries fuller than the Crop of the Glebe will yield us. But FISHERY drains from an Inexhaustible Fountain, viz. the bottomless and boundless Ocean: And all that's gotten from thence is an entire Additional Increase to the Wealth of a Nation, whilst all that's rais'd from the other Funds is but an Improvement of what we have of our own before. For this Reason, methinks the FISHMONGERS and GOLDSMITHS were once very justly incorporated together. For as One raises his Increase from the Depth of the Sea, so the other from the Bowels of the Earth.
But a Panegyrick upon your Profession being the least part of my present Theme, I am now bound to congratulate your Honour of having the CHAIR with you.
'Tis true, your Walls have not been so graced for some time past; and therefore the present grateful occasion of a Triumph has given you so much the greater Satisfaction, and open'd a Liberal Hand for the Entertainment of such an Honourable Guest under your Roof.
However, notwithstanding this present Interval, your Company has been famous for no vulgar List of Worthies, having now number'd no less than 48 Lord Mayors of your own: Such a plentiful Growth of Honour sufficiently tells the World, 'tis a Rich Bed that makes so fair a Product.
Nor has the Number been more extraordinary, than some more particular darling WORTH that has appear'd among you. The matchless Glory of your Sir William Walworth, who singly attacked the formidable Rebel Wat. Tyler at the whole Head of his Lawless Troops, and by that undaunted and victorious Stroke rescued his threatned Country, and succour'd his Prince; an Atchievment that gave the Dagger to the City Arms; that single memorable Patriot in his hard Steel in Smithfield-Rounds, has possibly outvyed the Lustre of a long Succession of Gold Chains at Guildhall.
With such Exemplar Virtue of your own Fraternity, give me Leave, Gentlemen, to wish, that you may never want a Succession of Worthies, when your King and your Country shall call for 'em; I am,
E. S.
The Movement of the Morning.
THE whole Company selected for the Management of the Triumph, meet at Seven in the Morning, viz.
- 1. The Wardens and Assistants in Gowns faced with Foyns.
- 2. The Livery in Gowns with Budge, and their Hoods.
- 3. The Foyns and Budge Batchelors with Gowns and Scarlet Hoods.
- 4. Forty Gentlemen Ushers in Velvet Coats, each a Chain of Gold about his Shoulders, and a white Staff in his Hand.
- 5. Thirty other Gentlemen carrying Banners and Colours.
- 6. The Serjeant-Trumpet wearing two Scarfs, one of the Lord Mayors Colours, and the other of the Companies, with 36 more Trumpets, whereof 16 are His Majesty's.
- 7. His Majesty's Drum-Major, wearing a Scarf of the Company's Colour, with four more of his Majesty's Drums and and Fifes.
- 8. Seven other Drums and two Fifes with Scarfs.
- 9. The two City Marshals riding on Horseback, and six Persons attending with Scarfs and Colours of the Companies.
- 10. The Foot Marshal and six Attendants with like Scarfs, &c.
- 11. The Master of Defence and his Retinue in like Scarfs, &c.
- 12. Several Pensioners in Gowns and Caps, bearing Standards and Banners.
- 13. Other Pensioners in Gowns and Caps, carrying each a Javelin in one Hand, and Target in the other, having the Arms of the Company's Founders and Benefactors.
All these Rank'd by the Foot-Marshal, marching Two by Two, the Company's Ensigns leading; the Pensioners, four Drums, and one Fife, and four more Drums and Fifes bring up the Rear of this Division. After them the Pensioners with Standards; four Trumpets, the Supporters and Crest of the Company, six Gentlemen Ushers, then the Budge Batchelors concluding the Second Division. Six Trumpets, two Gentlemen, one bearing the City's, the other the Company's Arms. Then eight Gentlemen Ushers, and next the Foyn Batchelors make the Third Division. Two Gentlemen Ushers bearing Banners, two more Gentlemen Ushers, and then the Livery. Next the City Trumpets, then two Gentlemen bearing the City and Lord Mayors Banner. Then the Gentlemen and Court of Assistants, &c. Four Drums, six Trumpets, two Gentlemen bearing Banners, four Gentlemen and four Pages, and then the Wardens bring up the Rear.
Marching in this Order they attend his Lordship from Guild-Hall, his Lordship being accompanied from thence by the old Lord Mayor, whence the whole Company move through Cheap-side to Three-Crane-VVharf, where the [Page 2]Lord Mayor, Aldermen, Livery, and part of the Gentlemen Ushers take their Barge for Westminster, whither his Lordship is attended, with the several Barges of the respective Companies, with Flags, Streamers, several Pleasure-Boats, with Hautboys, Flutes, Trumpets, and all manner of Musick, &c.
Before my Lord takes Water, his Lordship is thus Addrest from the First PAGEANT.
His Lordship having taken the Oaths before the Barons of the Exchequer, returns with the same Attendants and Splendor to Dorset-stairs, where, at his Landing, he is saluted by the Artillery Company, in all their Martial Ornaments in Buff and Silver Head-pieces; and thus, with the whole Cavalcade, moves forward towards Cheap-side. In his March, he is first received by this Pageant.
The First PAGEANT.
The BUSS.
UPon a spacious Stage, amidst the Waves of a Sea, is presented a large Fishing-Vessel, rigg'd, &c. with all the proper Tackle; with Nets also and Fishes of all sorts, and live Fishes in the Wells of the Boat. The whole Crew of this Boat are Persons all drest in the proper Habits of Fishermen, and all exercising themselves in dragging of Nets and Fishery. The whole Vessel enricht with Gildings, Paintings, Embost Work, &c.
The Master of the BUSS thus salutes his Lordship.
The Second PAGEANT.
TWo large Dolphins Argent, being part of the Company's Arms, appear as swimming on the Surface of a Calm Sea. On the Backs of these Dolphins Ride two Persons. Arion and Phocas, Entertaining the Company with Wind-Musick.
The Third PAGEANT,
The Throne of Thetis.
THETIS, the Goddess of the Sea in her Habiliments, Rides in a very large Scalop-shell (Azure Enrich'd with Silver) with her Sea-Nimphs beneath her, and others also at each Corner of the Stage, bearing Shields, and Standards of the Lord Mayors, the Company's and the City's-Arms, the Scalop Adorn'd with other Marine Enrichments, and over the Head of Thetis, are several Painted and Guilded Dolphins.
Thetis thus addresses his Lordship.
The Fourth PAGEANT,
The Mermaid.
TWo large Carv'd Figures being a Merman and Mermaid, the Supporters of the Companies Arms, properly Colour'd, Floating on the Waves of the Sea, attended by Tritons and Nereids in their respective Dresses, with Flags, Streamers, &c.
A Triton speaks.
After this Pageant a Cavalcade is Perform'd by several Persons Riding in Armour, viz. the first the Sergeant at Mace, Arm'd Ca-pa-pee, bearing the Head of Wat Tyler on a Bloody Spear. The next the famous Sir William Walworth, Arm'd likewise Cap-a-pee, and the other Five being so many Aldermen, also all in Rich Armour; these all mounted on Manag'd Horses, most Richly Caparison'd, &c. march before the last Pageant, being
The Fifth PAGEANT,
The Chariot of Honour.
IN this stately Chariot, rais'd by several Ascents, on the highest Seat sits a Person representing Fame; before her is Seated King Richard II. trampling under his Feet Insurrection; Around him on several Seats sit Conduct, Prudence, Temperance and Vigilance; in a Station before him is Seated Augusta, bearing the City-Sword in one Hand, and the City-Arms in the other, the whole Pageant being fill'd with near Twenty Persons, to make up the Grandeur and Train of Attendants on Majesty and Magistracy, all in their proper Adornments, with Banners, Shields, Streamers, &c. Over all is Erected an Arch, born up by Four Silver Dolphins, Supporting the Crest of the Honourable Company, being Two Arm'd Hands holding a Crown Imperial.
Augusta's Address.
Here his Lordship moves forward to Guild-Hall to Dinner, where he receives the Honour of Entertaining the Lords of the Council, the Judges, and the Chief of the Nobility; the whole Magnificence of which splendid Entertainment concludes the Solemnity of the Day.