The Ironmongers Faire Feild.
In a goodly Island styled Insula beata, or the land of Happynes, we suppose that true Maiesty holdeth her gouernement: This Island is round engirt with rich Rockes of Gold Oare and Chrisolytes, the maine Ocean also running naturally about it, wherein Corral, Amber, Chrysitis and the other rich gemmes of the Sea do shew themselues, as glorious embellishments to the Rockes. There, in a golden Feild or Garden, imagined of the nature of the Hesperides, where all the Trees and Fruites are of pure golde, do we erect Maiesties watch Tower, which being square, consifteth of very artificiall Colloms, Arches, Cornish, Freeze & other skilfull Architecture, but the whole bodie therof being so transparant, as both she and her royall attendants may be easily therein discerned.
In a rich Throane, which supporteth three imperiall Diademes, sitteth a beautifull Nymph, attyred aptly to her high state and dignity, in whome we presuppose the person of Maiestie. She hath a costly vaile of golde Tinsell on her head, & therevpon her Crowne imperiall, a Mownd in her left hand, and a golden Scepter in her right.
Directly before her, in a place answerable to her worth and merrit, do we seate Religion, in a Virgin vesture of pure white, vayled round with a flame colour Tinsell shadowe. She holdes a rich Booke in one hand, and a siluer rod in the other, as her Ensignes of good reward and encouragement, to the Dilligent & Studious, and desertfull chastisement of such, as by ouer headdie zeale, or too coole remissnes, shall dare to disturb her lawes and instructions.
On either side the state, but somewhat in a lower [Page] discent, are seuerall seates, the one on the right hand is supplyed by a fayre and gracious Nimph tearmed Nobilitie, in a loose rich garment of many commixed colours, and a mantle of siluer Tinsell foulded about her, holding a siluer staffe of Counsell in her hand. The other on the left hand personates Pollicy, richly vesturde as a person of honour, with a siluer staffe likewise, and a roule of paper in his other hand: These are not vnapt attendants, to be euer in presence of Soueraigne Maiestie.
Lowest of all on this forefront, we place Memorie and Vigillancie, two respected handmaides to Maiestie, and of very serious imployment. The one to foresee and preuent domestick or forraigne vnbeseeming deuises or practises, And the other to register all occurrences, that make most for the glory of so great a gouernement, as also for the good of the weale publike, Vigillancie holdeth a Bell and an houre Glasse, Memorie a Table Booke with a siluer pen still ready to write.
So much for the forefront.
In the most eminent place behinde, & back to backe with Soueraigne Maiestie, we seate that euer blessed Companyon of all Royall Kingdomes, Tranquility, a Nimphe of gracious and Maiesticke presence, attired in Carnation, with a rich Tinsell veyle likewise vpon her head, a branch of Palme in one hand, and a fayre Chaplet or wreath of Floures in the other.
Aglaia, Thalia, and Euphrosine, tho se three gracious Deities, in whome are figured Cheerfulnes, Peacefulnes, and Happynes, are seated according to their seuerall degrees and condition. The first in Crimson Tinsell, the second in willowe collour, & the third in Purple. [Page] The last sitteth in a golden Caue, holding a faire shield wherein Fame triumpheth ouer Death. The second holdes another Shield, wherein Eternity treadeth vpon Hell and the Deuill, and the first hath her Shield, wherein Tyme sits sleeping, his houre glasse layd along and not running, and his Scithe broken in two peeces: Alluding to the continuall beatitude of Maiesties triumphing, which neither Time, Death nor Hell, shall in our best wishes) haue power to alter.
The whole Island and Tower of soueraigne Maiestie, we suppose to floate vpon the calme Sea of discreete and loyall affections. Being round circkled with the immooueable Rocks, First of Dutie, to obey the commaund of sacred Maiestie, Next, enriched with the wealthie treasures of strong Power, to offend any insulting forraigne enemie, and to defend from the (insolence of home bred trecherie
Out of those Rockes (as good thoughts do dayly arise out of loyall hearts) in diuers places are to be discerned, the issuing foorth of those harmeles Serpents called Lyzards, which by Pliine, Gesner, and other writers, are said to breede in the riftes of Rockes. But according to Cardanus, Mathiolus, Solynus, &c. they hold them to breed in Iron Mines, and in that regard (as I guesse) the Lyzard is giuen as Creast to the Armes of the Ironmongers Society, which inciteth me the rather willingly thus to make vse of them, as sporting and playing in the Sun-shine of this royal happynes.
The Sea (as hath bene said before) round cirkling this Island and Tower, which seemeth to floate in a ceaseles motion: we order foure Neriades or Trytons, to daunce vpon the billowes thereof, at the seuerall [Page] corners of the Island. In them we figure those foure Seas, that naturally do engirt this Island of great Brittaine: As the Germane Ocean on the East side, the Irishe on the West: the Scottish or Albanian on the North, & the Gallo-Belgick or French on the South. These Trytons, with others of their younger broode, do play vpon instruments, as if they answered one another in Ecchoes and pleasing reportes. In briefe, this whole relation, and circumstances thereto belonging, is but a morall type or figure of his Maiesties most happie and gracious gouernement, which heauen blesse with vnaltering continuance.
To acquaint the Lord Maior, with the relation and meaning of both these deuises, and yet with such breuity as so busie a day doth conueniently require, we haue made election of the supposed shapes of great Brittaines two famous Champions, Saint Gronge, and Saint Andrew, vnited now in euer d [...]ing amitie: S. George worthily mounted vpon his conquered Dragon, and S. Andrew on a goodly Vnicorn, armed at all pointes as best becommeth them And the rather haue we yeelded to this kinde of deliuery, because our time for preparation hath bene so short, as neuer was the like vndertaken by any before, nor matter of such moment so expeditiously performed. Besides, the weake voyces of so many Children, which such shewes as this doe vrgently require, for personating each deuise, in a crowde of such noyse and vnciuill turmoyle, are not any way able to be vnderstood, neither their capacities to reach the full height of euery intention, in so short a limitation for study, practise, and instruction. In regard of both [Page] which weightie enforcements, the two imagined Champions, being men of action and audible voices, doe (on behalfe of that worthy Companie) at whose cost and charge all hath bene performed, in as briefe a Method as can be desired, expresse the full drift and intent of the whole dayes Tryumphe.
Saint Andrew his speech to the Lord Maior.
HOnourable Lord, this first deuise, had it but a tongue whereby to expresse it selfe, would vse this or the like language to you. It deriues it owne best conceit from the borrowed Caracter of your name, Faire Feild, and your name being Campbell, dooth argue and expresse the very same. It is a Feild, wherein, besides the goodly Trees, Fruites, and faire Fountaine that giues it ornament, you may discerne a farre fayrer embellishment. Those seauen royall and vnparalled Vertues, that are this lifes best glory, and the futures Crowne, do make it seeme a Feild of heauenly happines. For beside their owne endowment of worth and excellence, deliuered in their seuerall names and natures: They appeare (in hopefull presage) to foretell or prognosticate, seauen gladsome and fayre nourishing yeares of comfort, to extenuate or wipe out the remembrance of those seauen sad & disconsolate yeares passed. For in their heauen-borne natures, they declare a true sense and feeling, of those woes, wants, and calamities, which so long time hath lyen heauie vpon this Cittie. And therfore, [Page] with this your reioycing day, beside their presence in person to honor it, they do eleuate their diuine soules in sweete Hymnes, Paeans and pleasing Songs to heauen, that their hope may succeed in happines, their expectation in the largest fulnes, and their desires to be granted endlesse.
Saint George his speech to the Lord Maior.
WHat I haue to say woorthy Lord) must likewise be short, and sutable to this serious daies busines. Knowe then, that the tipe or figure of true born Maiestie, is caractered in this glorious Monument, Presenting a fortunate and happy Island, where awfull power commaundeth, true Religion with honourable Care and Councell assisteth, and Loyalty in all Dutye obeyeth. Where Tranquility backs al other blessings, and where the diuine Graces so gouerne, as neither Mallice, Time, Death nor hell it selfe, can hurt or hinder what heauen will haue to prosper. The Seas do round engirt it, as the German, Irish, Scottish, and Gallo-Belgick, figured in those Trytons liuing in that watry Element: But loyall hearts, spirits of courage, and hands inured to warre or peace, are the best walles about it, as defensiue against inuading Enuie, or homebred trecherie, as offensiue to any hot spleene of Malignitie. So much for this.
And now honourable Lord, I am to salute yee [Page] from that kinde, and no lesse kinde then truely Worshipfull Company of Ironmongers, of whome (by freedomes affinity) you are a worthy Brother. How their loue to you declares it selfe apparantly this day, I spare to speake, because that euery eye plainely discernes it. And let me tell you, did their number hold leuell with other Societies, or carry correspondencie in the best helping matter, their bountie should hardly haue gone behinde the best, and yet they come now but little short of precedent examples. In a word, their hearts, pursses and all are yours, but much more their loue, which goeth beyond all. So worthy Lord;