MoEML

THe firſt ſhew, or preſentment, on the water, was a Chariot, aptly contriued of two ſea Monſters Argent, and drawn by two Sea-horſes, ſet alſo off with pure ſiluer: on this chariot was one borne repreſenting Oceanus his head wreath’d with ſegges, one hand graſping a ſcepter of green reeds, to ſhew his potent ſway within his watery dominions; and the other curbing the forward fearceneſſe of his horſes: his azure locks, and beard o’re growne, hung like the careles emblem of a reuerend age, diſheuered or’e his naked limmes, which were ſhadowed off with a mantle of ſea greene taffaty, lymd with waues and fiſhes. This firſt preſentment vſhered on a ſtately well built ſhip, bearing full ſaile, figuring the traffique or trade of the (worthy to be eſteemed noble) company of the Haberdaſhers. Behind the ſhippe ſate Æolus the god of winds, filling their ſailes with proſperous guſts, and at each corner of the ſhip ſate (vpon ſmall Ilands) the 4 parts of the world, Aſia, Africa, America , and Europa , each fo them inuiting their trade vnto their coaſts. Aſia was attired in an antique habit of peach coloured Sattin, and buskins of the ſame, a Coronet on her head, and a cenſor in her hand reaking with Panchayian ſpices: Africa a blackmoore in a naked ſhape, adorned with beads, and in her hand the branch of a Nut-megg-tree: America a tawny Moore, vpon her head a crowne of feathers, and baſes of the ſame; at her backe, a quiuer of ſhafts, and in her hand a Parthian bow: Europa in a robe of Crymſon taffaty, on her head an imperiall crowne conferred on her by the other three as Empreſſe of the earth, and holding in her hand a cluſter of grapes, ’to ſignifie her full ſwolne plenty. Theſe meeting the Lord Maior on the Thames at three Cranes wharfe, where he tooke water, Oceanus made this ſpeech.

The ſpeech of Oceanus .

The ſpeech of Æolus .

THe ſecond and laſt preſentment on the water, was Pernaſſus mount, whereon the nine Muſes ſate; Clyo the firſt ſuted in a gowne of purple taffaty, and ſtudiouſly imployd in turning ouer bookes, ſhee being the Hiſtoricall Muſe; Melpomene was attired in a blacke taffaty robe, her head deckt with Cypreſſe, and playing on a Theorbo; Thalia the comick Muſe in a light changeable taffaty robe, and playing on a Voyall; Euterpe the Muſe that firſt inuented wind-inſtruments, was richly apparelled, and playd on a Flute recorder; Terpſichore on the Lute; and the geometricall Muſe, Erato with a ſeale and compaſſe in her hand. The Heroicall Muſe Calliope was ſhap’t in a tauny ſilke robe, and her temples girt with Bayes: the heauenly Muſe Vrania that inuented Aſtrologie, was deckt in a robe of azure taffaty ſemined with ſtarres; on her head ſhee wore a coronet of ſtarres, and her right hand ſupported a ſpheare; Polymneia the inuentres of Rhethorique aſſumed her place neereſt to Apollo , who ſate on the top of the mount in a robe of cloth of gold, vnder a laurell tree, playing on a harpe, alluding to that of Virgill:

And on the backſide of the mount ſtood Mercury liſtning to their harmonious ſtraines. This accompanied the Lord Maior vp to Weſtminſter with variety of muſique, where while his Honor was taking the Oath, it returned backe and met him in Paules Church-yard , where Euterpe & Terpſichore , entertained him with this ſong.

THE third preſentment was a Quadrangle, that mounted by aſcents to the forme of an Egyptian pyramed, whereon in a well wrought Landskip, where figured the ſeuerall ſhieres of England; on the top ſat a princely Maieſty acootered in a robe of purple veluet furred with Ermines, on his head hee wore an Imperiall Crowne, and in his right hand a ſcepter; ouer his head were fixt the armes of England, and at his feete a Lyon couchant, which did demonſtrate his power in reconciling fearceneſſe vnto a willing ſeruitude; vnder him ſate two Dukes; two Marquiſes; two Earles, and two Barons, in Parliament robes of purple veluet; about their neckes they wore collers of Eſſes, and on their heads the apt cognizance of each ones honor; at the 4 corners of this Pyramed, ſtood two Lyons,Or, and two Vnicores Argent, ſupporting 4 ſtreamers, wherein were Eſcutchoned the armes of our foure Kingdomes, England, Scotland, France and Ireland: before it was caractered in a ſcroule, Respublica Beata; and round about it ran the Ocean. This Pyramed was ſupported by foure ſiluer Corinthian columnes, the Baſes, and Capitalls, fine gold. Within theſe columnes ſate 4 Perſons, that ſeemed as it were to vnderprop the ponderous burthen of the Pyramed; the firſt was the Citty , preſented in a ſcarlet gowne garded with blacke Veluet, like a Lady Maiores; and in her hand two golden keyes; the other the country in a Ruſtique habit; the third the Law , habited like a Iudge, and a ſcrowle in his hand; the fourth Religion in a rotchet like a Biſhop, and in his hand a booke. At the 4 corners of this vnderſquare ſtood two Lyons Or, and two Gotes, Argent, which are the ſupporters of the Companies Armes, bearing 4 large ſtreamers, in which were the armes of the Citty , and of the company; and in the front ſtood the creſt of the Lord Maior, a Lyon ſupporting an azure anchor, and on it was fixt his cote of Armes, which was a chiefe Or, with a Lyon Or, vpon a field azure, betweene 3 cro[...]formes Or.

THE fourth preſentment, being the maine Pageant, was a Mount, where on the top vnder a canopie lim’d with ſtarres, was ſeated Catherin , the Saint of the Company, whom antique ſtories report to be the daughter of Coſtus King of Alexandria; ſhe was attired in a ſnow white ſattin gowne, in one hand ſhe held a booke, and in the other a ſword with the point downeward; it being the inſtrument that in death ſealed her the fruition of immortall reſt; her head circuled with a crowne of gold, which did intimate her princely deſcent; and at her feete lay a broken wheele: round about ſate her Attendants twelue maydes of honor gorgeouſly attired, each one bearing in her hand a ſiluer ſheild, vpon which were portrayed Catherin Wheeles, and within them the Motto to the Companies armes, Serue and obay. Vnder theſe ſatre her ſeruants at worke, ſome carding Wooll; ſome Spinning; other Knitting capps; with her Feltmakers; one Bowed; one Baſoned; and another Blockt; and behind the Mount ſate a Shepheard keeping his ſheepe: Each of which induſtrious faculties haue reference to the ſupport of this Worſhipfull society.

THE fifth and laſt inuention, was a Chariot painted ful with houre-glaſſes, and ſun-dialls, the fore-wheeles were two Globes, and the hinder wheeles were like two Church dialls; within it aged Time was drawne, ſeated vpon an houre-glaſſe that was ſupported on the ſhoulders of a gyant, repreſenting the Iron age; in one hand he held a ſickle, in the other a croutch; and in the Chariot with him were drawne the foure Elements, Ignis, Aer, Aqua, and Terra . Ignis fire, was attired in a flame coloured taffaty robe, leaning on a Salamander, and in his hand three teend Lightning; Aer Aire, in a robe lymmed with clouds and ſeuerall ſhaps of Birds, and in his hand a Doue; Aqua water, in a robe limmed with Waues and Fiſhes, her azure treſſes deckt with fegges, and in her hand a veſſill full of liue Fiſhes; Terra earth, in a robe on whcih graſſe and flowers, ſprang as it were naturally; on her head ſtood green corne, and in her hand ſhe bare a ſiluer ſpade. this Chariot was drawne by the foure ſeaſons of the yeare, Ver the ſpring, Æſtas the ſommer, Autumne , and Hyems winter. Ver was ſuted in greene taffaty, a chaplet of flowers on her head, a bow in her hand and a quiuer at her backe like a huntreſſe; Æſtas in a yellow taffaty robe, and her browes like Ceres, deckt with ripe corne, & a cornucopiæ in her hand; Autumne in a naked ſhape like Bacchus, his temples wreathed with vines, and in his hand a cluſter of grapes; Hyems Winter in a furred gowne, and in his hand a pan of burning coles. This Chariot, in tyhe euening when the Lord Maior came to Paules , at the vpper Conduit in Cheapeſide, Time made this ſpeech.

Vnder this Pyramed, ſate ſacred Peace , that changed her celeſtiall Manſion, to make vs happy with the ſweete pleaſures of a quiet ſtate; on her head ſhe wore a wreath of oliues, in her right hand a palme, her robe was of white taffaty, limm’d with the mappe of England: in her lap ſhee bare the modell of London, and on her left arme a ſheild, whereon was Vnde Argent and azure vpon a bend Gules a Lyon paſſant gardant Or, the Armes of the Societie; at her feete lay warre in compleat armes vpon Speares, Launces, foulded enſignes; and leaning on an Vnbrac’t drum; this ſhew paſſed along till the Lord Maior came to Saint Laurence lane end, where Peace began to ſpeake thus.

After the Sermon at St Paules church was ended, the Lord Maior returned backe by torch light to his houſe, attended by the whole body of the Solemnity, where being come to his gate, War from out the Pageant called the Common-wealth, made this ſpeech.

This ſpeech being ended, Peace and Warre diſmounted from vnder the Pyramed, Peace conducted the Lord Maior into his houſe; and Warre ſtood with fire and ſword to defend his gates.

And thus the ſolemnity diſſolued.

The credit of this workmanſhip (curiouſly exceeding many former ſhewes, and far more ritch then any, in regard no mettall was vſed to adorne it but gold and ſiluer) I impoſe on Francis Tipſley Cittizen and Haberdaſher of London.