tooke away none of my dignities but as women marryed to great persons loose theyr old names so did I mine being wedded to that king and after himselfe was crowned with the Title of Laire-lud that is to say the Citty of Lud or Ludstone vpon whych some nations cald me Londonâ—uÌ„ or LongidinuÌ„ LaodinuÌ„ others Lundayne the Saxons Londonceaster and London-bridge The Spaniardes Londra the French Londres and nowe in these dayes the people of our owne countrey London In my Infantâ— rising was I but of base and meane estimation amongest other Citties and was scarcelie knowne for all I was the Daughter of a king But Ludde lifted mee vppe to high honours and greate aduauncementes for hee set a Corronet of Towers vppon my heade and although it were not beautifull for Ornament yet made he for me a Gyrdle strong for defence which being made of Turffe and other such stuffe trenched rounde about serued in the Nature of a Wall or Rampyre to keepe and defende off the assaulting enemies Afterwardes the Romaynes beeing the Lordes of the whole Kingdome and so consequently of mee insteede of throwing mee into seruile Slauery raysed mee vppe to high dignity and honour and whereas I trembled wyth feare to haâ—e my buildinges flaming about mine eares they adorned my body and apparrelled it rounde about with stone for til the arriuall of that warlike and industrious Nation on our shores the Brittons dwelt in Townes as basely builded as those now of the wild Irish. After I was thus fashioned and refined into the ciuill and beautifull shape of a Citty I began to be courted and to be the onely Minioâ— of the Land the Romaines fought in my quarrell the Brittons heaped vpon me honours the Saxons that draue out them bound Garlands of victorye about my forehead But these being beaten from my company by the Danes I was by them spoyled of all my Ornamentes and prostituted as a strumpet to the lust of ciuill discord In heate of which the Normans came in rescue chased hence y t Danes recouered the whole Empyre and reduced it into one Monarchy From that day haue I euer since flourished euer since haue I swelled vp in greatnes euer since haue I bin loued of our kings because euer since haue to our kinges bin loyall In which prosperous growing vp of mine all my boughes and my branches haue more and more in stead of bearing fruit bin replenished with multitudes of peoples whose numbers increasing it was thoght fit in policy that they should be quartered like Souldiers into hands the better to bring them into order According therfore to the Romans custome of Citties was I diuided into certaine Signories all of them notwithstanding like so many streames to one Head acknowledging a priority and subiection to One Greater than the rest and who sith aboue them those Diuisions or Partages are called Wardes or Aldermanries being 26 in number which are ciuilly guarded and wisely prouided for by 24. Aldermen in whom is represented the dignity of Romaine Senatours and of Two Sheriffes who personate in theyr Offices and places the Romane Consuls Then is there a Subdiuision for these Greater Cantles 〈◊〉 againe 〈◊〉 into lesse being called Parishes which 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 number 〈◊〉 which are vnto 〈…〉 within 〈…〉 so 〈…〉 with buildings so furnishes with 〈…〉 peopleâ— with wealthy Cittizens 〈◊〉 so 〈◊〉 wisely and peaceably gouerned Thost things are aâ—well knowne to thée 〈◊〉 to my selfe which 〈…〉 I am willing to repeate 〈◊〉 because that both of vs calling to minde the greatnesse of our byrthes and casting our eyes on the state and flourishing glory wherein we haue alwayes carryed our selues our misfortunes may be the more pittyed at the hands of forâ—en Citties who may fall into the like séeing the present condition in which wee nowe stand For alacke What auayles it vs to beast of our former strength of our beauties of our honours of our possessions or of the Riâ—hâ—â— wherein we flow when that wee cannot inioy our healthes which is worth all these Sicknesse hath dwelt a long time in thy Chambers she doth now walks still in a â—hostly and formidable shape vppe and downe my stréets Shee with her Ill Company infeâ—teth my Sonnes and Dauâ—hters and leades them dayly into such daungers that in hundreds at a time doe they loose theyr liues Fiue yéeres hath shee beene a troublesome Guest vnto me I receiued her at first though I loued not her Company yet I giue her good entertainement and patiently enduâ—ed her insulting oust mee and mine because I knew shée was a Messenger sent from aboue But woe to mee infortunate Citty Woe vnto vs both O my distressed Neighbour shall wee neuer shake handes with her and part Shall our faire bodies neuer reâ—â—uer of this Disease which so often and often hath run all 〈◊〉 them and doth nowe againe beginne to bee as a plague vnto vs Howsoeuer out of the fashion of Confeâ—â—â—es or out of a pride to shew my wit I haue checkt thée for deâ—ecting thy Spirits for any stroakes of calamity yet beléeue me the care that I haue of my Children whom I sée drooping Conquers the height of my minde subdues my Nature 〈…〉 me with sorrow almost the graâ—â—ling on the ground â—ead vnto vs both are 〈…〉 dayes whilest this pestilent vapour hanges ouer our heades Dead are our pleasures for wée do now take delight in nothing but in mourning Dead are 〈◊〉 houres of leysure and those which are full of 〈…〉 the Lawe it selfe of whose presence wee both are glad because we gayne by her and because sheâ— eueâ— bringes vs good and merry Company to chéere our heartes will sitte heauily in thy Courts of Iustice nay I feare shee will bee vnwilling séeing vs so subiect to diseases to sit there at all Many a sad black Tearme hath bin séen walking in thy Hall like a Mourner and I perceiue by thy lookes thou art now in feare to bee troubled with the like I cannot blame thee neither will I chide thée for I purpose to be as great with griefe as thy selfe Neyther if that Blacke and Ominous day so happen and fall vpon vs shall I wonder For I cannot see how the Diuine Vengeance should bee driuen back since so many bold darings are giuen forcing it to breake through the gates of heauen The shaking of the Rodde is not thought of the stripes mooue vs not the very drawing of bloud is by some but made a mockery to proue it I will recite vnto thee though to fell it my buildinges will shake at the very horrour of the same A story of death both true and new And this it is One vppon whom I had but lately bestowed the Tâ—le and Dignity of a Cittizen of whome I had good hope cause I found him woorthy him to bee aduanced taking his last leaue of mee as since it hath faine out departed to that quarter of the Land to which from all other partes men
The Principall matters contayned in this discourse A Short Encomiasticke speech in praise of Charing-crosse The sinnes of Westminster The sinnes of London The Buildings of Westminster and London The Names of all the Kings and Queenes that lie buried in Westminster Westminsters complaint Vacations and Tearmes compared A paradox in praise of going to Law A paradox in praise of a Pen. Londons answere to Westminster Paules steeples Complaint The walkes of Paules described The Stewes on the Banke-side and the Suburbe-houses of iniquity at 〈…〉 compared together A paradox in 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 An Inuectiue against 〈◊〉 The Originall of London A description of 〈◊〉 bridge-Fayre A merrie lest of two London Porters performed there about burying of a Londoâ—â—â— To the very Woorthy Learned Iuditious and Noble Gentleman Syr Iohn Harrington Knight SIR the Loue which your immortall Ariosto tels to the world that you really beare to Diuine but now Poore and Contemned Poesie hath a long time made me an Honorer of those bright ascending Vertues in you which those Holy and Pure Flames of Her haue kindled in your bosome Happy you are by Birth Happy by your bringing vp but most happy in that the Muses were your Nurses to whome you haue beene so tender that they make you an Elder sonne and Heyre of their Goodliest Possessions So that your Loue to Them hath drawne from Others an Honourable Loue and Regarde of you The Path which True Noblenesse had wont and ought to tread lyes directly before you you haue beene euer and are now in the way which emboldens me to presume that as our Greatest Commanders will not disdaine to instruct euen Fresh-water souldiers in the Schoole-poynts of war so out of your Noble disposition you will vouchsafe to viewe the labours of so dull a Pen as This that writes vnto you Two Citties haue I summoned to a Parley and of their great Enter-view haue I chosen you to be Arbiter It is Boldnes in me I confesse but it is the Boldnes of my Loue referring which and my selfe to your worthy Censure I Rest. Deuoted to you in all seruice Thomas Dekker Westminsters speech to London O Thou goodliest Queene euen ouer the greatest Citties How glad am I O London that wee two are met together For now will I poure my sorrows into thy bosome Thou art Reuerend for thy Age as béeing now two thousand seauen hundred and fouretéene yeares old which is more then my selfe am by a thousand six hundred and foure yeares for I am but one thousand one hundred and tenne yeares of age Thou art Grandam almost to this whole Kingdome A blessed Mother thou art for no lesse then one hundred and thréescore Emperours Kinges and Queens hast thou borne in thy Wombe Healthfull thou art of body it appeareth by thy strength in holding out so long pure thou art of complexion It is séene by thy Chéekes the Roofes of them are nothing wythered Rich thou art in the treasure of all thinges witnesse the number of Nations that for thy substaunce are thy dayly suitors stored are thy breastes with wisedome and the glory thereof shines in the gouernment of thy Rulers Thou art full of pollicy great with experience renowned for Learning Thou art full of loue full of pitty full of piety yea thou art O Noblest Daughter of Brutus my Eldest Sister thou rather if our descents bee well looked into art my Mother Unto whom therefore can my condolements better come than to thée Upon whose lap shall I lay my aking temples if not vpon thine One eye of Heauen lookes downe vpon vs both one and the same handfull of earth serues vs both to dwell vppon The teares that fall from both our eyes make vp one Riuer and that Riuer serues againe for both our bodyes to bath in Since therefore wee are partners in all other thinges why should wee not be Sharers in our mothers affliction Thou standest silent I sée at these my spéeches as beeing driuen into wonder why I that haue alwayes kept company with the proudest and beene euer Iocond should now sinke downe into any kinde of complayninges But to kéepe thée O my best and fayrest Neighbour from tormenting thy selfe with thinking on the causes of this my grieuing let mée tell thée thou Nurse to many thousandes of people that I doe not pine to see that Auncient and oldest Sonne of mine with his Limbes broken to péeces as if hee were a Male-factor and hadde beene tortured on the Germaine Whéele his Reuerend Head cut off by the cruelty of Time The Ribbes of his body bruizes His Armes lop't away His backe that euen grew crooked with age almoust cleft in sunder yea and the ground on which hee hath dwelt so many hundreds of yeeres ready to bee pulled from vnder his feete so that with gréefe his very heart séemes to be broken I confesse thou brauest of Citties that this Graund-Childe of mine hath beene the tallest and hardiest of all the Sonnes of my body for thou knowest it aswell as I that hee hath borne himselfe valiantly and without shrinking in many a storme Many a tempest hath beene flung from Heauen to shake him yet still hath hee kept his owne footing Many astounding blow hath he taken on his head yet for a long time did he beare them without réeling So well beloued hath hee beene amongst the Kinges and Princes of this Nation that they would almost neuer passe to these Royall Pallaces where I inhabit and neuer repayre to their Houses of Parliaments or to their places of Kingly Tryumphes but they would of purpose take their way by him yea so greatly hath hee in times past beene helde in honour that the knees of common people hath beene bowed before him and the bare heades of the greatest Prelates héertofore haue shewed to him a kinde of reuerence Yet it is not for his sake O farre renowed Troynouant that my Soule liues in sorrow albeit I see him now laughed at â—nd contemned Neither am I afflicted by beholding the vnrulynesse of those Children that are vnder my kéeping It were a madnesse in mee to trette at theyr wickednesse because no sorrow of mine can amend it I know it and am ashamed to tell thée that Drunkennesse reeles euery day vp and down my streetes Fellowes there are that follow mee who in déepe bowles shall drowne the Dutchman and make him lie vnder the Table At his owne weapon of Vpsie freeze will they dare him and beat him with wine-pots till hée be dead drunke Out swagger they will besides being armed with that French weapon a whole Fayre full of Butchers and Tinkers who commonly are the greatest Fighters and most profound swearers As for that sin that is after serued in dinner and after Supper or rather that sinne that is vp night and day and can see aswell in darkenesse as in Lights that Monster with two bellies Lechery I meenne doe what I can no whips are
beeing taken vp without any wrong meant to the body it nowe lyes vnburied in a poore Coffin of bordes and with the least touch falleth into ashes Adde to these Anne the wife of Richard the third Margaret Countesse of Richmond and Darby mother to Henry the 7. Anne of Clâ—ue wife to Henry the 8. Henry 7. and Elizabeth his wife do in mine armes likewise take their euerlasting sleeps so does Elizabeth daughter to those most happy Princes So doth Margaret daughter to Edward 4. So doth Edward the 6. Sonne to that famous prince Henry 8. So doth Mary whose name serues her only as a Monument And lastly so doth Elizabeth daughter to that great wariour who if shee had no Monnument at all consecrated to memory yet were her name sufficient to eternize her Sacred worth and the wonder of her 44. years gouernement Thus besides other personages of great byrth too many in number for me to recite and too tedious for thée to heare am I compassed about with the dead bodies of 42 Kings Quéenes and the sons and daughters of Kings Quéens y e remembrance of whom is able to turn me w c sorrow into Marble but y t their statues sumptuous monuments do shine in my Temples and worke such astonishment in the eyes euen of straungers that I estéeme that hurt of mine the best part of my glory Besides all these gallant obiects The swifte-footed Thamesis daunseth all the day long in wanton Water-ringes before mee shee transformes her Christall body into a thousand shapes to delight mee Sometimes does shee chaunge her selfe into a Girdle of Siluer and then doe I weare it about my middle Sometimes lookes shee like an Amazon along curled hayre hanging loosely about her shoulders and then dooes shee fight with the windes and her combates are discharged with excellent grace Anon shall you beholde her lymbes stretcht out to an infinite but comely length and then O my worthyest Sister doe we two grow proude and take her for a Ryuer whilest shee continues in that shape thou knowest what delicate turnings and windinges shee does make euen at our féete thy habitations stande then like a rich Embrodery about the skirts of an imperial garment but my buildinges shew like so many Castles raised by Enchantment where faire Ladies locke vppe their beauties whilst knights aduenturers come armed thether with loyalty challenging them for their loues yea in such goodly in so artificial an order are my Turrets and Towers errected that the Sun at his rising makes mee beléeue they are Rockes of Burnisht Siluer with his blushing vpon them at his going downe I haue a thousande times sworne they were so many hils of Gold Bee thou nowe an indifferent Iudge O London thou fayrest Daughter of Europe if I beeing accustomed to this fulnesse of dignitie and this variety of pleasures haue not good cause to languishe when I am depriued of them all The more princely are my guests the more insufferable and more to be pittied are my passions spent for their absence Well was it for thée thou Metropolis of the world that the honours the Habits the Tryumphes the gifts of Kinges and the Reuennewes that belong to my Royaltyes are not made Thine thou swellest in thy heart enough already but then wouldst thou haue bin too proud and insolent How therefore can I choose but buffet my owne chéekes through the anguish of my Soule Teare my owne hayre to sée my selfe distressed and euen drinke mine own hart-bloud in teares to looke on my present miserie Listen to me for now O my déerest Play-fellow shalt thou heare the very true tunes of my most iust bewaylings Those throwes of sorowe come vppon mee foure times euery yéere but at one time more and with more paines then at all the rest For in the height and lustiest pride of Summer when euery little Uillage hath her Bathilers her Damosels tripping deftly about May-pols when Medowes are full of Hay-makers when the fieldes vpon the workidaies are full of Haâ—â—estars singing and the towngréenes vpon Hollydayes trodden downe by the Youthes of the Parâ—â— dancing when thou O thou beautifull but bewitching Citty by the wantonnesse of thine eye and the Musicke of thy voyce allurest people from all the corners of the Land to throng in heapes at thy Fayres and thy Theators Then euen then sit I like a Widdow in the middest of my mourning then doe my buildings shew like infected lodgings from which the Inhabitants are fledde then are my chambers empty and my common paths vntrodden then doe I not looke like thy next neighbour but like a creature forlorâ—e and vtterly forsaken Were it not that my state is vphold by fiue great Pillers the chiefe of them being so hie that Kinges and Princes sit on the top of it I should euen loose my name and the memory of mée would be buryed in the earth that now beares me vp That first and Capitall Columne on which leanes all my strength is a Pyramides whose point reaches vppe to the Starres whilest that stands in mine eye I behold a Maiesty equall to Ioues I sée a Vine whose braunches shall spread so farre and so hie that one day they shall couer Kingdomes I see likewise a Table at which sit none but Those whose heads grow white onely with the Cares of a Kingdom I sée a Row of Lords too whose flourishing doth dignify the place vppon which they grow and whose shady boughes beate backe and kéepe off from the people the violent heate of Tyrrany and oppression Besides all these do I behold a goodly Fountain large cleare strongly and curiously built out of which come a thousand pipes some greater then the rest thorough whome a swéete water flowes that giues life vnto the Soule And last of all so full is my happinesse in stead of earthly Creatures I see none but Goddesses But woe is me when this great Piller is remooued from my sight then casting vp mine eye me thinks I looke vpon nothing but my owne Ruines Nay that calamitie of mine doth euen stretch to thée for thou thy selfe for all thy loftinesse and boasting dooest at that time droope and hauge the head But note how the Rulers of this Land haue loued mee though they giue mee woundes they giue mee Balme to cure them though the Sunne goe from me yet am I comforted with the brighnesse of the Stars The Law which lyes in at euery Uacation is brought to bed in foure seuerall months of the yeare and deliuered of foure Sonnes Those Sonnes inuite me to foure kingly Feasts they kéep their Tournes and their Returnes are so many seuerall Seruices They are the Foure Elements that gouerne and giue life to my body yea so déere doe I make them vnto me that I account of them as of Foure Golden Ages Whilest any of these foure abide in my Company I am more Iocond
and vnblemished 477. years after the beginning of my foundation for I was raised and intituled to the name honoâ—r of a Temple about the yeare after the Incarnation 61â— And in the yeare of Redemption 1087. was I with a great parte of thy body O thou Best of Citties consumed in Fyre But I was in a shorte time healed of those hurts by Mauritius thy Byshop who to defend me from after-burnings mounted me vpon Arches gaue me ribs of stone which was fetched from Cane in Normandy Frée from the mallice at least from the strokes of ruinating Tâ—me and the enuious blasts of Fortune did I continuâ— full 357. yeares together after this first blowe but in Anno 1444. heauen smote me with lightning yet did I presently recouer and held vppe my heade loftier then before for in Anno 1462. did my body carry in heigth 52â— foot the stone worke being 260. foot and the Spire as many In length was I 720. foot and in bredth 130. At the same time did I weare on the Crowne of my head as it hadde bin a Crest vnto it a Cocke or Eagle which beeing inconstant was I thinke destroyed for turning about with euery winde It carryed in weight fortâ— poundes being of copper gilded ouer the length from the bil to the taile four foote the breadth ouer the wings three foote and a halfe the crosse from the bole to the Eagle fifteene foote and sixe ynches of a size the length thereof ouer-thwarte was fiue foote and ten ynches The compasse of the bole nine foote and one ynch of which crosse which stood aboue my head as a rich Diadem the inner part was Oke the next couer was lead and a third vppon that of copper which with the bole and Eagle being of Copper also were al gilded ouer In this magnificence was I arrayed thus was I with Marble Towers and Pynnacles crowned the wonder of the world was I counted in the iudgement of all eyes that beheld mee and the onely marke that enuie of forraigne kingdomes shot at who did but heare of my Greatnes But alacke how momentary is all earthly happinesse Howe fading is our painted Glory Many yeares were not numbred but behold in Anno 1561. the hand of Heauen was once more filled with vengeance which in clouds of fire was there throwne vpon my headâ— so that in lesse than the space of foure houres I that was the Mirrhor of the world for beauty was made the miserablest creature in the worlde by my deformity Yet did that woorthy and my euer to be honoured Mistris bestow vpon me in Gold 1000. Markes to make good my losses and gaue besides warrant for a 1000. loades of Timber to repayre my ruines Thy Cittizens likewise O my dearest mother and the Cleargy of the Lande were euen Prodigall of theyr pursses to set me vp againe Some good was done vnto mee and much good lefte vndone This last blow was to mee fatall and deadly for now am I both headlesse and honourlesse my shoulders â—â—ing daily troden vpon in scorne branded with markes and Letters and scoared vppon with the points of kniues and Bâ—dkins which howsoeuer the ignorant laugh at those that are wise know they are Characters of my infamy yea to so low a â—â—â—te am I brought that madmen and fooles euery ydle companion lay wagers in mockery onely to abuse mee Some séeing me so patient to endure Crowes and Dawes pecking at my ribs haue driuen tame Partridges ouer my bosome others euen riding ouer me and Capring vpon my backe as if they had bin curvetting on the horse which in despight they brought to Trample vpon me Who therefore that did but eyther knowe or hath but heard of my former prosperity would not gréeue to sée mée fallen into this basenes and most contemptible bondage but I haue deserued I confesse I haue most iustly deserued to haue these afflictions these dishonours and these open punnishmentes layde vppon mee albeit they were tenne times numbred ouer and ouer For whereas I was at first consecrated to a misticall religious purpose the Ceremonies of which are daily obserued in the better part of me for my hart is euen to this hower an Altar vpon which are offred the sacrifices of holy prayers for mens Sinnes yet are some limbes of my venerable bodie abused and put to prophane horrid and seruile customes no maruell though my head rotte when the bodie is so fâ—l of diseases no maruell if the Diuine Executioner cut mee off by the shoulders when in my bosom is so much horrible and close Treason practised against the King of the whole world For albeit though I neuer yet came downe all my stayres to bee Occuler witnesse-bearer of what I Speake and what is sometimes spoake openly and sometimes spoke in priuate committed in my Walkes yet dooeth the daily sounde and Eccho of much knauish villany strike vp into mine eare What whispering is there In Terme times how by some slight to cheat the poore country Clients of his full purse that is stucke vnder his girdle What plots are layde to furnish young gallants with readie money which is shared afterwards at a Tauern therby to disfurnish him of his patrimony what buying vp of oaths out of the hands of knightes of the Post who for a few shillings doe daily sell their soules What layinge of heads is there together and â—â—â—ting of the brains still and anon as it growes towardes eleuen of the clocke euen amongst those that wear guilt Rapiers by their sides where for that noone they may shift from Duke Humfrey bee furnished with a Dinner at some meaner mans Table What damnable bargaines of vnmercifull Brokery of vnmeasurable Usury are there clapt vp What swearing is there yea what swaggering what facing and out-fasing What shuffling what shouldering what Iustling what Ieering what byting of Thumbs to beget quarels what holding vppe of fingers to remember drunken méetings what brauing with Feathers what bearding with Mustachoes what casting open of cloakes to publish new clothes what muffling in cloaks to hyde broken Elbows so that when I heare such trampling vp and downe such spetting such â—â—lking and such humming euery mans lippes making a noise yet not a word to be vnderstoode I verily beléeue that I am the Tower of Babell newly to be builded vp but presentlie despaire of euer béeing finished because there is in me such a confusion of languages For at one time in one and the same ranke yea foote by foote and elbow by elbow shall you sée walking the Knight the Gull the Gallant the vpstart the Gentleman the Clowne the Captaine the Appel-squire the Lawyer the Usurer the Cittizen the Bankerouâ— the Scholler the Begger the Doctor the Ideot the Ruffian the Cheater the Puritan the Cut-throat the Hye-men the Low men the True-man and the Thiefe of all trades professions some of all Countryes some And thus dooth my