stands doubtfull of her house of clay A ruine which neglect of glorious Armes H 'as brought on many a Kingdome rockt with charmes Of lazy dulnesse by vnpractis'd men Fit for no seruice I resolue you then This is Security if you 'le rightly know And do's Secure that Word which you call so Let not a small pecuniary Expence Which is but drossie dotage keepe you hence You lose all that you saue after that manner What i' st to rise in riches fall in honour Nay to your Safeties to commit selfe-treason Which euery thing prouides for blest with reason Let this graue Lord's Example in its Prime Who perfects all his Actions with his Time Makes euen with the Years to his faire Fame Giues His Accounts vp with a Glorious Name In Field and Court moue all men to discharge Their manly Offices and paines at large Let euery Yeare at least once in his Round See you like Sonnes of Honour tread this Ground And Heauen that both giues secures iust welth The City blesse with Safety You with Health At the House of Sir William Cokaine Upon Simon and Iudes day following being the last great Feast of the Magistrates Yeare and the expiration of his Pretorship One attir'd like a Mourner enters after a made Dish like a Herse stuck with sable Bannerets Drums and Trumpets expressing a mournfull Seruice The Speech IMagine now each apprehensiue Guest The Yeare departed this his Funerall Feast I a chiefe Mourner this a sad Pageant here Set with the Orphans Sigh the Widowes Teare All seeme to mourne as lockt from their reliefes Till the New Sun of Iustice dry their griefes And as there is no Glorious thing that ends But leaues a Fame behind it that commends Or disapproues the Progresse of his Acts So in this Epitaph sad Truth contracts A spacious Story which spread forth at large Might instruct All built vp for Power Charge The Last Will and Testament of 162. finishing for the City Inprimis I Annus 620. do bequeath to my Succcessor 21. all my good wishes paines labours and reformations to bee nobly perfected by his endeuours and diligence Item I make Iustice my Executor and Wisedome my Ouerseer which is that Honorable Court which neuer failed yet to see Iustice performed Item I giue and bequeath to all the Officers for Legacies Truth Temperance Example of Humility and Gentlenesse Lastly I bequeath to the whole Body of the beloued Commonalty three inestimable Iewels Loue Mecknesse and Loyaltie which are alwaies the forerunners of a blessed prosperity which heauen grant they may euerlasting enioy The Epitaph HEre ends a Yeare that neuer mispent day Throgh Fames celestial Signes made his own way By discrete iudgement all his time still led Which is the onely Signe gouernes the Head Mercy to wants and Bounty to Desert The speciall Signe that rules the noble Heart A Yeare of goodnesse and a Yeare of right In which the honest cause sued with delight A Yeare wherein nothing that 's good was dull Began at Moones Encrease and ends at Full Full cup full welcome adding the Suns gift Who nearer his declining the more swift In his illustrious course more bright more cleere Such is the glorious setting of this Yeare His beamy substance shines e'ne through his shroud As the faire Sun shoots splendor through his cloud May euery Yeare succeeding this still haue No worse an Epitaph to decke his Graue And so my last farewell this Teare for me Wishing that many may conclude like Thee At the House of the Right Honorable Sir Francis Ihones The property to which this Speech especially hath Respect was a deuice like a made Dish expressing Two naked Armes breaking through a Cloud supporting a wreath of Lawrell being part of the Haberdashers Armes The First Entertainement at his first Great Feast praeparde to giue Welcome to his Owne Noble Fraternitie the Company of Haberdashers The Speech presented by a seruant to Comus the great Sir of Feasts FRee Loue full welcome bounty fayre cleere E'en as it flowes from Heauen inhabit here And with your Liberall Vertues blesse the yeare Make this thy Pallace thou smooth youth of Feasts Comus and put Ioy into all the Guests That they may truely taste in fewest words Th' Abundant welcome yon'd Kind Lord affords Especially to You aboue the rest Of all most worthy to be First and Best You challenge two Respects in Brotherhood one Which had desert enough came it alone Without a second Vertue but to adde Vnto Your Worthinesse Your Loue was clad With Honor Cost and Care and how applide The late triumphant Day best testified Stands in no need of my applause and praise Your Worth can of it selfe it selfe best raise So much for Noble Action in your Right Which I presume his goodnesse will require Now for Himselfe not far to wade or swim I borrow of your Honours to fit him Which both preserues me in my first bounds still And may agree best with his Loue and Will Here the Property is presented Behold in this rare Symbole of Renowne The Embleme of all Iustice and the Crowne The faire reward for 't euer fresh and greene Which imitates those Ioyes Eye hath not seene These Armes that for their nakednesse resemble E'en Truth it selfe no couering to dissemble Nor shift for Bribe but open plaine and bare Shows Men of Power should keep their conscience And were their Acts transparēt without vaile faire Disguize or Vizard and such neuer faile Obserue this more t is not one Arme alone That beares this Laurell but two ioyn'd in one Mercy and Iustice the two Props of State They must be both fixt in the Magistrate If wanting either subiect to much harme For he that ha's but one ha's but one Arme Iudge then the Imperfection marke agen They breake both through a Cloud which instructs Men How they should place their Reuerence and their Loue Seeing all lawfull power comes from Aboue And as the Laurell which is now your due Bring due to Honour therefore most to you Feares no iniurious Weather the Yeare brings But spite of Storms looks euer greene and springs Apolloes Tree which Lightnings neuer blast So Honor'd Lord should burning Malice cast Her pitchy Fires at your Triumphant State You are Apolloes Tree a Magistrate Which no foule Gust of Enuy can offend Nor may it euer to your Lordships End Health and a Noble Courage blesse your Dayes To this your worthy Brotherhood fame and praise Leuity a person attired sutable to her condition from a Window vnexpectedly thus greets the Assembly in the midst of the Feast At the house of the Right Honorable Sir Francis Ihones L. Mayor For the Celebration of the Ioyfull Feast of Christmas last Leu. WHy well said thus should Christmas be Lightsome Iocond blithe and free Now it lookes like Bounties Pallace Where euery Cup ha's his full Ballace Drowne Cares with Iuice that Grapes haue bled And make Times cheeke looke fresh and red Let
HONORABLE ENTERTAINMENTS Compos'de for the Seruice of this Noble Cittie SOME OF WHICH WERE fashion'd for the Entertainment of the Lords of his Maiesties most Honorable Priuie Councell vpon the Occasion of their late Royall Employment Inuented by Thomas Middleton Imprinted at London by G. E. 1621 TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE Sir Francis Ihones Knight L. Maior of the Citty of London the Right Worshipfull Sir Iohn Garrard Sir Thomas Bennet Sir Thomas Lowe Sir Thomas Middleton Sir Iohn Iolles Sir Iohn Leman Sir George Bolles Sir William Cokayne Knights and Aldermen The truely Generous and Noble Heneage Finch Esquire Master Recorder Master Edward Barkham Master Alexander Prescot Master Peter Probye Master Martin Lumley Master William Goare Master Iohn Goare Master Allen Cotton Master Cuthbert Hacket Master William Halliday Master Robert Iohnson Master Richard Herne Master Hugh Hamersley Master Richard Deane Master Iames Cambell Aldermen Sheriffes and Aldermen Master Edward Allen Master Robert Ducye All Brethren-Senators Presidents of religious and worthy Actions Carefull Assistants in the State of so vnmatch'd a Gouernment And a'l of them being his Worthy and Horable Patrons T. M. Wisheth the Fulnes of that Honor whose Obiect is Vertue and Goodnesse THose Things that haue tooke Ioy at seuerall Feasts To giue you Entertainment as the Guests They held most truely Worthy become now Poore Suiters to be entertaynde by you So were they from the first their Suite is then Once seruing you to be receiude agen And You to aequall Iustice are so true You alwaies cherish that which honors You Euer obedient in his Studies to the Seruice of so compleate a Goodnes Tho. Middleton HONOVRABLE ENTERTAINMENTS On Monday and Tuesday in Easter weeke 1620. the first Entertainment at the house of the right worthy Sr. William Cokaine then L. Mayor Which on the Saturday following was fashioned into seruice for the Lords of his Maiesties most Hoble Priuy Councell vpon which day that noble Marriage was celebrated betwixt the Right Hoble Charles L. Howard Baron of Essingham and Mary eldest Daughter of the said St. William Cokaine then L. Mayor of London and L. Generall of the Military forces One habited like a Gentleman Sewer bearing in his hand an Artificiall Cocke conducted by the City Musicke toward the high Table a Song giuing notice of his Entrance SONG ROome roome make roome You Friends to Fame Officers of worth and Name Make roome make roome Behold the Bird of State doth come Make roome Cleere the place O doe it all the grace It is the King of Birds whose chaunting And early morning Crowing So quicke and strongly flowing Doe's make the King of Beasts lye panting How worthy then to be brought in with Honour That daunts the proudest in that humble manner The Speech TWo powers at strife about conceiued wrong To whom this Bird should properly belong Were reconcil'd by Harmony First the Sunne Cald it his Bird cause still when day begun To ope her modest Eye this Creature then Proclaimes his glory to the world agen Minerua next Goddesse of Armes and Art Claymd it for hers not without iust desert He like the Morning being the Muses friend And then for courage 't is his life his end Without wrong then those properties related To both hee may be iustly consecrated But Worthy Lord how properly to you Whose place pertakes of both it is so true An Emblem of your worth charge power state None Noblier can expresse a Magistrate For all that is in this Bird Quality Is in you Vertue Iustice Industry What do's his early morning note imply But in you early care and vigilancie A Duty that begets Duty to you So Vertue still payes and receiues her due What do's the striking of his wings import Ere to his Neighbour hee his sounds retort But the deere labours and incessant paines Of a iust Magistrate that e'en constraines His Nerues to giue more Vertue to his word And beate in sense into the most absurd The Sharpest is the easiest to apply For his quicke Spurre Lawes sword doth signifie The execution of your Charge and Place To cut off all crimes that are bold and base Vertues should be with kind embraces heap'd But with a Sword Sins haruest must be reap'd To the Aldermen My reuerence next to you to you that are The Fathers of this Citty by whose care Wisedome watchfulnes the good cause thriues You that are Lights and Presidents in Liues Noble Examples Honours t'Age and Time This is the Top which your good cares must climbe A ceaslesse labour Vertue hath impos'd Vpon all those whom Honour hath enclos'd And such are you selected from the rest Works then that are most choice become you best Place before all your Actions and Intents The rare gifts of that Bird this but presents Behold the very shape and Figure now Serues for a Noble Welcome turnd into A Cup of Bounty and t' adorne the Feast Loaden with loue comes to each worthy Guest And but obserue the manner there 's in that Freenesse exprest humility yet State First you take off his head to tast his heart Which showes at this time power is laid apart And bounty fils the place then he goes round To shew a Welcome of an equall Sound To euery one a free one through the Boord So plaine hee speakes the goodnesse of his Lord Take then respectfull Notice through the Hall That heere the noble Health begins to All The Cock-cup then deliuered by this Gentle man Sewer to the L. Mayor hee beginning the Health a second Song thus honouring it 2. SONG THe Health 's begun In the Bird of the Sun pledge it round pledge it round With hearty welcome it comes crownd O pledge it round The Ceremonies due Forget not as they were begun to you When you are dranke to y' are by duty led First to kisse your hand then take off the head You cannot misse it then To put it on and kisse it agen The next to whom the Health doth flow It taught to honour your Pledge so So round round round round let it goe As aboue so below For Bounty did intend it alwayes so The second Entertainment At Bun-hill on the Shooting day Another habited like an Archer did thus greet the L. Mayor and Aldermen after they were placed in their Tent WHy this is nobly done to come to grace A Sport so wel becomes the Time Place Old Time made much on 't it thought no praise Too deere for 't nor no honour in those dayes Not only Kings ordaind Lawes to defend it But shinde the first Examples to commend it In their owne Persons honord it so farre A Land of Peace show'd like a field of Warre But chiefly Henry Memories Fame the Eight And the Sixt Edward gaue it worth and weight By Act and fauour not without desert It being the comliest and the Manliest Art And whereas meaner Crafts took their first forme From humble Things as Twisting from a worme And Weauing from
part of their Graue-worthy Guesse Which here we misse to day though here be those Whom we ought more especially to Honor Say though we cannot there our selfe appeare Because we owe our greater seruice here Yet that they shal not faile of all their due We send the wishes of our Heart by you Hy. Which shall be faithfully tendred Flo. T is presum'd But to this faire Assembly present now I and these yeelding Sweets all their heads bow In honour of this Feast of the Day chiefe Made solemne by the workes of your Reliefe Your Cares your Charities the holy Vse Of pious exercise all which infuse Blessings into your Fortunes you abound In temporall things cause blessed fruits are found Vpon the Stocks you graft on marke the Encrease You plant poore Orphans in a ground of Peace And carefully prouide when fruit time comes You gather Heauens Ioyes for 't in infinite Summer This day you view'd the Garden of those Deeds That blesse the Founders and all those succeeds In Zeale and Imitation you saw there Vertues true Paradise drest with your Care Your most religious Care and those Blew Sets They are the Cities Bancke of Violets That smels most sweet to Heauen neuer cease then You worthy Praesidents for Times and Men Till Charitie spring by your Examples giuen As thick on Earth as Rewards stand in Heauen If there were sloth or faintnes tow'ard good works As blest be Heauen there is not Time instructs The Season of the Yeare for as the Ground The heauiest and dul'st Creature can be found Yet now begins both in her Meades and Bowers To offer vp her Sacrifice in Flowers How much more ought that Earth with a Soule blest Which is of euery of you here possest To spring forth Workes of Piety and Loue To gratifie those Dewes fall from Aboue And as the humblest Flower that euer grew Ha's not his Sent alone but Vertue too Good for Mans griefes so t is not Mans full Fame To haue a Christian Sauour or a Name An empty voice of Charity and Reliefe He must apply Ease to his Brothers griefe Faith is the Sent and Odour of the Flower But Work 's the Vertue that makes good the power T is like the Tincture of those Roabes you weare In which cleare Vesture you to me appeare Like Borders of faire Roses and worne hie Vpon the Cities forehead that rich Dye As it is reuerend honourable graue So it is pretious wholesome which doth craue A double Vertue at the Wearers hands Iustice and Mercy by which goodnesse stands Thus Honour still claimes Vertue for his Due And may both euer lay iust claime to you What the foure Seasons of the Yeare struck dumbe I lookt for a kind Welcome now I m'e come 2. Song by the foure Seasons called the Song of Flowers Spr. WElcome O welcome Queene of sweetnes welcome in the noblest manner With all thy Flowers thy sweete breath 't Maides of Honour Sum. Flower gentle I begin with Thee Aut. Fayre Flower of Chrystall that 's for me Spr. Apples of Loue there sweetnesse dwels Win. Puh giue me Canterbury Bels Spr. Faire double-Gold cups griefes expelling Sum. Agnus Castus all excelling Aut. Venus Bath the loueliest pride of Iune Win. Giue me that Flower cald Go to bed at noone Spr. Blessed Thistle fam'd for good Sum. Shepheards Pouch for stanching blood Aut. Faire yallow Knight-wort for a foule relapse Win. And Ladies Mantle good for Maydens Paps Spr. Tuft Hyacinth that crownes the Bower Cald of some the Virgins Flower Win. Take that for me more good I feele In Ruffling Robin and Larkes Heele Spr. There is a Sweete Vnnamed yet The root is white the Marke of pure Delight Bearing his Flowers faire and hie The colour like a purple Dye Win. What is the name t is blest withall Spr. Liue-long it so the Shepheards call Win. Liue-long t is Vertues promis'd Due And may it Long remaine with You Honor'd Patrons Vertuous Matrons Whose Life 's and Acts this City graces Daily striuing And reuiuing Workes worthy your renowne and places Flo. So ya 're confirm'd from your harmonious Closes May Sweetnesse drop as Hony-Dew from Roses Then turning to the Lord Mayor and Aldermen A blessed Health possesse you and a long That in this latter Spring of your graue yeares You may be greene in Vertues and grow strong In works of Grace which soules to Heauen endeers your good Cares here Iustice and well spent houres Crowne you hereafter with eternall Flowers Hyacinth and Adonis sent forth by Flora to the 2. other Feasts thus sets off their Employments THe goddesse Flora Empresse of the Spring Chusing this Feast her Flowry Soiourning Vnder the Roofe of the chiefe Magistrate Whose power layes iust claime to the greatest state Hath sent me forth not meanest in her Grace To breath forth her sweet wishes to this place First to the Master of this bounteous Feast To speake her ioy next to each worthy Guest And though she cannot now her Selfe appeare Because she owes her greater Seruice there Yer her Hearts Loue to euery one I bring To whom sh 'as sent a Present of the Spring Then fals into the former speech of Flora making Use of her diuine instructions Here followes the worthy and Noble Entertainments of the Lords of his Maiesties most Honourable Priuy Councell at the Houses of the Lord Mayor and Sheriffes The first Entertainment vpon Thursday in Easter weeke beeing the fift of Aprill 1621 And vpon the sixeteenth of the same Month those Persons of Honor receiued their second Noble welcome in a free and Generous Entertainment at the house of the Right Worshipfull Mr. Sheriffe Allen Flora the Person vsed before thus prepared for them Flo AM I so happy to be blest agen With These the choice of many thousand For Royall Trust selected and a Care That makes you Sacred may the world compare men A Confidence with yours from so compleate And excellent a Master Or so great And free a Loue can any Nation showe In Subiect to the Soueraigne then doth flow From this most thankfull Citty Waues of Loue Ee'n ouerwhelme each other as they moue All striuing to be first they runne in one To 'th Oceans Brest the Kings Affection And you of Honor that doe oft appeare In presence of a Maiesty so cleere So mighty in Heauens blessings be so kind To grace with Words what He shall euer find And t is a glorious Truth and well beseemes Places and Persons of your faire Esteemes Not all the Kingdomes of the Earth containe A Citty freer to her Soueraigne More faithfull and more carefull obserue here His Highnes excellent Tryall Loue and Feare Make vp a Subiects duty to his King As Iustice and sweete Mercy makes vp Him So two fold Uertue two-fold Dutie cheeres He knew their lones now came toucht their fears To try their Temper O blest Heauen he found It was the Feare he lookt for had it 's ground Vpon Religion Reuerence sweete Respect