Act 5 — THE SUN IN ARIES.

293The Sunne in Aries. A Noble Solemnity Performed through the Citie, at the sole cost and charges of the Honourable and ancient Fraternity of Drapers, At the confirmation and establishment of their most Worthy Brother the Right Honourable, Edward Barkham, in the high Office of his Maiesties Lieutenant, the lord Maior of the famous Citie of London. Taking beginning at his Lordships going, and perfecting it selfe after his returne from receiuing the Oath of Maioralty at Westminster, on the morrow after Simon [and] Jvdes day, being the 29. of October. 1621. By Tho. Middleton, Gent. At London: Printed by Ed. All-de, for H. G. 1621. 4to.

Reprinted in Nichols’s Progresses of King James, vol. iv. p. 724.

294To the honour of him to whom the noble Fraternity of Drapers, his worthy brothers, have dedicated their loves in costly Triumphs, the Right Honourable Edward Barkham, Lord Mayor of this renowned City.

Your Honour being the centre where the lines

Of this day’s glorious circle meets and joins,

Love, joy, cost, triumph, all by you made blest,

There does my service too desire to rest,

At your Lordship’s command,

Tho. Middleton.

295THE SUN IN ARIES.

Pisces being the last of the signs and the wane of the Sun’s glory, how fitly and desiredly now the Sun enters into Aries, for the comfort and refreshing of the creatures, and may be properly called the spring-time of right and justice, observed by the shepherd’s calendar in the mountain, to prove a happy year for poor men’s causes, widows’ and orphans’ comforts; so much to make good the Sun’s entrance into that noble sign; I doubt not but the beams of his justice will make good themselves.

And first to begin with the worthy love of his honourable Society to his lordship, after his honour’s return from Westminster, having received some service upon the water. The first Triumph by land attends his lordship’s most wished arrival in Paul’s-Churchyard, which is a chariot most artfully framed and adorned, bearing the title of the Chariot of Honour; in which chariot many worthies are placed that have got trophies of honour by their labours and deserts; such as Jason, whose illustration of honour is the golden fleece; Hercules with his ne plus ultra upon pilasters of silver; a fair globe for conquering Alexander; a gilt laurel for triumphant Cæsar, &c. Jason, at the approach of his lordship, being the personage most proper, by his manifestation, for the Society’s honour, lends a voice to these following words:

296The speech presented by Jason.

Be favourable, Fates, and a fair sky

Smile on this expedition! Phœbus’ eye,

Look cheerfully! the bark is under sail

For a year’s voyage, and a blessèd gale

Be ever with it! ’tis for justice bound,

A coast that’s not by every compass found,

And goes for honour, life’s most precious trading;

May it return with most illustrious lading!

A thing both wish’d and hop’d for. I am he,

To all adventurous voyages a free

And bountiful well-wisher, by my name

Hight^[342] Jason, first adventurer for fame,

Which now rewards my danger, and o’ertops

The memory of all peril or her stops;

Assisted by the noble hopes of Greece,

’Twas I from Colchis fetch’d the golden fleece;

And one of the first brothers on record

Of honour got by danger. So, great lord,

There is no voyage set forth to renown,

That does not sometimes meet with skies that frown,

With gusts of envy, billows of despite,

Which makes the purchase, once achiev’d, more bright.

State is a sea; he must be wise indeed

That sounds its depth, or can the quicksands heed;

And honour is so nice and rare a prize,

’Tis watch’d by dragons, venomous enemies;

Then no small care belongs to’t: but as I,

With my assisting Argonauts, did try

The utmost of adventure, and with bold

And constant courage brought the fleece of gold,

Whose illustration decks my memory

Through all posterities, naming but me,—

297So, man of merit, never faint or fear;

Thou hast th’ assistance of grave senators here,

Thy worthy brethren, some of which have past

All dangerous gulfs, and in their bright fames plac’d,

They can instruct and guide thee, and each one

That must adventure, and are coming on

To this great expedition; they will be

Cheerful and forward to encourage thee;

And blessings fall in a most infinite sum

Both on those past, thyself, and those to come!

Passing from this, and more to encourage the labour of the magistrate, he is now conducted to the master Triumph, called the Tower of Virtue, which for the strength, safety, and perpetuity, bears the name of the Brazen Tower; of which Integrity keeps the keys, virtue being indeed as a brazen wall to a city or commonwealth; and to illustrate the prosperity it brings to a kingdom, the top turrets or pinnacles of this Brazen Tower shine bright like gold; and upon the gilded battlements thereof stand six knights, three in silvered and three in gilt armour, as Virtue’s standard-bearers or champions, holding six little streamers or silver bannerets, in each of which are displayed the arms of a noble brother and benefactor, Fame sounding forth their praises to the world, for the encouragement of after-ages, and Antiquity, the register of Fame, containing in her golden legend their names and titles; as that of Sir Henry Fitz-Alwin, draper, lord mayor four-and-twenty years together; Sir John Norman, the first that was rowed in barge to Westminster with silver oars, at his own cost and charges; Sir Francis Drake, the son of Fame, who in two years and ten months did cast a girdle about the world; the unparalleled Sir Simon Eyre, who built Leadenhall 298at his own cost, a store-house for the poor, both in the upper lofts and lower; the generous and memorable Sir Richard Champion and Sir John Milborne, two bountiful benefactors; Sir Richard Hardell, in the seat of magistracy six years together; Sir John Poultney, four years, which Sir John founded a college in the parish of St. Lawrence Poultney, by Candlewick Street; John Hinde, a re-edifier of the parish church of St. Swithin by London Stone; Sir Richard Pipe, who being free of the Leather-sellers, was also from them translated to the ancient and honourable Society of Drapers; and many whose names, for brevity’s cause, I must omit, and hasten to the honour and service of the time present. From the tower, Fame, a personage properly adorned, thus salutes the great master of the day and triumph:

The salutation of Fame.

Welcome to Virtue’s fortress, strong and clear!

Thou art not only safe but glorious here;

It is a tower of brightness: such is Truth,

Whose strength and grace feel^[343] a perpetual youth;

The walls are brass, the pyramids fine gold,

Which shews ’tis Safety’s and Prosperity’s hold;

Clear Conscience is lieutenant; Providence there,

Watchfulness, Wisdom, Constancy, Zeal, Care,

Are the six warders keep the watch-tower sure,

That nothing enters but what’s just and pure;

For which effect, both to affright and shame

All slothful bloods that blush to look on Fame,

An ensign of good actions each displays,

That worthy works may justly own their praise;

299And which is clearliest to be understood,

Thine shines amidst thy glorious brotherhood,

Circled with arms of honour by those past,

As now with love’s arms by the present grac’d;

And how thy word^[344] does thy true worth display,

Fortunæ mater Diligentia,

Fair Fortune’s mother, all may read and see,

Is Diligence, endeavouring industry.

See here the glory of illustrious acts,

All of thy own fraternity, whose tracts

’Tis comely to pursue, all thy life’s race,

Taking their virtues as thou hold’st their place;

Some, college-founders, temple-beautifiers,

Whose blest souls sing now in celestial quires;

Erecters some of granaries for the poor,

Though now converted to some rich men’s store,—

The more the age’s misery! some so rare

For this fam’d city’s government and care,

They kept the seat four years, with a fair name;

Some, six; but one, the miracle of fame,

Which no society or time can match,

Twenty-four years complete; he was Truth’s watch,

He went so right and even, and the hand

Of that fair motion bribe could ne’er make stand;

And as men set their watches by the sun,

Set justice but by that which he has done,

And keep it even; so, from men to men,

No magistrate need stir the work agen:^[345]

It lights into a noble hand to-day,

And has past many—many more it may.

By this Tower of Virtue—his lordship being gracefully conducted toward the new Standard—one in a cloudy, ruinous habit, leaning upon the 300turret, at a trumpet’s sounding suddenly starts and wakes, and, in amazement, throws off his unseemly garments.

What noise is this wakes me from ruin’s womb?

Hah! bless me, Time, how brave am I become!

Fame fix’d upon my head! beneath me, round,

The figures of illustrious princes, crown’d

As well for goodness as for state by birth,

Which makes ’em true heirs both to heaven and earth!

Just six in number, and all blessèd names,

Two Henrys, Edward, Mary, Eliza, James,

That joy of honest hearts; and there behold

His honour’d substitute, whom worth makes bold

To undergo the weight of this degree,

Virtue’s fair edifice, rais’d up like me:

Why, here’s the city’s goodness, shewn in either,

To raise^[346] two worthy buildings both together;

For when they made that lord’s election free,

I guess that time their charge did perfect me;

Nay, note the city’s bounty in both still;

When they restore a ruin, ’tis their will

To be so noble in their cost and care,

All blemish is forgot when they repair;

For what has been re-edified a’ late,

But lifts its head up in more glorious state;

’Tis grown a principle, ruins built agen

’Come better’d both in monuments and men;

The instance is apparent. On then, lord;

E’en at thy entrance thou’dst a great man’s word,

The noblest testimony of fair worth

That ever lord had, when he first stood forth

301Presented by the city: lose not then

A praise so dear, bestow’d not on all men;

Strive to preserve this famous city’s peace,

Begun by yon first king, which does increase

Now by the last; from Henry that join’d Roses,

To James that unites kingdoms, who encloses

All in the arms of love, malic’d of none;

Our hearts find that, when neighbouring kingdoms groan;

Which in the magistrate’s duty may well move

A zealous care, in all a thankful love.

After this, for the full close of the forenoon’s Triumph, near St. Laurence-Lane stands a mountain, artfully raised and replenished with fine woolly creatures; Phœbus on the top, shining in a full glory, being circled with the Twelve Celestial Signs. Aries, placed near the principal rays, the proper sign for illustration, thus greets his lordship:

Bright thoughts, joy, and alacrity of heart

Bless thy great undertakings! ’tis the part

And property of Phœbus with his rays

To cheer and to illumine good men’s ways;

Eagle-ey’d actions, that dare behold

His sparkling globe depart tried all like gold;

’Tis bribery and injustice, deeds of night,

That fly the sunbeam, which makes good works bright;

Thine look upon’t undazzled; as one beam

Faces another, as we match a gem

With her refulgent fellow, from thy worth

Example sparkles as a star shoots forth.

This Mount, the type of eminence and place,

Resembles magistracy’s seat and grace;

302The Sun the magistrate himself implies;

These woolly creatures, all that part which lies

Under his charge and office; not unfit,

Since kings and rulers are, in holy writ,

With shepherds parallel’d, nay, from shepherds rear’d,

And people and the flock as oft coher’d.

Now, as it is the bounty of the sun

To spread his splendours and make gladness run

Over the drooping creatures, it ought so

To be his proper virtue, that does owe

To justice his life’s flame, shot from above,

To cheer oppressèd right with looks of love;

Which nothing doubted, Truth’s reward light on you,

The beams of all clear comforts shine upon you!

The great feast ended, the whole state of the Triumph attends upon his lordship, both to Paul’s and homeward; and near the entrance of his lordship’s house, two parts of the Triumph stand ready planted, viz. the Brazen Tower and the triple-crowned Fountain of Justice, this fountain being adorned with the lively figures of all those graces and virtues which belong to the faithful discharging of so high an office; as Justice, Sincerity, Meekness, Wisdom, Providence, Equality, Industry, Truth, Peace, Patience, Hope, Harmony, all illustrated by proper emblems and expressions; as, Justice by a sword; Sincerity by a lamb; Meekness by a dove; Wisdom by a serpent; Providence by an eagle; Equality by a silvered balance; Industry by a golden ball, on which stands a Cupid, intimating that industry brings both wealth and love; Truth with a fan of stars, with which she chases away Error; Peace with a branch of laurel; Patience 303a sprig of palm; Hope by a silvered anchor; Harmony by a swan; each at night holding a bright-burning taper in her hand, as a manifestation of purity. His lordship being in sight, and drawing near to his entrance, Fame, from the Brazen Tower, closes up the Triumph—his lordship’s honourable welcome, with the noble demonstration of his worthy fraternity’s affection—in this concluding speech:

Fame.

I cannot better the comparison

Of thy fair brotherhood’s love than to the sun

After a great eclipse; for as the sphere

Of that celestial motion shines more clear

After the interposing part is spent,

Than to the eye before the darkness went

Over the bright orb; so their love is shewn

With a content past expectation,

A care that has been comely, and a cost

That has been decent, cheerful, which is most,

Fit for the service of so great a state,

So fam’d a city, and a magistrate

So worthy of it; all has been bestow’d

Upon thy triumph, which has clearly shew’d

The loves of thy fraternity as great

For thy first welcome to thy honour’d seat;

And happily is cost requited then,

When men grace triumphs more than triumphs men:

Diamonds will shine though set in lead; true worth

Stands always in least need of setting forth.

What makes less noise than merit? or less show

Than virtue? ’tis the undeservers owe

All to vain-glory and to rumour still,

Building their praises on the vulgar will;

304All their good is without ’em, not their own;

When wise men to their virtues are best known.

Behold yon Fountain with the tripled crown,

And through a cloud the sunbeam piercing down;

So is the worthy magistrate made up;

The triple crown is Charity, Faith, and Hope,

Those three celestial sisters; the cloud too,

That’s Care, and yet you see the beam strikes through;

A care discharg’d with honour it presages,

And may it so continue to all ages!

It is thy brotherhood’s arms; how well it fits

Both thee and all that for Truth’s honour sits!

The time of rest draws near; triumph must cease;

Joy to thy heart—to all a blessèd peace!

For the frame-work of the whole Triumph, with all the proper beauties of workmanship, the credit of that justly appertains to the deserts of master Garret Crismas,^[347] a man excellent in his art, and faithful in his performances.

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