Himatia-Poleos: The Triumphs of Old Drapery · chunk 2 of 3
Munday, Anthony · published 1614 · first performed or written 1614 [Oct 29] (Annals) civic play; pageant unassigned nearest T19 Virtue, Fortune and Vice as abstractions · 472 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T19: virtue, fortune, virtues, honour, fame, vice, envy, world, pride, great.
For, if we have no Ram, we are sure to have no Lamb: no Lamb, no Wool: no wool, no Cloth: no Cloth, no Draper. Heaven grant that we may never see these no's, For we shall then feel twice as many woes: But that of Ram, Lamb, Wool, Cloth, still we may have store: So shall the Drapers then thrive more and more. IN times of old Antiquity, When men lived long and healthfully, Detesting sloth and idleness, Which breeds but surfeit and excess. When yea and nay was greatest Oath, And men's best wear, good woollen Cloth, Yclept England's drapery, More worth than gaudy bravery, Of Silken twine, Silver and Gold, near known in those blessed days of old: Then lived that grave and worthy man, That London's honour first began, By title of the Mayoralty, A high and famous dignity: Henry Fitz-Alwine was his name, Noble by birth, and of much fame. Whose substance though his grave hath kept, Four hundred years, where he hath slept: Yet is his shadow raised in me, To grace this days solemnity. For he being first that held the sway Of Maior in London, justly may Challenge (by right) priority, In honouring his own Company, With all that sacred Poesy can device, to grace so good a man, As first with hearts, hands, and free voice, Was thought meet in the people's choice To rank in that rich roll of fame: That honoured first the Draper's name. And worthy Brother here survey Those several kinds of London's sway Till royal Richard first in me, Altered the rule to Mayoralty. Portgreves held first by strict command, Next Provosts with a sterner hand, Such from the Conquest was the case Of London's awe, till milder grace Made choice of Bailiffs, men thought fit In the King's judgement Courts to sit, And right all causes of contention: By upright censure, or prevention. Yet all this could not please the king, In two men's rule grew varying, By leaning to what part each listed, So might by might was still resisted. Wrongs unredressed, offences flowing, Garboils & grudges each where growing. Therefore as God had given him place, Solely to rule, and judge each case, So would he plant a deputy, To figure his authority, In the true form of Monarchy, Than which, no better sovereignty. Which office being imposed on me, By such a gracious Majesty: I held it four and twenty years, (Yearly elected, as appears.) Until my very dying day. Since when (my Lord) I can well say, The Science of old drapery, (Our loving kind Society) Hath yielded many a Magistrate, In the self-same degree of State. And Time reserveth in his store, For the like honour, many more. On then before, for we must tend, Till this days triumph have full end.
seed 43: T13 · seed 44: T16 — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
For, if wee haue no Ramme, wee are ſure to haue no Lambe: no Lambe, no Wooll: no wooll, no Cloth: no Cloth, no Draper. Heauen graunt that we may neuer ſee theſe noes, For we ſhall then feele twiſe as many woes: But that of Ram, Lambe, Wooll, Cloth, ſtill we may haue ſtore: So ſhall the Drapers then thriue more and more. IN times of olde Antiquitie, When men liu'd long and healthfully, Deteſting ſloth and idleneſſe, Which breeds but ſurfet and exceſſe. When yea and nay was greateſt Oath, And mens beſt weare, good woollen Cloath, Yeleped Englands Draperie, More worth then gaudie brauerie, Of Silken twine, Siluer and Golde, Nere knowen in thoſe bleſt daies of olde: Then liu'd that graue and worthie man, That Londons honour firſt began, By title of the Maioralty, A high and famous dignity: Henrie Fitz-Alwine was his name, Noble by birth, and of much fame. Whoſe ſubſtance though his graue hath kept, Foure hundred yeares, where he hath ſlept: Yet is his ſhadowe raiſde in me, To grace this daies ſolemnitie. For he being firſt that held the ſway Of Maior in London, iuſtly may Challenge (by right) prioritie, In honouring his owne Companie, With all that ſacred Poeſie can Deuiſe, to grace ſo good a man, As firſt with hearts, hands, and free voice, Was thought meet in the peoples choice To rancke in that rich rowle of fame: That honoured firſt the Drapers name. And worthie Brother here ſuruay Thoſe ſeuerall kinds of Londons ſway Till royall Richard firſt in me, Altered the rule to Maioraltie. Portgreues held firſt by ſtrict command, Next Prouoſts with a ſterner hand, Such from the Conqueſt was the caſe Of Londons awe, till milder grace Made choice of Bayliffes, men thought fit In the Kings iudgement Courts to ſit, And right all cauſes of contention: By vpright cenſure, or preuention. Yet all this could not pleaſe the king, In two mens rule grew varying, By leaning to what part each liſted, So might by might was still reſiſted. Wrongs vnredreſt, offences flowing, Garboyles & grudges each where growing. Therefore as God had giuen him place, Solely to rule, and iudge each caſe, So would he plant a deputie, To figure his authoritie, In the true forme of Monarchie, Then which, no better ſoueraigntie. Which office being impoſde on me, By ſuch a gracious Maieſtie: I held it foure and twentie yeares, (Yearely elected, as appeares.) Vntill my verie dying day. Since when (my Lord) I can well ſay, The Science of olde Draperie, (Our louing kind Society) Hath yeelded many a Magiſtrate, In the ſelfe-ſame degree of State. And Time reſerueth in his ſtore, For the like honour, many more. On then before, for we muſt tend, Till this daies triumph haue full end.