Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, GREAT BRITAINS GLORY, by THEOPHILUS" "PHILALETHES [PSEUD.]


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

GREAT BRITAINS GLORY, by                    
First Line: "my muse advance, flye to parnassus hill"
Last Line: Who was the founder of / great brittain's glory
Alternate Author Name(s): "philalethes, Theophilus;
Subject(s): "london Fire (1666);royal Exchange, London;" Great Fire Of 1666


My Muse advance, flye to Parnassus Hill,
Invoke the Nine, for a Poetick Quill;
That by their aid thou may'st straightway rehearse
To Forreign Nations in plain English Verse,
What thou hast seen, (and is a sight most strange[)]
The Stately Structure of the Royal Change:
That so thereby some may induced be,
To cross the Main, this famous Place to see.
To you therefore, who are of great Renown,
In every City, and each Countrey Town,
Beyond the Seas, these present Lines I send,
Hoping they will not in the least offend
Your Ears to hear, or Patience to peruse:
They come not here your Countreys to abuse
With feigned stories, or with frothy stuff,
Whereof your Honours may have cause to snuff.
But they do come you freely to invite
Into Great Britain, where a stately sight
You may behold, which may be worth your cost
To cross the Main, and think no labour lost.
Read but these Lines, and therein you shall find
The Authors aim, when first into his mind
This Subject came, which he did undertake,
Was (pardon his boldness) partly for your sake.
And when you venture shall on English Ground,
His Labours will (and not till then) be crown'd.
What is't for you, who have so great a Treasure,
To lay some by (wherein you'l take great pleasure)
To spend in other Countreys, where you may
Be freely welcome, or to come, or stay:
Your very presence in our Brittish Isle,
Will make our Countries and our Cities smile;
The Coyn you bring (which if it be but currant)
Will be to them a good sufficient Warrant,
For your Pass-port, where ever you shall call,
Without the least suspicion to Whitehall
Of any danger that may thence ensue,
By letting in such noble Sparks as you
Into our Island, where you may be sure
To find such Friends, as will you soon procure
That favour here, which all esteem a bliss,
As 'tis indeed, our Caesars Hand to kiss.
Come therefore Gallants, (some of every Tribe)
To see this Place which we will now describe.

A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ROYAL EXCHANGE

Within the limits of Great Britains Land,
Where Charles the Second hath the sole Command
Of Regal Power, and of all that brings
Safety to Crowns, and Honour unto Kings,
There stands a City, large, fair, and immense,
As well in Length, as in Circumference;
Whose Banks are daily washed on each side,
By Thames great River every Eastern Tide:
Ith' midst whereof this Royal Place doth stand,
Lately enlarged by the Kings Command,
In Statute-Law, as plainly doth appear,
By those high Arches facing Front and Rear.
This is the Subject of our present Muse;
And if we thought we should not much abuse
Your patience here, some lines for to rehearse,
Wee'll first present you in plain English Verse,
Not a Romantick, but a real Story,
Which did of late eclipse Great Britains Glory.
This City then was lately burned down,
LONDON by name, though then a doleful Town,
As ever eyes beheld, a dismal sight;
The Sun, the Moon, and Stars that shine so bright,
Were then out-vi'd by a most dreadful Flame,
Sent from above in great Jehovahs Name,
For to chastise us, and to let us know,
That when luke-warm, and have no heat to show,
He can straightway raise such an Eastern Gale,
As shall, at length, make all our faces pale,
As then he did, because we wanted heat,
And now behold, our very Houses sweat,
As well as Bodies, by that scorching Fire,
Which then did burn, and never did expire,
Until such time as it had burned down
Twelve thousand Houses to the very ground.
Our stately Halls, our Churches, and our Quire,
Were the[n] made fuel to that dreadful fire;
Our Royal Change, which was of so great fame
O're all the world, unto this dreadful flame
Was forc'd to stoop; where now you might espy
Our antient Kings in ashes there to lie:
This doleful object troubled us much more,
Then many sights which we had seen before.
Sir Thomas stood, the Founder of the Place,
And this was deem'd by all an act of Grace,
That this great Torrent should him so befriend,
As not to pieces his Trunck-breeches rend.
It spar'd no place where ever it did come,
But Giant-like rejoyc'd his race to run:
All hands were now at work the same to quench;
And now behold, the Dutchmen and the French,
Some said, were up in arms, and in Moor-fields,
The noise whereof caus'd some to take their heels,
And to the Countreys round about did flye,
Where cutting throats was all their present cry.
Who can express the horrour of that night,
When people cry'd, Prepare your selves for flight;
The French and Dutch resolve to take our lives,
And when we are dead, they'l ravish all our Wives.
What shall we do in this most desperate plight,
But take our heels, and save our selves by flight.
Though this prov'd false, yet to the present crew
It was all one, as if it had been true:
Their fears, their frights, their terrours were the same,
Until the news into the Countrey came,
It was not so; whereat the total Rout,
Who had escap'd, began to face about,
And to the City once again inclin'd,
To fetch the Goods which they had left behind,
If not already burnt, and stoln away
By that rude sort, who now did make a prey
Of peoples Goods; and by this sinful itch
Of stealing then, they did themselves enrich.
The Alarum false, much people now again
Use all endeavours for to quench that flame,
Which by this time had run nigh well so far,
As those great Gates which we call Temple-bar.
Our King himself in person did appear,
To give Commands, and Workmen for to chear;
The sight whereof did pierce his heart with grief,
Although his Presence gave us much relief,
In giving strict Commands unto his Guard,
Within our streets to keep strong Watch and Ward;
Lest the rude Rabble in this doleful hour
Should pass the limits of his Kingly Power;
And getting head, they should now in conclusion
Bring all things here to ruine and confusion:
Which to prevent, he marched round our City,
And of our present case did then take pity.
The pensive looks in his Majestick Face
Did clearly shew how much he lov'd the place.
Our Pipes did run, our Engines they did play,
Our Wives did cry, our Ministers did pray:
But all in vain, for still it did proceed
Along our streets, with fury and with speed.
But then at length, in mercy to our City,
The Lord himself did of our case take pity;
He that doth say unto the raging Seas,
You shall not pass beyond the bounds I please:
He that doth send the dreadful claps of Thunder,
He that is seen in all his works of wonder;
'Twas he that said unto this dreadful Fire,
Stop in this place, enough now of mine ire;
Call'd in his winds within their house of store,
And then straightway the fire burnt no more.
And having stayed his most dreadful hand,
Much people since from all parts in the Land,
Have been at work, the same again to build;
Whereat our hearts with joy hath since been fill'd,
As formerly with grief, in hopes that now,
If God will please but yet to speed the Plow:
And in our Land still to continue Peace,
Our City Trade shall more and more increase:
And in short time this place shall flourish more,
Then it hath done for many years before.
Heavens say Amen, and send it with all speed,
(This we will hope) And now my muse proceed
Unto thy main and principal design
At first intended, namely to define
The present state, and lustre of that place
Which now is built, with so much greater grace
Then formerly, that here thou must confess,
Unto the life thou canst not well express,
Onely may hope, that when thy slender Skill
Hath broke the Ice, some more refined Quill
May venture on the Stage, and be the next
That shall (with Art) enlarge upon this Text.
And since thou hast unto thy Reader bound
Thy self by promise, go survey the Ground
Yet once again, before that thou dost come
Upon the publick stage; when this is done,
Fairly retreat from off this piece of Land;
Take now thy Reader (gently) by the hand,
Conduct him hither, where thou shalt him show
The Walks above, and also them below;
And all things else whate're he shall desire,
As being curious, of thee will enquire.
Be not too hasty in thy Definition,
Go on and prosper, this is thy Commission:
Go on, I say, then with a chearful heart,
Beg of thy Readers, that they in good part
VVill take this present Piece, and be so kind,
As to the faults therein that they shall find,
To pass them by, because they must confess,
VVe all our faults have, either more or less;
VVhich if to us they should imputed be,
VVho then amongst us would escape scot-free?
Come Reader then, let us joyn hand in hand,
And take a view of this rich Piece of Land,
VVhich at this day, by VVill and Testament
Of a good Knight, and Act of Parliament,
Our City and the Mercers do uphold,
And will maintain it as their just Free-hold;
While Sun, and Moon, and Stars shall give their light,
They'l ne're forget Sir Thomas Gresham Knight;
That good old Man, who for this Cities sake,
This stately Fabrick first did undertake:
And when he died, he left it unto them,
And to the Mercers, as Trustees for him.
Where by the way, we must now here de[c]lare
What e're th' intentions of Sir Thomas were
In his life-time, and left to them by Will,
They do not frustrate, but the same fulfill
In all punctilioes, if it chance to be
An act of Grace, and his late Charity.
He was the Founder of this stately Place,
Which when compleat, (this good old man to grace)
The Queen her self in person did appear,
(Whose presence always did her Subjects chear)
With all her Nobles, and her Princely Train,
She came on purpose for to see the same;
Where viewing it with a Majestick Grace,
(The people from all parts flockt in apace;
And throwing up their Caps, aloud did cry,
Vive la Regne, God bless your Majesty)
And musing for a while, She silence brake,
And to her Nobles round about her spake,
My Lords, said she, this place which I behold,
Cost this brave Knight sure many Crowns in Gold;
I much rejoyce this Infant place to see:
Speak good Sir Thomas, what the Name shall be;
For being nameless, now I have a mind
To be your Gossip, if you are inclin'd
Thereto, said she; whereat the courteous Knight
Did soon reply, My Liege, your very sight
Doth so transport me, that I cannot well
Express myself, your Grace my mind to tell.
But since I may, with boldness soar so high,
As to the Ears, of Sacred Majestie;
Assume to speak, my Liege as to the name,
Unto your self I shall refer the same
Whereat the pleasant Queen, before them all,
Above did name it, The Exchange Royal.
Such acclamations then, as were up sent
Out of their mouths into the firmament
Who were the standers by we must confess
Here to the life. Our muse cannot Express
Such was the greatness of the peoples cry
Their very shouts did seem to rend the Sky,
Such was the greatness of the present throng
The Queen her self could hardly pass along
And still the burden of their present cry:
Was Vive la Regne, God bless your Majesty.
She likewise still, did for her people pray,
And this was that, which stole their hearts away;
What er'e shee ask'd, they never did deny
What er'e they crav'd, Shee did as soon reply,
It shall be done, unto your hearts content,
And passed too, by Act of Parliament,
This Ladies virtues, then did shine so bright
Like glorious Cynthia in the lightest night.
And being dead, her fame shall yet survive
Or'e many Thousands, that are yet alive.
Here I should leave Her, but as I do write,
Her very Name, doth help me to indite[.]
This then was She, Who did the Scepter sway
When the stout English bravely won the day,
Near Tilbury-hope, when the proud Spanish Fleet
Did boldly come, this Nation for to greet
But this brave Queen, did straightway check their pride,
Her Heart of Oak serv'd both for Wind and Tyde;
Her Royal presence, on our English Shoar,
Did make our demy, and whole Canons roar;
Her valiant Sea-men with Sir Francis Drake,
Did quickly make the Spaniards for to quake;
The like success, we hope e're long to see,
O're Hogan Mogans, that so lofty be,
Who would supplant us in our present Trade,
And in our Rights so frequently invade,
Nor will they strike within our Royal Channel,
Until we beat them like a water Spannel,
(When as we teach him for to fetch and carry,
This way or that way, or the clear contrary)
Which we will do, when they top-Gallant ride,
(And will not congy) by our Vessels side;
We'l make them know, that English men are such,
Who scorn to stoop to the insulting Dutch;
So long as English Blood our Veins do fill,
We will not buckle to their stubborn will,
Ungrateful States, who have so soon forgot
Our former kindness, and now heed it not;
Much like a Thief sav'd from the Gallow Tree,
Next man he robs, perhaps the Judg may be.
They are the first who lately broke the Peace,
And now perhaps they melt in their own Grease,
For doing so, and for their wrongs of late,
Our English Boys may soon give them check mate,
Our Royal Charles may quickly let them see,
What 'tis t'abuse his sacred Majesty
In Print and Pulpit as they oft have done,
On purpose to Eclipse our rising Sun,
And though we know his temper still is such,
To be at Peace with these ungrateful Dutch,
As well as with their Neighbours round about,
Yet if they come but once to be so stout,
As to break Truce with him, and for to jar,
He can as soon appear a Man of War:
Let them take heed least that perchance we see,
Them once again distressed States to be;
If they shall want our help we may deny,
Because of their insulting treachery,
If we should then but leave them in the lurch,
We soon may say adieu unto the Dutch,
And unto all their jugling tricks of state,
For which they give the World such cause to prate
Of all their actions, which to us are known,
For which, some say they will be overthrown.
Let them remember that Amboyna Blood
Cries yet aloud (although not understood
By these great States) and will them overtake,
Sooner, or later when they must partake
Of Divine Justice, and for ought we know
Now is the time, wherein our God will shew
His Arm against them, for those deeds then done,
Which was a shame until all Christendom,
Fitting for none to act but onely such,
Who stile themselves the Hogan Mogan Dutch,
A stile too great for Mortals to assume,
And for this pride, Heaven may now them consume.
If they shall boast the liberty they give
To Non-conformists, we also do live,
Under a Prince, whose late indulgent care,
Unto such men, who Non-conformists are,
Is to protect them, and to set them free,
From penal Laws, and all things else that be
Alike offensive in our English Church,
No good presage some say unto the Dutch;
For by this means, we say his fame will ring
Over all Europe for a Gracious King,
This liberty for which so many lives
Have paid so dear, is brought home to our hives
When unexpected, Oh! the lively sence
That some now have, of this great providence;
Nay some do say, that for this act and deed
His present Warrs, will prosperously succeed
And all things else that he shall take in hand
For time to come, either by Sea or Land[;]
And after that, our Trade shall flourish more
Then it hath done, for many years before[.]
Heaven's say Amen. Now if it be your will
When this is done, Let peace continue still[.]
Wee hope there's none will now be plotting treason
Against the Crown and Dignity of Reason.
For since we have, this Edict from White-hall
In things Divine and Supernatural
We all alike, the liberty shall have,
To worship where we please, what can we crave,
Now more then this? Unless we male content
And will be worse, for all that punishment,
Which hath so long been trampling on our head,
But by Gods blessing now is brought to bed,
And fairly lodg'd within our Coezars Breast,
By which said means, His Subjects are at rest,
From all those pressures which they underwent,
Since his return, by Act of Parliament,
Although averse unto his disposition,
Which is that all, should have a full fruition,
Of what, they do desire, if they will,
But live in peace and so continue still.
VVhich we do hope, they will not dare to break,
VVho now shall have, the liberty to speak,
To their own people; they all to hear,
Their own great Doctors which they count so dear,
VVhich if they should now turbulent remain,
Then they should know he doth not bear in vain
His sacred Sword, which is to punish such,
VVho shall be like to the insulting Dutch;
VVe for our own part now have more content,
Than when we liv'd under that Government
Sirnam'd the Rump, and after that another
When we were made so much a younger Brother
By Nol himself, who would not have a King,
Yet afterwards he own'd the self same thing.
Come now good Reader let us fairly on,
The Skies are clear, the blustring storms are gone,
There's nothing here I know that can affright thee,
But rather that which will (I hope) delight thee.
This pleasant place, which now thou dost espie,
VVas so much graced by his Majestie,
That now the Scepter swayes within our Land,
He the first Pillar with his Royal hand
Did place therein, and after that his Brother
James Duke of York did also place another.
These Royal stems of Majesty and Grace,
Did bear such love, and good will to this place,
That they themselves in person did appear,
To give their aid the same again to rear,
These acts of Grace are counted so Divine[,]
A Shop above have got them for a Sign,
These Royal Pillars on the North side stand,
With Crowns and Septers (by industrious hand
Of curious workmen) carved round about,
As a distinction for the common rout,
To know them from the rest, that they may see,
There they shall stand unto posterity,
As two great signals of their present love,
For which we pray the God of Heaven above,
Them to reward in everlasting Glory,
This shall suffice then for the Pillars story.

Come Courteous Reader, let us pass on still,
We have a mind our promise to fulfill,
In all respects, whereby to make thee know,
Wherein this place doth make so fair a shew.

In Walks below, the Merchants daily meet,
The Vaults beneath contain the Indian Fleet,
The Walks above contain now Riches more,
Than some tall Ships, which from the Indian Shoar,
Do yearly come into our Brittish Isle,
Whose safe arrival makes our Merchants smile,
Whose lofty Tower Mounted is so high,
To us below it seems to reach the Sky,
Look on the top, and there you may behold,
The Founders crest, bedecked all in Gold,
This lofty Creature doth at all times shew,
Our City Merchants where the Wind doth blow,
From whence they daily do presage no doubt,
Their Ships are coming in or going out.
Sols lofty Palace, on high Pillars rais'd,
And stately Rooms which are so highly prais'd,
Seems but a shadow to this stately place;
Nay Sol himself for fear of a disgrace,
Creeps now behind it, and dares not appear
Ith' front thereof, but only in the rear;
For when at first he did this place behold,
And on the top so much refulgent Gold,
As if on purpose it were placed there,
For to confront him in his full carreer,
He then withdrew his radiant Beams of light,
Set for a while, and after in the night,
(When most men are at rest and fast asleep)
Rais'd up his bashful head, and then did creep
Out of his Bed again, his course to run,
Although unusual for the Morning Sun,
Then to get up, a most prodigious sight,
Bright Sol that rules the day, to rise at night,
A thing most strange (yet not so strange as true)
And if you'd know, why he him self withdrew
That day before, and now in sable night,
To use again to take his future flight,
The reason flow'd from what he had espied,
Much troubled was to see himself outvied,
And thereupon withdrew his Beams so Red,
Took off a Gill, and fairly went to bed,
But being up, he with redoubled strength,
Did in a trice regain the former length,
Which he had lost, least that the world next Morn,
Should think him lost, and they themselves forlorn,
As left without a Sun, he thought it best,
Again to rise to welcome all his Guest,
And that he might be somewhat like this place,
And not for ever suffer such disgrace;
He straightway goes into his stately Hall,
Where all the Planets to his Councel call,
Where Luna for the Sun did bravely plead,
Bills of complaint he unto them did read,
The Cause debated, they with one consent,
(Just as our Members now in Parliament)
Did then resolve (whereat the Sun did hollow)
That now god Bacchus and the great Apollo,
They would consult, and eke petition too,
In this hard Case, what they therein should doo,
Whereat these feigned gods did soon reply,
Since unto us you do your selves apply,
Take this for answer to your said petition,
And unto you it shall be a Commission,
That to our workmen you do soon repair,
And let them know that they impowered are,
VVith full Commission from the God above,
(Because this place they do respect and love)
That some resemblance to th' Exchange they make,
VVithin Sol's house for great Apollo's sake,
Whereat our lofty Sun was highly pleas'd,
And of his former grief was quickly eas'd,
For since that time he hath (much people talk)
The French, the Spanish and the German walk,
So well contrived in his Vaults below,
VVhere Bacchus now doth make so fair a shew,
That people flock there now by day and night,
On purpose to aspect this comely sight,
And for to tast some of his wholesom Liquor,
To purge their Brains, and make their Tongues quicker,
Come gentle Reader, let's now leave the Sun
Unto himself, and once again return,
Unto your former station, where we may
Give you account still of our late survey,
Look round about it, and you may behold,
Places prepared for our Kings of old,
And Queens also, who have the Scepter sway'd,
In this our Island (though in ashes laid)
From good King Edward, and the Norman race,
VVho gain'd by conquest this most pleasant place,
That so thereby we may their Memories keep,
Yet fresh with us, though they are fast asleep;
Here in the Front our Royal Charles's stand
Like Roman Coesars, when they gave Command
Unto their Souldiers, stoutly for to Fight
VVhen as assaulted, or by day or night,
VVith Forreign force, or by Domestick jars.
And if Victorious in those bloody Wars,
They had such marks of honour and renown
In every City, and each Countrey Town
Conferr'd upon them, that they seldom were
Found to be such, who ran away for fear.
Such marks of honour those may now expect,
(VVhen the Dutch pride severely shall be checkt.)
VVho now like Sons of Mars, in Men of VVar
Shall scorn to flinch either for VVound or Scar,
Until they shall both Fame and Honour bring
Home to their Countrey, and to Charles their King.
VVho for their Valour will them well Reward,
Since to his Honour they had such regard.
View now this Front, and there thou mayst espy
Such curious work, fitting for Majesty
It self to dwell in; And we do believe,
In all thy Travels thou did'st ne're perceive
A place like this; and herein thou mayst say
To all the rest, that they now must give way.
Our Merchants which our Shops do greatly store,
From Asia, Africk, and the Indian Shore,
VVith Pearls and Diamonds, and such other VVare
VVhich in our Country are esteem'd most rare,
These do averre, and give it under-hand
In all their Travels, or by Sea or Land
From East to West, from North to Southern side
There's not the like, in all the VVorld so wide.
So that we may, with Confidence declare,
There's none with us can equally Compare.
We have the Phoenix in our English Nation,
All those that view it, stand in admiration.
View but the Stars here on the Southern side,
And thou shalt see some reason for our pride,
And present boasting; when we say there's none
Which can compare unto this place of Stone.
Look now, my Friend, here is a piece of Art
That is enough to make a wise man start,
And wonder too, how these Steps hang together,
And fear no Weight, nor any stress of Weather
That shall confront them, for to make them yield,
They'r stouter Souldiers then to quit the field,
Since they are placed by the Workmans skill,
They scorn to flinch, but will continue still.
These we may call a Family of Love;
Though fixt by Mortals, yet sent from above,
As if it were to shame this generation
Who will not hear of an accommodation
'Twixt one another; but are still so high
As if they could not from each other fly
Scarce far enough. Such is their childish heat
They'l play at Push-pin, till they all do sweat.
Do but observe how these love one another,
They all agree, like Sister and like Brother:
Joyn hand in hand, and so all hang together,
And by this means you cannot now them sever.
If you break one, you must break all the rest,
And herein lies the Cream of this our Jest:
If we now do the like in this our Land,
Live but in Peace, and all joyn hand in hand;
And let but out these bitter streams of strife,
Which at this day, amongst us are so rife:
Then by this means (O that we were all such)
We need not fear the Hogan Mogan Dutch;
Nor Turk, nor Pope, nor any thing that shall
But seem pernicious to our King's White-hall.
The Work-man here hath shew'd his present skill;
By which it seems, he hath his Art at will.
His rare Invention here is to the life;
Surely 'twas not by setting Stones at strife,
But since it was, by joyning them together,
Which makes them strong, against all stress or weather.
And now our hearts, if that they will not break,
These Stones hereafter may against them speak,
And rise in Judgment at Heav'ns Justice-hall,
And there together may bear witness all
Against us Mortals. Why? Because that we
Will not now live in Love and Charity.
The times now call us to a fair retreat;
Our Trumpets sound, our Drums to War they beat.
And shall we still build on this Sandy ground?
(Like a Mill-horse, that goes the self-same round)
For shame let's now advance, our selves to Arms,
With one consent to meet these proud alarms,
From those who are our present mortal Foes,
And will not yield, until with down-right blows
We shall broad-side them, when, we do not fear
We shall so Maul them, both in Front and Reer,
That they straightway will strike unto our Flag,
Although at present they so much do brag.
Let's now advance unto the Walks above,
Wherein great Ladies do frequent and love
There for to come, because of that Rich sort
Of VVares therein, which by fam'd report
There you may have, and no where else be found,
In all the Shops upon our English ground;
Search where you will, for goodness, and for fair
You shall not find the like for to compare.
VVhat wares there are, if now thou hast a mind
Here for to know, Come we will be so kind
As to inform thee of the minor part,
But for the whole, it is beyond our art
Here to Express. More fitting for an age
To tell them all, then for a single page
Here to relate, yet we will try our skill
On some of them, Thy mind for to fulfil.
Here's in the first place, that rich sort of ware
Which by our Gentry, are esteem'd so rare
As Gowns, and Mantles, Twillets of all Sizes,
Rich Caps and Slippers, of all sorts and prizes.
Here is also, great choyce of rich Bonelace,
Rare beauty waters, for your Ladies face,
Gloves for the hand and Garters for the knee
Here is also, good choyce of point-Paris,
And if you will your purse, but farther squeeze
Here is likewise great choyce of point-Venice,
Linnen of all sorts, either lac'd or plaine,
All sorts of Ribbons, that you well can name,
Within this place, is also to be sold
All sorts of Pendents, richly set in Gold.
Here is also, most rare Cornelion Rings,
Lockets and Bracelets and such pretty things,
Which by our Gentry, are esteem'd so high,
And therefore come, unto this place to buy,
Here's Toyes of all sorts English French and Dutch
To please the Ladies, who delight in such,
Here they are tempted, oftimes or'e and or'e
To buy such knacks, they never saw before[.]
And as they pass along, they oft do cry
That John Treduskin here they do outvy.
In pretty knacks and toyes, which to their sight
Seems very strange, but yet of great delight.
Here's Caps of all sorts either Black or White,
To wear by day, or keep you warm at night;
Girdles of all sorts, Turky work or plain
For those good men who do so beat their brain
By their hard study, though for our good,
We wish they were but fairly understood,
And not contemned, by that sort of people
Who neither care, for Parish Church or Steeple.
Mourning of all sorts either Crape or Love,
All sorts of Stockings either knit or wove,
Of silk or Worsted, or of double Thread,
Wastcoats of all sorts either VVhite or Red
Or any collour, either Shag'd or Plain
Fitting for Merchants, when they cross the Main.
Here is also, such Shops, wherein you may
Be bravely fitted, for your VVedding Day,
VVith Silks and Sattins, and rich Silver Lace
VVhich to your worship, will be so great grace
VVhen as you shall then, from your virtuous Bride
Have free consent, to sleep close by her side.
These and the like you alwaies here may find,
VVhen as to buy, you shall be so inclin'd.
View now the Ciellings and the Lanthorn-lights,
The curious Signs, which are such stately sights,
The rich Balconies fixed round about
As well within, as those which are without[;]
The arched Tower and its lofty head,
The Marble stones, whereon the Merchants tread[,]
The Bells, the Clock, the Turrets and the Crest
Of good Sr. Thomas mounted or'e the rest,
With the large Statue of this worthy Knight
Which on the Southside, is expos'd to sight.
As if our city did intend thereby
The name of Gresham here should never dye.
The Kings of England, and the Maiden Queen,
Which on the North-side, here are to be seen.
Six of these Coesars there you may behold
All in one Shop, richly bedeckt with Gold;
Three for a Sign, and three for Ornament,
With choice of VVares too, for your good Content.
Where, if you shall, with your Full-pockets come,
Thence, if you please, you may go Empty home.
These, and the like, now fixed with such grace,
Do clearly shew the Splendor of the Place.
DURHAM, farewell; thou must not dare to say,
That thy small shops do bear the bell away,
Now these are built. And though thou hast a Trade
Because White-hall so populous hath made
Thy spacious Streets; Yet know our loving friend,
As to the Flag, they must with thee contend,
And thou must say, (although against the grain)
That this said place, the best is of the twain;
Either for Building, or Rich Sort of VVare,
VVhich by our Gentry are esteem'd so rare.
And though for Points, thou hast there much to do,
They have a Rutland and green Dragon too:
The Dog, the Bear, the Dolphin, and the Doves,
The Flower de luce, and also the three Gloves;
The Lyon red, the Bells in number three,
The Kings Pair-Royal, and the Orange-tree:
The semy-circle of that Planet bright,
VVhich was ordain'd of old to Rule the Night.
The Golden Horse-shooe, and the Syren sweet;
The long swift Vessel in the Turkey Fleet:
The silver Faulcon, and three Horned-beasts
Which make fat Pasties at our City Feasts.
The noble Queens Arms, and the ancient Crest
Of good Sir Thomas, there among the rest.
And many more, which now are of great Fame
In the same place, for selling of the same.
VVherefore they must and will Top-gallant ride,
So long as Gresham standeth by their side;
VVith whom we will Conclude our present Story
VVho was the Founder of
Great Brittain's Glory.





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