ALL Triumphes have their Titles , and so this , according to the nature thereof , beareth a name : It is called Londini 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , that is , Speculum , more plainly , Londons Mirrour , neither altogether unproperly so termed , since she in her selfe may not onely perspicuously behold her owne vertues , but all forraigne Cities by her , how to correct their vices .

Her Antiquity she deriveth from Brute , lineally discended from Aeneas , the sonne of Anchises and Venus , and by him erected , about the yeare of the world two thousand eight hundred fifty five : before the Nativity of our blessed Saviour , one thousand one hundred and eight : first cald by him Trinovantum , or Troy-novant , New Troy , to continue the remembrance of the old , and after , in the processe of time Caier Lud , that is , Luds Towne , of King Lud , who not onely greatly repaired the City , but increased it with goodly and gorgeous buildings ; in the West part whereof , he built a strong gate , which hee called after his owne name Lud gate , and so from Luds Towne , by contraction of the word and dialect used in those times , it came since to be called London .

I will not insist to speake of the name of Maior , which implyeth as much as the greater , or more prime person ; such were the Praetors , or Proefecti in Rome , neither were the Dictators any more , till Iulius Caesar aiming at the Imperiall Purple , was not content with that annuall honour , which was to passe successively from one to another , but he caused himselfe to be Elected Perpetuus Dictator , which was in effect no lesse than Emperor .

And for the name of Elder-man , or Alder-man , it is so ancient , that learned Master Cambden in in his Britan. remembreth unto us , that in the daies of Royal King Edgar , a noble Earle , and of the Royall blood , whose name was Alwin , was in such favour with the King , that be was stiled Healf Kunning , or halfe King , and had the stile of Alderman of all England : This man was the first founder of a famous Monastery in the Isle of Ely , where his body lies interred , upon whose Tombe was an inscription in Latin , which I have , verbatim , thus turned into English , Here resteth Alwin , couzen to King Edgar , Alderman of all England , and of this Holy Abbey the miraculous founder . And so much ( being tide to a briefe discourse ) may serve for the Antiquity of London , and the Titles for Maior or Alderman .

I come now to the Speculum , or Mirrour . Plutarch tels us , That a glasse in which a man or woman behold their faces , is of no estimation or value ( though the frame thereof be never so richly deckt with gold & gemmes , unlesse it represent unto us the true figure and obiect . Moreover , that such are foolish and flattering glasses , which make a sad face to looke pleasant , or a merry countenance melancholy : but a perfect and a true Christall , without any falsity or flattery ; rendreth every obiect its true forme , and proper figure , distinguishing a smile from a wrincle ; and such are the meanes many times to bridle our refractory affections : for who being in a violent rage , would be pleased that his servant should bring him a glasse wherein hee might behold the torvity and strange alteration of his countenance ? Minerva playing upon a Pipe , was mockt by a Satyre in these words .

But though she despised his Councell for the present , when after , playing upon the same Pipe , in which she so much delighted , shee beheld in a river such a change in her face , shee cast it from her , and broke it asunder , as knowing that the sweetnes of her musick could not countervaile or recompence that deformity which it put upon her countenance , and therefore I have purposed so true and exact a Mirrour , that in it may be discovered as well that which beautifies the governour , as deformes the government .

One thing more is necessitously to be added , and then I fall upon the showes in present agitation : namely , that the fellowship of the Merchant Adventurers of England were first trusted with the sole venting of the manufacture of Cloth out of this kingdome , & have for above this 4 hundred years traded in a priviledged , & wel governed course , in Germany , the Low Countries , &c. and have beene the chiefe meanes to raise the manufacture of all wollen commodities to that height in which it now existeth , which is the most famous staple of the Land , and whereby the poore in all Countries are plentifully maintained : and of this Company his Lordship is free : as also of the Levant , or Turkey , and of the East India Company , whose trading hath beene , and is in these forraine adventures : also who spent many yeares and a great part of his youth abroad in other Countries .

N●● the first show by water is presented by St. Katherine , of whom I will give you this short Character : She was the daughter of King Costus , and had the generall title of Queene of Famogosta , because crowned in that City , being lineally discended from the Roman Emperors , who as she lived a Virgin so she dyed a Martyr , under the Tyrant Maxentius , whose Empresse with divers other eminent persons she had before converted to the Faith : she rideth on a Scallop , which is part of his Lordships Coate of Armes , drawne in a Sea-Chariot , by two Sea-horses with divers other adornments to beautifie the peece ; the Art of which , the eye may better discover , than my pen describe , and why she being a Princesse , and Patronesse of this Company of the Haberdashers , who onely ruled on the Land , should at this time appeare upon the water , and without any iust taxation , to make that cleare , shee thus delivereth her selfe .

These few following Lines may , ( and not impertinently ) be added unto Iupiters message , delivered by Mercury , which though too long for the Bardge , may perhaps not shew lame in the booke , as being lesse troublesome to the Reader than the Rower .

The second show , but the first by Land , is presented by the great Philosopher Pythagoras , Samius , the sonne of Menarchus ; which being outwardly Sphericall and Orbicular , yet being opened it quadrates it selfe iust into so many Angles as there be Scepters , over which his Sacred Maiesty beareth title : namely , England , Scotland , France , and Ireland , concerning which number of foure , I thus Read : Pythagoras and his Schollers , who taught in his schooles , that Ten was the nature and soule of all number ; one Reason which he gave ( to omit the rest ) was , because all nations , as well civill as barbarous , can tell no farther than to the Denary , which is Ten , and then returne in their account unto the Monady , that is one : For example , from Tenne wee proceed to Eleven and Twelve , which is no more than Ten and One , Ten and Two , and so of the rest , till the number rise to an infinite .

Againe hee affirmeth , that the strength and vertue of all number consisteth in the quaternion ; for beginning with one , two , three and foure , put them together and they make ten ; he saith further , that the nature of number consisteth in ten , and the faculty of number is comprized in foure : in which respect the Pythagoreans expresse their holy oath in the quaternion , which they cal'd 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , as may appear in these words .

For they held the soule of man to subsist in that number , proportionating it into these foure Faculties , Mens , Scientia , Opinio , Sensus , the Mind , Knowledge , Opinion , and Sence , and therefore according to that number Pythagoras frames his Speech , alluding to those foure Kingdomes over which his Maiesty beareth title .