The beame of brightnesse. Or The three faire sisters of Christendome Containing: a disputation betweene the three famous citties in Europe. Viz. Venice, Paris and London, with their differences. Composed by William Venner, gentleman.

The three faire Sisters of Christendome , conteining a Disputation of the three famous Citties in Europe , and their differences : viz. Paris in France , Venice and London . Paris to London . PRoud English Sister fall vpon thy knee , and aske forgiuenesse of my angry gate : Thy shining beauty hath dishonored mee , thy fained loue deserues my mortall hate . Know I am Paris that doth check thee so , Whose fame & beauty through the world doth go . London to Paris . Faire famous sister , 't is no swelling pride , that makes me term'd the beautie of the earth : What all men giue , thy enuie cannot hide , although thou seek'st for to aduance thy birth , Thus much I le speake without reproche to thee , Thou knowst when thou wast seruant vnto me . Venice to London . Peace prating girle , call her not thy inferior , shee hath that in her , thou canst not obtaine : Both I and shee , will now be thy superior , to call thee Sister now we both disdaine . I am ingirt with Seas , shee with the land , And what canst thou haue more at thy command ? London to Venice . Venetia's virgin maske thy blushing face , thy walls salt water are , salter's thy sinne : Thy common Curtizans sheweth thy deep disgrace though by their lust thou dost much profit winn . Thou harbourest murther , rape , and iealousie , My maiden-streetes doe scorne their company . Both to London . Doost thou accuse vs of so small abuses , we can condemne thy streets of twenty more : First thy Stage Players seruing for no vses , but to inrich themselues to make thee poore . Next cousning wits that on poore guls are whetting And all thy shops polluted are with cheating . London to both . Blush both with shame , for this you haue reported , since I am gouerned with the sword of right : True Iustice in my maiden Towne is seated , whose honor makes my beauty shine more bright : My wedded Lord doth sit in Iustice chaire , For to aduance me , thrice honored Lord Mayor . And for those players that do so offend you , they can lay open all your secret vices : And for your vertues they likwise wil commend you , you speake but what foule enuie you intises : Within my maiden walls I scorne to heare them . Yet all the world for action comes not neere them . But to come to , a neare particular , chant out your worthes wherwith you are indued : When you haue done with tearmes familiar , I le shew you what within me may be viewed . She that her fame with truth doth most make glister Shall be esteemed for the worthiest Sister . Both to London . Wee are content , thy motion 's reasonable , beshrew the heart of them that would deny it : And let it be recorded in a table , that all may read our praises that passe by it . Paris . Pray sister peace ( if I be not mistaken , ) Hir pride and state shall by my worth be shaken . Venice . Paris begin , and London listen to it , her faire discription will force thee looke pale : If not , then London know , Venice will do it , yet will we both vouchsafe to heare thy tale . Chearly sweet London , do not looke so thin , Me thinkest thou faint'st before our tale begin . London to both . Stretch out your fame vnto the largest bower , I le sit and heare your praise with patience : Know worthy sisters , that it is my order , to grace a strangers words with audience , Report the truth , and then my griefe is cured , I le speake no falshood , be yee both assured . Paris description of her selfe . My name is Paris , London view my face , know I am Grand-mother to mighty France , And am well scituated in a place , where gods and goddesses may seeme to dance . In me there flowes faire fountaines & sweet springs , I am the seate of the first Christian Kings . My riches passeth all my skill to tell , yet thus much to report I may be bold : What other Cities haue , I haue to sell , from meanest mettall , to the purest gold ▪ Orrenges , Limmons , White and Clarret wine , London , thou borrowest from my tree and Vine . I want for nothing that the earth can yeeld , my gouernment is ciuill , rich , and faire , I stand on drye ground in a pleasant field , the heauens breath in me , their wholsome ayre . Except sweet Venice , none in Europs horrizon , Compares with Paris , Paris without comparison . For my religion , 't is the Romaine faith , in me the holy Monkes and Friars sing : The holy Vicar , much good of me saith , whose loue I do esteeme aboue my King . Rich in religion , rich in wealth and all , Last ; whiles the world stands , Paris cannot fall . Venice to London . How likes faire London of the French maids words I am assur'd I shall not neede to speake : I see thy heart is cut as t were with swords , and thou for Lady Paris art too weake . Therefore I count my speeches should be vaine , Vnlesse thy pride should stir me vp againe . London to both . Pardon me both , I was almost a sleepe , to heare the singing of the holy Fryars , Me thought their bells such ratling did keepe , within my eares : yet grant me my desires . Faire Venice speake your worth , Paris defend it , And when you both haue done , I le helpe to mend it . Venice description of her selfe to London . I know that I thy patience shall disturbe , but yet poore London , thou of force must heare me , Know I am Venice , mistresse of the Orbe , no humaine force on th' earth , ther'i 's can feare me . My walls are mighty galleis on the maine , I feare not Roome , nor stand in awe of Spaine . No ratling Cart or Waggon runnes in me , but gentle Gundels swimming ore the streame . I am admired for my courtesie , great Dukes do quaile , if I of anger dreame . I le beg for no Kings loue , deride all hate , I 'me more then Venice , the Venetian state . In rich attire all my men goe clad , my women masked from the scorching sunne , To trade with me all forreners are glad , I gaine by all , and all by me haue wonne . Each Curtizan that doth in me remaine , Doth tribute pay out of the gould they gaine . Thus doe I dwell securely in the sea , what I can wish is brought me by the maine : And though salt water comes in euery where , yet all my welles sweet water doe containe , Of all the world my state is holden wise , All call me the faire flower of marchandise . For my religion Paris , t is like to thine , I loue the Pope and seeme not to gainsay him : But if he once command the least of mine , I le smile at his command , and not obay him . Thus doe I liue a famous Virgin free , Commanding all , yet none commandeth me . Paris to London . I wounded thee but this faire Queene hath slain thee her royall praise hath strucke thee to the heart : And London know we euer will disdaine thee , if thou from vs in this dumbe shew depart . Therefore le ts heere what you can briefly say , Although you beare your share of shame away . London to both . I must confesse you are exceeding faire , and both your largenesse farre surpasseth mine : Paris is ritch , Venice is full of ware , and both well stor'd with fruite and choisest wine : Since this and more my eye in you doth see , giue leaue , I le shew you what there is in me . Both to London . Speake free thy mynde for we ar both content , and will acknowledge thou art wonderous kind . Sith that thy Iudgment is so frendly spent , vpon our worthes , our fauor thou shalt finde . We long to heare thy worth what it may be , If thou canst equall ours wee le all agree . Londons Description . First Lady Paris I adresse to you , you stand on Champion ground and so do I , No stately shipping comes vnto your view : thankes be to heauen my dwellings not so drie , Paris wants seas , Venice wants hills of chalke , London wants neither water , nor sweet walke . At both your riches London doth not grudge , if thou desire some of my wealth to see , Walke but directly ouer my faire bridge , to my exchange and then you le honor me , From thence to Paules , & more wealth shal be spied , But winke not with your left eye in Cheapside . My honorable Lord doth gouerne me , with his wise brethren and a worthy shrieue : Where equity and Iustice you shall see , in larger measure then you can beleeue , As wide as is the world my fame doth ring , I am a seate for Prince for Queene and King I am arts Mistris and the tradsmans nurse , I am the high way to Pernassus mount : How many strangers come with loden purse , to buy the water of my Nimphy fount . For trades I am a plaine community , For art a tenfould Vniuersity , Both to London . Peace speake no more , our anger is abated , No more wee le striue for soueraignity : Thy worth of vs is now beloud , not hated , giue vs thy hand wee le sweare true amity . Venice is faire , Paris is large and wide , London is ritch it cannot be denyed . London to both . You interrupt me ere my tale is done , foure Tearmes are holden in me euery yeare : My countrymen vnto me ride and runne , and doe inritch me , yet I am not deare , Yet this is nothing to that I now shall tell , By which you both shall say I doe excell . My maisters can command their seruants so , they must fulfill it without all replie : If they command , their men with speed to goe , with willing mind all sloath they doe defie . Yet giue me leaue I must speake one thing more , More worth then all , that I haue spoke before . For my Religion it is profound , in Iesus Christ I build my cheefest hope : Gods word , the sacred scripture is my ground , and not the diuelish doctrine of the Pope . You both are blinded with his false illusion , which not foreseene will worke your own confusion . Both to London . Sweete sister peace for you haue sham'd vs both , and prickt our consciences with endlesse griefe : We must giue thee the best , though we are loath , yet hast thou got it and thou must be cheefe Thinke kindly of vs , worthiest of the three , And let our Trafficke with thee still be free . London to both Thinke you of me , as I will doe of you , no pride nor enuie dwelleth in my heart : You gaue me that which is mine owne by due , yet still with me you shall haue sisters part : Vse me for trafficke and transporting still , My heart is free to thinke the least of ill . Now farewell Sisters England calls me hence , and I must goe , good haps betide you both , Yet thus much vnderstand without offence , to change my wealth with both I would be loath . Yet will I yeeld the best on this condition , That you cast off your grounded superstition . Paris to both . Farewell sweet London thou hast conquered me , I now must take my leaue and flie for France : My studie shall be to speake well of thee , thy words haue strooke poore Paris in a trance , Faire sister Venice thrise farewell to thee , But to braue London I must seruant be , London to Paris . Nay say not so , no seruant you shall be , Dublin and Edenborough my faire handmaids are , Faire Hollands Girles their duties shew to me , t is I deliuered them from hand of war , Paris , in loue , faire London takes thy hand , To thee vnited in a true-loues band . The Beame of Brightnesse . Paris adiew . Much honored Maide , eterniz'd be thy fame , may Paris liue to doe thee seruice still : Heauens plague on them , that seeke to worke thy shame , or haue intent to wroke thee any ill . The winde is Nore , and I will post to France , Where Londons name , I Paris will aduance . Venice to London . Paris is gone to France , but wretched I , will hast vnto the Adriattick sea : My streets shall salt teares weepe , and nere be dry , sith that I am constrained to obay . Yet louely London , this report of mee , I am the second , worthiest next to thee . London to Venice . Be sure me Venice , but I will report , thy fame and credit may coequall mine : Yet one thing there is wanting in thy Court , which I containe , that is Gods word deuine . Yet truly Venice , this I le say to thee , I loue thee , and thou shalt haue peace with mee . Venice farewell . More louely then my loue can set thee forth , more famous far , then fame hath skill to call thee : My might is much , but little to thy worth , and thus I wish all endlesse ioyes befall thee . London command mee , where thou wilt and when , God prosper thee , thus Venice sayes Amen . Londons Conclusion . They both are gone , and left me heare alone , I wish them well , though first they enuied mee , I euer shall enioy my natiue home . to let my country-men my beauty see . Venice commands the Seas , Paris the land , London , both sea and land , at her command . Great God preserue my royall Emperour , the Queene , the Prince , the Councell , & my Lord , His worthy brethren , and each venturour , that can for them and me their loue affoord . Plant Preachers in me , to beate vices downe , Last with thy hand defend my maiden towne . Amen . FINIS .