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,
2 Not a Romantick, but a real Story,
Which did of late eclipſe Great Britains Glory.
The great Fire in London, An. Dom. 1666.
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 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 be friend,
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:
3 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,
VVhen 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;
4 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 ſury 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 Houriſh more,
Then it hath done for many years before.
Heavens ſay Amen, and fend it with all ſpeed,
(This we will hope) And now my muſe proceed
5 Unto thy main and principal deſign
At firſt intended, namely to define
The preſent ſtate, and laſtrie 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 what e'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,
6 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 delare
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 Quueen 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
7 Doth ſo tranſport me, that I cannot well
Expreſs my ſelf, 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 Leige 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
8 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 bear 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,
9 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 a dieu 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 unto 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;
10 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 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 Caezars 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,
11 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.
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 Iſſe,
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.
**The Sun Tavern be hind the Exchange, the Sign whereof was put up in the night time.
*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
I th' front thereof, but only in the rear;
For when at firſt he did this place behold,
And on the top ſo much refulgent Gold,
13 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 a ſleep)
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 fight,
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 pay 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 forrorn,
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 ſtraight way 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 conſenr,
(Juſt as our Members now in Parliament)
Did then reſolve (where at the Sun did hollow)
That now god Bacchus and the great Apollo,
14 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 Comiſſion,
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,
VVhereat 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;
15 Here in the Front our Royal Charles's ſtand
Like Roman Caeſars, 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 VVars,
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 ſtinch 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 rhe reſt, that they now muſt give way.
Out 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 Sonthern 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.
16We 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 riſe:
Then by this means (O that we were all ſuch)
We need not fear the Hogan Mogan Dutch;
17 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 freqent 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.
18VVhat 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, of times or'e and or'e
To buy ſuch knacks, they never ſaw before
And as they paſs along, they oft do cry.
That John Tredusk in here they do outvy.
In pretty knacks and toyes, which to their ſight
Seems very ſtrange, but yet of great delight.
19Here'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.
20The Kings of England, and the Maiden Queen,
Which on the North-ſide, here are to be ſeen.
Six of theſe Caeſars 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.
DƲRHAM, 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.
21And 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