with Intent to take in the Towne, fpoyle and burne it, when fuddenly, even upon their Entrance, the Players (Ignorant as the Townes-Men of any fuch Attempt) prefenting prefenting a Battle on the Stage with their Drum and Trumpets ftrooke up a lowd Alarme: which the Enemy hearing, and fearing they were discovered, amazedly retired, made fome few idle Shot in a Bravado, and fo in a hurly-burly fled diforderly to their Boats. At the Report of this Tumult, the Townes-Men were immediatly armed, and pursued them to the Sea, prayfing God for their happy Deliverance from fo great a Danger, who by his Providence, made thefe Strangers the Inftrument and fecondary Meanes of their Escape from fuch imminent Mifchife, and the Tyranny of fo remorceleffe an Enemy. A ftrange Accident happening at a Play. Another of the like Wonder happened at Amfterdam in Holland, a Company of our English Comedians (well knowne) travelling thofe Countreyes, as they were before the Burghers and other the chiefe Inhabitants, acting the laft Part of the 4 Sons of Aymon, towards the last Act of the History, where penitent Renaldo, like a common Labourer, lived in Difguife, vowing as his laft Pennance, to labour and carry Burdens to the Structure of a goodly Church there to be erected whofe Diligence the Labourers envying, fince by reason of his Stature and Strength, hee did ufually perfect more worke in a Day, then a Dozen of the beft, (hee working for his Confcience, they for their Lucres.) Whereupon by reafon his Industry had fo much difparaged their living, confpired amongst themselves to kill him, waiting fome Opportunity to finde him afleepe, which they might eafily doe, fince the foreft Labourers are the foundeft Sleepers, and Industry is the beft Preparative to Reft. Having spy'd their Opportunity, they drave a Naile into his Temples, of which Wound immediatly he dyed. As the Actors handled this, the Audience might on a fodaine understand an Out-cry, and loud fhrike in a remote Gallery, and preffing about the Place, they might perceive a Woman of great Gravity, ftrangely amazed, who with a diftracted and troubled Braine oft fighed out thefe Words: Oh my Hufband, my Husband! The Play without further Interruption proceeded; the Woman was to her owne Houfe conducted, without any apparant Sufpition, every one conjecturing as their Fancies led them. In this Agony fhe some few Daies languifhed, and on a Time, as certaine of her well difpofed Neighbours came to comfort her, one amongst the rest being Church-Warden, to him the Sexton posts, to tell him of a strange Thing happening him in the ripping up of a Grave: fee here (quoth he) what I have found, and thewes them a faire Skull, with a great Nayle pierft quite through the Braine-Pan, but we cannot conjecture to whom it fhould belong, nor how long it hath laine in the Earth, the Grave being contufed, and the Flefh confumed. At the Report of this Accident, the Woman, out of the Trouble of her afflicted Confcience, difcovered a former Murder. For 12 Yeares ago, by driving that Nayle into that Skull, being the Head of her Hufband, fhe had trecheroufly flaine him. This being publickly confeft, fhe was arraigned, condemned, adjudged, and burned. But I draw my Subject to greater Length VOL. I. then Dd then I purposed; these therfore out of other Infinites, I have collected, both for their Familiarneffe and Lateneffe of Memory. Thus our Antiquity we have brought from the Grecians in the Time of Hercules: from the Macedonians in the Age of Alexander: from the Romans long before Julius Cæfar, and fince him, through the Reigns of 23 Emperours fucceeding, even to Marcus Aurelius: after him they were fupported by the Mantuans, Venetians, Velencians, Neapolitans, the Florentines and others, fince, by the German Princes, the Palfgrave, the LandsCardinall grave, the Dukes of Saxony, of Brounswicke, &c. The Cardinall Alfonfus. at Bruxels, hath at this Time in Pay, a Company of our English Comedians. The French King allowes certaine Companies in Paris, Orleans, befides other Cities: fo doth the King of Spaine, in Civill, Madrill, and other Provinces. But in no Country they are of that Eminence that ours are: fo our moft royall, and ever renouned Soveraigne, hath licenced us in London: fo did his Predeceffor, the thrice vertuous Virgin, Queene Elizabeth, and before her, her Sifter, Queene Mary, Edward the Sixth, and their Father, Henry the Eighth and before thefe in the tenth Yeare of the Reigne of Edward the Fourth, Anuo, 1490. John Stowe, an ancient and grave Chronicler, records (amongst other Varieties tending to the like Effect) that a Play was acted at a Place called Skinners-well, faft by Clerken-well, which continued eight Dayes, and was of Matter from Adam and Eve, (the first Creation of the World.) The Spectators were no worse then the Royalty of England. And amongst other commendable Exercises in this Place, the Company of the Skinners of London held certaine yearely folemne Playes. In Place wherof, now in these latter Daies, the Wrastling, and fuch other Paftimes. Times kept have been kept, and is ftill held about Bartbolmew-tide. Alfo in Tide. the Yeare 1390. the 14. Yeare of the Reigne of Richard the Second, the 18. of July, were the like Interludes recorded at the fame Place, which continued 3 Dayes together, the King and Queene, and Nobility being there prefent. Moreover, to this Day, in divers Places of England, there be Townes that hold the Priviledge of their Faires, and other Charters by yearely Stage-Playes, as at Manningtree in Suffolke, Kendall in the North, and others. To let these paffe, as Things familiarly knowne to all Men. Now to speake of fome Abuse lately crept into the Quality, as an inveighing against the State, the Court, the Law, the Citty, and their Governements, with the particularizing of private Mens Humors (yet alive) Noble-men, and others. I know it diftaftes many; neither do I any Way approve it, nor dare I by any Meanes excufe it. The Liberty which fome arrogate to themfelves, committing their Bitterneffe, and liberall Invectives against all Estates, to the Mouthes of Children, fuppofing their Juniority to be a Priviledge for any rayling, be it never fo violent, I could advise all fuch, to curbe and limit this prefumed Liberty within the Bounds of Difcretion and Government. But wife and juditiall Cenfurers, before whom fuch Complaints fhall at any Time hereafter come, wil not (I hope) impute thefe Abuses to any Tranfgreffion in us, who have ever been carefull and provident to fhun the like. I furceafe to profecute this any further, left my good Meaning be (by fome) miscon Atrued a Arued and fearing likewife, left with Tedioufneffe I tire the Patience of the favourable Reader, heere (though abruptly) I conclude my third and laft TREATISE. Sultitiam patiuntur opes, mibi parvula res est. The Order and Solemnitie of the Creation of the high Together with the Ceremonies of the Knights of the Bath, and other Whereunto is annexed the Royall Mafke, prefented by the Queene H Printed at Britains Burje for John Budge. 1610. IS Majestie afwell to fhew the Bounty of his Affection towards his deereft Sonne, the Prince, as to fettle in the Hearts of his loving Subjects a lively Impreffion of his royall Care for Continuance of the happy, and peacefull Governement of this Land, in his Iffue and Pofterity; having determined to inveft his Princely Highneffe, with thofe Titles and Dignities which the former Princes of this Realme have usually beene adorned: It feemed fitteft, both in Regard of his Highneffe Yeeres, now arriving at Mans Estate, and fhewing rare Proofes of heroicall Vertue, and alfo for that it would be a Matter moft gratefull and acceptable to that honourable Affembly, to have the Solemnities thereof performed in this prefent Parliament. Wherefore the Time approaching, his Majefties Pleafure fignified, and Preparation made accordingly, on Wednesday, the thirtieth of May laft, his Highneffe accompanied (befides the ordinary Traine of his Houfehold) with divers young Lords and Gentlemen of fpeciall Marke, departed from his Houfe of St. James, towards Richmond, where being come towards Evening, he fupped and repofed himselfe for that Night. Next Morning, being Thursday about nine of the Clocke, he tooke Water to returne againe to London, attended only with fome few Barges of his owne Followers, and fuch Noblemen and others, as accompanied him thither the Day before. Dd 2 Paffing Paffing foftly downe the Streame, he was feverally encountered by divers Lords, which came to meete him on the Way: the Thames began foone to flote with Botes and Barges, hafting from all Parts to meete him, and the Shores on eyther Side, where Conveniency of Place would give Way to their Defires, fwarmed with Multitudes of People, which stood wayting with greedy Eyes to beholde his triumphant Paffage. About Eleven of the Clocke, understanding that the Tide was falne fo low, as there would not be convenient Roome for all the Barges in his Traine to go orderly downe, notwithstanding his firft Appointment was to have come to London about Noone, and Dinner prepared for him accordingly at Whiteball, hee made stay at Barne Elmes, and there Landing, refreshed himselfe in an Arbour by the Water Side, and tooke a fhort Repaft of fuch Sweet-Meats and other Things, as could there be provided on the fudden. By this Time the Lord Mayor and Aldermen of London, with the feverall Companies of the Citie, honorably furnish'c and appointed, and disposed in faire Order, were ready attending with a great Traine and fumptuous Showe, to receive his Highneffe at Chelsey: their Barges deck't with Banners, Streamers and Enfignes, and fundry Sortes of loud-founding Inftruments, aptly placed amongst them. There were alfo two artificiall Sea-Monsters, one in Fashion of a Whale, the other like a Dolphin, with Perfons richly apparrelled, fitting upon them," who at the meeting and parting of the Lord Mayor and his Company, with the Prince, were to deliver certaine Speeches unto him. In this goodly Manner this well furnish't Fleet of the City received his Highnes fomewhat beyond Chelfey about two of the Clock in the Afternoone: and after the Lord Mayor and Aldermens Salutation, humbly presented and gratiously accepted by his Highneffe, they turned their Stemmes, and fo proceeded towards London: obferving this Courfe, that whereas at their Approach the Lord Mayors Barge, came foremost, and the Companies every one in their Degrees followed after; now that Order being chaunged, the Companies went before, the meaneft in Place firft, the reft according to their feverall Rankes fucceffively enfuing, and laftly the Lord Mayor attended with his two Sea-monfters on eyther Side, going immediately before the Prince and conducting his joyfull Paffage to the Citie. Next after the Princes Barge followed his Servants, and the Barges of fundry Noble-men, and others which had met him on the Way; and on every Side, fuch a confused Company of Botes of all Sortes fraught with Beholders, as it seemed the River (though then enlarged to her utmost Limits by the Tides friendly Advantage) was too little to containe them as likewife the Land on eyther Shore, which never felt the Weight of fuch an Infinity of People upon any former Occafion. Approaching neere to White-ball, the King and Queene with the young Duke of Yorke and Lady Elizabeth ftood in the privie Gallerie Window, to fee the Order of their Comming, and that his Majestie might take the better Viewe of the Lord Mayor and Citizens Show, they were appointed to paffe along on London Side, whilft the Prince in the meane while fetched a Com paffe paffe about by Lambeth; and fo comming to White-bal Bridge (where the Lord Maior and Aldermen tooke Leave of his Highneffe) there landed, . his Landing being congratulated with a loude peale of Chambers from the other Side of the Water: which in their thundring Voyces carried up to the Skie, the Joy of the Peoples Hearts conveyed in the Iffue of these happy Triumphs. At his Highneffe comming on Shore his Servants attended upon the Bridge to receive him, making a Guard for him to paffe thorow to the Hall, ! where he was entertained by the Lord Knols, and the Lord Wotton Treasurer: and Controller of the Houfhold: likewife in the great Chamber by Vicount. Fenton Captaine of the Guard, in the Prefence by the Earle of Suffolke, Lord! Chamberlaine, and laftly by the King and Queene in the Privy Chamber. After which his Highneffe repofed himselfe, and fo ended that Dayes Solemnity. On Munday following the Lords and Peeres of the Realme being all affembled in Parliament, his Majefty accompanied with the Prince, who was that Morning to be invefted in his Principalitie, tooke Water at the Privy Staires at White-bal, and landing together at Westminster Bridge, his Majesty paffed directly to the Parliament-house, and the Prince to the Court of Wardes, from whence, after a whiles tarryance for the difpofing of Things in due Order, his Highneffe proceeded in this Manner to his Creation. First went the Heralds and Officers of Armes in their rich Coates, next followed the Knights of the Bath, being five and twentie in Number, apparrelled in long Roabes of purple Satin, lyned with white Taffata; then Garter principall King of Armes, bearing the Letters Patents, the Earle of Suflex the purple Robes, the Train borne by the Earle of Huntingdon, the Earle of Cumberland the Sword, the Earle of Rutland the Ring, the Earle of Derby the Rod, and the Earle of Shrewsbury the Cap and Coronet. His princely Highneffe fupported by the Earles of Nottingham and Northampton came bare headed, and fo entring the Parliament Chamber, where the King was fet in his Throne, and the whole State of the Realme in Order (divers Strangers and forraigne Ambaffadours being prefent) he made low Obeyfance to his Majestie three Times, and after the third Time, when he was come neere to the King, kneeled downe on a rich Pillow or Cufhion, whilft the Earle of Salisbury read his Letters Patents. Then his Majeftie at the reading of the Wordes of Inveftiture put the Robes upon him, and girded on the Sword, invested him with the Rod and Ring, and fet the Cap and Coronet on his Head; with which Ceremony the Creation being accomplished, he arofe, and was by the Earles of Worcester and Suffolke brought and feated in his Place of Parliament on the left Hand of his Majeftie. Having fo remained a while, all Ceremonies finished, his Majeftie with the whole Court of Parliament, rofe up and defcended into the Hal, paffing forth towards the Bridge in folemne and stately Manner: the foremost as they proceeded in Order, were the Clerkes and Masters of the Chancerie, with the Kings Councell and other Minifters of the Law: next came the Officers of Armes, and then the Knights of the Bath as before: after them the Judges, |