Londini status pacatus: or, Londons peaceable estate Exprest in sundry triumphs, pageants, and shewes, at the innitiation of the right Honourable Henry Garvvay, into the Majoralty of the famous and farre renowned city London. All the charge and expence, of the laborious projects both by water and land, being the sole undertakings of the Right Worshipfull Society of Drapers. Written by Thomas Heyvvood.

The first Shew by water.

IS a person representing the ancient River Nilus, mounted in a Sea-Chariot, and seated upon a sil∣ver Scallop (the plat-forme decored with Marine Nimphs and Goddesses) his habit suiting with the nature of the river, in his right hand a seven-forked Scepter, alluding to the seven heads, or as many Channells through which he runnes; and there∣fore by Ovid, cald Septem-fluus: he is drawne by two Crocadiles, which may be reckoned amongst the Amphibiae, as living in, and pertaking of the two Elements, Earth and Water: the river it selfe by sundry Inundations watereth the whole Land of Aegypt, leaving behind it a slime, or moist Clay, which serveth for a male or manuring, to make the soyle more fertill. The originall head from which it flowes is uncertaine, which Claudian thus expres∣seth: Et Arcanos Nili deprendite fontes. The Eccle∣siasticall Writers hold it for one of the foure rivers that floweth from the earthly Paradise; in divers places it changeth name, according to the scituati∣on of the shores through which it runnes: it brings forth Reedes, whose filmes or inward rinds are much like our Paper, and for a need may be writ upon; and therefore by the Poets cald Nilus papyri∣fer: of all other rivers it onely breedeth Crocadiles, and Hippotami, Aequi fluviales, Sea Horses.

The Crocadile is a Serpent that from a small Egge, growes in short time to a mighty length and big∣nesse,

for some of them have bin 22 Cubits long, it hath ••our feet, with which he runnes as swiftly on land as hee swims by water; he is bold over those that fly him, but fearefull of those that pursue him; the foure winter moneths, Novem∣ber, December, Ianuary and February, he eats not at all; hee hath no tongue, but teeth sharpe and long; neither in fee∣ding doth he move his lower jaw: briefly, hee is terrible to man and beast, and preyes on both; but I leave them and come to the speaker.

Nilus.

NIlus an ancient River, knowne to excell Amongst those foure, (which before Adam fell Watred the earthly Paradise) now claimes A new alliance with his brother Thames.

Martia, so cald of Marsius, who to win The praise from great Apollo, lost his skin: Amphrisus, who his name shall ever keepe, Since there Apollo kept Admetus Sheepe. Nor yet Cremera, by whose firtile side Three hundred and sixe Fabij at once dide. Xantus, and Simois, those too famous floods, So often stain'd in Greeke and Trojan bloods: Nor let Pharsalian Enepeus boast In Caesars triumph, o're great Pompies hoast: Deucalion bragge not of Cephisus for'd, Because neere it lost man-kind he restor'd: Caister of her Swans, Permessus cleere, Proud that the Muses were delighted there. Pactolus, nor Idaspes, fam'd of old For glittering Channells, pav'd with pearle and gold. Let none of these compare with aged Nile, Who onely breeds the weeping Crocodile.

Who drew we hither to the Celebration, Of this your great loud voyc'd inauguration.

Grave and judicious Praetor, O make me Your happy Embleame; since as I foresee By reason, that in Aegypt falls no raine, There needs must be a dearth of grasse and graine; Therefore, by frequent Inundations, I In my great care, that needfull want supply: So Magistrates (of which you prime and best We must acknowledge) ought to the distrest: In your known gravity and goodnesse cast The future to provide for, salve what's past.

My seven-fold Scepters Hierogliphick, tels Seven heads, from which (my mighty river swels, Seven liberall arts (by you maintaind) expresse Your Cities magnitude and worthinesse.

And as you see my Crocodiles I sway, (Monsters, which both by land and water prey) If any such here breed? as some no doubt, In place and Office may be; search them out: And then, what greater honour can you claime, Then such rude beasts like me to curbe and tame?

But y'are too long detain'd; I next commend you, Vnto those Triumphs that on Land attend you.