The triumphs of London prepared for the entertaiment [sic] of the right honorable Sir Thomas Lane, knight, Lord Mayor of the city of London. Containing a full description of the pageants, speeches, songs, and the whole solemnity of the day. Performed one Monday the 29 of October, 1694. Set forth at the proper cost and charges of the honorable Company of Clothworkers. Published by authority.

TO THE Honourable Company OF CLOTHWORKERS.

Gentlemen,

IN my Address to the Company of Clothworkers, I am en∣tred within those Walls that lead me to a very fair Survey of no common Worth and Merit. For I may justly con∣cede You this Fair Renown, viz. That the whole Gran∣deur of England is in a high measure owing to your worthy So∣ciety. For as the Gold of our Fleece, and the Wealth of our LOOM is in a manner our whole English Peru: And the back of the Sheep, and not the Entrayls of the Earth is our chief Mine of Riches. The Silkworm is no Spinster of ours; and our Wheele and our Webb, Gentlemen, are all your own.

Thus as Trade is the life-blood of the English Nation, and indeed the very Supporter of the Crown; so the greatest Branch of the English Trade lies in the Clothworkers Hands. Our Floating Castles, I confess, Our Naval Commerce, bring us in both the Or and the Argent, and indeed the whole wealth of the World: They bring it in, 'tis true, but when throughly exa∣mined, 'tis Your CLOTH sends out to fetch 'em. And thus whilst the Imperial Britannia is so formidable to her Foes, and

so potent to her Friends, her Strength and her Power, when duly consider'd, to the Clothworkers Honour I may justly say, 'tis Your Shuttle nerves her Arm, and Your Woof that enrobes her Glory.

But not to insist upon that single Merit alone, the Extent of Your Trade, and the Reputation You have acquired, these being no more than the common work of Your Industry; no, I have a Diviner Theme before me, the Hundreds of Your poor Pensioners that yearly taste Your Bread, and wear Your Cloth, a Cloth so worne, possibly the fairest Web in Your whole Loom.

Nor, Gentlemen, is Your Bounteous Goodness bounded here, Your Charity confined within Your own Gates, Your own Hos∣pitable Roof only: but Your more spreading Acts of Mercy and Humanity have a yet larger Extent. Those two fair Si∣sters, the Vniversities, both Rivals to Your kind Favours, lay their equal claim to Your Gracious Smiles, witness your con∣stant and generous Exhibitions, Your cherishing Hand towards the Nursery of Arts and Sciences.

Thus not only our great Channel of Trade runs through the worthy Clothworkers, but the two Great Fountains of Learn∣ing too must acknowledge You their Patrons and Benefactors. Nay, Your goodness deseends to cherish Literature, even in Inferiour Schools of Youth, supported and maintained by You; and not only so but communicates its cherishing warmth to Age and Grey Hairs; when besides Your Pensioners at home, so many Alms-houses of both Sexes look up to the Honourable Clothworkers for their feeding Hand.

In recounting the Clothworkers Worth, not to walk further into so spacious a Field, 'tis sufficient that Your Charity alone displays You truly Honourable. For Charity as it is the highest Heavenly Vertue, so ir carries likewise the highest worldly Ho∣nour too. For whatever great Names and gay Scutcheons, those emptier Blazons of Worth and Dignity may pretend; there's no Grandeur nor Magnificence equals this. For even Statues and Pyramids are but faint Memorials, and speak but dead Praise;

whilst fed Mouths and cloathed Nakedness are the living Monu∣ments of Honour. The cheerful and Thankful Praiers of the Poor are of all the loudest Trumps of Fame, for their sound reaches Heaven, and makes the sweetest and most greatful Mu∣sick there.

And Gentlemen, as those soft Airs create so divine a Harmo∣nies; to encrease that tuneful Quire, may You never want that generous and continued Succession of Charity, those daily Bene∣factors with full Hands and open Hearts, who in pious emula∣tion of the fair Examples before 'em, shall study to copy from such Illustrious Patterns; so feed the hungry Bellies, so cover the naked Backs, and so warm the chilling Roofs, till in reward of the drooping Heads they raise here below, they come to crown their own above; which with last hearty wish

I am

GENTLEMEN,

Your most humble Servant. E. SETTLE.