Porta pietatis, OR, The Port or Harbour of Piety. Expressed in sundry Triumphs, Pageants, and Shows, at the Initiation of the Right Honourable Sir MAURICE ABBOT Knight, into the Majoralty of the famous and far renowned City London. All the charge and expense of the laborious Projects both by water and Land, being the sole undertaking of the Right Worshipful Company of the Drapers.  
Written by Thomas Heywood.  
Redeunt Spectacula  
Printed at London by I. Okes. 1638.   

To the Right Honourable Sr. Maurice Abbot, Knight, the Lord Maior of this renowned Metropolis, London.  
Right Honourable:  
ANtiquity informs us, in the most flourishing state of Rome, of an Order of the Candidati, so called, because habited in white vesture, betokning Innocence, and those of the noblest Citizens, who in that garb walked the streets with humble looks, and submiss gesture, thereby to insinuate themselves into the grace of the people, being ambitious after honour and Office. Great Lord, it fareth not so with You, who though for inward Candour and sincerity, You may compare with the best of them, yet have been so far from affecting such popularity, that though You in Your great Modesty would willingly have evaded it; yet some places by importunity, and this Your present Praetorship hath by a general suffrage, and the unanimous harmony of a free Election, been conferred upon You.  
Neither can I omit the happiness of Your deceased Father, remarkable in three most fortunate Sons: the one, for many years together, Archbishop of Canterbury, and Metropolitan of all England: another, a reverend Father in God, Bishop of Salisbury: as memorable for his learned Works and Writings, as the other for his Episcopal government in the Church, and Counsel in State. And now lately Your Honoured self, the Lord Maior of this Metropolis, the famous City London: In which, and of which, as you are now Maximus, so it is expected you shall prove Optimus. Grave Sir, it is a known Maxim, that the honour which is acquired by Virtue, hath a perpetual assurance: nor blame my boldness, if I presume to prompt Your memory in what You have long studied: The life of a Magistrate is the rule and square whereby inferior persons frame their carriage and deportment, who sooner assimilate themselves to their Lives than their Laws, which Laws if not executed are of no estimation. But I cease further to trouble Your Lordship, leaving you to Your Honourable charge, with that of the Poet, Qui sua metitur pondera, far potest.  
Your Lordships in all observance Thomas Heywood.   

Londini Porta Pietatis: London's Gate to Piety.  
LONDON and WESTMINSTER are two Twin-sister-Cities; as joined by one Street, so watered by one stream: the first a breeder of grave Magistrates, the second, the buriall-place of great Monarchs; Both famous for their two Cathedrals: the one Dedicated to the honour of Saint Paul, the other of Saint Peter. These I rather concatenate, because as in the one, the Right Honourable the Lord Major receiveth his honour, so in the other he takes his Oath: yet London may be presumed to be the elder, and more excellent in Birth, Means, and Issue; in the first for her Antiquity, in the second for her Ability, in the third, for her numerous Progeny: she and her Suburbs being decore with two several Burses or Exchanges, and beautified with two eminent Gardens of Exercise, known by the names of Artillery and Military. I shall not need to insist much either upon her Extension, or Dimension, nor to compare her with other eminent Cities that were, or are, it having been an Argument treated of by Authentic Authors, and the laborious project of many learned Pens, and frequently celebrated upon the like days of Solemnity.  
And although by the space of Ten years' last passed, there hath not been any Lord Major free of that Company, yet was there within Twelve years before that six Lord Majors of the same. And it shall not be amiss to give you a brief Nomination of some Honourable Praetors, and those of prime Remark in that Company: Sir Henry Fitzalwin Draper, was the first Lord Major of this City, which place he held for four and twenty years together, and upward; and in the first year of his Majoralty, Anno 1210. London-Bridge, which was before made of Timber, was begun to be built of Stone. Sir William Powltney was four times Lord Major; 1337 he built a Chapel in Paul's, where he lieth buried, and erected a College near unto the Church of St. Laurence Powltney, London: He moreover built the Church of little Alhallows in Thames street, with other pious and devout Acts. john Hind Draper, Lord Major 1405, built the Church of Sr. Swithen by London-stone, &c. Sir john Norman was the first that rowed in his Barge to Westminster, when he went to take his Oath: Sir Richard Hardell face in the Judicatory Seat six years together: Simon Eyre Lord Major, built Leaden-Hall at his own proper costs and charges: Sir Richard Pipe, George Monox, Lord Major 1515, and Sir john Milborne, were great Erectors of Almshouses, Hospitals, &c. and left liberally to the poor: Sir Richard Campion perfected diverse charitable works, left unfinished by Sir john Milborne before named. Sir Thomas Hayes 1615, Sir john jowls 1616, Sir Edward Barkham, Sir Martin Lumley, Sir Allan Cotten, Sir Cuthbert Hacket, &c. To speak of them all, I should but spend Paper in a mere capitulation of their names, and neglect the project now in agitation.  

The first Show by Water.  
THe first Show by Water, is presented by Proteus in a beautiful Sea-Chariot: for the better Ornament, decore with diverse Marine Nymphs and Sea-goddesses▪ &c. He sitteth or rideth upon a moving Tortoise, which is reckoned amongst the Amphibiae, quòd in ambobus Elementis degant: That is, One of those Creatures that live in two Elements, the Water, and the Land; alluding to the Trading of the Right Honourable the present Lord Major, who is a Merchant, free of the Turkey, Italian, French, Spanish, Muscovy, and was late Governor of the East Indy-Company. This Proteus, or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, that is, Primus, is held to be the first, or most ancient of the Sea-gods, the Son of Oceanus and Thetis, who could transshape himself into any Figure whatsoever, and was skilful in Prediction: He was called Vertumnus à vertendo, because he indented or turned the course of the River Tiber, which floweth up to Rome, as the Thames to London; he was a King, and reigned in the Carpathian Island, which because it was full of bogs and marish places, (as lying near unto the main Ocean) he had that Title conferred on him to be a Marine god: when the Scythians thought to invade him, and by reason of the former impediments could no way damage his Country, it therefore increased their superstitious opinion to have him Deified. He was called also Pastor populi, that is, A Shepherd of the people; and is said also to feed Neptune's Fishes called Phocae.  
It was a Custom amongst the Egyptian Kings, to have their Sceptres insculpt with sundry Hierogliphics, or Figures, as a Lion, a Dragon, a Tree, a flame of fire, &c. as their fancies lead them, for which that Proverb was conferred in him, Proteo mutabilior, that is, More changeable than Proteus. This Proteus, or Vertumnus, or Vesores, reigned in Egypt some four years before the Trojan War, that is, Anno Mundi, 2752.  

Proteus' his Speech.  

Proteus' of all the Marine gods the prime,  
And held the noblest both for Birth and Time:  
From him who with his Trident sways the main,  
And ploughs the waves in curls, or makes them plain:  
Neptune, both Lord of Ebb, and Inundation,  
I come to greet your great Inauguration.  
They call me Versipellis, and 'tis true,  
No figure, for me, no shape to me is new;  
For I appear what Creature I desire,  
Sometimes a Bull, a Serpent, sometimes Fire:  
" The first denotes my strength; strong must he be,  
" And powerful, who aspire to your Degree.  
" You must be wise as Serpents, to decide  
" Such doubts as Error or Misprision hide.  
" And next, like Fire, (of th'Elements most pure)  
" Whose nature can no sordid stuff endure,  
" As in Calcining Metals we behold,  
" It sunders and divides the dross from Gold,  
And such are the Decorements that still wait  
Upon so grave, so great a Magistrate.  
This Tortoise, double-natured, doth imply  
(By the two Elements of moist and dry)  
So much as gives the world to understand,  
Your noble Trading both by Sea and Land.  
Of Porpoises the vast Herds Proteus keeps,  
And I am styled the Prophet of the Deeps,  
Sent to predict good Omen: May that Fleet  
Which makes th' East Indies with our England meet,  
Prosper to all your hearts desires: Their sails  
Be to and fro swelled with auspicious gales:  
May You (who of this City now take charge)  
With all the Scarlet Senate in your Barge,  
The Fame thereof so heighten, future Story  
Above all other States may crown her glory.  
To hinder what's more weighty, I am loath,  
Pass therefore freely on, to take your Oath.   
This Show is after brought off from the water, to attend upon the rest by Land, of which the first is,    

The first Show by Land.  
A Shepherd with his Skrip and Bottle, and his Dog by him; a sheephook in his hand, round about him are his Flock, some feeding, others resting in several postures; the platform adorned with Flowers, Plants, and Trees bearing sundry Fruits. And because this Worshipful Society tradeth in Cloth, it is pertinent that I should speak something of the Sheep, who is of all other fourfooted beasts the most harmless and gentle. Those that write of them, report, that in Arabia they have tails three Cubits in length: In Chios they are the smallest, but their Milk and Cheese the sweetest, and best. The Lamb from her yeaning knoweth and acknowledgeth her Dam: Those are held to be most profitable for store, whose bodies are biggest, the fleece softest and thickest, and their legs shortest. Their Age is reckoned at Ten years, they breed at Two, and cease at Nine: The Ewes go with their young an Hundred and fifty days. Pliny saith, the best Wool Apulia and Italy yields, and next them Milesium, Tarentum, Canusium, and Laodicea in Asia; their general time of shearing is in july: The Poet Laberius called the Rams of the Flock Reciproci-cornes, and Lanicutes, alluding to the writhing of their Horns and their Skins bearing Wool: The Bell-wether, or Captain of the Flock is called Vervex sectarius, &c.  

The Shepherd's Speech.  

BY what rare frame, or in what curious Vorse  
Can the rich profits of your Trade's commerce  
Be to the full expressed? which to explain,  
Lies not in Poet's Pen, or Artists brain.  
What Beast, or Bird, for Hide, or Feather rare,  
(For man's use made, can with the Sheep compare?  
The Horse of strength or swiftness may be proud,  
But yet his flesh is not for food allowed.  
The Herds yield Milk and Meat (commodious both)  
Yet none of all their skins make Wool for Cloth.  
The Sheep doth all: The Parrot and the Jay,  
The Peacock, Ostrich, all in colours gay,  
Delight the Eye, some with their Notes, the Ear,  
But what are these unto the Cloth we wear?  
Search Forests, Deserts for Beasts wild or tame,  
The Mountains or the Vales, search the vast frame  
Of the wide Universe, the Earth, and Sky,  
Nor Beast nor Bird can with the Sheep comply:  
No Creature under Heaven, be't small or great,  
But some way useful, one affords us meat,  
Another Ornament: She more than this,  
" Of Patience, and of Profit th' emblem is,  
In former Ages by the Heroes sought:  
After, from Greece into Hesperia brought:  
She's clothed in plenteous riches, and being shorn,  
" Her Fleece an Order, and by Emperors worn,  
All these are known, yet further understand,  
In twelve divide the profits of this Land,  
As Hides, Tin, Lead; or what else you can name,  
Ten of those twelve the Fleece may justly claim:  
Then how can that amongst the rest be missed,  
By which all States, all Common Weals subsist?  
Great honour then belongs unto this trade,  
And you, great Lord, for whom this triumph's made.     

The second Show by Land.  
THe second Show by land is an Indian Beast, called a Rhinoceros, which being presented to the life, is for the rareness thereof, more fit to beautify a Triumph: his Head, Neck, Back, Buttocks, Sides, and Thighs, armed by Nature with impenetrable Skales; his Hide or Skin of the colour of the Boxe-tree, in greatness equal with the Elephant, but his Legs are somewhat shorter: an enemy to all beasts of rapine and prey, as the Lion, Leopard, Bear, Wolf, Tiger, and the like: but to others, as the Horse, Ass, Ox, Sheep, &c. which feed not upon the life and blood of the weaker, but of the grass and hearbage of the field, harmless and gentle, ready to succour them, when they be any way distressed. He hath a short horn growing from his nose, and being in continual enmity with the Elephant, before he encounter him, he sharpeneth it against a stone, and in the sight aimeth to wound him in the belly, being the softest place about him, and the soonest pierced: He is backed by an Indian, the speaker.  

The Indians Speech.  

THe dignity of Merchants who can tell?  
Or how much they all Traders ante-cell?  
When others hear at home securely sleep,  
He ploughs the bosom of each unknown deep,  
And in them sees heavens wonders; for he can  
Take a full view of the Leviathan,  
Whose strength all Marine Monsters doth surpass,  
His Ribs as Iron, his Fins and scales as brass.  
His Ship like to the feathered Fowl he wings,  
And from all Coasts he rich materials brings,  
For ornament or profit; those by which  
Inferior Arts subsist, and become rich;  
By Land he makes discovery of all Nations,  
Their Manners, and their Country's situations,  
And with those savage natures so complies,  
That there's no rarity from thence can rise  
But he makes frequent with us, and yet these  
Not without dangers, both on shores and seas:  
The Land he pierceth, and the Ocean skowers,  
To make them all by free transportage ours.  
You (honoured Sir) amongst the chief are named,  
By whose commerce our Nation hath been famed.  
The Romans in their triumphs had before  
Their Chariots borne or lead, (to grace the more  
The sumptuous Show) the prime and choicest things,  
Which they had taken from the Captive, Kings:  
What curious Statue▪ what strange bird, or beast  
That Clime did yield (if rare above the rest)  
Was there exposed: Entering your civil state,  
Whom better may we strive to imitate?  
This huge Rhinoceros (not 'mongst us seen,  
Yet frequent wheresome Factors oft have been)  
Is emblem of the Praetorship you bear,  
Who to all Beasts of prey, who rend and tear  
The innocent herds and flocks, is foe professed,  
But in all just defences arms his crest.  
You of this wilderness are Lord, so sway,  
The weak may be upheld, the proud obey.     

The third Show by Land.  
THe third Show by land is a Ship, fully accommodated with all her Masts, Sails, Cordage, Tacklings, Cables, Anchors, Ordnance, &c. in that small Model, figuring the greatest Vessel: But concerning Ships and Navigation, with the honour and benefits thence accrueing, I have lately delivered my self so amply in a Book published the last Summer of his Majesty's great Ship, called the Sovereign of the Seas, that to any, who desire to be better certified concerning such things, I refer them to that Tractate, from whence they may receive full & plenteous satisfaction: I come now to a young Sailor the Speaker.  

The Speech from the Ship.  

SHipping to our first Fathers was not known;  
(Though now amongst all Nations common grown)  
Nor trade by Sea: we read the first choice piece,  
Was th' Argo, built to fetch the golden Fleece,  
In which brave voyage, sixty Princes, all  
Heroës', such as we Semones call:  
In that new Vessel to attain the shore.  
Where such a prize was, each tugged at the Oar:  
On one bench Hercules and Hilas sat,  
Beauty and Strength; and siding just with that  
Daunaus and Lynceus of so quick a sight  
No interposer, or large distance might  
Dull his clear Optics: those that had the charge,  
And the chief stearadge of that Princely Barge,  
Zethes and Calais, whose judgements meet,  
Being said t'have feathers on their heads and feet:  
We spare the rest: Grave Sir, the Merchant's trade  
Is that, for which all Shipping first was made;  
And through an Hellespont who would but pull,  
Steere, and hoist sail, to bring home golden Wool?  
For we by that are clothed: In the first place  
Sat strength and beauty: oh what a sweet grace  
Have those united; both now yours, great Lord,  
Your beauty is your robe, your strength the sword.  
You must have Lynceus eyes, and further see  
Than either you before have done, or he  
Could ever: having now a true inspection  
Into each strife, each cause without affection  
To this or that party: some are said,  
To have had feathers on their feet and head.  
(As those whom I late named) you must have more,  
And in your place be feathered now all o'er:  
You must have feathers in your thoughts, your eyes,  
Your hands, your feet; for he that's truly wise  
Must still be of a winged apprehension  
As well for execution, as prevention.  
You know (Right honoured Sir) delays and pauses,  
In judicature, dull, if not damp, good causes:  
That we presume t'advise, we pardon crave,  
It being confessed, all these, and more you have.     

The fourth Show by Land.  
THe fourth Show by Land bears the Title Porta Pietatis, The Gate of Piety: which is the door by which all zealous and devout men enter into the fruition of their long hoped for happiness: It is a delicate and artificial composed structure, built Temple-fashion, as most genuine and proper to the persons therein presented. The Speaker is Piety herself, her habit, best suiting with her condition; upon her head are certain beams or rays of gold, intimating a glory belonging to sanctity; in one hand an Angelical staff, with a Banner; on the other Arm a Cross Gules in a field Argent: upon one hand sits a beautiful Child, representing Religion, upon whose Shield are figured Time, with his daughter Truth: her Motto Vincit veritas: In another copartment sitteth one representing the blessed Virgin, Patroness of this Right Worshipful Society, Crowned: in one hand a Fan of Stars, in the other a Shield, in which are inscribed three Crowns (gradatim) ascending, being the Arms or Escutchion of the Company, and her Motto that which belongeth unto it: Deo soli Honour & gloria: that is, unto God only be Honour and Glory: Next her sit the three Theological Graces, Faith, Hope, and Charity, with three Escutcheons, Faith's motto, Fidei ala, Caeli scala: The wings of Faith are the ladder by which we scale heaven. Hopes, Solum spernit qui Caelum sperat: he hates the Earth, that hopes for Heaven. Love's Motto, ubi charitas, non est Caritas, who giveth willingly, shall never want wretchedly. A sixth personateth Zeal, in whose Escutchion is a burning Hart: Her word; In tepida, frigida, flagrans: neither lukewarm, nor keycold, but ever burning: A seventh figureth Humility: Her's In terra Corpus, in Coelo Cor: the body on earth, the heart in Heaven. And last Constancies: Metam tangenti Corona; A Crown belongeth to him who persevereth to the end. I come to the Speech.  

Piety the Speaker.  

THis Structure is a Citadel, or Tower,  
Where Piety, placed in her heavenly bower,  
Points out the way to bliss, girt with a ring  
Of all those Graces that may glory bring.  
Here sits Religion firm, (though else where torn  
By Schismatics, and made the Atheists scorn)  
Shining in her pure truth, nor need she quake,  
Affrighted with the Faggot and the stake:  
she's to you dear, you unto her are tender,  
Under the Sceptre of the Faith's defender.  
How am I extasi'de when I behold  
You build new Temples, and repair the old!  
There's not a stone that's laid in such foundation,  
But is a step degreeing to Salvation:  
And not a Scaffold reared to that intent,  
But mounts a Soul above the Firmament:  
Of Merchants, we know Magistrates are made,  
And they (of those) most happy that so Trade.  
Your Virgin-Saint sits next Religion crowned,  
With her own Handmaids (see) environed round,  
And these are they the learned Schoolmen call,  
The three prime Virtues Theological,  
Faith, Hope, and Love; Zeal all inflamed with fire  
Of devout acts, doth a sixt place aspire.  
The seventh Humility, and we commend  
The Eight to Constancy, which crown the end.  
A Triple crown's th'Emblazon of your Crest,  
But to gain one, is to be ever blessed.  
Proceed in that fair course you have begun,  
So when your Annual Glass of State is run,  
(Nay, that of Life) Ours, but the Gate to bliss  
Shall let you in to yond Metropolis.   
There now remaineth only the last Speech at Night, spoken by Proteus, which concludes the Triumph.   

The Speech at Night.  

NOw bright Hyperion hath unloosed his Team,  
And washed his Coach-Steeds in cold Ister's stream:  
Day doth to Night give place, yet ere You sleep,  
Remember what the Prophet of the Deep,  
Proteus foretell: All such as State aspire,  
Must be as Bulls, as Serpents, and like Fire.  
The Shepherd grazing of his Flocks, displays  
The use and profit from the Fleece we raise.  
That Indian Beast, (had he a tongue to speak)  
Would say, Suppress the proud, support the weak,  
That Ship the Merchant's honour loudly tells,  
And how all other Trades it antecells:  
But Piety doth point You to that Star,  
By which good Merchants steer: too bold we are  
To keep you from your rest; To-morrows Sun  
Will raise You to new cares, not yet begun.   
I will not speak much concerning the two Brothers, Mr. john and Mathias Christmas, the Modellers and Composers of those several Pieces this day presented to a mighty confluence, (being the two succeeding Sons of that most ingenious Artist Mr. Gerard Christmas) to whom, and to whose Workmanship I will only confer that Character, which being long since (upon the like occasion) conferred upon the Father, I cannot but now meritedly bestow upon the Sons: Men, as they are excellent in their Art, so they are faithful in their performance.  
FINIS.