England's Comfort, and London's joy: Expressed in the royal, Triumphant, and Magnificent Entertainment of our Dread sovereign Lord, King Charles, at his blessed and safe return from Scotland on Thursday the 25. of Nouemb. 1641. By the Right Honourable Sir Richard Gurney Knight, Lord Major, and the Recorder, Sir Thomas Gardner, who were at that present both Knighted, who attended his Majesty with the other Right worshipful Knights and Aldermen, sheriffs, and Companies of this famous City of London: Printed at London for Frcncis Coules. 1641. England's comfort, and London's joy. NOt to delude my Reader with a long Preface to a short and brief Relation, I will first begin (as near as true intelligence and eyesight informed me of this great days most magnificent and honourable Triumph and entertainment of our most Gracious sovereign, at his return from Scotland to this Honourable City of London. How some other Kings and Princes, of our own and other nations have been formerly entertained by the Lord Major and Citizens of London, it is (as I have read in our English Histories) set down by me in short; towards the end of this Discourse. All these attended his lordship's coming and then they all road in order to the further grounds joining upon Kingsland, where they met his Majesty, with the Queen, the Prince Charles, the Duke of York, with the Princesses, Prince Palatine, Dukes, Marquesles, Earls, Viscounts, Barons, Lords, Knights, Gentlemen-Pentioners, Ladies of Honour, together with 20. Scotish Lords and others; with his majesty's Guard, and others of his followers, with the spectators of all degrees, sexes, Ages, and sizes, were innumerable: The banks hedges, highways streets, stalls, and windows were all embroidered with millions of people, of all sorts and fashions. And all the way the boys did climb up trees, And clung close to the boughs like swarms of Bee. Gracious sovereign The rest of the Companies of London were all placed in their standings from the west end of St. Lawrence Lane through Cheapside, and up Pleer-street to Temple bar, adorned and set forth with such accoutrements as was done by the other Companies before. After his Majesty was passed to the Guild-Hall, the 500 men and horse, with their footmen, they passed up Cheapside, and there in Paul's churchyard they did set themselves in their former order; and attended till his Majesty had dined. Note that the King's Majesty with the Queen, the Prince, and the rest of the royal offspring that were there, did dine at the east-end of the Guild-Hall, in a place called the Hustings Court: The rest of the Lords, Ladies, and others also dined in the Hall. Entertainments given to Kings in former times by the foresaid City. SIr Henry Picard, Knight Lord Major of the City of London, did in the year of our Lord, 1357. at one time entertain and feast 4. Kings, (viz.) Edward the third King of England, John King of France, David King of Scotland, and William King of Cyprus; Also Edward the black Prince of Wales, the Prince dauphin of France with all the Nobility and Gentry of Lords, Knights, Ladies and others, were worthily entertained by the said Lord Major, to their great contentments, and memorable Honour of this famous city. But to come to nearer times, I find in Master Stow's Chronicle that Queen Elizabeth in Anno 1585. the 27. of her reign that she having been on progress, and coming to her palace of Saint James, was entertained by the Lord Major, his Brethren the Aldermen and Citizens, 200. of the Commoners being in Velvet coats, with Gold chains, on horseback, 1000 of the Companies on foot, and 100 more that bare Torches, Sir Wolstan Dixey Knight Skinner, being then Lord Major. King James (of blessed memory, at his return from Scotland, in the fifteenth year of his reign, Anno 1517. was met at Hyde Park by the Lord Major (Sir George Bols Knight Lord Major) and the Aldermen, and more than 400. Commoners of the City, with chains of gold, and Velvet coats, and a present (a purse with five hundred pound presented to his Mâ—Źjesty. The like entertainment his Majesty (King James had at his coming to the cathedral Church of St. Paul's in London, in the 18. year of his reign 1620 when Sir William Cockain was Lord Major where also all the companies stood within places in the way with Banners ann Escouchions, and the streets railed, with Rich presents given. In the 5. year of the reign of our now gracious King Charles, 1629. Sir James Cambell Knight (Than Lord Major) feasted eleven Lords, all Knights of the Garter, and each of them fifty men with chains of Gold, and Liveries besides many other of the Nobility Gentry and Commoners then there nobly entertained. Verses Presented to his Majesty. WHen Israel with Judah did contest, Which of them ought to love King David best; Judah claimed Kindred of the King, and said 2 Sam. 19 41, 42. That he (by Right) should still with them have stayed: But Isr'el boldly to them straight replied, That dauld (Only) was with them t' abide; And that in him they had ten parts, (at least) And therefore had most Right and Interest. These words caused wicked Sheba, (Bichri's Son) Most madly to rebellious arms to run; But Sheba's head, which first contrived those jars) Chap. 20. Was lop'd, and so was ended all the wars. I wish Great Britain the like Song to sing In love, who best shall love and serve the King: Let Sheba's head be lost, and let us be, England, and Scotland, both in unity. he's Ours and Theirs, and he is Theirs and Ours, Let's love and serve him, with our Prayers, and Powers; That as the King is one, so we as one May praise God, for establishing his Throne. When He, (our sun of joy) from us set forth His rays illustrious, lightened all the North: Whilst sighs like Clouds, and showers of tears & Cares, Was London's, and fair England's Southern shares. But this return our sadness doth destroy, Our tears of grief are turned to tears of joy; Our Night of woe, we patiently endured, Our morning's joy is come we are assured. he's come to salve this kingdom's discontents, To cure all wrenches, fractures, spraines and rents, Where Church, and Common Wealth is dislocated; And all good men amazed and amated. God's Great Lieutenant, four great kingdom's King, No doubt but he those mischiefs down shall ding To hell's black Vault, from whence they first ascended, And with a blessed peace, all strife be ended. Now follows the speech spoken to his majesty. Dread sovereign, WHose royal presence doth now again revive our once dejected hearts, being overwhelmed with sorrow for your Majesties so long absence: Behold, behold most royal sovereign, how your loyal subjects, and well affected people triumph, making such acclamations of joy, as not only happy of your majesty's return, but safe returning; their hearts, hands, and countenances speak that which their tongues are not able to express. True subjects are joyful whilst ill-affected traitors, bulrush like, bow down their heads, as being fearful to behold so sacred a Majesty, as your royal self, whose pious & religious actions are no less than quotidian Lectors to be read to all Christian Princes abroad, and a pattern to all your Subjects at home, Pompey is forced to fly, when mighty Caesar once doth come in place, so let all your enemies fly and be consumed before your sacred person. Welcome, welcome, dread sovereign, upon which words should my tongue for ever harp, yet would my heart still confess that expression were wanting unto my loyal desire: Blessed, and for ever let them be happy, those loyal, and our well affected brethren, the Scots I mean, which gave so good entertainment to so royal a Prince, whose reign, your well-affected Subjects here present; do pray to the Heavenly Jehovah, who hither to hath been your majesty's Protector and defender, may be as long as happy, which Conjunction will prove a happy union. So the great God of heaven bless your sacred Majesty, your royal Consort, and our most hopeful Prince, and the rest of the royal Progeny with health, peace, and happiness in this World, and eternal joys in the next. IN Ovid's Metamorphosis I find Verses presented to the Kings own hand by John Taylor. Transformed forms, and strange misshapen Shapes; Of human transmutations from their Kind To Wolves, to bears, to Dogs, to pies, to Apes; Yet these were but poetical escapes, (Or moralising of uxnat'rall deeds) To show that Treasons, Murders, Incests, Rapes, From bestial minds, (in human forms) proceeds But through thy power (which my poor Muse inflames) A greater wonder is performed by me: I have transformed a Boat from off the Thames, Unto a horse, to come to welcome thee. And now thy gracious sight I do attain, I'll turn that Horse into a boat again: And all whom thy return doth not delight, Let them be hanged, and then they have their right. FINIS.