Civitatis Amor. The Citie's Loue. An entertainement by water, at Chelsey and White-hall. At the ioyfull receiving of that Illustrious Hope of Great Britaine, the High and Mighty Charles, To bee created Prince of Wales, Duke of Cornewall, Earle of Chester, &c. Together with the Ample Order and Solemnity of his Highnesse creation, as it was celebrated in his Maiesties Palace of Whitehall, on Monday, the fourth of Nouember. 1616. As also the Ceremonies of that Ancient and Honourable Order of the Knights of the Bath; And all the Triumphs showne in honour of his Royall Creation. London, Printed by Nicholas Okes for Thomas Archer, and are to be sold at his shop in Popes-headPallace. 1616. 4to.

Reprinted in Nichols's Progresses of King James, vol. iii. p. 208.

CIVITATIS AMOR.

The ample Order and Solemnity of Prince Charles his Creation.

His Majesty, as well to shew the bounty of his affection towards his royal son, as to settle in the hearts of his loving subjects a lively impression of his kingly care for continuance of the happy and peaceable government of this land in his issue and posterity, having determined to invest his princely Highness with those titles and solemnities [with] which the former princes of this realm have usually been adorned; it seemed fittest-both in regard of his Highness' years, shewing the rare proofs of promising heroical virtues, and also that it would be a gladness most grateful and acceptable to the commonwealth-to have the solemnities thereof royally performed to the effecting of which, the Lord Mayor and Aldermen of the city of London, with the several Companies, honourably furnished and appointed, and marshalled in fair and comely order -both by the care and industry of master Nicholas Leate, citizen and merchant of London, and one of the chief captains for the city; as also by the wellobserved and deserving pains of master Thomas Sparro, water-baily, made, for that day, marshal for the water- triumphs were ready attending, with a great train and costly entertainment, to receive his Highness at Chelsea, their barges richly deckt with banners, streamers, and ensigns, and sundry sorts of loud-sounding instruments aptly

VOL. V.

placed amongst them. And for his Grace's first entertainment, which was near Chelsea, a personage figuring London, sitting upon a sea-unicorn, with six Tritons sounding before her, accompanied both with Neptune and the two rivers Thamesis and Dee, at his first appearing speaks as followeth.

[THE CITY'S LOVE.

The Entertainment by Water at Chelsea and Whitehall.

AT CHELSEA.

A personage figuring London, sitting upon a seaunicorn, with six Tritons sounding before her, accompanied thither with Neptune, and the two rivers Thamesis and Dee, at the first appearing of the Prince speaks as followeth :]

LONDON.

Neptune, since thou hast been at all this pains,
Not only with thy Tritons to supply me,
But art thyself come from thy utmost mains
To feast upon that joy that's now so nigh me,
To make our loves the better understood,
Silence thy watery subject, this small flood.

Neptune gives action toward Thamesis, and speaks:

NEPTUNE.

By the timely ebbs and flows,

That make thee famous to all those

[The City's, &c.] What I have here placed between brackets is superfluous: Nichols omits it.

That must observe thy precious tides
That issue from our wealthy sides,
Not a murmur, not a sound,

That may this lady's voice confound!

And, Tritons, who by our commanding power
Attend upon the glory of this hour,

To do it service and the city grace,
Be silent till we wave our silver mace.

LONDON.

And you, our honour'd sons, whose loyalty,
Service, and zeal, shall be express'd of me,
Let not your loving, over-greedy noise
Beguile you of the sweetness of your joys.
My wish has took effect, for ne'er was known
A greater joy and a more silent one.

Then turning to the Prince, [she] thus speaks : Treasure of hope, and jewel of mankind, Richer no kingdom's peace did ever see, Adorn'd in titles, but much more in mind, The loves of many thousands speak in me, Who from that blessing of our peaceful store, Thy royal father, hast receiv'd most free Honours, that woo'd thy virtues long before, And ere thy time were capable of thee; Thou whose most early goodness, fix'd in youth, Does promise comfort to the length of time; As we on earth measure heaven's works by truth, And things which natural reason cannot climb, So when we look into the virtuous aim

Of thy divine addiction, we may deem, By rules of grace and principles of fame, What worth will be, now in so high esteem, And so betimes pursu'd; which thought upon, Never more cause this land had to rejoice;