|
|
| Epistle Dedicatory to the Third Edition. | xi |
Epistle Dedicatory to the Third Edition.
|
in more Maturity of Judgment, Gravity of Years, Experience and Person. And
therefore the fitter for serious Employment in the States Affairs, by apt
Correspondency
of their Trust and Fidelity. Which Name of Dignity, declaring the most eminent
Degree
of Magistracy, as heretofore it hath, and still doth extend it self throughout
all England,
in Cities, Towns, and Corporations: and in some, the Alderman only is the Chief
Commander. Even so is it much more Majestical here in the Supreme City of the
whole
Land, LONDON, the Metropolis of Great Britain, the Mother of Authentick Memory,
the antient and modern Seat of our Kings; Yea, the very Chamber Royal for
Majesty it
self, and the open Haven for all Merchandize and Commerce, as being the rich
Storehouse of Peace and Plenty.
|
In divers incorporate Towns Northward.
|
|
It shall be needless here to trouble your Honour, and the rest of my most worthy
Masters, with Repetition of those Officers and Governors, that ruled this great
City in
those elder Times; because you shall find them sufficiently set down in their
apt and
distinct Places: until this higher Degree of Honour came to full Perfection; I
mean the
MAIORALTY, which some hold to be in King JOHN's Time; but most maintain and
avouch it to be in the first Year of King Richard I. whose Virtue and Courage
won him
the Name of Coæur de Lion. From which gracious Beginning, it hath neither
been mine, nor my most industrious and helpful Friends good Fortune, to rank down in
formal Order, the successive Lines of the Sheriffs, Maiors and Aldermen,
according to
my former intended Purpose, concerning their Countries of Birth, the Parent or
Father
of whom they came, nor how many of them this most Honorable City it self then
yield-
ed; as challenging them to be her own native Children; and She both Mother to
breed
them in her own Bowels, and careful Nurse afterwards to bring them up.
| |
|
For being a City Child my self, I hold it an Attribute of Credit for me to
record it,
though much more Honour to you (being of the same worthy Rank) to read it, and
eternal Comfort to Posterity, to remember and acknowledge it: That this ancient,
famous and renowned Mother City of London, never wanted, from Time to Time,
honourable Sons of her own Bearing and Breeding, to undergo all Offices of
Credit and
Authority; yea, even to the Maioralty, from Father to Son in the Third
Generation; and
they to boast their Grandfathers, and great Grandfathers, born and bred in this
worthy
City; some to the Fourth, others to the Third, but many to the second
Generation, as in
the Repertory following, of Temporal Governors, will more at large appear. I
forbear
to speak of such as have been Aldermen and Sheriffs; First, the Fathers, then
the Sons;
yet neither of them living, to enjoy the Maioralties Dignity.
|
A perpetual Glory to London, to produce her own native Sons to be her Magistrates. Witness the Gerards, (one yet living) the Barnes, the Rowes, Branche, &c. The Barnhams, Father and Son.
|
|
As also, what fluent Plenty of Magistrates in the same high Office, the several
Sheriffs
of England have yielded, wherewith the said Discourse will more familiarly
acquaint
you.
| |
|
Therefore beseech your Honour and Worships to allow this Survey of London your
gracious Entertainment; and by your benign and bountiful Kindness thereto
extended
(considering what hath been said) give Life and Encouragement to your willing
Servant, hereafter to present you with the whole Work, in more compleat
Perfection;
By him that remaineth always ready
at your Service, A. M.
|
A.M. His Epistle to the Fourth Edition, Ann. 1633. (which was in Folio) was much to the same tenor with this former; only the Dedication was to Ralph Freeman then Lord Maior, and Sir Edward Barkham, Sir Martin Lumley, Sir John Gore, Sir Hugh Hamersley, Sir Richard Dean, Sir James Cambel, Sir Robert Ducy, Sir George Whitmore, Sir Nicolas Rainton, Knights, and the rest of the Aldermen; and Edward Littleton, Recorder.
|
|
