LEOFSTAN

What art thou, that darest bar me of my way? See in how short a while a quiet Soul, Hid from this world five hundred years and more, May be forgetful of great Times control, By such gay sights as never I saw before. My self year while could tell this worthy Lord, Time had revived me, to attend this day: Pardon me then, that I durst breath a word In contestation, where all ought obey. needs must these gaudier days yield greater crime, When long graned Ghosts dare thus contend with Time. Time, that in this days honour raised us both, Means not (I trust) so soon to sunder us: To see that separation, I am loath, Be then to both so kind and gracious; That we may wait upon this worthy man: And do him yet what service else we can. THus (honoured Lord) have we dutiously at tended you, till Time appoints our departing, who hath tutourd Leofstanes tongue how to take his leave, with some remarkable observations, not altogether unfitting your attention. First, the day of your Election, falling out in such strange manner as it did, exceeded the memory of Man to speak the Like. And yet, notwithstanding, so great a Snow, Fleet, and rough wind; at the we ry instant of your choice, the Sun did as readily thrust forth his Golden beams, to guild the in stant of your Inauguration, as hearts and hands did cheerfully applaud it with free and full confirma cion. Next, three Names, all of equal syllables and found, to happen in the immediate choice; is a matter deserving regard, and (from the Maioral ties first beginning) never was the Like. Pemberton, Swynnerton and Middleton, Names of three most worthy Gentlemen, but of much greater worth in sense and significancy, as your own (my Lord, for brevity) may yield and instance. Pemberton derives it self from the ancient British, Saxon, and eldest English, each Sillable suited with his apt meaning. Pem, implieth the head, chief or most eminent partly of any thing; Bert, bears the Character of bright shining and radiant splen dour; and Tun, hath continued the long known Word for any Town or City, as most Shires in England (to this day) doth deliver the expression of their Towns; As London, sometime tear med Ludstun, or Luds-Towne, may serve as and ex ample. A bright head of this famous City, in terpreting it self in the Name of Pemberton, and he being enstaulled in the government, to be her bright-shining Head under his Sovereign, Leof stanes desire is; Since Pemberton does bear so bright a Name, And that from gold & Goldsmiths grew his fame, His deeds may prove to be Like burnished Gold: By no dim darkness any way controulde. This Orferie, so styled by the ancient Epithet of your Companies profession, or Gold-Smi thery, does speak it self unto your honour in this manner. Here do the Miners and Pioneers delve into the Earth's entrails, to gain the Oar, both of Gold and Silver; and having attained thereun to in plentiful measure, the ingenious Fyner pur geth him from his first Nature, and shapes him in to to Ingots of variable form, according as his Art best guides and enstructs him. From him, these pre cious Metals descend to diverse other dexterious Artezans; as the Mint- Master, his Coiners, and diverse others, who make them to serve in public passage for general benefit, both in Coin, Plate, and Jewels, as occasion best discovereth the joust necessity. Being brought into these variant sub stances, to preserve those pure refined bodies from base adulterating, the Essay- Master or absolute Tryer of eithers virtue, makes proof of them in his Furnaces, and of their true worth or valve. So are they commended to Sovereign Justice, atten dead by her gracious Daughters, Gold and Silver, who bountifully hurl abroad their Mother's trea sures, after she hath (yet once again) tried them, by the Touch of undeceivable perfection. The rest, that do sufficiently speak themselves in their distinguished places, as the Jeweller, Lapidary, Pearle-Driller, Goldsmith, and such Like, your eye of heedful observation may spare their fur there relating. Only I may not omit these two for tuous Ladies, Antiquity and Memory, who, present (in apt place) Grave Judgement or Experience in the Golde-Smiths ancient faculty, by the suppo said shape of venerable Dunstan, a man, sometime very practic, & so well skilled in Gold-Smithery, as (notwithstanding his more Divine profession) being Bishop of Worcester, London, and lastly Archbishop of Canterbury, delighted therein to his ut most date of life.