LIST OF PLATES IN VOL. III.

SOUTH Front of Old Somerset House, in the Strand, 1742,

Somerset House in 1706, with parts of the Savoy and

York House

155

193

Plan of Denmark House and of the Savoy
Medallions of Sir Edmund Berry Godfrey
Procession to St. Paul's Cathedral in Queen Anne's
Reign, with a View of the Charity-Children on
the North side of the Strand

View in the Strand, including the North Front of So

merset House, and St. Mary's Church

246

957

290

301

LONDINIANA.

POETICAL DESCRIPTION OF LONDON.

AMONG the Lansdowne Manuscripts in the British Museum, is a miscellaneous collection of articles, principally written upon vellum, (viz. No. 762,) from which the following panegyrical verses on London have been correctly copied. The hand-writing appears to be of the time of Henry the Seventhi : there are no points. There is considerable vigour in the thoughts, though with some reduplication, and the measure of the stanzas is not unharmonious. The bold figure in the last verse, which styles the Mayor both the load-star and guy, or guide, of the city, will not pass unnoticed by the poetical critic.*

Chaucer frequently uses the term gie, for guide, and particularly in his House of Fame, as may be seen from the foling passage, in which Phaeton is represented as intending both to lead and guide the car of Apollo: the lines, in themselves, are additionally curious, from acquainting us with the fact of the milky way having the name of Watling-street so long ago as Chaucer's time.-Jove's Eagle thus addresses the

An Honour to London.

LONDON thowe arte of townes A p se!
Souayne of Cities most symbliest by sight
Of high renowne riches and royaltie
Of Lordis barons and many goodly knight
Of most dilectable lusty ladyes bright
Of famous prelatis in habitis claricall

Of Marchavntęs of substavnce and myght
London thowe arte the flowre of cities all

Gladdeth a man thowe lusty Troynomond
Citie that somtyme cleped was newe Troye
In all this erth Imperiall as thowe stonde
Princis of townys, of plesure, and of Joye
A richer resteth vnder no cristen Roye
Ffor manly powre with craftis naturall

Ffurmeth noon fairer syth the fflode of Noe
London thowe arte the flowre of cities all

"Lo," quod he, "cast up thyne eye,
See yonder, lo! the galaxie,

The which men clepe the milky way,
For it is white; and some, parfay,
Callen it Watling-streete,

That ones was brent with the hete,
When the Sunnes sonne the rede,

That hight Pheton would lede,

Algate his father's cart and gie :

Again; in the same poem, Chaucer thus invocates the Sun:

"God of science and of light,

Apollo, through thy great might,

This littell last booke now thou gie;

Now that I will for maistrie,

Here art potenciall be shewde.”—a

Jem of all Joy, jasper of Jocunditie

Most myghtie carbuncle of vertue and valure
Stronge Troye in vigure and trennytie
Of Royall cities rose and garaflour
Empres of townys exalted in honour
In beautie bering the trone imperiall

Swete Paradise precelling in plesure
London thowe arte the flowre of cities all.
Above all Rivers thy River hath renowne
Whose boriall stremys plesaunt & preclare
Vnder thy lusty wallys renneth a downe

Where many a swan swymeth w' wynge fare Where many a barge doth rowe and sayle w' are Where many a ship resteth w' top royall

O towne of townys patron and not compare
London thowe arte the flowre of cities all.
Vpon thy lusty bridge w' pillers white

Been marchavntis full royall to be holde
Vpon thy stretis goth many a semely knyght
In velvet gownys and chaynys of gold
By Julius Cesour thy towre founded of olde
May be the howce of Mars victoriall

Whose artilery w' tonge maye not be tolde
London thowe arte the flowre of cities all.

Stronge be the walls abowte the stondis

Wise be the people that w'in the dwelles Ffreshe is thy River w' his lusty strands

Blithe be thy chirches, well sownyng are thy bells Rich be thy marchavntes in substaunce that excells Ffaire be thy wives, right lovesom white and small Clere be thy Virgins lusty vnder kellys

London thowe arte the flowre of cities all.