THE CAVALCAD

                          A

                POEM

              On the RIDING the

          FRANCHISES.

YE Tuneful Nine, your Poets Mind inſpire,
And fill his Soul with your Celeſtial Fire :
Aid his Invention, and aſſiſt his Verſe,
While he attempts in Numbers to rehearſe.
How great Eblana's Denizons appear
In ſhining Arms, each Third returning Year :
Mounted on Neighing Steeds they tread the Ground,
And ride the City Franchiſes around.

O thou, bright Phæbus, Ruler of the Day,
Expel rough Winds, and drive the Clouds away,
Reſerve ill Weather for the ſilent Night,
Nor let rude Showers diſturb the Glorious Sight :
Then will each Heroe at the Nights approach,
Come home with dry Cockade without a Coach,
And own great GEORGE and Jove alternate ſway,
Jove rules the Night, and GEORGE commands the Day.

Aſſiſt ye tuneful Nine, while I declare
How all againſt the glorious Day prepare :
Some for Themſelves, ſome for their Steeds provide :
The Glitttering Sword is fitted to the Side :
Some pour on ruſty Piſtols, cleanſing Oyl,
Others at Bridle and the Saddle toil.
Chloris ſecures the Cockade in its Place,
And binds the Beaver round with ſplendid Lace.
The chief contention and the only care
Is who ſhall beſt equipt and arm'd appear.

Soon as the rolling Years brings on the Day,
That ſnatch'd great ANNA be of Queens away ;
And in her place, upon the Britiſh Throne,
Plac'd Mighty GEORGE to wear Britania's Crown :
Soon as Aurora with her Roſy Light,
With her bright Rays puts twinkling Stars to flight ;
The Silver Trumpet with its loud Alarms
Proclaims the Day, and roules up to Arms :
The drowſy God, affrighted at the Noiſe,
Too ſoon diſturb'd, to peaceful Regions flies :
Wak'd with the Sound, all fly inglorious reſt ;
The neighing Steeds in various Colours dreſt
In richeſt Trappings at each Door are ty'd,
The truſty Weapon fits on ev'ry Side.
And now the glorious Cavalcade's begun
Ye Muſes, open all your Helicon,
Inſpire my Verſe, aid and aſſiſt my Song,
While I relate how each Troop moves along.

The City Prætor mounted on his Steed
Lord Mayor. With Ribbons dreſt, leads on the Cavalcade :

Before his Lordſhip, with a ſolemn Grace,
They bear the Sword of Juſtice and the Mace,
His Gown of richeſt Scarlet, in Hand
Majeſtical he holds the powerful Wand :
In awful Pomp and State on either Side
The City Sheriffs in like Triumph ride,
Attended by a Band whoſe griping Paw
Poor Deptors dread, and keep them ſtill in awe.

Next march the Guild who plough the froathy Main,
The Guild. In Depth of Winter for the Hopes of Gain ;

To diſtant Climes our Beef and Wooll Convey,
And barter wholſome Food for Silks and Tea.
Through dang'rous Seas to diſtant Countries run
And viſit Kingdoms parch'd by ſcorching Sun :
Fearleſs of Rocks they ſeek the unknown Shoar,
And bring from thence the glitt'ring Ore.

The Croſs-leg'd Taylors next in order go.
Taylors. Taylors to creeping Louſe Eternal Foe :

Nor Boſome-Friends, nor Backbiters they ſpare,
Their Thumb Nails ſtain'd with blood of ſlain appear.
Men ſit for Battle, knowing how to charge,
And as their Bills their Conſciences are large :
Twelve Shillings only for the Suit they count,
Thread, Silk and Stay-Tape makes the Bill amount :
By ſuch Extortions, by ſuch Arts they thrive,
By ſuch long Bills to Grandeur they arrive.

Next march the Smiths, Men bravely us'd to fire,
Smiths. Without whoſe aid all Arts muſt ſoon expire :

Before them clad in Armour in his Pride
A Brawny Vulcan doth in Triumph ride ;
Not like the limping God whom Poets feign
In Bands of Wedlock join'd to Beauty's Queen :
But like the God of War, prepar'd to charge,

Next march the Butchers, Men inur'd to
Butch rs. Their brawny Limbs like Champions ſhine
Murder and Slaughter knocking on the Head
Are their Delight, the Trade to which they're bred :
Not great Pelides on the Trojan Plain
E're ſlaughter'd more, each has his Thouſand Slain ;
Their pointed Steels have many Widows made,
And ſent vaſt Colonies to Pluto's Shade.

Next march the Carpenters, whoſe Arms
Carpenters: The Lofty Pines, and make proud Elms to bend

Nex do the Shoemakers inorder go,
Shoemekers. Nor their Diviſions now deſtroy their Show
Since the wide Hoop expoſes to the View
The well-ſhap'd Leg, Silk Stocking, red-heel'd Shoe ;
Much Trade they get, acquiring wond'rous Store ;
They mighty grow, and help the needy Poor,
Who never unreliv'd : leaves a Shoemakers Door.

Next march the Saddlers, glorious to beho
Saddlers. On Sprightly Beaſts, their Saddles ſhine with

A Warlike Steed moſt proudly walks before
Richly attir'd, led by a Black-a moor :
Proud of his Furniture he paws the Ground,
And champs the Bit and throws the Foam around ;
Juſt ſuch a Colour, Limbs, and ſuch a Size
Old Saturn took, when fearing Jealous Eyes
Of angry Spouſe, who caught him in a Rape,
The Letcher gallop'd off and made his 'ſcape.

Next march the Cooks, who ſtudy Day and
Cooks and With coſtly Fare to pleaſe the Appetite :
Vintners. With theſe the Vintners ride: Did they refin

As much as they adulterate the Wind.
Their Praiſes ev'ry Month would gladly ſound,
And with what Pleaſure would the Glaſs go round.

Next march the Tanners fam'd in Days of
Tanners, For Tanning Hides for Shields which Heroes bo
Who has not heard of Ajax ſevenfold Shiel
Which neither to the Sword or Spear would yield ?
And won't, as much admire, as much adore
The Tanner's Hand, as his the Buckler bore.

Next march the Tallow-Chandlers, who
Tallow- With chearful Light Shades from the darke
Chandlers. Enthuſiaſts of Inward Light may boaſt,
But theſe are they illuminate the moſt.

Next march the Glovers, who with niceſt
Glovers. Provide White Kid for the new-married Pa
Or nicely ſtitch the Lemmon colour'd Glove
For Hand of Beau to go an fee his Love.

The Weavers next in order proudly ride,
Weavers. Who with great skill the nimble Shuttle gu
Pity ſuch Art ſhould meet ſo ſmall Reward,
But what Arts now adays do Men regard !

Sheermen and Dyersnext in order come,
Sheermen Men who depend intirely on the Loom :
& Dyers. The Weavers finds Employment for them both

Theſe give a Colour thoſe refine the Cloth.

Next march the Goldſmiths, who can form a
Goldſmiths. In ſundry Shapes and Forms the ductile Gold

Men call them Traytors, Rebels, and what not
Nor King nor Queen they ſpare, all go to pot :
The ſplendid Shilling either bent or broken,
And giv'n by parting Lover for a Token,
No Pity meets, in the devouring Fire
Monarchs and Chamber-Pots and Rings expire.

Then come the Jolly Coopers, who confin
Coopers. In Casks well bound with Hoops the ſparkl

Next mach the Hatters, once a gainful
Hatters. When Men wore fineſt Beavers on the Head

But now left Weight of Hat the Curl ſhoul
Beaus ſtrut along with Beaver under Arm.
Next Cutlers, Painters, Stationers appear
Cutlers, &c. Three Men on Shields their Arms before th
Next march the Bricklayers, by whoſe H nd
Bricklayers. Hibernias's Towers whole Tops ſalute the Skie
The Stocking-Weavers next in order come.
Stocking- Who from the Scarlet Stocking in the Loo
Weavers: With Clock of Gold or Silver nicely wro
Each ſtep fair Chloe takes, a Lover's
Next march the Curriers, who
Curriers. The P            S ddlers, o th