There's a trim rabble let in: are all these Your faithful friends o' the suburbs? We shall have Great store of room, no doubt, left for the ladies, When they pass back from the christening. Porter An't please your honour, We are but men; and what so many may do, Not being torn a-pieces, we have done:
An army cannot rule 'em. Chamberlain As I live, If the king blame me for't, I'll lay ye all By the heels, and suddenly; and on your heads Clap round fines for neglect: ye are lazy knaves;And here ye lie baiting of bombards, when Ye should do service. Hark! the trumpets sound;They're come already from the christening:
Go, break among the press, and find a way out To let the troop pass fairly; or I'll find A Marshalsea shall hold ye play these two months. Porter Make way there for the princess. Man You great fellow, Stand close up, or I'll make your head ache. Porter You i' the camlet, get up o' the rail;I'll peck you o'er the pales else.
Exeunt SCENE V. The palace. Enter trumpets, sounding; then two Aldermen, Lord Mayor, Garter, CRANMER, NORFOLK with his marshal's staff, SUFFOLK, two Noblemen bearing great standing-bowls for the christening-gifts; then four Noblemen bearing a canopy, under which the Duchess of Norfolk, godmother, bearing the child richly habited in a mantle, & c., train borne by a Lady;then follows the Marchioness Dorset, the other godmother, and Ladies. The troop pass once about the stage, and Garter speaks Garter Heaven, from thy endless goodness, send prosperous life, long, and ever happy, to the high and mighty princess of England, Elizabeth!
Flourish. Enter KING HENRY VIII and Guard CRANMER [Kneeling] And to your royal grace, and the good queen, My noble partners, and myself, thus pray:
All comfort, joy, in this most gracious lady, Heaven ever laid up to make parents happy, May hourly fall upon ye! KING HENRY VIII Thank you, good lord archbishop:
What is her name? CRANMER Elizabeth. KING HENRY VIII Stand up, lord.
KING HENRY VIII kisses the child With this kiss take my blessing: God protect thee!
Into whose hand I give thy life. CRANMER Amen. KING HENRY VIII My noble gossips, ye have been too prodigal:
I thank ye heartily; so shall this lady, When she has so much English. CRANMER Let me speak, sir, For heaven now bids me; and the words I utter Let none think flattery, for they'll find 'em truth.
This royal infant--heaven still move about her!--Though in her cradle, yet now promises Upon this land a thousand thousand blessings, Which time shall bring to ripeness: she shall be--But few now living can behold that goodness--A pattern to all princes living with her, And all that shall succeed: Saba was never More covetous of wisdom and fair virtue Than this pure soul shall be: all princely graces, That mould up such a mighty piece as this is, With all the virtues that attend the good, Shall still be doubled on her: truth shall nurse her, Holy and heavenly thoughts still counsel her:
She shall be loved and fear'd: her own shall bless her;Her foes shake like a field of beaten corn, And hang their heads with sorrow: good grows with her:
In her days every man shall eat in safety, Under his own vine, what he plants; and sing The merry songs of peace to all his neighbours:
God shall be truly known; and those about her From her shall read the perfect ways of honour, And by those claim their greatness, not by blood.
Nor shall this peace sleep with her: but as when The bird of wonder dies, the maiden phoenix, Her ashes new create another heir, As great in admiration as herself;So shall she leave her blessedness to one, When heaven shall call her from this cloud of darkness, Who from the sacred ashes of her honour Shall star-like rise, as great in fame as she was, And so stand fix'd: peace, plenty, love, truth, terror, That were the servants to this chosen infant, Shall then be his, and like a vine grow to him:
Wherever the bright sun of heaven shall shine, His honour and the greatness of his name Shall be, and make new nations: he shall flourish, And, like a mountain cedar, reach his branches To all the plains about him: our children's children Shall see this, and bless heaven. KING HENRY VIII Thou speakest wonders. CRANMER She shall be, to the happiness of England, An aged princess; many days shall see her, And yet no day without a deed to crown it.
Would I had known no more! but she must die, She must, the saints must have her; yet a virgin, A most unspotted lily shall she pass To the ground, and all the world shall mourn her. KING HENRY VIII O lord archbishop, Thou hast made me now a man! never, before This happy child, did I get any thing:
This oracle of comfort has so pleased me, That when I am in heaven I shall desire To see what this child does, and praise my Maker.
I thank ye all. To you, my good lord mayor, And your good brethren, I am much beholding;I have received much honour by your presence, And ye shall find me thankful. Lead the way, lords:
Ye must all see the queen, and she must thank ye, She will be sick else. This day, no man think Has business at his house; for all shall stay:
This little one shall make it holiday.
Exeunt EPILOGUE
'Tis ten to one this play can never please All that are here: some come to take their ease, And sleep an act or two; but those, we fear, We have frighted with our trumpets; so, 'tis clear, They'll say 'tis naught: others, to hear the city Abused extremely, and to cry 'That's witty!'
Which we have not done neither: that, I fear, All the expected good we're like to hear For this play at this time, is only in The merciful construction of good women;For such a one we show'd 'em: if they smile, And say 'twill do, I know, within a while All the best men are ours; for 'tis ill hap, If they hold when their ladies bid 'em clap.
