where she was quartered. They fell on; I made good my place; at length they came to the broomstaff with me, I defied them still; when suddenly a file of boys behind them, loose shot, delivered such a shower of pebbles, that I was fain to draw mine honour in, and let them win the work: The devil was amongst them, I think, surely. Port. These are the youths that thunder at a play-house, and fight for bitten apples; that no audience, but the Tribulation of Tower-hill, or the limbs of Limehouse, their dear brothers, are able to endure. I have some of them in limbo patrum*, and there they are like to dance these three days; besides the running banquet of two beadlest, that is to come. Enter the Lord Chamberlain. Cham. Mercy o'me, what a multitude are here ! They grow still too, from all parts they are coming, As if we kept a fair here! Where are these porters, These lazy knaves?-Ye have made a fine hand, fel. lows, There's a trim rabble let in: Are all these Your faithful friends o'the suburbs? We shall have Port. An army cannot rule them. Cham. As I live, If the king blame me for't, I'll lay ye all By the heels, and suddenly; and on your heads ↑ A dessert of whipping. *Place of confinement, They are come already from the christening: Go, break among the press, and find a way out A Marshalsea, shall hold you play these two months. Port. Make way there for the princess. Man. You great fellow, stand close up, or I'll make your head ake. Port. You i'the camblet, get up o'the rail; I'll pick you o'er the pales else. [Exeunt. SCENE IV. The Palacet. Enter trumpets, sounding; then two Aldermen, Lord Mayor, Garter, Cranmer, Duke of Norfolk, with his marshal's staff, Duke of Suffolk, two Noblemen bearing great standing-bowls, for the christening gifts; then four Noblemen bear. ing 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 of Dorset, the other godmother, and Ladies. The troop pass once about the stage, und Garter speaks. Gart. Heaven, from thy endless goodness, send prosperous life, long, and ever happy, to the high and mighty princess of England, Elizabeth. Flourish. Enter King, and Train. Cran. [Kneeling.] And to your royal grace, and the good queen, My noble partners, and myself, thus pray: * Pitch. + At Greenwich. All comfort, joy, in this most gracious lady, With this kiss take my blessing: God protect thee! Into whose hands I give thy life. Cran. Amen. K. Hen. My noble gossips, ye have been too pro digal: I thank ye heartily; so shall this lady, Cran. Let me speak, sir, For Heaven now bids me; and the words I utter Shall still be doubled on her: truth shall nurse her, She shall be lov'd, 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 From her shall read the perfect ways of honour, As great in admiration as herself; So shall she leave her blessedness to one, (When Heaven shall call her from this cloud of dark. ness), 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, ter ror, That were the servants to this chosen infant, Shall be, and make new nations: He shall flourish, To all the plains about him :-Our children's child ren Shall see this, and bless Heaven. K. Hen. Thou speakest wonders. Cran. 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. K. Hen. O lord archbishop, Thou hast made me now a man; never, before This happy child, did I get any thing: To see what this child does, and praise my Maker. This and the following seventeen lines were probably written by B. Jonson, after the accession of king James. I thank ye all,-To you, my good lord mayor, Ye must all see the queen, and she must thank ye, [Exeunt. |