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 : You are lazy knaves;
And here ye lie baiting of bumbards 45, when
Ye should do service. Hark, the trumpets sound;
They are 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 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 camlet, get up o'the rail ; I'll pick you o'er the pales else.

[Ereunt.

SCENE IV.

The Palace. 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 bearing a canopy, under which the Duchess of NORFOLK, godmother, beuring the child richly habited in a mantle, fc. Train borne by a Lady: then follows the Marchioness of Dorset, the other godmother, and ladies. The troop pass once about the stage, and 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 ;-
All comfort, joy, in this most gracious lady,
Heaven ever laid up to make parents happy,
May hourly fall upon ye!

K. Hen. Thank you, good lord archbishop:
What is her name?
Cran.

Elizabeth. K. Hen.

Stand

up,

lord.

[The King kisses the child. With this kiss take my blessing: God protect thee ! Into whose hand 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,
When she has so much English.
Cran.

Let me speak, sir,
For Heaven now bids me; and the words I utter
Let none think flattery, for they'll find them truth,
This royal infant, (heaven still move about her!)
Though in her cradle, yet now promises
Upon this land a thousand thousand blessings,

VOL. IX.

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 : Sheba 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 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 grous

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 phænix, 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 bonour,

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 his 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 Hourish,
And, like a mountain cedar, reach his branches
To all the plains about him : Our children's

children
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 : This oracle of comfort has so pleas'd 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 beholden; I have receiv'd much honour by your presence, And ye shall find me thankful. Lead the way,

Ye must all see the queen, and she must thank ye,
She will be sick else. This day, no man think
He has business at his house ; for all shall stay,
This little one shall make it holiday.

[Ereunt.