King Henry The Eighth

1 Enter Trumpets, sounding; then two Aldermen, Lord Mayor, Garter,
2 Cranmer, Duke of Norfolk with his marshal’s staff, Duke of Suffolk, two
3 Noblemen bearing great standing bowls for the christening gifts; then
4 four Noblemen bearing a canopy, under which the Duchess of Norfolk,
5 godmother, bearing the child richly habited in a mantle, etc., train
6 borne by a Lady; then follows the Marchioness Dorset, the other
7 godmother, and Ladies. The troop pass once about the stage, and Garter
8 speaks.
9 GARTER.
10 Heaven, from thy endless goodness, send prosperous life, long and ever
11 happy, to the high and mighty Princess of England, Elizabeth.
12 Flourish. Enter King and Guard.
13 CRANMER.
14 [_Kneeling_.] And to your royal Grace and the good Queen,
15 My noble partners and myself thus pray
16 All comfort, joy, in this most gracious lady
17 Heaven ever laid up to make parents happy
18 May hourly fall upon ye!
19 KING.
20 Thank you, good lord Archbishop.
21 What is her name?
22 CRANMER.
23 Elizabeth.
24 KING.
25 Stand up, lord.
26 [_The King kisses the child._]
27 With this kiss take my blessing: God protect thee,
28 Into whose hand I give thy life.
29 CRANMER.
30 Amen.
31 KING.
32 My noble gossips, you’ve have been too prodigal.
33 I thank ye heartily; so shall this lady,
34 When she has so much English.
35 CRANMER.
36 Let me speak, sir,
37 For heaven now bids me; and the words I utter
38 Let none think flattery, for they’ll find ’em truth.
39 This royal infant—heaven still move about her!—
40 Though in her cradle, yet now promises
41 Upon this land a thousand thousand blessings,
42 Which time shall bring to ripeness. She shall be—
43 But few now living can behold that goodness—
44 A pattern to all princes living with her
45 And all that shall succeed. Saba was never
46 More covetous of wisdom and fair virtue
47 Than this pure soul shall be. All princely graces
48 That mould up such a mighty piece as this is,
49 With all the virtues that attend the good,
50 Shall still be doubled on her. Truth shall nurse her;
51 Holy and heavenly thoughts still counsel her.
52 She shall be loved and feared. Her own shall bless her;
53 Her foes shake like a field of beaten corn,
54 And hang their heads with sorrow. Good grows with her.
55 In her days every man shall eat in safety
56 Under his own vine what he plants, and sing
57 The merry songs of peace to all his neighbours.
58 God shall be truly known, and those about her
59 From her shall read the perfect ways of honour
60 And by those claim their greatness, not by blood.
61 Nor shall this peace sleep with her; but as when
62 The bird of wonder dies, the maiden phoenix,
63 Her ashes new create another heir
64 As great in admiration as herself,
65 So shall she leave her blessedness to one,
66 When heaven shall call her from this cloud of darkness,
67 Who from the sacred ashes of her honour
68 Shall star-like rise as great in fame as she was
69 And so stand fixed. Peace, plenty, love, truth, terror,
70 That were the servants to this chosen infant,
71 Shall then be his, and like a vine grow to him.
72 Wherever the bright sun of heaven shall shine,
73 His honour and the greatness of his name
74 Shall be, and make new nations. He shall flourish,
75 And, like a mountain cedar, reach his branches
76 To all the plains about him. Our children’s children
77 Shall see this and bless heaven.
78 KING.
79 Thou speakest wonders.
80 CRANMER.
81 She shall be to the happiness of England
82 An aged princess; many days shall see her,
83 And yet no day without a deed to crown it.
84 Would I had known no more! But she must die,
85 She must, the saints must have her; yet a virgin,
86 A most unspotted lily, shall she pass to the ground,
87 And all the world shall mourn her.
88 KING.
89 O lord Archbishop,
90 Thou hast made me now a man. Never before
91 This happy child did I get anything.
92 This oracle of comfort has so pleased me
93 That when I am in heaven I shall desire
94 To see what this child does and praise my Maker.
95 I thank ye all. To you, my good Lord Mayor,
96 And you, good brethren, I am much beholding.
97 I have received much honour by your presence,
98 And ye shall find me thankful. Lead the way, lords.
99 Ye must all see the Queen, and she must thank ye;
100 She will be sick else. This day, no man think
101 ’Has business at his house, for all shall stay.
102 This little one shall make it holiday.
103 [_Exeunt._]
104 Epilogue
105 Enter Epilogue.
106 EPILOGUE.
107 ’Tis ten to one this play can never please
108 All that are here. Some come to take their ease,
109 And sleep an act or two—but those, we fear,
110 We’ve frighted with our trumpets; so, ’tis clear,
111 They’ll say ’tis naught—others, to hear the city
112 Abused extremely and to cry “That’s witty!”—
113 Which we have not done neither—that I fear
114 All the expected good we’re like to hear
115 For this play at this time is only in
116 The merciful construction of good women,
117 For such a one we showed ’em. If they smile
118 And say ’twill do, I know within a while
119 All the best men are ours; for ’tis ill hap
120 If they hold when their ladies bid ’em clap.
121 [_Exit._]