cried out, Clubs!1 when I might see from far some forty truncheoneers draw to her succor, which were the hope of the Strand, 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 honor in, and let them win the work. The devil was amongst them, I think, surely. 4 2 Port. These are the youths that thunder at a playhouse, 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,5 and there they are like to dance these three days; besides the running banquet of two beadles, 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, fellows. 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. Port. An't please your honor, We are but men; and what so many may do, An army cannot rule them. 1 See note on the First Part of King Henry VI. Act i. Sc. 3. 2 Shooters. 3 i. e. the fortress; it is a term in fortification. 4 By the tribulation of Tower-hill and the limbs of Limehouse it is evident that Shakspeare meant noisy rabble frequenting the theatres, supposed to come from those places. 5 i. e. in confinement. The Limbus Patrum is, properly, the place where the old fathers and patriarchs are supposed to be waiting for the resurrection. 6 A public whipping. 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 Marshalsea, shall hold you play these two months. Man. You great fellow, stand close up, or I'll make your head ache. Port. You i'the camlet, get up o'the rail; I'll pick you o'er the pales else. [Exeunt. SCENE IV. The Palace.3 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, 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, 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. 1 A bumbard was a large black jack of leather used to carry beer to soldiers upon duty, or upon any occasion where a quantity was required. 2 To pick is to pitch, cast, or throw. 3 At Greenwich. 4 Standing-bowls were bowls elevated on feet or pedestals. Flourish. Enter King and Train. Cran. [Kneeling.] And to your royal grace, and the good queen, My noble partners, and myself, thus pray :- K. Hen. What is her name? Cran. K. Hen. Thank you, good lord archbishop; With this kiss take my blessing. Amen. K. Hen. My noble gossips, ye have been too prodigal. 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 Shall still be doubled on her. Truth shall nurse her, She shall be loved and feared; her own shall bless her; Her foes shake like a field of beaten corn, And hang their heads with sorrow. her: Good grows with In her days, every man shall eat in safety, Under his own vine, what he plants; and sing 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 honor, Shall star-like rise, as great in fame as she was, Shall be, and make new nations. He shall flourish, To all the plains about him.Our children's children Shall see this, and bless Heaven. K. Hen. Thou speakest wonders.] To the ground, and all the world shall mourn her. Thou hast made me now a man; never, before This oracle of comfort has so pleased me, 1 Some of the commentators think that this and the following seventeen lines were probably written by Ben Johnson, after the accession of king James. We have before observed Mr. Gifford is of opinion that Ben Jonson had no hand in the additions to this play. 2 The year before the revival of this play there was a lottery for the plantation of Virginia. The lines probably allude to the settlement of that colony. That, when I am in heaven, I shall desire To see what this child does, and praise my Maker.- [Exeunt. |