Act 4 — Scene I. A street in Westminster.
Reading edition
Enter two Gentlemen, meeting one another.
First Gent. You're well met once again. Sec. Gent. So are you.[639] First Gent. You come to take your stand here and behold The Lady Anne pass from her coronation?[640] Sec. Gent. 'Tis all my business. At our last encounter, The Duke of Buckingham came from his trial. 5 First Gent. 'Tis very true: but that time offer'd sorrow; This, general joy. Sec. Gent. 'Tis well: the citizens, I am sure, have shown at full their royal minds—[641][642] As, let'em have their rights, they are ever forward—[642][643] In celebration of this day with shows,[644] 10 Pageants and sights of honour. First Gent. Never greater, Nor, I'll assure you, better taken, sir. Sec. Gent. May I be bold to ask what that contains,[645] That paper in your hand?[646] First Gent. Yes; 'tis the list Of those that claim their offices this day 15 By custom of the coronation. The Duke of Suffolk is the first, and claims To be high-steward; next, the Duke of Norfolk, He to be earl marshal: you may read the rest.[647] Sec. Gent. I thank you, sir: had I not known those customs,[648] 20 I should have been beholding to your paper.[649] But, I beseech you, what's become of Katharine, The princess dowager? how goes her business? First Gent. That I can tell you too. The Archbishop[650] Of Canterbury, accompanied with other 25 Learned and reverend fathers of his order, Held a late court at Dunstable, six miles off[651] From Ampthill, where the princess lay; to which She was often cited by them, but appear'd not:[652] And, to be short, for not appearance and[653] 30 The king's late scruple, by the main assent Of all these learned men she was divorced, And the late marriage made of none effect: Since which she was removed to Kimbolton,[654] Where she remains now sick. Sec. Gent. Alas, good lady! 35
[Trumpets.[655]
The trumpets sound: stand close, the queen is coming.
[Hautboys.
THE ORDER OF THE CORONATION.
1. A lively Flourish of Trumpets.
2. Then two Judges.
3. Lord Chancellor, with purse and mace before him.
4. Choristers, singing. Musicians.
5. Mayor of London, bearing the mace. Then Garter, in his coat of arms, and on his head he wears a gilt copper crown.
6. Marquess Dorset, bearing a sceptre of gold, on his head a demi-coronal of gold. With him, the Earl of Surrey, bearing the rod of silver with the dove, crowned with an earl's coronet. Collars of SS.
7. Duke of Suffolk, in his robe of estate, his coronet on his head, bearing a long white wand, as high-steward. With him, the Duke of Norfolk, with the rod of marshalship, a coronet on his head. Collars of SS.
8. A canopy borne by four of the Cinque-ports; under it, the Queen in her robe; in her hair richly adorned with pearl, crowned. On each side her, the Bishops of London and Winchester.
9. The old Duchess of Norfolk, in a coronal of gold, wrought with flowers, bearing the Queen's train.
10. Certain Ladies or Countesses, with plain circlets of gold without flowers.
They pass over the stage in order and state.[656]
Sec. Gent. A royal train, believe me. These I know: Who's that that bears the sceptre?[657] First Gent. Marquess Dorset: And that the Earl of Surrey, with the rod. Sec. Gent. A bold brave gentleman. That should be[658] 40 The Duke of Suffolk? First Gent. 'Tis the same: high-steward. Sec. Gent. And that my Lord of Norfolk? First Gent. Yes. Sec. Gent. [Looking on the Queen] Heaven bless thee![659] Thou hast the sweetest face I ever look'd on. Sir, as I have a soul, she is an angel; Our king has all the Indies in his arms, 45 And more and richer, when he strains that lady:[660] I cannot blame his conscience. First Gent. They that bear The cloth of honour over her, are four barons[661] Of the Cinque-ports. Sec. Gent. Those men are happy; and so are all are near her.[662] 50 I take it, she that carries up the train Is that old noble lady, Duchess of Norfolk.[663] First Gent. It is; and all the rest are countesses. Sec. Gent. Their coronets say so. These are stars indeed, And sometimes falling ones. First Gent. No more of that. 55
[Exit procession; and then a great flourish of trumpets.[664]
Enter a third Gentleman.
First Gent. God save you, sir! where have you been broiling?[665] Third Gent. Among the crowd i' the abbey; where a finger Could not be wedged in more: I am stifled[666] With the mere rankness of their joy. Sec. Gent. You saw[667] The ceremony?[667] Third Gent. That I did.[668] First Gent. How was it? 60 Third Gent. Well worth the seeing. See. Gent. Good sir, speak it to us. Third Gent. As well as I am able. The rich stream Of lords and ladies, having brought the queen To a prepared place in the choir, fell off A distance from her; while her grace sat down 65 To rest awhile, some half an hour or so, In a rich chair of state, opposing freely[669] The beauty of her person to the people. Believe me, sir, she is the goodliest woman That ever lay by man: which when the people 70 Had the full view of, such a noise arose As the shrouds make at sea in a stiff tempest, As loud and to as many tunes: hats, cloaks,— Doublets, I think,—flew up; and had their faces Been loose, this day they had been lost. Such joy 75 I never saw before. Great-bellied women, That had not half a week to go, like rams In the old time of war, would shake the press, And make 'em reel before 'em. No man living Could say 'This is my wife' there, all were woven[670] 80 So strangely in one piece. Sec. Gent. But what follow'd?[671] Third Gent. At length her grace rose, and with modest paces Came to the altar, where she kneel'd and saintlike Cast her fair eyes to heaven and pray'd devoutly; Then rose again and bow'd her to the people; 85 When by the Archbishop of Canterbury She had all the royal makings of a queen,[672] As holy oil, Edward Confessor's crown, The rod, and bird of peace, and all such emblems Laid nobly on her: which perform'd, the choir, 90 With all the choicest music of the kingdom, Together sung 'Te Deum.' So she parted, And with the same full state paced back again To York-place, where the feast is held. First Gent. Sir,[673] You must no more call it York-place; that's past;[673] 95 For, since the cardinal fell, that title's lost: 'Tis now the king's, and call'd Whitehall. Third Gent. I know it; But 'tis so lately alter'd that the old name[674] Is fresh about me. Sec. Gent. What two reverend bishops Were those that went on each side of the queen? 100 Third Gent. Stokesly and Gardiner; the one of Winchester,[675] Newly preferr'd from the king's secretary, The other, London. Sec. Gent. He of Winchester Is held no great good lover of the archbishop's,[676] The virtuous Cranmer. Third Gent. All the land knows that: 105 However, yet there is no great breach; when it comes,[677] Cranmer will find a friend will not shrink from him. Sec. Gent. Who may that be, I pray you? Third Gent. Thomas Cromwell;[678] A man in much esteem with the king, and truly[678] A worthy friend. The king has made him master[678][679][680] 110 O' the jewel house,[678][679][681] And one, already, of the privy council.[679][681] Sec. Gent. He will deserve more.[681] Third Gent. Yes, without all doubt.[681] Come, gentlemen, ye shall go my way,[682][683] Which is to the court, and there ye shall be my guests:[682][684] 115 Something I can command. As I walk thither, I'll tell ye more. Both. You may command us, sir. [Exeunt.