3 You come to take your stand here, and behold 4 The Lady Anne pass from her coronation?
Second Gentleman
5 'Tis all my business. At our last encounter, 6 The Duke of Buckingham came from his trial.
First Gentleman
7 'Tis very true: but that time offer'd sorrow; 8 This, general joy.
Second Gentleman
9 'Tis well: the citizens, 10 I am sure, have shown at full their royal minds-- 11 As, let 'em have their rights, they are ever forward-- 12 In celebration of this day with shows, 13 Pageants and sights of honour.
16 May I be bold to ask at what that contains, 17 That paper in your hand?
First Gentleman
18 Yes; 'tis the list 19 Of those that claim their offices this day 20 By custom of the coronation. 21 The Duke of Suffolk is the first, and claims 22 To be high-steward; next, the Duke of Norfolk, 23 He to be earl marshal: you may read the rest.
Second Gentleman
24 I thank you, sir: had I not known those customs, 25 I should have been beholding to your paper. 26 But, I beseech you, what's become of Katharine, 27 The princess dowager? how goes her business?
First Gentleman
28 That I can tell you too. The Archbishop 29 Of Canterbury, accompanied with other 30 Learned and reverend fathers of his order, 31 Held a late court at Dunstable, six miles off 32 From Ampthill where the princess lay; to which 33 She was often cited by them, but appear'd not: 34 And, to be short, for not appearance and 35 The king's late scruple, by the main assent 36 Of all these learned men she was divorced, 37 And the late marriage made of none effect 38 Since which she was removed to Kimbolton, 39 Where she remains now sick.
Second Gentleman
40 Alas, good lady! Trumpets 41 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 the purse and mace before him.
4. Choristers, singing.
Music
5. Mayor of London, bearing the mace. Then Garter, in his coat of arms, and on his head a gilt copper crown.
6. Marquess Dorset, bearing a sceptre of gold, on his head a demi-coronal of gold. With him, SURREY, bearing the rod of silver with the dove, crowned with an earl's coronet. Collars of SS.
7. SUFFOLK, in his robe of estate, his coronet on his head, bearing a long white wand, as high-steward. With him, 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, QUEEN ANNE 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 QUEEN ANNE's train.
10. Certain Ladies or Countesses, with plain circlets of gold without flowers.
They pass over the stage in order and state
Second Gentleman
42 A royal train, believe me. These I know: 43 Who's that that bears the sceptre?
First Gentleman
44 Marquess Dorset: 45 And that the Earl of Surrey, with the rod.
Second Gentleman
46 A bold brave gentleman. That should be 47 The Duke of Suffolk?
First Gentleman
48 'Tis the same: high-steward.
Second Gentleman
49 And that my Lord of Norfolk?
First Gentleman
50 Yes;
Second Gentleman
51 Heaven bless thee! Looking on QUEEN ANNE 52 Thou hast the sweetest face I ever look'd on. 53 Sir, as I have a soul, she is an angel; 54 Our king has all the Indies in his arms, 55 And more and richer, when he strains that lady: 56 I cannot blame his conscience.
First Gentleman
57 They that bear 58 The cloth of honour over her, are four barons 59 Of the Cinque-ports.
Second Gentleman
60 Those men are happy; and so are all are near her. 61 I take it, she that carries up the train 62 Is that old noble lady, Duchess of Norfolk.
First Gentleman
63 It is; and all the rest are countesses.
Second Gentleman
64 Their coronets say so. These are stars indeed; 65 And sometimes falling ones.
First Gentleman
66 No more of that.
Exit procession, and then a great flourish of trumpets
Enter a third Gentleman
First Gentleman
67 God save you, sir! where have you been broiling?
Third Gentleman
68 Among the crowd i' the Abbey; where a finger 69 Could not be wedged in more: I am stifled 70 With the mere rankness of their joy.
Second Gentleman
71 You saw 72 The ceremony?
Third Gentleman
73 That I did.
First Gentleman
74 How was it?
Third Gentleman
75 Well worth the seeing.
Second Gentleman
76 Good sir, speak it to us.
Third Gentleman
77 As well as I am able. The rich stream 78 Of lords and ladies, having brought the queen 79 To a prepared place in the choir, fell off 80 A distance from her; while her grace sat down 81 To rest awhile, some half an hour or so, 82 In a rich chair of state, opposing freely 83 The beauty of her person to the people. 84 Believe me, sir, she is the goodliest woman 85 That ever lay by man: which when the people 86 Had the full view of, such a noise arose 87 As the shrouds make at sea in a stiff tempest, 88 As loud, and to as many tunes: hats, cloaks-- 89 Doublets, I think,--flew up; and had their faces 90 Been loose, this day they had been lost. Such joy 91 I never saw before. Great-bellied women, 92 That had not half a week to go, like rams 93 In the old time of war, would shake the press, 94 And make 'em reel before 'em. No man living 95 Could say 'This is my wife' there; all were woven 96 So strangely in one piece.
Second Gentleman
97 But, what follow'd?
Third Gentleman
98 At length her grace rose, and with modest paces 99 Came to the altar; where she kneel'd, and saint-like 100 Cast her fair eyes to heaven and pray'd devoutly. 101 Then rose again and bow'd her to the people: 102 When by the Archbishop of Canterbury 103 She had all the royal makings of a queen; 104 As holy oil, Edward Confessor's crown, 105 The rod, and bird of peace, and all such emblems 106 Laid nobly on her: which perform'd, the choir, 107 With all the choicest music of the kingdom, 108 Together sung 'Te Deum.' So she parted, 109 And with the same full state paced back again 110 To York-place, where the feast is held.
First Gentleman
111 Sir, 112 You must no more call it York-place, that's past; 113 For, since the cardinal fell, that title's lost: 114 'Tis now the king's, and call'd Whitehall.
Third Gentleman
115 I know it; 116 But 'tis so lately alter'd, that the old name 117 Is fresh about me.
Second Gentleman
118 What two reverend bishops 119 Were those that went on each side of the queen?
Third Gentleman
120 Stokesly and Gardiner; the one of Winchester, 121 Newly preferr'd from the king's secretary, 122 The other, London.
Second Gentleman
123 He of Winchester 124 Is held no great good lover of the archbishop's, 125 The virtuous Cranmer.
Third Gentleman
126 All the land knows that: 127 However, yet there is no great breach; when it comes, 128 Cranmer will find a friend will not shrink from him.
Second Gentleman
129 Who may that be, I pray you?
Third Gentleman
130 Thomas Cromwell; 131 A man in much esteem with the king, and truly 132 A worthy friend. The king has made him master 133 O' the jewel house, 134 And one, already, of the privy council.
Second Gentleman
135 He will deserve more.
Third Gentleman
136 Yes, without all doubt. 137 Come, gentlemen, ye shall go my way, which 138 Is to the court, and there ye shall be my guests: 139 Something I can command. As I walk thither, 140 I'll tell ye more.
