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, bearing the CHILD richly habited in a mantle, &c.,
 Train borne by a LADY.
 Then follows the MARCHIONESS DORSET, the other godmother, and LADIES.
 The troop pass once about the stage, and GARTER speaks.

Garter	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 GUARD.

Cranmer	[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.

King Henry						Thank you, good lord archbishop.
	What is her name?

Cranmer					Elizabeth.

King Henry								Stand up, lord.
											[KING kisses the child.

	With this kiss take my blessing. God protect thee,
	Into whose hand I give thy life.

Cranmer									Amen.

King Henry	My noble gossips, ye've been too prodigal.
	I thank ye heartily; so shall this lady,
	When she has so much English.

Cranmer								Let me speak, sir,
	For heaven now bids me; and the words I utter
	Let none think flattery, for they'll find 'em truth.
	This royal infant - heaven still move about her!-
	Though in her cradle, yet now promises
	Upon this land a thousand thousand blessings,
	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. Saba 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 loved and feared; her own shall bless her;
	Her foes shake like a field of beaten corn,
	And hang their heads with sorrow: good grows 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 phoenix,
	Her ashes new create another heir
	As great in admiration as herself,
	So shall she leave her blessdness to one,
	(When heaven shall call her from this cloud of darkness)
	Who, from the sacred ashes of her honour,
	Shall starlike rise, as great in fame as she was,
	And so stand fixed. Peace, plenty, love, truth, terror,
	That were the servants to this 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 flourish,
	And, like a mountain cedar, reach his branches
	To all the plains about him; our children's children
	Shall see this, and bless heaven.

King Henry									Thou speakest wonders.

Cranmer	She shall be, to the happiness of England,
	An agd 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 th' ground, and all the world shall mourn her.

King Henry	O lord archbishop,
	Thou hast made me now a man: never, before
	This happy child, did I get anything.
	This oracle of comfort has so pleased 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 beholding;
	I have received much honour by your presence,
	And ye shall find me thankful. Lead the way, lords,
	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.
											[Exeunt.

                               THE EPILOGUE

Epilogue	'Tis ten to one this play can never please
	All that are here. Some come to take their ease
	And sleep an hour or two; but those, we fear,
	We've frighted with our trumpets, so 'tis clear
	They'll say 'tis naught. Others, to hear the city
	Abused extremely, and to cry 'That's witty!'
	Which we have not done neither; that, I fear,
	All the expected good we're like to hear
	For this play at this time is only in
	The merciful construction of good women;
	For such a one we showed 'em. If they smile,
	And say 'twill do, I know within a while
	All the best men are ours; for 'tis ill hap
	If they hold when their ladies bid 'em clap.
											[Exit.
