To scatter them, as 'tis to make them sleep On May-day morning; which will never be: Man. Alas, I know not; How gets the tide in ? (You see the poor remainder) could diftribute, I made no spare, fir. Port. You did nothing, fir. Man. I am not Sampfon, nor fir Guy, nor Colbrand, to mow them down before me: but, if I fpar'd any, that had a head to hit, either young or old, he or she, cuckold or cuckold-maker, let me never hope to see a chine again; and that I would not for a cow, God fave her. [Within.] Do you hear, master Porter ? Port. I fhall be with you presently, good master puppy. Keep the door close, firrah. Man. What would you have me do? Port. What should you do, but knock them down by the dozens? Is this Moorfields to mufter in? or have we fome ftrange Indian with the great tool come to court, the women fo befiege us? Blefs me, what a fry of fornication is at door! On my chriftian confcience, this one christening will beget a thoufand; here will be father, godfather, and all together. Man. The spoons will be the bigger, fir. There is a fellow fomewhat near the door, he should be a brazier by his face, for, o'my confcience, twenty of the dog-days now reign in's nofe; all that stand about him are under the line, they need no other penance: That fire-drake did I hit three times on the head, and theee times was his nofe discharg'd against me; he stands there, like a mortar-piece, to blow us. There was a haberdasher's wife of fmall wit near him, that rail'd upon me till her pink'd porringer fell I fell off her head, for kindling fuch a combuftion in the ftate. I mifs'd the meteor once, and hit that woman, who cry'd out, clubs! when I might fee from far fome forty truncheoneers draw to her fuccour, which were the hope of the Strand, where she was quarter'd. They fell on; I made good my place; at length they came to the broomstaff with me, I defy'd them ftill; when fuddenly a file of boys behind them, loose shot, deliver❜d such a shower of pebbles, that I was fain to draw mine honour in, and let them win the work: The devil was amongst them, I think, furely, Port. These are the youths that thunder at a play-house, 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, and there they are like to dance these three days; befides the running banquet of two beadles, that is to come. Enter the Lord Chamberlain. Cham. Mercy o'me, what a multitude are here! Your faithful friends o'the fuburbs? We shall have When they pass back from the christening. An't please your honour Port. Not being torn a pieces, we have done : An army cannot rule them. Cham. As I live, If If the king blame me for't, I'll lay ye all By the heels, and fuddenly; and on your heads A Marshalsea, shall hold you play these two months. Man. You great fellow, ftand close up, or I'll make your head ake. Port. You i'the camlet, get up o'the rail; I'll pick you o'er the pales elfe. [Exeunt. SCENE IV. The Palace. Enter Trumpets, founding; then two Aldermen, Lord Mayor, Garter, CRANMER, Duke of NORFOLK, with his Marfbal's staff, Duke of SUFFOLK, two Nobiemen bearing great ftanding-bowls for the christening gifts; then four Noblemen bearing a canopy, under which the Duchefs 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 flage, and Garter speaks. Gart. Heaven, from thy endless goodness, fend profperous life, long, and ever happy, to the high and mighty princefs of England, Elizabeth! Flourifb. With this kifs take my bleffing: God prote K. Hen. My noble goffips, ye have been 1 I thank ye heartily; so shall this lady, When she has fo much English. Cran. Let me fpea For Heaven now bids me; and the words I Holy and heavenly thoughts still counsel her: She fhall be lov'd, and fear'd: Her own fhall blefs her; Her foes shake like a field of beaten corn, And hang their heads with forrow: Good grows with her: In her days, every man shall eat in safety Under his own vine, what he plants; and fing The merry fongs of peace to all his neighbours : As great in admiration as herself; So fhall fhe leave her bleffedness to one, (When heaven shall call her from this cloud of darkness,) And so stand fix'd: Peace, plenty, love, truth, terror, Shall be, and make new nations: He fhall flourish, To all the plains about him :- -Our children's children K. Hen. Thou speakest wonders. Cran. She fhall be, to the happiness of England, An aged princefs; many days fhall see her, And yet no day without a deed to crown it. 'Would I had known no more! but the muft die, She muft, the faints must have her; yet a virgin, A most unspotted lily fhall fhe pass To the ground, and all the world shall mourn her. K. Hen. |