to mow them down before me: but, if I spare 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 save her. [Within.] Do you hear, master porter? Port. I shall be with you presently, good master puppy.-Keep the door close, sirrahı. Man. What would you have me do? Port. What should you do, but knock them down by the dozens? Is this Moorfields to muster in? or have we some strange Indian with the great tool come to court, the women so besiege us? Bless me, what a fry of fornication is at door! On my christian conscience, this one christening will beget a thousand; here will be father, godfather, and all together. Man. The spoons will be the bigger, sir. There is a fellow somewhat near the door, he should be a brazier by his face, for, o' my conscience, twenty of the dogdays now reign in 's nose; all that stand about him are under the line, they need no other penance: That firedrake did I hit three times on the head, and three times was his nose discharged against me; he stands there, like a mortar-piece, to blow us. There was a haberdasher's wife of small wit near him, that railed upon me till her pink'd porringer fell off her head, for kindling such a combustion in the state. I miss'd the meteor once, and hit that woman, who cried out, clubs! when I might see from far some forty truncheoneers draw to her succour, 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 to 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 honour in, and let a Fire-drake. An ignis-fatuus was so called; and the name was also given to any artificial firework. them win the work: The deyil was amongst them, I think, surely. 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, 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! Your faithful friends o' the suburbs? We shall have When they pass back from the christening, Port. An 't please your honour We are but men; and what so many may do, Not being torn a pieces, we have done : An army cannot rule them. Cham. As I live, If the king blame me for 't, I'll lay ye all A Marshalsea, shall hold you play these two months, Man. You great fellow, stand close up, or I 'll make your head ache. VOL. VII. a Bumbards-ale-barrels. H Port. You i' the camblet, get up o' the rail; I '}} pick you o'er the pales else. SCENE IV.-The Palace. [Exeunt. 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! 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. Thank you, good lord archbishop, Cran. K. Hen. Elizabeth. Stand up, lord.[The KING kisses the child. With this kiss take my blessing: God protect thee! Cran. Amen. K. Hen. My noble gossips, ye have been too prodigal: I thank ye heartily; so shall this lady, Cran. Upon this land a thousand thousand blessings, Shall still be doubled on her: truth shall nurse her, She shall be lov'd, and fear'd: Her own shall bless her: 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 As great in admiration as herself; So shall she leave her blessedness to one, (When heaven shall call her from this cloud of dark ness,) Who, from the sacred ashes of her honour, Shall star-like rise, as great in fame as she was, And so stand fix'd: Peace, plenty, love, truth, terror, dren Shall see this, and bless heaven. K. Hen. -Our children's chil Thou speakest wonders. To the ground, and all the world shall mourn her. Thou hast made me now a man; never, before To see what this child does, and praise my Maker. [Exeunt. |