SEC. GENT.

SEC. GENT.

So are you.

to

FIRST GENT. You come

take your stand here and behold The Lady Anne pass from her coronation ?

SEC. GENT. 'T is all my business. At our last encounter, The Duke of Buckingham came from his trial.

FIRST GENT. 'Tis very true: but that time offer'd sorrow; This, general joy.

"T is well: the citizens, I am sure, have shown at full their royal minds —

1 You're well mel once again] The two gentlemen have met before, II, i (for the same purpose of indicating the general course of the action).

As, let 'em have their rights, they are ever forward
In celebration of this day with shows,

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, That paper in your hand?

FIRST GENT.

Yes; 't is the list

Of those that claim their offices this day

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.

SEC. GENT. I thank you, sir: had I not known those customs,

I should have been beholding to your paper.
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 Arch-
bishop

Of Canterbury, accompanied with other
Learned and reverend fathers of his order,
Held a late court at Dunstable, six miles off
From Ampthill, where the princess lay; to which
She was often cited by them, but appear'd not:
And, to be short, for not appearance and
The king's late scruple, by the main assent
Of all these learned men she was divorced,

8 their royal minds] their minds well affected to the king. 31 by the main assent] by the general assent.

And the late marriage made of none effect:
Since which she was removed to Kimbolton,
Where she remains now sick.

SEC. GENT.

Alas, good lady! [Trumpets.

The trumpets sound: stand close, the queen is coming.

THE ORDER OF THE CORONATION

1. A lively Flourish of Trumpets.

2. Then two Judges.

Musicians.

[Hautboys.

3. LORD CHANCELLOR, with purse and mace before him. 4. Choristers, singing. 5. Mayor of London, bearing the mace. Then Garter, in his coat of arms, and on his head he wears a gilt copper crown. MARQUESS DORSET, bearing a sceptre of gold, on his head a demicoronal 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.

6.

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.

34 Kimbolton] The First and Second Folios print the word Kymmalton, which gives the contemporary pronunciation.

36 the queen is coming] Anne Boleyn's coronation took place on 1 June,

1533.

(stage direction 5) coat of arms] The Garter king's coat of office emblazoned with the royal arms.

6 demicoronal coronet.

7 Collars of SS.] Chains worn about the neck of which the links were shaped like the letter S.

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.

SEC. GENT. A royal train, believe me. These I know: Who's that that bears the sceptre ?

FIRST GENT.

Marquess Dorset: And that the Earl of Surrey, with the rod.

SEC. GENT. A bold brave gentleman. That should

be

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! 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,

And more and richer, when he strains that lady:

I cannot blame his conscience.

FIRST GENT.

They that bear

The cloth of honour over her, are four barons

Of the Cinque-ports.

SEC. GENT. Those men are happy; and so are all are near her.

I take it, she that carries up the train

Is that old noble lady, Duchess of Norfolk.

FIRST GENT. It is; and all the rest are countesses.

46 strains] embraces.

40

50

SEC. GENT. Their coronets say so. These are stars

God save you, sir! where have you been broiling? THIRD GENT. Among the crowd i' the abbey; where

a finger

Could not be wedged in more: I am stifled

With the mere rankness of their joy.

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
To rest awhile, some half an hour or so,
In a rich chair of state, opposing freely
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
Had the full view of, such a noise arose

As the shrouds make at sea in a stiff tempest,

67 opposing freely] freely displaying.

60

70