As, let them have their rights, they are ever forward
In celebration of this day with shows,
Pageants, and sights of honour.
I Gent.

Never greater,
Nor, I'll assure you, better taken, sir.

Gent. May I be bold to ask what that contains, That paper in your hand? 1 Gent.

Yes ; 'tis 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.
2 Gent. I thank you, sir; had I not kuown those

customs,
I should have been beholden to your paper.
But, I beseech you, what's become of Katharine,
The princess dowager? how goes her business?

1 Gent. That I can tell you too. The archbishop
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 oft was 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 divorc'd,
And the late marriage* made of none effect:
Since which, she was removed to Kimbolton,
Where she remains uow, sick.
2 Gent.

Alas, good lady!

[Trumpets. The trumpets sound: stand close, the queen is

coming.

• The marriage lately considered as valid.

THE ORDER OF THE PROCESSION. A lively flourish of trumpets ; then enter 1. Two judges. 2. Lord Chancellor, with the purse and mace be.

fore him. 3. Choristers singing.

[Musick. 4. Mayor of London, bearing the mace. Then

Garter, in his coat of arms, and on his

head, a gilt copper crown. 5. Marquis Dorset, bearing a sceptre of gold, on

his head a demi-coronal of gold. With him, the earl of Surrey, bearing the roda of silver with the dove, crowned with an

earl's coronet. Collars of ss. 6. Duke of Suffolk, in his robe of estate, his coro

net on his head, bearing a long white wand, as high-steward. With him, the duke of Norfolk, with the rod of marshal.

ship, a coronet on his head. Collars of ss. 7. 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 of her, the bishops of London

and Winchester. 8. The old duchess of Norfolk, in a coronal of

gold, wrought with flowers, bearing the

Queen's train. 9. Certain ladies or countesses, with plain circlets

of gold, without flowers.

2 Gent. A royal train, believe me. These I

know ;Who's that, that bears the sceptre? 1 Gent.

Marquis Dorset : And that the earl of Surrey, with the rod. 2 Gent. A bold brave gentleman: And that should

be The duke of Suffolk,

1 Gent.

'Tis the same; high-steward. 2 Gent. And that my lord of Norfolk 1 Gent.

Yes. 2 Gent.

Heaven bless thee !

(Looking on the Queen, 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. 1 Gent.

They, that bear The cloth of honour over her, are four barons of the Cinque-ports. • 2 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.

1 Gent. It is; and all the rest are countesses. 2 Gent. Their coronets say so. These are stars,

indeed; And, sometimes, falling ones. 1 Gent.

No more of that. [Exit procession, with a great flourish of

trumpets.

Enter a third Gentleman. God save you, sir! Where have you been broiling? 3 Gent. Among the croud i'the abbey; where a

finger Could not be wedg'd in more ; and I am stified With the mere rankness of their joy. 2 Gent.

You saw The ceremony? 3 Gent.

That I did.
1 Gent.

How was it?
3 Gent. Well worth the seeing.
2 Gent.

Good sir, speak it to'us. 3 Gent. As well as I am able. The rich stream Of lords, and ladies, having brought the queen

To a prepar'd place in the choir, fell off
A distance from her; while her grace sat down
To rest a while, 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 ip a stiff tempest,
As loud, and to as many tunes: hats, cloaks,
(Doublets, I think), flew up; and had their faces
Been loose, this day they had been lost. Such joy
I never saw before. Great-bellied women,
That had not half a week to go, like rams
In the old time of war, would shake the press,
And make them reel before them. No man living
Could say, This is any wife, there; all were woven
So strangely in one piece.
2 Gent.

But, pray, what follow'd ? 3 Gent. At length her grace rose, and with modest

paces Came to the altar; where she kneeld, and, saint

like, Cast her fair eyes to heaven, and pray'devoutly, Then rose again, and bow'd her to the people: When by the archbishop of Canterbury She had all the royal makings of a queen ; As holy oil, Edward Confessor's crown, The rod, and bird of peace, and all such emblems. Laid nobly on her: which perform'd, the choir, With all the choicest musick of the kingdom, Together subg Te deum. So she parted, And with the same full state pac'd back again To York.place, where the feast is held. 1 Cient.

Sir, you Must no more call it York-place, that is past: For, since the cardinal fell, that title's lost; 'Tis now the king's, and call'd-Whitehall. 3 Gent.

I know it;

But 'tis so lately alter'd, that the old name
Is fresh about me.
2 Gent.

What two reverend bishops Were those that went on each side of the queen? 3 Gent. Stokesly and Gardiner; the one, of Win.

chester,
(Newly preferr'd from the king's secretary),
The other, London.
2 Gent.

He of Winchester
Is held no great good lover of the archbishop's,
The virtuous Cranmer.
3 Gent.

All the land knows that: However, yet there's no great breach; when it

comes, Cranmer will find a friend will not shrink from him.

2 Gent. Who may that be, I pray you? 3 Gent.

Thomas Cromwell ; A man in much esteen with the king, and truly A worthy friend. The king Has made him master o'the jewel-house, And one, already, of the privy-council.

2 Gent. He will deserve more. 3 Gent.

Yes, without all doubt. Come, gentlemen, ye shall go my way, which Is to the court, and there ye shall be my guests ; Something I can command. As I walk thither, I'll tell ye more. Both. You may command us, sir.

(Ereunt.