Scene 4Enter 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, etc., 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 5
All comfort, joy, in this most gracious lady
Heaven ever laid up to make parents happy
May hourly fall upon you! KING Thank you, good lord
Archbishop. 10
What is her name? CRANMER Elizabeth. | (Note: in the Folger's edition of the play we're using, this is Act 5, Scene 4) All kinds of important peeps enter. The Mayor, Garter, Alderman, Suffolk, Norfolk, Cranmer, and of course the royals themselves. The Garter presents the baby—Princess Elizabeth—to the crowd. In case you missed it, this baby is totally the future Queen Elizabeth I. Cranmer kneels and prays for comfort and joy for the happy royal fam.
Then he baptizes the baby and gives her a blessing and a kiss on the
head. |
KING Stand up, lord. Cranmer stands. With this kiss take my blessing. King kisses infant.
God protect thee, 15
Into whose hand I give thy life. CRANMER Amen. KING, to the two godmothers
My noble gossips, you’ve been too prodigal.
I thank you heartily; so shall this lady
When she has so much English. 20 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 25
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 30
More covetous of wisdom and fair virtue
Than this pure soul shall be. All princely graces
That mold 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; 35
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. 40
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 neighbors.
God shall be truly known, and those about her
From her shall read the perfect ways of honor 45
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, 50
So shall she leave her blessedness to one,
When heaven shall call her from this cloud of darkness,
Who from the sacred ashes of her honor
Shall starlike rise as great in fame as she was
And so stand fixed. Peace, plenty, love, truth, terror, 55
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 honor and the greatness of his name
Shall be, and make new nations. He shall flourish, 60
And like a mountain cedar reach his branches
To all the plains about him. Our children’s children
Shall see this and bless heaven. | Henry thanks Cranmer, but Cranmer isn't done yet. He delivers a long speech about how wonderful Elizabeth will be for England. She'll be a great ruler, loved by the people but feared by them as well. When Elizabeth dies, all her goodness and truth will continue in the next ruler after her. Let's not get ahead of ourselves—she's only a baby at this point, right? But the king is blown away by Cranmer's vision for his baby daughter. |
KING Thou speakest wonders. CRANMER
She shall be to the happiness of England 65
An agèd 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 70
To th’ ground, and all the world shall mourn her. KING O lord
Archbishop,
Thou hast made me now a man. Never before
This happy child did I get anything. 75
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 you all.—To you, my good lord mayor
And you, good brethren, I am much beholding. 80
I have received much honor by your presence,
And you shall find me thankful. Lead the way, lords.
You must all see the Queen, and she must thank you;
She will be sick else. This day, no man think
’Has business at his house, for all shall stay. 85
This little one shall make it holiday. They exit. | Then Henry tells Cranmer that his speech made him a happy guy. He's never been this happy before. Now he can't wait to see what his girl does. He thanks Anne for having the baby, and he makes the day a public holiday. |