Gart.

Heaven, from thy endless goodness, send prosperous life, long, and ever happy, to the high and mighty princess of England, Elizabeth! ^note

Cran. [Kneeling ^note]
And to your royal grace, and the good queen.
My noble partners and myself thus pray: ^note
All comfort, joy, in this most gracious lady ^note,
Heaven ever ^note laid up to make parents happy,
May hourly fall upon ye!

King.
Thank you, good lord archbishop ^note:
What is her name?

Cran.
Elizabeth.

King.
Stand up, lord. [The King ^note kisses the child.
With this kiss take my blessing: God protect thee!
Into whose hand I give thy life.

Cran.
Amen.

King.
My noble gossips, ye have ^note been too prodigal:
I thank ye heartily; so shall this lady,
When she has so much English.

Cran.
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
Upon this land a thousand thousand blessings,
Which time shall bring to ripeness: she shall be—
But few now ^note living can behold that goodness—
A pattern to all princes living with her
And all that shall succeed: Saba ^note was never
More covetous of wisdom and fair virtue
Than this pure ^note soul shall be: all princely graces,
That mould up such ^note a mighty piece as this is ^note,
With all the virtues that attend the good,
Shall still be doubled on her: truth shall nurse her,
Holy and heavenly thoughts still counsel her:
She shall be loved and fear'd: her own shall bless her;
Her foes shake like a field of beaten corn ^note,
And hang their heads with sorrow. Good grows with her: ^note
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 neighbours:
God shall be truly known; and those about her
From her shall read ^note the perfect ways of honour,
And by those claim ^note their greatness, not by blood.
Nor shall this peace sleep with her; but, as when

The bird of wonder dies, the maiden phœnix,
Her ashes new create another heir
As great in admiration as herself,
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 honour
Shall star-like rise, as great in fame as she was,
And so stand fix'd. Peace, plenty, love, truth, terror,
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 honour and the greatness of his name
Shall be, and make new nations: he shall flourish,
And, like a mountain cedar, reach his branches
To all the plains about him. Our ^note children's children
Shall see this, and bless heaven. ^note

King.
Thou speakest wonders.

Cran.
She shall be, to the happiness of England,
An aged 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, ^note
A most ^note unspotted lily shall she pass
To ^note the ground, and all the world shall mourn her. ^note

King.
O lord archbishop,
Thou hast made me now a man! never, before
This happy child, did I get any thing.
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 ye all. To you, my good lord mayor,
And your good ^note brethren, I am much beholding ^note;

I have received much honour by your presence,
And ye shall find me thankful. Lead the way, lords:
Ye must all see the queen, and she must thank ye;
She will be sick else. This day, no man think
Has ^note business at his house; for all shall stay:
This little one shall make it holiday. [Exeunt.

THE EPILOGUE.
'Tis ten to one this play can never please
All that are here: some come to take their ease ^note,
And sleep ^note an act or two; but those, we fear,
We have ^note frighted with our trumpets; so, 'tis clear,
They'll say 'tis ^note naught: others, to hear the city
Abused extremely, and to cry ‘That's witty!’
Which we have not done neither; that, I fear,
All the expected good we're ^note like to hear
For this play at this time, is only in
The ^note merciful construction of good women;
For such a one we show'd 'em: if they smile,
And say 'twill do, I know, within a while
All the best men are ours; for 'tis ill hap,
If they hold when their ladies bid 'em clap.

NOTES. ^note