Henry VIII: Act 4

SCENE I. A street in Westminster

Enter two Gentlemen, meeting one another

First Gentleman
You're well met once again.

Second Gentleman
So are you.

First Gentleman
You come to take your stand here, and behold
The Lady Anne pass from her coronation?

Second Gentleman
'Tis all my business. At our last encounter,
The Duke of Buckingham came from his trial.

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

Second Gentleman
'Tis well: the citizens,
I am sure, have shown at full their royal minds--
As, let 'em have their rights, they are ever forward--
In celebration of this day with shows,
Pageants and sights of honour.

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

Second Gentleman
May I be bold to ask at what that contains,
That paper in your hand?

First Gentleman
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.

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

Second Gentleman
Alas, good lady!

Trumpets

Hautboys

THE ORDER OF THE CORONATION

1. A lively flourish of Trumpets.
2. Then, two Judges.
3. Lord Chancellor, with the purse and mace before him.
4. Choristers, singing.  [Music]
5. Mayor of London, bearing the mace. Then Garter, in his coat of arms, and on his head a gilt copper crown.
6. Marquess Dorset, bearing a sceptre of gold, on his head a demi-coronal 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.
7. DUKE OF SUFFOLK, in his robe of estate, his coronet on his head, bearing a long white wand, as high-steward. With him, 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, QUEEN ANNE in her robe; in her hair richly adorned with pearl, crowned. On each side her, the Bishops of London and Winchester.
9. The old DUCHESS OF NORFOLK, in a coronal of gold, wrought with flowers, bearing QUEEN ANNE's train.
10. Certain Ladies or Countesses, with plain circlets of gold without flowers.

They pass over the stage in order and state

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

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

Second Gentleman
A bold brave gentleman. That should be
The Duke of Suffolk?

First Gentleman
'Tis the same: high-steward.

Second Gentleman
And that my Lord of Norfolk?

First Gentleman
Yes;

Second Gentleman
Heaven bless thee!

Looking on QUEEN ANNE

First Gentleman
They that bear
The cloth of honour over her, are four barons
Of the Cinque-ports.

Second Gentleman
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 Gentleman
It is; and all the rest are countesses.

Second Gentleman
Their coronets say so. These are stars indeed;
And sometimes falling ones.

First Gentleman
No more of that.

Exit procession, and then a great flourish of trumpets

Enter a third Gentleman

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