16th August 1578 - Elizabeth in Norwich, part 2: With that her Highness with the whole company, marched towards Norwich, till they came to a place called the TownClose, distant from the city a good flightshot, where the party which represented Gurgunt came forth, as in due manner is expressed, and was ready to have declared to her Majesty this speech following: but by reason of a shower of rain which came, her Majesty hasted away, the speech not uttered: but it was as here followeth: Leave off to muse, most gracious Prince of English soil, What sudden wight in martial wise approacheth near; King Gurgunt I am hight, King Belins eldest son, Whose sire, Dunwallo, first the British crown did wear. Whom truthless Gutlacke forcd to pass the surging seas, His falsehood to revenge, and Denmark laid to spoil, And finding in return, this place a gallant vent, This castle fair I built, a fort from forreign soil: To win a conquest, get renown and glorious name, To keep and use it well, deserves eternal fame. When brute through cities, towns, the woods and dales did sound; Elizabeth, this countrys peerless Queen drew near, I was found out, my self in person, noble Queen, Did haste, before thy face in presence to appear, Two thousand years well nigh in silence lurking still: Hear, why to thee alone this service I do yield. Besides that at my cities suit, their founder first, Should gratulate most, this joyfull sight in open field; Four special points and rare, concurring in us both, This special service have reserved to thee alone: The glory tho of each, in thee doth far surmount, Yet great with small compard, will like appear anon. When doubtfull wars the British princes long had wroong, My grandsire first uniting all, did wear the crown, Of York and Lancaster, who did conclude those broiles? Thy grandsire, Henry Seventh, a King of great renown. Mine uncle Brennus eke, my father joining hands, Old Rome did rase and sack, and half consume with fire; Thy puissant father so, new Rome, that purple whore, Did sack and spoil her near, of all her glittering tire. Lo Cambridge schools by mine assignment founded first, By thee my Cambridge schools are famous through the world, I thirty wandring ships of banishd men relieved. The throngs of banishd souls that in this city dwell Do weep for joy, and pray for thee with tears untold; In all these things thou noble Queen dost far excel. But lo to thee I yield, as duty doth me bind, In open field my self, my city, castle, keie, Most happy fathers kings, in such a daughter Queen, Most happy England were, if thou shouldst never die. Go on, most noble Prince, for I must hast away, My city gates do long their sovereign to receive, More true thou never couldst, nor loyall subjects find, Whose hearts full fast, with perfect love to thee do cleave. Then her Majesty drew near to the gates of the city called St. Stephens-gates, which with the walls there, were both gallantly and strongly repaired. The gate itself was thus inriched and beautified; first the portcullis was new made both timber and iron: the outward side of the gate was thus beautified; the Queens arms were most richly and beautifully set forth in the chief front of the gate; on the one side thereof, but somewhat lower, was placed the escutcheon of St. Georges cross; on the other side the arms of the city; and directly under the Queens majestys arms, was placed the falcon, her Highnesses badge, in due form; and under the same were written these words, God and the Queen we serve. The inner side of the gate was thus beautified; on the right side was gorgeously set forth the red rose, representing the house of Lancaster; in the midst was the white and red rose united, expressing the union; under the which was placed by descent the arms of the Queen, and under that were written these verses following, Division kindled strife, Blest union quenchd the flame, Thence sprang our noble Phenix deare, The peerless Prince of fame. And besides that, at this gate, the waits of the city were placed with loud musick, who chearfully and melodiously welcomed her Majesty into the city; this song being sung by the best voices in the same: The dew of heaven drops this day on dry and barren ground, Wherefore let fruitfull hearts, I say, at drum and trumpet sound, Yield that is due, shew that is meet, to make our joy the more, In our good hope, and her good praise, we never saw before. The sun doth shine where shade hath been, long darkness brought us day, The star of comfort now comes in, and here a while will stay. Ring out the bells, pluck up your spreets, and dress your houses gay, Run in for flowers to strew the streets, and make what joy you may. The dew of heaven, &c. Full many a winter have we seen, and many storms withall, Since here we saw a King or Queen, in pomp and princely pall. Wherefore make feast and banquit still, and now to triumph fall, With duty let us shew good will, to glad both great and small. The dew of heaven, &c. The realme throughout will ring of this, and sundry nations mo, Will say, full great our fortune is, when our good hap they kno. O Norwich, here the well-spring runs, whose vertue still doth flow, And lo this day doth shine two suns, within thy walls also. The dew of heaven, &c. This song ended, her Highness passed towards her lodging, and by the way in a churchyard over against Master Pecks door (a worthy alderman) was a scaffold set up and bravely trimmed; on this scaffold was placed an excellent boy, well and gallantly decked, in a long white robe of taffata, a crimson scarff wrought with gold, folded in the Turkisn fashion about his brows, and a gay garland of white flowers on his head; which boy was not seen till the Queen had a good season marked the musick, which was marvellous sweet and good, albeit the rudeness of some ringers of bells did somewhat hinder the noise of the harmony; and as soon as the musick ended, the boy stept reverently before the Queen, and spake these words that follow in comely order. Great things were meant to welcome thee (O Queen) If want of time had not cut off the same: Great was our wish, but small is that was seen, For us to shew before so great a dame. Great hope we have, it pleased our Princes eye, Great were the harms that else our pains should reap: Our grace or foile doth in your judgement lye, If you mislike, our griefs do grow on heap: If for small things we do great favour find, Great is the joy that Norwich feels this day: If well we weighd the greatness of your mind, Few words would serve, we had but small to say. But knowing that your goodness takes things well, That well are meant, we boldly did proceed: And so, good Queen, both welcome and farewell, Thy own we are, in heart, in word, in deed. The boy thereupon flung up his garland, and the Queens Highness said, This devise is fine. Then the noise of musick began again, to hear which the Queen staid a good while, and after departed for the cathedral church, which was not far from thence. Then passed she forward through St. Stephens-street, where the first pageant was placed in form following; it was built somewhat in manner like a stage, 40 foot long, and 8 foot broad: from the standing place upward, was a bank framed in manner of a freestone wall, and in the height thereof were written sentences, viz. The causes of this common wealth are, God truly preached, Justice truly executed, the people obedient, idleness expelled, labour cherished, and universal concord preserved. From the standing place downwards, it was beautified with painters work, artificially expressing to sight, the pourtraiture of these several looms, and the weavers in them (as it were working) and over every loom the name thereof, viz. over the first loom was written, the weaving of worsted; over the second, the weaving of russels; over the third, the weaving of darnix; over the fourth, the weaving of mockado; over the fifth, the weaving of lace; over the 6th, the weaving of caffa; over the seventh, the weaving of fringe. And then was there pourtraiture of a matron, and two or three children, and over her head was written these words, Good nurture changeth qualities. Upon the stage at the one end, there stood eight small women children spinning worsted yarne; and at the other end as many knitting of worsted yarn hose: and in the midst of the said stage, stood a pritty boy richly apparelled, which represented the commonwealth of the city; and all the rest of the stage was furnished with men, which made the said several works, and before every man the work in deed. Every thing thus ready, and her Majesty come, the child representing the commonwealth, spake to her Highness these words following: Most gracious Prince, undoubted sovereign Queen, Our only joy next God, and chief defence, In this small shew, our whole estate is seen, The wealth we have, we find proceed from thence, The idle hand hath here no place to feed, The painfull wight hath still to serve his need. Again, our seat denies our traffick here, The sea too near decides us from the rest, So weak we were within this dozen year, As care did quench the courage of the best, But good advice hath taught these little hands To rend in swain the force of pining bands. From combed wool we draw this slender thread, From thence the looms have dealing with the same, And thence again, in order to proceed, These several works which skilful art doth frame: And all to drive dame Need into her cave, Our heads and hands together labourd have. We bought before, the things that now we sell, These slender imps, their works do pass the waves, Gods peace and thine, we hold and prosper well, Of every mouth the hands the charges saves. Thus thro thy help, and aid of power divine, Doth Norwich live, whose hearts and goods are thine, This shew pleased her Majesty so greatly, as she particularly viewed the knitting and spinning of the children, perused the looms, and noted the several works and commodities which were made by these means: and then after great thanks given by her to the people, marched towards the market place, where was the second pageant thwarting the street at the entrance of the market, between Master Skinner and Master Quash, being in breadth 52 feet of assize, and was divided into three gates, in the midst a main gate, and on either side a postern: the main gate in breadth 14 foot, each postern 8 foot, their heights equal to their proportion, over each postern was as it were, a chamber, which chambers were replenished with causick. Over all the gates passed a stage of 8 foot broad, in manner of a pageant, curious, rich, and delightful: the whole work from the pageant downwards seemed to be jasper and marble; in the fore-front towards her Majesty, was the arms of England, on the one side of the gate, and on the other side, the falcon with the crown and scepter; the other side was beautified with the arms of England on the one side of the gate, and the crest of England on the other. The pageant was furnished with five personages apparelled like women. The first was the city of Norwich; the second Debora; the third Judith; the fourth Hester; the fifth Martia, sometime Queen of England. At the first sight of the Prince, and till her Majestys coming to the pageant, the musicians used their loud musick, and then ceased; wherewith her Highness staid, to whom the personages representing the city of Norwich, did speak in these words, Whom fame resounds with thundring trump, That rends the ratling skies, And peirceth to the haughty heavens, And thence descending flies, Through flickering air; and so conjoins, The sea and shore together, In admiration of thy grace, Good Queen, thou art welcome hither, More welcome than Terpsicore Was to the town of Troy, Sea-faring men, by Gemini, Conceive not half my joy. Strong Hercules to Theseus Was never such delight, Nor Nisus to Eurialus As I have in this sight, Penelope did never thirst, Ulysses more to see, Than I poor Norwich hungerd have, To gain the sight of thee. And now that these my happy eyes Behold thy heavenly face, The Lord of lords I humbly pray, To bless thy noble grace With Nestors life, with Sibils health, With Cresus stock and store, With all good gift of Salomon, And twice as many more. What should I say? thou art my joy Next God, I have no other, My Princess and peerless Queen, My loving nurse and mother. My goods and lands, my hands and heart, My limbs and life are thine, What is mine own in right or thought, To thee I do resign. Grant then (O gracious Sovereign Queen) This only my request, That that which shall be done in me, Be construed to the best. And take in part my slender shews, Wherein my whole pretence Is for to please your Majesty, And end without offence. So shall I clap my hands for joy, And hold my self as rich, As if I had the gold of Inde, And double twice as mich. Then spake Debora, the second person. Where Princes sitting in their thrones, Set God before their sight, And live according to his law, And guide their people right, There doth his blessed gifts abound, There kingdoms firmly stand, There force of foes cannot prevail, Nor fury fret the land. My self (O peerless Prince) do speak By proof of matter past, Which proof by practice I performd, And foild his foes at last, Far Jabin King of Canäan, Poor Israël did spite, And meant by force of furious rage To over-run us quite. Nine hundred iron chariots He brought into the field, With cruel Captain Sisera, By force to make us yield. His force was great, his fraud was more, He fought, we did defend, And twenty winters long did last, This war without an end. But he that neither sleeps nor slacks, Such furies to correct, Appointed me, Debora, for The judge of his elect; And did deliver Sisera Into a womans hand, I slew them all, and so in rest His people held the land. So mighty Prince, that puissant Lord Hath placd thee here to be, The rule of this triumphant realm Alone belongs to thee. Continue as thou hast begun, Weed out the wicked rout, Uphold the simple, meek, and good, Pull down the proud and stout. Thus shalt thou live and reign in rest, And mighty God shalt please, Thy state be sure, thy subjects safe, Thy commonwealth at ease. Thy God shall grant thee length of life, To glorifye his name, Thy deeds shall be recorded in The book of lasting fame. Then spake Judith, the third person. O flower of grace! O prime of Gods elect, Oh mighty Queen and finger of the Lord! Did God sometime by me poor wight correct The champion stout, that him and his abhord? Then be thou sure thou art his mighty hand, To conquer those which him and thee withstand. The rage of foes Bothulia did oppress, The people faint, were ready for to yield: God aided me, poor widow, neertheless, To enter into Holofernes field, And with this sword by his directing hand, To slay his foe, and quiet so the land. If this his grace were given to me, poor wight, If a widows hand could vanquish such a foe, Then to a Prince of thy surpassing might, What tyrant lives but thou maist overthrow? Persevere then his servant as thou art, And hold for aye, a noble victors part. Then spake Hester, the fourth person. The fretting heads of furious foes have skill, As well by fraud, as force to find their prey, In smiling looks doth lurk a lot as ill, As where both sterne and sturdy streams do sway, Thy self, O Queen, a proof hast seen of this, So well as I poor Hester have I wis. As Jabins force did Israel perplex, And Holofernes fierce, Bethulia besiege, So Hamans slights thought me and mine to vex, Yet shewd a face of subject to his liege. But force no fraud, nor tyrant strong can trap, Those whom the Lord in his defence doth wrap. The proofs I speak by us have oft been seen, The proofs I speak to thee are not unknown, Thy God thou knowst most dread and sovereign Queen, A world of foes of thine hath overthrown, And hither now triumphantly doth call Thy noble grace, the comfort of us all. Dost thou not see the joy of all this flock? Vouchsafe to view their passing gladsome chear, Be still (good Queen) their refuge and their rock, As they are thine to serve in love and fear: So fraud nor force, nor foreign foe may stand Against the strength of thy most puissant hand. Then spake Martia, the fifth person. With long discourse (O puissant Prince) Some tract of time we spend, Vouchsafe yet now a little more, And then we make an end. The thundring blast of fame whereof Dame Norwich first did speak, Not only shook the air and skies, Aut all the earth did break; It rent up graves, and bodies raised, Each spirit took his place, And this alonelie word was heard, Here comes the pearl of grace, Here comes the jewel of the world, Her peoples whole delight, The paragon of present time, And prince of earthly might. The voice was strange, the wonder more, For when we viewed the earth, Each prince that earst had reigned here, Received again his breath; And with his breath, a liberty, To hold again his place, If any one amongst us all, Exceed your noble grace. Some comfort every one conceivd, To catch again his own, His utmost skill was trimly used, To make his vertues known. The plays surpass my skill to tell, But when each one had said, Apollo did himself appear, And made us all dismayd. Will you contend with her (quoth he) Within whose sacred breast Dame Pallas and myself have framd, Our sovereign seat of rest? Whose skill directs the Muses nine, Whose grace doth Venus stain, Her eloquence like Mercury, Like June in her train? Whose God is that eternal Jove Which holds us all in awe, Believe me, you exceed the bounds Of equity and law. Therewith they shrunk themselves aside, Not one I could espy, They coucht them in their caves again And that full quietly. Yet I that Martia hight am she: Which some time ruled this land, As Queen for thirty-three years space, Gat licence at his hand, And so Gurguntius did, My husbands father dear, Which built this town and castle both, To make our homage here; Which homage, mighty Queen, accept, The realm and right is thine, The crown, the scepter, and the sword, To thee we do resign, And wish to God, that thou mayest reign, Twice Nestors years in peace, Triumphing over all thy foes, To all our joys increase. Amen.
Posted on: Mon, 18 Aug 2014 09:57:35 +0000
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