Compare 1577 edition: 1 Upon the lowest stage was made one seat roiall, wherein were placed two personages, representing king Henrie the seuenth, and Elizabeth his wife, daughter of king Edward the fourth; either of these two princes sitting vnder one cloth of estate in their seates, none otherwise diuided, but that the one of them which was king Henrie the seuenth,The vnitie of the white rose and the red. procée|ding out of the house of Lancaster, was inclosed in a red rose, and the other which was quéene Eliza|beth, being heire to the house of Yorke, inclosed with a white rose, each of them roiallie crowned, and de|centlie apparelled, as apperteineth to princes, with scepters in their hands, and one vawt surmounting their heads, wherein aptlie were placed two tables, each conteining the title of those two princes. And these personages were so set, that the one of them ioined hands with the other, with the ring of matri|monie perceiued on the finger. Out of the which two roses sprang two branches gathered into one, which were directed vpward to the second stage or degrée, wherein was placed one representing the valiant & noble prince king Henrie the eight, which sproong out of the former stocke, crowned with a crowne im|periall,Uertuous quéene Anne mother to gra|tious queéne Elizabeth. and by him sat one representing the right woorthie ladie quéene Anne, wife to the said king Henrie the eight, and mother to our most souereigne ladie quéene Elizabeth that now is, both apparelled with scepters and diadems, and other furniture due to the state of a king and quéene, and two tables sur|mounting their heads, wherein were written their names and titles.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 3 4 From their seat also procéeded vpwards one branch, directed to the third and vppermost stage or degrée, wherein likewise was planted a seat roiall, in the which was set one representing the quéenes most excellent maiestie Elizabeth, now our most dread souereigne ladie, crowned and apparelled as the other princes were. Out of the fore part of this pageant was made a standing for a child, which at the queens maiesties comming declared vnto hir the whole meaning of the said pageant. The two sides of the same were filled with lowd noises of mu|sicke. And all emptie places thereof were furnished with sentences concerning vnitie, and the whole pageant garnished wich red roses and white. And in the fore front of the same pageant,The posie [...] planing the shew set [...]or [...]h in color [...]. in a faire wreath, was written the name and title of the same, which was; The vniting of the two houses of Lan|caster and Yorke. This pageant was grounded vpon the quéens maiesties name. For like as the long warre betweene the two houses of Yorke and Lancaster then ended, when Elizabeth daughter to Edward the fourth matched in mariage with Hen|rie the seuenth, heire to the house of Lancaster: so sith that the quéenes maiesties name was Eliza|beth, & for somuch as she is the onelie heire of Hen|rie the eight, which came of both the houses, as the knitting vp of concord: it was deuised, that like as Elizabeth was the first occasion of concord,Unitie the [...] whereat the deuise of the pageant was directed. so she another Elizabeth, might mainteine the same a|mong hir subiects, so that vnitie was the end where|at the whole deuise shot, as the quéenes maiesties name moued the first ground.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 The pageant now against the quéenes maiesties comming was addressed with children, representing the forenamed personages, with all furniture due vnto the setting forth of such a matter well meant, as the argument declared costlie and sumptuouslie set foorth, as the beholders can beare witnesse. Now the quéenes maiestie drew néere vnto the said page|ant. And for so much as the noise was great,The quéene is desirous [...] know the meaning of euerie repr [...]|sentation. by rea|son of the prease of people, so that she could scarse heare the child which did interpret the said pageant, and hir chariot was passed so far forwards, that she could not well view the personages representing the kings & quéenes aboue named: she required to haue the matter opened vnto hir, and what they signified, with the end of vnitie and ground of hir name, accor|ding as is before expressed. For the sight whereof hir grace caused hir chariot to be remooued backe, and yet hardlie could she sée, because the children were set somewhat with the furthest in. But after that hir grace had vnderstood the meaning thereof, she thanked the citie, praised the fairenesse of the worke, and promised that she would doo hir whole in|deuor for the continuall preseruation of concord, as the pageant did import. The child appointed in the standing aboue named, to open the meaning of the said pageant, spake these words vnto hir grace:

The two princes that sit,The meaning of the pageant opened by th [...] spéech of [...] child.

vnder one cloth of state,

The man in the red rose,

the woman in the white:

Henrie the seauenth, and

queene Elizabeth his mate,

By ring of marriage,

as man and wife vnite.

Both heires to both their blouds,

to Lancaster the king,

The queene to Yorke, in one

the two houses did knit:

Of whome as heire to both,

Henrie the eight did spring,

In whose seate his true heire

thou queene Elizabeth doost sit.

Therefore as ciuill warre,

and shead of bloud did cease,

When these two houses were

vnited into one;

So now that iarre shall stint,

EEBO page image 1174and quietnesse increase,

We trust, ô noble queene,

thou wilt be cause alone.