Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 3 Beside these verses, there were placed in euerie void roome of the pagent, both in English & Latine, such sentences as aduanced the seat of gouernance vpholden by vertue.The ground or morall of the pageant. The ground of this pageant was, that like as by vertues (which doo abundantlie appeare in hir grace) the quéenes maiestie was esta|blished in the seat of gouernment: so she shuld sit fa [...]t in the same, so long as she imbrased vertue, and held vice vnder foot. For if vice once got vp the head, it would put the seat of gouernement in perill of fal|ling. The queenes maiestie when she had heard the child,The quéenes promise with thanks to the citie. and vnderstood the pageant at full, gaue the ci|tie also thanks therefore, & most gratiouslie promised hir good indeuor for the maintenance of the said ver|tues, and suppression of vices, and so marched on till she came against the great conduit in Cheape, which was beautified with pictures and sentences accor|dinglie, against hir graces comming thither. A|gainst Soper lane end was extended from the one side of the stréet to the other,A pageant at Soper lane end. a pageant which had three gates all open: ouer the middlemost whereof were erected thrée seuerall stages, whereon sat eight chil|dren, as hereafter followeth. On the vppermost one child, on the middle three, on the lowest foure, each ha|uing the proper name of the blessing that they did re|present, written in a table, & placed aboue their head.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 In the forefront of this pageant, before the chil|dren which did represent the blessings, was a conue|nient standing cast out for a child to stand, which did expound the said pageant vnto the quéenes maiestie, as was doone in the other before. Euerie of these chil|dren were appointed and apparelled, according vn|to the blessing which he did represent. And on the fore|part of the said pageant was written in faire letters the name of the foresaid pageant in this manner:

The eight beatitudes expressed in the fift chapter of the gospell of saint Matthew,The inscripti|on fixed or set vpon the front of the said pa|geant. applied to our souereigne ladie queene Elisabeth.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 3 Ouer the two side ports was placed a noise of in|struments. And all the void places in the pageant were furnished with prettie saiengs, commending & touching the meaning of the said pageant, which was the promises & blessings of almightie God, made to his people. Before that the queenes highnesse came vnto this pageant, she required the matter somwhat to be opened vnto hir, that hir grace might the bet|ter vnderstand, what should afterward by the child be said vnto hir. Which so was, that the citie had there erected the pageant with eight children, representing the eight blessings touched in the fift chapter of saint Matthew. Whereof euerie one vpon iust considera|tions,The meaning of the pa|geant. was applied vnto hir highnesse, and that the people thereby put hir grace in mind, that as hir good dooings before had giuen iust occasion, why that these blessings might fall vpon hir, that so if hir grace did continue in hir goodnesse as she had entered, she should hope for the fruit of these promises due vnto them that doo exercise themselues in the blessings: which hir grace heard maruellous gratiouslie, and re|quired that the charriot might be remooued towards the pageant,The quéene giueth atten|tiue eare to the childs words. that she might better perceiue the childs words, which were these, the quéenes maiestie giuing most attentiue eare, and requiring that the peoples noise might be staid. The verses were as follow:

Thou hast beene eight times blest,

ô queene of worthie fame,

By meekenesse of thy spirit,

when care did thee beset,

By mourning in thy griefe,

by mildnesse in thy blame,

By hunger and by thirst,

and iustice couldst none get.

By mercie shewd, not felt,

by cleannesse of thine heart,

By seeking peace alwaies,

by persecution wrong.

Therefore trust thou in God,

sith he hath helpt thy smart,

That as his promise is,

so he will make thee strong.