[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,

[page 1174] and quietnesse increase,

We trust, ô noble queene,

thou wilt be cause alone.