When the Queenes maiestie had hearde the childes oracion, and understode the meaning of the pageant at large, she marched forward toward Cornehill, alway receiued with like reioising of the people, & there as her grace passed by the conduit which was curiouslye trimmed against that time with riche banners adourned, and a noyse of loude instrumentes vpon the top therof, she espied the seconde pageant, and because shee feared for the peoples noyse, that she should not here the child which did expounde thesame, she enquired what that pageant was ere that she came to it. And there vnderstode, that there was a childe representing her maiesties person, placed in a seate of gouernement, supported by certaiue vertues, which suppressed other vices under their seate, and so forthe, as in the description of the said pageant shall herafter apeare.
This pageant standing in the nether ende of Cornehill was exteuded from thoneside of the strete to the other, and in the same pageant was deuised three gates all open, an ouer the middle parte therof was erected one chaire a seate royall with clothe of estate to the same apperteyning wherein was placed a childe representing the Queenes highnesse with consideracion had for place conuenient for a table which conteined her name and title. And in a comelie wreathe artificially and wel deuised with perfite sight and vnderstanding to the people. In the front of the same pageant was written the name and title therof, which is The seat of worthie gouernance, which seate was made in such artificiall maner, as to the apperance of the lookers on, the foreparte semed to have no staie, and therfore of force was stayed by liuely personages, which personages were in numbre foure, standing and staieng the forefront of the same seat royal, eche hauing his face to the Quene and people, wherof euery one had a table to expresse their effectes, which are uertues, namelie Pure religion, Loue of subiectes, VVisedome and Iustice, which did treade their contrarie vices under their feete, that is to witte, Pure religion, did treade uppon Superstition, and Ignoraunce, Loue of subiectes, did treade upon Rebellion and Insolencie, VVisdome did treade upon follie and vaine glorie, Iustice did treade upon Adulacion and Briberie. Eche of these personages according to their proper names and properties, had not onlie their names in plaine and perfit writing set vpon their breastes easelie to be read of all, but also euery of them was aptelie and properlie apparelled, so that his apparell and name did agre to express the same person, that in title he represented. Thys part of the pageant was thus appointed and furnished. The two sides ouer the two side portes had in them placed a noyse of instrumentes, which immediatlie, after the childes speache gaue an heauenly melodie. Upon the top or uppermost part of ye said pageant, stoode the armes of England roially portratured with ye proper beastes to vpholde the same. One representing the Quenes highnes sate in this seate crowned with an Imperiall crowne, and before her seate, was a conuenient place appointed for one childe which did interpret and applie the said pageant as hereafter shalbe declared. Euery voide place was furnished with proper sentences commending the seate supported by uertues, and defacing the vices, to the vtter extirpation of rebellion, and to euerlasting continuance of quietnes and peace. The Queenes maiestie approching nighe vnto thys pageant thus bewtified and furnished in all pointes, caused her charyot to be drawen nyghe thereunto, that her grace myght heare the childes oration whych was thys.
While that religion true, shall ignorance suppresse
And with her weightie foote, breake superstitions heade
While loue of subiectes, shall rebellion distresse
And with zeale to the prince, insolencie down treade.
While iustice can flattering tonges & briberie deface
while follie & vaine glory to wisedome yelde their handes
So long shal gouernment, not swarve from her right race
But wrong decayeth still, and rightwisenes vp standes.
Now all thy subiectes hertes, O prince of perles fame
Do trust these vertues shall maintein up thy throne,
And vice be kept down still, the wicked put to shame
that good with good may ioy, and naught with naught may mone.
Which verses were painted upon the right side of the same pageant, and the latin therof on the left side in another table, which were these.
Quæ subnixa alte solio regina superbo est,
Effigies sanctæ principis alma refert,
Quam ciuilis amor fulcit, sapientia firmat,
Iustica illustrat, Relligioque beat.
Vana superstitio et crassæ ignorantia frontis
Pressæ sub pura relligine iacent.
Regis amor domat effroenes, animosque rebelles
Iustus adulantes, Domiuorosque terit.
Cum regit imperium sapiens, sine luce sedebunt
Stultitia, atque hurus numen inanis honor.
Beside these verses there were placed in euery voide rome of the pageant both in English and laten such sentences as aduanced the seate of gouernaunce vpholden by vertue. The grounde of this pageant, was that like as by vertues (which doe aboundantly appere in her grace) the Queenes maiestie was established in the seate of gouernement: so she should syt fast in thesame so long as she embraced vertue and helde vice vnder foote. For if vice once gotte vp the head, it woulde put the seate of gouernement in perill of falling. The Queenes maiestie when she had heard the childe and understode the pageant at full, gaue the citie also thankes there, and most graciouslie promised her good endeuour for the maintenance of the sayde vertues, and suppression of vyces, and so marched on till she came against the great conduit in chepe, which was bewtifyed with pictures and sentences accordingly agaynst her graces coming thither.
-- Transcribed by Jennie Butler, 2000
