On Christmas morning, the boys' singing is greeted with great enthusiasm. The piece which brings the house down, however, is a duet sung by Nick and Colley (one of the other choirboys). And when Nick sings his solo part, it is so beautiful that Queen Elizabeth's fan falls from her grasp, forgotten. When the song ends, the Queen turns to the ambassadors: "Chi tace confessa--it is so! There are no songs like English songs--there is no spring like an English spring--there is no land like England, my England!"
Afterwards, the delighted monarch calls to have Nick and Colley brought to her. Praising them for their song, she asks the two boys what they would like her to give them. Colley shyly says that he would like to stay at the palace and sing always for Her Majesty. Elizabeth, pleased by this flattering request, decrees that he will become a singing page in her court. She then turns to Nick and asks him what he would have her grant him. Nick tells her that he wants to go home. Finding this answer less flattering, Elizabeth at first mocks the boy, saying that he must think her extremely stingey, or his home must be a very famous place. The court titters at her words but Nick, stung by this mockery of his home, meets the Queen's eyes and tells her that, "I would rather be there than here." The Queen is displeased by Nick's answers and ends up dismissing him, turning back to Colley and saying "Thy comrade hath more wit."
Nick answers quietly that Colley has no mother: "I would rather have my mother than his wit."
This response brings Elizabeth around sharply:
A little murmur ran through the room.
She sat a moment, silent, studying his face. "Or if thou art, upon my word I like the breed. It is a stubborn, froward dog; but Hold-fast is his name. Ay, sirs," she said, and sat up very straight, looking into the faces of her court, "Brag is a good dog, but Hold-fast is better. A lad who loves his mother thus makes a man who loveth his native land--and it's no bad streak in the blood. Master Skylark, thou shalt have thy wish; to London thou shalt go this very night."