much for him By this old man I often times was sed Els might I haue gone supperlesse to bed Such kindnesse haue I had of these three men That Cromwell no way can repay againe Now in to dinner for we stay too long And to good stomackes is no greater wrong Exit omnes Enter Gardiner in his study and his man Gard. Sirra where be those men I caus'd to stay Ser. They doe attend your pleasure Sir within Gar. Bid them come hether and stay you without For by those men the Foxe of this same land That makes a Goose of better then himselfe Must woried be vnto his latest home or Gardiner will faile in his intent As for the Dukes of Suffolke and of Norfolke Whom I haue sent for to come speake with me Howsoeuer outwardly they shadow it Yet in their harts I know they loue him not As for the Earle of Bedford hee is but one And dares not gaine-â—ay what we doe set downe Enter the two Witnesses Now my friends you know I sau'd you liues When by the law you had deserued death And then you promised me vpon your othes To venture both your liues to doe me good Both wit We swore no more then that we will performe Gard. I take your words and that which you must doe Is seruice for your God and for your King To roote a rebell from this flourishing land One that 's an enemy vnto the Church And therefore must you take your solemne oathes That you heard Cromwell the Lord Chauncellor Did wish a dagger at King Henries hart Feare not to sweare it for I hard him speake it Therefore wee le shield you from insuing harmes 2 Wit If you will warrant vs the deed is good Wee le vndertake it Gar. Kneele downe and I will here absolue you both This Crucifixe I lay vpon you heads And sprinckle holy-water on your browes The deed is meritorious that you doe And by it shall you purchase grace from heauen 1 Now Sir wee le vndertake it by our soules 2 For Cromwell neuer loued none of our sort Gar. I know he doth not and for both of you I will preferre you to some place of worth Now get you in vntill I call for you For presently the Dukes meanes to be here Exit wit Cromwell sit fast thy time 's not long to raigne The Abbies that were puld downe by thy meanes Is now a meane for me to pull thee downe Thy pride also thy owne head lights vpon For thou art he hath chang'd religion But now no more for here the Dukes are come Enter Suffolke Norfolke and the Earle of Bedford Suff. Good euen to my Lord Bishop Nor. How fares my Lord what are you all alone Gar. No not alone my Lords my minde is troubled I know your honours muse wherefore I sent And in such hast What came you from the King Nor. We did and left none but Lord Cromwell with him Gard. O what a dangerous time is this we liue in There 's Thomas Wolsay hee 's already gone And Thomas Moore he followed after him Another Thomas yet there doth remaine That is farre worse then either of those twaine And if with speed my Lords we not pursue it I feare the King and all the land will rue it Bed Another Thomas pray God it be not Cromwell Gard. My Lord Bedford it is that traitor Cromwell Bed Is Cromwell false my hart will neuer thinke it Suff. My Lord of Winchester what likelihood Or proofe haue you of this his treachery Gard. My Lord too much call in the men within Enter witnesses These men my Lord vpon their othes affirme That they did here Lord Cromwell in his garden Wished a dagger sticking at the hart Of our King Henrie what is this but treason Bed If it be so my hart doth bleed with sorrow Suff. How say you friends what did you here these words 1 Wit We did and 't like your grace Norf. In what place was Lord Cromwell when he spake them 2 Wit In his Garden where we did attend a sute Which we had waited for two yeere and more Suff. How long i st since you heard him speake these words 2 Wit Some halfe yeere since Bed How chance that you conceal'd it all this time 1 Wit His greatnesse made vs feare that was the cause Gard. I I his greatnesse that 's the cause indeed And to make his treason here more mainfest He calles his seruants to him round about Tels them of Wâ—lsayes life and of his fall Saies that himselfe hath many enemies And giues to some of them a Parke or Manor To others Leases Lands to other some What need he doe thus in his prime of life And if he were not fearefull of his death Suff. My Lord these likelihoods are very great Bed Pardon me Lords for I must needs depart Their proofes are great but greater is my heart Exit Bedford Norf. My friends take heed of that which you haue said Your soules must answer what your tongues reports Therefore take heed be wary what you doe 2 Wit My Lord we speake no more but truth Norf. Let them depart my Lord of Winchester Let these men be close kept Vntill the day of triall Gar. They shall my Lord hoe take in these two men Exit witnesses My Lords if Cromwell haue a publike triall That which we doe is voide by his deniall You know the King will credit none but him Nor. T is true he rules the King euen as he pleases Suff. How shall we doe for to attache him then Gar. Mary my Lords thus by an Act he made himselfe With an intent to intrap some of our liues And this it is If any Councellor Be conuicted of high treason He shall be excecuted without a publike triall This Act my Lords he caused the King to make Suff. A did indeed and I remember it And now it is like to fall vpon himselfe Nor. Let vs not slak it t is for Englands good We must be warry els hee le goe beyond vs. Gar. Well hath your Grace said my Lord of Norfolke Therefore let vs presently to Lambeth Thether comes Cromwell from the Court to night Let vs arest him send him to the Tower And in the morning cut off the traitors head Norf. Come then about it let vs guard the towne This is the day that Cromwell must goe downe Gard. Along my Lords well Cromwell is halfe dead He shak'd my harâ—â— but I will shaue his head Ethenus Enter Bedford 〈◊〉 Bed My soule is like a water troubled And Gardiner is the man that makes it so O Cromwell I doe feare thy end is neare Yet I le preuent their malice if I can And in good time see where the man doth come Who little knowes how neares his day of dome Enter Cromwell with his traine Bedford makes as though be would speake to him he goes on Crom. Your well encountered my good Lord of Bedford I see your honour is adressed to talke Pray
THE True Chronicle Historie of the whole life and death of Thomas Lord Cromwell As it hath beene sundry times publikely Acted by the Kings Maiesties Seruants Written by W. S. LONDON Printed by THOMAS SNODHAM 1613. The life and death of the Lord Cromwell Enter three Smiths Hodge and two other old Cromwels men Hodge COme Maisters I thinke it be past fiue a clock Is it not time we were at worke My old Maister hee le be stirring anon 1 I cannot tell whether my old master will be stirring or no but I am sure I can hardly take my afternoones nap for my young maister Thomas He keepes such a quile in his studie With the Sunne and the Moone and the seauen starres That I doe verily thinke hee le read out his wits Hod He skill of the starres there 's good-man Car of Fulhum He that carried vs to the strong Ale where goody Trundell Had her maide got with childe O he knowes the Starres Hee le tickle you Charles Waine in nine degrees That same man will tell goody Trundell When her Ale shall miscary onely by the starres 2 I that 's a great vertue indeed I thinke Thomas Be no body in comparison to him 1 Well Maisters come shall we to our hammers Hod. I content first le ts take our mornings draught And then to worke roundly 2 I agreed goe in Hodge Exit omnes Enter young Cromwell Crom. Good morrow morne I doe salute thy brightnesse The night seemes tedious to my troubled soule Whose black obscuritie binds in my minde A thousand sundry cogitations And now Aurora with a liuely dye Addes comfort to my spirit that mounts on high Too high indeede my state being so meane My study like a minerall of gold Makes my hart proude wherein my hope 's inrowld My bookes is all the wealth I doe possesse Here within they must beate with their hammers And vnto them I haue ingaged my hart O learning how deuine thou seemes to me Within whose armes is all felicity Peace with your hammers leaue your knocking there You doe disturbe my study and my rest Leaue off I say you madde me with the noyse Enter Hodge and the two Men. Hod. Why how now Maister Thomas how now Will you not let vs worke for you Crom. You fret my hart with making of this noise Hod. How fret your hart I but Thomas you le Fret your fathers purse if you let vs from working 2 I this t is for him to make him a gentleman Shall we leaue worke for your musing that 's well I faith But here comes my old Maister now Enter old Cromwell Old Crom. You idle knaues what are you loytring now No hammers walking and my worke to doe What not a heate among your worke to day Hod. Marry sir your sonne Thomas will not let vs worke at all Old Crom. Why knaue I say haue I thus carkde and car'd And all to keepe thee like a gentleman And dost thou let my seruants at their worke That sweat for thee knaue labour thus for thee Crom. Father their hammers doe offend my studie Old Crom. Out of my doores knaue if thou likest it not I cry you mercy is your cares so fine I tell thee knaue these get when I doe sleepe I will not haue my Anuill stand for thee Crom. There 's mony father I will pay your men He throwes many among them Old Cro. Haue I thus brought thee vp vnto my cost In hope that one day thou wouldst releeue my age And art thee now so lauish of thy coine To scatter it among these idle knaues Crom. Father be patient and content your selfe The time will come I shall hold golde as trash And here I speake with a presaging soule To build a pallace where now this cottage stands As fine as is King Henries house at Sheene Old Crow You build a house you knaue you le be a begger Now afore God all is but cast away That is bestowed vpon this thriftlesse lad Well had I bound him to some honest trade This had not beene but it was his mothers doing To send him to the Vniuersitie How builde a house where now this cottage stands As faire as that at Sheene he shall not here me A good boy Tom I con thee thanke Tom Well said Tom gramarcies Tom Into your worke knaues hence you sausie boy Exit all but young Cromwell Cro. Why should my birth keepe downe my mounting spirit Are not all creatures subiect vnto time To time who doth abuse the world And filles it full of hodge-podge bastardy There 's legions now of beggars on the earth That their originall did spring from Kings And many Monarkes now whose fathers were The riffe-raffe of their age for time and Fortune Weares out a noble traine to beggery And from the dunghill minions doe aduance To state and marke in this admiring world This is but course which in the name of Fate Is seene as often as it whirles about The Riuer Thames that by our doore doth passe His first beginning is but small and shallow Yet keeping on his course groues to a sea And likewise Wâ—lsay the wonder of our age His birth as meane as mine a Butchers sonne Now who within this land a greaterman Then Cromwell cheere thee vp and tell thy soule That thou maist liue to flourish and controule Enter old Cromwell Old Crom. Tom Cromwell what Tom I say Crom. Doe you call sir Old Crom. Here is Maister Bowser come to know if you haue dispatched his petition for the Lords of the counsell or no. Crom. Father I haue please you to call him in Old Crom. That 's well said Tom a good lad Tom. Enter Maister Bowser Bow Now Maister Cromwell haue you dispatched this petition Crom. I haue sir here it is please you peruse it Bow It shall not need wee le read it as we goe by water And Maister Cromwell I haue made a motion May doe you good and of you like of it Our Secretarie at Antwarpe sir is dead And the Marchants there hath sent to me For to prouide a man fit for the place Now I doe know none fitter then your selfe If with your liking it stand Maister Cromwell Crom. With all my hart sir and I much am bound In loue and duty for your kindnesse showne Old Crom. Body of me Tom make hast least some body Get betweene thee and home Tom. I thanke you good Maister Bowser I thanke you for my boy I thanke you alwayes I thanke you most hartely sir Hoe a cup of Beere there for Maister Bowser Bow It shall not need sir Maister Cromwell will you goe Crom. I will attend you sir Old Crom. Farewell Tom God blesse thee Tom God speed thee good Tom. Exit omnes Enter Bagot a Broker â—olus Bag. I hope this day is fatall vnto some And by their losse must Bagot seeke to gaine This is the lodging of Maister Friskiball a liberall Marchant and a Florentine To whom Banister owes a thousand pound
please you sir my company is but meane Stands with your liking I le waite on you Gou. I am glad that all things doe accorde so well Come Maister Bowser let vs in to dinner And Mistrisse Banister be mery woman Come after sorrow now le ts cheere your spirit Knaues haue their due and you but what you merit Exit omnes Enter Cromwell and Hodge in their shirtes and without Hattes Hodg. Call yee this seeing of fashions Marry would I had staide at Putney still O Maister Thomas we are spoiled we are gone Crom. Content thee man this is but fortune Hodg. Fortune a plague of this Fortune makes me goe wetshod the roagues would not leaue me a shooe to my feet for my hoase they scorned them with their heeles but for my Dublet and Hatte O Lord they imbraced mee and vnlased mee and tooke away my cloathes and so disgraced me Crom. Well Hodge what remedie What shift shall we make now Hodg. Nay I know not for begging I am naught for stealing worse by my troth I must euen fall to my olde trade to the Hammer and the Horse heeles againe but now the worst is I am not acquainted with the humor of the horses in this countrie whether they are not coultish giuen much to kicking or no for vvhen I haue one legge in my hand if he should vp and lay tother on my chops I were gone there lay I there lay Hodge Crom. Hodge I beleeue thou must worke for vs both Hodg. O Maister Thomas haue not I tolde you of this haue not I many a time and often said Tom or Maister Thomas learne to make a Horse-shooe it will be your owne another day this was not regarded Harke you Thomas what doe you call the fellowes that robd vs Crom. The Bandetto Hodg. The Bandetto doe you call them I know not what they are called here but I am sure we call them plaine theeues in England O Thâ—mas that we were now at Putney at the ale there Crom. Content thee man here set vp these two billes And let vs keepe our standing on the bridge The fashion of this country is such If any stranger be oppressed with want To write the manner of his misery And such as are disposed to succour him Will doe it what hast thou set them vp Hod. I they 're vp God send some to reade them And not onely to reade them but also to looke on vs And not altogether to looke on vs One standes at one end and one at tother But to releeue vs O colde colde colde Enter Friskiball the Marchant and reades the billes Fris What 's here two Englishmen rob'd by the Bandetto One of them seemes to be a gentleman T is pittie that his fortune was so hard To fall into the desperate hands of theeues I le question him of what estate he is God saue you sir are you an Englishman Crom. I am sir a distressed Englishman Fris And what are you my friend Hod. Who I sir by my troth I doe not know my selfe what I am now but sir I was a Smith sir a poore Farrier of Putney that 's my Maister sir yonder I was robbed for his sake sir Fris I see you haue beene met by the Bandetto And therefore neede not aske how you came thus But Friskiball why doost thou question them Of their estate and not releeue their neede Sir the coyne I haue about me is not much There 's sixteene Duckets for to cloath your selues There 's sixteene more to buy your diet with And there 's sixteene to pay for your horse hier T is all the wealth you see my purse possesses But if you please for to enquire me out You shall not want for ought that I can doe My name is Friskiball a Florence Marchant A man that alwayes loued your nation Crom. This vnexpected fauour at your hands Which God doth know if euer I shall requiâ—e it Necessitie makes me to take your bountie And for your gold can yeeld you naught but thankes Your charitie hath helpt me from dispaire Your name shall still be in my harty prayer Fris It is not worth such thankes come to my house Your want shall better be releeu'd then thus Crom. I pray excuse me this shall well suffice To beare my charges to Bononia Whereas a noble Earle is much distressed An Englishman Russelâ— the Earle of Bedford Is by the French King solde vnto his death It may fall out that I may doe him good To saue his life I le hazard my hart blood Therefore kinde sir thankes for your liberall gift I must be gone to aide him there 's no shift Fris I le be no hinderer to so good an act Heauen prosper you in that you goe about If Fortune bring you this way backe againe Pray let me see you so I take my leave All good a man can wish I doe bequeath Exit Friskiball Crom. All good that God doth send light on your head There 's few such men within our climate bred How say you now Hodge is not this good fortune Hod. How say you I le tell you what maister Thomas If all men be of this Gentlemans minde Le ts keepe our standings vpon this Bridge We shall get more here with begging in one day Then I shall with making Horshoes in a whole yeere Crom. No Hodge we must begone vnto Bononia There to releeue the noble Earle of Bedford Where if I faile not in my policie I shall deceiue their subtile treachery Hodge Nay I le follow you God blesse vs from the theeuing Bandettoes againe Exit omnes Enter Bedford and his Hoast Bed Am I betraide was Bedforde borne to die By such base slaues in such a place as this Haue I escaped so many times in France So many battailes haue I ouer passed And made the French stirre when they hard my name And am I now betraide vnto my death Some of their harts bloud first shall pay for it Hoa. They doe desire my Lord to speake with you Bed The traitors doe desire to haue my bloud But by my birth my honour and my name By all my hopes my life shall cost them deare Open the dore I le venter out vpon them And if I must die then I le die with honour Hoa. Alas my Lord that is a desperate course They haue begirt you round about the house Their meaning is to take you prisoner And so to send your body vnto France Bed First shall the Ocean beas dry as sand Before aliue they send me vnto France I le haue my body first bored like a Siue And die as Hector gainst the Mermidons Eare France shall boast Bedfordes their prisoner Trecherous France that gainst the law of armes Hath here betraide thy enemy to death But be assured my bloud shall be reuenged Vpon the best liues that remaines in France Stand backe or else thy run'st vpon thy death Enter a Seruant Mes Pardon my Lord I come to tell your honour That they haue
pardon me I am sent for to th' King And doe not know the businesse yet me selfe So fare you well for I must needes be gone Exit all the traine Bed You must well what remedy I feare too soone you must be gone indeed The King hath businesse but little doest thou know Whose busie for thy life thou think'st not so Enter Cromwell and the traine againe Crom. The second time well met my Lord of Bedford I am very sory that my hast is such Lord Marques Dorset being sicke to death I must receaue of him the priuie seale At Lambeth soone my Lord wee le talke our fill Exit the traine Bed How smooth and easie is the way to death Enterâ— seruant Mes My Lord the Dukes of Norfolks and of Suffoâ—ke Accompaniâ—d Bishop of Winchestâ—◠〈…〉 Intreates you to come presently to Lambeth On earnest matters that concernes the state Bed To Lambeth so goe fetch me pen and inke I and Lord Cromwell there shall talke enough He writes a letter I and our last I feare and if he come Here take this letter and heare it to Lord Cromwell Bid him read it say it concernes him neaâ—â— Away be gone make all the hast you can To Lambeth doe I goe a woefull man Exit Enter Cromwell and his traine Crom. Is the Barge ready I will straight to Lambeth And if this one dayes businesse once were past I 'de take me ease to morrow after trouble How now my friend wouldst thou speake with me The Messenger brings him the letter he puts it in his pocket Mes Sir here 's a letter from my Lord of Bedford Crom. O good my friend commend me to thy Lord Hould take those Angels drinke them for thy paines Mse He doth desire your grace to reade iâ— Because he sayes it doth concerne you neare Crom. Bid him assure himselfe of that fareâ—ell To morrow tell him shall he heare from me Set on before there and away to Lambeth Exâ—â—t 〈◊〉 Enter Winchester Suffolke Noâ—â—olke Bedford Sergiant at armes the Herâ—uld and 〈◊〉 Gar. Halberta stand close vnto the waterside Sergiant at armes be bould in your office Herauld deliuer your proclamation Ha. This is to glue notice to all the Kings subiects The late Lord Cromwell Lord Chancellor of England Vicar generall ouer the realme Him to hould and esteeme as a traytor Against the Crowne and dignitie of England So God saue the King Gar. Amen Bed Amen and roote thee from the land For whilst thou liuest truth cannot stand Nor. Make a lane there the traitor is at hand Keepe backe Cromwells men Drowne them if they come on Sergiant your office Enter Cromwell they make a lane with their Halberts Crom. What meanes my Lord of Norfolke by these words Sirs come along Gar. Kill them if they come on Ser. Lord Cromwell in King Henries name I doe arrest your honour of high treason Crom. Sergiant me of treason Cromwels men offer to draw Suf. Kill them if they draw a sword Crom. Hould I charge you at you loue me draw not a sword Who dares accuse Cromwell of treason now Gar. This is no place to reckon vp your crime Your Doue-like lookes were viewed with serpents eyes Crom. With serpents eyes indeed by thine they were But Gardiner doe thy woorst I feare thee not My faith compared with thine as much shall passe As doth the Diamond excell the glasse Attached of treason no accusers by Indeede what tongue dares speake so foule a lie Nor. My Lord my Lord matters are too well knowne And it is time the King had note thereof Crom. The King let me goe to him face to face No better triall I desire then that Let him but say that Cromwells faith was â—ained Then let my honour and my name be stained If euer my hart against my King was set O let my soule in Iudgement answere it Then if my faith 's confirmed with his reason Gainst whom hath Cromwell then committed treason Suf. My Lord your matter shall be tried Meane time with patience content your selfe Crom. Perforce I must with patience be content O deare friend Bedford doest thou stand so neate Cromwell reioyceth one friend sheds a teare And whether i st which way must Cromwell now Gar. My Lord you must vnto the tower Lieutenant take him to your charge Crom. Well where you please yet before I part Let me conferre a little with my men Gar. As you goe by water so you shall Crom. I haue some businesse present to impart Nor. You may not stay Lieutenant take your charge Crom. Well well my Lord you second Gardiners text Norfolke farewell thy turne wil be the next Exit Cromwell and the Lieutenant Gar. His guiltie conscience makes him raue my Lord. Nor. I let him talke his time is short enough Gar. My Lord of Bedford come you weepe for him That would not shed halfe a teare for you Bed It grieues me for to see his sudden fall Gar. Such successe wish I vnto traitours all Exeunt Enter two Citizens 1 Why can this newes be true i st possible The great Lord Cromwell arrested vpon treason I hardly will beleeue it can be so 2 It is too true sir would it were otherwise Condition I spent halfe the wealth I haue I was at Lambeth sâ—w him there arrested And afterward committed to the Tower 1 What wast for treason that he was commitâ—â—d 2 Kinde noble Gentlemâ—n 〈…〉 time All that I haue I did inâ—oy by him And if he 〈◊〉 then all my state is gone 1 It may be hoped that he shall not die Because the King did fauour him so much 2 O sir you are deceiued in thinking so The grace and fauour he had with the King Hath causde him haue so many enemies He that in court secure ill keepe himselfe Must not be great for then he is enuied at The Shrub is safe when as the Cedar shakes For where the King doth loue aboue compare Of others they as much more entiled are 1 T is pittie that this noble man should fall He did so many charitable deeds 2 T is true and yet you see in each estate Thereâ—â— none so good but some one doth him hate And they before would smile him in the face will be the formost to doe him disgrace What will you goe along vnto the Court 1 I care not if I do and heare the newer How men will iudge what shall become of him 2 Some will speake hardly some will speake in pitie Goe you to the Court I le goe into the Citie There I am sure to here more newes then you 1 Why then soone will we meet againe Exit Enter Cromwell in the Tower Crom. Now Cromwell hast thou time to meditate And thinke vpon thy state and of the time Thy honours came vnsought I and vnlooked for Thy fall as sudden and vnlooked for to What glory was in England that I had not Who in this land commanded more then Cromwell Except the King who greater then my selfe
But now I see what after ages shall The greater man more sudden is their fall And now I doe remember the Earle of Bedford Was very desirous for to speake to me And afterward sent vnto me a letter The which I thinke I haue still in my pocket Now may I read it for I now haue leasure And this I take it is He readeâ— the Letter My Lord come not this night to Lambeth For if you doe your state is ouerthrowne And much I doubt your life and if you come Then if you loue your selfe stay where you are O God had I but read this letter Then had I beene free from the Lions paw Deferring this to read vntill to morrow I spurnd at ioy and did imbrace my sorrow Enter the Leiutenant of the Tower and officers Now Maister Lieutenant when 's this day of death Lieu. Alas my Lord would I might neuer see it Here are the Dukes of Suffolke and of Norfolke Winchester Bedford and sir Richard Ratcliffe With others but why they come I know not Crom. No matter wherefore Cromwell is prepard For Gardiner has my state and life insnard Bid them come in or you shall doe them wrong For here stands he whom some thinkes liues too long Learning killes learning and insteed of Inck To dip his Pen Cromwels heart blood doth drinke Enter all the Nobles Norf. Good morrow Cromwell what alone so sad Crom. One good among you none of you are bad For my part it best fits me be alone Sadnesse with me not I with any one What is the King acquainted with my cause Norf. We haue and he hath answered vs my Lord. Crom. How shall I come to speake with him my selfe Gard. The King is so aduertised of your guilt He will by no meanes admit you to his presence Crom. No way admit me am I so soone forgot Did he but yesterday imbrace my neck And said that Cromwell was euen halfe himselfe And is his Princely eares so much bewitched With scandolous ignomie and slanderous speeches That now he doth deny to looke on me Well my Lord of Winchester no doubt but you Are much in fauour with his Maiestie Will you beare a letter from me to his grace Gard. Pardon me I le beare no traitors letters Crom. Ha will you doe this kindnesse then Tell him by word of mouth what I shall say to you Gard. That will I. Crom. But on your honour will you Gard. I on my honour Crom. Beare witnesse Lords Tell him when he hath knowne you And tried your faith but halfe so much as mine Hee le finde you to be the falsest harted man In England Pray tell him this Bed Be patient good my Lord in these extreames Crom. My kinde and honorable Lord of Bedford I know your honour alwaies loued me well But pardon me this still shall be my theame Gardiner is the cause makes Cromwell so extreame Sir Ralph Sadler pray a word with you You were my man and all that you possesse Came by my meanes to requite all this Will you take this letter here of me And giue it with your owne hands to the King Sad. I kisse your hand and neuer will I rest Eare to the King this be deliuered Exit Sadler Crom. Why yet Cromwell hath one friend in store Gard. But all the â—ast he makes shall be but vaine Here 's a discharge for your prisoner To see him executed presently My Lord you here the tenor of your life Crom. I doe imbrace it welcome my last date And of this glistering world I take last leaue And noble Lords I take my leaue of you As willingly I goe to meete with death As Gardiner did pronounce in with his breath From treason is my hart as white as Snow My death onely procured by my foe I pray commend me to my Soueraigne King And tell him in what sort his Cromwell died To loose his head before his cause were tride But let his Grace when he shall here my name Say onely this Gardiner procured the same Enter young Cromwell Lieu. Here is your sonne come to take his leaue Crom. To take his leaue Come hether Harry Cromwell Marke boy the last words that I speake to thee Flatter not Fortune neither fawne vpon her Gape not for state yet loose no sparke of honour Ambition like the plague see thou eschew it I die for treason boy and neuer knew it Yet let thy faith as spotlesse be as mine And Cromwels vertues in thy face shall shine Come goe along and see me leaue my breath And I le leaue thee vpon the floure of death Son O father I shall die to see this wound Your blood being spilt will make my hart to sound Crom. How boy not looke vpon the Axe How shall I doe then to haue my head stroke off Come on my childe and see the end of all And after say that Gardiner was my fall Gar. My Lord you speake it of an enuious hart I haue done no more then law and equitie Bed O good my Lord of Winchester for beare It would better seemed you to beene absent Then with your words disturbe a dying man Crom. Who me my Lord no he disturbes not me My mind he stirres not though his mightie shocke Hath brought mo peeres heads downe to the blocke Farewell my boy all Cromwell can bequeath My hartie blessing so I take my leaue Hang. I am your deathâ— man pray my Lord forgiue me Crom. Euen with my soule why man thou art my Doctor And brings me Precious phisicke for my soule My Lord of Bedford I desire of you Before my death a corporall imbrace Bedford comes to him Cromwell 〈◊〉 him Farewell great Lord my loue I doe commend My hart to you my soule to lieauen I send This is my ioy that ere my body fleete Your honourd armes is my true winding sheete Farewell deare Bedford my pâ—â—ce is made in heauen Thus falles great Cromwell a poore ell in length To rise to vnmeasured height 〈◊〉 with new strength The land of Wormea which dying men discouer My soule is shrinde with heauens 〈◊〉 couer Exit Cromwell and the 〈◊〉 and others â—id Well farewell Cromweâ—â— the 〈◊〉 friend That euer Bedford shall possesse againe Well Lords I feare when this man is dead You le wish in vaine that Cromwell had a head Enter one with Cromwels head Offi. Here is the head of the deceased Cromwell Bed Pray thee goe hence and beare his head away Vnto his body interre them both in clay Enter for Raulph Salder Sad. Ho now my Lords what is Lord Cromwell dead Bed Lord Cromwels body now doth want a head Sad. O God a little speede had saued his life Here is a kinde repriue come from the King To bring him straight vnto his Maiestie Suff. I I sir Raulph repriues comes now too late Gar. My conscience now tels me this deede was ill Would Christ that Cromwell were aliue againe Nor. Come let vs to the King whom well I know Will grieue for Cromwell that his death was so Exeunt â—mnes FINIS
thee crost Exit omnes Enter Chorus Châ— Thus farre you see how Cromwells fortune passed The Earle of Bedford being safe in Mantua Desires Cromwells company into France To make requitall for his courtesie But Cromwell doth denie the Earle his sute And telles him that those parts he meant to see He had not yet set footing on the land And so directly takes his way to Spaine The Earle to France and so they both doe part Now let your thoughts as swift as is the winde Skip some few yeeres that Cromwell spent in trauell And now imagine him to be in England Seruant vnto the Maister of the Roules Where in short time he there beganne to florish An houre shall show you what few yeeres did cherish Exit The Musick playes they bring out the banquet Enter Sir Christopher Hales and Cromwell and two seruants Hales Come sirs be carefull of your Maisters credit And as our bountie now exceedes the figure Of common entertainment so doe you With lookes as free as is your Maisters soule Giue formall welcome to the thronged tables That shall receiue the Cardinals followers And the attendants of the great Lord Chancellor But all my care Cromwell depends on thee Thou art a man differing from vulgar forme And by how much thy spirit is ranckt boue these In rules of Arte by so much it shines brighter by trauell Whose obseruance pleades his merit In a most learned yet vnaffecting spirit Good Cromwell cast an eye of faire regarde Bout all my house and what this ruder flesh Through ignorance or wine doe miscreate Salue thou with curtesie if welcome want Full bowles and ample banquets will seeme scant Crom. Sir whatsoeuer lies in me Assure you I will shew my vtmost duty Exit Crom. Hales About it then the Lords will straight be here Cromwell thou hast those parts would rather sute The seruice of the state then of my house I looke vpon thee with a louing eye That one day will prefer thy destiny Enter Messenger Mess Sir the Lords be at hand Hales They are welcome bid Cromwell straight attendys And looke you all things be in perfect readinesse The Musicke playes Enter Cardinall Wolsay Sir Thomas Moore and Gardiner Wol. O sir Christopher you are too liberall what a banket to Hal. My Lords if words could show the ample welcome That my free hart affords you I could then become a prater But I now must deale like a feast Polititian With your Lordships deferre your welcome till the banket end That it may then salue our defect of faire Yet Welcome now and all that tend on you Wol. Thankes to the kinde Maister of the Roules Come and sit downe sit downe sir Thomas Moore T is strange how that we and the Spaniard differ Their dinner is our banquet after dinner And they are men of actiue disposition This I gather that by their sparing meate Their body more fitter for the warres And if that famine chance to pinch their mawes Being vsde to fast it breedes lesse paine Hal. Fill me some Wine I le answere Cardinall Wolsay My Lord we Englishmen are of more heer soules Then hunger staru'd and ill complexioned spaniards They that are rich in Spaine spare belly foode To decke their backes with an Italian hoode And Silkes of Ciuill And the poorest Snake That feedes on Lemmons Pilchers and neare heated His pallet with sweete flesh will beare a case More fat and gallant then his starued face Pride the Inquisition and this belly-euill Are in my iudgement Spaines three headed diuell Mo. Indeede it is a plague vnto their nation Who stager after in blinde imitation Hal. My Lords with welcome I present your Lordships A solemne health Mo. I loue health well but when as healthâ— doe bring Paine to the head and bodies surfetting Then cease I healthâ— nay spill not friend For though the drops be small Yet haue they force to force men to the wall Wel. Sir Christopher is that your man Hal. And like your grace he is a Scholler and a Liâ—guest One that hath trauelled many parts of Christendome my Lord. Wol. My friend come nearer haue you beene a traueller Cro. My Lord I haue added to my knowledge the low countries France Spaine Germanie and Italie And though small gaine of profit I did finde Yet did it please my eye content my minde Wol. What doe you thinke of the seuerall states And Princes Courts as you haue trauelled Crom. My Lord no Court with England may compare Neither for state nor ciuill gouernment Lust dwelles in France in Italie and Spaine From the poore pesant to the Princes traine In Germanie and Holland riot serues And he that most can drinke most he deserues England I praise not for I here was borne But that she laugheth the others vnto scorne Wol. My Lord there dwelles within that spirit More then can be discern'd by outward eye Sir Christopher will you part with your man Hal. I haue sought to proffer him to your Lordship And now I see he hath preferred himselfe Wol. What is thy name Crom. Cromwell my Lord. Wol. Then Cromwell here we make thee soliciter of our causes And nearest next our selfe Gardiner giue you kinde welcome to the man Gardiner imbraces him Mo. My Lord you are a royall Winer Hath got a man besides your bountious dinner Well Knight pray we come no more If we come often thou maist shut thy doore Wol. Sir Christopher hadst thou giuen me Halfe thy lands thou couldest not haue pleased me So much as with this man of thine My infant thoughts doe spell Shortly his fortune shall be lifted higher True industry doth kindle honours fire And so kinde Maister of the Roules farewell Hal. Cromwell farewell Crom. Cromwell takes his leaue of you That neare will leaue to loue and honour you Exit Omnes Enter Chorus Cho. Now Cromwells highest fortunes doth begin The Musicke playes as they goe in Wolsay that lou'd him as he did his life Committed all his treasure to his hands Wolsay is dead and Gardiner his man Is now created Bishop of Winchester Pardon if we omit all Wolsayes life Because our play depends on Cromwells death Now sit and see his highest state of all His height of rysing and his sodaine fall Pardon the errors is all ready past And liue in hope the best doth come at last My hope vpon your fauour doth depend And looke to haue your liking ere the end Exit Enter Gardiner Bishop of Winchester the Dukes of Norfolke and of Suffolke Sir Thomas Moore Sir Christopher Halles and Cromwell Nor. Maister Cromwell since Cardinall Wolsayes death His Maiestie is giuen to vnderstand There 's certaine billes and writings in your hand That much concernes the state of England My Lord of Winchester is it not so Gar. My Lord of Norfolke we two were whilome fellowes And Maister Cromwell though our Maisters loue Did binde vs while his loue was to the King It is no boote now to deny those things Which may
hired a Neopolitan Who by his Oratorie hath promised them Without the shedding of one drop of bloud Into their hands safe to deliuer you And therefore craues none but himselfe may enter And a poore swaine that attends on him Exit seruant Bed A Neapolitan bid him come in Were he as cunning in his eloquence As Cicero the famous man of Rome His words would be as chaffe against the winde Sweet tong'd Vlesses that made Aiaxe mad Were he and his tongue in this speakers head Aliue he winnes me not then t is no conquest dead Enter Cromwell like a Neopolitan and Hodge with him Crom. Sir are you the maister of the house Hoa. I am sir Crom. By this same token you must leaue this place And leaue none but the Earle and I together And this my Pessant here to tend on vs. Hoa. With all my hart God grant you doe some good Exit Hoast Cromwell shuts the dore Bed Now sir what 's your will with me Crom. Intends your honour not to yeeld your selfe Bed No good-man goose not while my sword doth last Is this your eloquence for to perswade me Crom. My Lord my eloquence is for to saue you I am not as you iudge a Neopolitan But Cromwell your seruant and an Englishman Bed How Cromwell not my Farriers sonne Crom. The same sir and am come to succour you Hod. Yes faith sir and I am Hodge your poore Smith Many a time and oft haue I shooed your Dapper Gray Bed And what auailes it me that thou art here Crom. It may auaile if you le be rul'd by me My Lord you know the men of Mantua And these Bononians are at deadly strife And they my Lord both loue and honour you Could you but get out of the Mantua port Then were you safe dispight of all their force Bed The man thou talkest of things impossible Dost thou not see that we are round beset How then is it possible we should escape Crom. By force we cannot but by pollicie Put on the apparell here that Hodge doth weare And giue him yours the States they know you not For as I thinke they neuer saw your face And at a watch-word must I call them in And will desire that we two safe may passe To Mantua where I le say my businesse lies How doth your Honour like of this deuise Bed O wondrous good But wilt thou venter Hodge Hod. Will I O noble Lord I doe accord in any thing I can And doe agree to set thee free doe fortune what she can Bed Come then le ts change our apparell straight Crom. God Hodge make hast least they chance to call Hod. I warrant you I le 〈◊〉 with a 〈◊〉 Exit Earle Hodge Crom. Heauens graunt this pollicie doth take successe And that the Earle may safely scape â—eay And yet it greeues me for this simple wretch For feare they should offer him violence But of two euils t is best to shun the greatest And better is it that he liue in thrall Then such a Noble Earle as he should fall Their stubborne harts it may be will relent Since he is gone to whom their hate is bent My Lord haue you dispatched Enter Bedford like the Clowne and Hodge in his cloake and his Hat Bed How doost thou like vs Cromwell is it well Crom. O my Lord excellent Hodge how doost feele thy selfe Hod. How do I feele my selfe why as a Noble man should do O how I feele honor come creeping on My Nobilitie is wonderfull melancholy Is it not most Gentleman like to be melancholy Crom. Yes Hodge now goe sit downe in the study And take state vpon thee Hodge I warrant you my Lord let me alone to take state vpon me but harke my Lord doe you feele nothing bite about you Bed No trust me Hodge Hod. I they know they want their old pasture t is a strange thing of this vermine they dare not meddle with Nobilitie Crom. Goe take thy place Hodge I will call them in All is done enter and if you please Hodge sits in the study and Cromwell calles in the States Enter the States and Officers with Malberts Gou. What haue you wone him will he yeelde himselfe Crom. I haue an 't please you and the quiet Earle Doth yeeld himselfe to be disposed by you Gou. Giue him the mony that we promised him So let him goe whether it please himselfe Crom. My businesse sir lies vnto Mantua Please you to giue me safe conduct thether Gou. Goe and conduct him to the Mantua port And see him safe deliuered presently Exit Cromwell and Bedford Goe draw the curtaines let vs see the Earle O he is writing stand apart a while Hod. Fellow William I am not as I haue beene I went from you a Smith I write to you as a Lord I am at this present writing among the Polonyan Casiges I do commend my Lordship to Raphe to Roger to Bridget to Doritie so to al the youth of Putuâ—y Gou. Sure these are the names of English Noblemen Some of his speciall friends to whom he writes But stay he doth adresse himselfe to sing Here he sings a song My Lord I am glad you are so frolick and so blithe Beleeue me noble Lord if you knew all You de change your merry vaine to sudden sorrow Hod. I change my merry vaine no thou Bononian no I am a Lord and therefore let me goe And doe defie thee and thy Sasigis Therefore stand off and come not neere my honor Gou. My Lord this iesting cannot serue your turne Hod. Doost thinke thou blacke Bononian beast That I doe floure doe gibe or iest No no thou Beare-pot know that I a noble Earle a Lord pardy Gou. What meanes this Trumpets sound A Trumpet sounds Enter a Messenger Câ—â— One come from the States of Mantua Gou. What would you with vs speake thou man of Mantua Mes Men of Bononia this my message is To let you know the Noble Earle of Bedford Is safe within the towne of Mantua And willes you send the pesant that you haue Who hath deceiued your expectation Or els the States of Mantua haue vowed They will recall the truce that they haue made And not a man shall stirre from forth your towne That shall returne vnlesse you send him backe Gou. O this misfortune how it mads my hart The Neopolitan hath beguiled vs all Hence with this foole what shall we doe with him The Earle being gone a plague vpon it all Hod. No I le assure you I am no Earle but a smith Sir One Hodge a smith at Putney sir One that hath gulled you that hath bored you sir Gou. Away with him take hence the foole you came for Hod. I sir and I le leaue the greater foole with you Mes Farewell Bononians come friend a long with me Hod. My friend afore my Lordship will follow thee Exit Gou. Well Mantua since by thee the Earle is lost Within few dayes I hope to see