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
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
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
another well would I could I finde my Maister Thomas in this Dutch Towne he might put some English Beare into my belly Crom. What Hodge my fathers man by my hand welcome How doth my father what 's the newes at home Hod. Maister Thomas O God Maister Thomas your hand gloue and all this is to giue you to vnderstanding that your father is in health and Alice Downing here hath sent you a Nutmeg and Besse Make water a race of Ginger my fellow Will and Tom hath betweene them sent you a dozen of points and goodman Tolle of the Goate a paire of mittons my selfe came in person and this is all the newes Crom. Gramarsie good Hodge and thou art welcome to me But in as ill a time thou commest as may be For I am trauelling into Italy What saist thou Hodge wilt thou beare me company Hodge Will I beare thee company Tom what tell'st me of Italy were it to the furthest part of Flanders I would goe with thee Tom I am thine in all weale and woe thy owne to commaund what Tom I haue passed the rigorous waues of Neptunes blastes I tell you Thomas I haue beene in the danger of the flouds and when I haue seene Boreas beginne to play the Ruffin with vs then would I downe a my knees and call vpon Vulcan Crom. And why vpon him Hod. Because as this same fellow Neptune is God of the Seas so Vulcan is LORD ouer the Smiths and therefore I being a Smith thought his Godhead would haue some care yet of me Crom. A good conceit but tell me hast thou din'd yet Hod. Thomas to speake the truth not a bit yet I. Crom. Come goe with me thou shalt haue cheere good store And farewell Antwarpe if I come no more Hodg. I follow thee sweet Tom I follow thee Exit ambâ— Enter the Gouernour of the English house Bagot Banister his wife and two officers Gouer. Is Cromwell gone then say you Maister Bagot What dislike I pray what was the cause Bag. To tell you true a wilde braine of his owne Such youth as they cannot see when they are well He is all bent to trauaile that 's his reason And doth not loue to eate his bread at home Gou. Well good fortune with him if the man be gone We hardly shall finde such a one as he To fit our turnes his dealings were so honest But now sir for your Iewels that I haue What doe you say what will you take my prise Bag. O sir you offer too much vnderfoote Gou. T is but two hundred pound betweene vs man What 's that in paiment of fiue thousand pound Bag. Two hundred pound birladie sir t is great Before I got so much it made me sweat Gou. Well Maister Bagot I le proffer you fairely You see this Marchant Maister Banister Is going now to prison at your sute His substance all is gone what would you haue Yet in regarde I knew the man of wealth Neuer dishonest dealing but such mishaps Hath falne on him may light on me or you There is two hundred pound betweene vs We will diuide the same I le giue you one On that condition you will set him free His state is nothing that you see your selfe And where naught is the King must lose his right Bag. Sir sir you speake out of your loue T is foolish loue sir sure to pittie him Therefore content your selfe this is my minde To doe him good I will not bate a penie Ban. This is my comfort though thou dost no good A mighty ebbe followes a mighty floud Mi. Ba. O thou base wretch whom we haue fostered Euen as a Serpent for to poyson vs If God did euer right a womans wrong To that same God I bend and bow my heart To let his heany wrath fall on thy head By whom my hopes and ioyes are butchered Bag. Alas fond woman I prethee pray thy worst The Fox fares better still when he is curst Enter Maister Bowser a Marchant Gou. Maister Bowser your welcome sir from England What 's the best newes How doth all our friends Bow They are all well and doe commend them to you There 's letters from your brother and your sonne So faire you well sir I must take my leaue My hast and businesse doth require so Gou. Before you dine sir what goe you out of towne Bow I faith vnlesse I here some newes in towne I must away there is no remedy Gou. Maister Bowser what is your busines may I know it You may sir and so shall all the Citie Bow The King of late hath had his treasury rob'd And of the choysest iewels that he had The value of them was seauen thousand pounds The fellow that did steale these iewels is hanged And did confesse that for three hundred pound He sould them to one Bagor dwelling in London Now Bagot's fled and as we here to Antwarpe And hether am I come to seeke him out And they that first can tell me of his newes Shall haue a hundred pound for their reward Ban. How iust is God to right the innocent Gou. Maister Bowser you come in happy time Here is the villaine Bagot that you seeke And all those iewels haue I in my hands Officers looke to him hould him fast Bag. The diuell ought me a shame and now hath paid it Bow Is this that Bagot fellowes beare him hence We will not now stand for his reply Lade him with Yrons wee will haue him tride In England where his villanies are knowne Bag. Mischiefe confusion light vpon you all O hang me drowne me let me kill my selfe Let goe my armes let me run quick to hell Bow Away beare him away stop the slaues mouth They carry him away Mi. Ba. Thy workes are infinite great God of heauen Gou. I hard this Bagot was a wealthy fellow Bow He was indeed for when his goods were zeased Of Iewels coyne and Plate within his house Was found the value of fiue thousand pound His furniture fully worth halfe so much Which being all strainde for the King He franckly gaue it to the Antwarpe Marchants And they againe out of their bounteous minde Hath to a brother of their company A man decaid by fortune of the Seas Giuen Bagots wealth to set him vp againe And keepe it for him his name is Banister Gou. Maister Bowser with this happy newes You haue reuiued two from the gates of death This is that Banister and this his wife Bow Sir I am glad my fortune is so good To bring such tidings as may comfort you Ban. You haue giuen life vnto a man deemd dead For by these newes my life is newly bred Mi. Ba. Thankes to my God next to my Soueraigne King And last to you that these good newes doe bring Gou. The hundred pound I must receiue as due For finding Bagot I freely giue to you Bow And Maister Banister if so you please I le beare you company when you crosse the Seas Ban. If it
fat of all the Land and sucke the poore Looke what was theirs is in King Henries hands His wealth before lay in the Abby lands Gard. Indeede these things you haue aledg'd my Lord When God doth know the infant yet vnborne Will curse the time the Abbies were puld downe I pray now where is hospitality Where now may poore distressed people goe For to releeue their neede or rest their bones When weary trauell doth oppresse their limmes And where religious men should take them in Shall now be kept backe with a Mastiue dogge And thousand thousand Nor O my Lord no more things past redresse T is bootelesse to complaine Crom. What shall we to the Conuocation house Nor. Wee le follow you my Lord pray leade the way Enter Old Cromwell like a Former Old Cro. How one Cromwell made Lord keeper since I left Putney And dwelt in Yorkeshire I neuer hard better newes I le see that Cromwell or it shall goe hard Crom. My aged father state set aside Father on my knee I craue your blessing One of my seruants goe and haue him in At better leasure will we talke with him Old Crow Now if I die how happy were the day To see this comfort raines forth showers of ioy Exit Old Cromwell Nor. This dutie in him showes a kinde of grace Crom. Goe on before for time drawes on apace Exit all but Friskiball Fris I wonder what this Lord would haue with me His man so strictly gaue me charge to stay I neuer did offend him to my knowledge Well good or bad I meane to bide it all Worse then I am now neuer can befall Enter Banister and his wife Ba. Come wiâ—e I take it be almost dinner time For Maister Newton and Maister Crosbie sent to me Last might they would come dine with me And take their bond in I pray thee hie thee home And see that all things be in readinesse Mi. Ba. They shal be welcome husband I le goe before But is not that man Maister Friskiball She runnes and imbraces him Ba. O heauens it is kinde Maister Friskiball Say sir what hap hath brought you to this passe Fris The same that brought you to your misery Ba. Why would you not acquaint me with your state Is Banister your poore friend forgot Whose goods whose loue whose life and all is yours Fris I thought your vsage would be as the rest That had more kindnesse at my hands then you Yet looked ascance when as they saw me poore Mi. Ba. If Banister should beare so base a hart I neuer would looke my husband in the face But hath him as I would a Cockatrise Ba. And well thou mightest should Banister deale so Since that I saw you sir my state is mended And for the thousand pound I owe to you I haue it ready for you sir at home And though I greeue your fortune is so bad Yet that my hap's to help you makes me glad And now sir will it please you walke with me Fris Not yet I cannot for the Lord Chancelour Hath here commaunded me to waight on him For what I know not pray God it be for good Ba. Neuer make doubt of that I le warrant you He is as kinde a noble gentleman As euer did possesse the place he hath Mi. Ba. Sir my brother is his steward if you please Wea le goe along and beare you company I know we shall not want for welcome there Fris Withall my hart but what 's become of Bagot Ba. He is hanged for buying iewels of the Kings Fris A iust reward for one so impious The time drawes on sir will you goe along Ba I le follow you kinde Maister Friskiball Exit Omnes Enter two Marchants 1. Now Maister Crosbie I see you haue a care To keepe your word in paiment of your mony 2. By my faith I haue reason vpon a bond Three thousand pound is too much to forfet Yet I doubt not Maister Banister 1. By my faith your summe is more then mine And yet I am not much behinde you too Considering that to day I paid at Court 2. Masse and well remembred What 's the reason the Lord Cromwels men Weare such long skirts vpon their coates They reach downe to their very ham 1. I will resolue you sir and thus it is The Bishop of Winchester that loues not Cromwell As great men are enuied aswell as lesse A while agoe there was a iarre betweene them And it was brought to my Lord Cromwels eare That Bishop Gardiner would sit on his skirts Vpon which word he made his men long Blew coates And in the Court wore one of them himselfe And meeting with the Bishop quoth he my Lord Here 's skirt enough now for your Grace to sit on Which vexed the Bishop to the very hart This is the reason why they weare long coates 2. T is alwaies seene and marke it for a rule That one great man will enuie still another But t is a thing that nothing concernes me What shall we now to Maister Banisters 1. I come wee le pay him royally for our dinner Exit Enter the Vsher and the Shewer the meate goes ouer the Stage Vsher Vncouer there Gentlemen Enter Cromwell Bedford Suffolke Old Cromwell Friskiball good-man Seely and attendants Crom. My noble Lords of Suffolke and of Bedford Your honors welcome to poore Cromwels house Where is my father nay be couered Father Although that duty to these noble men doth challenge it Yet I le make bolde with them Your head doth beare the calender of care What Cromwell couered and his Father bare It must not be Now sit to you Is not your name Friskiball and a Florentine Fris. My name was Friskiball till cruell fate Did rob me of my name and of state Crom. What fortune brought you to this countrie now Fris. All other parts hath left me succourlesse Saue onely this because of debts I haue I hope to gaine for to releeue my want Crom. Did you not once vpon your Florence bridge Helpe a distressed men robd by the Bandetto His name was Cromwell Fris. I neuer made my braine a calender of any good I did I alwaies lou'd this nation with my heart Crom. I am that Cromwell that you there releeu'd Sixteene Duckets you gaue me for to cloath me Sixteene to beare my charges by the way And sixteene more I had for my horse hier There be those seuerall summes iustly return'd Yet it iniustice were that seruing at thy need For to repay them without interest Therefore receiue of me these foure seuerall bagâ— In each of them there is foure hundred marke And bring to me the names of all your debtors And if they will not see you paide I will O God forbid that I should see him fall That helpâ— me in my greatest need of all Here stands my Father that first gaue me life Alas what dutie is too much for him This man in time of need did saue my life And therefore cannot doe too
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