How does your grace?

O Griffith, sick to death.

4.2.42553My legs like loaden branches bow to'th'earth,

4.2.52554Willing to leave their burthen. Reach a chair.

4.2.62555So now, methinks, I feel a little ease.

4.2.72556Did'st thou not tell me, Griffith, as thou lead'st me,

4.2.82557That the great child of honor, Cardinal Wolsey,

4.2.92558Was dead?

Yes, madam, but I thank your grace,

4.2.112560Out of the pain you suffered, gave no ear to't.

Prithee good Griffith, tell me how he died.

4.2.132562If well, he stepped before me happily

4.2.142563For my example.

Well, the voice goes, Madam,

4.2.162565For after the stout Earl Northumberland

4.2.172566Arrested him at York and brought him forward

4.2.182567As a man sorely tainted to his answer,

4.2.192568He fell sick suddenly and grew so ill

4.2.202569He could not sit his mule.

Alas, poor man.

At last, with easy roads he came to Leicester,

4.2.232572Lodged in the abbey, where the reverend abbot,

4.2.242573With all his covent, honorably received him.

4.2.252574To whom he gave these words: "O father Abbot,

4.2.262575An old man, broken with the storms of state,

4.2.272576Is come to lay his weary bones among ye.

4.2.282577Give him a little earth for charity."

4.2.292578So went to bed, where eagerly his sickness

4.2.302579Pursued him still, and three nights after this,

4.2.312580About the hour of eight (which he himself

4.2.322581Foretold should be his last, full of Repentance,

4.2.332582Continual meditations, tears, and sorrows,

4.2.342583He gaue his honors to the world again,

4.2.352584His blessed part to heaven, and slept in peace.

So may he rest;

4.2.372586His faults lie gently on him.

4.2.382587Yet thus far, Griffith, give me leave to speak him

4.2.392588And yet with charity. He was a man

4.2.402589Of an unbounded stomach, ever ranking

4.2.412590Himself with princes. One that, by suggestion,

4.2.422591Tied all the kingdom. Symony was fair play;

4.2.432592His own opinion was his law. I'th'presence

4.2.442593He would say untruths and be ever double,

4.2.452594Both in his words and meaning. He was never

4.2.462595(But where he meant to ruin) pitiful.

4.2.472596His promises were, as he then was, mighty.

4.2.482597But his performance, as he is now, nothing.

4.2.492598Of his own body he was ill and gave

4.2.502599The clergy ill example.

Noble Madam:

4.2.522601Mens evil manners live in brass, their virtues

4.2.532602We write in water. May it please your highness

4.2.542603To hear me speake his good now?

Yes, good Griffith:

4.2.562605I were malicious else.

This cardinal,

4.2.582607Though from an humble stock, undoubtedly

4.2.592608Was fashioned to much honor. From his cradle

4.2.602609He was a scholar, and a ripe and good one:

4.2.612610Exceeding wise, fair spoken, and persuading;

4.2.622611Lofty and sour to them that loved him not,

4.2.632612But to those men that sought him, sweet as summer.

4.2.642613And though he were unsatisfied in getting

4.2.652614(Which was a sin), yet in bestowing, madam,

4.2.662615He was most princely. Ever witness for him

4.2.672616Those twins of learning that he raised in you,

4.2.682617Ipswich and Oxford, one of which fell with him,

4.2.692618Unwilling to out live the good that did it.

4.2.702619The other (though unfinished), yet so famous,

4.2.712620So excellent in art, and still so rising

4.2.722621That Christendom shall ever speak his virtue.

4.2.732622His overthrow heaped happiness upon him.

4.2.742623For then, and not till then, he felt himself

4.2.752624And found the blessedness of being little.

4.2.762625And to add greater honors to his age

4.2.772626Than man could give him he died fearing God.

After my death I wish no other herald,

4.2.792628No other speaker of my living actions,

4.2.802629To keep mine honor from corruption,

4.2.812630But such an honest chronicler as Griffith.

4.2.822631Whom I most hated living, thou hast made me

4.2.832632With thy religious truth and modesty

4.2.842633(Now in his Ashes), honor. Peace be with him.

4.2.852634Patience, be near me still, and set me lower.

4.2.862635I have not long to trouble thee. Good Griffith,

4.2.872636Cause the musicians play me that sad note

4.2.882637I named my knell, whilst I sit meditating

4.2.892638On that celestial harmony I go to.

She is asleep. Good wench, let's sit down quiet,

4.2.912641For fear we wake her. Softly, gentle Patience.

Spirits of peace, where are ye? Are ye all gone

4.2.932659And leave me here in wretchedness behind ye?

Madam, we are here.

It is not you I call for,

4.2.962662Saw ye none enter since I slept?

None, madam.

No? Saw you not even now a blessed troupe

4.2.992665Invite me to a banquet, whose bright faces

4.2.1002666Cast thousand beams upon me like the sun?

4.2.1012667They promised me eternal happiness,

4.2.1022668And brought me garlands, Griffith, which I feel

4.2.1032669I am not worthy yet to weare: I shall assuredly.

I am most joyful, madam, such good dreams

4.2.1052671Possess your fancy.

Bid the music leave.

2673They are harsh and heavy to me.

Do you note

4.2.1082675How much her grace is altered on the sudden?

4.2.1092676How long her face is drawn; how pale she looks,

4.2.1102677And of an earthy cold. Mark her eyes.

She is going, wench. Pray, pray.

Hea en comfort her.

And't like your grace ...

You are a saucy fellow.

4.2.1152683Deserve we no more reverence?

You are too blame,

4.2.1172685Knowing she will not lose her wonted greatness,

4.2.1182686To use so rude behavior. Go to, kneel.

I humbly do entreat your highness's pardon.

4.2.1202688My haste made me unmannerly. There is staying

4.2.1212689A gentleman sent from the king to see you.

Admit him entrance, Griffith. But this fellow

2691Let me ne'er see again.

4.2.1232693If my sight fail not,

4.2.1242694You should be lord ambassador from the emperor

4.2.1252695My royal nephew, and your name Capuchius.

Madam, the same. Your servant.

O, my lord,

4.2.1282698The times and titles now are altered strangely

4.2.1292699With me since first you knew me.

4.2.1302700But I pray you,

4.2.1312701What is your pleasure with me?

Noble lady,

4.2.1332703First mine own service to your grace; the next

4.2.1342704The king's request, that I would visit you,

4.2.1352705Who grieves much for your weakness, and by me

4.2.1362706Sends you his princely commendations,

4.2.1372707And heartily entreats you take good comfort.

O my good lord, that comfort comes too late.

4.2.1392709'Tis like a pardon after execution.

4.2.1402710That gentle physic, given in time, had cured me.

4.2.1412711But now I am past all comforts here but prayers.

4.2.1422712How does his highness?

Madam, in good health.

So may he ever do, and ever flourish

4.2.1452715When I shall dwell with worm and my poor name

4.2.1462716Banished the kingdom. Patience, is that letter

4.2.1472717I caused you write yet sent away?

No, madam.

Sir, I most humbly pray you to deliver

4.2.1502720This to my lord the king.

Most willing, madam.

In which I have commended to his goodness

4.2.1532723The model of our chaste loves: his young daughter.

4.2.1542724The dews of heaven fall thick in blessings on her,

4.2.1552725Beseeching him to give her virtuous breeding.

4.2.1562726She is young and of a noble modest nature.

4.2.1572727I hope she will deserve well, and a little

4.2.1582728To love her for her mother's sake, that loved him,

4.2.1592729Heaven knows how dearly.

4.2.1602730My next poor petition

4.2.1612731Is that his noble grace would have some pity

4.2.1622732Upon my wretched women, that so long

4.2.1632733Have followed both my fortunes faithfully,

4.2.1642734Of which there is not one I dare avow

4.2.1652735(And now I should not lie), but will deserve

4.2.1662736For virtue and true beauty of the soul,

4.2.1672737For honesty and decent carriage,

4.2.1682738A right good husband. Let him be a noble,

4.2.1692739And sure those men are happy that shall have 'em.

4.2.1702740The last is for my men: they are the poorest

4.2.1712741(But poverty could never draw 'em from me),

4.2.1722742That they may have their wages duly paid 'em,

4.2.1732743And something over to remember me by.

4.2.1742744If Heaven had pleased to have given me longer life

4.2.1752745And able means we had not parted thus.

4.2.1762746These are the whole contents and good my lord,

4.2.1772747By that you love the dearest in this world,

4.2.1782748As you wish Christian peace to souls departed,

4.2.1792749Stand these poor peoples' friend and urge the king

4.2.1802750To do me this last right.

By heaven I will,

4.2.1822752Or let me lose the fashion of a man.

I thank you, honest lord. Remember me

4.2.1842754In all humility unto his highness.

4.2.1852755Say his long trouble now is passing

4.2.1862756Out of this world. Tell him in death I blessed him,

4.2.1872757For so I will. Mine eyes grow dim. Farewell,

4.2.1882758My lord. Griffith, farewell. Nay, Patience,

4.2.1892759You must not leave me yet. I must to bed.

4.2.1902760Call in more women. When I am dead, good wench,

4.2.1912761Let me be used with honor. Strew me over

4.2.1922762With maiden flowers, that all the world may know

4.2.1932763I was a chaste wife to my grave. Embalm me

4.2.1942764Then lay me forth, although unqueened, yet like

4.2.1952765A queen and daughter to a king inter me.

4.2.1962766I can no more.