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  • Title: Thomas Lord Cromwell (Folio 3, 1664)

    • Copyright Digital Renaissance Editions. This text may be freely used for educational, non-profit purposes; for all other uses contact the Editor.
    Authors: Anonymous, William Shakespeare
    Not Peer Reviewed

    Thomas Lord Cromwell (Folio 3, 1664)

    27
    of the Lord Cromwell.
    And dwelt in York-shire? I never heard better newes:
    I'le see that Cromwell, or it shall go hard.
    Crom.My aged Father! state set aside:
    Father, on my knee I crave your blessing:
    1230One of my Servants go and have him in,
    At better leisure will we talk with him.
    Old Crom. Now if I die, how happy were the day,
    To see this comfort rains forth showers of joy.
    Exit old Cromwell.
    1235Nor. This duty in him showes a kind of grace.
    Crom. Go on before, for time drawes on a pace.
    Exeunt all but Friskiball.
    Fris. I wonder what this Lord would have with me,
    His man so strictly gave me charge to stay:
    1240I never did offend him to my knowledge:
    Well, good or bad, I mean to bide it all,
    Worse then I am, now never can befall.

    Enter Banister and his Wife.
    Ba. Come, Wife, I take it be almost dinner time,
    1245For Mr. Newton, and Mr. Crosbie sent to me
    Last night, 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 shall be welcome, Husband, I'le go(before
    1250But is not that man Master Friskiball?
    She runs and embraces him.
    Ba. O heavens! it is kind Master Friskiball:
    Say, sir, what hap hath brought you to this passe?
    Fris. The same that brought you to your misery.
    1255Ba. Why would you not acquaint me with your state?
    Is Banister your poor friend forgot?
    Whose goods, whose love, whose life and all is yours.
    Fris. I thought your usage would be as the rest,
    That had more kindnesse at my hands then you,
    1260Yet look'd ascance when as they saw me poor.
    Mi. Ba. If Banister should bear so base a heart,
    I never would look my husband in the face,
    But hate him as I would a Cockatrice.
    Ba. And well thou mightest, should Banister deal so,
    1265Since that I saw you, sir, my state is mended:
    And for the thousand pound I owe to you,
    I have it ready for you, sir, at home:
    And though I grieve your fortune is so bad:
    Yet that my hap's to help you makes me glad:
    1270And now, sir, will it please you walk with me.
    Fris. Not yet I cannot, for the Lord Chancellor,
    Hath here commanded me to wait on him,
    For what I know not, pray God it be for good.
    Ba. Never make doubt of that, I'le warrant you,
    1275He is as kind a noble Gentleman,
    As ever did possesse the place he hath.
    Mi. Ba. Sir, my Brother is his Steward, if you please,
    We'll go along and bear you company:
    I know we shall not want for welcome there?
    1280Fris. Withall my heart: but what's become of Bagot?
    Ba. He is hanged for buying Jewels of the Kings.
    Fris. A just reward for one so impious,
    The time drawes on, sir, will you go along.
    Ba. I'le follow you, kind Master Friskiball.
    1285Exeunt omnes.

    Enter two Merchants.

    1. Now, Master Crosbie, I see you have a care
    To keep your word, in payment of your money.
    2. By my faith I have reason upon a Bond,
    1290Three thousand pounds is too much to forfeit,
    Yet I doubt not, Master Banister.
    1. By my faith your summe is more then mine,
    And yet I am not much behind you too,
    Considering that to day I paid at Court.
    12952. Masse, and well remembred:
    What's the reason the Lord Cromwell's men
    Wear such long Skirts upon their Coats?
    They reach down to their very Hams.
    1. I will resolve you, sir, and thus it is;
    1300The Bishop of Winchester, that loves not Cromwell,
    As great men are envied as well as lesse,
    A while a go there was a jar between them,
    And it was brought to my Lord Cromwell's ear,
    That Bishop Gardiner would sit on his Skirts,
    1305Upon which word he made his men long blew Coats,
    And in the Court wore one of them himself:
    And meeting with the Bishop, quoth he, my Lord,
    Here's Skirts enough now for your Grace to sit on:
    Which vexed the Bishop to the very heart;
    1310This is the reason why they wear long Coats.
    2. 'Tis alwayes seen, and mark it for a rule,
    That one great man will envy still another:
    But 'tis a thing that nothing concerns me:
    What, shall we now to Master Banister's?
    13151. I, come, we'll pay him royally for our dinner.Ex.

    Enter the Usher and the Shewer, the meat goes
    over the Stage.

    Usher. Uncover there, Gentlemen.

    Enter Cromwell, Bedford, Suffolk, Old Cromwell,
    1320Friskiball, good-man Seely, and attendants.

    Crom. My noble Lords of Suffolk and Bedford,
    Your Honours welcome to poor Cromwell's house:
    Where is my Father? nay, be covered Father,
    Although that duty to these noble men doth challenge it,
    1325Yet I'le make bold with them.
    Your head doth bear the calender of care:
    What? Cromwell covered, and his Father bare?
    It must not be. Now, sir, to you;
    Is not your name Friskiball? and a Florentine.
    1330Fris. My name was Friskiball, till cruell fate,
    Did rob me of my name, and of my state.
    Crom. What fortune brought you to this Countrey
    now?
    Fris. All other parts hath left me succourlesse,
    1335Save onely this, because of debts I have
    I hope to gain, for to relieve my want.
    Crom. Did you not once upon your Florence bridge,
    Help a distressed man, robb'd by the Bandetti,
    His name was Cromwell?
    1340Fris. I never made my brain a Calender of any
    good I did,
    I alwayes lov'd this nation with my heart.
    Crom. I am that Cromwell that you there reliev'd,
    Sixteen Duckets you gave me for to cloath me,
    1345Sixteen to bear my charges by the way,
    And sixteen more I had for my Horse hire,
    There be those severall summes justly return'd:
    Yet it injustice were, that serving at my need,
    For to repay them without interest:
    1350Therefore receive of me these four severall Bags;
    In
    ****2
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