1351In each of them there is four hundred Marke,

1352And bring to me the names of all your debtors,

1353And if they will not see you paid, I will.

1354O God forbid, that I should see him fall,

1355That helpt me in my greatest need of all.

1356Here stands my Father that first gave me life,

1357Alass, what duty is too much for him?

1358This man in time of need did save my life,

1359And therefore cannot doe too much for him.

1360By this old man I oftentimes was fed,

1361Else might I have gone supperlesse to bed.

1362Such kindnesse have I had of these three men,

1363That Cromwell no way can repay agen.

1364Now in to dinner, for we stay too long,

1365And to good stomacks is no greater wrong.

1368Gard. Sirrah, where be those men I caus'd to stay?

1369Ser. They do attend your pleasure, Sir, within.

1370Gard. Bid them come hither, and stay you without,

1371For by those men the Fox of this same land,

1372That makes a Goose of better then himself,

1373Must worried be unto his latest home,

1374Or Gardiner will fail in his intent.

1375As for the Dukes of Suffolk and of Norfolk,

1376Whom I have sent for to come speak with me;

1377Howsoever outwardly they shadow it,

1378Yet in their hearts I know they love him not;

1379As for the Earl of Bedford, he is but one,

1380And dares not gain-say what we do set down.

1382Now, my friends, you know I sav'd your lives,

1383When by the Law you had deserved death;

1384And then you promised me upon your Oathes,

1385To venture both your lives to do me good.

1386Both Wit. We swore no more then that we will per-

1387 form.

1388Gard. I take your words, and that which you must do,

1389Is service for your God, and for your King;

1390To root a Rebell from this flourishing Land,

1391One that's an enemy unto the Church:

1392And therefore must you take your solemn Oathes,

1393That you heard Cromwell, the Lord Chancellor,

1394Did wish a Dagger at King Henrie's Heart:

1395Fear not to swear it, for I heard him speak it;

1396Therefore we'll shield you from ensuing harmes.

13972. Wit. If you will warrant us the deed is good,

1398We'll undertake it.

1399Gard. Kneel down, and I will here absolve you both;

1400This Crucifix I lay upon your heads,

1401And sprinckle Holy-water on your browes:

1402The deed is meritorious that you do,

1403And by it shall you purchase Grace from Heaven.

14041. Now sir we'll undertake it, by our Soules.

14052. For Cromwell never loved none of our sort.

1406Gard. I know he doth not, and for both of you,

1407I will prefer you to some place of worth;

1408Now get you in, until I call for you,

1410Cromwell, sit fast, thy time's not long to reign;

1411The Abbies that were pul'd down by thy means,

1412Is now a mean for me to pull thee down:

1413Thy pride also thy own head lights upon,

1414For thou art he hath chang'd Religion:

1415But now no more, for here the Dukes are come.

1417Suff. Good even to my Lord Bishop.

1418Nor. How fares my Lord? what, are you all alone?

1419Gard. No, not alone, my Lords, my mind is troubled:

1420I know your honours muse wherefore I sent,

1421And in such haste: What came you from the King?

1422Norf. We did, and left none but Lord Cromwell with

1423 him.

1424Gard. O what a dangerous time is this we live in?

1425There's Thomas Wolsey, he's already gone,

1426And Thomas Moor, he followed after him:

1427Another Thomas yet there doth remain,

1428That is far worse then either of those twain;

1429And if with speed, my Lords, we not pursue it,

1430I fear the King and all the Land will rue it.

1431Bed. Another Thomas? pray God it be not Cromwell.

1432Gard. My Lord of Bedford, it is that Traitor Cromwell.

1433Bed. Is Cromwell false? my heart will never think it.

1434Suff. My Lord or Winchester, what likelihood,

1435Or proof have you of this his treachery.

1436Gard. My Lord, too much, call in the men within;

1438These men, my Lord, upon their Oathes affirm,

1439That they did hear Lord Cromwell in his Garden,

1440Wished a Dagger sticking at the Heart

1441Of our King Henry, what is this but Treason?

1442Bed. If it be so, my heart doth bleed with sorrow.

14441. Wit. We did, an't like your grace.

1445Norf. In what place was Lord Cromwell when he

1446 spake them?

14472. Wit. In his Garden; where we did attend a suite,

1448Which we had waited for two yeares and more.

14502. Wit. Some half a year since.

1451Bed. How chance that you conceal'd it all this time?

14521. Wit. His Greatness made us fear, that was the cause.

1453Gard. I, I, his Greatness, that's the cause indeed;

1454And to make his Treason here more manifest,

1455He calls his servants to him round about,

1456Tells them of Wolsey's life, and of his fall,

1457Sayes that himself hath many enemies,

1458And gives to some of them a Park, or Mannor,

1459To others Leases, Lands to other some:

1460What need he do this in his prime of life,

1461An if he were not fearfull of his death?

1462Suff. My Lord, these likelihoods are very great.

1463Bed. Pardon me, Lords, for I must needs depart;

1464Their proofs are great, but greater is my heart.

1466Norf. My friends, take heed of that which you have

1467 said;

1468Your soules must answer what your tongues report:

1469Therefore take heed, be wary what you do.

14702. Wit. My Lord, we speak no more but truth.

1471Norf. Let them depart, my Lord of Winchester;

1472Let these men be close kept

1473Until the day of tryal.

1474Gard. They shall, my Lord; ho, take in these two men.

1476My Lords, if Cromwell have a publick Tryal,

1477That which we do, is void, by his denial;