1658Crom. Now, Cromwell, hast thou time to meditate,

1659And think upon thy state, and of the time:

1660Thy honours came unsought, I, and unlooked for,

1661They fall as sudden, and unlooked for too:

1662What glory was in England that I had not?

1663Who in this Land commanded more then Cromwell?

1664Except the King, who greater then my self?

1665But now I see what after ages shall,

1666The greater men, more sudden is their fall.

1667And now I doe remember, the Earl of Bedford

1668Was very desirous for to speak to me:

1669And afterward sent unto me a Letter,

1670The which I think I have still in my Pocket,

1671Now may I read it, for I now have leisure,

1673 My Lord, come not this night to Lambeth,

1674For if you doe, your state is overthrown.

1675And much I doubt your life, and if you come:

1676Then if you love your self, stay where you are.

1677O God, had I but read this Letter,

1678Then had I been free from the Lyons paw:

1679Deferring this to read untill to morrow,

1680I spurn'd at joy, and did embrace my sorrow.

1682Now, Master Lieutenant, when's this day of death?

1683Lieu. Alass, my Lord, would I might never see it:

1684Here are the Dukes of Suffolk and of Norfolk,

1685Winchester, Bedford, and Sir Richard Ratcliffe,

1686With others, but why they come I know not.

1687Crom. No matter wherefore, Cromwell is prepar'd,

1688For Gardiner has my life and state insnar'd:

1689Bid them come in, or you shall doe them wrong,

1690For here stands he, whom some thinks lives too long,

1691Learning kills Learning, and, instead of Ink

1692To dip his Pen, Cromwell's heart blood doth drink.

1694Norf. Good morrow, Cromwell, what, alone so sad?

1695Crom. One good among you, none of you are bad:

1696For my part, it best fits me be alone,

1697Sadnesse with me, not I with any one.

1698What, is the King acquainted with my cause?

1699Norf. We have, and he hath answered us, my Lord.

1700Crom. How shall I come to speak with him my self.

1701Gard. The King is so advertised of your guilt,

1702He will by no meanes admit you to his presence.

1703Crom. No way admit me, am I so soon forgot?

1704Did he but yesterday embrace my neck,

1705And said that Cromwell was even half himself,

1706And is his Princely eares so much bewitched

1707With scandalous ignominy, and slanderous speeches,

1708That now he doth deny to look on me?

1709Well, my Lord of Winchester, no doubt but you

1710Are much in favour with his Majesty,

1711Will you bear a Letter from me to his Grace?

1712Gar. Pardon me, I'le bear no Traitors Letters.

1713Crom. Ha, will you doe this kindesse then?

1714Tell him by word of mouth what I shall say to you.

1715Gard. That will I.

1716Crom. But on your honour will you?

1717Gar. I, on my honour.

1718Crom. Bear witnesse, Lords.

1719Tell him, when he hath known you,

1720And try'd your faith but half so much as mine,

1721He'll find you to be the falsest hearted man

1722In England: Pray tell him this.

1723Bed. Be patient, good my Lord, in these extremities.

1724Crom. My kind and honourable Lord of Bedford,

1725I know your honour alwayes lov'd me well,

1726But, pardon me, this still shall be my theam,

1727Gardiner is the cause makes Cromwell so extream:

1728Sir Ralph Sadler, pray a word with you;

1729You were my man, and all that you possess

1730Came by my means, to requite all this,

1731Will you take this Letter here of me,

1732And give it with your own hands to the King.

1733Sad. I kiss your hand, and never will I rest,

1735Crom. Why yet Cromwell hath one Friend in store.

1736Gard. But all the haste he makes shall be but vain;

1737Here's a discharge for your Prisoner,

1738To see him executed presently:

1739My Lord, you heare the tenor of your life.

1740Crom. I do embrace it, welcome my last date,

1741And of this glistering world I take last leave;

1742And, Noble Lords, I take my leave of you:

1743As willingly I go to meet with death,

1744As Gardiner did pronounce it with his breath;

1745From Treason is my heart as white as Snow,

1746My death onely procured by my Foe:

1747I pray commend me to my Soveraign King,

1748And tell him in what sort his Cromwell dy'd,

1749To loose his head before his cause was try'd:

1750But let his Grace, when he shall hear my name,

1751Say onely this, Gardiner procur'd the same.

1753Liev. Here is your Son come to take his leave.

1754Crom. To take his leave?

1755Come hither, Harry Cromwell;

1756Mark, Boy, the last words that I speak to thee;

1757Flatter not Fortune, neither fawn upon her;

1758Gape not for state, yet lose no spark of honour;

1759Ambition, like the plague see thou eschew it;

1760I die for Treason, Boy, and never knew it;

1761Yet let thy faith as spotless be as mine,

1762And Cromwell's virtues in thy face shall shine:

1763Come, go along and see me leave my breath,

1764And I'le leave thee upon the floor of death.

1765Son. O father, I shall die to see that wound,

1766Your bloud being spilt will make my heart to sound.

1767Crom. How, Boy, not look upon the Axe?

1768How shall I do then to have my head strook off?

1769Come on, my child, and see the end of all,

1770And after say that Gardiner was my fall.

1771Gard. My Lord, you speak it of an envious heart,

1772I have done no more then Law and equity.

1773Bed. O, my good Lord of Winchester, forbear;

1774It would better seemed you to been absent,

1775Then with your words disturb a dying man.

1776Crom. Who me, my Lord? no: he disturbs not me,

1777My mind he stirres not, though his mighty shock

1778Hath brought moe Peers heads down to the block.

1779Farewell, my Boy, all Cromwell can bequeath,

1780My hearty blessing, so I take my leave.

1781Hang. I am your death's-man, pray my Lord forgive me.

1782Cro. Even with my soul, why man thou art my Doctor,

1783And bring'st me precious Physick for my Soul;

1784My Lord of Bedford, I desire of you,

1785Before my death a corporal embrace.

1787Farewell, great Lord, my love I do commend:

1788My heart to you, my soul to heaven I send;

1789This is my joy, that e're my body fleet,

1790Your honour'd armes is my true winding-sheet;

1791Farewell, dear Bedford, my peace is made in heaven;

1792Thus falls great Cromwell a poor ell in length,

1793To rise to unmeasur'd height, winged with new strength.

1794The land of Wormes, which dying men discover.

1795My soul is shrin'd with heaven's celestial cover.

1797Bed. Well, farewell Cromwell, the truest friend

1798That ever Bedford shall possess again,

1799Well, Lords, I fear when this man is dead,

1800You'll wish in vain that Cromwell had a head.

1802Offi. Here is the head of the deceased Cromwell.

1803Bed. Pray thee go hence, and bear his head away,

1804Unto his body, interre them both in clay.

1806Sad. How now my Lords, what is Lord Cromwell dead?

1807Bed. Lord Cromwell's body now doth want a head.

1808Sad. O God, a little speed had sav'd his life,

1809Here is a kind Reprieve come from the King,

1810To bring him straight unto his Majesty.

1811Suff. I, I, sir Ralph, Reprieves come now too late.

1812Gar. My conscience now tells me this deed was ill,

1813Would Christ that Cromwell were alive again.

1814Nor. Come let us to the King, whom well I know,

1815Will grieve for Cromwell, that his death was so.