And from the dunghill minions do advance
To state and mark in this admiring world.
This is but course, which in the name of fate
Is seen as often as it whirls about.

The river Thames, that by our door doth pass,
His first beginning is but small and shallow;
Yet, keeping on his course, grows to a sea.
And likewise Wolsey, the wonder of our age,
His birth as mean as mine, a butcher's son;
Now who within this land a greater man?
Then, Cromwell, cheer thee up, and tell thy soul,
That thou may'st live to flourish and controul.

Enter Old CROMWELL.

SCENE III.-London. A Street before FE COBALD'S House.

Enter BAGOT.

Bag. I hope this day is fatal unto some, And by their loss must Bagot seek to gain. This is the lodging of master Frescobald," A liberal merchant, and a Florentine; To whom Banister owes a thousand pound, A merchant-bankrupt, whose father was my m

ter.

What do I care for pity or regard?

He once was wealthy, but he now is fallen; And I this morning have got him arrested

Enter Bowser.

Bow. Now, master Cromwell, have you dispatched this petition?

Crom. I have, sir; here it is: please you peruse it.

Bow. It shall not need; we'll read it as we go
by water.

And, master Cromwell, I have made a motion
May do you good, and if you like of it.
Our secretary at Antwerp, sir, is dead;
And the merchants there have sent to me,
For to provide a man fit for the place:
Now I do know none fitter than yourself,
If with your liking it stand, master Cromwell.
Crom. With all my heart, sir; and I much am
bound

In love and duty, for your kindness shown.

Old Crom. Body of me, Tom, make haste, lest some body get between thee and home, Tom. I thank you, good master Bowser, I thank you for my boy; I thank you always, I thank you most heartily, sir: ho, a cup of beer here for master Bowser.

Bow. It shall not need, sir.-Master Cromwell, will you go?

Crom. I will attend you, sir.

Old Crom. Farewell, Tom: God bless thee, Tom! God speed thee, good Tom! [Exeunt.

And by this means shall I be sure of coin,
For doing this same good to him unknown:
And in good time, see where the merchant come
Enter FRESCOBALD.

Good morrow to kind master Frescobald.

Fres. Good morrow to yourself, good master

Bagot.

And what's the news, you are so early stirring? It is for gain, I make no doubt of that.

Bag. 'Tis for the love, sir, that I bear to you. When did you see your debtor Banister?

Fres. I promise you, I have not seen the man
This two months day: his poverty is such,
As I do think he shames to see his friends.
Bag. Why then assure yourself to see him
straight,

For at your suit I have arrested him,
And here they will be with him presently.

Fres. Arrest him at my suit? you were to blame.
I know the man's misfortunes to be such,
As he's not able for to pay the debt;
And were it known to some, he were undone.
Bug. This is your pitiful heart to think it so;
But you are much deceived in Banister.
Why, such as he will break for fashion-sake,
And unto those they owe a thousand pound,
Pay scarce a hundred. O, sir, beware of him.
The man is lewdly given to dice and drabs;
Spends all he hath in harlots' companies.
It is no mercy for to pity him.

I speak the truth of him, for nothing else,
But for the kindness that I bear to you.

Fres. If it be so, he hath deceived me much; And to deal strictly with such a one as he, Better severe than too much lenity.

27

1

But here is master Banister himself,
And with him, as I take it, the officers.
Enter Mr and Mrs BANISTER, and two Officers.
Ban. O, master Frescobald, you have undone
me!

My state was well-nigh overthrown before;
Now altogether downcast by your means.

Mrs Ban. O, master Frescobald, pity my hus-
band's case.

He is a man hath lived as well as any,
Till envious Fortune and the ravenous sea
Did rob, disrobe, and spoil us of our own.
Fres. Mistress Banister, I envy not your hus-
band,

Nor willingly would I have used him thus,
But that I hear he is so lewdiy given;
Haunts wicked company, and hath enough
To pay his debts, yet will not be known thereof.
Ban. This is that damned broker, that same
Bagot,

Whom I have often from my trencher fed.
Ungrateful villain for to use me thus !

Bag. What I have said to him is nought but
truth.

Mrs Ban. What thou hast said springs from an
envious heart;

A cannibal, that doth eat men alive!
But here upon my knee believe me, sir,
(And what I speak, so help me God, is true,)
We scarce have meat to feed our little babes.
Most of our plate is in that broker's hand;
Which, had we money to defray our debts,
- O think, we would not 'bide that penury.
Be merciful, kind master Frescobald;
My husband, children, and myself, will eat
But one meal a day; the other will we keep,
And sell, as part to pay the debt we owe you.
If ever tears did pierce a tender mind,
Be pitiful; let me some favour find.

Fres. Go to, I see thou art an envious man.—
Good mistress Banister, kneel not to me;

I

pray rise up; you shall have your desire.Hold, officers; be gone; there's for your pains. Here, take my hand; if e'er God make you able, You know you owe to me a thousand pound; And place you in your former state again, Pay me; but yet if still your fortune frown, Upon my faith I'll never ask a crown. I never yet did wrong to men in thrall, For God doth know what to myself may fall.

Ban. This unexpected favour, undeserved, Doth make my heart bleed inwardly with joy. Ne'er may aught prosper with me is my own, If I forget this kindness you have shown.

Mrs Ban. My children in their prayers, both
night and day,

For your good fortune and success shall pray.
Fres. I thank you both; I pray go dine with me.
Within these three days, if God give me leave,
I will to Florence, to my native home.
Hold, Bagot, there's a portague to drink,3
Although you ill deserved it by your merit.
Give not such cruel scope unto your heart;
Be sure the ill you do will be requited;
Remember what I say, Bagot; farewell.-
Come, master Banister, you shall with me;
My fare's but simple, but welcome heartily.

[Exeunt all but ВAGOT. Bag. A plague go with you! would you had eat your last!

Is this the thanks I have for all my pains?
Confusion light upon you all for me!
Where he had wont to give a score of crowns,
Doth he now foist me with a portague?
Well, I will be revenged upon this Banister.
I'll to his creditors; buy all the debts he owes,
As seeming that I do it for good will;

I am sure to have them at an easy rate;
And when 'tis done, in Christendom he stays not,
But I'll make his heart to ache with sorrow.
And if that Banister become my debtor,
By heaven and earth I'll make his plague the
greater.
[Exit.

VOL. I.

2 r

Enter a Post.

Post. I pray, sir, are you ready to dispatch me? Crom. Yes; here's those sums of money you must carry.

You go so far as Frankfort, do you not?

Post. I do, sir.

Mrs Ban. That mighty God, that knows each mortal's heart,

Keep you from trouble, sorrow, grief, and smart! [Exit Mistress BANISTER. Crom. Thanks,courteous woman, for thy hearty prayer.

It grieves my soul to see her misery;

thou canst;

For there be certain English gentlemen

Are bound for Venice, and may happily want, An if that you should linger by the way; But in the hope that you will make good speed, There's two angels, to buy you spurs and wands.4 Post. I thank you, sir; this will add wings indeed. [Exit Post. Crom. Gold is of power to make an eagle's speed.

Enter Mrs BANISTER.

What gentlewoman is this that grieves so much?

It seems she doth address herself to me.

Mrs Ban. God save you, sir. Pray is your name master Cromwell?

Crom. My name is Thomas Cromwell, gentle

woman.

Mrs Ban Know you one Bagot, sir, that's come to Antwerp?

Crom. No, trust me, I ne'er saw the man; but bere

Are bills of debt I have received against
One Banister, a merchant fallen to decay.
Mrs Ban. Iuto decay indeed, 'long of that
wretch.

I am the wife to woeful Banister,
And by that bloody villain am pursued,
From London, here to Antwerp. My husband
He is in the governor's hands; and God
Of heaven knows how he will deal with him.
Now, sir, your heart is framed of milder temper;
Be merciful to a distressed soul,

And God no doubt will treble bless your gain. Crom. Good mistress Banister, what I can, I will,

In any thing that lies within my power.

Mrs Ban. O speak to Bagot, that same wicked wretch;

An angel's voice may move a damned devil. Crom. Why is he come to Antwerp, as you hear?

Mrs Ban. I heard he landed some two hours since.

Crom. Well, mistress Banister, assure yourself I'll speak to Bagot in your own behalf, And win him to all the pity that I can. Mean time, to comfort you in your distress, Receive these angels to relieve your need; And be assured, that what I can effect, To do you good, no way I will neglect.

May hope the best, yet know not to what state
Our stars and destinies have us assigned;
Fickle is Fortune, and her face is blind. [Erit.
SCENE II-A Street in Antwerp.

Enter BAGOT.

Bag. So, all goes well; it is as I would have it.
Banister, he is with the governor,
And shortly shall have gyves upon his heels.
It glads my heart to think upon the slave;
I hope to have his body rot in prison,
And after hear his wife to hang herself,
And all his children die for want of food.
The jewels I have with me brought to Antwerp,
Are reckon'd to be worth five thousand pound;
Which scarcely stood me in three hundred pound.
I bought them at an easy kind of rate;

I care not much which way they came by them,
That sold them me; it comes not near my heart;
And lest they should be stolen, (as sure they are.
I thought it meet to sell them here in Antwerp;
And so have left them in the governor's hand,
Who offers me within two hundred pound
Of all my price; but now no more of that.—
I must go see an if my bills be safe,
The which I sent before to master Cromwell;
That if the wind should keep me on the sea,
He might arrest him here before I came;
And in good time, see where he is.

Enter CROMWELL.

God save you, sir.

Crom. And you.-Pray pardon me, I know

you not.

Bag. It may be so, sir; but my name is Bagot; The man that sent to you the bills of debt.

Crom. O, you're the man that pursues Banister. Here are the bills of debt you sent to me; As for the man, you know best where he is. It is reported you have a flinty heart, A mind that will not stoop to any pity, An eye that knows not how to shed a tear, A hand that's always open for reward. But, master Bagot, would you be ruled by me, You should turn all these to the contrary; Your heart should still have feeling of remorse, Your mind, according to your state, be liberal To those that stand in need and in distress;

oar,

And, like a slave, there toil out all my life,
Before I'd live so base a slave as thou.
I, like an hypocrite, to make a show
Of seeming virtue, and a devil within !
No, Bagot; if thy conscience were as clear,
Poor Banister ne'er had been troubled here.
Bag. Nay, good master Cromwell, be not
angry, sir,

I know full well that you are no such man;
But if your conscience were as white as snow,
It will be thought that you are otherwise.

Crom. Will it be thought that I am otherwise? Let them that think so, know they are deceived. Shall Cromwell live to have his faith miscon

strued?

to go to my afternoon's nuncheon, as 'twas my manner at home, felt a kind of rising in my guts. At last one of the sailors spying of me-be or good cheer, says he; set down thy victuals, and up with it; thou hast nothing but an eel in thy belly. Well, to't went I, to my victuals went the sailors; and thinking me to be a man of better experience than any in the ship, ask'd me what wood the ship was made of; they all swore I told them as right as if I had been acquainted with the carpenter that made it. At last we grew near land, and I grew villainous hungry, and went to my bag. The devil a bit there was the sailors had tickled me; yet I cannot blame them it was a part of kindness; for I in kindness told them what wood the ship was made of, and they in kindness eat up my victuals; as indeed one good turn asketh another. Well, would I could find my master Thomas in this Dutch town! he might put some English beer into my belly.

Crom. What, Hodge, my father's man! by my hand welcome.

How doth my father? what's the news at home?

Hodge. Master Thomas, O God! Master Thomas, your hand, glove and all; This is to give you to understanding, that your father is in health, and Alice Downing here hath sent you a nutmeg, and Bess Make-water a race of ginger; my fellows Will and Tom hath between them sent you a dozen of points; and goodman Toll, of the goat, a pair of mittens; myself came in person; and this is all the news.

Crom. Gramercy good Hodge, and thou art
welcome to me,

But in as ill a time thou comest as may be;
For I am travelling into Italy.
What say'st thou, Hodge? wilt thou bear me
company?

Hodge. Will I bear thee company, Tom? what tell'st me of Italy? Were it to the farthest part of Flanders, I would go with thee, Tom; I am thine in all weal and woe; thy own to command. What, Tom! I have pass'd the rigorous waves of Neptune's blasts. I tell you, Thomas, I have been in danger of the floods; and when I have seen Boreas begin to play the ruffian with us, then would I down a' my knees, and call upon Vulcan,

Crom. And why upon him?

Hodge. Because, as this same fellow Neptune is god of the seas, so Vulcan is lord over the smiths; and therefore I, being a smith, thought his godhead would have some care yet of me. Crom. A good conceit; but tell me hast thou dined yet?

Hodge. Thomas, to speak the truth, not a bit

yet, I.

Crom. Come go with me, thou shalt have cheer, good store;

And farewell, Antwerp, if I come no more. Hodge. I follow thee, sweet Tom, I follow thee. [Exeunt.

SCENE III.-Another Street in the same. Enter the Governor of the English Factory, BAGOT, Mr and Mrs BANISTER, and two Officers.

Gov. Is Cromwell gone then, say you, master
Bagot?

On what dislike, I pray you? what was the cause?
Bag. To tell you true, a wild brain of his own;
Such youth as he can't see when they are well.
He is all bent to travel, (that's his reason,)
And doth not love to eat his bread at home.

Gov. Well, good fortune with him, if the man be gone.

We hardly shall find such a one as he,
To fit our turns, his dealings were so honest.
But now, sir, for your jewels that I have,-
What do you say? what, will you take my price?
Bag. O, sir, you offer too much under foot.
Gov. 'Tis but two hundred pound between us,
man;

What's that in payment of five thousand pound?
Bag. Two hundred pound! by'r Lady, sir, 'tis

great;

Before I got so much it made me sweat.

Gov. Well, master Bagot, I'll proffer you fairly. You see this merchant, master Banister, Is going now to prison at your suit; His substance all is gone; what would you have? Yet, in regard I knew the man of wealth, (Never dishonest dealing, but such mishaps Have fall'n on him, may light on me or you) There is two hundred pound between us two; We will divide the same; I'll give you one, On that condition you will set him free. His state is nothing; that you see yourself; And where nought is, the king must lose his right. Bag. Sir, sir, I know you speak out of your love; 'Tis foolish love, sir, sure, to pity him. Therefore content yourself; this is my mind; To do him good I will not bate a penny. Ban. This is my comfort, though thou dost no good,

A mighty ebb follows a mighty flood.

So, fare you well, sir; I must take my leave;
My haste and business doth require so.
Gov. Before you dine, sir? What, go you out of
town?

Bow. I'faith, unless I hear some news in town,
I must away; there is no remedy.

Gov. Master Bowser, what is your business? S may I know it?

Bow. You may so, sir, and so shall all the city.
The king of late bath had his treasury robb'd,
And of the choicest jewels that he had;

The value of them was seven thousand pounds.
The fellow that did steal these jewels is hanged;
And did confess, that for three hundred pound
He sold them to one Bagot dwelling in London.
Now Bagot's fled, and, as we hear, to Antwerp;
And hither am I come to seek him out;
And they that first can tell me of his news,
Shall have a hundred pound for their reward.

Ban. How just is God to right the innocent!
Gov. Master Bowser, you come in happy time;
Here is the villain Bagot that you seek,
And all those jewels have I in my hands.—
Here, officers, look to him, hold him fast.

Bag. The devil owed me a shame, and now hath paid it.

Bow. Is this that Bagot? Fellows, bear him
hence;

We will not now stand here for his reply.
Lade him with irons; we will have him tried
In England, where his villanies are known.

Bag. Mischief, confusion, light upon you all! O hang me, drown me, let me kill myself; Let go my arms, let me run quick to hell. Bow. Away; bear him away; stop the slave's mouth. [Exeunt Officers and BAGOT. Mrs Ban. Thy works are infinite, great God of heaven!

Gov. I heard this Bagot was a wealthy fellow.
Bow. He was indeed; for when his goods were

seized,

Of jewels, coin, and plate, within his house Was found the value of five thousand pound; His furniture fully worth half so much; Which being all distrained for the king,

And they again, out of their bounteous mind,
Have to a brother of their company,

A man decayed by fortune of the seas,
Given Bagot's wealth, to set him up again,
And keep it for him; his name is Banister.

Gov. Master Bowser, with this most happy