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And take their bond in: I pray thee, hie thee home,

And see that all things be in readiness.

MISTRESS BANISTER.

They shall be welcome, husband; I'll go before.—

But is not that man master Friskiball?

[She runs and embraces him.]

BANISTER.

O heavens, it is kind master Friskiball!

Say sir, what hap hath brought you to this pass?

FRISKIBALL.

The same that brought you to your misery.

BANISTER.

Why would you not acquaint me with your state?

Is Banister your poor friend quite forgot:

Whose goods, whose love, whose life and all is yours?

FRISKIBALL.

I thought your usage would be as the rest,

That had more kindness at my hands than you,

Yet looked askance, when as they saw me poor.

MISTRESS BANISTER.

If Banister should bear so base a heart,

I never would look my husband in the face,

But hate him as I would a Cockatrise.

BANISTER.

And well thou mightest, should Banister deal so.

Since 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 make me glad.

And now, sir, will it please you walk with me?

FRISKIBALL.

Not yet I cannot, for the Lord Chancellor

Hath here commanded me to wait on him,

For what I know not: pray God tis for my good.

BANISTER.

never make doubt of that; I'll warrant you,

He is as kind a noble gentleman

As ever did possess the place he hath.

MISTRESS BANISTER.

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.

FRISKIBALL.

With all my heart: but what's become of Bagot?

BANISTER.

He is hanged, for buying jewels of the King's.

FRISKIBALL.

A just reward for one so impious.

The time draws on, sir; will you go along?

BANISTER.

I'll follow you, kind master Friskiball.

[Exit Omnes.]

ACT IV. SCENE III. The same. Another street.

[Enter two Merchants.]

FIRST MERCHANT.

Now, master Crosby, I see you have a care,

To keep your word, in payment of your money.

SECOND MERCHANT.

By my faith, I have reason upon a bond;

Three thousand pound is too much to forfeit.

Yet I doubt not Master Banister.

FIRST MERCHANT.

By my faith, your sum is more than mine,

And yet i am not much behind you too,

Considering that to day I paid at court.

SECOND MERCHANT.

Mass, and well remembered,

What's the reason the Lord Cromwell's men

Wear such long skirts upon their coats.

They reach almost down to their very ham.

FIRST MERCHANT.

I will resolve you, sir; and thus it is:

The Bishop of Winchester, that loves not Cromwell,

As great men are envied, as well as less—

A while ago there was a jar between them,

And it was brought to my Lord Cromwell's ear,

That Bishop Gardiner would sit on his skirt;

Upon which word, he made his men long Blue coats,

And in the Court wore one of them himself:

And meeting with the Bishop, quoth he, 'My Lord,

Here's skirt enough now for your Grace to sit on;'

Which vexed the Bishop to the very heart.

This is the reason why they wear long coats.

SECOND MERCHANT.

Tis always 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?

FIRST MERCHANT.

Aye, come, we'll pay him royally for our dinner.

[Exit.]

ACT IV. SCENE IV. The same. A room in Cromwell's house.

[Enter the Usher and the Shewer, the meat goes over the stage.]

USHER.

Uncover there, Gentlemen.

[Enter Cromwell, Bedford, Suffolk, Old Cromwell,

Friskiball, goodman Seely, and attendants.]

CROMWELL.

My noble Lords of Suffolk and of Bedford,

Your honors' welcome to poor Cromwell's house.

Where is my father? nay, be covered, Father.

Although that duty to these noble men

Doth challenge it, yet I'll make bold with them.

Your head doth bear the calendar 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?

FRISKIBALL.

My name was Friskiball,