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Did rob me of my name and of my state.

CROMWELL.

What fortune brought you to this country now?

FRISKIBALL.

All other parts hath left me succourless,

Save only this. Because of debts I have,

I hope to gain for to relieve my want.

CROMWELL.

Did you not once, upon your Florence bridge,

Help two distressed men, robbed by the Bandetti?—

His name was Cromwell.

FRISKIBALL.

I never made my brain a calendar

Of any good I did;

I always loved this nation with my heart.

CROMWELL.

I am that Cromwell that you there relieved.

Sixteen Ducats you gave me for to clothe me,

Sixteen to bear my charges by the way,

And sixteen more I had for my horse hire:

There be those several sums justly returned,

Yet with injustice, serving at my need,

And to repay them without interest.

Therefore receive of me these four several bags;

In each of them there is four hundred mark;

And bring me the names of all your debitors,

And if they will not see you paid, I will:

O God forbid, that I should see him fall,

That helped me in my greatest need of all.

Here stands my Father that first gave me life,

Alas, what duty is too much for him?

This man in time of need did save my life,

And therefore I cannot do too much for him.

By this old man I often times was fed,

Else might I have gone supperless to bed.

Such kindness have I had of these three men,

That Cromwell no way can repay again.

Now in to dinner, for we stay too long,

And to good stomachs is no greater wrong.

[Exit omnes.]

ACT IV. SCENE V. The same. A room in the Bishop of Winchester's house.

[Enter Gardiner in his study, and his man.]

GARDINER.

Sirra, where be those men I caused to stay?

SERVANT.

They do attend your pleasure, sir, within.

GARDINER.

Bid them come hither, and stay you without:—

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

That makes a Goose of better than himself,

We'll worry him unto his latest home,

Or Gardiner will fail in his intent.

As for the Dukes of Suffolk and Norfolk,

Whom I have sent for to come speak with me,

Howsoever, outwardly they shadow it,

Yet in their hearts I know they love him not:

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

And dares not gainsay what we do set down.

[Enter the two witnesses.]

Now, my friends, you know I saved your lives,

When by the law you had deserved death,

And then you promised me upon your oaths,

To venture both your lives to do me good.

BOTH WITNESSES.

We swore no more than that we will perform.

GARDINER.

I take your words; and that which you must do

Is service for your God, and for your King:

To root a rebel from this flourishing land,

One that's an enemy unto the Church:

And therefore must you take your solemn oaths,

That you heard Cromwell, the Lord Chancellor,

Did wish a dagger at King Henry's heart.

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

Therefore we'll shield you from ensuing harms.

SECOND WITNESS.

If you will warrant us the deed is good,

We'll undertake it.

GARDINER.

Kneel down, and I will here absolve you both.

This Crucifix I lay upon your head,

And sprinkle holy-water on your brows.

The deed is meritorious that you do,

And by it shall you purchase grace from heaven.

FIRST WITNESS.

Now, sir, we'll undertake it, by our souls.

SECOND WITNESS.

For Cromwell never loved none of our sort.

GARDINER.

I know he doth not, and for both of you,

I will prefer you to some place of worth:

Now get you in, until I call for you,

For presently the Dukes means to be here.

[Exit witnesses.]

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

The Abbeys that were pulled down by thy means

Is now a mean for me to pull thee down:

Thy pride also thy own head lights upon,

For thou art he hath changed religion:—

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

[Enter Suffolk, Norfolk, and the Earl of Bedford.]

SUFFOLK.

Goodden to my Lord Bishop.

NORFOLK.

How fares my Lord? what, are you all alone?

GARDINER.

No, not alone, my Lords; my mind is troubled;

I know your honours muse wherefore I sent,

And in such haste. What, came you from the