The Complete Works of William Shakespeare - Israel Gollancz William Shakespeare [1920]
NORFOLK.
We did, and left none but Lord Cromwell with him.
GARDINER.
O, what a dangerous time is this we live in!
There's Thomas Wolsey, he's already gone,
And Thomas More, he followed after him:
Another Thomas yet there doth remain,
That is far worse than either of those twain,
And if with speed, my Lords, we not pursue it,
I fear the King and all the land will rue it.
BEDFORD.
Another Thomas! pray God it be not Cromwell.
GARDINER.
My Lord of Bedford, it is that traitor Cromwell.
BEDFORD.
Is Cromwell false? my heart will never think it.
SUFFOLK.
My Lord of Winchester, what likelihood,
Or proof have you of this his treachery?
GARDINER.
My Lord, too much.—Call in the men within.
[Enter witnesses.]
These men, my Lord, upon their oaths affirm,
That they did hear Lord Cromwell in his garden,
Wished a dagger sticking at the heart
Of our King Henry. What is this but treason?
BEDFORD.
If it be so, my heart doth bleed with sorrow.
SUFFOLK.
How say you friends? what, did you hear these words?
FIRST WITNESS.
We did, and like your grace.
NORFOLK.
In what place was Lord Cromwell when he spake them?
SECOND WITNESS.
In his Garden, where we did attend a suit,
Which we had waited for two year and more.
SUFFOLK.
How long ist since you heard him speak these words?
SECOND WITNESS.
Some half year since.
BEDFORD.
How chance that you concealed it all this time?
FIRST WITNESS.
His greatness made us fear, that was the cause.
GARDINER.
Aye, aye, his greatness; that's the cause indeed;
And to make his treason here more manifest,
He calls his servants to him round about,
Tells them of Wolsey's life, and of his fall,
Says that himself hath many enemies,
And gives to some of them a Park or Manor,
To others Leases, Lands to other some:
What need he do thus in his prime of life,
And if he were not fearful of his death?
SUFFOLK.
My Lord, these likelihoods are very great.
BEDFORD.
Pardon me, Lords, for I must needs depart;
Their proofs are great, but greater is my heart.
[Exit Bedford.]
NORFOLK.
My friends, take heed of that which you have said.
Your souls must answer what your tongues reports:
Therefore, take heed, be wary what you do.
SECOND WITNESS.
My Lord, we speak no more but truth.
NORFOLK.
Let them
Depart.—My Lord of Winchester, let these men
Be close kept until the day of trial.
GARDINER.
They shall, my Lord: ho, take in these two men.
[Exit witnesses.]
My Lords, if Cromwell have a public trial,
That which we do is void by his denial;
You know the king will credit none but him.
NORFOLK.
Tis true, he rules the King even as he pleases.
SUFFOLK.
How shall we do for to attach him, then?
GARDINER.
Marry, my Lords, thus: by an Act he made himself,
With an intent to entrap some of our lives,
And this it is: If any Counsellor
Be convicted of high treason, he shall
Be executed without a public trial.
This Act, my Lords, he caused the King to make.
SUFFOLK.
A did indeed, and I remember it,
And now it is like to fall upon himself.
NORFOLK.
Let us not slack it, tis for England's good.
We must be wary, else he'll go beyond us.
GARDINER.
Well hath your Grace said, my Lord of Norfolk;
Therefore let us presently to Lambeth.
Thether comes Cromwell from the Court to night.
Let us arrest him, send him to the Tower,
And in the morning, cut off the traitor's head.
NORFOLK.
Come, then, about it, let us guard the town.
This is the day that Cromwell must go down.
GARDINER.
Along, my Lords.—Well, Cromwell is half dead;
He shaked my heart, but I will shave his head.
[Exeunt.]
ACT V. SCENE I. A street in London.
[Enter Bedford solus.]
BEDFORD.
My soul is like a water troubled,
And Gardiner is the man that makes it so.
O, Cromwell, I do fear they end is near:
Yet I'll prevent their malice if I can.
And in good time, see where the man doth come,
Who little knows how nears his day of doom.
[Enter Cromwell with his train. Bedford makes as though he would speak to him: he goes on.]
CROMWELL.
You're well encountered, my good Lord of Bedford.
I see