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 your honour is addressed to talk; Pray pardon me, I am sent for to the king, And do not know the business yet my self. So fare you well, for I must needs be gone.
[Exit all the train.]
BEDFORD. You must; well, what remedy? I fear too soon you must be gone indeed. The king hath business, but little doest thou know, Whose busy for thy life: thou thinks not so.
[Enter Cromwell and the train again.]
CROMWELL. The second time well met, my Lord of Bedford; I am very sorry that my haste is such. Lord Marquess Dorset being sick to death, I must receive of him the privy seal. At Lambeth, soon, my Lord, we'll talk our fill.
[Exit the train.]
BEDFORD. How smooth and easy is the way to death!
[Enter a servant.]
MESSENGER. My Lord, the dukes of Norfolk and of Suffolk, Accompanied with the Bishop of Winchester, Entreats you to come presently to Lambeth, On earnest matters that concerns the state.
BEDFORD. To Lambeth! so: go fetch me pen and ink. I and Lord Cromwell there shall talk enough; Aye, and our last, I fear, and if he come.
[He writes a letter.]
Here, take this letter, and bear it to Lord Cromwell. Bid him read it; say it concerns him near: Away, begone, make all the haste you can. To Lambeth do I go a woeful man.
[Exit.]
ACT V. SCENE II. A street near the Thames.
[Enter Cromwell and his train.]
CROMWELL. Is the Barge ready? I will straight to Lambeth, And if this one day's business once were past, I'd take my ease to morrow after trouble.-- How now, my friend, wouldst thou speak with me?
[The Messenger brings him the letter; he puts it in his pocket.]
MESSENGER. Sir, here's a letter from my Lord of Bedford.