The Life and Death of the Lord Cromwell

OLD CROMWELL, a Black-smith at Putney. Young THOMAS CROMWELL his son. HODGE, WILL, and TOM, old Cromwell's servants. Earl of BEDFORD and his Host. Dukes of NORFOLK and SUFFOLK. Sir CHRISTOPHER HALES. Cardinal WOLSEY. Sir THOMAS MOOR. GARDINER Bishop of Winchester. Sir RALPH SADLER. M. BOUSER a Merchant. BANISTER, a broken Merchant and his wife. BAGOT, a cruel covetous Broker. FRISKIBALL a Florentine Merchant. The Governours of the ENGLISH house at ANTWERP. States and Officers of BONONIA. Good-man SEELY and his wife JOAN. CHORUS. A POST. MESSENGERS. USHERS and SERVANTS. LIEUTENANT OF THE TOWER. TWO CITIZENS. TWO MERCHANTS.
HODGE.
Come, masters, I think it be past five a clock; is it not
time we were at work: my old Master he'll be stirring
anon.
FIRST SMITH.
I cannot tell whether my old master will be stirring or
no: but I am sure I can hardly take my afternoon's nap,
for my young Master Thomas, he keeps such a quile in
his study, with the Sun, and the Moon, and the seven
stars, that I do verily think he'll read out his wife.
HODGE.
He skill of the stars! there's good-man Car of Fulhum,
he that carried us to the strong Ale, where goody
Trundell had her maid got with child: O he knows the
stars. He'll tickle you Charles Waine in nine degrees.
That same man will tell you goody Trundell when her
Ale shall miscarry, only by the stars.
SECOND SMITH.
Aye, that's a great virtue; indeed I think Thomas be no
body in comparison to him.
FIRST SMITH. Well, masters, come, shall we to our hammers?
HODGE.
Aye, content; first let's take our morning's draught, and
then to work roundly.
SECOND SMITH. Aye, agreed; go in, Hodge.
CROMWELL. Good morrow, morn, I do salute thy brightness. The night seems tedious to my troubled soul, Whose black obscurity binds in my mind A thousand sundry cogitations: And now Aurora, with a lively dye, Adds comfort to my spirit that mounts on high— Too high indeed, my state being so mean. My study, like a mineral of gold, Makes my heart proud, wherein my hopes enrolled; My books is all the wealth I do possess.