ACT II.

[Enter Chorus.]

CHORUS. Now, gentlemen, imagine that young Cromwell is In Antwerp ledger for the English Merchants: And Banister, to shun this Bagot's hate, Hearing that he hath got some of his debts, Is fled to Antwerp, with his wife and children; Which Bagot hearing is gone after them: And thither sends his bills of debt before, To be revenged on wretched Banister. What doth fall out, with patience sit and see, A just requital of false treachery.

[Exit.]

SCENE I. Antwerp.

[Cromwell in his study with bags of money before him casting of account.]

CROMWELL. Thus far my reckoning doth go straight & even, But, Cromwell, this same ployding fits not thee: Thy mind is altogether set on travel, And not to live thus cloistered like a Nun. It is not this same trash that i regard, Experience is the jewel of my heart.

[Enter a Post.]

POST. I pray, sir, are you ready to dispatch me?

CROMWELL. Yes; here's those sums of money you must carry; You go so far as Frankford, do you not?

POST. I do, sir.

CROMWELL. Well, prithee make all the hate thou canst, For there be certain English gentlemen Are bound for Venice, and my happily want, And if that you should linger by the way: But in hope that you'll make good speed, There's two Angels to buy you spurs and wands.

POST. I thank you, sir; this will add wings indeed. [Exit Post.]

CROMWELL. Gold is of power would make an Eagle speed. [Enter Mistress Banister.]

What gentlewoman is this that grieves so much? It seems she doth address her self to me.

MISTRESS BANISTER. God save you, sir, sir; pray, is your name master Cromwell?

CROMWELL. My name is Thomas Cromwell, gentlewoman. MISTRESS BANISTER.Know you not one Bagot, sir, that's come to

Antwerp?

CROMWELL. No, trust me, I never saw the man, But here are bills of debt I have received, Against one Banister, a Merchant fallen into decay.

MISTRESS BANISTER. Into decay, indeed, long of that wretch. I am the wife to woeful Banister: And by that bloody villain am pursued From London here to Antwerp. My husband he is in the governour's hands, And God no doubt will treble bless your gain.

CROMWELL. Good mistress Banister, what I can, I will, In any thing that lies within my power.

MISTRESS BANISTER. O speak to Bagot, that same wicked wretch, An Angel's voice may move a damned devil.

CROMWELL. Why, is he come to Antwerp, as you here? MISTRESS BANISTER. I heard he landed some two hours since.

CROMWELL. Well, mistress Banister, assure your self. I'll speak to Bagot in your own behalf, And win him to all the pity that I can. Mean time, to comfort you in your distress, Receive these Angels to relieve your need, And be assured that what I can effect To do you good, no way I will neglect.

MISTRESS BANISTER. That mighty God, that knows each mortal's heart, Keep you from trouble, sorrow, grief, and smart.

[Exit Mistress Banister.]

CROMWELL. Thanks, courteous woman, for thy hearty prayer. It grieves my soul to see her misery, But we that live under the work of fate, May hope the best, yet knows not to what state Our stars and destinies hath us assigned. Fickle is fortune and her face is blind.

[Exit.]

SCENE II. A street in Antwerp.

[Enter Bagot solus.]

BAGOT. So all goes well; it is as I would have it. Banister he is with the Governour And shortly shall have guives upon his heels. It glads my heart to think upon the slave; I hope to have his body rot in prison, And after here his wife to hang her self, And all his children die for want of food. The Jewels that I have brought to Antwerp Are recond to be worth five thousand pound, Which scarcely stood me in three hundreth pound. I bought them at an easy kind of rate; I care not which way they came by them That sold them me, it comes not near my heart: And least thy should be stolen--as sure they are-- I thought it meet to sell them here in Antwerp, And so have left them in the Governour's hand, Who offers me within two hundreth pound Of all my price.But now no more of that: I must go see and if my bills be safe, The which I sent to master Cromwell, That if the wind should keep me on the sea, He might arrest him here before I came:

[Enter Cromwell.]

And in good time, see where he is.God save you sir. CROMWELL. And you:pray pardon me, I know you not.

BAGOT. It may be so, sir, but my name is Bagot, The man that sent to you the bills of debt.

CROMWELL. O, the man that pursues Banister. Here are the bills of debt you sent to me: As for the man, you know best where he is. It is reported you have a flinty heart, A mind that will not stoop to any pity, An eye that knows not how to shed a tear, A hand that's always open for reward; But, master Bagot, would you be ruled by me, You should turn all these to the contrary. Your heart should still have feeling of remorse, Your mind according to your state be liberal To those that stand in need and in distress; Your hand to help them that do stand in want, Rather than with your poise to hold them down; For every ill turn show your self more kind; Thus should I do; pardon, I speak my mind.

BAGOT. Aye, sir, you speak to hear what I would say, But you must live, I know, as well as I: I know this place to be extortion, And tis not for a man to keep him, But he must lie, cog with his dearest friend, And as for

pity, scorn it, hate all conscience. But yet I do commend your wit in this, To make a show of what I hope you are not; But I commend you and tis well done: This is the only way to bring your gain.

CROMWELL. My gain!I had rather chain me to an oar, And like a slave there toil out all my life, Before I'd live so base a slave as thou: I, like an hypocrite, to make a show Of seeming virtue and a devil within! No, Bagot, would thy conscience were as clear: Poor Banister ne'er had been troubled here.

BAGOT. Nay, good master Cromwell; be not angry, sir. I know full well you are no such man; But if your conscience were as white as Snow, It will be thought that you are other wise.

CROMWELL. Will it be thought that I am other wise? Let them that think so know they are deceived. Shall Cromwell live to have his faith misconstered? Antwerp, for all the wealth within thy Town, I will not stay here not two hours longer. As good luck serves, my accounts are all made even; Therefore I'll straight unto the treasurer. Bagot, I know you'll to the governour; Commend me to him, say I am bound to travail, To see the fruitful parts of Italy, And as you ever bore a Christian mind, Let Banister some favour of you find.

BAGOT. For your sake, sir, I'll help him all I can-- [Aside.] To starve his heart out ere he get a groat. So, master Cromwell, do I take my leave, For I must straight unto the governour.

[Exit Bagot.]

CROMWELL. Farewell, sir; pray you remember what I said.-- No, Cromwell, no; thy heart was ne'er so base, To live by falsehood or by brokery! But 't falles out well, I little it repent; Hereafter, time in travel shall be spent.

[Enter Hodge, his father's man.]

HODGE. Your son Thomas, quoth you:I have been Thomast! I had thought it had been no such matter to a gone by water:for at Putney I'll go you to Parish-garden for two pence, sit as still as may be, without any wagging or jolting in my guts, in a little boat too:here we were scarce four mile in the great green water, but I--thinkingto go to my afternoon's urgings, as twas my manner at home--but I felt a kind of rising in my

guts.At last one a the Sailors spying of me, be a good cheer, says he, set down thy victuals, and up with it, thou hast nothing but anEel in thy belly.Well toot went I, to my victuals went the Sailors, and thinking me to be a man of better experience than any in the ship, asked me what Wood the ship was made of:they all swore I told them as right as if I hadbeen acquainted with the Carpenter that made it.At last we grew near land, and I grew villainous hungry, went to my bag:the devil a bit there was.The Sailors had tickled me; yet I cannot blame them:it was a part of kindness, for I in kindness told them what Wood the ship was made of, and they in kindness eat up my victuals, as indeed one good turn asketh another.Well, would I could find my master Thomas in this Dutch Town; he might put some English Beer into my belly.

CROMWELL. What, Hodge, my father's man? by my hand, welcome!

How doth my father? what's the news at home?

HODGE. Master Thomas, O God, master Thomas, your hand, glove and all.This is to give you to understanding that your father is in health, and Alice Downing here hath sent you a Nutmeg, & Bess Makewater a race of Ginger; my fellow Will & Tom hath between them sent you a dozen of points, & good man Tolle of the Goat a pair of mittens; my self came in person:and this is all the news.

CROMWELL. Gramarcy, good Hodge, and thou art welcome to me, But in as ill a time thou comest as may be: For I am travelling into Italy. What sayest thou, Hodge? wilt thou bear me company?

HODGE. Will I bear thee company, Tom?What tell'st me of Italy? were it to the furthest part of Flanders, I would go with thee, Tom.I am thine in all weal and woe, thy own tocommand.What, Tom!I have passed the rigorous waves of Neptune's blasts; I tell you, Thomas, I have been in the danger of the floods; and when I have seen Boreas begin to play the Ruffin with us, then would I down of my knees and call upon Vulcan.

CROMWELL. And why upon him?

HODGE. Because, as this same fellow Neptune is God of the Seas, so Vulcan is Lord over the Smiths, and therefore, I, being a Smith, thought his Godhead would have some care yet of me.

CROMWELL. A good conceit, but tell me, hast thou dined yet?

HODGE. Thomas, to speak the truth, not a bit yet I.

CROMWELL. Come, go with me; thou shalt have cheer good store.

And farewell, Antwerp, if I come no more.

HODGE. I follow thee, sweet Tom, I follow thee. [Exit omnes.]

SCENE III. Another street in the same.

[Enter the Governour of the English house, Bagot, Banister, his wife, and two officers.]

GOVERNOUR. Is Cromwell gone then, say you, master Bagot? What dislike, I pray? what was the cause?

BAGOT. To tell you true, a wild brain of his own; Such youth as they cannot see when they are well: He is all bent to travail, that's his reason, And doth not love to eat his bread at home.

GOVERNOUR. Well, good fortune with him, if the man be gone. We hardly shall find such a one as he, To fit our turns; his dealings were so honest. But now, sir, for your Jewels that I have, What do you say? will you take my prise?

BAGOT. O, sir, you offer too much underfoot.

GOVERNOUR. Tis but two hundred pound between us, man. What's that in payment of five thousand pound?

BAGOT. Two hundred pound! birlady, sir, tis great: Before I got so much, it made me sweat.

GOVERNOUR. Well, Master Bagot, I'll profer you fairly. You see this Merchant, master Banister, Is going now to prison at your suit. His substance all is gone; what would you have? Yet in regard I knew the man of wealth-- Never dishonest dealing, but such mishaps Hath fallen on him, may light on me or you-- There is two hundred pound between us; We will divide the same:I'll give you one, On that condition you will set him free: His state is nothing, that you see your self, And where naught is, the King must lose his right.

BAGOT. Sir, sir, you speak out of your love, Tis foolish love, sir, sure, to pity him: Therefore, content your self; this is my mind: To do him good I will not bate a penny.

BANISTER. This is my comfort:though thou doost no good, A mighty ebb follows a mighty flood.

MISTRESS BANISTER. O thou base wretch, whom we have fostered Even as a Serpent for to poison us, If God did ever right a woman's wrong, To that same God I bend and bow my heart, To let his heavy wrath fall on

thy head, By whom my hopes and joys are butchered.

BAGOT. Alas, fond woman, I pray thee, pray thy worst; The Fox fares better still when he is curst.

[Enter Master Bowser, a Merchant.]

GOVERNOUR. Master Bowser! you're welcome, sir, from England.

What's the best news? how doth all our friends?

BOWSER. They are all well and do commend them to you: There's letters from your brother and your son: So fair you well, sir; I must take my leave. My haste and business doth require such.

GOVERNOUR. Before you dine, sir?What, go you out of town? BOWSER. Aye, faith, unless I hear some news in town, I must away;

there is no remedy.

GOVERNOUR. Master Bowser, what is your business? may I know

it?

BOWSER. You may, sir, and so shall all the City. The King of late

hath had his treasury robbed, And of the choicest jewels that he had: The value of them was some seven thousand pound. The fellow that did steal these jewels, he is hanged, And did confess that for three hundred pound He sold them to one Bagot dwelling in London: Now Bagot's fled, and, as we hear, to Antwerp, And hither am I come to seek him out; And they that first can tell me of his news Shall have a hundred pound for their reward.

BANISTER. How just is God to right the innocent.

GOVERNOUR. Master Bowser, you come in happy time: Here is the villain Bagot that you seek, And all those jewels have I in my hands. Officers, look to him, hold him fast.

BAGOT. The devil ought me a shame, and now hath paid it.

BOWSER. Is this that Bagot? fellows, bear him hence. We will not now stand for his reply. Lade him with Irons; we will have him tried In England, where his villainies are known.

BAGOT. Mischief, confusion, light upon you all! O hang me, drown me, let me kill my self! Let go my arms; let me run quick to hell.

BOWSER. Away, bear him away; stop the slave's mouth. [They carry him away.]

MISTRESS BANISTER. Thy works are infinite, great God of heaven.

GOVERNOUR. I heard this Bagot was a wealthy fellow.

BOWSER. He was indeed, for when his goods were seized, Of Jewels, coin, and Plate within his house, Was found the value of five thousand pound; His furniture fully worth half so much, Which being all strained for, for the King, He frankly gave it to the Antwerp merchants, And they again, out of their bounteous mind, Hath to a brother of their company, A man decayed by fortune of the Seas, Given Bagot's wealth, to set him up again, And keep it for him:his name is Banister.

GOVERNOUR. Master Bowser, with this happy news You have revived two from the gates of death: This is that Banister, and this his wife.

BOWSER. Sir, I am glad my fortune is so good, To bring such tidings as may comfort you.

BANISTER. You have given life unto a man deemed dead, For by these news, my life is newly bred.

MISTRESS BANISTER. Thanks to my God, next to my Sovereign King, And last to you that these good hopes doth bring.

GOVERNOUR. The hundred pound I must receive as due For finding Bagot, I freely give to you.

BOWSER. And, Master Banister, if so you please, I'll bear you company, when you cross the Seas.

BANISTER. If it please you, sir; my company is but mean. Stands with your liking, I'll wait on you.

GOVERNOUR. I am glad that all things do accord so well: Come, Master Bowser, let us in to dinner: And, Mistress Banister, be merry, woman! Come, after sorrow now let's cheer your spirit; Knaves have their due, and you but what you merit.

[Exit omnes.]