Compare 1577 edition: 1 Then made he his praier, which was long, but not so long as godlie and learned,Sée Iohn Fox in the Acts & Monuments. and after com|mitted his soule to the hands of God, and so patient|lie suffered the stroke of the ax, by a ragged and but|cherlie miser, which ill fauouredlie performed the office. This man being borne in Putneie, a village in Surreie by the Thames side,A description of the birth of Thomas Cromwell and other cir|cumstances. foure miles distant from London, was sonne to a Smith, after whose deceasse, his mother was married to a Shereman. But notwithstanding the basenesse of his birth and EEBO page image 952 lacke of maintenance was at the beginning (as it happeneth to manie others) a great let and hinde|rance for vertue to shew hir selfe: yet through a sin|gular excellencie of wit, ioined with an industrious diligence of mind, and helpe of knowledge, gathered by painefull trauell, and marking the courses of states and gouernements as well of his natiue countrie at home, as in forren parties abrode, he grew to such a sufficient ripenesse of vnderstanding and skill, in ordering of weightie affaires, that he was thought apt and fit for anie roome or office wher|to he should be admitted.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 Which being perceiued of cardinall Wolseie, then archbishop of Yorke, he tooke him into his ser|uice, and making him his solicitor, imploied him about businesse oftentimes of most importance, wherein he acquited himselfe with such dexteritie, as answered alwaies the credit committed to him. Af|ter the cardinals fall;Thomas Cromwell in most au|thoritie vnder the king. he was aduanced to the kings seruice, behauing himselfe so aduisedlie in matters which he tooke in hand, that within a small time he rose to high authoritie, and was admitted to be of the priuie councell, bearing most rule of all other vnder the king, as partlie ye haue heard: so that by him it well appeared, that the excellencie of heroicall ver|tues, which aduance men to fame and honor, resteth not onelie in birth and bloud, as a priuilege appro|priate and alonelie annexed vnto noble houses, but remaineth at the disposition of almightie God the gi|uer & disposer of all gifts, who raiseth the poore manie times from the basest degrée, and setteth him vp with princes, according to the saieng of Ecclesiastes:

Qui iacuit tetro quandóque in carcere vinctus,

Parta suis meritis regia sceptra tulit.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 Neuerthelesse, concerning the lord Cromwell earle of Essex, if we shall consider his comming vp to such high degree of honor as he atteined vnto, we maie doubt whether there be cause more to maruell at his good fortune, or at his woorthie and industrious demeanor. Iohn Fox in the Acts and Monuments. But sith in the booke of Acts and Monu|ments ye maie find a sufficient discourse hereof, we néed not to spend more time about it, saue onelie as master Fox hath trulie noted, such was his actiuitie and forward ripenesse of nature, so readie and preg|nant of wit, so discreet and well aduised in iudge|ment, so eloquent of toong, so faithfull and diligent in seruice, of such an incomparable memorie, so bold of stomach and hardie, and could doo so well with his pen, that being conuersant in the sight of men, he could not long continue vnespied, nor yet vnproui|ded of fauor and helpe of friends, to set him forward in place and office.