20.1. The words of the lord Cromwell spo|ken at his death.
The words of the lord Cromwell spo|ken at his death.
Compare 1577 edition: 1 _I Am come hither to die, and not to purge my selfe, as may happen some thinke that I will, for if I should so doo, I were a verie wretch and a miser. I am by the law con|demned to die, and thanke my Lord God, that hath appointed me this death for mine offense. For since the time that I came to yeares of discretion I haue liued a sinner, and offended my Lord God, for the which I aske him hartilie forgiuenesse. And it is not vnknowne to manie of you, that I haue beene a great traueller in the world, and being but of a base degree, was called to high estate. And since the time I came therevnto, I haue offended my prince, for the which I aske him hartilie forgiuenesse, and beseech you all to praie to God with me, that he will forgiue me. O Father forgiue me, O Sonne forgiue me, O Holie ghost forgiue me, O three persons and one God forgiue me. And now I praie you that be here, to beare me record, I die in the catholike faith, not doubting in anie article of my faith, no nor doubting in anie sacrament of the church. Manie haue slan|dered me, and reported that I haue beene a bearer of such as haue mainteined euill o|pinions, which is vntrue: but I confesse, that like as God by his holie spirit dooth instruct vs in the truth, so the diuell is rea|die to seduce vs, and I haue beene seduced: but beare me witnesse, that I die in the ca|tholike faith of the holie church, and I har|tilie desire you to praie for the kings grace, that he may long liue with you in health and prosperitie, & after him that his sonne prince Edward, that goodlie impe may long reigne ouer you. And once againe I desire you to praie for me, that so long as life remaineth in this flesh, I wauer no|thing in my faith.
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.