Grif. At laft, with eafy roads he came to Leifter;
Lodg'd in the Abbey; where the rev'rend Abbot,
With all his convent, honourably receiv'd him;
To whom he gave thefe words, "O father Abbot,
"An old man, broken with the ftorms of state,
"Is come to lay his weary bones among ye;
"Give him a little earth for charity!"
So went to bed; where eagerly his fickness
Purfu'd him ftill, and three nights after this,
About the hour of eight, (which he himself
Foretold, fhould be his laft) full of repentance,
Continual meditations, tears and forrows,
He gave his honours to the world again,
His bleffed part to heav'n, and flept in peace.
Cath. So may he rest, his faults lie gently on him!
Yet thus far, Griffith, give me leave to speak him,
And yet with charity; he was a man
Of an unbounded ftomach, ever ranking
Himself with Princes: one, that by fuggeftion
Ty'd all the kingdom; fimony was fair play
His own opinion was his law. I'th' prefence
He would fay untruths, and be ever double
Both in his words and meaning. He was never,
But where he meant to ruin, pitiful.

His promises were, as he then was, mighty;
But his performance, as he now is, nothing.
Of his own body he was ill, and

The clergy ill example.

Grif. Noble madam,

gave

:

Men's evil manners live in brafs, their virtues
We write in water. May it please your Highness

To hear me speak his good now?

Cath. Yes, good Griffith,.

I were malicious elfe.

Grif. This Cardinal, (17)

(17)

Though from an bumble Stock,
Was fashion'd to much Honour.
He was a Scholar, and a ripe,

This Cardinal
undoubtedly
From bis Cradle

Though

and good one ;] Thus this Paffage has hitherto

Though from an humble ftock, undoubtedly
Was fashion'd to much honour, from his cradle ;
He was a fcholar, and a ripe and good one;
Exceeding wife, fair fpoken, and perfuading;
Lofty and four to them, that lov'd him not;
But to thofe men, that fought him, fweet as fummer.
And though he were unfatisfy'd in getting,
(Which was a fin) yet in bestowing, Madam,
He was moft princely: Ever witnefs for him
Thofe twins of learning that he rais'd in you,
Ipfwich and Oxford! one of which fell with him,
Unwilling to out-live the good he did it:
The other, though unfinish'd, yet fo famous,
So excellent in art, and ftill fo rifing,
That Christendom fhall ever speak his virtue.
His overthrow heap'd happiness upon him;
For then, and not till then, he felt himself,
And found the bleffednefs of being little :
And to add greater honours to his age
Than man could give him, he dy'd, fearing God.
Cath. After my death I with no other herald,
No other fpeaker of my living actions,
To keep mine honour frem corruption,
But fuch an honest chronicler as Griffith.
Whom I moft hated living, thou haft made me,
With thy religious truth and modefty,

Now in his afhes honour. Peace be with him!
Patience, be near me ftill, and fet me lower.
I have not long to trouble thee. Good Griffith,
Caufe the muficians play me that fad note,
I nam'd my knell; whilft I fit meditating
On that celeftial harmony I go to.

hitherto been most abfurdly pointed. That Wolfey fhould be a ripe Scholar from his Cradle, is moft extraordinary and incredible. My Alteration of the Pointing, I dare be pofitive, gives us the Poet's Meaning; and expreffes that Character, which, Holing bead tells us, Edmund Campain, in his Hiftory of Ireland, had given of the Cardinal, that he was a man undoubtedly born to Honour.

Sad

Sad and folemn mufick.

Grif. She is afleep: good wench, let's fit down quiet, For fear we wake her. Softly, gentle Patience.

The vifion. Enter folemnly one after another, fix perfonages, clad in white robes, wearing on their heads garlands of bays, and golden vizards on their faces; branches of bays, or palm in their hands. They first congee unto her, then dance; and, at certain changes, the first two hold a Spare garland over her head; at which, the other four make reverend curt'fies. Then the two, that held the garland, deliver the fame to the other next two; who obferve the fame order in their changes, and holding the garland over her head: Which done, they deliver the Jame garland to the last two, who likewife obferve the Jame order: (At which, as it were by infpiration, she makes in her fleep figns of rejoicing, and holdeth up her hands to heaven.) And fo in their dancing vanish, carrying the garland with them. The mufick continues.

Cath. Spirits of peace; where are ye? are ye gone? And leave me here in wretchednefs behind ye! ? Grif. Madam, we're here.

Cath. It is not you I call for ; Saw ye none enter, fince I flept? Grif. None, Madam.

Cath. No faw you not e'en now a bleffed troop Invite me to a banquet, whofe bright faces

Caft thousand beams upon me, like the fun?

They promis'd me eternal happiness,

And brought me garlands, Griffith, which I feel
I am not worthy yet to wear: I fhall affuredly.
Grif. I am moft joyful, Madam, fuch good dreams
Poffels your fancy.

Cath. Bid the mufick leave,

'Tis harsh and heavy to me. Pat. Do you note,

[Mufick ceafes.

How

How much her Grace is alter'd on the fudden?
How long her face is drawn? how pale she looks,
And of an earthly cold? obferve her eyes.
Grif. She is going, wench. Pray, pray,
Pat. Heav'n comfort her!

Enter a Meffenger.

Mef. An't like your Grace-
Cath. You are a fawcy fellow,
Deserve we no more rev'rence ?
Grif. You're to blame,

Knowing, the will not lose her wonted greatnefs,
To ufe fo rude behaviour. Go to, kneel.

Mef. I humbly do intreat your Highnefs' pardon:
My hafte made me unmannerly. There is ftaying
A gentleman, fent from the King, to fee you.

Cath. Admit him entrance, Griffith. But this fellow Let me ne'er fee again. [Exit Meffenger.

Enter Lord Capucius.

If my fight fail not,

You should be Lord ambaffador from the Emperor,
My royal nephew; and your name Capucius.
Cap. Madam, the fame, your fervant.

Cath. O my Lord,

The times and titles are now alter'd ftrangely

With me, fince firft you knew me.

What is your pleasure with me?

Cap. Noble lady,

But, I pray you,

Firft, mine own fervice to your Grace; the next,
The King's request that I would vifit you;

Who grieves much for your weakness, and by me
Sends you his princely commendations,

And heartily intreats you take good comfort.

Cath. O my good Lord, that comfort comes too late ; "Tis like a pardon after execution;

That gentle phyfick, giv'n in time, had cur'd me;

But

But now I'm paft all comforts here, but prayers.
How does his Highness?

Cap. Madam, in good health.

Cath. So may he ever do, and ever flourish,
When I fhall dwell with worms, and my poor name
Banish'd the kingdom! Patience, is that letter,
I caus'd you write, yet fent away?

Pat. No, Madam.

Cath. Sir, I muft humbly pray you to deliver This to my Lord the King.

Cap. Moft willing, Madam.

Cath. In which I have commended to his goodness The model of our chafte loves, his young daughter; (The dews of heav'n fall thick in bleffings on her!) Befeeching him to give her virtuous breeding, (She's young, and of a noble modeft nature: I hope, fhe will deferve well) and a little 'To love her for her mother's fake, that lov'd him, Heav'n knows, how dearly! my next poor petition Is, that his noble Grace would have fome pity Upon my wretched women, that fo long Have follow'd both my fortunes faithfully; Of which there is not one, I dare avow, (And now I should not lye) but well deserve, For virtue and true beauty of the foul, For honesty and decent carriage,

A right good husband, let him be a noble:

And fure, thofe men are happy, that shall have 'em.
The laft is for my men; they are the pooreft,
But

poverty could never draw 'em from me ; That they may have their wages duly paid 'em, And fomething over to remember me.

If heav'n had pleas'd to've giv'n me longer life
And able means, we had not parted thus.

These are the whole contents. And, good my Lord,
By that you love the dearest in this world,
As you wish chriftian peace to fouls departed,
Stand these poor people's friend, and urge the King
To do me this last right.

Cap.