But.

Robin Brewer, how now man? what cheere, what cheere?

Brew.

ffaith Ned Butler, ^note sick of thy disease, and these our other fellowes heere Rafe Horssekeeper and Gyles Porter, sad, sad, they say my Lord goes to his triall to day.

Horss.

To it man? why he is now at it, God send [it] him well to speed.

Por.

Amen, euen as I wishe to mine owne soule, so speed it with my honorable Lord and Maister Sir Thomas Moore.

But.

I cannot tell, I haue no thing to doo with matters abooue my capacitie,

but as God iudge me, if I might speake my minde, I thinke there liues not a more harmelesse Gentleman in the vniuersall worlde.

Brew.

Nor a wiser, nor a merier, nor an honester, goe too, Ile put that in vppon mine owne knowledge.

Por.

Nay, and ye bate him his due of his housekeeping, hang ye all, ye haue many Lord Chauncellours comes in debt at the yeares end, and for very house keeping?

horsse.

well, he was too good a Lord for vs, and therfore (I feare) God him selfe will take him: but Ile be hangd if euer I haue such an other seruice.

Brew.

Soft man, we are not dischargde yet, my Lord may come home againe, and all will be well.

But.

I much mistrust it, when they goe to rayning once, ther's euer foule weather Ent. Gough & Catesbie with a paper. for a great while after. But soft, heere comes M^r. Gough and Maister ^noteCatesbie, now we shall heare more.

horss.
Before God they are very sad, I doubt my Lord is condemnde.

Por.
God blesse his soule, and a figge then for all worldly condemnation.

Gough.
well sayd ^note Gyles ^note Porter, I commend thee for it,
twas spoken like a well affected Seruaunte,
of him that was a kinde Lord to vs all.

Cate.
which now no more he shall be, for deare fellowes,
now we are maisterlesse, though he may liue,
so long as please the King: but lawe hath made him,
a dead man to the world, and giuen the Axe his head,
but his sweete soule to liue among the Saintes.

Gough.
Let vs entreate ye, to goe call together,
the rest of your sad fellowes: by the Roule,
y'are iust seauen score, and tell them what ye heare
a vertuous honorable Lord hath doone,
euen for the meanest follower that he had.
This writing found my Ladie in his studie
this instant morning, wherin is set downe
eche seruaunts name, according to his place,
and office in the house. On euery man,

he franckly hath bestowne twentie Nobles
the best and wurst together, all alike,
which M^r. Catesbie heere foorth will pay ye.

Cate.
Take it, as it is meante, a kinde remembraunce,
of a farre kinder Lord, with whose sad fall,
he giues vp house, and farewell to ^note vs all.
Thus the fayre spreading Oake falles not alone,
but all the neighbour plants and vnder trees:
are crusht downe with his weight. ^note No more of this,
Come and receiue your due, and after goe,
ffellow-like hence, copartners of one woe. —exeunt.

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