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Anon. [1911], The book of Sir Thomas More (, Oxford) [word count] [S39300].
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Scene 7 note noteEnter Mr. Sheriffe, and meete a Messenger.

Sheriff.
Messenger, what newes?

Mess.
noteIs execution yet performde?

Sheriff.
Not yet, the Cartes stand readie at the stayres,
and they shall presently away to Tibourne.

Messe.
Stay Mr. Shreeue, it is the Councelles pleasure,
for more example in so bad a case,
a Iibbit be erected in Cheapside,
hard by the Standerd, whether you must bring
noteLincolne, and those that were the cheefe with him, &fslash; Ent. Officers
to suffer death, and that immediatly.
ex. Mess.

Sheriff.
noteIt shalbe doone Sir. Officers, be speedie
call for a Iibbit, see it be erected,
others make haste to Newgate, bid them bring,
the prisoners hether, for they heere note must dye,
Away I say, and see no time be slackt.

Off.
we goe Sir.

Sheriff.
noteThats well said fellowes, now you doo your dutie ex. some seuerally, others note set vp the Iibbit
God for his pittie help these troublous times
The streetes stopte vp with gazing multitudes,
commaund our armed Officers with Halberds,
make way for entraunce of the prisoners.

-- 21 --


Let proclamation once againe be made,
that euery housholder, on paine of deathe
keep in his Prentises, and euery man,
stand with a weapon readie at his doore,
as he will answere to the contrary.

Off.
Ile see it doone Sir.
—exit. enter another Officer.

Sheriffe.
Bring them away to execution,
the writt is come abooue two houres since,
the Cittie will be fynde for this neglect.

Off.
Thers such a preasse note and multitude at Newgate,
they cannot bring the Cartes vnto note the stayres
to [bring] note take the prisoners in.

Sheriff.
Then let them come on foote,
we may not dally time with great c&obar;maund.

Off.
noteSome of the Benche Sir, thinke it very fit
that stay be made, and giue it out abroade
the execution is deferd till morning,
And when the streetes shall be note a little cleerd,
to chaine them vp, and suddenly dispatch it.
&fslash; The Prisoners are brought note in well guarded.

Sheriff.
Stay, in note meane time me thinkes they come along.
See, they are comming, so, tis very well.
Bring Lincolne there the first vnto the tree.

CLO. I for I cry lag note Sir

Lin.
noteI knewe the first Sir, did belong to me.
This the olde prouerbe now compleate dooth make,
that Lincolne should be hangd for Londons sake.
A Gods name, lets note to woorke: ffellowe, dispatche, &fslash;he goes vp.
I was the formoste man in this rebellion
and I the formoste that must dye for it.

-- 22 --

Doll.
Brauely Iohn Lincolne, let thy death expresse,
that as thou liu'dst a man, thou dyedst note no lesse.

Lin.
Doll williamson, thine eyes shall witnesse it.
Then to all you that come to viewe mine end,
I must confesse, I had no ill intent,
but against such as wrongd vs ouer much.
And now I can perceiue, it was not fit,
that priuate men should carue out their redresse,
which way they list, no, learne it now by me
obedience is the best in eche degree.
And asking mercie meekely of my King,
I paciently submit me to the lawe.
But God forgiue them that were cause of it.
and as a Christian, truely from my hart:
I likewise craue they would forgiue me too.
note
Fol. 11a
notethat others by example of the same
hencefoorth be warned to attempt the like
gainst any alien that repaireth hether
fare ye well all, the next time that we meete
I trust in heauen note we shall eche other greete.
&fslash; he leapes off

Doll.
ffarewell Iohn Lincolne, say all what they can:
notethou liu'dst a good fellowe, and dyedst an honest man.

CLO wold I weare so farre on my Iurney the first stretche is the worste note me thinks

Sheriff.
Bring williamson there forwarde.

Doll.
Good Mr. Shreeue, I haue an earnest suite,
and as you are a man deny't me not.

Sheriff.
woman, what is it? be it in my power,
thou shalt obtayne it.

Doll.
Let me dye next Sir, that is all I craue,
you knowe not what a comforte you shall bring
to my poore hart to dye before my husband.

-- 23 --

Sheriff.
noteBring her to death, she shall haue her desire.

CLO. Sir and I haue a suite to you too what is ytt that as you haue hangd lincolne first & will hange hir nexte so [that] you will nott hange me at all naye you set ope the counter gates and you notemust hange the folye note well then so much for yt note

Doll.
Sir, your free bountie much contents my minde,
Commend me to that good Shreeue Mr. Moore,
and tell him had't not bin for his perswasion,
Iohn Lincolne had not hung heere as he does.
notewe would first haue lockt vp in Leaden hall,
and there bin burnt to ashes with the roofe.

Sheriff.
woman, what Mr. Moore did, was a subiects dutie,
and hath so pleasde our gracious Lord the King,
that he is hence remoou'de to higher place,
and made of Councell to his Maiestie.

Doll.
well is he note woorthie of it by my troth,
an honest, wise, well spoken Gentleman,
yet would I praise his honestie much more,
if he had kept his woord, and sau'de our liues,
but let that passe, men are but men, and so,
woords are but wordes, and payes note not what men owe.
Now note husband, since perhaps the world may say,
that through my meanes thou comste thus to thy end:
heere I beginne this cuppe of death to thee,
because thou shalt be sure to taste no wursse,
then I haue taken, that must goe before thee.
what though I be a woman, thats no matter,
I doo owe God a death, and I must pay him.
Husband, giue me thy hand, be not dismayed,
this charre beeing charde, then all our debt is payd.
Only two little babes we leaue behinde vs,
and all I can bequeathe them at this time,
is but the looue of some good honest freend:
to bring them vp in charitable sorte.
what maisters, he goes vpright that neuer haltes,

-- 24 --


and they may liue to mend their parents faultes.

Will.
why well sayd wife, yfaith thou cheerst my hart,
giue me thy hand, lets kisse, and so lets part.
&fslash; he kisses her on the ladder.

Doll.
The next kisse williamson, shalbe in heauen.
Now cheerely Lads, George Bets, a hand with thee,
and thine too Rafe, and thine good honest Sherwin.
Now let me tell the women of this towne,
No straunger yet brought doll to lying downe.
So long as I an Englishman can see,
Nor ffrenche nor dutche shall get a kisse of me.
And when that I am dead, for me yet say,
I dyed in scorne to be a straungers preye.
note&fslash; a great shout and noise.

within.
Pardon, Pardon, pardon, pardon Enter Surrey.
Roome for the Eale note of Surrey, roome there roome.

Sur.
Saue the mans life, if it be possible.

Sheriff.
It is too late my Lord, hees dead alreadie.

Sur.
I tell ye Mr. Sheriffe, you are too forwarde,
to make such haste with men vnto their death,
I thinke your paines will merit little thankes
since that his Highnesse is so mercifull,
as not to spill the blood of any subiect.

Sheriff.
My noble Lord, would we so much had knowen,
the Councelles warrant hastened our dispatche,
it had not else bin doone so suddenly:

Sur.
Sir Thomas Moore humbly vppon his knee,
did begge the liues of all, since on his woord
they did so gently yeeld. The King hath graunted it,
and made him Lord high Chauncellour of England,
according as he woorthily deserues.
Since Lincolnes life cannot be had againe,
then for the rest, from my dread Soueraignes lippes,
I heere pronounce free pardon for them all.

All.
God saue the King, God saue the King, &fslash; flinging vp cappes

-- 25 --


my good Lord Chauncellour and the Earle of Surrey.

Doll.
And doll desires it from her very hart,
Moores name may liue for this right noble part.
And whensoere we talke of ill May day: note
notepraise Moore

Sur.
noteIn hope his highnesse clemencie and mercie, Fol. 11b
which in the armes of milde and meeke compassion
would rather clip you, as the loouing Nursse
oft dooth the waywarde Infant, then to leaue you,
to the sharp rodd of Iustice so to drawe you,
to shun such lewde assemblies, as beget
vnlawfull riots and such trayterous acts,
that striking with the hand of priuate hate,
maime your deare countrie with a publique wounde.
Oh God, that mercie, whose maiestick browe,
noteshould be vnwrinckled, and that awefull iustice,
which looketh through a vaile of sufferaunce
vppon the frailtie of the multitude
should with the clamours of outragious wrongs,
be stird and wakened thus to punishment.
But your deserued death he dooth forgiue,
who giues you life, pray all he long may liue

All.
God saue the King, God saue the King,
my good Lord Chauncellour and the Earle of Surrey.
—exeunt.
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Anon. [1911], The book of Sir Thomas More (, Oxford) [word count] [S39300].
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