Cromwell | Page 9

may I know it?
BOWSER. You may, sir, and so shall all the City. The King of late hath had his treasury robbed, And of the choicest jewels that he had: The value of them was some seven thousand pound. The fellow that did steal these jewels, he is hanged, And did confess that for three hundred pound He sold them to one Bagot dwelling in London: Now Bagot's fled, and, as we hear, to Antwerp, And hither am I come to seek him out; And they that first can tell me of his news Shall have a hundred pound for their reward.
BANISTER. How just is God to right the innocent.
GOVERNOUR. Master Bowser, you come in happy time: Here is the villain Bagot that you seek, And all those jewels have I in my hands. Officers, look to him, hold him fast.
BAGOT. The devil ought me a shame, and now hath paid it.
BOWSER. Is this that Bagot? fellows, bear him hence. We will not now stand for his reply. Lade him with Irons; we will have him tried In England, where his villainies are known.
BAGOT. Mischief, confusion, light upon you all! O hang me, drown me, let me kill my self! Let go my arms; let me run quick to hell.
BOWSER. Away, bear him away; stop the slave's mouth.
[They carry him away.]
MISTRESS BANISTER. Thy works are infinite, great God of heaven.
GOVERNOUR. I heard this Bagot was a wealthy fellow.
BOWSER. He was indeed, for when his goods were seized, Of Jewels, coin, and Plate within his house, Was found the value of five thousand pound; His furniture fully worth half so much, Which being all strained for, for the King, He frankly gave it to the Antwerp merchants, And they again, out of their bounteous mind, Hath to a brother of their company, A man decayed by fortune of the Seas, Given Bagot's wealth, to set him up again, And keep it for him: his name is Banister.
GOVERNOUR. Master Bowser, with this happy news You have revived two from the gates of death: This is that Banister, and this his wife.
BOWSER. Sir, I am glad my fortune is so good, To bring such tidings as may comfort you.
BANISTER. You have given life unto a man deemed dead, For by these news, my life is newly bred.
MISTRESS BANISTER. Thanks to my God, next to my Sovereign King, And last to you that these good hopes doth bring.
GOVERNOUR. The hundred pound I must receive as due For finding Bagot, I freely give to you.
BOWSER. And, Master Banister, if so you please, I'll bear you company, when you cross the Seas.
BANISTER. If it please you, sir; my company is but mean. Stands with your liking, I'll wait on you.
GOVERNOUR. I am glad that all things do accord so well: Come, Master Bowser, let us in to dinner: And, Mistress Banister, be merry, woman! Come, after sorrow now let's cheer your spirit; Knaves have their due, and you but what you merit.
[Exit omnes.]
ACT III. SCENE I. The principal bridge at Florence.
[Enter Cromwell and Hodge in their shirts, and without Hats.]
HODGE. Call ye this seeing of fashions? Marry, would I had stayed at Putney still. O, Master Thomas, we are spoiled, we are gone.
CROMWELL. Content thee, man, this is but fortune.
HODGE. Fortune; a plague of this Fortune makes me go wetshod; the rogues would not leave me a shoe to my feet. For my hose, they scorned them with their heels; but for my Doublet and Hat, O Lord, they embraced me, and unlaced me, and took away my clothes, and so disgraced me.
CROMWELL. Well, Hodge, what remedy? What shift shall we make now?
HODGE. Nay, I know not. For begging I am naught, for stealing worse: by my troth, I must even fall to my old trade, to the Hammer and the Horse heels again: but now the worst is, I am not acquainted with the humor of the horses in this country, whether they are not coltish, given much to kicking, or no; for when I have one leg in my hand, if he should up and lay tother on my chops, I were gone: there lay I, there lay Hodge.
CROMWELL. Hodge, I believe thou must work for us both.
HODGE. O, Master Thomas, have not I told you of this? have not I many a time and often said, Tom, or Master Thomas, learn to make a Horse-shoe, it will be your own another day: this was not regarded. Hark you, Thomas, what do you call the fellows that robbed us?
CROMWELL. The Bandetti.
HODGE. The Bandetti, do you call them? I know not what they are called here, but I am sure we call them plain thieves in England. O Thomas, that we were now at Putney, at the ale there.
CROMWELL. Content thee, man; here set up