A day with Cromwell: a drama of history, in five acts, by Auctor.

  • Benjamin Ward Richardson
Date:
1869
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A day with Cromwell: a drama of history, in five acts, by Auctor. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by Royal College of Physicians, London. The original may be consulted at Royal College of Physicians, London.

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    We must retire; here with its noisy guard Cometh the trunk, that twelve hours more doth wear Its grisly head. Be Tours.—I would meet him now. Leonine.—’Twere madness : this way! [Enter Cromwell, surrounded by Guards, and followed by a crowd. Crossing the stage, he is met by a woman bearing a petition.] A Guard.—Hold hack woman : clear for his Highness Cromwell.—Hold there, hold there, who is this ? Our progress can hardly be stayed thus. Bring the woman here. What is thy name, Dame, and thy request ? Margery Beauchamp.—My name, my Lord, is Margery Beauchamp, and my petition that your Highness would admit my son to the Charterhouse in return for his father’s services to the Commonwealth. Cromwell.—I thought the thing were done. Gave I not order for’t some months agone ? Margery.—True, my Lord, but the managers heed it not. Cromwell. [ To Greatorex, Captain of Guard.'] We have no shining bauble on our breast, Nor feather in our cap for fools to gaze at; But we have power for foes to tremble at. We can deny petitions, and whatever We think is proper, for an outward form, We can refer to any officer. But ’tis our mind that such award to custom Shall be an indication of our will And pleasure, that the thing be done forthwith. See, therefore, that the boy be straight received. [Loud cheers from the crowd.] Margery.—Thanks, thanks, your Highness. Cromwell.—No thanks, good Margery. Your husband once Did for ourselves and for the Commonwealth Bight trusty services ; where doth he rest ? Margery.—At Spring Street, Chelsea, my Lord; but so is he afflicted, he leaveth not his bed. Cromwell.—Tell him, to-morrow we will come to him, [Loud cheers.] [A noise as of horsemen approaching.]