Sir Thomas More
Act V, Scene 1
The Tower Gate.
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Enter the Warders of the Tower, with halberds.
First Warder of the Tower
1
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Ho, make a guard there!
Second Warder of the Tower
2 - 3
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Master Lieutenant gives a straight command,
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The people be avoided from the bridge.
Third Warder of the Tower
4
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From whence is he committed, who can tell?
First Warder of the Tower
5
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From Durham House, I hear.
Second Warder of the Tower
6
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The guard were waiting there are hour ago.
Third Warder of the Tower
7 - 8
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If he stay long, he’ll not get near the wharf,
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There’s such a crowd of boats upon the Thames.
Second Warder of the Tower
9 - 11
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Well, be it spoken without offense to any,
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A wiser or more virtuous gentleman
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Was never bred in England.
Third Warder of the Tower
12 - 15
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I think, the poor will bury him in tears:
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I never heard a man, since I was born,
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So generally bewailed of every one.
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Enter a Poor Woman.
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What means this woman?—Whether dost thou press?
First Warder of the Tower
16
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This woman will be trod to death anon.
Second Warder of the Tower
17
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What makest thou here?
Poor Woman
18
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To speak with that good man, Sir Thomas More.
Second Warder of the Tower
19
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To speak with him! He’s not Lord Chancellor.
Poor Woman
20
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The more’s the pity, sir, if it pleased God.
Second Warder of the Tower
21 - 22
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Therefore, if thou hast a petition to deliver,
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Thou mayst keep it now, for any thing I know.
Poor Woman
23 - 26
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I am a poor woman, and have had (God knows)
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A suit this two year in the Chancery;
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And he hath all the evidence I have
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Which should I lose, I am utterly undone.
Second Warder of the Tower
27 - 30
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Faith, and I fear thoult hardly come by am now;
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I am sorry for thee, even with all my heart.
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Enter the Lords of Shrewsbury and Surrey with Sir Thomas
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More, and Attendants, and enter Lieutenant and Gentleman
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Porter.
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Woman, stand back, you must avoid this place;
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The lords must pass this way into the Tower.
More
31 - 32
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I thank your lordships for your pains thus far
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To my strong house.
Poor Woman
33 - 35
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Now, good Sir Thomas More, for Christ’s dear sake,
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Deliver me my writings back again
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That do concern my title.
More
36 - 41
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What, my old client, are thou got hither too?
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Poor silly wretch, I must confess indeed,
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I had such writings as concern thee near;
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But the king has ta’en the matter into his own hand;
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He has all I had. Then, woman, sue to him;
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I cannot help thee; thou must bear with me.
Poor Woman
42 - 43
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Ah, gentle heart, my soul for thee is sad!
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Farewell the best friend that the poor e’er had.
Gentleman Porter
44 - 45
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Before you enter through the Towergate,
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Your upper garment, sir, belongs to me.
More
46
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Sir, you shall have it; there it is.
Gentleman Porter
47
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The upmost on your back, sir; you mistake me.
More
48 - 50
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Sir, now I understand ye very well:
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But that you name my back,
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Sure else my cap had been the uppermost.
Shrewsbury
51
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Farewell, kind lord; God send us merry meeting!
Surrey
53
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Farewell, dear friend; I hope your safe return.
More
54 - 55
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My lord, and my dear fellow in the Muses,
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Farewell; farewell, most noble poet.
Lieutenant
56
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Adieu, most honored lords.
More
57 - 69
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Fair prison, welcome; yet, methinks,
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For thy fair building ’tis too foul a name.
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Many a guilty soul, and many an innocent,
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Have breathed their farewell to thy hollow rooms.
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I oft have entered into thee this way;
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Yet, I thank God, ne’er with a clear conscience
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Than at this hour:
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This is my comfort yet, how hard soe’er
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My lodging prove, the cry of the poor suitor,
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Fatherless orphan, or distressed widow,
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Shall not disturb me in my quiet sleep.
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On, then, i’God’s name, to our close abode!
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God is as strong here as he is abroad.
