XI. ON THOMAS LORD CROMWELL.
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It is ever the fate of a disgraced minister to be forsaken
by his friends, and insulted by his enemies, always reckoning
among the latter the giddy inconstant multitude. We
have here a spurn at fallen greatness from some angry
partisan of declining popery, who could never forgive the
downfall of their Diana, and loss of their craft. The
ballad seems to have been composed between the time of Cromwell's
commitment to the tower June 11. 1540, and that
of his being beheaded July 28. following. A short interval!
but Henry's passion for Catharine Howard would
admit of no delay. Notwithstanding our libeller, Cromwell
had many excellent qualities; his great fault was too much obsequiousness
to the arbitrary will of his master; but let
it be considered that this master had raised him from obscurity,
and that the high-born nobility had shewn him the way
in every kind of mean and servile compliance.—The original
copy printed at London in 1540, is intitled, “A newe
ballade made of Thomas Crumwel, called Trolle on
away.” To it is prefixed this distich by way of burthen,
Trolle on away, trolle on awaye.
Synge heave and howe rombelowe trolle on away.
Both man and chylde is glad to here tell
Of that false traytoure Thomas Crumwel,
Now that he is set to learne to spell.
Synge trolle on away.
When fortune lokyd the in thy face,
Thou haddyst fayre tyme, but thou lackydyst grace;
Thy cofers with golde thou fyllydst a pace.
Synge, &c.
Both plate and chalys came to thy fyst,
Thou lockydst them vp where no man wyst,
Tyll in the kynges treasoure suche thinges were myst.
Synge, &c.
Both crust and crumme came thorowe thy handes,
Thy marchaundyse sayled over the sandes,
Therfore nowe thou art layde fast in bandes.
Synge, &c.
Fyrste when kynge Henry, God saue his grace!
Perceyud myschefe kyndlyd in thy face,
Then it was tyme to purchase the a place.
Synge, &c.
Hys grace was euer of gentyll nature,
Mouyd with petye, and made the hys seruyture;
But thou, as a wretche, suche thinges dyd procure.
Synge, &c.
Thou dyd not remembre, false heretyke,
One God, one fayth, and one kynge catholyke,
For thou hast bene so long a scysmatyke.
Synge, &c.
Thou woldyst not learne to knowe these thre;
But euer was full of iniquite:
Wherfore all this lande hathe ben troubled with the.
Synge, &c.
All they, that were of the new trycke,
Agaynst the churche thou baddest them stycke;
Wherfore nowe thou haste touchyd the quycke.
Synge, &c.
Bothe sacramentes and sacramentalles
Thou woldyst not suffre within thy walles;
Nor let vs praye for all chrysten soules.
Synge, &c.
Of what generacyon thou were no tonge can tell,
Whyther of Chayme, or Syschemell,
Or else sent vs frome the deuyll of hell.
Synge, &c.
Thou woldest neuer to vertue applye,
But couetyd euer to clymme to hye,
And nowe haste thou trodden thy shoo awrye.
Synge, &c.
Who-so-euer dyd winne thou wolde not lose;
Wherfore al Englande doth hate the, as I suppose,
Bycause thou wast false to the redolent rose.
Synge, &c.
Thou myghtest haue learned thy cloth to flocke
Upon thy gresy fullers stocke;
Wherfore lay downe thy heade vpon this blocke.
Synge, &c.
Yet saue that soule, that God hath bought,
And for thy carcas care thou nought,
Let it suffre payne, as it hath wrought.
Synge, &c.
God saue kyng Henry with all his power,
And prynce Edwarde that goodly flowre,
With all hys lordes of great honoure.
Synge trolle on awaye, syng trolle on away.
Hevye and how rombelowe trolle on awaye.
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The foregoing Piece gave rise to a poetic controversy,
which was carried on thro' a succession of seven or eight
Ballads written for and against Lord Cromwell. These
are all preserved in the archives of the Antiquarian Society,
in a large folio Collection of Proclamations, &c. made in the
Reigns of K. Hen. VIII. K. Edw. VI. Q. Mary. Q. Eliz. K. James I. &c.
