to my face From hence nere will I wash this bloody staine Til Ardens hart be panting in my hand Gre. Why that 's wel said but what saith shakbag Shak. I cannot paint my valour out with words But giue me place and opportunitie Such mercy as the staruen Lyones When she is dry suckt of her eager young Showes to the pray that next encounters her On Arden so much pitty would I take Gre. So should it faire with men of firme resolue And now sirs seeing this accident Of meeting him in Paules hath no successe Let vs bethinke vs on some other place Whose earth may swallow vp this Ardens bloode Here enters Michaell Se yonder comes his man and wat you what The foolish knaue is in loue with Mosbies sister And for her sake whose loue he cannot get Unlesse Mosbie solicit his sute The villaine hath sworne the slaughter of his maister Wee le question him for he may stead vs muche How now Michael whether are you going Mic. My maister hath new supt And I am going to prepare his chamber Gre. Where supt M. Arden Mic. At the Nages head at the 18 pence ordinarye How now M. Shakbag what Black Wil Gods déere lady how chaunce your face is so bloody Wil. Go too sirra there is a chaunce in it This sawcines in you wil make you be knockt Mic. Nay and you be offended I le be gone Gre. Stay michael you may not scape vs so Michael I knowe you loue your M. wel Mic. Why so I do but wherefore vrdge you that Gre. Because I thinke you loue your mistres better So think not I but say yfaith what if I should Shak. Come to the purpose Michael we heare You haue a pretty loue in Feuershame Mic. Why haue I two or three what 's that to thée Wil. You deale to mildely with the pesant thus it is T is known to vs you loue mosbies sister We know besides that you haue tane your oath To further Mosbie to your mistres bed And kill your M. for his sisters sake Now sir a poorer coward then your selfe Was neuer fostered in the coast of Kent Now comes it then that such a knave as you Dare sweare a matter of such consequence Gre. Ah will Will Tush giue me leaue ther 's no more but this Sith thou hast sworne we dare discouer all And hadst thou or shouldst thou vtter it We haue deuised a complat vnder hand What euer shall betide to any of vs To send thee roundly to the diuell of hell And therefore thus I am the very man Markt in my birth howre by the destynies To giue an end to Ardens lyfe on earth Thou but a member but to whet the knife Whose edge must search the closet of his breast Thy office is but to appoint the place And traine thy M. to his tragedy Myne to performe it when occasion serues Then be not nice but here deuise with vs How and what way we may conclude his death Sha. So shalt thou purchase Mosbie for thy frend And by his frendship gaine his sisters loue Gre So shal thy mistres be thy fauorer And thou disburdned of the oath thou made Mic. Wel gentlemen I cannot but confesse Sith you haue vrdged me so aparantly That I haue vowed my M. Ardens death And he whose kindly loue and liberall hand Doth challenge naught but good deserts of me I wil delyuer ouer to your hands This night come to his house at Aldersgate The dores I le leaue vnlockt against you come No sooner shall ye enter through the latch Ouer the thresholde to the inner court But on your left hand shall you sée the staires That leads directly to my M. chamber There take him and dispose him as ye please Now it were good we parted company What I haue promised I will performe Wil. Should you deceive vs t would go wrong with you Mic. I will accomplish al I haue reuealde Wil. Come let 's go drinke choller makes me as drye as a dog Exeunt Will Gre and Shak. Manet Michaell Mic. Thus féedes the Lambe securely on the downe Whilst through the thicket of an arber brake The hunger bitten Woulfe orepryes his hant And takes aduantage to eat him vp Ah harmeles Arden how how hast thou misdone That thus thy gentle lyfe is leueld at The many good turnes that thou hast don to me Now must I quitance with betraying thee I that should take the weapon in my hand And buckler thée from ill intending foes Do lead thée with a wicked fraudfull smile As vnsuspected to the slaughterhouse So haue I sworne to Mosby and my mistres So haue I promised to the slaughtermen And should I not deale currently with them Their lawles rage would take reuenge on me Tush I will spurne at mercy for this once Let pittie lodge where féeble women ly I am resolued and Arden néeds must die Exit Michaell Here enters Arden Fran. Arden No Francklin no if feare or stormy threts If loue of me or care of womanhoode If feare of God or common speach of men Who mangle credit with their wounding words And cooch dishonor as dishonor buds Might soyne repentaunce in her wanton thoughts No question then but she would turne the lease And sorrow for her desolution But she is rooted in her wickednes Peruerse and stobburne not to be reclaimde Good counsell is to her as raine to weedes And reprehension makes her vice to grow As Hydraes head that perisht by decay Her faults me think are painted in my face For euery searching eye to ouer réede And Mosbies name a scandale vnto myne Is deeply trenched in my blushing brow Ah Francklin Francklin when I think on this My harts greefe rends my other powers Worse then the conflict at the houre of death Farn. Gentle Arden leaue this sad lament She will amend and so your gréefes will cease Or els she le die and so your sorrows end If neither of these two do happely fall Yet let your comfort be that others beare Your woes twice doubled all with patience Ard. My house is irksome there I cannot rest Fra. Then stay with me in London go not home Ard. Then that base Mosbie doth vsurpe my roome And makes his triumphe of my béeing thence At home or not at home where ere I be Heere heere it lyes ah Francklin here it lyes That wil not out till wretched Arden dies Here enters Michaell Fra. Forget your gréefes a while héer coms your man Ard. What a Clock i st sirra Mic. Almost ten Ard. Sée sée how runnes away the weary time Come M. Franklin shal we go to bed Exeunt Arden Michaell Manet Francklin Fran. I pray you go before I le follow you Ah what a hell is fretfull Ielousie What pitty moning words what déepe fetcht sighes What gréeuous grones and ouerlading woes Accompanies this gentle gentleman Now will he shake his care oppressed head Then fix his sad eis on the sollen earth Ashamed to gaze vpon the open world Now will
Ma. I feare me you le proue one of them your selfe Ale I one of them what meane such questions Fra. I feare me he was murthred in this house And carried to the fields for from that place Backwards and forwards may you see The print of many feete within the snow And looke about this chamber where we are And you shall finde part of his giltles bloode For in his slipshoe did I finde some rushes Which argueth he was murthred in this roome Ma. Looke in the place where he was wont to sit Sèe see his blood it is too manifest Ales It is a cup of Wine that michaell shed Mic. I truely Fran. It is his bloode which strumpet thou hast shed But if I liue thou and thy complices Which have conspired and wrought his death Shall rue it Ales Ah M. Francklin God and heauen can tell I loued him more then all the world beside But bring me to him let me sée his body Fra. Bring that villaine and mosbies sister too And one of you go to the flowre deluce And séeke for mosbie and apprehend him to Exeunt Here enters shakebag solus Sh. The widdow chambly in her husbands dayes I kept And now he 's dead she is growne so stout She will not know her ould companions I came thither thinking to haue had Harbour as I was wount And she was ready to thrust me out at doores But whether she would or no I got me up And as she followed me I spurnd her down the staires And broke her neck and cut her tapsters throat And now I am going to fling them in the Temes I have the gould what care I though it be knowne I le crosse the water and take sanctuary Exit shakbag Here enters the Maior Mosbie Ales Francklin Michaell and Susan Maior Sée M. Arden where your husband lyes Confesse this foule fault and be penitent Ales Arden sweete husband what shall I say The more I sound his name the more he bleedes This bloode condemnes me and in gushing foorth Speakes as it falles and askes me why I did it Forgiue me Arden I repent me nowe And would my death saue thine thou shouldst not dye Ryse vp swete Arden and enioy thy loue And frowne not on me when we mete in heauen In heauen I loue thee though on earth I did not Maior Say Mosby what made thée murther him Fra. Study not for an answer looke not down His pursse and girdle found at thy beds head Witnes sufficiently thou didst the deede It bootles is to sweare thou didst it not Mos. I hyred black Will and Shakebagge Ruffynes both And they and I haue done this murthrous deed But wherefore stay we Come and beare me hence Fran. Those Ruffins shall not escape I will vp to London and get the counsels warrand to apprehend them Exeunt Here enters Will Will Shakebag I heare hath taken sanctuary But I am so pursued with hues and cryes For petty robberies that I haue done That I can come vnto no Sanctuary Therefore must I in some Oyster bote At last be faine to go a boord some Hoye And so to Flushing there is no staying here At Sittinburgh the watch was like to take me And had I not with my buckler couerd my head And run full blanck at all aduentures I am sure I had nere gone further then that place For the Constable had 20 warrands to apprehend me Besides that I robbed him and his Man once at Gades hill Farewell England I le to Flushing now Exit Will Here enters the Maior Mosbye Ales Michaell Susan and Bradshaw Maior Come make haste bring away the prisoners Brad. M. Arden you are now going to God And I am by the law condemned to die About a letter I brought from M. Grèene I pray you M. Arden speak the trueth Was I euer priuie to your intent or no Ales What should I say You brought me such a letter But I dare sweare thou knewest not the contents Leaue now to trouble me with wordly things And let me meditate vpon my sauiour Christ Whose bloode must saue me for the bloode I shed Mos. How long shall I live in this hell of griefe Conuey me from the presence of that strumpet Ales. Ah but for thee I had neuer beene strumpet What can not oathes and protestations doe When men haue opportunity to woe I was too young to sound thy villanies But now I finde it and repent too late Su. Ah gentle brother wherefore should I die I knew not of it till the deed was don Mos. For thée I mourne more then for my selfe But let it suffice I can not saue thee now Mic. And if your brother and my Mistres Had not promised me you in marriage I had nere giuen consent to this foule deede Maior Leaue to accuse each other now And listen to the sentence I shall giue Beare Mosbie and his sister to London straight Where they in smithfield must be executed Beare M. Arden unto Canterburye Where her sentence is she must be burnt Michaell and Bradshaw in Feuershame must suffer death Ales Let my death make a mends for all my sinnes Mos. Fy vpon women this shall be my song But beare me hence for I haue liued to long Susan Seing no hope on earth in heauen is my hope Mic. Faith I care not seeing I die with Susan Brad. My bloode be on his head that gaue the sentence Maior To speedy execution with them all Exeunt Heere enters Francklin Fran. Thus haue you seene the trueth of Ardens death As for the Ruffins Shakbag and blacke Will The one tooke Sanctuary and being sent for out Was murthred in Southwark as he past To Greenewitch where the Lord Protector lay Black Will was burnt in flushing on a stage Grèene was hanged at Osbridge in Kent The Painter fled how he dyed we know not But this aboue the rest is to be noted Arden lay murthred in that plot of ground Which he by force and violence held from Rede And in the grasse his bodyes print was seene Two yéeres and more after the deede was doone Gentlemen we hope you le pardon this naked Tragedy Wherin no filed points are foisted in To make it gratious to the eare or eye For simple trusth is gratious enough And needes no other points of glosing stuffe FINIS
so Ielious And these my marrow prying neighbours blab Hinder our meetings when we would conferre But if I live that block shall be removed And Mosbie thou that comes to me by stelth shalt neither feare the biting speach of men Nor Ardens lookes as surely shall he die as I abhorre him and loue onely thée Here enters Michaell Now now Michaell whether are you going Michael To fetch my masters nagge I hope you le thinke on mee Ales. I But Michaell sée you keepe your oath And be as secret as you are resolute Michaell I le see he shall not liue aboue a weeke Ales. On that condition Michaell here is my hand None shall haue Mosbies sister but thy selfe Michaell I understand the Painter heere hard by Hath made reporte that he and Sue is sure Ales. There 's no such matter Michaell beleeve it not Michael But he hath sent a dagger sticking in a hart With a verse or two stollen from a painted cloath The which I heere the wench kéepes in her chest Well let her kepe it I shall finde a fellow That can both write and read and make rime too And if I doo well I say no more I le send from London such a taunting letter As shall eat the hart he sent with salt And sling the dagger at the Painters head Ales. What needes all this I say that Susan 's thine Michaell Why then I say that I will kill my master Or any thing that you will haue me doo Ales. But Michaell see you doo it cunningly Michaell Why say I should be tooke I le nere confesse That you know any thing and Susan being a Maide May begge me from the gallous of the Shriefe Ales. Truste not to that Michaell Michaell You can not tell me I haue seene it I But mistres tell her whether I liue or die I le make her more woorth then twenty Painters can For I will rid myne elder brother away And then the farme of Bolton is mine owne Who would not venture vpon house and land When he may haue it for a right downe blowe Here enters Mosbie Ales. Yonder comes Mosbie Michaell get thee gone And let not him nor any knowe thy drifts Exit Michaell Mosbie my loue Mosbie Away I say and talke not to me now Ales. A word or two sweete hart and then I will T is yet but early daies thou needest not feare Mosbie Where is your husband Ales. T is now high water and he is at the key Mos. There let him be hence forward know me not Ales. Is this the end of all thy solemne oathes Is this the frute thy reconcilement buds Have I for this giuen thée so many fauours Incurd my husbands hate and out alas Made shipwrack of myne honour for thy sake And doest thou say hence forward know me not Remember when I lockt the in my closet What were thy words and mine did we not both Decree to murder Arden in the night The heauens can witnes and the world can tell Before I saw that falshoode looke of thine Fore I was tangled with thy tysing speach Arden to me was dearer then my soule And shall be still base pesant get thée gone And boast not of thy conquest ouer me Gotten by witch-craft and méere sorcery For what hast thou to countenaunce my loue béeing discended of a noble house And matcht already with a gentleman Whose seruant thou maist be and so farewell Mos. Ungentle and vnkinde Ales now I sée That which I ever feard and finde too trew A womans loue is as the lightning flame Which euen in bursting forth consumes it selfe To trye thy constancie haue I béene strange Would I had neuer tryed but liued in hope Ales. What needs thou try me whom thou neuer found false Mos. Yet pardon me for loue is Ielious Ales. So list the Sailer to the Marmaids song So lookes the trauellour to the Baūliske I am content for to be reconcilde And that I know will be mine overthrow Mos. Thine ouerthrow first let the world dissolue Ales. Nay Mosbie let me still inioye thy loue And happen what will I am resolute My sauing husband hoordes vp bagges of gould To make our children rich and now is hee Gone to vnload the goods that shall be thine And he and Francklin will to London straight Mos. To London Ales if thou lt be rulde by mée Wee le make him sure enough for comming there Ales. Ah would we could Mos. I happend on a Painter yesternight The onely cunning man of Christendoome For he can temper poyson with his oyle That who so lookes vpon the worke he drawes Shall with the beames that issue from his sight Suck venomme to his breast and slay him selfe Sweete Ales he shall draw thy counterfet That Arden may by gaizing on it perish Ales. I but Mosbie that is dangerous For thou or I or any other els Comming into the Chamber where it hangs may die Mos. I but wee le haue it couered with a cloath And hung vp in the studie for himselfe Ales. It may not be for when the pictur 's drawne Arden I know will come and shew it me Mos. Feare not wee le haue that shall serue the turne This is the painters house I le call him foorth Ales. But Mosbie I le have no such picture I Mos. I pray thoe leaue it to my discretion Now Clarke Here enters Clarke O you are an honest man of your word you serud me wel Clark Why sir I le do it for you at any time Prouided as you haue giuen your worde I may haue Susan Mosbie to my wife For as sharpe witted Poets whose sweete verse Make heauenly gods break of their Nector draughts And lay their eares down to the lowly earth Use humble promise to their sacred Muse So we that are the Poets fauorite Must haue a loue I Loue is the Painters Muse That makes him frame a speaking countenaunce A weeping eye that witnesses hartes griefe Then tell me Master Mosbie shall I haue hir Ales. T is pittie but he should hee le vse her well Mosbie Clarke héer 's my hand my sister shall be thine Cla. Then brother to requite this curtesie You shall command my lyfe my skill and all Ales. Ah that thou couldst be secret Mosbie Feare him not leaue I have talkt sufficient Cla. You know not me that ask such questions Let it suffice I know you loue him well And faine would haue your husband made away Wherein trust me you shew a noble minde That rather then you le liue with him you hate You le venture lyfe and die with him you loue The like will I do for my Susans sake Ales. Yet nothing could inforce me to the deed But Mosbies loue might I without controll Injoy thee still then Arden should not die But seeing I cannot therefore let him die Mos. Enough sweete Ales thy kinde words makes me melt Your tricke of poysoned pictures we dislyke Some other poyson would do better farre Ales. I such as might
be put into his broth And yet in taste not to be found at all Clarke I know your minde and here I haue it for you Put but a dram of this into his drinke Or any kinde of broth that he shall eat And he shall die within an houre after Ales. As I am a gentle woman Clarke next day Thou and Susan shall be maried Mos. And I le mak her dowry more thē I le talk of Clark Clarke Yonder 's your husband Mosbie I le be gone Here enters Arden and Francklin Ales. In good time sée where my husband comes Maister Mosbie aske him the question your selfe Exit Clarke Mos. Maister Arden being at London yester night The Abby lands whereof you are now possest Were offred me on some occasion By Greene one of sir Antony Agers men I pray you sir tell me are not the lands yours Hath any other interest herein Arden Mosby that question we le decyde anon Ales make ready my brekfast I must hence Exit Ales. As for the lands mosbie they are mine By letters patents from his Maiesty But I must haue a Mandat for my wyfe They say you seeke to robbe me of her loue Villaine what makes thou in her company Shée s no companion for so base a groome Mosbie Arden I thought not on her I came to thée But rather then I pocket vp this wrong Francklin What will you doo sir Mos. Reuenge it on the proudest of you both Then Arden drawes forth Mosbies sword Arden So sirha you may not weare a sword The statute makes against artificers I warrand that I doo now vse your bodkin Your spanish needle and your pressing Iron For this shall go with me and marke my words You goodman botcher t is to you I speake The next time that I take thee neare my house In steede of Legs I le make thee crall on stumps Mos. Ah maister Arden you have inturde mée I doo appeale to God and to the world Fran. Why canst thou deny thou wert a botcher once Mos. Measure me what I am not what I was Ar. Why what art thou now but a Veluet drudge A cheating steward and base minded pesant Mos. Arden now thou hast belcht and vomited The rancorous venome of thy mis-swolne hart Heare me but speake as I intend to liue With God and his elected saints in heauen I neuer meant more to solicit her And that she knowes and all the world shall sée I loued her once sweete Arden pardon me I could not chuse her beauty fyred my hearte But time hath quench't these ouerraging coles And Arden though I now frequent thy house T is for my sisters sake her waiting maid And not for hers maiest thou enioy her long Hell fyre and wrathfull vengeance light on me If I dishonor her or iniure thée Ard. Mosbie with these thy protestations The deadly hatred of my hart is appealed And thou and I le be freends if this proue trew As for the base tearmes I gaue thee late Forget them Mosbie I had cause to speake When all the Knights and gentlemen of Kent Make common table talke of her and thée Mos. Who liues that is not toucht with slaunderous tongues Fra. Then Mosbie to eschew the speache of men Upon whose generall brute all honor hangs Forbeare his house Ard. Forbeare it nay rather frequent it more The worlde shall see that I distrust her not To warne him on the sudden from my house Were too confirme the rumour that is growne Mos. By faith my sir you say trew And therefore will I soiourne here a while Untill our enemies haue talkt their fill And then I hope thei le cease and at last confesse How causeles they haue inturde her and me Ard. And I will ly at London all this tearme To let them see how light I wey their words Here enters Ales. Ales. Husband sit down your brekfast will be could Ard. Come M. Mosbie will you sit with vs Mos. I can not eat but I le sit for company Ard. Sirra Michaell see our horse be ready Ales. Husband why pause ye why eat you not Ard. I am not well ther 's something in this broth That is not holesome didst thou make it Ales Ales. I did and that 's the cause it likes not you Then she throwes down the broth on the grounde Ther 's nothing that I do can please your taste You were best to say I would haue poysoned you I cannot speak or cast aside my eye But he Imagines I have stept awry Here 's he that you cast in my teeth so oft Now will I be conuinced or purge my selfe I charge thee speake to this mistrustfull man Thou that wouldst see me hange thou Mosbye thou What fauour hast thou had more then a kisse At comming or departing from the Towne Mos. You wrong your selfe and me to cast these douts Your louing husband is not Ielious Ard. Why gentle mistres Ales cannot I be ill But you le accuse your selfe Franckline thou haste a boxe of Methridate I le take a lytle to preuent the worst Fran. Do so and let vs presently take horse My lyfe for yours ye shall do well enough Ales. Giue me a spoone I le le eat of it my selfe Would it were full of poyson to the brim Then should my cares and troubles haue an end Was euer silly woman so tormented Arden Be patient sweete loue I mistrust not thée Ales. God will reuenge it Arden if thou doest For neuer woman lou'd her husband better thē I do thee Ard. I know it sweete Ales cease to complaine Least that in feares I answer thee againe Fran. Come leaue this dallying and let vs away Ales. Forbeare to wound me with that bitter word Arden shall go to London in my armes Arden Loth am I to depart yet I must go Ales. Wilt thou to London then and leaue me here Ah if thou loue me gentle Arden stay Yet if thy busines be of great Import Go if thou wilt I le beare it as I may But write from London to me euery weeke Nay euery day and stay no longer there Then thou must nedes least that I die for sorrow Arden I le write vnto thee euery other side And so farewell sweete Ales till we meete next Ales. Farewell Husband seeing you le haue it so And M Francklin seeing you take him hence In hope you le hasten him home I le give you this and then she kisseth him Fran. And if he stay the fault shall not be mine Mosbie farewell and see you kéepe your oath Mosbie I hope he is not Ielious of me now Arden No Mosbie no hereafter thinke of me As of your dearest frend and so farewell Exeunt Arden Franklin Michaell Ales. I am glad he is gone he was about to stay But did you marke me then how I brake of Mosbie I Ales and it was cunningly performed But what a villaine is this painter Clarke Ales. Was it not a goodly poyson that he gaue Why he 's as well
Ard. her answer then I wonder how she lookt Hauing forsworne it with such vehement oathes And at the instant so approued vppon her Fra. First did she cast her eyes down to the earth Watching the drops that fell amaine from thence Then softly drawes she foorth her hand kercher And modestly she wypes her teare staind face Then hemd she out to cleare her voice should séeme And with a maiesty addrest her selfe To encounter all their accusations Pardon me M. Arden I can no more This fighting at my hart makes shorte my wynde Ard. Come we are almost now at Raynum downe Your pretty tale beguiles the weary way I would you were in state to tell it out Shak. Stand close Will I heare them cumming Here enters Lord Cheiny with his men Wil. Stand to it Shakbag and be resolute Lord Che. Is it so néere night as it séemes Or wil this black faced euening haue a showre What M. Arden you are well met I haue longd this fortnights day to speake with you You are a stranger man in the ile of Shepny Ard. Your honors alwayes bound to do you seruice Lord Che. Come you from London nere a man with you Ard. My man's comming after But her 's my honest fréend that came along with me Lord Che. My Lord protectors man I take you to bée Fran. I my good Lord and highly bound to you Lord Che. You your frend come home sup with me Ard. I beséech your honor pardon me I haue made a promise to a gentle man My honest fréend to méete him at my house The occasion is great or els would I wait on you Lord C. Will you come tomorrow dyne with me And bring your honest frend along with you I haue dyuers matters to talke with you about Arden Tomorrow we le waite vpon your honor Lord C. One of you staye my horse at the top of the hil What black Will for whose purse wait you Thou wilt be hanged in Kent when all is done Wil. Not hanged God saue your honor I am your bedesman bound to pray for you Lord C. I think thou nere saidest prayer in all thy lyfe One of you giue him a crowne And sirra leaue this kinde of lyfe If thou beest tainted for a penny matter And come in question surely thou wilt trusse Come M. Arden let vs be going Youre way and mine lyes foure myle togeather Exeunt Manet Black Wil Shakbag Wil The Deuill break all your necks at 4 myles end Zounds I could kill my selfe for very anger His Lordship chops me in euen when My dagge was leaueld at his hart I would his crowne were molten down his throat Sha. Arden thou hast wondrous holye luck Did euer man escape as thou hast done VVell I le discharge my pistoll at the skye For by this bullet Arden might not die Here enters Greene Gre. VVhat is he down is he dispatcht Sha. I in health towards Feuershame to shame vs all Gre. The Devill he is why sirs how escapt he shak VVhen we were ready to shoote Comes my Lord Cheiny to preuent his death Grene. The Lord of heauen hath preserued him Will Preserued a figge the L. Cheiny hath preserued him And bids him to a feast to his house at shorlow But by the way once more I le méete with him And if all the Cheinies in the world say no I le haue a bullet in his breast to morrow Therefore come Gréene and let vs to Feuershame Gre. I and excuse our selues to mistres Arden O how she le chafe when she heares of this sha. VVhy I le warrant you she l think we dare not do it Wil. VVhy then let vs go tell her all the matter And plat the newes to cut him of to morrow Exeunt Here enters Arden and his wife Francklin and Michaell Ard. Sée how the howrs the gardeant of heauens gate Haue by their toyle remoued the darksome cloudes That Soll may wel deserue the trampled pace VVherein he wount to guide his golden car The season fits come Francklin let 's a way Ales. I thought you did pretend some speciall hunt That made you thus cut shorte the time of rest Ard. It was no chase that made me rise so early But as I tould thée yesternight to go to the Ile of Sheppy There to dine with my Lord Cheiny For so his honor late commanded me Ales. I such kinde husbands seldome want excuses Home is a wilde Cat to a wandring wit The time hath bene would God it were not past That honors tytle nor a Lords command Could once haue drawne you from these armes of mine But my deserts or your deserues decay Or both yet if trew loue may séeme desert I merite stil to haue thy company Fran. VVhy I pray you sir let her go along with vs I am sure his honor wil welcome her And vs the more for bringing her along Ard. Content sirra saddle your mistres nagge Ales. No begde fauor merits little thankes If I should go our house would runne away Or els be stolne therefore I le stay behind Ard. Nay see how mistaking you are I pray thee goe Ales. No no not now Ard. Then let me leaue thée satisfied in this That time nor place nor persons alter me But that I hould thée deerer then my life Ales. That will be séene by your quick returne Ard. And that shall be ere night and if I liue Farewell swéete Ales we mind to sup with thee Exit Al. Fra. Come Michaell are our horses ready Mic. I your horse are ready but I am not ready For I haue lost my purse With six and thirtie shillinges in it With taking vp of my M. Nagge Fra. Why I pray you let vs go before Whilest he stayes behind to séeke his purse Ard. Go too sirra sée you follow vs to the ile of sheppye To my Lord Cheynyes where we meane to dine Exeunt Arden Francklin Manet Michaell Mic. So faire weather after you For before you lyes black Will and shakebag In the broome close to close for you They le be your ferrymen to long home Here enters the Painter But who is this the Painter my corriual That would nedes winne M. Susan Clark How now Michael how doth my Mistresse And all at home Mic. Who susan Mosbye she is your Mistres too Cla. I How doth she and all the rest Mic. Al 's well but susan she is sicke Cla. Sick of what disease Mic. Of a great feare Cla. A feare of what Mic. A great feuer Cla. A feuer God forbidde Mic. Yes faith and of a lordaine too As bigge as your selfe Cla. M. Michaell the spleane prickles you Go too you carry an eye ouer mistres susan Mic. I faith to keepe her from the Painter Cla. Why more from a Painter then from a seruing creature like your selfe Mic. Because you Painters make but a painting table of a pretty wench and spoile her beauty with blotting Cla. What meane you by that Mic. Why that
he cast his eyes vp towards the heauens Looking that waies for redresse of wrong Some times he séeketh to beguile his griefe And tels a story with his carefull tongue Then comes his wiues dishonor in his thoughts And in the middle cutteth of his tale Powring fresh sorrow on his weary lims So woe begone so inlye charged with woe Was neuer any lyued and bare it so Here enters Michaell Mic. My M. would desire you come to bed Fra. Is he himselfe already in his bed Exit Fran. Manet Mic. Mic. He is and faine would haue the light away Conflicting thoughts incamped in my brest Awake me with the Echo of their strokes And I a iudge to censure either side Can giue to neither wished victory My masters kindnes pleads to me for lyfe With iust demaund and I must grant it him My mistres she hath forced me with an oath For Susans sake the which I may not breake For that is nearer thē a masters loue That grim faced fellow pittiles black Will And Shakebag stearne in bloody stratageme Two Ruffer Ruffins neuer liued in Kent Haue sworne my death if I infrindge my vow A dreadfull thing to be considred of Me thinks I see them with their bolstred haire Staring and grinning in thy gentle face And in their ruthles hands their dagers drawne Insulting ore thee with a peck of oathes Whilest thou submissiue pleading for reléefe Art mangled by their irefull instruments Me thinks I heare them aske where Michaell is And pittiles black Will cryes stab the slaue The Pesant will detect the Tragedy The wrincles in his fowle death threatning face Gapes open wide lyke graues to swallow men My death to him is but a merryment And he will murther me to make him sport He comes he comes ah M. Francklin helpe Call vp the neighbors or we are but dead Here enters Fran. Arden Fran. What dismall outcry cals me from my rest Ard. What hath occasiond such a fearefull crye Speake Michaell hath any iniurde thée Mic. Nothing sir but as I fell a sleepe Upon the thresholde leaning to the staires I had a fearfull dreame that troubled me And in my slumber thought I was beset With murtherer theeues that came to rifle me My trembling ioints witnes my inward feare I craue your pardons for disturbing you Ard. So great a cry for nothing I nere heard What are the doores fast lockt and al things safe Mic. I cannot tel I think I lockt the doores Ard. I like not this but I le go sée my selfe Nere trust me but the doores were all vnlockt This negligence not halfe contenteth me Get you to bed and if you loue my fauour Let me haue no more such pranckes as these Come M. Francklin let vs go to bed Farn. I by my Faith the aire is very colde Exeunt Michaell farewell I pray thee dreame no more Sha. Black night hath hid the pleasurs of that day Here enters Will Gre and Shak. And sheting darknesse ouerhangs the earth And with the black folde of her cloudy robe Obscures vs from the eiesight of the worlde In which swete silence such as we triumph The laysie minuts linger on their time Loth to give due audit to the howre Til in the watch our purpose be complete And Arden sent to euerlasting night Greene get you gone and linger here about And at some houre hence come to vs againe Where we will giue you instance of his death Gre. Speede to my wish whose wil so sayes no And so I le leaue you for an howre or two Exit Gre. Will I tel thoe Shakebag would this thing wer don I am so heauy that I can scarse go This drowsines in me bods little good Shake. How now Will become a precissian Nay then le ts go sleepe when buges and feares Shall kill our courages with their fancies worke Will Why Shakbagge thou mistakes me much And wrongs me to in telling me of feare Wert not a serious thing we go about It should be slipt til I had sought with thée To let thée know I am no coward I I tel thee Shakbag thou abusest me Sha. Why thy speach bewraied an inlye kind of feare And fauourd of a weak relenting spirit Go forward now in that we haue begonne And afterwards attempt me when thou darest Wil. And if I do not heauen cut me of But let that passe and show me to this house Where thou shalt sée I le do as much as Shakbag Sha. This is the doore but soft me thinks t is shut The villaine Michaell hath deceiued vs Wil. Soft let me sée shakbag t is shut indéed Knock with thy sword perhaps the slaue will heare Sha. It will not be the white liuerd pesant is gon to bed And laughs vs both to scorne Wil. And he shall by his mirriment as deare As euer coistrell bought so little sport Here let this sworde assist me when I neede But rust and canker after I haue sworne If I the next time that I mete the hind Loppe not away his leg his arme or both Sha. And let me neuer draw a sword againe Nor prosper in the twilight cockshut light When I would fleece the welthie passenger But ly and languish in a loathsome den Hated and spit at by the goers by And in that death may die vnpittied If I the next time that I meete the slaue Cut not the nose from of the cowards face And trample on it for this villany Wil. Come le ts go seeke out Gréen I know he le swear Sha. He were a villane and he would not sweare I would make a pesant sweare amongst his boyes That nere durst say before but yea and no To be thus flouted of a coysterel Will Shakbag le ts seeke out gréen in the morning At the Alehouse butting Ardens house Watch thee out comming of that prick eard cur And then let me alone to handle him Exeunt Here enters Ard. Fra. Michaell Ard. Sirra get you back to billensgate And learne what time the tide will serue our turne Come to vs in Paules first go make the bed And afterwards go harken for the floude Exit Michaell Come M. Francklin you shall go with me This night I dreamed that béeing in a parke A toyle was picht to ouerthrow the deare And I vppon a little rysing hill Stoode whistely watching for the herds approch Euen there me thoughts a gentle slumber tooke me And sommond all my parts to swéete repose But in the pleasure of this golden rest An ill thewd foster had remoued the toyle And rounded me with that beguyling home Which late me thought was pitcht to cast the deare With that he blew an euill sounding horne And at the noise an other heard man came With Fauchon drawn and bent it at my brest Crying aloud thou art the game we séeke With this I wakt and trembled euery ioynt Lyke one oscured in a lytle bushe That sees a lyon foraging about And when the dreadfull forrest King is gone He pryes about with timerous