THE LAMENTABLE AND TRVE TRAGEDIE OF M. ARDEN OF FEVERSHAM IN KENT Who was most wickedlye murdered by the meanes of his disloyall and wanton wyfe who for the love she bare to one Mosbie hyred two desperat ruffins Blackwill and Shakbag to kill him Wherin is shewed the great mallice and discimulation of a wicked woman the vnsatiable desire of filthie lust and the shamefull end of all murderers Imprinted at London for Edward White dwelling at the lyttle North dore of Paules Church at the signe of the Gun 1592 The Tragedy of M. Arden of Feueshame Enter Arden and Francklin Franklin ARden chéere vp thy spirits and droup no more My gratious Lord the Duke of Sommerset Hath frely giuen to thee and to thy heyres By letters patents from his Maiesty All the lands of the Abby of Feuershame Heer are the deedes sealed subscribed with his name and the kings Read them and leaue this melancholy moode Arden Francklin thy loue prolongs my weary lyfe And but for thee how odious were this lyfe That showes me nothing but torments my soule And those foule obiects that offend myne eies Which makes me wish that for this vale of Heauen The earth hung ouer my heede and couerd mee Loue letters past twixt Mosbie and my Wyfe And they haue preuie méetings in the Towne Nay on his finger did I spy the Ring Which at our Marriage day the Preest put on Can any greefe be halfe so great as this Fran. Comfort thy selfe sweete freend it is not strange That women will be false and wauering Arden I but to doat on such a one as hée Is monstrous Francklin and intollerable Francklin Why what is he Arden A Botcher and no better at the first Who by base brocage getting some small stock Crept into seruice of a noble man And by his seruile flattery and fawning Is now become the steward of his house And brauely iets it in his silken gowne Fran. No noble man will countnaunce such a pesant Arden Yes the Lord Clifford he that loues not mee But through his fauour let not him grow proude For were he by the Lord Protector backt He should not make me to be pointed at I am by birth a gentleman of bloode And that iniurious riball that attempts To vyolate my deare wyues chastitie For deare I holde hir loue as deare as heauen Shall on the bed which he thinks to defile See his disseuered ioints and sinewes torne Whylst on the planchers pants his weary body Smeard in the channels of his lustfull bloode Fran. Be patient gentle freend and learne of me To ease thy griefe and saue her chastitye Intreat her faire sweete words are fittest engines To race the flint walles of a womans breast In any case be not too Ielyouse Nor make no question of her loue to thee But as securely presently take horse And ly with me at London all this tearme For women when they may will not But beeing kept back straight grow outragious Arden Though this abhorres from reason yet I le try it And call her foorth and presently take leaue How Ales Heere enters ales Ales. Husband what meane you to get vp so earely Sommer nights are short and yet yo ryse ere day Had I beene wake you had not rise so soone Ard. Sweet loue thou knowst that we two Ouid like Have often chid the morning when it gan to peepe And often wisht that darke nights purblind steedes Would pull her by the purple mantle back And cast her in the Ocean to her loue But this night sweete Ales thou hast kild my hart I heard thee cal on Mosbie in thy sleepe Ales. T is lyke I was a sleepe when I nam'd him For beeing awake he comes not in my thoughts Arden I but you started vp and suddenly In steede of him caught me about the necke Ales. In steede of him why who was there but you And where but one is how can I mistake Fran. Arden leaue to vrdge her ouer farre Arden Nay loue there is no credit in a dreame Let it suffice I know thou louest me well Ales. Now I remember where vpon it came Had we no talke of Mosbie yesternight Fra. Mistres Ales I hard you name him once or twice Ales. And thereof came it and therefore blame not me Arden I know it did and therefore let it passe I must to London sweete Ales presently Ales. But tell me do you meane to stay there long Arden No longer there till my affaires be done Fran. He will not stay above a month at most Ales. A moneth aye me sweete Arden come againe Within a day or two or els I die Arden I cannot long be from thee gentle Ales Whilest Michel fetch our horses from the field Franklin and I will down vnto the key For I have certaine goods there to vnload Meanewhile prepare our breakfast gentle Ales For yet ere noone we le take horse and away Exeunt Arden Francklin Ales. Ere noone he meanes to take horse and away Sweete newes is this Oh that some ayrie spirit Would in the shape and liknes of a horse Gallope with Arden crosse the Ocean And throw him from his backe into the waues Sweete Mosbie is the man that hath my hart And he vsurpes it hauing nought but this That I am tyed to him by marriage Loue is a God and mariage is but words And therefore Mosbies title is the best Tushe whether it be or no he shall be mine In spight of him of Hymen and of rytes Here enters Adam of the Flourdeluce And here comes Adam of the flourdeluce I hope he brings me tydings of my loue How now Adam what is the newes with you Be not affraid my husband is now from home Adam He whome you wot of Mosbie Mistres Ales Is come to towne and sends you word by mee In any case you may not visit him Ales. Not visit him Adam No nor take no knowledge of his béeing haere Ales. But tell me is he angree or displeased Adam Should seeme so for he is wondrous sad Ales. Were he as mad as rauing Hercules I le see him I and were thy house of force These hands of mine should race it to the ground Whiles that thou would 't bring me to my loue Adam Nay and you be so impatient I le be gone Ales. Stay Adam stay thou wert wont to be my fr̄d Aske Mosbie how I have incurred his wrath Beare him from me these paire of silver dice With which we plaid for kisses many a time And when I lost I wan and so did hée Such winning and such losing Ioue send me And bid him if his loue doo not decline Come this morning but along my dore And as a stranger but salute me there This may he doo without suspect or feare Adam I le tell him what you say and so farewell Exit Adam Ales. Doo and one day I le make amends for all I know he loues me well but dares not come Because my husband is
drinke no water for thy sake whilest this lasts Now gentlemen shall we haue your company to London Gre. Nay stay sirs a lytle more I needs muste vse your helpe And in a matter of great consequence Wherein if you le be secret and profound I le giue you twenty Angels for your paines Will How twenty Angells giue my fellow George shakbag and me twenty Angels And if thou lt haue thy owne father slaine That thou mayst inherit his land wee le kill him Shak. I thy Mother thy sister thy brother or all thy kin Gre. Well this it is Arden of Feuershame Hath highly wrongd me about the Abby land That no reuendge but death will serue the turne Will you two kill him heere 's the Angels downe And I will lay the platforme of his death Will Plat me no platformes giue me the money And I le stab him as he stands pissing against a wall but I le kill him Sha. Where is he Greene He is now at London in Aldersgate stréete Shak. He 's dead as if he had beene condemned By an act of parliament if once Black Will and I Sweare his death Gre. Here is ten pound and when he is dead Ye shall haue twenty more Will My fingers itches to be at the pesant Ah that I might be set a worke thus through the yéere And that murther would grow to an occupation That a man might without daunger of law Zounds I warrant I should be warden of the company Come let vs be going and we le bate at Rochester Where I le giue thee a gallon of Sack To hansell the match with al Exeunt Here enters Michael Mich. I haue gotten suche a letter As will touche the Painter And thus it is Here enters Arden and Francklin and heares Michaell read this letter My duetye remembred Mistres Susan hoping in God you be in good health as I Michaell was at the making heereof This is to certifie you that as the Turtle true when she hath lost her mate sitteth alone so I mourning for your absence do walk vp and down Poules til one day I fell a sleepe and lost my maisters Pantophelles Ah mistres Susan abbolishe that paltry Painter cut him off by the shinnes with a frowning looke of your crabed countenance think vpon Michaell who druncke with the dregges of your fauour wil cleaue as fast to your loue as a plaster of Pitch to a gald horse back Thus hoping you will let my passions penetrate or rather impetrate mercy of your meeke hands I end Yours Michaell or els not Michaell Ard. Why you paltrie knaue Stand you here loytering knowing my affaires What haste my busines craues to send to Kent Fran. Faith frend Michaell this is very ill Knowing your maister hath no more but you And do ye slache-h is busines for your owne Ard. Where is the letter sirra let me sée it Then he giues him the letter Sée maister Francklin here 's proper stuffe Susan my maid the Painter and my man A crue of harlots all in loue forsooth Sirra let me heare no more of this Now for thy lyfe once write to her a worde Here enters Greene Will and Shakebag Wilt thou be married to so base a trull T is Mosbies sister come I once at home I le rouse her from remaining in my house Now M. Francklin let vs go walke in Paules Come but a turne or two and then away Exeunt Gre. The first is Arden and that 's his man The other is Francklin Ardens dearest fréend Will Zounds I le kill them all three Gre. Nay sirs touch not his man in any case But stand close and take you fittest standing And at his comming foorth spéede him To the Nages head ther'i 's this cowards haunt But now I le leaue you till the deed be don Exit Greene Sha. If he be not paid his owne nere trust shakebagge Wil. Sirra Shakbag at his comming foorth I le runne him through and then to the blackfreers And there take water and a way Sha. Why that 's the best but see thou misse him not Wil. How can I misse him when I thinke on the fortye Angels I must haue more Here enters a Prentise Prentise T is very late I were best shute vp my stall For heere will be ould filching when the presse comes foorth of Paules Then lettes he downe his window and it breaks Black Wils head Wil. Zounds draw Shakbag draw I am almost kild Pren. We le tame you I warrant Wil. Zounds I am tame enough already Here enters Arden Fran. Michael Ard. What trublesome fray or mutany is this Fran T is nothing but some brabling paltry fray Deuised to pick mens pockets in the throng Ard. I st nothing els come Franklin let vs away Exeunt Wil. What mends shal I have for my broken head Pren. Mary this mends that if you get you not away All the sooner you shall be well beaten and sent to the counter Exit prentise Wil. Well I le be gone but looke to your signes For I le pull them down all Shakbag my broken head gréeues me not so much As by this meanes Arden hath escaped Here enters Greene I had a glimse of him and his companion Gre. Why sirs Arden 's as wel as I I met him and Francklin going merrilly to the ordinary What dare you not do it Wil. Yes sir we dare do it but were my consent to giue againe We would not do it vnder ten pound more I value euery drop of my blood at a french Crowne I haue had ten pound to steale a dogge And we haue no more heere to kill a man But that a bargane is a bargane and so foorth You should do it your selfe Gre. I pray thee how came thy head broke Will Why thou séest it is broke dost thou not Sha. Stāding against a staule watching Ardens cōming A boy let down his shop window and broke his head Wherevpon arose a braul and in the tumult Arden escapt vs and past by vnthought on But forberance is no acquittance Another time we le do it I warrant thée Gre. I pray thée will make cleane thy bloodie brow And let vs bethink vs on some other place Where Arden may be met with handsomly Remember how deuoutly thou hast sworne To kill the villaine thinke vpon thyne oath Will Tush I haue broken fiue hundred oathes But wouldst thou charme me to effect this dede Tell me of gould my resolutions fee Say thou seest Mosbie kneeling at my knées Offring me seruice for my high attempt And swéete Ales Arden with a lap of crownes Comes with a lowly cursy to the earth Saying take this but for thy quarterige Such yéerely tribute will I answer thée Why this would steale soft metled cowardice With which black Will was neuer tainted with I tell thee Greene the forlorne trauailer Whose lips are glewed with sommers parching heat Nere longd so much to sée a running brooke As I to finish Ardens Tragedy Séest thou this goare that cleaueth
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
straight To London to bring his death about Mos. But call you this good newes Ales. I sweete hart be they not Mos. 'T were cherefull newes to hear the churle wer dead But trust me Ales I take it passing ill You would be so forgetfull of our state To make recount of it to euery groome What to acquaint each stranger with our drifts Cheefely in case of murther why t is the way To make it open vnto Ardens selfe And bring thy selfe and me to ruine both Forewarnde forearmde who threats his enemye Lends him a sword to guarde himselfe with all Ales. I did it for the best Mos. Well seing t is don cherely let it pas You know this Greene is he not religious A man I gesse of great deuotion Ales. He is Mos. Then sweete Ales let it pas I have a drift Will quyet all what euer is amis Here enters Clarke and Susan Ales. How now Clarke haue you found me false Did I not plead the matter hard for you Clarke You did Mos. And what Wilt be a match Clarke A match I faith sir I the day is mine The Painter layes his cullours to the lyfe His pensel draws no shadowes in his loue Susan is mine Ales. You make her blushe Mos. What sister is it Clarke must be the man Su. It resteth in your graunt some words are past And happely we be growne vnto a match If you be willing that it shall be so Mos. Ah maister Clarke it resteth at my grant You see my sister 's yet at my dispose But so you le graunt me one thing I shall aske I am content my sister shall be yours Clark What is it M. Mosbie Mos. I doo remember once in secret talke You tould me how you could compound by Arte A crucifix impoysoned That who so looke vpon it should waxe blinde And with the sent be stifeled that ere long He should dye poysond that did view it wel I would haue you make me such a crucifix And then I le grant my sister shall be yours Cla. Though I am loath because it toucheth lyfe Yet rather or I le leaue sweete Susans loue I le do it and with all the haste I may But for whome is it Ales. Leaue that to vs why Clarke is it possible That you should paint and draw it out your selfe The cullours beeing balefull and impoysoned And no waies preiudice your selfe with all Mos. Well questioned Ales Clarke how answer you that Cla. Very easily I le tell you straight How I doo worke of these Impoysoned drugs I fasten on my spectacles so close As nothing can any way offend my sight Then as I put a lease within my nose So put I rubarbe to auoid the smell And softly as another worke I paint Mos. T is very well but against when shall I haue it Cla. Within this ten dayes Mos. I will serue the turne Now Ales le ts in and see what chéere you kéepe I hope now M. Arden is from home You le give me leave to play your husbands part Ales. Mosbie you know whose maister of my hart He well may be the master of the house Exeunt Here enters Greene and Bradshaw Brad. See you them that coms yonder M. Gréene Gren. I very well doo you know them Here enters Blacke Will and Shakebagge Brad. The one I knowe not but he seemes a knaue Chiefly for bearing the other company For such a slaue so vile a roge as he Lyues not againe vppon the earth Black-will is his name I tell you M. Gréene At Bulloine he and I were fellow souldiers Where he plaid such prankes As all the Campe feared him for his villany I warrant you he beares so bad a minde That for a croune hee le murther any man Gre. The fitter is he for my purpose mary Will How now fellow Bradshaw Whether away so earely Brad. O Will times are changed no fellows now Though we were once together in the field Yet thy freend to doo thee any good I can Will Why Bradshawe was not thou and I Fellow souldiers at Bulloine Wher I was a corporall and thou but a base mercenarye groome No fellowes now because you are a gouldsmith And haue a lytle plate in your shoppe You were gladde to call me fellow Will And with a cursy to the earth One snatch good corporall When I stole the halfe Ore from Iohn the vitler And domineer'd with it amongst good fellowes In one night Brad. I Will those dayes are past with me Will I but they be not past with me For I kepe that same honorable minde still Good neighbour Bradshaw you are too proude to be my fellow But were it not that I sée more company comming down The hill I would be fellowes with you once more And share Crownes with you to But let that pas and tell me whether you goe Brad. To London Will about a peece of seruice Wherein happely thou maist pleasure me Will What is it Brad. Of late Lord Cheiny lost some plate Which one did bring and soulde it at my shoppe Saying he serued sir Antony Cooke A search was made the plate was found with me And I am bound to answer at the syse Now Lord Cheiny solemnly uowes If law will serue him he le hang me for his plate Now I am going to London vpon hope To finde the fellow now Will I know Thou art acquainted with such companions Will What manner of man was he Brad. A leane faced writhen knaue Hauke nosde and verye hollow eied With mightye furrowes in his stormye browes Long haire down his shoulders curled His Chinne was bare but on his vpper lippe A mutchado which he wound about his eare Will What apparell had he Brad. A watchet sattin doublet all to torne The inner side did beare the greater show A paire of threed bare Veluet hose seame rent A wosted stockin rent aboue the shoe A liuery cloake but all the lace was of T was bad but yet it serued to hide the plate Will Sirra Shakebagge canst thou remember Since we trould the boule at Sittingburgh Where I broke the Lapsters head of the Lyon With a Cudgill sticke Shak. I very well Will Will Why it was with the money that the plate was sould for Sirra Bradshaw what wilt thou giue him That can tell thee who soulde thy plate Brad. Who I pray thee good Will Will Why t was one Iacke Fitten He 's now in Newgate for stealing a horse And shall be arrainde the next life Brad. Why then let Lord Cheiny séek Iack Fittē forth For I le backe and tell him who robbed him of his plate This cheeres my hart M. Greene I le leaue you For I must to the Ile of Sheppy with spéede Greene Before you go let me intreat you To carry this letter to mistres Arden of Feuershame And humbly recommend me to her selfe Brad. That will I M. Greene and so farewell Heere Will there 's a Crowne for thy good newes Exit Bradshawe Will Farewell Bradshaw I le
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
suspect Throughout the thorny casements of the brake And will not think his person daungerles But quakes and shewers though the cause be gone So trust me Francklin when I did awake I stoode in doubt whether I waked or no Such great impression tooke this fond surprise God graunt this vision bedeeme me any good Fran. This fantassie doeth rise from Michaels feare Who being awaked with the noyse he made His troubled sences yet could take no rest And this I warant you procured your dreame Ard. It may be so God frame it to the best But often times my dreames presage to trew Fran. To such as note their nightly fantasies Some one in twenty may incurre beliefe But vse it not t is but a mockery Ard. Come M. Francklin we le now walke in Pau'es And dyne togeather at the ordinary And by my mans direction draw to the key And with the tyde go down to Feuershame Say M. Francklin shall it not be so Francklin At your good pleasure sir I le beare you companye Exeunt Here enters Michaell at one doore Here enters Grene Will and Shakebag at another doore Wil. Draw Shakbag for heer 's that villaine Michael Gre. First Will le ts heare what he can say Wil. Speak milkesope slaue neuer after speake Mic. For Gods sake sirs let me excuse my selfe For heare I sweare by heauen and earth and all I did performe the outmost of my task And left the doores vnbolted and vnlockt But see the chaunce Francklin and my master Were very late conferring in the porch And Francklin left his napkin where he sat With certain gould knit in it as he said Being in bed he did bethinke himselfe And comming down he found the dores vnshut He lockt the gates and brought away the keyes For which offence my master rated me But now I am going to see what floode it is For with the tyde my M. will away Where you may front him well on Raynum downe A place well fitting such a stratageme Wil. Your excuse hath some what molyfied my choller Why now Gréene t is better now nor ere it was Gre. But Michaell is this trew Mic. As trew as I report it to be trew Shak. Then Michaell this shall be your pennance To feast vs all at the Salutation Where we wil plat our purpose throughly Gre. And Michael you shal bear no newes of this tide Because they two may be in Kaynū down before your M. Mic. Why I le agree to any thing you le have me So you will except of my company Exeunt Here enters Mosby Mos. Disturbed thoughts dryues me from company And dryes my marrow with their watchfulnes Continuall trouble of my moody braine Féebles my body by excesse of drinke And nippes me as the bitter Northeast wind Doeth check the tender blosoms in the spring Well fares the man how ere his cates do taste That tables not with foule suspition And he but pines amongst his delicats Whose troubled minde is stuft with discontent My goulden time was when I had no gould Though then I wanted yet I slept secure My dayly toyle begat me nights repose My nights repose made daylight fresh to me But since I climbd the toppe bough of the tree And sought to build my nest among the clouds Each gentlest ary gaile doth shake my bed And makes me dread my downfall to the earth But whether doeth contemplation carry me The way I seeke to finde where pleasure dwels Is hedged behinde me that I cannot back But needs must on although to dangers gate Then Arden perish thou by that decre For Greene doth erre the land and weede thée vp To make my haruest nothing but pure corne And for his paines I le heaue him vp a while And after smother him to haue his waxe Such bees as Greene must neuer liue to sting Then is there Michael and the Painter to Cheefe actors to Ardens overthrow Who when they shall see me sit in Ardens seat They wil insult upon me for my mede Or fright me by detecting of his end I le none of that for I can cast a bone To make these curres pluck out each others throat And then am I sole ruler of mine owne Yet mistres Arden liues but she 's my selfe And holy Church rites makes vs two but one But what for that I may not trust you Ales You have supplanted Arden for my sake And will extirpen me to plant another T is feareful sleeping in a serpents bed And I wil cleanely rid my hands of her Here enters Aes But here she comes and I must flatter her How now Ales what sad and passionat Make me pertaker of thy pensiuenes Fyre deuided burnes with lesser force Ales But I will damne that fire in my breast Till by the force therof my part consume ah Mosbie Mos. Such depe pathaires lyke to a cannons burst Dischargde against a ruinated wall Breakes my relenting hart in thousand pieces Ungentle Ales thy sorrow is my sore Thou knowst it wel and t is thy pollicy To forge distressefull looks to wound a breast Where lyes a hart that dies where thou art sad It is not loue that loues to anger loue Ales. It is not loue that loues to murther loue Mos. How meane you that Ales. Thou knowest how dearly Arden loued me Mos. And then Ales. And then conceale the rest for t is too bad Least that my words be carried with the wind And publisht in the world to both our shames I pray thée Mosbye let our springtime wither Our harvest els will yeald but lothsome weedes Forget I pray thée what hath past betwix vs For now I blushe and tremble at the thoughts Mos. What are you changde Ales. I to my former happy lyfe againe From tytle of an odious strumpets name To honest Ardens wife not Ardens honest wife Ha Mosbye t is thou hast rifled me of that And made me slaundrous to all my kin Euen in my forehead is thy name ingrauen A meane Artifiecer that lowe borne name I was bewitched woe worth the haples howre And all the causes that inchaunted me Mos. Nay if thou ban let me breath curses forth And if you stand so nicely at your fame Let me repent the credit I have lost I have neglected matters of import That would haue stated me aboue thy state Forslowde aduantages and spurnd at time I Fortunes right hand Mosbie hath forsoohe To take a wanton giglote by the lest I left the Mariage of an honest maid VVhose dowry would haue weyed down all thy wealth VVhose beauty and demianor farre exceeded thee This certaine good I lost for changing bad And wrapt my credit in thy company I was bewitcht that is no theame of thine And thou vnhallowed hast enchaunted me But I will breake thy spels and excirsimes And put another sight vpon these eyes That shewed my hart a rauen for a dowe Thou art not faire I vieud thee not till now Thou art not kinde till now I knew the not And