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
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
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
you Painters paint lambes in the lyning of wenches peticots And we seruing men put hornes to them to make them become sheepe Cla. Such another word wil cost you a cuffe or a knock Mic. What with a dagger made of a pensell Faith t is too weake And therefore thou to weak to winne susan Cla. Would susans loue lay vppon this stroke Then he breaks Michaels head Here enters Mosby Greene Ales. Ales. I le lay my lyfe this is for susans loue Stayd you behinde your M. to this end Have you no other time to brable in But now when serious matters are in hand Say Clarke hast thou done the thing thou promised Cla. I heare it is the very touch is death Ales. Then this I hope if all the rest do faile Wil catch M. Arden And make him wise in death that liued a foole Why should he thrust his sickle in our corne Or what hath he to do with thee my loue Or gouerne me that am to rule my selfe Forsooth for credit sake I must leaue thee Nay he must leaue to liue to liue that we may loue May liue may loue for what is lyfe but loue And loue shall last as long as lyfe remaines And lyfe shall end before my loue depart Mos. Why what 's loue without true constancy Lyke to a piller built of many stones Yet neither with good morter well compact Nor †semell†to fasten it in the ioynts But that it shakes with euery blast of winde And being toucht straight falles vnto the earth And buries all his haughty pride in dust No let our loue be rockes of Addamant Which time nor place nor tempest can a sunder Gre. Mosbie leaue protestations now And let vs bethinke vs what we haue to doo Black Will and shakebag I have placed In the broome close watching Ardens comming Le ts to them and see what they haue done Exeunt Here enters Ard. Fra. Ard. Of ferry man where art thou Here enters the Ferriman Fer. Here here goe before to the boat And I will follow you Ard. We haue great haste I pray thée come away Fer. Fy what a mist is here Ard. This mist my frend is misticall Lyke to a good companions smoaky braine That was halfe dround with new ale ouer night Fer. I were pitty but his scull were opened To make more Chimny roome Fran. Fréend what 's thy opinion of this mist Fer. I think t is lyke to a curst wife in a lytlehouse That neuer leaues her husband till she haue driuen him out at doores with a wet paire of eyes Then lookes he as if his house were a fire Or some of his fréends dead Ard. Speaks thou this of thine owne experience Fer. Perhaps I perhaps no For my wyfe is as other women are that is to say governed by the Moone Fran. By the Moone how I pray thée Fer. Na thereby lyes a bargane And you shall not haue it fresh and fasting Ard. Yes I pray thee good ferryman Fer. Then for this once let it be midsommer Moone But yet my wyfe as another moone Fran. Another Moone Fer. I and it hath influences and Eclipses Ard. Why then by this reconing you somtimes Play the man in the Moone Fer. I but you had not best to meddle with that moone Least I scratch you by the face with my bramble bush Ard. I am almost stifled with this fog come le ts away Fran. And sirra as we go le ts vs haue som more of your bolde yeomandry Fer. Nay by my troth sir but flat knauery Exeunt Here enters Will at one doore and Shakbag at another Sha. Oh Will where art thou Wil. Here shakbag almost in hels mouth Where I can not see my way for smoake Sha. I pray thee speake still that we may mete by the sound for I shall fall into some ditche or other vnles my feete see better then my eies Wil. Didest thou euer sée better weather to runne away with another mans wife or play with a wenche at potfinger shak. No this were a fine world for chandlers If this weather would last for then a man Should neuer dyne nor sup without candle light But sirra Will what horses are those that past Wil. Why didst thou heare any Sha. I that I did Will My life for thine t was Arden and his companiō And then all our labour 's lost Sha. Nay say not so for if it be they they may happely loose their way as we haue done And then we may chaunce meete with them Wil. Come let vs go on lyke a couple of blind pilgrims Then Shakebag falles into a ditch Sha. Helpe Will help I am almost drownd Here enters the ferryman Fer. Whos 's that that calles for help Wil. Twas none heere t was thou thy selfe Fer. I came to help him that cald for help Why how now who is this that 's in the ditch You are well enough serued to goe without a guyde such weather as this Wil. Sirra what companyes hath past your ferry this morning Fer. None but a cupple of gentlemen that went to dyne at my Lord cheyneis Wil. Shakbag did not I tell thée asmuch Fer. Why sir will you haue any letters caried to them Wil. No sir get you gone Fer. Did you euer see such a mist as this Wil. No nor such a foole as will rather be bought then get his way Fer. Why sir this is no hough munday you ar deceiud What 's his name I pray you sir Sha. His name is black will Fer. I hope to see him one day hangd vpon a hill Exit Ferriman Sha. Sée how the Sunne hath cleard the foggy mist Now we haue mist the marke of our intent Here enters Grene Mosbye and Ales. Mos. Black Will and Shakbag what make you héer VVhat is the deed don is Arden dead Wil. VVhat could a blynded man performe in armes Saw you not how till now the sky was darke That neither horse nor man could be decerned Yet did we heare their horses as they past Gre. Haue they escapt you then and past the ferry Sha. I for a while but here we two will stay And at their comming back meete with them once more Zounds I was nere so toylde in all my lyfe In following so slight a taske as this Mos. How camst thou so beraide Wil. VVith making false footing in the dark He needs would follow them without a guide Ales. Here 's to pay for a fire and good chéere Get you to Feuershame to the flowre deluce And rest your selues vntil some other time Gre. Let me alone it most concernes my state Wil. I mistres Arden this wil serue the turne In case we fal into a second fog Exeunt Grene Will and Shak. Mos. These knaues wil neuer do it let vs giue it ouer Ales. First tell me how you like my new deuice Soone when my husband is returning back You and I both marching arme in arme Lyke louing frends we le meete him on the way And boldly beard and braue
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
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
now as he was before It should haue bene some fine confection That might haue giuen the broth some daintie tasty This powder was to grosse and populos Mosbie But had he eaten but thrée spoonefulles more Then had he died and our loue continued Ales. Why so it shall Mosbie albeit he liue Mosbie It is vnpossible for I haue sworne Neuer hereafter to solicite thee Or whylest he liues once more importune thée Ales. Thou shalt not neede I will importune thée What shall an oath make thee forsake my loue As if I haue not sworne as much my selfe And giuen my hand vnto him in the church Tush Mosbie oathes are wordes and words is winde And winde is mutable then I conclude T is childishnes to stand vpon an oath Mos. Well proued Mistres Ales yet by your leaue I le keep mine vnbroken whilest he liues Ales. I doo and spare not his time is but short For if thou beest as resolute as I Wee le haue him murdered as he walkes the stréets In London many alehouse Ruffins kéepe Which as I heare will murther men for gould They shall be soundly fed to pay him home Here enters Greene Mos. Ales what 's he that comes yonder knowest thou him Ales. Mosbie be gone I hope t is one that comes To put in practise our intended drifts Exit Mosbie Gre. Mistres Arden you are well met I am sorry that your husband is from home When as my purposed iourney was to him Yet all my labour is not spent in vaine For I suppose that you can full discourse And flat resolue me of the thing I seeke Ales. What is it maister Greene If that I may Or can with safety I will answer you Greene I heard your husband hath the grant of late Confirmed by letters patents from the king Of all the lands of the Abby of Feuershame Generally intitled so that all former grants Are cut of whereof I my selfe had one But now my interest by that is void This is all mistres Arden is it trew nor no Ales. Trew maister Gréene the lands are his in state And whatsoever leases were before Are void for tearme of Maister Ardens lyfe He hath the grant vnder the Chancery seale Gre. Pardon me mistres Arden I must speake For I am toucht your husband doth me wrong To wring me from the little land I have My liuing is my lyfe onely that Resteth remainder of my portion Desyre of welth is endles in his minde And he is gredy gaping still for gaine Nor cares he though young gentlemen do begge So he may scrape and hoorde vp in his poutche But seeing he hath taken my lands I le value lyfe As careles as he is carefull for to get And tell him this from me I le be reuenged And so as he shall wishe the Abby lands Had rested still within their former state Ales. Alas poore gentleman I pittie you And wo is me that any man should want God knowes t is not my fault but wonder not Though he be harde to others when to me Ah maister Greene God knowes how I am vsde Gre. Why mistres Arden can the crabbed churle Use you vnkindely respects he not your birth Your honorable fréends nor what you brought Why all Kent knowes your parentage and what you are Ales. Ah M. Gréene be it spoken in secret heere I never liue good day with him alone When hee is at home then haue I froward lookes Hard words and blowes to mend the match withall And though I might content as good a man Yet doth he kéepe in euery corner trulles And weary with his trugges at home Then rydes he straight to London there forsooth He reuelles it among such filthie ones As counsels him to make a way his wyfe Thus liue I dayly in continuall feare In sorrow so dispairing of redres As euery day I wish with harty prayer That he or I were taken forth the worlde Gre Now trust me mistres Ales it gréeueth me So faire a creature should be so abused Why who would haue thought the civill sir so sollen He lookes so smoothly now fye vpon him Churle And if he liue a day he liues too long But frolick woman I shall be the man Shall set you free from all this discontent And if the Churle deny my intereste And will not yelde my lease into my hand I le paye him home what euer hap to me Ales. But speake you as you thinke Gre. I God 's my witnes I meane plaine dealing For I had rather die then lose my land Ales. Then maister Greene be counsailed by me Indaunger not your selfe for such a Churle But hyre some Cutter for to cut him short And héer 's ten pound to wager them with all When he is dead you shall haue twenty more And the lands whereof my husband is possest Shall be intytled as they were before Gre. Will you kéepe promise with me Ales. Or count me false and periurde whilst I liue Gre. Then heere 's my hand I le haue him so dispatcht I le vp to London straight I le thether poast And neuer rest til I have compast it Till then farewell Ales. Good Fortune follow all your forward thoughts Exit Grene And whosoever doth attempt the déede A happie hand I wish and so farewell All this goes well Mosbie I long for thée To let thee know all that I haue contriued Here enters Mosbie Clarke Mos Now now Ales what 's the newes Ales. Such as will content thee well sweete hart Mos. Well let them passe a while and tell me Ales How haue you dealt and tempered with my sister What will she haue my neighbour Clarke or no Ales. What M. Mosbie let him wooe him self Thinke you that maides looke not for faire wordes Go to her Clarke shée s all alone within Michaell my man is cleane out of her bookes Clarke I thanke you mistres Arden I will in And if faire Susan and I can make a gree You shall command me to the vttermost As farre as either goods or lyfe may streatch Exit Clark Mos. Now Ales le ts heare thy newes Ales. They be so good that I must laugh for ioy Before I can begin to tell my tale Mos. Le ts heare them that I may laugh for company Ales. This morning M. Greene dick gréene I meane From whome my husband had the Abby land Came hether railing for to know the trueth Whether my husband had the lands by grant I tould him all where at he stormd a maine And swore he would cry quittance with the Churle And if he did denye his enterest Stabbe him whatsoever did befall him selfe When as I sawe his choller thus to rise I whetted on the gentleman with words And to conclude Mosbie at last we grew To composition for my husbands death I gaue him ten pound to hire knaues By some deuise to make away the Churle When he is dead he should haue twenty more And repossesse his former lands againe On this we greed and he is ridden
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