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Alice. 'Tis pity but he should ; he 'll use her well.

Mosbie. Clarke, here's my hand: my sister shall be thine.

Clarke. Then, brother, to requite this courtesy,

You shall command my life, my skill, and all.

Alice. Ah, that thou couldst be secret.

Mosbie. Fear him not ; leave ; I have talked sufficient

Clarke. You know not me that ask such questions.

Let it suffice I know you love him well,

And fain would have your husband made away :

Wherein, trust me, you show a noble mind,

That rather than you'll live with him you hate,

You'll venture life, and die with him you love.

The like will I do for my Susan's sake.

Alice. Yet nothing could inforce me to the deed

But Mosbie's love. Might I without control

Enjoy thee still, then Arden should not die :

But seeing I cannot, therefore let him die.

Mosbie. Enough, sweet Alice ; thy kind words makes me melt.

Your trick of poisoned pictures we dislike;

Some other poison would do better far.

Alice. Ay, such as might be put into his broth,

And yet in taste not to be found at all.

Clarke. I know your mind, and here I have it for you.

Put but a dram of this into his drink,

Or any kind of broth that he shall eat,

And he shall die within an hour after.

Alice. As I am a gentlewoman, Clarke, next day

Thou and Susan shall be married.

Mosbie. And I'll make her dowry more than I'll talk of, Clarke.

Clarke. Yonder 's your husband. Mosbie, I'll be gone.

Here enters Arden and Franklin.

Alice. In good time see where my husband comes.

Master Mosbie, ask him the question yourself.

Exit Clarke.

Mosbie. Master Arden, being at London yesternight,

The Abbey lands, whereof you are now possessed,

Were offered me on some occasion

By Greene, one of Sir Antony Ager's men :

I pray you, sir, tell me, are not the lands yours ?

Hath any other interest herein ?

Arden. Mosbie, that question we'll decide anon.

Alice, make ready my breakfast, I must hence.

Exit Alice.

As for the lands, Mosbie, they are mine

By letters patents from his Majesty.

But I must have a mandate for my wife ;

They say you seek to rob me of her love :

Villain, what makes thou in her company ?

She 's no companion for so base a groom.

Mosbie. Arden, I thought not on her, I came to thee ;

But rather than I pocket up this wrong.

Franklin. What will you do, sir ?

Mosbie. Revenge it on the proudest of you both.

Then Arden draws forth Mosbie's sword.

Arden. So, sirrah ; you may not wear a sword,

The statute makes against artificers ;

I warrant that I do. Now use your bodkin,

Your Spanish needle, and your pressing iron,

For this shall go with me ; and mark my words,

You goodman botcher, 'tis to you I speak :

The next time that I take thee near my house,

Instead of legs I'll make thee crawl on stumps.

Mosbie. Ah, Master Arden, you have injured me :

I do appeal to God and to the world.

Franklin. Why, canst thou deny thou wert a botcher once?

Mosbie. Measure me what I am, not what I was.

Arden. Why, what art thou now but a velvet drudge,

A cheating steward, and base-minded peasant 1

Mosbie. Arden, now thou hast belched and vomited

The rancorous venom of thy mis-swoll'n heart,

Hear me but speak : as I intend to live

With God and his elected saints in heaven,

I never meant more to solicit her ;

And that she knows, and all the world shall see.

I loved her once ; — sweet Arden, pardon me,

I could not choose, her beauty fired my heart !

But time hath quenched these over-raging coals ;

And, Arden, though I now frequent thy house,

'Tis for my sister's sake, her waiting-maid.

And not for hers. Mayest thou enjoy her long:

Hell-fire and wrathful vengeance light on me,

If I dishonour her or injure thee.

Arden. Mosbie, with these thy protestations

The deadly hatred of my heart's appeased

And thou and I'll be friends, if this prove true.

As for the base terms I gave thee late,

Forget them, Mosbie : I had cause to speak,

When all the knights and gentlemen of Kent

Make common table-talk of her