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Now we have missed the mark of our intent.

Here enters Greene, Mosbie and Alice.

Mosbie. Black Will and Shakebag, what make you here?

What, is the deed done ? is Arden dead ?

Will. What could a blinded man perform in arms ?

Saw you not how till now the sky was dark,

That neither horse nor man could be discerned ?

Yet did we hear their horses as they passed.

Greene. Have they escaped you, then, and passed the ferry?

Shakebag. Ay, for a while ; but here we two will stay,

And at their coming back meet with them once more.

Zounds, I was ne'er so toiled in all mylife

In following so slight a task as this.

Mosbie. How cam'st thou so berayed .

Will. With making false footing in the dark ;

He needs would follow them without a guide.

Alice. Here 's to pay for a fire and good cheer :

Get you to Faversham to the Flower-de-luce,

And rest yourselves until some other time,

Greene. Let me alone ; it most concerns my state.

Will. Ay, Mistress Arden, this will serve the turn,

In case we fall into a second fog.

Exeunt Greene, Will and Shakebag.

Mosbie. These knaves will never do it, let us give it over.

Alice. First tell me how you like my new device :

Soon, when my husband is returning back.

You and I both marching arm in arm,

Like loving friends, we'll meet him on the way,

And boldly beard and brave him to his teeth.

When words grow hot and blows begin to rise,

I'll call those cutters forth your tenement,

Who, in a manner to take up the fray,

Shall wound my husband Hornsby to the death.

Mosbie. A fine device ! why, this deserves a kiss.

Exeunt.

SCENE IV

The open country.

Here enters Dick Reede and a Sailor.

Sailor. Faith, Dick Reede, it is to little end :

His conscience is too liberal, and he too niggardly

To part from any thing may do thee good.

Reede. He is coming from Shorlow as I understand ;

Here I'll intercept him, for at his house

He never will vouchsafe to speak with me.

If prayers and fair entreaties will not serve,

Or make no battery in his flinty breast,

Here enters Franklin, Arden and Michael.

I'll curse the carle, and see what that will do.

See where he comes to further my intent !

Master Arden, I am now bound to the sea ;

My coming to you was about the plat

Of ground which wrongfully you detain from me.

Although the rent of it be very small.

Yet it will help my wife and children,

Which here I leave in Faversham, God knows,

Needy and bare : for Christ's sake, let them have it !

Arden. Franklin, hearest thou this fellow speak ?

That which he craves I dearly bought of him,

Although the rent of it was ever mine.

Sirrah, you that ask these questions.

If with thy clamorous impeaching tongue

Thou rail on me, as I have heard thou dost,

I'll lay thee up so close a twelve-month's day,

As thou shalt neither see the sun nor moon.

Look to it, for, as surely as I live,

I'll banish pity if thou use me thus.

Reede. What, wilt thou do me wrong and threat me too.

Nay, then, I'll tempt thee, Arden, do thy worst.

God, I beseech thee, show some miracle

On thee or thine, in plaguing thee for this.

That plot of ground which thou detains from me,

I speak it in an agony of spirit.

Be ruinous and fatal unto thee !

Either there be butchered by thy dearest friends,

Or else be brought for men to wonder at.

Or thou or thine miscarry in that place.

Or there nm mad and end thy cursed days !

Franklin. Fie, bitter knave, bridle thine envious tongue ;

For curses are like arrows shot upright,

Which falling down light on the shooter's head.

Reede. Light where they will ! Were I upon the sea,

As oft I have in many a bitter storm,

And saw a dreadful southern flaw at hand,

The pilot quaking at the doubtful storm,

And all the sailors praying on their knees,

Even in that fearful time would I fall down,

And ask of God, whate'er betide of me,

Vengeance on Arden or some misevent

To show the world what wrong the carle hath done.

This charge I'll leave with my distressful wife, 5 1

My children shall be taught such prayers as these ;

And