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Franklin. Why, Mosbie taunted your husband with the horn.

Alice. Ay, after he had reviled him

By the injurious name of perjured beast :

He knew no wrong could spite a jealous man

More than the hateful naming of the horn.

Franklin. Suppose 'tis true ; yet is it dangerous

To follow him whom he hath lately hurt.

Alice. A fault confessed is more than half amends ;

But men of such ill spirit as yourself

Work crosses and debates 'twixt man and wife.

Arden. I pray thee, gentle Franklin, hold thy peace :

I know my wife counsels me for the best.

I'll seek out Mosbie where his wound is dressed,

And salve this hapless quarrel if I may.

Exeunt Arden and Alice.

Franklin. He whom the devil drives must go perforce.

Poor gentleman, how soon he is bewitched !

And yet, because his wife is the instrument.

His friends must not be lavish in their speech.

Exit Franklin.

ACT V

SCENE I

A Street in Feversham,

Here enters Will, Shakebag and Greene.

Will. Sirrah Greene, when was I so long in killing a man?

Greene. I think we shall never do it ; let us give it over.

Shakebag. Nay, Zounds ! we'll kill him, though we be

hanged at his door for our labour.

Will. Thou knowest, Greene, that I have lived in Lon-

don this twelve years, where I have made some go

upon wooden legs for taking the wall on me ; divers

with silver noses for saying 'There goes Black Will !'

I have cracked as many blades as thou hast nuts.

Greene. O monstrous lie ! lo

Will. Faith, in a manner I have. The bawdy-houses

have paid me tribute ; there durst not a whore set

up, unless she have agreed with me first for opening

her shop-windows. For a cross word of a tapster

I have pierced one barrel after another with my

dagger, and held him by the ears till all his beer

hath run out. In Thames Street a brewer's cart

was like to have run over me : I made no more ado,

but went to the clerk and cut all the notches of his

tallies and beat them about his head. I and my

company have taken the constable from his watch,

and carried him about the fields on a coltstaff. I

have broken a sergeant's head with his own mace,

and bailed whom I list with my sword and buckler.

All the tenpenny-alehouses-men would stand every

morning with a quart-pot in their hand, saying,

'Will it please your worship drink?' He that had

not done so, had been sure to have had his sign

pulled down and his lattice borne away the next

night. To conclude, what have I not done? yet

cannot do this ; doubtless, he is preserved by miracle.

Here enters Alice and Michael.

Greene. Hence, Will ! here comes Mistress Arden.

Alice. Ah, gentle Michael, art thou sure they 're friends ?

Michael. Why, I saw them when they both shook hands.

When Mosbie bled, he even wept for sorrow,

And railed on Franklin that was cause of all.

No sooner came the surgeon in at doors.

But my master took to his purse and gave him money,

And, to conclude, sent me to bring you word

That Mosbie, Franklin, Bradshaw, Adam Fowle,

With divers of his neighbours and his friends,

Will come and sup with you at our house this night.

Alice. Ah, gentle Michael, run thou back again,

And, when my husband walks into the fair,

Bid Mosbie steal from him and come to me ;

And this night shall thou and Susan be made sure.

Michael. I'll go tell him.

Alice. And as thou goest, tell John cook of our guests,

And bid him lay it on, spare for no cost.

Exit Michael.

Will. Nay, and there be such cheer, we will bid ourselves. —

Mistress Arden, Dick Greene and I do mean to sup with you.

Alice. And welcome shall you be. Ah, gentlemen,

How missed you of your purpose yesternight ?

Greene. 'Twas 'long of Shakebag, that unlucky villain.

Shakebag. Thou dost me wrong; I did as much as any.

Will. Nay then. Mistress Arden, I'll tell you how it was :

When he should have locked with both his hilts,

He in a bravery flourished o'er his head ;

With that comes Franklin at him lustily,

And hurts the slave ; with that he slinks away.

Now