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Mosbie. Sirrah Michael, give's a cup of beer. —

Mistress Arden, here 's to your husband.

Alice. My husband !

Franklin. What ails you, woman, to cry so suddenly ?

Alice. Ah, neighbours, a sudden qualm came o'er my heart ;

My husband being forth torments my mind.

I know something 's amiss, he is not well ;

Or else I should have heard of him ere now.

Mosbie. — She will undo us through her foolishness.

Greene. Fear not. Mistress Arden, he's well enough.

Alice. Tell not me ; I know he is not well :

He was not wont for to stay thus late.

Good Master Franklin, go and seek him forth,

And if you find him, send him home to me,

And tell him what a fear he hath put me in.

Franklin. — I like not this ; I pray God all be well.

I'll seek him out, and find him if I can.

Exeunt Franklin, Mosbie, and Greene.

Alice. — Michael, how shall I do to rid the rest away?

Michael. — Leave that to my charge, let me alone.

'Tis very late. Master Bradshaw,

And there are many false knaves abroad,

And you have many narrow lanes to pass.

Bradshaw. Faith, friend Michael, and thou sayest true.

Therefore I pray thee light 's forth and lend 's a link.

Exeunt Bradshaw, Adam, and Michael.

Alice. Michael, bring them to the doors, but do not stay ;

You know I do not love to be alone

— Go, Susan, and bid thy brother come :

But wherefore should he come? Here is nought but fear ;

Stay, Susan, stay, and help to counsel me.

Susan. Alas. I counsel ! fear frights away my wits.

Then they open the counting-house door and look upon Arden.

Alice. See, Susan, where thy quondam master lies.

Sweet Arden, smeared in blood and filthy gore.

Susan. My brother, you, and I shall rue this deed.

Alice. Come, Susan, help to lift his body forth,

And let our salt tears be his obsequies.

Here enters Mosbie and Greene.

Mosbie. How now, Alice, whither will you bear him ?

Alice. Sweet Mosbie, art thou come ? Then weep that will:

I have my wish in that I joy thy sight.

Greene. Well, it behoves us to be circumspect.

Mosbie. Ay, for Franklin thinks that we have murdered him.

Alice. Ay, but he cannot prove it for his life.

We'll spend this night in dalliance and in sport.

Here enters Michael.

Michael. O mistress, the Mayor and all the watch

Are coming towards out house with glaives and bills

Alice. Make the door fast ; let them not come in.

Mosbie. Tell me, sweet Alice, how shall I escape ?

Alice. Out at the back-door, over the pile of wood,

And for one night lie at the Flower-de-luce.

Mosbie. That is the next way to betray myself.

Greene. Alas, Mistress Arden, the watch will take me hers,

And cause suspicion, where else would be none.

Alice. Why, take that way that Master Mosbie doth ;

But first convey the body to the fields.

Then they bear the body into the fields.

Mosbie. Until to-morrow, sweet Alice, now farewell :

And see you confess nothing in any case.

Greene. Be resolute. Mistress Alice, betray us not,

But cleave to us as we will stick to you.

Exeut Mosbie and Greene

Alice. Now, let the judge and juries do their worst :

My house is clear, and now I fear them not.

Susan. As we went, it snowed all the way.

Which makes me fear our footsteps will be spied.

Alice. Peace, fool, the snow will cover them again.

Susan. But it had done before we came back again.

Alice. Hark, hark, they knock ! go, Michael, let them in.

Here enters the Mayor and the Watch.

How now. Master Mayor, have you brought my husband home ?

Mayor. I saw him come into your house an hour ago.

Alice. You are deceived ; it was a Londoner.

Mayor. Mistress Arden, know you not one that is called Black Will ?

Alice. I know none such : what mean these questions ?

Mayor. I have the Council's warrant to apprehend him.

Alice. — I am glad it is no worse.

Why, Master Mayor, think you I harbour any such ?

Mayor. We are informed that here he is ;

And therefore pardon us, for we must search.

Alice. Ay, search, and spare you not, through