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Were my husband at home, you would not offer this.

Here enters Franklin.

Master Franklin, what mean you come so sad ?

Franklin. Arden, thy husband and my friend, is slain.

Alice. Ah, by whom ? Master Franklin, can you tell ?

Franklin. I know not ; but behind the Abbey

There he lies murdered in most piteous case.

Mayor. But, Master Franklin, are you sure 'tis he ?

Franklin. I am too sure ; would God I were deceived.

Alice. Find out the murderers, let them be known.

Franklin. Ay, so they shall : come you along with us.

Alice. Wherefore ?

Franklin. Know you this hand-towel and this knife ?

Susan. — Ah, Michael, through this thy negligence

Thou hast betrayed and undone us all.

Michael. — I was so afraid I knew now what I did :

I thought I had thrown them both into the well.

Alice. It is the pig's blood we had to supper.

But wherefore stay you? find out the murderers.

Mayor. I fear me you'll prove one of them yourself.

Alice. I one of them ? what mean such questions ?

Franklin. I fear me he was murdered in this house

And carried to the fields ; for from that place

Backwards and forwards may you see

The print of many feet within the snow.

And look about this chamber where we are,

And you shall find part of his guiltless blood ;

For in his slipshoe did I find some rushes,

Which argueth he was murdered in this room.

Mayor. Look in the place where he was wont to sit.

See, see ! his blood ! it is too manifest.

Alice. It is a cup of wine that Michael shed.

Michael. Ay, truly.

Franklin. It is his blood, which, strumpet, thou hast shed.

But if I live, thou and thy 'complices

Which have conspired and wrought his death shall rue it.

Alice. Ah, Master Franklin, God and heaven can tell

I loved him more than all the world beside.

But bring me to him, let me see his body.

Franklin. Bring that villain and Mosbie's sister too ;

And one of you go to the Flower-de-luce,

And seek for Mosbie, and apprehend him too.

Exeunt.

SCENE II

An obscure street in London.

Here enters Shakebag solus.

Shakebag. The widow Chambly in her husband's days I kept;

And now he 's dead, she is grown so stout

She will not know her old companions.

I came thither, thinking to have had harbour

As I was wont,

And she was ready to thrust me out at doors ;

But whether she would or no, I got me up,

And as she followed me, I spurned her down the stairs,

And broke her neck, and cut her tapster's throat,

And now I am going to fling them in the Thames.

I have the gold ; what care I though it be known!

I'll cross the water and take sanctuary.

Exit.

SCENE III

Arden's House at Feversham.

Here enters the Mayor, Mosbie, Alice, Franklin,

Michael, and Susan.

Mayor. See, Mistress Arden, where your husband lies ;

Confess this foul fault and be penitent.

Alice. Arden, sweet husband, what shall I say?

The more I sound his name, the more he bleeds ;

This blood condemns me, and in gushing forth

Speaks as it falls, and asks me why I did it.

Forgive me, Arden : I repent me now,

And, would my death save thine, thou should'st not die.

Rise up, sweet Arden, and enjoy thy love,

And frown not on me when we meet in heaven :

In heaven I'll love thee, though on earth I did not

Mayor. Say, Mosbie, what made thee murder him ?

Franklin. Study not for an answer ; look not down :

His purse and girdle found at thy bed's head

Witness sufficiently thou didst the deed ;

It bootless is to swear thou didst it not.

Mosbie. I hired Black Will and Shakebag, ruffians both,

And they and I have done this murderous deed.

But wherefore stay we ? Come and bear me hence.

Franklin. Those ruffians shall not escape ; I will up to London,

And get the Councirs warrant to apprehend them.

Exeunt.

SCENE IV

The Kentish Coast.

Here enters Will.

Will. Shakebag, I hear, hath taken sanctuary,

But I am so pursued with hues and cries

For petty robberies that I have done,

That I can come unto no sanctuary.

Therefore must I in some oyster-boat

At last be