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he imagines I have stepped awry.

      Here’s he that you cast in my teeth so oft:

      Now will I be convinced or purge myself.

      I charge thee speak to this mistrustful man,

      Thou that wouldst see me hang, thou, Mosbie, thou,

      What favor hast thou had more than a kiss

      At coming or departing from the town?

      Mosb. You wrong yourself and me to cast these doubts,

      Your loving husband is not jealous.

      ARDEN

      Why, gentle mistress Alice, can not I be ill,

      But you’ll accuse yourself?

      Franklin, thou hast a box of mithridate.

      I’ll take a little to prevent the worst.

      FRANKLIN

      Do so, and let us presently take horse;

      My life for yours, ye shall do well enough.

      ALICE

      Give me a spoon, I’ll eat of it myself;

      Would it were full of poison to the brim,

      Then should my cares and troubles have an end.

      ARDEN

      Be patient, sweet love; I mistrust not thee.

      ALICE

      God will revenge it, Arden, if thou dost;

      For never woman loved her husband better than I do thee.

      ARDEN

      I know it, sweet Alice; cease to complain,

      Lest that in tears I answer thee again.

      FRANKLIN

      Come, leave this dallying, and let us away.

      ALICE

      Forbear to wound me with that bitter word,

      Arden shall go to London in my arms.

      ARDEN

      Loath am I to depart, yet I must go.

      ALICE

      Wilt thou to London, then, and leave me here?

      Ah, if you love me, gentle Arden, stay.

      Yet, if thy business be of great import

      Go, if thou silt, I’ll bear it as I may;

      But write from London to me every week,

      Nay, every day, and stay no longer there

      Than thou must needs, lest that I die for sorrow.

      ARDEN

      I’ll write unto thee every other tide,

      And so, farewell, sweet Alice, till we meet next.

      ALICE

      Farewell, husband, seeing you’ll have it so.

      And, master Franklin, seeing you take him hence,

      In hope you’ll hasten him home, I’ll give you this.

      (and then she kisseth him.

      FRANKLIN

      And if he stay, the fault shall not be mine.

      Mosbie, farewell, and see you keep your oath.

      MOSBIE

      I hope he is not jealous of me now.

      ARDEN

      No, Mosbie, no; hereafter think of me

      As of your dearest friend, and so farewell.

      Exeunt Arden, Franklin, and MICHAEL

      ALICE

      I am glad he is gone; he was about to stay,

      But did you mark me then how I brake off?

      MOSBIE

      Ay, Alice, and it was cunningly performed.

      Never hereafter to solicit thee,

      Or, whilst he lives, once more importune thee.

      ALICE

      Thou shalt not need, I will importune thee.

      What? Shall an oath make thee forsake my love?

      As if I have not sworn as much myself

      And given my hand unto him in the church!

      Tush, Mosbie; oaths are words, and words is wind,

      ‘tis childishness to stand upon an oath.

      MOSBIE

      Well proved, mistress Alice; yet by your leave,

      I’ll keep mine unbroken whilst he lives.

      ALICE

      Ay, do, and spare not, his time is but short,

      For if thou be’st as resolute as i,

      We’ll have him murdered as he walks the streets.

      In London many alehouse ruffians keep,

      Which, as I hear, will murder men for gold.

      They shall be soundly fee’d to pay him home. (here enters GREENE

      MOSBIE

      Alice, what’s he that comes yonder?

      Knowest thou him?

      ALICE

      Mosbie, be gone: I hope ‘tis one that comes

      To put in practice our intended drifts. (Exit MOSBIE

      GREENE

      Mistress Arden, you are well met.

      I am sorry that your husband is from home,

      When as my purposed journey was to him:

      Yet all my labor is not spent in vain,

      For I suppose that you can full discourse

      And flat resolve me of the thing I seek.

      ALICE

      What is it, master Greene? If that I may

      Or can with safety, I will answer you.

      GREENE

      I heard your husband had the grant of late,

      Confirmed by letters patent from the king.

      Of all the lands of the abbey of feversham,

      Generally intitled, so that all former grants

      Are cut off; whereof I myself had one;

      But now my interest by that is void.

      This is all, mistress Arden; is it true or no?

      ALICE

      True, master Greene; the lands are his in state,

      And whatsoever leases were before

      Are void for term of master Arden’s life;

      He hath the grant under the chancery seal.

      GREENE

      Pardon me, mistress Arden, I must speak

      For I am touched. Your husband doth me wrong

      To wring me from the little land I have.

      My living is my life, only that

      Resteth remainder of my portion.

      Desire of wealth is endless in his mind,

      And he is greedy gaping still for gain;

      Nor

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