MICHAEL

To fetch my Master's nag, I hope yowl think on me. But he hath sent a dagger sticking in a heart, With a verse or two stolen from a painted cloth: The which I here the wench keeps in her chest, Well let her keep it, I shall find a fellow That can both write and read, and make rhyme too, And if I do, well, I say no more: I'll send from London such a taunting letter, As shall eat the heart he sent with salt, And sling the dagger at the Painters head. I'll see he shall not live above a week. I understand the Painter here hard by, Hath made report that he and Sue is sure. Why then I say that I will kill my master Or any thing that you will have me do. Why, say I should be took, isle never confess, That you know any thing, and Susan being a Maid, May beg me from the gallous of the Shriefe. You can not tell me, I have seen it I, But mistress tell her whither I live or die. I'll make her more Worth then twenty Painters can, For I will rid mine elder brother away: And then the farm of Bolton is mine own. Who would not venture upon house and land? When he may have it for a right down blow. Worser Mistress. I have got such a letter, As will touch the Painter, And thus it is. My master hath new supped, And I am going to prepare his chamber. At the Nages head, at the 18 pence ordinary, Now now M. Shakbag, what Black Will, Gods dear lady, how chance your face is so bloody? Nay and you be offended isle be gone. Why so I do, but wherefore vrdge you that? Why have I two or three, whats that to Thee? Well gentlemen I cannot but confess, Sith you have brdged me so apparently, That I have vowed my M. Ardens death, And he whose kindly love and liberal hand, Does challenge nought but good deserts of me, I will deliver over to your hands. This night come to his house at Aldersgate, The doors I'll leave unlocked against you come. No sooner shall you enter through the latch, Over the threshold to the inner court. But on your left hand shall you see the stairs. That leads directly to my M. chamber. There take him and dispose him as you please, Now it were good we parted company, What I have promised, I will perform. I will accomplish all I have reuealde, Thus feeds the Lamb securely on the down, While through the thicket of and arbour brake, The hunger bitten Wolf orepryes his hant, And takes advantage to eat him up. Ah harmless Arden how, how hast thou misdone, That thus thy gentle life is leveled at, The many good turns that thou hast done to me, Now must I quitance with betraying thee. I that should take the weapon in my hand, And buckler Thee from ill intending foes. Do led Thee with a wicked fraudful smile, As unsuspected, to the slaughterhouse: So have I sworn to Mosby and my mistress. So have I promised to the slaughtermen. And should I not deal currently with them, Their lawless rage would take revenge on me, Tush I will spurn at mercy for this once. Let pity lodge where Feeble womenly, I am resolved, and Arden needs must die. Exit Michael. Almost ten. My M. would desire you come to bed. He is and feign would have the light away, Conflicting thoughts encamped in my breast Awake me with the Echo of their strokes: And I a judge to censure either side, Can give to neither wished victory. My Master's kindness pleads to me for life, With joust demand, and I must grant it him. My mistress she hath forced me with and oath, For Susans sake the which I may not break, For that is nearer the ̄ a Master's love, That grim faced fellow, pitiless black Will, And Shakebag stern in bloody stratagem, Two Ruffer Ruffians never lived in Kenned, Have sworn my death if I infringe my vow, A dreadful thing to be considered of, Me thinks I see them with their bolstered hair, Staring and grinning in thy gentle face, And in their ruthless hands, their daggers drawn, Insulting over there with a peck of oaths. Whilst thou submissive pleading for relief, Art mangled by their ireful instruments. Me thinks I hear them ask where Michael is And pitiless black Will, cries stab the slave. The Peasant will detect the Tragedy. The wrinkles in his fowl death threatening face, Gapes open wide, like graves to swallow men. My death to him is but a merriment, And he will murder me to make him sport. He comes he comes, ah M. Franklin help, Call up the neighbours or we are but dead Nothing sir, but as I fell a sleep, Upon the threshold leaning to the stairs. I had a fearful dream that troubled me, And in my slumber thought I was beset, With murderer thieves that came to rifle me. My trembling joints witness my inward fear. I crave your pardons for disturbing you. I cannot tell, I think I locked the doors. For Gods sake sirs let me excuse my self. For hear I swear by heaven and earth and all, I did perform the outmost of my talk, And left the doors unbolted and unlocked, But see the chance Franklin and my master, Were very late conferring in the porch, And Franklin left his napkin where he sat, With certain gourlo knit mit, as he said Being in bed, he did bethink himself, And coming down, he found the doors unshut, He locked the gates, and brought away the keys For which offence my master rated me, But now I am going to see what flood it is, For with the tied my M. will away. Where you may frons him well on Kaynum down, A place well sitting such a stratagem. As true as I report it to be true. Why I'll agree to any thing yowl have me. So you will except of my company. Exeunt. It best that I went back to Rochester, The horse halts down right, it were not good He travailed in such pain to feuershàme: Removing of a shoe may happily help it. I God he knows, & so does Will and shakebagge, That thou shalt never go further then that down, And therefore have I pricked the horse on purpose, Because I would not view the massacar. Exit Michael. I your horse are ready, but I am not ready, For I have lost my purse, With six and thirty shillings in it, With taking up of my M. Nag. So fair whither after you, For before you lies, black Will and shakebag, In the broom close, to close for you, Theyle be your ferrymen to long home, Here enters the Painter. But who is this the Painter, my corrival, That would needs win M. Susan. Who susan Mosbye? sheis your Mistress too Al's well but susan she is sick, Of a great fear. A great fever. Yes faith, and of a lordaine too, As big as your self. I faith, to keep her from the Painter. Because you Painters make but a painting fa ble of a pretty wench, and spotle her beauty with blotting. Why that you Painters, paint lambs, in the lining of wenches peticots And we serving men put horns to them, to make them be come sheep. What with a dagger made of a pensell? Faith 'tis too weak, And therefore thou to weak to win susan. 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 Surgen in at doors, But my M. took to his purse, and gave him money. And to conclude, sent me to bring you word, That Mosbie, Franklin, Bradshaw, Adam fewle, With diverse of his neighbours, and his friends, Will come and sup with you at our house this night. I'll go tell him. Mistress my master is coming hard by, No body but mosbye. Why so? But shall not susan know it? Thats brave, I'll go fetch the tables. Nay thats a lie, for I have locked the doors. To prevent that, creep betwixt my legs Why dost thou think I will betray my self? Tush so it be known that I shall marry Thee in the Morning, I care not though I be hanged ere night. But to prevent the worst, I'll by some rats bane. No, but my mistress, for I fear she'll tell. Leave that to my charge, let me alone, 'Tis very late M. Bradshaw, And there are many false knaves abroad, And you have many narrow lanes to pass. Oh mistress the Mayor and all the watch, Are coming towards our house with glaues & bills. I was so afraid, I knew not what I did, I thought I had thrown them both into the well. I truly. And if your brother and my Mistress. Had not promised me you in marriage, I had never given consent, to this foul deed. Faith I care not seeing I die with Susan. What shull he die to night? Susan shall thou and I wait on them, Or and thou says the word let us fit down too.