“ Decree, to murder Arden in the night.
The heauens can witnes, and the world can tell,
Before I saw that falshoode looke of thine,
Fore I was tangled with thy tysing speach,
Arden to me was dearer then my soule,
And shall be still, base pesant get thee gone. ”

“ Indaunger not your selfe, for such a Churle,
But hyre some Cutter for to cut him short,
And heer's ten pound, to wager them with all,
When he is dead you shall haue twenty more.
And the lands whereof my husband is possest,
Shall be intytled as they were before.
Gre.
Will you keepe promise with me?
Ales.
Or count me false and periurde, whilst I liue,
Gre.
Then heeres my hand Ile haue him so dispatcht,
Ile vp to London straight, Ile thether poast,
And neuer rest, til I haue compast it,
Till then farewell.
Ales.
Good Fortune follow all your forward thoughts
Exit Grene. ”

“ Why gentle mistres Ales, cannot I be ill,
But youle accuse your selfe.
Franckline thou haste a boxe of Methridate,
Ile take a lytle to preuent the worst.
Fran.
Do so, and let vs presently take horse,
My lyfe for yours ye shall do well enough.
Ales.
Giue me a spoone, Ile eat of it my selfe,
Would it were full of poyson to the brim.
Then should my cares and troubles haue an end,
Was euer silly woman so tormented?
Arden.
Be patient sweete loue, I mistrust not thee,
Ales.
God will reuenge it Arden if thou doest.
For neuer woman lou'd her husband better, the I do thee,
Ard. ”

“ A cheating steward, and base minded pesant.
Mos.
Arden now thou hast belcht and vomited,
The rancorous venome of thy mis-swolne hart,
Heare me but speake, as I intend to liue
With God, and his elected saints in heauen,
I neuer meant more to solicit her,
And that she knowes, and all the world shall see,
I loued her once, sweete Arden pardon me. ”

“ When he is dead, he should haue twenty more,
And repossesse his former lands againe,
On this we greed, and he is ridden straight
To London, to bring his death about.
Mos.
But call you this good newes?
Ales.
I sweete hart, be they not?
Mos.
Twere cherefull newes, to hear the churle wer dead,
But trust me Ales, I take it passing ill,
You would be so forgetfull of our state,
To make recount of it to euery groome,
What? to acquaint each stranger with our drifts,
Cheefely in case of murther, why tis the way,
To make it open vnto Ardens selfe. ”

“ And tell him this from me, Ile be reuenged,
And so, as he shall wishe the Abby lands
Had rested still, within their former state.
Ales.
Alas poore gentleman, I pittie you,
And wo is me that any man should want,
God knowes tis not my fault, but wonder not
Though he be harde to others, when to me,
Ah maister Greene, God knowes how I am vsde.
Gre.
Why mistres Arden can the crabbed churle,
Use you vnkindely, respects he not your birth?
Your honorable freends, nor what you brought:
Why? all Kent knowes your parentage, and what you are
Ales. ”

“ For what hast thou to countenaunce my loue,
beeing discended of a noble house,
And matcht already with a gentleman,
Whose seruant thou maist be, and so farewell.
Mos.
Ungentle and vnkinde Ales, now I see
That which I euer feard, and finde too trew:
A womans loue is as the lightning flame,
Which euen in bursting forth consumes it selfe,
To trye thy constancie haue I beene strange,
Would I had neuer tryed, but liued in hope.
Ales.
What needs thou try me, whom thou neuer found false,
Mos.
Yet pardon me for loue is Ielious,
Ales. ”

“ Tis very well, but against when shall I haue it,
Cla.
Within this ten dayes,
Mos.
Twill serue the turne.
Now Ales lets in, and see what cheere you keepe,
I hope now M. Arden is from home,
Youle giue me leaue to play your husbands part.
Ales. ”

“ Ales.
But Michaell see you doo it cunningly.
Michaell.
Why, say I should be tooke, ile nere confesse,
That you know any thing, and Susan being a Maide,
May begge me from the gallous of the Shriefe. ”

“ Ales.
Leaue that to vs, why Clarke, is it possible,
That you should paint and draw it out your selfe,
The cullours beeing balefull and impoysoned,
And no waies preiudice your selfe with all?
Mos.
Well questioned Ales,
Clarke how answer you that?
Cla.
Uery easily, Ile tell you straight,
How I doo worke of these Impoysoned drugs,
I fasten on my spectacles so close,
As nothing can any way offend my sight,
Then as I put a leafe within my nose,
So put I rubarbe to auoid the smell,
And softly as another worke I paint,
Mos. ”