SCENE V

_Justice-room at Feversham._

_Here enters the Mayor, Mosbie, Alice, Michael, Susan, and Bradshaw._

_Mayor._ Come, make haste and bring away the prisoners.

_Bradshaw._ Mistress Arden, you are now going to God, And I am by the law condemned to die About a letter I brought from Master Greene. I pray you, Mistress Arden, speak the truth: Was I ever privy to your intent or no.

_Alice._ What should I say? You brought me such a letter, But I dare swear thou knewest not the contents. Leave now to trouble me with worldly things, And let me meditate upon my saviour Christ, 10 Whose blood must save me for the blood I shed.

_Mosbie._ How long shall I live in this hell of grief? Convey me from the presence of that strumpet.

_Alice._ Ah, but for thee I had never been a strumpet. What cannot oaths and protestations do, When men have opportunity to woo? I was too young to sound thy villainies, But now I find it and repent too late.

_Susan._ Ah, gentle brother, wherefore should I die? I knew not of it till the deed was done. 20

_Mosbie._ For thee I mourn more than for myself; But let it suffice, I cannot save thee now.

_Michael._ And if your brother and my mistress Had not promised me you in marriage, I had ne’er given consent to this foul deed.

_Mayor._ Leave to accuse each other now, And listen to the sentence I shall give. Bear Mosbie and his sister to London straight, Where they in Smithfield must be executed; Bear Mistress Arden unto Canterbury, 30 Where her sentence is she must be burnt; Michael and Bradshaw in Feversham must suffer death.

_Alice._ Let my death make amends for all my sins.

_Mosbie._ Fie upon women! this shall be my song; But bear me hence, for I have lived too long.

_Susan._ Seeing no hope on earth, in heaven is my hope.

_Michael._ Faith, I care not, seeing I die with Susan.

_Bradshaw._ My blood be on his head that gave the sentence.

_Mayor._ To speedy execution with them all! [_Exeunt._

V. v. 30. ‘For the charges of brenning Mistress Arden and execution of George Bradshaw, XLIII S.’--_Canterbury Records._