I grant thy life, absolving thee, not freely,
But on conditions.

Sir F.

Whatsoe'er they be

I will be bound most solemnly by oath,

So God be my salvation, to fulfil them.

Artev. 'Tis but to pay thy debt of gratitude
To her whose charity redeems thy life,
That I would bind thee. At the supplication
Of thy lord's sometime lady thou art spared.
Sir F. I'm bound to her for ever.

Artev.
Sometime hence
Mischances may befal her. Though I trust,
And with good reason, that my arms are proof,
Yet is the tide of war unsteady ever;

And should my hope be wrecked upon some reef
Of adverse fortune, there is cause to fear
Her former lord, thy master, who suspects
Uneasily her faith, in victory's pride

Would give his vengeance and his jealousy
Free way to her destruction. In such hour,
Should it arrive, thou might'st befriend the lady,
As in thy present peril she doth thee.

Sir F. I were ungrateful past all reach of words That speak of baseness and ingratitude,

Should I not hold my life, and heart, and service,
Purely at her behest from this time forth.
And truly in conjunctures such as those
Your highness hath foreseen, to aid her flight,
Were service which no Fleming could perform,
How true soe'er his heart,-and yet to me

It were an easy task.

Artev.

I trust the day

Will never come, that asks such service from you;
But should it so, I charge you on your faith
And duty as a knight, perform it stoutly.

Prudence, meantime, demands that you remain
In close confinement.

Sir F.

As you please, my lord. Artev. [after a pause]. What, watch there, ho!

Enter two Guards.

You will give passage to Sir Fleureant

To go at large. My mind you see is changed:
It ever was my way, and shall be still,

When I do trust a man, to trust him wholly.
You shall not quit my camp; but that word given,
You are at large within it.

Sir F.

Shall not appear misplaced.

Artev.

Sir, your trust

Give you good rest!

And better dreams than those I woke you from. Sir F. With grateful heart I say, my lord, God keep you!

ACT IV.

SCENE I.-Ypres.

The Burgomaster of Ypres, with several Burghers of the French faction, and VAN MUCK.

Burgo. Well, well, God bless us! have a care-oh me!

Be careful how you speak; wear a white hat;
And ever, mind'st thou, when thou see'st Vauclaire,
Uncover and stand back.

Van Muck.

I will, your worship.

Burgo. Nay, but you must. And Roosdyk-speak

him fair:

For give him but a saucy word, he's out,

And twinkling me his dagger in the sun,

Says, "take you that," and you are dead for good.
Van Muck. I'll speak him fair.

Burgo.
Nay, but I say you shall.
"Tis a good rule to be more civil-spoken
Than wantonly be cut and stabbed for nothing.

Van Muck. 'Tis so, your worship.

Burgo.

Cast not away your life.

Van Muck. 'Tis as your worship pleases.

1st Burgh. But if Vauclaire, or Roosdyk, or the

captains

Should ask him whence he comes, or what's his craft, Being strange-looking for a citizen,

What should he answer?

Burgo.

Say thou com'st from DinandFrom Dinand, say, to sell Dinandery,

Pots, pitchers, mugs and beakers, and the like. Van Muck. Suppose I'm questioned where they are? Burgo. You've sold 'em. Say you praise God. Say you're a thriving man. 1st Burgh. [aside to second]. This matter will be out. 2nd Burgh.

1st Burgh.

Didst ever know a secret to lie close

Under a goose's wing?

2nd Burgh.

"Twill surely out.

1st Burgh.

Why so?

Good friend,

I think 'twill out.

The frightened fox sits fast,

Folly with fear will flutter still and cackle.

[Aloud]. This will be known. I am for rising now, Slaying Vauclaire and Roosdyk in their beds Before they nose it, sounding through the streets King Charles's pardon and the town's submission, And so to present issue with it all.

Burgo. Mercy! what foolishness will young men talk!

1st Burgh. Under your favour-old men too at times. 3rd Burgh. De Vry, a word. I marvel at thy rash

ness;

We are not ripe for action: in a week,
Perchance a day-nay, it may be this hour,
Or Van den Bosch will conquer at Commines,
Or the French force the passage.
If the first,
In vain were this revolt, for Van den Bosch
Would quell us in a trice; and if the second,

Then were the time to rise, for all the town

Would then rise with us.

2nd Burgh.

In good time, Verstolken; The axe's edge is turn'd toward us now,

And what shall save us, if this mooncalf here
Should let his errand out?

Van Muck.

Call you me mooncalf?

I am an honest man; I dare you, sir,

To signify me other.

2nd Burgh.

Hold thy peace.

Whilst the French king is looked for at Commines,
Too wise is Van den Bosch to break his strength
With sending soldiers hither. He but counts
Nine thousand men.

4th Burgh. To be divided.

The double were too few

5th Burgh. More than some two thousand Would hardly march on Ypres, should we thrive ; And if they did, we 'd bowl them down like nine-pins.

2nd Burgh. He'll never waste his forces upon us Whilst the French king's to come; and then the

news

Of Ypres fallen off, will cheer the French,

Sicken the White-Hoods, and make sure the loss
Of that famed passage, which shall magnify
Our merits with King Charles.

6th Burgh.

Enter a Sixth Burgher.

Away, away!

Vauclaire has word of all you do ; a troop,
Despatched by Van den Bosch to give him aid
Is riding into town. Van Muck's commission
Is whispered of, and loudly.

Burgo.

I told you so I told you this
But still you talked of rising.

There now, there!
would come;

Thou villain run, and be not seen abroad

With honest citizens.

2nd Burgh.

Run, Van Muck,

Aye, get thee hence;

Best quit the town, and make thy way to France.
Van Muck. I will, your worships.

[Exit, but returns immediately. Please you, sir, the street

Is full of men-at-arms that come this way.

Burgo. I said so; there! and still you hearkened

not!

Oh Holy Ghost! Oh wala-wa! Oh me!

3rd Burgh. What shall we do?

2nd Burgh.

It is Vauclaire himself.

Burgo.

Van Muck, stand fast; they come :

Say you sell pots.

Enter VAUCLAIRE and ROOSDYK, followed by a troop of Men-at

arms.

Vauclaire. Ah, Master Burgomaster, here you are!
Roosdyk. Make fast the doors.
Vauclaire.

And thou, Verstolken-nay !
Here's Goswin Hex, and Drimmelen, and Breero!
And thou, De Vry-Van Rosendaal, and thou!
How rare a thing is faith! Alas, my masters !
Here is a work you put me to!

Roosdyk.

Stand forth, Master Van Muck! where are you?-which is he? 3rd Burgh. What is it, sirs, you charge us with? Roosdyk. What think ye? Say treason, and I'll call you conjurors.

Vauclaire. I have my orders-stand thou forth,

Van Muck

And I must needs obey them. Say, what art thou? Roosdyk. A villain.

Van Muck.

No, sirs, I am not a villain.

I am a travelling trader; I sell pots.

Roosdyk. Thyself-thou sell'st thyself-a precious vessel !

Where is the provost marshal? Hark you, sir!
Put irons on them all, and give Van Muck

A taste of what you have.