This false knight's service, and to me one act
Of loyalty seek out with instant haste
The Lord of Arlon; tell him I am here
In tribulation, and beseech his aid,

And bid him by the love he bears his lady,
To grant it me with speed.

Wilt thou do this?

AESWYN.

Madam, I will.

ADRIANA.

Go now then to thy lord,

Lest he suspect thy tarriance. I, meanwhile,
Will to the inner chamber make retreat,
Where I shall watch and pray till shall be seen
The issue of thine errand. Hark! they call thee.

SCENE IV.-An Ante-chamber in the Earl's Palace.

SIR WALTER D'ARLON and GILBERT MATTHEW.

GILBERT.

No sooner had his highness reach'd the palace
Than he sends back for me.

D'ARLON.

And me the same.

GILBERT.

His highness is not happy.

D'ARLON.

That is likely;

But have you any private cause to think it?

GILBERT.

I have observed that when he is not happy

He sends for me.

Nay, what I can.

D'ARLON.

And do you mend his mood?

GILBERT.

His highness at such times Is wishful to be counsell'd to shed blood.

D'ARLON.

'Tis said that he is counsell'd oft to that.

GILBERT.

It is my duty to advise his highness
With neither fear nor favour. As I came,
The bodies of three citizens lay stretch'd

The officers that walk'd before the Earl

To make him room to pass. The streets were full,
And many of the mean-crafts roam'd about
Discoursing of the news they heard from Ghent;
And as his highness pass'd they misbehaved,
And three were knock'd upon the head with staves.
I knew by that his highness was not happy.
I knew I should be sent for.

Enter an Usher from an inner chamber.

USHER.

Ho! Master Gilbert Matthew to his highness.

[Re-enters the chamber, followed by GILBERT MATTHEW.

D'ARLON.

There's some men of their bloody counsels boast,
As though the heart were difficult to harden.

Enter an Attendant.

ATTENDANT.

My lord, a gentleman has come in haste

To seek you.
I inform'd him you were here
In waiting on his highness, but he still
Insisted you would see him, did you know
The matter and its urgency.

Yes, yes, the man I know,

But not the matter that he hath with me ;-
Unless it be some difference with my steward
About his quarters. Bring me where he waits.

SCENE V.-A Chamber in the Earl's Palace.

The EARL and GILBERT MATTHEW.

EARL.

And thus, if all that we have heard be true,
Last night's ill news this morning somewhat betters.
There's reason to surmise these granaries

Were not destroy'd by chance, and the same hand
Which did us this good service may do more.
Meantime we'll pray Duke Aubert and the bishop
To let no victual pass their lands to Ghent.

GILBERT.

You shall do well, my lord. I know that people.
No poison works so wastingly amongst them
As a low diet-yea, it brings them down.
There'll be a hundred thousand mouths in Ghent
Gaping like callow jackdaws. Ah! I know them.
The men of battle are full feeders all;

By the strong hand they live, and help themselves
With griping of the rest. When famine comes,
"Tis worse to those, seeing that theretofore
They were too gross of body, worse to these,
For they were pinch'd already.

EARL.

That is true.

GILBERT.

Wait awhile,

Yea, sir, I know the White-Hoods.

And when they feel the vulture in their gut
They shall be busy whetting of their beaks.

Wait till they hunger, and not two in Ghent

Shall be of one opinion.

EARL.

In God's time

Distress shall breed dissensions as thou say'st.
We'll trust to that, and therefore have great heed
To block them out from access of provision.
The country is well wasted thereabouts,

And what they get must travel far to reach them.
We must shut up the roads from Liege and Brabant.

Enter the LORD OF ARLON.

D'ARLON.

My lord, I do beseech you make me quit

Of Occo for my guest, and give us leave

For instant combat.

EARL.

Walter, art thou mad?

What is thy quarrel with the Lord of Occo?
He is since yesterday, with thy good leave,
Our very worthy friend.

D'ARLON.

My lord, my lord,

He is since yesterday, if not before,
The very lewdest villain that was e'er
A blur and stain to knighthood.

EARL.

Say'st thou so?

What are thy reasons?

D'ARLON.

With a violent hand

He carried off from Ghent a noble lady,