SECOND BURGHER. Why so? FIRST BURGHER. Good friend, Did'st ever know a secret to lie close Under a goose's wing? SECOND BURGHER. I think 'twill out. 'Twill surely out. FIRST BURGHER. The frighten'd 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 BURGOMASTER. Mercy! what foolishness will young men talk! FIRST BURGHER. Under your favour-old men too at times. THIRD BURGHER. De Vry, a word. I marvel at thy rashness; SECOND BURGHER. In good time, Verstolken; The axe's edge is turn'd towards us now, And what shall save us, if this mooncalf here VAN MUCK. Call you me mooncalf? I am an honest man; I dare you, sir, To signify me other. SECOND BURGHER. Hold thy peace. Whilst the French king is look'd for at Commines, Nine thousand men. He but counts To be divided. FOURTH BURGHER. The double were too few FIFTH BURGHER. 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. SECOND BURGHER. 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 Our merits with King Charles. Enter a Sixth Burgher. SIXTH BURGHER. Away, away! Vauclaire has word of all you do; a troop I told you so I told you this would come; With honest citizens. SECOND BURGHER. 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. BURGOMASTER. I said so; there! and still you hearken'd not! What shall we do? THIRD BURGHER. SECOND BURGHER. Van Muck, stand fast; they come : It is Vauclaire himself. BURGOMASTER. Say you sell pots. 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? THIRD BURGHER. 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? A villain. ROOSDYK. 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 So sweetly as you all demean'd yourselves! The Stadt-house. You shall all be heard Except Van Muck, whose treason is too rank First to the rack they doom him, then to the gallows. VAN MUCK. Sirs, grant me mercy; I am not a traitor; I'll tell it all. ROOSDYK. That shall you, or the rack Is not so good a singing-master now As it was wont to be. |