PHILIP VAN ARTEVELDE.

PART THE FIRST.

"No arts, no letters, no society, and, which is worst of all, continual fear and danger of violent death, and the life of Man, solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short."

LEVIATHAN, Part I. c. 18.

DRAMATIS PERSONÆ.

MEN OF GHENT.

PHILIP VAN ARTEVELDE.

PETER VAN DEN BOSCH,

SIR GUY, LORD OF Occo,Leaders of the White-Hoods. PETER VAN NUITRE,

FRANS ACKERMAN,

VAN AESWIN, Squire to Sir Guy of Occo.

HENRY VAN DRONGELEN, Page to Van Artevelde.

FATHER JOHN OF HEDA, a Monk, formerly Preceptor to

CLARA VAN ARTEVELDE, Sister of Philip Van Artevelde.

The SCENE is laid sometimes at GHENT, sometimes at BRUGES, or in its neighborhood.

OCCO.

Sir Guisebert Grutt, and, by my faith, I think
Sir Simon Bette too! Pray you pardon me;
I thought that you were sped upon your mission
To treat for peace at Bruges ?

SIR SIMON.

Sir, in good time. We'd have a word with you before we go. You are a noble born, my Lord of Occo; And let me tell you, many marvel much To find a gentleman of so great worth A flatterer of the Commons.

SIR GUISEBERT.

Yea, my lord:

It looks not well when nobles fall away

One from another. That the small-crafts here
Should lift their hands against their natural lord
Is but the plague and sorrow of the time,
Which we, that are of credit, must abide :
But ne'er till now a gentleman of name
Was found amongst their leaders.

OCCO.

O, dear sirs,

I could remind you how your sometime selves
Bore less good-will toward the Earl's affairs
Than spurs your errand now; and if to you
Pardon be promised, I would fain be told
Why not to me as well.

SIR GUISEBERT.

Truly, why not?

To whoso merits it 't will freely fall;

So give us leave to make a good report

Of how you stand affected.

OCCO.

'T were your wisdom.

Kind sirs, I thank you; you shall say, so please you,
That I am not of them that evermore

Cry out for war, and having not a hope
Of the Earl's mercy, act as desperate men;
For were I sure the multitude met pity,
It would not then behoove me to stand out
For my particular ransom,

though, to say truth, The Earl should do himself but little service Were he to deal too hardly with us all.

SIR SIMON.

"T is fairly spoken, sir. When we come back, Bringing conditions with us as we trust, We'll look for aid from you amongst the Commons.

For truly there are here a sort of crafts
So factious still for war and obstinate,
That we shall be endangered.

Suing for peace
Well,

Is ever treason to the White-Hoods.
We'll look for your support.

OCCO.

God speed you, sirs.

To fair conditions you shall find me friendly. [Exeunt SIR SIMON BETTE and SIR GUISEBERT GRUTT. VAN AESWYN comes forward.

AESWYN.

My lord, were those that parted from you here
The worshipful negotiators?

оссо.

Ay!

Would they had passed the wind-mills - how they

And met no babbling burghers on their way.

AESWYN.

What! you have made an overture ?

оссо.

Not so:

I've flung my line, and yonder pair of hooks
Are aptly baited to insure me one;

But compromised I am not,

no, nor will be, Till it be seen if yet my suit may thrive

With yon fair frozen dew-drop: all that's left
To represent Van Merestyn's hot blood.

AESWYN.

'Tis said she is but backwardly inclined To any of her swains.