VAN AESWYN, Squire to Sir Guy of Occo.

HENRY VAN DRONGELEN, Page to Van Artevelde. FATHER JOHN OF HEDA, a Monk, formerly Preceptor to Van Artevelde.

CLARA VAN ARTE VELDE, Sister of Philip Van Artevelde.

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

"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.

PHILIP VAN ARTEVELDE.

Part the First.

ACT I.

SCENE I.

A STREET IN THE SUBURBS OF GHENT.

The LORD OF Occo, meeting SIR SIMON BETTE and SIR GUISEBERT GRUTT.

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 BETTE.

Sir, in good time.

VOL. I.

B

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 GRUTT.

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.

Oh, dear sirs,

I could remind you how your sometime selves
Bore less goodwill towards 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 GRUTT.

Truly, why not?

To whoso merits it 'twill freely fall;

So give us leave to make a good report

Of how you stand affected. 'Twere your

OCCO.

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 behove 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 BETTE.

'Tis 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

Is ever treason to the White-Hoods.

We'll look for your support.

Well,