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 destroyed 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 MATTHEW.

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 pinched already.

EARL.

That is true.

GILBERT MATTHEW:

Yea, Sir, I know the White-Hoods. Wait awhile,

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 stain to knighthood.

EARL.

Say'st thou so?-go to ;

What are thy reasons?

D'ARLON.

With a violent hand

He carried off from Ghent a noble lady,

Whose honour he attempted yesternight

Beneath my roof and here on her behalf,
And on my own, your highness I entreat
That you give order to have lists prepared,
Where may meet the miscreant spear to spear,
And do God's will upon him.

EARL.

Soft, my son;

I'll have no fighting for a private cause

Till Ghent be down. I cannot spare a spear,
And this were but an idle cause at best

For breaking one. The honest dames of Ghent
Have scarce deserved protection at our hands
And when the time shall come, as come it will,
That Ghent is storm'd and sack'd, they'll have no more
Than their deserts: free quarters shall they give

To lusty knight, hot squire, and man at arms.

Shall they not, Gilbert?

GILBERT MATTHEW.

Sir, the dames of Ghent

Must look for worse than what your highness hints.

EARL.

Why then my Lord of Occo sinned not much

To seize occasion by the forelock,—ha ?

GILBERT MATTHEW.

My lord, he did but what was just and right.

D'ARLON.

Peace, Master Gilbert Matthew-stand apart;

I seek an audience direct and free,

No craft of juggling renegade betwixt

To interpose, and toss me to and fro

The words that please him or that please him not.
My lord, you know what service I have done,
And with what voluntary heart, not bound
By duty or allegiance to bear arms,

For in my native land the while was peace.
I scarce am call'd a man, and service yet
I count by years, nor leave a winter out.

I was the nursling of your camp, my lord,

And played with weapons, ere my hands had strength

To lift an iron basnet to my head.

The war-horse neigh'd to see me when my legs

His breadth of back bestrided scarce aslope,

And rarely hath it been from that time forth

That I have housed when men at arms were mounted.

This it befits me not to say, my lord,
Save for the just conclusion: I entreat
That if it square not with your purposes