[The] complaint and lamentation of Mistresse Arden of [Fev]ersham in Kent who for the loue of one Mosbie, hired certaine ruffians and villaines most cruelly to murder her husband; with the fatall end of her and her associats. To the tune of, Fortune my foe.

〈…〉 complaint and lamentation of Mistresse Arden of ●●…rsham in Kent , who for the loue of one Mosbie , hired certaine Ruffians 〈…〉 Villaines most cruelly to murder her Husband ; with the fatall end of her and her Associats . To the tune of , Fortune my Foe .

AY me , vile wretch , that euer I was borne , Making my selfe vnto the world a scorne : And to my friends and kindred all a shame , Blotting their blood by my vnhappy name . Vnto a Gentleman of wealth and fame , ( One Master Arden , he was call'd by name ) I wedded was with ioy and great content , Liuing at Feuersham in famous Kent . In loue we liu'd , and great tranquility , Vntill I came in Mosb●es company , Whose sugred tongue , good shapt , and louely looke , So one won my heart , and Ardens leue forsooke . And liuing thus in foule adultery , Bred in my husband cause of iealousie , And left the world our actions should bewray , Wee did consent to take his life away . To London faire my Husband was to ride , But ere he went I poyson did prouide , Got of a Painter which I promised That Mosbies sister Susan he should wed . Into his Broth ▪ then did put the same , He lik't it not when to the boord it came , Saying , There 's something in it is not so●dd , At which inrag'd , I fiung it on the ground . Yet ere he went , his man I did coniure , Ere they came home , to make his Master sure , And murder him , and for his faith and paine , Susan , and store of gold that he should gaine . Yet I misdoubting Michaels constancy , Knowing a Neighbour that was dwelling by , Which , to my husband bore no great good will , ●ought to incense him his deare blood to spill . His name was Greene ; O Master Green ( quoth I ) My husband to you hath done iniury , For which I sorry am with all my heart , And how he wrongeth me I will impart . He kéepes abroad most wicked company , With whores and queanes , and bad society ; When he comes home , he beats me sides and head , That Id●● wish that one of vs were dead . And now to London he is rid to roare , I would that I might neuer sée him more : Greene then incenst , did vow to be my friend , And of his life he soone would make an end . O Master Greene , said I , the dangers great , You must be circumspect to doe this feat ; To act the déed your selfe there is no néed , But hire some villaines , they will doe the déed . Ten pounds I le giue them to attempt this thing , And twenty more when certaine newes they bring , That he is dead , besides I le be your friend , In honest courtesie till life doth end . Greene vow'd to doe it ; then away he went , And met two Villaines , that did vse in Kent To rob and murder vpon Shooters hill , The one call'd Shakebag , t'other nam'd Black Will. Two such like Villaines Hell did neuer hatch , For twenty Angels they made vp the match , And forty more when they had one the déed , Which made them sweare , they 'd do it with al spéed Then vp to London presently they hye , Where Master Arden in Pauls Church they spy , And waiting for his comming forth that night , By a strange chance of him they then lost sight . For where these Villaines stood & made their stop A Prentice he was shutting vp his shop , The window falling , light on Blacke-Wills head , And broke it soundly , that apace it bled . Where straight he made a brabble and a coyle , And my swéet Arden he past by the while ; They missing him , another plot did lay , And meeting Michael , thus to him they say : Thou knowst that we must packe thy Master hence Therefore consent and further our pretence , At night when as your Master goes to bed , Leaue ope the doores , he shall be murthered . And so he did , yet Arden could not sleepe , Strange dreames and visions in his senses creepe , He dreamt the doores were ope , & Villaines came , To murder him , an 't was the very same .

The second part . To the same tune . HE rose and shut the doore , his man he blames , which conningly he strait this 〈◊〉 frames ; I was so sléepy , that I did forget To locke the doores , I pray you pardon it . Next day these Ruffians met this man againe , Who the whole story to them did explaine , My master will in towns no longer stay , Tomorrow you may méets him on the way . Next day his businesse being finished , He did take horse , and homeward then he rid , And as he rid , it was his hap as then , To ouertake Lord Cheiney and his men . With salutations they each other gréet , I am full glad your Honour for to méet , Arden did say ▪ then did the Lord reply , Sir , I am glad of your good company . And being that we homeward are to ride , I haue a s●●ie that must not be denide , That at my house you le sup , and lodge also , To Feuersham this night you must not goe . Then Arden answered with this courteous spéech , Your Honours pardon now I doe beséech , I made a vow , if God did giue me life , To sup and lodge with Alice my louing wife . Well , said my Lord , your oath hath got the day , Tomorrow come and dine with me , I pray . I le wait vpon your Honour then ( said he ) And safe he wont amongst this company . On Raymon-Downe , as they did passe this way , Black-will , and Shakebag they in ambush lay , But durst not touch him , cause of the great trains That my Lord had : thus were they croft againe . With horrid oathes these Ruffians gan to sweare , They stampe and curst , and tore their locks of haire Saying , some Angell surely him did keepe . Yet vow'd to murther him ere they did sleepe . Now all this while my husband was away , Mosby and I did reuell night and day ; And Susan , which my waiting maiden was , My Loues owne sister , knew how all did passe . But when I saw my Arden was not dead , I welcom'd him , but with a heauy head : To bed he went , and slept secure from harmes , But I did wish my Mosby in my armes . Yet ere he slept , he told me he must goe To dinner to my Lords , hee 'd haue it so ; And that same night Blacke-will did send me word , What lucke bad fortune did to them offord . I sent him word , that he next day would dine At the Lord Cheinies , and would rise betime , And on the way their purpose might fulfill , Well , I le reward you , when that you him kill . Next morne betimes , before the breake of day , To take him napping then they tooke their way ; But such a mist and fog there did arise , They could not see although they had foure eyes . Thus Arden scap'd these villaines where And yet they heard his horse goe by that way , I thinke ( said Will ) some Spirit is his friend , Come life or death , I vaw to see his end . Then to my house they strait did take their way , Telling me how they missed of their pray ; Then presently , we did together gree , At night at home that he should murdered be . Mosby and I , and all , our plot thus lay , That he at Tables should with Arden play , Black-will , and Sakebag they themselues should hide Vntill that Mosby he a watchword cride . The word was this whereon we did agree , Now ( Master Arden ) I haue taken ye : Woe to that word , and woe vnto vs all , Which bred confusion and our sudden fall . When he came home , most welcome him I made , And Iudas like I kist whom I betraide , Mosby and he together went to play , For I on purpose did the tables lay . And as they plaid , the word was straightway spoke , Blacke-Will and Sakebag out the corner-broke , And with a Towell backwards pul'd him downe , which made me think they now my ioyes did crowne With swords and kniues they stab'd him to the heart Mosby and I did likewise act our part , And then his body straight we did conuey Behind the Abbey in the field he lay . And then by Iustice we were straight condemn'd , Each of vs came vnto a shamelesse end , For God our secret dealings soone did spy , And brought to light our shamefull villany . Thus haue you heard of Ardens tragedy , It rests to shew you how the rest did die : His wife at Canterbury she was burnt , And all her flesh and bones to ashes turn'd . Mosby and his faire Sister , they were brought To London for the trespasse they had wrought , In Smithfield on a gibbet they did die , A just reward for all their villanie , Michael and Bradshaw , which a Goldsmith was , That knew of letters which from them did passe , At Feuersham were hanged both in chaines , And well rewarded for their faithfull paines . The painter fled none knowes how be did speed , Sakebag in Southwarke he to death did bléed , For as he thought to scape and run away , He suddenly was murdered in a fray . In Kent at Osbridge , Greene did suffer death , Hang'd on a gibbet he did lose his breath : Blacke-Will at Flushing on a stage did burne , Thus each one came vnto his end by turne . And thus my story I conclude and end , Praying the Lord that he his grace will send Vpon vs all , and keepe vs all from ill . Amen say all , if 't be thy blessed will .

FINIS .