Arden of Faversham

Arden is talking with his friend Franklin, who works for Edward Seymour, the Lord Protector for King Edward VI. Franklin is trying to cheer Arden up by relaying the news that Seymour and King Edward recently signed over ownership of the Abbey of Faversham to Arden. Arden is not comforted: He is distressed about his wife Alice’s apparent infidelity with Mosby, a former tailor who has recently bettered his station by befriending a nobleman. Arden is particularly bothered by Mosby’s low social status, as opposed to Arden who was born a gentleman. He and Franklin concoct a plan for Arden to stay with Franklin in London, hoping that Alice will realize what she is missing when he is gone.

When Alice enters, Arden confronts her about calling Mosby’s name in her sleep. After several deflections, he drops the accusation and says he will be spending a month in London with Franklin. Alice pines over his absence to his face, but when Arden excuses himself, she reveals she desires to be with Mosby. Her marriage to Arden prevents it, however.

A worker from the nearby inn arrives with a message for Alice from Mosby, saying that he doesn’t want to see her. Alice, startled, asks the messenger to bring Mosby a request to come by her house as soon as possible. Once the man leaves, Alice talks to the family servant, Michael. They reiterate a plan that he and Alice previously agreed upon: Michael will kill Arden while they’re in London, and in return, Michael will marry Mosby’s sister, Susan, who is Alice’s maid.

Mosby comes to the house, acting standoffish. Alice entreats him but grows upset at his coldness, asking him if he remembers their decision to murder Arden. Mosby reveals he was testing her love for him, and the two reiterate their love and commitment to their plan. Mosby says that he met a painter named Clarke who is clever with poisons, and Clarke arrives moments later. He claims he can paint a picture that kills its viewer. (According to early modern optical theory, invisible beams connected a viewer’s eye to the object. Clarke’s claim to be able to manipulate this connection for murderous purposes is credible in this context.) Alice and Mosby think that plan is too dangerous, however, and instead Clarke gives Alice poison to slip into Arden’s broth in exchange for Susan Mosby’s hand in marriage. Alice and Mosby know they promised Susan to competing suitors but care only about the success of their plan.

Arden returns to find Mosby with Alice. He confronts Mosby about the affair, mocking Mosby’s comparatively low birth. Arden confiscates Mosby’s sword—which legally only nobles were allowed to wear—and disparages his former trade as a tailor by telling him to wield tools such as a needle and pressing-iron. Mosby holds his ground, saying that while he fancied Alice long ago, he no longer does, and visits their house only for the sake of his sister Susan. Arden apologizes for his harsh words and invites Mosby to visit more often.

Alice enters with Arden’s poisoned broth, but he hesitates after tasting it. Alice accuses Arden of not liking the broth because she was the one who made it, claiming that she can do nothing that will please him or make him less suspicious of her. Though he assures her that he believes her, Alice carries on her facade, threatening to drink the broth herself if he thinks it’s poisoned. Arden reiterates that he does not doubt Alice, and though he must go through with his trip, he will write to her. He and Franklin depart.

Alone, Alice and Mosby laud their clever performances and bemoan the crudeness of Clarke’s poison. Mosby tells Alice that he does not wish to enter a relationship with her while her husband still lives. Alice makes a passionate plea based on the ephemeral nature of oaths and words, but Mosby nonetheless intends to keep his. Before Mosby departs, Alice says she will arrange for a ruffian at a roadside inn to kill Arden.

As Mosby leaves, a man named Greene arrives. Greene wants Alice to tell him if it’s true that Arden was given the deed to the Abbey of Faversham, as it was previously promised to Greene. When Alice confirms this, Greene is distressed. Whereas Greene has little to his name, Arden is “greedy-gaping still for gain” (1.475). Alice, seeing her opportunity, tells Greene that she is also cruelly used by Arden, and fears for her life due to his emotional, verbal, and physical abuse. Greene vows to kill Arden for the sake of recovering his land and so Alice can live free from fear. Alice gives him ten pounds with the promise of twenty more so that Greene can hire a hitman.

Mosby and Clarke re-enter. Alice tells Clarke that Susan is alone and that he can proposition her. Alice tells Mosby about her plan with Greene, thinking he will be pleased. Mosby doesn’t take the news well and is nervous that revealing their designs to kill Arden to so many strangers is dangerous. Since what’s done is done, they turn their attention to Clarke and Susan, who have just re-entered, now content to be a match should Mosby allow it. Mosby says yes on one condition: that Clarke supplies him with one of the poisoned paintings he claims to be able to make.