Shirley, James · published 1635 · first performed or written 1631 [licensed for stage, May 4] (Annals) tragedy · Queen Henrietta Maria's Men unassigned nearest T0 Court life: dukes, favour and honour · 523 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T0: duke, lord, duchess, love, court, madam, prince, honour, grace, lady.
I will prove thou liest in thy throat, if thou deniest thy Treason, and so I address myself to the most understanding seats of Justice, most wise, most honourable, and most incorrupt Judges, sleep not I beseech you, my place hath called me to plead in the behalf of my Prince and Country against this notable, this pernicious, and impudent Traitor, who hath plotted and contrived such high, heinous, and horrible treasons as no Age nor History hath ever mentioned the like. Here he stands, whose birth I will not touch, because it's altogether unknown who begot him: He was brought up among the small wares in the City, became rich by sinister and indirect practises, married a Merchant's wife at adventures, and was soon after advanced to be a Head-officer. Why you rascal. Peace sirrah, peace, nay your Lordships shall find him very audacious: This fellow not content to have his branches spread within the City, I speak it to his face, let him deny it, was afterward by the corruption of his confederate, and the mere grace of his highness raised to honour, received infinite favours from his Prince of blessed memory, yet like a wretch, a villain, a viper, a Rat of Nilus, he hath practised Treasons against the sacred person of the Duke, for which he deserveth not only to die, but also to suffer tortures, whips, racks, strappadoes, wheels, and all the fiery brazen bulls that can be invented, as I shall make it appear to this honourable and illustrious Court. This rogues transported. With all my heart I obey your Lordships— thus then I pass from these circumstances, and proceed to the principal villainies that we have to lay to his charge. Imprimis thou Signior Depazzi didst offer to a groom a 100 crowns to poison his highness' hunting saddle. Did I? Do not interrupt me varlet I will prove it, his hunting saddle, and woe shall be unto thy breech therefore, and finding this serpentine treason broken in the shell, do but lend your reverend ears to his next designs I will cut 'em off presently. This irreligious nay Atheistical Traitor, did with his own hands poison the Duke's prayer book, oh impiety! and had his highness as in former times, he accustomed but prayed once in a month, which by special grace he omitted, how fatal had it been to Florence? but as by justice his excellence did then, and by his own want of devotion, prevent this assassinate's purpose, so we hope in his own discretion, and the council of his state, he will take heed how he prays hereafter while he lives, to which every true subject will say Amen. May it please your honours— Thou impudent brazen faced Traitor, wilt thou deny it? more over, and like your good Lordships, he hath for this fortnight or three weeks before his apprehension, walked up and down the Court with a case of pistols charged wherewith, as he partly confessed, he intended to send the Duke to heaven with a powder. This rogue will undo the Devil at invention, may it please this honourable—
seed 43: unassigned · seed 44: unassigned — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
I will prove thou liest in thy throate, if thou deniest thy Treason, and so I addresse my selfe to the most vnderstanding seates of Justice most wise, most honourable, and most incorrupt Judges, sleepe not I beseech you, my place ath call'd me to plead in the behalfe of my Prince and Countrie against this notable, this pernicious, and impudent Traitor, who hath plotted and contrived such high, hainous, and horrible treasons as no Age nor Historie hath ever mention'd the like. Here hee stands, whose birth I will not touch, because its altogether unknowne who begot him: He was brought up among the smal wares in the Cittie, became rich by sinister and indirect practises, married a Merchants wife at adventures, and was soone after advanc'd to be a Head-officer. Why you rascall. Peace sirra, peace, nay your Lordships shall finde him very audacious: This fellow not content to have his branches spread within the Cittie, I speake it to his face, let him denie it, was afterward by the corruption of his confederate, and the meere grace of his highnesse raised to honour, received infinite favours from his Prince of blessed memorie, yet like a wretch, a villaine, a viper, a Rat of Nilus, he hath practised Treasons against the sacred person of the Duke, for which he deserveth not onely to die, but also to suffer tortures, whips, racks, strapadoes, wheeles, and all the fiery brazen bulls that can bee invented, as I shall make it appeare to this honourable and illustrious Court. This rogues transported. With all my heart I obey your Lordships—thus then I passe from these circumstances, and proceed to the principall villanies that wee have to lay to his charge. Imprimis thou Signior Depazzi didst offer to a groome a 100 crownes to poyson his highnes hunting saddle. Did I? Do not interrupt mee varlet I will proove it, his hunting saddle, and woe shall be unto thy breech therefore, and finding this serpentive treason broken in the shell, doe but lend your reverend eares to his next designes I will cut em off presently. This irreligious nay Atheistical Traitor, did with his owne hands poyson the Dukes prayer booke, oh impiety! and had his highnes as in former times, hee accustomed but pray'd once in a month, which by speciall grace hee omitted, how fatall had it beene to Florence? but as by justice his excellence did then, and by his owne want of devotion, prevent this assasinates purpose, so we hope in his owne discretion, and the councell of his state, hee will take heed how he prayes hereafter while hee lives, to which every true subject will say Amen. May it please your honors— Thou impudent brazen fac'd Traitor, wilt thou deny it? more over, and like your good Lordships, hee hath for this fortnight or three weekes before his apprehension, walk'd up and downe the Court with a case of pistols charg'd wherewith, as he partly confessed, hee intended to send the Duke to heaven with a powder. This rogue will undoe the Divell at inuention, may it please this honorable—