Rowley, William · published 1638 · first performed or written 1608 [1607-1609] (Annals) romance · Prince Charles's Men (first) · Red Bull T5 Christian faith, sin and salvation typicality 0.70 · 519 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T5: god, christ, david, sin, holy, israel, lord, mercy, sins, faith.
But I have made a vow, think then what danger a relapse Would be, and you will grant my best Virginity; And I will further show what Heaven hath done, To aid my female Resolution, you then will bid Me cross the book of love, and Read of nothing But that text above. You promised me no less. I'll make it good: See you this spring, here a pretty stream begins his head, So late it was a parching drought had ceased our verdant grass, Here did I sit in Contemplation, lifting to Heaven my Orisons For present succour, but swifter than my thought, All Potent Heaven a Miracle had wrought: That Barren seeming Ground brought forth a Spring Of such sweet waters, as it had not been cursed i'th' old world's Deluge, I caused it then thus to be digged and framed By hand of men, and coming still to see it as before, A Heavenly shape appeared, and blessed it more; Gave it that power as heaven had so assigned, To cure diseases, help the lame and blind: For which poor people their poor thanks to tell, Calls as I would not, Winifred's Well. 'tis wonderful! Hark, these sounds did I hear when that Celestial Body did appear, let us with Reverence attend aloof, Your eye or ear shall have a further proof. With this the sign that holy Christians wear, When in the Field their Standers they up Rear Against the foes of Heaven; with this type, That when they receive the Seal Regenerate, Gives them their Christian name, with this I bless again This hallowed spring, who seeks Redress with a believing heart, Here he shall find ease, take power to cure the Leprous disease, give legs unto the Cripple, blind their Sight, So that their blessings be received aright: To misbelievers turn into a curse, Who seeks a Cure in scorn, disease him worse; This Heaven hath done for truth, it is but young, And needs a Miracle to make her strong, The time will come when men shall here not see, Then let the world express fidelity: Good Prayers have power to fetch an Angel down, And give a mortal an Immortal Crown. I need no more confirm ye beauteous Maid, myself i'll task unto some dangerous end, I'll take disguise, and straight to Verolome And to the face of persecuting Albon Our friend and fellow Knight, i'll tell his curse If he persist in Barbarous Cruelty, I'll throw my life in hazard, if I fall, Tell Christians keep my true memorial. Which first leave here with me, you shall do well, Here will I keep my Court, here will I dwell, Here let the Roman Tyrant shed my blood, Here they shall find me doing all the good A poor wretch can, what heaven has blessed before, I as a second means will help the poor. To that I leave thee most virtuous maid, Oh might it of Amphiabell be said; His good intendment had so happy end, To make a Christian of a bloody fiend, I come to try thee Albon.
seed 43: T4 · seed 44: T5 — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
But I have made a vow, thinke then what danger a relapse Would be, and you will grant my best Virginity; And I will further shew what Heaven hath done, To ayde my female Resolution, you then will bid Me crosse the booke of love, and Reade of nothing But that text above. You promist me no lesse. Ile make it good: See you this spring, here a pretty streame begins his head, So late it was a parching drought had ceas'd our verdant grasse, Here did I sit in Contemplation, lifting to Heaven my Orisons For present succour, but swifter then my thought, All Potent Heaven a Miracle had wrought: That Baren seeming Ground brought forth a Spring Of such sweet waters, as it had not beene curst i'th' old worlds Deluge, I caus'd it then thus to be digg'd and fram'd By hand of men, and comming still to see it as before, A Heavenly shape appear'd, and blest it more; Gave it that power as heaven had so assign'd, To cure diseases, helpe the lame and blind: For which poore people their poore thanks to tell, Calls as I would not, Winifreds Well. Tis wonderfull! Harke, these sounds did I heare when that Celestiall Body did appeare, let us with Reverence attend aloofe, Your eye or eare shall have a further proofe. With this the signe that holy Christians weare, When in the Field their Standers they up Reare Against the foes of Heaven; with this Tipe, That when they receive the Seale Regenerate, Gives them their Christian name, with this I blesse agen This hallowed spring, who seekes Redresse with a beleeving heart, Here he shall find ease, take power to cure the Leaprous disease, give leggs unto the Cripple, blind their Sight, So that their blessings be receiv'd aright: To misbeleevers turne into a curse, Who seekes a Cure in scorne, disease him worse; This Heaven hath done for truth, it is but young, And needes a Miracle to make her strong, The time will come when men shall here not see, Then let the world expresse fidelity: Good Prayers have power to fetch an Angell downe, And give a mortall an Immortall Crowne. I neede no more confirme yee beauteous Maid, My selfe ile taske unto some dangerous end, Ile take disguise, and straight to Verolome And to the face of persecuting Albon Our friend and fellow Knight, ile tell his curse If he persist in Barbarous Cruelty, Ile throw my life in hazard, if I fall, Tell Christians keepe my true memoriall. Which first leave here with me, you shall doe well, Here will I keepe my Court, here will I dwell, Here let the Roman Tyrant shed my bloud, Here they shall find me doing all the good A poore wretch can, what heaven has blest before, I as a second meanes will helpe the poore. To that I leave thee most vertuous maid, Oh might it of Amphiabell bee said; His good intendment had so happy end, To make a Christian of a blouddy fiend, I come to trie thee Abon.