The Night Walker, or The Little Thief · chunk 26 of 39
Fletcher, John / Shirley, James · published 1640 · first performed or written c.1611(?) [revised by Shirley and re-licensed for stage, May 11, 1633] (Annals) comedy · Lady Elizabeth's Men · Phoenix/Cockpit T30 Constables, justices and the watch typicality 0.90 · 499 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T30: constable, squire, tub, clay, worship, justice, turf, mr, hun, valentine.
How? Not at leisure to do the king service; Take heed what you say sir; I know his worship, If he knew my business, would no excuse. You must go to another justice, I'll assure My Master is not well in health. I know not, But if your worshipful be not at leisure To do himself a benefit, I am gone sir, An infinite benefit, and the State shall thank him for; Thank him, and think on him too; I am an Officer, And know my place, but I do love the Justice; I honour any authority above me: Beside, he is my neighbour, and I worship him. You have no books nor ballads Mr. Constable About you? What should I do with books does it become A man of my place to understand such matters? Pray call your Master, if he please to follow me, I shall discover to him such a plot, Shall get him everlasting fame, I'll be hanged for't And he be not knighted instantly, and for reward Have some of the malefactor's lands I'll bring him too; But I cannot dally time. Who's that? A Constable sir, would speak about some business, He says, will bring you fame, and mighty profit. Please your worship, come down, I'll make you happy; The notablest piece of villainy I have in hand sir, And you shall find it out; I ha' made choice To bring your worship to the first knowledge, and Thank me, as you find the good on't afterwards. What is it? Treason? 'tis little better, I can tell you, I have lodged A crew of the most rank and desperate villains: They talk of robberies, and ways they did 'em; And how they left men bound in their studies. With books and ballads? That sir? that, and murders, And thousand knaveries more, they're very rich sir, In money, jewels, chains, and a hundred more Devices. Happy, happy Constable, I meet ye At the back door, get ready knaves. Not a man I beseech you, I have privately appointed strength about me, They cannot start, your men would breed suspicion; All my desire is you would come alone; That you might have the hope of the enterprise, That you might hear 'em first, and then proceed sir, I come, I come. 'tis very well. Keep all my doors fast, 'tis something late. So, so, and please your worship I'll direct you. My Master stays, I doubt his lime-twigs catch not, If they do, all's provided; but I all This while forget my own state, fair Maria Is certainly alive, I met her in Another habit, with her Nurse, 'twas she: There is some trick in't, but when this is over, I'll find it out, this project for the Usurer May have good effect; however 'twill be sport To mortify him a little; He's come without him: Have you failed sir? Prospered? my little engineer; away, He is i'th' next room, be not you seen sirrah.
seed 43: T36 · seed 44: T35 — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
How? Not at leasure to doe the king service; Take heede what you say sir; I know his worship, If he knew my businesse, would no excuse. You must goe to another Iustice, Ile assure My Master is not well in health. I know not, But if your worshipfull be not at leasure To doe him selfe a benefit, I am gone sir, An infinite benefit, and the State shall thanke him for; Thanke him, and thinke on him too; I am an Officer, And know my place, but I doe love the Justice; I honor any authoritie above me: Beside, he is my neighbour, and I worship him. You have no bookes uor ballads Mr. Constable About you? What should I doe with bookes does it become A man of my place to understand such matters? Pray call your Master, if he please to follow me, I shall discover to him such a plot, Shall get him everlasting fame, Ile be hang'd for't And he be not knighted instantly, and for reward Have some of the malefactors lands Ile bring him too; But I cannot dally time. Who's that? A Constable sir, would speake about some businesse, He sayes, will bring you fame, and mighty profit. Please your worship, come downe, Ile make you happy; The notabl'st peece of villany I have in hand sir, And you shall find it out; I ha made choyce To bring your worship to the first knowledge, and Thanke me, as you finde the good on't afterwards. What is it? Treason? Tis little better, I can tell you, I have lodg'd A crew of the most ranke and desperate villaines: They talke of robberies, and wayes they did 'em; And how they left men bound in their studies. With bookes and ballads? That sir? that, and murders, And thousand knaveries more, tha're very rich sir, In money, jewels, chaines,, and a hundred more Devices. Happy, happy Constable, I meet yee At the backe doore, get ready knaves. Not a man I beseech you, I have privately appointed strength about me, They cannot start, your men would breede suspition; All my desire is you would come alone; That you might have the hope of the enterprise, That you might heare e'm first, and then proceed sir, I come, I come. Tis very well. Keepe all my doores fast, tis something late. So, so, and please your worship Ile direct you. My Master stayes, I doubt his lime-twigges catch not, If they doe, alls provided; but I all This while forget my owne state, faire Maria Is certainely alive, I met her in Another habit, with her Nurse, 'twas she: There is some tricke in't, but when this is over, Ile finde it out, this project for the Usurer May have good effect; however' twill be sport To mortifie him a little; He's come without him: Have you fail'd sir? Prosper'd? my little ingineere; away, He is ith' next roome, be not you seene sirra.