Jonson, Ben · published 1640 · first performed or written 1633 [licensed for stage, May 7] (Annals) comedy · Queen Henrietta Maria's Men T30 Constables, justices and the watch typicality 0.80 · 481 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T30: constable, squire, tub, clay, worship, justice, turf, mr, hun, valentine.
Keep out those fellows; I'll ha' none come in, But the High Constable, the man of peace, And the Queen's Captain, the brave man of war. Now neighbour Turf, the cause why you are called, Before me by my warrant, but unspecified, Is this; and pray you mark it thoroughly! Here is a Gentleman, and as it seems, Both of good birth, fair speech, and peaceable, Who was this morning robbed here in the wood: You for your part a man of good report, Of credit, landed, and of fair demeans, And by authority, high Constable; Are notwithstanding touched in this complaint, Of being careless in the Hue and Cry. I cannot choose but grieve a Soldiers loss: And I am sorry too for your neglect, Being my neighbour; this is all I object. This is not all; I can allege far more, And almost urge him for an accessory. Good Mr Justice gi'me leave to speak, For I am Plaintiff. Let not neighbourhood Make him secure, or stand on privilege. Sir, I dare use no partiality: Object than what you please, so it be truth. This more: and which is more, than he can answer, Beside his letting fall the Hue, and Cry He doth protect the man, charged with the felony, And keeps him hid I hear, within his house, Because he is affied unto his Daughter. I do defy ' hun, so shall she do too. I pray your worship's favour, le' me have hearing. I do convesse, 'twas told me such a velonie, an't not disgrieved me a little when 'twas told me, Vor I was going to Church, to marry Audrey: And who should marry her, but this very Clay, Who was charged to be the chief thief o' hun all. Now I (the halter stick me, if I tell, Your worships any leazins did forethink 'un The truest man, till he waz run away. I thought, I had had 'un as zure as in a zaw-pit, Or i' mine Oven. Nay, i' the Towne-pound. I was za sure o' hun: I'd ha' gi'n my life for ' un, Till he did start. But now, I zee 'un guilty, Az var as I can look at ' un. Would you ha' more? Yes, I will have Sir what the Law will give me. You gave your word to see him safe, forth coming; I challenge that: But, that is forfeited; Beside, your carelessness in the pursuit, Argues your slackness, and neglect of duty, Which aught be punished with severity. He speaks but reason Bring forth the man, And you are quit: But otherwise, your word Binds you to make amendss for all his loss, And think yourself befriended, if he take it Without a farther suit, or going to law. Come to a composition with him, Turf: The Law is costly, and will draw on charge.
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)
KEepe out thoſe fellowes; Ile ha' none come in, But the High Conſtable, the man of peace, And the Queenes Captaine, the brave man of warre. Now neighbour Turfe, the cauſe why you are call'd, Before me by my warrant, but unſpecified, Is this; and pray you marke it thoroughly! Here is a Gentleman, and as it ſeemes, Both of good birth, faire ſpeech, and peaceable, Who was this morning rob'd here in the wood: You for your part a man of good report, Of credit, landed, and of faire demeanes, And by authority, high Conſtable; Are notwithſtanding touch'd in this complaint, Of being careleſſe in the Huy and Cry. I cannot chooſe but grieve a Soldiers loſſe: And I am ſory too for your neglect, Being my neighbour; this is all I object. This is not all; I can alledge far more, And almoſt urge him for an acceſſorie. Good Mr Juſtice gi'me leave to ſpeake, For I am Plaintife. Let not neighbour-hood Make him ſecure, or ſtand on priviledge. Sir, I dare uſe no partiality: Object then what you pleaſe, ſo it be truth. This more: and which is more, then he can anſwer, Beſide his letting fall the Huy, and Cry He doth protect the man, charg'd with the felonie, And keepes him hid I heare, within his houſe, Becauſe he is affied unto his Daughter. I doe defie 'hun, ſo ſhall ſhee doe too. I pray your worſhips favour, le' me have hearing. I doe conveſſe, 'twas told me ſuch a velonie, And't not diſgriev'd me a little when 'twas told me, Vor I was going to Church, to marry Awdrey: And who ſhould marry her, but this very Clay, Who was charg'd to be the chiefe theife o' hun all. Now I (the halter ſtick me, if I tell, Your worſhips any leazins did fore-thinke 'un The trueſt man, till he waz run away. I thought, I had had 'un as zure as in a zaw-pit, Or i' mine Oven. Nay, i' the Towne-pound. I was za ſure o' hun: I'ld ha' gi'n my life for 'un, Till he did ſtart. But now, I zee 'un guilty, Az var as I can looke at 'un. Would you ha' more? Yes, I will have Sir what the Law will give me. You gave your word to ſee him ſafe, forth comming; I challenge that: But, that is forfeited; Beſide, your careleſneſſe in the purſuit, Argues your ſlackneſſe, and neglect of dutie, Which ought be puniſh'd with ſeverity. He ſpeakes but reaſon Bring forth the man, And you are quit: But otherwiſe, your word Binds you to make amends for all his loſſe, And thinke your ſelfe befriended, if he take it Without a farder ſuit, or going to law. Come to a compoſition with him, Turfe: The Law is coſtly, and will draw on charge.