The Entertainment at Norwich (Royal Entry of Queen Elizabeth) · chunk 7 of 15
Garter, Bernard / Goldingham, William · published 1578 · first performed or written 1578 [Aug] (Annals) entertainment; royal entertainment or entry · before the Court unassigned nearest T19 Virtue, Fortune and Vice as abstractions · 567 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T19: virtue, fortune, virtues, honour, fame, vice, envy, world, pride, great.
But to what end speak I this? Are not these self same things, and others their like (o most excellent Queen) by the eyes of all men clearly beholden in thee, and the order of thy kingdom? What man (I say) having his wits, can deny these things to be the most happy joy, spiritual crown, and chiefest ornament of Christ's church, and truly of this kingdom the princely beauty and perpetual renown? Thou surely dost follow most holily, the mind of Iosephus, by the singular goodness of God, as well in preserving thy kingdom, as in amplifying the kingdom of Christ (o thou most faithful nurse of the church of God:) for it is in God only to destroy this man by prosperity (as it seemeth unto man) and advance another by all kinds of adversity and humane danger: whom he acknowledgeth as the vessels of his mercy: and so by his goodness, together with the consolation and strength of his spirit, doth bring them to the happiness of eternal life, which our petition that good and merciful God grant may be ratified in establishing your majesty and governance of your kingdom with spiritual wisdom and understanding, in preserving the same for many years, and in enduing your majesties subjects more and more with true knowledge of him, for his sons sake our Lord Iesus Christ. Amen. IT is reported (most gracious Queen,) that Egypt is watered with the yearly overflowing of Nilus, and Lidia with the golden stream of Pactolus, which thing is thought to be the cause of the great fertility of these countries: but upon us, & farther, over all England, even in the uttermost borders many and main rivers of godliness, justice, humility, and other innumerable good things, in comparison of the which, gold is vile & nought worth, do most plentifully gush out, and those not from Tmolus, or other hills I know not which, but from that continual and most abundant wellspring of your goodness. And that of those infinite goodnesses I may lightly touch one, for that neither place, time, nor my faculty doth permit to speak of many: with what praises shall we extol: with what magnificent words shall we express that notable mercy of your highness, most renowned Queen, & uncredible readiness to relieve the need of poor men, than the which of many virtues none can be more acceptable unto God, as Homer writeth, neither any virtue in a mighty Prince more wondered at amongst men. This hospital of poor men is most famous, which will be a monument of princely virtue and beneficence amongst all posterity, instituted by the most mighty King Henry your highness father, confirmed with the great seal, by the most noble King Edward your brother, but by your majesty which deserveth no less praise, of late notably increased and amplified by the lands & possessions of Cringleford, that you may not now worthily rejoice so much in others ornaments, as your own virtues. For you are said for your singular wisdom and learning, to have studied that divine law of the most wise Plato, which he left written in the eleventh book of laws. Such your great bounty therefore, so exceeding, and incredible mercy (O most virtuous Prince) in what books shall we comprehend? with what duties, or with what voice shall we testify the good will of a thankful mind?
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)
But to what ende speake I this? Are not these selfe same things, and others their like (ô most excellent Queene) by the eyes of all men cleerely beholden in thee, and the order of thy kingdome? What man (I say) hauing his wittes, can deny these thinges to be the most happie ioy, spirituall crowne, and cheefest ornament of Christes churche, and truely of this kingdome the princely beautie and perpetuall renowne? Thou surely doest followe moste hollily, the minde of Iosephus, by the singular goodnes of God, aswell in preseruing thy kingdome, as in amplifying the kingdome of Christe (ô thou most faithfull nourse of the churche of God:) for it is in God onely to destroy this man by prosperitie (as it seemeth vnto man) and aduaunce another by all kindes of aduersitie and humaine daunger: whome he acknowledgeth as the vessels of his mercie: and so by his goodnesse, together with the consolation and strength of his spirite, doth bring them to the happinesse of eternall life, which our petition that good and mercifull God graunt may be ratified in establishing your maiestie and gouernance of your kingdom with spirituall wisedome and vnderstanding, in preseruing the same for many yeres, and in induing your maiesties subiectes more and more with true knowledge of him, for his sonnes sake our Lorde Iesus Christ. Amen. IT is reported (moste gracious Queene,) that Aegypt is watered with the yearely ouerflowing of Nilus, and Lidia with the golden streame of Pactolus, which thing is thought to bee the cause of the greate fertilitie of these countries: but vpon vs, & farther, ouer all Englande, euen in the vttermost borders many and maine riuers of godlinesse, iustice, humilitie, and other innumerable good things, in comparison of the which, golde is vile & nought worth, do most plentifully gush out, and those not from Tmolus, or other hilles I knowe not which, but from that continuall and moste aboundant welspring of your goodnesse. And that of those infinite goodnesses I may lightly touch one, for that neither place, time, nor my facultie doth permit to speake of many: with what praises shall wee extoll: with what magnificent wordes shall wee expresse that notable mercie of your highnesse, most renowmed Queene, & vncredible readinesse to releeue the neede of poore men, then the which of many vertues none can be more acceptable vnto God, as Homer writeth, neither any vertue in a mightie Prince more wondered at amongest men. This hospitall of poore men is moste famous, whiche will be a monument of princely vertue and beneficence amongest all posteritie, instituted by the moste mightie King Henry your highnesse father, confirmed with the great seale, by the moste noble King Edward your brother, but by your maiestie whiche deserueth no lesse praise, of late notably encreased and amplified by the landes & possessions of Cringleforde, that you may not nowe worthily reioyce so much in others ornamentes, as your owne vertues. For you are saide for your singular wisedome and learning, to haue studied that diuine lawe of the moste wise Plato, which he left written in the eleuenth booke of lawes. Such your great bountie therefore, so exceeding, and incredible mercie (O most vertuous Prince) in what books shall wee comprehende? with what dueties, or with what voice shall wee testifie the good will of a thankfull minde?