The Entertainment at Norwich (Royal Entry of Queen Elizabeth) · chunk 8 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 · 547 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T19: virtue, fortune, virtues, honour, fame, vice, envy, world, pride, great.
For when we diligently seek all the most exquisite and curious means of thanksgiving: we cannot so much as attain unto the greatness of this one benefit, by the which we acknowledge ourselves bound & straightly holden to your most royal majesty. We shallbe overcome, even with this one and singular benefit, so much the less hope have we then in any point to countervail the huge Sea of the rest of thy benefits which overfloweth on every side as well publicly and generally over all thy Subjects, as properly and particularly upon this City. We certainly now inhabit, and lead our lives in those most happy islands of the which Hesiodus maketh mention, which not only abound with all manner of grain, will, cattle, and other aids of man's life, but much more with the most precious treasure of true religion and the word of God, in the which only the minds of men have rest and peace. There be that call England another world, which I think may be most true in this our age: For whereas all lands on every side of us are afflicted with most grievous wars, & tossed with the floods of dissension, we only, your highness governing our stern, do sail in a most peaceable haven, and severed from the world of mischiefs, do seem after a sort to be taken up into a heaven of happiness. We therefore, according to our bounden duty, first give thanks unto God Almighty, unto whose goodness only with thanks we refer all this our happiness, how great soever it be, and pray that he would vouchsafe to make the same proper and perpetual unto us. And afterwards, unto your highness, (O most gracious Queen) by whose study, care and diligence we confess this blessedness to be gotten, & so many years preserved unto us. We are glad in this beholding you, and we rejoice with desire more than may be believed, which as I speak of mine own thought, so also all these subjects of Norwich desire me to say the same in their behalf. And I would to God you could pierce these our breasts with your eyes, and thoroughly view the hidden and covered creeks of our minds: then undoubtedly should you behold an infinite heap of good will closely shut up within, which cannot break out of so narrow straits. All the faith, study, and obedience, which are due to so great a Prince, as hitherto we have most willingly employed, so will we always most diligently perform the same: and if at any time any chance shall happen (which fortune God turn from us) that the state of thy blessed majesty or of this flourishing realm should come in danger, or the worthiness thereof be in hazard, we do not only protest the effusion of all our goods and substance, but also the putting forth and brunt of our strengths and bodies therein. Finally we desire and beseech thy excellency (most renowned Queen) well to accept of this our duty, howsoever it be, proceeding from a singular good will, and a most thankful mind, and so to think of us Citizens of Norwich, that perhaps you have many times come to people more wealthy, but to more joyful never.
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)
For when wee diligently seeke all the moste exquisite and curious meanes of thankesgiuing: wee cannot so much as attaine vnto the greatnesse of this one benefite, by the which we acknowledge our selues bounde & streightly holden to your moste royall maiestie. We shalbe ouercome, euen with this one and singular benefite, so muche the lesse hope haue wee then in any point to counteruaile the huge Sea of the rest of thy benefites which ouerfloweth on euery side aswell publikely and generally ouer all thy Subiectes, as properly and particularly vppon this Citie. We certeinly nowe inhabite, and lead our liues in those most happie Ilands of the which Hesiodus maketh mention, which not only abounde with all manner of graine, woll, cattell, and other aydes of mans life, but much more with the moste precious treasure of true religion and the worde of God, in the which onely the mindes of men haue rest and peace. There be that call Englande another worlde, which I thinke may bee moste true in this our age: For whereas all landes on euery side of vs are afflicted with most greuous warres, & tossed with the floudes of dissention, we onely, your highnesse gouerning our sterne, do saile in a moste peaceable hauen, and seuered from the worlde of mischiefes, do seeme after a sorte to bee taken vp into a heauen of happinesse. We therefore, according to our bounden duetie, first giue thankes vnto God Almightie, vnto whose goodnesse only with thankes wee referre all this our happinesse, howe great soeuer it be, and pray that he woulde vouchesafe to make the same proper and perpetuall vnto vs. And afterwards, vnto your highnesse, (O most gratious Queene) by whose studie, care and diligence wee confesse this blessednes to be gotten, & so many yeares preserued vnto vs. We are glad in this beholding you, and we reioyce with desire more than may be beleeued, which as I speake of mine owne thought, so also all these subiectes of Norwich desire me to say the same in their behalfe. And I would to God you coulde pearce these our breasts with your eyes, and throughly viewe the hidden and couered creekes of our mindes: then vndoubtedly shoulde you beholde an infinite heape of good will closely shutt vpp within, which cannot breake out of so narrowe straights. All the faith, studie, and obedience, which are due to so greate a Prince, as hitherto we haue most willingly imployed, so will we alwayes most diligently perfourme the same: and if at any time anie chaunce shall happen (which fortune God turne from vs) that the state of thy blessed maiestie or of this florishing realme shoulde come in daunger, or the worthinesse thereof be in hazarde, we doe not onely protest the effusion of all our goods and substaunce, but also the putting foorth and brunt of our strengthes and bodies therein. Finally we desire and beseech thy excellencie (most renowmed Queene) well to accepte of this our duetie, howe soeuer it be, proceeding from a singular good will, and a moste thankfull minde, and so to think of vs Citizens of Norwich, that perhaps you haue many times com to people more wealthie, but to more ioyfull neuer.