Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T39: conscience, lucre, usury, lucar, fraud, dissimulation, simony, london, lady, nemo.
Be these your letters? what would you have me do, and how shall I call ye? Lady, my name is Sincerity. And from whence came ye? I came from Oxford, but in Cambridge I studied late, Having nothing, thought good if I could, to make better my state. But if I had in stead of Divinity, the Law, Astronomy, Astrology, Physiognomy, Palmistry, Arithmetic, Logic, Music, physic, or any such thing, I had not doubted then, but to have had some better living. But Divines that preach the word of God sincerely and truly, Are in these days little or nothing set by. God grant the good Preachers be not taken away for our unthankfulness There was never more preaching and less following, the people live so amiss: But what is he that may not on the Sabbath day attend to hear God's word? But we will rather run to bowls, sit at the alehouse, than one hour afford: Telling a tale of Robin hood, sitting at Cards, playing at kettles, or some other vain thing, That I fear God's vengeance on your head it will bring. God grant amendment, but Lady Conscience I pray, In my behalf unto Lucar do what ye may. Mas my cousin can say his book well, I had not thought it, has worthy to have a benefice, and it will hit. God be blessed Sincerity, for the good comfort I have of thee, I would it lay in us to pleasure such believe me. We will do what we can: But vltra posse non est esse, you know, It is Lucar that hath brought us poor souls so low. For we have sold our house, we are brought so poor, And fear by her shortly to be shut out of door. Yet to subscribe our name we will with all our heart, Perchance for our sake some thing she will impart: Come hither Simplicity, let me write on thy back. Here is the right picture of that fellow that sits in the corner. Lady, methinks you are busy. I have done sir, I was setting my hand to a letter to Lucar for our friend Sincerity. But I would lady Love were here too. She is at home with me, but if it please you, so much in her behalf i'll do. I pray you heartily, and it shall suffice that turn well enough: Good Simplicity, once more thy body do bow. I think you'll make me serve to be a washing block for you. I would do it for you, but am afraid yonder boy will mock me. No i'll warrant thee. Here take thy letters Sincerity, & prosperous be they to thee. I yield you most hearty thanks my good lady. I Conscience, pleaseth it you to walk home and dine with me. Thanks my good friend Hospitality. But tell me sir, have you invited to dinner any strangers? No sure, none but lady Love, and three or four honest neighbours.
seed 43: T41 · seed 44: T39 — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
Be these your letters? what would you haue me doe, and how shall I call ye? Lady, my name is Sinceritie. And from whence came ye? I came from Oxford, but in Cambridge I studied late, Hauing nothing, thought good if I could, to make better my state. But if I had in stead of Diuinitie, the Law, Astronomie, Astrologie, Phislognomie, Palmestrie, Arithmetike, Logicke, Mascke, Phiscke, or any such thing, I had not doubted then, but to haue had some better liuing. But Diuines that preach the word of God sincerely and truly, Are in these dayes little or nothing set by. God grant the good Preachers be not taken away for our vnthankfulnes There was neuer more preaching and lesse following, the people lyue so amisse: But what is he that may not on the Sabath day attend to heare Gods word? But we wil rather run to bowls, sit at the alehouse, than one hour affoord: Telling a tale of Robin hood, sitting at Cards, playing at kettels, or some other vaine thing, That I feare Gods vengeance on your head it will bring. God graunt amendment, but Lady Conscience I pray, In my behalfe vnto Lucar do what ye may. Mas my coossen can say his booke well, I had not thought it, Hes worthy to haue a benefice, and it will hit. God be blessed Sinceritie, for the good comfort I haue of thee, I would it lay in vs to pleasure such beleeue me. We will do what we can: But vltra posse non et esse, you know, It is Lucar that hath brought vs poore soules so low. For we haue sould our house, we are brought so poore, And feare by her shortly to be shut out of doore. Yet to subscribe our name we will with all our hart, Perchaunce for our sake some thing she will impart: Come hither Simplicitie, let me write on thy backe. Here is the right picture of that fellow that sits in the corner. Lady, me thinks you are buse. I aue done sir, I was setting my hand to a letter to Lucar for our freend Sinceritie. But I would lady Loue were heere too. She is at home with mee, but if it please you, so much in her behalfe ile doo. I pray you hartily, and it shall suffise that turne well inow: Good Simplicitie, once more thy body do bow. I thinke youle make me serue to be a washing blocke for you. I would do it for you, but am afraid yonder boy will mocke me. No ile warrant thee. Here take thy letters Sinceritie, & prosperous be they to thee. I yeeld you most hartie thanks my good lady. I Conscience, pleaseth it you to walke home and dine with me. Thankes my good fiend Hospitalitie. But tell me sir, haue you inuited to dinner any straungers? No sure, none but lady Loue, and three or foure honest neighbors.