The True Tragedy of Richard the Third · chunk 7 of 40
Anonymous · published 1594 · first performed or written 1591 [1588-1594] (Annals) tragedy; history · Queen Elizabeth's Men unassigned nearest T14 Royal love, favour and dynastic relation · 501 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T14: prince, princess, love, king, lord, queen, madam, grace, lady, life.
For so thy letter declares thy name, Thy trust to thy Lord, is a sufficient warrant That I utter my mind fully unto thee, And seeing thy Lord and I have been long foes, And have found now so fit opportunity to join league, To allay the proud enemy, tell him thus as a friend, I do accept of his grace, and will be as ready to put in practice To the uttermost of my power, whate'er he shallbe to devise, But whereas he hath writ that the removing of the young Prince from the queen's friends might do well, Tell him thus, it is the only way to our purpose, For he shall shortly come up to London to his Coronation, At which instant, we will be both present, And where by the help of thy Lord, I will so play my part, That i'll be more then I am, and not much less than I look for No nor a hair breadth from that I am, adjudge thou what it is Percival. God send it my Lord, but my Lord willed me to satisfy you, and to tell you by word of mouth that he hath in readiness a brave company of men. What power hath he? A brave band of his own. What number? My Lord, to the number of five hundredth footmen. And horsemen aiders unto him, is my Lord chamberlain, and my Lord Hastings. Sounes, dares he trust the Lord Hastings. I my Lord as his own life, he is secret I warrant you. Well Percival, this matter is weighty and must not be slipped, therefore return this answer to thy Lord, that tomorrow I will meet him, for today I cannot, for now the funeral is past I must set a screen before the fire for fear of suspicion: again, I am now to strengthen myself by the controversy that is betwixt the kindred of the King deceased, and the Queen that's living, the young Prince is yet in hucksters' handling, and they not thoroughly friends, now must I so work, that that water that drives the mill may drown it. I climb Percival, I regard more the glory than the gain, for the very name of a King redouble a man's life with fame, when death hath done his worst, and so commend me to thy Lord, and take thou this for thy pains. I thank your grace, I humbly take my leave. Why so, now Fortune make me a King, Fortune give me a kingdom, let the world report the Duke of Gloster was a King, therefore Fortune make me King, if I be but King for a year, nay but half a year, nay a month, a week, three days, one day, or halfe a day, nay an hour, swoons half an hour, nay sweet Fortune, clap but the Crown on my head, that the vassals may but once say, God save King Richard's life, it is enough. Sirrah, who is there?
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 ſo thy letter declares thy name, Thy truſt to thy Lord, is a ſufficient warrant That I vtter my minde fully vnto thee, And ſeeing thy Lord and I haue bene long foes, And haue found now ſo fit opportunitie to ioyne league, To alaie the proude enemy, tell him thus as a friend, I do accept of his grace, and will be as readie to put in practiſe To the vttermoſt of my power, what ere he ſhalbe to deuiſe, But whereas he hath writ that the remouing of the yoong Prince from the Queenes friends might do well, Tell him thus, it is the only way to our purpoſe, For he ſhall ſhortly come vp to London to his Coronation, At which inſtant, we will be both preſent, And where by the helpe of thy Lord, I will ſo plaie my part, That ile be more then I am, and not much leſſe then I looke for No nor a haire bredth from that I am, Aiudge thou what it is Perciual. God ſend it my Lord, but my Lord willed me to ſatiſfie you, and to tell you by word of mouth that he hath in readineſſe a braue company of men. What power hath he? A braue band of his owne. What number? My Lord, to the number of fiue hundreth footmen. And horſmen ayders vnto him, is my Lord Chamberlaine, and my Lord Haſtings. Sounes, dares he truſt the Lord Haſtings. I my Lord as his owne life, he is ſecret I warrant you. Well Perciuall, this matter is waightie and muſt not be ſlipt, therefore return this anſwere to thy Lord, that to morrow I will meet him, for to day I cannot, for now the funerall is paſt I muſt ſet a ſcreene before the fire for feare of ſuſpition: again, I am now to ſtrengthen my ſelfe by the controuerſie that is betwixt the kindred of the King deceaſt, and the Queene thats liuing, the yoong Prince is yet in hucſters handling, and they not throughly friendes, now muſt I ſo worke, that that water that driues the mill may drowne it. I climbe Perciuall, I regard more the glorie then the gaine, for the very name of a King redouble a mans life with fame, when death hath done his worſt, and ſo commend me to thy Lord, and take thou this for thy paines. I thanke your grace, I humbly take my leaue. Why ſo, now Fortune make me a King, Fortune giue me a kingdome, let the world report the Duke of Gloſter was a King, therefore Fortune make me King, if I be but King for a yeare, nay but halfe a yeare, nay a moneth, a weeke, three dayes, one day, or halfe a day, nay an houre, ſwounes half an houre, nay ſweete Fortune, clap but the Crowne on my head, that the vaſſals may but once ſay, God ſaue King Richards life, it is inough. Sirrha, who is there?