The True Tragedy of Richard the Third · chunk 11 of 40
Anonymous · published 1594 · first performed or written 1591 [1588-1594] (Annals) tragedy; history · Queen Elizabeth's Men T18 Rebels, barons and the king's wars at ho typicality 0.82 · 478 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T18: king, lord, wallace, earl, edward, england, scotland, rebels, bruce, english.
A bravely spoken good old Earl, who though his limbs be num. He hath his tongue as much at use, as though his years were young. Speakest thou the truth, how darest thou speak, for justice to appeal? whenas thy packing with thy Prince, thy falsehood do reveal. ah Riuers blush, for shame to speak, like traitor as thou art. upbraid you me as traitor to your grace: No although a prisoner, I return defiance in thy face. The Chronicles I record, talk of my fidelity, & of my progeny, Where, as in a glass thou mayst behold, thy ancestors & their treachery. The wars in France, Irish conflicts, & Scotland knows my trust, When thou hast kept thy skin unscarred, and let thine armour rust: How thou unjustly here exclaim'st, Yea far from love or kin, Was this the oath which at our PRINCE's death, With us thou didst combine? But time permits now, to tell thee all my mind: For well 'tis known that but for fear, you never would have 'clined. Let Commons now have it in hand, the matter is begun, Of whom I fear the lesser sort, upon thy part will run. My Lords, I cannot breathe it out in words like to you: but this, My honour I will set to sale, let any common man come in, And say Earl Riuers faith unto his Prince did quail, Then will I lose my lands and life, but if none so can do, Than thou Protector injur'st me, and thy copartner too: But since as judges here you are, and taking no remorse, Spare me not, let me have law, injustice do your worst. My Lord, lay down a cooling card, this game is gone too far, You have him fast, now cut him off, for fear of civil war. Injurious Earl, I hardly brook, this portion thou hast given, Thus with my honour me to touch, but thy ruth shall begin. But as thou art I leave thee here, Unto the officers custody, First bore him to Pomfret Castle, Charge them to keep him secretly: And as you hear from me so deal, Let it be done immediately: Take from our Garrison one whole band, To guard him thither safely. And send'st thou me to common jail? Nay then I know thy mind: God bless these young and tender babes, That I do leave behind. And God above protect them day and night, Those are the marks thou aim'st at, to rid them from their right. Farewell sweet England and my country men, Earl Rivers leads the way: Yet would my life might rid you from this thrall, But for my stock & kindred to the Queen, I greatly fear them all. And thus disloyal Duke farewell, whenever this is known, The shame and infamy thereof, be sure will be thine own.
seed 43: T22 · seed 44: T13 — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
A brauely ſpokē good old Earle, who tho his lims be num. He hath his tongue as much at vſe, as tho his yeares were yong. Spekeſt yu the truth, how darſt yu ſpeak, for iuſtice to apeale? When as thy packing with thy Prince, thy falſhood do reueale. A Riuers bluſh, for ſhame to ſpeake, like traitor as thou art. A brayd you me as traitor to your grace: No altho a priſoner, I returne defiance in thy face. The Chronicles I record, talk of my fidelitie, & of my progeny, Wher, as in a glas yu maiſt behold, thy anceſtors & their trechery. The wars in France, Iriſh cōflicts, & Scotland knowes my truſt, When thou haſt kept thy skin vnſcard, and let thine armor ruſt▪ How thou vniuſtly here exclaim'ſt, Yea far from loue or kin, Was this the oath which at our princes death, With vs thou didſt combine? But time permits now, to tell thee all my minde: For well tis known that but for fear, you neuer wold haue clind. Let Commons now haue it in hand, the matter is begun, Of whom I feare the leſſer ſort, vpon thy part will run. My Lords, I cannot breath it out in words like to you: but this, My honor I will ſet to ſale, let any comman man come in, And ſay Earle Riuers faith vnto his Prince did quaile, Then will I loſe my lands and life, but if none ſo can doo, Then thou Protector iniur'ſt me, and thy copartner too: But ſince as Iudges here you are, and taking no remorce, Spare me not, let me haue law, in iuſtice do your worſt. My Lord, lay down a cooling card, this game is gone too far, You haue him faſt, now cut him off, for feare of ciuill war. Iniurious Earle, I hardly brooke, this portion thou haſt giuen, Thus with my honor me to touch, but thy ruth ſhall begin. But as thou art I leaue thee here, Vnto the officers cuſtody, Firſt bare him to Pomphret Caſtle, Charge them to keep him ſecretly: And as you heare from me ſo deale, Let it be done immediatly: Take from our Garriſon one whole band, To guard him thither ſafely. And ſend'ſt thou me to common Iayle? Nay then I know thy minde: God bleſſe theſe yoong and tender babes, That I do leaue behinde. And God aboue protect them day and night, Thoſe are the marks thou aim'ſt at, to rid them from their right. Farewell ſweet England and my country men, Earle Riuers leades the way: Yet would my life might rid you from this thrall, But for my ſtock & kinred to the Queen, I greatly feare thē all. And thus diſloyall Duke farewell, when euer this is knowne, The ſhame and infamy thereof, be ſure will be thine owne.