The True Tragedy of Richard the Third · chunk 30 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 0.89 · 514 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T18: king, lord, wallace, earl, edward, england, scotland, rebels, bruce, english.
Messenger stay, hath Blunt betrayed, doth Oxford rebel and aid the Earl Richmond, may this be true, what is our prison so weak, our friends so fickle, our Ports so ill looked too, that they may pass and repass the seas at their pleasures, than every one conspires, spoils our Conflex, conqueres our Castles, and Arms themselves with their own weapons unresisted? O villains, rebels, fugitives, thieves, how are we betrayed, when our own swords shall beat us, and our own subjects seeks the subversion of the state, the fall of their Prince, and sack of their country, of his, nay neither must nor shall, for I will arm with my friends, and cut off my enemies, & beard them to their face that dares me, and but one, I one, one beyond the seas that troubles me: well his power is weak, & we are strong, therefore I will meet him with such melody, that the singing of a bullet shall send him merrily to his longest home. Come follow me. Welcome dear friends and loving countrymen, Welcome I say to England's blissful isle, Whose forwardness I cannot but commend, That thus do aid us in our enterprise, My right it is, and sole inheritance, And Richard but usurps in my authority, For in his tyranny he slaughtered those That would not succour him in his attempts, Whose guiltless blood craves daily at God's hands; Revenge for outrage done to their harmless lives: Then courage countrymen, and never be dismayed, Our quarrels good, and God will help the right, For we may know by dangers we have passed, That God no doubt will give us victory. If love of gold, or fear of many foes, Could once have daunted us in our attempts, Thy foot had never touched the English shore, And here Earl Oxford plights his faith to thee, Never to leave in what we have undertaken, But follow still with resolution, Till thou be crowned as conqueror in the field, Or lose thy life in following of thy right: Thy right brave Richmond, which we will maintain Maugre the proudest bird of Richard's brood. Then cousin Richmond being resolved thus, Let us straight to Arms, & God and S. George for us. As this brave Earl have said, so say we all, We will not leave thee till the field be won, Which if with fortunate success we can perform, Think then Earl Richmond that I followed thee, And that shall be honour enough for me. So saith Landoyse that honours Richmond so With love unfeigned for his valour past, That if your honour lead the way to death, Peter Landoys hath sworn to follow thee. For if Queen mother do but keep her word, And what the Peers have promised be performed, Touching the marriage with Elizabeth, Daughter to our King Edward the fourth, And by this marriage join in unity Those famous Houses Lancashire and York, Than England shall no doubt have cause to say, Edward's coronation was a joyful day. And 'tis is all Landoys desires to see.
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)
Meſſenger ſtaie, hath Blunt betraied, doth Oxford rebell and aide the Earle Richmond, may this be true, what is our priſon ſo weake, our friends ſo fickle, our Ports ſo ill lookt too, that they may paſſe and repaſſe the ſeas at their pleaſures, then euerie one conſpires, ſpoyles our Conflex, conqueres our Caſtles, and Armes themſelues with their owne weapons vnreſiſted? O villaines, rebels, fugetiues, theeues, how are we betrayd, when our owne ſwoordes ſhall beate vs, and our owne ſubiects ſeekes the ſubuertion of the ſtate, the fall of their Prince, and ſack of their country, of his, nay neither muſt nor ſhall, for I will Army with my friends, and cut off my enemies, & beard them to their face that dares me, and but one, I one, one beyond the ſeas that troubles me: wel his power is weake, & we are ſtrong, therfore I wil meet him with ſuch melodie, that the ſinging of a bullet ſhal ſend him merily to his lōgeſt home. Come folow me. Welcome deare friends and louing country-men, Welcome I ſay to Englands blisfull Ile, Whoſe forwardneſſe I cannot but commend, That thus do aide vs in our enterpriſe, My right it is, and ſole inheritance, And Richard but vſurps in my authoritie, For in his tyrannie he ſlaughtered thoſe That would not ſuccour him in his attempts, Whoſe guiltleſſe blood craues daily at Gods hands; Reuenge for outrage done to their harmeleſſe liues: Then courage countrymen, and neuer be diſmayd, Our quarels good, and God will helpe the right, For we may know by dangers we haue paſt, That God no doubt will giue vs victorie. If loue of gold, or feare of many foes, Could once haue danted vs in our attempts, Thy foote had neuer toucht the Engliſh ſhoare, And here Earle Oxford plites his faith to thee, Neuer to leaue in what we haue vndertane, But follow ſtill with reſolution, Till thou be crownd as conquerer in the field, Or loſe thy life in following of thy right: Thy right braue Richmond, which we wil maintaine Maugre the proudeſt bird of Richards brood. Then couſin Richmond being reſolued thus, Let vs ſtraight to Aarms, & God and S. George for vs. As this braue Earle haue ſaid, ſo ſay we all, We will not leaue thee till the field be wonne, Which if with fortunate ſucceſſe we can performe, Thinke then Earle Richmond that I followed thee, And that ſhall be honour inough for mee. So ſaith Landoyſe that honors Richmond ſo With loue vnfeined for his valure paſt, That if your honour leade the way to death, Peeter Landoys hath ſworne to follow thee. For if Queen mother do but keep her word, And what the Peeres haue promiſed be performed, Touching the marriage with Elizabeth, Daughter to our King Edward the fourth, And by this marriage ioyne in vnitie Thoſe famous Houſes Lancaſhire and Yorke, Then England ſhall no doubt haue cauſe to ſay, Edwards coronation was a ioyfull day. And tis is all Landoys deſires to ſee.