Anonymous · published 1595 · first performed or written 1561 [1561-c.1563] (Annals) moral unassigned nearest T57 Ships, merchants and pirates · 517 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T57: ship, sea, master, sail, home, money, pisaro, life, ships, till.
You speak of such as are merchants indeed, Which in all places have their Factors, If this country help not, another doth speed, Doubtless such men are rich, and notable actors. But as for such as I am, young men travelers, Which are compelled to travel for their gain, We are in worse case than any other Artificers, But that I say, able to prove I can: There was not so many bankrupts this 100. year, In times past, the sea hath enriched many a man, But what causes of late it doth appear. In times past men were content with mediocrity, They would no more borrow, than they thought to pay, For they that will presume above their ability, Must by divers means fall into decay: But it is a common practice used now in this land, Many one doth themselves bankrupts make: When they have gotten other men's goods into their hand, Than their houses they keep, or else Ludgate they take. God speed you both masters heartily forsooth, My coming hither is to talk with a peddler, He promised me here, this day to keep a booth, For in many things he maketh himself a great meddler. I am no peddler, but a poor Mariner I am, Neither one nor other was here since I came, Therefore of any peddler I can nothing say. I was at my neighbours house the last night, And there was a peddler selling many things, Somewhat he had whereof we might have no sight: But good store he had of points, pins, and rings. I think surely that he is some conjuror, For I never laughed better in all my life, My neighbours saith plainly that he is a sorcerer, But Lord how he angered the old wife. At the first she made him much of her counsel, And showed him certain Images which she did keep, I wiss quoth she, I love these better than the new Gospel, And for pure love unto them, she began to weep: The false knave stood still and nought did say, A pair of beads under her apron she had: On these quoth she, I say our lady's Salter every day, And at them the peddler railed as he had been mad. Why peddlers were wont to have beads to sell, I marvel that they will rebuke superstition. What he hath I cannot tell, But thus he played on such condition. Many peddlers in my time have I known, But one honest man of them I never knew, They sell many times more than is their own, And utter old baggage for that should be new. I think he hath not been a peddler long, But he will go near to tell what you have done: For any thing I can see, he will do no man wrong, But he make good shift where he become. What any man hath done, what doth he know, I will gauge with him an hundredth pound: That any thing done secretly he shall not show, Neither he nor any that liveth on the ground.
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)
You speake of such as are marchants indeed, Which in all places haue their Factors, If this country helpe not, another doth speed, Doubtlesse such men are rich, and notable actors. But as for such as I am, yoong men Trauellers, Which are compelled to trauell for their gaine, We are in worse case then any other Artificers, But that I say, able to proue I can: There was not so many bankrouts this 100▪ yeare, In times past, the sea hath inriched many a man, But what causes of late it doth appeare. In times past men were content with mediocritie, They would no more borrow, then they thought to paie, For they that will presume aboue their abilitie, Must by diuers meanes fall into decaie: But it is a common practise vsed now in this land, Many one doth themselues bankrouts make: When they haue gotten other mens goods into their hand, Then their houses they keep, or else Ludgate they take. God speed you both maisters heartily forsooth, My comming hither is to talke with a Pedler, He promised me here, this day to keep a booth, For in many things he maketh himselfe a great medler. I am no Pedler, but a poore Marriner I am, Neither one nor other was here since I came, Therefore of any Pedler I can nothing say. I was at my neighbors house the last night, And there was a Pedler selling many things, Somewhat he had whereof we might haue no sight: But good store he had of poynts, pinnes, and rings. I thinke surely that he is some Coniurer, For I neuer laught better in all my life, My neighbors saith plainly that he is a sorcerer, But Lord how he angred the old wife. At the first she made him much of her counsell, And shewed him certaine Images which she did keepe, I wisse quoth she, I loue these better then the new Gospell, And for pure loue vnto them, she began to weepe: The false knaue stood still and naught did say, A paire of beades vnder her Apearne she had: On these quoth she, I say our Ladies Salter euery day, And at them the Pedler railed as he had bene mad. Why Pedlers were wont to haue beades to sell, I maruell that they will rebuke superstition. What he hath I cannot tell, But thus he plaide on such condition. Many Pedlers in my time haue I knowne, But one honest man of them I neuer knew, They sell many times more than is their owne, And vtter old baggage for that should be new. I thinke he hath not bene a Pedler long, But he will go neare to tell what you haue done: For any thing I can see, he will do no man wrong, But he make good shift where he become. What any man hath done, what doth he know, I will gage with him an hundreth pound: That any thing done secretly he shall not show, Neither he nor any that liueth on the ground.