The Scottish History of James the Fourth · chunk 23 of 40
Greene, Robert · published 1598 · first performed or written c.1590 (Annals) romance · Unknown unassigned nearest T1 Death, grief and revenge · 512 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T1: death, life, dead, die, blood, revenge, soul, father, heart, heaven.
Who sees, and shun not harms, deserve the same: Behold the tenor of this traitorous plot. What should I read? Perhaps he wrote it not. Here is his warrant under seal and sign, To Iaques borne in France to murder you. Ah careless King, would God this were not thine What tho I read? Ah should I think it true? The hand and seal confirms the deed is his. What know I tho, if now he thinketh this? madam Lucretius saith, that to repent, Is childish wisdom to prevent. What tho? Then cease your tears, that have dismayed you, And cross the foe before he have betrayed you. What needs this long suggestions in this cause? When every circumstance confirmeth truth: First let the hidden mercy from above, Confirm your grace, since by a wondrous means, The practice of your dangers came to light: Next let the tokens of approved truth, Govern and stay your thoughts, too much seduced, And mark the sooth, and listen the intent, Your highness knows, and these my noble Lords, Can witness this, that whilst your husband's sir In happy peace possessed the Scottish Crown, I was his sworn attendant here in Court, In dangerous fight I never failed my Lord. And since his death, and this your husband's reign, No labour, duty, have I left undone, To testify my zeal unto the Crown: But now my limbs are weak, mine eyes are dim, Mine age unwieldy and unmeet for toil: I came to court in hope for service past, To gain some lease to keep me being old, There found I all was upsy-turvy turned, My friends displaced, the Nobles loath to crave, Then sought I to the minion of the King, Ateukin, who allured by a bribe, Assured me of the lease for which I sought: But see the craft, when he had got the grant, He wrought to sell it to Sir Silvester, In hope of greater earnings from his hands: In brief, I learned his craft, and wrought the means, By one his needy servants for reward, To steal from out his pocket all the briefs, Which he performed, and with reward resigned Them when I read now mark the power of God) I found this warrant sealed among the rest, To kill your grace, whom God long keep alive. Thus in effect, by wonder are you saved, Trifle not then, but seek a speedy flight, God will conduct your steps, and shield the right. What should I do, ah poor unhappy Queen? Born to endure what fortune can contain, Ah lass the deed is too apparent now: But oh mine eyes were you as bent to hide, As my poor heart is forward to forgive. Ah cruel king, my love would thee acquit, Oh what avails to be allied and matched With high estates that marry but in show? Were I baser borne, my mean estate Could warrant me from this impendent harm, But to be great and happy these are twain. Ah Rosse what shall I do, how shall I work?
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)
Who sees, and shunne not harmes, deserue the same: Beholde the tenor of this traiterous plot. What should I reade? Perhappes he wrote it not. Heere is his warrant vnder seale and signe, To Iaques borne in France to murther you. Ah carelesse King, would God this were not thine What tho I reade? Ah should I thinke it true? The hand and seale confirmes the deede is his. What know I tho, if now he thinketh this? Madame Lucretius saith, that to repent, Is shildish wisdome to preuent. What tho? Then cease your teares, that haue dismaid you, And crosse the foe before hee haue betrayed you. What needes this long suggestions in this cause? When euery circumstance confirmeth trueth: First let the hidden mercie from aboue, Confirme your grace, since by a wondrous meanes, The practise of your daungers came to light: Next let the tokens of appooued trueth, Gouerne and stay your thoughts, too much seduc't, And marke the sooth, and listen the intent, Your highnesse knowes, and these my noble Lords, Can witnesse this, that whilest your husbands sirre In happie peace possest the Scottish Crowne, I was his sworne attendant heere in Court, In daungerous fight I neuer fail'd my Lord. And since his death, and this your husbands raigne, No labour, dutie, haue I left vndone, To testifie my zeale vnto the Crowne: But now my limmes are weake, mine eyes are dim, Mine age vnweldie and vnmeete for toyle: I came to court in hope for seruice past, To gaine some lease to keepe me beeing olde, There found I all was vpsie turuy turnd, My friends displac'ft, the Nobles loth to craue, Then sought I to the minion of the King, Auteukin, who allured by a bribe, Assur'd me of the lease for which I sought: But see the craft, when he had got the graunt, He wrought to sell it to Sir Siluester, In hope of greater earnings from his hands: In briefe, I learnt his craft, and wrought the meanes, By one his needie seruants for reward, To steale from out his pocket all the briefes, Which hee perform'd, and with reward resignd Them when I read now marke the power of God) I found this warrant seald among the rest, To kill your grace, whom God long keepe aliue. Thus in effect, by wonder are you sau'd, Trifle not then, bnt seeke a speakie flight, God will conduct your steppes, and shield the right. What should I do, ah poore vnhappy Queen? Borne to indure what fortune can containe, Ah lasse the deed is too apparant now: But oh mine eyes were you as bent to hide, As my poore heart is forward to forgiue. Ah cruell king, my loue would thee acquite, Oh what auailes to be allied and matcht With high estates that marry but in shewe? Were I baser borne, my meane estate Cou'd warrant me from this impendent harme, But to be great and happie these are twaine. Ah Rosse what shall I do, how shall I worke?