A Larum for London, or The Siege of Antwerp · chunk 14 of 25
Anonymous · published 1602 · first performed or written 1599 [c.1594-1600] (Annals) history · Lord Chamberlain's (Hunsdon's) Men unassigned nearest T18 Rebels, barons and the king's wars at ho · 489 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T18: king, lord, wallace, earl, edward, england, scotland, rebels, bruce, english.
Who are ye? speak, that like unbidden guests, Dare tempt the patience of incensed Alva? We are of England (Castile's General) Of England are ye? what although you be, Back slaves unto the door from whence ye came, And on your knees solicit Aluaes greatness: If you do look for mercy at his hands. Back when he bids you; now down upon your knees, And crawl unto his presence to beg life. Verdugo, drag him by the long tailed beard, Alva doth scorn to wait upon their leisure. Come forward with a pox; now speak your mind, And speak discreetly, lest you speak your last. This cruelty is more than we deserve, And more than we expected would be shown. Tax ye me then with cruelty so soon? You shall have cause. Nay hear them speak my Lord. What can they say to shield themselves from death? Nothing my Lord if in your angry spleen You have already passed your sentence on us: But would the Duke of Alva cool his rage, And mildly hear us: we would say my Lord, That England's league with Spain, King Phillip's word, passed to our gracious Mistress, were enough To warrant all the lives of any such, As are her subjects in this wretched town: And not their lives alone, but safe protection Both for their goods and money: but if now Your Highness hath commission to break The holy contract which your King hath made, We must be patient and abide the worst. Why what art thou that standst upon the league? Governor (my Lord) of the English house. Sirrah, you challenge the virtue of the league, Yet understand not how the league is made. So long as you converse not with the foes Of royal Philip, nor withstand his right, You are exempt the rigour of his scourge; But being here, in this rebellious town, You must partake the punishment they feel. We are not here great Lord, to join with them In any bold confederacy of war, But for the traffic, which all nations else, (As well as England) have within this place. Why left ye not the City then, perceiving We meant to call their duty to account? We had no sign of any such intent. You cannot so be quit nor so excused, Therefore provide before tomorrow night, To bring unto us forty thousand Crowns, For ransom of your house; or if you fail, Both goods and lives shall all be forfeited: So much we are content to yield unto, Because we will not seem to break the league. Alas my Lord, 'tis more than (at this time) Our goods and money will amount unto, Considering that our credit (by this trouble) Is quite cut off, with any of the City. Shift as you can, I vow to have no less, And at the appointed time. Consider of it, His favour's great in giving you such scope.
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 are ye? speake, that like vnbidden guests, Dare tempt the patience of incensed Alua? We are of England (astiles Generall) Of England are ye what although you be, Backe slaues vnto the doore from whence ye came, And on your knees sollicite Aluaes greatnes: If you doe looke for mercie at his hands. Backe when he bids you; now downe vpon your knees, And craule vnto his presence to beg life. Verdugo, drag him by the long tail'd beard, Alua doth scorne to waite vpon their leasure. Come forward with a pox; now speake your mind, And speake discreetlie, least you speake your last. This crueltie is more then we deserue, And more than we expected would be showne. Taxe ye me then with crueltie so soone? You shall haue cause. Nay heare them speake my Lord. What can they say to shield thēselues from death? Nothing my Lord if in your angrie spleane You haue alreadie past your sentence on vs: But would the Duke of Alua coole his rage, And mildelie heare vs: we would say my Lord, That Englands league with Spaine, King Phillips word, Past to our gratious Mistris, were enough To warrant all the liues of any such, As are her subiects in this wretched towne: And not their liues alone, but safe protection Both for their goods and money: but if now Your Highnes hath commission to breake The holie contract which your King hath made, We must be patient and abide the worst. Why what art thou that standst vpon the league? Gouernor (my Lord) of the English house. Sirra, you challenge the vertue of the league, Yet vnderstand not how the league is made. So long as you conuerse not with the foes Of royall Phillip, nor withstand his right, You are exempt the rigour of his scourge; But being heere, in this rebellious towne, You must partake the punishment they feele. We are not heere great Lord, to ioyne with them In any bolde confederacie of warre, But for the trafficke, which all nations else, (As well as England) haue within this place. Why left ye not the Cittie then, perceiuing We meant to call their duetie to account? We had no signe of any such intent. You cannot so be quit nor so excus'd, Therefore prouide before to morrow night, To bring vnto vs fortie thousand Crownes, For ransome of your house; or if you faile, Both goods and liues shall all be forfeited: So much we are content to yeeld vnto, Because we will not seeme to breake the league. Alas my Lord, tis more then (at this time) Our goods and money will amount vnto, Considering that our credit (by this trouble) Is quite cut off, with any of the Citty. Shift as you can, I vow to haue no lesse, And at the appointed time. Consider of it, His fauour's great in giuing you such scope.