Sharpham, Edward · published 1607 · first performed or written 1606 (Annals) comedy · Children of the Queen's Revels · Blackfriars T16 Gallantry: ladies, lordships and complim typicality 0.84 · 477 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T16: lady, madam, gentleman, lordship, ladies, honour, mistress, sweet, court, servant.
Your resolutions hath confirmed my doubts, and since 'tis hateful to live poor, to maintain our state I am content: but these observances let us keep, strangely 'mongst strangers let us hold our state, and let our Servants seldom know, how familiar with our friends we be, and though England's wealth do now adorn us; let's keep the fashion still of Florence. Content, let's in, who's near? attend us, ho! This is the street, and as I remember this is the door. I'll ask this ancient Gentlewoman: health and beauty dwell with you Lady. I thank you sir, a has a courtly phrase i'faith. do the Florentine Ladies dwell here? Yes forsooth sir, I am a poor Gentlewoman that follows' am. I am sent to' am by a Knight, who promised me he had procured me the place of a Gentleman Usher to them. Sir Iohn Have-little I think. Yes indeed the same. By my troth he's an honest Knight, a has no fault but that he's poor, and that's a small fault now adays: but let me see sir I pray, were you never a Gentleman Usher before? No truly never yet. Then you must be instructed sir. I shall be glad to learn. I hope you and I shall be more inward sir, and for your instruction I shall be glad to lay open any secrets that I have; therefore first you must observe: ha' you any Tables? Yes, sure I never go without Tables. Pluck out your pin and write down as I shall utter: to be always ready, standing bare, to be employed, when, where, and howsoever your Ladies please. You must never be without money of your own, to lay out when your Ladies bid you, as eighteen pence to the Porter, half a Crown to the Coachman, or twelve pence for a torch if their Ladyships come home late at night. If you be sent by your Lady to another Lady, to know what rest she took i'th' night, you shall deliver your answer just as it came from the Lady: you must always be in a clean band, and clean cuffs, how foul soe'er your shirt be. I will observe all this. You may by virtue of your office were a periwig, provided, it be just of the colour of your beard: let me see, you have a hatched sword of your own there, have ye not? Yes for sooth, I bought it for his ladyship's service. 'twas well done, you may wear it by your office, what, is your Cloak lined through? No, but 'tis of a good depth in. 'tis well done too, your lady's love to have it Lined a good depth in, 'tis for their credit. What, are these silver hangers of your own? No, I borrowed these, but I have a pair of mine own.
seed 43: T5 · seed 44: T21 — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
Your resolutions hath confirmd my doubtes, and since tis hatefull to liue poore, to maintaine our state I am content: but these obseruances let vs keepe, strangelye mongst strangers let vs holde our state, and let our Seruants sildome knowe, how familiar with our friendes wee bee, and though Englands wealth doe now adorne vs; lets keepe the fashion still of Florence. Content, let's in, who's neere? attend vs, ho! This is the streete, and as I remember this is the doore. Ile aske this ancient Gentlewoman: health and beautie dwell with you Lady. I thanke you sir, a has a courtly phrase yfaith. Doe the Florentine Ladyes dwell heere? Yes forsooth sir, I am a poore Gentlewoman that followes 'am. I am sent to 'am by a Knight, who promist mee he had procurd me the place of a Gentleman Vsher to them. Sir Iohn Haue-little I thinke. Yes indeed the same. By my troth hee's an honest Knight, a has no fault but that hees poore, and thats a small fault now adaies: but let mee see sir I pray, were you neuer a Gentleman Vsher before? No truely neuer yet. Then you must be instructed sir. I shall be glad to learne. I hope you and I shall be more inward sir, and for your instruction I shall bee glad to lay open any secrets that I haue; therefore first you must obserue: ha you anye Tables? Yes, sure I neuer go without Tables. Plucke out your pin and write downe as I shall vtter: to be alwayes ready, standing bare, to bee ymployed, when, where, and howsoeuer your Ladyes please. You must neuer bee without moneye of your owne, to lay out when your Ladyes bid you, as eighteen pence to the Porter, halfe a Crowne to the Coachman, or twelue pence for a torch if their Ladyships come home late at night. If you be sent by your Lady to another Lady, to know what rest she tooke ith' night, you shall deliuer your answere iust as it came from the Lady: you must alwayes bee in a cleane band, and cleane cuffes, how fowle so ere your shirt be. I will obserue all this. You may by vertue of your office were a Perewig, prouided, it be iust of the colour of your beard: let me see, you haue a hatch'd sword of your owne there, haue yee not? Yes for sooth, I bought it for his Ladyships seruice. T'was well done, you may weare it by your office, what, is your Cloake linde through? No, but tis of a good depth in. Tis well done too, your Ladies loue to haue it Linde a good depth in, tis for their credit. What, are these siluer hangers of your owne? No, I borrow'd these, but I haue a payre of mine owne.