Anonymous · published 1608 · first performed or written 1602 [1599-1604] (Annals) comedy · Lord Chamberlain's (Hunsdon's) Men · Globe T15 Friars and holy orders in plot typicality 0.83 · 517 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T15: friar, lord, holy, friars, robin, peggy, lacie, angelo, love, nun.
Do my good plump wench, if all fall right, I'll make your sisterhood one less by night: Now happy fortune speed this merry drift, I like a wench comes roundly to her shrift. Have Friars recourse then to the house of Nuns? Madam it is the order of this place, When any virgin comes for approbation, Lest that for fear or such sinister practice, She should be forced to undergo this vail, Which should proceed from conscience and devotion: A visitor is sent from Waltham house, To take the true confession of the maid. Is that the order? I commend it well, You to your shrift, I'll back unto the cell. Life of my soul, bright Angel. What means the Friar? O Milliscent, 'tis I. My heart misgives me, I should know that voice, You, who are you? The holy virgin bless me, Tell me your name, you shall ere you confess me. Mountchensey thy true friend. My Raymond, my dear heart, Sweet life give leave to my distracted soul, To wake a little from this swoon of joy, By what means camest thou to assume this shape? By means of Peter Fabell my kind Tutor, Who in the habit of friar Hildersham, Frank Jerningham's old friend and confessor, Plotted by Frank, by Fabell and myself, And so delivered to Sir Arthur Clare, Who brought me here unto the Abbey gate, To be his Nun-made daughter's visitor. You are all sweet traitors to my poor old father, O my dear life, I was a-dream'd tonight, That as I was a praying in mine Psalter, There came a spirit unto me as I kneeled, And by his strong persuasions tempted me To leave this nunnery; and methought, He came in the most glorious Angel shape, That mortal eye did ever look upon: Ha, thou art sure that spirit, for there's no form, Is in mine eye so glorious as thine own. O thou Idolatress that dost this worship, To him whose likeness is but praise of thee, Thou bright unsetting star which through this vail, For very envy mak'st the Sun look pale. Well visitor, lest that perhaps my mother Should think the Friar too strict in his decrees, I this confess to my sweet ghostly father, If chaste pure love be sin I must confess, I have offended three years now with thee. But do you yet repent you of the same? I'faith I cannot. Nor will I absolve thee, Of that sweet sin, though it be venial, Yet have the penance of a thousand kisses, And I enjoin you to this pilgrimage, That in the evening you bestow yourself Here in the walk near to the willow ground, Where I'll be ready both with men and horse, To wait your coming and convey you hence, Unto a lodge I have in Enfield chase: No more reply if that you yield consent, I see more eyes upon our stay are bent. Sweet life farewell; 'tis done, let that suffice, What my tongue fails I send thee by mine eyes. Now Visitor how does this new made Nun?
seed 43: T19 · seed 44: T20 — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
Doe my good plumpe wench, if all fall right, Ile make your sister-hood one lesse by night: Now happy fortune speede this merry drift, I like a wench comes roundly to her shrift. Haue Friers recourse then to the house of Nuns? Madam it is the order of this place, When any virgin comes for approbation, Lest that for feare or such sinister practise, Shee should be forcde to vndergoe this vaile, Which should proceed from conscience and deuotion: A visitor is sent from Waltham house, To take the true confession of the maide. Is that the order? I commend it well, You to your shrift, Ile backe vnto the cell. Life of my soule, bright Angel. What meanes the Frier? O Milliscent, tis I. My heart misgiues me, I should know that voyce, You, who are you? The holy virgin blesse me, Tell me your name, you shall ere you confesse me. Mountchensey thy true friend. My Raymond, my deere heart, Sweete life giue leaue to my distracted soule, To wake a little from this swoone of ioy, By what meanes camst thou to assume this shape? By meanes of Peter Fabell my kind Tutor, Who in the habite of Frier Hildersham, Franke Ierninghams old friend and confessor, Plotted by Franke, by Fabell and my selfe, And so deliuered to Sir Arthur Clare, Who brought me heere vnto the Abby gate, To be his Nun-made daughters visitor. You are all sweete traytors to my poore old father, O my deere life, I was a dream't to night, That as I was a praying in mine Psalter, There came a spirit vnto me as I kneeld, And by his strong perswasions tempted me To leaue this Nunry; and me thought, He came in the most glorious Angell shape, That mortall eye did euer looke vpon: Ha, thou art sure that spirit, for theres no forme, Is in mine eye so glorious as thine owne. O thou Idolatresse that dost this worship, To him whose likenes is but praise of thee, Thou bright vnsetting star which through this vaile, For very enuy mak'st the Sun looke pale. Well visitor, lest that perhaps my mother Should thinke the Frier too stickt in his decrees, I this confesse to my sweet ghostly father, If chast pure loue be sin I must confesse, I haue offended three yeares now with thee. But doe you yet repent you of the same? Yfaith I cannot. Nor will I absolue thee, Of that sweete sin, though it be venial, Yet haue the pennance of a thousand kisses, And I enioyne you to this pilgrimage, That in the euening you bestow your selfe Heere in the walke neere to the willow ground, Where Ile be ready both with men and horse, To waite your comming and conuey you hence, Vnto a lodge I haue in Enfield chase: No more replie if that you yeeld consent, I see more eyes vpon our stay are bent. Sweete life farewell; tis done, let that suffice, What my tongue failes I send thee by mine eyes. Now Visitor how does this new made Nun?