Anonymous · published 1566 · first performed or written 1537 [c.1537-1566] (Annals) moral unassigned nearest T30 Constables, justices and the watch · 497 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T30: constable, squire, tub, clay, worship, justice, turf, mr, hun, valentine.
By god me thought even now ye were in a snare Or else an hunting to catch an bare But hark I say, do together and spell Beware ever among of the frery clerks bell. It is doubtful to me all that thou speakest I pray thee spell it thyself & tell me what thou meanest But wouldest thou needs so fain know it I tell thee with Albion and justice I am knit Therefore it were wisdom for thee To beware what thou sayest before me What whoreson then thou hast forsaken me. Nay I had liefer ye were skinned all three For I have turned the wrong side of my hood And told them my name was manhood And now by god in any wise For both our eases I must have thine advise. What hast thou now changed thine old copy To justice and Albyon to be a comen hoby, Or art thou a feared of thy old name That in every place is had in fame And is supported in such suffrentie From the lowest unto the highest degree. Nay by god I was not afeard It was but for to claw their beard Or rub it of all that they meant That I might know all their intent Whereof the matter is to long to tell For the time that we did mell But shortly to show thee for a conclusion Their mind is to bring us both to confusion. I pray thee by what mean. Albyon hath sent justice to Pryncypaltie To have assistance, and me to suffreyntie Of the Lords temporal to have their aid That justice in no wise should be delayed. And this thou knowest well enough pardie Thus they mean to destroy thee and me And as for justice forth is gone Speed as he can, but I tarried alone And yet I would no messenger be Till I had the advice of thee Therefore how sayest thou now in this case We shall not be idle to play at this base. Tush as for this I care not a Pudding prick For we two will go thorough thine and thick Maygresse their heads every one Though they be as hard as rock or stone I pray thee tell me how first I myself will enterprise That peace shall have no exersyse Between the commons and Pryncypalitie Nor between lords spiritual & lords of the temporalty Or thou go any further tell me by what mean I have two spies of great exercise The one is called double device Him will I send I may tell thee Unto the court to principality, And him will I charge that with his provision principality and the commons to set at division The second spy is called old debate A singular fellow with a bald pate Him will I send to the lords spiritual To cause them to wrangle with the lords temporal. What shall they use in their device.
seed 43: T62 · seed 44: unassigned — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
¶By god me thought euen now ye were in a snare Or els an huntyng to catche an bare But harke I say, do togither and spell Beware euer amonge of the frery clarkes bell. ¶It is doubtfull to mee all that thou spekest I pray thee spell it thy self & tell me what thou menest ¶But woldest thou nedes so fayne know it I tell thee with Albion and Iustyce I am knyt Therfore it were wysdome for thee To beware what thou sayest before mee ¶What horeson then thou hast forsaken mee. ¶Nay I had leuer ye were skynned all three For I haue turned the wronge syde of my hode And tolde them my name was manhode And now by god in any wyse For both our eases I must haue thyne aduyse. ¶What hast thou now chaunged thyne olde copy To Iustyce and Albyon to be a comen hoby, Or art thou a ferde of thy olde name That in euery place is had in fame And is supported in such suffrentie From the lowest vnto the hyest degree. ¶Nay by god I was not aferd It was but for to claw theyr berde Or rub it of all that they ment That I myght know all theyr intent Wherof the matter is to longe to tell For the tyme that we dyd mell But shortly to shew thee for a conclusyon Theyr mynde is to brynge vs both to confusyon. ¶I pray thee by what meane. ¶Albyon hath sent Iustyce to Pryncypaltie To haue assystence, and mee to suffreyntie Of the Lordes temporall to haue theyr ayde That Iustyce in no wyse shuld be delayde. And this thou knowest well inough perdye Thus they meane to destroy thee and mee And as for Iustyce foorth is gone Speede as he can, but I taryed alone And yet I wolde no messenger bee Tyll I had the aduyce of thee Therfore how sayest thou now in thys case Wee shall not be idle to play at thys bace. ¶Tush as for this I care not a puddyng prycke For wee two wyll go thorow thyn and thycke Maygresse theyr heades euerychone Though they be as harde as rocke or stone ¶I pray thee tell mee howe ¶Fyrst I my selfe wyll enterpryse That peace shall haue no exersyse Betweene the comons and Pryncypalitie Nor betweene lords spiritual & lords of the temporaltie ¶Or yu go ani further tel me by what mene ¶I haue two spyes of great exercyse The one is called double deuyce Hym wyll I sende I may tell thee Unto the court to Pryncypalytye, And hym wyll I charge that wyth hys prouisyon Pryncypalytye and the comons to set at dyuysyon The seconde spye is called olde debate A synguler felow with a ballyd pate Hym wyll I send to the lordes spirituall To cause them to wrangle wt the lords temporall. ¶What shall they vse in their deuise.