Norton, Thomas / Sackville, Thomas · published 1565 · first performed or written 1562 [Jan 18] (Annals) tragedy · before the Court T18 Rebels, barons and the king's wars at ho typicality 0.78 · 453 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T18: king, lord, wallace, earl, edward, england, scotland, rebels, bruce, english.
Ye see (my Lords) what strength these Rebels have, What hugy number is assembled still, For though the traitorous fact, for which their rose Be wrought and done, yet lodge they still in field So that how far their furies yet will stretch Great cause we have to dread, that we may seek By present Battle to repress their power. Speed must we use to levy force therefore, For either they forthwith will mischief work Or their rebellious roars forthwith will cease: These violent things may have no lasting loud Let us therefore use this for present help Persuade by gentle speech, and offer grace With gift of pardon save unto the chief, And that upon condition that forthwith They yield the Captains of their enterprise To bear such guerdon of their traitorous fact As may be both due vengeance to themselves, And wholesome terror to posterity. This shall I think: flatter the greatest part That now are holden with desire of home, Wearied in field with could of Winter's nights, And some (no doubt) stricken with dread of Law When this is ones proclaimed, it shall make The Captains to mistrust the multitude Whose safety bids them to betray their heads And so much more because the rascal routs, In things of great and perilous attempts, Are never trusty to the noble race. And while we treat & stand on terms of grace, We shall both stay their furies rage the while, And eke gain time, whose only help sufficeth Withouten war to vanquish Rebels power In the meanwhile, make you in readiness Such band of Horsemen as ye may prepare: Horsemen (you know) are not the Commons strength But are the force and store of noble men Whereby the unchosen and unarmed sort Of skittish Rebels, whom none other power But number makes to be of dreadful force With sudden brunt may quickly be oppressed And if this gentle mean of proffered grace With stubborn hearts cannot so far avail As to assuage their desperate courages. Than do I wish such slaughter to be made, As present age and eke posterity May be adread with horror of revenge, That justly then shall on these rebels fall: This is my Lords the sum of mine advise. Neither this case admits debate at large, And though it did: this speech that hath been said Hath well abridged the tale I would have told: Fully with Eubulus do I consent In all that he hath said: and if the same To you my Lords, may seem for best advise, I wish that it should straight be put in ure. My Lords than let us presently depart And follow this that liketh us so well.
seed 43: T22 · seed 44: T13 — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
Ye ſee (my Lordes) what ſtrength theſe Rebelles haue, What hugie nombre is aſſembled ſtill, For though the traiterous fact, for which their roſe Be wrought and done, yet lodge thei ſtill in fielde So that howe farre their furies yet wyll ſtretche Great cauſe we haue to dreade, that we may ſeeke By preſent Battaile to repreſſe their power. Speede muſt we vſe to leuie force therfore, For either they forthwith will miſchiefe worke Or their rebellious roares forthwith will ceaſe: Theſe violent thinges may haue no laſting loude Let vs therfore vſe this for preſent helpe Perſwade by gentle ſpeache, and offre grace With gifte of pardon ſaue vnto the chiefe, And that vpon condicion that forthewith They yelde the Captaines of their enterpryſe To beare ſuche querdon of their traiterous facte As may be both due vengeaunce to them ſelues, And holſome terrour to poſteritie. This ſhall I thinke: flatter the greateſt parte That nowe are holden with deſire of home, Weried in fielde with could of Winters nightes, And ſome (no doubt) ſtriken with dread of Lawe Whan this is ones proclaymed, it ſhall make The Captaines to miſtruſte the multitude Whoſe ſafetie biddes them to betraye their heads And ſo muche more bycauſe the raſcall routes, In thinges of great and perillous attemptes, Are neuer truſtie to the noble race. And while we treate & ſcande on termes of grace, We ſhal both ſtaie their furies rage the while, And eke gaine time, whoſe onely helpe ſufficeth Withouten warre to vanquiſſhe Rebelles power In the meane while, make you in redynes Suche bande of Horſemen as ye maye prepare: Horſemen (you know) are not the Comons ſtrēgth But are the force and ſtore of noble men Wherby the vnchoſen and vnarmed ſorte Of ſkſhe Rebelles, whome none other power But nombre makes to be of dreadfull force With ſodeyne brunt maye quickely be oppreſte And if this gentle meane of proffered grace With ſtubborne hartes cannot ſo farre auayle As to aſſwage their deſperate courages. Than do I wiſſhe ſuche ſlaughter to be made, As preſent age and eke poſteritie Maye be adrad with horrour of reuenge, That iuſtly than ſhall on theſe rebelles fall: This is my Lordes the ſōme of mine aduiſe. Neyther this caſe admittes debate at large, And though it did: this ſpeache that hath ben ſaide Hath wel abridged the tale I would haue tolde: Fullie with Eubulus do I conſente In all that he hath ſaide: and if the ſame To you my Lordes, may ſeeme for beſt aduiſe, I wiſſhe that it ſhoulde ſtreight be put in vre. My Lordes than let vs preſentlie departe And folowe this that lyketh vs ſo well.