Heywood, Thomas · published 1615 · first performed or written 1594 (Annals) romance · Worcester's Men · Red Bull unassigned nearest T43 York and Lancaster: dynastic claims and · 485 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T43: henry, king, richard, warwick, york, edward, father, duke, crown, son.
1 Oh now I understand you. Three Prologues to our Play, pardon me, you'ave need of three hundred, methinks, and all little enough. But to end our beginning in a word. Thus much by the patience of these Gentlemen. Spectators, should you oppose your judgements against us: where we are three, which some would think too many; were we three thousand, we think ourselves to few. Our Author submits his labours to you, as the Authors of all the content he hath within this circumference. But for your sakes, this only we dare say, We promised you, and we'll perform a Play. DAughter, thou seest how Fortune turns her wheel. we that but late were mounted up aloft, lulled in the skirt of that inconstant Dame, Are now thrown headlong by her ruthless hand, To kiss that earth whereon our feet should stand. What censuring eye, that sees me thus deject, Would take this shape to be that famous Duke, Which hath made Boloigne through the world renowned, And all our race with fame and honour crowned? But father how can you endure a slave To triumph in your fortunes; and here stand In soul deject, and banished from your land? I'll tell thee Girl. The French King, and myself, Upon some terms grew in a strange debate, And taking careful vantage of the time, Whilst I with all my powers, in aid of William The Norman Duke, now English Conqueror, Was busily employed; he seized my right, Planting another, and supplanting me. This is the ground of my extremity. If for King William's sake now Conqueror, You lost your birthright and inheritance: How comes it that he sees you in this state, And lifts not up your fortunes ruinate? A conquered Kingdom is not easily kept, He hath so much ado to guard his own, That mine is buried in oblivion; And I am forced to lose the name of Earl, And live in London like a Citizen. My four sons are bound prentice to four Trades. Godfrey my eldest boy I have made a Mercer; Guy my next son, enrolled in goldsmith's Trade; My third son Charles bound to an Haberdasher; Young Eustace is a Grocer: all high borne, Yet of the City-trades they have no scorn. Thus bare necessity hath made me seek Some refuge, to sustain our poverty. And having placed my sons in such a sort, The little wealth I have left, I leave to thee. myself will travail to the holy Land; And ere I lie within the earth's vast womb, Pay my devout vows at my saviours Tomb. Was that the cause you sent for my four brothers? Their wished sight will cheer my aged heart: And I will bless them all before I part. I wonder, brothers, why my father hath sent for us thus early: that, all business set apart, we must meet together this morning.
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)
1 Oh now I vnderstand you. Three Prologues to our Play, pardon mee, y'aue need of three hundred, me thinkes, and all little enough. But to end our beginning in a word. Thus much by the patience of these Gentlemen. Spectators, should you oppose your iudgements against vs: where we are three, which some would thinke too many; were we three thousand, we thinke our selues to few. Our Author submits his labours to you, as the Authors of all the content he hath within this circumference. But for your sakes, this onely we dare say, We promist you, and wee'l performe a Play. DAughter, thou seest how Fortune turnes er wheele. Wee that but late were mounted vp aloft, Lul'd in the skirt of that inconstant Dame, Are now throwne head-long by her ruthlesse hand, To kisse that earth whereon our feete shold stand. What censuring eye, that sees mee thus deiect, Would take this shape to bee that famous Duke, Which hath made Boloigne through the world renown'd, And all our race with fame and honour crown'd? But father how can you endure a slaue To triumph in your fortunes; and heere stand In soule deiect, and banisht from your land? Ile tell thee Girle. The French King, and my selfe, Vpon some termes grew in a strange debate, And taking carefull vantage of the time, Whilst I with all my powers, in aide of William The Norman Duke, now English Conquerour, Was busily emploi'd; hee seiz'd my right, Planting another, and supplanting mee. This is the ground of my extremitie. If for King Williams sake now Conquerour, You lost your birth-right and inheritance: How comes it that hee sees you in this state, And lifts not vp your fortunes ruinate? A conquered Kingdome is not easily kept, Hee hath so much adoe to guard his owne, That mine is buried in obliuion; And I am forc't to loose the name of Earle, And liue in Londn like a Citizen. My foure sons are bound prentice to foure Trades. Godfrey my eldest boy I haue made a Mercer; Guy my next sonne, enrol'd in Gold-smithes Trade; My third sonne Charles bound to an Haberdasher; Yong Eustace is a Grocer: all high borne, Yet of the Citty-trades they haue no scorne. Thus bare necessity hath made me seeke Some refuge, to sustaine our pouerty. And hauing plac't my sonnes in such a sort, The little wealth I haue left, I leaue to thee. My selfe will trauaile to the holy Land; And ere I lie within the earths vaste wombe, Pay my deuoute vowes at my Sauiours Tombe. Was that the cause you sent for my foure brothers? Their wished sight will cheere my aged heart: And I will blesse them all before I part. I wonder, brothers, why my father hath sent for vs thus earely: that, all businesse set aprt, wee must meete together this morning.