Two Wise Men and All the Rest Fools · chunk 35 of 68
Anonymous · published 1619 · first performed or written 1619 [1613-1619] (Annals) satire; dialogue unassigned nearest T52 Prodigals, portions and poor kin · 504 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T52: brother, father, uncle, cousin, son, poor, bread, old, given, master.
A martyr. How canst thou be a martyr? O yes, and I shall die so patiently, that I dare not call for a posset how sick soever I be for fear of sinning, till the very point of death. And now I begin to be heart-sick. If you find yourself so sick indeed, I wish you to make your will, and dispose of your estate. How? make my will? that's the next way to die in earnest. Not a whit nearer death for that. O yes. A will, and a tolling bell are as present death as God's tokens. No: I'll none of that. Let me persuade you (neighbour Rustico) to make your will. I assure you it is superstition to think death to be nearer you for that cause. Superstition. The Lord defend me. I had rather not to observe order in any thing then to be thought superstitious. I agree to you neighbour, and thank you for your gentle persuasion. I will presently do it while I am in perfect memory. 1 First, for my soul; I will not bequeath it to God, but let it go even as it is predestinated. 2 My body may be buried if my executor will pay for it, or else let it alone, and be patient, as I was when I lived. 3 At my burial I desire my wife to preach, and nobody to hear her but my sweet boy Jack and I. 4 forty shillings I give to any man that shall put me into the book of Martyrs. 5 My wit, & such like movables I leave as an heirloom to my son Jack upon whom my desire is that the firmament may power down as many joyful lots as there are hears upon his finger's ends; & that his seed may multiply like mice in a maltheap. 6 All my breeches I bestow upon my beloved wife. 7 My land (if any be given me after my death) I freely bestow upon him that shall marry her to amend his bargain. 8 The rest of my goods and chattels which cannot be found I will shall be equally divided (at my executors discretion) among the poor of the parish wheresoever I shall die. 9 And of this my last will and testament I make the longest siver in London my sole executor, because I will have no fighting, nor suits in law for my goods. 10 And you neighbour Hortano I make overseer of this my will, and for your pains to be taken therein, I give you all that shall be overplus after execution of the same, Now my sight fails. Lead me, lead me good neighbour home: and to bed, and so farewell, and good night. Here is more work for us Noverindo (and we will not work for simple fees though foedum simplex be a good tenure) a friend of mine wants 2000l and I must have it for him within these two days or he seeks elsewhere.
seed 43: T52 · seed 44: unassigned — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
A martir. How canst thou be a martir? O yes, and I shall die so patiently, that I dare not call for a posset how sicke soever I be for feare of sinning, till the very point of death. And now I begin to be hart-sick. If you find your selfe so sicke indeed, I wish you to make your will, and dispose of your estate. How? make my will? thats the next way to die in earnest. Not a whit neerer death for that. O yes. A will, and a toling bell are as present death as Gods tokens. No: le none of that. Let me perswade you (neighbour Rustico) to make your will. I assure you it is superstition to thinke death to be erer you for that cause. Superstition. The Lord defend me▪ I had rather not o obserue order in anie thing then to be thought superstitious. I agree to you neighbour, and thank you for your genle perswasion. I will presently doe it while I am in perfect memory. First, for my soule; I will not bequeath it to God, but let t goe even as it is predestinated. 2 My body may be buried if my executor wil pay for it, or else let it alone, and be patient, as I was when I liued. 3 At my buriall I dere my wife to preach, and no body to heare her but my sweet boy acke and I. 4 Fortie shillings I giue to any man that shall put me into the booke of Martires. 5 My wit, & such like moueables I leaue as an heireloome to my sonne Iacke vpon whom my desire is that the firmament may powre downe as many ioyfull lots as there are heares vpon his fingers ends; & that his seed may multipli like mice in a maltheape. 6 All my breeches I bestow vpon my beloued wife. 7 My land (if any be giuen me after my death) I freely bestow vpon him that shall marrie her to amend his bargaine. 8 The rest of my goods and chattles which cannot bee found I will shall be equally devided (at my executors discretion) among the poore of the parish wheresoeuer I shal die. 9 And of this my last will and testament I make the longest siuer in London my sole executor, because I will haue no fighting, nor suits in law for my goods. 10 And you neighbour Hortano I make overseer of this my will, and for your paines to be taken therein, I giue you all that shall be overplus after execution of the same, Now my sight failes. Lead me, lead mee good neighbour home: and to bed, and so farwell, and good night. Here is more worke for vs Noverindo (and wee will not worke for simple fees though foedum simplex bee a good tenure) a frend of mine wants 20001 and I must haue it for him within these two daies or he seekes elsewhere.