The Devil's Law Case (When Women Go to Law the Devil Is Full of Business) · chunk 34 of 45
Webster, John · published 1623 · first performed or written 1619 [1617-1621] (Annals) tragicomedy · Queen Anne's Men unassigned nearest T6 Money, debt and credit · 502 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T6: money, master, pound, law, lawyer, chain, gentleman, gold, pay, pray.
Who shall pay us our Fees then? Most just. You may see now what an old house You are like to pull over your head, Dame. Could I conceive this Publication Grew from a hearty penitence, I could bear My undoing the more patiently; but my Lord, There is no reason, as you said even now, To satisfy me: but this suit of hers Springs from a devilish malice, and liar pretence, Of a grieved Conscience, and Religion, Like to the horrid Powder-Treason in England, Has a most bloody unnatural revenge Hid under it: Oh the violences of women! Why they are creatures made up and compounded Of all monsters, poisoned minerals, And sorcerous Herbs that grows. Are you angry yet? Would men express a bad one, Let him forsake all natural example, And compare one to another; they have no more mercy, Then ruinous fires in great tempests. Take heed you do not crack your voice sir. Hard hearted creatures good for nothing else, But to wind dead bodies. Yes, to weave seeming lace with the bones of their Husbands that were long since buried, and curse them when they tangle. Yet why do I Take Bastardy so distastefully, when i'th' world, A many things that are essential parts Of greatness, are but by-slips, and are fathered On the wrong parties. Preferment in the world a many times, Basely begotten: nay, I have observed The immaculate justice of a poor man's cause, In such a Court as this, has not known whom To call Father, which way to direct itself For Compassion: but I forget my temper, Only that I may stop that lawyer's throat, I do beseech the Court, and the whole world, They will not think the baselier of me, For the vice of a mother: for that woman's sin, To which you all dare swear when it was done, I would not give my consent. Stay, here's an Accusation, But here's no proof; what was the Spanyards name You accuse of adultery? Don Crispiano, my Lord. What part of Spain was he borne in? In Castille. This may prove my father. And my Master, my client's spoiled then. I knew that Spaniard well: if you be a Bastard, Such a man being your father, I dare vouch you A Gentleman, and in that signior Contilupo, Your Oratory went a little too far. When do we name Don Iohn of Austria, The emperor's son, but with reverence: And I have known in diverse Families, The Bastards the greater spirits; but toth' purpose, What time was this Gentleman begot? And be sure you lay your time right. Now the metal comes to the Touchstone. In Anno seventy one, my Lord. Very well, seventy one: The Battle of Lepanto was fought in't, A most remarkable time, 'twill lie for no man's pleasure: And what proof is there more than the affirmation of the Mother, of this corporal dealing? The deposition of a Waiting-woman served her the same time. Where is she?
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)
Who shall pay vs our Fees then? Most iust. You may see now what an old house You are like to pull ouer your head, Dame. Could I conceiue this Publication Grew from a heartie penitence, I could beare My vndoing the more patiently; but my Lord, There is no reason, as you sayd euen now, To satisfie me: but this suite of hers Springs from a deuillish malice, and lier pretence, Of a grieued Conscience, and Religion, Like to the horrid Powder-Treason in England, Has a most bloody vnnaturall reuenge Hid vnder it: Oh the violencies of women! Why they are creatures made vp and compounded Of all monsters, poysoned Myneralls, And sorcerous Herbes that growes. Are you angry yet? Would men expresse a bad one, Let him forsake all naturall example, And compare one to another; they haue no more mercy, Then minous fires in great tempests. Take heed you doe not cracke your voice sir. Hard hearted creatures good for nothing else, But to winde dead bodies. Yes, to weaue seaming lace with the bones of their Husbands that were long since buried, and curse them when they tangle. Yet why doe I Take Bastardy so distastfully, when i'th world, A many things that are essentiall parts Of greatnesse, are but by-slips, and are father'd On the wrong parties. Preferment in the world a many times, Basely begotten: nay, I haue obseru'd The immaculate Iustice of a poore mans cause, In such a Court as this, has not knowen whom To call Father, which way to direct it selfe For Compassion: but I forget my temper, Onely that I may stop that Lawyers throat, I doe beseech the Court, and the whole world, They will not thinke the baselyer of me, For the vice of a mother: for that womans sinne, To which you all dare sweare when it was done, I would not giue my consent. Stay, heere's an Accusation, But here's no proofe; what was the Spanyards name You accuse of adultery? Don Crispiano, my Lord. What part of Spaine was he borne in? In Castile. This may proue my father. And my Master, my Clyent's spoyl'd then. I knew that Spanyard well: if you be a Bastard, Such a man being your father, I dare vouch you A Gentleman, and in that Signiour Contilupo, Your Oratory went a little too farre. When doe wee name Don Iohn of Austria, The Emperours sonne, but with reuerence: And I haue knowne in diuers Families, The Bastards the greater spirits; but to'th purpose, What time was this Gentleman begot? And be sure you lay your time right. Now the mettall comes to the Touchstone. In Anno seuentie one, my Lord. Very well, seuentie one: The Battell of Lepanto was fought in't, A most remarkeable time, 'twill lye for no mans pleasure▪ And what proofe is there more then the affirmation of the Mother, of this corporall dealing? The deposition of a Wayting-woman serued her the same time. Where is shee?