Webster, John · published 1624 · first performed or written 1624 [Oct 29] (Annals) civic play; pageant unassigned nearest T43 York and Lancaster: dynastic claims and · 534 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T43: henry, king, richard, warwick, york, edward, father, duke, crown, son.
MY birth was mean, yet my deservings grew To eminence, and in France a high pitch flew, From a poor common Soldier I attained, The style of Captain, and then Knighthood gained; Scrud the Black Prince in France in all his wars; Then went t'the Holy-land, thence brought my scars. And wearied body which no danger feared. To Florence where it nobly lies Inteerd, There Sir Iohn Hawkewoods memory doth live, And to the Merchant-Taylors fame doth give. VIew whence the Merchanttaylors' honour springs From this most Royal Conventicle of Kings: Eight that Successively wore England's Crown Held it a special honour, and renown: (The Society was so worthy, and so good) T'vnite themselves into their Brotherhood. Thus Time, and Industry attain the prize, As Seas from Brooks, as brooks from Hillocks rise, Let all good men this sentence oft repeat, By unity the smallest things grow great. By unity the smallest things grow great. TO express what happiness the Country yields, The Poet's feigned Heaven in th'elysian fields; We figure here a Garden, fresh and new, In which the chiefest of our blessings grew: This worthy Patriot here, Sr. Thomas White, Whilst he was living had a dream one night, He had built a College and given living to't, Where two Elme-bodies sprang up from on root; And as he dreamed, most certain 'tis he found, The Elm near Oxford, and upon that Ground, Built Saint Iohns College, Truth can testify His merit, whilst his Faith and Charity Was the true compass, measured every part, And took the latitude of his Christian heart; Faith kept the centre, Charity walked this round, Until a true circumference was found; And may the Impression of this figure strike, Each worthy Senator to do the like. OF all the Triumphs which your eye has viewed This the fair Monument of Gratitude; This chiefly should your eye, and ear Employ That was of all your Brotherhood the joy, Worthy Prince Henry fame's best precedent, Called to a higher Court of Parliament, In his full strength of Youth and height of blood, And which Crowned all, when he was truly good: On Virtue, and on Worth he still was throwing Most bounteous showers, where ere he found them growing, He never did disguise his ways by Art But shooted his intents unto his hart, And loved to do good, more for goodness sake, Then any retribution man could make. Such was this Prince, such are the noble hearts; who when they die, yet die not in all parts: But from the Integrity of a Brave mind, Leave a most Clear and Eminent Fame behind. Thus hath this jewel not quite lost his Ray, Only cased up 'gainst a more glorious day. And be't remembered that our Company Have not forgot him who ought ne'er to die: Yet, wherefore should our sorrow give him dead, When a new Phnaeix springs up in his stead: That as he seconds him in every grace, May second him in Brotherhood, and place. Good rest my Lord, Integrity that keeps The safest Watch and breeds the soundest sleeps. Make the last day of this your holding seat, joyful as this, or rather more complete.
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)
MY birth was meane, yet my deseruings grew To eminence, and in France a high pitch flew, From a poore common Souldier I attaind, The stile of Captaine, and then Knight-hood gaind; Srud the Blacke Prince in France in all his warrs; Then went t'the Holy-land, thence brought my scars. And wearied body which no danger feard. To Florence where it nobly lyes Inteerd, There Sir Iohn Hawkewoods memory doth liue, And to the Merchant-Taylors fame doth giue. VIew whence the Merchanttaylors honor springs From this most Royall Conuenticle of Kings: Eight that Successiuely wore Englands Crowne Held it a speciall honor, and renowne: (The Society was so worthy, and so good) T'vnite themselues into their Brotherhood. Thus Time, and Industry attaine the prise, As Seas from Brookes, as brookes from Hillocks rise▪ Let all good men this sentence oft repeate, By vnity the smallest things grow great. By vnity the smallest things grow great. TO expresse what happinesse the Country yeilds, The Poets faign'd Heauen in th'Elizian fields; We figure here a Garden, fresh and new, In which the chiefest of our blessings grew: This worthy Patriot here, Sr. Thomas White, Whilst he was liuing had a dreame one night, He had built a Colledge and giuen liuing too't, Where two Elme-bodies sprang vp from on root; And as he dreamt, most certaine tis he found, The Elme neare Oxford, and vpon that Ground, Built Saint Iohns Colledge, Truth can testifie His merrit, whilst his Faith and Charity Was the true compasse, measur'd euery part, And tooke the latitude of his Christian heart; Faith kept the center, Charity walkt this round, Vntill a true circumference was found; And may the Impression of this figure strike, Each worthy Senator to do the like. OF all the Triumphs which your eye has view'd This the fayre Monument of Gratitud; This cheefly should your eye, and eare Imploy That was of al your Brother-hood the Ioy, Worthy Prince Henry fames best president, Cald to a higher Court of Parliament, In his full strength of Youth and height of blood, And which Crownd all, when he was truely good: On Vertue, and on Worth he still was throwing Most bounteous shewers, where er'e he found them growing, He neuer did disguise his wayes by Art But shooted his intents vnto his hart, And lou'd to do good, more for goodnesse sake, Then any retribution man could make. Such was this Prince, such are the noble hearts; who when they dye, yet dye not in all parts: But from the Integrety of a Braue mind, Leaue a most Cleere and Eminent Fame behind. Thus hath this Iewell not quite lost his Ray, Only cas'd vp 'gainst a more glorious day. And bee't rememberd that our Company Haue not forgot him who ought ner'e to dye: Yet, wherfore should our sorrow giue him dead, When a new Phnaeix springs vp in his stead: That as he seconds him in euery grace, May second him in Brother-hood, and place. Good rest my Lord, Integrity that keeps The safest Watch and breeds the soundest sleeps. Make the last day of this your houlding seate, Ioyfull as this▪ or rather more compleate.