Jonson, Ben · published 1631 · first performed or written 1614 [Oct 31] (Annals) comedy · Lady Elizabeth's Men unassigned nearest T30 Constables, justices and the watch · 518 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T30: constable, squire, tub, clay, worship, justice, turf, mr, hun, valentine.
Very likely, exceeding likely, very exceeding likely. WEll, in justice name, and the Kings; and for the commonwealth! defy all the world, Adam Overdoo, for a disguise, and all story; for thou hast fitted thyself, I swear; feign would I meet the Lynceus now, that Eagles' eye, that piercing Epidaurian serpent (as my Quint. Horace calls him) that could discover a justice of Peace, (and lately of the Quorum) under this covering. They may have seen many a fool in the habit of a justice; but never till now, a justice in the habit of a fool. Thus must we do, though, that wake for the public good: and thus hath the wise Magistrate done in all ages. There is a doing of right out of wrong, if the way be found. Never shall I enough commend a worthy worshipful man, sometime a capital member of this City, for his high wisdom, in this point, who would take you, now the habit of a Porter; now of a Carman; now of the Dog-killer, in this month of August; and in the winter, of a Seller of tinderboxes; and what would he do in all these shapes? marry go you into every Alehouse, and down into every Cellar; measure the length of puddings, take the gage of black pots, and cans, I, and custards with a stick; and their circumference, with a third; weigh the loaves of bread on his middle-finger; than would he sand for 'em, home; give the puddings to the poor, the bread to the hungry, the custards to his children; break the pots, and burn the cans, himself; he Would not trust his corrupt officers; he would do't himself. would all men in authority would follow this worthy precedent! For (alas) as we are public persons, what do we know? nay, what can we know? we hear with other men's ears; we see with other men's eyes? a foolish Constable, or a sleepy Watchman, is all our information, he slanders a Gentleman, by the virtue of his place, (as he calls it) and we by the vice of ours, must believe him. As a while ago, they made me, yea me, to mistake an honest zealous Pursuivant, for a Seminary: and a proper young Bachelor of Music, for a Bawd. This we are subject to, that live in high place, all our intelligence is idle, and most of our intelligencers, knaves: and by your leave, ourselves, thought little better, if not errand fools, for believing 'hem. I Adam Overdoo, am resolved therefore, to spare spy-money hereafter, and make mine own discoveries. Many are the yearly enormities of of this Fair, in whose courts of Piepowders I have had the honour during the three days sometimes to sit as judge. But this is the special day for detection of those foresaid enormities. Here is my black book, for the purpose; this the cloud that hides me: under this covert I shall see, and not be seen. On Iunius Brutus. And as I began, so I'll end: in justice name, and the Kings; and for the Commonwealth.
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)
Very likely, exceeding likely, very exceeding likely. WEll, in Iuſtice name, and the Kings; and for the common-wealth! defie all the world, Adam Ouerdoo, for a diſguiſe, and all ſtory; for thou haſt fitted thy ſelfe, I ſweare; faine would I meet the Linceus now, that Eagles eye, that peircing Epidaurian ſerpent (as my Quint. Horace cal's him) that could diſcouer a Iuſtice of Peace, (and lately of the Quorum) vnder this couering. They may haue ſeene many a foole in the habite of a Iuſtice; but neuer till now, a Iuſtice in the habit of a foole. Thus muſt we doe, though, that wake for the publike good: and thus hath the wiſe Magiſtrate done in all ages. There is a doing of right out of wrong, if the way be found. Neuer ſhall I enough commend a worthy worſhipfull man, ſometime a capitall member of this City, for his high wiſdome, in this point, who would take you, now the habit of a Porter; now of a Carman; now of the Dog-killer, in this moneth of Auguſt; and in the winter, of a Seller of tinder-boxes; and what would hee doe in all theſe ſhapes? mary goe you into euery Alehouſe, and down into euery Celler; meaſure the length of puddings, take the gage of blacke pots, and cannes, I, and cuſtards with a ſticke; and their circumference, with a thrid; weigh the loaues of bread on his middle-finger; then would he ſend for 'hem, home; giue the puddings to the poore, the bread to the hungry, the cuſtards to his children; breake the pots, and burne the cannes, himſelfe; hee Would not truſt his corrupt officers; he would do't himſelfe. would all men in authority would follow this worthy preſident! For (alas) as we are publike perſons, what doe we know? nay, what can wee know? wee heare with other mens eares; wee ſee with other mens eyes? a fooliſh Conſtable, or a ſleepy Watchman, is all our information, he ſlanders a Gentleman, by the vertue of his place, (as he calls it) and wee by the vice of ours, muſt beleeue him. As a while agone, they made mee, yea me, to miſtake an honeſt zealous Purſiuant, for a Seminary: and a proper yong Batcheler of Muſicke, for a Bawd. This wee are ſubiect to, that liue in high place, all our intelligence is idle, and moſt of our intelligencers, knaues: and by your leaue, ourſelues, thought little better, if not errant fooles, for beleeuing 'hem. I Adam Ouerdoo, am reſolu'd therefore, to ſpare ſpy-money hereafter, and make mine owne diſcoueries. Many are the yeerely enormities of of this Fayre, in whoſe courts of Pye-pouldres I haue had the honour during the three dayes ſometimes to ſit as Iudge. But this is the ſpeciall day for detection of thoſe foreſaid enormities. Here is my blacke booke, for the purpoſe; this the cloud that hides me: vnder this couert I ſhall ſee, and not be ſeene. On Iunius Brutus. And as I began, ſo I'll end: in Iuſtice name, and the Kings; and for the Common-wealth.