Renaissance Drama — Topics · seed 42

The Devil's Law Case (When Women Go to Law the Devil Is Full of Business)

Webster, John, published 1623 · tragicomedy · Adult Professional;Professional

45chunks
22,447words
7topics
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Metadata

TitleThe Devil's Law Case (When Women Go to Law the Devil Is Full of Business)
AuthorWebster, John
Publication year (edition)1623
Genre (British Drama)tragicomedy
Genre group (comparison)tragicomedy — from the British Drama label · Annals: tragicomedy
Play typeAdult Professional;Professional
Work / edition / TCP / DEEPwork 388 · edition 857 · TCP A14869 · DEEP 713
Edition roleRepresentative edition — used in the analysis
First performance / composition (Annals)1619 [1617-1621]
First performance (BritDrama)1618 [1617-1619]
Company (BritDrama)Queen Anne's Men
Company (Annals)Queen Anne's Men
Title-page companyQueen Anne's Men
PrinterMathewes, Augustine
PublisherGrismand, John (1)
FormatQuarto
STC25173
Greg388a
Genre (Annals)Tragicomedy
Genre (BritDrama)Tragicomedy
BritDrama no.1875
Title pageThe Deuils Law-case. OR, When Women goe to Law, the Deuill is full of Businesse. A new Tragecomœdy.
Title-page performance noteAs it was aproouedly well Acted by her Maiesties Seruants.
Corpus buildcorpus-v3-2026-09-08 · nodes 3065 · witness single

Topic composition (share of words)

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Chunks in order

#nodeswordstopictyp.opening
10–75555unassignedYOu have shown a world of wealth; I did not think there had been a Merchant Lived in Italy of half your substa…
276–138482unassignedSir, I'll tell you, The greatest part of it I mean to employ In payment of my Debts, and the remainder Is like…
3139–205493unassignedYou have been strange a long time, you are weary Of our unseasonable time of feeding: Indeed th' Exchange Bell…
4206–274503unassignedI would not have you come hither sir, to sell, But to settle your Estate. I hope you understand Wherefore I ma…
5275–348509T28 Marriage-making: weddings, brides and ma0.88Sir, you have done me The mainest wrong that ere was offered To a Gentleman of my breeding. Why sir? You have …
6349–417507T28 Marriage-making: weddings, brides and ma0.79she is yours. Nay, continue your station, and deal you in dumb show; kiss this doggedness out of her. To be co…
7418–481481unassignedWhy sir? By no means: no more words; Nor the woman with marrowbone puddings. I have heard Strange juggling tri…
8482–537467unassignedOh you pretty ones, I have seen this Lord many a time and oft Set her in's lap, and talk to her of Love So fee…
9538–601489T6 Money, debt and credit0.74Freely: For I protest, if that I could conceive My son would take more pleasure or content, By any course of r…
10602–657499unassignedCome, come, leave citing other vanities; For neither Wine, nor Lust, nor riotous feasts, Rich clothes, nor all…
11658–706489unassigned'tis concluded, you are a fool, a precious one, you are a mere stick of Sugar Candy, a man may look quite thor…
12707–783500unassignedHe would have made an excellent Barber, He does so curry it with his tongue. Sir, I was directed to you. From …
13784–861508T46 Swords, quarrels and valour0.87Why you speak nobly, and for this fair dealing, Were the rich jewel which we vary for, A thing to be divided, …
14862–930490unassignedBethink yourself, How fair the object is that we contend for. Oh, I cannot forget it. You are hurt. Did you co…
15931–1000503unassignedWhat should move you? Put forth that harsh Interrogatory, if these eyes Ever saw my wife do the thing you wot …
161001–1073499T1 Death, grief and revenge0.72O, I am lost for ever. Denied Christian burial, I pray what does that, Or the dead lazy march in the Funeral, …
171074–1136491T1 Death, grief and revenge0.70The best in Naples? How oft has he been dressed? But once. I have some skill this way: The second or third dre…
181137–1202501unassignedThese are crimes that either must make work For speedy repentance, or for the Devil. I have much compassion on…
191203–1269488T52 Prodigals, portions and poor kin0.75He has made a Will I hear. Yes sir. And deputed Iolenta his heir. He has, we are witness to't. Has not Romelio…
201270–1333491unassignedMy desperate stiletto, that may be worn In a woman's hair, and ne'er discovered, And either would be taken for…
211334–1396491unassignedHa! come hither, note a strange accident: His Steel has lighted in the former wound, And made free passage for…
221397–1466509unassignedI am glad you grow thus pleasant. Now will I have you presently give out, That you are full two months quicken…
231467–1537505T11 Siblings, kin and confidants0.74I remember since his hurt, She has been very passionately enquiring, After his health. Upon my soul, this jewe…
241538–1606508unassignedEat unripe fruit, and Oatmeal, to take away your colour. Dine in my bed some two hours afternoon. And when you…
251607–1675529unassignedI will make you chief mourner, believe it. Never was woe like mine: oh that my care, And absolute study to pre…
261676–1741513T11 Siblings, kin and confidants0.79Alas, she mistakes, 'tis Contarino she wishes living; but I must fasten On her last words, for my own safety. …
271742–1806488T49 Wooing a mistress: suitors, go-betweens 0.86Why Mistress, 'tis your only way, To enjoin me first that I reveal to you The worst act I ere did in all my li…
281807–1878508T6 Money, debt and credit0.82What's here? oh strange; I have lived this 60 years, Yet in all my practice never did shake hands With a cause…
291879–1949500T6 Money, debt and credit0.71Is not this Vivere honest? No, that's struck out sir; And wherever you find vivere honest in these papers, Giv…
301950–2016486T1 Death, grief and revenge0.70Have you broke fast yet? Not I sir. 'Twas very ill done of you: For this cause will be long a pleading; but no…
312017–2080490T6 Money, debt and credit0.78Well, have your entreaty: (purpose, And if your own credulity undo you, Blame not the Court hereafter: fall to…
322081–2148506T11 Siblings, kin and confidants0.69Good my Lord, be assured, I will leave all circumstance, and come tooth purpose: This Romelio is a Bastard. Ho…
332149–2219518T11 Siblings, kin and confidants0.64The Midwife straight howls out, there was no hope Of th'infant's life, swaddles it in a stead lambskin, As a B…
342220–2290502unassignedWho shall pay us our Fees then? Most just. You may see now what an old house You are like to pull over your he…
352291–2357508unassignedWhere is our Solicitor with the waiting-woman? Room for the bag and baggage. Here my Lord, Oretenus. And what …
362358–2428497unassignedWell come off again. An old hunted Hare, she has all her doubles. For your own gravities, And the reverence of…
372429–2494502T11 Siblings, kin and confidants0.76This is my father, how the judges have bleated him. You may see truth will out in spite of the Devil. Behold, …
382495–2564499T1 Death, grief and revenge0.80I obey the arrest o'th' Court. Oh sir, you are happily restored to life, And to us your friends. Away, thou ar…
392565–2642512unassignedYou the Defendant charged with the murder, And you Second there, Must be committed to the custody Of the knigh…
402643–2717497unassignedO you mean to go to Rome then. Within there. Bear this Letter To the Lord Ercole. Now wench, I am for thee All…
412718–2786492unassignedYou shall reveal it then to Ariosto the judge. By no means, he has heard me Tell so many lies i'th' Court, he'…
422787–2851481unassignedNo, no, the world and I Have not made up our accounts yet. Shall I pray for you? Whether you do or no, I care …
432852–2918486T1 Death, grief and revenge0.84O, I tremble for you: For I do know you have a storm within you, More terrible than a Sea-fight, and your soul…
442919–2991487unassignedHa, what says he? Contarino living? ay, ay, he means he would have Contarino's living Bestowed upon his Monast…
452992–3064488unassignedIf I do not dream, I am happy to. How insolently has this high Court of Honour Been abused! How now, who are t…