no one thing liuing to remaine stedfast or in assured stay or certayne condicion at all times to induce and continue no maruaile then good Sir if your selfe being a mortal man framed of the same earthly substaunce and qualitie incident to terrene frailtie and mundane imbecilitie do as other creatures a like participate the sodaine euils and dayly alterations therevnto annexed and belonging a proofe whereof resteth chiefly in your present state and being then which no one thinge maye induce a more serious aduertisement of the vile accompt and wretched contempt appropriate vnto our liuing And albeit diuers are the calamities wherewith not onely your selfe but sondry others your louing friendes carefull of your present mishap and greeued to see the vncouth and bitter chaunge whereinto you are happened are continually affected insomuch as there is not the stoniest and flintiest minde of all that euer haue knowne you your desperate vowed ennemies onelye excepted but doe in some sort or other bewaile and as it were greeue to see the vnacquainted yoke thereof with such extremitie to be cast vpon you I can not yet but greatly commend the inuincible Fortitude of your high and noble minde who by how much the more the vehemencye of these sorrowes are to you vnknowne and therefore the more vnused do notwithstanding not onely by so much the lesse permit the â—igâ— tye power of them to rule or beare swaie ouer you but neglectinge or which is greater despisinge the sharpe prickinge stinge thereof who by the deepe pearcing force of the same is woonted to gall the remembraunce of manye others do also as it were by a forcelesse contempt of such validities not onely not giue anie token or signe at all in their vtmost practises but seeme rather to triumphe ouer the strength that thereby they hadde rought and by an aduised sage and woonderful modestie and discretion plainly to extinguish and put from you the furie of the same Greatly I must confesse haue you heereby deserued and muche more euill by the wise and moderate entertainment of these troubles hath to your aduersaries bin tendred who in nothyng so much doe rest vnsatisfied as that in subduing your body they cannot also yoke and bring vnder by what soeuer extremitie the courage and stately progression of your high and vnconquered minde Wherein there is left in my opinion great cause of comforte euen in the verie greatest of your miserie vnto you that in the constant indurance therof you haue power to punishe them that would disturb you that in the perplexed imaginations of their own wicked malicious enuie Neither may this that you sustaine bee rightly termed miserie or such a one as your self seeme to be accompted miserable whose minde in the verie captiuitie inflicted vpon this your bodie is thus freed and accompanied with so ample and sweetned libertie For these kinde of troubles as they are worldly so haue they power also vpon the worldly parts of a man and therin are cohibitions of suche earthly delight as sauoring more vnto the satisfaction of a sensuall appetite then conducing to the excellencie of the inward minde do breede that ordinary restraint wherewith men mortally conceipted are for the moste troubled But to the sweete imaginations of a pure and innocent minde what is left wherwith to be discontented but onely to haue committed any thing vile wretched or otherwise ill beseeming the Vertue and excellencie wherewith the inward partes thereof are or ought to be indued Howe manie waies then are left vnto you to reioyce vnto whose eies the continuall thirst of hie and sacred Vertue hath long since laid open the momentarie pleasures of this world the libertie whereof is vnto a worthie conceite a meere seruage in whose fickle transitorie affections reposeth so slender assurance whose efficacies contemplate no other then vaine and foolish obiectes seeing that you haue thereby so well perceaued how much the instinct of a braue and delicate mind climeth farr aboue the reach of the bodie with a pleasant and vncontrolled libertie These things impugning I must needes say a corporal appetite permit you not For suche losse of riches possessions children or friendes to become passionate or ouercome with extreame griefe albeit participating as wee doe wyth suche naturall causes I doubt not but therewith you are sometimes touched though at no time conuinced For whiche cause as often as you happen to fall into the remembrance of the same suppose with your selfe that in time the bitter sting may yet be repulced and that the lott that is fallen vnto you heerein is no other but the common reward and hatefull disquiet of the worlde wherein the moste noble and worthye mindes are the most vehemently assaulted and wyth deepest extremitie by suche kinde of meanes pursued The recordation whereof may returne vnto you one principall and great occasion of comforte in that by distinction of your worthinesse though you be partaker of common trouble yet are you sequestred from the entertainment of a common opinion It doth not a little reioyce me to see that with suche impregnable stoutnesse you doe so farre foorth endeuour to resist your appetites wherein besides the expectation of that whiche is incident also to these alterations a change I mean and renouation of wonted pleasures you shal in the meane tyme geue greater glory to your actions in not appearing for anie worldly estate riches or contentment to be surprised in your imaginations Praying the comfort of al comfortes to bestow vpon you the dew of his heauenly grace in assistaunce of your extremities I take my leaue this of c. A Consolatorie Epistle of the third sorte wherein a gentlewoman is comforted of the death of her husband slayn in the warres ALbeit my selfe hauing receiued the sorrowfull newes of the vntimely death of my deerest kinsman and your deceased louing husband was in the first hearing therof so greatly troubled with the heauie newes as by reason of the great griefe by me conceiued in the same my selfe happily might seeme to neede that comforte whiche nowe I goe about to bestowe vppon others Yet weighing in my mind the state wherein you stand and beeing also informed with what great extremitie you haue entertained the newes of his losse I cannot but in respect of the great loue I ought to him and remembraunce of the like care wherewith he principallie fauoured you enforce my pen hereby to yeeld vnto you those comfortable speeches by the veritie whereof my selfe in so great a storme of griefe coulde hetherto as yet be verie hardly satisfied It was deliuered vnto me by my brother F.B. that being nowe a moneth or somewhat more passed since by letters out of H. the maner of his death was vnto you reported you immediately vppon the reading of the letters grewe into so great aboundance of teares and to so wonderful impatience as hauing euer
he shall find to correct and the other vsers therof to beare withal promising that in the next setting foorth the same with better regard shall bee considered and God sparing life with more perfection deliuered the residue of the faults being not manie are in the page after this placed down and corrected And nowe touching the order of this booke folowing I must aduertise him that is desirous to take profite thereby that he first do circumspectlie consider with himself the seuerall rules in the particuler chapters preceeding the orders of these EPISTLES in such sort as afterwardes they are distinguished and therin see what to the better ordering and principall direction of whatsoeuer he shall take in hand to write is therfore for his better instruction enioined Next also by diligent animaduersion therof hee shall the better vnderstande the seuerall natures and properties that in the partes of euerie EPISTLE are ordinarily to bee required besides the vse of them in their seuerall places and what force they bear being so sorted out according to their speciall purposes and directions Next for the better inducement leading the learner into a plaine perfect platforme of this METHODE following and to the intent hee may as neere as may be or as his capacitie at leastwise may any wayes reach vnto know skilfullie not by rote how or in what sort he shal happen to do either well or ill I haue first in a preamble or intermixed discourse either proceeding or interchangeably passing before or with the kindes of the suÌ„dry exaÌ„ples of euery EPISTLE declared the properties vse of those EPISTLES vpon what parts and places they and euery of them do consist with what vehemencie or lesse application they are to be inferred or quallified so that hee who seemeth to haue lesse knowledge at al be it that he haue perseueraÌ„ce to coÌ„ceiue or to distinguish the parts he seeth there laid out before his eies may with great facilitie and without anie shewe of difficulcie at all attaine to whatsoeuer herein prescribed or by the circumstance therof intended to be in any sort deliuered To the greater ornament whereof I haue applyed such FIGVRES SCHEMES and TROPES in the margent of euerie EPISTLE euen with the places where they are vsed And at the finishing vp of this worke haue determined in the ende therof which in the next terme shal as a second part hereunto by gods grace be published to set them altogeather and there to explane to the Learners view and for his readier vse their particular natures and qualities that they who being vnlearned and hauing a pretie conceit of â—nuention of them selues haue heeretofore vnknowing done well may see howe with skill and discretion hereafter to pursue the same and the ignorant also hereof whose reach hath not byn so ample as others may be thereby informed what vnto well doing is most consonant agreeing Now for the readier finding of those EPISTLES as each of their kindes are suted forth in sundrie EXAMPLES Peruse but the head of euerie page and vnder the title of the booke you shall finde what in the same Page is coÌ„tained viz. Wher the EPISTLES be you shal haue them noted in their kindes as Epistles HORTATORIE DEHORTATORIE SVVASORIE or DISSVVASORIE c. likewise in the admixtions you shall finde PLACES or PARTS HORTATORIE COMMENDATORIE PETITORIE c. as they fall out to bee handeled This booke shewing these partes before remembred I haue termed by the name of THE ENGLISH SECRETORIE being in the consideration thereof nothing ignorant what great perfection is to bee required in suche a one by whose title the same is christened neither supposing the matter heerein contained to appeare so sufficient as perfectly therby to enable what in the same function is to be required but because the orderlie writing of Letters being a principal part belonging to a SECRETORIE is by the METHODE heereof deliuered to any Learners capacitie whereout the scholler or anie other that is vnfurnished of the knowledge thereof may gather ayde and furtheraunce the better by suche means thereafter if his industry serue therunto to become a SECRETORIE And for so much as this beeing but the first part thereof is also the first worke in shew that euer I deliuered I determined as vntimelie fruite by occasion of the hastie gatheryng of the same to put it foorth in common tast the rather to be satisfied what liking it carrieth The relesse wherof beyng of the discrete and skilful sort allowed to furnish a place in any one corner of their banquet The other part heerefater shall I trust with better liking return in the after publishing to the followers thereof ryght pleasing and profitable Heerein ouer and besides the Chapters giuyng instruction as aforesaide to the METHODE of these Letters is only two kinds of EPISTLES wyth their seuerall partes particularly handeled that is to say DEMONSTRATIVE DELIBERATIVE The second part shall containe IVDICIAL and FAMILIAR LETTERS and at the end of the same the descriptioÌ„s of the FIGVRES SCHEMES and TROPES as before I haue noted and lastlie thereunto annexed a Discours of the partes and office of a SECRETORIE all which Godwilling I meane by all conuenient leysure to performe Presenting in the meane time what herein set downe to the generall and friendlie regard of all men beseeching that in courtesie they repute of my trauels as formost of all other things I therein respected a pubâ—â—ke benefite In affoording whereof they sha◠〈◊〉 more then belongeth to Gentilitie â—â—ourage me by whatsoeuer other meanes to gratifie their courtesie Fare ye well this fift of Nouember 1586. Faultes escaped in printing Faultes Correction Page Line there the 3 6 least last 34 3â— ingeneralitie nigeralitie 35 26 affection affâ—â—tation 38 15 forced farced 39 2 that he is superfluous idem 10 is are 41 7 he we 66 10 force face idem 27 Magnanimious Magnanimious 68 1 too so idem 12 gleanesse gladnesse 71 28 it is not that it is 212 24 Conciliatorie Consolatorie 211 in the title of an Epistlâ— The residue the learned Reader may correct with discretion A Table mentioning the Contents of this present Booke Of an Epistle the commodities and vse thereof â— VVhat is to be respected in framing of an Epistle 3 Of breuitie required in an Epistle â— Of comelines to be obserued aswell touching the pâ—rsoÌ„ as the cause 13 Ofâ— the habite and parts of an Epistle 18 Of contents gener all incident to all maner of Epistles 23 Diuers orders of greetings farewels and subscriptions 24 Of superscriptions and directions 30 Additions of other things to be considered 34 The diuision of Letters and vnder what titles all sortes of Epistles are contained 41 Epistles Descriptorie and the partes thereof 43 An example of a letter Descriptorie of a Cittie 45 An example of the state of a countrie 48 An example describing the death of a Noble man 49 A discourse of the partes of those Epistles 53 An
example of aduertisements 56 Places of praise or dispraise 5 9.60 Places of Confirmation and confutation 61.62 An example Lawdatorie solie touching the person 63 An Epistle Vituperatorie touching also the person 73 Praise and dispraise of the deedes of men 79.80.81.82 Of Epistles Deliberatiue 83 Efficacie of Praise 84 Places of Exhortation 85.86 An example of an Epistle Exhortatorie 87 A letter Responsorie to the same 92 Epistle Hortatorie to the studie of Learning 94 Epistle Hortatorie wherein the exhortation is lenefied 100 Aduertisements Responsorie 105 Epistle Hortatorie to the profession of armes 107 Places Dehortatorie or of withdrawyng from anie thing 113 An example Dehortatorie from infidelitie or rebellion 114 Difference betweene Swasorie and Hortatorie Examples 121 An example Swasorie wherein a Gentlevvoman is councelled to mariage 122 Places Svvasoriâ— or of persvvading 126.27.28 Examples Svvasorie to the careful regard of one brother to another 129 A Letter Responsorie to the same Epistle 132 Epistle Svvasorie to perseuerance in learned and profitable studies 135 Places Disvvasorie or counsailing from a thing 138.39.40.41.42 And example Disvvasorie disvvading one from the marriage of his daughter to an old vvelthie miser 143 Epistle Disvvasorie from vices ingenerall 148 Epistle Diswasorie from entâ—ing into an action dangerous 151. Places Conciliatorie or meanes to induce fauour 158. Epistle Conciliatorie from one of good accompt to his inferiour 159. Epistle Conciliatorie from one equall to an other 160. Epistle Responsorie annswering the first of these letters 162. Epistle Responsorie to the latter 163. Places reconciliatorie or of reconciliation 164. Example Reconciliatorie from one friend to an other 165. Epistle Reconciliatorie from an inferiour to his better 168. Places Petitorie or of requiring suing or intreating 169.70.71 Example Petitorie in a cause indifferent 172. ExaÌ„ple Petitorie in the nature of recoÌ„ciliatioÌ„ froÌ„ a son to his father 174 Epistle Petitorie for trauell and councell in an vrgent cause 177. An other of the same 178. A letter Responsorie thereunto 179. Epistle Peti torie of an other maner of request 180. An other of the like effect 181. An other Example to the same purpose 167. Places Commendatorie or recommending of persons 185. An example Commendatorie from a mean person to a noble man 186 Letter Responsorie to the same 187. An other Epistle Commendatorie 188. An Example Commendatorie from a noble man to his inferiour 194. An other from a noble man in preferrement of his seruaunt 195. An other from the same in fauour of Iustice. 192. An example Responsorie of deniall to any of these 193. An other wherein is allowance giuen to the demaund 19â— The third wherein is doubtfull acceptante made of the same 196. A Letter Commendatorie pleasantly conceipted in recommending an vnprofitable â—eruaunt 198. Places Consolatorie or of comforting in distresse 200.201.202.203 An example Consolatorie vpon the death of a sonne â—04 Epistle Consolatorie in causes of hard extremitie 201. Epistle Consolatorie on the death of her husband 211. Partes Consolatorie 217.218 Epistle Consolatorie pleasantly written 219. Epistle Responsorie to be conferred to the Epistles Consolatorie 222. Places Monitorie forewarning or discoÌ„mending a thing 223.24.25.26 Example Monitorie to a stated and well gouerned life 227. Epistle Monitorie to the reformation of a couetous life 231. Epistle Monitorie to a father to preuent his sonnes lewd demeanor 229 Partes Amatorie or of loue The discourse whereof including letters sâ—â—â—ed vpon diuers sondâ—ie effectes continueth to the end of the book Almost all of which Epistles before set downe were â—owe sodenly by the Author ordered and inuented to their seuerall examples ¶ THE ENGLISH Secretorie CHAP. I. Of an Epistle the commoditie and vse thereof TOuching an Epistle which usually we terme a letter no other definition needeth therof then that which vse and common experience hath induced vnto vs. A Letter therefore is that wherein is expressye conueied in writing the intent and meaning of one man immediately to passe and be directed to an other and for the certaine respects thereof is termed the messenger and familiar speeche of the absent for that all occurrences whatsoeuer are thereby as faythfully aduertized pursued and debated as firmely might fall out in any personall presence or other wise to be remembred The antient vse wherof is such as from the beginning siâ—ce characters were first found hath had his continuaunce and euer since as a faythfull and secrete Ambassadour hath remayned of him from whome the foremost title hath had his direction and framing Their diuersities are sundry as whereof ensueth a platforme to euery motion beeing in truth so manifolde as are the imaginations of each mans fantasie seeing that the declaration of euery Letter is no more then what the minde in all occasions willeth to haue perfourmed and according to such instigations wherwith at that instant men are fedde when they write taketh his formall substaunce whether it be to require councell exhort commaund informe commende entreat confirme or whatsoeuer other intent determination or purpose therein had as cause and matter may fall out to be in anye sort required To grow into the particularities of euerye benefite receaued by the common vse hereof and the commoditye thereby ensuing what might be sayde more then that which by due course euery man hath almost in practize If you aske of the learned the vniuersall contentment recerued thereby expressed in sundrytheir authorities will testifie who the rather to aduaunce the efficacie hereof haue by diuers methodes and orders prescribed in wrytinge set downe the perfect instruction vse and meane wherby men the rather may be induced to the skilfull perfection that in a matter of such excellency is to be required For besides that the Epistles of Cicero Lucian Politiaen and others are plentifully extant some also of the thoysest and beste learned of late yeares haue endeuoured by writing to publishe in the Latine tongue their sundry methodes touching the same among whom Erasmus euermore famous for his studies and Macropedius at large Lodouicus Viues and Hegâ—ndorphimus Learnedlye yet brieflye each of them well approuing the goodnes in that by seuerall rules they haue distinguiâ—hed the diuersities ground and skilful directions thereof To dwell in tedious discourses were but friuolous although others might in like maner be alleadged in examples as copious But now if you will demaund of the vnlearned they then to whom the want hereof breedeth so diuers imperfections as with many wishes they could desire to be amended knowing how greenous it is to participate their moste secreat causes to an other and to laye up their chiefest trust in the affiaunce of an others credite can be wray vnto you And although pregnant wit ensuinge by nature was th◠〈◊〉 cause that firste bred the inuention of letters And that euery man naturallye can speake and set downe his own meaning yet Art preuailing in the cause and by cunning skill marshalling euery thing in his due order proportion and place how much
of them to be handled and for this cause are termed special as bearinge in them a resolute purpose and intendment seriously to discourse aunswere implye or auoyde any certaine matter or causes importing the present affaires whereupon the direction is framed Of them also are certaine diuisions learnedly by skilfull authours that heretofore haue bene distinguished the titles whereof I do omitte in an other place then this more oportune to be hereafter remembred These as they are from the others many waies estranged in their seuerall arguments so vnto the conuaiaunce and expressing of their causes appertayneth both other order and diuers partes in them then in the residue more fully to be considered In whose composition that there may be a perfect platforme gathethered of a more certayne proceeding wee will as others haue thought meete distinguishe their seuerall partes as they fall out to bee borrowed in an Oration And whereas aswell in all kind of writing and speaking wherein is or may be required any continuaunce of matter it is very necessarye that whosoeuer shoulde take vpon him to aunswere the effects limited and agreeing to the same be therfore ready furnished and prepared accordingly it shall not be amisse herein to bring vnto the readers consideration what may be deemed vnto the accomplishement thereof eyther of greatest furtheraunce or of most necessity by knowledge whereof he may be the sooner setled in that hereafter maye be vnto him prescribed to be followed In suche kinde therefore of Epistles exactlye and with good perfection to bee handeled the learner shall vnderstande that there are three thinges by meanes whereof for the needfull expressing and orderly deliuerye of anye matter whatsoeuer he muste of necessitye bee furnished Inuention firste wherein plentifully is searched and considered what kinde of matter how much variety of sentences what sorts of figures how many similitudes what approbations diminutions insinuations and circumstaunces are presently needfull or furthering to the matter in handling Then Disposition whereby is orderly cunninglye and perfectlye layde downe and disposed euerye matter and cause in his due order proportion place Thirdly Eloquution whose efficacie in speaches neat pure and elegant is in the other Chapter vnder aptnes of wordes sufficiently already described The first and the last of these three as they are greatly put forward by nature which in some beeing far more curious of imitation and study of the best then in other some whose will and conceit alike doe by a very instinct affect and couet far more baser purposes so besides the furtheraunce continuallye atchieued by often vse of reading shall herein be greatly holpen in that for the self same purpose and to the intent the learner may aswell in his natiue tongue know the right vse of figures tropes heeretofore neuer by him vnderstood as also discerne and vâ—e them out of others and in his owne writinges I haue at the latter ende of this booke gathered togeather all such Figures Schemes and Tropes heere vnto needfull and conuenient and there haue by sundry familiar examples expressed their vses and seuerall effectes bewraying also vnto the learners eyes when anye of them are vsed and to what purpose in euerye of the Epistles following by noting them in the margent of the same In diligent conceipt and aduerting whereof the vse vnto the practizer shall in short time be found greatly auaileable by the benefite thereby attayned Now in asmuch as Eloquution is annexed vnto the stile which euermore is also tyed to the argument and substaunce of euerye Epistle it is to be regarded what stile maye generallye be deemed meetest for the common habite wherein each of them may ordinarily be published In the recording whereof we doe finde three sortes especially in all kindes of writing and speaking to haue been generally commended Sublime the highest and statelyest maner and loftiest deliueraunce of anye thing that maye be expressing the heroicall and mighty actions of Kings Princes and other honorable personages the stile wherof is sayde to be tragicall swellinge in choyse and those the most hautiest termes commended described amplyfied and preferred also by Orators with manye excellent Figures and places of Rhetorique Humile the lowest comicall and most simple of all others the matter whereof is the meanest subiect of anye argument that may be entermedlinge in common causes aduertisementes and mutuall effectes of euery one the stile whereof sweepeth euen the very ground it selfe and is fittest appropriate to our familiar Letters for that in such familiar causes and maners the same is soly perfected in which neuertheles is Sua faceties elegantia quaedam his certaine kinde of elegancie pleasaunt and neat conueiance not altogeather to be sequestred from that kind of deliuerance Mediocre a meane betwixt high and low vehement and slender too much and too little as we saye in which are expressed histories Declamatious Commentaries and other intermingled actions not of any in particular but of all in generall this stile of all others maye be adopted vnto these speciall kinde of Epistles Thus then it followeth that whether we write familiarlye or waightily we must indeuour as neare as maye be that each be perfourmed skilfully for that to neither of them may want learning without the knowledge wherof what ornament can there be at all of this expected elegancie The particularities wherof included in these two titles of Inuention Eloquution both nature skill do put forwarde as we daylye see by a double instruction This therefore sufficing for those twaine let vs see what parts are supplied in an Epistle succeedinge in the other also and ayding to Disposition The first place is Exordium a beginning or induction to the matter to be written of which is not alwayes after one sort or fashion but in diuers maners as sometimes by preamble wherein eyther for our selues or the cause we write of or in respect of him for or to whom we write we studye to winne fauour and allowaunce of the matter sometimes by insinuation wherein couertlye eyther in respect that the matter requyreth long debatement or that mislyke maye be alreadye grounded in him to whome we direct our Letters we seeke by cunning reasons to shew that thâ— case so requyring is tollerable or in the other that rather equitye then selfe opinion must and ought chiefly to be waighed in all which we vndertake to be directed by the right rule and square of common intendment and reason sometymes by a similitude wherein by manifesting the lyke of that we take in hande to haue beene commended tollerated or equallye censured we intende the same or lesse force in our selues at their handes to bee borne withall or accepted Then Narratio or Propositio eache seruinge to one effect wherein is declared or proponed in the one by playne termes in the other by inference or comparisons the very substaunce of the matter whatsoeuer to be handled
hee grew into such a frensie and consequently into so rank a madnesse that he sate swearing blaspheming crying cursing and banning and that moste execrablie hys lookes were grimme furious and chaunged hys face terrible his sight fiery and pearsing those that saw him feared it and they that heard of it durst not come nigh him In conclusion some that pitied him more then his deseruing grieued to see that they coulde not redresse in him caused a company to watch him others to prouide warme brothes and in conclusion vsed all meanes possible to comfort him But what can man do to preuent the secret determination of tha'lmightie For loe whylest all men lefte hym and eche one stoode in doubt of hym a companie of rattes vpon a soddayne possest his house hys tables his chimneyes hys chambers yea hys verye bedd and hys lodging vpon which about which they wer so bold as in the sight of the beholders they durst appeare and come before them and beeing stroken abode and wer killed and others come in their places what shal I say the sight became so vncouth as al men shuÌ„ned ech one feared and none durst abide it whereupon the miser being left alone thus pitifully died The stench of his corps admitted neither dailight nor coÌ„pany wherin to be buried Two only that were the coÌ„ueiers of him sickned vehemently and one of them died the other is yet scarcely recouered The matter hereof seemed vnto me so strange therwithal so importunate to warne vs of our actions considering how seuerely God punisheth when he is once bent to correction as I could not but deeply consider of weighing with my self that such as was hs life such was his death the one being hated of many the other not to be tollerated of â—anye The circumstance whereof referring herewith to your deepe consideration I do bid you hearily farewell WE haue not in the former Epictle so much endeuored to praise extol the incoÌ„parable worthines of a hie mighty Prince as the argument of this letter hath occasioned vs to discommend the person of a moste vile wicked liuer either of which haue bin the more amply set forth to th'end to manifest therby how much and wherin y e excellency or dignity of one thing may be either iustly aduanced or worthely condemned Now touching the deeds and actions of men In what sort they are to be preferred or disabled is also to be collected out of the places before remembred And herein it shalbe necessarie to call in question whereout the partes therof are to be drawne as from the body wherein is included either plentie or want of strength or actiuitie From the minde as whence ensueth PrudeÌ„ce Iustice Fortitude or Temperance or y e coutrarieties thereof From fortune as where-fro is deriued Honour Worshippe or Wealth Out of all or some part of these doe proceede the weight and matter of any action as if the state thereof consisteth in bodely force I doe vse thereunto valor and strength if it rest in sway or gouernment I conferre therein Wisedome Iustice and Modestie if it be in causes of common weale bountie estate or liberalitie I herein applie Honour Worshippe Habilitie or Riches The action standing in regard of Pietie reputation Honour or fame for the conseruation whereof any one hath delte worthilie or wonderfully hereunto must we induce Fortitude whose propertie is stoutly to beare in whiche is contayned Magnanimitie to couet and aspire vnto thinges excellent and to contemne thinges base and lesse permanent Longanimitie constantlye and resolutelye to indure Patience meekely and willingly to tollerate Then Temperaunce the partes whereof are Modestye Chastitie Continencie Sobrietie and Meekenesse The Confirmation and Confutation occupyed in all which are gathered of Honestum or Inhonestum as I sayde before Vtilitie or Inutilitie Difficulcie or Impossibilitie Examples of these might be sorted diuersly as in the person of Dauid I coulde commend hys combate agaynst Goliath first ab honecto in that he beeing the seruaunt of God fought against a blasphewer also in his Princes quarrell and the defence of hys Countrey ab aequo because it is meete and conuenient that in causes so perilous the strength of eche one be applyed A necessitate insomuch as thereon depended the sauegard of the Prince and people Ab vtilitate for that he killing such an enemie brought to theyr own countrey peace quiet also braue the other part in subiection to his king and people A Difficili because the vndertaking thereof was so muche the more waightie by howe muche himselfe was as it were an infant agaynst a mightye Gyaunt vnarmed against him that was armed vnfurnished against him that had all maner of complementes of warre weake where the other was strong besides that the terrour of his challenge and hugenesse of stature had before daunted the armie and put them all out of conceite insomuche as the doubt was so generall as no man dared to vndertake the quarrell herein onely is praysed of bodily force his Actiuitie and nimblenesse of Vertues his wonderfull Magnanimitie y e by a couragious desire durst vndertake the same his affiance in Iustice and equitie of the cause His Pietie to God his Prince and country His Fidelitie whose lyfe was not spared when eche one drew back to be brought in hazard for all these Now in causes of sway and gouernement a man might be praysed for his great wisedome wherby in handling of some notable actioÌ„ in ambassage or consultation he hath onely by graue aduise industry discreet serch perswasioÌ„ or circumspection coÌ„passed waighty matters to the coÌ„mon weale or thence anoyded huge imminent dangers Cicero in the coniuration of Cateline being a mightie ennemy against his owne city of Rome might herein be an excellent pattern who without stirring the people at al without any maner of bodily resistance or force of armes without passing by any priuate or indirect means did by the sole matter of his Wisedome weightines of speech forcible reasons enforcements rebukes and perswasions driue him cleane out of the Citie and being expulced to the common peace tranquilitie and suretie of the same did afterward by like demeanour industry and circumspection so preuent his purposes so circumuent his pollicies so turne him vpside downe as hee dared not he could not he shamed to perpetrate what so often he hadde sworne and so many wayes intended For some one rare singuler point of Iustice men also might be extolled as besides common expectation executing the same A president hereof might be the L. chiefe Iustice of England in the time of king Henry the fourth who was so strictly bent to the obseruation of Iustice as hauing one of the princes seruauntes arraigned before hym at the kyngs bench barre for a fellonie and being one that the young Prince greatly at that time of his youth fauoured The Prince came to the barre and at
La. your mother I repayred thereupon to her presence to visit her there did I receiue notice of your being in Ireland that vpoÌ„ your honorable behauior good seruice there done the L. D. did not only testifie the same by his owne hand-writing vnto diuers of the priuie Counsell but also in especiall letters besides commended the weight thereof vnto the regard of her most excellent Maiestie I did not a little reioyce to see that in suche young yeares wherein commonly falleth out a contempt of al excellencies and fantasticall desire of counterfeit vanities you could besides the common trade and custome of the worlde addicte your selfe wholly vnto so weightie and honourable an exercise as by laborsome trauell in the seruice and honour of your Prince and country to put forward your selfe so timely Credit me it is not a little pleasing vnto mee to thinke thereon neyther standeth my affection so slender vnto your fathers off-spring but that I must euer hold the reputation of their well doing an aduauncement to my imaginations and the sound of their good successe the very hermony of mine inward soule It is no new thing I confesse to see in these dayes a gentleman honourably discended as your selfe and of like worthie education to attaine vnto learning to become practised in armes to put forward themselues in seruice but to continue with resolution to performe it with labour to atchieue it with vallor to beare it with honour here is the excellencie this is the rarenesse hence springeth the noueltie Vertue retayning yet her auntient Maiestie though not pursued as in olde time with such woonted vehemencie hath three entrances leading directly vnto her bewtiful passage by the ports wherof whosouer is desirous to attayn her in her purest and most glorious estate must of necessitie enter First Fortitude wherby he must be enhabled to endure whatsoeuer labor trauel to be imposed accounting nothing difficult to th'end and sweet reward wherof her excellency is appropriate Next Magnanimitie whiche by a vehement and hawâ—ie desire reacheth vnto things most excellent and of hiest and statelyest value not regarding the hard tough and maine force of the passage with what pursuit so euer it must be followed so be it by such meanes it may be wonne and the glory thereunto due may at last be attained the reach whereof tending to the last ende and scope of all his determinations sweetneth all maner of trauell and induceth therewithall a contempt of what soeuer lesse valued or hindering to the worthinesse of of the same Then Longanimitie enhabling by great constancie with rare and accustomed patience to awaite and endure the end neuer giuing ouer vpon whatsoeuer assaultes till the determined scope be by all kinde of industrie fully and perfectly furnished For this cause the most renowmed part of Vertue is sayd to be excellent for that many do contemplate her a farre of but fewe or none at all doe almost come so nigh her as perfectly to see and discerne her insomuch as some nothing regarding the singularitie of that whose sweetnes they neuer tasted of become forceles of the pursuit of so deuine an excellencie and some other sauoring a little the deintines therof yet ouerreached with the tediousnesse of the enterprise and hindered by the opposition of a thousand vanities are so astonished in the first onset as beeing therewith ouercome doe by and by giue ouer their purposes Now therefore my C. if you will be a right fauourer of Vertue in deede it behoueth that by these possibilities you doe as a faithfull regarder of her deuine and sacred essence onely seeke to pursue her that with such and none other respectes and to no other ende and purpose but for the sole fruition of her stately and immortall deitie The time now calleth you forth your Country and soyle wherein you were borne and nourished inuiteth you your praise already gotten and hope of renowne euer after to followe perswadeth you the honour of your house and parentage constraineth you yea euery of these solie and altogether doe ioyntly exhort and commaund you that becomming the selfe same you vowed and they long since haue lookt for you doe now shew your selfe such as was promised and wherin the expectation first conceiued of you may in no wise be frustrated Consider I pray you that the reward of Vertue is Honor the guerdon of Honor Fame the scope of Fame Aeternitie the seate of Aeternitie immortall euerlasting glory In liuing in the seruice of your Prince and Country the profession you haue taken in hand is honourable the charge honorable the purpose honorable and th'end and successe thereof must needs be honourable behoueth then that your continuaunce therein and your owne desertes be also deemed honourable Thinke when you tooke vppon you to beare Armes you then receiued the first cognizance of Vertue you were entertained with Honor you became apprentice to Fame and it was assured that being with loyaltie demeaned you should at length receiue reward of euer flourishing glory It is beleeue me no smal matter that being a perticuler member you are put forth as a piller vpon the proppe whereof reposeth one part of the weight of a coÌ„mon weale that the ioies of your whole country are fixed vpon your well doing that in pursuit hereof a mans priuate cause is not his own the secret reuenge wherof may happily turn to an infamed mischiefe but the cause of the Common good the publicke matter of all and that whereof the scope is of all others most sacred and honoured Beeing entertained in sorte as you are you shoulde highly wrong the opinion of a great many in drawing backe from that wherein you haue beene alreadie so worthely behoued and in becomming lesse then that whereunto in your very cradle you were at the beginning so principally ordained for vnseemly were it that you shoulde not haue beene hereunto at the first committed vnlawfull not to haue persisted and dishonorable in due sort not to see it accomplished Proceede then my C. in that wherunro your vertue your parentage your soyle and your fidelitie haue called you thinke what how much and how greatly it importeth you that hauing had so many of your stately ancestors since their first original that haue bene deemed so worthy it fitteth not your self alone in so important actions concerning especially the honour of your Prince and country shoulde bee found otherwise then equall vnto them in the highest qualitie So and in such maner and by such kind of meanes haue the most auntient renowmed worthies of the world become termed honored and mightie So Epaminondas and Alcibiades among the Grecians Aemilius Paulus Fabij and Scipiones amongst the Romaines haue bin deemed most stately For such cause the actes of your predecessours and nobilitie of your deceased father haue bene registred with the most worthie O so sweetly might sound from out his
Disswasorie though they are somewhat affined to the other of Dehortatorie yet doe they not in theyr deliuerye so vehemently as the others stande vppon the vilenesse badnesse or lothesomnesse of the thinge disswaded from but as the Swasorie differeth from the Hortatorie the one perswadyng to a thyng meete or indifferent the other pricking or spurring forward to that whiche is most excellent so falleth it in these two to be at this time in lyke manner considered For the Dehortatorie in hys propper kinde declareth as in the example thereof you founde and goeth about by all manner of circumstaunces to approoue the impietie hatefulnesse shame ignomie or perill iminent or almoste ineuitable by prosequution or continuance of such an act This nowe farre otherwise for where commonlye a thing standeth indifferent in the vse thereof to be eyther good or bad with howe great facilitie if the likelihoode be any thinge may wee mayntayne by diuers reasons the same to bee materiall needefull good and profitable so in the contrarie thereof what can appeare so sound but by insight and curious searche into the bowelles of the same some one thing or other there may appeare vnfit vnworthie or to be but meanly accompted of As for example let it be supposed that I would go about to perswade a man to whome something it importeth to marry and yet is thereunto greatly vnwilling who doubteth but manie inducements may be laid down to the waight therof seeming very much furthering as besides that it may be reserued for a matter vrgent to shewe by what necessitie he may be tied as it were to y e same as in y e decay of his house if he do not marrie or the continuance of a solitary loose and bad kind of liuing the dying of hys wealth and name at one instant together hauing no heire of his offspring to succeed in his Patrimony it may also be inferred as very much pertinent y e sacred solemnization therof in paradise first by God himself appointed then his pleasure to enioyne the same to the worldes increase then the care that naturallye wee haue of issue to succeede vs the loue and mutuall societie and comforte betweene manne and wife beeing of suche mightie efficacie as whereunto no liking is to bee compared the sweete pleasures cares and delightes interchaungeablie passing betweene them eache so dearely affieng themselues in the others contentment solace and pleasing the ioy of procreation when there shall be a childe produced whose infancie tatling with a pleasaunt lisping sounde shall become an incredible delight to the parentes hearing with infinite other suggestions to be added hereunto in the places of Confirmation Now agayn if I shuld goe about to disswade an other from the selfe same thing what might be imagined that hereunto could bee found wanting as not reckoning the age of a man whiche manie times more of dotage then discretion pursueth the same it might be intended the sweetenesse of libertie how muche it conduceth to the estate of a manne whiche naturally coueteth vnrestrained and without controlement to doe that him liketh the matter whereof enioying bee may ride goe walke rest eate drinke studie recreate solace and whersoeuer and in whatsoeuer companie pleaseth him best vse the conceite thereof to hys own appetite Now hauing a wise suppose the haue al maner of perfections that may be in a woman yet is the delicacie hereof bereft him for beeing once married hee is no more to himselfe but to her for her pleasure to her choyce at her liking with her contentment must be then order hys humors his houres his gestures his companions his iournyes his recreations and what els he before tyme might freely haue vsed his own liking is quenched his libertie restrained yet the losse hereof a heauen to y e which foloweth if very happily he be not matched for imagin y e woman chosen do proue a scolde waiward selfe-wild malicious frowning or suspitious what a hell then is he driuen into whose serpentine and more then adder like disposition shall be such as would terrifie a thousand Deuilles If shee be wanton dissolute lewde or loose in liuing how on the other side shall hee be then turmoyled what is it that she will not presume vpon and dare to hazarde how infamous shall her life become then to his liuing howe little will shee esteeme of him in respecte of the large accompt shee holdeth of many others If she be proud then is shee insupportable if her wit be more then hys then is shee arrogant if shee be foolishe then a mocking stock if she be fayre then a spectacle to gase on if soule then a simpering poppet to woonder on if she be riche presumtuous if poore then becommeth shee odious But beeing what she may be or touchyng her owne person the best shee can be what intollerable charge bringeth shee with her what cost of apparell what care of dyet what housholde of seruauntes what expence for attendance what prouision for Children what furniture for house what dayly continuall and neuer resting carke and toyle for her and hers in conclusion what one discommoditie may be reckoned that with her or for her is not eyther tendered or hazarded Thus doe you see what large scope resteth for a manne to wade in eyther of these the lyke whereof falleth out in all other thinges that may seeme indifferent As if I shoulde perswade one of a weake disposition or whose constitution of bodie for phisickes sake or otherwise sometymes needeth wine to drynke it might by manye reasons bee declared by the necessarie vse goodnesse propertie vertue and holesomnesse thereof the operation of the same how it recreateth driueth away heauinesse from the mynde reioyceth and is confortatiue in the moderate vse and acceptance howe muche needefull it may also be in some other causes to be receaued Contrariwise if I woulde disswade from the dealing therewith then as many waies will I bring in the hurtfulnesse thereof as howe by taking too much it dulleth the sences occasioneth dronkennesse maketh ill digestion engendereth superfluities weakeneth the spirites driueth a man to forget himselfe enforceth hym oftentimes to committ that whiche otherwise might verie euill beseeme him and consequently ladeth the bodye and minde with all sortes of impedimentes and diseases The like of these might be occasioned in the education of children or seruauntes eyther to perswade from too little or to disswade from too muche looking to sharpnesse or correction Likewise in causes of right or wrong in perswading to one of which we shal doe furtheraunce to Iustice in disswading frō the other yeeld matter of benefit The selfe same also to speake generally may be inferred to any one thing whatsoeuer wherein the vse or abuse may be adiudged to bee either commodious or offensiue in the practise or execution of the same The argumentes of this Disswasorie kinde are chiefly enforced by the inhonestie of the action the indignitie or
what one thinge almost maye bee so certaine and sound as by cunning skill may not at the pleasure of the writer in some sort or other be depraued or out of the consuming flames thereof againe to be commended For such causes therefore it shall be good that the ordinarye places heereof for the better perfection of the learner bee very wel studied and often exercised which either by imitation to handle an vnlike matter in a like sort of an example or by often or continuall reading shall greatly bee furthered And now will we see what in the other sorts of Epistles we haue to be performed the next of which ensuing in order and to be proposed in this Methode is an Epistle Conciliatorie whose vse is preferred in acquiring vnto our selues the acquaintance of some one whom especially we make choyce of or insinuating our selues into their fauours whom we desire most to esteeme of These Epistles in their directions doe oftentimes passe as well from men of good accompt to such as are something their inferiours as interchaungeably betweene those who are accompted equals but seldome or neuer is frequented to such as are our betters The occasion of this Epistle standing in the firste degree it is likely that he who is much our better either of his honor worship or gentlenes will in plainest termes alwaies deale with his inferiours whom in such sort he desireth to be known vnto or otherwise him self would willingly repute of The sentence of these Epistles are in the best sort to be adiudged for that the purport of them includeth loue liking friendship the scope whereof induceth matter heerin to be framed Now touching the second degree order therein requireth these brief considerations First that pithily and plainly we set down the cause mouing vs to take knowledge of him we write to or therevppon to mooue his acquaintaunce This albeit without some assentation may hardly bee caried for that all men for the moste part are affected more or lesse to the aduauncement of their owne worthynesse yet shall the writer by all possible meanes indeuour to keepe that Decorum heerein that he glose not too palpablie least by such meanes he doe incurre a notable suspition of flattterie Next if in our selues we doe conceaue or imagine some one or moe things that are to such a one pleasing or whereof we may coniecture the regarde to returne vnto him commodious or to confirme towards vs a more speciall liking that shall we modestly tender and deuise without arogancie in some conuenient sort to be signified These are the onely precepts in this kinde of writing to be solie considered the obseruation whereof are in sort following by example to be deliuered An Epistle Conciliatorie written from one of good accompt to one that is his inferiour AFter my very hartye commendations vnto you This bearer and my seruant whom I greatly credite hath signified vnto me manye matters tending to your great commendation the report wherof I haue often sithence heard confirmed by others And for asmuch as touching mine owne condicion I haue alwaies bene a fauourer oâ— Artes and entierly accompted of the singularitie of anie one according to his worthinesse I haue so muche the more greatlye desired your acquaintance as one whome willingly I woulde doe good vnto Promisinge that if at some conuenient tyme I maye enioye the pleasure of your industrie and knowledge together with some continuance of your good company I shall not faile in as ample sort as I can to your full satisfaction and contentment to requite it Meane while I woulde gladlye be informed by the returne of this messenger at what time I maye expect to see you according to which I will appoint horses and send some vp to accompanye you And so for this present doe bid you hartely farewell From my house of N. this twentieth of Aprill c. SMall distinction needeth in these kind of letters for that the order of them is different you see from the first obseruations Onely the parts mencioned in the aduertisments inducing the forme thereof are heerein specified The varietie of which is more districtly tied to the present humour of the writer and the cause inducing the substance then by any speciall direction But now to the next An example Conciliatorie from one equall to an other THE vniuersall report of your excellencie each where declared hath moued me good M. N. not only to admire you for the same but amonge a great many others that regarde and especially do accompt of you hath induced me also heereby to pray your acquaintance I confesse sir sithence I first hearde of you I grewe euen then very desirous to see and to know you but beeing this other daye in companye of sir T. P. I there vnderstood how much for your singular virtue learning both of the good Knight and Ladie you were faithfully commended and entierlie fauoured This considerate opinion of theirs hath in my speedie determination spurred mee forwarde and for my first morninges exercise caused me to salute you by these letters the rather for that I haue sondrie times bin informed with what ioyful friendly conceit you doe entertaine the familiaritie of euerye gentleman And albeit there is little desert in my selfe to acquire so muche at your handes yet this one request vppon your fauour will I presume to make vnto you that not onely I maye bee entertained with you as one whome you may please to like of but suche and in that degree as of whome you will so greatly reckon as to stand assured of Little God knoweth resteth in me to pleasure you the worthinesse whereof pleased his goodnesse were so well aunswerable to your vertue as effectuallie you might haue power in whatsoeuer to commaund This one thing can I deliuer of my self that since I had first capacitie to decerne of mens conditions I haue alwaies studied to honour the vertuous and euermore with reuerence to entertaine their actions a fauourer I haue still bene of the learned and a diligent regarder of their greatest excellencies suche as in minde more then in wealth would wishe to be reputed happie and to my vttermost power gladly accomplish what might be deemed most worthie Such a one if you vouchsafe to like of I wholly yeeld my selfe vnto you expecting nothing more then at your conuenient leisure I might finde occasion to see you Whereunto referring the residue of all my chiefe desires I doe for the present cease to detaine you London this fourth of Iune c. TO these Epistles might be added two seuerall aunsweres In both of which there is required a special and well demeaned modestie in the one of humilitie to be according to his better in the other of courtesie to gratifie his equall eche of them conteyning a submissiue execution of that in either of their faculties and professions simply to bee attributed the diuersities of both of them not impertinent to these our instructions I haue in sorte
theÌ„ handled as no doubt you can shall greatly auaile to my speedye dispatch Monday is the day wherein I am like to win the goale which without you I shal neuer attaine vntoÌ„ for which your friendly action both in this that already done I vow to God while I shal liue to be whole at your cÌ„omaundement I haue sent this bearer to attend you to those places and therwith my most harty commendations vnto your self and your bedfellow whom I pray you to thank for her courtesie and let her vnderstand that if euer I shall haue libeâ—ty I wil be more thankful then either my wordes can import or at this instant is in my power to manifest Expecting neuerthelesse as much by you to be satisfied as if there were in me to bee hoped a greater recompence I praye you sir acquaint not this bearer with the cause who thereunto is as yet a straunger and so I meane shall continue notwithstanding I doe now vse his trauaile for the present turne My last conclusion requireth your conuenient hast for the performance of this occasion in the consideration whereof I praye you to measure me as your moste regarded friende who in all actions whatsoeuer shall bee still bent to the becke of your assured liking c. MUch more might be handled in this kind the method whereof is one of the moste ordinarye of any sortes of Letters that are invited for that the greatest number of directions are commonly concluded in this matter the requestes whereof doc either specially concerne the wryter or are otherwise to be respected in the behalfe of some other The occasion of which hath caried herein the plentie of so many examples that by manifesting the diuersities of their orders and vses the learner might not want wherein to be directed and choyce of varietie wherwith to be delighted Now besides these hereby already deliuered ther are letters also might besuted vnder this form which from noble men or others are many times written in fauour of sondry persons containing requestes in their behalfes to be perfourmed which notwithstanding the difference of estates in that the same doe for the most part passe vnto their inferiours yet seemeth the nature thereof to be Petitorie but in a different order of these to be altogeather pursued Insomuch as neither agreeth it to vse lyke circumstaunces of humilitie and entreatie nor of pleasures or courtesie as in the other are required but rather a necessarie supposall and assuraunce of their demaundes to be hearkned vnto in respect that of their honours reputations or credites it is intended they will require nothing but what with reasonable tolleration may be liked of But in truth Hold the vse of such kind of directions in choice of both rather pertinent vnto the title Commendatorie for that whatsoeuer is therein written in fauour either of the person or of the cause maye in respect of the honor or reputation from whom they come be better deemed in sort of a courteous demaunde to recommend the regard of the partie or thing spoken of then by the submissiue title of a matter craued or by any order of humilitie otherwise to be sought for for these causes I haue thought meet therefore to adioyne immediatly herevnto the same Epistles Commendatorie being so nearelye affined with those of Petitorie as they are To these Epistles belongeth diligent animaduersion that for asmuch as in them the parts both Demonstratiue and Deliberatiue are vsed as well in describing and perswading what in the person or action is either to be liked or commended we continue not ouer much vppon either of the twaine especially writing to such a one who being so farre before vs our selues may also seeme in some sort to depend vpon but with such breuitie to carrie the force thereof as it maye thoroughly appeare the waight of our speeches rather to stand as a testimonie of that we know or conceiue then a disputation of a matter or thing like to be The places appertaining vnto the kindes heereof are altogeather as in the Petitorie are already declared chieflye when the same intendeth to a cause by writing preferred to be fauoured But if the Epistle do concerne the person of anye one to be respected we muste beware that in the credible deliuerie of whatsoeuer occasion tendinge to his praise of matter of preferment we doe the same either by warrant of our owne knowledge or by such certaine report of others whose assured opinion can not bee misled in concluding the action And otherwise if neither of these do in truth fall out to be certified then shal we shew what informacion we haue besides our owne conceipt or peraduenture no other assurance at all but our owne simple liking Peticions also are frequented in requiring fauour to these causes wherein standeth in biest regard the state countenaunce or authority of him from whom the letter is framed who accordingly therunto may desire that the rather at his request or vpon his sute or for his sake or in regard of his liking the person maye be accompted of or the action furthered Besides it may be added to the increase of a more speedy perfourmance the loue if any be or occasion thereunto sorting we owe to him we commend or in whose fauor we write either solie for himself or conuaied from his friendes his parentes the consideration of his charge of wife children or seruants the wrong offered benefit to be attained or whatsoeuer other matter to be deemed requisite or conuenient Now from whence or out of what instigations the matter of such commendation is to be drawne you haue in the generall chapters of this booke already at large The circumstaunces of which and whatsoeuer els hereby forewarned shall in the ensuing examples be more at large deliuered An example Commendatorie wherin is recommended to a noble man from his inferiour the condicions and behauiour of a Person IT may please your good L. This Gent. the bearer hereeof with whom a long time I haue bene acquainted of his qualities and good behauiour haue had sounde and large experiment hauing bene a good time a sutor vnto me to mooue his preferment vnto your L. seruice I haue now at the last coÌ„discended vnto aswel for that I know your L. to be now presentlye disfurnished of such a one as also that there shall hardly be preferred vpon a soden any one so meet as him selfe to supplye that place And thus much by your L. pardon and allowaunce date I assure vnto you that if it may please you in credite of my simple knowledge and opinion to employ him you shall finde that besides he is by parentage discended from suche as of whom I know your L. will verye well accompt of he is also learned discreet sober wise and moderate in al his actions of great secrecie and most assured trust gouerned in al companies accordingly finally a man so meet vnto
Almightie to haue your L. in his eternall protection I doe in all humblenes take my leaue from R. the seuenth of August c. The third Epistle Responsorie wherin is doubtfully allowed or accepted of what to the same was most recommended MY Singuler and especiall good L. I haue vnderstoode by your late letters of a certaine fained and vntrue suggestion deliuered by one of your L. tenaunts against the proceedings to him tendered and suppozed to bee in this court according wherevnto albeit I was before time not altogether vnacquainted with the clamarous condicion of the partie yet did I neuerthelesse as by your L. was enioyned examine at lardge the circumstances of the cause and for the better satisfaction of your L. haue determined herewith to set downe the trueth certainty of the same This R.L. whom your L. termeth to be a very poore man is not as in simple shew he maketh himself apparantly to be but is rather such a one as from whom being narrowely sifted your L. might sooner draw a hundred pound of his money then half an inche bredth of his honestie The argument wherof in nothing so much appeareth as in this one action wherein against a poore man in deed he hath verie iniuriously behaued himselfe and hauing extorded from him this bonde nowe in sute vppon some conclusion though no good consideration at all of the somme of one hundreth pounde goeth about vpon a nice quillet in the condicion to prosecute the forfeyture of the same which in deede by the district wordes of the writing seemeth vtterly to be forfeyted For reliefe wherof his aduersarie complayned in the Chauncerie by reason of the prosecution of which Bil and notice perticularlie thereof giuen to my L. Chauncellor the saide R.H. hauing diuers times agreed to comprimit the matter and yet gredie as it seemeth to obtaine the forfeiture still crieth on for triall whilest the matter is stil in debaring for which cause the same hitherto hath onlie and not otherwise been delayed And forasmuch as sithence your L. Letters receiued my selfe verie earnestlie haue traueiled to make some conscionable and quiet end between him and his aduersarie yet will the same in no wise on his part be assented vnto by occasion whereof the extremitie of the law being verie like to proceede he is the next Terme without further delaie to obtaine a iudgement and so the poore man on the otherside to be vtterlie iniured I thought it not amisse in aduertising the substaunce heere of vnto your good L. to pray the same by your honorable speches in credite of what here deliuered to procure the saide R. H to assent to some reasonable order So doing what in conscience the poore man is then liable to pay in respect of the others charges and purchase of his own negligēces I hold not to extream to be out of the said bond deducted bicause in law he was something charged though in equitie otherwise he ought to haue bin cleerelie acquited Thus in discharge of my conscience herein hauing so much deliuered vnto your good L. I doe recommend the honor and estate of the same to the protection of the Almightie London this xiii of May c. NOW after all these Epistles let vs enter into one strange Commendatorie kind somwhat different from the order of the rest being such wherein the partie directing the same being somewhat scant in deliuerie of ouer-large and too credible speeches thought good to mittigate the force of the same by the very partes of extremity it selfe wherein of a merrie conceite or some other pleasaunt humor he appeareth very vnwilling to flatter in reciting the example whereof because with many tedious preceptes I haue now a good while wearied the reader I may peraduenture occasion some matter of recreation whiche by the single shewe therein gathered appeareth in sort following to haue bene performed A Letter Commendatorie pleasantly conceited in preferring an vnprofitable seruaunt SIr I do send vnto your view the bearer heereof a man shaped as you see and as bold in conditiō as he appeareth in shew whome by all the superfluities of sommer ale that hathe wrought in his giddie braine I haue ben requested to commend vnto you And in asmuch as in putting forward so vnworthy a worthy in substance of so incredible allowance it something behoueth I hide not the single giftes whiche by great search in many a good Hostrie Tauerne and Alehouse he hath by long trauell and drowsie experience ere this time gained to his insupportable credence I shall not spare in some sorte to signifie vnto you what in regard of all these I am led to coniecture Trueth is Sir that he is very well studied in the misterie of maltwormes and for his peculiar skill in decerning the nappie taste by the nutbrowne collour of seller ale in a frostie morning he is become a sworne brother of the ragmans number and thereby standeth enioyned neuer to weare furres or other linning in the coldest winter but onely the warmth of the good ale whiche inwardly must harten him besides Sir if you haue occasion to credite him with a small parcell of money in dispatche of a iourny doe but say the word that it shal once lie in his charge and you may stand assured that it shalbe laid vp so safe as any liquor in the worlde can safe conduct it from his bellie Take no care for your kitchen buttrie or larder for once a day he loues to see all cleane before him Little apparell will serue him for his liueries ensue weekely out of the brewers meshfat His lodging he recks not the chimny store and billets endes serue for fetherbed and coueringes When you haue moste neede of him you shall alwaies be sure to goe without him if you delight in a pigs-nie you may by receiuing of him become sure of a hogshead Great store of small liking you happely may haue to him we know not what wonders the worlde may rend out for nothing is impossible where al thinges may be compassed It may please you for recreations sake to looke vpon him so you bee not in case to surfet looke what ill liking you conceiue report backe again I pray you in the inner facing of his chimney casket Omnia sua secum portat he is somewhat a foolosopher for he carries his possessions about him for terram dedit filijs hominum he must needes then haue a large dwelling I pray sir giue him good words how ill fauoredly soeuer you fauour his acquaintance For my part I request no remuneration for the preferment I haue tendered towardes him Thus much would I haue done more long since to be rid of him His old master being dead it is necessary some place to be pestered with him hee makes great choyse of your house keeping if you can like to frame with him Much more might be deliuered in the condemnation of his worthinesse but that I leaue to rehearse it but now Sir for
your own appetite I leaue to your contentment Blame not mee but him that ledd me and so foorth to an end Commend mee but not condemne mee for I shall once doe you a better turne this is but the first the next may be worse better I would say And so fare yee well c. TIme it is nowe I should leaue this last title of Epistlrs as hauing thereof spoken alreadie sufficientlie and giue my selfe to the deliuerie of the next which are Consolatorie so tearmed in respect that in them is contained manie occasions of comfort bestowed commonlie on such as are greeued according to the weight or qualitie of the matter where with they are perplexed And for that the life of man is circumuented with so manie and so vnlooked causes of sorrow and griefe as it manie waies needeth to haue the remedie of comforts to bee applied vnto it yet not the equalitie of al sorts of minds such as in one and the selfe same degree can accept and beare it It shall therfore be meet and conuenient that in deuising to yeeld this sweet and gentle remedie to anie troubled conceite we doe so moderate the matter as that in the Discouerie thereof we rather strike not to a farre greater impatience or extremitie of vnmeasurable sorrow than before vpoÌ„ vntimelie thrusting forward or ignoraÌ„t pursuit of the same seeing that the mindes of some are of so hie and imcomprehensible stoutnesse as they shonne in themselues and account it a slauerie to be ore whelmd with woes Others againe so rise and abundant in teares as the least shew of repetition in them induceth matter enough of continuall mourning for which cause we will sort these matters of comfort into three seuerall orders The first wherof shall be at choyce playnely and simplye as occasion serueth to be deliuered in the argument whereof we may by generalitie perswade that beeing mortall and fraile as wee are there is no cause for vs in heauie sort to greeue seing vnto a wise man no one thing can returne cause of disquiet but the shrowde of filthinesse and darkened shame neither can he be hurt of anye one without him-selfe These the more sensible they are with whome wee deale and of greater capacity the more vehemently may we inforce by all sortes of forcible examples and assured promises The second of these must by insinuation bee entered into as suppozing a personage of a hie and statelie minde the weightines of whose griefe suppressed by a kinde of vnconquered fortitude we would go about to comfort We may not with these deale as in case of common sorrow of the others but rather insinuating a deniall that respecting the inuincible valure we knowe to be resting in their mindes shonning to bee tainted with the least touche of sweltring griefe wee doe offer our speeches or letters to comfort them whose heartes we knowe cannot yeelde to any force thereof at all but that considering the great validity of their wisedome a minde in them so vnconquered by any stormes of fortune to be remaining not witstanding wee see daily in others before our eies the contrarie and imminent cause therunto must of force confesse to be inducing they neuerthelesse by a most hie and stately instincte by great skil and approoued experienee graffed within them are and must be enabled stoutly to bear what others as weakelinges doe lie groueling vnder by reason wherof we find greter cause to reioyce in the worthines of so goodly a minde then occasion and waies to go about to relicue their sorrowes The thirde and last likewise must in an other sort be conuaied as finding the passionate and perplexed conceipts of some yet fresh bleeding vpon the heauie wound of their sorrowes we may not abruptly enter with them into the iust occasion they haue so to bee distempered but rather for the lenefiyng of their grieues for in sorrow also to be accompanied breedeth often some coÌ„fort to seeme to take vpon vs one part of their euils by declaration how grieuous for some especiall causes the same becoÌ„meth vnto vs insomuch as by the handling hereof we may more fully intend in all our speeches to giue heed to our own woes then to goe about to deal at all with the others sorrowes For commonly it is giuen vs to mislike such as dissent from our affections and loue them againe who make them selues partakers of our euils It auaileth also very greatly to extenuate or lesseÌ„ as much as we may the cause of griefe either by the incertaintie of thinges casuall being in some respects subiect to frailtie or by the hope of short continuaunce or by the necessitie of the action which may not be with-stood or by some comfort or expectation left to mitigate the same The reputation also of wisedome grauitie permutation of times and seasons the dimunition of the occasion beeing nothing so great or vrgent as we deeme it the indurance of the thing to be a meane vnto virtue and among all other causes principallye to inculcate as much as we maye the common lot and condition of all men subiected vniuersally to mishap to sorrow griefe sicknes disquiet iniuries wronges oppressions and all kind of euilles the generall recordation wherof aboue any other thing whatsoeuer swayeth ouer the passions of the mind so forciblye by deepe regard of the vniuersallitie of the same as that it soonest of all others beareth downe the weight of al kind of sorrowes and ill conceauinges whatsoeuer Herein the quicke sentences and pitâ—ie sayings of Philosophers may also be a great spurring and finally al pâ—ssible arguments that may be whereby men are anye wayes perswaded or led to forget their euils In this place it is principally to be obserued that in ministring comfortable speaches to the redresse of anye mishaps we doe not by preferring of toyes and sporting deuises seeke for to relieue them for that albeit in times of pleasure the humour of the partie might in some sort be therewith greatly delighted yet in causes of such extremitie all persons for the most part very batefully do endure the putting forwardes thereof as too much impertinent to the heauines wherewith by sorrowfull remembraunces their mindes are commonlye amated But if the cause be light then may it not be much amisse to vse some pleasaunt deliuerance to such a one especially whose appetite standeth in or towards the same but it also in such louing sweet and gentle sort to be done as that true comforts may seeme to be mingled with those conceipted pleasures Neither may we in any case seeke in vaunting sort to thrust into their priuate view the present tranquillitie and happines wherin our selues repose the obiection whereof were too rusticall For that as societie in miserie it selfe lenesteth the force of the greatest grieues so the opposition of an others pleasure and freedome is a corrisiue or sting to the want of any one that is sequestred from the same All these obseruations in causes Consolatorie
and fro what best befitted his alteration concluded at last to searche out if it were possible at hys mistresse handes the vtmost occasion yet before he departed beeing better instructed in the some of all that stoode against hym hee lastly resolued to take notice of the action and by iust defence therof to qualifie as he might the moste part of vnkindnesse The readinesse of his penne and conceipte concurring togethers these lines sorted out according to hys present disquiet in this disordered proportion MY good mistresse in that so carefully you haue commended vnto my friend the especiall good care you alwaies had of me and wish of greatest choice and liking without that you cannot graunt in youre owne person might any wise betide vnto mee I doe thanke you as hee that in no state desireth otherwise then to be beholding vnto you And albeit vnweeting to my selfe I am particularly touched with one speciall partie whose conceites I knowe not nor of whose fancie I am priuate whiche I may not nor am able heerein to leaue vnremembred yet doe I take it for noe lesse woonder then straunge howe the vanitie of suche a surmise engendered vpon no occasion should rayse so sodayne mislike without matter of effecte to maintaine the continuance For the man I know not but as I haue seene for the cause I enquire not as being assured of my truth In neyther parte curious as thinges neuer spoken of For which cause seeing I finde the inducement soe rare as the message you haue commended vnto me seemeth straunge I hope I may as iustly withdraw your opinion from the insufficiencie as the misreport of the other hath led you by too muche credulitie It is good Mistris your sole onely good reckoning and not the malice of anye other that so muche I accompt of your curtesie and good acceptaunce of my endeuoures that solie and of all others most princypalllye contenteth mee from the benefite whereof I nothing doubte but the protection of your former liking shal so farforth conduct me as therof I shall neuer bee depriued without due desert to the contrarye My loweliest affections beeing estsoones recommended to your wonted curtesie I continue c. HErewith the other Gentle that by this time had inckeling sufficient of Distris Mawdâ—ins quippe by what meanes I know not appearing maruelous ill contented to see his honest speeches abuzed by suche ill demeaned follie had prepared an other letter aunswering to the others sawcy taunt deliuered as you haue heard reported before y e recitall of this last letter By the course of which it appeareth she was attendaunt vpon the Gentlewoman beloued and had in charge by diuers occasions to accompanie her by which meanes ouer hearing some wordes of this Gentle and not thorowly approouing the sute by the follower to whome vppon some secret grudge shee bare a particuler enuie she had first wrought the disgrace aforesayd and the more to giue him to byte vpon glaunced out the other speeches formerly remembred the conuaiaunce whereof includeth more matter then may be heere rehearsed but such was his letter MIstres what you are I know not and what I suppoze you to be I write not onely for that I finde you in the place of a Gentlewoman I determine for this season to entertaigne you accordinglye And for that my new acquaintaunce is founded vpon the deliuerie of a disdainful message take it not I pray you in skorne that in some things I touche you which haue too far displaied your selfe by your needelesse curiositie Trust mee for mine owne part I neither looked to see you much lesse to be offended for you I vnderstande you are nipped I knowe not with what and would bee healed I knowe not by whome for whiche cause finding such nicenes in your owne conceiptes you are angrie with Margerie for keeping company with Marrian which moued you to vtter suche matter of modestie that in aduising an other to beware you must affirme that you could not chuse bnt laugh to see pleasure breed by liking and trust vpon triall I am sorie beleue me you past away with emptie hands being so wel accustomed to lapfuls as you haue ben none in preseÌ„ce to greete you I wisse little soule your prettie else was an ace aboue 31 when you forgot your selfe so farre to vtter more then your charge For albeit you had in commaund to admonish neyther was it in your misterisse good pleasure or pertinent to her courtesie that you by scoffing obiections should skorne others in thinges especially whereunto in truth they were neuer parties and the cause not concerning your selfe whome to be plaine with I doe suppose to haue as litle discretion in the same as you hadde consideration in deliuerie of the rest For whiche cause wishing you in his behalfe whome I loue to refraine youre priuie skoffes without occasion and enuie without deserte who for the Vertues in him appearing deserues more allowaunce then at the handes of a better then your selfe might verie well haue perceiued I herewith endâ— my letters He that would haue aunswered you if he had heard you R. B. THe ill successe of this letter hauing set a higher cullour then accustomed on the top of Distresse Mawdlins vizard made her nose more rubie like a great deale then the cullour of the painters Vermilion who beeing more chollericke then of fleagme could haue serued a fierie face to anie skarlet die in this towne but at this instant was somewhat whotter then a winters tost Whervpon growing to great agonies the market by her means was so enhaunst that our sutor at the next meeting could not so much as haue a sight of that he liked neither by intreatie nor mony Now began the Louer to be perplexed and becomming as one in a straunge countrie voyd of knowledge or acquaintance knew not which way to bend his passage He cursed in his imaginations the ouer rashe charge of his friend without entertainment of anye daliaunce wherein mistresse Mawdlin being touched with Lapfulles could not for her life be qualified w e cartloades so wonder fullie exceeded she by so great impatiency Then was hee angrie with himselfe that coulde not consider how silence at sometimes was farre more necessarie then speache and that he who hath sutes in hande must otherwhiles honour a knaue with the seruice of a Lord and be faine to set vp a candle before the deuill till his purpose be obteined But after wit commeth too late and so he resolued deeming it needefull to the state of his liking that with wodden prickes would not easily be expelled to assay if he could by all meanes to entreat her hee once againe gathered to him paper and inke and breaking foorth into manie and extreame tokens of a discontented minde he setled in the end his imaginations to this present matter following THe great care I haue sweete misteris aswell to auoyd any cause of mislike on your part as also to continue my selfe by