dissoluyng or wipyng awaie of all suche reasons as make against vs. The Conclusion is a clarkely gatheryng of the matter spoken before and a lappyng vp of it altogether Now because in euery one of these greate hede ought to be had and muche arte must be vsed to content and like all parties I purpose in the second boke to set furthe at large euery one of these that bothe we maie knowe in all partes what to folowe and what to eschewe And first when tyme shalbe to talke of any matter I would aduise euery man to consider the nature of the cause self that the rather he might frame his whole Oracion thereafter ¶ Euery matter is conteined in one of these .iiii. EIther it is an honest thyng whereof we speake or els it is filthy and vile or els betwixte bothe and doubtfull what to bee called or els it is some triflyng matter that is of small weight That is called an honest matter when either wee take in hande suche a cause that all menne would maintein or els gainsaie suche a cause that no man can well like Then do we hold and defende a filthy matter wheÌ„ either wee speake against our conscience in an euill matter or els withstande an vpright truthe The cause then is doubtfull when the matter is half honest and halfe vnhonest Suche are triflyng causes wheÌ„ there is no weight in theÌ„ as if one should phantasy to praise a Gose before any other beast liuyng as I knowe who did or of fruict to commende nuttes chefly as Ouid did or the feuer quartaine as Phauorinus did or the Gnatte as Uirgill did or the battaill of Frogges as Homere did or dispraise beardes or commende shauen heddes ¶ Good hede to bee taken at the firste vpon the handelyng of any matter in Iudgement NOT onely it is necessarie to knowe what maner of cause wee haue taken in hande when wee firste enter vpon any matter but also it is wisedome to consider the tyme the place the man for whom we speake the man against whom we speake the matter whereof we speake and the iudges before whom we speake the reasons that best serue to further our cause and those reasons also that maie seme somewhat to hynder our cause and in no wise to vse any suche at all or els warely to mitigate by protestacion the euill that is in theim and alwaies to vse whatsoeuer can bee saied to wynne the chief hearers good willes and perswade theim to our purpose If the cause go by fauour and that reason cannot so muche auaile as good wil shalbe able to do or els if mouyng affeccioÌ„s can do more good then bryngyng in of good reasons it is meete alwaies to vse that waie whereby we maie by good helpe get the ouer hand That if mine aduersaries reasons by me beyng coÌ„futed serue better to help forward my cause then mine awn reasons confirmed can be able to doe good I should wholy bestowe my tyme and trauaill to weaken and make slender all that euer he bringeth with hym But if I can with more ease proue myne awne saiynges â—ither with witnesses or with wordes then be able to coÌ„fute his with reason I must labour to withdrawe mennes myndes from myne aduersaries foundacion and require theÌ„ wholy to herken vnto that whiche I haue to saie beyng of it self so iust and so reasonable that none can rightly speake against it and shewe theim that greate pitie it were for lacke of the onely hearyng that a true matter should want true dealyng Ouer and besides all these there remain twoo lessons the whiche wisemenne haue alwaies obserued and therefore ought of all men assuredly to be learned The one is that if any matter be laied against vs whiche by reason can hardely bee auoyded or the whiche is so open that none almoste can deny it were wisedome in confutyng all the other reasons to passe ouer this one as though we sawe it not and therefore speake neuer a worde of it Or els if necessitie shall force a man to saie some what he may make an outward bragge as though there wer no matter in it euer so speakyng of it as though he would stande to the triall makyng men to beleue he would fight in the cause wheÌ„ better it were if necessitie so required to run clene awaie And herein though a man do flie and geue place euermore the gladder the lesse rauyng there is or stirryng in this matter yet he flieth wisely and for this ende that beyng fensed otherwise strongly appoyncted he maie take his aduersary at the best aduauntage or at the least werie hym with muche lingeryng and make hym with oft suche fliyng to forsake his chief defence The other lesson is that whereas we purpose alwaies to haue the victorie wee should so speake that we maie labour rather not to hynder or hurt our cause then to seke meanes to further it And yet I speake not this but that bothe these are right necessarie and euery one that will doo good muste take peines in theim bothe but yet notwithstandyng it is a fouler faulte a greate deale for an Orator to be founde hurting his awne cause then it should turne to his rebuke if he had not furthered his whole entent Therefore not onely is it wisedome to speake so muche as is nedefull but also it is good reason to leaue vnspoken so muche as is nedelesse the whiche although the wisest can do and nede no teachyng yet these common wittes offende muche nowe and then in this behalfe Some man beyng stirred shall hurt more our cause then twentie other Tauntyng wordes before some menne will not be borne at all Sharpe rebukyng of our aduersary or frumpes geuen before some persones cannot be sufferd at all Yea sometymes a man must not speake all that he knoweth for if he doo he is like to finde small fauour although he haue iuste cause to speake and maie with reason declare his mynde at large And albeit that witlesse folke can soner rebuke that whiche is fondly spoken then redely praise that whiche is wisely kept close yet the necessitie of the matter must rather be marked then the fonde iudgement of the people estemed What a sore saiyng were this When a lawyer should take in hande a matter concernyng life and death and another should aske how he hath sped to heare tel that the lawyer hath not onely cast awaie his clieÌ„t but vndoen hymself also in speakyng thynges inconsideratly as no doubt it ofteÌ„ happeneth that wise men and those also that bee none euill men neither maie vnwares speake thynges which afterward thei sore repent would cal backe again with losse of a greate soâ—â—e Now what a foly it is not to remember the tyme and the men Or who will speake that whiche he knoweth will not be liked if he purpose to finde fauour at their handes before whom he
wer with the Adamant stone that death it self caÌ„ neuer be able to vndo it Thrise happie are thei ê™ Horace yea more then thrise happie are thei whom these sure bandes dooe holde neither though thei are by euill reporters full ofte sette a soâ—der shall loue be vnlosed betwixt theim two till death them bothe depart You haue them that shal comforte you in your latter daies that shall close vp your iyes when God shall call you that shall bury you and fulfill all thynges belongyng to your Funerall by whom you shall seme to bee newe borne For so long as thei shall liue you shall nede neuer bee thought ded your self The goodes and landes that you haue gotte go not to other heires then to your awne So that vnto suche as haue fulfilled all thynges that belong vnto mannes life death it self cannot seme bitter Old age cometh vpon vs all will we or nill we and this waie nature prouided for vs that we should waxe yong again in our children and nephewes For what man can be greued that he is old when he seeth his awne countenauÌ„ce whiche he had beyng a childe to appere liuely in his sonne Death is ordeined for all mankynd and yet by this meanes onely nature by her prouidence myndeth vnto vs a certain immortalitie while the encreaseth one thyng vpon another â—uen as a yong graffe buddeth out when the old tree is cut doune Neither can he seme to dye that when God calleth hym leaueth a yong child behinde hym But I knowe well enough what you saie to your self at this while of my loÌ„g talke Mariage is an happie thyng if all thynges hap well what and if one haue a curste wife What if she be lighte What if his children bee vngracious Thus I see you will remember all suche men as by mariage haue been vndoen Well go to it tell as many as you can spare not you shal finde all these were faultes of the persones and not the faultes of Mariage For beleue me none haue euill wifes but suche as are euill meÌ„ And as for you sir you may chuse a good wife if ye list But what if she be croked and marde altogether for lacke of good orderyng A good honest wife maie be made an euill woman by a naughtie husbande and an euill wife hath been made a good woman by an honest man We crie out of wifes vntruly and accuse them without cause There is no man if you wil beleue me that euer had an euil wife but through his awne default Now again an honest father bryngeth furthe honest children like vnto hymself Although euen these children how so euer thei are borne commonly become suche men as their education and bringyng vp is And as for ielousy you shal not nede to feare that fault at all For none be troubled with suche a disease but those onely that are foolishe louers Chaste godly and lawfull loue neuer knew what ielousie ment What meane you to call to your mynde and remember suche sore tragedies and doulefull dealynges as haue been betwixt manne and wife Suche a woman beyng naughte of her body hath caused her husbande to lose his hedde another hath poysoned her goodmaÌ„ the third with her churlishe dealyng whiche her husbande could not beare hath been his outer vndoyng brought hym to his ende But I praie you sir why doo you not rather thinke vpon Cornelia wife vnto Tiberius Graechus Why do ye not mynde that moste worthy wife of that most vnworthy man Alcestes Why remembre ye not Iulia Pompeyes wife or Porcia Brutus wife And why not Artemisia a woman moste worthie euer to bee remembred Why not Hipsicratea wife vnto Mithridates kyng of Pontus Why do ye not call to remembraunce the ientle nature of Tertia Aemilia Why doo ye not consider the faithfulnesse of Turia Why cometh not Lucretia and Lentula to your remeÌ„brauÌ„ce and why not Arria why not thousandes other whose chastite of life and faithfulnes towardes their husbandes could not bee chaunged no not by death A good woman you will saie is a rare birde hard to be founde in all the worlde Well then six imagine your self worthy to haue a rare wife suche as fewe men haue A good woman saith the wiseman is a good porcion Be you bold to hope for such a one as is worthy your maners The chifest poyncte standeth in this what maner of woman you chuse how you vse her and how you order your self towardes her But libertee you will saie is muche more pleasaunt for who soeuer is maried wereth fetters vpon his legges or rather carieth a clogge the whiche he can neuer shake of till death part their yoke To this I answere I caÌ„ not see what pleasure a man shall haue to liue alone For if libertie be delitefull I would thinke you should get a mate vnto you with whoÌ„ you should parte stakes and make her priuey of all your ioyes Neither can I see any thyng more free then is the seruitude of these twoo where the one is so muche beholdyng and bounde to thother that neither of theÌ„ bothe wold be louse though thei might You are bouÌ„d vnto him whoÌ„ you receiue into your frendship But in mariage neither partie findeth fault that their libertie is takeÌ„ awaie from them Yet ones again your are sore afraied least when your childreÌ„ are taken awaie by death you fal to mourning for waÌ„t of issue â–ª well sir if you feare lacke of issue you must marie a wife for the self same purpose the which onely shal be a meane that you shall not want issue But what do you serche so diligently naie so carefully al the incoÌ„modities of matrimonie as though single life had neuer any incoÌ„moditie ioyned w t it at al. As though there wer any kinde of life in al the world that is not subiect to al euils that may happeÌ„ He must nedes go out of this world y â— lokes to liue w tout felyng of any grief And in coÌ„parison of y â— life which y e sainctes of god shal haue in heaueÌ„ this life of maÌ„ is to be coÌ„pted a deth not a life But if you coÌ„sider thinges within the coÌ„passe of mankynde there is nothyng either more saufe more quiet more pleasaunt more to be desired or more happy then is the maried maÌ„nes life How many do you se that hauyng ones felt the swetnesse of wedlocke doeth not desire eftsones to enter into thesame My frende Mauricius whoÌ„ you knowe to be a very wise man did not he the nexte monethe after his wife died whom he loued derely get hym streight a newe wife Not that he was impacient of his luste and could not forbeare any longer but he said plainly it was no life for hym to bee without a wife whiche should bee with hym as his yoke felowe and companion in all thynges And is not this the
speaketh what maÌ„ of reason will praise that before the Iudges before whom he knoweth the determinacion of his cause resteth whiche the Iudges self cannot abide to heare spoken at all Or doeth not he muche hinder his awne matter that wtthout al curtesie or preface made will largely speake euil of those men whom the hearers of his cause tenderly doo fauour Or be it that there be some notable faulte in thyne aduersary with whiche the Iudges also are infected were it not foly for thee to charge thyne aduersary with thesame CoÌ„sideryng the Iudges thereby maie thynke thou speakest against theim also and so thou maiest perhappes lose their fauour in sekyng suche defence made without all discrecion And in framing reasons to confirme the purpose if any be spoken plainly false or els contrary to that which was spoken before dooeth it not muche hynder a good matter Therefore in all causes this good hede ought to bee had that alwaies we labour to do some good in furtheryng of our cause or if we cannot so do at the least that we doo no harme at all ¶ There are three kyndes of causes or Oracions whiche serue for euery matter NOthyng can be handled by this arte but thesame is conteined within one of these .iij. causes Either the matter consisteth in praise or dispraise of a thyng or els in consultyng whether the cause be profitable or vnprofitable or lastly whether the matter be right or wrong And yet this one thyng is to be learned that in euery one of these foure causes these three seuerall endes maie euery of them be conteined in any one of them And therfore he that shall haue cause to praise any oâ—e body shall haue iuste cause to speake of iustice to entreate of profite and ioyntly to talke of one thyng with another But because these three causes are commonly and for the moste part seuerally parted I will speake of them one after another as thei are sette furthe by wise mennes iudgementes particularly declare their properties all in order The Oracion demonstratiue standeth either in praise or dispraise of some one man or of some one thyng or of some one deede doen. ¶ The kynde Demonstratiue wherein chiefly it is occupied THere are diuerse thynges whiche are praised and dispraised as menne Countreis Citees Places Beastes Hilles Riuers Houses Castles dedes doen by worthy menne and pollicies inuented by greate warriers but moste commonly meâ— are praised for diuerse respectes before any of the other thynges are taken in hande Nowe in praisyng a noble personage and in settyng furthe at large his worthinesse Quintilian geueth warnyng to vse this threfolded order To obserue thynges Before his life In his life After his death Before a mannes life are considered these places The Realme The Shire The Toune The Pareutes The Auncestours IN a mannes life praise muste be parted threfolde That is to saie into the giftes of good thynges of the mynde the body and of fortune Now the giftes of the body and of fortune are not praise worthy of their awne nature but euen as thei are vsed either to or fro so thei are either praised or dispraised Giftes of the mynde deserue the whole trumpe and sound commendacion aboue all other wherein wee maie vse the rehersall of vertues as thei are in order and beginnyng at his infaÌ„cie tell all his doynges till his last age ¶ The places whereof are these The birthe and infancie Whether the person be a man or a womaÌ„ The childhode The bryngyng vp y e nurturyng and the behauour of his life The stripelyng age or spryng tide To what study he taketh hymself vnto what company he vseth how he liueth The maÌ„nes state Wherunto are referred these Prowesses doen either abrode or at home The olde age His pollicies wittie deuises in behoue of the publique wele The tyme of his departure or deth Thynges that haue happened aboute his death NOw to open al these places more largely aswell those that are before a mannes life as suche as are in his life and after his death that the reader maie further se the profite I will do the best I caÌ„ The house wherof a noble personage came declares the state and nature of his auncesters his alliaunce and his kynsfolke So that suche worthy feactes as thei haue heretofore doen and al suche honors as thei haue had for suche their good seruice redowndes wholy to the encrease and amplifiyng of his honour that is now liuyng The Realme declares the nature of the people So that some Countrey brengeth more honor with it then another doth To be a Frenche manne descendyng there of a noble house is more honor then to be an Irishe manne to bee an Englishe manne borne is muche more honour then to be a Scotte because that by these men worthy prowesses haue been dooen and greater affaires by theim attempted then haue been doen by any other The Shire or Toune helpeth somewhat towardes the encrease of honour As it is muche better to bee borne in Paris then in Picardie in LoÌ„don then in Lincolne For that bothe the aire is better the people more ciuill and the wealth muche greater and the menne for the moste parte more wise To bee borne a manchilde declares a courage grauitie and constancie To be borne a woman declares weakenes of spirite neshenes of body and fikilnesse of mynde Now for the bringing vp of a noble personage his nurse must be considered his plaie felowes obserued his teacher and other his seruauntes called in remembraunce Howe euery one of these liued then with whom thei haue liued afterwardes and how thei liue now By knowyng what he taketh hymself vnto and wherin he moste deliteth I maie commende hym for his learnyng for his skill in the Frenche or in the Italian for his knowlege in Cosmographie for his skill in the lawes in the histories of all countreis and for his gift of endityng Again I maie coÌ„mende hym for plaiyng at weapons for runnyng vpon a greate horse for chargyng his staffe at the Tilte for vautyng for plaiyng vpon instrumentes yea and for paintyng or drawyng of a platte as in old tyme noble princes muche delited therein Prowesse doen declare his seruice to the Kyng and his countrey either in withstandyng the outwarde eâ—emie or els in aswagyng the rage of his awne couÌ„treymeÌ„ at home His wise counsaill and good aduise geuen settes furthe the goodnesse of his witte At the tyme of his departyng his sufferaunce of all sicknesse may muche commende his worthinesse As his strong harte and cherefull pacience euen to the ende cannot waÌ„t greate praise The loue of all men towardes hym and the lamentyng generally for his lacke helpe well moste highly to set furthe his honour After a mannes death are considered his tombe his cote armour set vp and all suche honours as are vsed in funeralles If any one liste to put these preceptes
your grace knoweth verye younge whiche by course of Nature and by mannes estimation mighte haue liued muche longer They bothe were together in one house lodged in two seuerall chambers and almoste at one time bothe sickened and both departed They died bothe dukes bothe well learned bothe wise and bothe right Godlye They bothe before gaue straunge tokens of death to come The elder sittinge at Supper and verye merye saide soudainlye to that ryghte honeste Matroue and Godly aged gentilwoman that most faythful longe assured seruaunt of yours whose life God graunte longe to continue Oh Lorde where shall we suppe tomorowe at night whereupon she beinge troubled and yet saiynge comfortablye I truste my lorde either here or elles where at some of your frendes houses Naye quod he we shall nauer suppe together againe in this worlde be you well assured and with that seinge the gentilwoman discomforted turned it vnto mirthe and passed the reste of his Supper with much ioye and the same night after .xij. of the clocke beynge the .xiiij. of Iulye sickened and so was taken the nexte morning aboute .vij. of the clocke to the mercye of God in the yeare of our Lorde M.D.Li. When the elder was gone the younger woulde not tarye but tolde before hauinge no knowledge therof by anye bodye liuinge of his brothers Deathe to the greate wonderinge of all that were there declaringe what it was to lose so deare a frende but comfortinge him selfe in that passion saide well my brother is gone but it maketh no matter for I will go straight after him and so did within the space of halfe and houre as your grace can best tell whiche was there presente Nowe I renue these wordes to youre graces knowledge that you might the more stedfastlie consider their time to be then appointed of GOD to forsake this euill worlde and to liue with Abraham Isaac and Iacob in the Kingedome of heauen But wherfore did God take two suche awaye and at that time Surelye to tell the principall cause we maye by all likenes affirme that they were taken awaye from vs for our wretched sinnes and mooste vile naughtines of life that therby we beinge warned might be as readie for God as they nowe presentlie were aud amend our liues in time whom God will call what time we knowe not Then as I can see we haue small cause to lament the lacke of them whiche are in suche blessed state but rather to amende our owne liuinge to forthinke vs of oure offences and to wishe of GOD to purge oure hartes from all filthines and vngodlie dealinge that we maie be as they nowe be blessed with God for euer Notwithstandinge the worckes of God are vnsâ—archeable without the compasse of mannes braine preciselye to comprehende the verie cause sauinge that this perswasion oughte surelye to be grounded in vs euermore to thinke that God is offended with sinne and that he punisheth offences to the thirde and fourthe generation of all them that breake his commaundementes beinge iuste in all his worckes and doinge all thinges for the beste And therfore when God plagueth in suche sorte I would with that our faithe might aâ—waies be staied vpon the admiration of Goddes glorie througheoute all his doinges in whom is none euil neither yet was there euer any guile found And I doubt not but your grace is thus affected and vnfaynedlye confessinge your owne offences taketh this scourge to come from God as a iuste punishmenâ—e of Sinne for the amendemente not onelye of your owne selfe but also for the amendemente of all other in generall The lamentable voyce of the pore whiche is the mouthe of God throughout the whole Realme declares full well the wickednes of this life and showes plainelye that this euill is more generallye felte theâ— anye man is able by worde or by wriâ—inge at full to set forthe When God therfore that is Lord not onelye of the riche but also of the poore seeth his grounde spoyled frome the holesome profite of manye to the vayne pleasure of a fewe and the earthe made priuate to suffise the lusâ—e of vnsaciable couetousnesse and that those whiche be his true membres cannot liue for the intollerable oppression the soore enhaunsynge and the moost wicked grasing of those throughout the whole Realme whiche otherwise myght well lyue with the onelye value and summe of their landes and yerelye reuenues he striketh in his anger the innocentes and teÌ„der yonglinges to plague vs with the lacke of them whose innocencye and Godlines of life mighte haue bene a iuste example for vs to amende our mooste euill doynges In whiche wonderfull worcke of God when he receiued these two mooste noble ympes and his chyldren elected to the euerlastinge Kingedome I can not but magnifye his mooste glorious name from time to tyme that hath so graciouslye preserued these two worthy gentilmenne from the daunger of further euil and moost vile wretchednes moost like righte shortelye to ensue excepte wee all repente and forthincke vs of oure former euill liuynge And yet I speake not this as thoughe I knewe anye cryme to be more in you then in anye other but I tell it to the shame of all those vniuersallye within this Realme that are gyltye of suche offences whose inward consciences condemâ—ne their owne doinges and their open dâ—edes beare witnes against their euil nature For it is not one house that shal feele the fall of these two prynces neither hath God taken them for one priuate personnes offence but for the wickednes of the whole Realme whyche is lyke to feele the smarte excepte God be merciful vnto vs. But now thaâ— they be gone thoughe the fleshe be frayle weake tender and muste neades smart being wouÌ„ded or cut yet I doubt not but your grace lackinge two suche porcions of your owne fleshe and hauinge theim as a manne woulde saye cutte awaye frome youre owne bodye will suffer the 〈◊〉 with a good stomake and remembre that sorowe is but an euil remedye to heale a sore For if your hande were detrenched or youre bodie maimed with some soubdaine stroake what profite were it for you to wepe vpon your wounde and when the harme is done to lamente still the sore seinge that with wepinge it wil not be lesse and maye yet throughe weping full sone be made more For the sore is encreased when sorowe is added and the paine is made double whiche before was but single A constante christian shoulde beare all miserie and with pacience abide the force of necessitie shewinge with sufferaunce the strengthe of his faithe and especiallie when the chaunge is from euyll to good from woe to weale what folye is it to soâ—owe that for the whiche they ioye that are departed They haue taken nowe their rest that liued here in trauaile they haue forsaken their bodies wherin they were bounde to receiue the spirite wherby they are free They haue chosen for sickenes healthe for earth heauen for life transitorie life immortall
when menne mete with theues either thei must be slain of theim or els condempned of you ¶ Places of confirmacion for the seconde kynde are foure Grauntyng of the faulte committed Blamyng euill companie for it Comparyng the fault and declaryng that either thei must haue doen that or els 〈◊〉 doen worse Shiftyng it from vs and shewyng that wee did it vpon commaundement COnfessyng of the faulte is when the accused person graunteth his crime and craueth pardon thereupon leauyng to aske iustice leanyng wholy vnto mercie ¶ Confession of the faulte vsed twoo maner of waies The first is when one excuseth hymself that he did it not willyngly but vnwares and by chaunce The second is when he asketh pardone for the fault doen consideryng his seruice to the common weale and his worthy deedes heretofore dooen promisyng amendement of his former euill deede the whiche wordes would not be vsed before a Indge but before a kyng or generall of an armie For the Iudges muste geue sentence accordyng to the Lawe the Kyng maie forgeue as beyng aucthour of the lawe and hauyng power in his hande maie do as he shall thinke best Blamyng other for the faulte doen is when wee saie that the accused persone would neuer haue doen suche a deede if other against whoÌ„ also this accusacion is intended had not been euill men and geuen iust cause of suche a wicked dede Comparyng the fault is when we saie that by flaiyng an euill man we haue doen a good dede cuttyng awaie the corrupte and rotten member for preseruacion of the whole body Or thus some sette a whole toune on fire because their enemies should haue none aduauÌ„tage by it The Saguntynes beeyng tributarie to the Romaines slewe their awne children burnte their goodes and fired their bodies because thei would not be subiecte to that cruell Haniball and lose their allegiaunce due to the Romaines Shiftyng it froÌ„ vs is when we saie that if other had not set vs on wee would neuer haue attempted suche an enterprise As often tymes the souldiour saieth his Capitaines biddyng was his enforcement the seruaunt thynketh his Maisters commaundemente to bee a sufficient defence for his discharge The ende of the first Booke ¶ The seconde Booke NOw that I haue hetherto set furthe what Rhetorique is whereunto euery Orator is moste bounde what the causes bee bothe in their nature and also by nomber that comprehende euery matter what places serue to confirme euery cause I thinke it is moste mete after the knowlege of all these to frame an OracioÌ„ accordingly to shewe at large the partes of euery Oracion but specially suche as are vsed in iudgement that vnto euery cause apte partes maie euermore bee added For euery matter hath a diuerse beginnyng neither al coÌ„trouersies or matters of weight should alwaies after one sort be rehersed nor like reasons vsed nor one kynd of mouyng affeccioÌ„s occupied before all men in euery matter And therfore wheras I haue briefly spoken of theÌ„ before I wil now largely declare them and shewe the vse of theim in euery matter that â—ometh in debate is nedeful through reason to be discussed ¶ An enteraunce two waies diuided THe first is called a plain beginnyng when the hearer is made apte to geue good care out of hande to that whiche shall folowe The second is a priuey twinyng or close creping in to win fauor with muche circuÌ„staunce called insinuacion For in all matters that man taketh in hande this consideracion ought first to be had that we first diligeÌ„tly expend the cause before wee go through with it that wee maye bee be assured whether it be lawfull or otherwise And not onely this but also we must aduisedly marke the menne before whom wee speake the men against whom we speake and all the circumstaunces whiche belong vnto the matter If the matter bee honest godly and suche as of righte ought to bee well liked we maie vse an open beginnyng and will the hearers to reioyce so go through with our parte If the cause be lothsome or suche as will not be well borne withall but nedeth muche helpe and fauour of the hearers it shalbe the speakers parte priuely to get fauour and by humble talke to wynne their good willes Firste requiryng theim to geue him the hearing and next not streightly to geue iudgement but with mercie to mitigate all rigor of the Lawe Or in a coÌ„plaint made whiche the counsail shall greuously stomack to exaggerate it y e more if we se iust cause to set it forward And whereas many often tymes are suspect to speake thynges of malice or for hope of gain or els for a set purpose as who should saie this I can do the wisest will euermore clere themselfes from all suche offences and neuer geue any tokeÌ„ so muche as in them lieth of any light suspicion In accusyng any persone it is best to heape all his faultes together and whereas any thyng semeth to make for hym to extenuate thesame to the outermoste In defendyng any persone it is wisedome to reherse all his vertues first and foremest and with asmuche arte as maie be to wipe awaie suche faultes as were laied to his charge And before all thynges this would be wel marked that whensoeuer we shal largely talke of any matter wee alwaies so inuent and finde out our first enteraunce in the cause that thesame be for euer taken euen from the nature and bowelles therof that al thynges whiche shall first be spoken maie seme to agree with the matter and not made as a Shippe mannes hose to serue for euery legge Now whereas any long talke is vsed the beginnyng thereof is either taken of the matter self or els of the persones that are there present or els of theim against whoÌ„ the accion is entended And because the winnyng or victorie resteth in three poynctes Firste in apt teachyng the hearers what the matter is next in gettyng them to geue good eare and thirdly in winnyng their fauour Wee shall make theim vnderstande the matter easely if firste of all we begin to expounde it plainly and in brief woordes settyng out the meanyng make them harken to our saiynges And by no meanes better shall the standers by knowe what we saie and cary awaie that whiche thei heare then if at the firste wee couche together the whole course of our tale in as smale roume as we can either by definyng the nature and substaunce of our matter or els by diuidyng it in an apte order so that neither the hearers bee troubled with confoundyng of matter and heapyng one thyng in anothers necke nor yet their memorie dulled with ouerthwarte rehersall and disorderly tellyng of our tale Wee shall make the people attentiue and glad to heare vs if wee will promise theÌ„ to speake of weightie matters of wholsome doctrine suche as thei haue heretofore waÌ„ted yea if we promise to tell them thynges coÌ„cernyng
maner or els to vse in stede of these the places of Logique Therefore when we go aboute to confirme any cause wee maie gather these groundes aboue rehersed and euen as the case requireth so frame our Reasones In confutyng of causes the like maie be had as we vsed to proue if we take the contrarie of thesame For as thynges are alleged so thei maie be wrested and as houses are buylded so thei maie bee ouerthrowen What though many coniectures be gathered diuerse matters framed to ouerthrowe the defendaunt yet witte maie finde out bywaies to escape and suche shiftes maie be made either in auoydyng the daunger by plain denial or els by obieccions and reboundyng again of reasons made that small harme shall turue to the accused persone though the presūptions of his offence be greate and he thought by good reason to be faultie The places of Logique as I saied cannot be spared for the confirmacion of any cause For who is he that in confirmyng a matter wil not know the nature of it the cause of it theffect of it what is agreyng therunto what likenesse there is betwixt that and other thinges what exāples maie bee vsed what is contrary and what can be saied aginst it Therefore I wishe that euery manne should desire and seke to haue his Logique perfect before he looke to profite in Rhetorique consideryng the grounde and confirmaciō of causes is for the moste part gathered out of Logique ¶ Of conclusion A Conclusion is the handsome lappyng vp together and brief heapyng of all that whiche was saied before stirryng the hearers by large vtteraunce and plentifull gatheryng of good matter either the one waie or the other There are twoo partes of a conclusion the one resteth in gatheryng together briefly all suche argumentes as wer before rehersed reportyng the sōme of them in as fewe wordes as can be and yet after suche a sorte that muche varietie be vsed ▪ bothe when the rehersall is made as also after the matter is fully reported For if the repeticion should bee naked and onely set furthe in plain woordes without any chaunge of speache or shift or Rhetorique neither should the hearers take pleasure nor yet the matter take effect Therfore when the Oratour shall touche any place whiche maie geue iuste cause to make an exclamacion stirre the hearers to be sory to bee glad or to be offended it is necessary to vse arte to the outermoste Or when he shall come to the repeatyng of an heinous acte and the maner thereof he maie set the Iudges on fire and heate them earnestly against the wicked offendor Thus in repeatyng arte maie bee vsed and nexte with the onely rehersall matters maie bee handesomely gathered vp together The other part of a conclusion resteth either in augmentyng and vehemently enlargyng that whiche before was in fewe wordes spoken to set the Iudge or hearers in a heate or els to mitigate and asswage displeasure conceiued with muche lamentyng of the matter and mouyng theim thereby the rather to shewe mercie Amplificacion is of twoo sortes whereof I will speake more at large in the nexte Chapiter The one resteth in wordes the other in matter Suche wordes muste bee vsed as be of greate weight wherein either is some Metaphore or els some large vnderstandyng is conteined Yea wordes that fill the mouthe and haue a sound with them set furthe a matter very well And sometymes wordes twise spoken make the matter appere greater Again when we firste speake our mynde in lowe wordes after vse weightier the fault likewise semeth to be greater As whē one had killed a ientleman thus might another amplifie his mynd For one slaue to strike another wer worthy of punishement but what deserueth that wretche whiche not onely striketh a manne but striketh a ientlemanne and not onely striketh a ientleman but cowardly killeth a ientlemanne not geuyng hym one wounde but geuyng hym twentie To kill any manne in suche sorte deserueth deathe but what saie you to him that not onely killeth hym so but also hangeth hym moste spitefully vpon a tree And yet not content with that but scourgeth hym and mangeleth hym whē he is dedde and last of all maketh a iest of his moste naughtie deede leauyng a writyng there aboute the dedde mannes necke Now then seyng his crueltee is suche that thouly killyng cannot content his deuilishe deede and moste dedly malice I aske it for Gods loue and in the waie of Iustice that this wicked Deuill maie suffer worthy death and bee punished to the example of all other Amplifiyng of the matter consisteth in heapyng and enlargyng of those places whiche serue for confirmacion of a matter As the definicion th◠cause the consequent the contrary the example and suche other Again amplificacion maie be vsed whē we make the law to speake the dedde persone to make his complaint the con̄trey to crie out of suche a deede As if some worthy manne wer cast awaie to make the countrey saie thus If England could speake would she not make suche suche cōplaints if the walles of suche a citee or toune had a tongue would thei not talke thus and thus And to bee shorte all suche thynges should be vsed to make the cause seme greate whiche concerne God the commō weale or the lawe of nature For if any of these three bee hindered we haue a large fielde to walke in In praisyng or dispraisyng wee muste exaggerate those places towardes the ende whiche make menne wonder at the straungenesse of any thyng In perswadyng or disswadyng the rehersall of commoditees and heapyng of examples together encrease muche the matter It were a greate labour to tell all the commoditees and all the properties whiche belong vnto the conclusion For suche arte maie bee vsed in this behalfe that though the cause bee very euill yet a wittie manne maie gette the ouerhande if he bee cunnyng in his facultee The Athenians therfore did streightly forbid by a lawe to vse any conclusion of the cause or any enterance of the matter to wynne fauour Cicero did herein so excell that lightly he gotte the victorie in all matters that euer he tooke in hande Therefore as iust◠praise ariseth by this parte so I doubte not but the wittiest will take moste paines in this behalf and the honest for euer will vse the defence of moste honest matters Weapons maie bee abused for murder and yet weapons are onely ordeined for saufgard ¶ Of the figure amplificacio◠EMong all the figures of Rhetorique there is no one that so muche helpeth forwarde an Oracion and beautifieth thesame with suche delitefull ornamentes as dooeth amplificacion For if either wee purpose to make our tale appere vehemente to seme pleasaunt or to be well stored with muche copie nedes must it be that here we seke helpe where helpe chiefly is to be had and not els where And nowe because none shall better bee able to amplifie any matter then
many reasons into one corner which before were scaterde abrode to thentent that our talke might appere more vehement As when by many coniectures and great presumptions we gather that one is an offendor heapyng them al into one plumpe whiche before were sparpled abrode and therefore did but litle good As thus To proue by coÌ„iectures a murder committed I might thus say against a suspected person My Lordes do not weye my wordes and sentences seuerally but consider them all altogether If the accused persone here shall receiue profite by this other mans deathe if his lyfe heretofore hath euer been euill his nature couetouse his wealthe most slendre and that this dead mans gooddes could turne to no mans auaile so muche as vnto this accused person and that no man could so easely dispatche him and that this man could by no better meanes compasse his desier and that nothyng hath been vnattâ—mpted whiche might further his naughtie purpose nothyng doen thâ—t was thought needelesse and seeyng a meete place was chefely sought for and occasion serued very wel the tyme was most apt for suche an attempte and many meanes heretofore deuised to compasse this offence and greate hope bothe to kepe it close and also to dispatche it and besydes that seeyng this man was seen alone a litle before in the same place where this other man was slaine and that this mans voice whiche did slaye hym was hard a litle before in the same place where this other man was slaine and seyng it is well knowne that this man came home late the same night and the nexte daie after beyng examined did answere confusedlie fearefullie and as though he were amased and seeyng al these thynges are partely showed by wittenesses partely by good reason partely by his owne confession and partely by the reporte that comonly goeth of hym whiche by lyke is not spoken without some ground It shalbe your partes worthie iudges wayng al these thynges together to geue certaine iudgement of hym for this offence and not to thynke it a matter of suspicion For it might haue been that thre of foure of these coniectures beyng proued might geue but onely a cause of suspicion but whereas all these together are plainely proued by hym it can not be otherwise but that he hath offended It is an excellent kynd of Amplifiyng when thynges encreased and thynges diminished are both set together that the one may the rather beautifie the other As if when Gods goodnesse towardes vs wee largely amplified we did streight extenuate our vnthanfulnesse towardes him again As thus Seeyng God hath made man a creature vnto his owne likenesse seeyng he hath geuen hym lyfe and the spirite of vnderstandyng endewyng hym with hâ—s manifolde graces and redemyng hym not with vile money but with his owne preciouse bodie sufferyng deathe and blodesheddyng vpon the Crosse the rather that man might lyue for euer what an vnthankefull parte is it yea what an hainouse thyng is it for man so ofte to offende so ofte to wallowe in suche his wickednesse and euermore for Goddes louyng kyndnesse to showe hym selfe of all other creatures most vnkynde Lykewyse contraries beyng rehersed and the euil immediatly vtterde after the good make muche for encrease As many men now a daies for sobrietie folowe gluttonie for chastitie take leachery for truthe lyke falsehode for gentlenesse seeke crueltie for iustice vse wrong dealyng for heauen hell for God the Deuill to whome they will without peraduenture it Goddes grace be not greater ¶ Of mouyng affections BEcause the beautie of Amplifiyng standeth most in apte mouyng of affections It is needefull to speake somewhat in this behaulfe that the better it may be knowne what they are and howe they maie bee vsed Affections therefore called Passions are none other thyng but a stirryng or forcyng of the mynde either to desier or elles to detest and lothe any thyng more vehemently then by nature we are commonly wonte to doe We desier those thynges we loue them and lyke them earnestly that appere in our iudgement to be goodlie we hate and abhorre those thynges that seeme naughte vngodlie or harmefull vnto vs. Neither onely are wee moued with those thynges which we thinke either hurtful or profitable for our selues but also we reioyce we sorie or we pitie an other mannes happe And euermore there are twoo thynges whiche moue vs either this waie or that waie The matter selfe whiche doth happen or is lyke to happen and the person also whome the matter dothe concerne As for example If a wicked wretche haue his desertes we are al glad to heare it but if an innocent shoulde be cast away we thynke muche of it and in stomake repine against wrong iudgement If an euil man finde muche fauour we enuie his good happe yea it greeuâ—th vs thâ—t any suche shoulde haue suche fauour showed And not onâ—ly doe we hate the euil that are come to any wealth but also we enuie commonly all suche as come to any preferrement especially if either they haue been as poore men as we are or elles came of a meaner house than we haue done No one man woulde haue any to be better than hym selfe and euery one enhableth his owne goodnes to deserue lyke dignitie with the best And whereas some haue goâ—te before startyng soâ—bdeinly from an inche to an elle we spare not to saie that flattery made theim speede and though they haue muche gooddes yet are they cleare voide of all goodnes and therefore muche good may it do theim we woulde not come by gooddes in suche sorte to wynne al the worlde â–ª for the Deuill and they saie wee shall parte stakes with theim one daie And thus wee can neuer bee content to geue our neighbour a good woorde Yea though they haue serued right well and deserued a greate rewarde wee muste needes finde some faulte with theim to lessen their praises and saye that though their desertes bee great yet their natures are nought none so proude though fewe bee so hardy none so enuiouse though fewe so faithfull none so couetouse though fewe so liberall none so gluttonouse though fewe kepe suche an house And thus thoughe wee graunt them one thyng yet we will take another thyng as fast againe from them Suche a man is an excellent felowe saieth one he can speake the tongues wel he plaies of instrumentes few men better he feyâ—eth to the Lute marueilouse swetely he endites excellently but for all this the more is the pitie he hath his faultes he will bee dronâ—â—e ones a daie he loues women well he will spende Goddes coope if he had it he will not tarye longe in one place and he is somewhat large of his tongue That if these faultes were not surely he were an excellent fellowe Euen as one shoulde saie If it were not for liyng and stealyng there were not an honester man than suche a one is that perchaunce hath some one good qualitie to set hym forwarde These â—uttes
vertue to eschew vice wherein I vnderstande Horace ¶ Circumlocution CIrcumlocution is a large description either to sette forth a thyng more gorgeâ—uslie or els to hyde it if the eares cannot beare the open speakyng or when with fewe wordes we cannot open our meanyng to speake it more largely Of the first thus The valiaunt câ—urage of mightie Scipio subdued the force of Carthage and NumaÌ„tia Henry the fifte the most puissaunt Kyng of Englande with seuen thousand men toke the Frenshe Kyng prisoner with al the flower of nobilitie in Fraunce Of the seconde When Saule was casyng hymselfe vpon the grounde Dauid toke a peece of his garment tooke his weapon that laie by hym â–ª and might haue staine hym Suche a one defiled his bodie with suche an euill woman For the thirde parte the large commentaries written and the Paraphrasis of Erasmus englished are sufficient to showe the vse therof ¶ Vvhat is an Allegorie AN Allegorie is none other thyng but a Metaphore vsed throughout a whole sentence or Oration As in speakyng against a wicked offendour I might say thus Oh Lorde his nature was so euill and his witte so wickedly bente that he ment to bouge the shippe where he hymselfe sailed meanyng that he purposed the destruction of his owne countrie It is euill puttyng strong wine into weake vesselles that is to say it is euill trustyng some womeÌ„ with weightie matters The English Prouerbes gatherde by Ihon Heywood helpe wel in this behaulf the whiche commenly are nothyng elles but Allegories and darcke deuised sentences Now for the other fower figures because I mynde hereafter to speake more largely of them and Quintilian thynketh them more meete to be placed emong the figures of Exornacion I wil not trouble the reader with double inculcation and ewyse tellyng of one tale ¶ Of Schemes called otherwyse sentences of a worde and sentence I Might tary a longe tyme in declaryng the nature of diuerse Schemes whiche are woordes or sentencies altered either by speakyng or writyng contrarie to the vulgare custome of our speache without chaungyng their nature at all but because I knowe the vse of the figures in word is not so great in this our toÌ„gue I wil run them ouer with asmuche haste as I can ¶ The diuision of Schemes STraunge vsyng of any worde or sentence contrarie to our daiely wont is either when we adde or take away a sillable or a word or eucrease a sentence by chaunge of speache coÌ„trarie to the commune maner of speakyng ¶ Figures of a worde THose be called figures of a word when we chaunge a worde and speake it contrarie to our vulgare and daily speache Of the whiche sorte there are sixe in nomâ—er i. Addition at the first ij Abstraction from the first iij. Iuterlaâ—yng in the middest iiij Cuttyng from the middest v. Addyng at the ende vi Cuttyng from the end OF Addition As thus He did all to berattle hym Wherein appereth that a sillable is added to this worde rattle Here is good nale to sel for good ale Of Abstraction from the first thus As I romed al alone I ganne to thynke of matters greate In whiche sentence ganne is vsed for beganne Interlacyng in the middest As. Relligion for religion Cuttyng from the middest Idolatrie for Idololatrie Addyng at the end Hasten your busines for Haste your businesse Cuttyng from the end A faire may for maide Thus these figures are shortely sette out and as for the other Schemes whiche are vtterde in whole sentences and expressed by varitie of sreache I wil set them forth at large emong the coloures ornamentes of Elocution y t folowe ¶ Of coloures and ornamentes to commende and sette forth an Oration NOW when we are able to frame a sentence handsomly together obseruyng number and kepyng coÌ„position suche as shal lyke best the eare do know the vse of Tropes and can applie them to our purpose than thornamentes are necessarie in an OratioÌ„ sentences woulde bee furnished with moste beautifull figures Therfore to thende that they may be knowne suche as most commende and beautifie an Oration I wil set them forthe here in suche wise as I shal best be able folowyng the order whiche Tullie hath vsed in his Booke made of a perfite Oratour ¶ Restyng vpon a poyncte WHEN wee are earnest in a matter and feele the weight of our cause wee rest vpon some reason whiche serueth best for our purpose Wherin this figure appereth most helpeth muche to set forthe our matter For if we stil kepe vs to our strongest holde and make ofterecourse thither though we be dryueÌ„ through by-talke to go from it nowe and than we shall force them at length either so auoide our strong defence or elles to yelde into our handes ¶ An euident or plaine settyng forthe of a thyng as though it were presently doen. THis Figure is called a description or an euident declaratioÌ„ of a thyng as though we sawe it euen now doen. An example If our enemies shall inuade and by treason wynne the victorie we al shal dye euery mothers sonne of vs and our Citie shalbe destroied sticke stoone I see our children made slaues our daughters rauisshed our wifes caried away the father forced to kil his own sonne the mother her daughter the sonne his father the sucking child slaine in the mothers bosome one standyng to the kuees in anothers bloude Churches spoiled houses pluckte doune and al set in fier rounde about vs euery one cursyâ—g the day of their birth children criyng women wailyng and olde men passyng for vâ—ry thought and euery one thynkyng hymselfe most happy that is first ridde out of this worlde suche will the crueltie be of our enemies and with suche horrible hatred wil they seeke to dispatche vs. Thus where I might haue said we shal al be destroied and saie no more I haue by description sette the euill forth at large It muche auaileth to vse this figure in diuerse matters the whiche whosoeuer can do with any excellent gift vndoubtedly he shal muche delite the hearers The circumstaunces wel considered in euery cause geue muche matter for the plaine opening of the thyng Also similitudes examples coÌ„parisons from one thyng to another apte translacions and heaping of allegories and all suche figures as serue for amplifiyng do muche commende the liuely settyng forthe of any matter The miseries of the Courtiers lyfe might well be described by this kind of figure The commoditie of learnyng the pleasure of plowe men and the care that a Kyng hath And not onely are matters set out by description but men are painted out in their colours yea buildynges are set forth Kyngdomes and Realmes are portured places and tymes are described The Englishe man for feedyng and chaung of apparel The Duytche man for drynkyng The Frenche man for pryde and inconstaunce The SpaÌ„yard for nymblenes of bodie and muche disdaine The
Italian for great witte and pollicie The Scottes for boldenes and the Boeme for stubbornesse Many people are described by their degree as a man of good yeres is compted sober wise and circumspect a young man wilde and carelesse a woman bablyng inconstant and redy to beleue al that is tolde her By vocation of life a souldiour is counted a great bragger and a vaunter of hymselfe a Scholer simple a russed coate sadde aud sometymes craftie a courtier flatteryng a citezen ieâ—tle Iâ— describing of persons there ought alwaies a commelinesse to be vsed so that nothyng be spoken whiche may be thought is not in them As if one shall describe Henry the sixth he might cal hym ientle milde of nature ledde by perswasion redy to forgeue carelesse for wealthe suspectyng none merciful to al fearefull in aduersitie without forecast to espie his misfortune Again for Richarde the third I might bryng hym in cruell of harte ambiciouse by nature enuiouse of mynde a depe dissembler a close man for weightie matters hardie to reuenge and feareful to lose his high estate trustie to none liberal for a purpose castyng still the worst and hoping euer the best By this figure also we imagine a talke for some one to speake and according to his person we frame the Oration As if one should bryng in noble Henry the .viij. of most famouse memorie to enueigh against rebelles thus he might order his Oration What if Henry theight were alyue sawe suche rebellion in this Realme would not he say thus and thus yea me thynkes I heare hym speake euen now And so set forth suche wordes as we would haue hym to saie Some tymes it is good to make God the Countrie or some one towne to speake and loke what we woulde say in our owne person to frame the whole tale to them Suche varietie doth muche good to auoide tediousenes for he that speaketh al in one sort though he spake thinges neuer so wittely shal sone wery his hearers Figures therfore wer inueÌ„ted to auoide sacietie and cause delite to refresh with pleasure quicken with grace the dulnesse of maÌ„s braine Who wil loke of a whit waul an houre together where no worke manship is at al Or who wil cate stil one kinde of meate neuer desire chaunge Certes as the mouthe is daintie so the wit is tickle and wil sone lothe an vnsauery thing ¶ A stop or half tellyng of a tale A Stoppe is wheÌ„ we breake of our tale before we haue told it As thus Thou that art a young man of suche towardnes hauyng suche frendes to plaie me suche a parte wel I will saie no more God amende all that is amisse Or thus Dothe it become the to be shal I tel al Naie I wil not for very shame ¶ A close vnderstandyng A Close vnderstandyng is when more may be gatherd than is openly exprest A naughtie fellowe that vsed muche robbery founde hym selfe greeued that the greate Oratour Demosthenes spent so muche oyle wherby he watched from tyme to tyme in compassyng matters for thy commune weale In dede quoth Demosthenes darke nightes are best for thy purpose meanyng that he was a great robber in the night Oâ—e also beeyng set in a heate because another had contraried hym for the choise of meates was muche more greued when he gaue hym this tauut You may boldely ê™ he speake for fishe eatyng for my maister your father hath many a time ofte wipt his nose vpon his sleeue meanyng that his father was a fishemonger ¶ Shorte sencences THen shorte clauses or sentences are vsed when we speake at a worde parte of our minde and nest after speake as briefely againe vsyng to make almost euery worde a perfite sentence As thus The man is sore wounded I feare me he will dye The Phisicions mistrust hym the partie is fledde none persueth God sende vs good lucke ¶ Abatyng or lessenyng of a thyng WE make our doynges appere lesse wheÌ„ with wordes we extenuate and lessen thesame As when one had geuen his fellowe a sound blowe beyng rebuked for the same saied he scante touched hym Likewise when two haue fought together to say that the one had his legge prickte with a sworde wheÌ„ perchaunce he had a great wounde ¶ Vvittie iestyng MAny pleasaunt ientlemen are well practised in merie conceited iestes and haue both suche grace and delite therin that they are wonderfull to beholde and better were it to be sharpely chidde of diuerse other then pleasauntly taunted by any of theÌ„ When a ientleman of great landes small witte had talked largely at a supper and spake wordes scant worth the hearyng an other beeyng muche greeued with his foolie saied to hym Sir I haue taken you for a plaine meanyng ientlemaÌ„ but I know nowe there is not a more deceiptfull bodie in al Englande with that other beyng greeued with the young ientlemans foolie boldely began to excuse hym for deceipt and therfore said he was to blame to charge hym with that fault consideryng his nature was simple and few can say that euer he was craftie Wel ê™ thother I must nedes say he is deceiptful for I toke hym heretofore for a sober wittie young man but now I perceiue he is a foolish bablyng felowe therfore I am sure he hath deceiued me like a false craftie child as he is with that they al laughed and the ientleman was muche abashed But as touchyng sharpe tauntes I haue largely declared them in place where I treated of laughter ¶ Digression or swaruyng from the matter WE swarue sometymes from the matter vpon iust consideracions makyng the same to serue for our purpose as wel as if we had kepte the matter stil. As in making an inuectiue against rebelles largely setting out the filth of their offence I might declare by the way of a digression what a noble countrie England is how great commodities it hath what trafike here is vsed howe muche more nede other Realmes haue of vs than we haue neede of them Or when I shal geue euidence or rather declame against an hainouse Murtherer I may digresse from the offence doen and enter in prayse of the deade man declaryng his vertues in moste ample wyse that the offense doen may be thought so muche the greater the more honest he was that hath thus been slaine NotwithstaÌ„dyng this would be learned that wheÌ„ we make any suche digression thesame maie well agre to the purpose and be so set out that it confounde not the cause or darken the sense of the matter deuised ¶ Proposicion PRoposicion is a short rehersall of that wherof we mynde to speake I will tell you ê™ one there is none hath a worse name then this felow none hath been so often in trouble he maie he fautelesse but I can hardely beleue it there are enow that will testifie of his naughtinesse and auouche his euill demeanour to bee
suche that the like hath not been hard heretofore ¶ An ouer passage to another matter WHen we go froÌ„ one matter to another we vse this kynde of phraise I haue tolde you the cause of all this euill nowe I will tell you a remedy for thesame You haue heard of iustification by faith onely now you shal here of the dignitee of workes and how necessary thei are for euery christian body ¶ Of commyng again to the matter WHen wee haue made a digression wee maâ—e declare our returne and shewe that whereas wee haue roued a litle we will now kepe vs within our boundes In this kynd of digression it is wisedome not to wander ouer farre for feare wee shall werie the hearers before we come to the matter again I knew a preacher that was a whole houre out of his matter and at length remembryng hymself saied well now to the purpose as though al that whiche he had spoken before had been litle to the purpose whereat many laughed and some for starke wearinesse wer fain to go awaie ¶ Iteratyug and repeatyng thynges said before WHen a man hath largely spoken his mynd he may repeate in fewe wordes the somme of his saiyng As if one should be charged with felonie that is a man of welth and honestie he might thus gather his mynd together after a loÌ„g tale told First I wil proue there is no cause that I should steale again that I could not possible at suche a tyme steale and last that I stole not at all ¶ The conclusion or â—appyng vp of matter THe conclusion is an apt knittyng together of that whiche we haue said before As thus If reason can perswade if examples maie moue if necessitee maie helpe if pitee maie prouoke if daungers foreseen maie stirre vs to be wise I doubte not but you will rather vse sharpe lawes to represse offendours then with dissolute negligence suffer all to perishe ¶ Mountyng aboue the truthe MOuntyng aboue the truthe is when we do setfurthe thynges excedyngly aboue all mennes expectacion meanyng onely that thei are very great As thus god promised to AbrahaÌ„ that he wold make his posteritee egual with the saâ—des of the yearth Now it was not so said that there should be so many in deede but that the nomber should bee infinite For whether we shall vnderstande those to bee the children of Abraham that came of his stocke in fleshe or els take theÌ„ for the children of Abraham that haue the faithe of Abraham wee shall neuer proue the nomber of men to bee eâ—uall with the sandes of the sea though wee could reken all that haue been from the beginnyng of the worlde Therfore in this speache wee muste vnderstande there is a mountyng called of the Grecians hyperbole we vse this figure muche in English As thus He is as swift as a swallowe he hath a belly as bigge as a barrell he is a giaunt in makyng The whole Temmese is litle enough to serue hym for wasshyng his handes In all whiche speaches wee mounte euermore a greate deale and not meane so as the wordes are spoken ☞ Askyng other and answeryng our self BY askyng other and answeryng to the question our self we muche commende the matter and make it appere very pleasant If I would rebuke one that hath committed a robberie I might saie thus I wonder what you ment to commit suche felonie Haue you not landes I knowe you haue Are not your frendes worshipfull Yes assuredly Wer you not beloued of them No doubt you were Could you haue waÌ„ted any thyng y â— thei had If you would haue eaten gold you might haue had it Did not thei alwayes bidde you seke to them and to none other I knowe thei did What euill happe had you then to offende in suche sorte not goyng to your frendes whiche would not se you want but sekyng for that whiche you should not haue endaungeryng your self by vntrue dealyng to fele the power streÌ„gth of a law wheÌ„ otherwise you might haue liued in sauegard The like kynd of writyng is also vsed wheÌ„ we make another body to speake and yet not aske them any question at al. As when D. Haddon had comforted the duchesse of Suffolkes grace for her childreÌ„ and had said thei wer happly gone because thei might haue fallen hereafter and loste that worthy name whiche at their death thei had at last he bringeth in the mother speakyng motherlike in her childrens behalfe of this sort and answereth still to her saiynges But al these euilles wherof you speake ê™ she hadde not chaunced Yet suche thynges doo chaunce Yet not alwayes Yet full ofte Yet not to al Yet to a great many Yet thei had not chaunced to myne Yet wee knowe not Yet I might haue hoped Yet better it had been to haue feared ☞ Snappishe askyng WE doo aske oftentymes because we would knowe we do aske also because we woulde chide and sette furthe our grief with more vehemencie the one is called Interrogatio the other is called Percontatio Tullie enueighyng against Catiline that Romaine rebell beginneth his oracion chidingly questioâ—yng with Catiline of this sort How long Catiliâ—e wilt thou abuse our sufferaunce How long will this rage and madnesse of thine go aboute to deceiue vs ☞ Dissemblyng or close iestyng WHen we iest closely and with dissemblyng meanes grigge our felowe when in wordes wee speake one thyng and meane in hart another thyng declaryng either by our countenaunce or by vtteraunce or by some other waie what our whole meanyng is As when we se one bostyng himself vain glorious to hold him vp with ye and naie and euer to ad more to that whiche he saieth As I knowe one that saied hymself to be in his awne iudgemeÌ„t one of the best in all Englande for triyng of metalles that the counsaill hath often called for his helpe and cannot waÌ„t hym for nothyng In deede ê™ another Englande had a sore losse if God should call you Thei are all Bungelers in coÌ„parison of you and I thynke the best of theim maie thanke you for all that he hath but yet sir your cunnyng was suche that you brought a shillyng to nyne pence naie to sixe pence and a grote to two pence and so gaue hym a frumpe euen to his face because he sawe hym so folishe A glorious ientlemaÌ„ that had twoo seruauntes and belike would be knowen not onely to haue them but also to haue mo said in the presence of a worshipfull man I meruaile muche where all my seruauntes are Marie sir ê™ one that thoughte to hitte hym home thei wer here al two euen now Thus he closly mockt hym and worthely For the nomber is not greate that standeth vpoÌ„ .ij and all is to muche when we speake of so fewe ¶ Doubtfulnesse DOubtfulnesse is then vsed wheÌ„ we make the hearers beleue that the weight of our matter causeth vs to doubte what