riche of it selfe hath substance enough as a thing that standeth in speache and gestures alone And that thou mayst now more easily learne the way vnto it thou must vnderstand it behoues thee to frame and order thy maners and doings not according to thyne owne minde and fashion but to please those with whome thou lyuest and after that sort direct thy doings And this must be done by Discretion and Measure For who so applieth himself to much to feede other mens humors in his familiar conuersation and behauiour with men is rather to be thought a Iester a Iugler or flatterer then a gentleman wel taught and nourtured As contrarywise whoe so hath no care or mynd to please or displese is a rude vntaught and vncourteous fellowe For asmuche then as our maners haue some pleasure in them when we respect other men and not our owne pleasure if we diligētly searche forthe what those things be that most men do generally lyke or dislike we shall in suche forte wisely and easily finde out the meanes wayes to choose and eschewe those fashions and maners we are to leaue or take to liue amongest men We say then that euery act that offendeth any the common senses or ouerthwarteth a mans will and desire or els presenteth to the Imagination and conceite matters vnpleasaunt that likewyse which the mynde doth abhorre such things I say bee naught and must not be vsed for vve must not only refraine from such thinges as be fowle filthy lothsome and nastie but vve must not so muche as name them And it is not only a fault to dooe such things but against good maner by any act or signe to put a man in minde of them And therefore it is an ilfauoured fashion that some men vse openly to thrust their hands in what parte of their bodye they lyst Lykwise I like it as yll to see a Gentlemā fettle him selfe to do the needes of Nature in presence of men And after he hath doone to trusse him selfe againe before them Neither would I haue him if I may geue him councell when he comes from suche an occupatiō so much as washe his hāds in the sight of honest company for that the cause of his washing puts them in minde of some filthy matter that hath bene done aparte And by the same reason it is no good maner when a man chaunceth to see as he passeth the waye as many times it happeneth a lothesome thing that wil make a mā to cast his stomacke to tourne vnto the company shewe it them And much worse I like it to reache some stynking thing vnto a man to smell vnto it as it is many a mās fashiō to do with importunate meanes yea thrusting it vnto their nose saying Foh feele I pray you hovv this doth stink vvhere they should rather say smell not vnto it for it hath an yll sent And as these and lyke fashions offend the sēses to which they appertaine so to grynde the teethe to whistle to make pityfull cryes to rubb sharpe stones together and to fyle vppon Iron do muche offend the Eares and would be lefte in any case Neither must wee refraine those things alone but we must also beware we do not syng and specialy alone if we haue an vntuneable voyce which is a common fault with moste men And yet hee that is of nature least apt vnto it doth vse it moste So there be some kynde of men that in coffyng or neesing make suche noyse that they make a man deafe to here them other some vse in lyke things so little discretion that they spyt in mens faces that stand about them besydes these there be some that in yauning braye and crye out like Asses And yet such with open mouth wil euer say and do what they list and make such noyse or rather suchroaring as the dumme man doth when he striueth with him selfe to speake All these yllfauoured fashions a man must leaue as lothsome to the eare and the eye And a mā must leaue to yawne muche not only for the respect of the matter I haue saide alreadye as that it seemes to proceede of a certaine werynes that shewes that he that yawneth could better like to be els where then there in that place as wearied with the companie their talke and their doings And sure albeit a mā be many times disposed to yawne yet if he be occupied with any delyght or earnest matter to think vppon he shall haue no minde to doe it But if he be lumpishe idle it is an easy matter to fall in to it And therefore VVhen a man yavvneth in place vvhere there bee slouthfull and Idle folkes that haue nothing to doe the rest as you may see many times yavvne againe for companie by by as it he that yawned had put them in minde to doe it which of them selues they would haue done first if hee had not begoone vnto them And I haue many tymes heard learned and wise men say that A yavvner meaneth as much in Latin as a careles and Idle bodie Let vs then flye these condicions that loathe as I sayd the eyes the Eares the Stomacke For in vsing these fashyons we doe not only shewe that we take litle pleasure in the company but we geue them occasion withall to iudge amis of vs I meane that we haue a drowsye heuie nowle which makes vs yll wellcom to all cōpanies we come vnto And whē thou hast blowne thy nose vse not to open thy handkercheif to glare vppon thy snot as if thou hadst pearles and Rubies fallen from thy braynes for these be slouenly parts ynough to cause men not so much not to loue vs as if they did loue vs to vnloue vs againe As the Sprite of Labirintho doth testifie who soeuer he were that made it who to quenche the heate wherwith Master Iohn Boccase burned in desyre and Loue of his Lady vnknowne tells how she cowred her taile ouer the ashes sytting vppon her heeles and coughed and spatte out Collops It is also an vnmanerly parte for a man to lay his nose vppon the cup where another must drinke or vppon the meate that another must eate to the end to smell vnto it But rather I would wish he should not smell at all no not to that which he himselfe should eate and drinke because it may chaūce there might fall some droppe frō his nose that would make a man to loath it although there fall nothing at all in deede Neither by mine aduise shalt thou reache to any man that cup of wine wherof thy selfe hast fyrst dronke and tasted without he be more then a familiar friend vnto thee And much lesse must thou giue any parte of the peare or the fruite which thou hast bitten in thy mouth before And esteeme not light of my talke for that these things be of little account For euen light stripes their number may be such be able to
early vve myght haue taryed a vvhile vvhat haste is this this morning And thus they disquiet all the company as men caring for them selues alone theyr owne matters without consideration in the worlde of other men Besides this they will in all things be preferred aboue others they must haue the best bed and best chamber they must take vppon them the highest place at the table and be first set and serued of all men And they be so deintie and nice that nothing pleaseth them but what they them selues deuise they make a sower face at any thing ells And they be so proude minded that they looke that men should waite vppon them when they dyne ryde sporte or solace them selues There be other so furious testie waywarde that nothing you doe can please them and what soeuer is said they aunswer in choler and neuer leaue brauling with their seruants and rayling at them and continually disturbe the company with their vnquietnes vsing such speeches Thou cauledst me vvell vp this morning Looke heere hovv cleane thou hast made these pynsons Thou beaste thou diddest vvaite vvell vppon me to Churche It vvere a good deede to breake thy head These be vnsemely and very fowle fashions suche as euery honest man will hate to death For albeit a mans minde were full fraught with all humilitie and would vse these maners not vppon pride or disdaine but vppon a rechelesse care not heeding his doings or elles by meanes of yll custome yet notwithstāding because his outward doings woulde make men thinke him proude it cannot be chosen but all men woulde hate him for it For Pride is none other thinge then to despise and disdaine another And as I haue saide from the beginning Eache man desireth to bee vvell thought of Albeit there bee no valoure or goodnes in hym It is not long synce there was in Rome a worthy gentleman of singular good witt and profound learning whose name was Vbaldino Bandinelli This gentleman was woont to say that as ofte as hee went or came from the Courte although the stretes weare euer full of gallant Courtiers of Prelates and Noble men and likewise of poore men and people of meane and base condition yet he thought he neuer encountred any that was eyther better or worse then himselfe And without doubte hee could meete with fewe that might bee compared in goodnes to him respecting his vertues that did excel beyond measure But we must not alwayes in these things measure men by the Elne We must rather waye them in the millers scoles then in the goldsmythes balaunce And it is a courtious parte redily to receaue them in to fauour not bycause they bee woorthe it but as men doe with coynes bycause they be currant To go further wee must doe nothing in their syght whome wee desire to please that may shewe wee couet rather to rule and to reigne then to liue in a familiar equalitie amongest them For hautines of harte and ambitious disposition as it kindleth an yll opinion so it ministreth muche cause of contempte which in conclusion will so woorke against thee that thou shalt bee cleane cast out of honest company But our dooings must rather beare a signe and shewe of reuerence meekenes respect to the company in which wee fellowship our selues So that what so euer is doone in meete and conuenient time may hapely deserue no blame but yet in respect of the place and the persone it may be reproued well althoughe for it self the matter deserue no rebuke As to brawle and to raile at your seruaunts which we haue talked of before but muche more to beate them Because these partes are asmuche as to reigne and to rule which no honest and ciuil gentlemā wyll vse in presence of them he doth respect with any reuerence or courtesie Besydes this the cōpany is muche offended with it and their meetinges are broken and especially if it be done at the table which is a place of solace and myrthe and not of brawle and scolding So that I must nedes cōmend Currado Gianfigliazzi for his ciuil behauiour in that he multiplied no words with Chichibio to trouble his guests albeit he deserued to be sharply punished for it when he would sooner displease his master then Brunetta And yet if Currado had made lesse adoe about it then he did it had byn more his prayse For then he should neuer haue neded to call vppō God to witnes his threatnings so muche as he did But to returne to our matter it is not good for a man to chide at the table for any cause And if thou be angrie shew it not nor make no signe of thy greefe for the reason I haue tolde thee and specially yf thou haue straungers with thee because thou haste called them to be merry and this wil make them sad For as the sharpe and tarte things that other men doe feede vppō in thy sight doe set thy teeth likewise on edge so to see other men vexed and out of quiet it maketh vs vnquiet too I call them FROMVVARD people which will in allthings be ouertwhart to other men as the very worde it selfe doth shewe For Fromewarde signifieth asmuche as Shorne against the wooll Now how fit a thinge this frowardnes is to wyn the good will of men and cause men to wyshe well vnto them that you your self may easily Iudge in that it cōsisteth in ouertwharting other mens desiers which qualitie neuer maynteineth friendship but maketh friends become foes And therfor let them that desire to be well thought of and welcome amongst men endeuour thē selues to shunne this fault For it breedes no good lyking nor loue but hatred and hurt I would councell you rather to measure your pleasures by other mens willes where there shal come no hurt nor shame of it and therin alwayes to doe to saye more to please other mens myndes and fausies then your owne Agayne you must be neither clownishe nor lumpishe but pleasaunt and familiar For there should bee no oddes betweene the Mystell and the Pungitopo but that the one is wilde the other growes in gardens And you must vnderstand that he is pleasaunt and courteous whose manners bee suche in his common behauiour as practise to keepe and maintaine him friendeship amongst them where hee that is solleyne and waywarde makes him selfe a straūger whersoeuer hee comes a straunger I meane asmuch as a forreigne or aliē borne where contrariwise he that is familiar gentle in what place so euer he comes is taken for a familiar and friend with all mē So that it shal be necessarie for a man to vse him selfe to salute to speake and to answer after a gentle sorte and to behaue him selfe with all men so as if hee were their countryman borne of their olde acquaintance Which some can yll skill to doe that neither giue a man a good countenaunce easily say No to all things neuer take in
without greate warrantize and this is by reason that youth hauing their libertie nouzeled so long in idlenesse are prone and apt to vice and wickednesse vtterly vndoing them selues thorough their owne wilfulnesse that impossible it is to bring them to any perfection as the olde saying manifestly affirmeth Naturam expellas furca licet vsque recurret That which is ingraffed by nature neither threatenings or any persuasion may alter And if it happen such one who hauing their libertie bée enterteined into seruice what offence so euer he commit to his maister he thinkes it greate scorne to be reformed be is of so vile dogged a nature and this is the cause so many are maisterlesse wherby it commeth to passe that seruices are purchased by money For a number hauing good qualities descended of honest parentage by their meanes are greatly hindered For what is the common saying amongst most men If a Seruingman repaire to a maide or widowe by way of marriage whereby to winne himselfe preferment but straightway they murmur amongest themselues backebiting him shamefully with flaunderous speaches calling him spend thrist A lamentable hearing that all Seruingmen for some lewde perfome sakes shoulde be condemned for this is most certeine that the least faulte a Seruingman comitteth is greatly remembred therefore it standeth them vppon to haue speciall regard to avoyde suspicion considering their credit is their chiefest riches which once being lost of the world they are forsaken An other kind of Seruingmen there is which professeth that life but vpon extremitie and that is the riche Farmours sonne who hearing the drumme sounde preparing to muster is meruellous fearefull to become a souldier lamenting heauily to his cockering mother to he a meanes for him he may not be pressed for saith he I am your onely dearling and to sée me miscarrie it would shorten your days for of this I am assured that if I goe on warfare I am neuer like to returne home againe to my fathers house for my fortune was reade me when I was a little one that I shoulde be shotte quite thorough with a gunne therefore honnie mother as you tender my safetie procure me a seruice that I may farrie at home Then the mother to saue the prettie soule séeketh out some present and in hast repaireth to some Gentleman of credit vppon request made forthwith is receiued thus for feare of his costerd becomes a Seruingman Then Gentlemen perceiuing they may haue seruantes Gratis without wages which will play the Seruingmen drudge in their businesse turne out olde seruitors to go pick dasies who farre from friends acquaintance béeing vnexperte of trade and occupation fall into desperation by meanes of pouertie So that hereby the Farmour maketh a rodde for his owne taile for it standeth by good reason that being once in aduersitie if they haue any sparke of manhood in them rather then they will want reliefe they will séeke to come by it by vnlawfull meanes And who will they lie in weight to robbe and be reuenged of but on such rich churles as were causes of their vndooing And thus they by their double diligence labour take suche paines that they créepe in such fauour with their maister who with their profitable seruice is so infected with couetousnesse that he hath no consideration of his olde seruants true and faithfull diligence who for their long seruice haue well deserued a iust recompense So that the Gentleman and the Yeoman aswell the one as the other haue brought seruices to a verie weake stay that a number at this day haue seruantes and giue them no wages and if they haue any one seruing him which wanteth liuing if he hath not some good qualitie in good faith of his maister he shal be litle regarded Therefore the estate of a seruingman is brought to this point that if he practise not some trade in his youth let him be assured to begge in his age as the prouerb manifestly affirmeth Qui antè non cauet post dolebit He that hath no care afore what mischiefes may afterward insue shall greately repent him Those which vppon such extremitie professe the life of Seruingmen may be properly called Sucklinges or otherwise Caterpillers for they hinder those which longe time haue serued not profiting them selues but wasting their substance So that hereby they thinke to eschewe one mischiefe but vndoubtedly they fall into a worser For they vse a kinde of diligence but to serue their owne turnes But as soone as the brunt is past they beginne to waxe lazie and take heart at grasse thinking with them selues What dizards are we hauing rich parentes and wealth enough to mainteine our calling to moyle toyle in such sort other of our fellowes hauing litle or nothing to take to carrie the countenance of Gentlemē we to liue thus like slaues Then labour is turned to loytering the nosegay in the hatt to an Ostrich fether his russet slapp to a french hose his buckled shooe to a Spanishe pumpe his sparing life to prodigalitie vntill of force they become souldiers for they créepe so déepe into the merchantes bookes and béecome such proper Billmen that in the ende their silkes sweates out all their reuenewes Thus they not content with their owne estates aspire to be Gentlemen by meanes of their fine array that they growe so lustie that they think scorne of their owne parents but it is commonly séene The forward trée beareth lesse fruite What auaileth the mariner to saile without his compasse What good doth a faire house wanting implementes of houshold What profiteth braue clothes in any person wanting witt and gouernement They may be aptly compared vnto a corrupt Carion in a golden cup let them decke themselues neuer so gaie want the chiefest ornament that is Wisedome in good faith they shal be but imbraced amongst the most sort of men for lucre or gaine and foothed for that they haue Therefore in my simple opinion I think it more credit for them to go in the fore ward amongst the number of yeomen then to come last in the number of Gentlemen being alwayes fearefull to challenge that title so that when all is gone from the countrie cart they came and to the London cart they must that they ring suche a peale that they drawe a yearde of cleane hempe besides the knott But nowe to come to the chiefe point and purpose which beautifieth a seruingman which is To be godly Nothing can prosper which we take in hand or goe about vnlesse we applie our minde to the seruice of God for him must we honour aboue all things eyther in heauen or earth beléeue in him onely to be our Sauiour aske for all good things of him alone We must be content not onely for the glorie of God to bestowe our goods but also our life if God so requireth to cleaue vnto him as the foundation of all goodnesse to looke
bread béere or cleane trenchers be wanting Neuer offer to take any dishe from the table vnlesse thou settest a better in his place or else when thou séest it almost emptie but if there be not diuersitie of dishes then take vp the table notwithstanding be not so hastie but vntill such time as they haue talked awhile after their victuals but at the court the sooner the better for there are quicke caruers Use not often figging in and out with a trencher more delighting to fill thy paunche then thou hast care of thy seruice although thy maister espie thée not yet straungers will marke thée Use not any vncomely spéeche at thy meale which shall excéede the boundes of honestie amongst thy fellowes and chiefly before maides considering their chastitie is a daungerous treasure which once being spoiled is neuer recouered For that maide whose eare is pliant to lasciuious talke although her chastitie take no dammage yet suspicion doth grawe amongest the common people Take heede in any wise of horrible swearing least that thou incurre Gods heauie displeasure for Falsa iuratio est damnosa vera iuratio est periculosa nulla iuratio est secura A false othe is damnable a true othe is perilous no othe is safe vnlesse it be before a magistrate in causes of controuersie Report not any thing which shal be spoken at thy maisters table vnlesse it touche thy Prince and Souereigne for so shalt thou soone purchase his heauie displeasure but alwayes haue this saying in thy minde Video taceo I sée and holde my peace which no doubt well obserued shall further thy quietnesse Challenge not to thy selfe finer fare then reason requireth neither finde often fault with any of thy victuals vnlesse thou séest it verie scarce and vnreasonable reuite not the cooke for the same vntill thy maister be priuie of his dealings for some time thy maister may fare but homly by meanes of foule weather and other casualties for many misfortunes be happen in housekeeping Therefore be content with such fare as thou wouldest giue thine owne seruauntes if thou hadst a house of thine owne And if thou happen to trauell to any place where thou séest any nouelties which thou art assured thy maister or maistres well liketh of spare not for the price although it be deare but buy somewhat For what is better estéemed then that which is geason And it is worthie double thankes then if thou were required When thou ridest any iorney with thy maister do not vse to loyter farre behinde and chiefly when he passeth through any towne or village but while thou art in presence of people kéepe a comely order for that is commendable and much for his worship but if thou be carelesse then thou challengest an interest amongest the foure and twentie orders When thou comest at night to thy Inne haue care of thy maister that his lodging may in any wise be swéete and cleanly his shéetes white washed and verie well ayred his bootes sée foorthwith made cleane and stuffed with strawe in time of foule wether and bring them vp to his chamber sée nothing be wanting when he riseth next morning Haue care to the Tapsters what necessaries they bring and reckon what thinges they set on the table for they will vse iuggling to mainteine their brauerie And when thou art abroade in iorney with thy maister be not negligent but at night when thou goest to bed and quietly art laide call to minde what things thou hast done all the whole daye as also what weightie affaires haue béen committed to thy charge and thou shalt with continuall vse bring thy selfe to a moste quicke and perfecte memorie and shalt not onely by this meanes haue a good remembraunce but besides if thou hast spent the daye in the abuse of God and his glorie thou maist with a repentant heart call thine owne conscience to reckoning and aske God mercie and the sooner prepare thy selfe readie when God shall call thée Certeine Letters verie necessarie for Seruingmen W. B. to his singular good Lord for his captiuitie RIght honourable the consideration of my present calamities causeth mée to make my carefull cōplaintes with all humble and duetifull submission persuading my selfe that there is no such way to remedie my griefe and restore againe to it selfe a minde perplexed and pittifully plunged through diuerse déepe distresses then there to vnfolde the same where iustice with mercie where seueritie with remorce where pitie with pardon in the meanest offences ruleth and hath her Souereigntie And whereas I knowe my selfe guiltles of any grieuous and notorious crime I am the more imboldened to write vnto your honour not doubting but there I shall find fauour and grace where God and Nature hath moste aboundantly bestowed the same and that you will of your excéeding bountie clemencie and goodnesse pardon follie not ioyned with any impietie I beseeche you euen for his sake that saued vs all that you will not suffer mée to be vtterly cast away for I am destitute of money and all maner of friendship and vnlesse you speedily shew grace and fauour I vtterly perishe being threatened to be throwne downe amongest the froth and scomme of the vnhappie people I trust your honour remembreth well that more true praise and glorie is atteined by pardoning then by punishing All the Romane Princes were of this opinion We holde it saith the historie more honourable to pardon such as offend vs then to chasten those which resist our power And verily punishment is a thing naturall and humane but to giue pardon and life is the gifte and blessing of God by which it commeth to passe that men estéeme not the greatnesse maiestie of the immortall God for the punishement where with he correcteth vs as for the mercie he vseth Wherefore I humbly yeld and moste willingly submitt my selfe to your honours grace fauour and mercie R. S. to his friend T. D. for his long imprisonment RIght honourable If two brutishe creatures together long continuing be separated they will according to their kind shewe foorth a passion the Lyon will roare the Cow will yell the Swine wil grunt the Dogge cannot but fill the ayre with an intollerable and yrke some howling If this disposition be found in things méere voide of reason vnderstanding much more is the condition of man subiect to sorrowe and heauinesse in whome Nature bréedeth a more quicke and raging sense of féeling in so muche I thinke verily that so many times a man suffereth death howe often in a day he séeth him selfe shut vp or diuided from the societie he dearely and tenderly loueth or exiled the place which he chiefly liketh It is no doubt right terrible to the fleshe to die with the sworde but to be in perpetuall sorrowe and heauinesse of minde may not so well be termed a death as a verie furie and hellishe torment And better it were for many to suffer without feare that
which they expecte in griefe and pensiuenesse of spirite then trembling to be alwayes in martyrdome Right honourable I vtter not these spéeches to shew my guilt which I trust appeareth not heynous in your eyes as to manifest my gréefe which to mée is found most tedious and too too excéeding raging féeling as it were my bodie faint and wearied being pressed with the weightie burthen of your heauie displeasure Wherfore most worthie counsellour exercise vppon mée the plentie of your bountie that I may liuing rather commende your mercie then in silence complaine of your seueritie And thus leauing your worthinesse in the handes of your counsell I wishe you those felicities which your owne heart desireth H. L. to his singular good maistresse for procuring his pardon THis one thing I learned by the instinct and benefite of nature my Souereigne good maistres had I neuer perused learned treatises discoursing manifoldly the selfe same in effecte that Happie dayes excéede the heaped summes and long life according to the opinion of all to them chéefely is found most swéete and plausible who being daungerously intrapped haue despaired of pittie or as wanderers through want of a skilfull Pilote haue fallen into the swallowing surge of Silla readie to be deuoured in that gulfe and as it were yelding to so greate a miserie and wretchednesse For this standes in common regarde with all rather to séeke to prolong our life then increase our wealth And the Souereigne delight and the pleasure of oure dayes is the solace of life This being vndoubtedly found most true and euident that there is in vs ingraffed an earnest and ardent affection of life and that life to them is founde moste deare pleasant who haue béene in perill of death How should I be addressed or in what manner may I yelde all obseruaunce to her by whose petition and earnest suite I haue auoided the terrour of death Uerily it is not in my slender capacitie to disclose the duetie that aunswers your desert the insufficiencie and basenesse of the one is so much inferior to the other in the excéeding greatnesse and goodnesse Wherefore sith my skill and abilitie is too simple to expresse liuely a thing of so high a nature I close my lippes as one vanquished with the excellencie of your goodnes Thus rendering imnortall praise for your greate goodnesse and crauing pardon for my presumptuous boldnesse I moste humbly take my leaue beséeching God to lende you long life with happie dayes W. S. to his louing father declaring that the cause why he did not write was for his vnhappie state I Haue this long time forborne to write vnto you deare father not in any negligent respect as not remembring with what humilitie I am bounde by the lawe of God to obey you or with what affection I am inioyned by the lawe of Nature to reuerence you but Fortune since my departure from you séemeth to haue dealt with mée so frowardly that I haue béene by no good order induced to giue you intelligence of my estate lest that percase the opinion of misliking which is alreadie in your ingendered viewing the continuance of these my so many casuall calamities might to my greate hinderaunce confirme in you a iudgement And yet what haue I not to fore painefully abode which presently I doe not with all patience suffer reteining alwayes a resolute and vnconquerable minde For this by perusing wittie and profound discourses of Philosophers I learne that albeit aduersitie hath power to vexe and trouble the condition of mortall men yet it hath no power to chaunge the constancie and courage of a valiant and puissant minde which in all resolutions and chaunges of times reteines one firme and vnmoueable vertue Euen as a trée which being well rooted although it be shaken with many violent windes yet in his firme there is no power to supplant him We through aduersitie become humble wise and perfect and the offender is better reformed by the proofe of afflictions then by any other meanes for knowing them to be the messengers of God he debateth not the griefes he féeleth but calleth his owne conscience to a reckoning he glorifieth him selfe in tribulation knowing that tribulation brings patience patience bréedes experience experience raiseth hope hope thus wrought and couched cannot be confounded In consideration whereof I déeme him moste vnhappie which hath not béene infortunate for he that hath not béene accussomed with aduerse and crooked Fortune hath least power ouer his passions And such as neuer haue felt perplexitie can little iudge of the worthines of patience Wherefore deare father mislike not of that which in the ende brings true and perfect felicitie I moste humbly take my leaue crauing your fatherly fauour blessing T. D. to his inconstant wife for her malicious stomache against him WIfe I do not a litle maruell at your vncourteous dealing towards mée howbeit as I haue iust cause to stomache the same so assure your selfe I will not be vnmindfull in yelding recompense as opportunitie and occasion shall serue In the meane while I am content to speake little suffer muche not for that I stande in awe of you or any of yours but that I sée you voide of reason and gouernement belonging to a woman whose crooked inclination is suche and in you so déepely rooted that it can no more chaunge your condition then the Uiper his poysoning or the Leopard his spottes You professe outwardly a maruellous shewe of religion I much maruell then that such mischiefe can harbour in so godly a creature whose vndermining pate sought meanes to shorten my dayes But nowe I finde the olde prouerbe true Amongest sweete flowers doeth lurke the stinging Snake It is not the point of any woman once coupled in the bandes of Marriage to minister any occasion of slaunder whereby the life of him whome shée hath peculiarly chosen may be defamed but by all meanes possible to indeuour her selfe to auoide suspicion weying that all her glorie resteth in her husbande and that in the husband is conteined the estimation of the wife If this be the point of any honest woman to thirste after bloud let all the worlde iudge for mine owne parte I can but lament your follie In hurting mée you hinder your selfe I beare with your infirmitie for that you are a woman Wherefore if you will further your quietnesse leaue off those slaunderous spéeches lest the worlde condemne you yeld you vp to miserie and shame H. W. to M. H. being moued without cause I Receiued your letters which when I had read mée thought they were so darke and obscure vnto mée that scarce I vnderstoode your style notwithstanding in perusing them ouer I partly vnderstood your meaning But now to the purpose Haue I gone about at any time to shorten your dayes or haue I sought mèanes to erect bloudie scaffoldes of murder whereby you might possesse your vntimely graue I perceiue for a
trifle you can frame complaint but your wordes vttered without discretion would moue a Sainct to vse curst language And whereas you lay an action of vnkindnesse against mée that I should deliuer a ring to one which doth professe little friendship or good will towardes you this is as it were a going about the bushe as one would saye to steale a Goose stick downe a fether Well I feare mée your flattering face wil cost mée a glasse of dissembling water Thus leauing at this time to trouble you any further I yeld you vp to your owne follie A. D. to his friend M. B. that he would procure her fathers good will. I Receiued your letters giuing you a thousande thankes for your wise and courteous answere aduertising you that I meane to procure my friendes which shall I doubt not but according to my expectation moue your father of the excellent loue singular affection which I beare towardes you And for as much as duetie bindeth you to obey your parents so likewise wisedome warneth mée not onely to obey but also to indeuour my selfe to be at the will and disposition of my friendes For sure your godly bringing vp and your vertuous disposition hath so bewitched my vnderstanding that will I or nill I my heart honours you And if all the friends I haue would hinder my desires yet are they not able to quench the feruent flame which tormenteth my fancie and vexeth the liuely spirits of my mind Therefore I shall desire you from the bottome of my hearte that when soeuer my suite shal be heard or that by the meanes of my friendes the effecte of my loue shal be opened vnto your parents you will remaine a iust and stedfast friend towards mée who hath alreadie yelded him selfe his life and all that he hath into your handes If you séeme to iudge otherwise vnhappie wretche that I am you thrust mée downe headlong from the topp of all hope and comfort into the bottomlesse pitt of cruell despaire where I shall as one bereft of a heauenly ioy torment my selfe with a hellishe care But when I call to mind the sundrie vertues that God and Nature hath indued you withall I fully persuade my selfe that such crueltie cannot harbour in so gentle an heart And thus I ceasse c. T. B. to his singular good L. for his libertie being accused without desert IN moste humble and dutifull manner sheweth vnto your honour that whereas it pleased your good Lordship to accept most courteously my former letters I am the more imboldened at this time to write vnto your Lordships grace and lawfull fauour desiring your protection no further to extend it selfe then the righteousnes of my cause and the simplicitie and plainesse of my meaning sheweth foorth it selfe My cause lawfully and generally is this I am for an attempt lately committed more lightly accused of some vnknowen crime and trespasse then truely accused and substantially conuinced of any apparent fault My good Lord not euery mistie and duskie vapour but an excéeding heauie darke cloud well pressed prophesieth raine Not euery vaine suspicion so fondly immagined or lightly fraught but firmely grounded bringeth with it vndoubted trueth estimation The state of my cause the condition of my accuser with the particular notes thereof may fully manifest to your honour the cause to be honest and good I humbly therefore pray that your Lordship will with your helping hand assist my happlesse happe giuing you to vnderstande that I haue béene in durance this foure monethes long destitute of all maner of fauour friendship finding in my selfe no more force remaining whereby I shal be able to beare this heauie intollerable burthen H. B. to his inconstant and cruell wife WIfe I feare mée lest that you eyther through too much familiaritie which you haue with some froward and sinister friend of mine or malicious persuasion of others or to speake the trueth thorough an extreme ouersight of you in déede by detecting a secrete sting of malice in your owne breast long conceiued and vnto the worlde vnknowen vntill this time haue changed your accustomed qualitie and causeth you to be so malicious and full of enuie For howe can that woman bragge of honestie which is founde to her owne husbande not so much courteous as to shewe some sparke of good nature in time of daunger but moste cruell and full of tyrannie in procuring his death When this shall be openly knowen and manifestly published what countenaunce will all men giue you which defende honestie I saye what interteinment what chéere what commendation may all suche women yelde to you who are directed by wisedomes rule and policie whose liues are clearely ledd by vertue Consider that vertue is the onely beautie that carrieth cōmendation with it at all times which maketh men to loue those whome they neuer knewe It is the onely pathway to praise and the brightnesse of all beautie is eclipsed by crueltie E. D. to my L. S. in the behalfe of his kinsman MY verie good Lorde I haue an earnest suite to your honour touching one of my néere kinsmen who hath a great goodwill to bestowe his time in your Lordships seruice and of all noble men hath made you his singular choice Wherefore if you would of your accustomed goodnesse viewing the person to receiue him you binde mée in triple bondes to requite your courtesie And thus crauing your friendly answere herein I moste humbly take my leaue R. S. to a widowe to be circumspect in her choyce AS my abilitie is not of the greatest to bestowe on you such giftes as perhaps my well meaning minde pretendeth yet am I not so spurned of Fortune but that I enioy an honest portion As my yeares are young my wisedome but small to giue counsell yet neuerthelesse if my wordes shall sauour of reason yeld thankes to the writer and I rest contented As God hath blest you with the giftes of Fortune forget not the giuer neyther yet abuse them Leane to such friendes as are wise and of good experience Ouershoote not your selfe so far to like without greate deliberation lest your delightes be tempered with pilles of sorrowe exchanging your quiet dayes into extreme miserie And in your choyce beware of painted brauerie for to matche your selfe to suche bringeth a gnawing repentaunce Therefore let your renowme be assured on such a one which is garnished with honest qualities Euen as the valiant Capteine before he buy horses he runnes them traines them makes many trials of them refusing the vnlikely maketh choyce of what price so euer he buy them euen so in this short race of life which you meane to perfourme with your husband in comfort solace and pleasure you must not stande so much vppon contemplation of wauering loue which perhaps is professed vnto you for lucre or gaine but with aduise and consideration wey the manners and conditions of your husband
the heart of the giuer more then the value of the gift the which accepted I rest contented and so presuming vppon your courtesie I thought good to write these fewe lines vnto you which are the messengers of my well meaning minde towardes you wherein I hope that the long absence or distance of place shall not be the occasion of forgetfulnesse Thus reposing my selfe wholy in your wonted friendship I committ you to the Almightie E. S. to his singular good maistres for redeeming one of his friendes beeing in durance MAistresse I am once againe inforced to write and not without iust cause it toucheth so neere my deare friend wherein if you further my suite you binde mée during life to rest at your cōmaundement A matter of some importaunce the setting frée of one M. L. whose estate my L. knoweth verie well and meaneth to reteine him into his seruice Which person if you were acquainted with as I my selfe am his honest behauiour wisedome is such that you would lament his long imprisonment and desolate life and reioyce againe at his libertie when you shall enter into the societie and fellowship of so worthie a Gentleman Wherefore I moste earnestly desire you that whin my L. shall be at conuenient leasure you will put him in mind with daily suite that this my friende may be released In which doing you bind mée alwayes firme faithfull to you and your progenie R. C. to the Iustices of peace for the S. RIght worshipfull These are to require you in the absence of my husband who is not in Countrie to aunswere his owne cause to stand his friend touching the S. and to assesse him at the summe aforetime payde which was tenne poundes now is twentie whose abilitie is not so able to beare it as of him is reported by meanes he is indebted and growne to a greater charge Wherefore if the trueth were throughly knowen vnto you either he him selfe present before your worshippes to aunswere his owne case I doubte not but you woulde beare with his disabilitie and assesse him at the summe aforetime payde In which doing you minister vnto vs both an acceptable pleasure and giue vs occasion according to our power to requite your courtesie G. W. answere to his brother that she would be circumspect in her choyce I Receiued your letter the xj of August the sight whereof hath ministred vnto mée no small comfort yelding you most heartie thankes for the great good will you beare mée whose good counsell if I should not haue in regarde in mée might be reputed greate vnthankfulnesse And whereas you write vnto mée to be circumspect in my choice it standeth mée vppon no doubt to take great deliberation it toucheth so much my making or vndoing Wherefore if it be so that I do marrie againe as all is in the will of God assure your selfe I will not couple my selfe in such sorte but that the life of him whome I take shall be of credite and carrie good commendation neyther spurned of Fortune neither forsaken of friendes And vntill such time as you come to L. I will not make any promise I would haue béene glad if your affaires had not béene otherwise to haue had your aduise in drawing my husbandes will but your soudeine departure was a let to the contrarie which did not a little discomfort mée being at that time déepely distressed by meanes of my husbands sickenes knowing none in whome I might repose any such confidence as in you being my naturall brother whome I make dearest account of H. S. to his friend T. D. FRiend D. for that I did not take my leaue of you I am verie sorrie and ashamed neuerthelesse time did so fall out that I coulde not although willingly I woulde Therefore in recompense of my mishappe and so souden departure from you without a farewell I presume at this time by your patience to trouble you with a fewe lines of remembraunce although but rude yet they procéede from a faithfull heart suche a one which wisheth to you as well as to my selfe trusting that you being my friend will take them in good parte And thus fare you well A. F. to his sister H. F. giuing her counsel in prosperitie to be mindfull of aduersitie RIght welbeloued sister among many thinges which are incident to this our life there is none more circumspectly to be considered then the variablenesse of fortune and the not so often as souden alteration of the best and most souereigne benefites where with this our transitorie life is blessed and aduaunced Wisely and not so wisely as truely sayde a philosopher that What wee haue wee haue not and what we lacke we possesse Meaning hereby the vncerteintie of those thinges wherevpon our life principally dependeth For though we haue this dayes prosperitie we may not withstanding tasse to morrowes aduersitie And though this houre minister mirthe vnto vs and store of ioyfulnesse yet may the next peraduenture ouerwhelme vs with heauinesse Thus much is spoken of me to put you in mind of the time past the time present and the time to come for that you haue bene sometimes a Gentlewoman vnder obedience though nowe you haue others at seruice and commandement and howe long this libertie will last he best knoweth from whose sight nothing is secret That by conferring time with time and circumstance with circumstance you may forget to be ambitious proude and insolent and remember to be lowly content and indifferent The best things and the fairest shall sometimes suffer shipwracke And what is there or hath bene though neuer so precious and amiable but hath in the ende susteined losse of valure and lacke of loue The swéetest perfumes in time giue vp their vertue The fairest flowers kéepe not continually their colour A calme followeth a storme and after a tempest insueth securitie Finally there is nothing but it hath a spring and a fal a Winter and a Summer an ebbe and a flowe a day and a night I meane a time wherin to be amiable and gratious and a time to be despighted and counted contemptuous Wherfore good sister as your giftes are the more rare and excellent so let your wisedome haue the larger gouernement that in the pearle of your beautie you remember wrinckled olde age in health thinke on sicknesse in wealth be mindfull of pouertie in abundance consider of scarsitie in ease forget not labour finally ii all your prosperitie to account of the contrarie But leauing you to the gratious guiding of the highest I bid you farewell Your louing brother A. F. Certeine inuentions in verse deuised at sundrie idle times W. D. to his friends exhorting them to beware in time MY secrete griefes bewray my minde I sigh to thinke on passed youth Bent so to pleasures of the worlde Respecting profit vaine forsooth I serude in hope of Courtly gift No whitt estéeming crooked age Gréene youth did hedlong
transported to Florence should be but waste and more then needes like a tall mans gowne cast ouer a dwarfe as also the manners of Florence shoulde be to pinchinge and straite for the Noble natures and mindes of the gētlemē of Naples And although the gētlemē of Venice vse great embracings and entertainementes amongst themselues and fawne without measure the one on the other by reasō of their offices degrees and fauours they looke to finde when they meete and assemble and choose their officers yet for all this it is not conuenient that the good men of Rouigo or the Citizens of Asolo should vse the lyke solēnities embraceings and entertainemēts one to another haueing no such kinde of cause amongst them Albeit all that same countrie if I bee not deceiued is faine a litle into these kinde of follies as ouer carelesse and apt inough by nature or rather learning those maners of Venice their Lady and Mistris because Euerie man gladly seeketh to tread the steps of his better although there be no reasō for it Moreouer we must haue a regarde to the time to the age and the condition of him to whom we vse these ceremonies and likewise respect our owne calling and with men of credite maintaine them but with men of small account cut them of cleane or at least abridge them as muche as wee may rather giue them a becke thē a due garde Which the courtiers in Rome can very well skill to doe But in some cases these Ceremonies be very combersome to a mans busines and very tedious as Couer your head sayes the Iudge that is busied with causes and is scanted of time to dispatche them And this fellow so full of these Ceremonies after a number of legges and shuflinge curtesis aunswers againe Sir I am very well thus But sayes the Iudge agayne Couer your head I say Yet this good fellow tourning twise or thrise to fro making lowe conges downe to the grounde with muche reuerence and humilitie aunswers him still I beseache your worship let me doe my duetie This busines and trouble lasteth so long so muche tune is trifled that the Iudge might very nere haue dispatched all his busines within that space Then although it be euery honest mans parte and the duety of euery meaner body to honour the Iudges and mē that be called to worship honour yet where time wyll not beare it it is a very troublesome thing to vse it and it must be eschewed or measured with reason Neyther be that self same Ceremonies semely for young mē respecting their Age that ould mē doe vse together Nor yet can it becom men of meane and base condition to vse the very same that gētlemē greate men may vse one to another And if wee marke it well we shall find that the greatest the best men mē of most valour doe not alwayes vse the most Ceremonies thē selues nor yet loue nor looke a mā should make many goodly curtsies vnto them as men that can ill spend their thoughts one matters so vaine Neither must handy crafts men nor mē of base condition buisie thē selues to much in ouer solemne Ceremonies to greate men and Lordes it is not lookt for in suche For they disdaine them more then allowe thē because it seemes that in such they seeke looke rather for obedience and duetie then honour And therefore it is a foule faulte in a seruaūt to offer his master his seruice for he coūts it his shame he thinks the seruāt doth make a doubt whether he is master or no as if it were not in him to imploy him cōmaūd him too These kinde of Ceremonies would be vsed frankely For VVhat a man dothe of duetie is taken for a debte and hee finds him selfe litle beholding to him that doth it But he that dothe more then he is bound to it seemes he parteth with somewhat and that makes men to loue him and to commende him for a liberall man And I remember mee well I haue hearde it sayde that a worthy Graeciā a greate versifier was euer wont to saye that He that could skill to entertaine men with a small aduenture made a greate gayne You shall then vse youre Ceremonies as the tailer shapes his garments rather to large then to litle but yet not so that hee cutteth one hose large inough to make a cloke And if thou doe vse in this point some litle gentle behauiour to suche as be meaner then thy selfe thou shalt be counted lowly And if thou doe asmuche to thy betters thou shalt bee sayde a Gētlemā well taught and courtious But hee that dothe her in to muche and is ouer lauishe shal be blamed as vaine and light and perhaps worse thought of too counted a busie body a fidging fellowe and in wise mens sight a flatterer which vice our elders haue called if I doe not forget me dowble diligence And there is no faulte in the worlde more to bee abhorred or that worsse beseemes a gentleman then this And this is the thirde maner of Ceremonies which simply procedeth of our owne will and not of custome Let vs thē remēber that Ceremonies as I haue alwayes sayd were not so necessarie by nature but a man might doe well inough without them As for example our coūtrie liued it is not long since in maner cleane without any But other mens diseases haue infected vs with these infirmities and many mo So that custome and vse obserued the rest that is more is but waste and such a sufferable leesing as if it be more in deede then is in vse it is not only vnsufferable but forbidden and so vppon the matter a cold and vnsauourie thing to noble mindes that cannot brouse vppon shrubbes and shewes And you shall vnderstand that trusting my owne skill but little in wryting this present treatise I thought good to consult with many and to take the Iudgement of better learned men then my selfe And this in my reading I finde There was a King they call him Oedipus being banished and driuen out of his countrie vppon what occasion I know not he fled to King Theseus at Athens the better to saue him selfe and his life from his enemies that mainely pursued him This Oedipus now comming before the presence of Theseus by good chaūce hearing his daughter speake whome he knew by her voice for he was blind and could not beholde her with his eyes he was so presently striken with ioy that not tarying to doe his allegeaūce and duetie to the King he did presētly embrace make much of his daughter before him his fatherly affection so led him and rulde him so But in the end finding his fault and better aduising him selfe of his doings he would needs excuse it to Theseus humbly prayd his grace to pardon his folly The good and wise King cut of his talke and bad him leaue his excuses and thus saide vnto him Comfort thy selfe Oedipus and