quod he wil haue a Trope to be in these wordes This is my bodye But surely I would wishe the T. were taken awaye and they had that for their labour whiche is lefte behinde What carye you master Person quod a gentilman to a Prieste that hadde his woman on horsebacke behynde him haue you gotte your male behinde you No syr quod the Prieste it is my female The interpretation of a worde doth oft declare a witte As when one hath done a robbery some wil saye it is pitie he was a handsome man to y â— which another made answere you saye truthe syr for he hathe made these shyftes by hys handes and gotte his liuyng wyth lyght fingeringe therfore beinge handsome as you saye he is I woulde God he were handsomelye hanged Sometimes it is delightfull when a mannes word is taken and not his meaninge As when one hadde sayde to an other whose helpe he must nedes haue I am sory sir to put you to paynes The other aunswered I will ease you syr of that sorowe for I will take no paynes for you at all The turning of a word deniynge that wherwith we are charged aunswering a much worsse doth often moue the hearer There was one Bassus as Quintilian dothe tell whiche seinge a Ladye called Domitia to be very nighe her selfe spake his pleasure of her Wherupon she being greued charged hym wyth these woordes that he shoulde saye she wâ—s suche a pyuche penye as woulde sell her olde shoue for money whereupon he aunswered No forsothe madâ—me quod he I saide not so but these were my wordes I saide you bought olde shoâ—e suche as you coulde geâ— beste cheape for money The Hollanders woordes ars worthye rehearsall who beynge a pore man as Erasmus telleth the tale had a cow or two goyng in â—he communes wherupon it happened that an Oxe of a riche mans who then was Maior of the towne hadde gored the pore mannes cowe and almoste kylled her The pore man being in this case halfe vndone thought notwithstanding by a wittye deuise to get right iudgâ—ment of master Maior for the losse of his cowe if he gotte nothynge elles and therfore thus he framed his tale Sir so it is that my cowe hath gored and almoste kylled your Oxe What haâ—h she quod he by sainte Marye thou shalte pay for him then Naye quod the poore man I crye you mercye youre Oxe hathe gored my cowe Ah quod the Maior that is an other matter we wyl talke of that hereafter at more leasure These wordes were spoken of purpose but now you shal heare what an olde woman spake of simplicitie In the dotynge worlde when stockes were saintes and â—umme walles spake this olde grandamme was deuoutelye kneling vpon her knees before the ymage of our Ladye Wherupon a merye felowe asked her what she meante to crouche knele there Marie quod the olde mother I praye to our Ladye that she maye praye to her Sonne for me with that he laughed at her ignoraunce Wherupon she thinkinge that her wordes were spoken amisse corrected her owne sayinge in this wise Naye quod she I praye to Christe in heauen that he will praye for me to this good Ladye here Wordes rehearsed contrarie to that which was spoken as a man would say ouerthwartly answered do much abash the opponent delite the hearers As when Sergius Galba being sicke therfore â—eping his house had appointed certaine of his freÌ„des to hear a matter of one Libo Scribonius Tribune of the people a man muche noted for hys noughtye and vncleane life this Libo saide to him in this wise Good Lorde when shall wee see you Sir abroade out of youre Parloure Marye quod he when thou kepeste thy selfe oute of an other mannes chambre meanynge that he was ouer familiar with an other mans wife Thus we se howe and in what maner pleasaunt sawes are gathered and vsed vpon the occasion of diuers wordes spoken Pleasaunte sporte made by rehearsynge of â— whole matter THe nature whole course of a matter being largelye set oute with a comelye behauoure doth much delite the hearers and geuâ—th good cause of greate pastime And this difference is betwene a â—este in a word and a iest vtterde in a longe tale That whiche is still deliteful with what wordes soeuer you tell it is contâ—inâ—d in the substaunce or nature of a loÌ„ge tale that which loseth his grace by alteration of a worde is conteyned in the nature of a woorde They that can liuely tell pleasaunt tales and merye dedes done and set theim oute as well with gesture as with voyce leauynge nothynge behynde that maye serue for beautifiynge of their matter are mooste mete for thys purpose wherof assuredlye there are but fewe And whatsoeuer he is that canne aptelye tell his tale and wyth countenaunce voyce and gesture so temper his reporte that the hearers maye styll take delyte him counte I a man worthye to be hyghlye estemed For vndoubtedlye no man can dooe anye suche thinge excepte they haue a greate mother wytte and by experience confirmed suche their comelines wherunto by nature they were most apte Many a maÌ„ readeth histories heareth fables seeth worthye actes done euen in this our age but few can set them out accordingly and tel them liuely as the matter selfe requireth to be told The kindes of delitinge in this sorte are diuers wherof I will set forth many as hereafter they shall folowe Sporte moued by tellinge olde tales IF there be any olde tale or straunge history wel wittely applied to some maÌ„ liuing al meÌ„ loue to hear it of life As if one wer called Arthur some good felow that were well acquainted wyth kynge Arthures bokâ— and the knightes of his rounde table woulde wante no matter to make good sporte and for a nede woulde dubbe him knyght of the rounde table or els proue him to be one of his kynne or â—ls whiche were muche proue him to be Arthure hym selfe And so likewise of other names mery panions would make madde pastime Oftentimes the deformitie of a mans bodye geueth maâ—ter enoughe to be ryght merye or els a picture in shape lyke an other man will make some to laughe right hartely One being greued with an other man saide in his anger I will set the oute in thy coloures I will shewe what thou arte The other beinge therwith muche chafed shewe quod he what thou canste with that he shewed him pointinge with his finger a man with a bottell nose blobbe cheaked and as redde as a Bouchers bowle euen as like the other manne as anie one in all the worlde could be I neede not to saye that he was angrye An other good felowe beinge merelye disposed called his acquaintaunce vnto him said Come hither I saie and I wil shewe thee as verye a lowte as euer thou sawest in all thy lyfe before with that he offered him at his commynge a stele
that already and as for other that haue no witte thei will neuer learne it therefore God spede them Now when these twoo are dooen he muste perswade and moue the affeccions of his hearers in suche wise that thei shalbe forced to yelde vnto his saiyng wherof because the matter is large and maie more aptly bee declared when I shall speake of Amplificacion I wil surcease to speake any thyng therof at this tyme. ¶ By what meanes Eloquence is attained FIrste nedefull it is that he whiche desireth to excell in this gift of Oratorie and longeth to proue an eloquent man must naturally haue a wit and an aptnesse thereunto then must he to his boke learne to be well stored with knowlege that he maie be able to minister matter for all causes necessarie The which when he hath gotte plentifully he muste vse muche exercise bothe in writyng and also in speakyng For though he haue a wit and learnyng together yet shal thei bothe litle auaile without much practise What maketh the lawyer to haue suche vtteraunce Practise What maketh the Preacher to speake so rouÌ„dly Practise Yea what maketh women go so fast awaie with their wordes Marie practise I warraunt you Therfore in all faculties diligent practise and earnest exercise are the onely thynges that make men proue excellent Many men knowe the arte very well and be in all poynctes throughly grounded acquainted with the preceptes and yet it is not their hap to proue eloquent And the reason is that eloqueÌ„ce it self came not vp first by the arte but the arte rather was gathered vpon eloqueÌ„ce For wise menne seyng by muche obseruacion and diligent practise the compasse of diuerse causes compiled thereupoÌ„ preceptes and lessons worthie to bee knowen and learned of all men Therefore before arte was inuented eloquence was vsed and through practise made parfecte the whiche in all thynges is a souereigne meane most highly to excell Now before we vse either to write or speake eloquently we must dedicate our myndes wholly to folowe the moste wise and learned menne and seke to fashion aswell their speache and gesturyng as their wit or endityng The whiche when we earnestly mynde to do we cannot but in time appere somewhat like theim For if thei that walke muche in the soÌ„ne and thinke not of it are yet for the moste part sonne burnt it cannot be but that thei whiche wittyngly and willyngly trauaile to counterfecte other muste nedes take some colour of theim and be like vnto theim in some one thyng or other accordyng to the Prouerbe by companiyng with the wise a man shall learne wisedome ¶ To what purpose this arte is set furthe TO this purpose and for this vse is the arte compiled together by the learned and wise men that those whiche are ignorant might iudge of the lerned and labour when tyme should require to folow their workes accordyngly Again the art helpeth well to dispose and order matters of our awne inuencion the whiche we may folowe aswell in speakyng as in writyng for though many by nature without art haue proued worthie menne yet is arte a surer guide then nature consideryng we se as liuely by the art what we do as though we red aâ—thyng in writtyng wheras natures doynges are not so open to all men Again those that haue good wittes by nature shall better encrease theim by arte and the blunte also shalbe whetted through art that want nature to help them forward ¶ Fiue thynges to be considered in an Oratour ANy one that will largely handle any matter muste fasten his mynde first of all vpon these fiue especial poynctes that folowe and learne theim euery one j. Inuencion of matter ij Disposicion of thesame iij. Elocucion iiij Memorie v. Utteraunce THe findyng out of apte matter called otherwise Inuencion is a searchyng out of thynges true or thynges likely the whiche maie reasonably sette furth a matter and make it appere probable The places of Logique geue good occasion to finde out plentitifull matter And therefore thei that will proue any cause and seke onely to teache thereby the truthe muste searche out the places of Logique and no doubte thei shall finde muche plentie But what auaileth muche treasure and apt matter if man caÌ„not apply it to his purpose Therefore in the seconde place is mencioned the settelyng or orderyng of thynges inuented for this purpose called in Latine Dispositio the whiche is nothyng els but an apt bestowyng and orderly placyng of thynges declaryng where euery argument shalbe sette and in what maner euery reason shalbe applied for confirmacion of the purpose But yet what helpeth it though we can finde good reasons and knowe howe to place theim if we haue not apte wordes and picked sentences to commeÌ„de the whole matter Therefore this poynct must nedes folowe to beautifie the cause the whiche beyng called Elocucion is an appliyng of apte wordes and senteÌ„ces to the matter founde out to confirme the cause When all these are had together it auaileth litle if manne haue no Memorie to contein theim The Memorie therefore must be cherished the whiche is a fast holdyng bothe of matter and woordes couched together to confirme any cause Be it now that one haue all these .iiij yet if he want the fift all the other dooe litle profite For though a manne can finde out good matter and good woordes though he canne handsomely set them together and cary them very well awaie in his mynde yet it is to no purpose if he haue no vtteraunce when he should speake his minde and shewe men what he hath to saie Utteraunce therefore is a framyng of the voyce countenauÌ„ce and gesture after a comely maner Thus we se that euery one of these must go together to make a perfecte Oratoure and that the lacke of one is an hynderaunce of the whole and that aswell all maie be waÌ„tyng as one if we loke to haue an absolute Oratour ¶ There are .vii. partes in euery Oracion j. The enteraunce or beginnyng ij The Narracion iij. The Proposicion iiij The diuisioÌ„ or seuerall partyng of thynges v. The Confirmacion vi The Confutacion vii The Conclusion THe Enteraunce or beginnyng is the former part of the Oracion whereby the will of the standers by or of the Iudge is sought for and required to heare the matter The NarracioÌ„ is a plain and manifest poynctyng of the matter and an euident settyng furthe of all thynges that belong vnto thesame with a brief rehersall grounded vpon some reason The Proposicion is a pithie sentence comprehendyng in a smale roume the some of the whole matter The diuision is an openyng of thynges wherin we agree and rest vpon and wherein we sticke and stande in trauerse shewyng what we haue to saie in our awne behalfe The Confirmacion is a declaracioÌ„ of our awne reasons with assured and constaunt profes The Confutacion is a
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
manne Therefore whereas for a tyme your grace muche bewailed their lacke not onely absentyng your self from all company but also refusyng all kynde of comforte almoste dedde with heauinesse your body beyng so worne with sorowe that the long continuance of thesame is muche like to shorten your daies I shall desire your grace for Goddes loue to referre youre will to Goddes will and whereas hetherto nature hath taught you to wepe the lacke of your naturall children lette reason teache you hereafter to wipe awaie the teares and lette not phantasie encrease that whiche nature hath commaunded moderately to vse To bee sory for the lacke of oure dearest wee are taughte by nature to bee ouercome with sorowe it commeth of oure awne fonde opinion and greate folie it is with naturall sorowe to encrease all sorowe and with a litle sickenesse to purchase readie deathe The sorowes of brute beastes are sharpe and yet thei are but shorte The Cowe lackyng her Caulfe leaueth Loweyng within three or foure daies at the farthest Birdes of the ayre perceiuyng their youngones taken from their neast chitter for a while in trees there aboute and streighte after thei flie abrode and make no more a dooe The Doo lackyng her Faune the Hynde her Caulfe braie no long tyme after their losse but seyng their lacke to be without remedy thei ceasse their sorowe within short space Man onely emong al other ceaseth not to fauour his sorowe and lamenteth not onely so muche as nature willeth him but also so muche as his awne affeccion moueth hym And yet all folke do not so but suche as are subiect to passions and furthest from fortitude of mynde as women commonly rather then men rude people rather then godly folke the vnlearned soner then the learned foolishe folke soner then wise men children rather then yong men Whereupon we maie well gather that immoderate sorowe is not naturall for that whiche is naturall is euer like in al but through folie mainteined encreased by weakenesse and for lacke of reason made altogether intollerable Then I doubte not but your grace will rather ende your sorowe by reason then that sorowe should ende you through foly And whereas by nature you are a weake woman in body you will shewe your self by reason a strong man in harte rather endyng your grief by godly aduertisementes and by the iust consideracion of Gods wonderfull doynges then that tyme and space should we are awaie your sorowes whiche in deede suffer none continually to abide in any one but rather ridde theÌ„ of life or els ease them of grief The foole the vngodly the weake harted haue this remedy your medecine must be more heauenly if you do as you professe referre all to Goddes pleasure and saie in your praier Thy will bee doen in yearth as it is in heauen Those whom God loueth those he chasteneth and happie is that body whom God scourgeth for his amendement The man that dieth in the faithe of Christ is blessed and the chastâ—ned seruaunt if he doo repent and amende his life shalbe blessed We knowe not what we dooâ— when we bewaile the death of our dearest for in death is altogether all happines and before deathe not one is happie The miseries in this worlde declare small felicitee to be in thesame Therefore many men beyng ouerwhelmed with muche woe and wretched wickednes haue wished and praied to God for an ende of this life and thought this worlde to be a let to the heaueÌ„ly perfeccion the whiche blisse all thei shall attain hereafter that hope well here and with a liuely faith declare their assuraunce Your graces two sonnes in their life wer so godly that their death was their aduauntage for by death thei liued because in life thei wer dedde Thei died in faithe not wearie of this worlde nor wishyng for death as ouerloden with synne but paciently takyng the crosse departed with ioye At whose diyng your grace maie learne an example of pacience and of thankes geuyng that God of his goodnesse hath so graciously taken these your two children to his fauourable mercy God punisheth partly to trie your constaÌ„cie wherein I wishe that your grace maie nowe bee as well willyng to forsake theim as euer you were willyng to haue them But suche is the infirmitie of our fleshe that we hate good comforte in wordes when the cause of our comforte in deede as we take it is gone And me thinkes I heare you cry notwithstaÌ„dyng all my wordes alacke my children are gone But what though thei are gone God hath called nature hath obeyed Yea you crie still my children are dedde Marie therefore thei liued and blessed is their ende whose life was so godly Wo worthe thei are dedde thei are dedde It is no new thyng thei are neither the first that died nor yet the last that shall die Many went before and all shall folowe after Thei liued together thei loued together and now thei made their ende bothe together Alas thei died that wer the fruicte of myne awne body leauyng me comfortlesse vnhappie woman that I am You do well to cal theÌ„ the fruict of your body yet you nothyng the more vnhappie neither For is the tree vnhappy froÌ„ whiche the appelles fall Or is the yearth accurssed that bringeth furthe grene Grasse whiche hereafter notwithstandyng doth wither Death taketh no order of yeres but when the tyme is appoyncted be it earely or late daie or nighte awaie we muste But I praie you what losse hath your grace Thei died that should haue died yea thei died that could liue no longer But you wished theim loÌ„ger life Yea but God made you no suche promise mete it wer not that he shuld be led by you but you rather should be led by him Your children died that right godly what would you haue more All good mothers desire that their children maie die Goddes seruauntes the whiche youre grace hath moste assuredly obteined Now again mannes nature altereth and hardely tarieth vertue long in one place without muche circumspeccion youth maie sone be corrupted But you will saie These were good and godly broughte vp and therefore moste like to proue godly hereafter if thei had liued still Well thoughe suche thynges perhappes had not chaunced yet suche thynges mighte haue chaunced and although thei happen not to al yet do thei happe to many and though thei had not chaunced to your children yet we knew not that before and more wisedome it had been to feare the worst with good aduisement then euer to hope and loke stil for the best without all mistrustyng For suche is the nature of maÌ„ and his corrupt race that euermore the one foloweth soner then thother Commodus was a verteous childe and had good bringyng vp and yet he died a moste wicked man Nero wanted no good counsaill and suche a master he had as neuer any had the better and yet what one aliue was
Of what nature he is whether he be hastye headye or readye to pike quarels What shiftes he hath made from time to tyme. What moued him to do suche an haynous dede Places of Confirmation to proue whether he had power to do suche a dede or no. The grounde where the man was flaine whether it was in the hygh waye in a woode or betwixt two hylles or els where nighe to an hedge or secrete place The tyme whether it was earlye in the mornynge or late at nyght Whether he was there about that time or no. Whether he ranne awaye after the deede done or had anye bloude aboute him or trembled or stakerde or was contrarie in tellyng of his tale and how he kept his countenaunce Hope to kepe his dede secrete bi reason of the place time and secrete maner of doynge Witnesses examined of his beynge either in this or that place By comparinge of the stxengthe of the murtherer wyth the other mans weakenes armoure with nakednes stoutnes with simplicitie His Confession An example of an Oration Iudiciall to proue by Contectures the knowledge of a notable and mooste haynous offence committed by a Souldiour AS Nature hath euer abhorred murder and God in all ages most terriblye hath plagued bloudsheading so I truste your wisedomes mooste worthye Iudges will spedelye seke the execution of this mooste hatefull synne And where as God reuealeth to the syght of menne the knowledge of such offences by diuers likelihodes and probable coniectures I doubte not but you beyng called of God to heare suche causes wyll doe herein as reason shall require and as this detestable offence shall moue you vâ—on rehearsall of the matter The Manne that is well knowen to be slayne was a worthye Farmar a good housekeper a welthye husbandemanne one that traueyled muche in this worlde meâ—nynge vprightlye in all hys doinges and therfore beloued emonge all men and lamented of manye when his deathe was knowen This Souldioure beynge desperate in his doynges and liuyng by spoyle all his lyfe tyme came newlie from the warres whose handâ—s hath bene latelye bathed in bloude and nowe he kepeth this countrey where this farmar was slaine and hath ben here for the space of one whole moneth together and by all likelihodes he hath slaine this honest farmer For such menflesht vilaynes make small accompte for kyllinge anye one and do it they will withoute anye mercye when they mâ—ye see their time Yea this wretch is bruted for his beastly demeanoure and knowen of longe time to be a stronge thiefe Nether had he escaped the daunger of the law if the kinges free pardon had not preuented the execution His name declares his noughtye nature and his wycked liuynge hathe made him famous For who is he that hearynge of N. the notable offenders name myght here be rehearsed doth not thynke by and by that he were lyke to do suche a dede Neither is he onelye knowen vniuersallye to be nought but his soyle also where he was borne geueth him to be an euill man consideringe he was bredde and brought vp emong a denne of theues emonge the men of Tindale and Ryddesdale where pillage is good purchase and murderynge is counted manhode Occupation hath he none nor yet any other honeste meanes whereby to maintayne him selfe yet he liueth mooste sumptuouslye No greater gamester in a whole countrey no such riotour a notable whoremonger a lewderoister emong RuffiaÌ„s an vnreasonable waister to day ful of money w tin a seueÌ„night after not worth a grote There is no man that seethe him but will take him for his apparell to be a gentilman He hath his chaunge of sutes yea he spareth not to go in his silkes and veluet A greate quareller and fraie maker glad when he may be at dâ—fiauÌ„ce with one or other he hath made such shyftes for money ere now that I maruaile how he hath liued till this daye And now beyng at a low ebbe lothe to seme base in his estate thought to aduenture vpon this farmar and either to winne the saddle or els to lose the horse And thus beynge so farre forwarde wantinge no will to attempte this wicked deede he sought by all meanes possible conuenient oportunitye to compasse his desire And waytinge vnder a woode side nighe vnto the hyghe waye aboute sixe of the clocke at night he sette vpon this farmer at what time he was comming homewarde For it appeareth not onelye by his owne confession that he was there aboute the selfe same time where this man was slayne but also there be men that saw him ride in greate haste aboute the selfe same time And because GOD would haue thys murder to be knowen loke I praye you what bloude he carieth aboute hym to beare witnesse agaynste hym of hys moost wicked deede Againe hys owne confession dothe playnelye goe againste hym for he is in so manye tales that he can not tell what to saye And often his coloure chaungeth his bodye shaketh and hys tongue foultereth wythin hys mouthe And suche men as he bryngeth in to beare witnesse wyth hym that he was at suche a place at the selfe same houre when the Farmar was slayne they wyll not be sworne for the verye houre but they saye he was at suche a place wythin two houres after Now Lord dothe not this matter seeme most playne vnto al meÌ„ especially seing this dede was done such a time and in suche a place that if the deuyl had not bene his good Lorde thys matter hadde neuer come to lyghte And who wyll not saye that this Caytife hadde little cause to feare but rather power inoughe to doe his wycked feacte seynge he is so sturdye and so stronge and the other so weake and vnweldy yea seyng this vilaine was armed and the other man naked Doubte yon not worthye Iudges seynge such notes of his former lyfe to declare his inwarde nature and perceiuing suche coniectures lawfully gathered vpon iuste suspicion but that this wretched Souldioure hath slayne thys worthye Farmar And therfore I appeale for iustice vnto your wisdomes for the deathe of thys innocente man whose bloude before God asketh iuste auengement I doubt not but you remember the wordes of Salomon who saith It is as greate a synne to forgeue the wicked as it is euill to condempne the innocente and as I call vnfaynedlye for ryghtfull Iudgemente so I hope assuredlye for iuste execucion The Person accused beynge innocente of the cryme that is layed to his charge may vse the selfe same places for his owne defence the whyche hys accuseâ— vsed to proue hym â—yltye The interpretation of a lawe otherwise called the State legall IN boultynge out the true meaninge of a lawe we must vse to search out the nature of the same by de fining sone one worde or comparing one law wyth an other iudging vpon good triall what is right and what is wronge The partes i. Definition ii Contrarye lawes iii. Lawes made thende of the law maker
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
glasse to loke in But surelye I thynke he loked awrye for if I hadde bene in hys case I woulde haue tolde him that I espied a muche greater lowte before I sawe the glasse In augmentynge or diminishinge without all reason we geue good cause of muche pastyme As Diogenes seynge a pretye towne hauinge a greate payre of Gates at the comminge in Take hede quod he you menne of this towne lest your towne runne out of your gates That was a marueylous bygge Gate I trow or els a wonderfull little towne where suche passage shoulde be made A Frier disposed to tell misteries opened to the People that the soule of man was so little that a leuen thousande might daunce vpon the nayle of his thumbe One marueylinge much at that I praye you master Frier quod he wher shall the piper stande then when suche a number shall kepe so small a roume Mirthe is moued when vpon a trifle or a worde spoken an vnknowen matter and weightye affayre is opened As if one shoulde finde fault with some mannes sumptuous buildinge or other suche thinge whiche hadde founde muche faâ—oure at the same mans hande an other myght saye well sir he that builded this house saued your worship from hanginge when the time was A nececessarie note for him thaÌ„kefullye to remembre the builder of that house not slaunderouslye to speake euil of him It is a pleasaunt dissembling when we speake one thing merelye and thyncke an other earnestlye or elles when we prayse that which otherwise deserueth disprayse to the shaming of those that are taken to be most honest As in speakinge of one that is well knowen to be nought to saye emong all men that are sene to there is one that lacketh his rewarde He is the diligentiest felowe in hys callinge of all other he hath traueyled in behalfe of his countrey he hath watched daye and night to further his coÌ„mune weale â–ª and to aduaunce the dignitye therof and shall he go emptye home Who stode by it at suche a felde who played the man and cryed stoppe the thiefe when suche a man was robbed Who seeth good rule kept in suche a place can anye here charge him with bawdrye Whiche of you all dare saye or can say that euer you sawe him droâ—ke if then these be true ought not suche to be sene to and rewarded accordingelye For praysinge the vnworthye I remember once that our worthy Latimer did set out the deuyll for his diligence wonderfullie and preferred him for that purpose before all the Bishoppes in England And no doubte the wicked be more busye and stirrynge then the children of light be in their generation What talke you of suche a man say the an other there is an honest man ye maye be assured For if a man had neade of one he is ready at a pynche his body sweates for honesty if you come to him in a hotte sommers day you shal se his honestye in such sort to reeke that it woulde pitye any christian soule liuinge He hath more honestye with him then he neades and therfore bothe is able and will lende where it pleaseth him best Beware of him aboue all menne that eâ—uer you knewe He hathe no felowe there is none suche I thinke he wil not liue longe â–ª he is so honest a man the more pitye that suche good felowes shoulde knowe what deathe meaneth But it maketh no matter when he is gone all the worlde will speake of him hys name shall neuer dye he is so well knowen vniuersallye Thus we maye mockingelye speake well of him when there is not a noughtyer felowe wythin all Englande agayne and euen as well sette out his noughtines this way as thoughe we hadde in verye dede vttered all his noughty conditions plainelye and without iestinge Emonge al that euer were pleasaunte in this kinde of delite Socrates beareth the name and maye worthelye chalenge prayse Sir Thomas More with vs here in England â–ª had an excellent gifte not onely in this kinde but also in all other pleasaunt delites whose witte eueÌ„ at this houre is a wonder to al the worlde shalbe vndoubtedly euen vnto the worldes ende Unto this kinde of dissembling is nexte adioynâ—nge a maner of speache when wee geue an honeste name to an euyll deede As when I woulde call one accordingly that is of a noughtye behaâ—oure to saye Ah sirrha you are a marchant in dede Wher as I thinke a marchauntes name is honest Some olde felowes wheÌ„ they thinke one to be an heritique they will saye he is a gospeller Some newe felowes when they thinke one a Papist they wil call him straight a catholique be euen with him at the landes ende Contrariwise some will geue an â—uil name to a good thinge As a father louynge his Sonne tenderlye and hauynge no cause to be greued with him will sometimes saye to him Come hither sir knaue and the mother merelye beynge disposed wyll saye to her swete Sonne Ah you little horeson wyll you serue me so Where as I thyncke some womenne that ofte so saye wil sweare vpon a booke they are none suche and almoste I hadde sayde I dare sweare for some of theim my selfe if God hadde not forbidden me to sweare at all This Kynde also is pretye when we gather an other thinge by a mannes tâ—le then he woulde â—ladly we shoulde gather When Liuius Saliâ—ator a Romayne capitaine hadde kepte the Castell of Tarenâ—um losinge the towne to Anniâ—al his enemye and that Maximus therupoÌ„ had layed siege to the same towne and gotte it againe by the swerde then Saliâ—ator whyche thus kepte the Castell desiered him to remember that throughe his meanes he gotte the towne Why shoulde I not quod he thyncke so for if you had neuer lost it I had neuer gotte it To dissemble sometymes as thoughe wee vnderstode not what one meant declareth an apte witte â—nd much deliteth such as heare it Diogenes was asked on a time what wyne he loued beste to drincke Marye quod he an other mannes wyne meanynge that he loued that dryncke beste that coste him leaste The same Diogenes likewyse was asked what one shoulde geue hym to lette him haue a blowe at his heade Marye a Helmet quod he One Octaâ—ius a Libian borne as witnesseth Macrobius sayde vnto Tullie when he spake hys mynde vpon a matter Sir I heare you not I praye you speake owder No quod Tullie that is maruaile to me for as I do remember your eares are well bored thorowe meanynge that he was nayled vpon a Pillarie or â—lles hadde holes made in his eares whyche myght well serue as Tullie iested to receiue open ayre WheÌ„ Mettellus toke muster required Cesar to be there not abiding y t he should be absent thoughe his eyes greued him and said What man do you se nothing at all Yes marye quod Cesar as euil as I se I can se a lordship of yours the which was .iiii. or .v.
therfore that famouse Oratour beyng asked what was the chiefest point in al Oratorie gaue the chiefe and onely praise to Pronunciation being demaunded what was the seconde and the thirde he stil made answere Pronunciation and would make none other aunswere till they lefte askyng declaryng hereby that Arte without vtterauÌ„ce can dooe nothyng vtteraunce without Arte can dooe right muche And no doubte that man is in outwarde apparaunce halfe a good Clarke that hath a cleane tongue and a comely gesture of his bodie Aeschines lykewyse beyng baÌ„nished his countrie through Demosthenes when he had redde to the Rhodians his owne Oration and Demosthenes aunswere thereunto by force wherof he was bannished and all they marueiled muche at the excellencie of the same then ê™ Aeschines you would haue marueiled muche more if you had heard hymselfe speake it Thus beyng cast in miserie bannished for euer he could not but geue suche great reporte of his most deadly and mortal ennemy ¶ The partes of Pronunciation PRonunciation standeth partely in fashionyng the tongue and partely in framyng the gesture The tongue or voice is praise worthie if the vtteraunce be audible strong and easie apte to order as we liste Therfore they that mynde to gette praise in tellyng their minde in open audience must at the first beginnyng speake somwhat softely vse meete pausyng and being somewhat heated rise with their voice as the tyme cause shal best require Thei that haue no good voices by nature or cannot wel vtter their woordes must seeke for helpe elswhere Exercise of the bodie fastyng moderacion in meate and drynke gaping wyde or singyng plaine song counterfeityng those that do speake distinctly helpe muche to haue a good deliueraunce Demosthenes beeyng not able to propronounce the first letter of that Arte whiche he professed but would say for Rhethorique Letolike vsed to put litle stones vnder his tongue so pronounced whereby he spake at lengthe so plainely as any man in the worlde coulde doe Musicians in England haue vsed to put gagges in childreÌ„s mouthes that they might pronounce distinctely but nowe with the losse and lacke of Musicke the loue also is gone of bringyng vp children to speake plainely Some therebe that either naturally or through folie haue suche euill voices suche lacke of vtteraunce suche euil gesture that it muche defaceth all their doynges One pipes out his woordes so small through defaulte of his wynde pype that ye woulde thinke he whisteled An other is so hource in his throte that a man woulde thynke he came lately from scouryng of harnesse An other speakes as though he had Plummes in his mouthe An other speakes in his throte as though a good Ale cruÌ„me stacke fast An other ratles his wordes An other choppes his wordes An other speakes as though his wordes had neede to be heaued out with leauers An other speakes as though his wordes shoulde be weyed in a ballaunce An other gapes to fetche wynde at euery thirde woorde This man barkes out his Englishe Northrenlike with Isay and thou ladde An other speakes so finely as though he were brought vp in a Ladies Chamber As I knew a Priest that was as nice as a Nonnes Henne when he would saie Masse he woulde neuer saie Dominus vobiscum but Dominus vobicum In like maner as some now wil say the Commendementes of God blacke vellet for Commaundementes and blacke veluet Some blowes at their noistrelles Some sighes out their wordes Some synges their sentencies Some laughes altogether when they speake to any bodie Some gruntes lyke a Hogge Some cackels lyke a Henne or a Iack Dawe Some speakes as thoughe they shoulde tel a tale in their sleeue Some cries out so loude that they would make a mans eares ake to heare theÌ„ Some â—oughes at euery worde Some heÌ„mes it out Some spittes fier they talke so hotely Some makes a wrie mouthe and so they wreste out their wordes Some whynes lyke a Pig Some suppes their wordes vp as a poore man doth his porage Some noddes their head at euery sentence An other winckes with one iye and some with both This maÌ„ frowueth alwaies when he speakes An other lookes â—uer as though he were mad Some cannot speake but thei must go vp and doune or at the lest be stirryng their feete as though they stode in a cockeryng Bote. An other wil plaie with his cappe in his hande so tel his tale Some when they speake in a great companie will looke al one way as I knewe a reader in my daies who loked in lyke sorte when he redde to Scholers whome one thought to disappoint of suche his constant lookes and therefore against the nexte daie he painted the Deuil with hornes vpon his heade in the selfe same place where the Reader was wont alwaies to looke the whiche straunge monster when the reader sawe he was half abashed and turned his face an other way Some pores vpon the grounde as though thei sought for pynnes Tullie telles of one Theophrastus Tauriscus who is saide to declaime arsee versee Some swelles in the face sillâ—s their chekes ful of wynde as though they would blow out their woordes Some settes forth their lippes two ynches good beyonde their teeth Some talkes as thoughe their tongue went of patyns Some showes al their teeth Some speakes in their teeth altogether Some leates their wordes fall in their lippes scant openyng theim when they speake There are a thousand suche faultes emong menne bothe for their speache and also for their gesture the whiche if in their young yeres they be not remedied they will hartely be forgotte when they come to mans state But the rather that these faultes may be redressed I haue partly declared heretofore the righte vse of vtteraunce and nowe I mynde by Goddes helpe to shewe the right vse of gesture ¶ Vvat is gesture GEsture is a certaine comely moderacion of the countenaunce and al other partes of mans body aptely agreeyng to those thynges whiche are spoken â–ª That if wee shall speake in a pleasaunt matter it is meete that the loke also should be chereful and al the gesture stirryng thereafter The heade to be holden vpright the forehead without frownyng the browes without bendyng the nose without blowyng the iyes quicke and pleasaunt the lippes not laid out the tethe without grennyng the armes not muche cast abrode but comely set out as time and cause shal best require the handes somtymes opened and sometimes holde together the fingers pointyng the brest laid out and the whole body stirryng altogether with a seemely moderacion By the whiche behauiour of our body after suche a sorte we shal not onely delite men with the sight but perswade them the rather the truth of our cause Q. Hortensius had suche delite to vse comely gesture had suche grace in that behaulfe that I doubt whether men had a greater desire to see hym than they had to heare hym His countenaunce so
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
it be neuer so wel manered yet it yeldeth nothyng els but wheat barley beaâ—es and peason what punishement is he worthy to suffer that refuseth to Plough that lande whiche beyng tilled yeldeth childreÌ„ And for ploughyng land it is nothyng els but painfull toylyng from tyme to tyme but in gettyng children there is pleasure whiche beyng ordeined as a redy reward for paiâ—es takyng asketh a short trauaill for all the tillage Therfore if the workyng of nature if honestie if vertue if inwarde zeale if Godlinesse if duetie maie moue you why can you not abide that whiche God hath ordeined nature hath established reason doeth counsaill Gods worde and mannes worde do commende all lawes do commaunde the consent of all nacions doeth allowe whereunto also the example of all good men doth exhort you That if euery honest man should desire many thynges that axeâ— moste painful for none other cause but onely for that thei are honeste no doubt but matrimonie ought aboue all other moste of all to be desired as the whiche wee maie doubte whether it haue more honestie in it or bryng more delite and pleasure with it for what can bee more pleasaunt then to liue with her with whom not onely you shalbe ioyned in felowship of faithfulnes and moste â–ª hartie good will but also you shalbe coupled together moste assuredly with the coÌ„pany of bothe your bodies If we compt that great pleasure whiche we receiue of the good will of our frendes and acquaintaunce how pleasauâ—â— a thyng is it aboue all other to haue one with whom you maie breake the botome of your harte with whoÌ„ ye maie talke as frely as with your self into whose tâ—uste you maie saufly coÌ„mit your self suche â—oâ—e as thinketh al your goodes to be her charge Now what an heauenly bâ—isse â—row you is the companie of man and wife together seyng that in all the worlde there can nothyng be found either of greater weight and worthiâ—esse or els of more stâ—engthe and assuraunce For with frendes we ioyne onely with them in good will faith fulnesse of mynde but with a wife we are matched together bothe in harte and mynde in body and soule sealed together with the bonde and league of an holy Sacrament partyng all the goodes we haue indifferently betwixt vs. Again wheÌ„ other are matched together in freâ—dship do we not see what dissemblyng thei vse what falshode thei practise and what deceiptfull partes thei plaie Yea euen those whoÌ„ we thinke to be our most assured frendes as swallowes flie awaie wheÌ„ sommer is past so thei hide their heddes wheÌ„ fortune gynnes to faile And oft tymes when we get a newe frend we streight forsake our old We heare tell of very fewe that haue contâ—nued frendes euen till their last ende Whereas the faithfulnesse of a wife is not stained with deceipte nor dusked with any disseÌ„blyâ—g nor yet parted with any chauÌ„ge of the world but disseuered at last by death onely no not by death neither She forsakes and settes lighte by father and mother sister brother for your sake and for your loue onely She only passeth vpon you she puttes her trust in you and leaneth wholy vpon you yea she desires to die with you Haue you any worldly substauÌ„ce You haue one that will maintain it you haue one that will encrease it Haue you none You haue a wife that will get it If you liue in prosperitee your ioye is doubled if the worlde go not w t you you haue a wife to put you in good comfort to be at your commaundemeÌ„t redy to serue your desire to wishe that suche euill as hath happened vnto you might chauÌ„ce vnto her self And do you thinke that any pleasure in al the world is able to be coÌ„pared with suche a goodly felowship familier liuyng together If you kepe home your wife is at hand to kepe your coÌ„pany the rather that you might fele no werines of liuing al alone if you ride furth you haue a wife to bid you fare well with a kisse longyng muche for you beyng from home and glad to bidde you well come at your next returne A swete mate in your youthe a thankfull comforte in your age Euery societie or companiyng together is delitefull and wisshed for by nature of all menne forasmuche as nature hath ordeined vs to be sociable frendly and louyng together Nowe howe can this felowship of manne and wife be otherwise then moste pleasant where all thynges are common together betwixt them bothe Now I thinke he is moste worthy to bee despised aboue all other that is borne as a man would saie for hymself that liueth to hymself that seketh for himself that spareth for himself maketh cost onely vpon himself that loueth no man and no man loueth hym Would not a manne thinke that suche a monster were mete to be caste out of all mennes companie with Tymon that careth for no manne into the middest of the sea Neither do I here vtter vnto you those pleasures of the body the which wheras nature hath made to be moste pleasaunt vnto man yet these greate witted men rather hide them and dissemble them I cannot tel how then vtterly contempne them And yet what is he that is so sower of witte and so drowpyng of braine I will not saie blockhedded or insensate that is not moued with suche pleasure namely if he maie haue his desire without offence either of God or man and without hynderaunce of his estimacion Truely I would take suche a one not to be a man but rather to bee a very stone Although this pleasure of the body is the least parte of all those good thynges that are in wedlocke But bee it that you passe not vpon this pleasure and thinke it vnworthy for man to vse it although in deede we deserue not the name of manne without it but compte iâ— emong the least and vttermoste profites that wedlocke hath Now I praie you what can be more hartely desired then chast loue what can bee more holy what can bee more honest And emong all these pleasures you get vnto you a ioly sort of kinsfolke in whom you maie take muche delite You haue other parentes other brethren sisterne and nephewes Nature in deede can geue you but one father one mother By mariage you get vnto you another father and another mother who cannot chuse but loue you with all their hartes as the whiche haue put into your handes their awâ—e fleshe and bloud Now again what a ioye shal this be vnto you when your moste faire wife shall make you a father in bringyng furthe a faire childe vnto you where you shall haue a pretie litle boye runnyng vp and doune youre house suche a one as shall expresse your looke and your wiues looke suche a one as shall call you dad with his swete lispyng wordes Now last of all when you are thus lynked in loue thesame shalbee so fastened and bounde together as though it
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
to take them for his seruauntes furthermore the harme is theirs whiche speake so lewdlie and the blesse theirs whiche beare it so pacieÌ„tly For loke what measure thei vse to other with the same they shalbe measured againe And as they iudge so shal they be iudged Be your grace therfore strong in aduersitie and pray for them that speake amisse of you rendryng Gode for euil and with charitable dealyng showe your self long suffryng so shal you heape cooles on their heades The boisterouse Sea trieth the good mariner and sharpe vexatioÌ„ declareth the true Christian. Where battaill hath not been before there neuer was any victorie obteined Yow then beyng thus assailed show your self rather stowte to withstaÌ„d than weake to geue ouer rather cleauyng to good than yeldyng to euil For if God be with you what forceth who bee against you For when al frendes faile GOD neuer faileth them that put their trust in him and with an vnfained hart cal to hym for grace Thus doyng I assure your grace God wilbe pleased and the Godly wil muche praise your wisdoÌ„ though the worlde ful wickedly saie their pleasure I praie God your grace may please the Godlie and with your vertuouse behauiour in this your wydohode winne there commendation to the glory of God the reioysyng of your frendes and the comforte of your soule Amen Thus the rather to make preâ—eptes plaine I haue added examples at large both for counsel geuyng for comfortyng And most nedeful it were in suche kynd of OracioÌ„s to be most occupied considering the vse hereof appereth full ofte in al partes of our life and confusedly is vsed emong al other matters For in praisyng a worthie man we shal haue iust cause to speake of all his vertues of thynges profitable in this lyfe and of pleasures in generall Lykewyse in trauersyng a cause before a iudge we cannot wante the aide of persuasion and good counsel concernyng wealth health life and estimacion the helpe wherof is partely borowed of this place But whereas I haue sette forthe at large the places of confirmacion concernyng counsel in diuerse causes it is not thought that either they should al be vsed in numbre as they are or in ordre as they stande but that any one may vse theim and ordre theim as he shall thynke best accordyng as the tyme place and person shal most of al require ¶ Of an Oration iudicial THE whole burdeine of weightie matters and the earnest trial of al controuersies rest onely vpon iudgement Therfore when matters concernyng lande gooddes or life or any suche thyng of lyke weight are called in Question we must euer haue recourse to this kynde of Oration and after iust examinyng of our causes by the places therof loke for iudgement accordyng to the law ¶ Oration Iudicial what it is ORation Iudiciall is an earnest debatyng in open assemblie of some weightie matter before a iudge where the complainaunt commenseth his action the defendaunt thereupon aunswereth at his peril to al suche thynges as are laied to his charge ¶ Of the foundacion or rather principall paincte in euery debated matter called of the Rheâ—oricians the State or constitucion of the Cause NOT onely is it nedefull in causes of iudgement to considre the scope whereunto wee must leauell our reasons directe our inuencion but also we ought in euery cause to haue a respect vnto some one especial poincte and chief article that the rather the whole drift of our doynges may seeme to agree with our firste deuised purpose For by this meanes our iudgement shalbe framed to speake with discretion and the ignoraunt shall learne to perceiue with profite whatsoeuer is said for his enstructioÌ„ But they that take vpon theim to talke in open audience make not their accompte before what thei wil speake after shal neither be well liked for their inuencioÌ„ nor allowed for their witte nor estemed for their learnyng For what other thyng do they that boult out their wordes in suche sorte without al aduisement vtter out matter but showe themselues to plaie as young boyes or scarre crowes do whiche showte in the open and plaine feldes at all auentures hittie missie The learned therfore and suche as loue to becoâ—mpted Clerkes of vnderstandyng and men of good circumspection and iudgement doe warely scanne what they chefely mynd to speake and by definition seke what that is whereunto they purpose to directe their whole doynges For by suche aduised warenesse and good iye castyng they shall alwaies be able both to knowe what to say to speake what they ought As for example if I shal haue occasion to speake in open audience of the obedieÌ„ce due to our souereigne kyng I ought first to learne what is obedience and after knowelege attained to direct my reasons to the onely proue of this purpose and wholly to seke confirmacion of the same not turne my tale to talke of Robbyn Hoode to showe what a goodly archer was he or to speake wounders of the man in the Mone suche as are most nedelesse farthest from the purpose For then the hearer lookyng to be taught his obedience hearing in the meane season mad tales of archerie and great meruailes of the man in the Mone beyng half astonied at his so great straing wil perhaâ—pes say to himself Now whether the deuill wilt thou come in man againe for very shame tel me no bytailes suche as are to no purpose but show me that whiche thou diddest promise both to tâ—ache perswade at thy first entrie Assuredly suche fonde felowes there haue been yea eueÌ„ emong Preachers that talking of faith thei haue fetcht their ful race from the .xij. signes in the Zodiake An other talking of the general resurrection hath made a large matter of our blessed Lady praisyng her to be so ientle so courtise so kynd that it were better a thousandfould to make sute to her alone theÌ„ to Christ her sonne And what needed I pray you any suche rehersal beyng both vngodly nothyng at al to the purpose for what maketh the praise of our lady to the confirmacioÌ„ of the general dowme Would not a man thinke him mad that hauyng an earnest errand from London to Douer would take it the next way to ride first into Northfolke next into Essex last into Kent And yet assuredly many an vnlearned wittelesse maÌ„ hath straied in his talke much farther a great deale yea truely as farre as hence to Rome gates Therfore wise are thei that folow Plinies aduise who would that al men both in writing speakyng at large vpon any matter should euer haue an iye to the chief title principal ground of their whole entent neuer swaruing froÌ„ their purpose but rather bringyng al thinges together to coÌ„firme their cause so much as they can possible Yea the wise experte men wil aske of theÌ„selfes how hangeth this to the purpose to what end do I
either their awne profite or thaduauncement of their countrey no doubte wee shall haue theim diligent hearers Or els if thei like not to heare weightie affaires wee maie promise theim straunge newes and perswade them we wil make theÌ„ laugh and thinke you not that thei wil rather heare a foolishe tale then a wise and wholesome counsail Demosthenes therfore seyng at a tyme the fondnes of the people to be suche that he could not obtein of them to heare hym speake his mynde in an earnest cause concernyng the wealthe of his countrey required them to â—ary and he would tell them a tale of Robin Hode Whereat thei all staied longed to knowe what that should be He began streight to tel them of one that had sold his Asse to another man whereupon thei bothe went furthe to the next Market toune hauyng with them thesaied Asse And the wether beyng somewhat hotte the first awner whiche had now sold his Asse went of that side the Asse whiche kept hym best from the heate The other beyng now the awner and in full possession would not suffer that but required hym to geue place and suffer him to take the best commoditie of his awne Asse that he could haue wherat the other answered and saied naie by saincte Marie sir you serue me not so I sold you the Asse but I solde you not the shadowe of the Asse therfore pike you hence When the people hard this thei laughed apace and likte it very well Whereupon Demosthenes hauyng wonne theim together by this merie toye rebuked their folie that were so slacke to heare good thinges and so redy to heare a tale of a Tubbe and thus hauyng them attentiue preswaded with them to heare hym in matters of great importauÌ„ce the whiche otherwise he could neuer haue doen if he had not taken this waie with hym We shall get the good willes of our hearers foure maner of waies either beginnyng to speake of our selfes or els of our aduersaries or els of the people and company present or last of all if we begin of the matter it self and so go thorowe with it We shall get fauour for our awne sakes if we shall modestly set furthe our bounden dueties and declare our seruice doen without all suspicion of vauntyng either to the common weale as in seruyng either in the warres abrode or els in bearyng some office at home concernyng the tranquilitie of our couÌ„trey or in helpyng our frendes kynsfolkes and poore neighbours to declare our goodnes doen heretofore towardes them and lastly if wee shewe without all oâ—tentacion aswell our good willes towardes the iudges there as also pleasures doen for theim in tymes paste to the outermoste of our power And if any thyng seme to lette our cause by any misreport or euil behauior of our partes heretofore best it were in moste humble wise to seke fauour and sleightly to aduoyde all suche offences laied to our charge We shall get fauoure by speakyng of our aduersaries if we shall make suche reporte of theim that the hearers shall either hate to heare of them or outerly enuy them or els altogether despise theim We shall sone make our aduersaries to be lothed if we shewe and set furth some naughtie deede of theirs and declare how cruelly how vilie and how maliciously thei haue vsed other men heretofore We shall make theim to be enuied if we reporte vnto the Iudges that thei beare theimselfes haulte and stoute vpon their wealthy frendes and oppresse poore men by might not regardyng their honestie but sekyng alwaies by hooke and croke to robbe poore men of their Fermes Leases and money And by the waie declare some one thyng that thei haue doen whiche honest eares would scant abide to heare We shall make theim to bee sette naught by if we declare what luskes thei are how vnthriftely thei liue how thei do nothyng from daie to daie but eate drinke and slepe rather sekyng to liue like beastes then myndyng to liue like men either in profityng their couÌ„trey or in tenderyng their awne commoditie as by right thei ought to do We shall gette good will by speakyng of the Iudges and hearers if we shall commende their worthy dooynges and praise their iust dealyng and faithfull execucion of the law tel them in what estimacion the whole country hath them for their vpright iudgyng and determinyng of matters and therfore in this cause needes must it be that they must aunswere their former doynges and iudge so of this matter as all good men haue opinion they wil do We shal finde fauor by speakyng of the matter if in handlyng our owne cause we commende it accordyngly and dispraise the atteÌ„pt of our aduersarie extenuatyng al his chief purposes so muche as shalbe necessarie Now resteth for me to speake of the other parte of Enteraunce into an Oration whiche is called a close or priuie gettyng of fauour when the cause is daungerouse and cannot easely be heard without displeasure A priuy begynnyng or crepyng in otherwyse called Insinuation must then and not els be vsed when the iudge is greaued with vs and our cause hated of the hearers The cause selfe oftentymes is not lyked for thre diuerse causes â–ª if either the matter selfe be vnhonest and not meete to be vtterd before an audience or els if the iudge hymselfe by aformer tale be perswaded to take part against vs or last if at that tyme we are forced to speake when the iudge is weried with hearyng of other For the iudge hymself beyng weried by hearyng wil be muche more greeued if any thyng be spoken either ouermuche or els against his likyng Yea who seeth not that a weried man will soone misâ—â—ke a right good matter Yf the matter be so hainouse that it cannot be hearde without offence as if I shoulde take a mans parte who were generally hated wysedome were to lette hym go and take some other whom al men liked or if the cause were thought not honest to take some other in stede therof which were better lyked til they were better prepared to heare the other so that euermore nothyng shoulde bee spoken at the firste but that whiche might please the iudge and not to be acknowen ones to thynke of that whiche yet we minde most of al to perswade Therfore when the hearers are somwhat calmed we may entre by litle and litle into the matter and saie that those thynges whiche our aduersarie doth mislyke in the person accused we also do mislyke the same And when the hearers are thus wonne we may saie that all whiche was saied nothyng toucheth vs and that wee mynde to speake nothyng at al against our aduersaries neither this waie nor that waie Neither were it wysedome openly to speake against theim whiche are generally well estemed and taken for honest menne And yet it were not amisse for the furtheraunce of our owne causes â—losely to speake our fantasie and so streighte to aulter
Therfore the reportyng of our tale may soone appere plaine if we firste expresse our mynde in plaine wordes and not seeke these rope â—ype termes whiche betraie rather a foole than commende a wyse man again if we orderly obserue circumstaunces tell one thyng after another from tyme to tyme not tumblyng one tale in an others necke tellyng halfe a tale and so leauyng it rawe hackyng hemmyng as though our wittes and our senses were a woll gatheryng Neither shoulde we suffer our tongue to runne before our witte but with much warenesse sette forthe our matter and speake our mynde euermore with iudgement We shal make our saiynges appere lykely and probable Yf we speake directely as the cause requireth if wee showe the very purpose of al the deuise frame our inuencion accordyng as we shal thynke them most willyng to allowe it that haue the hearyng of it The Narration reported in matters of iudgement shall seeme to stande with reason if wee make our talke to agree with the place tyme thyng and persone if we shall showe that whatsoeuer we say the same by al likelyhodes is true if our coniectures tookens reasons argumentes be suche that neither in them there appere any fablyng nor yet that any thyng was spoken whiche might of right otherwyse be taken and that wee not onely speake this but that diuers other of good creditie will stande with vs in defense of the same all whiche reportyng may sone bee lyked and the tale so tolde may be thougt very reasonable Yea we shall make our doynges seme reasonable if we frame our worke to natures wil and seke none other meanes but suche onely as the honest and wyse haue euer vsed and allowed bryngyng in and blamyng the euil alwaies for suche faultes chiefely wherunto thei most of al are like to be subiect â–ª as to accuse a spend al of thefte a whoremunger of adulterie a rash quareller of manslaughter so of other Sometimes it is good and profitable to be merie and pleasaunt in reportyng a matter against some maner of man and in some cause For neither against all men that offend nor yet against all matters shoulde the wittie alwaies vse iestyng And nowe for those that shall tel their mynde in the other kyndes of Oratorie as in the kynde Demonstratiue Deliberatiue in exhortyng or perswadyng the learned haue thought meete that they must also cal the whole summe of their matter to one especial poincte that the rather the hearers may better perceiue whereat they leauel al their reasons As if a Clarke do take in hande to declare Goddes hest he will after his Enteraunce tell what thyng is chiefely purposed in that place and nexte after showe other thynges annexed thereunto whereby not onely the hearers may gâ—tte great learnyng and take muche profite of his doctrine but he hym self may knowe the better what to say what order to vse and when to make an ende Some do vse after the literal sense to gather a misticall vnderstandyng and to expounde the saiynges spiritually makyng their Narration altogether of thynges heauenly Some rehersing a texte particularly spokeÌ„ applie thesame generally vnto all states enlargyng the Narration moste Godly by comparyng wordes long agoe spoken with thynges and matters that are presently done Notwithstanding the auncient fathers because they did onely expounde the Scriptures for the moste parte made no artificiall Narration but vsed to folowe suche order as the plaine text gaue theim So that if euery sentence were plainely â–ª opened to the hearers they went not muche farther sauyng that when any worde gaue them occasion to speake of some vice they woulde largely saie their mynde in that behaulfe As Chrisostome and Basile haue done with other The ware markyng and heedie obseruacion of tyme place and person may teache al menne that be not past teachyng howe to frame their Narration in all Controuersies that are called in Question and therfore when presente occasion shall geue good instruction what neede more lessons And especially seeyng nature teacheth what is comely and what is not comely for all tymes Yea what tell I nowe of suche lessons seeyng GOD hath raised suche worthe Preachers in this our tyme that their Godly and learned dooynges may be a moste iuste example for al other to folowe aswell for their lyuyng as for their learnyng I feare me the preceptes are more in noÌ„ber than wil be wel kepte or folowed this yeare ¶ Of Diuision AFter our tale is told and the hearers haue wel learned what wee meane the nexte is to reporte wherein the aduersarie and wee cannot agree and what it is wherin we do agree And then to part out suche principall poinctes whereof we purpose fully to debate and laie theim out to be knowen that the hearers may plainely see what we wil say and perceiue at a worde the substaunce of our meanyng Now Tullie would not haue a deuision to be made of or aboue thre partes at the most nor yet lesse than thre neither if nede so require for if we haue thre chief grouÌ„des wherupon to rest appliyng al our argumentes theruÌ„to we shal bothe haue matter enough to speake of the hearers shal with ease vnderstaÌ„d our meanyng the whole OratioÌ„ shal sone be it at an end Notwithstandyng this lesson must not so curiouslie be kepte as though it were synne to make the diuision of fower or fyue partes but it was spoken for this ende that the diuision shoulde be made of as fewe as may be possible that menne may the better carie it away and the reporter with more ease maie remember what he hath to saie Nowe in praisyng or dispraisyng in perswadyng or disswadyng diuisions muste also be vsed As if one woulde enueighe against those women that will not geue their owne chidren sucke he might vse this deuision Where as women commonly put their children furthe to nursyng I will first proue that it is bothe against the lawe of nature and also against Goddes holie wil Againe I wil showe that it is harmefull bothe for the childes bodie and also for his witte lastly I wil proue that the mother selfe falleth into muche sickenesse thereby First nature geueth milke to the woman for none other ende but that she shoulde bestowe it vpon her childe And we see beastes feede there youngones and why shoulde not women GOD also commaundeth all women to bryng vp their children Againe the childrens bodies shalbe so affected as the milke is whiche they receyue Nowe if the Nurse be of an euil complexion or haue some hidde disease the childe suckyng of her brest muste needes take parte with her And if that be true whiche the learned doe saie that the temperature of the mynde folowes the constitucion of the bodie needes must it be that if the Nurse be of a naughtie nature the childe muste take thereafter But be it the Nurse be of a good complexion of an honest behauiour
whereas contrary wyse Maydens that haue made a scape are commonly called to bee Nurses yet can it not bee but that the mothers mylke shoulde be muche more naturall for the childe than the mylke of a straunger As by experience let a man be long vsed to one kynde of drynke if the same man chaunge his ayre and his drynke he is lyke to mislyke it Lastely for the mothers howe are they troubled with sore brestes besydes other diseases that happen throughe plentie of mylke â–ª the whiche Phisicians can tell and women full ofte haue felte Lykewyse in speakyng of fastyng I might vse this diuision Firste 〈…〉 godly to fast because the spirite is more free and apâ—er for any good worke Again it is wholesome because thereby euill humours are waisted and many diseases either clerely put awaie or muche abated of their tiraâ—nie Lastly it is profitable because men spende lesse money the lesse bankequetyng that thei vse Therfore if men loue either to be wise godly healthfull or wealthy let theÌ„ vse fastyng forbeare excesse Now vpon a diuision there might also be made a subdiuision as where I saie it is godly to fast I might diuide goâ—linesse into the hearyng of Goddes worde into praâ—yng â—â—uoutly and charitable dealyng with all the worlde Again speakyng of healthe I mighte saie that the whole body is not onely more Iustie with moderate fastyng but al so more apte for al assaies The learned man studieth better when he fasteth then when he is full The couÌ„sailor heareth causes with lesse pain beyng emptie then he shalbe able after a full gorge Again whereas the fiue senses bryng vs to the knowlegâ— of many thynges the more apte that euery one is the moâ—e pleasure thei bryng euer with theÌ„ The iyes se more clerely the eares heare more quickely the toÌ„gue rouleth more rouÌ„dly and tasteth thinges better and the nose smelleth euill sauours the soner Philosophie is diuided into the knowlege of thynges naturall thynges morall and into that arte whiche by reason findeth out the truthe commonly called Logique Nowe of these three partes of Philosophie I might make other thre subdiuisions and largely set them out But these maie suffice for this tyme. ¶ Of Proposicions QUintilian willeth that streight and immediatly after the Narracion there should also be vsed suche sentences as might bee full of pithe and contein 〈◊〉 theÌ„ the substance of muche matter the rather that the hearers maie be stirred vpoÌ„ the only report of some sentencious saiyng or weightie text in the law As in speakyng largely against extorcioÌ„ one might after his reasons applied to the purpose bryng in a pithie and sentencious proposicion as thus Those handes are euill that scratche out the iyes and what other dooe thei that by force robbe their Christian brethreÌ„ Wo be to that realme where might outgoeth right Or thus wheÌ„ rage doth rule and reason doeth waite what good maÌ„ can hope to liue long in rest Also an act of a realme maie wel serue to make a proposicion As thus The lawe is plain that man shall dye as an offendour whatsoeuer he bee thatbreaketh vp another mannes house and seketh by spoyle to vndo his neighbour Now here is no manâ— that doubteth but that thou hast doen this deede therfore what nedes any more but that thou muste suffer accordyng to the lawe In diuidyng a matter proposicioÌ„s are vsed and orderly applied for the better setting furth of the cause As if I should speke of thankfulnesse I might first shewe what is thankfulnesse next how nedefull it is and last how commendable and profitable it is vniuersally Thankfulnesse is a kynde of remeÌ„bryng good will shewed and an earnest desire to requiâ—e the same Without thankfulnesse no man would do for another The brute beastes haue these properties and therefore man cannot want theÌ„ without his greate rebuke Some proposicions are plain spoken without any cause or reason added therunto As thus I haue charged this man with felony as you haue hard but he denieth it therfore iudge you it I pray you Sometymes a cause is added after the allegyng of a proposicioÌ„ As thus I haue accused this man of felonie because he tooke my pursse by the high waie side and therfore I call for iustice Thus proposicions might bee gathered nexte and immediately after the rehersall of any cause and beautifie muche the matter beyng either alleged with the cause annexed or els beyng plainly spoken without geuyng any reason to it at all ¶ Of confirmacion in matters of iudgement WHen we haue declared the chief poynctes wherevnto wee purpose to referre all our reasons wee muste heape matter and finde out argumentes to confirme thesame to the outermoste of our power makyng firste the strongest reasons that wee can and nexte after gatheryng all probable causes together that beeyng in one heape thei maie seme strong and of greate weighte And whatsoeuer the aduersarie hath said against vs to answere thereunto as tyme and place beste maie serue That if his reasons be light and more good maie bee doen in confutyng his then in confirmyng our awne it were best of all to sette vpon hym and putte awaie by arte all that he hath fondely saied without witte For prouyng the matter and searchyng out the substaunce or nature of the cause the places of Logique muste helpe to sette it forward But when the persone shalbe touched and not the matter we must seke els where and gather these places together i. The name ii The maner of liuyng iij. Of what house he is of what countre and of what yeres iiij The wealthe of the man v. His behauiour or daily enuryng with thynges vi What nature he hath vij Whereunto he is moste geuen viij What he purposeth froÌ„ tyme to tyme. ix What he hath doen heretofore x. What hath befaulne vnto hym heretofore xi What he hath confessed or what he hath to saie for hymself IN well examinyng of all these matters muche maie be said greate likelihodes maie be gathered either to or fro the whiche places I vsed heretofore when I spake of matters in iudgement against the accused souldiour Now in triyng the truth by reasons gathered of the matter we must first marke what was doen at that time by the suspected persone when suche and suche offences wer committed Yea what he did before this acte was dooen Again the tyme muste bee marked the place the maner of doyng and what hart he bare hym As thoportunitie of doyng and the power he had to do this deede The whiche all sette together that either acquitte him or finde him giltee These argumentes serue to confirme a matter in iudgement for any hainous offence But in the other causes which are occupied either in praisyng or dispraisyng in perswadyng or diswadyng the places of confirmacion be suche as are before rehersed as when wee commende a thyng to proue it thus Honest to be doen. Profitable Easie. Necessarie And so of other in like
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
the Sonne who euer kepeth one course in speakyng of incoÌ„staunce to showe the Mooâ—e whiche keepeth no certaine course Againe in younge Storkes wee may take an example of loue towardes their damme for when she is olde and not able for her crooked bil to picke meat the youngones fede her In young Uipers there is a contrary example for as Plinie saieth they eate out their dammes wombe and so come forthe In Hennes there is a care to bryng vp their chickens is Egles the contrarie whiche caste out their egges if thei haue any mo then thre and al because they woulde not be troubled with bryngyng vp of many There is also a notable kynde of amplification when we would extenuate and make lesse great faultes which before we did largely encrease to thende that other faultes might seeme the greatest aboue all other As if one had robbed his maister thrust his felow through the arme accoÌ„paned with harlottes kepte the tauerne till he had been as dronke as a ratte to say after a large inuectiue against al these offences You haue heard a whole court roule of ribauldrie and yet al these are but fle bitynges in respect and comparison of that which I shal now show you Who doth not loke for a maruâ—ilouse great matter a most hainouse offence when those faultes that are thought moste greuouse are counted but fle bitynges in respect and comparison of that whiche he myndeth to reherse In like maner one might exhort y e people to godlinesse and whereas he hath set forthe al the commodities that folowe the same as in showyng a quiet conscience not gilty of any great faulte the libertie of spirite the peace whiche we haue with GOD the felowship with al the electe for the seruant of Sathan to be the sonne of GOD the comforte of the soule the greatenesse wherof no man is able to conceiue to say at lengthe and what can be greater what can be more excellent or more blesseful yet al these are smal matters if thei be coÌ„pared with the blessed enheritaunce of the euerliuing God prepared for al those that liue Godlie here vpon earthe fastenyng there whole trust vpon Christe aboue whiche bothe is able and will saue all those that caâ— vnto him with faith We do encrease our cause by reasonyng the matter and casting our accompt when either by thynges that folow or by thynges that go before or elles by suche thynges as are annexed with the matter wee geue sentence how great the thyng is By thynges goyng before I iudge when I see an â—nuiouse or hasty man fight wiâ—h an other as hastie that there is lyke to be bloudshed As who should saie can enuiouse or hastie men matche together but that they must needes trie the matter with bloudshedyng Assuredly it can not be otherwyse but that bloude must appease their rage Likewyse seeyng two wyse men earnestly talkyng together I cannot otherwyse iudge but that their talke must nedes be wittie and concerne some weightie matter For to what ende shoulde wyse men ioyne or wherefore shoulde they laie their heades together if it were not for some earnest cause whâ—t a shame iâ— it for a strong man of muche health great manhode to be ouercome with a cuppe of drynke FroÌ„ thynges ioyned with the cause thus A woman hauyng her housbande emprisoned and in daunger of death soubdenly steppe before the Kyng and craued his pardon Bold was that womaÌ„ whiche durst aduenture to knele before a Kyng whose housband had so greuously offended Though woâ—en by nature are fearful yet in her appered a manly stomake and a good bolde harte yea euen in greatâ—st daunger By thynges that folowe thus al England lament the death of Duke Henrie and Duke Charles twoo noble brethren of the house of Suffolke Then may we wel iudge that these two ientlemen were wonderfully beloued when they both were so lamented There is a kynde of Amplifiyng when in speakyng of .ii. that fought together wee praise hym muche that had the worse because we would the other to haue more praise CoÌ„sideryng for a man to beate a boye it were no praise but for a talle man to matche with an other that were as talle as hym selfe that were somwhat worthe Therfore I woulde haue the Scottes wel praised whome the Englishmen haue so often vanquished He that praiseth muche â—he stronghold of Boleine must nedes thereby praise kyng Henry the .viij. of England who by martial power wonne it and kepte it al his lyfe tyme. Or thus Suche a one kepes a marueilouse good house for the worst boie in his house drynkes one and thesame drynke with his master and al one bread yea euery one hath his meate in siluer chamber vessels and all are of siluer We iudge by apparel by armour or by harnesse what a man is of stature or biggenes We iudge by occasion the goodnes of men as when they might haue doen harme thei would not when they might haue slaine thei sought rather to saue FroÌ„ the place where one is encrease may be gatherd As thus Beyng euen in the Court he was neuer moued to gaÌ„myng beyng at Rome he hated harlottes where thereis by report so great plentie as there are starres in the elemeÌ„t From the tyme thus he must needes be well learned in the lawes of our Realme that hath been a student this thirtie wynter From the age assuredly he is lyke to be good for beeyng but a childe he was euer most godlie From the state of lyfe no doubt but he is honest for beyng but a seruaunt he lyued so vprightely as none coulde iustly blame his lyfe From the hardenesse of a thyng That whiche is almost onely proper to Aungels must nedes be harde for man therefore chastitie is a rare gifte and harde for man to kepe From the straungenesse of a thyng EloqueÌ„ce must nedes bee a wonderful thyng when so fewe haue attained it Lykewyse notable aduentures doen by a fewe are more praise worthy than suche as haue been done by a great nombe Therfore the battail of Muskelborow against the Scottes where so fewe Englishmen were slaine and so many Scottes dispatched must nedes be more praise worthie than if the nomber of Englishmen had been greater Uehemencie of woordes full often helpe the matter forwarde when more is gatherde by cogitacion than if the thyng had been spoken in plaine woordes When wee heare one say suche a maÌ„ swelled seyng a thyng against his mynd we gather that he was then more than half angrie Againe when wee heare one saie suche a woman spittes fier we gather streight that she is a Deuill The Preacher thunderde in the Pulpite belyke then he was metely hoote But concernyng all suche speaches the knowlege of a Metaphore shall bryng men to muche knowlege whereof I wil speake hereafter emong the figures and therefore I surcease to speake of it in this place We encrease our cause by heapyng of wordes sentences together couchyng
bee to brode and these barres be ouer bigge for looke what is geuen to one by commendyng the same is streight taken away by buttyng Therfore suche are not to be lyked that geue a man a shoulder of mutton and breake his heade with the spitte when thei haue doen. And yet this is many a maÌ„s nature especially where enuie hath any grounded dwellyng place whose propertie is alwaies to speake nothyng of other without reproche and slaunder In mouyng affections and stirryng the iudges to be greued the weight of the matter must be so set forth as though they saw it plaine before their â—yes the report must be suche and the offence made so hainouse that the like hath not been seene heretofore and al the circuÌ„staunces must thus be heaped together The naughtines of his nature that did the dead the cruel orderyng the wicked dealyng and maliciouse handelyng the tyme the place the maner of his doyng and the wickednesse of his wil to haue doen more The man that susteined the wrong how litle he deserued how wel he was estemed emong his neighbours home small cause he gaue hym how great lacke men haue of hym Now if this be not reformed no good man shal lyue saufe the wicked wil ouerflowe al the world best it were for sauegard to be nought also and to take parte with them for no good man shal goe quiet for them if there be not spedie redresse found and this faulte punished to thexample of al other Quintiliane coucheth together in these few wordes the ful heape of suche an heauouse matter by gatheryng it vp after this sorte i. What is doen. ij By whome iij. Against whome iiij Upon what mynde v. At what tyme. vi In what place vij After what sorte viij How muche he would haue doen. IF one bâ—e beaten blacâ—e and blewe wee take it greuously but if one be slain â–ª we are muche more troubled Again if a slaue or ruffine shall do suche a dede we are displeased but if an officer a preacher or an hed iâ—ntleman should vse any slauerie wee are muche more agreued Yea or if a very notable euill man commit suche an horrible offence we thynke hym worthy to haue the lesse fauor If a sturdy felowe be stroken we are not so muche disquieted as if a child a woman an aged man a good man or a chief officer should be euil vsed If the offence be committed vpon a prepensed mynde and wilfully wee make muche more a do then if it were doen by chauÌ„ce medly If it be doen vpon an holy daie or els vpon â—he daie of Assise or vpon the daie of a kynges coronacion or about suche a solâ—mpne tyme or if it bee dooen in the nighte rather then at Noone daies we make the matter greater then if it had bâ—en dooen at another tyme. In the course if one strike a man it is â—hought greater then if he should strike hym in the opâ—n streate The maner of dooyng also doeth muche moue the pacience of meÌ„ as if one should cowardly kill one and strike hym sodainly â–ª he were worthy greater blame then if he should manfully set vpon hym or if one kill his felowe secreâ—ly with a gunne â–ª he wer worthy more hâ—tred then if he killed hym with a sword or if he wounded hym sore or cruelly mangeled hym we crie out muche more then if he had barely killed hym And lasâ— of al if his will had been to haue doen muche more then he did we encrease our anger against his rage muche more then euer we would els haue doen. ¶ Of mouyng pitee Nowe in mouyng pitie and stirryng menne to mercie the wrong doen must first be plainly told or if the Iudges haue susteined the lâ—â—e excremitâ—e the best wer to will them to remeÌ„bre their awn state how thei haue been abused in like maner what wronges thei haue suffered by wicked doers that by hearyng their awne thei maie y â— better hearken to others Again whereas all other miseries that befall vnto man are greuous to the â—are there is nothing more heâ—nous then to heare that the most honest men are sonâ—st ouerthroweâ— by theÌ„ that are moste wicked and vertue put to flight through the onely might of vice That if the like hath not happened vnto the hearers of this cause yet it wer mere to shewe theÌ„ that the like maie happeÌ„ and so require them to geue iudgement in this cause as thei would doo in their awne and remâ—mber that harme may chaunce to euery one that perhappes chaunceth to any one And no doubt euery man remembryng hymself and his awne case will loke well about hym and geue iudgement accordyng to right Neither can any good be doen at all when we haue saied all that euer we can excepte we bryng thesame affeccions in our awne harte the whiche wee would the Iudges should beare towardes our awne matter For how can he be greued with the report of any heinous acte either in stomackyng the naughtinesse of the deede or in bewailyng the miserable misfortune of the thyng or in fearyng muche the like euill hereafter excepte the Oratour hymself vtter suche passions outwardly and from his harte fetche his complaintes in suche sort that the matter maie appere bothe more greuous to the eare therwith so heinous that it requires earnestly aspedy reformacion There is no substaunce of it self that wil take fire excepte ye put fire to it Likewise no mannes nature is so apt streight to be heated except the Orator himself be on fire and bryng his heate with hym It is a common saiyng nothyng kyndeleth soner then fire And therefore a fierie stomack â—auseth euermore a fierie tongue And he that is heated with zeale and godlinesse shall set other on fire with like affeâ—cion No one man can better enuiegh against vice then he can do â–ª whiche hateth vice with al his harte Again nothyng moysteâ—h soner then water Therefore a wepyng iye causeth muche moysture and prouoketh teares Neither is it any meruaile for suche men bothe in their countenauÌ„ce tongue iyes gesture and in all their body els declare an outwarde grief and with wordes so vehemently and vnfeinedly settes it forward that thei will force a man to be sory with them and take part with theâ—r teares euen against his will â—oâ—withstandyng when suche affeâ—cioÌ„â— are moued it wer good â—ot to stande long in theÌ„ For though a vehement talke maie moue teares yet no arte can long hold theim For as Cicero doth saie nothyng drieth soner then teares especially when we lament another mans cause be sory w t him for his sake But now that I haue taught men to be sory I wil atteÌ„pt again to make them mery and shewe what learned men saie concernyng laughter in delityng the hearers wheÌ„ tyme and place shall best require ¶ Of deâ—ityng the hearers and stirryng them to laughter COnsideryng the
dulnesse of mannes nature that neither it can be attentiue to heare nor yet stâ—â—red to like or allowe any tale long tolde except it be refâ—eshed or finde some swete delite the learned haue by witâ—e and labor deuised muche varietee Therefore sometymes in tellyng a weightie matter thei bryng in some heuy 〈◊〉 moue theÌ„ to be right sory wherby the hearers are more attentiue But after when thei are weried either with â—â—diousnesse of the matter or heuines of the report some pleasant matter is inueÌ„ted both to quicken them again also to kepe thâ—im froÌ„ sacietie But surely fewe there be that haue this gift in due tyme to chere men Neither can any do it whom nature hâ—th not framed geuen an aptnes therunto Some mannes couÌ„tenauÌ„ce will make pastyme though he speake neuer a worde Yea a foolishe worde vttered by an apte manne or a gesture straungely vsed by some pleasant body setâ—es men ful oft vpon a laughter And whereas some thinke it a trifle to haue this gift so easy that euery varlet or common iesture is able to matche with the best yet it appereth that thei whiche wittely can be pleasant when time serueth can geue a mery answere or vse a nippyng taunte shalbee able to abashe a righte worthy man make hym at his wittes ende through the sodein quip vnloked frsipe geuen I haue knowen some so hit of the thuÌ„bes that thei could not tell in y â— world whether it were beste to fighte chide or to go their waie And no meruaile for wher y e iest is aptly applied the hearers laugh immediatly who would gladâ—y be laughed to scorne some can pretely by a word spoken take occasioÌ„ to be right mery Other can iest at iarge tel a round tale pleasantly though thei haue none occasion at that tyme geuen But assuredly that mirth is more worth whiche is moued by a word newly spoken then if a long tale should pleasauntly be told For asmuche as bothe it cometh vnlooked for and also declares a quickenesse of wittâ— worthy commendacion There are fiue thynges whiche Tullie noteâ—h concernyng pleasaunt talke i. What it is to delite the hearers ij Whereof it cometh iij Whether an orator may moue laughter iiij How largely he maie go and what measure he must vse v. What are the kyndes of sportyng or mouyng to laughter Now to tell you in plain woordes what laughter is how it stirreth and occupieth the whole body how it altereth the countenance and sodainly brasteth out that we cannot kepe it in Let some mery man on Goddes name take this matter in hande For it passeth my cunnyng and I thynke euen thei that can best moue laughter would rather laugh merily wheÌ„ suche a question is put furthe then geue answere earnestly what and how laughter is in deede The occasion of laughter and the meane that maketh vs merie whiche is the second obseruacion is the fondnes the filth nes the deformitee and all suche euill behauior as we se to bee in other For wee laugh alwaies at those thynges whiche either onely or chiefly touche handsomely and wittely some especiall fault or fonde behauior in some one body or some one thing Sometymes we iest as a maÌ„nes body that is not well proporcioned and laugh at his countenaunce if either it be not comely by nature or els he through foly cannot wel set it For if his talke be fond a mery man can want no matter to hit hym home ye maie be assured Some iest is made when it toucheth no man at al neither the demaunder neither the staÌ„ders by nor yet any other and yet deliteth as muche the hearers as any the other can do Now when wee would abashe a man for some woordes that he hath spoken and can taâ—e none aduâ—untage of his persone or makyng of his body wee either doulte hym at the firste and make hym â—eleue that he is no wiser then a Goose or â—ls wee confute wholy his saiynges with some pleasaunt iest or els we extenuaâ—e and diminishe his doynges by some pretie meanes or els we cast the like in his dishe and with some other deuise dashe hym out of countenance or last of all we laugh him to skorne out right and sometymes speake almost neuer a word but onely in countenaunce shewe our selfes pleasaunt But how soeuer we make sport either the delite is vttered by couÌ„tenaunce or by poynctyng to some thyng or els shewed at large by some tale or els occasioÌ„ taken by some word spoken The .iij question is whether it standeth with an Orators professioÌ„ to delite the hearers with pleasaunt reportes and wittie saiynges or no. Assuredly it behoueth a maÌ„ that must talke muche euermore to haue regard to his audience not onely to speake so muche as is nedefull but also to speake no longer then thei be willyng to heare Euen in this our tyme some offende muche in tediousnesse whose parte it were to coÌ„fort all men with cherefulnes Yea the preachers of God mynd so muche edefiyng of soules that thei often forget we haue any bodies And therefore some doo not so muche good with tellyng the truthe as thei doe harme with dullyng the hearers beyng so farre gone in their matters that oftentymes thei cannot tell when to make an ende Plaâ—o therefore the father of learnyng and the well of all wisedome when he hard Antisthenes make suche a long oracioÌ„ that he starke weried all his hearers phy for shame man ê™ he doest thou not knowe that the measuryng of an oracion standeth not in the speaker but in the hearers But some perhaâ—ps wil saie vnto me pascite quantum in uobis est to whom I answere estote prudentes And now bicausâ— our senses be suche that in hearyng a right wholsome matter wee either fall a slâ—pe wheÌ„ we should moste harken or els are weried with stil hearyng one thyng without any change and thinke that the best part of his tale resteth in maâ—yng an ende the wittie learned haue vsed delitefull saiynges and quicke sentences euer â—mong their weightie causes coÌ„sideryng that not onely good wil is got therby for what is he that loueth not mirth but also men wounder at suche a head as hath mennes hartes at his commaundement beyng able to make theim merie when he list and that by one worde speakyng either in answeryng some thyng spoken before or els oftentymes in geuyng the onset beyng not prouoked thereunto Again we se that men are full oft abashed and putte out of countenaunce by suche tauntyng meanes and those that haue so dooen are compted to be fine men and pleasaunt felowes suche as fewe dare set foote with them Thus knowyng that to moue sâ—orte is lawfull for an orator or any one that shall talke in any open assembly good it were to knowe what compasse he should kepe that should thus be merie For feare he take to muche ground and go beyonde his boundes
Therfore no suche shouâ—d be taunted or iested with all that either are notable euill liuers and heynous offendours or els are pitâ—full caitifes wretched beggers For euery one thinketh it a better and a meter deede to punishe naughtie packes then to shoffe at their euill demeanoure and as for wretched soules or poore bodies none can beare to haue theÌ„ mocked but thinke rather that thei should be pitied except thei foolishely vaunt theÌ„selfes Again none suche should be made any laughyâ—g stockes y â— either are honest of behauiour or els are generally welbeloued As for other we maie be bold to talke with them make suche game and pastime as their good wittes shal geue good cause But yet this one thyng we had nede euer to take with vs that in all our iestyng we kepe ameane wherin not onely it is mete to auoyde al grosse bourdyng and alehouse iestyng but also to eschue al folishe talke ruffin maners such as no honest eares can ones abide nor yet any wittie man can like well or allowe ¶ The diuision of pleasauâ—t behauiour PLeasauntnesse either appereth in tellyng a rounde tale or els in takyng occasioÌ„ of some one worde The matter is told pleasauntly when some mannes nature whereof the â—ale is tolde is so set furthe his countenaunce so counterfeited and all his iesture so resembled that the hearers might iudge the thing to be then liuely doen euen as though he were there whereof the â—ale was told Some can so lâ—uâ—ly set furthe another mannes nature and with suche grace reporte a tale that fewe shalbe able to forbeare laughter whiche knowe bothe parties though thei would the coÌ„trary neuer so fain Now in â—ountâ—rfâ—ityng after this sort â–ª if suche moderacion be not vsed that the hearer maie iudge more by hymself then the pleasant disposed man is willyng fully to set furth it will not be well liked For he that excedeth and telleth all yea more then is nedefull without al repect or consideracion had thesame shalbe taken for a common iesture suche as knowe not howe to make an ende when thei once bâ—ginne beyng better acquainted with bible bable then knowyng the frute of wisedomes lore Pleasantnesse in a saiyng is stirred by the quicke altryng of some one worde or of some one senteÌ„ce But euen as in reportyng a tale or counterfeityng a manne so muche is euer naught so scurrilitie or to speake in old plain english knauery in iestyng would not be vsed where honestie is estemed Therfore though there be some wit in a pretie deuised ieste â—et we ought to take hede that we touche not those whoÌ„ we would be moste loth to offend And yet some had as lâ—uâ— lose their life as not bestowe their conceiued iest and oftentimes thei haue as thei desire But shall I say of suche wilful men as a Spaniard spake of an earnest Gospeller that for woordes spoken against an Ecclesiasticall lawe suffered death in Smithe fielde Ah miser non potuit tacere uiueâ—e Ah wretche that he was could he not liue and held his peace Again to iest when occasioÌ„ is geuen or when the iest maie touch al meÌ„ it is thought to be against al good maner Therfore the consideracion of time moderacion of pastyme sâ—ldome vsyng of drie mockes euen when nede moste requireth make a difference and shewe a seuerall vnderstandyng betwirte a common iester and a pleasaunt wise man Now the time requireth to shew what kindes there are of mouyng laughter makyng the hearer to be mery notwithstaÌ„ding this would first be learned that out of diuerse pleasant speches auÌ„cient saiynges also maie be gathred As for exaÌ„ple we maie by one worde bothe praâ—se a faithfull seruauÌ„t and if he be naught we maie also iest of him dispraise him According to that mery saiyng of Nero vpoÌ„ his man y â— was light fingered I haue one at home ê™ he emoÌ„g all other to whom there is no cofer lockt nor dore shut in all my house â–ª meanyng that he was a picklocke and a false verlâ—t and yet these wordes might haue been spoken of a faithfull seruaunt We shall delite the hearers when thei looke for one answere and we make theim a cleane contrary as though wee would not seme to vnderstande what thei would haue As when one commyng froÌ„ a faire and beyng asked in good sadnesse of another howe horses went there Marie ê™ he some trotte and some amble And thus beyng deceiued of our lookyng for who would haue lookte for suche an answere we are oft delited with our awne errour Again one Pontidius beyng sore greued that another maÌ„ had coÌ„mitted aduoutrie came to a frend of his and saied sadly Ah lorde what thinke you sir of hym that was taken in bedde of late â–ª with another mannes wife Marie ê™ the other I thynke him to be a very sluggard PoÌ„tidius hearyng him saie so was abashed at the straungenesse of hâ—s answere and lokyng for no suche thyng was driuen to laugh at his awne errour although before he was muche greued with thaduouterers moste wicked deede One beyng sore greued with the euill behauiour of a certain â—entlemaÌ„ spake his pleasure largely against hym whervpon another merie man disseÌ„blyng to take his part said he was an honester maÌ„ then so Yea ê™ thother what one thing hath he wherby to proue himself honest at al Marie ê™ the man he hath the kynges pardon what saie you to thaâ— WheÌ„ is it best to dine ê™ one to Diogenes Mary ê™ he for a riche man when he list for a poore man wâ—en he canne A nobâ—e man that whilome kept a chapell beyng disposed to serue God went to his closette deuoutely and made hym self redy to praie wherupon one came doune in hast and said to the Chaunter you muste begin sir. The Chaunter beyng a merie man answered thus as though he were angry Begin ê™ he I will begin with none eâ—cept thei begin with me And so made the whole Quier that then was redy for syngyng to fall streight a laughyng The whiche is all one for syng we or laugh we what maketh matter so we be merie Wordes doubtfully spokeÌ„ geue ofteÌ„ iust occasioÌ„ of muche laughter Ah ê™ a certaâ—n man do you se yonder felowe do you knowe him Yea quod the other I knowe him verye well I shall tell you sir saide the gentilman there is not a manne of greater vnderstandinge within this Citye then he is Tushe it is not so quod he No saide the other marcke well the bought of his legge and you shaâ—l see hys vnderstandâ—nge worthye to be compared with the beste and greatest of them all Sometimes it is well liked whan by the chaungynge of a letter or takinge awaye some parte of a worde or addinge sometimes a sillable we make an other meaninge As one saide that meante full vnhappelye enueâ—ghynge againste those that helde of Christes spirituall beynge in the SacrameÌ„t some
the elementes haue their appointed course By an order we deuise we learne and frame our dooynges to good purpose By an order the Carpenter hath his Squyre his Rule and his Plummeâ— The Tailour his mette Yarde his measure The Mason his Former and his Plaine and euery one accordyng to his callyng frameth thynges thereafter For though matter be had and that in greate plentie yet al is to no purpose if an order be not vsed As for example What auaileth Stoone if Masons doe not worke it What good dothe clothe if Tailours take no measure or do not cutte it out Though Tymber be had for makyng a Shippe and al other thynges necessarie yet the shippe shal neuer be perfite till worke men begynne to set to their handes and ioyne it together In what a comenly order hath God made man whose shape is not thought perfite if any parte be altered yea al folke would take hym for a monster whose feete should occupie the place of his handes An army neuer getteth victorie that is not in araie and sette in good order of battail So an Oration hath litle force with it and dothe smally profite whiche is vtterde without all order And needes must he wander that knowes not howe to goe neither can he otherwyse chouse but stumble that gropynâ— in the darke can not tel where he is Yea he must nedes both leaue muche vnspoken repeate often thynges spokeÌ„ before not knowing what nor wher to speake best that geues hym selfe rather to take the chaunce of fortune than to folowe the right way of aduised counsell What shoulde a man do with a weapon that knoweth not howe to vse it What though one haue mountaines of golde what auaileth hym to haue suche heapes if he cannot tel how to bestow them It is not enough to haue learnyng but it is al to vse learnyng Therefore because this parte of bestowyng matter and placyng it in good order is so necessarie I will showe what the learned haue saied in this behaulfe so muche as I shall thynke nedeful Disposicâ—on what it is DIsposicion as Tullie doth define it is a certaine bestowyng of thynges and an apte declaryng what is meete for euery parte as tyme and place do beste require ¶ Diuidyng of Disposicion THere are two kyndes of disposyng and placyng of matter The one is when we folowe the appointed rule of Rethorique the whiche nature doth almost teache vs The other is wholy fasshioned by the discretion of hym that makes the Oration Rethorique doeth teache vs and nature also leadeth vs thereunto first to speake somwhat before we open our matter after that to tell the cause of our entent settyng forthe the matter plainly that al may vnderstand it then to proue our owne cause by good reason and to confute all suche thinges as are contrarie to our purpose last of al to gather the whole in a somme concludyng the matter briefely and so to make an ende Nowe to place those reasons whiche shoulde both serue to confirme and to confute and to tel in what parte of the Oration it were best to vse this reason and that reason that the rather wee might proue teache and perswade a right wyse man had nede to take this matter in hande For euen as the tyme the place the iudge and the matter it selfe shal geue cause so must a wyse body take his aduantage Sometymes it shalbe expedient to vse no preface at al or els when the matter is wel knowne it will be good to leaue the matter vntolde and streight to seeke the confirmacion vsyng some stronge reason for the same purpose Yea sometymes it may do good to neglecte the naturall order and begynne firste to proue the cause and afterwarde to tell it better than it was tolde before If the iudge or the hearers shalbe weried with other â—eportes before it is beste to goe to the matter and proue it out of hande with as briefe reasons and as strong as can be gatherde possible And in prouyng of our matters we had nede euermore rather to waie our reasons than to noÌ„ber them and thynke not that then we shall doe beste when haue the most but then looke to doe best when we haue the strongest And first of al the strongest should be vsed and the other placed in the middest of the Oration the whiche beeyng heaped together wil make a good mustar And yet this also would be learned whereas we vsed the best reasons at the first we shoulde also reserue some that were lyke good for the later end that the hearers might haue them freshe in their remembraunce when they shoulde geue iudgement The slender reasons that can do lesse good and yet not all for some may better be omitted woulde bee placed in the middest as I saied that bothe they might bee lesse marked or beeyng heaped there together they might doe more good especially when bothe weightie reasons went before and weightie reasons also folowed after Now a wyse man that hath good experience in these affaires and is able to make hym selfe a Rhetorique for euery matter will not bee bounde to any precise rules nor kepe any one order but suche onely as by reason he shall thynke best to vse beeyng maister ouer Arte rather then Arte shoulde be maister ouer hym rather makyng Art by witte than confoundyng witte by Arte. And vndoubtedly euen in so doyng he shal do right wel and contente the hearers accordyngly For what mattereth whether we folowe our Booke or no if wee folowe witte and appoint our selfe an order suche as may declare the truthe more plainely Yea some that be vnlearned and yet haue right good wittes will deuise with theim selues without any Booke learnyng what they wil saie and how muche they wil say appointyng their order and partyng it into thre or foure partes or more if neede be suche as they shal thynke especial pointes and most meete to bee touched Whose doynges as I can wel like muche commende them for the same so I would thynke them muche more able to do muche better if thei either by learning folowed a Paterne or els knewe the preceptes whiche leade vs to right order Rules wer therfore geuen and by muche obseruacion gathered together that those whiche could not see Arte hid in another mannes doynges should yet se the rules open all in an order set together therby iudge the rather of their doynges and by earnest imitacion seke to resemble suche their inuencion I cannot deny but that a right wise man vnlearned shall doo more good by his naturall witte then twentie of these common wittes that want nature to help arte And I know that rules wer made first by wise men and not wise men made by rules For these preceptes serue onely to helpe our nede suche as by nature haue not suche plentifull giftes And as for other vnto whom nature is more fauorable thei are rather put the soner in remeÌ„braunce that suche lessons are
and ingenious capacitee for mundane affaires I cannot but celebrate and extolle your magnificall dexteritee aboue all other For how could you haue adepted suche illustrate prerogatiue and dominicall superioritee if the fecunditee of your ingenie had not been so fertile wouÌ„derfull pregnaunt Now therfore beeyng accersited to suche splendent renoume dignitee splendidious I doubt not but you will adiuuate suche poore adnichilate orphanes as whilome ware coÌ„disciples with you and of antique familiaritie in Lincolne shire Emong whom I beeyng a Scholasticall panion â—btesiate your sublimitee to extoll myne infirmitee There is a sacerdotall dignitee in my natiue countrey contiguate to me where I now contemplate whiche your worshipfull benignitee could sone impetrate for me if it would like you to extend your scedules and collaude me in them to the right honorable lorde Chauncellor or rather ArchigraÌ„macian of Englande You knowe my literature you knowe the pastorall promocion I obtestate your clemencie to inuigilate thus muâ—he for me accordyng to my confidence and as you know my condigne merites for suche a compendious liuyng But now I relinquishe to fatigate your intelligence with any more friuolous verbositie and therfore he that rules the climates be euermore your beautreux your fortresse and your bulwarke Amen What wise maÌ„ readyng this letter will not take him for a very Caulfe that made it in good earnest thought by his ynkepot termes to get a good personage Doeth wit reste in straunge wordes or els standeth it in wholsome matter and apt declaryng of a mannes mynd Do we not speake because we would haue other to vnderstande vs or is not the tongue geueÌ„ for this ende that one might know what another meaneth And what vnlearned man can tell what half this letter signifieth Therfore either we must make a difference of Englishe and saie some is learned Englishe and othâ—r some is rude Englishe or the one is courte talke the other is couÌ„trey speache or els we must of necessitee banishe al suche affected Rhetorique and vse altogether one maner of laÌ„guage When I was in Cambrige and student in the kynges College there came a man out of the toune with a pinte of wine in a pottle pot to welcome the prouost of that house that lately came from the courte And because he would bestow his present like a clerke dwellyng emong the schoolers he made humbly his thre curtesies and said in this maner Châ— good â—uen my good lorde and well might your lordship vare Understandyng that your lordeship was come knowyng that you are a worshipfull Pilate and kepes a bominable house I thought it my duetie to come incantiuantee bryng you a pottell a wine the whiche I beseche your lordeship take in good worthe Here the simple man beyng desirous to amendâ— his mothers tongue shewed hymself not to bee the wisest manne that euer spake with tongue Another good felowe in the couÌ„trey beyng an officer and Maiour of a toune and desirous to speake like a fine learned man hauyng iust occasion to rebuke a runnegate felow said after this wise in a greate heate Thou yngram and vacacion knaue if I take thee any more within the circumcision of my dampnacion I will so corrupte thee that all vacacion knaues shall take ilsample by thee Another standyng in muche nede of money and desirous to haue some helpe at a ientlemanns hand made his complaint in this wise I praie you sir be so good vnto me as forbeare this halfe yeres rent For so helpe me God and halidome we are so taken on with contrary Bishoppes with reuiues and with subsides to the kyng that al our money is cleane gone These wordes he spake for contribucion relief and subsidie And thus we see that poore simple men are muche troubled and talke oftentymes thei knowe not what for lacke of wit and want to Latine Frenche wherof many of our strauÌ„ge woordes full often are deriued Those therefore that will eschue this foly and acquaint themselfes with the best kynd of speache muste seke froÌ„ tyme to tyme suche wordes as are commonly receiued and suche as properly maie expresse in plain maner the whole conceipte of their mynde And looke what woordes wee best vnderstande and knowe what thei meane thesame should sonest be spoken and firste applied to the vtteraunce of our purpose Now whereas wordes be receiued aswell Greke as Latine to set furthe our meanyng in thenglishe tongue either for lacke of store or els because wee would enriche the language it is well doen to vse them and no man therin can be charged for any affectacion when all other are agreed to folowe thesame waie There is no man agreued when he heareth letters patentes yet patentes is latine and signifieâ—h open to all men The Communion is a felowship or a commyng together rather Latine then Englishe the Kynges prerogatiue declareth his power royall aboue all other and yet I knowe no man greued for these termes beeyng vsed in their place nor yet any one suspected for affectacion when suche generall wordes are spoken The folie is espied when either we will vse suche wordes as fewe men doo vse or vse theim out of place when another might serue muche better Therfore to auoyde suche folie we maie learne of that most excellent Orator Tullie who in his thirde booke where he speaketh of a perfect Oratoure de lareth vnder the name of Crassus that for the choyse of wordes foure thinges should chiefly be obserued First that suche wordes as we vse shuld bee proper vnto the tongue wherein wee speake again that thei be plain for all men to perceiue thirdly that thei be apt and mete moste properly to sette out the matter Fourthly that woordes translated from one significacion to another called of the Grecians Tropes bee vsed to beautifie the sentence as precious stones are set in a ryng to commende the golde ¶ Aptenesse what it is SUche are thought apt wordes that properly agre vnto that thyng whiche thei signifie and plainly expresse the nature of thesame Therfore thei that haue regard of their estimacion do warely speake and with choyse vtter woordes moste apte for their purpose In weightie causes graue wordes are thought moste nedefull that the greatnesse of the matter maie the rather appere in the vehemâ—ncie of their talke So likewise of other like order muste be taken Albeit some not onely do not obserue this kynde of aptnes but also thei fall into muche fondnesse by vsyng wordes out of place and applâ—yng theim to diuerse matters without all discrecion As thus An ignorant felowe comyng to a ientlemannes place seyng a greate flocke of shepe in his pastour saied to the owner of theim now by my truthe sir here is as goodly an audieÌ„ce of shepe as euer I saw in al my life Who will not take this felowe meter to talke with shepe then to speake emong menne Another likewise seeyng a house faire buylded saied to his
and vsuall Phrases to sette forthe oure meanynge and can orderlye place them without offence to the eare we maye boldelye commende and beautifie oure talke wyâ—h diuers goodlye coloures and delitefull translations that oure speache maye seme as bryghte and precious as a ryche stone is fayre and orient EXornation is a gorgiousse beautifiynge of the tongue with borowed wordes and chaung of sentence or speache with muche varietie Firste therfore as Tullie saythe an Oration is made to seme ryghte excellente by the kinde selfe by the colour and iuice of speache Ther are .iij. maner of styles or endiâ—inges the great or mighty kind wheÌ„ we vse great wordes or vehemeÌ„t figures The smal kinde when we moderate our heate by meaner wordes and vse not the most stirring sentences The lowe kinde when we vse no Metaphores nor translated wordes nor yet vse any amplificatioÌ„s but go plainelye to worke and speake altogether in commune wordes Nowe in all these three kindes the Oration is muche commended and appeareth notable when wee kepe vs styll to thatistyle whiche wee firste professed and vse suche wordes as seme for that kinde of writinge most conuenient Yea if we minde to encrease or diminish to be in a heate or to vse moderatioÌ„ to speake pleasauntly or speake grauelye to be sharpe or to be softe to talke lordlye or to speake finelie to waxe auncient or familiar which al are comprehended vnder one of the other three we muste euer make oure wordes apte and agreable to that kinde of stile whiche we firste ganne to vse For as frenche hodes do not become Lordes so Parliament Robes are vnsitting for Ladies Comelines therfore must euer be vsed and all thinges obserued that are most mete for euery cause if we loke by attemptes to haue our desire There is another kind of ExornacioÌ„ y t is not eguaâ—ly sparpled throughout y e whole oratioÌ„ but is so disseuered parted as starres stand in the firmament or floures in a gardeÌ„ or prety deuised antiques in a clothe of Araise Vvhat a fygure is A Figure is a certaine kinde either of sentence oration or worde vsed after some new or straunge wise muche vnlike to that which men communely vse to speake The diuision of Fygures THere are thre kindes of figures the one is when the nature of wordes is chaunged from one signification to an other called a Trope of the Grecians The other serueth for woordes when they are not chauÌ„ged by nature but only altered by speaking called of y â— Grecians a Scheme The third is when by deuersity of inuention a sentence is manye wayes spoken and also matters are amplified by heapynge examples by dilatynge argumentes by comparinge of thynges together by similitudes by contraries and by diuers other like called by Tullie Exornacion of sentences or coloures of Rhetorique By all whiche Figures euerye Oration maye be muche beautified and without the same not one can attaine to be counted an Oratoure thoughe his learninge otherwise be neuer so greate Of the fyrste vse of Tropes WHen learned and wise menne gan firste to enlarge their tongue and sought with greate vtteraunce of speache to commende causes they founde full ofte muche wante of wordes to set out their meanynge And therfore remembrynge thinges of like nature vnto those wherof they spake they vsed suche wordes to expresse their minde as were most like vnto other As for example If I shoulde speake against some notable Pharisee I might vse translation of wordes in this wise Yonder man is of a croked iudgment his wyttes are clowdie he liueth in deepe darkenes dusked altogether wyth blynde ignoraunce and drowned in the raginge sea of bottomeles superstition Thus is the ignoraunte set out by callinge hym croked clowdye darke blinde and drownde in superstition All whiche wordes are not proper vnto ignoraunce but borowed of other thinges that are of lyke nature vnto ignoraunce For the vnskilfull man hath his wytte set oute of order as a mannes bodye is set out of ioynte and therupon it maye be sayde to be croked Likewyse he maye be called clowdye for as the clowdes kepe the Sunne shinynge from vs so dothe his Ignoraunce kepe him blindefolde from the true vnderstandinge of thinges And as when the eyes are oute no manne can see anye thinge so when perfecte iudgemente is wantinge the truthe can not be knowen And so likewise of all other Thus as necessitye hath forced vs to borowe wordes translated so hath time and practice made theim to seeme moost pleasaunt and therfore thei are mucht the rather vsed Yea when a thynge full ofte can not be expreste by an apte and mete woorde we do perceyue when it is spoken by a woorde translated that the likenes of that thynge whiche appeareth in an other worde muche lighteneth that which we woulde most gladly haue perceyued And not onely do menne vse translation of wordes called Tropes for nede sake when thei can not finde other but also when they maye haue mooste apte wordes at hande yet wyll they of a purpose vse translated wordes And the reason is this Menne counte it a poynte of witte to passe ouer suche woordes as are at hande and to vse suche as are farre fâ—tcht and translated or elles it is because the hearer is led by cogitacion vpon rehearsall of a Metaphore thinketh more by remembraunce of a word translated then is there expreslye spoken or elles because the whole matter semeth by a similitude to be opened or last of al bicause euery translation is commenly for the most part referred to the senses of the body especially to y e sense of seing which is the sharpest and quickest aboue all other For wheÌ„ I shal saye that an angrye manne fometh at the mouthe I am brought in remembraunce by this translation to remember a bore that is fightyng vseth muche foming the whiche is a fowle and lothelye sighte And I cause other to thinke that he brake pacience wonderfully when I set out his rage coÌ„parable to a bores fominge An other beinge offended wyth checkes geuen will saye I maruaile sir what you meane to be euer snarringe at me wherein is declared a brutishenes consideringe he speaketh biting wordes as muche without reason as vncomelye as a dogge dothe when he snarreth the whiche wee see is nothing semely There is nothing in all the worlde but the same maye haue the name of some other worde the whiche by some similitude is lyke vnto it Notwithstandinge there ought muche warenesse to be vsed in chosyng of wordes tanslated that the same be not vnlike that thing wherunto it is applied nor yet that the translation be vncomely or suche as may geue occasion of any vncleane meaning A Trope A Trope is an alteration of a word or sentence from the proper significatioÌ„ to that whych is not proper The diuision of Tropes Tropes are either of a word or or a longe continued speche or sentence Tropes of a worde
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
STomake grief is when we will take the matter as hote as a tost We nede no examples for this matter hote men haue to many of whom they may be bould and spare not that fynde them selues a colde Some tymes we enâ—reate earnestly and make meanes by praâ—er to wynne fauour Somtymes we seke fauour by speakyng well of the companie present As. Thorowe your helpe my lordes this good deede hath been done Some tymes we speake to hurte our aduersaries by settyng forth their euil behauior Sometymes we excuse a fault and accuse the reporters Sometymes we wishe vnto God for redresse to euil Sometimes we curse the extreme wickednes of some pastgood roisters In al whiche I thynke neither examples neede nor yet any rehersal had been greately necessarie coÌ„sidering al these come without any great learnyng sauing that for apt bestowing iudgement is right nedeful ¶ Of figures in sentencies called Schemes WHen any sentence vpon the placyng or settyng of wordes is said to be a figure thesaied is alwaies called a Scheme the whiche wordes beyng altered or displaced the figure streight doth lose his name and is called no more a scheme Of this sorte there be diuerse suche as hereafter folowe ¶ Doublettes DOublettes is when we reherse one and thesame worde twise together Ah wretche wretche that I am Tullie against Catiline inueighyng sore against his traiterouse attemptes saith after a loÌ„g rehersed matter and yet notwithstandyng all this notouriouse wickednesse the maÌ„ liueth stil liueth Nay mary he cometh into the counsel house whiche is more An other Darrest thou showe thy face thou wretched theef thou theefe I saie to thyne owne father darrest thou looke abrode Thus the ofte repeatyng of one worde doth munhe stirre the hearer and makes the worde seeme greater as though a sworde were ofte digged thrust twise or thrise in one place of the bodie ¶ Alteryng parte of a worde ALteryng parte of a word is when we take a letter or sillable from some word or els adde a letter or sillable to a worde As thus WilliaÌ„ Somer seyng muche a do for accomptes makyng that the Kynges Maiestie of most worthie memorie Henry theight wanted mony suche as was due vnto hym And please your grace ê™ he you haue so many frauditours so many conueiers and so many deceiuers to get vp your money that they get al to themselues Whether he said true or no let God iudge that it was vnhappely spoken of a foole I thynke he had some Scholemaister he shoulde haue saied Auditours Surueyours and Receauours ¶ Repetition REpetition is when we begynne diuerse sentencies one after another with one and thesame worde As thus When thou shalt appere at the terrible daâ—e of iudgemeÌ„t before the high maiestie of God where is then thy richesse where is then thy deintie faire where is theÌ„ thy great band of men where are then thy faire houses wher are then al thy laÌ„des pastures parkes forestes I might saie thus of our soueraine lord the Kynges maiestie that now is Kyng Edwarde hath ouerthrowne idololatrie Kyng Edwarde hath bannished superstition Kyng Edward by Gods helpe hath brought vs to the true knowlege of our creation Kyng Edwarde hath quieted our coÌ„sciencies laboured that al his people should seeke healthe by the death and Passion of Christ alone ☞ Conuersion COnuersion is an ofte repeatyng of the last worde is contrarie to that which went before WheÌ„ iust dealing is not vsed welth goeth away fryndship goeth away truth goeth awaie all goodnes to speake at a worde goeth awaie Where affections beare rule there reason is subdued honestie is subdued good wil is subdued al thinges els that withstande euil for euer are subdued ¶ Comprehension COmprehersion is when bothe the aboue rehersed figures are in one kynd of speakyng vsed so that bothe one first worde must ofte be rehersed likewise al one last worde What winneth the hartes of men Liberalitie What causeth men to aduenture their lifes and dye willyngly in defence of their masters Liberalitie What coÌ„tinueth the staâ—e of a Kyng Liberalitie What becometh a woman best first of al Silence What seconde Silence What third Silence What fourth Silence Yea if a man should aske me til dowmes day I would stil crie silence silence without the whiche no woman hath any good gifte but hauing thesame no doubt she must haue many other notable giftes as the whiche of necessitie do euer folow suche a vertue ¶ Progression PRogression standeth vpoÌ„ contrarie sentences which answere one another If we would rebuke a naughty boie we might with coÌ„mendyng a good boie say thus What a boie are thou in coÌ„parâ—son of this fellow here Thou sleapes he wakes thou plaies he studies thou art euer abrode he is euer at home thou neuer waites he stil doth his attendaunce thou carest for no body he doeth his dutie to al men thou doest what thou caâ—st to hurt al please none he doth what he can to hurte none please all ¶ Lyke endyng and lyke fallyng THen the sentences are said to ende lyke when those wordes do end in like sillables which do lacke cases Thou liues wickedly thou speakes naughtely The rebelles of Northfolke ê™ a most worthie man that made an inuectiue against theÌ„ through slauerie slew Nobilitie in dede miserably in fashioÌ„ cruelly in cause deuilishly Sentencies also are said to fal like when diuerse wordes in one sentencâ—e ende in lyke cases that in ryme By great trauaile is got muche auaile by earnest affection men learne discrecion These .ij. kyndes of Exornacion are then most delitefull when contrarie thynges are repeated together when that ones again is vtterde whiche before was spoken when sentencies are turned and letters are altered Of the first this may be an example Where learnyng is loued there labour is estemed but wher sleuth is thought solace there rudenes taketh place A Kyng is honoured that is a Kyng in dede wil you drink or you go or wil you go or you drinke There is a diffrence betwixt an horsemilne a milnehorse He is a meter man to driue the Carte than to serue in the Courte Through labouâ— cometh honour through ydell lyuyng foloweth hangyng Diuerse in this our tyme delite muche in this kynd of writyng whiche beeyng measurably vsed deliteth muche the hearers otherwyse iâ— offendeth and werieth mens eares with sacitie S. Augustine had a goodly gifte in this behaulf yet some thinkes he forgot measure and vsed ouermuche this kynde of figure Notwithstandyng the people were suche wher he liued that they toke muche delite in rimed sentences in Orations made ballade wise Yea thei were so nyce so waiwarde to please that excepte the Preacher from tyme to tyme coulde ryme out his Sermon they woulde not long abide the hearyng Tacitus also sheweth that in his tyme the iudges
appoynt ymages in certaine places made for that purpose but write as a manne woulde saye vpon Paper that which is spoken vnto them What maketh the olde manne that for lacke of naturall heate and moisture scante knoweth hys right hande from his lefte remember in the morning where he layed his purse all nyght but the beddes heade whyche lyghtlye is the appoynted place for all mennes purses especiallie such as be wayfairers and haue but little store Shall some gentilman playe blyndefolde at the chesse and can not a learned man be able to rehearse vp a score or two of straunge names together A Neteherde hauinge the charge and kepynge of .xviij. score heade of beastes in a wyld Fenne that belonge to diuers menne will not onelye tell who be the owners of al suche cattell but also he wil shew a manne twise a weeke where anye one is feading and if he wante one amonge the whole he will tell immediatly what it is and whose it is that is wantynge Then fonde are they that counte the Arte of Memorye so harde seynge they will neither proue the hardenes of it nor yet blowshe at the matter when they see pore neteherdes go so farre beyonde them Howe many thinges dothe Memorie conteine marueylous to beholde and muche more would if we were not altogether slouthful and as carelesse to kepe as we are to gette good thinges I meane not goodes of thys world Euerye Artificer hath through exercise and laboure an artificiall memorye sauynge the learned man onely who hath most nede of it aboue all other When we come to a place where we haue not bene many a daye before we remembre not onely the place it selfe but by the place we call to remembraunce manye thinges done there Yea sometimes a window maketh some remeÌ„ber that they haue stollen in their daies some thing out of it Sometimes a chimney telleth them of manye late drinkinges and sittinges vp by the fire Sometimes a bedstead putteth theÌ„ in remembrauÌ„ce of many good morowes sometimes a dore sometimes a parler Thus we se places eueÌ„ w tout images helpe oft the memorye muche more then shall we remeÌ„bre if we haue both places and Images But nowe because I haue halfe weried the reader with a tedious matter I will harten him agayne wyth a merye tale At the time of rebellion in Northfolke there was a priest emong al other adiudged to dye vpoÌ„ a gibet in a grene place a little from the hyghe waye side This Prieste sâ—inge the place of his laste ende stode a whyle musinge wyth him selfe and saide to the companye there Now Lord God what a thinge is this It comes to my remembraunce nowe that aboute fourtene yeres paste I was merye here vpon thys Bancke wyth an other Prieste and wallowynge me downe vpon the grasse I said these wordes Haec requâ—es mea in seculuÌ„ seculi hic habitabo quoniam elegi eam The whiche Sentence beynge a Psalme of Dauid is nothinge els in Englishe But this is my restynge place for euer and euer here shall be my dwellynge because I haue chosen it And nowe quod he I finde it to be ouer true so that I thinke it be Goddes wyl I should dye and therfore I take it in good worthe and thus I desire you al to praye for me Thus we see that the place brought hym in remembraunce of a sentence spoken .xiiij. yeres before Therfore this knoweledge is not to be neglected no thoughe we do contemne it yet we haue the vse of it For if we be fully disposed to remeÌ„ber a thing we do call vp the memorye and styrre it to mynde thynges lyke thereunto As if one be called Wingefeld and I feare to forget this name I might remembre the winge of a byrde and a grene feld to walke in Sometymes we remeÌ„ber the whole by kepyng in mynde some parte of a word As when one is called Crowcroft I myght by remembring of a Crowe the rather mind his name Notw tstaÌ„ding ther be some emoÌ„g whoÌ„ is Erasmus which like not this arte of Memorie but saye it rather hindereth then helpeth a mans wit And yet Tullie the greatest Oratour emong the Romaynes did wel alowe it and proued it good by a naturall reason For where as we knowe some thinges sayeth he onelye by vnderstandynge and some by the sence of seynge those we kepe best in our mindes whiche we knowe by sight haue marked with our eyes As for example When I se a Lyon y e ymage therof abideth faster in my mind theÌ„ if I should heare some report made of a Lyon Emong all the senses the eye sight is most quicke coÌ„teineth the impressioÌ„ of thinges more assuredly theÌ„ any of the other senses do And the rather when a manne bothe heareth and seeth a thinge as by artificiall memorye he dothe almoste se thinges liuelye he dothe remember it muche the better The sight printeth thinges in a mannes memorye as a seale doth prynce a mannes name in waxe And therfore heretofore Images were sette vp for remembraunce of Sainctes to be laye mennes bokes that the rather by seinge the Pictures of suche menne they might be stirred to folowe their good liuynge The whiche surely hadde bene well done if God had not forbidden it But seinge thinges muste be done not of a good entente but euen as God hath commaunded it is well doone that suche Idolles are cleane taken oute of the churche Marye for this purpose wherof we nowe write they woulde haue serued gayly well Thus the arte is sone tolde but the practise of it is all And therfore if one desire to excell herein let him take paynes to gather his places together and kepe them well in remembraunce prouinge by halfe a score how he shall be able to vse a hundreth And no doubte but time and exercise shall make him perfecte For the beste arte of memorye that can be is to heare muche to speake muche to reade muche and to write much And exercise it is that dothe all when we haue saide al that euer we can Of Pronunciation PRonunciation is an apte orderinge bothe of the voyce countenaunce and all the whole bodye accordynge to the worthines of suche woordes and mater as by speache are declared The vse hereof is suche for anye one that liketh to haue prayse for tellynge his tale in open assemblie that hauing a good tongue and a comelye countenaunce he shalbe thought to passe all other that haue the like vtteraunce thoughe they haue much better learning The tongue geueth a certayne grace to euerye matter and beautifieth the cause in like maner as a swete soundynge Lute muche setteth forthe a meane deuised Ballade Or as the sounde of a good instrumente styrreth the hearers and moueth muche delite so a cleare soundyng voice comforteth muche our dâ—intie eares with muche swete melodie and causeth vs to allowe the matter rather for the reporters sake theÌ„ the reporter for the matters sake Demosthenes
wel agreed with his wordes and his woordes were so meete for his contenaunce that not onely he did please the iudgement of his hearers and contented their mynde but also he pleased their iyes and delited their eares so muche as could be wished Tullie saith well The gesture of man is the speache of his bodie and therfore reason it is that lyke as the speache must agree to the matter so must also the gesture agree to the mynde for the iyes are not geuen to man onely to se but also to shewe and set forth the meanyng of his mynde euen as vnto a Bore are geuen briselles to a Lyon the taile to a horse his cares whereby their inclinacions and soubdeine affections are sone espied When we see a man loke redde in the iyes his browes bent his teeth bytyng his vpper lip we iudge that he is out of pacience Therefore as we ought to haue good regarde for the vtteraunce of our wordes so we ought to take hede that our gesture be comely the whiche bothe beyng wel obserued shal euerease fame and gette estimacion vniuersally But heare an end And now as my wil hath been earnest to doe my beste so I wishe that my paines may bee taken thereafter And yet what needes wishyng seeyng the good will not speake euill and the wicked can not speake well Therfore beyng staied vpon the good and assured of their ientle bearyng with me I feare none because I stande vpon a saufe grounde ¶ Faultes escaped in thenprintyng FOlio .viii. line xxxii.i reade vaunte Fol .xxxiii. lyne .i. Reade or doe we Fol .lxxvi. line vii.i respecte Fol .lxxvi. line .viii. iester Fol .lxxxi. line .vii. seme Fol .lxxxvi. line xv.ii Rhetorician ¶ A Table to fynde out suche matter as is conteined in this Booke first by the Leafe and nexte by the Page or syde of the Leafe A. A Batyng or lessenyng of a thyng xcvi i Abraham xxvij i Abraham howe he is said to be the father of many Nacions xcvij. ij Abusion what it is xciij i Aduersaries reasons when they should best be confuted v.i. Aegyptians what order they vsed to bannishe idelnesse xv.ij. Aeschines c. xix.i Affections must be moued ij.ij. Affections howe they woulde bee moued lxxi ij Affections must first bee stirred in hym that seeketh to stirre other lxxiij ij Affectation in speakyng Englishe fonde and straunge lxxxvi i.ij Allegorie what it is xciij ij Alcestes wyfe xxxi ii Alâ—eryng parte of a worde howe what it is cvii.i. Ambiguitie liii.i. Amplification lxiiii i Amplification what it is and how it is deuided lxvi ii Amplification by comparyng of thynges and encreasyng of the least lxviii i Amplification by examples lxviii i Amplification by coÌ„traries xcix i AmplificatioÌ„ by lessenyng of great faultes to make other seme greater xcix i Amplification by praisyng the vnworthie the rather that an other may haue more praise lxx.i. Amplification by coÌ„iectures lxx ij Amplification by thynges encreased and diminished lxxi i Anaragoras pacience xlâ—iii ii Anticipacion whaâ— it is C.i. Aptenesse what it is lxxxviii i.lxxxix.i.ij Argumentes when they shoulde chiefely be vsed v.i. Augmentes howe they shoulde be digested lxxxiiii Art surer guidy than nature iii. ij Art to what stede it serueth lxxxv i Arthemisia xxxi ii Assured truthe what it is xviii ii Askyng other aunsweryng our selfe xcvii ii.xcviii.i Attemptes worthie vii ii Athenians forbad Prefaces and Conclusions lxiiii i Argumentyng or diminishyng to moue laughter lxxviii ii Augustus fauourable to maried folke that had children xxiiii ii Augustus abashed at a boies aunswere lxxxii i Augustine cviii ii B. BAckebytyng sette forthe by Amplification lxiiii ii Barbarouse Clarkes no better than slouens lxxxvi i ABeldames bliÌ„d answer lxxvij ij Begynnyng of an Oration what it is lv.i. Better borne a begger than dye a begger lxxxij ij Better not to hurt a good matter by euil speache than to further it by good talke v. ij Bibulus pacience for losse of his children xlv.i. BlamiÌ„g other how it is said lvij i Brute beastes nature for mournyng xlij i Buttresse what it is xcix ij C. CAtoes saiyng to him that stroke him bad him beware lxxxi i Chalengyng or refusing wheÌ„ thei are vsed liij ij ChauÌ„ge of name what it is xciij ij Chaunging parte of a letter word or sillable lxxvij i Churlishe aunsweres delite sometimes lxxxi Circumstauncies in praising x.i. Circumstauncies necessarie to bee noted in al causes v.i. CircuÌ„stauncies in obseruyng profite xx.ij. Circumlocution xciij ii Close vnderstandyng what it is xcvi i Commons what it is xix.i. CoÌ„posicioÌ„ out of course lxxxix i.ii Commendyng xxxvi i Comfortyng the affllicted xxxvi i CoÌ„modus the Emperour xliii ii Comparyng a fault doen howe it is vsed lvii ii Composicion lxxxviii i Comprehension what it is cvii. ii Conclusion what it is iiii ii.xcvii.ii.lxiii.i Confessyng what it is lvii CoÌ„firmacioÌ„ what it is iiii ii.lxi.ii Confirmacion to proue matters â–ª out of Logique lxii i Confirmacion gatherd of the person lxii i ConfutatioÌ„ what it is iiii i.lxii.ii Coniectures viii Coloures of Rhetorique what they are xciiii Coloures of Rhetorique lykened to the iye sight lxxxix ii Coniectural State or issue xlix.i. Conuersion what it is c.vii. CoÌ„stante truth what it is xviii ii Contrarie lawes lii.i. Continuaunce what it is xix.ii. Contrarietie cvi.ii. Cornelia xxxi ii.xliiii.ii Correction lxvii xcix.i Counsel good aduise geueÌ„ vii ii Craynes what straung order they vse cii Curio passyng in forgetfulnesse cxvii i Cyneas memorie notable cxiii i Cyrus memorie how great it was cxiii i D. DAnae that faire Damosel how she was deceiued ciiii ii Dauid commeÌ„ded for killyng Goliah x.ij. Dauid bewailyng the sickenesse of his sonne xliiij i Death common to all xxxix ij Death purchaceth rest xlj.j. Definicion alwaies nedefull to bee knowen xlvij ij Definicion how it should bee vsed in causes criminall lij.j. Deformitee of body moueth mirth lxxviij ij Delityng nedefull ij.ij. Demosthenes tale of the Asses shadowe lv.j. Demosthenes saiyng of pronunciacion C. xix.i Demonides saiyng when he had lost his shooen lxxxj ij DescripcioÌ„ of a maÌ„s nature xcix ij Descripcion of person xcv ij Descripcion of an euill and wicked offense lxxij Difference betwixte a common iester a pleasaunt wisemaÌ„ lxxvj Difference betwixt a iest in a word and a long tale lxxviij Digestion what it is Cvj.j. Digression or sweruyng xcvj ij Diminucion lxvij Diogenes beeyng called verlette what he saied lxxxij ij Diogenes whishte or warnyng geuen Cvj. ij Diogenes lxxvj ij.lxxx.j Disposicion and apte orderyng of thynges lxxxiij j Disposicion what it is lxxxiiij i DisseÌ„blyng or couert iestiÌ„g xcviii j Dissemblyng pleasauntly lxxxj iâ— Distribucion xcviii ij Diuision of example Cij.j. Diuision of figures xc Diuision of Tropes xcj. ij DiuisioÌ„ of figures in a word xciiiâ— Diuision of states or issues in causes of iudgement xlviij ii Diuision of causes iuridic liij ij Diuision of howe many partes it must be made lx Diuision of proposicions lxi