what one thinge almost maye bee so certaine and sound as by cunning skill may not at the pleasure of the writer in some sort or other be depraued or out of the consuming flames thereof againe to be commended For such causes therefore it shall be good that the ordinarye places heereof for the better perfection of the learner bee very wel studied and often exercised which either by imitation to handle an vnlike matter in a like sort of an example or by often or continuall reading shall greatly bee furthered And now will we see what in the other sorts of Epistles we haue to be performed the next of which ensuing in order and to be proposed in this Methode is an Epistle Conciliatorie whose vse is preferred in acquiring vnto our selues the acquaintance of some one whom especially we make choyce of or insinuating our selues into their fauours whom we desire most to esteeme of These Epistles in their directions doe oftentimes passe as well from men of good accompt to such as are something their inferiours as interchaungeably betweene those who are accompted equals but seldome or neuer is frequented to such as are our betters The occasion of this Epistle standing in the firste degree it is likely that he who is much our better either of his honor worship or gentlenes will in plainest termes alwaies deale with his inferiours whom in such sort he desireth to be known vnto or otherwise him self would willingly repute of The sentence of these Epistles are in the best sort to be adiudged for that the purport of them includeth loue liking friendship the scope whereof induceth matter heerin to be framed Now touching the second degree order therein requireth these brief considerations First that pithily and plainly we set down the cause mouing vs to take knowledge of him we write to or therevppon to mooue his acquaintaunce This albeit without some assentation may hardly bee caried for that all men for the moste part are affected more or lesse to the aduauncement of their owne worthynesse yet shall the writer by all possible meanes indeuour to keepe that Decorum heerein that he glose not too palpablie least by such meanes he doe incurre a notable suspition of flattterie Next if in our selues we doe conceaue or imagine some one or moe things that are to such a one pleasing or whereof we may coniecture the regarde to returne vnto him commodious or to confirme towards vs a more speciall liking that shall we modestly tender and deuise without arogancie in some conuenient sort to be signified These are the onely precepts in this kinde of writing to be solie considered the obseruation whereof are in sort following by example to be deliuered An Epistle Conciliatorie written from one of good accompt to one that is his inferiour AFter my very hartye commendations vnto you This bearer and my seruant whom I greatly credite hath signified vnto me manye matters tending to your great commendation the report wherof I haue often sithence heard confirmed by others And for asmuch as touching mine owne condicion I haue alwaies bene a fauourer oâ— Artes and entierly accompted of the singularitie of anie one according to his worthinesse I haue so muche the more greatlye desired your acquaintance as one whome willingly I woulde doe good vnto Promisinge that if at some conuenient tyme I maye enioye the pleasure of your industrie and knowledge together with some continuance of your good company I shall not faile in as ample sort as I can to your full satisfaction and contentment to requite it Meane while I woulde gladlye be informed by the returne of this messenger at what time I maye expect to see you according to which I will appoint horses and send some vp to accompanye you And so for this present doe bid you hartely farewell From my house of N. this twentieth of Aprill c. SMall distinction needeth in these kind of letters for that the order of them is different you see from the first obseruations Onely the parts mencioned in the aduertisments inducing the forme thereof are heerein specified The varietie of which is more districtly tied to the present humour of the writer and the cause inducing the substance then by any speciall direction But now to the next An example Conciliatorie from one equall to an other THE vniuersall report of your excellencie each where declared hath moued me good M. N. not only to admire you for the same but amonge a great many others that regarde and especially do accompt of you hath induced me also heereby to pray your acquaintance I confesse sir sithence I first hearde of you I grewe euen then very desirous to see and to know you but beeing this other daye in companye of sir T. P. I there vnderstood how much for your singular virtue learning both of the good Knight and Ladie you were faithfully commended and entierlie fauoured This considerate opinion of theirs hath in my speedie determination spurred mee forwarde and for my first morninges exercise caused me to salute you by these letters the rather for that I haue sondrie times bin informed with what ioyful friendly conceit you doe entertaine the familiaritie of euerye gentleman And albeit there is little desert in my selfe to acquire so muche at your handes yet this one request vppon your fauour will I presume to make vnto you that not onely I maye bee entertained with you as one whome you may please to like of but suche and in that degree as of whome you will so greatly reckon as to stand assured of Little God knoweth resteth in me to pleasure you the worthinesse whereof pleased his goodnesse were so well aunswerable to your vertue as effectuallie you might haue power in whatsoeuer to commaund This one thing can I deliuer of my self that since I had first capacitie to decerne of mens conditions I haue alwaies studied to honour the vertuous and euermore with reuerence to entertaine their actions a fauourer I haue still bene of the learned and a diligent regarder of their greatest excellencies suche as in minde more then in wealth would wishe to be reputed happie and to my vttermost power gladly accomplish what might be deemed most worthie Such a one if you vouchsafe to like of I wholly yeeld my selfe vnto you expecting nothing more then at your conuenient leisure I might finde occasion to see you Whereunto referring the residue of all my chiefe desires I doe for the present cease to detaine you London this fourth of Iune c. TO these Epistles might be added two seuerall aunsweres In both of which there is required a special and well demeaned modestie in the one of humilitie to be according to his better in the other of courtesie to gratifie his equall eche of them conteyning a submissiue execution of that in either of their faculties and professions simply to bee attributed the diuersities of both of them not impertinent to these our instructions I haue in sorte
that your pleasure is turned to my pennaunce and your nicenes to my annoyaunce with as much losse as by restraint resteth hetherto vnrewarded I will master my liking til with more vsury I may be repaied in causes of loue Neuertheles not so farre estranged from you but that in anye cause of courtesie I will not forget you are a Gentlewoman and therefore yet be content as before time in such sort to respect you whereof had it not beene your contrary pleasure you needed not as you haue done to make any exception Not meaning heereafter to trouble your remembraunce with anie more of my speaches otherwise then beseemeth a familiar acquaintaunce I hereon doe conclude my laste determination and farewell VPon this resolution was defined all this matter of liking occasioning the seuerall letters hereby in order deliuered the maner whereof both in respect of the pleasure as for the beâ—ter opening of the occasioÌ„ to the ful conceipt of their applications and meaning I haue the more largely layd foorth And for as much as the diuersities already deliuered in this booke doe arise to so grose a volume as seâ—meth in quantitye sufficient for the firste perusing and that the laying hereunto the residue of the partes Iudiciall and Familiar with such other thinges as thereunto are intended to be added woulde greatlye and more then â—oble haue augmented the bignes of the same I haue thought good in this place to determine this foremost worke Praying the courteous viewers of these my labours to become as friendly censurers as gladly I haue gone abaut herein to publish my indeuours so shall they bind me by their bounty in performing no more then they owe in courtesie Laus Deo domino Iesu. Definition of a letter The longe vse of letters Epistles diuers VVriters of Epistles Three notes to be obserued in Epistles Aptnes bre uity come lines principally required in letters Comelines in deliueraunce Aptnes of words wherin to be coÌ„sidered Ill imitators Horace Satyre The foremost motion in ducing argument Of what validitie the same shalbe Time place and oportunitie Forme of deliuerie Choyce and best kinde of speech Suche the stile as the partie in accounte to whom it goeth VVhat breuitie is Tolleration of continuaunce Breuitie in plentie of deliuerance Necessarie speeche what it is Iterations and superfluitie to be auoyded Ouermuche more tollerable then curtold breuitie Affectation of too much breuitie A pleasaunt conceite Superfluous intrudors vvithout skill or vvit Decorum what it is Person to whome we write and the cause Lightnesse or grauitie of those to whome we write Cause to be considered Horace de arte poetica Decorum indecorum Enblemata Alciat Triall onely maketh difference of wisedom or folly Character of an Epistle generall Epistles distinguished into general and speciall Letters general are familiar Letters speciall le tters wheâ— in is continuaunce of matter Inuention Disposition Eloquuotin Helpes to Inuention and Eloquution Stile of Epistles speciall Sublime Humile and Mediocre Skilfull vse of writing Parts of an Epistle Exordium Narratio Propositio confirmatio Confutatio Peroratio Foure contents in an Epistle Salutation Maner of salutations VVhere and how vsed Epithetts Varietie of greetinges and farewels Subscriptions Maner and varietie in Subscriptions Acknowledgment of dutye in the Exordium Superscriptions directions of the Romaines Diuersitie of estates Directions to an Archbishop Bishop Duke L. Chauncellor L. Treasorer Earles and in office Lordes Knights of the priuie councell Knight of the priuie Councell Countesses Ladies Gent. of estate L. Maior Re order Iustice of peace Ladies of worshipp Merchaunt Alderman Seruaunt Directions from the Councell thus framed Opportunitie Hurt of rashnesse Reprehension of importunacye of sommer Ill kinde of letters No sortes to be too much importuned His leysure to whome we write His humor and affectation VVant of opportunitie Oportunitie wherein it consisteth Vnused wordes and confused deliuerie to be auoyded VVordes improper and impugning the sence Errors common to the learned as well as the vnlearned A ridiculous maner of writing Aieste Vrbanitie and exasperate vnproperly placed Definition of exasperate Of Vrbanitie Correction Formes of Epistles Foure kinds or titles demonstraâ—iue Deliberatiue Iudicial and familiar letters Partes Demonstratiue Descriptory Partes Deliberatiue Partes Iudiciall Partes Familier Partes in an Epistle descriptorie Comparison of the writer and painter Painter VVriter Ptolomie and other writers De situ orbis Virgill in his Aeneidos Ouidii Metamorphoseo Example Exordium Narratio Scituation Deckinges Streates Gouernment Habite of the people Conclusio Exordium Narratio Pleasaunt ayre vnfrequented Inuoluntatie abstinence Hard seeding Ill lodging Danger Conclusio Exordium Narratio Sodaine sicknes Declaration of his speeches Mislyke of the world Certaine notice and liking of death His death Conclusion A declaration of the parts comprehended in euery of these letters First Letter Second letter Third letter Demonstration praise dispraise most vsed vnder other titles Places of praise or dispraise Honest which is tied to virtue Vnhonest Necessity Vtilitie Difficulcie Places of Confirmation or confutation These places referred to other kindes Exordium framed of the condicion of the partye to whom we write Narratio Occupatio Synonymiâ— Propositioâ— Praise of the prince in generall Praeteâ—â—tio Of his discent parentage Parabola Allegoria Obiectio Anthypophora Anadiplosis per Emphasin Of his infancie and childhoode Of his adolescencie Paradigma Hiperbole per interrogationem Parenthesis Transitio Comparatio ab incremento Hypophora His mans estate His outward actions His inward vertues His bounty and great humilitie His modestie Apothegma Eretoma admiratio Pelisindeton nis Eephonesis Metaphora His death Charientisunis Confutatio Prayse of his death Peroratio Epiphonema Hypozeuxis Conclusio Exordium of the cause mouing admiration Narratio Propositio Allegoria Expostulatio Epiphonema Paradoxin Hyperbole His parents Metaphora Hypophoraâ— Apostrophe His childehood Ecphonesisâ— His Adolescencie Confirmatio Congeries Desperate Miserie His youth and age Incrementum Aporia Transitio â—aronomasia Pathos His inordinary sicknes His death Hipallage Peroratio Homooeteleuton Laus ab honesto Ab aequo A necessitate Ab. vtilitate A dificili Presidents of Bountie Of Liberalitie Courtesie Modestie Chastitie Continencie Patience Sufferaunce Motions spurres vnto Virtue Efficacie of praise Encoragement Hope and feare Loue and hate Commiseration Aemulation Expectation Examples Obtestation or entreaty Exordiumâ— Paranomasia Narratio Of prayse Synonymia Andiplosâ—s Of example Epiphonema Amplificatio Exhortatio Confirmatio Hypophora Ab aequo Praise of his auncestors A necessitate Of expectation Of Loue. Of hate Hiperbole Intreatie Peroratio Intendmenâ— oft e last letters Distinguishment of the parts Responsory Epistles A modest admission of praise Dicaeologia Excusatio Assurance of his course taken Answere to his offer of good will VVeight of his expectation Conclusion Exordium â—nsinuation Propositio â—atiotinatio Incremeâ—tum Comparatiâ— Confirmatio Of honest Correctio Of necessarie Theworthines The necessitie Occupatio Confutatio Exhortatio Prayse of the person Loue. Delight Honour Profite Example Epilogus Learning a thing pretious Places of exhortation Mitigation of exhortation Exordium Narratio Propositio Prayse of the person Lenisieng the exhortation Ab exemplo Expostulatio Occupatio Incrementum Amplificatio Epilogus Notes in Epistles Responsorie Briefe repiticions Narratio Propositio Longanimitie performeth the excellencie of vertue Vertue hath three entrances Confirmatio Adhoratio Exhortations mixed with prayse Prayse of the action ab honesto Ab aequo necessario A genere Ab exemplâ— A paâ—â—e A spe metu Occupatio Epilogus Exordium Propositioâ— Distributioâ— Prosopeâ—â— Confirmatio Epiphonema Comparatio Mutius Seâ—â—ola Furius Camillus Transitio Epiphonema VValworth L. Maior of London Synonymia Adnectio Ecphonesiâ— Apotia Dicaeologia Confirmatio A worthie saying of Camillus Comparatio Finitio Loue of virtue Hate Peroratio Exordium Insinuation by supposion oâ— the estate of the paâ—tie Occupatio Narratio propositio Distributio Confirmatio Ab honesto Prayse of the person Confutatio Vulitie Necessitie Exordium Narratio Propositio Distributio Confirmatio Petoratio Allegoria Natratio Propositioâ— Distributio Antimetabole Comparatio Amplificati Amplificatio Asynditon Parenthesiâ— Anthypophara Ocâ—upatioâ— Confutatio Epilogus Difference of dehortatorie and disswsisorie perswsion to marriage Disswasion from the same Incommodities of mariage Perswasion to wine Diswasion of the fauour Exordium by iusinuation of mislike of the cause Narratio Propositio Incrementum Distributio Hiperbole The inhonestie Discommodity Inequalitie Ironia Indignitie Confirmatio Intollerable admittance Metaphora Hypophora Epilogus Narratio Propositio Distributio The vnhonesty Indignitie Distributio Inequalitie Confirmatio Antithesis Ill conceipt Discommoditie Parenthesis Ignomie Comparatio Consutatio Epiloguâ— Narratio Prepositio Incrementum Ecphonesis Distributio Parenthesis Confutatio Finitio Tde vnhonestie Comparatio Confirmatio Amplificatio The difficulcie Impossibilitie Concessio Indignitie Consutatio Perillâ— Epilogus Exordium Propositioâ— Pleonasmus Epilogns Epistles Petitorie Exordium Narratio cum Propositione Petition Honestie of request The meane to performe the same Remuneration Narratio Propositio Distributio Parenthesis Petitio Peroratio Exordium Narratio Propositio Petitio Meane of performaÌ„ce Remuneration Peroratio Petitio Meane of performaÌ„ce Possibilitie Remuneration Meane of accomplishment Petition Acknowledgment of courtesie Remuneration Exordium of a simile Propositio Acknowledgment of courtesie Remuneration Necessity of the matter Peroratio Acknowledgement of courtesie Petition Meane of accomplishment Remuneration Greetinges Secrecie Dispatch Epistles commendatorie Narratio Recommendation Praise of the partie Petitio Peroratio Narratio Propositio Recommendation Petition Peroratio Narratio Propositio Recommendation Petition Peroratio Narratio Recommendation Propositio Petition Remuneration Peroratio Narratio Recommendation Petition Peroratio Epistles Consolatorie Extenuation Common condicion of men Exordium Insinuation Narratio propositio Distributio Confirmatio Epithetum Allegoria Confirmatio Epilogus Exordium Propositio Metaphora Distributio Confutatio Confirmatio Eicon Anthypophora Pathos Peroratio Metonomia Exordium Narratio Proposnio Distributio Mitigation by the common hap of all Confutatio Ab exemplo Finitio Incrementum 〈◊〉 Hypophora 〈◊〉 A similie Transitioâ— Prosopopoeia Contraria Confirmatio Allegoria Parenthesis Peroratio Epistles Monitorie Exordium Propositio Distributio Monition by the circuÌ„stances Allegoria Confutatio Peroratio Exordium Narratio Propositio Monitio Peroratio Exordium propositio Distributio Dicaeologia Finitio Adagium Confirmatio Mitigatio Epilogus
example of aduertisements 56 Places of praise or dispraise 5 9.60 Places of Confirmation and confutation 61.62 An example Lawdatorie solie touching the person 63 An Epistle Vituperatorie touching also the person 73 Praise and dispraise of the deedes of men 79.80.81.82 Of Epistles Deliberatiue 83 Efficacie of Praise 84 Places of Exhortation 85.86 An example of an Epistle Exhortatorie 87 A letter Responsorie to the same 92 Epistle Hortatorie to the studie of Learning 94 Epistle Hortatorie wherein the exhortation is lenefied 100 Aduertisements Responsorie 105 Epistle Hortatorie to the profession of armes 107 Places Dehortatorie or of withdrawyng from anie thing 113 An example Dehortatorie from infidelitie or rebellion 114 Difference betweene Swasorie and Hortatorie Examples 121 An example Swasorie wherein a Gentlevvoman is councelled to mariage 122 Places Svvasoriâ— or of persvvading 126.27.28 Examples Svvasorie to the careful regard of one brother to another 129 A Letter Responsorie to the same Epistle 132 Epistle Svvasorie to perseuerance in learned and profitable studies 135 Places Disvvasorie or counsailing from a thing 138.39.40.41.42 And example Disvvasorie disvvading one from the marriage of his daughter to an old vvelthie miser 143 Epistle Disvvasorie from vices ingenerall 148 Epistle Diswasorie from entâ—ing into an action dangerous 151. Places Conciliatorie or meanes to induce fauour 158. Epistle Conciliatorie from one of good accompt to his inferiour 159. Epistle Conciliatorie from one equall to an other 160. Epistle Responsorie annswering the first of these letters 162. Epistle Responsorie to the latter 163. Places reconciliatorie or of reconciliation 164. Example Reconciliatorie from one friend to an other 165. Epistle Reconciliatorie from an inferiour to his better 168. Places Petitorie or of requiring suing or intreating 169.70.71 Example Petitorie in a cause indifferent 172. ExaÌ„ple Petitorie in the nature of recoÌ„ciliatioÌ„ froÌ„ a son to his father 174 Epistle Petitorie for trauell and councell in an vrgent cause 177. An other of the same 178. A letter Responsorie thereunto 179. Epistle Peti torie of an other maner of request 180. An other of the like effect 181. An other Example to the same purpose 167. Places Commendatorie or recommending of persons 185. An example Commendatorie from a mean person to a noble man 186 Letter Responsorie to the same 187. An other Epistle Commendatorie 188. An Example Commendatorie from a noble man to his inferiour 194. An other from a noble man in preferrement of his seruaunt 195. An other from the same in fauour of Iustice. 192. An example Responsorie of deniall to any of these 193. An other wherein is allowance giuen to the demaund 19â— The third wherein is doubtfull acceptante made of the same 196. A Letter Commendatorie pleasantly conceipted in recommending an vnprofitable â—eruaunt 198. Places Consolatorie or of comforting in distresse 200.201.202.203 An example Consolatorie vpon the death of a sonne â—04 Epistle Consolatorie in causes of hard extremitie 201. Epistle Consolatorie on the death of her husband 211. Partes Consolatorie 217.218 Epistle Consolatorie pleasantly written 219. Epistle Responsorie to be conferred to the Epistles Consolatorie 222. Places Monitorie forewarning or discoÌ„mending a thing 223.24.25.26 Example Monitorie to a stated and well gouerned life 227. Epistle Monitorie to the reformation of a couetous life 231. Epistle Monitorie to a father to preuent his sonnes lewd demeanor 229 Partes Amatorie or of loue The discourse whereof including letters sâ—â—â—ed vpon diuers sondâ—ie effectes continueth to the end of the book Almost all of which Epistles before set downe were â—owe sodenly by the Author ordered and inuented to their seuerall examples ¶ THE ENGLISH Secretorie CHAP. I. Of an Epistle the commoditie and vse thereof TOuching an Epistle which usually we terme a letter no other definition needeth therof then that which vse and common experience hath induced vnto vs. A Letter therefore is that wherein is expressye conueied in writing the intent and meaning of one man immediately to passe and be directed to an other and for the certaine respects thereof is termed the messenger and familiar speeche of the absent for that all occurrences whatsoeuer are thereby as faythfully aduertized pursued and debated as firmely might fall out in any personall presence or other wise to be remembred The antient vse wherof is such as from the beginning siâ—ce characters were first found hath had his continuaunce and euer since as a faythfull and secrete Ambassadour hath remayned of him from whome the foremost title hath had his direction and framing Their diuersities are sundry as whereof ensueth a platforme to euery motion beeing in truth so manifolde as are the imaginations of each mans fantasie seeing that the declaration of euery Letter is no more then what the minde in all occasions willeth to haue perfourmed and according to such instigations wherwith at that instant men are fedde when they write taketh his formall substaunce whether it be to require councell exhort commaund informe commende entreat confirme or whatsoeuer other intent determination or purpose therein had as cause and matter may fall out to be in anye sort required To grow into the particularities of euerye benefite receaued by the common vse hereof and the commoditye thereby ensuing what might be sayde more then that which by due course euery man hath almost in practize If you aske of the learned the vniuersall contentment recerued thereby expressed in sundrytheir authorities will testifie who the rather to aduaunce the efficacie hereof haue by diuers methodes and orders prescribed in wrytinge set downe the perfect instruction vse and meane wherby men the rather may be induced to the skilfull perfection that in a matter of such excellency is to be required For besides that the Epistles of Cicero Lucian Politiaen and others are plentifully extant some also of the thoysest and beste learned of late yeares haue endeuoured by writing to publishe in the Latine tongue their sundry methodes touching the same among whom Erasmus euermore famous for his studies and Macropedius at large Lodouicus Viues and Hegâ—ndorphimus Learnedlye yet brieflye each of them well approuing the goodnes in that by seuerall rules they haue distinguiâ—hed the diuersities ground and skilful directions thereof To dwell in tedious discourses were but friuolous although others might in like maner be alleadged in examples as copious But now if you will demaund of the vnlearned they then to whom the want hereof breedeth so diuers imperfections as with many wishes they could desire to be amended knowing how greenous it is to participate their moste secreat causes to an other and to laye up their chiefest trust in the affiaunce of an others credite can be wray vnto you And although pregnant wit ensuinge by nature was th◠〈◊〉 cause that firste bred the inuention of letters And that euery man naturallye can speake and set downe his own meaning yet Art preuailing in the cause and by cunning skill marshalling euery thing in his due order proportion and place how much
more the same is then beautified adorned and as it were into a new shape transmuted by such kind of knowledge the difference that dayly appeareth may yeeld proofe sufficient CAP. II. What is chiefly to be respected in framing of an Epistle FOR somuch as by the necessarye use of letters before layd downe a commendable maner of writing orderly framing the same hath in some sort been already remeÌ„bred it shal not be amisse in continuing the intended order hereof that in this chapter we do now more fully indeuour to aunswere the purpose therein supposed For the better manifestation of which to the intent the ignorant and studious herein may by degrees be led to the attaining of that which vnto the matter therof may be approued most conuenient I haue first thought good to draw vnto your consideration certaine speciall points in this action of all other principally to be regarded It shall then beseme that for such performance the better to enable him whose forwardnes requireth the same these three notes in writing of all maner of Epistles be chiefly admitted First aptnes of wordes sentences respecting that they be neat and choisly piked orderly laid downe cunningly handled next breuity of speach according in matter dilation to be framed vpon whatsoeuer occurrent lastly comelines in deliuerance concerning the person and cause whervpon is intended the direction to be framed These three as they are seldome in our common vse of writinge amonge the ignorant at any time pursued so vnto him that desireth by skilfull obseruation and practize to become therin more wary and circumspect are greatlye auaileable to be vsed And that we may the more conueniently distinguishe each part of these properties in sort as they are to bee followed we will first in the course of this Chapiter examine and laye out the seuerall distinctions wherein this kinde of aptnes is principally to be considered As nothing therefore in the common vse and conuersation of men deserueth more praise then that which is well ordered and according to the time place and presence vsually appointed and discreetly furnished so in this matter of writing Epistles nothing is more disordered fonde or vaine then for anye one of a thinge well done to take forth a president and thinke to make vnto him selfe thereof a common platforme for euery other accident who with out consideration of the grauity or lightnes of the cause he taketh in hand much like vnto a foolish Shoemaker that making his shoes after one fashion quantitye and proportion supposeth the same forthwith of abilitie fitte to serue euery mans foot includeth in like sort a common methode vnto euerye matter Such imitators who rather by rote then reason make hauocke of wit with purchase of small discretion by such vnnecessary capitulations beeing often times farre different from their owne intended purposes are better prepared to deliuer vnto viewe the ridiculous Pike of Horace with an Asses heade monstrouslye shaped whereat the Readers may laugh and euery one may sport then certainely to manifest their argument with such correspondent speaches as thervnto may be deemed incident To auoyd this so great and hard an imperfection it shall speciallye behoue him that endeuoureth well to write aduisedly with him selfe first to consider the foremost motion inducing argument to the cause whereof he is intended to â—ebate and being well studied and read in the purest and best kind of writers wherof great plenty do now remaine in our English tongue seeke to frame his inuention accordaunt to the example herein for that purpose or to the like effect before him deliuered not in the selfe same speaches but in the selfe same order the intendment whereof was not otherwise layd downe but onelye to such ende and for the like obseruation which order beeing distinguished in the seuerall partes of euery Epistle shall conduct the follower to what ende and vpon what occasion each matter therein was in that sort particularly framed Next let him deliberate with him selfe how much or how greatlye importeth the matter he taketh in hande to whom he writeth the same and what in the handling therof it shall principally concerne that according to the validitie or forceles conceit of the same the matter of his Epistle by aptnes of wordes may be measured and composed Hereon lyeth the chiefest maight burthen of each mans discretion wherevnto oportunitye also seemeth a thing so necessary to be adioyned as laboring the one perfectly and attending the other circumspectly I see no reason but he that can frame him selfe to the varietie of these may with greater facilitie reache vnto the reste the better to enhable him selfe hereafter if aduauncement draw him to it to become a Secretorie And in asmuch as Letters are onely messengers of each mans intendments it shalbe as apt vnto euery one as anye aptnes of wordes in anye of them to bee deliuered to take notice of time and place needfull to giue opportunity to whatsoeuer in suche occasions by him continuallye to bee handled the necessarye consideration whereof because the same also somewhat hereunto importeth I will in place conuenient where more at large the same may be required endeuour to enlarge it pursuing in the meane tyme as in this Chapter intended the purposes therein to bee considered Now the matter and importance of your letter thus deliberately aduised the best forme and manner of deliuery shal then next to the same be considered Wherin it appeareth that kinde of writing to haue bene deemed alwayes most excellent that in sentences is most exquisite in words of best choyce and the same most effectual which to the argument place time and person is most meet and appertinent which entreating of hye matters is weighty in meaner causes neate and pliable in the lowest plesaunt and more familiar in iesting that procureth cause of delight in praising commendable in stirring vehement and bold in aduising gentle and frendly in perswasion sententious and vsing grauitie in narration playne and resolute in requiring shamefast in commending officious in prosperous causes glad in troubles serious and more sad And finally that attemparating vnto euery circumstance their sundry motions in such fashion and order as vnto the matter therof is most consonant can most fitly and redely deliuer the same vpon whatsoeuer occasion to be ordered And herein is especially to be considered that of what validitie or inualiditie soeuer the matter to be discoursed or written of may appeare and to whomesoeuer of hye meane or low accompt the same shall passe or be directed that the aptnes of speach be therein so deemed as y e choysest and best maner of speaking may to euery of these occasions be admitted For a weightie cause and common direction may not all in one kinde of termes be deliuered neyther is it fit that in a letter framed to one of good calling a man should there in deale with him
that the validitie thereof be aunswerable vnto the one the others goodnesse or greatnesse that the intendment be sound lawfull and to no euill purposes that it conteine not matter of scurrilitâ—e filthie and base kinde of villanie that the very decorum required in all kinde of writers be herein obserued most principallte And finally auoyding all vnseemely and bad kind of deliueraunces erepugnant to ciuilitie that nothing therein be found that may be deemed ill sitting or otherwise than beseemeth a direction so worthie This decorum the very direct square and measure wherof conduceth all thinges with such exquisite performance as whereunto neuer afterward ensueth any iust reprehension willeth as Horace in his booke de arte poetica excellentlie deliuereth that vnto euery thing bee geuen his true nature collour and proportion aswel with pen as pencill abhorring as monstrous and enemie vnto skill what otherwise vnaduisedly shall be portrayed or described by reason whereof whatsoeuer carryeth wyth it selfe a iust decorum is sayde to be neate apte and comelie the contrarie whereof as altogeather impugned is sayde to be vnmeete or vnseemely And in somuch as this decorum is a worde among sundrye that are vnlearned more often repeated then manye tymes well vnderstoode I will somewhat declare what order the same beareth in thys kinde of proportion It is therefore in an Epistle a singuler Decorum when of a common and meane cause wee yeeld common and playne speeches An indecorum agayne when vppon a grosse conceite a trifling toye a matter of no valewe wee seeke to frame high and loftie sentences To a person of meane condition Decorum willeth in writyng we giue a meane regard and a great Indecorum it shalbe to a persoÌ„ of greater account not to giue sufficient and due regard A matter of grauity deliuered with weight a matter of sorrow reported with griefe a matter of pastime discoursed with pleasure a matter of follie intermingled with laughter doe eche shewe the decorum therein contained and what agreement falleth out in euery seuerall discription where contrariwise to a person sorrowfull to write of iestes to talk learnedly vnto a clown to salute an olde man with childishe fantasies in causes of common wealth to aduaunce trifles what thing more absurde or greater matter of indecorum canne be founde placed in any writing I doe remember where once I did see an Enbleme of Alciat in counterfeit by a cunning workeman excellently depainted and thus it was A man by his finger on hys mouth remaining mute yet very grauely clav not otherwise deciphered but by hys apparell and countenaunce the inscription thus shewed Cum tacet haud quicquam differt sapientibus amens Stultitiae est index linquaque voxque suae When men stand mute what difference remaynes Twixt mad and those whom wisedome rules at beck The toong it is that yeeldes or els restraines The perfect shew of wit or follies checke And no maruell for that follie her selfe layd forth in wisedomes garmentes who will doubt that heareth noâ— her vtteraunce but that her speache will sound to great purpose and like to the habite importe matter of great grauitie For this cause seeing before speache hadde which is the true note and testimonie eyther of wisedome or follie all men in theyr seuerall callinges are holden indifferent yet doe wee see that when suche men are discerned by theyr speeche forthwith there falleth a separation and the reuerence that all menne for the moste part yeelde to discretion maketh sufficient apparaunce what regarde skilfull vtteraunce beareth from such hatefull follie And sith common experience according to their effects and conditions giueth almost vnto euerye person what to saye and speake whereby they are not greatlye discerned vntill in matters more waightie they are employed yet how much more in vse of writing the difference thereof shall sooner be made in yeelding foorth a certaine triall of euerye mans discretion according to the seuerall occurrents whereof he shall be occasioned to envite I leaue to euery mans practize to sounde and to the vnderstanding of the grauest to conceaue Now then for somuch as hereby appeareth that onlye tryall yeeldeth difference of eache mans abilitie and what by nature he is most pliable vnto whether wisdome or follye and that by how much the nearer each one for his indeuour seeketh to attaine the perfection by suche means required wherby y e finenes of each wit is the more thoroughly sifted by so much the more he is to be regarded accompted of and especially commended It shall behooue each one in framing his Letters seeing Letters also are but a formall kinde of mutuall talke both speach and writing seruing onely to declare a mans meaning to indeuor according to the waight or lightnes of the cause to contriue his actions that they be such as wherein this decorum both in person and matter may be imbraced and the repugnauncie thereof to be vtterly auoyded the ready meane of which he shall the sooner attaine vnto by diligent regarde had and due obseruation of those three especiall notes heretofore already remembred And now to the residue in the discourse following touching the method of these Epistles to be in order pursued Of the habite and partes of an Epistle SEeing an Epistle hath cheeflye his definition hereof in that it is termed the familiar and mutuall talke of one absent friend to an other it seemeth the Character thereof shoulde accorâ—ing therevnto be simple plaine and of the lowest and meanest stile vtterly deuoyde of anye shadowe of hie and loftye speeches yet neuertheles forsomuch as in the argument of a great many of them whose seuerall distinctions heereafter shall appeare is required a more high and lofty deliueraunce partaking many wayes with that kinde accustomed in Orations and is therefore accordinglye to be necessarily furnished with the points therevnto incident we will for the present sort all kind of Epistles onely into these two maner of differences the one part whereof shall bee sayde to be generall and the other speciall Under this title of generall shall bee comprehended all such as eyther for fashions sake custome duty courtesie or other familiaritie doe ordinarilye passe from one part to an other rather of a pleasaunt conceit or some other more district or seuere motion then of any extraordinarye cause forme or substaunce in eyther of them contained Such are those as whom either long acquaintance or auntient familiarity haue caused interchaungeably to haue performed or fatherly reuerence and seruile duetye haue bound by graue authoritye ouer children kindred or seruants accustomably to be continued These for the common and ordinary matter in euerye of them vsed beeing vtterly exempte from anye waight or grauitye at all are rightly termed by the name of familiar letters They now that be speciall are such the matter of whome as I sayd before do admit both higher stile and more orderlye deliueraunce according to the waight of the argument in anye
your own appetite I leaue to your contentment Blame not mee but him that ledd me and so foorth to an end Commend mee but not condemne mee for I shall once doe you a better turne this is but the first the next may be worse better I would say And so fare yee well c. TIme it is nowe I should leaue this last title of Epistlrs as hauing thereof spoken alreadie sufficientlie and giue my selfe to the deliuerie of the next which are Consolatorie so tearmed in respect that in them is contained manie occasions of comfort bestowed commonlie on such as are greeued according to the weight or qualitie of the matter where with they are perplexed And for that the life of man is circumuented with so manie and so vnlooked causes of sorrow and griefe as it manie waies needeth to haue the remedie of comforts to bee applied vnto it yet not the equalitie of al sorts of minds such as in one and the selfe same degree can accept and beare it It shall therfore be meet and conuenient that in deuising to yeeld this sweet and gentle remedie to anie troubled conceite we doe so moderate the matter as that in the Discouerie thereof we rather strike not to a farre greater impatience or extremitie of vnmeasurable sorrow than before vpoÌ„ vntimelie thrusting forward or ignoraÌ„t pursuit of the same seeing that the mindes of some are of so hie and imcomprehensible stoutnesse as they shonne in themselues and account it a slauerie to be ore whelmd with woes Others againe so rise and abundant in teares as the least shew of repetition in them induceth matter enough of continuall mourning for which cause we will sort these matters of comfort into three seuerall orders The first wherof shall be at choyce playnely and simplye as occasion serueth to be deliuered in the argument whereof we may by generalitie perswade that beeing mortall and fraile as wee are there is no cause for vs in heauie sort to greeue seing vnto a wise man no one thing can returne cause of disquiet but the shrowde of filthinesse and darkened shame neither can he be hurt of anye one without him-selfe These the more sensible they are with whome wee deale and of greater capacity the more vehemently may we inforce by all sortes of forcible examples and assured promises The second of these must by insinuation bee entered into as suppozing a personage of a hie and statelie minde the weightines of whose griefe suppressed by a kinde of vnconquered fortitude we would go about to comfort We may not with these deale as in case of common sorrow of the others but rather insinuating a deniall that respecting the inuincible valure we knowe to be resting in their mindes shonning to bee tainted with the least touche of sweltring griefe wee doe offer our speeches or letters to comfort them whose heartes we knowe cannot yeelde to any force thereof at all but that considering the great validity of their wisedome a minde in them so vnconquered by any stormes of fortune to be remaining not witstanding wee see daily in others before our eies the contrarie and imminent cause therunto must of force confesse to be inducing they neuerthelesse by a most hie and stately instincte by great skil and approoued experienee graffed within them are and must be enabled stoutly to bear what others as weakelinges doe lie groueling vnder by reason wherof we find greter cause to reioyce in the worthines of so goodly a minde then occasion and waies to go about to relicue their sorrowes The thirde and last likewise must in an other sort be conuaied as finding the passionate and perplexed conceipts of some yet fresh bleeding vpon the heauie wound of their sorrowes we may not abruptly enter with them into the iust occasion they haue so to bee distempered but rather for the lenefiyng of their grieues for in sorrow also to be accompanied breedeth often some coÌ„fort to seeme to take vpon vs one part of their euils by declaration how grieuous for some especiall causes the same becoÌ„meth vnto vs insomuch as by the handling hereof we may more fully intend in all our speeches to giue heed to our own woes then to goe about to deal at all with the others sorrowes For commonly it is giuen vs to mislike such as dissent from our affections and loue them againe who make them selues partakers of our euils It auaileth also very greatly to extenuate or lesseÌ„ as much as we may the cause of griefe either by the incertaintie of thinges casuall being in some respects subiect to frailtie or by the hope of short continuaunce or by the necessitie of the action which may not be with-stood or by some comfort or expectation left to mitigate the same The reputation also of wisedome grauitie permutation of times and seasons the dimunition of the occasion beeing nothing so great or vrgent as we deeme it the indurance of the thing to be a meane vnto virtue and among all other causes principallye to inculcate as much as we maye the common lot and condition of all men subiected vniuersally to mishap to sorrow griefe sicknes disquiet iniuries wronges oppressions and all kind of euilles the generall recordation wherof aboue any other thing whatsoeuer swayeth ouer the passions of the mind so forciblye by deepe regard of the vniuersallitie of the same as that it soonest of all others beareth downe the weight of al kind of sorrowes and ill conceauinges whatsoeuer Herein the quicke sentences and pitâ—ie sayings of Philosophers may also be a great spurring and finally al pâ—ssible arguments that may be whereby men are anye wayes perswaded or led to forget their euils In this place it is principally to be obserued that in ministring comfortable speaches to the redresse of anye mishaps we doe not by preferring of toyes and sporting deuises seeke for to relieue them for that albeit in times of pleasure the humour of the partie might in some sort be therewith greatly delighted yet in causes of such extremitie all persons for the most part very batefully do endure the putting forwardes thereof as too much impertinent to the heauines wherewith by sorrowfull remembraunces their mindes are commonlye amated But if the cause be light then may it not be much amisse to vse some pleasaunt deliuerance to such a one especially whose appetite standeth in or towards the same but it also in such louing sweet and gentle sort to be done as that true comforts may seeme to be mingled with those conceipted pleasures Neither may we in any case seeke in vaunting sort to thrust into their priuate view the present tranquillitie and happines wherin our selues repose the obiection whereof were too rusticall For that as societie in miserie it selfe lenesteth the force of the greatest grieues so the opposition of an others pleasure and freedome is a corrisiue or sting to the want of any one that is sequestred from the same All these obseruations in causes Consolatorie
are greatly to be regarded whose vses being to be employed according to their seuerall suppositions I leaue to the discretion of the writer in what sorte he thinketh meet to haue their efficacies performed An example Consolatorie of the the first sort wherein a Gentlewoman is comforted of the death of her sonne GOOD Mistresse P. I am sorrye that my selfe must become the vnluckie messenger of myne owne infortunitie vnto you that in the fore-fronte of my letter is planted such extreme grief as I cannot but extreemly bewayle so often as I thinke of it Neuerthelesse knowinge vnder what motions we liue and that aboue our reach ruleth one vnder whose becke the mightiest do stoop and the greatest are made subiect I must as my selfe so lykewise perswade you to tollerate all suche chaunces whatsoeuer as falling from such absolute direction to alter any one iote thereof is impossible and to resiste the same were to be deemed fruitles and altogether impregnable The care of my selfe albeit many doe knowe howe much I tendred that I sighe for is not so much seing by reason I am led to be assured of the necessitie of our decaye as the motherly piety I haue alwayes perswaded my selfe to be in you and that I now alreadie doe feare least forgetting the direct square of our certeine liuing you will runne into such vntimely sorrowes as with manifold teares will hardly be washed and with innumerable sighes will scarcely be wyped away But what shall I rehearse vnto you a thinge so suddeine and vnlooked for as I protest by the heauenly maker and ruler of all thinges at the receipte of your last letters I neuer mistrusted or once looked for too haue happened your teares I see euen nowe awayte what I wyll saye and loe your immaginations doe alreadye deeme the matter I muste vtter At leastwyse iâ— I woulde seeme further to dissemble the occasion of my griefe and by hiding the summe of all that may breed discontentment to conceale what now I am inforced to vnfold vnto you the discharged messenger returned vncompleat would bewray the effects thereof before you It is then your sonne good M. P. whose want I am forced to tollerate and whose presence you must now hencefoorth determine vtterlye to forbeare Your last presage in commaunding him to bee seene liuinge or dead hath now retourned his liuinge to bee discharged and his earthlye coarse vnlooked for to bee couered with cinders Had I thought it then as by the almighty I least mistrusted it and had you prepared to haue receaued him as then before was required you could not more sooner haue assured me his retourning then I am able now to perfourme him at your present sending He is commaunded to an other that before did expecte him he is swallowed in the gulfe that from the foremost howre of his byrth did hetherto await him Now if you will saie he was younge and might haue liued examples doe shew that younger then he haue died If you will saye you loued him greatly God by your patience shall accept him the more worthely If you will saye you are sorie for it in that he was virtuous consider the world wherein he liued that might haue made him more vicious Finally to aunswere euerye obiection that by you may be affirmed nothing herein can more fitlye be approoued then that in our life time we see daylye before our eyes to bee happened Know yee not that all thinges doe by little and little grow vnto ripenes and forthwith by degrees they fall vnto rottennes Hath not God and nature vnto euerie thing after their greatest perfection included such certaine limits that by and by they seeme adapted to their latest confusion Is there anye thing on earth so assured that by vnstayed incertaintie is not continually guided Among all fruites and blossomes on the grounde are there not some that are sooner then others euen on their tenderest braunches as it were already ripened and others againe that by long lyinge are made rotten and mellowed All flowers spring not at one instaunt nor all blossomes with one sole blast are scattered To man also is appointed his certaine boundes vnto which to be attained and beyond the which not to be exceeded is alreadye limited Your sonne as timely fruict so timely ripened and as firte for his season was as timely gathered It was necessarye by nature he shoulde be perfected and the perfection attayned by nature also he was consequentlye to be depryued Onely that his sicknesse was naturall and that in the continuaunce thereof he wanted no attendaunce the credite of others as well as my selfe can testifie If physique could haue saued him if syrropes hot potions or other necessaries woulde haue cured him if teares and prayers might haue kept him you had yet hetherto in safetye receaued him He is deade he is gone and we musteafter him Of his firste sickenesse he was whole and perfectlye recouered afterwardes from the Iaundis though somewhat weakened yet lastly deliuered But the inwarde moath that consumed him woulde not suffer him to liue which with suche extreame gripes assaulted him that beeing not able longer to continue at the pleasure of God hee dyed It is your part therefore to be now recomforted and therein with patience to referre your selfe to Gods determinate pleasure and iudgement to which intent I haue taken in hand this midnightes labour after the receipt of your letters which were to bee retourned the next morning earlie by reason whereof I can no waies satisfie what you write for neuerthelesse resting hereafter to my vtmost power to pleasure you and recommending my selfe also to your woonted courtesie I ende this fourteenth of Ianuary your carefull friend c. BY the course of this Letter maye be perceaued the partes vnto a Consolatorie Epistle necessarilye belonging the Exordium of which is of the conceipted greife incident to the vnlooked shew of the action For the extenuation or lessening whereof are insinuated immediatlye after the ordinaunce and decree of the almighty God the instabilitie of worldly chaunces in them selues neuer permanent the necessitye of euill annexed vnto our naturall condicion euerye of which inducing by circumstaunces a lesse matter of griefe in opening or deliuerie of the Narration Afterwardes by Confirmation is approoued that it is not a thing new or straunge but such as by continuall vreme haue dayly before our eyes that the ordinary vse of all liuing thinges are subiect to like decaie that the case being so common ought indifferentlye to bee borne that the thing is naturall and therefore not to be impugned by all which meanes are drawne the rather to haue the partie comforted From hence will we passe to the second example and consider therein what maye bee accomplished An Epistle Consolatorie of the same wherein one is comforted in case of hard extremitie SEeing the instabilitie of worldlye chaunces is such as permitteth