out contrary to expectation you shall therefore doe well before you trouble any of them in it to make sure of the matter in such sort as may be best for your profit for the sute being effected to good purpose leaue to me to deal in it to your conteÌ„t ther is much muttering that you are like to be crossed in it I would therefore wish you to trie your strength in it not to slip time for it is pretious in a good course bear with me I beseech you if I moue your patience in vrging your speed for it is for your owne good against your comming to town I will haue some what else for you to set on foote for he that wil work must not haue the fire without an yron but not knowing your businesse I will forbear at this time to trouble you with idle newes and only praying for your health and harts ease coÌ„mit the consideration of your owne causes to the mannaging of your good discretion so humbly take my leaue for this time and rest alwaies Your Worships humble seruant I. T. To my assured louing friend T. B. with speed NOne paiment of debts is not onely a crack in credit but a losse of friends vpon your letter I furnished your want and fortune hauing bene your friend a large conscience mee thinketh doth not wel your excuse I yet know not noâ— can wel deuise it but acquaint me with it that I may not wrong your disposition for a seeled affection expecteth the like measure in kindnes the mony you had of me is not much but if it haue done you pleasure I am glad of it and if you can well spare it by this bearer I pray you returne it or the cause why you detaine it I haue lately bought sheepe to store a pasture that I haue taken to farme and my mony being short I am boulâ— to write to you for mine owne which if it come shall be welcome if not so that I know how it may steed you I will forbear it and for the conference betwixt your sonne and my daughter I think they are more ready for vs then wee for them youre mind I know and am contented with it for as I see their proceedings we will soone fall vpon agreement and to be plaine with you I think I were best rather to prouide you more mony then demand any more that you haue and therefore making your excuse in this onelie point of affection intreating pardon for my plaine manner of writing assuring you that if this matter goe forward as it is no other like as their loâ—es so shal our purses be one and thus hoping of your health as mine owne with commendations to youre kind sonne youre selfe and your good Shrew I commit you to the Almighty Caunterbury this fourth of August 1604. Your very louing friend N.T. To a Iudge in the behalfe of an offender MY good Lord your honourable care of Iustice I hope is seasoned with the charitable weight of mercy for though the law cutteth off offence by sharpe punishment yet death takes away repentance and where there is sorrow ther is signe of grace the best Iudge of true Iustice Christe Iesus pardoned the great sinner and with the gentle rebuke of sin no more called her to great grace now shall Iustice vpon the first fact vse an other course vpon an offender I knowe it is your oath to doe iustice yet may you giue time of repentance in reprieuing this poore man whose pardon will bee easily attained Your honor shall doe a good deede God in imitating his course in iustice will surely regard and reward you the penitent offender shall be bound euer to pray for you my selfe with all his friends will truly honor you and no doubt but our King who is full of mercie when his Maiestie shall heare of it will commeâ—d you beseeching therefore your honour to stay the sentence of his death vntill the next Aâ—â—ise or to graunt him a reprieue til the said time leauing the poore mans life to a word of your mouth with my humble and bounden seruice to your hoâ—orable commandemeÌ„t in prayer for your good health and all other happinesse I humbly take my leaue Your honors in all humblenes D. H. A Letter of complements To my very good friend master H. W. at his house in Kelton SYr if I could haue let passe so fit a messenger without some thankful remembrance I were vnworthy of so good a frieÌ„d but your kindnesse being such as wil euer worke in a good mind I praie you let me salute you with this little tokeÌ„ of my loue The runlet is of sucâ— sacke as Bristowe hath no better and the suger-lofe for your good Lady I assure you is right Barbary which at this time is bere of some price but vpon the câ—â—sing of the troubles there I hope we shall haue it cheape here in the meane time howsoeuer it be what you neede command in that or what else may bee in my power to accomplish and so wishing I were with you at the killing of one of your fat Buckâ— with my heartie commendations to your selfe and your good bedfellow manie thanks to you both foâ— my great good cheare and most kind entertainment hoping to see you at my house at your comming to towne where you shall make your owne welcome I commit you to the almightie London this xx of Iulie 1604. Your very louing and assured friend C. R. To his assured friend master Tho. Rise at his house in the Strand AGainst this time of my atteÌ„dance vpon the Iudge of this circuit I shall haue occasion to vse manie things whereof I am now vnfurnished your skill in chusing the best and knowing the prices I know long since by your kindnesse in the like trouble and therefore entreate you once more to take a little paines with this bearer my seruant in helping him in the laying out of his monie vpon such parcels as in my note for mine vse I haue set down your trauel nor kindnes shall not be vnthankfullie forgotten and wherin I may in this countrie or elsewhere pleasure you you shall not faile of my best meanes If you haue anie newes I praie you acquaint me with them and if the shippers be come from the Indies what good successe they haue had but some earnest businesse makes me briefer then I otherwise would be and therfore hoping of your health and not doubting of your kindnesse with heartie commendations I commit you to the Almightie Salop this twelfth of Iune 1606. Your assured friend T. M. To his very good friend Master S. B. at his house in Ferill SYr where you wrote vnto me touching the Sale of your Lorshippe of Bar I cannot answer you for two causes the one of price is too high the other your hast of monie is too great for touching your price the land you know is much impaired since the death of your father the woods are
my onely worldes happines referring onely to the care of your kindnes in the faith of true affection I rest Yours auowed and assured R. N. A letter to a friend to borrow a piece of mony SIr as nothing more trieth a friend then calamitie so is there nothing more grieuous then to bee beholding In kindnes therefore if I maye become your debtor for fiue pounds it is not much yet will it pleasure me more then a little your appointed day I will not breake with you and wherein I may thankfully require you you shall find no forgetfulnes of your kindnes but time is precious and therefore entreating your speedie answere in hope of no deniall I rest Your assured friend to command T. W. The Aunswere I Would be as glad to pleasure you as any man but truth cannot be blamed for more then for my necessary vse that I cannot spate I am not presently furnished I praye you therefore take not a deniall vnkindly for iâ— my credit will pleasure you I will not faile my best to doe you good if otherwise you would vrge mee it will â—â—e to little purpose and therefore sory that I am not in tune to satisfie your expectation I must leaue patience to your kind discretion which as you know me shall commaund me for I am and will bee to the vttermost of my power You re assured friend D. S. To my best beloued Cosen mistrisse H.C. at her house in pe Chest. MY good Cousen I remember at my last being with you wee had some conference aboute consideration beleeue me when I consider the worlde and what I haue seene in it and the best things of it and that all if it effect is as nothing or rather worse if any thinge at all I wonder howe men who haue so much iudgement of good froÌ„ euill will shewe so little vnderstanding of good in following of euil how can those meÌ„ that know the in certaine time of death liue as though they thought neuer to die hâ—we can hee that readeth or heareth the word of god and beleeueth the truth of it bee so carelesse of it and so disobedient to it will men bee sicke that may bee whole â—or dye that may liue what shall I say but as Paule saide to the Corinthians O yee foolish people who hath bewitched yee it is the worde of God that transgression is as the sinne of witch-crafte and surely if men were not bewitched with sinne they could not so delight in wickednesse being the crosse and barre to all their happines coulde the theefe consider the doome of the lawe or the miserie of the dispoyled surely hee would not steale if the adulterer did consider the filthines of his action and the shame of his folly surelye hee would turne honest if the murtherer did consider the horror of death and the terror of sinne hee woulde neuer kill In briefe if any sinner woulde looke into the foule nature of sinne hee woulde bee out of loue with it and if â—ee did consider the power of Gods wrath hee woulde bee afraide of it Nay could or would man consider the goodnes of God towards him in commaunding and forbidding nothing but that which is good for him howe could hee bee so forgetfull of his owne good in offending the Author of all goodnesse If the vnthrifâ— coulde consider the misery of wanâ— sure he would not be carelesse of his estaâ—e if the couetous coulde consider the misery of the poor he would be more charitable if the Swaggerer could consider the comelines of sobriety and the shame of immodesty surely hee would be more ciuill If the magistrate did consider the misery of the poore he woulde not be so careles of their torment put them to such sorrow but remember that iustice without mercie is to neere a tuch of Tiraâ—ny If the offendant did consider the griefe and shame of punishment he would containe himselfe within the compasse of a better course If â—ee that preacheth the worde and followeth it not could consider the heauinesse of Gods iudgemente and the shame of his folly hee woulde doubtlesse bee more carefull of his soul and more kinde to his flock If the lawyer could consider the lawe of god hee would neuer grieue his clyent nor speake against a knowne truth but as I saide before to leaue tediousnesse it is the onely lack of consideration that maketh the heedlesse will of man to runne the waye of error to the ruine of his beste comforte and therefore entreat you notwithstanding my allowance of your iudgement touching the heauenly prouidence and power in the motion of al good actions yet so to allow of my opinion touching consideration that it is a great and one of the greatest causes of the confusion of reason by the corruption of nature and knowing that the care of your consideration is such as doth and may wel giue example to the most expert to follow the rules of your directions in the whole course of your life wishing my selfe so happie as to enioy the company of so good a friend till I see you and euer I rest in fast setled affection Your very louing friend N. V. To my sweet loue mistris E. P. SWeet Loue if absence could breed forgetfulnesse then fortune should doe much harme to affection but when the eye of the mind looketh into the ioye of the hearte the sentence may well be spoken As in silence you may heare me so in absence you may see me for loue is not an hours humour nor a shadowe of light but it is a light of the spirit and a continuing passion thinke not therfore I do or can forget thee or loue my sefe but for thee shortly I hope to see thee and in the meane time though not with thee yet not from thee nor well at rest with my selfe til I may reste only with thee I rest alwaies to rest Thine onely and all â— VV. Her Aunswere MY deare if delayes were not a death to loue excuse were currant in the construction of kingdomes but sentences are better spoken then vnderstood and a pleasing presence is better then an excused absence remembrance is good but possession better and loue holdeth memorie but a kind of melancholie Let your selfe therefore be your messenger rather of your loue then your letters least fortune in a mad fit be a crosse to your best comforte not in respect of my constancy but my parents vnkindnesse This is all I will write at this time but wishing a happie time to the beginning of a neuer ending I rest til that time and at all times on the same Yours as you know E. P. An old mans letter to a young widdow VVIddow I haue neither a smooth face nor a filed tongue to cheate your eies nor abuse your eares withall but a true hearte and a constant minde that doth inwardly loue you and will nâ—uer deceiue you fickle heads and vnbrideled wills know not wher nor how to bestow themselues when their
A POSTE WITH a packet of madde Letters The second part LONDON Printed by R. B. for Iohn Browne and Iohn Smethicke and are to be solde in S. Dunstones churhyard 1606. TO THE READER READER I knowe not what you are and therefore I cannot well tell What to saye to you onelye this at aduenture if you bee wise you will not play the fool in scoffing at that which perhappes may deserue a better countenaunce if you bee not wise I can but praye for your better vnderstanding howsouer you bee I will hope the beste of you that you will think of my work as it deserues which is as much as I desire if you get any good by it thank me for it if hurt thanke your selfe for youre abuse of that mighte serue you better this is all I can and will at this time saye vnto you my intente was to pleasure manie and you maie be one of them and to hurt none at all and therefore not you So leauing my booke to your liking as it falleth out I rest as I haue reason Your friend Nich. Breton A Poste vvith a Packet of madde letters The second part The letter betweene the Knight R.M. and the Lady E. R. SWeet should be that spirit which through the instinct of loue vnderstaÌ„deth the silence of truth whose tonge is the hearte whose words are sighs in which are hidden the secret fruites of those trees that onely grow in the paradise of reason vouchsafe then faire eie more brighte then the sunny beames with one faire glaunce of â—our gratious fauoure to blesse this rude and vnworthy paper the which if it haue made you any offence in the fire consume it but if thorough the power of the fates or the effect of your kindenes it maie doe you the leaste pleasure Let him be Metamorphosed to worse then nothing that woulde be any thing but that letter during your reading or euer any other thing then your will in your seruice for that vnder heauen hauing no cause of comforte but in my concealed hope of your grace let all worlds sweet be as bitternes to my thought that shal seeke sweetnes in other sence so looking for no felicitie but in the nest of the Phaenix in the admiration of honour in the humilitie of loue I rest Yours deuoted to be commanded Her Answere WIsedome mighte well appeare in that hearte which could pearce into the conceipte of that spirit that with the figures of loue deceiues the sence of Simplicitie which not suspecting euill findes seldome other substance O poore truthe how is thy Title made a shadow of deceipt while in seeking of paradise folly falls into hell yet not to wrong any Creature happy maie that liue that makes faith his felicitye and pardoned be that paper that doth but his masters message let then sighs be buried in the depth of forgetfullnes while silence vnderstandeth that vertue speaketh and in the fier of that flame whose heat is more felt then seen be that letter burned that offendes me with pleasure so assuring my selfe that if from the nest of the Phaenix you passe without a fether either the figure will be a Cipher or the fancie affection so leauing your beste thought to a blessed Issue I rest Affectionately Yours in what I maie E R. His Replie VNworthy should that heart bee of the least of loues happines that can haue power to giue place to the poyson of deceeite and more then miserable were the life that to hel makes sutch a passage Oh blessed creature do not thinke the world to be the Caue of the accursed nor doe a wrong to loue in the suspition of truth Simple faith hath no feare and true loue cannot faine but if Silence be the onely Aunswere of the expectation oâ— comforte hope in obscurenesse mâ—st seeke the happinesse of desire but let not fancy bee Cipher when faith knowes no fiction but let your fauoure bee the fether in the neste of my honours Phenix which till I maie kindly receiue I shal in the sunne beames of your beautie consume to the ashes of discomfort in which commending the sum of my life to the true and honourable seruice of loue I rest Yours what mine owne R. M. Her aunswere VNgratious is that spirite that thorough suspition of deceipte doth Iniury to loue and blessed is that fancie that liues onelie by faithe sweet is the warre where kindnes endes the quarrell and little the hurt where hope is a moste present and readie helpe in briefe they are blinde trauailers that in seeking to finde heauen goe to hell and if loue bee himselfe he hath life in Assurance let it then suffice you to finde the due of desart where desire exceedes not the limits of Reason so in the nature of that honour that giues vertue her best Grace commending the comfort of your care to the condition of your conceipte I reste as I haue occasion to equall honoure in true affection Yours as I finde cause E. R. A merry letter from a conceited friend to his like familiar HOnestie I hope I am in the righte excepte the greate winde haue blowen cleane awaâ—e youre beste witte giue me leaue spight of your teeth to tell you that I loue you leaâ—t I should growe deafe I would bee glad to heare of you for thoâ—gh I am â—ot blinde yet I cannot see you and therefore hauing a lit messenger I thought it not amisse to write to you not for any thing that I haue to saie to you but that while I think on you you shoulde see I doe not forgot you for though complimentes are but idle yet they make wordes in steed of better matter and so forth now to the purpose you shall vnderstand that at the writing hereof a sodaine occasion of busines made mee make an end ere I had begon thereore intending to write I know not what to abridge my conceite I know not how but hoping that you are wise enough to thinke what you lift I will onely praie for you that being in as good health as I leaâ—t you as soone as conueniently you can I may meet with you 〈◊〉 where it shal please you for as you know I am for you in al kindnes to quite you and so to him that made you euer to blesse and keepe you with my heartes commendation I leaue you Yours what mine owne B. An Answere to the same WAgge-pasty I am sure I am not in the wrong excepte the Sunne haue dried vp your brains since I left you Let mee for I will tell you that in my loue I outleape you and will not be so idle as not to answere you that my sences doe not so fayle me but that I vnderstand you and hauing no better company would be glad to bee troubled with you for you haue not a kind thought wherein I doe not quarrell with you whether is more force in the nature of true friendshippe which because fortune fauoures few fooles this yeare wee must
R.B. To my louing Cousen master T. VV. Iustice of peace SYr I would be glad to write you newes of the dispatch of your busines but yet it will not bee for Lawyers bâ—ing ful of Clyents cannot answere al men at once and therefore considering your matter is in a case of more conscience then gaine I must attend the leisure of your Counsellour who as he is wiâ—e I doubte not but will proue honest anâ— then a little time will be well 〈◊〉 with that brings a good houre at the last your aduersarie is full of mony and trudgeth vp and downe like a foxe but I hope in sâ—eed of a goose hee will bee choaked with a feather haue you no feare nor care of it for I doubt not to effect it to your content and so much for your lawe busines Now for other matters the occurrents of this time are either so friuolous or dangerous that I thinke silence better blamed then babbling for though there be fewe Partridges yet there are many setters heer in this town who listen for speeches intercept letters accuse the simple and vndoe the foolish and therefore I had rather bee silent with the Nightingale til May then prate like a Cuckoe out of season yet for that you shall not think me fearefull of sparrow blasting I wil write you a little news Tobacco is like to grow a great commoditie for there is not an Ostler nor a Tapster but will be at his whiffe or two and vse it as a shooing-horn to draw on a potte of Beere â—ottell Ale is more common then good and yet deare enough it is so taken vp with the drunken true Theeues are well weeded and yet besides shoue-groate Testers there are some lookers now and then Painting was neuer sâ— common and pretty cheape And for women some goe like Antickes some like maskers some proudly sober and some like carelesse Resolution but some few like angels but they are too high for men and therefore I leaue them to higher powers Now men are as in times past if young hardly wise though witty if aged wise if wealthy serued and honoured if poore at least scorned if not worse vsed If wise perhaps employed if folish baffled this I say for the most part for somtime for some cause both youth and age and pouerty and folly are lâ—â—ely borne withall but for that this is rather an old obseruation then any new matter I wil end my long letter with neuer ending loue And so in hope of your health commit you to the Almightie Your very louing Cousen VV. R To the right honourable his very good lord the Lord. VV. H. RIghte honourable your noblenesse neuer ceasing to binde my seruice to your kindnesse hath made me at this instant to presume a little vpon your good fauour So it is my good Lord that I am shortly to bestow a daughter of mine in mariage vpon a gentleman of some worth and according to our custome friends must bee feasted when a Paâ—â—y of Uenison is a grace to the whole seruice your honour shall much pleasure mee and as often heeretofore giue mee no little cause to bee thankeful my state is not greate but my loue so farre assured as wherein I maye deserue that I cannot requite I will faile of my hope but I will discharge some parte of my debte And so not doubting your honourable fauoure to this my sute for a Bucke beseeching God to adde happines to youre good health I humbly take my leaue Your honors in all humblenes R.S. To his deare friend M. F. R. at his lodging in the Temple YOu wrote of late vnto mee for my opinion of your intent and abuse for your course which two pointes I will touch as truelie and fitly as I can Your intent is to leaue your studie and first to Courte and then to Armes but what hath altered your intent in studie to fall vpon an entent to straunge courses For youre Bookes peaceably entreat of those thinges which you maye finde disquiet in passing through For touching your first course is it not bettâ—r to reade of Princes then to carrie theire crownes you cannot feel their burthens except you had their cares Howe full of perils are theire pleasures yea howe many instrumentes of mischiefe doth the deuill send into the worlde to crosse the courses of good Princes that are leading theire people to Heauen and if they bee Woolues to theire owne flockes how safe is it to bee farre from theire Courtes Now leauing good Princes to Gods blessing and other to his amendment goe a little to his counsell Oh howe greate are the weight of the charges and howe many the natures of their troubles who if they all bee of one minde and as if were one body of many members yet sometime a toe and a finger a hand or an arme a tooth or an eie a tongue or an â—are may perhaps bee out of temper and so that all the bodie maie be out of frame saye their wittes are greate thorough experience of place and their pleasures greate in the authoritie of power and their powers greate in the vertue of fauoure yet with all when experience is put to a newe studie prouidence muste â—rie the power of witte with no little trouble and when pleasures holde in power loue hath no place in seruilitie and when power restes vpon fauoure what is the feare of fortune And further â—is not the care of a common wealth a continuall toyl of witte power a daungerous sâ—eppe to pride hatefull in the highest eie and fortune vnfaithfull in all her fauoures rather read then the laudable cariage of their courses in the seruice of kings then seek in court to see their kingly courses for God only knoweth their consciences themselues onely their cares and thou canst not knowe their crosses But leauing theÌ„ to their honorable proceedings goe yet a little lower to the Ladies what shalt thou see either a creature like an Angell if vertuous or worse then a woman if vitious perhaps thou shalt see painting spoyl a good complexion or deceiue a simple â—ie-sight heate out of a fiue presence a fond spirit speak idlelie perhaps an idle wit playe the wanton Now what art thou benefitted by all this aâ—â—se thine eye with a picture offend thine â—are wish folâ—y or loose thy time a idlenesse Were it not better for thee to read yeâ—iction of Venus then to be seruant vnto vanitie and to laugh at a fancie then to follow folly â—et far there be a Phaenix among birds if hâ—r nest be too high take heed of climing for feaâ—e of a fall take heede of the obiect that makes an abiect of a subiect but looke a side at the attendants what shall you see Cost curtesie long seruice painefull duty hope of fauoure with feare of displeasure a great haruest many labourers â—ewe gaines and must be so for desires are many but deserts fewer and therefore they hope little In summe a Prince
of sinne but with the crueltie of fortune the vnkindnesse of friends and the breach of my credit and most of all with them whom I most loue Oh God my heart aketh and blame it not and my spirit mourneth and reprooue it not for though patience bee a vertue that maketh men diuine yet there is but one Christ men are no Angels and let me tell thee true the miserie of my life is intolerable in the sense of nature for compare the afflictions of the most patient with the causes of my passions and prouide a world of pittie to behold the mappe of my miseries hath one man beene wealthie becom poore so am I hath another suffered wrong so doe I another buried his parents children deare friendes so haue I another trauailed farre in hope of gaine and return with losse so haue I another been wounded in the wars fared hard laine in a cold bed manie a bitter storme and been at manie a hard banquet all these haue I another imprisoned so haue I another long beene sicke so haue I another plagued with an vnquiet wife so am I another indebted to his hearts griefe and faine would paie and cannot so am I another in loue so am I another out of loue with himselfe so am I in summe when anie of these crosses are able to kill the heart of a kind spirit and all these lie at once so heauie vpon mine hart as nothing but the hand of God can remoue besides my continual toile for the reward of vnquietnesse while that which should be my comfort is my corrosiue imagine how with all this I can liue and think what a death it is thus to liue Oh the scorn of the proud the abuse of the vngratious the scoff of the foolish and the scanning of the vnkind the companie of the discontentiue and the want of the most affected the disgrace of learning the losse of time and the miserie of want If there be a Hell on the earth it cannot be farre from this caue of my discomforte where I am sure the diuel seeing my desire to serue God laieth all the barres he can in the waie of my best comfort but I deâ—â—â— him and hope in Christ that my liuing and louing God who hath tried my soule in aduersities wil one day in his mercie so look vpon me that the diuel shall be driuen back from his purpose and the tears of my sorrow wipt away I shall reioyce in such a ioy as all my griefes cleane forgotten my hart and soule shall in the ioy of all my sense in the heauenlie harmonie of a holy himne sing a new song of praise to the glorie of my Sauiour for the hastening whereof in my deliuerance from my torments and comforts in his mercies I will frame my dailie prayers and bee assured of thy Amen but I feare I am too tedious and therefore wil thus end God continue my patience but not my sorrowes giue me deliuerance from my miseries and make me thankful for his blessings blesse thee with as much happines as thou knowst I want so leauing my hopes to his mercies and vs both to his tuition I rest with as little rest as I think any man can rest Thine or not mine owne N.R. To his faire Mistresse and heartes honour Mistresse A. T. LAdie I haue been so ill a scholar to loue that I neuer yet learned the courting of beautie neither would I willingly vse Act to abuse vertue and therefore if plaine truth may haue grace I will vse no Atturneie in this case which being to be iudged in your kindnes I will onely craue audience and stand to your arbitrement my case being mine owne lawyer thus I plead your eies haue stolne my hearte now I must either be accessarie to mine own hurte or accuse you of the fellonie but rather willing to loose my heart in your eyes then keepe them to looke on other light I wil onelie appeale to your selfe what to doe in this passion If I loue you must know it for your eies haue my hearte and if I loose my hearte you must haue it for your eies are wel worthie of it but now you haue it preserue it for your seruice let it not die in displeasure that hath no life but in your loue of it could speak it would tell you how dearlie highlie and onelie it honours you and if you will beleeue it you shal quicklie find it for it is dedicated to your seruice and hath no care but of your fauoure keepe it then to your vse vse it to your pleasure and let it dye in other comfort In summe not to dwel â—pon ceremonies it is nothing mine but al yours and if it maie liue in your eyes it seekes no other heauen in this world driue it not then froÌ„ you that hath no life but in you and take it wholly to you that is as nothing without you so leauing it with my selfe to the honour of your onelie seruice I take my leaue for this time but will rest euer Yours â—â—â—wed and deuoted R. S. To his very good friend Master R. B. at his house in Coll. SYr I knowe you loue no long letters and my sute being tâ— most men so vnpleasing I would be loath to be tedious I haue purchased a peece of land and laied out al my mony now vpon the sodain an vnexpected occasioÌ„ puts me to an extraordinarie charge for the furnishing wherof I am constrained to try my good frinds among which presuming of your kind promise vpon any vrgent occasion to stand me in steed I am to intreat you by this bearer to helpe me to forty pounds wherein you shall so much pleasure me as so much maie doe and as I can requiâ—e it I will not forget it I would haue it for sixe months my daie I will not breake I will take it kindelie and deserue it thankfully my seruant is trusty and therefore I praie you send it by him and as you will bee assured of mâ— loue feede mee not with delays nor excuse for I knowe you haue it and you know I will paâ—e it Thus loath to vse you like a broker to send you a pawne as an honest neighbour let me be beholding to your kindnesse in which you shal giue me cause in the like or a greater matter to rest vpon at as short a warning Your assured friend to vse R. H. To the Right worshipfull my very good master Syr Thomas VVard Knight at his house in Padow SYr after mine humble duty I haue talked witâ— diuers of those parties to whoÌ„ you directed me touching y e benefit to be made of the sate which you haue in hand whose opinions I fiâ—de diuers yet all agreeing in this that if you can procure it irreuocable the mony will be aduentured otherwise they are loth to engage their states and credits too far vpoÌ„ bare hopes for liues are vncertaine and in the change of times diuerse things fall
thee and the last I wil prouide for thee til when wishing thee once out of thy solemne Celi and to take my house for thy better comfort till I see thee and alwaies I rest Thâ—â—e in all mine owne D.R. An answere to the same HOw easilie the healthfull can giue counsel to the sicke how hardly they can take it I woulde I were not in case to proue but I see patience need not bee perswaded for where paine is â—hee will be entertained I know there is no reâ—â—sting of Gods power nor muttering against it but yet think that flesh and blood in many things hath much adoe to bear it though fortune be a fiction yet it troubleth many fine wits and the triall of patience puts the best spirits to a hard point neuer to haue had is little woe to want but to loese hopeles of recouerie wil sting the heart of a good mind a sorrow is sooner taken then put off death is comfortable to the afflicted fooles cannot take thought knaues will not but y e honest carefull vnderstand the plague of misery if death be this waie ordained me I cannot auoid it if hell come vnlooked for I shal be glad of it but I am too weak too rude too full of grief to go but if you will take the pains to make me trie the coÌ„fort of your company my cell shall haue some â—â—ome to entertain a friende for such a need knowing your loue can account no lesse I pray you therefore without further ceremonies let mee see you very shortly if I liue you shal knowe my kindnes if I dye you shall find my loue so drawing towards a feuers fit I am forced thus to conclude in the spight of fortune in the grace of god I wil digest what I can praie for patience for the rest so hoping speedilie to see you till then and alwaies I rest In sicknes and in health thine vvhat mine R.H. An yonger brother to his elder falne vnhappilie on a little wealth and suddenly growne fondly proud GOod brother as I am glad to heare of your health so am I sorrie to heare of your ill cariage it is tolde me by them that I can beleeue y t your wealth which should make you gracious makes you in a manner odious Why it is wonderful that you can so suddenly metamorphose your mind froÌ„ wit to folly it grieueth me to hearâ— your description of almost as maâ—y as know you it is saide you looke ouer the moone walk as vpon stilts speak as it were for charitie and with a swelling conceite of your wealth make your face like one of the foure windes in your apparrell you are womannish your Ruffes set so in print your bearde so starched and your countenaÌ„ce so set that you are rather meet for a prologue before a Comedy then to giue example of ciuilitie formalitie is a kinde of follie when hee that walkes vpright like a Rabbot is like a Boye that should saie grace they saie you are seldome without a flower in your mouth I would it were fitlie perfumed to the desert of your follie you weare your cloak alwaies abroad that one may see your silken outside and your garters beneath your knee are ready to weep for a rose all these notes are taken of you and with all that to mainetain this pride you are as couetous as the deuill for as I here you are both an Usurer and a Broker and haue more cunning tricks in your trade then an honest heart coulde awaie withall truly this is not wel for your estate needs it not your education doth teach it let me therefore intreat you to turn a new leafe sing a newe song be curteous but not couetous kind but not proude and haue a conscience in all your courses for there must be an ende of all your matters and repentance wil be the best paiment of your ill taken accounts beleeue it for you shall finde it at last I wish not too late and so out of the sincere loue of a true hart that holdes you as deere as his own life rather desirous to tel you what I find amisse in you then to sooth you in what I finde grieuous in you to his grace that maye amend you with my praier for you I leaue you your true louing brother R. B. To a faire proud Tâ—t FAire Mistresse why should you turne that to a curse which was giuen you for a blessing I meane your beautie which should haue made you gracious but hath filled you so full of pride that you marre your colour with an ill countenance and when you speak you counterfaite such a kind of lisping that you cannot bring out a wise word your bodies are made so straight and your Fardingale so great that in steed of a woman you make an Antick of your selfe I am plaine but tell you troath I think you are best in your quoiting coat for your tricking and your tyring takes awaie all your proportion so that the Painter and the Tasler haue put nature out of countenance but since it is the fashion for fools to weare a cockes-combe let them weare feathers that list I will not blow them awaie but as a good friend let mee tell you that tel you but for your good be honest and be hangd'e and let knauery goe to the diuel stand unt leering in your door nor deuise lies to make fooles nor vse tricks to pick pockets for in the end all will bee naught for the poxe or the gallowes or the diuel will be the reward of plaine leacherie if in the waie you scape beggery and therefore follow my counsaile giue ouer betimes before it giue ouer you and since I haue turned my coate turn your olde gowne and we will ioie together to goe both in a liuery for say the word and I am for thee and so til I hear from thee I commend me to thee Thine if thou vvilt D.H. Her Answere YOu wicked villaine haste thou plaide the Iewe so long that thou art weary of thy selfe and now comest to mee for a companion soft snatch your tricke is an Ace out and of all the cardes I loue not a knaue my beautie is not for bleere eyes nor shall pretended honestie cheat my follie hast thou had three occupatioÌ„s and none thriue a Pedler a Parasite and a Pander and now wouldest bee a Cony-catcher Syr I haue no game for your ferit and therfore hunt further Now for my leers and my lookes and my tricks and my toyes if they fitte not your humour I am not for you but for the pore and the gallows and the diuell and the ale house keep you from them and I will keepe mee from you and if I thoughte I mighte trust thee I could put thee into fooles paradice but if thou art not afraid of sparrow blasting come home and take a birdes-nest which if it be better then a woodcock thank the heauens for thy good
Fortune and mee for my good will and so till I see thy liuerie I leaue thee to thy selfe Thine if I like M.T. A kinde Sister to her louing Brother MY deere Brother as you knowe our loue began almoste in our Cradles so I praie you let it continue to our graues I haue had a bad husbande and you no good wife and yet with patience wee haue liued to see the straunge chaunges of times but wee muste one daie walke after our friendes and therefore in the mean time let us make muche one of another write vnto mee howe you doe in bodie and minde and when I shall bee so happie as to enioie youre good companie for being alone you may bee as a husbande and a Brother to controll my seruants and comforte my selfe beleeue me I long to see you and in the meane time to heare from you and therefore I praye you let no Messenger passe without some fewe lines of your kinde loue which are as deare to me as my life this I praie you let me not fail off And so with my heartie Commendations and most â—inde Loue in my dailie praiers for thy health I leaue thee to the Almightie Thy very louing Sister A.N. His Answere SWeete Sister I haue receiued your kinde letter for which I returne you manie kinde thankes my bodie I thanke God is in good healthe but my mind somewhat out of temper for I see three thinges that doe muche grieue mee A Foole riche a Wise man wicked and an Honest man poore for the firste either Prodigallie waste himselfe or like a dogge in a benchehole hoords vp his monâ—e hee knowes not for whome the second turnes witte to an euil course that mighte compasse better matter and the thirde liues in griefe that he cannot shewe the vertue of his condition But when I consider againe that heere is no paradise the Aungells liue in Heauen and Hell is too neere vnto the Earthe I am glad I can fall to praier to shunne the trappes of the deceiptfull And since I cannot goe from the course of Fates to take my fortune as patientlie as I can You saie well wee haue liued to see much and yet must die when wee haue seene all you are tidde of a trouble and I well freed of a tormente yet are there crosses enough to trie the care of a good Conscience in which I doubte not youre wisedome nor shall you of my will but as patience is the salue of miserie so is Loue the ioye of Nature in which as wee are neerelie lincked so let vâ— liue vnseparable shortlie I hope to see you and til then and euer will loue you The Lorde of heauen blesse you and in his good mercy keep you So with my harts loue to you to the Lords tuition I leaue you Your verie louing Brtother E. B. A young man to his first Loue. SWeete Loue since first I sawe you I haue seene none like you nor like anie but onely you my reason is drawne out of manie grounds and all in your graces For firste youre Beautie beeing such as exceedeth my commendation your wit too high for my reason to reach and youre demeanure so discreete as driues mee onelie to woonder beleeue my affection to be vntouched with vntruthe and requiâ—e my loue with some token of your good liking for beeing the firste starre that hath made me study Astronomy let me not liue in the clouds of your discomforte least in a mist of misery I fal to the lowest of Fortune Leauing therefore my life to your fauour or my death to your frowne I rest restlesse til I may rest Yours onelie and all T. P Her Answere If your heart were in your eyes and your wordes were all truth I should beleeue a strange tale of the great force of faÌ„sie but I must entreat your pardon to pawse vpon my iudgement of your opinion I would I were as you writ me though I did not requite you as you wish me for though I would not be vnkinde yet wil I not be vncarefull Astronomie is too high a studie for my capacitie the clouds are fittest dwellings for them that are so high minded that the earth cannot hold theÌ„ In briefe therefore build no castles in the aire least they happen to fall on your neck distrust not your fortune where your affectioÌ„ is faithful nor put your life to loues passion least it trie your patience too much howsoeuer it be carry reason in al your courses and your care will haue the more comfort to which I wishe you as much hope as a true hearte may deserue and so not knowing your rest wil trouble you no further but rest as I haue reason Yours in good vvill A.M. A Trauailer beyond the Sea to his wife in England DEare wife the miserie of my fortune is more then can eastlie be borne and yet the most of grief is to be absent from thee and my little ones but as a Denne to her Chickens be kind to them till I see thee and praie for my successe as I do for thy health from manie daungers God hath deliuered me and I hope wil after many storms send mee a faire daie to doe me good and a faire winde to bring me home in the mean time I will haue patience and entreat thee the like for loue so long setled I know cannot loose his nature and therefore not doubting thy constancie I commend me to thy kindnesse kisse my babes for me and kindly receiue for thy selfe and them such tokens as by this bearer I send thee for thee and them thus hoping of thy health as my hearts greatest happinesse in this world in prayer for the same and thee and thine euermore I rest Amsterdam this 20. of August 1604. Thy deare louing husband T.M. SWeet hart let mee entreat thee to be as merry as thou caÌ„st in spight of fortune and all her furie for if thou hast but life to bring home yet loue shal bid thee welcome my praier and thy little ones is dailie for thee we al long to see thee think it long to be so long without thee but knowing thy intente for our good we will haue patience til thy comming and praye for the speed of it with good successe of thy trauail the posts hast is great and therefore I muste end for thy kinde letters and tokens I thanke thee so mewhat by this bearer I haue sent thee my notes in my letter wil tel you what with my hearts loue which can holde nothing from you but auoweth al I am and haue readie for you so with my babes kisses and my owne in prayer for thy health and hearts-ease I commit thee to the Almighty London This 23 of September 1604. Thy verie louing wife E.A. To his friend that was in loue HOnest VVilkin I cannot but mourne for thee to see thee in such a taking as I thought neuer to haue takeÌ„ thee in I heare sait thou art in loue is it
for though the old trust my father and olde â—ramme my mother will not come out with their Crownes I care not I am all theire Sonnes and therefore I shall haue all the Landâ— and therefore hauing a good Farme wee shal make shifte for mony And therefore sweet hart for so I well dare call thee I pray thee bee of good cheere wash thy face and put on the Glouâ—s that I gaue thee for we are full askte next Sonday the Sonday after you knowe what for I haue your fathers good will and you haue my Mothers and therefore if Buckle and Thonge holde we will load our Packes together I would haue said somewhat else to you but it was out of my heade and our Schoolmaister was so busie with his boyes that hee woulde scarce write thus much for mee But farewell and remember Sonday Thine ovvne from all the vvorlde T. P. To her hearte of Golde and best beloued NOwne Loue and kinde soule I thank thee for thy sweete letter a thousand times I warrant thee it hath bene reade and reade ouer againe oftner then I haue fingers and toes euery nighte I gette vp our man into my Chamber and there by my beddes side he sittes and reads it to mee still still til I am almoste aslâ—epe but when hee reades so often sweet heart and I loue thee Oh saie I you doe lie and hee sweares no and then I saye I thanke you Tâ—â— no loue loste for I am no changeling and when hee comes to dream and wake and wish I will not tell you what I thinke yet but one daye I will tell you more in the meane time bee content and trust mee I haue a band in hand for thee that shall be done afore the time and let our friendes doe theire willes we will not hang after theire humors No I am thine and thou art mine and that not for a daie but for euer and euer My mother hath stolne a whole peck of flower for a Bryde-Cake and our man hath sworne hee will steale mee a braue Rose-marie bush I haue spoken for â—le that will make a Catte speake and the Youth of our Parish haue sworne to bring the blind fidler well bee of good cheere on Sondaye I will bee at Church and if there bee any dauncing I hope to haue about with you And til then and the Sondaie after and euery daie after that God bee with you Written by our man at my beddes side at midnighte when the folkes were all asleepe Your true louing in heart till Death vs depart E. S. An angry letter by a young Louer in the Countrie to his Loue. M. N MArgerie the truth is you doe not vse me well what doe I get by you to loose my daies worke and sit on a stile blowing my fingers in the colde in hope to meete you a milking and you send an other in your roome and goe to market an other waie well if I bee not your sweete hearte much good doe you with your choice I hope my fathers sonne is worthie of your mothers daughter Your Pricking in a cloute is not so good as a plough and for your portion I can haue your betters but t is no matter hee is curste in his Cradle that trustes anie of your wordes and therefore since t is as t is let it be as t wil I will not put at my hearte that you hang at your heeles Well to be short take it for a waâ—â—ing for I am angrie if you serue mee soÌ„ againe you shall serue me so no more that is once and therefore either bee as you shoulde bee or bée as you list for I will not disgeste more then I can that is the truth other folke see it as well as I what a foole you make of mee but t is no matter I maye liue to be meete with you but yet if you will giue ouer your gadding and bee rulde by your friendes counsaile I can bee contente to forget al that is past and to be as good friends as ere we were And so hoping to heare better of you then some folkes thinke of you meaning to bee at your towne the next market daye if you will meet me at the Rose we will haue a Cake and a cup of Ale and maye happe bee merrie ere wee parte and so farewell Your Friend as you vse mee B. D. BArnaby you are much too blâ—me to fal out with your selfe for wante of better companie If you bee angrie turne the buckle of youre girdle behinde you for I knowe no Bodie is in loue with you What 's heere to doe with my Fathers horse and youre mothers mare Why I wonder what you ayle is the Moone in the Eclipse that you are so out of Temper Nowe truth t is pittie a foole cannot haue a little witte but hee will spende it all in a fewe wordes Alas the daye it will bee nighte by and by and if you bee so peeuish to put pepper in the Nose if you canne sâ—â—ese both waies you are in no danger of Death Well to bee plaine care for your selfe if you will for in truth I will take no charge of you For if you will holde on your course you maie walke whither you will and no bodie looke after you for my selfe I will forgette your Name and proper person I hope there is none so madde as to be in loue withall In conclusion come not to mee till I sende for you nor look after mee till I bidde you I will drinke no Bottle ale with such a bottle nose nor desire to come to market to meete such a companion and so glad to haue this occasion to try your patience the foreman of fooles be your woodcocke father and teach you better howe to vse your witte if you haue any And so in as little loue as I can sauing my charitie In hartie good will I leaue you as I found you and so rest Your fâ—iend as you see M. A. To her more friendly then beleeued faithfull M. Tho. Ievvell A Bitter sweete is like a Phisicall potion if I be so to your thoughts I hope I shall purge your head of ill humours and then faming fancie that would deceiue plaine simplicitie will abuse neither of vs and if your flatterie were not grosse in my complexion I should haue no suspect of your condition with how farre it is from your protested truth I leaue to the secret confession of your little affection wordes followe thoughts at the heeles and thoughts keepe the head not the heart where the brains a little troubled it puts the wit much out of temper and therefore wishing you to leaue honoure to the noble and seruice to the wealthy giue me leaue to like of equality and to settle my affection in discretion which hating to disgrace the wel deseruing cannot but dayly fauour y â— faithful distrust is a kind of iealousie which if I could loue I should perhaps be acquainted with but solitarinesse bâ—ing so sweete a life why should I seek my hurt in a worse course yet am I not borne for my selfe and therefore will harken to reason and yet no further then to know the worth of a Iewei before I pay too deare for the wearing of it and therefore let this suffice you that no heauen being in this woâ—lde take heede of a â—ell of your owne makinâ— and putting awaie the cloudes of idle humors looke into the height of that loue that by the direction of vertue may bring you to honour to which if my helpe may auaile I wil say Amen to such prayers as may bee made in a good mind In which hoping you will labour to rest in I leaue you to your best rest and so rest Your friend as farre as I may not be mine ovvne enemie S. P. FINIS
shall I say who vp-holdes the state of a Citty or the honour of a state vnder the King but the Merchant who beautifieth a Court with Iewels and outward ornaments but the trauaile of the merchant who be autifies the Gardens with sundry sorts of fruites and flowers but the trauailing merchant he may well bee called the merchant the Sea-singer or the maker of the Sea to sing the Sea-singer when hee hath faire winde and good weather and maketh the Sea to sing when shee sees the goodlie houses that floate vpon her waues and cast anchor in her Sands But let me leaue the Sea and come to the land consider of the sweet and ciuill manâ—er of their liues whose houses more neat whose wiues more modest whose apparrell more comely whose diet more daintie whose cariage more commendable valiant without quarrels merry without madnesse bountifull in their gifts and coy in all their banquets whose children are better nurtured whose seruants better gouerned whose house better stuffed and maintained Furthermore what comforte haue the distressed found beyond the Seas and howe many poore doe they relieue at home what Colledges what Hospitals what almes houses haue they builded and in effect what Citties haue they enlarged and what Countries haue they enritched how fewe Lawyers can say so if that be al true which much more might be said in their honor giue them their right say the Merchant is a royall fellow and goe forwardes with your intent if you will euer haue your sonne see any thing know any thing doe any thing or bee worth any thing put him to a Merchant and giue with him such a portion as out of his yeeres may set vp his trade or trafficke doubte not hee will doe well and think not he can almost do better so beseeching God to bles him in al his courses without which wil be worse then nothing I pray you doe as I wish you charge him to serue God and so turne him to the world and thus hauing truely written you my opinion touching your purpose wishing health and honour and all happinesse to all worthy true Merchants in hope of your health I commit you to the Almighty London this twentieth of August 1604. Your very louing cosen N. B. A Letter of Loue to a most sweet and wise creature SWeet were that spirit that by the instinct of loue doth vnderstand the silence of truth whose tongue is his hearte and whose worâ—es are sighes in which are hidden those secret fruites of comfort that onely growe in the grounde of your grace Uouchsafe therefore fair sweete with the sunne-bright eyes of youre beauty to cast one looke vpon the rude Lynes of this poore Letter which if it haue beene so vnhappye as to moue your displeasure let the fire bee the reward of his presumption but if through the fauor of the faults or the vertue of your gratious pittie it hath beene worthy the reading let mee be metamorphosed to worse then nothing if I desire to be any other thing then that may pleese you in all ceremonies and circumstances or in affection and therefore leauing my seruice to your commaund and my loue to the life of your fauour wishing to die like the Phenix to receiue in the beames of your beautie I rest full of vnrest til I may fullie rest Yours as you may of you will R. E. The Ladies answere WIse were that hearte which could pierce into the conceit of that spirite which with the art of loue seeketh to inchaunt the trust of simplicity which for not suspecting of euill-falls vpon the point of much miserie Oh poor truth how art thou made a vaile or couer for decet when vnder the shadow of paradise is sought the waie to hell Oh cursed trees that carry such fruite but not to wrong any creature Happy may that hearte liue which in faith onely seekes his felicitie and pardoned be that paper that doth but his dutye Let then all sighs be drowned in the deepth of obliuion while Silence vnderstandeth that Vertue speaketh Nowe for the nest of the Phenix if you can clime so high carrie awaie neuer a feather with you then it is but a fiction or vertue vnhappie but to waite the issue of honors hope to the blisse of vertues fauour I rest when I further vnderstand you as I thinke good to answere you and till then and alwaies rest Yours as falls as I well may A.B. A replie to the aunswere VNworthie were that minde of the thought of loue which could giue place to the treason of betraying of trust and more then miserable were that life that towards hell could make such a passage Oh Angel-like creature thinke not the world the habitation onely of the accursed nor do wrong to loue in suspition of truth You saie happie be that life that seeks happinesse in faithfulnesse but what doe you say to loue A simple conceit cannot descend into suspition and the thought of deceite is hatefull to loue Bee not then incredulous where loue is vertuous and for the fiction of the Phenix make the substance true in your selfe whose least thougte of fauour shall be worth all the feathers of the fairest bird that flieth So reposing hopes comfort on the honoure of your kindnes beseâ—ching you to vnderstand nothing of mee more then all yours I reste in that onely rest euer to rest Yours onely and all E. A. An Answere to the same VNhappie be that soule which in suspicion of truth should wrong the vertue of loue and blessed bee that heart which in hate of treason makes faith his felicitie Silence is a language that conceit is onely acquainted with and gentle is that warre which giues no deadly wound feare not then the paine that a breath will blow awaie when the hope of comfort wil cure the disease but what need more figures flie the waie to hell and finde the way to heauen Let thy heart goe with thy tong and the Eccho wil giue a happy sound Till when not doubting the diuine nature of loue to be free from the diuelish poison of deceit I rest as I find reason Yours in aâ—fection though not assuring M. I To his deerest fairest and worthiest of loue honour and seruice Mistris E. T. IF I should commend you aboue the Moone and compare you with the Sunne you would put me in the cloudes for a flatterer but knowing your owne worth and finding the substance of my truth you cannot blame in admiration to speake truth of your perfection which of what power it is in drawing the seruice of reason if you would beleeue loue would quicklie tell you but the course of inconstancie in the vnwise breedeth distrust of truth in the most faithfull but all birds are not of one feather nor all men of one mind In briefe not to make a long haruest of a little torne which being ripe woulde be gathered in good time let truth be my spokes-man and beleefe my comfort the hope whereof as