â— pray God you neuer knowe Any qualitie in a mediocritie â— gâ—â—dly allow you but let not your loue be carried away with ang iâ—le imagination I haue sent you a hundreth Crownes wâ—â— may you vse them and when you need any moe send to me for them for your affection touching marriage I would it were bestowed as I could with it howeuer it be it shall be much amisse it I miâ—kâ—ke â— I haue sent you likewise a Horse now and than to manage in a morning but I pray you forbeare to use him as a â—ackney to ride up and downe the streetes in idle humors Conuerse with no fooles for you shall loose time with them and take heede of knaues for there is much to be feared in them Long not after newes least you be guâ—d with a â—east and take heed of drunkennesse for it is a healthy humor Make much of thy money and abuse not thy friend be carefull of thy selfe and forget not thy Father whose earthly ioy is but in the hope of thy happinesse and whose deadly sorrowe would be to soe thee 〈◊〉 amisse What shall I say more to thee â— thou knowest I loue thee and only in my loue am I thus carefull ouer thee Accept then my admonitions and ponder vpon the constructions they may happe to 〈◊〉 thee good but harme they can doo thee none â—se them therefore for thy best auaile After the Terme the bacation will call thee into the Countrey where knowing thy Fathers house thou maist make thine owne welcome â—ill when and alwaies I will pray for thee that God will so blesse thee that I may haue ioy in thee Your louing Father H. W. A kind Answere of a louing sonne My deare Father as I wil not flatter myselfe with your loue so can I not but ioy in your kindnes whose carefull counsell within the compasse of so fewe words I will lock up in my hart as the best iewel of my life for to serue God is the dutie of a Christian and no longer let me line then in the care of that comfort A cleane conscience I finde like a cleane paire of sheetes where the soule after labors may take a safe place of rest to passe the limits of allegeance merits the losse of life and he is borne â—â— happie that is unnatural to his country and aâ—ery castles are but mad mens imaginations I know extremes are not durable nor often prefitable and repentance a paiment that pincheth the â—art of understanding I finde the instruction of the aged to be the best direction of the youthfull and obseruation with Experience to make the perfâ—ction of Art the necessitie of Experience cannot be aâ—yed but the hope of desert may be deceiued for while will standes for iudgement there is no holding of argument touching Alâ—hamistry I heare much but beleeue little and for the charge I will not waste your Lande to make a new mettall but if by my industry I can doo good I will take the benefite of Time for qualities I thanke your large allowance the best meanes with labour to attaine them for Teachers are worthie their rewards to be beholding I loue not and hate to be ungratefull But as I follow not the prodigall I haue little pleasure in the courtous and for idle imaginations I can vse them as fictions for your Crownes I humbly thanke you and hope to bestow them to your 〈◊〉 Your â—orse will doo me much pleasure and cause me to see you the sooner For gallopping the streets it is like children upon â—obby horses but giâ—â—ie heades haue such humours that God knoweth what will become of them for mariage though the course be honourable yet could I be content to forbeare it though in the â—â—reâ—ion of my affection I wiâ—l be much ruled by your discretion Fooles câ—nnot understand mee and knaues wil but trouble me but from the company of 〈◊〉 conditions the Lord of heauen deliuer mee good newes come neuer too soone nor badde too late and therefore as they are I wil estâ—â—me them For drunkennesse neâ—er doubt mee for it is most lâ—athsomâ— to my nature and for my mony though it being seruant I will hold it as my good friend for my friend he shall be my selfe but my father my hearts loue and my lifes comfort in whose carefull admonitions how kinde I fâ—â—de the ininstructions the obedience of my dutie shall make knowne to your contentment the vacation is neare and I will not be long from you where finding you well shall be my best welcome so thinking my selfe bless in the heauens to haue so good a Father on the earth beseeching God to make me ioyfull in your eyes by the graces of his mercies in praier for your long health with your hearts euer happinesse In all humble thankes I take my leaue Your obedient sonne T.W. A Merchants Letter to his Factor As I haue reposed trust in your care I looke for your performance of my credit your abilitie in managing such matters as I haue committed to your charge I make no doubt of and therefore hoping in your discretion to heare of my expected contentment I will looke by your next Letters to heare of the summe of my desire in the meanetime let me tell you that I haue sent you ouer foure score broad cloathes and thirtie Carâ—ies with such other commodities as I thinke fit for your use in those parts I pray you make your best market and take heed of your Creditors for I heare there are men reputed of great wealth in suspition to play banquerupâ—s haue therefore a care of your businesse your trauels shall not bee unconsidered your French Wines I heare this yeare are very small and your Gascoigne Wines very deare Prunes cheape but you know your markets and so I hope you will haue care in disbursing your money for it is hardly come by and as this world goes â—ooth much in great matters if there boe any Newes of woeth acquaint me with them and in any wise doo not trouble me with untruthes your Couâ—en telles mee that you are in good regard with the Gouernour for certaine cloathes that you lately bestowed on him hee tolde mee the cause and therein I commend your discretion for sometime it is better to giue then to saue when it turneth to aduantage In summe let this suffice you without further circumstance you haue my loue and my purse I pray haue a care of them both so till I heare from you I rest Your loving Maister W.H. His answere Sâ—â— I beseech you mistrust not your trust nor haue any fearâ— of my care for hauing both your loue and your purse how can the one let me forget the other â—o sir bee you assureâ— howsoeuer banquers play banquerouâ— sure pawnes will deceâ—ue no credite and touching such affaires as I haue in charge doubt not your expectation of my dispatch your cloathes â— haue receiued and like them very well year Carâ—ies are verie good I would you
thy kinde perswastons hoping thou will take no exceptions at my constructions intreating thee to belâ—ue of me no more then thou needest and to loue me as thou doest in the faith of that affection that holds thâ—â— beare to my loue I rest during life Thine obliged and diuoted W.B. A Letter of comfort to a sister in sorrow DEare sister I heard lately of your husbands departure for the Indies when with no little sorrow I considered your heauie case in which finding his wants to be grieuous and your friends colde in comfort I could not chuse without unkindnesse but remember these fewe lines of my loue unto you I knowe your state is weake how faire so euer you make your weather but the more is your patience worthy honour that can so nobly conceale your discontentments for my selfe I would I were able to doo you good but what I haue or can procure shall not faile to doo you pleasure but if your minde be too great to stoupe to be beholding what I am able to doo take a dutie in my brothers loue good sister therefore be of good cheare and put your care upon me I will soe you often and loue you euer for a creature of your worthinesse is seldome found in your sere that for her husbands loue will aduenture the state of her liuing your children are not many but such as are shall be mine and you to me as myselfe take therefore as litle thought and as much comfort as you can no doubt but God that trieth his seruants will blesse them hope then of my brothers happie returne and fill he come commaund me shortly God willing you shall see mee in the meane time let me entreat you kindly to accept this little token of my greater loue which is but an assurance of a beginning of my affections neuer ending in which predicament of true friendship I rest euer assured Your very louing sister E.W. Her answere SWéete sister I haue receiued your kinde Letter and louing token for both which I am your thankefull debtor but toâ—ching which husband though his wants were grieuoâ—s yet to want him is my greatest sorrewe for in the stay of his loue was the state of my liuing I am sorie that you know my weakenesse and with it but in strength to â—unswere your kindnesse but good sister though I am willing to conceale my crosses to be beholding to so honourable a spirit I count iâ— not the least of my happinesse Therefore though I haue diuâ—ted my selfe to solitarinesse in his absence your company shall bee to me as light in darknesse and noâ—ing the nature of your kindnesse will euer be beholding to your loue come then to me when you will and commaund me what you will for I will be as goe and you will my children are my worlds ioyes and my hearts Iewels in whose faces I will behold their father in whose loue I will spend my life so in a merrie goe sorrie grieuing for his abâ—ence and wishing your presence praying for his happie returne your health and mine owne patience that in too much passion of affection I fall not upon indiscretion with most heartie thankfull loue I commend my life to your commaundement Yours affectionately bound E.G. A Letter of loue to a faire Mistresse Farre Mistresse to trouble you with a long circumstance â— might perhaps feare you with the losse of time and to make an end ere I begin might argue little care in my conceit but to auoyd both suspitions let me a little entreat with your patience to peruse in a fewe words the summe of a long tale in which the truth of loue to the latest houre of death protesteth the ioy of â—iâ— life but in the fruite of your fauour of which the thought of his unworthinesse toth too much shewe his unhappinesse Time makes me too briefe but in your wisedome is my hope of understanding that in my tryall you may trust me and by desert esteem me in which if I deceiue your expectation let me die in the misery of your disdaine Thus not to flatter you with a faire â—â—le in the state of your worthie commendation beseeching to be commaunded by the kinde care of your discretion in the handes of avowed seriuce I humbly rest Yours alwaies assured R.O. The Answere SIr as I would be loth so be thought proud I would as vâ—willingly be found idle either to beleeue too well of my selfe or not to haue a respect of other Truthe is sildome marked with smoothe words and loue is not bredde but upon great contentment your lyking may be greater then my desert and so alter vpon a better consideration but mistake not your happinesse in my fauours unworthinesse where the best of my commaundement may be the least of your contentment Your consideration of time may excuse my shortnesse of writing where in a word you may understand that in deed I intend that Truthe in honourable in loue and vertue the fairest ioy in affection in which it I not misconstrue your conceâ—â— I will answere the care of your kindnesse in which according to the due of desert you shall finde the effects of your desire And so for this time I rest Your poore friend A.T. A Letter of counsaile from a kinde Father MY deare sonne you must not from your father looke for a flattering loue noâ— take it unkindly that I suspect your â—ll courses for I haue passed the dangereus tune y â— you now are in and haue hardly goâ—e through the briers and therfore in a iealous feare from an inward care I cannot â—hâ—se but giue you wâ—rning of what may preâ—â—dice your good Beautie is a bewitching obied and â—antoâ—nes is the ruine of wit prodigality quickly makes a poore man and he is only rich that liues contented But my good sonne aboue all things serue God and keep a cleane conscience passe not the limits of allegeance nor build Castles in the aire take hâ—â—d of extremities for they are out of the course of discretion and the fruite of Ignorance yeelds but the sorrow of repentance young men may be wittie but â—â—ldome wise and sometime though â—rt be a great perfecter of Experience yet obseruation is better then conceited â—unning â—rpence is necessary upon occasion and hope is not amissâ— upon desert but Reason sometime is more regarded then rewarded where â—ill is too powerfull to be resisted I heare that you are much giuen to Alchâ—mistry it is a studie of great charge to many and profiteth â—ewe yet I forbid you no good labour so that you loose not by the bargaine â—â—e therefore a care in the imployment of your time and wherein my helps may further your good seeke no other friend for your comfort For though I would not wish you to disdaâ—ne any kindnesse yet would I haue you as litle as you may to be beholding to any man for the prodigall are commonly talkatiue and the couctous negatiue and what a griefe it is to want
A POSTE VVITH a madde Packet of Letters LONDON Printed for Iohn Smethicke and are to be sold at his Shop in S. Dunstons Church-yard in Fleetstreet 1602. To the Reader GEntle if you be be you so gentle Reader you shal vnderstand that I know not wheÌ„ there came a Post I know not whence was going I know not whither and carryed I knowe not what But in his way I knowe not how it was his happe with lacke of heed to let fall a Packet of Idle Papers the superscription whereof beeing onely to him that findes it beeing my fortune to light on it seeing no greater stile in the direction fell to opening of the enclosure in which I founde diuers Letters written to whom or from whom I could not learne Now for the Contents of the Circumstances when you haue red them iudge of them and as you like them regard them And for my selfe if I heare you like well of them when I meet next with the Poste it may be I will cast about with him for more of them till then fearing to be too tedious in this Letter lest you like the worse of that which followeth I rest as I haue reason Your louing friend Nicho. Breton The Contents of this Booke A Letter of comfortable aduise to a friend and his answere A Letter of aduise to a yong Courâ—er and his answere A mournfull Letter to a brother and his answere A Letter of a Iealous husband to his wife and her cunning answere A Letter of kind Complements to a friend and his answere A Letter of loue to a Gentle woman and her answere A Letter of scorne to a coy Dame and her answere A Letter to a fowle Dowde and her answere A Letter for the preferring of a seruant and the answere A Letter of counsell to a friend and his answere A Letter of comfort to a sister in sorrow and her answere A Letter of counsell from a kind Father A kind answere of a louing sonne A Merchants Letter to his Factor and his answere A Letter of challenge and the answere A merry Letter or neweâ— of complaints The answere of the Laughe A Letter to a friend for newes and his answere A disswading from marriage and the answere A kind Letter of a Creditor for mony The debters answere A Letter of Newes and the answere A Poste with a mad Packet Of Letters A Letter of comfortable aduise to a Friend HOnesâ— Alexander I heare thou art of late tallen into an extreame melancholy by reason of the suddaine departure of Pannella out of this life for thy sake I am sorie shee hath left her passage on this earth though being too gooâ—â—or this worlde she be surely gone to a better now if thy mourning could recouer her from death I could willingly beare part of thy passion but when it doth her no good and thy selfe much hurt let not a wilâ—ull humour leade thee into a wofull Consumption Thou knowest she is sencelessâ— in the graue and wilt thou therefore be witlesse in the world Say thy loue is extreame and lâ—t me beleeue it wilt thou therefore depriue nature of reason God forbid it well thou knowest I lent thee and in my loue let me aduâ—se thee not to goe from thy selfe with an imagination of what was to looseth it which is because she is in heauen wilt thou be in hell or if shâ— be hâ—lfe an Angell wilt thou be more then hâ—lfe a diuel â—â— spend thy spirit in a better humour let not the remâ—mbrance of her perfection driue thee into unperfections nor make loue hatefull to othâ—r by seeing the vnhappinesse in thy selfe Oâ— let not sancte shew folly in thee howsoeuer vertue deserued honour in her Leaue thy solitary humor and come and liue with me we will dâ—â—nse some good meaneâ— for the remoue of this melancholy In the meantime make not too much of it least it proue to a madnesse Loue thy selfe and beleeâ—â— thy friend and what is in me to too thee good commaund as thinâ— owne glad I would be to see thee as he who defy entierly lous thee and so desirous to heare from thee to the Almightie I leauâ— thee Farewell Thine as his owns D. F. His Answere KInde Francke I haue receiued thy friendly Letter and note thy carefull loue but pardon me if I do not answere thee to thy liking Alas how can he truly iudge of life that neuer kindly was in loue or know how soundly to help a sorrow that neuer inwardly felt it reading makes a scholler by rule and obseruation I know doth much in the perfecting of Art but experience is that which toucheth knowledge to the quicke My mistresse beautie was no Moone shine whose vertue gaue light to the harts eye nor her wisdom an ordinary wit which put reason to his perfect vnderstanding and for her Graces are they not written among the vertuous Thou saiâ—st well she was too heaueÌ„ly a creature to make her habitatioÌ„ on this earth is it not then a kind of hell to be without her in the world Imaginations are no dreames where substances are the obiects of the sences while the eye of memorie is neuer weary of seeing Oh honest Francke thinke thou hast not liued that hast not loued nor canst liue in this world to haue such a loue to die in It is a dull spirit that is fed with obliuion and a dead sence that hath no feeling of loue thinke therefore what was is with me and my selfe as nothing without the enioying of that something which was to me as all in all Is not the presence of an Angell able to rauish the sight of a man And is not the light of Beautie the life of loue Leaue then to burthen me with imperfections in my sorrow for her want whose presence was my paradise and whose absence my worldâ— hell thou doest misconstrue my good in languishing for her lacke and knowest not my hurt in thinking of any other comfort â—o Francke let it suffice though I loue thee I cannot forget her and though I liue with thee yet will I die for her haue patience then with my passion till time better temper my affection in which most diuoted to thee of any man liuing til I let thee which shall be as shortly as I well can I rest Thine as thou knowest D. E. A Letter of aduise to a yong Courtier My good Cousen I heare you are of late growne a great Courtier I wish you much grace and the continuing of your best comfort but for that your yeares haue not had time to see much and your kindnesse may hap to be abused let me intreat you a little now and then to looke to that which I tell you Keep your purse warily and your credit charily your reputation valiantly and your honor carefully for your friends as you finde them vse them for your enemies feare them not but looke to them for your loue let it be secret in the bestowing and discreet
on them in the mean time more at quiet in my lodging with a friend then perhaps I may be at home with a wife not forswearing marriage nor peasting to purgatory in stead of a mistaken paradise wishing thy prayers for my better happinesse then loues idlenesse and if I doo marry to be kindly matched I rest Thine aâ— mine owne D. L. A Letter of vnkindnesse vpon a deniall of a Courtesie IF my deserts had not excéeded my desire I would haue hateâ— the nature of my humor which loues nothing lesse then to be too much beholding my request was not much and the grant but easie howsoeuer for ill fashion the excuse â—ay be cunningly framed but though I conceiue vnkindnesse in this course I can rather grieue then be angry for I wil mistrust my wit til I sée too much of my sorrow and loue my friend though I be plaine with his patience be content therefore rather to let me tell you of my discontent then to couer a dissimulation and to wish your better regard of my affection then to giue me iust cause to touch the care of your discretion which in denying a triflle may loose a greater benefit but not to goe too farre in impatience let me thus grow to an ende Friendship once grounded is not easily remoued and therefore being assured of my loue beare with my dislike and wherein I may better pleasure you doubt not the ill requiâ—all of vnkindnes for I can chide and not be angry and better loue you then tell you so And so intreating your reasonable answere for my satisfaction I rest all displeasure set apart Your louing friend N. S. His answere YOur humorous kind of writing puts me to studie for an Answere for your anger without cause may moue caulâ— of anger you know you might commaund what I am and will you haue morâ— Conceâ—t may be deceiued and so kindâ—â—sse abused and suspition of impatience hath the least part of disâ—râ—â—on Excuses are idle among frâ—â—nds and therefore words shall be deferred till our meeting when sâ—â—ing your owne fâ—ulâ— you will not thinke amisse of your friend grieue not then without cause nor be carried away with conceit and as you know my nature commaund my loue which is farre from the thought to make a friend beholding be not discontent with a denâ—all till you haue better reason of displeasure but measure me with your â—â—lfe and you shall finde smal cause of difference if there be any let kindnesse dispute it reason confesse â—t anâ— patience bâ—â—re it so shall friends be themselues and you and I shall not fall out So hoping that you wil satâ—â—fie your selfe with this answerâ— tiâ— we mâ—â—t to talke further of the matter I conclude with your kindnes and rest euer Yours as you knâ—w T.W. A Letter to an vnthankfull person I Haue heard that a Prince sometime ordeining a punishment for all offences leâ—t Ingratitude to the gods to plague as pâ—â—â— manâ— power to punish â—â—ough the Tale may well be true conâ—â—dering the vilenesse of such a nature as I thinke the â—â—ke liueth not in the shape of man Couldest thou not only forget but abuse my kindnesse and so make a monster of a wicked shadow I could not haue beleeued it had I not too weâ—l proueâ— it but I wish you would leaue the humor least it make a loâ—thsome nature and though I wil not reuenge a wrong vpon a 〈…〉 to much basenesse yet wil I learne to know the condition of so much vilenesse and as well warne my friends from an enemy as further abuse mine own wit with so mistaking of a friend In briefe therefore let me tell you as I know you I regard you and as I found you I leaue you as one fit if there lacked a Card to put in the stock for a wicked help And so sorie to haue lost so much time to write to you I wish all the world that knowes you to hate you Your enemy from the heart D. M. His answere HOw straungely men will write that impatience doth put out of order a good turne is lost when it is cast in the receiuers teethe and abuse misconceiued can hardly be well excused consider better of what is done then wrong the meaning of a good minde and you shall finde without excuse no true cause of displeasure If the information of malice haue moued choller without iudgement poore men must endure the misery of euill fortune against my selfe I wil confesse nothing but referre time to decide all doubts when Truth shall put the differences betwixt a shadow and a better substance So leauing ill humors to like mindes and good thoughts to better natures hoping to finde you your selfe which wil be farre inough from that you write In spight of the diuel I commit you to God and so rest Your friend whether you will or noâ— D. R. A Letter to laugh at after the old fashion of 〈◊〉 to a Maide AFter my hartic commendations trusting in God that you are in good health as I was aâ— the writing â—â—râ—oâ— with my Father and my Mother my broâ—hers and sisters and all my good friends thankes be to God The cause of my writing to you at this time is that Eâ—len I do hear since my â—â—â—â—ing from Wakefield when you know what taâ—ke â—re bad together at the signâ— of the bleâ— Cucâ—oe and how you did giâ—e me your hand and swear that you would not forsake me for all the woâ—â—de and how you made me buy a Kiâ—ng and a â—art that cost me rightâ—â—â—e peneâ— which I left with you and you gaue me a Napkin to wearâ—â—n my â—â—t I thanke you which I will weare to my dying dayâ—â—nd I 〈◊〉 if it be true as I heare that you haue altâ—red your minde and are made sore to my neighbour Hobâ—ins younger sonne truly Ellen you do not welâ— in so doing and God wil pâ—aâ—â—e you for it and I hope I shall liue and if I neuer haue you for there are moâ—e maides theâ— Maulkin and I count my selfe worth the whisâ—ing And therefore praying you to write me your answer by thâ—s bearer my friend touching the truth of all how the matter â—tâ—ndâ— with you I comâ—â—â— you to God From Caâ—loâ— grâ—â—ne Your true Loâ—er R. P. Her Answere Tâ—uly Roger I did not looke for such a Letter from your hands I would you should know I scorne it Haue I gotten my Father and Mothers ill will for you to be so vsed at your hands I pâ—rceiue â— you be so Iealous alreadie you would be somewhat an other day I am glad I finde you that you can beleeue any thing of me but t is no matter I care not send me my Napkin and you shall hâ—ue your King and your Hart for I can haue enough and I neuer see you more for there are more Batchelers then Roger and my peny is as good siluer as yours and therefore séeing you are so lustie euen put vp your pipes for I will haue no more to do with you And so â—nsaying all that euer hath bene said betwixt us make your choyse where you list I know where to be loued and so I end From Wakefield M. R. FINIS