giuing generall commission and charge of businesse or affayres THere is yet another fort of letters whereby we giue commission or charge of certayne businesse generally or particularly and such letters must contayne foure partes First to purchase his beneuolence saying that for the loyaltie that is in him and also the confidence that we haue of his person and that for the loue of vs he wil entreat our businesse euen as his owne therefore haue we deliberated to commit our busynesse vnto him Secondly to declare what businesse and with what persons and how he hath to doe Thirdly to expresse the authoritie that we minde to giue him ouer our busynesse with all other clauses necessary to the expedicion or execucion of the same businesse Fourthly to promise to take in good parte whatsoeuer to him shalbe done c. The Example wherein Cicero committeth to Scipio his authoritie ouer all his businesse in Rome I Know not any thing so weighty or so diâ—â—icill my more than dere frend Scipio yea though death it selfe should follow that for you I would not most willingly doe For so willeth the loue beneuolence that inwardly ioyneth and vniteth vs together and I doe stedfastly beleue that you wil do the like for me whensoeuer I néede Secondly the cause that moueth me to write thus vnto you is y e I haue much businesse to dispatch at Rome where personally for my other affayres I can not be assistant therefore it behoueth me to haue some frende resydent there for me that may take the charge of my affayres Thirdly and although that I could commit them to dyuers other my frendes yet notwithstanding I am affrayde in so doing that I should to much offende you and should séeme that I would wholly separate my selfe from you if I shold not commit my causes and affaires vnto you and lykewise if you desist from giuing me commission of yours our naturall and mutuall loue might be diminished Which case to auoyde I now sende you playne and especiall procuration in my vrgent and nedefull businesse hauing stedfast confidence in you that nothing shall perish through negligence And especially concerning the cause and pursuyte betwene me and such a one wherof I pray you procure spéedy expedition as knowing well the great wrong of the aduerse partie my good right which hath great néede of ayde and succour Fourthly I besech you againe to haue my affaires in remembrance whereof I giue you the charge and playne commission irreuocable all which things I would haue you to do and procure euen as though I my selfe were personally present and whatsoeuer you shall doe I promise to be content withall vnder obligation and bond of all my goods according as more plainly is conteined in the procuration or Letter of attorney which I sende you here withall And thus fynish I my letter praying c. How to write letters giuing particular Commission for some affayres OFtentimes yt happeneth that we commit and giue charge of some particular busynesse and such letters must be diuided into foure parts euen as the other before written Howbeit in the second part we must expresse one or moe businesse and affayres by order in euery article the things that we would haue dispatched being particularly shewed plainly and manifestly The Example wherein Appius constituteth Cicero his receyuer in Sicilia THe perfectnesse of fidelitie that I haue in you my loyall friende Tully and the which you vse towardes all your frendes as I haue alwayes perfectly perceyued it doeth giue me no small hope together the loue and beneuolence wherwith we are vnyted that your wysedome and liberall humanytie taketh great pleasure to employ it selfe aboute my busynesse if I commit any vnto you Secondly and to the ende that I giue you to vnderstand what businesse I intend that you doe for me at this present you shall know and vnderstand that in your prouince I haue hadde to doe for the Senate of Rome and that great summes of money remayne due vnto me by dyuers of my creaditours thereaboutes And seing that I am at this poynt assured of the good will that you beare vnto mée I haue thought good to constitute you my procurour or attourney to receyue of such a one so much and of such a one so much c. Whereof I sende you the cedules and obligations Thirdly and if any of them or any other wyll resyst you and refuse or delay the payment I gyue you power and aucthoritie to constrayne them by all wayes of Iustice euen as I might my selfe if I were there personally present Fourthly whatsoeuer you shall doe for me I promise you to be content therewithall bynd me by the procuration which I seÌ„d you by this bearer with y e billes writings seruing to that effect I commit the whole vnto you certefiyng you that in me you haue a frend prest and ready to do whatsoeuer you shall commaunde him From Rome the. c. How to write certaine myxed Letters YEt is there another sorte of Letters conteyning entermixed matters whiche are to be deuided into two parts onely First to declare the most necessary businesse Neuerthelesse we must always begin with some honest preamble lyke as if we write to our frende saying though we bee occupied and busyed with many affayres yet we intend to visit him with our letters Secondly to declare particularly and plainly our intent And if peradueÌ„ture it behoue vs to aunswere letters receiued from our frende in such a case for the preamble we shall say that we haue receiued his letters the which were very comfortable vnto vs and that we intend orderly to giue aunswere in the ende whereof we may wryte that which we will besyde offering as in the other before c. The Example wherein Cicero writeth to Curio concerning his businesse I Haue by this bearer receued your letters my singular frende Curio wherby I greatly reioyced wheÌ„ I vnderstoode the good health prosperitie that is with you and yours yet notwithstanding I was something sory when I sawe my selfe accused of negligence for that I haue not written vnto you so often as you desired as I ought to haue done And certainly I coÌ„fesse that I am greatly to be blamed for in deede I was not very much busyed and am very glad that I know that my letters do so greatly comfort you promising you that from henceforth there shal passe no messaÌ„ger but I will visit you with my writings and will neuer thinke it any labour to write vnto you so long as I may pleasure you Secondly you write vnto me that I should certifie you of your busynesse in what state they are I assure you that day and night I go about to dispatch them but the craftinesse of your aduersaries is so great that I am forced to deferre attending the good houre to breake and frustrate their malyce the which notwithstanding I beseche God to mayntaine you in your honour and dignitie And
The Enimie of Idlenesse Teaching the maner and stile how to endite compose and write all sorts of Epistles and Letters as well by answer as otherwise Deuided into foure Bokes no lesse plesaunt than profitable Set forth in English by William Fulwood Marchant c. ⧠The Contentes hereof appere in the Table at the latter ende of the Booke An Enimie to Idlenesse A frend to Exercise By practise of the prudent pen Loe here before thine eyes Imprinted at London by Henry Bynneman for Leonard Maylard ANNO 1568. To the right worshipfull the Maister Wardens and Company of the Marchant Tayllors of London W. F. wisheth encrease of worship with prosperous successe and eternall felicitiâ— THink not Appelles paynted péece ne yet Pigmalions skill In present volume here to view fine fanâ—â—es to fulfill But rather think a homly worke wherat grosâ—e heads may grope And finde therin some nedefull thing for their behoofe I hope Thus thinking shall ye surely haue that which ye think to finde A worke that may right well I trust content the indifferent mynde And such a worke as nedefull is so doeth experience proue Whâ—re vrgent matters of our ownâ— or frends to write vs moue As for example when our frende in any foren land Farre distant is and we desire to let him vnderstand Of this or that of warres of peace of strangie newes or else Of other things that nede requires this work the practise tels And shewes by louing letter how the mynde shal be discust What order and what Methode eke therein obserue we must How to begin how to procede and how the finall ende â–ª Must ordred be in ech affaire to foe or else to frende So that obseruing of this worke in euery point throughout A Letter or Epistle well compose we shall no dout The vse whereof so nedefull is in vttering of our mynde That no wiâ—e we may want the same as dayly proofe doth finde For why by letter well we may communicate our heart Vnto our frende though distance farre haue vs remouâ—d apart By Letter we may absence make euen presence for to be And talke with him as face to face together we did see By letter we may tell our ioy by letter shew our griefe By letter from our frende thereof we may receiue reliefe By letter what so heart can think or what can head deuise To frende or foe the same we may present before his eyes Our stéedeat home in stable standes our purse also we spare When louing letter trots betwene and mynde to mynde declares It blabbeth not abrode the hid and secrete of our mynde To any one saue vnto him to whome we haue assignde And looke what so we charge it tell it misseth not a iote When messenger by word of mouth might hap forget his note And either tell somewhat to much or else leaue some vntold Therefore the littel Letter well to trust we may be bolde More might I proue in praise thereof but sure it smally néedeth For very nede it selfe the profe in euery brayne now bredeth Therefore although perhaps this work be not so finely pend As such a matter might require yet pardon do me lend For know you sure I meane not I the cunning clerks to teach But rather to the vnlearned sort a few precepts to preach A nedelesse thing of truth it were vnto the body sound To minister Phisitions ayde where no disease is founde But if disdaining tongues do saye 'tis proudly doon of thée To take in hand so great a thing thou shouldest haue let it bée That other some more learned hed or man of yeres â–ª more graue Might haue depainted out the same with words both fine and braue Ile say againe it's better that the body should be fed With bread of Barley than it should for lack of foode be ded So yet if Momus hap to mowe or Zoylus chance to chide Whose churlish checks eche painfull pen of force sometime must byde Then to your worships I appeale for iust defence therin Requesting that your lawfull ayde and fauor I may win Which once obtainde I know right well Will fully conteruayle The basenesse of my simple Stile that else might hap to quaile â–ª Through baneful bit of stinging tongs which neuer ceasse to clatter In corners darke with depe despite against ech modest matter Therefore I say your worships ayde and patronage I craue From rude and ranck reproches all this simple worke to saue So shall you still encorage me to practise further paynes And pray for your prosperities to him that rules and raignes In heauen aboue where I do wish when ye haue run this race Of mortall life your worships all to haue a dwelling place Your worships W. F. The bokes verdict YF needlesse some do me suppose The Marchants answere here I craue Yea let the Lawyer eke disclose If he my helpe nede not to haue What should I say for well I know That eche degree doeth me frequent Both rich and poore both high and low Sometimes tell me their myndes consent But let the Louer chiefe of all Whose heuy heart and pinching payne I oft release from carefull thrall Now say if that I be in vayne And if that eche degree me vse Then me but loue how can ye chuse ¶ To the well disposed Reader ALthough gentle Reader I knovve my selfe both in vvit learning and yeares to be farre inferiour vnto diuers other yet in good wil perdy to profit my natiue Cuntry I giue place vnto none which vvill together the slacknesse I perceiue in many learned and wise hath pricked me forwarde though vnlearned according to that small talent that God hath lent me to bring to light â—uch bokes as in my iudgement are both profitable and needeful for this our present time Amongst vvhich I heere offer vnto thine eyes this treatise called The Enimie of Idlenesse vvhich I haue so entitled for that as vvell vvhen vrgent affaires require as also at vacant tymes when leisure permitteth the for the auoiding of Idlenesse the capital enimie to all exercise and vertue thou mayest occupie and practise thy selfe therin taking pen in hand and gratifieng thy frende vvith some conceite or other vvhereby thou shalt both purchase frendship increase in knovvledge and also driue avvay drovvsy dumps and fond fansies from thy heauy head Play not then the part of the folish Nun Rede not onely Omnia probate But also turne ouer the leafe and reade Quod bonum est tenete Peruse ouer with indifferency the vvhole worke and if there thou finde any thing fault worthy either gently correct the same thy selfe or else frendly giue me admonition of it that I may amend it For he that can make a fault may perhaps also mend a fault Alvvaies prouided that thy iudgement be not to curious lest stepping forth vvith Appelles I say Ne sutor vltra crepidam So doing thou shalt binde me to further trauell I trust for thy commoditie Farewell * ⎠*
the bearer hereof named Dauid Berthon viij hundreth Frenche crownes and cause hym onely there to giue good and sure pledge for the sayd summe For so hath the same Dauid here promised vs to do gyuyng him .vj. monethes daye of payment I pray you take sufficient assurance to the ende that our goodes be not lightly loste It suffiseth to shewe pleasure you therefore fulfyll the contentes hereof And thus fare you well c. One Friende writeth vnto an other DEare and well beloued friende after moste heartie Commendations vnto you and your good bedfellow c. The chiefest cause of my writyng vnto you at this presente is to lette you vnderstand that we are still in greate tribulation by reason of the men of Armes and aduenturers by whome the poore people of Mousne doe sustayne inestimable damage The countreye is altogether deserte and that which is also more pitifull is that many worthie maydens are by them caryed away into other places and some by force violated as also are many mens wiues bothe faire and honeste Consider you into what abundaunce of teares they haue bene brought O vnfortunate Fraunce nowe florishinge in armes is it possible that thy auncient vertue shuld be altogether extinguished O my perfect friende the eternal God moued me to sende vnto your house at Bloys Iane my wife and my daughter out of so great perill Yesterday from my wife and from my daughter I receyued comfortable Letters by the which I am plainely certifyed that that your bedfellowe vseth vnto them al curtesie gentlenesse O the eternall God graunt me life to y e end that if not in al yet at the least in part I may rēder some recompense vnto the benefites from you receyued for the which I am become a great detter vnto youre goodnesse And thus the eternall haue you al in his keeping and send vs a mery meeting c. The aunswere of one friende vnto an other WElbeloued Friend I heartily recommende me vnto you wishing youre healthe and prosperitie euen as mine owne c. Be well assured that so long as I lyue my house and all that I haue shall at all tymes be at your commaundement or any of your friendes And that shall you manyfestly knowe in processe of time And would to God that I mighte shewe such fidelitie loue and charitie towardes you as at youre house at Mousne you discouered vnto me and myne Thanks be vnto God we make good chéere but certainly I and my wife doe féele great anguish for the losse of our goodes which through our mutual amytie we suppose to be our losse and assuredly we greatly lament also the vexation which you susteyne by the hands of the Soldiers wherof we haue vnderstanding by your letter God of his goodnesse delyuer you from them c. One friende vvriteth in a nothers behalfe ALthough worthy syr I know that it is not lauful to molest your wisedome in any thing appertayning vnto Iustice neuerthelesse to satisfie the dutie which I owe to this bearer vnto whome through the fidelitie and affection that is betwene vs I am bound to doe euen that which I would doe if it were for myne owne cause I therfore beseche your worthinesse that you will without delay make a iust ende of his sute And so doing I shall remayne alwayes bound vnto you c. The aunswere vnto his frende WHat nedeth it y t you should write vnto me in the behalfe of him whome I equally loue aswell as you So great are his vertues that of euerie man of what estate soeuer he be he is worthy to be beloued and defended I beleue y t through his great wisdome he will demaunde me nothing which shalbe against the dignitie of myne offyce for which cause and for the dutie of Iustice I am boūd to administer vnto him and euery one fauorable and lawful audience But though there were no cause at all yet thy auncient amitie would constraine me to ayde and fauour him for which cause be well assured that I will so vse the matter that he shal plainly perceiue that thy requestes haue not ben brought in vayne c. To write vnto a Prince in a Prisoners Behalfe I Haue heretofore cōtinually knowne and now at this present more than euer do know of what force true amitie and frendship is the which constraineth a man to be gētle and amiable euen vnto the person whome he hateth therby to satisfie his frende that entreateth for him therfore knowing y e fauour which your highnesse beareth vnto me I dout not to request you in the behalf of Cleophas Orillat who although through his crymes he deserue to receiue no pardon yet bicause VVilliam Ardiller of whom I haue receiued infinit plesures and am bounde vnto him for euer doeth force me so harde by Letters and messangers and knoweth certainly what I can doe with your Maiestie y t there shold be no domage done neither vnto his persō nor goods I therfore most hūbly besech you for the inestimable loue y t beare vnto you y t he may plainely perceiue of what force strength that goodnesse of yours is towards me and so trust at this presēt to make experiēce of the great affection which is betwixt vs through our auncient and singular loue c. The aunswere of the Prince declaring the demaund to be vnhonest ALthough I haue in times past had perfect intelligence and knowledge what thing frendship and good will hath ben and is so that the demaunde of a friende ought to be satisfied especially whē it is iust yet neuerthelesse it ought alwayes to be foreseene that the demaunde be honest and frendly For if the demaunde be made against true Iustice and honest lyfe it is nedeful many tymes to leaue the good will least we fail of Iustice Otherwise many wicked examples should be giuen to diuers and infinite persons to do euil I vnderstand your Letter by the which you pray me that I wold graūt to release your frend out of captiuitie not peraduenture considering the great crime excesse by him cōmitted the whiche is so great and abhominable that he deserueth not death in his person onely but also therewith cruell tormentes whereof I am sory for the mutual affection that is betwene vs bicause I can not of myne honour in this case pleasure you Though your demaunde be not lawfull nor honest yet loue and frendship moueth you to demaund and to speake for that which all law denieth And for that malefactours ar to be punished the good to be exalted and safely to goe abrode in the world I pray you though I doe not satisfie your demaunde yet at this time haue me excused bicause that Iustice doth force me to denie that request c. The excuse for that the demaund vvas against Iustice I Consider that many tymes the loue affection of one friende vnto another harmeth the conscyence and suffreth it not to discerne the truth of reason and Iustice but when
first hereafter to take héede Finis ê™ W. F. ¶ A Table of the principall matters conteyned in this boke The Epistle dedicatorie The Epistle to the Reader The bokes verdicte The contents of the first Boke INstitutions how to endyte Epistles and Letters c. Folio 1. The diffinitioÌ„ of an Epistle or letter eodeÌ„ Example of an Epistle of Doctrine 8 Example of an Epistle of Mirth 9 Example of an Epistle of Grauitie eodeÌ„ The Diuision of an Epistle or letter 10 The first Style or maner wherin the cause is specified eodem The second Stile wherin the cause is first afterward the intent and then the conclusion 11 The third style in this order the intent the cause and the conclusion 12 The fourth style in this order the conclusion the cause and the intent eodem Denys the Tyrant writeth to the Burgesses of Naples 15 The aunswer in lyke fourme eodem A letter written to the King in fauor of one pretending the order of Knighthode 18 How to write in a mans behalfe for a Ciuill cause 20 The Example 21 How to write in ones behalfe for an offence or criminal cause eodem The Example 22 How to request the counsell of an aduocate 23 The Example 24 How to answere such a lyke matter 25 The Example eodem How to thanke an Aduocate for a cause by him conducted 26 The Example eodem How to request a corporall benefit 27 The Example eodem How to aunswere graunting a corporall benefit 28 The Example 29 How to giue thanks for a corporrll gift receiued eodem The Example 30 How to write vnder the demoÌ„stratiue geÌ„der in the praise of some bodies 33 The Example eodem How to write vnder the demonstratiue gender blaming or dispraysing another 35 The Example wherein a certaine man writeth to Cicero touching the conspiracie of Catiline eodem How to write by maner of complaynt or lamentation for an iniury receiued 36 The Example wherin Appius writeth to Caesar of the iniurie done him by Cicero 37 How to write when one friende comforteth an other for an iniury receiued 38 The Example wherin Caesar comforteth Appius touching the contents of the Letters before written eodem How to write a letter of complaint for a missefortnne demaunding counsell of consolation 39 The Example wherin a Father lamenting the death of his sonne writeth to a frende of his How one frende should aunswere another comforting him for his losse 41 The example wherein one friende comforteth an other for the death of his sonne eodem How to write letters being in exile vnder hope to obteyne restitution ayd counsell or comfort 43 The Example wherein Cicero lamenteth to Lentulus that for the hatred of Clodius he is exiled eodem How to coÌ„fort our frend in his exyle 45 The example wherein Lentulus comforteth Cicero who through the malyce of Clodius was exiled eodem How to write expositiue Letters certifying the witnesse or notice of a thing 46 The example wherin Cicero testifieth vnto the Iudges that Clodius was at Rome the same daye that the sacred things of Vesta were violated 47 How to certify some newes lately hapned eodem The example wherin one frende wryteth vnto another of nevves of the Courte 48 How to aduertise one of the conditions of another 49 The example wherein Cicero declareth vnto Caesar the conditions of Apolonius of Rhodes Orator 50 How to write a proficiat or congratulation for an office or dignitie 51 The example wherein one friend reioyceth with an other of the office that the king hath giuen him eodem How to vvrite Letters reioycing for our friends health or safe returne 52 The example wherin one friend reioiceth of anothers recouery to health eodem How to exhort to vertue c. 53 The example wherein a friend exhorteth a yong man to obtayne vertue eodeÌ„ How to disuade our friende from reioycing vnaduisedly or folishly 55 The example wherin Cicero diswadeth Curio from reioicing that Caesar is made Emperour eodem How to write letters exhorting to lamentation 56 The examplâ—â— wherein Cicero exhorteth Plautuâ— to lament the oppressioÌ„ of the publike weale 57 How to diswade from sorow 58 The example wherein Brutus diswadeth Marcus Antonius from sorowing for the death of Caesar eodem How to write Inuectiue letters reprehending either friende or enimie for some cryme or ignorance 59 The example wherein Cicero inueyeth against Lucius Catilina who conspyred against the publike weale 50 How to write expugning letters either to friend or enimie for charging vs with a faulte 61 The exaÌ„ple wherin Catilina purgeth him self to the Senate of Rome for the crime of coniuration imposed against him by Cicero 63 How to vvrite inuectiue Epistles of contention reprehending another for ignorance in studie 64 The example wherin a certayne Barber writeth to a Doctor of Phisicke concerning his aduersarie a Chyrurgian 65 How to write a defeÌ„ce in a contention 67 The example wherin the Chirurgian defeÌ„deth him self to the Phisition against his aduersarie the Barber eodâ—â— Hovv to vvrite domesticall and familiar Letters or Epistles 69 The Example of a common style in that case 70 How to write other domesticall letters of familiar busynesse 71 The example wherein one frend aduertiseth an other of the processe that he hath won eodem How to visit our frends with Letters not hauing any great matter to write 72 The example of the style in that case 73 How to write of some small affayre businesse or newes eodem The example wherin one friend writeth to an other of certain smal newes 74 Hovv to vvrite Letters conteyning some pleasant iestes of our selues besydes other matter 75 The Example wherin a Souldier writeth to his captaine eodem How to write Letters conteyning mery iestes or tauntes by some other 76 The example wherin Cicero iesteth with Valerius 77 How to write letters giuing general commission and charge of businesse or affaires eodem The example wherin Cicero committeth to Scipio his authoritie ouer all his businesse in Rome 78 Hovv to vvrite Letters giuing particular commission for some affayres 79 The example wherein Appius constituteth Cicero his receiuer in Sicilia eodeÌ„ How to write certain mixed letters 80 The example wherin Cicero writeth to Curio concerning his busynesse 81 How to write letters conteining diuers sundry matters 82 The example wherein Tully vvriteth to Pompilius of comforting graue and domesticall matters eodem Hovv a Prince faythfully certifyeth the worthy qualities of a man 83 The example vvherein the Duke of Venise certifieth the wisdome and science of G. A. 84 How a great Prince vvriteth of peace or warres 85 The Example wherin the Emperor maketh pece with the king of Hungary 86 How a noble man writeth Letters for the promotion of a man 87 The Example vvherein the Counte of Pauie vvriteth in the promotion of A. eodem Hovv a Prynce Eclesiasticall or Temporall vvriteth Letters forbidding a thing 88 The example wherein the Pope forbiddeth King Ferrand the building of a Castell 89
The contents of the second booke HIrmolaus Barbarus writeth vnto George Merula 91 Hirmolaus Barbarus writeth to Angelus Politianus 93 Marsilius Ficinus writeth vnto Angelus Politianus 94 Politianus aunswereth vnto Marsilius Ficinus 95 Innocent Pope to Angelus Politianus eodem Innocent the eight Pope to his welbeloued Sonne Laurentius de Medicis 96 Angelus Politianus to Innocent the .viij. Pope rendreth salutation eodem A certain man writeth to a Bookebinder of Paris 97 An epistle of Angelus Politianus to Laurentius de Medicis his Vncle. 98 Angelus Politianus to a certaine friende of his 100 Politian to his friende eodem Politian to an enuious person eodem Politian to a slanderer detracter 101 Politian to his friende Caesar Carmente eodem Politian to Iames Modeste eodem Politian to an vnconstant person eodem Angelus Politian to Picus Mirandula eodem Politian to a friende of his 102 Politian to a promise breaker eodem Politian to his friende eodem Politian to Picus Mirandula 103 Politian to a certaine frend of his eodem An epistle of Iohannes Picus Mirandula to his deare frende Iacobus Antiquarius eodem The contents of the third boke A Father writeth vnto his sonne 105 The aunswere of the Sonne vnto his Father 107 The Father writeth vnto the Sonne 108 The Sonne maketh aunsvvere vnto his Father eodem The wife writeth vnto hir husband 110 The aunswer of the Husband vnto his wife 111 A Sister writeth vnto hir brother 112 The aunswer of the brother vnto his Sister eodem A motâ—er writeth vnto hir daughter 113 The daughter maketh aunswer vnto hir mother 114 One Lord writeth vnto another 115 The aunswere of one Lorde vnto another eodem A Gentleman writeth vnto a noble Captaine 116 The aunswere of the Captaine vnto the Gentleman eodem One gentleman writeth vnto another 117 The aunsvvere of one Gentleman vnto another eodem One Marchant writeth vnto another 118 The aunsvver of one Marchant vnto another eodem A Marchant writeth vnto his Factor 119 The aunsvvere of the Factor vnto the Marchant 120 One Cashier writeth vnto another 121 One Cashyer vnto another eodem One frende writeth vnto another eodem The aunsvvere of one friende vnto another 122 One friend writeth in anothers behalf 123 The aunswere vnto his frende eodem To write vnto a Prynce in a prisoners behalfe eodem The aunswer of the Prynce declaring the demaund to be vnhonest 124 The excuse for that the demaunde was against Iustice 125 To ayde thy friende being in prison for det eodem To shew thy selfe sorowfull for the misfortune of thy friende 126 The exhortation of a captaine vnto his Souldiers eodem To demaunde entertaynement of a great Captaine 127 To excuse thy selfe for being negligent in writing vnto thy friende eodem To put thy friende in remembraunce of thy busynesse 128 To require ayde at thy friends hand eo To write vnto an Aduocate 129 To aunswere thy friende hauing praysed thee eodem The replie vnto the same 130 To shew thy selfe thankfull for a benefit receiued eodem The same after an other maner 131 The contents of the fourth boke EVrialus writeth vnto Lucresia 131 A certaine louer writeth vnto his Ladie 133 A louer requesteth his ladies loue eodem The aunswere of his Ladie 134 The Reply of the louer 135 A louer writeth to his Ladie 136 A constant louer doeth expresse his gryping grief which still encreaseth 137 A louer pearst with Cupids bowe thinks long till he be rid from woe 138 A secret louer writes his will by story of Pigmalions ill 139 A louer hath his Ladies hart and writes to hir as is his part 141 A louer sick for very loue to pitie doth his Lady moue 142 A faythfull louer feeling smart doeth nippe his Lady false of hart 143 FINIS ¶ Imprinted at London by Henry Bynneman dwelling in Knightrider strete at the signe of the Mermaide For Leonard Maylerd Anno. 1568. Appelles Pigmalions The Cause The Intent The Conclusion The Inteut The Cause The Conclusion Conclusion Cause Intention Why the Epiloge is made A Confirmation An other Confirmation which is in forme of the Minor Two other reasons coÌ„firming and augmeÌ„ting that which goeth before Conclusion The Minor A prouerbe The Conclusion A three fold coÌ„sideration to be had in all Letters 4. things to be noted
¶ The first boke Instructions how to endyte Epistles and Letters ▪ c. THe auncient Poet Lucanus doeth giue vs a verie likely cōiecture that the inuention of Epistles and Letters was first found forth in the Citie of Memphis saying thus Conficitur bibula Memphitis charta papyro And to describe the true definition of an Epistle or letter it is nothing else but an Oration written conteining the mynde of the Orator or wryter thereby to giue to vnderstand to him or them that be absent the same that should be declared if they were presēt whereof there be three principall sortes for some are addressed to our superiours as to Emperors kings princes c. Some to our equalles as to Marchants Burgesses Citizens c. Some to our inferiors as to seruants laborers c. Yf we speake or write of or to our superiors we must do it with all honour humilitie reuerence vsing to their personages superlatiue and comparatiue termes as most high ▪ most mighty right honorable most redowted most loyall most worthy most renowmed altogether according to the qualitie of their personages And it is to be noted that of superlatiue comparatiue positiue or diminutiue termes we must vse but three at once at the most Note also that most commonly in Epistles Letters there be three necessary points The first is the salutation of recommendacion which is made in sundrie maners according to the pleasure of the enditer as may well be perceiued by diuers styles hereafter folowing The second is the Subscription which must be don according to the estate of the writer and the qualitie of the person to whome we write For to our superiors we must write at the right syde in the nether ende of the paper saying By your most humble and obedient sonne or seruant c. And to our equalles we may write towards the midst of the paper saying By your faithfull frende for euer c. To our inferiors we may write on high at the left hand saying By yours c. The third is the Superscripcion which must be vpon the back syde the letter being closed sealed and packed vp after the finest fashion whereupon must be written his name to whome the letters shold be addressed his dwelling place if it be not notoriously knowne placing therwith the name of his dignitie Lordship Office Nobilitie Science or Parentage And if we write moe than one the chiefest and permanent dignities must be written first then the consanguinitie and afterwarde the mutable dignitie as for example To my Lord of such a place my cousin Maister of the Requestes of our soueraigne Lord the King Yf we write to our Superiour we must vse all honour and reuerence without embeseling his name as to the King our Soueraigne Lorde To our reuerend Father in God the Bishop of c. To the high mighty Lorde my Lord of c. To my Lord of c. Yf we write to our equall we must place in the superscription hys name and the name of his dignitie or office furnished with an honest and semely positiue or two at the most correspondent to the maners and dignities of the person as to the ryght worshipfull such a one Marchant Citizen of London To hys most assured or trusty friende suche a one c. Yf we write to oure inferiour we may vse in our superscription To his louing sonne such a one c. To his trusty seruant such a one c. It is to bee noted that it becommeth not an inferior person speking or addressing his words to his superior to speke nor write by the imperatiue or commaunding as if one should say thus Soueraigne King behold a valiant man make him knight Behold such a one who is a good Clerke giue him a benefice but with all humilitie we must say worthy soueraigne I assure your maiesty that he is an expert man pleseth it you to haue him in remembrance Such a one semeth vnto me to be very learned and skilful it were a charitable deede of your maiestie to prouide for him and therefore I am bolde to commit him to your remembrance Yf we addresse our speach to our equall we must speake with a certaine familiar reuerence vsing positiue and comparatiue termes and very fewe superlatiue as wyse sage honorable worshipfull discrete renowmed c. Yf we speake to our inferiour we must vse a certayne kynde of modest and ciuill authoritie in giuing them playnely to vnderstand our intent and purpose A Marchaunt hauing many seruantes to his chiefest may speake or wryte by thys terme you but to them whome he lesse estemeth and are more subiect to correction hee maye vse this terme thou or otherwise at his discretion Also a Father to his sonne may do the like If Epistles or Letters shold be written by fonde Lunatike or folkes wythout reason to suche maner of people it were were but simplicitie to gyue instructions Yet notwithstanding bycause that thys place remayneth vnfurnished and for that Stultorum infinitus est numerus I will declare something of that which I haue sene and heard For some wryte thus Patrick Spendal Prince of pouertie to his Gossip Geffrey Gracelesse Doctor of Dronckenship sendeth greeting c. Before that we take in hand the material instruments wherewith to write an epistle or letter we haue to consider these pointes following to wit the estate dignitie or qualitie of hym vnto whom we write whyther he bee a publike persō or a priuat whyther he be rich or poore a friend or an enemie also whyther he bee well known vnto vs or but little There bee some of so ouerthwart a nature that they neuer take plesure to reade any thing that is writen vnto them be the matter neuer so pleasant and mery vnto such it behoueth to write succinctly and briefly But to them whom we know do take plesure to reade letters we should and may without danger write amply properly and eloquently When we write to the Spiritualtie we must reuerēce them that by ryght for such persons are called of God to hygh dignities and if we request any thyng at their handes we must humble our selues gyuing them that honour and reuerēce which is iustly due vnto them Yet we must warily take heede that we exalt them not to much more than reason would permit for so might we be noted of flattery and adulation and they themselues also might therewithall iustly be offended therefore let vs take heede that we write not impudently or vnaduisedly But if we write to our frend we may make our Epistle or letter long or short as we shall thinck best and as it shall be most delectable For a frende taketh all things agreably and in good part and excuseth euery thing that he may reasonably excuse whereas the enimie cōtrariwise quickly reprehendeth and argueth yea where there is no fault nor offense And therefore he that writeth to his enimie or to a person of small
the publike weale that I desire their banishment imprisonment or punishment with sharpe Iustice And although I haue ben instantly desired to write vnto you in the behalfe of such a one who as it is sayd hath committed such a fact c. is deteyned in your prysons in daunger of his life as I am aduertised although also I thought the request reasonable yet would I hot in any wise haue written vnto you right honorable Iudge for so slanderous a matter had I not ben prouoked thereunto by the cōsideration of the vertues which I know to be in him in such nūber that it were to long to recite them I assure you my Lorde Iudge that this euil excepted if an euill it may be called being done in a mans owne defēse as I am informed he hath alwayes shewed him self an honest man were it for y e defence of y e town or to mayntein iustice wherin he hath not spared his bodie goods counsell nor frendes And when there hath ben any good act in hand to apprehend the body of any offēder there hath ben no man more hardy nor that without feare hath more fréely ventured him self in danger wherby yet many woūds and skarres are apparant in him And I ensure you my Lord that there is no lambe more gentle than hée nothing more peaceable than he is And there is in this Towne none more valiant hardy nor honester man without dispraysing any My Lord I consider that for such a case hapned by fortune as this is whereof I intreate so many vertues which are in the man of whom I write vnto you ought not to be quenched requiring of their owne nature fauour of grace and iust supportation Therefore I besech you my Lord Iudge to whose pitie and benignitie I entend to direct this Letter and not to your seuere Iustice that it wold please you not to haue so much regard to this pitifull chaūce sodenly hapned but y t aboue all you might haue regarde to his youth already wyse sage and so full of vertue that he is beloued of many good men for that he neuer offended but in this matter and is well willing to amend and neuer to returne to any such fault Pleaseth it you therefore to deliuer him whereof I hūbly besech you to y e end that he may yet again hazard himselfe his body and his goods in ech iust quarell How to request the counsaile of an Aduocate TO demaūd fauor in any thing that is called an vncororall benefit as doctrine counsayl c. First of al we must deuide the letter into foure partes The first conteyneth that he of whome we demaūd hath power to giue that which we would request of him for by that meanes he shal not excuse him selfe by impossibilitie Secondly to shew the demaund to be iust honest to thende that he excuse not himself saying that he would do it gladly if the demaund were iust Thirdly to make the demaund declaring it selfe to be facile easie Fourthly to promise gold siluer or other thing perpetual seruice c. And vpon this point it is to be noted that in this kinde of style and sundry other sortes of supplications and demaunds we must vse humble language as much as may bee For humble speache is a great persuasion to obtayne that which we require and demaunde The Example THe Incredible Eloquence that is in you right worshipfull Aduocate shineth in such sort that there are no Orators in Iudiciall actes to be compared vnto you which thing giueth me stedfast hope that if it would please you to take the charge of my cause and to conduct it I should come to such ende as my heart desireth The quarel that I haue is iust and begoon agaynst such a one myne aduersary who through deceyte and cauilacion hath induced me to make a bargaine with him very trublesome hurtfull for me whereof I haue ben dismissed by the King in his Chauncery as you may perceiue by y e specialties which are in my bagge Therefore haue I this recourse vnto you trusting of your good counsell and that you will speake boldly for me before the Iudges to susteyne my good right whereof I presently write vnto you hoping that you will willingly employ your selfe thereunto after that you haue vnderstanded the matter at large wherein I haue iust cause although the aduersary party say the contrary And in so doing as my special trust is and as I humbly besech you I will promise to recompense yeu with honest and lawfull rewarde the which I will pay you largely liberally and incontinently at your pleasure And so shall you also haue my ayde in your affaires and businesse and commaunde me as your humble seruant to accomplish the full content of a good heart to the pleasure of our Lord c. Hovv to ansvvere in such a like matter IN the answere of a matter called an vncorporall benefit that is to say of Doctrine or counsell the diuision must be made into three parts First to get beneuolence declaring that for the loue that we beare vnto him we do gently agree vnto his demaund Secondly we must make offer of that which is demaunded and required and of other greater matters in purchasing good will on the other side Thirdly we repete the offer by enlarging amplifying of seruices that we desyre nothing more than to do him seruice that we will therein do so well that he shal haue occasion to holde himselfe contented The Example I Haue receued the letters which it plesed you to write vnto me my singular perfect frend by the which I perceiue the desire affection confidēce that you haue in me concerning the guiding of your cause the matter of the allowing of the kings letters obteyned for you against such a one c. I aduertise you that not onely for the good iust action y t you haue in this mater wherunto euery vertuous man ought to shew fauor but also for the singular loue frō the time of our youth mutually cōsidered my dere frēd I accord vnto you not onely for y e which you require me but also for all other fauor seruice euen as one frend ought to do vnto an other In such sort y t you shall not perceiue in me any signe of apperāce to refuse that labour For I will wholly altogether endeuour my selfe for you in this affaire euen as for myne owne yea you shal vnderstand God to frende that I wil do more better therein than I am able presently to speake or write Certifying you my singuler frend that I am redy to fulfill your desire cōmandement wherevnto soeuer it shall please you to assigne me and that nothing shal more reioyce me than to perceiue by you to haue done any thing that doth please and content you c. How to thanke an Aduocate for a cause by him conducted TO render thanks for an vncorporal benefit
ingratitude he will not helpe me yet at the least that he doe not hurt me which thing I trust that in fine he wil doe if it would please you to admonish or commaund him And you shall charge me with your affaires as I charge you with myne c. Hovv to vvrite vvhen one frend comforteth another in an iniury receiued WHen we write to such effecte we must deuide our letters into three partes First saying that we are maruellous sory for that iniury Secondly we must shew him that for such an iniurie he ought not to vex himselfe adding the cause Thirdly to comfort him promising our ayde c. The Example vvherein Caesar comforteth Appius touching the content of the letters here before written I Haue receiued thy Letters right redowted Knight Appius which haue so much greued my heart that I can not expresse it yea I should haue sustained the iniury which was done vnto thée more paciently if Tully had done it vnto me verily I know how vnhonestly he behaued himselfe in thy cause before the Senate who through corruptions against God and Iustice caused thée to lose thy matter which thing semed vnto me very strange at the first sight to think how he â—urst do it considering the great good dedes that thou hast done vnto him For by that meanes in y e iudgement of all good men he is greatly bouÌ„d vnto thée and therfore they wold scarce beleue that he would offend thée But when I perceiued through thy Letters his greate mischiefe I made it manifest vnto most of them who are very ill content with him and are as much displesed and as sory euen as I my self But Appius when I consider the malice and iniquitie of Tully and that therefore in the ende he shall susteyne more dishonor and damage thaÌ„ the hurt which he hath done vnto thée doth amouÌ„t vnto I then reioyce and comfort my selfe For his ingratitude knoweÌ„ euery one wil mock him and will bewayle thy damage and by that meanes thy honor shall encrease and in the ende shal haue victory glorious triumph my selfe to reduce him to thy seruice shewing him his fault And I promise thée that I will not cease vntill such time that I haue reduced thée victorious and ioyfull and therefore I pray thée spare me not in any thing that I may pleasure thée Hovv to vvrite a Letter of complaint for a misfortune demaunding counsell or consolation SVch an Epistle or Letter must bee deuided into three partes First to get beneuolence declaring that the good loue which we haue together doeth moue vs to write our fortune for to haue consolacion comfort Secondly we must declare the case Thirdly to demaund counsell ayde c. saying that in him consisteth our onely hope desyring that we be not defrauded of our intent offering our selues c. The Example wherein a Father lamenting the death of his sonne writeth to a frende of his I Would my singular and déere frende had it ben the good pleasure of our lord that within these thrée days you had ben here with other my frendes for to see the griefes lamentations weepings and intollerable afflictions that I had and yet haue for the death of my sonne for if you had ben present I knowe for a certentie that you wold not onely haue had compassion with mée and other my good frendes but you should also haue muche ayded to haue reléeued me of my mortal griefe But bicause it is impossible aswel for the time also for the distance of place betwixt vs I haue thought good to write vnto you by these presents the dolorous and greuous passions that synce that day I doe intolerably susteyne hoping that for the frendship which you haue hadde with me synce our youth the which hath alwayes encreased together with our yeres I might receiue froÌ„ you som coÌ„fort You know well ynough and are wel aduertised of the pouerties afflictions inconueniences perils and dangers which they suffer in this mortall world that beare charge in the common weale and likewise those that in the midst of the multitude of their riches doe liue in tribulations and are continually in sorowful miserable troubles and vexations But as concerning me to make a very heape of my ordinarie afflictions I had one little sonne so swete pleasant and amiable in whom I tooke all my comfort and recreation For his onely presence or his onely speache did often resolue me from my great fantasies taking from me all melancholy yea he was my onely pastime but now I poure out teares of sadnesse so much the more for that I knowe that death hath ben cruell vnto me who through his enuie hath taken away my sonne he hath killed my onely hope my consolation my lyfe him from whome came all my ioy and therefore do I now susteyne great wrath and melancholy I know not where to seke comfort nor what I should doe or say And therefore haue I thought best to write vnto you as to my singular and perfecte frende to the end that you might wayle with me that it might please you to giue me comfort doing as you haue ben accustomed to doe for you haue many times released me from great calamities through your good councell and reconciliacion How one frende should ansvver another comforting him for his losse THe letter must be deuided into three partes First declaring the griefe that he hath which he estemeth to be euen vnto himselfe in augmenting it Secondly to giue comfort by three or foure or moe reasons concluding that it is good to take comfort Thirdly to giue a certayne hope offering to do all things possible and especially for his consolation The Example wherein one frende comforteth another for the death of his soone I Bitterly bewailed my most singular and perfect frende and could not keepe in my teares when I red the Letters which you sent me making mention of the death of your sonne And I aduertise you that I was constrayned so to doe for the good loue that of so long tyme hath ben is betwixt vs two the which causeth me to feele the lyke dolor and griefe that you haue in losing the presence of a childe so wel taught and of so good a wit and entrance of good maners wherfore I maruell not though in him did lye all thy consolation For I thinke that if our lord should not sende you ayde and succour in so great a tribulation you wold be consumed with weping and wailing and would dye immediately after him NotwithstaÌ„ding through the prouideÌ„ce that is in you you know y e a man ought not to vex nor greue him selfe beyond the limits of reason by the which all desolacion ought to be chased froÌ„ the harts of men and if it were so that you were deuoide of reason through the exessiue dolour which you haue suffred to rule in your hart not considering that your sonne was mortall that you haue begot him
mortall nourished him mortall that he is mortally dead rendring the tribute of nature euen as it is appoynted to euery one of vs yet should neither my letters nor consolacion serue to no effect But sith in deede you know well ynough that both yong olde yea euen your selfe shall wax rype and dye ceasse therefore such wéepings and lamentations which better beseeme the female kynde than a wise and prudent man such one as you are and mitigate your strong passions with stronger reasons in doing the déede of a vertuous man employ now your wysdome seing that it is time néedefull to the ende that euery one yea they that know you not may sée to appeare in your persō the constancie and pacience which you haue tolde them to be in you I well remember I haue oftentimes seene you reioyce in prosperitie and therfore if you shold now shew your selfe otherwyse you should giue occasion to think that it were your custome at sometimes to reioyce afterwards bitterly to sorrowe The remedie against such mutabilities and vnconstantnesse is equally to sustaine all prosperous and aduerse fortunes Therfore at my request let not so many vertues which are in you remayne deuoide of pacience I know that you vnderstand this and a thousand other good reasons méete for such a purpose better than I am able to speake or write them vnto you yea you your selfe haue accustomed to comfort your frendes being in aduersitie And I aduertise you that this which I write vnto you is not to instruct or teach you but only to giue you to vnderstand the great good wil that I beare vnto you and that I wold according to my possibilitie plesure you both with body goods without sparing of any thing Hovv to vvrite letters being in exile vnder hope to obtaine restitution ayde counsell or comfort WE must deuide our Letters into three partes First to purchase the beueuolence of the person to whome we write hoping of his loue and prudence by the which he may vnderstād that such a fortune is common to all men Secondly to shew the good deedes that we haue done to our cūtrey or vnto him by whom we are exiled neuerthelesse not vsing any arrogācie but to the end that we may euidently shew that we are wrongfully exyled then shall we declare through whose iniury it was as by our enemies c. whome we know doe hate vs in that they shew vs vngratitude iniury Afterwards we must say that we hope to haue vpright iustice by the whiche we shall obtaine honor and our aduersaries be confounded punished Thirdly we must thereupon demaunde ayde and counsell recommending vs and our matters to our frend which we willingly present vnto him The Example wherein Cicero lamenteth to Lentulus that for the hatred of Clodius he is exyled IT is my custome my singular frende Lentulus when there hapneth vnto me any aduersitie to haue recourse vnto my frendes for theyr ayde counsel or consolation Therfore vnto you whom I repute not onely my frende but aboue all other most especiall for y e you esteme my aduersities to bée yours I haue thought good to write a misfortun which is hapned vnto me through malyce to this ende that by your ayde and counsel I might in so great an euill fynde some comfort and remedy Euery one knoweth and it is common inough to all men what great paynes trauells and charges I haue manfully susteyned to illustrate defende and preserue the publike weale and so doing I haue bestowed not onely my goods ▪ but also my time and labour which leauing vndone I might haue profyted in other greate affaires True it is that in so doing I haue obteyned honour but you know that the wicked doe alwayes malyce the good and can not suffer vertue to haue place for through their wicked steights subtilties they haue so wrought that all the profit commoditie that I deserued had of the publike weale I haue now in one houre lost it al. Against me is raysed vp this wicked hatred of God the world Clodius vnto whome I haue done many good déedes whereof as vngrate he will not remember him selfe but shewing his malice doth rendre me euill for good going about to put me to death for he hath inuēted a thousand fictions and dreames before the Senate with his false wicked witnesses lyke vnto him self hath so wrought that I am banished sent into exyle whereby I am falne into such sorow griefe that I esteme the death to be much sweter and lesse paineful than to liue in such torment And certainly it were impossible for me to liue any longer if there remayned not vnto me a certayne hope which cōforteth me that is that a tyme wil come wherin the truth shalbe knowen and my honor wholy restored and then shall I haue an ende of these euils And to the end that you might hastē this time I pray you herein geue me ayde comfort and counsell for of you onely I require and demaunde it offering vnto you rewarde and gift of me my family and goodes with humble recommendations How to comfort our frend in his exile VPon such an occasion we must deuide our Letters into three partes First must be declared the griefe that we sustaine for the aduersitie of our frende which we must say to be cōmon vnto vs by reason of our mutuall loue Secondly we must get the beneuolence of his person by praysing his great wisdome and vertue declaring vnto him the vyces of his aduersary who through enuie hath ben the cause of his exile Thirdly we must put him in hope shortly to returne and to be restored to his honor with promise to employ our selues to the vttermost of our possibilitie The Example vvherein Lentulus comforteth Cicero who through the malice of Clodius vvas exyled I Can not giue thée to vnderstand by writing my singular friend Cicero nor expresse vnto thée by any meanes what and how great dolour and sadnesse I had when I first conceiued by your letters that this false and wicked Clodius through hatred and yll wil had banished and expulsed you out of our worthy Citie And certainly my frende I am not only sory for your aduersitie euen at the very heart but also when and as often as I remēber that he that hath done so many good déedes to his Cuntry is thorough enuie exyled then gusheth from myne eyes such a spring of teares and in so great abundance that by good similitude they may rightly be called a very Riuer for the great loue that I haue to you And for a truth it wold be so cōtinually with me if I were not restrayned by thincking y e through great wrong to the great dishonor of them that did it you are thus exyled Lord God it is wel knowne vnto thē what humanitie gētlenesse you haue shewed thē insomuch that to none were he neuer so base you haue at any tyme
and also cause it to be manifested Offering our selues c. The example wherein Cicero declareth vnto Caesar the conditions of Appolonius of Rhodes Orator THere is nothing so difficile weightie or paynefull Noble Caesar which with a frée heart for the loue of you I would not take in hande throughe the singular and affectuall good wyll the which I doe beare vnto your most noble Maiestie And thereunto I féele my self bounden by meanes of y e benefits gratulations y t you haue done stil daily do vnto me You haue writtē vnto me that in all diligence I should enquire of the maners and conditions of Appolonius of Rhodes and that I wold write vnto you the veritie I do you to vnderstand that in the iudgement of all thē that know him he is a singular man and not onely in Rhetorike but also in Philosophie doeth get by his workes an immortal name And I certifie you that when he departed from Rhodes he went vnto Athens and there found not his lyke in somuch that the Students sayd that he was a second Pallas yet once againe descended from the braine of Iupiter into their Citie Many other things might I write vnto you of him but wherefore For whosoeuer you shal enquire of you shal fynde them to haue the like good opinion of him so that if you cause him to come to the Citie you shall do a singular cōmoditie not onely vnto your self but also to the whole common weale And if you will that I shal do any other thing for you beholde I am altogether redy to please and obey you recommending me once againe vnto your good grace Hovv to vvrite a Proficiat or Congratulation for an Office or Dignitie WHen a man hath obtained an Offiice or Benefice or any other thing by his good fortune that we would shew our selues to be ioyfull of it we must deuide our letters into three parts First beneuolence to the person vnto whome we write with commending of his merits and vertues Secondly to declare our affection by the which we doe participate of his ioye Thirdly to pray vnto God that the same dignitie office or fortune may be vnto his profit and perpetuall praise offering our whole seruice c. The Example vvherein one frend reioyceth with an other of the office that the king hath giuen him I Know not whether vnto me or vnto you singular frend I ought to say Proficiat for the office which through your vertues and spedy diligence you haue obtained of the king and I assure you that the profit honour yea and glory if it be lawfull to glorifie in wel doing are of no smal estimatiō sith in so yong age you haue obtayned such dignitie surpassed the merits of your elders whereof I ought muche to reioyce for from hence forth your vertues shall be manifested and my honours and profit shall encrease seing that I haue such a frend who through the brightnesse of the glorie hapned vnto him shal driue from me the darkenesse of griefe and shall cause me to haue good participation of his honours ioye and profit Much good doe it you therefore this dignitie which you neuer obtained through ambition but onely through the vertues that are in you for the which there are yet greater benefits due vnto you And as for my parte it is not without a cause that I reioyce for the benefits of fortune are common omongst frends causeth the loue which is in both their bodys to haue but one spirite and in bothe of them is perceiued but one only minde I besech God that you may still prosper go foreward frō good vnto better that by your vertuous faith you may purchase immortall glory and as long as you lyue to remayne in his holy fauour and grace Hovv to vvrite Letters reioycing for oun frendes health or safe returne IF your frend haue recouered his helth or be safely returned from his iorney in such a case our Letters must bee deuided into three partes First to get beneuolence of our owne behalfe for that we were sore affrayde of his sickenesse or that there should happen vnto him any misfortune or aduersitie abroade in his voyage Secondly to declare the ioy that we haue had of his mending or returne praying vnto God to kepe him from all euill Thirdly to offer our whole seruice c. The Example vvherein one frend reioyceth of anothers recouery to health IT is not possible for me to write vnto you neither is the heart of man able to thinke my singular and perfect frende what sorrow and griefe I had when it was reported vnto me that you were greuously sick in great danger for then me thought that I euen felte your sicknesse through the good wil and loue that I beare vnto you and wold gladly that my sorow might haue diminished or eased your passion But by suche and lyke meanes that I had greate sadnesse and griefe for the first newes I haue now inestimable ioy for that it is tolde and affirmed vnto me for a certaintie that you haue wholly recouered your health and welfare I giue vnto you the Proficiat vobis my singular frende for suche a treasure recouered and besech our lord that he will preserue and kepe you in as good and long helth as I wold wish euen vnto myne owne person And I giue you to vnderstād that I. N. M. and all the rest hereabouts are thanckes be giuen to God in good health and welfare prest redy to accomplish all your good requests and commaundement How to exhort to vertue and to good maners TO exhorte vnto Vertue and goodnesse bee yt to auoyde griefe or to get profit the letters or Epistles must be parted into foure partes First to acquire beneuolence by reason of the matter declaring how worthy it is how profitable and necessary for him vnto whome we write and thē that it shalbe a worthy praise for euery good man so to doe Secondly shalbe expressed the thing to be possible and easy to be done Thirdly that it is very necessary for him to doe it and if he doe it not that there may happen vnto him damage dishonor Fourthly and fynally to declare what is to be done and this latter parte may bee placed in such order as shall seme good vnto the endyter The Example vvherein a frende exhorteth a yong man to obtaine vertue THere is nothing in the world wittie yong man that more profiteth aswel to atcheue to common as priuate goods nor which causeth more to augment and get honor and good renowne than the trade of good maners and vertue for by that meanes the wise not onely in their houses haue taken a forme of regiment by good order keping but also kingdoms and publike affaires are by them gouerned mayntained and augmented Beholde the Athemans the Romains and diuers other haue they not alwayes florished when vertuous and wise men had the gouernmēt of their publike
weale And further I may well say that a man whiche hath vertue in him doeth shyne with such a grace that he may easely be exalted and eleuated from base estate into high honor get immortall prayse For this cause and for the singular loue that I haue vnto you I haue willingly thought good to moue and stirre vp your corage to the attayning of vertus considering the good disposition and the beginning of a good spirite that God hath endued you withall whereby you surpasse all other your companions not y t I do mistrust the courage y t you haue to study but more more to animat you in your good purpose Neuerthelesse my welbeloued I consider that your studie is somewhat difficil but I assure you y t y e fruite thereof is very profitable wherunto a man may easely attayn without great paine There resteth but onely to haue a desyre to become a worthy man and a good corage to study well especially in good Sciences to accustome to good maners getting wisdome and vertue by this meanes shall we please God be beloued praysed and honored of men Therefore I besech you my frende lose not your yong yeares in ydlenesse which leadeth the blynde to all gluttenous voluptuousnesse and maketh a man weak ignorāt poore vnfortunate full of shame before old age cōmeth which is altogether vnprouided for and to late to be remedyed Moreouer my well beloued consider that in this Citie there is great nede of wise men for to gouerne y e publike affayres And if you do your endeuor there is no man liuing that hath a better meane than you haue consydering the place and house from whence you are descended and the faculty that God hath giuen vnto you Hovv to dissuade our frende from reioycing vnaduisedly or foolishly IF we intend to dissuade a man that he reioice not vnaduisedly or that he do not a thing which he thinketh to be good is not then must we deuide our Letters into foure parts as before First shalbe declared the disprofite of the thing if he doe it and how it may be hurt full for that it is vniust and dishonest not agreable to a good man Secondly that he ceasse desist frō his purpose declaring vnto him what he ought to doe Thirdly how easy it is to leaue it And fynally how necessary it is to doe that which we counsell him offring c. The Example vvherein Cicero dissuadeth Curio from reioycing that Caesar is made Emperoure THe common opinion of all Philosophers and wise men worthy knight Curio is that there is nothing more vnhonest vniust and pernicious than to reioyce of the destruction of the publike weale he is so much the more worthy to be blamed dispraised as to oppresse he would receiue praise or glorifie him self with priuate vtilitie sith that for the preseruing of y e publike weale we ought to hazarde our selues euen to the very death And I vnderstand that you reioyce euen to the vttermost for the victory of Caesar in such sort that it is openly perceiued and can not therefrom witholde your selfe wherfore I greately lament your simplicitie for letting your selfe to fal into so great an errour as to reioyce of your owne ruyne your parents and frendes your Citie and the whole common weale Therfore I ernestly request and praye you to leaue of this vnconsidered and immoderate delectation reioycing And notwithstanding all this I haue so good an estimation of you that you are not deuoide of sense but that shortly you will perceiue your errour conuert this foolish ioy into bitter mourning considering the euil that foloweth For lyke good and loyall Burgesses you shall well think that the libertie of all is conuerted into miserable captiuitie the which to recouer euery one ought to expose him selfe euen to the very abandoning of his life And therefore in all calamities miseries and troubles it is not necessary onely to remedy this your such reioycing but it is also very conueniēt decent to bewayle and lament continually the damage of your cuntrey of your nation and of your Citie whose execrable ruine is now begoon and from daye to day will greatly encrease through the multiplication of most wicked people and many other apparaunt myseries and greuous perditions which will bée executed sooner than you doe thinke for the which to auoyde it were rather to be desired to dye than to lyue Ceasse therefore to reioyce and begin to lament your publike weale and if you haue no pitie of y e publike weale yet at the least haue pitie of youre neighbors and of your owne selfe How to write letters exhorting to lamentacion BE it for misfortune priuate or publike the Letter must be deuided in foure parts First to say that it is bothe iust and honest to beewayle the aduersitie of oure frende or of the affaires of the publike weale seing that in such a case the calamities are as it were oure owne Secondly to shew the case thereby to moue lamentation Thirdly to exhort to bewayle it Fourthly that it is necessary so to do to the end that after the griefe and affliction remedy may be sought promising to doe for him c. The Example wherein Cicero exhorteth Plautus to lament the oppression of the publike vveale WE are cōstrained my frend Plautus as well by deuine as humaine right next to the honour of God to expose and venture al that we haue for the safegarde of the cōmon weale the prosperities whereof ought not onely to reioyce vs but also the aduersities thereof ought to cause vs to lament greuously sorow euen as our owne yea further we ought for it to hazard our life vnto all dangers for to preserue and defend it This hath caused me to write vnto you for the miserable state of oure desolate Citie to this ende that you should lament with me and bewayle our ruine perdition And for the first you should vnderstand that I am dismissed and destitute of the dignities and authorities wherin I shyned in the Senate through the malice and iniquitie of Caesar who causeth himselfe to be called the Monarchal Emperour and hath not onely chased away the Fathers Senatours but also from great and small hath taken away the name of libertie Who can be of heart so hard to abstaine himself from teares and lamentations sith our libertie is thus lost what resteth there now but that with me others you bewaile sorowe and lament such misfortune And if it be sayde that it is necessary to augment my sorow and poure out teares in such sort that ther may be found some maner of playnt which may remedy our iniury by doing some laudable déede I assure you that with him that wil enterprise it I will not refuse that labour but will hazard in all damages bothe head life wil be one of the formost to haue againe recouer the liberty lost Hovv to dissuade from
sorovv WHen we write letters dissuading from sorow and lameÌ„tation we must deuide them into foure parts First to declare that it is dishonor and damage in such a case to shew himselfe sorowful considering that euery wise man ought of dutie to shew him selfe equall aswel in prosperitie as in aduersitie and that the matter it selfe giueth no occasion of griefe and thereto may we adde if we will a reason by the whiche we may shewe him that to remayne to much in suche sorrow it were dishonest Secondly it behoueth to enforce our selues to conuert the same sorow into ioy Thirdly to shew by good reason that he ought to reioyce Fourthly that it is necessary to leaue suche griefe and sadnesse alleaging some reason for the same purpose The Example vvherein Brutus dissuadeth Marcus Antonius from sorrowing for the death of Caesar A Good man of duetie my frende Marcus Antonius ought not onely to loue the prosperitie of the common weale but with al his power to aduance it and being aduanced to kepe and preserue it and also for it to hazard his life euen to the very bludshed if it so be nedefull and he that doeth not so is worthy of great reprehension and greuous punishment and certainly it is not laudable but very detestable and dishonest for a particular profit to consume the publike profit and he that so doeth ought shamefully to be throwne downe to death and not worthy to be lamented of his frendes But bycause I sée that for the death of Caesar you poure out abundance of teares therfore can I not choose but much maruell of you sith you haue always ben a loyall Burgesse and that not onely the common weale hath ben through you augmented but also vnto them y t haue thereunto ben coÌ„trary you haue always ben a rigorous hinderer a straite iudge an inuincible defender more than though they had offeÌ„ded your owne person Therefore take vnto you againe your olde custome and be not greued for the death of so cruell a tyraÌ„t which death all y e world ought to desire and thereof to reioyce bycause he had taken away our libertie and destroyed our publike weale for his priuate pleasure Wherfore me thinketh that for such a death you ought rather to reioyce than to sorrow sith that by the death of so wicked an vsurper we are returned into our former libertie Deliberate therfore to reioyce your selfe with vs. And take good heede that in our company you be not perceiued to be sad in heart nor in countenance I assure you that it is necessary so to doe for the auoyding of suspition in your person praying you that if you would haue any thing of me doe but commaund it Hovv to vvrite Inuectiue Letters reprehending either frende or enimie for some cryme or ignorance INuectiue Letters must be deuided into three partes First we must get beneuolence of our own behalf saying that not willingly but by coÌ„straint we haue written it vnto him y e we haue long time coÌ„cealed it but bicause he stil coÌ„tinueth from euill vnto worsse we haue thought good not to endure any more of so euil a man whose wickednesse might do great hurt if they were not corrected SecoÌ„dly to declare the matter whereof we will reprehende him in alleaging resons fit for that purpose Thirdly if he be our frend to declare it with gentle language admonishing him louingly and shewing the incoÌ„uenieÌ„ces which might ensue if he should hereafter doe any such matter And if he be an enimie to get beneuolence on our behalf saying that we doe not disdayne him nor that wee would any more inuey againste him to the ende that he shoulde not think that we haue done that through hatred which in deede we haue vprightly done still deseruing to speake somwhat more amply an other tyme when place and tyme shall serue The Example wherein Cicero inueyeth against Lucius Catilina who conspyred against the publike weale I Know not any thing at this present Lucius Catilina wherewith I am more intollerably gréeued and which is more painefull vnto me than to haue knowne and to haue ben aduertised by y e report of diuers through their Letters that you haue conspyred agaynst your cuÌ„trey the which to preserue you ought willingly and with a noble courage to choose euen the death in asmuch more as y e publike profit is to be preferred before the particular somuch the more is it a wicked detestable thing vnto him y e enforceth him self to hurte yt And I assure you had it not ben for the great affection and loue that I beare vnto you I would rather haue chosen to haue holden my peace and to haue passed vnder silence than to write vnto you of it but I haue thought good to aduertise you to the ende that of your self you may iudge and know your fault What is the fury rage or rather diuellishnesse that might moue your heart to consent vnto so horrible and brutish a matter where is he that durst thâ—ncke that suche a damnable cryme could be committed by any man but especially by a Lord a Burgesse a neighbours sonne of the Citie Are you of the Romaine bloude dare you vnto your neighbour nay rather vnto your selfe put to your hand for to shed bloud Doe you take pleasure to heare yong children wéepe noble dames lament good olde men discomfort when they euen your owne parentes and frendes shall sée the death of their Fathers husbaÌ„ds wiues childreÌ„ their goods spoyled their houses burnt and desolate would you haue no pitie of the desolated Senate Alas haue at the least pitie vpon the Temples and sacred places set all these things before y e eyes of your reasoÌ„ consider what pitifull ende might follow You may peraduenture say that I desire dignities honours and authorities Alas what authoritie honor or dignitie may a man fynde in the cominaltie desolated in y e publike weale perished in teares depopulation of the Citie Certainly in my iudgemeÌ„t ther are neither dignities honours nor authorities but only those which are gotten by vertue I know not any thing of greater vtilitie or greater glory amongest men thaÌ„ to be vertuous in y e publike affaires Therefore are you greatly deceiued if you speake for immortall glory by oppressing the publike weale Take good héede lest hoping and thinkyng to get name of immortall life you lose not in a moment your temporall life getting shame dispraise and dishonour for euer Thirdly cast of from you I pray you such vnclemency and apply your selfe to serue the publike weale which may adorne bothe you and yours with greate and precious ryches to the end that you being gently reconcyled may ioyfully lyue with vs in the quiet peace of the cuntry to your glory and praise And so doing you shall fynde me always redy to ayde you to the vttermost of my power How to write expugning Letters either to frend or enimie for charging
vs with a faulte LEtters repugning as well to frend as enemie excusing our selues or denieng the matter are made in two sorts For if it be our frend that peraduenture doth accuse vs secretly it behoueth to vse modest language by maner of excuse But if it be our enimie we must defend our selues playnely frely of y e cryme by him imposed in both sortes we must deuide our letters into three parts First we shall say we are to be excused either for that it is not so or that through imprudencie malice or enuie he hath inuented that matter against vs. Secondly be it to frend or enimie we shall say to our frende vnder correction and to our enimie freely stoutly that he himselfe may be repreheÌ„ded of the like case or of the very same yea or else of a greater infamie saying y t he ought ratâ—â—r to haue regard vnto himselfe than to entermedle with blamiÌ„g a nother Thirdly if the Letters be to our frende and vnder correction we must promise neuer to returne to commit such a thing exhorting him likewise to take heede vnto him selfe for the matter whereof we haue enformed him Yf it be to our enimie we shall playnely exhort him to leaue of his detracting and that if he coÌ„tinue to say what he will he shall heare what he wolde not And if we write vnto a third we must praye him to admonish our enemie to holde his peace and shall excuse our selues saying that we would not haue him offended although we haue spokeÌ„ yll of our enimie for it hath not ben for malice or yll will but onely for to cause his malice and ill report to cease The Example wherein Catilina purgeth himselfe to the Senate of Rome for the cryme of coniuration imposed against him by Cicero IT is always my custome condition Notable Lordes and Fathers to flée wicked detractours and to haue in great horrour the diffâ—mers who like wolues rauish the good renowne of good people and there is nothing that séemeth vnto me more detestable more dishonest nor more abhominable than in the absence of a man to dilacerate and teare in péeces his honour and against them doe I manfully fight this notwithstanding I can not hinder their Serpentyne Viperous tonges from committing such iniuries In number of whom and of my flatterers is this wicked enuious serpeÌ„tyne Cicero enimie to God good men and to the publike weale who incessantly inuenteth new dreames against mée I haue refrayned asmuch as I could to aunswer vnto his sclanderous lyes bycause I would not be noted as he is to be a babler and of dishonest language And bycause that from day to day his venom encreaseth is vomited out from yl vnto worse vnder your corrections my Lords in your preseÌ„ce I haue thought good to discharge me of two labours The one to aunswer vnto him and to purge my selfe of the crimes by him falsly imposed against me and the other to giue you to vnderstand and to declare vnto you his execrable maners vices cursed conditions to the ende that you might heare and vnderstaÌ„d his deceitfull and crafty enuies not giue credit vnto his words This wicked enuiour and seducer of the whole publike weale sayth euery where that I who with out boasting my selfe am loyall haue conspired against my cuntrey and publike weale this wicked stranger and sower of all sedition crieth against me who am a patron and member of the common weale that I would destroy it euen as though the members should destroy the body is it credible ought a maÌ„ to beleue it And neuerthelesse he publisheth it as though it were true I woulde faine know by what coniectures or by what signes he could perceiue it if he would not say that he had dremed it But this wicked persoÌ„ turneth such lyke other euils as are in him vpon me Certes my lords he is so stuffed with iniquities y e he must néedes burst vomit out his poyson He neuer did good in this Citie he neuer loued any but day by daye he spyeth how he may worke displeasure and damage to some good maÌ„ or other Take héede therfore how you giue credit to this wicked damnable man It is not yet long ago since he came into this Citie his féete all dusty vnder colour of vanitie and of a litle Rethorike that he hath which he vseth he hath conuerted a great quantitie of poore people whom he hath by his arte fraude and deceyt despoyled of their goods and by that meanes is growne vp to great ryches Which way shold there haue come vnto him so many houses pessessions seruants so lightly as he hath them had he not spoyled and robbed the poore people But by this vnrighteousnesse and riches he is become so proude that he which is but newly come wolde chase me out of my Citie and destroy me And of him surely I could say innumerable euils were it permitted me to speake fréely and that I douted not to displease you For many tymes it doth good men more hurt to heare recyted the euill of an other than it doeth this other himselfe he being euil wicked Therefore pleaseth it you of your grace to deliuer your poore Citizen and Burgesse from the false throte of this cursed Serpent How to write inuectiue Epistles of contention rerehending another for ignorance in studie EPistles and letters Inuectiue of contention dispraise must be deuided into three partes But in this case there are two ways either to write vnto him whome we mynde to reprehend or else better to write vnto a third person as iudge or arbitratour First to declare that it is not our vse to moue coÌ„trouersie for we demand nothing but peace Ye and although that we be oftentimes iniured by our enimies that they say all the worst that they can yet neuerthelesse we would giue to vnderstand that the insolencie of our aduersaries is so presumptuous and so tending to destroie our estimation that we can not any longer kepe sylence but haue thought good to write to the end that he might be iudge Secondly to expresse briefly and plainely wherevpon the controuersie dependeth afterwardes to recite our reasons and to coÌ„firme them and to confute those of our aduersary Thirdly that we might say many other things whereof we wil kepe sylence to the ende that we would not be thought to procede ratherby enuie thaÌ„ to speake the truth prayiÌ„g beseching him vnto whom we write to iudge of the ignoraÌ„ce of our aduersary recoÌ„mending our selues vnto him The Example wherein a certain Barber writeth to a Doctor of Physick concerning his aduersary a Chirurgian THere was neuer thing more detestable vnto me nor which I had more in horrour worshipfull Doctor than to see a man reioyce in detractions and euil reportes of an other for thereby are wicked people knowne And although I haue diuers times of many ben iniured flâ—uted skorned
place scrued and although he shall meddle to speake more of mée yet sir you may iudge of the whole for you know wel what part beareth ignorāce and innocencie Wholly offeryng my humble seruice to you and yours c. Howe to write Domestical and familiar Letters or Epistles DOmestical or houshold letters are more in vse than any other forsomuch as of their nature they are very necessary to let our frendes vnderstande of our estate and of our businesse be it of helth prosperitie sicknesse aduersitie or any other domesticall and familiar thyngs and in such matters the Letters or Epistles must be deuided into thre partes If we write of our owne estate health or sicknesse or of the healthe or sickenesse of an other First following Tullie and others we may as they do adde the Latin sentence Si vales bene est ego quidem valeo If you be in good helth god be praised for it for thanks be to God I am Secondely wee shall recite our owne health or the causes of the amendment thereof and also the helth or sicknesse of our frend whiche we shall esteme euen as our owne gladde of his recouerie or prosperitie rendring thankes vnto god who hath so disposed it likewise if there be hapned vnto vs any fortune or misfortune we shall write the state therof be it riches or pouertie dignitie or depression to admonyshe oure friende either to reioyce or sorow with vs. Thirdly we say cōmonly Thus not hauing wherewith further to enlarge at this present but beseeching the Lorde to keepe and preserue you in his holy tuition we finish From such a place c. By yours altogither to command c. or otherwise as shal please the enditer The Example of a common Style in that case IF you be in health and mery I am very glad for great thanks to be giuen to God on my behalfe I fynde my selfe in very good health and welfare You do peraduenture greatly maruell for that I was wont to write often vnto you of late haue deferred so to do wherof it may be that you woulde accuse me of negligence howebeit it hath not bene through negligence for an ague hath so weakened me of late that I had small hope to haue escaped without treading the trace out of this worlde into another yea I was brought so low that euen the Physitions had quite giuen me ouer and I had no hope saue onely in God to whose good aide I still committed my selfe Secondly his soueraigne bountie hath brought me to my former helth notwithstanding it hath not ben without great expense of money Beholde therefore the causes why I coulde not write vnto you but frō henceforth I will write vnto you more oftener if God grant me time and space so to do Thirdly I shall desire you to write vnto me of your prosperitie and of such a one assuring you that if there be any thing that I may do for you do but cōmaund me and I will do myne indeuor to accomplish it God to frende whome I besech to graunt vnto you your harts desire From such a place c. How to write other domestical Letters of familiar businesse WE must deuide thē into thre partes First Secondly as in the other going before Thirdly shal be put the conclusion saying that we haue thought good to aduertise hym of suche businesse bycause hee is oure very friende The Example wherin one Friend aduertiseth an other of the processe that he hath wonne IF it bée well with you my singular friende then is it very wel with me For euen as I am God be praised in good health so woulde I desire that it shoulde be lykewise with you And bicause I know that the loue betwixt vs two hath alwayes made vs equall in our fortunes therefore haue I thought good to write vnto you of my businesse and affaires bicause in déede you might be the more ioyfull Secondly you are aduised of the time trouble cost that I was at in the sute that I had against such a one and how oftē I haue cursed the houre whensoeuer I heard talke of it euen ready many tymes to gyue it quite ouer Yet neuerthelesse by trauel and diligence and by importunate sute my good right vpon Tuisday last notwithstanding any clamor that my aduersarie made to his greate confusion I obteined sentence to my profite wherof I render immortall thankes to Almighty God Thirdly I know well that of my profite honour and ioy you are as ioyfull as my selfe and séeing that my aduersities do bryng you desolation it is good reason that my prosperities should bring you consolation Therfore I pray you do it to vnderstāde to all our friends there to the ende that they may participate of oure ioy And if there be any thing that it will please you to commaunde me be you well assured that of me you shall haue an infallible friende And thus end I at this present beséeching our Lorde c. How to visit our Frend with Letters not hauing any great matter to write OFten times it chaunceth that we haue no matter to write to our frend yet we would gladly visit him with our Letters speaking of him or of his businesse such Letters must containe three partes First to get boneuolence on our owne behalfe saying that bicause we loue him we thought it good to write vnto him and to recreate him by communicating vnto hym our Letters to the end that we may take plesure in that which he shall write vnto vs again cōsidering that there is nothing more appropriate vnto frēdes than often to write to fro Secōdly we shal say that we are in health and good estate desiring to know of his helth and prosperitie praying vnto God to keepe and preserue him from all euill Thirdly we shal desire him to visit vs often with his Letters to this end that hering of his helth prosperitie we may haue cause of consolation offring our selues c. The Example of the Style in that case ALthough I haue no mater to write vnto you my deare friend for that I knowe not of any newes hereabouts chaunced yet neuerthelesse the greate loue equall betwixt vs will not suffer me to lette passe any messanger that I know goeth towards you without sending you Letters by him for I beleue verily that you haue as great ioy to rede my Letters as I haue to reade yours Secondly my friend you shall vnderstand that I and all my familie are god be praised in good health earnestly desiring to know of your prosperitie and howe all our frendes thereaboutes doe For I assure you there is nothing vnto vs more pleasant ioyfull nor agreable than to vnderstande of your health good fortune and prosperitie but this causeth loue my frende bicause that from the time of our youth we haue ben ioyned together with that bande And therfore my deare and perfect friend I earnestly request you that it would
please you to visite me often with your Letters to the ende that notwithstanding the distaunce of the place betwixte vs our mindes may yet reioyce be comforted together praying you with all my heart to commaund me in your affaires euē as he that is always ready to do you seruice God to frend to whō c. How to write of some small affaires businesse or newes HAuing a matter of great importaunce to write yet many times we ar desirous to write of som smal businesse or newes of litle importāce so doing y e letters must cōtain .iij. parts First to declare the cause that moueth vs as in the stile before Secondly to salute him gētly telling some pretie mery newes Thirdly to offer him our seruice with hartie cōmendations vnto him others The example wherin one friende vvriteth to an other of certain small newes ALthough it bée long since I wrote vnto you right dere perfect frend yet is is it not for y e I had forgotten you but bycause I had not any matter to write vnto you therfore hauing now found a trustie Messanger I haue thought good to write vnto you these Letters whereby you might vnderstand y e god be praised who disposeth al things we are here in good helth beseching him y t it be so w t you all our frends there I haue bethought me considered with my selfe whereof I might write vnto you and haue founde none other thing saue onely to certifie you that by the cōmaundement of the King and the ordinance of the Court this day was made a great generall Iustice which was a wonderfull excellent thing to beholde considering the order that there was kept you haue heretofore séene but I thincke not so passingly well handled nor better ordred for surely the chalengers especially with so valiant corage and strength enforced themselues in the Iustice that wonder it was to sée and on the contrary side appeared also such manly hearts and boldned stomacks that great commendations obtayned both partes of all the assistants but yet in fine after many sturdie strokes on both sides the chalengers woon the price c. Thirdly if I had knowen any other newes I would haue written them vnto you praying you that you will still beare me good wil and often times write vnto me Recommending me especially to you and to such a one and to all our other frendes thereaboutes Beseching our Lord to send you comfort and health c. How to write letters contayning some pleasant Iestes of oure selues besydes other matter THere are yet other sortes of letters for these before written may be called simple now testeth there to expresse the composition of some mixed Letters which are of two or moe things And first we wil shew the style of a mery letter prouoking to laughter or reioycing yea and it oftentymes falleth that in weightye matters there is to be mingleh some pretie cōceate be it through iesting of our selues or of some other And such Letters must be deuided into three partes First we must pleasantly expresse the mery iestes or conceyte that we entend to vtter our honesty and reputation still obserued for that which we write is only to reioice our frend Secondly to leaue the iest or mery cōceit to change into some other matter to the ende that it be not sayd that we be altogether scoffers Thirdly to offer our whole seruice as in the letters before The Example wherin a Souldier writeth to his Captayne IT is no maruell redouted Captayne though you make great account of me for if I shold be in any réencōter against our enimies where it were necessary to part it with blowes you should sée how I would handle my selfe yea the grat feare that I haue of it doeth make me already trouble and quake considering y e I neuer fought but vnder the curtaine and with the pot and the spiggot I beleue I durst not assault the snayle if she were armed with hir shell and hornes for as hardy a felow am I as euer was drawne out of a bowease yea in such a matter I woulde loue well the sound of the retraicte and if euer you sawe man of warre play better with a two footed swoord then say boldly that I am a lyar for I would runne with the formost to the forewarde of a good Tauerue there to giue the onset Secondly my Captayne all this I haue written but onely in iest For in déede to saye the truth none dispraysed there is no man in the whole companie that more willingly or more coragiously woulde aduenture himselfe in the battayle than I woulde doe For by the faythe that I owe vnto the King and to you I haue so much before mine eyes the publike weale and haue so much pitie of the misery and calamytie of the poore people that at all houres both day and night I am purposed to hazard my life in the defending thereof and repulsing of the enimies to the ende that folowing the steps of other valiant Champions I may purchase honor renowne Thirdly neuerthelesse valiāt Captain I pray you not to put your selfe in danger without a cause but if you sée that it be nedefull either for your owne defense or otherwise you shall fynd in me such facts as I wil not vtter with mouth always prest and redy to obey your good pleasure and commaundement How to write Letters concerning mery iestes or taunts by some other IF we would merily taunt him vnto whome we write or some other of whom we write it must be done euen as in the style before written sauing that in the second part we must ernestly cōtinue on the matter The example wherin Cicero iesteth with Valerius COnsidering with my selfe at this present my perfect frends Valerius the great negligence that is in you that synce your departure you haue written nothing vnto me I can not excuse you but to say that you haue the palsey or else the seuer lurden and that the hands which were wont to write often vnto me can now no longer holde the penne If it be so recommend your selfe to the Saints of Paradise or if not learne so write with your féete euen as you haue well done with your handes Secondly although iesting bourding yet knowe I not any other thing which might be more gratefull vnto me or wherin you might doe me more pleasure than now amongst the great affaires that I haue for the publike weale to giue me some consolation by your letters to the ende that I may be certayne of your health You know my heart how I loue you doe not request any other thing of you at this present if not that it wold please you to write often vnto me Thirdly as for me if there be any thing wherein I may imploye my selfe to pleasure you you may command me euen as him y e is gladly redy to accōplish your good desyre How to write letters
where as you will me to sende you my bookes of the lawe I would gladly doe it but for the occasion of these troublesome tymes I thinke it néedeful to tary til things be more peaceable and than will I satisfie that which you desyre that is to say you to commaunde and I to obey c. Hovve to vvrite Letters conteyning diuerse and sundry matters LEtters conteining many sorts of matters may be deuided into asmany parts as they cōtaine sundry matters and we must begin with the most principal part alwayes obseruing the rules before written and afterward the most necessary and so consequently euen vnto the ende so that the whole be finished in order by articles howbeit it is good to place in the beginning some preamble fyt for the matter and fynally to offer as before Note also that if there be question bothe of our frendes affayres and our owne then is it decent to begin wyth those of our frendes and afterwardes to speake of our owne thereby to giue him to vnderstād that we haue his affaires asmuch or more in remembraunce than our owne The example wherein Tully writeth to Pompilius of comforting graue and domestical matters I Vnderstande my very perfect frende Pompilius by Letters receyued from some of our frendes that your valyant Father is deceassed out of this world this know ye that in as much as we are firmely ioyned together in frendeship therfore it is very heuy for me to suffer yea I esteme it euen as myne owne aduersitie as frends ought to do But whē I consider how well borne he was and that he came in maryage with noble and sage parents by his vertues got such dignities and authorities as can not be recyted yea and moreouer which is almost impossible that he was alwayes in fauour both with the Lords and the people that he hath runne his course of nature and that he is godly departed I finde no cause to lamēt but with all my heart to render thanks vnto god that hath giuen him so many giftes of vertue in this worlde and then after many yeares hath called him frō darknesse to his cleare light Secondly let vs now speake of other matters you shall vnderstande that it is reported vs euen to the whole Senate y t the french men prepare a great host against oure common weale and haue alreadie ouer runne our fields therefore is it condescended that manfully and with a good courage we shall go against them And this to doe is established by Pompeius who in wisedome counsell and warfare authoritie hath none like vnto him for to conduct oure armie Therefore I counsell you to leaue Cumane and to come into this Citie duryng the expedition of this warre for to auoyde the hurt that might come vnto you Thirdly you write vnto me that I should receyue money of youre detters I wyll doe it willingly But during this tumulte I determyne nothyng in the Senate nor elsewhere vntyll that thyngs bée more quiete and I dare boldely write vnto you that yf you come hither you may get honour and profite and you shall sée what dylygence I haue vsed towardes your creditours and to magnifie youre name assuring you that I am wholly at your commandement How a Prince faithfully certifieth the vvorthie qualities of a man ALl or moste parte of the styles before written are addressed eyther to oure superiours equalles or inferiours whiche mighte seeme to suffise for thys lyttle woorke yet neuerthelesse bycause I woulde haue the gentle Readers to vnderstande that I delyte to expresse aboundance of Stiles I haue thought good to recite some stiles whiche writers and learned men haue accustomed to vse following therein the example of diuers good Orators And the first stile shall be a letter of fidelitie to wit VVhen a Prince writeth to one or to many the veritie and truth of a thing euen as it is giuing perfect notice that it is so and such letters must containe three partes Fyrst the Prince putteth his name his title and other qualities agreable to hys hyghnesse Secondely muste bee placed the discourse or entraunce fitte for the purpose whereof wee intende to write Thirdely to purchase beneuolence to the thing or to the person wherof we write causyng credite to be giuen thervnto expressing the very truth of that which we commende or the vertues of the person The Example wherein the Duke of Venice certifieth the vvisedom and science of G. A. AVgustine by the grace of God c. To all them that shall see these letters helth and comfort Secondly the Maiestie of a Prince his magnificall authoritie is not onely to punishe correcte vices but with his whole power he ought to deiect chase away all vicious persons and euē so likewise ought he of Iustice and honestie the good and vertuous full of Sapience and studie not onely to amplifie with goodes and honour but also in all thyngs to gyue them support fauor and praise Thirdly and for that it is many yeares agoe since we haue perfectely knowne Georges Alexander Doctor very experte and skilfull as well in the Greke as in the Latine tongue yea loued estéemed and honoured of all men for the grauitie of his eloquence wherfore besides the benefites that we haue shewed him it is yet our minde that by our faithful witnesse the vertues whiche are in him should be knowne vnto all men and by your relation to be magnified And therfore we recommende vnto you the sayde Georges Alexander in al his affaires for that citie or towne may thinke it selfe very happie wherein he shall vouchsafe to abide for the excellent doctrine that is in him And if there be any seruice or plesure done vnto him for our sake we estéeme it euen as if it were done vnto our self and for the same will giue perpetuall thankes In witnesse whereof wée haue sealed this with oure Seale manuell Youen here the such a day c. How a great prince writeth of peace or warres c. THere is an other sort of letters when a great Prince writeth generally to all or to a vniuersitie a towne a Citie a countrey a communaltie or to some publike person as to entreate of peace warres apointment c. And such letters must be deuided into three partes Fyrste the name of the Prince and al his titles with salutation Secōdly the cause mouing wherefore we write declaring that it is iust honest profitable the which we shall proue as well by reasons as to depresse oure aduersarie and to desire alwayes to maynteine Iustice and equitie Thirdly the matter that wee intende be it of peace or of warre or of some other greate matter and lette the conclusion be tendyng to oure purpose contaynyng the fynall clauses agreable necessary therevnto according to the rules before written The Example wherin the Emperour maketh peace vvith the kyng of Hungarie FRederike by the Diuine grace Emperoure of the Romanes of Austrie of Syrie Duke
And certainly also this pleseth me well that it should so bée for this cause for often tymes I presupposed and as it were prognosticated that it would so come to passe therfore I pray thée hold on as thou hast begon Diuine to the ende that thou maist likewise make me a true Diuinator In respect of that that thou extollest y e Marsilian in euery place with passing praises I doe maruell no whit at all Who is he that in pronouncing his proper praises is not vehement and warmeth not him selfe who is hee so vnsensible that delyteth not himselfe in that which belongeth vnto him selfe Francus declared vnto vs that thou hast had talke of vs with all the wise and learned especially with Hirmolaus Barbarus What wilt thou that I do for thée certainly I wil willingly do it Farewel Politianus answereth vnto Marsilius Ficinus THou perceiuest not in me euery day new things which are worthy to be praised but rather new things in thy selfe through y t which thou praisest mée and that which semeth vnto thée such abundance is thy excéeding loue whereby as Propertius recyteth of nothing is raysed a great history And veryly I think thou wilt make me a Diuinator for thou hast caused me to Diuine whē as euery day I say and preach that thou art a Diuine Farewell Innocent Pope to Angelus Politianus MY welbeloued Sonne health and Apostolicall benediction The booke which thou lately didst sende vnto vs translated out of Greke into Latin we haue hartely and gladly receiued aswell for the noueltie of the thing as for the iudgement of diuers whome in these partes we esteme for learned and wise It is so well furnished with learning and wit that therewith our Lybrarie shalbe greatly adorned and therfore we giue thée most hartie thanks recommending thy vertue vnto our Lord and exhorting thée from henceforth to perseuer in such lyke things to the ende that by these honest labours thou mayst one day get greater prayses and that thou maist deserue at our hands more fertile grace And in token aswell of the good will that we know to be in thée as for the great fatherly loue that we beare towards thée we haue thought good to send thée two hundred Crownes by our welbeloued sonne Iohn Turnabon to the ende that by suche succour of liuing thou mightest more easyly support and accomplysh thy labours and workes Youen at Rome at Saint Peters vnder the Seale of the Fisher The .xvj. of August 1487. The third yere of our Pontificalitie Innocent the eight Pope to his vvelbeloued sonne Laurentius de Medicis VVElbeloued sonne health and Apostolicall benediction We giue thanckes vnto thy deuotion for that through the same our welbeloued sonne Angelus Politianus a man very learned and expert hath sent vs a booke translated out of Greke into Latin the which he dedicated vnto our name the which not onely by our owne iudgement but also by the iudgement of other wyse men vnto whome we haue shewed it is greately commended It shall be of vs as appertayneth greatly estemed and honoured and shall bée an ornament in our Librarie the whiche shall bée a Testimonye of his Vertue and Learning wée exhort thée aboue all things to prouoke and moue the same Angelus by thy authoritie to make and compose like workes which shall bring forth vnto him vulgar estimation and vnto vs no small delectation who for so honest labours partly by benefits partly by other things will cause that worthy thanks reward shalbe employed and giuen vnto him And now in token therof we haue appointed to be sent vnto hym by oure welbeloued sonne Iohn Turnabon .ij. C. Crownes to the ende that this booke shold not remayne without recompense Youen at Rome at Saint Peters c. Angelus Politianus to Innocent the .viij. Pope rendreth Salutaion I Knowe not in what sort to render thée thanks most holy Father Innocent Soueraigne Bishop which hast with so great prayses and ample liberalitie rewarded our small labours which thing I consider and interpret to haue ben so done for this cause to wit that it hath pleased thy holynesse and blessednesse by this meanes to erecte and stirre vp the myndes of learned men whiche of long tyme haue lien still and as it were slombred when they vnderstand to be in such a worthy Bishop of this time suche and so great humanitie and liberalitie that now euen the basest and least in order remayne not only praysed and honored but also liberally recompenced Certainly these prayses togither with the presēt and vnloked for benefits on me bestowed haue added vnto me as it were spurs and pricks and haue charged me with a great carefulnesse so to kepe and behaue my selfe that at no time or by no cause I be found to be vnworthy of this thy liberalitie and fauour wherevpon I will take care and will so enforce my selfe that this our tender territorie to the tillage whereof thy magnificence hath now giuen such and so great succoure shal bring forth hereafter new reuenues to thy sacred Maiestie Valeat tua sanctitas Florentiae c. A certayne man writeth to a Bokebynder of Paris VVOrshipfull Syr assured I am that if I should commend me an hundreth thousand times vnto you yet shold I doe lesse than nothing if it pleased you not to accompt me for one of those that wish you well therefore I pray you commend me vnto you certifying you that synce my departure I haue written sufficient matter vnto you according to my rudenesse whereunto you haue made me no aunswere Howbeit I maruell not thereat considering that you haue ben so busyed about the vrgent affaires of the king that you haue had no leysure to attend thereunto wherefore you are worthely to be excused And though it be so that I am transported into a farre cuntry to execute needfull things yet is it not to be supposed that true loue shold decay through the visible seperatiō made betwene two frendes whereof you are the one and I the other at the least I am yours and beleue that you are myne And therefore as myne I haue not nor wil not deferre to write vnto you trusting and being assured that through the receiuing of my Letters I shall cause you to be more ioyfull and to haue me in remembrance Doing you also thereby to vnderstand that if it would so please you I would gladly haue certaine little bookes whereof I spake vnto you dispatched from the bynding hansomely and fynely as you know wel how to doe them yea farre better than it is possible to expresse or write vnto you Of a thing well done the praise remayneth to the Author and doer thereof wherein I know you shall be partaker for that you worke so perfectly that no man will nor can fynde fault therewith Moreouer if there be any thing in these partes wherin I may plesure you doe but commaūd it and I will obey according to the possibilitie of your sayd frend not
to be compared to his good will Recommending me alwayes most hūbly to your worship vnto your wife and to all your children vnto whome I will not forget the wine my bookes being properly and hansomly bound and dispatched Thus cease I for this present beseching our Lord to send you health and welfare with long life From Selurre the .xj. day of October An Epistle of Angelus Politianus to Laurencius de Medicis his Vncle. BAptista Leo Florentius of the most clere and noble family of the Albertins a man of excellent sprite of good and depe iudgement of exquisite Doctrine hauing left vnto his posteritie many noble déedes acts and monuments consequently in fine thought good to report vpon .x. bookes speaking of Architecture or the Scyence of Buylding the which being amended corrected and polished intending to set them forth to light and to dedicate them vnto thy name was by fatall ordinance preuented by death and so deceassed His brother Bernarde a prudent man always myndefull of thée amongst y e chiefest to the ende to aduance the memory of so worthy a man and to render thankes for thy merites on him bestowed the foresayd bookes written according to their true paterns and examples and reduced into one volume doeth offer and present them vnto thee my good Laurentius and in very deede he desired that I should commend and adorne with woords the same gift towards thée also towardes the authour thereof Baptista Leo. The which I haue not thought good to doe in any case to the ende y t through the defaulte of my vnderstanding I diminishe not the praises of a man so excellent and of a worke so well brought to passe and finished for vnto that worthy worke shall come more honour and renowne by the learning and reading of it than by any woordes wherewith I am able to set forth the prayses thereof fearing and douting the difficulties of the Epistle and douting also the imbecillitie and weakenesse of our Oration for vnto any man not ignorant of the perfection and integritie of the remoued Letters and of the secrete and hidde discipline it myght bée doubted whether his speache and stile doeth more touch the Arte of Oratorie or of Poetrie whether it bée more graue or Ciuill In this order he hath folowed the true trace of the Antiquitie in such sorte that hée hath by sense comprehended and reduced into example not onely the reasons of the auncyent Buylders their engyns and instrumentes to woorke withall but also hath wonderfully excogitated and published the formes and styles of Buildings yea and besydes this hée was also a good Paynter and a cunning Caruer Howbeit it in the meane tyme hee ordred all thinges according to true proportion and mesure in such sorte that all people myght report of him singular and worthy things so that I iudge and suppose that I were better to bée silent than to speake to little euen as Saluste sayed of Carthage To this booke therefore O Laurentius thou shalt attribute most principall and chiefest place in thy Lybrarie and shalt reade it diligently and shalte take care to publishe it commonly for it is worthy to passe often by the mouthes of expert and learned men yea it is a fauorer and a very patrone of learning amongst all men lyuing now falne vnto thy lorte Farewel Angelus Politianus to a certaine friende of his IF I had begoon to haue loued thée for thy richesse I should now haue ceassed to loue thée or to be thy frende for that thou now ceassest to be rich but moreouer if I hadde nowe ceassed to haue ben thy frende then hadde I not ben thy frende neither when thou weart rich but a flatterer the which whosoeuer can be can not be frée but a bondslaue Politian to his frends YOu are many which together demaund Letters from me but beholde I sende vnto many but one onely for it behoueth to send one onely Epistle vnto many whome I onely loue The which shal be as good as many when many of you shall reade it Politian to an enuious person THou arte enuious to euerie one of euery thing saue enuie but of that thou art enuious towards thy lyke who is yet more enuious than thou and by that meanes there is no enuie in thée and yet notwithstanding thou hast enuie at his enuie and by that meanes he is lesse enuious than thou Who you are I will not expresse bicause I wil not make you more miserable than you are alredy for if I should publish your name you would haue enuie euen at your verie name it self not onely one of you at that of y e other but either of you at his owne Politian to a Slanderer and detracter VNto thée which speakest euill of me I intend not to answer euill lest peraduenture thou shouldest cease from saying euil by mée that is to wit from praising mée for in very deede who is he that is more rightly praised than he of whom euill is spoken by an euill man And in respect that I call thée an euill man that is so farre from being euill sayd that nothing can be better sayd Politian to his friend Caesar Carmente THou supposest thy selfe to be contemned bicause I write not vnto thée I should contemne thée if I should write vnto thée for if I contemned thée then durst I write vnto thee these aunswers either that I am busyed or that I haue no leysure for thée Farewell Politian to Iames Modeste THou art sory bycause I write not vnto thée be sory no more for now I write vnto thee Farewell Politian to an vnconstant person THou hast not giuen me that which thou didst promise mée I fynde my self greued if thou hast forgot it and yet more gréeued if thou hast not forgot it to forget is y e propertie scarce of a friend not to giue when it is remembred is the propertie altogether of an enimie Farewell Angelus Politianus to Picus Mirandula THat which I would should haue ben corrected by thée thou praisest it bnt thou doest that thing easily which thou doest always Farewell Politian to a friende of his THou art angry and sory bicause Simias doeth reprehend mée he doeth not reprehende mée to the ende that hee might search the sauegard of hys lyfe as a man beset with some that doe much reioyce of flatterers and yet more of detracters Politian to a promyse breaker MVch more equall haddde it ben incontinently to haue denyed that which so earnestly I haue requested than afterwardes not to performe the thing which thou being a graue man hadst so liberally promysed for than hadde it ben no iniurie seing that thou didst owe mée nothing but now it is iniury for thou dost owe it me and must owe it me seing that thou hast promised it me and certainly I doe not yet beleue that thou art of that sort of people whome their promises doe not bynd thē and to the ende that I haue not hereafter
occasyon to beleue it I would wishe thée to kepe such promises to thy selfe Onely this I requeste thée that if thou wilte not giue and performe vnto me that benefit yet cease to be iniurious vnto me which thou shalt do if thou forbid me to hope any longer in vayne Fiâ—nally I shall be greatly beholden vnto thée if thou giue me y t which I request and shall greatly maruell if thou giue it me not Farewell Politian to his frende I Was very sory and am very glad bicause thou wast sick and that thou art hole Farewell Politian to Picus Mirandula I Was first vanquished of thée by learning and vanquished by spirit yet neuerthelesse I reioyce me to be vanquished and doe in such sort reioyce me for I loue thée and loue that by the which I was vanquished but now by thy humanitie am I vanquished which thing certainly I can not suffre bicause it is vnhonest but I doe suffer it for there is nothing vnhonest vnto me which vnto thée is not honest Politian to a certaine frende of his THou art sory bicause I whiche am thy frende haue vanquished thée in disputation thou oughtest not to bée sory for if all things be common vnto frends I am no more a vanquisher than thou no lesse vanquished than thou But peraduenture thou art sory bicause that by such law of frendes I am not a perfect vanquisher I whiche haue thée vanquished Farewell An Epistle of Iohannes Picus Mirandula to his dere frende Iacobus Antiquarius AMongst all the pleasures which I tooke wheÌ„ I was at Florence through the allowable custome of Politian a man according vnto my iudgement of all other most learned skilfull as touching them of our tyme this was not the least but exceded when he incontinently gaue vnto me thy graue Epistles sent vnto him to the ende that I might reade them with their aunsweres in the same forme and excellent order that they passed betwene you In those letters and Epistles I did greatly delyte me for the singular prudence therein contayned whereby also in weightie matters and great affayres thou art of the most prudent and wise greatly commended both for the sobrietie and also for the séemely adorning beautifying of thy Oration Furthermore thy Letters were accepta vnto me not onely bicause in some of them there was honorable mentyon made of my name but also I delyted my self therein for the testimonie of such a perfect man by reason of the coÌ„science graunting and giuing iust coÌ„sent which not dissembling any thing of that which it thought did manyfest and discouer the matter euen as it was stryuing with great force as nylling to be deceued And thus am I double beholding vnto thee by reason of thy vertue and also of thy benefits done vnto vs. I had thought by my Epistles sundry times to haue rendred thee thanks least peraduenture towardes thee I should haue ben thought somewhat vngratefull or estéemed rude and vnciuile yet deferred I the tyme bicause I know thée and our good frend Politian to be so exercised with letters passing to and fro betwene you as not willing with such importunate hast to bable against the Muses as the malepert gagling geese to interrupt y e white Swans enterchaÌ„geably singing besides this I perceiued by Politian that thou hadst vnderstanding of our good wil towards thée And now haue we receiued thy letters sent vnto vs lately deliuered to Bernard Ricius a yong man of gret towardnesse wherein thou doest attribute vnto me that which I dare not request neither think to haue so much merited The greatnesse of thy humanitie doeth now burst our sylence except we should séeme vnciuile or proude and therefore I can not choose but giue the great thanks and impart vnto thée immortal praises not onely bycause thou bestowest vpon me no small vndeserued praises but also by reason that thou so teÌ„derly louest me Therefore vnto thée I ought to make recompense euen aboue my power neither is ther any thing so hard or difficile which for thy commoditie I would not take in hande Farewell Made in the fieldes of Ferrare the .27 of Iuly 1494. Here endeth the second boke ¶ The third boke conteyning the maner and forme how to write by aunswere A Father vvriteth vnto his Sonne WElbeloued Sonne after Commendations appertaining c. It is already thrée monthes ago and now at thys present going on the fourth synce we receiued any Letters from thée me thinkes thou mightest haue coniectured with thy selfe if thy heart had not ben altogether stony in what troubles and calamities I with thy wéeping and sorowfull mother doe liue There are now .xxiiij. wynters gon and past synce forth of thy mothers wombe into this traÌ„sitory lyfe thou wast brought bycause euen from thy youth vpward I was a carefull and desyrous Father to see thée good modest gentle kynde and with all other vertues adorned beholding then thy sharpe wit liuely memory of thy naturall inclination and spirite I thought good as thou knowest to send thée to Paris to the studie of the Ciuill Lawes according to thyne owne desyre thou hast now ben there foure yeares and I determined to giue thee yerely an hundred Crownes for the sustentation of thy lyuing to wit at the ende of euery six monthes fiftie moreouer to sende thée Clothes of Silke and of Woll for the apparell of thy body Thou shalt vnderstand my déere childe that thy mother hath ben my wife .xxvj. yeres I haue had by the goodnesse of God of hir two children onely whereof thou art the first and after thée Loyse thy Sister vpon whose vertuous life the Sunne beames hauing shyned by the space of .xxiij. yeres and I knowing hir worthy of a husband haue thought good this yere to mary hir and to giue hir to Hely Loyer for his legitimate and lawfull spouse and bicause that he is a rich man it behoued me for the full suÌ„me of hir mariage to giue three thousaÌ„d pouÌ„ds so that I was coÌ„strained to pay him not onely all the redy money that I had but also to borow more than three hundreth Crownes bicause I would not fayle to the fidelitie and promise which I hadde made hym This therfore was the occasion that with my Letters of the viij of August last past I had not the meane to sende thée more than thirty Crownes within these .xv. or .xx. dayes I will sende thée the other twenty for the full accomplishing of the terme past and the fiftie for the beginning of the yere present Therefore for default of the sayd money ceasse not from any maner of study but now it pleaseth me to talke a little vnto thée Thou then drawne by disdayn and moued with vniust yre for so light an occasyon as voluntarily willing to worke vengeance stayest thou to giue answer vnto y e humaine gentle Epistles of thy Father vnto the swete louing Letters of thy Mother disdaynest thou to aunswere brotherly the
husband Thou veryly at .xvj. yeares didst take a husband and now at .xxxv. yeares remainest widow with one Sonne onely .xix. yeares hast thou possessed thy husband therfore thou oughtest to be satisfied of worldly things Thou art rich and arte left vnder the state of a widow Oh I pray thée for the loue of the eternal God and for the obeysaunce that thou owest vnto me that thou wilt be well aduised not to maculate or blot that wydowish and decent habyte which thou berest for the worship of him who of thy virginitie gathered the first frute The Lord be with thée Thy pitifull mother c. The Daughter maketh answere vnto hir Mother DEre and welbeloued Mother after most humble and reuerent commendations with the desyre of your long life c. Through your last briefe Letters I am become altogither melancholike and sorowful that not for the occasioÌ„ springeth of you but of the vnpappynesse of y e wicked world Verily with most-humble obedience I receiue al those admonitions which come from you my discretâ— mother Hippolit as we reade in the auncient histories bicause he would not consent to Thaedra his horrible Mother was by hir occasion cruelly put to death without deserts so I by the pestiferous tongues of others am innocently sclaundered Wherfore hearkeÌ„ I pray you my déere Mother you know Clare very wel who hath a brother .xxiiij. yeares olde a dronkard euill taught a gamner and a glutton these two yeares hath he by letters gifts and promises gon about dishonestly to tempt me and this doeth he not somuch for his owne desyre as for the wicked will of his Sister Clare who being about .xxx. yeares of age and richly maryed but vnto an olde man is very liberall of hir loue vnto who so euer demaundeth it And bicause that she is my neighbour she wold gladly haue me ioyned in loue with hir brother but that shall notwithstanding nothing preuayle him though mistrustfull persons speake their pleasure No more at this time you vnderstande me well God prosper and preserue you Your obedient and louing Daughter c. One Lorde vvriteth vnto an other RIght honourable Lorde after due commendations c. It is alreadie three monethes agoe since your honour by your learned and prudent Letters requested me that if it were possible to vse such meanes and diligence in speakyng vnto VVilliam Ardiller that it would please hym to serue your honor in the office of a Secretarie bicause he is a man skilfull quiet and of maruellous elegancie in composing verily I vsed all the meanes that I could to induce him vnto your honors desire the assaultes that I gaue vnto hym of that matter in the beginning did nothing auaile for he excused himself to be wearie of seruing lordes and that he nowe loued to reste and to giue hym selfe to nourishe his litle childe But in fine I so handled the matter that within one moneth he wil depart hence to go vnto you I told him that your honor would vse such liberalitie as his vertue requireth I take great pleasure for that your Lordshippe shall haue néere you a man prudent loyall learned a wonderfull obseruer of antiquities a great historian and in the plesant pastime of poetrie a man without comparison which shall be great satisfaction to the ardent zeale of the diuine vnderstandyng of your excellencie which I pray God stil to prosper and encrease c. The aunswere of one Lord vnto an other RIght honorable after continuall coÌ„mendation c. Your Lordship knoweth in howe troublesome and wearie exercises we haue consumed the other part of our transitorie miserable life therfore your honour by the humanitie therof must pardon our vnlearned letters but now by vertue 〈◊〉 your honor we possesse the gentle and quiet personage of VVilliam Ardiller for the loyal good Secretarie of our affaires Certainly I loue his humanitie and geÌ„tlenesse his iudgemeÌ„t doth greatly please me the eloquence of his speach deliteth me If all y e holy church of the christians had aswel chosen their bishops deacons and ministers as I haue done my Secretarie vndoutedly y e true Religion of our Catholike faith would be had more in reuerence and better spoken of than wee see it is in this our myserable time I certifie your lordshippe that as soone as our forsayd Secretarie came to salute vs we immediately of oure curtesie gaue him Fiue hundreth Crownes of golde God for his clemencie send prosperitie to our affaires for vnto our sayde Secretarie and to all mindes like vnto his we wil at all tymes enforce our selues to giue all commoditie and fauour Here will I make an ende and commit your Lordshyp to the blessed Trinitie c. A Gentleman writeth vnto a noble Captaine HOnorable Captayne after moste humble coÌ„mendations c. I am aduertised by Letters from my Sonne that your honor through your gracious goodnesse hath placed him in the number of your men of armes For which thing I with all our parents and frendes doe so muche remaine bounde vnto you that in veritie we are not able to expresse it in wordes O how precious is the seruice that is done to a liberall man but much more happie and more praise worthy is that lorde who knoweth his loyall and faithfull seruitor and rewardeth him with condigne benefits The hautie worthinesse of your magnanimitie doth cause vs y t though we be absent in bodie yet our ardâ—â—â—e loue is always at hande and néere you No more at thys tyme but the Lorde prosper your affaires c. The aunsvver of the Captaine vnâ—o the Gentleman WElbeloued I hartily recoÌ„mend me vnto you c. Right acceptable vnto me were your Letters replenished with loue and humanitie by the which you with your friends and kinsfolkes do appeare to be willing to giue me thanks for that I haue chosen your sonne into the order of my men of Armes I will aunswere you briefly vnderstand ye then that in feates of chiualrie where the matter standeth of life and death of pouertie and richesse of honour and shame I make not election by frendship or fauour but I preferre meÌ„ to higher degrée by their vertue and therfore the wisedome counsell and manly courage of your sonne constrained me to honour him who is readie to be further preferred you in the meane time liue quietly and if he doe you honour giue the praise to God and not vnto me The eternall haue you in his keping c. One Gentleman vvriâ—eth vnto an other RIght worshipfull my heartie commendations vnto you remembred c. I haue presentely receyued youre grateful Letters which were welcom vnto me for two causes First bicause they were yours â–ª and secondly bicause with them I receiued from youre worship a liberall presente to wit halfe a dosen Phesants and a couple of Kyds I hartily thank your gentlenesse We are also hunters but it behoueth vs to pray vnto Diana the auncient Goddesse of the forests y t she