amongst fishe 〈◊〉 Dolphin and amongst men a very Hercules For counsayle of the Citie and politike affaires there is not his lyke who is and will be to your Citie no small adornement whereby you shall get great renowne and strangers the light of most euident example And bicause that my to rude vnderstanding knoweth not the maner how to write the tenth part of his vertues and that my letter sheld be to long and tedious it may please you to be content at this present with this small writing for I do determine to write vnto you an other time more largely what soeuer I write it shal be nothing but mere truthe deuoide of all faining and flattery I aduertise you my Lords that so much the more you shall know him so much the more wil you commeÌ„d praise honour and esteme it a great benefit to haue had the â—â—â—â—ledge acquaintance seruice ayde support familiaritie frendship confederation alliance recourse coÌ„pany of such a personage c. Hovv to vvrite vnder the Demonstratiue gender blaming or dispraysing another TO write in y e dispraise of a man we must deuide our letter into three parts First to get good wil vnto our selues declaring that in deede we do not loue neither that it is our commoÌ„ vse to write euill of any man but that now we are vehemently vrged and constrayned there vnto c. Secondly we must dispraise the party in honest and couert termes and so placed that it be not playnly perceiued that we speke for enuy or anger or otherwise but onely that in very deede the great pryde which is in him doeth cause vs to say it to thende to abate his presumpâ—ion and to reforme him Thirdly we shall excuse our selues towardes him vnto whome we write that if we haue written any thing vnto him which might displease him we suppose him to be wise ynough to know the truth offering c. The Example vvherin a certain man writeth to Cicero touching the conspiracie of Catyline IT is not my custome learned Cicero most renowmed and worthy of honor by detracting and speaking euill or blaming of an other as many do to go about to get vnto my selfe praise and renowme especially when the vices of the other doe touch me nothing at all in so much that although I my selfe be standered greatly iniured by myne enimies I suffer it paciently and hold my peace But yet considering with my selfe the great Treasons of Catiline who notwithstanding neuer did me any displeasure seing that he was determined as a Traytour to kéepe the whole Citie and cuntry in subiection by the ayde and support of strangers I coulde not abstayne my selfe from declaring it vnto you to the end that the whole being known ye might giue order and conuenient remedie I aduertise you worthy sir and déere frende that ouer and aboue the other innumerable vices pety trafficks traysons and subtilties that are in him he communicateth day night with the cursed peruerse and wicked rybalds ruffians rascal Roges of the Towne he prouoketh corrupteth them with money and other damnable meanes to conspyre with him the destruction of y e good noble Burgesses Citizens with full determinate purpose to make a generall coÌ„motion to kill the wise learned gouernors to fier theyr houses to ransack spoyle their goods to do al the execrable wickednesse that is possible And this is now manifestly notoriously knoweÌ„ throughout the whole Citie For he now declareth himselfe to be such a one euen in open audience threatning them that are in chiefest aucthoritie in such sorte that they are constrained to flee fearing a greater inconuenience Therfore it is necessary my singular friende to giue politike order and that brefly to the end that a greater euill do not ensue I haue not writte this vnto you for any hatred or enuy that I haue against him for so should I do wrong to complayne of him but that which I do is in fauour of the publick weale to moue you as a good and diligent Iudge to redresse it by seuere iustice so far forth as it is nedefull to thend that we may remayne in ciuill peace and tranquillitie requiring and beseching you to addresse vnto me your noble desyres that I may accomplish theÌ„ according to my possibilitie Hovv to vvrite by maner of Complaint or lamentation for an iniury receiued IN such a case we must first get the good wil of him vnto whom we write by reducing to his memory the cause wherefore we are moued and prouoked to let him vnderstaÌ„d of our estate Secondly we must make honest remonstration and reciâ—all of the wrong that our aduersary hath done vnto vs by reprouing him of ingratitude or some other villanous vice Thirdly we must require counsayle comfort ayde or demaunde his counsayle offring in lyke maner c. The Example vvherein Appius vvriteth to Caesar of iniury done him by Cicero THe feruent desire and singular loue which you haue alwayes shewed vnto me most mighty Caesar doeth constraine me to write vnto you my complaint of an iniury which hath ben done vnto me to y e end to obtayn of you some comforte for I suppose that the iniury doeth touch you as well as me considering the amitie and freÌ„dship betwixt vs which through firme stedfast acquaintance ought to be common as well in prosperitie as in aduersitie And bicause that within this moneth I haue susteyned very vncurteous and vnhonest iniuries I could not abstayn from writing vnto you to the end that you might be a relieuer and comforter of this greuous trouble You knowe right renowned Caesar the pains trauels diligence and the great perils and dangers wherein I haue ben for this wicked persoÌ„ of whom I write vnto you not onely for to doe him honor but also profit And when I was iudge you knowe in what magnificence he was receiued of the counsel yet now hath he forgotten all the good dedes seruice that I haue done him For notwithstanding that I my selfe requested him and also caused him to be requested by men of good reputation to defend my cause and to pleade it before the Senat yet he refused me although he employeth him selfe to the like for euery one yea euen for straÌ„gers and them that he neuer knew nor that euer dyd him any pleasure or seruice Yea and that which is worse to do me greater displeasure he hath counsayled my aduersary and found subtilties and cautoles to pleade against me in such sorte that I am depriued of my right beholde the godly rewardes and recompences wherewith this wicked vngrateful person had paid me for hauing done him so much pleasure and seruice Vnto thee mighty and puisant Caesar I haue yet my remedie to appeale and to moue him of the vniust sentence which hath ben giuen against me Therefore do I humbly besech you that it would please you to admonish him that if remaining and perseuering in his
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
we beholde the estate of men who by the crimes haue deserued all kynde of punishments then is it nedefull that Iustice take place therby to giue example to other men from liuing euil notwithstanding I haue done the dutie which beloÌ„geth vnto a frend And although that with smal consideration and wisdome I entreated for Cleophas yet I besech your maiesty to excuse and pardon me not somuch for mine ignorance as for the loue that I bare vnto my frende writing in the behalfe of that transgressour of true Iustice as plainly your prudence expresseth vnto me the which may be an excuse of my vnworthie demaunde c. To ayde thy frende being in prison for deâ—â—e I Thank God for that I neuer requested any thing of your Lordship which you graunted me not now I yet hope to obtayne this the which is a woork of pitie Within these few dâ—yes was imprisoned Iames Barre my perfect frende who is in so much extremitie that it is scarce able to be expressed and hath a great sort of children for whome he labored bothe day and night to get bread to susteyne them but now being absent your lordship may consider how his pitifull family should liue Wherefore I humbly besech you that you would both for the loue of God also for my sake open your eares vnto my request and giue him some day of paiment in such sort that the poore maÌ„ may be deliuered out of prison to comfort and relieue his poore family the which can not be in greater calamitie plaint and misery And thus hauing sundry tymes receiued benefits from your honour I presently am bold by to great presumptioÌ„ to haue recourse vnto you teÌ„derly beseching you that you wold vouchsafe to deliuer him out of prison Thus doing I shal receiue a singular pleasure from your wysdom And shall pray for a continuall preseruation of you and all yours c. To shew thy selfe sorowfull for the misfortune of thy friende WE ought alwayes to participate with our frends of euery fortune that hapneth vnto them Hauing therefore within these few dayes had vnderstaÌ„ding that you were robbed I receiue such displeasure and griefe as of dutie ought euery good perfect frend one for another But bicause I know y t it is not nedefull to comfort them which are of them selues by wisdome comforted I will not enlarge any further but onely desyre you to haue pacience in such misfortune as requireth your singular prudence wherunto I commit you c. The exhortation of a Captaine vnto his Souldiers ALthough Nature alwayes appoynteth some puissant person for necessarie occasion to gouerne the subiect people in due obseruance of order yet synce the tyme that I haue ben amongst you in the administration of warfare I do not esteme my selfe your superiour but equal for that no exercise hath more néede of skill and counsel than warfare You therfore my soueraigne Souldiers enforce your selues with all louing diligence to subdue and bring downe these barbarous people not so furious as peruerse at all tymes and in all places our great enimies For which occasion in this warre shew your selues not onely frendes and defenders of our King but also tutours and carefull prouiders for your selues preseruers of your wiues children and goods c. To demaund enterteinment of a great Captaine COuragious Captain the celebrated renoume of wysdome prudence honesty and vertue in chiualry woÌ„derfully exercised by your lordship in our time do inuite prouoke me to appeale vnto your presence offering thereunto my whole seruice redie at all times and in all places Many men of great fame in warfare are at this present of me very well knowne of all which none of them in heart counsell manhood nor prudence may be compared vnto your excelleÌ„cie therfore all y e true champions of France and other men of armes are desirous to submit themselues vnto your lordship amongst which number as one of the meanest I humbly request to be admitted c. To excuse thy selfe for being negligent in writing vnto thy friende IF in tymes past I haue not written vnto you as my dutie was it hath ben for the vrgent businesse great affaires that letted me yet therefore it is not but that my whole trust and fidelitie in euery kynde of thing hath alwayes remayned in you and especially when I recorde with my self the singular loue which you haue always shewed vnto me in déedes and effectes And bicause it is better to expresse some parte of my duetie late thaÌ„ neuer I am moued to write vnto you these presents that you may participate with me of my profit prosperitie as you haue heretofore of my hindrance and aduersitie ayding couÌ„selling and fauoring me more than euer I halfe deserued toward you c. To put thy frend in remembrance of thy businesse ASsured I am that no negligeÌ„ce hath at any time kept you backe from satisfying of my demauÌ„ds which through your humanitie you haue always reputed to be your owne and not onely the offer which you haue many times made vnto me but also the experience which I haue had of you doeth bolden me now to write vnto you My vrgent businesse therfore together constraining me and knowing that no affaires of myne for the loue and affection that you beare vnto me shalbe accompted troublesom vnto you I now agayne put you in remembraunce of that whereunto my busynesse compelleth mée hoping to be pleasured of you as of him in whome I fixe my full trust fidelitie in al things and who also may dispose of me as of a deere and perfect frende c. To require ayde at thy frendes hand THe hope fidelitie which I haue had in you and in the offers which many times with an effectionate mynde you haue made vnto me doeth comfort me moue me in this my businesse and necessitie to haue recourse vnto you being very certain for the humanitie and affection that you here vnto me that your effectes wil be correspondent vnto your wordes and that you will ayde me with that which I shal demaund which thing wilbe very acceptable vnto me which thing also you may easely graunt me for it lyeth aswell in your possibilitie to giue it as in myne to aske it And though my pouertie be great wherein I fynde my selfe at this present yeat doth euery man know that it is not by my fault but by the impetuositie of fortune who casteth downe to ground ech persoÌ„ whom she listeth for siknesses debates change of time and a thousand contrarieties as euery man knoweth haue throweÌ„ me downe so low that heÌ„ceforth with my .xij. chiloren I haue more dout for dyeng of hunger than hope for to liue if your humanitie do not succour me in this my aduersitie And thus I commit my selfe vnto your charitable pitie c. To write vnto an Aduocate I Dout not but that your worship doeth accompt me for a negligent man seing that in a
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
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
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
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