orderly pardon if any errors are committed Yours vndiuided though farre off To his noble Friend S. I. S. WOrthy Sir There need no filling a letter of newes with preamble complement or circumstance and therefore I will onely tell you I am proud of any remembrance when I expose your worth to my conceyt glad of any good fortune when I can auoyd the imputation of ingratitude by acknowledging your many fauors and writing the same vnder my hand and seale This I will doe still euen in this letter from Constantinople entreat you to admit of my coustome and pardon me if I take the plaine high-way of reciting particulars without stepping into any ambiguous nookes of phrases and eloquent aduantages I came then to Const. in Aug and found Syr Tho Glouer and his Ladie so well setled in an honourable correspondencie to their estates that I was proud in my countreys behalfe that a man had raised his Fortunes meerely by worthinesse and desert and a woman had shewed such an heroick spirit that she was neuer distempered with the tediousnes of her iourney nor affrighted though she met with Cap Ward at the passage to Nigroponte For whē M. Clarke the master of the Ship she went in they disputed the matter as if it were Ward indeed and seeming to make a stoppe at the same shee tolde him there was no remedie but to fight and hee might be made for euer if he had the good fortune to bring his fame on the ground and deliuer our Confederates from so great a feare Touching the Cittie it selfe it is in a manner a Triangle double walled with beautifall Towers and may resemble a painted Curtezan deceiuing you with sophysticate comelinesse and adulterate shewes but within corrupted and full of confusion and beastialitie yet are many excellent things remarkable in the same namely within the Towne it selfe called of the Turkes Stanbole or comely the Turkes Seraelio or Pallace containing two miles about the seauen Towers a goodly Prison towardes the South-East the Wall it selfe without any Suburbes the Mosquees or Churches to the number of 800. amongst whome the Sophia Almorata and Sultanina are the principall beautifull Fabrickes the Besisteine a place like our Exchange or Rialto at Venice for delicate commodities but for aduantage there are men and women solde like horses in Smithfield The Iewes Sellers are all vnder-ground with iron gates where the whole treasures of the Common-wealth are secured both from Fire and Earth-quakes the Conduits of water at many corners of streets where a kinde of Officer attends to giue to all commers Diuers monuments of Porphyrie Brasse Marble Obeliscos Pyramides and such like shewing some face of Antiquitie and placed where the auncient Greekes were woont to celebrate their Turniaments The Balneas which through corruption of time and manners are meere Brothells and stewes The Bashawes houses Pallaces of state and of great capacitie as containing diuers places of sequestration according to their number of Wiues Concubines which they maintaine A place called Iobs-Toombi celebrated for the buriall of the Emperours children Diuers Seralias for men and women as Hospitalls to keepe them till they come to age Constantines Pallace and the Patriarkes houses as solet edifices and shewing the ruines of time and memorable Antiquities the guard of Ianissaries to the number of 50000 when the Armie is at home and the burying places both of Iewes and Turks remote at least a mile from the Wall and superstitiously Dedicated to the memorie of the dead Without the Citie the admirable hauen called Sacra porta 20. fadome deepe close to the wall of both the Cities Galata a Citie walled ouer against Constantinople onely diuided by sea as broad as our Thames the vines of Pera a great Suburbes to the same where the English French and Venetian Embassadors were resident Towards the North the Arsinall of galleys toward the South the office of artillerie called Tapinau the passage to Pompeyes pillar and the blacke tower 20. mile orderly beautified with Bashawes houses and other edifices proud of comely exornation till you enter the blacke-Sea it selfe which extendeth a great breadth northwardes and a 1000. mile to the East as farre as Trebizond But if you would heare of a worke of wonder and magnificence you must ride into the Countrey some 15. miles off and ouer-looke the Aquae-ductus which are raised in the Valleyes to the toppes of certaine hilles about 500. foote high and so carrie the water leuell from one to another till they fall into a Cesterne from whence it hath a passage through diuers Pipes to many Conduicts in the Citie I dare not enlarge my Letter greater with these triuiall things because I knowe you haue read many discourses more peculiar and pertinent and expect at my hand a farther discouerie when we shall meete at more conuenient leisure Yours amongst Infidells Te his respected worthy Friend Sir L. WOorthy Sir I was almost ashamed to write any thing from these parts as newes or matter worth the inquiring after but that I receiued a letter from you while I was in Scio which seemed to command me and taught me the way of good manners to satisfie your pleasure I would hasten to an end lest some curious eye make a tush at these papers when they examine that I would fill a letter with such poore and common intelligences I then came to Scio of purpose to tarry for maister Bradshaw whom we expected from Scandaron but such was the miserie and trouble of these times and places that the Florentines and Maltessis had sent out diuers ships to intercept the transportation of Turkes in any Christian vessell whatsoeuer and lighting vpon him put him to a dangerous fight in which hee was sorely wounded and had much adoe to come off with vtter destruction so wee lost our passage and spent our money in this Iland where the Greekish women are extraordinarily beautifull rich and handsome and the English Marchant liueth at great expences not daring to trust any of vs without good billes of Exchange or good sufficient assurance of a better estate then most commonly a traueller can enlarge Wee did also heare that Maister Pindar our Consull at Aleppo behaued himselfe very worthie of the best report indeede and had much adoe in those Turkish tumults for to saue his life and keepe the towne and Merchants from spoyling Besides at Scanderon a most intricate businesse about Maister E a Merchant and a Frenchman who had contracted a bargaine for Gawls to the valew of 10000. dollers raised his fame for the well contriuing in sauing all their liues For the Turkes maintaining iustice in the strictest manner and punishing the least corruption that way with death found an occasion to bring these parties to iudiciall triall because it was supposed that the Moore which sold them was deceiued in the weight by a corrupted Turke who was the officer of the customes and broken vpon the wheele vpon the
THE SECRETARIES STVDIE CONTAINING NEW familiar Epistles OR DIRECTIONS for the formall orderly and iudicious inditing of Letters Whether Amorous OR Louing Whether Morall OR Ciuil Whether Oeconomicall OR Houshold busines Whether Politicall OR Wittie Whether Obiurgatory OR Chiding Whether Excusatory OR Excusing Whether Petitionary OR Requesting Whether Gratulatory OR Giuing thankes Whether Nuncupatory OR Relating Newes By Thomas Gainsford Esq. Sic iuuat indulgere fugacibus horis LONDON Printed by T. C. for Roger Iackeson and are to be solde at his shop in Fleetstreet ouer against the Conduit 1616. TO THE RIGHT HOPEFVL YONG GENTLEMAN Maister Iohn Mounson at Charter-house and as likely to aduance his Vertues to Honorable eminency as any expectation can warrant GEnerous Youth without other ceremony or complement I am now to aduēture a iourney and a fearefull one as the first voiage that euer I made into the streights of opinion or seuere Censure so that pollitick and temporising-men would contract a sure bargaine with some rich marchant honorable patron or sufficient Statist to protect and countenance the enterprise But in despight of aduerse Fortune or calumniation I haue made choyce of your loue fauor vertue and good condition of which I take the aduantage in your virgin chastitie and soules puritie and wherein I will as much reioyce as if larger embraces had opened themselues to make me credulous of sincere welcome Bee therefore your selfe expectable Gentl and doe but loue mee for olde loues sake and I shall bee so proud yea presumptuous in your acceptation that neyther windes nor seas shall affright mee vntill I haue made a satisfactory voyage or beeing ouer-freighted with heauy Fortune sincke the whole Stocke or Remaine of mine abilities in this kinde in other like aduentures which if it should so fall out I could but conclude Hic finis Priami Yours assured though there be no assurance amongst men Tho Gainsford Non opus est digitis per quos arcana loquaris Errata pag 5. lin 4. read tracted Pag 10. m. read loose p 13. l 24. read sturd p 17. l. 6. r. euen fol. 19. l. 15. r. sorer f. 26. l 5. r. adornation f. 27. l. 7. r. country life f. 30. l. 7. r. goe p. 31. l. 26. r. fiue p. 34. l. 2 besides for so p. 34. l. 33. r. stake p. 35. l. 16. r. work p. 36. l. 26 leaue out to p. 43. l. 27. r. sedation l. 29. r. inuitations p. 45. l. 13. re a bettering f 46. l. 26. r. grow l. 32. r. Lords fauor p. 47. l 30. r. hold vp p. 50 l. 11 r you might gather l 14 r hauing p 53 l 12. r. for the p 57 in the mar following described l 21 r O God! that p 107 l 30 r obsolete THE TABLE Amourous or louing Letters THe Louer afraid to loose his friend contracted The Louer troubled with suspition of hazarding his desire The Louer iustifieth his loue from inward vertues and outward comelinesse The Louer findeth fault with neglect of titles The louer complaineth of sequestration The louer cannot endure a riuall The Louer cannot soone forget his loue after firme rooting The louer desires secrecie not ouer liberall discoueries The louer doth not tye his affection to outward beautie The louer is afraide to loose his contentment The louer maintaineth that a little iealousie will season affection Morall or Ciuill Letters True Friendship Friendly precepts An other of the propertyes of friendship Friendes would haue no vnkindnes taken for any thing Necessitie causeth importunitie Friendship is broken through denyall of trifles and presuming of anothers weaknes Friendship is lost through vnkindnesse and discontinuance Ingratitude is not befitting a Gentl A man out of good manners must answer Letters Iealousie should not be showne without iust cause The difference between a willing and compulsed absence Friendship is afraid to be forgotten A good Wife compared to a Shippe at Sea A friend desireth a Gentle-woman to vnite the inward vertues to outward comelinesse Oeconomicall Letters or of houshold businesse A Gentleman must take heede how hee settles himselfe in the Countrey as a Farmer If a Gentleman will bee a Farmer it is best to obtaine the principall House or credite of the highest place in the towne Concerning the building ordring a house with retaining of seruāts Whether a Gentle-woman may with her credite let out Lodgings for money The danger of disagreemēt betweene man wife with their duties How Children ought to be brought vp How Seruants are to be instructed Politicall or witty Letters Women in yeares should rather look for rich aduancement then wanton satisfaction A Gentl should not be seruant to any that hath a sufficient estate of his owne and if he be with what pollicy he must contriue it No Oathes must be belieued before marriage He that will enrich himselfe by seruice must follow some thryuing Officer The Lady must be obserued by such as mean to thriue vnder the lord Some Lord or other must bee made an Agent to obtaine a sute of the Prince Suites in Court are not dispatched without great attendance A military pollicie to restraine insolent mutiners What policy soeuer ambition buildeth vpon it is cast downe with death and destruction Men must submitte to their Fortune Obiurgatory or chiding letters Against a sonne for his disordered life Against inconstancie and following a strumpet Against swearing Against couetousnes Against denyall of trifles amongst friends Against idle excuses Against pride and tyrannous behauiour in great persons Against foolishnes and dishonesty in a seruant Against Drunkennes Against the breach of Wedlocke in the man Against Whoredom in the woman Excusatory or defensiue letters Excuse for not lending money Excuse for being importunate in the behalfe of a friend Excuse for keeping company and going to Court Excuse for sheltring with a stranger in a storme Excuse for not dispatching a suite of importance Excuse for tarrying too long from a Wife Excuse for not dispatching of businesse Excuse for not writing attending vnwilling persons to bee spoken with Excuse for not forbearing a friend presuming to disgrace another Excuse for not beeing surety for a friend Excuse for not entertaining a friend as hee ought to be Excuse for not soothing vp of humors Petitionary or Letters of Request A Request to requite discurtesie A request for Money A request to entertaine a daughter A request for assurance of a Farm A request to forbeare a debt A request to forbeare a dangerous Ladyes company A request to be charitable A request to entertaine a Scholler for a Souldier A request for the Knighting of a friend and worthy Gentleman A request to defend a Widow in her right against all wrong and calumniation A request for an office for another A request for aduise in matters of difficultie Gratulatory or Letters of giuing thankes Thankefulnes for a daughters good bringing vp and well-bestowing Thankefulnes for recompencing the giuing of a Booke Thankefulnes for an office Thankefulnes
vnlesse you confidently resolue me what to trust vnto I will not liue to write you another Letter Yours not to liue without you To her best choyce C.D. MY loues Pride Although I am enformed that by your liberall praises of me some quicke apprehension discouered your liking yet cannot I take it so ill as to draw you within the compasse of reprehension because I would not slacke the first vehemency wherein loue hath nobly displayed his colours on all sides Let vs therefore continue resolute and if by some small absence we sometimes slacke the burning of these fires shall it not resemble a Smiths forge who casteth water on his coales to strengthen the heate and make the flame more glorious Yet by way of caution it is not alwaies befitting to speake what wee thinke nor report what wee know lest a captious eare mistake our discourse and a passionate heart set the tong at randome As for our selues there hath bene made a reciprocall trial for my owne part as you expect constancy in me I request secrecy in you and so am resolued to loue you and none but you while I am warme in my hearts blood Yours in the midst of feare To his vertuous and dearely beloued M.A. SWeet Heart What a strange countermād did you send me not to visite you because your late sickenesse had cast a defiance in beauties face as if my liking depended on outward shewes Why good Soule when reason had won the field of passion I loued a vertuous Cassandra not a faire Hellen a noble spirit not an outward feature a constant resolution not a fading comelinesse and yet I am perswaded no disaster whatsoeuer can haue power to controwle thy beauty or bounty onely time excepted which must weare vs out with death and then shall our soules welcome a perpetuitie therefore I pray thee let me come if it be but to shew my selfe a man a louer of vertue and maintainer of all constant and honest resolutions Yours euer resolued To the Mistresse of his thoughts F.D. MY Loue and life I hope it is not come to that passe that you can bee contented to dispute the matter with discretion as though it lay in your choice which way to trauell to the palace of Felicitie as though wisedome had taught you to wipe away the forces of Fancie with a commanding hand as though some diuine inspiration had forewarned you of ensuing mishaps For sure no obiection can now be made which long since receiued not a foile in the encounter therfore I pray you if my fortunes be so bad that I must reuiue your memory goe to that groue where we called the trees to witnesse and sware by the pleasant shade that nothing but the fruite of enioying one another should coole the fiers of loue and there recount the words wee counterchanged the vowes we contracted the teares wee drunke vp from each others faces But I can say no more vnlesse I shall bee inforced to exclaime I am vnworthy to liue because my dearest life supposeth me vnworthy to loue or be beloued which if it bee but in shew as you breake the seales of these Letters you breake the strings of my heart Yours dying in constancie Ciuill Letters To his best beloued and more then much respected Mrs. G.Z. WOrthily beloued These pretty crosses and contradictions make Loue the sweeter and strengthen Fancie the more when the vaile of iealousie is taken away and an honest heart hath taught a strong arme the cunning to turne aside all obstacles of our delight yet beleeue me it was a miserable temptation for you to sweare my falshood and lay the weight of disloyaltie on the brest of an honest man especially to raise your suspition from so vnworthy a person and degenerating a cause when there was no motiue to startle my resolutions nor thoght to disparage your worth Say the course of the Danse brought mee with her to a turning change and that afterward I commended her graces and comelinesse I could doe no lesse out of courtship and good manner but to say that either procceeded from amorous passion is to be ouer passionat vnwarrantable by reason or laws of loue Besides some tongues haue traduced her for a wanton and then is beauty as ill bestowed as valure in a prophane swaggerer so that me thinks you should rather haue challenged any other for deprauing me in this kind then beene challenger your selfe to raise a greater disease But I hope you are now satisfied as no such misprision shall euer endanger the vnitie of our loues againe Yours fearefully louing To the worthiest of all my friends MY other selfe You haue commanded me to write and I durst not but obey nay you haue prescribed the method and therefore I wil not alter the maner but make you beleeue I haue apprehended your wil and would thus satisfie your desire True friendship is an vndissimuled consent of our affection towards one another and a very transportation of two hearts into one body so that two friends in a manner loue with one minde speake with one tongue execute with one hand liue with one life and sometimes die with one death Amongst friends must be no contradiction no disproportion of conditions no dissimilitude in manners nor talke of mine and thine Doth hee sorrow thou must mourne doth hee reioyce thou must not repine doth hee complaine thou must not accuse doth hee demaund thou must not denie doth hee want thou must not murmure doth hee contriue thou must practise doth hee desire thou must not reproue For though priuate thoughts are proper to our selues yet the fortunes goods persons and estate of friends are to remaine in a pleasant communitie vpon this some Philosophers haue maintained that one man can haue but one friend framing thus an argument A contrariis If there be danger in many enemies by reason of the many and vncertaine courses to reuenge there is trouble in many friends by occasion of diuisions in consent According to the opinion of Aeschines there was no such griefe as to be diuided from him we did loue For looke what properties loue euer contained were in friendshippe maintained and because loue could not receiue her estimation frō vntoward liberty to change friendship hath bene denied her desires to alter Tully the light of eloquēce had friendship in such account that he preferd it before kindred because in the dissolution of loue the name of a kinsman remained but in the priuation of friendship all titles and goodnes ended If then with these properties you can bear with my imperfections I with these conditions will tolerate your defects and so shall this name of friendship passe and repasse reciprocally between vs. Yours vnseparable To his highly esteemed WOrthy Sir Whereas you complaine of my slownesse in visiting you and slacknes in writing concerning your selfe I am determined to remaine with the same faith and order I euer accustomed touching those
latter motiues I will come as neare your satisfaction as I can in this slender discouery Vnderstand me then that my poore experience would open the mystery of this knowledge vnto you that fortune which we so often prophanely remember is no way to bee ouercome but with Vertue that Vertue is neuer so well to be entertained as in youth that youth is but some speciall flower in a curious garden kept by extraordinary diligence till an vntimely blast perish the stalke and impouerish the beauty that beautie is like a white wall curiously trimmed which if an enuious hand do besprinkle with a few vncleane droppes a present alteration daunteth the company that company is like a strange net catching all fish vnlesse they slip into some vnknowne nookes or auoide the danger by other cunning that cunning is like holding the Woolfe by the eare which if you wrest hard you are bitten if you let go you are in perill of life that life is like a strong timbred tree which at the maisters appointment is cut downe in a small time that time is resembled to sweete smelling flowers which must be staid to please the sense and stilled to heale the body or else they will bee faire to the eye and as vnprofitable as ill disposed friends that friends are like childrens sports who for a new Counter refuse an old Angell and to go to a strange nurse forsake the nearest kindred and that kindred are like Tantalus apples which keepe their shew till they be touched but once pressed crumble to powder These be principles to my griefe experienced and may without offence be to others good embraced not that I go about to draw you into suspition but because I would preserue your remembrance toward me whereby I must needs be satisfied if you be not displeased Yours as I haue professed To his esteemed friend C.N. SIR Had not our friendshippe receiued reciprocal strength from true vertue and worthy conuersation I could slightly haue passed ouer your last deniall of trifles and quietly gathered the raines of discretion to restraine the forwardnesse of impudency or combersomnesse but when I remembred our combination and with what conditions we contracted a league especially the nature and propertie of friendship me thought there was a pleasure to name you so and a comfort to finde you so therefore from hencefoorth let vs vnderstand one another better either firmely to maintaine the cause of kindnes or lightly to leaue it vnder the colours of courtesie For the best Philosophers haue chained loue and friendshippe with equall goodnesse so that as loue can endure no competition friendship must abide no community as loue can haue but one fauorite friendshippe should admit but of one companion as loue pardoneth friendship forbeareth as loue commandeth all friendship is denyed nothing as loue entreth when he list friendship doth so vncontrowled as loue triumpheth ouer the heart and affection friendship raigneth ouer body goods no excuses no drawings backe no contracted brow no delaies no hiding the head no daintinesse or absurd ceremonies but a happy Sympathy to strengthen goodwill and an absolute power to command and readines to obey one other If then with these conditions you can bee contented to march arme in arme to the house of contentment I am yours as you mine and both to shew the world an example of happy imitation Yours indissoluble To his assured friend F. L. SIR To craue pardon were to submit and more then you looke for obstinately to offend were iniurious to you and not befitting a Gentleman To auoyd therefore the one and to eschew the other For not writing imagin want of skill for not comming suppose my businesse to hinder me for not sending thinke I could not conueniently thus you see I am willing to be excused where I am loth to be accused considering I loue you better then other men I would not distast you if it were possible especially because I haue tyed my selfe to true obseruation as you haue professed a happy contract of kindnesse In hope or rather assurance hereof I pray you present my seruice to that louely party whom I compared at our last meeting to a rich Diamond orderly inameled and extraordinarily set out to the best grace and all to shew the cunning of the workeman so that if my fortune could but conduce me to the way of entertainment it would sure exceed the worlds happines and I durst search the whole earth for AEsculapius bones to restore her eyes but if you play the truant with me to shew her this letter giue mee leaue to be my owne interpeter and let not your excellent wits triumph ouer my simplicitie Euer your owne To her tried and trusty friend WOrthy Sir Hauing relyed on your noble promises and knowing my selfe on a sure and honest ground concerning the secrets of my discontents I rested some way satisfied in the expectation of the performance and thought my selfe happy in this vnhappinesse that I had falne into the hands of so noble a Gentleman so that if there were no more in it then loue and assurance of your selfe I would haue bene silent till your owne leasure had serued you rightly to consider mee But necessities knocking so hard and so fast and conspiring with the suddennesse of time against my patience and quiet I am enforced to ouerpasse all limits and step to an earnest importunitie to request both your confidence of my honestie in this businesse and suppliment to keepe mee out of the hand of misery and despaire This humanity challenges at your hand this occasion compelleth mee to request so that if I find you no lesse then I hope nor no worse then I deserue we shall both be pleased and I haue cause to proclaime your worth euen to my best friends and thus I haue cast my selfe downe into the scale of equall consideration take vp then an vpright hand and peize me accordingly but withall I pray you let no indirect strength turne the beame aside For I haue euer loued you truly and therefore rely on your friendship at this time absolutely Not liuing without you To his assured Friend G.M. SIR I would not willingly haue our friendship receiue any maime lest my wounds grow festred for want of a skilfull Chirurgion considering I haue loued you aboue all men and found you many waies true and free-hearted yet I am afraide we doe both faile in iudgement and true vse of cōuersation For you see that that hand which hath or should couer my nakednes hath not only left me bare and subiect to cold but euer turned the worst side to the view and derision of passengers insomuch that your last deniall of trifles and glorious liberty of deceiueable speeches to please your selfe hath made me contemptible to seruile creatures and debarred my desires when I determined but a small satisfaction which with a little suppliment had had a free passage But now I see my selfe
himselfe it maketh vs vnapt to the entertainment of such vertues as commonly helpe vs out of the filthy puddles of disreputation keepe vs secure from calumniation and bewitching corruption of profite therefore for honours sake for vertues sake for friendships sake for my sake for your owne sake for posterities sake remember where about you goe and how a good and free demeanour will preuaile when these hard enclosed hands seeme rather to threathen stroakes then promise hopefull entertainment Yours if you can be mine To her vnkinde Friend R.S. SIR I perceiue by my selfe that poore and vnfortunate persons may well be resembled to threatning tempests from whose violence euery man seeketh a present shelter else would one neuer haue bene so discourtuous as to haue denied me a small request or continued your despight in ababandoning my companie for feare of combersomenesse or importuning you to more then your owne free-will should condiscend vnto Is this the law of friendship Or what doe you imagine can bee the ende of such vnkindnesse Who taught you such rules Or can humanitie thinke well of such peruersnes Well I am a woman and therfore will be so farre from immodesty that I will impute it to my ill deseruing not your bad disposition but if I were a man howeuer I disclaime quarrels I would make this a matter of complaint wherein if your wit did not winde you out by the scrue of sufficiēt excuse it should surely turne to displeasure and cause other maligne circumstances to threaten you further Therefore from henceforth I will bee so farre from louing you that I will hate my selfe for deceiuing my kinde hart in affecting so vnkinde a friend And thus I bid you fare-well yea to fare as well as I did in the want of that I write for and the discomfort I endured to think how ill I had bestowed my first liking Yours if you will haue it so To his ill respected friend SVspitious sir what cause haue I giuen you to deny your selfe or how could I deserue so ill at your hands as to driue you frō your own house whē you were lockt in your study belike you thoght I came to borrow mony or beg a dinner in neither of which a friend such a friend as I presumed you to be by reasō of your own protestatiōs ought to be denied which makes me remember a tale in the Italian courtier of a gētl who cōming to aske for his friēd was only answered by a seruāt he was not within whervpō for his better intelligence he departed satisfied in shewe till some occasion directed the other to demand for him whereupon he answered aloud in his owne behalfe hee was gone from home Not so sayd the other for I heare your voyce and know it too well to be mistaken But sayd he againe you are a strange man I beleeued your maide when she told me you were not within And are you so incredulous that you will not beleeue my selfe But as I remember there hath bene no such passages betweene vs therefore I wonder at this sodaine dispatch and cannot be perswaded but you wish a dissolution of our combined loues For my owne part I will not come to the house of my friend to receiue any affront of deniall and he that wil take occasion of sequestration to make such a man of my condition stand without doores is not worthy to reioyce in true neighbourhood though there had bene a wanton in your armes or any Bagge a telling Yours if you be worthy To the worthy Lady R.C. GOod Lady If your honour and vertue resemble not the primum mobile of the Spheres to carry about the lesser circles of our duty and obseruation I see no reason why a generous and free borne Gentleman should betray the cause of GOODNES into the hands of GREATNES with degenerating conditions For to what end hath a voyce from heauen proclaimed the Godhead of Princes and higher aduanced persons but to resemble thē in perfection and highly exalted vertues as for shews and outward ceremonies they bee meere'y tumors of vanity pride ambitious desires and the best of your liues may be cōpared to a gaudy maske at Christmas which if it cary more state last a litle longer in the kings court then another place yet must it haue a melancholy farewel is forgotten like water spilt out of a Bucket whereas affabillity pious inclination liberall compensation regard of the afflicted raising the weake mercy compassion and such like be indeed faire resplendant starres worth praise and obseruation from whose influence can proceed nothing but auspitious presages and are sure to make you famous to posterity euen from the mouthes of widowes and orphanes when your painted sepulchers shall lye troden to dust and your proudest edifices be turned to other vses Be not therefore good Lady so transported with passion or open eard to euery flattering insinuating groome that I shall neuer be heard in my iustifications though worthy to cliame my owne nor enioy such priuiledges and immunities as my auncestors haue filed on record to their owne credit and posterities immitation For beleeue it there is no such corasiue to a gentle minde as to be deceiued in the expectation of anothers worth and where he hoped of support and countenance to be menaced with threatnings and contracted browes which if you saw how ill they became your louelines and beauty you would quickly admit of a sweeter cheerfulnes and make me happie with a plausible alteration Yours as a louer of honor To his seruant F. M. ALthough I haue plentifull matter of reprehending you affoorded me yet will I onely at this instant redeeme your foolishnes and dishonesty foolishnes in winding your selfe further into such intricate busines then either your cunning or strength can help you out of dishonesty in conuerting the mony appointed to generall imployment to your owne aduantage whereby the Tenants are disabled my selfe discredited and you stand vnder the burthen of my as iust and peraduenture heauy displeasure Therefore I charge you take some other course and that sodainly to preuent a further account and aggrauatiō thereof or you shall finde that as I can be a kinde Master so I know how to punish a lesse grosse crime and make you an obedient seruant To his miserable and most wretched sonne R.B. THou cupshot stain to my name torture to my thoughts All the while I looked on the filthy menstrous cloth of thy vices I remēbred the story of the old man of Lions who enquiting after his sons misdemeanours with a fond partialitie began to cloud them with one excuse or another as that gouernement and discretion would moderate his riot time would coole his blood and danger of the law terrifie him from swaggering marriage and the attractiue condition of a good wife would diuert him from lasciuiousnesse with such like till vnderstanding hee was a drunkard he wrong his hands washt
attended and thus they passed all in order 2. English mile in length vnder the Rialto-bridge attended with infinite Gondaloes and Boates who rowed for wagers and striued for the mastrie of the best and speediest passage Yours in all places and times To his honourable Friend S. I. WOrthy Syr I perceiue by you that wise men will smile sometimes and the best grauitie can giue care to triuialll discourses yea and I am afraid t' is mans naturall imperfection to hunt after Nouelties and the minde is much delighted with varietie elfe could you neuer haue giuen way vnto such triuiall letters as I sent you and with a kinde of cheerfulnes welcommed them discoursing onely of the passages of Sauoy the height of the Alpes the snowe in Iulie the falling of the water with such impetuosity dangerous rupture the pines on the mountaines the plowing on the hilles the strength of the Fortes and Ramparts especially Agabella Mount-Melian Moriana and Saint Katherines and the brauery of the Spanish Garrisons in those parts Because therefore I perceyue you of such faire demeanour and willingnesse to support your Friend in his weaknesse I will goe forward in my passage of thankfulnes and make you beleeue I write to you still more for to expresse my loue then come neere your satisfaction Beleeue it then how-euer I haue seene the admirable Castles of the Hellespont which be the keyes to open and shut in the glorie and strength of the Turkish Empire the naturall scituation of Corfu the Forte of Xante the Cittadell of Naples the many Fortifications of Italie and other strengths of Sicilia Rhodes Cyprus and such like yet may none of these compare with the Castle of Millaine for Garisons glorie greatnesse Munition Bulwarkes Counter-scarphs Casamattes and all things pertaining to the managing of Martiall ostentation and Military necessitie So that this one place is the Anchor-holde of the Spanyards vsurpation in Italie and the affrighting countenance which keepeth many worthy Princes and Prouinces in awe from attempting an inuasion in the Gouernment howeuer their hearts are affected if any mischiefe should burst out against him and this is most apparant in Sauoy it selfe For the Spanyard vnderstanding of a contract betwene Piedmont Mantuá with an other combination of Modena sent diuers ageÌ„ts to Turine yea employed many Knights of Malta and the better sort of Genoa to worke a means that the Sauoyen Princes might be sent into Spaine vnder the tuition of the Grandes and Cleargie To which when the Secretary seemed to encline he was imprisoned for his Spanish affection and till the Cardinals Aldabrandino and Caesario with the Popes Nuntio had streightened these crooked measures and confirmed the Italian mariages vnreleased But the truth is that concerning the displeasure which these great personages beare one another it ariseth both from couetousnesse and ambition For the Sauoyen hauing marryed a Daughter of Spayne and seeing long since the Enfanta quietly setled in the pride of the seuenteene Prouinces much repined that eyther Naples or Millaine especially Millaine for the proximitie was not proportioned vnto him And so as farre as hee durst or could both repined against the same and hath laboured with his Holynesse to be led and inuested in a greater field of dominion and soueraigntie But for all this I am resolued no one thing troubles him more then the escape of Geneua from his proude attempts and reaches So that if eyther pollicie or strength could preuaile with time and successe to make him maister of the same hee would quietly cast himself into the armes of contentment and seeme proud in the glory of such an atchieuement Your euerlasting Friend To his especiall Friend Capt Abr Yo. NOble and worthy Friend you and I may well vent out the breath of common prouerbs that men may meet but not Mountaines For as I remember we embraced in France raunged ouer Ireland yea stamped in the durt at Kinsale encountred in Germany saluted one another in Italie played the wantons at Venice and diuided our selues againe as if the armes of the north south should open a larger embracing For you prepared for Sweden and Ruscia and I for Zidon the bottom of the streights where I receyued a letter from you so compendious and well compacted that I protest I made vse concerning the occurrences of those times and places and receyued delight from your inuention and phrase not desisting till I read and read it againe and againe but when I came to your demaund of another of mine for particulars concerning the passage to Ierusalem I started backe as if I had seen an adder in a path and was afraid as if some mischiefe indeed were threatned or intended Not that there was any difficultie in writing to my Friend a Souldier and apprehensiue man who could both pardon out of loue and bearewith imperfections out of fauour but because the papist will repine at my truth the traueller complaine of my simpicitie and the curious desirer of Nouelties make a tush at my information For good Syr howeuer the Templars out of their pollicie and imposturing cunning erected a kinde of structure to make Ierusalem looke with some face of nouelty and framed a Vault in which they deceiued the world with the Tombe of our Sauiour So that the adulterate daughter of religion superstition filled their Monastery and pallaces with infinite wealth and Ornaments wherewith they made libertie and licentiousnes wanton with custome filthy abuses and for which they were condemned by a general councell and the Papall decree and howeuer some corrupted Pope hath since giuen way to diuers Pilgrimages and permitted certain friers to reuiue former memories and gather together the scattred stones of the first Monastery whereby there is a way open to simple credulity to belieue some thing pay much for the same yet without controuersie since the last deuastation and that the Turke hath piece-meale rent asunder the goodly edifices of those places as wee were woont to exclaime Nunc seges vbi Troiafuit now corne growes where Troy stood we may well crie out now are there heapes of dust some barren vines where Ierusalem florished and according to his prophecie that cannot erre there is not one stone left vpon another only the crafty Turks the couetous Bashaw of Aleppo the gouernor of those parts are contented to beare with things euen contrary to the lawes of their Alcheron impugning altogether the Godhead and incarnation of Christ as the Iews against his pouerty and humiliation for great sums of mony annuall entrado suffer stil diuers friers religious persons to entertain pilgrims trauellers ignorant deuotists superstitious papists and simple credulists with impudeÌ„t lying deceitfull relicks For otherwise if riuers might be turned there is neither show of Citie temple edifice nor the brooke â—â—dron it self no an vnderstaÌ„ding man dare not say by any seeming probability that it is the same ground where IerusaleÌ„ was
builded the glory of the Iewes established nor is there one Iewe remaining nor honest man to maintain a veritie yet is Zidon a harbour town some 28. English mile frō the same after the traueller or Marchāt hath performed his deuotion for great hyre certaine guides Ianissaries will conuoy him to Gran Cayro Arabia Persia Damasco or whither you please so that sometimes you shall haue 400. camells loden with prouision merchandize men to take a iourney into Persia and Ormus in the mouth of those Seas against the fishing for Pearle sometime the Christian for nouelties sake will apparel himselfe like a Turk with a Turban to view the city of Mecha in Arabia where Maehomet was entombed Sometimes the passage is made easie into Aegipt and wee come this way to Nylus from whence by Boate wee visite Cayro Alexandria and Athyopia it selfe Sometimes we take another course goe by sea to Scanderon and Aleppo and so trauell by Damasco to Babylon and Armenia and somtimes haue the fortune to go to Tauris and those places neere the Caspian-Sea but this is very seldome and neuer but when 4. or 500. Merchants make themselues strong both in arms and prouision For otherwise the Thieues of those places especially Arabia would make a prey and spoyle of all passengers This is all I can say this is all I dare write for feare of interruption but if euer the sunne will make our shadowes meete in England I will iustifie further particulars and make you wonder that so many wise and vnderstanding men as haue bene in these partes will bee transported against the veritie of Scripure and the infallible congruitie of iudgement and reason My owne in your memorie To his worthy Friend M. T. GOod Syr I neuer had such cause to remember the Phylosophers Banquet as when I lay in Nicosia in Cyprus For as I take it Epictetes hauing inuited certain Stoyck phylosophers to dinner for a latter bāquetting-dish brought out the globe of the world after they had called a councell Epictetes ouercouerd it with a fooles-cappe whereat Heraclites wept bitterly and Democrites laught heartily The first bewalling the miserie the latter deriding the vanitie of the same but if they had liued in Cyprus and seene such confusion of gouernment all yet ouershadowed with the Canopy of order and obedience to the State it would questionlesse haue put them cleane out of patience and turned their myrth into sorrow and their sorrowes into raging and phrenzie For the Bashaw expecting nothing but Tribute and legall iurisdiction is carelesse how other Nations eyther liue with vpright conscience or thriue with lawfull profite So that the better sort practise what they list because no man dare controwle and inferiours follow all libertie and licentiousnes because the others make way with ill example The church-men confirme religion but for pollicie and are onely proud they can terrifie the simple with feare of damnation and dazell the eyes of the ignorant with the gawdy colours of superstition The Iewe is grown so cruell in his vsurie extortion that wheras before it was much to forfeit goods and lands now hee exacts vppon their very flesh and blood glorying at nothing more then to see penurie and wants eate vp a Christian and coldnesse of charitie trouble his very soule The Lawyer insults with the peace of the time and to wring the gold out of mens purses wrests the Law to theyr owne Fancies so that they iustifie their actions onely with legall authority The Cittizen is bountifull in faire words and so hee may make his merchandize vendable hath learnd the tricke of aequiuocating and deceyuing his best customers The crafts-man studieth for nothing but to be craftie in his cunning The Courtezan resembles the horsleach who neuer falls off till he be full and when hee hath suckt the blood from the veynes leaues a man to looke pittifully on his sores and deformity The Souldier sweates with rage at that hee cannot remedie and curseth peace because it warres with his profit nor will apprehend any goodnes but in the ill of licentiousnes The Noble-women study for nothing but to seeme not to bee honest yet haue they a clawse to affright inferiors for calling their actions in question so giuing the more scope to their greatnes to runne the more at random in pleasure The Turkish wiues vnderstanding these particulars repine at their Prophet so murmur at their sequestration that to haue some vse of the world they visite the Balneas come to buy iewells make maskes in English atttyre vse perfumes and rather then they will not please themselues allure their very slaues to carnall pleasure To conclude if euer the Diuell compassed the earth and considered men to make them subiects of hell Cyprus is now a patterne and the Turks there despise their Alcaron the Iewe smileth at their Religion the Christian derideth the scripture and all men and people make a mocke of purity and sanctifying graces or the true-way to saluation So that I am weary of this prophane countrey and desire nothing more then the blessednesse of our owne England where the very soyle is the reuiuer of our spirits and good gouernment the load-starre to eternall felicitie Yours in the midst of temptation A Dumpe or Passion I Cannot sing For neither haue I voyce Nor is my minde nor matter Musicall My barrē pen hath neither form nor choyce Nor is my tale or tales-man comicall Fashions and I were neuer friends at all I write and credit that I see and knowe And mean plain troth would euery one did so I cannot faine mee vnto subtile faction No prompt affection to an idle ghost Nor doe I fauour any in detraction Nor do I praise them that themselues dos boast Small fire sufficeth vnto little roast A poor mans tale's soon told as soon reproou'd Neuer assisted though neuer so much soothd For credite is not of a common stampe The fairest gamesters are not alwayes winners The strōgest ioynts are troubled with the cramp And many good men are reputed sinners Yet shallow foords seem best for yong beginners The water's surest where we feele the ground But all are not as safe as they be sound Conceyt's a current forcible and deepe Simplicitie a shiftlesse shippe of feares A man may dream amisse sinne asleepe And foxes may accuse the asses eares Patience and plainnesse euer burdens beares And best they may For custom doth invre it And he is fit to beare that will endure it Not euery stomacke brooketh euery meate A dainty mouth can ill affect plaine fare All appetites at all times cannot eate Nor compleat merchant that hath euery ware Nor thriues hee euer that doth euer care Wishers and woulders practise conspire all haue their hopes not euery hope their hire For some are blessed other some corrected Some for their worke and some for their intent Nor are all whō our GOD hath made elected Nor can all that offend as well
of a story Although decaied with time when head is hory Yet is it made adulterate hy arte When a false hand hath playde a cunning part Opinion is a Monster amongst vs all Yet doth not terrifie with outward shape Onely our selues doe as we rise and fall After the censures of the people gape And therevpon by force of vicious rape Bereaue sweete uertue of her chastitie With anxious hearts swelling in vanitie Life and the best life but a topping tree Set in the midst of a confused grange Which whē the Lord thinks good he doth agree to fell or roote it vp for some newe change Or trie some stranger form by such exchange Yea peraduenture burned in the fire subiects must yeld to what their kings require Apparell monstrous by our monstrous wills Disguising our defests seeking to hyde Natures deformitie when purse fulfills An humorous wantonnesse on euery side Yet frō substantiall truth most largely wide For when that we must naked goe to graue What will become of that wee seeme to haue Vertues and vices neither good nor bad But as the owners states giue them their test For who in estimation can be had For greatest vertues if they doe not rest In wealth or good opinion of the best And vicious who but he that cannot hide And keepe his faults from being soone espide Buildings of sumptuous cost the prey of Fire are somtimes curst with sobbing poor mes cries When to erect what greatnesse doth desire A hundred cottages in rubbish lyes And many an Orphan vnrelieued dyes But where the morter of an house is mixt With blamelesse bloud it cannot long be fixt Pearls pretious stones the glasse of plēties pride Riches and Friends vnstaid in mood minde Kinred but Natures chaffe Whē they are tride For they will flye away with Stormy winde In whom nor loue nor truth at all we finde These shapefull monsters daily alter so as wee can hardly credite what we know The fraudfull Fox deals friēdly with her whelps There is no beast that to her owne is cruell All things were by creation made for helpes And kinde to kinde is still a friendly iewell The Fire doth giue him fire that giueth Fuell Euen there where contraries enforce despight Nature in nature teacheth 〈…〉 Then if thou wilt be man and not be kinde Disdaine thy needlesse int'rest in creation Be to instruction deafe to nature blinde With neioher man nor beast haue conuersation Abandon hope of grace abiure saluation Be both aliue and dead harmfull and hatefull Be any thing if thou wilt be ingratefull And lay aside absurde Affinitie Vnlesse to hell thou wilt allye thy selfe And so the Diuell graunt immunitie As is thy trust in him and in thy wealth Abortiue potion of foule poysoned pelfe Sorrrow of soule and surfet of vile sinne Man had bene happy if thou hadst not hin An honest minde informer time did show More pietie then now the best of kinne That was because the time was honest to Much better then this age that wee are in Such are the putrefactions of sinne Our almes our neighbor-hood our humanity Turnd diuell discord and immanitie Neighbour indeed is now by stranger nam'de Cousen by cousnage kindenesse is vnknowne And friends of friendship are so much ashamde As custome hath concluded there is none None that doth good the Psalmist saith not one It is the Prophet it is GOD doth say it And man were much to blame to disobey it As hee 's as much to blame that doth belieue Any that liues in ioy vnusde to moorne Doth loue can loue commiserate or grieue Father or brother haplesse and forlorne For pitty onely is to plenty sworne And hee 's a bastard vnto worldly blood That doth a poore man eyther grace or good Yet GOD forbid that GOD should causer be That wee for lacke of knowing him do erre He gratious suffers whilest that gracelesse wee His tollerance into negligence trans-ferre Whereby it makes the Atheist to auerre The soule of man immortall in the least 〈…〉 as it doth in beast Men cannot doe what cannot be vndone Nor suffer more then flesh and blood can beare Who playes with fortune sildom times hath won T' is labour lost to worke aganst the haire Then not preuaile it s better to forbeane A thing vndone is easily preuented Doe to vndoe is neuer vnrepented Glorious designes are ammelled in blood The way to greatnes is vneuen and hard He neuer was that for preferment stood That was not often with mischaunces barrd The body of attempts haue crosses scarrd Who liu'de and sought for honest labours hyre And was not forst to worke it out of Fire Courts and occurrences of Kings Pallaces Where some soone rise to fall againe as fast Show the conditions of the fallaees Whose fruits doe scantly blow before they blast Planted with care and with repentance past So that cōpare the gains with losse surmoūting And saue a labour and auoyd accounting T' is pittie Warre were not at warre with this But let the worthlesse Souldier be aduanced The better times made better seruices Where best endeuors best rewards enhanced But now the best of Beggars is best chaunced A heauy Fortune that such hazard yeelds Either to starue at home or die in Fields But heare my counsell in a Grand-sires phrase All doe amisse let all amisse amend Self sauing workes are best deseruing praise And praise on workes in prudence done attend All actions are approoued as they end Who made the feast will fast to mind the pay whē vnthrifts care not who the charge defray Then sith the ende is good of these my Rimes Theyr plainnesse showes no vainnesse but the Times FINIS The louer is affraide to lose his beloued The Louer distracted with feare of hazzarding his desire Loue occasioned through a vnity of inward vertues and outward comelinesse The Louer findeth fault with neglect of titles Loue complaineth of sequestration Loue cannot indure a riuall or competitor Loue will hardly bee supprest after it hath taken firme rooting Loue desires secrecie not ouer liberall discoueries True loue is not tyed to outward beautie Loue is affraid to looke his contentment A little iealousie seasoneth true loue A letter describing true friendship A letter of friendly precepts The properties of true friendship The properties of true friendship Necessitie causeth importunitie Deniall of trifles and presumption of anothers weakenesse maketh a breach in friendship Discontinuance and vnkindnes loseth friends in the end Ingratitude is not befitting a gentleman A man out of good manners must answer letters howeuer they proue vnsauory in the acceptation Iealousie should not be shewne without cause The differēce betweene a willing and compulsed absence Friendship is afraide to bee forgotten and so pleadeth in her owne behalfe A good wife cōmended compared to a ship at sea A friend desireth a Gentlewoman to vnite the inward vertues of the mind to outwardlouelinesse A gentleman must take heede how he settles himself in the counitry as a farmer If a Gentleman will be a Farmer it is the best to obtain the principall house or the credite of the highest place in the towne Concerning the building and ordring a house with retaining of seruants Whether a gentlewoman may with her credit let out lodgings for money The danger of disagreement between man and wife with their dueties How children ought to be brought vp how seruants ought to be instructed Women in yeares should rather looke for rich aduancement then wanton satisfaction A Gentlemā should not bee seruant to any man that hath a sufficient estate of his owne but if he be with what policy he must contract it No oathes to be beleeued before marriage He that will enrich himselfe by seruice must follow some thriuing officer The Lady of the house must be obserued of such as meane to thriue under the Lord. Some Lord or other must be made an Agent to obtaine a suite of the king Suites in court are neuer dispatched without great attendance A military policy to restraine insolent mutinies Wat policy soeuer ambition build vpon it is at last cast downe with death and destruction Men must submit to their fortune A sonne reprehended for his disordered life Loue findeth fault with inconstancy and follow a strumphet who is desired Against 〈…〉 Against coueteousnesse Against deniall of trifles amōgst friēds and feare of combersomnesse Against idle excuses Against pride and tyrānous behauiour in great persons Foolishnes and dishonesty in a seruant condemned Against drunkenesse Against the breach of wedlocke in a man Against whordom in the woman Excuse for not lending money Excuse for being importunate in the behalfe of a friend Excuse for keeping company and going to court Excuse for taking shelter in a shower of raine with a strange gentleman Excuse for not dispatching a suite of importāce according to expectation promise Excuse for tarrying too long from a wife Excuse for not dispatching of busines Excuse for not writing attending unwilling persons to bee spoken with Excuse for not forbearing a friend presuming to disgrace another Excuse for not beeing Surety for a Friend Excuse for not entertaining a friend as hee ought to bee Excuse for not soothing vp of humors A request to requite a discurtesie A friendly request for money A request for the entertaining of a daughter A request for assurance of a farme A request to forbeare a debt A request to forbeare a dangerous Ladies cōpany A request to be charitable A request to admit a scholer for a soldier For the knighting a friendly worthy Gent For to defend a widow gentlewoman in her right against all wrong calumniation A friend entreateth for an office for another For aduice in matters of difficulty A thankefulnes for a daughters good bringing vp good bestowing A thankfulnes for recompencing the giuing of a Booke A thankefulnes for an office A thankefulnes for defending one against a great aduersary A thankefulnes for not beleeuing a fals report A thankefulnesse for lending of mony A thankefulnes for a timely good turne Newes from Xante and Candy Newes from Constantinople Newes from Scio. Newes from Meteline Newes from Malta Newes from Venice Newes from Turine Newes from Ziion and Ierusalem Newes from Cyprus