desire to be excus'd 23 To acquaint one wiih a journey 24 To thanke one for a curtesie 25 To excuse a friend in his absence 26 The wooers complement 27 The Mayes answer 28 The Wooers answer 29 To invite one home 30 To excuse with thankes 31 To deliver a letter to a Lady 32 The Ladies answer to her Waiting-Mayd 33 The Waiting-Mayds answer 34 The Serving-mans wooing of Susan a Chamber-mayd 35 Susans answer 36 To desire the Mayd to speak to the Mistres 37 To entreat lodging at a Gentlemans house 38 The Gentlemans answer 39 A bold Complement to a Widdow 40 The Widdowes answer 41 To wooe a Country-Mayd 42 The Country-Mayds answer A BOOKE OF COMPLEMENTS As there are divers occasions of speech so to have variety of words and phrases to expresse ones selfe must needs be an ornament to the speaker and delightfull to the hearer I have therefore in this little Booke set down some formes of speaking and answering as followeth 1. To wooe a Mayd FAire Mayd the opportunity of time and place none being by to over-heare us doth invite mée to discover my affection For since nothing can be determined in loves affaires without consent of both parties I meane now so acquaint you with my desire Which is that since my heart hath made choice of you in the way of marriage you would bée pleased to receive my love with like affection I know I might have delivered my mind in more choice and eloquent words but beléeve me that love is truest which speakes plainest Now the reasons that induce mée to séeke your lovs are the vertuous qualities which adorne your mind whose amiable and lovely beauty makes my heart burne with a chast affection Thinke not therefore that any foule desires move me to become a Suitor to yâ—u nor am I hasty for marriage for if you please to grant mée your love I will stay your leasure to appoint the day to consummate our happinesse I am a young pleader at the Barre of affection and therefore hope you will not discourage me in my first suit but rather since my cause is full of love will at last give me a happy answere Fearfull distrust I know doth plead against me and tels you how Maides have béene deceived by flattering men who have onely made a Complement of love to obtaine their own desires But alas faire Maide condemne not all because some have béene false hearted for I dare promise for my selfe that the streame of my affection slowing from your vertues shall ever kéepe a constant course For the seale of your love is so déepely imprinted in my heart that no time can weare it out and therefore be assured that till you cease to be vertuous which I know is impossible I can never cease to love you And thus swéet Mayd I have unclasped the volumne of my secret thoughts wherein you may read by faire intents which are onely to obtaine your love and ioyne your heart néerer to mine by the inviolable Bond of marriage Let me desire you therefore to unfold your lips and give a favouring answer to my languishing hopes 2. The Maids answer SIr your language is so full of chast affection and delivered with so much mooving passion that had my fancy hitherto entertained a thought of love you had certainly prevailed over the weakenesse of a Mayds resistance But alas your love is a stranger to my heart and therfore blame me not if I dare not receive it as a plaine guest till I have consulted with my owne thoughts Sudden consent is alwaies held dangerous and is still followed by repentance And therefore give me leave to consider your late motion I wil study your satisfectioÌ„ in my answer which if it proove not to your content yet it shall expresse my thankfulnesse for that love you beare me In the meane time I must dismisse my selfe from your company for I feare my mother hath tooke notice of our conference and so for my abrupt departure if it be any breach of manners I must relye on your parton 3. To urge a suite the secondtime THe next day repairing to the former place I spyed these two Lovers lying on a bank of Flowers so that using the friendship of some bushes to hide me I lay downe and so uâ—seene over-heard the former Sutor renewing his sute in these words Faire Mayd now is the time that your promise hath ingag'd you to give an answer to my doubtfull feares and now I am to receive my sentence from you which I hope shall be full of comfort since the greatest offence wherewith you can charge my heart is onely this that I love you and therefore I came to this place full of hope to be made happy by your answer so let mée returne full of ioy by your frée consenting to my former motion But what néede I doubt or afflict my selfe with vaine feares since I doe reads some comfort in your chéerefull countinance which caynot like a cruell Iudge smile and condemne at once Mâ— heart doth presage that during my absence Cupid hath wrought in your heart a good opinion of mée which if you are unwilling to let your tongue confesse lest a bush should spread it self upon your chéeke I am content to take youâ— silence for my answer so you will suffer me acâ—cording to the rules of love to interpret that silence for consent But say I sée your lips are ready to prepare my doome and therefore with patience I will expect my sentence either of life or death since it is in your power to raise mee up or cast me downe 4. The Mayds answer SIr I perceive the love that you professe unto me can receive no alteration by time for I was in good hope that your two dayes absence would have inform'd your iudgement to place your love on some more worthy choyce But now since you are bent still to prosecute your former suite and will not beléeve me when I â—ell you how much I want of those vâ—â—tues which you attribute to me I hope you will not â—lame mée if I consent to your former motion for I beléeve you love me in the way of marâ—â—ge and in that assuranâ— I grant you my love â—â—aine 5. The Lovers reply IT is a grant that makes me happy and now let me seale my patent with this kisse for you have given me your love and with it a little world of happinesse So that there remaines nothing but that we appoint our wedding day which I will not hasten through any forward desire of mine owne For since I have obtain'd your promise for marriage I doe beléeve that our hearts are already married in heaven before a Congregation of Angels which the Church shal but only publish and make known to the world And so bidding adieu to vaine Complements which onely became mée as a Sutor I hope I may now say you are mine as I am yours 6. Master Brainlesse his wooing of Mistrisse Barbara
friend will refuse it for I would have the health in a circular orbe move round about the table till every man hath had it And so as I said before I begin this health Ad salutem Amicorum To the health of all our friends wishing them as full a measure of all happinesse as this cup is full of Wine I hope you 'le pledge me Gentlemen 21. To promise to pledge it SIr héere 's no man will refuse it for my part I will continue the health for I am bound to second it since it is in memory to our friends and therefore I will pledge it though the glasse were so big that the Moone might make a câ—ver to it 22. To desire to be excused GEntlemen I must entreat your pardon for I dare not drinke such health since I know I should loose mine owne health by it Besides I hold it a heathenish custome and not becomming a Christian I shall therefore estéeme it a courtesy in you to dispence with my pledging it for to shew love to our friends by wronging our selves were a part of folly rather then friendship To which purpose I have written these verses T is an â—ld rule now amonst Bacâ—ius traine That from our owne healthes drinking we refraine Yet now they doe begin healths to their friends Which with the losse of their owne health still ends And thus while of our friends too much we make We love our friends but our owne selves we hate 23. To acquaint one with a journey I Am to ride this morning toward London and if you please to command mee any service I shall be carefull in the performance of it or if you have any thing to buy pray let me be your steward I le buy it as cheape as I can for it is a happinesse to me to have any imploy ment from you If therefore you have any businesse or cause to solicite trust me with it and I will use the best diligence I can to effectuate your desires or if you please to command me any other service you shall finde me your ready servant 24. To thanke one for a courtesie SIr I must acknowledge my self indebted to you for your last courtesy the remembrance makes me your debtor till I can finde some opportunity of requitall neither will I bée ungratefull for your last favour but will returne it with interest when Fortune shall enable me in the mean time I would desire you to reckon me in the number of those that are beholding to you and for your former crurtesies to take the payment of a friend in a currant English shankes 25. To excuse a friend in his absence SIr it is the part of one friend to excuse another in his absence and therefore I intreate you not to be offended with him till you know the truth but to interprete all things to the best For I know it would much grieve him to gaine your displeasure and therefore let not your wisedome censure him in his absence for I know hée will cleare himselfe at his returne Bée pleased therefore to suspend your anger a while and let not your passion pronounce him guilty before you know the truth for if you will uniustly condemne him I must rise up in my friends defence for howsoever his enemies have incensed you against him I dare engage my selfe hée is not guilty of those calumnious slaunders which are heaped on him Let me entreate you therefore not to give credit to the reports of malicious informers who can with ease defame and cast aspersions upon the best men but I would rather have you thinke the best of him till you know the worst and then determine of as you find cause If hée deserve it let him continue still your friend if not let him be wiped out of the number of your friends 26. The Wooers Complement SWéet Maide the Sunne hath almost gone his yearely iourney about the World since first I beheld the Sunne of your beauty which hath so dazled mine eyes that I behold all other things as trifles in respect of those glorious beames which do shoot themselves from thence If therefore câ—ntinuance of time may bée any assurance of fidelity in love you must néedes confesse that I have long béene a devoted servant to your perfections Bée pleased therefore now to accept that love of mine which my fond heart cannot conceale you are the darling of my thoughts the treasure of my heart the â—appinesse of my life neither would I live â—ndéed but that I hope in time by my true serâ—ice and obedience to obtaine your favour Neither would I have you thinke that I slatâ—er you for my tongue doth but interpret â—o my heart and the heavens know with what a due reverence I honour you If therefore my love be grounded upon vertuous desires you ought to cherrish it but if I seeke your wrong by satisfaction of my owne desires let me perish in your favour which is to me above all punishments You are the Load-stone of my affection your lips are the moyst Adamants that doe attract me one touch from your hand hath power to revive the dead faculties of age There is musick in your voyce and a lovelines in all your actions Blame me not then for loving you but blame your selfe for being so worthy of love and since your beauties haue wonnded me let your gracious answer cure mée by consenting to tie that holy knot of Marriage which I have often urged Make me happy in your answer 27. The Mayds answer SIr as you are a friend to vertue I cherish your Love and am perswaded you love mée but alas wée Maydes have no power to give away our selves withouâ— consent of Parents neither can we dispose oâ— our selves or be liverall of our affections tilâ— our Parents be acqutinted with it And therefore you must now become a Sutor to my Father his liking obtain'd mine shall follow and if you get his good will my hand shall give you my heart in the Church before the whole Congregation in the meane time rest assured you shall find me constant in affection and therefore you néede sollicite mée no further I am yours 28. The Wooers answer I Desire no more happinesse for by your answere you have revived my drooping heart neither would I change my estate with rich Croesus since I value the obtaining of your love above the Empire and Dominion of the whole world I doubt not but we shall live and love together And as for your Father I hope he will grant us the priviledge due to al hearts to love to enioy and I wil shortly take some fit opportunity to sollicite his consent in the interim I must force my heart to take my leave of you not daring to salute you for feare one kis should tempt me back againe but t is no matter what we spare now we will take out upon our Wedding day Farewell 29. To invite one home SIr I have often desired your
confesse our Towne is but ill provided for the entertainment of strangers and therefore if you please to accept of such a meane lodging as my house can afford you shall be welcome 39. A bold Complement to a Widdow SWéet Widdow I come not with a tedious Complement to win affection but I come with love and youth which are more gracefull qualities in a Widdowes eyes I am indéed a younger brother and have no land to indéere me into your liking yet if you please as they say to cast away yourselfe upon a man I hope I shal be able to delight you with the swéet contents of love Thinke it not therefore the worst charity to make a man and to raise the fortunes of a yonger Brother who only wants some of that white and red earth which lyes by you so uncomfortably Come I will not be put backe or daunted nor will I take your no for a denyall for I know however you Widdowes séeme to dislike our boldnesse yet in your owne thoughts you doe commend us when like good Souldiers comming up bravely we make an assault upoÌ„ your lips and scorne to retire although your eyes shoot frownes against us Thus far swéet Widdow I have bin bold with you and I hope not more bold than welcome yet lest I should pâ—esume too far know therfore in plaine termes that albeit I am the last that hath sollicited you for affection yet doe I not least affect you but should be glad of such a comforter as yourselfe who by your good counsel may reclaim me from the wild unstayed errors of my youth for being once marryed I wil fast from all loose affection striving night and day to make myself worthy of the title of your husband which I hope you will grant me that so our wooing may conclude in a wedding 40. The Widdowes answer ALas Sir the remembrance of my late Husband whose memory doth ever draw teares from mine eyes his memory I say had so farre once prevailed and was so déepely implanted in me that I resolved never to make a second choyce But yet I know not how mooved rather out of pitty to your selfe than any desire of my owne I am willing to second your desires in any lawfull affection For I see you can speake moovingly and I must confesse you have wrought more upoÌ„ me than many others whom I could put backe at any time by telling them with a serious countenance that I never meant to marry But I sée you wil have no answer but in the right kind and therefore as I said before in pitty of your youth hoping you will be a comfort to my age and proove a good Husband I am content to make you Master of my selfe and mine But still I say in pitty of your youth for t is your youth and young blood that I love 41. To wooe a Country Mayd FAire Mayd the opportunity of occasion and the strong bent of my affection which will either break out in words or breake my heart compell me to take this short time to discover my desires unto you The first time that I beheld you was when you were reaping your fathers corne and then it séemed to mee that the golden eares did even bend unto your hands your straw hat became you better than if you had woâ—e a coronet of starres But indeed what néed you weare a starry crown whose eyes are starres and have so powerfull an influence upon the beholders that ever since that day my heart hath never béen mine owne but yours and my thoughts have béene wholly given over to thinke of nothing but the obtaining your love for which I am come now to entreate bâ—gge and sue knowing that you cannot be unmercifull for if you will save your Fathers Lambs out of danger when they fall into a pit if such trifling things can moove your compassion I hope you will a little commiserate the dolouâ—s and extreame passions of a Lover For I perâ—wade you to nothing but that which is the end of your comming into this world and that is marriage for how soone would the world decay and come to nothing if it were not preserved by marriage since therfore nature hath given you so large perfections she lookes that you should requite her againe and not to let your beauties wither on your chéeke but to bestow your youth and beauty on him who will honor you both in age and sickenesse For know this that beauty is a fading flower which cannot long continue and as Fryer Bacons headspake Time is Time was Time is past so Mayds have their sevâ—rall times and seasons for at 15. they are in their prime and then Time is at 30. Time was and at 40. Time it past But I néede not I hope use so many circumstances in words to come to the sull point af Marriage since you yourselfe cannot be ignorant of my affection For when you went to milke I have like a faint shadow followed you aÌ„nd when you went to fold your fathers shéepe I have helpt you all which were services of that love and duty which my heart doth owe you Be pleased therefore now out of the goodnesse of your nature and by that soft compassion which should dwell in a Maâ—dens heart to grant me your love and then I shal estéeme myselfe more happy than the greatest Monarch in the world I beséech you do not deny me but let one chast kisse strike a bargaine betwéene us that so we may tie the true Lovers knot of marriage 42. The Country Maydes answer SIr I had thought you would not have mockt me by laying beauty to my charge for I have often beheld my face in the running streame but I wish I could never behold such a dicker of beauty as you will ascribe unto me You compare my eyes unto starres and I know not what Alas Sir doe you thinke we CountreyMayds are such harmelesse innocent fooles that we are taken with fine faiâ—e words which you Courtiers call Complements Alas no you may goe use them to Ladies yet I know not how mée thinkes your words come from you with such fervency of affection that I could find in my heart to answer you in your owne phrase for you must know wée Country Mayds can Complement as wel as you know therefore that if your former words doe proceed out of chast desire to marry mee and if your heart hath beene so long a servant of mine I will not detaine your wages but will pay you love for love againe and that I know is the payment that you expect But I pray boast not that you overcame me with a ComplemeÌ„t though indéed I like your Complements very well which being set forth with a languishing behaviour did become you so wel that I am content to yeeld my selfe to your disposing and to make my selfe an example to shew what great power a Complement delivered in due time and place may have over a mayds affection and so without further ceremony pray let our Baâ—â—es be bidden let the fidlers be hired to play upon our wedding day and let the Mayds strew the way to Church woth flowers for your Complement hath overcome me and so I leave you FINIS
CVPIDS SCHOOLE Wherein Yong men and Mayds may learne diverse sorts of new witty Amorous Complements Newly written and never any written before in the same kinde Complaine unto thy Love with flattering Art For gentle words do move the hardest heart Printed at London by Rich. Cotes and are to be sold by Francis Grove dwelling on Snow-hill neere the Sarasins-head 1642. The Character and Description of a Complement IN the old time their Garments were plaine and so were their words and meaning But afterward some more witty than the rest finding what power perswaâ—ion hath over the minde of man invented a new art of words called Complements which â—s indeed nothing but an effable and courteous manner of speech and yet is now growne so necessary that nothing can be done without â—hem For men now a-dayes regard not vertuous qualities but onely a pleasingnesse of nature and condition so that hee that speaketh best â—eeds best and shall be sure to be preferred before the plaine meaning man So that the neâ—essity of these times doth enforce us to learne â—he Art of Complements which I will prove â—nto you by particulars and first in love he that â—hinkes to winne affection by telling a Mayd in plaine tearmes that hee loves her is much deceived for when she heares you begin so plainly she will start backe from you and think you to be some ignorant Coridon that know not Cupids language when on the contrary hee that can deliver his minde in amorous words doth seeme to keepe the keyes of their Maydenheads of which he can take possession when he list for their hearts are at his devotion while the other poore Lover that cannot expresse his minde in a Complement may pine away with sorrow unregarded for he that loves most is many times neglected and he that loves least is oftentimes most respected Therefore it behooves a Lover now adaies to use some Complement insinuation to procure affection for a man can prevaile in nothing without Complements your friend will not thinke you his friend without you salute him with a Complement you cannot invite one home nor entertaine him afterward without Complements neither can you keepe company or be sociable without the mutual enterchanging of Complements To conclude therefore a Complemenâ— is the language of Callants the Conquer our oâ— Mayden-heads the quintessence of wit the resâ—ner of speech and necessary both in City anâ— Countrey For though the Countrey-man be plaine yet faire and courteous words will prevaile much with the goodnesse of his nature and this may be seene by the fable of Mercury and Iupiter who wandring one night upon the plaines not knowing where to get a lodging at last they came to the house of old Baucis and Philemon an old marryed couple who had long lived together in a poore cottage here Iupiter beginning to make his case known the old wife Bauciâ— began to scold and told him plainely she had no lodging for him till at last Mercury so farre prevailed with his complementall eloquence that the good wife being ravished with his sweete words straight opened the doore lighted a candle and entertained them with all kindnesse and courtesie whereby you may see that such is the power of Complements that it breakes lockes opens doores at mid-night and will give you accesse to the mistresse of your heart if you can but handsomely complement with the Maid and come over her with melting language onely you must remember to mingle some kisses and line her Apron with gold and then you may be sure to obtaine your owne desires Besides as Complements are necessary in wooing so you cannot counsell your friend to refraine from any vicious course unlesse you use the insâ—nuation of a Complement fortruth is so sharpe that it is displeasing to all men and seemes to grate their eares if it be not sweetned by some pleasant discourse and therefore when you are to doe the tenderest office of a friend which is to lay his shame and vice before him there is nothing can give a more ready entrance to your words or make him more willingly endure the sharpenesse of good counsell than to beginne in a loving and complementall manner Seeing therefore that a CoÌ„plement is so gracefull to the speaker so delightfull to the hearer and so powerfull to winne affection I hope young men will imbrace and love this Booke which teacheth them how to obtain their love And I hope young Mayds will lay it under their pillow and read it when they goe to bed since it will instruct them how to give an Answer to their amorous Sutors And so wishing to all young men and Maydes the accomplishment of their desires I leave these complements to their perusall A Complement to the Reader Gentle Reader IT is some perswasion to read a Booke when wee dare say that the matter is new and that there was never any thing written in the same kind This we may affirme of these Complements and therefore hauing had no patterne of imitation to direct me I hope kind Reader thou wilt so much the rather vouchsafe out of thy wonted kindnesse to grace them with thy favourable acceptance Let their newnesse perswade thee to rerd and then I doubt not but thou shalt find some amongst them so pleasant and delightfull as will induce thee to crowne my labours with thy free commendations For as I am studious to benefit thee in in any thing I may so all the ayme of my desire is to bee thought worthy of thy liking and good opinion which if thou grant mee it shall oblige the service of my Pen to pleasure thâ—â— in this or any other kind So I rest Thine as mine W. S. The Author to the Reader VVHen thou dost chance to fall in love by power of Cupids bow If thou these Complements doe prove their vertue thou shalt know Suppose thy Sweet-heart fled from thee as Daphne fram Apollo Yet she at last changed will be if thou the câ—ace doe follow And if these Complements thou use in fitting place and time The Maid that did thy love refuse shall unto love incline For though my selfe did never try yet I have heard it said Faire words and opportunity will winne the coyest Maid The Contents 1 TO wooe a Mayd 2 The Mayds answer 3 To urge a sute the second time 4 The Mayds answer 5 The Lovers reply 6 Master Brainelesse his wooing of Barbara 7 To excuse some inconsiderate speeches to â— Gentlewoman 8 To welcome one home 9 To perswade by way of counsell 10 To entreate a courtesie 11 The Answer 12 To bid a Bride goodmorrow 13 To bid a Bridegroome goodmorrow 14 At the first meeting of a friend 15 The other friends answer 16 To present a gift to a Mayd 17 To bid a friend farewell 18 To entreat a courtesie of a stranger 19 To aske a Fathers good will to marry his Daughter 20 To begin a health 21 To promise to pledge it 22 To
SWéete Mistresse Barbara I beséech you not to be barbarous unto mée For our Fatherâ— have made the match already and I am now come to wâ—â—e you for I feele the mouth oâ— my affection begin to water at thée so thâ—â— there must be some spéedy remedy found out tâ— allay my burning heat for if I looke but â—â— your pretty foote I féele my heart begin to risâ— beneath my girdle that sure I thinke thou hast some spirit about thée which doth bewitch mée but I hope ere long you shall finde that I have a spirit too which if it take after my Mother it may be a devillish spirit for any thing I know for I am sure shee was an arrant shrew But I love no long discourse and therefore I would entreat you That you would looke upon my wounded heart And with your favour helpe to ease my smart 7. To excuse some inconfiderate speeches to a Gentlewoman IF formerly swéet Mistris I have throwne out any words inconsiderately which might move your anger I beséech you pardon them or if my tongue have wronged my heart by hasty speaking attribute it to my rashnesse not want of love for I recant those wordes that have mooved your iust disdaine and since they cannot be recalled let your wisedome and swéetnesse of nature be shewed in pardoning as my folly was in offending Let these words excuse my trespasse for I know you are full of mercy and cannot long deny a pardon to him that sues for it with teares though in a greater matter But I sée you turne away from mée as if my words séeking to excuse my former words did still offend you and therefore I will beg some favour from you in these few verses which I made upon this occasion If that my tongue faire Nymph hath said amisse The same for pardon now a Sutor is Or for it selfe if it too weakely pleade My lips on its behâ—lfe thus intercede Thus sue thus beg and begging will not leave Till they a pardon sâ—al'd from yours receive And while my kisses beg O happy me If I might ever such a begger be 8. To welcome one home SIr we have often wished your compony at home and now you have made us happy in our desires by your safe retâ—rne to bid you welcom is but the common rode way of friendship and therefore I would fâ—ine speake something that might set forth my love more fully but indéed I find that all words are tóo meane to expresse the ioy thaâ— my heart conceives at your happy returne Wée were fearfull and solicitons least some misfortune might befall you in the way But now we must confesse we owe a sacrifice of thankes to Heaven for protecting you in your iourney and bringing you backe againe unto us to whom I dare prâ—sume you are as welcome as health to the ficke man or a calme to the Weather-beaten Marâ—iner To conclude I could bid you welcome a thousand times and yet thinke those welcomes too few for since my love to you is infinite I must néeds say you are infinitely welcome 9. To perswade by way of Councell SIr were I worthy to counsell you of whom I am more fit to learne than to advise I would perswade you to leave off that ill company to which I finde you are too much addicted For I professe unto you my counsell is directed to no other aime but your owne good and to entreate you to be kind unto your selfe and not to disgrace your parentage and birth by frequenting such base and ignoble company who onely desire to infect you with their vices and who like shaddowes onely depend upon the Sunne of your fortune which if once it be darkened by the aclipse of adversity you shall finde that you who before could number so many friends shall then be left alone to deplore your owne folly in thinking that those could be friends unto you who are not friends unto themselves for having by their owne lavish profusion spent their owne estates all their purpose now is to winde you into the some Labyrinth of misery if there thou have already entred into the intricate wayes of vice let my counsell serve like Adriadne's clew of thred to guide your steps backe againe into the way of vertue from which you have too farre already wandred But perhaps I shall obtaine your hatred and by séeking to reclaime your errours shall there by lose your favour yet however I shâ—ll expresse the duty and office of a friend for while I see you run these wilde and ruinous courses though I am your friend I will not be your flatterer 10. To entreate a courtesie SIr you shall oblige mée to you by adding one new favour to your former courtesies for so it is that my businesse will miscarry unlesse I obtaine your assistance which if you please to grant mée you shall not onely binde me unto you by the resâ—eâ—s of duty and observance but shall also expresse your selfe the miracle of true friendship I confesse I am unwilling to be troublesome unto â—ou but yet such is the commanding necessity of my affaires that I must assume an unwonted boldnesse to petition your favour and assistance in my behalfe 11. The answer SIr you may command mée for I am so wholly devoted to your service that you may assure your selfe I can deny you no request which lies within the circle or compasse of my power For my heart is yours and therefore what good I am able to doe you either in this or any other kind you may promise your selfe being indéed glad to be imployed in any service that concernes you so that to the ability of a poore friend I shall be evâ—r ready to second your desires with my best endeavours Command me therefore when you please and you shall finde mée your ready servant for I languish with a desire to doe you some courtesie that may expresse that friendship and love I owe you which hath hitherto laine dead in me for want of opportunity to demonstrate and make it evident to the eyes of the World by some friendly office 12. To bid a Bride good morrow MIstris Bride I wish the ioyes of love may be still multiplyed upon you Nay blush not for it is no shame to doe the Common wealth service by bringing a race of Souldiers into the World I know this night you have endevoured for it but we must sée the fruit hereafter All this I wish is that your Husband and you may live together like a contented paire happy in each other What now Wéeping I hope you will not give such an example to the Mayds or so disable your Bridegroom as to shew any sigues of griefe or sorrow on the following morning to your Wedding day If you have parted with a long preserved ioy to night yet comfort your selfe in your losses for there are many Mayds would have béen glad of your place and thanke you too But I have no art in Complements and
therefore in a word I wish you all ioy 13. To bid a Bridegroome good morrow MAster Bridegroom I must congratulate the ioyes of Marriage and wish they may increase daily to both your comforts you have enioyed to night a happinesse which my knowledge did never yet arive at and therefore it is unpossible for me to guesse it however I doe not envy but wish you al happinesse with your faire choyce And though by your heavy eye I discerne you have not tooke your due of rest to night yet you may take it out the next for I could wish my Bedde were troubled with such fleas on that condition I slept not these two nights All that I can wish is this that no fatall time day or houre may produce a change or alteration in your affections But that you may live like Turtle Doves you ioying in her and shée with mutuall delight making you the obiect of all her happinesse that so your marriage may proove a merri-age 14. At the first meeting of a friend SIr you are well met and most happily returned for fame hath given out a sinister report that you were miscarried in your iourney but I am glad the old proverbe is true that fame is often a lyer I pray let a pint of Wine be the Scrivener to renew the bonds of our friendship for I am even full of ioy to behold you and my heart would bid you welcome in better phrase but that I want words to expresse the integrity and truth of my affection I have forgot all this while to enquire of our friends health my thoughts were so wholy busied to bid you welcome But I hope Sir they are well 15. The other friends answer SIr your friends are all well and are mâ—ndful of you in the remembrance of their love Neither am I lesse ioyfull at our fortunate méeting which is a happinesse I have long wished for and though my tongue cannot interpret the inward ioy of my heart yet I would not have you thinke that love is least which hath least expression of it selfe For a full vessell yéelds no sound and a heart full of affection cannot so easily express it selfe in a smooth way of Complements in a word I am heartily glad to sée you and to say more were but to speake the same in more words 16. To present a gift to a Mayd FAire Mayde I would desire you to accept this small Ring as an embleme of my affection which like a circle shall be ever endlesse I know it is unworthy your acceptance yâ—t vaine out of the graciousnesse of your humility to receive this unworthy pledge of that love and service which I shall ever owe you till time shall inable me to expresse my love in some more worthy gift And if at any time this toy doe chance to draw downe your eye unto your finger if you please to remember me thereby and thinke on me who hath de voted my selfe to your service I shall thinke my selfe the lesse unhappy in my absence though indéed till I returne againe I shall be able to rellish no taste of comfort since all my ioy is to enjoy your company but my businesse doth enforce me away so that leaving this with you as a memento of my affection I take my leave with as sad a heart as ever lover parted with his Mistresse 17. To bid a friend farewell SIr I am so unwilling to be deprived of your swéete society and so sorty to loose the fruition of your good company that my heart will hardly permit mée to take my leave of you yet since the necessity of your occasions doth enforce us to part I can but wish you a prosperous iourney and with my prayers daily solicite heaven for your safe returne I will not buâ—then your memory with severall commendations but onely desire you to remember my love and service in generall to all our friends in the Countrey This is all I require of you and since though unwilling wée must endure your absence from us I will promise in the meane time to bée your Beades-man to pray for your happy iourney and will onely kéepe so much of my heart as may kéepe me alive the other half shal go with you Now I see why death is called departing for departing of friends is a short death give me your hand the ancient embleme of affection and I pray be carefull of your selfe since in your welfare consists the welfare of all your friends And so farewell 18. To entreat a courtesy of a stranger SIr though I am unknowne unto you yet the report of your knowne courtesâ— makes me bold to preferre a suit to your favourable consideration Which if I might obtaine I should think vertue hath not quite forsaken the World but that there lives such sparkes of goodnesse in your brest as may be able to enflame posterity with an emulation of your goodnesse I beséech you therefore be not afraid to doe me a courtesie because I am a Stranger For by how much you have lesse inducements to shew me any favour you shalâ— thereby make your vertue shine with more illustrious glory I must confesse I have no great mans Letter to prdcure your liking and good opinion of mée yet since my desires are modest and such as you may grant with ease I hope you will grant my request in requitall whereof I will proclaime your noblenesse and courtesie wheresoever I come and will be sure to mention you alwayes in my prayers who have with the eyes of pitty lookt downe upon the necessities of a stranger But I will not urge you with any further importunity but leave my suit to your consideration Verbum â—at bono few words prevaile with good men in a good cause 19. To aske a Fathers good will for marrying his Daughter SIr it hath pleased your Daughter to bestow her affection upon me and now I must become a sutor to you for your good will liking For so farre shâ— hath granted me her love if it be seconded by your good allowance I would intreat you therefore be pleased to ratify and establish by your frée consent what the Heavens have already decréed For our hearts are already married in heaven and we lacke nothing now but your consent which I hope I shall obtaine and since we have both béene obedient in making you acquainted with our desires I beséech you séeke not to crosse our loves but give us both your blessing 20. To begin a health GEntlemen since we are now unable to commemorate our friends any other way than by remembring them in a health I am bolo out of the overflowing of my love to dedicate this health to the memory of our absent friends I will fill it so full that a flye may drinke of it at the top and will drinke it so clearely off that a flye shall not be able to drink at the bottome And thus Gentlemen I begin it hoping that no man that honours his
company at home but yet could never be so happy to obtaine it But now you shall not deny to grace my poore house with your presence since we are hard by it and to honouâ— me so much as to let the star of your vertue shine within the sphear of my house for I dare promise though entertainement be not worthy your invitation yet you shall be as welcome as a friend can be to a friend 30. To excuse with thankes SIr I desire your pardon for my businesse will not permit me otherwise you should not intreat me twice if I could grant it without much hinderance to my selfe I am sorry to refuse your kind invitation but I will promise to visite you shortly and since it is your desire I will be bold to call upon you At this time I am enforced to withstand my owne happinesse by denying your frée invitation but I hope you will excuse me and attribute it to my businesse not want of love 31. To deliver a Letter to a Lady MAdam héere's a Letter waites your perusall and desires to be presented to your Ladyships hand the messenger told mée that it was sent from your humblest servant Sir T. C. 32. The Ladies answer to her waiting-Gentlewoman VVHo bid you forsooth receive these amorous papers I know t is lighter than a Complement and it may be 't was written in a Taverne I will not open it till I meane to laugh for I meane to make it my recreation after meales But I pray be carefull hereafter to receive no more you know my mind and now you cannot excuse your selfe by ignorance 33. The Waiting-mayds answer I Shall obey your Ladyships command for I will not gaine your Ladyships displeaâ—ure by receiving their Letters though they â—hould tempt me with a shower of Gold I will not offend wilfully but will study in all things to preserve your favour for it hath bée hitherto the aime of my desires to continue my selfe in your Ladyships good liking and I hope I shall never deserve the contrary 34. The Servingmans wooing of Susan a Chamber-Mayd SVsan it is now thrée yeares since we have béene fellow-servants together During which time I have received many courtesies from you and béene invited to many a Sacke Posset which kindnesses of yours though tending to no other end than to expresse your owne naturall goodâ—esse have since invited me to love you And now having both â—ate out the fiâ—e and our candlâ— burning dimly I thought this twi-light would best become a Love-suit For I professe unto you Susan I love you with as much affection as my heart can obtaine and albeit â—e have often fallen out upon trifles yet I did it but to try thy nature which I found to be hasty as the best natures are but not able to retaine anger long and therefore I hope you will forgive what is past and consider my motion which tends to both our good For is it not better to live fréely in the marryed state of life than to depend on service where every frowne is ready to cast us off the hinges for my part Susan though the unthriftines of my friends did first compell me to undertake a servile life yet I could never bring my heart to affect it and I know you are of the same mind for I have heard you say your Father was a wealthy Farmer who comming behindhand with the world you were put forth to service which kind of life I know must néeds séeme tedious and therefore I have propounded a way whereby wée may both live a frée and happy life I know you will obiect the want of meanes to mainetaine a charge or family T is true but yet let us not despaire of Gods blessings for have we not séene many Couples whose whole stock could hardly purchase a Wedding Ring and a Licence who yet afterward by their owne endeavours have lived more contentedly than these great money-matches which seldome prosper for where there is love there all things thrive but where there is debate there all things go to wrack Love will supply the defects of want so that if you please to entertaine my suite with your kind aâ—cepâ—ance you shall not only frée yoâ—r selfe from the subiection of a servant but live iâ— the sswéet yoke of marriage And now Susan I entreat you to coÌ„sider these reasons which I could enlarge but that I feare our Candle will goe out and therefore having thus rudely with little art but much affection delivered my minde I hope you will make me happy by your answer 35. Susans answer ROger you are much mistakeÌ„ to interpret any curtesie of mine to procéed from love though indéed I have alwaies loved you as one servant may love another But for other matters as they say I never so much as dream't of them and therefore doe not urge so vaine a suite for I have something else to doe than to thinke of marriage It is a signe Roger you live easily for ease is the nurse of love but if you sate up night by night starching as I doe and then arose againe as early in the morning you would have little mind to entertaine a thought of love And therefore hereafter busie your selfe in some good imployment you shal sée these idle fancies will vanish of themselves But if by this meanes your desires be not abated I will consider better of your motion and this is all I can say at this time in answere of your suit And so farewell for I heare my Mistris knocke above and therefore I must be gone 36. To desire a Mayd to speake to the Mistresse SWéete-heart I know your long and faithfull service hath indear'd you into your Mistresses opinion so that she repâ—ses some trust and confidence in your words and I know you are not ignorant of those strange times seasons when womens fancies are most apt to receive Loves impression If therefore you would please to take some houre of advantage to remember my suite to your Mistresse and would but cast forth some words that may stir affection in my behalfe I would not proove unthankfull For though others have solicited you in the same way yet if you will promiâ— mée your good word and assistance to preferre my sute to your Mistresse I will requite it in your owne desire in earnest whereof I would intreate you to weare this Ring and to be mindfull of me in my absence that so at my next visitatioÌ„ of your Mistris I may find her more iâ—câ—â—â—able to my suâ—e Farewell 37. To intreat lodging at a Gentlemans house SIr being a stranger benighted and strayed out of my may and finding that the Village Towne affords no Inne or house of receipt I wouldgladly be beholding to you for this nights lodging till in the morning I may receive some better directions to procéed on my iourney 38. The Gentlemans answer SIr it is a courtesy that the lawes of hospitality bind me to performe I must