CONCEYTED LETTERS NEWLY LAYDE OPEN OR A MOST EXCELLENT BVNDLE OF NEW WIT WHERIN IS KNIT VP TOGETHER ALL the perfections or arte of Episteling by which the most ignorant may with much modestie talke and argue with the best Learned A WORKE VARYING FROM THE nature of former Presidents LONDON Printed by B. Alsop for Samuel Rand and are to be sold at his Shop neere Holborne bridge 1618. To the iuditious Reader THree things Iuditiall Reader make Books and the puplication of Bookes aboue good excellent to wit Necessitie Vtility Implicity where any one of these are figured no doubt but the Image is most comely then how much more where all are contained not Helens thirty perfections can challenge more admiration and though it may sauor of Ostentation to say this Pamphlet hath all yet it shall not be against truth to approue the subiect more then a Master yea euen the soueraigne of all for if writings be the verie soules and eternal substances of Time what writings are so excellent as those which passe from man to man Religion Aduice Familiaritie Courtship and all necessary commercements by which euen the whole state of the world is sustained being in them as it were bound vp to outliâ—e all time all computation then what more necessary for the profit how shall Kings know and communicate their great actions enlarge their bounds redresse their peoples iniuries how shal the noble know intelligeÌ„ce to serue his CouÌ„trie the Merchant trade or to his owne bring the wealth of many Kingdomes or any or all sorts of people speake at a farre distance but by the helpe of Letters only then what to mankinde more rich and beneficiall which Tully better to expresse made it the crowne of all his labors Lastly in these written Heralds are those imployments and braue implications that whatsoeuer is excellent or good in man is to be seene in them as in a myrror and so to be implyed eyther exemplarily or iudicially according to the vertues and vices in them contained If then these vertues shadowed in these Presidents shall giue thee that benefit which thine expectation hopes or the Authors ayme made his leuell vnto I doubt not but thou wilt loue it reade it and imitate iâ— so farre as to thy priuate benefit Farewell Thine I. M. CONCEYTED LETTERS NEWLY LAYDE OPEN A LETTER TO A FRIEND to Borowe Money IF borowing of Money be not a breach of Friend-ship let me intreat your paâ—tience to open your Purse a present occasion puts me to the aduenture of your kindenesse the matter is not much yet will at this time pleasure me as much as so much may doo the sum fiue pounds the time three moneths my credit the Assurance and heartieâ— thankes the Interest Thus without troubling the Broker or charging of the Scriuener hoping my Letter shall be of sufficient power to preuaile with your loue Iâ— treating your present answer in the affection of an honest heart I coÌ„mit you to the Almightie Yours or not his owne D. M. His Answere IF your Friendship were a follower of Fortune Loue would haue but little life in this world the contents of your Letter hath put mee to a strict account with my estate how I may helpe you and not hurt myselfe I could make sufficient Excuses but that they taste of smâ—ll comfort and therefore knowing Time to be precious and to voyde delayes let this suffise you your Request I haue satisfied and the Money I haue sent you and not doubting your Credite will take your word for a Bond. Now for the Use without abuse I wish but Requitall vpon the like occasion And so glad that in this or any thing in my power I may make proofe of my loue I Rest in the same Yours or not my owne N. R. A Letter to a Kinsman for Newes I Would be glad to heare how you doe how the worlde goes with you what newes are stirring what wherligigges are in the braines of mad men and what rekes Raskals keep among better men what their opinions are that study the starres of the man in the Moone and whether honest men among the multitude be not taxed for their wisedome How farre a mans tongue will goe beyonde his teeth and doe no hurt to his lippes and whether Dalyla be dead that betrayed Sampson to the Philistines How Pride and Patience agree together in vngratious Spirits How the Diuell bestirs him about his villany in the world and whether loue bee not laught at for a mâ—trie iest of witte especially where the weaker sorte want the strength of vnderstanding many such notes may light in the way of thy obseruation of which what thou hast in memory I pray thee put downe in a few lines which shal not be lost in my loue and the sooner the better for by thy long silence I doubt of thy welfare how euer it be kéepe it not from thy friend who regards not fortune but vertue vpon which my affection grounded can neuer be remoued Faâ—ewel Thine or not his owne W. T. GGod Câ—â—zine you write vnto mee to knowe how I doe in a word neuer worse both weakâ— in bodie and sicke in minde in briefe as neare death as may be to liue if you knew my crosses you would pittie my discomforts the varietiâ— whereof is so great that I thinke there was neuer Carte so loaden with Wares as my heart is with heauinesse and woes Oh this iron Agâ— smells of nothing but Rust whiles the bagges of mettall eates vp the hearts of man where is kindnesse but onely among Children for Apples and Nuts Friendship I thinke is flowen away for feare of abuse and loue is among the Saintes which are onely in Heauen and if the world be at this passe in what case are the people whâ—re Men in shape are Monsters in Nature and where Women since the Creation are become straunge Creatures Whiles howling with sinne and wéeping with shame makes such black ghost amongst tormented soules as if the Diuell had licence to make a Hell vpon Earth Some are all for the Church and nothing for GOD other all for CHRIST nothing for Charitie and â—est men for themselues and leaue their Neighbours to the wide worlde Children are weary of their Parents before they bee parence of Children and Parents so couetous and vnkinde that nature hath forgotten her course To conclude the misery of Time is such as puts Patience to the vtmost tryall of her strength and by the course of the Elements the Almanackâ— makers knowes not what will become of this world now for my selfe I would I were with him that madeit but his Will be done who can mende it at his pleasure vnto whose heauenly tuition vntill I sée you I leaue you Yours or not his owne R. B. A Letter of Challenge IF I thought that you durst answer me I would challenge you yet where the sicke of a Feuer may burue after a shaking I knâ—we not how shame may make a
my skill in those secrets yet â—or your Schoole-fellowes sakes I haue taken a little paines for you I will tell you what I haue found among them all if you were borne vpon the Sunday Sol is a hote Planet and you will be much subiect to Sun-burning especially if you goe to Plough bare headed if vpon the Munday the Moone is full of water and if you â—â—ll your braines too full of Drinke you may growe Lunatike and so be in danger of Bedlame if vpon Tuesday Mars is a bloody fellowe and if you goe to Fisticuffes you will hardly be without a bloody nose if vpon Wednesday you must weare â— Nightcap and bée euer at your booke especially if you can write and reade and be in any Office in your Paâ—â—ish if vpon the Thursday you will be as prowde as a Beggar especially if you weare your best cloathes on a working day if vpon a Friday beware Wenches least they make thée a poore man especially about Cuckow time and if vpon a Satterday Oh you will be so froward that if you Marrie your Wife will neuer endure the house with you especially if shée be of the bréede of a Scholler and therefore not yet hauing heard any newes in any of the houses of you vntill I heare from you againe I can say no more to you and so I rest Your assured Friend T. W. A Letter to a Friend on the otherside of the Sea DIstance of placo must make no difference of minds Loue and Life amongst hearts make an ende together I haue long longed to heare from you and if I had knowne whether I had â—are this written vnto you but now hauing met with him that meaneth shortly to see you I haue thought good to let you know that I yet liue to loue you and forget net to pray for you that all happinesse may befall you Glad I would be to see you and in the meane time to heare from you how the world goeth there about you whether al birds be of one feather and how they flie together what blazing stars haue beene lately seene and what your Astronomers thinke what will follow of their appearance whether your wine be watered before it come ouer how youth and age agrée vpon the Coniunction Coplatiue how the great Fish and the little agree together in your seas and how your Rabbets escape the Kite abroad and the Pole-Cat in their Borowes how the fexes and wolues prey vpon your Géese and Lambs what sport your Swallowes make with the Flyes in the ayre I wish you not to write of any Wonders because they are incredulous nor of matters of state for they may be perhappes ill taken but onely how honest men thriue and knaues haue their rewardes how Wise men are honoured and Fooles laught at and how the weaker sort hold their strength with the stronger when Wenches eyes pull out mens hearts out of their Bellies their wittes out of theyr braiues and theyr money out of their purses and such matters of no moment then must needes if you will take a little paines so set downe in a little Paper I shall be glad to looke vpon them and in my loue to requite them for our World to heare it were a worlde to thinke of it But the Messengers haste not giuing me time to write of it vntill the next Poste I will say but this of it God blesse the best and mend or end the worst grant all honest harts good liues in it and a ioyfull departure when they are to leaue it to which prayer hoping you will say Amen till we meet and alwayes I rest Yours or not mine owne I. G. His Answere MY long acquaintance and worthy beloued friendâ— I haue lately receyued your letters wherein I find your desire to heare of the passages in the world on this side the salt-water Now to satisfie in as much as I can let mee tell you that I finde some difference in the natures of Nations but touching their diâ—sions I thinke they are much alike thorow the whole World for on the one side I â—inde the powerfull imperiâ—us the ambitious enâ—ious the couetous neuer satisfied the licentious idle and the foolish vnprofitable on the other side Maiesty gratious Honour vâ—râ—uous wealth charitable Thrift wealthie 〈◊〉 all and Religion loyall and Labour commodious Now looking into the danger of Greatnesse the charge of Honour the care of wealth the misery of want the â—â—lly of wantonnesse and the beggery of idlenese I haue chosen the meane for my part of musicke where I shall neither straâ—n my voyce nor stretch my stringes but with little charge keepe my instrument 〈◊〉 tune The passages are heere as in other places when Ianuary and May meet in coniunction there are strange kindes of countenances that shew not the best content And when Windes are highest in Summer the fruit shall fall 〈◊〉 they be ripe Many idle exercises are more costly then comfortable much talke and little truth gaye outsides haue poore insides â—athesâ— and lyes as common as High-wayes and painted images make feeles idels honest men thought more silly then the wise among she Wizards of the world and the Diuel among the Brokers dayly hunted with beggars murmuring of warre among vnquiet Spirits and Peace guarded for feare of a close stratagemâ— In summe such variety of businesse that euery mans braine is â—ul of humours and for women they are of such force that they put men to great patience for my selâ—e I see the world at that passe that I thinke him happy that is well out of it in summe God blesse the best while the worst mend and senâ— vs his grace and health with a happy méeting so till I heare from you which I wish often with my harts loue that shall neuer end but with life with my heartie commendations I commit you to the Almighty Yours as mine owne R. G. A Letter from a friend in the City to a Scholler in the Vniuersity HOnest Ned since I left the blessed place wherein thou dwellest I am come into a world that doth amaze me with imaginations how Nature could so iuggle with the world as to make men become shadowes women picture but neare the end of daies I see the Diuell labours hard about his haruest else could madnesse neuer so ouer-rule as to turn wisdome out of dores The disloyaltie of Subiects to most gratious Princes vnthankefulnesse of seruants to most bountifull masters vnthankefull heartes to best deseruing Spirite disobedient children to most carefull parents yea most vngracious creatures to the most gracious Creatâ—r makes mee feare a neâ—â— dealing vpon the earth to cleanse the World from iniquitie the Diuel is feared in his colours but followed in his conditions and heauen more spokeÌ„ oâ— thâ— lookt after charitable mouths haue other meanings in their hearte and â—â—thes are so common that they are little in account the cuppe of 〈◊〉 is toppe full to the brimme 〈…〉 to the health of
loue you in earnest So patting off all thought of quarrell where the combat is but a conceits of kindnesse in the irremoueable resolution of infringeable affection I rest as I haue beene and can now be none other But thine what I am mine owne I. G. A letter written from an olde man to his son before his death MY Sonne thou art now comming into the world that I am going out of and yet before my departure out of it let me tell thee what I hold needfull for thee to haue care of in it I know thou wilt not break thy bread all in one house séede alwayes of one dish nor liue alwayes in one place and therefore let mee reade thée a short Lecture for thy carriage in all courses the Court is a place of charge more then ease the Citie gawdes of more price then worth and the Country sportes of more pleasure than profite yet is there no seruice to the King no dwelling to the City nor pleasure to the Country but all the waight of the worth of them is in the hand of Wisedome who in the knowledge of the vse of them makes the best estéem of them but least long Lessons may ouercharge thy Memorie take this one Rule for thy learning in all and thou shalt finde it good in more then a few wheresoeuer thou goest note the best choose the best keepe the best bée not buried in earth before thou commest to thy Grauâ— nor builde Castles in the Ayre least they fall downe vpon thy head Let not thy eye abuse thy heart nor thy tongue discredite thy Will and let Reason gouerne Will in all the passages of Nature bée neyther néedy nor vngratefull vnâ—â—urteous nor vnkind and examine thy Conscience in the care of thy content ground thy loue vpon Vertue the hope vpon reason and thy happinesse vpon grace liue as a Stranger in the world and make all the hast thou canst into Heauen bée loyall to thy Prince naturall to thy Country faithfull to thy friend kind to thy neighbour and honest to the whole World So shall God blesse thee the best loue thee and the worst not hurte thée And thus so weake in body that the Spirit fainteth in forced to expresse the full of a Fathers loue vnto thee with my Prayers to the Lord of heauen for thy preseruation in this World and eternall happinesse in the World to come with my loues blessing and therewith what I am able to leaue thee to the mercifull guarde of Heauens glory I commit thee Thy most louing Father W. I. His Answere MY most louing Father this Legacy of your loue for the directioÌ„ of my life how much I prize in my hearts thankefulnesse the eye of your iudgement shall behâ—ld in my obseruation and giue mee leaue to tell you that in this little time that I haue spent idely in this World I haue had some taste of the meate that you haue giuen mee where I finde that the best meate may bee spoyled in the dressing while a cunning Cooke will make a rich seruice of small cost and though giddie heads are in loue with gawdes yet since the better sorte of opinions estéeme a small Diamond before a great Saphire I care not if I rather aduenture far for the honor of vertue then lessen my estate by breach of arms since there are so many counterfeites that the best Ieweller may be mistaken I will meddle with no such wares as may call repentance to an after reckoning while my hart looketh toward heauen I hope the earth shall not blinde mine eye nor the vaine delights of nature preuayle against the vertue of Reason but alis in the power of powers by whose grace being guided I shall bee euer so preserued that howsoeuer my heart be wounded my â—aith shall neuer bee confounded in hope whereof and prayers for which beséeching the almighty eyther in health to prolong your dayes or in the Election of his loue to call you to a better life more esteeming these precepts of your loue then all the portion you can leaue â—aning your blessing I humbly take my leaâ—e Your most louing and obedient Sonne W. R. A Letter to a Kinsman that came from the Vniuersity to the Court was giuen much to study MY good Cosin I hear since you came from the Uniuersity to the Court yoâ— are enclined much to Melancholy your minde onely delighted in reading and study and among many variety of matters of import that you take much delight in searching out of Petigrees and Heraldry the knowledge whereof I holde both honourable and profitable but the vse thereof requires a héedefull care â—or in discoursing of matters vnfit may be brought within the compasse of folly but as a friend to giue you a caueatinal your course of that study take my aduiâ—â— for the bettering of your vnderstanding in the best of your Cotes â—ee not too busie with the Crowne and of all beasts beware of the Lyon if he sleepe wake him not least you trouble his patience and in his walke crosse not his way least his frowne growes wrothfull for other beasts thinke of them as your reason wil giue you leaue where you finde honâ—urs note if you can the desertâ— of them and for bought Cotes consider of them in their kinds times alter and natures in them and therefore in the setting downe of Angiquities there may be much deceit thorow the corruption of the Writers or directors for strange Cotes as to see an Eagle haue a Flie in her mouth and a Mause bite a Catte by the tayle or a Goose keepe a Foxe in his denne Wonder at it but make no words of it and if you sée a black Swan in a blew field and an Eâ—le in her belly running out at her tayle or a Peacocke pulled out of his feathers making his Pearch vpon a crosse barre smile at the conceit but keepe the censure of it to your selfe To conclude Reade much but beléeue little Thinke much but speake little and know much but meddle little but in medling with other mens cotes looke that you loose not more then your owne ierkin And so wishing your Studies as profitable as pleasing to you till I see you I commit you to the Almighty Your louing Câ—nseâ— W. R. His Answer SYr I haue read your Letter and considered of the contents To the answere whereof giue me leaue to tell you that I am not determined to hurt mine eye-sight with too deepe looking into a Milstone nor to beleeue Antiquity fâ—â—th â— then Reason may carry my vnderstanding and whatsoeuer I finde of â—â—tes I will so carry my due and true allegiance to the Crowne that I will 〈◊〉 all touch of disâ—oâ—altie For the Lyon I will neyther trouble him waking nor sleeping and for his walke wish no beast to be so fâ—â—lish as to crosse his pleasure in his passage for your marcy conceites of strange Cotes I will onely smile at my contecture of them and
Cowarde more desperate theâ— valiant yet once my wrongs I can put vp whiles looking on the obiect of my Reuenge I become an aâ—iect to my selfe to thinke what mettall I am to temper with But in brieâ—e to lose no more time with you to Morrowe is my day the hâ—wer eight in the morning the plâ—co the Padockâ— within the Thicket where the determination of businesse I hope will be briefer then discourse and so I ende endlesse Yours as you haue made mee T. N. His Answer IDle humors shewes addâ—â— Brayues where lacke of iudgement prooues imperfection indiscretion To challenge a Coward is no balour but if your Sword were as nimble as your Penne I should not knowe how to put by the poynte but I thinke that your furie is but a flash which betwéene heats and colde hath made a little thunder that will goe away in a Clowde to temper with Mettalls is fittest for Artistes but in the rules of honor scorne hath no place But touching your agonie take héede of an Agâ—e left shame fellowes shifte in putting off a Quarrell with excuse in briefe there shall nothing fayle but your selfe who as you deserue at my hands shall finde mée from my heart Yours as you mine R. D. A Loue-Letter to a worthie Gentle-woman FAyre Mistris if I had no eyes I should not like you and it no wit I should not loue you for the brightnes of your Beauty is for no blind sight to gazâ— vpon nor the worthines of your vertuâ— for no weake braynes to beate vpon If you say I flatter you looke into your selfe and doo me nâ— wrong and if I doo you Right chyde not Affection for a discouerie where truth is honourable pardon my presumption if it excéede your pleasure and commend his seruice who will make an honour or your fauor So intreating your patience for answer to my poore Letter vntill I heare from you and alwayes I rest Your deuoted to be commaunded N. R. Her Answere SYr if your wits goes with your eyes your braynes may be on the out-side of your head and thâ—n if you deceyue your seife I hope I shall not bee blamed Colours are but shadowes and may bâ—full of illusions and the worthynesse of vertue may be a reach aboue the Worldes reason yet the discouery of affection may be morâ—in wordes then matter especially where discretion sounds the depth of desart though the honour as truth be worth regard Where there is no faults there néedes no pardon and therefore without trouble of Patience finding no cause of displeasure I thus conclude Loue hath a priuilege to be at the commaund of kindnesse in which I rest to wish you much happinesse Your wel-willing Friend E. S. A Conceyted Letter of Newes GOod Uncklâ— I knowe you looke for newes from this plot of our Earthly Paradise which when you left it was a place of great pleasure but since your departure some wicked Blasts haue withered some of our principall Plants but God be thanked we haue at this time so good a Gardener that so plucks vppe the Weedes by the rootes that I hope this Spring wee shall haue a flourishinâ— piece of ground Hobgoblin and the Fayries hath brought theyr Beléeuers to the Gallowes where had not Mercie giuen grace they had bene almost aâ— O man in Desperation But it is an ill winde that blowes no man to good for Halter-men and Ballet-makers were not better sette a worke this many a day Our Sunne shewes his beams in great brightnesse whiles the man in the Moone is fallâ—n quite thorough the Clowdes wilde Byrdes put in Cadges become tame in little time but our Iacke-Dawes will be chattering whiles they haue a tonguâ— in theyr heads Our Turtle-Doues are the prettyest fooles in the world but when a Cuckow counterfaits the Nightingale there is an ill Closse in the Musicke Our Peacocke was so prowde that hee could not leaue spreading his tayle but since moulting-time hee hath lost many of his Feathers Our Poast-horses haue galled their Riders and our Asses are kept but onely for theyr milke in summe for Men and Women the best God be thanked are well and for the worst God will take order for theyr amendment and so with my most hearty commendation I rest Your euer-louing Nephew T. M. The Vnckles Answer MY kinde Nephewe I thanke thee heartily for thy merrie Letter in which I like well of thy iudgement in wryting of Newes to meddle with no matters of state for hée that lookes too high may haue a suddain downe-fall and olde Countrey-Prouerbe may prooue a good parte of spéeche I remember I haue hearde my Grâ—und Father tell of one that was taught him in his Tâ—â—uell Let the Horse neigh know thou thy course and god thy way and so much for this Now for your Earthly Paradise I thought it when I came from it a goodly poece of ground and t' was pittie that any Blaste should perâ—h the least Plant in it But as it is I am very glad to heare so well of it GOD blesse the owner of it and the Gardener that so well wéedeth it Now for the Byrdes hee that knoweth not a Cuckowe from a Nightingale is like vnto a Lark-catcher that hauing caught an Owle tooke her for a fine Hawke till looking on her face and fearing she had bene aspirite he let her flye to the Diuell As for Peacocks they will be prowde till they looke on theyr legges and Iackdawes will prate it is their nature and therefore be not angry with a Milke-wenche if shée make not a curtsiâ— like Mistrisse Câ—nstable for there may be difference in their bréeding and so foorth Now for our Countrey-newes I will tell you what is come to my hands our Coultes are so lustie that we cannot kéepe a Filly in quiet for them and our Géese are so fatte that they wallowe as they goe our Sowes are so forward that we shall haue a world of â—at Pigges and our Ewes so suckle our Lambes that they leaue almost no flesh on their backs our Mill horse hath broken his halter and layd his load at the Mill doore and our towne Bull is so fat that he shall be bayted for the Butcher our Towne is so full of Marriages that there is scarce Cakes enough for the Bridales Tom Piper and the blinde Harper are hyred for these Hollidayes with my young Landlord who hath sworne by his Fathers soule that hee will whoord vp none of his Siluer Other such hâ—mely stuffe there is store about vs but because you haue better Wares nearer hand I care not much if I trouble you no longer with such Trifles I pray you let me heare from you of such occurrents as comes in your way In the meane time alwayes I rest The most louing Vnckle F. L. A Conceyted Loue-Letter SWéete Creature to tell you I loue you were a Phrase of too plaine a fashion and yet when truth is indeed the best â—â—oquence affection needs no inuention to expresse the care
so long as I know a Fâ—lcâ—n from a Buzaâ—d an Eagle from an Owle and a Nightingale from a Cuckow Let mee alone to iudge of the Natures of Birdes and how they are borne and when I looke into the nature of Honour whether by purchase fauour or desert I note the time with the persons and so goe on with my opinions to the iudgement I keepe to my 〈…〉 Your very louing Kinsman T. D. A Letter of vnkindnesse vpon a conceite of ill carriage in a Friend THere are two ill qualities in a Woman and two worse in a man In the first vnkindnesse and inconstancy in the second vnfaithfulnesse and vnthankefulnesse and will you beare both the imperfections that none may excéede you in euill whaâ— my deserts haue bin at your hands you know and what your requitall hath bin to me I would I knew not but what shall I thinke is euery man onely for himselfe and let the world go as it liâ—t hath vertue abandoned the earth and is wisedome so rapt vp in the mistie clouds of concupiscence that she can scarce shew any glimmering of the light of liue grace God forbid for vertue hath her working in all the children of her loue of which I would you were one that I might ioy as much in your conuersion as I feare your confusion Bée notangry though I seeme bitter for I am touched to the quicke yet write I more out of loue then hate for I will suspend my opinion vntill your answere giue me satisfaction that I shall shortly with your presence cleare my thought of your indignities till when and alwayes I rest Yours as you know and shall know T. M. His Answer WHat women are I Know but what meÌ„ should be I know and what I am you shall finde alwayes one and the same in iâ—remoueable affection to an assured friend Uertue I know hath her working in the heaâ—ts of the honest and I hope you wil not taxe me of a contrarie condition but if a misse report breedes a misse beliefe an vngratious conceit may worke a grieuous vnkindnesse if your deserts and my requitall were weighed together in an euen Ballens I hope there would not bee much in equality but let humours bleed their last and better thoughts wil follow I am content to make a bitter swéet of an angry loue shortly I will see you and then so satisfie you that the old Prouerbe shall come new in proofe The falling out of Louers is the renewing of loue in which I wil rest without all doubts Yours as I haue beene and euer will bee R. D. A fantasticke Loue Letter MIstris if you were not a witch your eyes could not haue so wrought in my heart as to make me thinke of nothing but your loue and if your words were not charâ—â—es they could not so commaund me from my selfe as to seuer me wholy to your seruice but if it be so that you are borne a Creature onely to craciâ—â—e my spirit I must onely pray for patience to mitigate my passion finding your nature as â—arre from pitie as my hope is from happinesse that if there be any spaâ—ke of grace in you let it kindle a cole in your kindnesse to warme the life of my loue that I may not die in the colâ— feare of disdaine but reuiuing in the vertue of your fauour I may honor you aboue the whole world so leauing my life to the answere of your owne loue I rest Yours what you will T. R. Her answere SEruant if you were not a foole you would not runne so from your wits as to write you care not how vpon an imagination you know not what mine eyes be mine owne and if your heart be not yours shall I winke because you are wilfull No such matter and my words haue made a metamorphosis of your wit I am sorie my breath should blow away your vnderstanding yet lest you should thinke I am past grace in the pitie of perplexities let me entreate you not to feare your ownâ— shadow walke temperately in the Sunne and the heat will doe you no hurt So wishing you better then you wish your selfe not to trouble your head with idle humours I rest as I haue reason Your louing Mistresse M. T. A Letter of griefe to a faire creature that was separated from her second selfe for playing false with a third person SWeet soule that once was now the most wretchedest creature that is how haue you made a metamorphosts of your selfe when you were vertuous you were faire now you are vitious you are foule when you were wâ—e you were honored now you are foolish you are scorned when you were gratious you were beloued now you be wicked you are hated Oh strange alteration from vertue to vice from wisdome to folly from grace to â—inne as to make the creature so offensiue to the Câ—â—ator what shall I say vnto you but onely that I am sorie for you but cannot helpe you and onely pray for you that your sin may be forgiuen that your shame may be forgotten and so beseeching the Highest whom you haue offended most in the mercie of iustice to shew the glory of Maiesty in the sorrow of humanitie and Christian charitie with a broken heart to thinke of your wounded soule wishing your true repentance to be a president for the conuersion of all such vnhappy creatures I rest Your friend and no further but in prayer for your soules health T. R. Her answere MY once kinde friend now worthily farre off from the title of such comfort with sighâ—s let me write that which I seale with the teares of my heart I now finde the wound of conscience so déepe cut into my heart as comes too neer the danger of my soule and were not Faith the strong hold of Hope Patience would bee too â—ull of feare I confesse shame to be a gentle punishment of â—inne and repentance a true pleader for mercy for none â—ees the angry face of sinne but the repentant sinner For the world I hate it and my selfe most in it for my sinne I loath it and abhorre my selfe for it and for my life I am wearie of it that I care not how soone I were ridde of it but all things to Gods pleasure to whom I beséech you in Christian charity to pray for me that the Enemie of Christ may not preuaile against me that whatsoeuer befall me I may not fall for euer So with a bleeding heart in the bitternesse of griefe as full of sorrow as a sinfull soule can hold I rest Your worthy forsaken friend E. R. A Letter to a friend for his opinion in diuers points of considerations MY honest Ned I pray thée write me word by this â—earer how thou doest thy opinion of the world of life and death honestie and wit and what comes into thy head when thou hast leasure to be idlâ— I long to heare from thee to reade thy conceits which if they be of the old fashion are better then of the new forme â—ee what will be to me it shall be welcome and thy selfe better whensoeuer I may see thee for dull wits and 〈◊〉 heads so beate about the market in this Towne that I had rather goe a mile wide then kéepe way with such wilde geese and so loth to trouble thée with trifling newes to no good purpose in the affection of a faithfull heart I rest Thine what mine B. W. His answere KInd Henry to answere thy request in a few words let me tell thee for the world I finde it a walke that soone wearieth a good spirit this life is but a puffe and death but an abridgeâ—ent of time Now for some notes I haue taken of the world and diuers things in it let me tell thee that if all the wealth in the world were in one chest it would not buy one howre of life if all the henesty of the world were in one heart it would not buy â—ne bit of bread and if all the wit in the world were in one wicked pate it would not buy one iot of grace and therefore it is meete with death at a meaner price and to carie money with honestie the better to goe to market and to ioyne grace with witte to finde the high way to heauen This is all for this time I haue had leasure to think vpon as more comes in my head I will make you acquainted with it in the meane time marke what I haue written and it will doe thée no hurt in reading Farewell Thine or not mine owne W. F. FINIS