my selfe haue knowne and often â—rd of that in most wonderfull and serious manner â—e affected this obscure or rather aenigmaticall kinde â—reuitie wherein not so muche as the least part of the â—tter shall bee almost discouered I doe remember a â—ttie iest that I haue often heard repeated of pleasant â— learned Skelton which being not altogether imperâ—ent to this purpose it shall not bee amisse for the reaâ—s recreation brieflye to haue discouered and thus it â—s There is besides Saint Albones a place called â—argate which sometimes was a Priorie of Nonnes â—d ioyned not farre from the Abbey there To this reliâ—ous Priorie belonged a Myll the water-course whereâ— came from the Abbey and vpon some displeasure or â—noiance done to the Abbey groundes grewe to be stopâ—d The Lady Prioresse of the Nonnerye seeing her â—lfe thus highly iniured and bearing no stomacke to arâ—ue the matter with the Abbâ—t hasteneth by licence to â—e Court meaning to acquaint the king with her cause â—nd from him to seeke redresse where encountering with â— kelton shee communicateth to him her counsel and reâ—uireth in briefe manner to haue the king thereof aduerâ—sed by his skilfull deuise in writing whereupon Skelâ—on wrote and the Lady misliked It was too much and â—he king importuned with serious affayres would neuer â—eruse it why sayde Skelton shall I not deliuer to the â—King the state of your cause what els answered the Laâ—ye But I will haue it most briefe in three wordes if â—t were possible The conceited scholler perceiuing her â—umor wrote immediately as followeth Humbly complayneth to your high estate The Lady Prioresse of Margate c. Two lines more were conteined in this petition the conueiaunce whereof being pithie yet including wordes perhaps of worse interpretation then by the veritie y e authours meaning might in truth be coniectured haâ— since the publishing heereof vpon farther consideratioâ— been thought meete for modesties sake to be left out But the Ladie hauing by this time espied good â— portunitie rest the writing and viewing the quantitâ— and not the substaunce onely pleased with the breuitiâ— shee presented it to the king who for the noueltie of tâ— shew red it with pleasure and redrest it with lyking Tâ— conceit indeed was pretie and so much the more apt â— cause so apilie it fitted the purpose which by no meaâ— could so wel be informed in so short roome but by so pleâ— saunt a conueiaunce as thereby was mentioned the inâ— spection whereof hee well knew might bee an occasiâ— as it was in truth to obtaine respite for the sutor to inâ— forme the rest But this inuention is not common theâ— fore seldome happeneth to purpose But now for our superfluous intrudors without eithâ— wit or discretioÌ„ who carying blunt conceits of their owâ— do neuer think to haue spoken inough of a thing withouâ— sinc or sixe times at the least they return it and repeat iâ— againe and againe in a letter and that their meaninges are neuer to bee comprehended but in ouer large deliuerance making sometimes three or foure letters in one not knowing in the end which way they came in or wheâ— to go out It were a sport to see what odde kind of stuffe â— those hammer headed creatures could produce whose inuentions being more pliable to their common exercises then adapted to writing of Epistles I willingly doe letâ— passe wishing onely that the most towardly wittes of all sorts in their young yeres trayned vp in any part of learning when they come to that ripenes to vse their capacities doe rather inure them selues to the best fourme and maner of writing either by instruction deliuered or by order prescribed then to followe the common custome whereunto by confirmed ignoraunce they may bee with more facilitie induced holding for firmâ— by enhabling themselues to the skilfull handling of this practise to be especially euermore enioyned that leauing too much prolixitie they do endeuour to become briefe and eschewing too muche breuitie they write not obscurely or rather so curtoll theyr deliueraunce as no sence remayneth whereunto who so bindeth himself shall by reasonable exercise in short time attayne to such ready performance as in the partes of this methode hath bene so specially required CAP. IIII. Of comelinesse to be obserued as well touching the person as the cause TWo especial notes haue alreadie beene debated respectiuely to be considered in the framing of an epistle aptnesse of words and breuitie of speeche nowe then to the third obseruation which heere I haue concluded vnder this worde decoruÌ„ named in english comely or that which fitteth or best besemeth how or which way soeuer This kind of comelinesse or beseeming as well as in any other behauiour beeing herein of like principall and most choice regard extendeth to the consideration of the person to whome and of the cause whereof we meane at any time to write In accompt of the person is to be respected first the estate and reputation of the partie as whether he be our better our equal or inferiour next the lightnesse or grauitie as whether he be old young learned vnskilfull pleasaunt sage stately gentle sequestred from affayres busied or of what disposition shewe or profession soeuer he be that according thereunto the methode of his Epistle may immediately be ordered In these estates of betternes equalitie or infeririour calling the excellencie or debasement of eche of them shalbe measured to remayne according to the credit countenaunce estate or dignitie of him from whom the letter is framed and by so much the more shall surmount or be lessened in iust account by how muche the neerer or farther of eche man is in calling to him vnto whome hee taketh vpon him to write wherein a man may assoone ouershoote himselfe by beeing too muche officious as bewray his ill nurture in not becomming sâ—â—ficientlie obsequious In lightnesse or grauitie of a man we shall chiefly haue regard to his aucthoritie or profession for neyther all thinges to all men are conuenient nor one thing to euery man may easily be adapted In one kinde wee frame our letters to olde men in an other sorte to young one way to sad and graue persons an other to light or yong fellowes one platforme to Courtiers an other to Philosophers To honourable personages with duetye reserued according to theyr calling to our betters euermore with submission to our equalles friendly to straungers courteously to our acquaintance familiarly to our inferiours beningly and fauourably to our friends louingly to our enemies sharpely and nippingly and finally to all kinde of persons according to their estate gouernment profession or qualitie The person being nowe thus fully considered vppon we shall then haue next regarde to our cause the conueiaunce whereof shall rest in the proper substaunce of all our argument to be written of Needefull shall it be therfore that the cause be euermore measured according to the parties apparance his credite or worthinesse
example of aduertisements 56 Places of praise or dispraise 5 9.60 Places of Confirmation and confutation 61.62 An example Lawdatorie solie touching the person 63 An Epistle Vituperatorie touching also the person 73 Praise and dispraise of the deedes of men 79.80.81.82 Of Epistles Deliberatiue 83 Efficacie of Praise 84 Places of Exhortation 85.86 An example of an Epistle Exhortatorie 87 A letter Responsorie to the same 92 Epistle Hortatorie to the studie of Learning 94 Epistle Hortatorie wherein the exhortation is lenefied 100 Aduertisements Responsorie 105 Epistle Hortatorie to the profession of armes 107 Places Dehortatorie or of withdrawyng from anie thing 113 An example Dehortatorie from infidelitie or rebellion 114 Difference betweene Swasorie and Hortatorie Examples 121 An example Swasorie wherein a Gentlevvoman is councelled to mariage 122 Places Svvasoriâ— or of persvvading 126.27.28 Examples Svvasorie to the careful regard of one brother to another 129 A Letter Responsorie to the same Epistle 132 Epistle Svvasorie to perseuerance in learned and profitable studies 135 Places Disvvasorie or counsailing from a thing 138.39.40.41.42 And example Disvvasorie disvvading one from the marriage of his daughter to an old vvelthie miser 143 Epistle Disvvasorie from vices ingenerall 148 Epistle Diswasorie from entâ—ing into an action dangerous 151. Places Conciliatorie or meanes to induce fauour 158. Epistle Conciliatorie from one of good accompt to his inferiour 159. Epistle Conciliatorie from one equall to an other 160. Epistle Responsorie annswering the first of these letters 162. Epistle Responsorie to the latter 163. Places reconciliatorie or of reconciliation 164. Example Reconciliatorie from one friend to an other 165. Epistle Reconciliatorie from an inferiour to his better 168. Places Petitorie or of requiring suing or intreating 169.70.71 Example Petitorie in a cause indifferent 172. ExaÌ„ple Petitorie in the nature of recoÌ„ciliatioÌ„ froÌ„ a son to his father 174 Epistle Petitorie for trauell and councell in an vrgent cause 177. An other of the same 178. A letter Responsorie thereunto 179. Epistle Peti torie of an other maner of request 180. An other of the like effect 181. An other Example to the same purpose 167. Places Commendatorie or recommending of persons 185. An example Commendatorie from a mean person to a noble man 186 Letter Responsorie to the same 187. An other Epistle Commendatorie 188. An Example Commendatorie from a noble man to his inferiour 194. An other from a noble man in preferrement of his seruaunt 195. An other from the same in fauour of Iustice. 192. An example Responsorie of deniall to any of these 193. An other wherein is allowance giuen to the demaund 19â— The third wherein is doubtfull acceptante made of the same 196. A Letter Commendatorie pleasantly conceipted in recommending an vnprofitable â—eruaunt 198. Places Consolatorie or of comforting in distresse 200.201.202.203 An example Consolatorie vpon the death of a sonne â—04 Epistle Consolatorie in causes of hard extremitie 201. Epistle Consolatorie on the death of her husband 211. Partes Consolatorie 217.218 Epistle Consolatorie pleasantly written 219. Epistle Responsorie to be conferred to the Epistles Consolatorie 222. Places Monitorie forewarning or discoÌ„mending a thing 223.24.25.26 Example Monitorie to a stated and well gouerned life 227. Epistle Monitorie to the reformation of a couetous life 231. Epistle Monitorie to a father to preuent his sonnes lewd demeanor 229 Partes Amatorie or of loue The discourse whereof including letters sâ—â—â—ed vpon diuers sondâ—ie effectes continueth to the end of the book Almost all of which Epistles before set downe were â—owe sodenly by the Author ordered and inuented to their seuerall examples ¶ THE ENGLISH Secretorie CHAP. I. Of an Epistle the commoditie and vse thereof TOuching an Epistle which usually we terme a letter no other definition needeth therof then that which vse and common experience hath induced vnto vs. A Letter therefore is that wherein is expressye conueied in writing the intent and meaning of one man immediately to passe and be directed to an other and for the certaine respects thereof is termed the messenger and familiar speeche of the absent for that all occurrences whatsoeuer are thereby as faythfully aduertized pursued and debated as firmely might fall out in any personall presence or other wise to be remembred The antient vse wherof is such as from the beginning siâ—ce characters were first found hath had his continuaunce and euer since as a faythfull and secrete Ambassadour hath remayned of him from whome the foremost title hath had his direction and framing Their diuersities are sundry as whereof ensueth a platforme to euery motion beeing in truth so manifolde as are the imaginations of each mans fantasie seeing that the declaration of euery Letter is no more then what the minde in all occasions willeth to haue perfourmed and according to such instigations wherwith at that instant men are fedde when they write taketh his formall substaunce whether it be to require councell exhort commaund informe commende entreat confirme or whatsoeuer other intent determination or purpose therein had as cause and matter may fall out to be in anye sort required To grow into the particularities of euerye benefite receaued by the common vse hereof and the commoditye thereby ensuing what might be sayde more then that which by due course euery man hath almost in practize If you aske of the learned the vniuersall contentment recerued thereby expressed in sundrytheir authorities will testifie who the rather to aduaunce the efficacie hereof haue by diuers methodes and orders prescribed in wrytinge set downe the perfect instruction vse and meane wherby men the rather may be induced to the skilfull perfection that in a matter of such excellency is to be required For besides that the Epistles of Cicero Lucian Politiaen and others are plentifully extant some also of the thoysest and beste learned of late yeares haue endeuoured by writing to publishe in the Latine tongue their sundry methodes touching the same among whom Erasmus euermore famous for his studies and Macropedius at large Lodouicus Viues and Hegâ—ndorphimus Learnedlye yet brieflye each of them well approuing the goodnes in that by seuerall rules they haue distinguiâ—hed the diuersities ground and skilful directions thereof To dwell in tedious discourses were but friuolous although others might in like maner be alleadged in examples as copious But now if you will demaund of the vnlearned they then to whom the want hereof breedeth so diuers imperfections as with many wishes they could desire to be amended knowing how greenous it is to participate their moste secreat causes to an other and to laye up their chiefest trust in the affiaunce of an others credite can be wray vnto you And although pregnant wit ensuinge by nature was th◠〈◊〉 cause that firste bred the inuention of letters And that euery man naturallye can speake and set downe his own meaning yet Art preuailing in the cause and by cunning skill marshalling euery thing in his due order proportion and place how much
in speeches as when he directeth his seruaunt to seethe a peece of saltfish or dresse a messe of potage but such shalbe the stile as is the account of the partie to whome it must goe and the weight of the cause that is to be handled that is loftie when it is required neate pliable or more meane if so it ought to be respected onely prouiding that whatsoeuer or to whome soeuer we write we alwayes giue our selues as neere as may be to the moste likely and best kinde of deliueraunce auoyding all nicenesse and farre fet fines to be vsed therein the matter hereof being but such as if a man would by orderly speache eyther weightily grauely pleasantly or familiarly discourse or commune of his affaires respectiuely touching the person cause and in no poynt otherwise This onely difference in letters as in all other speaches that eche man studie for his indeuour to write commendably as in speeche he gaineth moste praise that speaketh most excellently CAP. III. Of Breuitie THe next obseruation in an epistle is y e we doe accustome our selues vnto breuitie of speach This kind of breuitie is not as some vndiscreetly haue imagined that which consisteth in fewnesse of lines and shortnesse of roome in shewe of a side of paper but breuitie of matter wherein scope sufficient remayning for the necessarie demonstration and deliuerie of any needfull occasion men are barred from friuolous circumstances and especially enioyned therein to abhorre all maner of tediousnes For which cause some and those a good sort haue bene whose opinions haue affirmed that continuance of matter ought not to be vsed in a letter for that the nature of an Epistle is thereby barred and it rather taketh vpon it the habite of an oration then an epistle To this kinde of continuance are subiect epistles petitorie and hortatorie suche also as in commendation or vituperation of a thynge or person are consequentlie framed the occasions whereof doe manye times inuite greater suggestions and farre larger circumstaunces for approbation or diminution then any other according as cause and matter is in each of them requieed The tolleration of which notwithstāding ineither of these besides also that it is both very meete and greatly necessarie in such an Epistle both examples of many learned vsers thereof and warrant of common custome haue geuen argument sufficient insomuch as for y e better manifestation either of the goodnesse or badnes incident to anye of those causes it seemeth of greatest furtheraunce and thereunto most conuenient And albeit the length of suche kinde of letters may sometimes peraduenture amount to so grosse substaunce as maie rather appeare to be a discourse then an Epistle yet in perusing the effects therof it may fall out that little or nought at all may happely be found that shalbe beyond or besides the matter whereon such district examination hauing passed and nothing therein deemed vnnnecessarie to the argument me thinkes euen in that plentie of deliueraunce also the breuitie here in required should nothing at all be omitted For who knoweth not that is but meanly learned that when to be briefe is commended in writing it is thereby alwaies intended that a man with only necessarie speeches may be pardoned to deliuer his meaning neyther is it without the limits of breuitie when aptly and at full the same shalbe in this sorte reported And for the better declaration vnto the ignorant how farre the conceite hereof may be induced onely in writing of letters I will first limite what may be accompted necessarie therein and afterwarde endeuour to laye downe how contrary thereunto men as well in the vse as neglecting thereof haue heretofore erred Necessarie speeches I doe accomp twhatsoeuer is set downe for the playne and open deliuerie of euery occasion to thintent the minde of the writer and what hee pursueth may aptly and in good and ready sorte be playnly conceaued The repugnancie hereof is when eyther with insufficient tearmes or too muche curtolling our argumentes in conceite to auoyde tediousnesse or otherwyse with often iterating neuer thinking to haue spoken sufficiently of a matter eyther to induce remembraunce or put forward our meaning wee abbreauiate or amplifie our Epistles and when some others also of a conceit more curious then necessary striuing to excell in variety of sentences and copy of wordes coyned all of one suite think therefore in paining them-selues to write more then needes to be counted more eloquent These imperfections as eche of them in trueth are farre different from that necessary heerein required so are they indeed to be blamed and each of them where the defect remayneth with study to be amended Hee therefore that desireth to be an imitator of these directions let hym first be warned especially that as the rockes of Scylla hee doe abandon all kynde of strange and vnused termes straunge I meane for theyr insufficiencie in not accordyng to the matter tying himselfe in suche sorte to breuitie as that the argument of hys Epistle lye not so obscure that it rather seemeth a riddle needing some Oedipus to interpret it then a formall declaration of his meaning behemently giuing himselfe to auoyde all superfluitie of wordes friuolous and vayne repetitions wherein one and the selfe same thing is iterated still spoken of and continuallie inforced Let him alwayes suppose that in deliuering of anye matter the best obseruation is in playness sorte that may be to laye downe th' effectes inferring afterwardes lessening or proouing what vnto the weight of the argument may bee thought moste correspondent not regardyng so muche to haue choyse of wordes as perfection of sentences and those not vnnecessary or amplified superfluously ouer and besides the needefull setting forth of the matter The errour of this ouermuche hathe beene so common to manie men as those who haue not beene supposed vnlearned haue manie tymes by a ryfe and plentifull conceite of inuention eftsoones incurred the same but not in one kinde with the others The fault whereof in them hathe manie wayes beene the lesse imputed because by skill and learned discretion they haue bene able not vnorderly to put downe the same In which action of theyrs diuers the moste excellent haue bene of opinion that in choyse of two extremities the more rather then the les might therin with greater praise be admitted To constrayne a Gyantes foote within a childes shooe were both ridiculous for the possibilitie and insufficient for the wearyng for that of necessitie the moste part must bee disfurnyshed the shade of the whole foote beeyng altogether yet vntouched much more tollerable were it of the twayne to cast the Gyauntes garment vppon an infantes shoulders the shewe whereof albeit boysterous and the carriage tedious yet the attire beeing of the finer stuffe there may be drawne thereof many good partes to the fashioning of a more seemely garment and remain afterwardes as pleasing to the beholders as comely for the wearers Among many that
I haue vnto you all most hartely wished I had almoste let slippe my commendations vnto your brother which for anye thinge I woulde not had beene forgotten vppon whome as of greatest choyce I will make my reposing The lyking I haue to N. maketh me heere to remember him whose good demeanour as your owne I haue in chiefest reconinge My greetinges and paper haue all one ende togeather onely our friendship indissoluble can neuer be forgotten Thinke how exceedinglye I haue alwayes well wished vnto you and accordingly therevnto measure the rest of mine affection towardes you Haste compelleth me to ende sooner then I woulde wherein notwithstandinge I can neuer omitte sufficientlye to greete you eftsoones recognizing as behooueth your especiall good likinge towardes me I ende as becommeth me Innumerable of these and suche like might be imagined both in greetinges and farewels the course whereof beeing furnished with suche varietie as it is I haue left the residue vnto the conceipt of the Reader accompting the plenty heerein set downe for anye studious follower to be already sufficient And now to Supscriptions the diuersities whereof are as beste they maye be allotted in sence to eyther of these to be placed forewarned alwayes vnto the vnskilfull heerein that writing to anye personne of accompt by how much the more excellent hee is in calling from him in whose behalfe the Letter is framed by so muche the lower shall the Subscription therevnto belonging in any wise be placed And if the state of honour of him to whome the Letter shall be directed doe require so much the verye lowest margent of paper shall doe no more but beare it so be it the space be seemelye for the name and the roome fayre inough to comprehende it which Subscriptions in all sorts to be handled shall passe in this order or substaunce to be framed Your L. most deuoted and loyally affected Your Honours moste assured in whatsoeuer seruices Your L. in whatsoeuer to be commanded The most affectionate vnto your L. of all others He that hath vowed to liue and die in your Honorable seruice Your L. most faithfull and obedient Sonne Your Lad. louing and obedient Daughter UUho but by your L. is only to be commaunded UUhose heart is your honours and his lyfe by your L. to bee disposed He that lyueth not but for your worship and to doe you seruice UUhose regarde stretcheth vnto your worship more then vnto any others He that vnto your worship hath vowed to becomme most assured UUhom none haue euer so much bound as the desertes of your L. Your Lordsh. in all humblenes Your honours euer to bee commaunded At your worships gentle commaund Your Lad. moste bounden and affectionate At your honourable direction Alwayes attendaunt vpon your L. pleasure Your worships in all good accompt Yours euer louing and moste assured To none so much as your selfe He that in all accompts tendreth your welfare Whom by your only courtesie you haue euer conuinced The same which I expect from you and not otherwise Such as I am or as you wishe to finde me He that in his likinge is onelye yours UUhome you haue euer knowne but neuer approoued UUhose liking onelye accompteth of your worthynesse Suche as you haue euer founde mee and not otherwise wise Yours in whatsoeuer to bee employed More charie of your welfare then carefull of him selfe Yours as you like to haue me Yours faithful and euer assured Yours or not his owne He who found you but neuer knew you He that once fauored you but sithence hath vowed neuer to regarde you Whose liking by your ingratitude hath beene quenched In whose accompt you once were but now abandoned Who once wished to loue but coulde neuer hate thee Whom thy deserts haue made an enemye Whom hereby you may winne if you list for euer to become a friend To each one louing but of thee most charie Whose hart shall fayle in any thing sooner then in conceipt towards thee He whose in loyaltye thou dideâ—t protest to bee UUho liueth not but to pursue thee UUho euer looked on but neuer loued thee The same as you left me Such as you saw when you parted from me The same and none other which I haue euer seemed to be UUhose word hath bound him and faith shall assure him Yours most affectioned Yours deuoted till death Yours whilst life swayeth in mine inward parts Yours as farforth as any others c. with many other applications whose Epithets are infinite and rather vpon the cause suggested then otherwise to be euermore added altered or couceaued These as the others may onelye suffice for the present purpose referring what to be expected to the regarde of a more curious or delicate inuention And heerein I thought good to aduertize the learner that some-times it falleth out that this acknowledgment of duety mentioned in the beginning of the greetinges and farewelles is in diuers Letters expressed in the foremost part and the Exordium therevppon framed for that the same in truth is one of the partes therevnto belonging effected in the personne or condition of him to whom we wryte which to doe if in his writing also the same may be deemed necessary he maye then vse some other order of Farewell or taking leaue eyther by imitation of others or if he thinke meete what herein els prescribed consonant and agreeing to the state and reputation of the same partie to whome he wryteth Now then shall follow the directions which on the outside of euery Letter the same beeing made vp and sealed are for the moste part infixed and commonly are termed by the name of Superscriptions CAP. VIII Of Superscriptions and directions AMonge the auntient Romaines when learning firste grew vnto skilfull perfection and men first deuised excellentlye to write there then beganne to be extant in memorye diuerse formes of wrytinge immediatelye by the name and title of Epistles to be published to the posteritie In the directions whereof animated as I thinke with the virtues of their parents and accompting it as in truth it was then so reputed to be a great honour vnto them to be intituled with the adopted name of the principall authour of their families they sought no farther stile of magnificence but were his parentage neuer so statelye or honourable beeing therewith contented did onely vppon such regarde intitle their directions For who that hath beene but ordinarilye acquainted with the histories of their actes but knoweth and hath read with what reuerence those tymes greedye of virtue fame and glory entertaigned the honourable desertes of suche as for the common-wealth and publique aduauncement of the state haue eyther aduenturouslye hazarded or couragiously lost a frayle vncertaine or transitorie lyfe to the intent to purchase vnto their Countrye quiet honour or victorie and to them selues and posteritie eternized fame and euer flourishing glorye Neither was their countrye vnkinde vnto them heerein which for their sakes and for the reuerend regarde of
see thee whether and to thy selfe I do most heartely commend me this c. THis Reconciliatorie beeing different from that other Conciliatorie Epistle by reason y e argument therof tendeth to renue that which formerly might by the other be before intreated for carrieth the effects therof as well as it doth betwene equalls so from an inferiour person to one who in reputation is somewhat more then his better Upon presumption of whose fauour or by negligence of hys own dealing hauing thrown himself into som disgrace â—â— such a party hee may by meanes heerein offered reconcile himself in any sorte he list of humilitie To y e furtherance whereof this example following may be considered An Epistle Reconciliatorie from an inferior person to one that is his better PLeaseth my honorable good L. It was giuen me to vnderstand about two dayes passed by M. R. that your L. shuld very hardy conceiue of me in that vpon some vrgent occasion I delaieed to yeelde that testimony vnto his cause whiche in equitie and reason I ought to doe and the rather for that by your L. earnest entreatie and request I was estsoones thereunto required The griese was not small I susteined thereby in that hauing receiued so manie and sondrie benefites by your honourable fauour accomplished towardes me whereby diuers wayes I remaine in duty and honesty charged during my life vnto the same that by one bad supposall vntimely suggested vnto your L. hearing I should stand on so great a hazard as the aduenture or losse of your good opinion the recouery whereof as I conieâ—ured shoulde â—resolutelye seeme for that onelye cause to be opposed against me Your L. doth I hope remember that in my last speeches had with you about the same matter albeit before that time I stoode on some termes doubting the malicious dealinges of the aduerse party otherwise against me in reuengment of my plain and honest testimony therin yet at the last was it concluded that I shuld gather together al the notes ministring furtherance to the cause therupoÌ„ deliuer my true and certain remembrance on record touching concerning the same What care I haue fithence vsed in the matter and vpon intelligence had with M. R. how vehemently then in satisfaction of what might anye wayes content your L. and be furthering to his right I still prosecuted the vttermost effectes thereof I had rather himself shuld deliuer theÌ„ I to become a reporter In somuche as I well know how euer any others haue miss-informed your L. against me himselfe as a gentleman will yet vpon his worde assure the truth and certaintie I did I must confesse at the first vse some delays in the immediate dispatche of the thing but how and in what maner and to what ende and purpose let hym also relate Your L. I hope will therefore doe me that right as not to be euill perswaded towardes me in a cause wherein I haue vppon your honorable assurance and commaund entered so farre foorth into as therby I stand assured to haue purchased vnto my selfe matter inough of hatred and by those whome hauing refused by my silence to entertaine as my assured friendes I haue by such meanes enhabled sufficiently to become my heauie and moste bitter ennemies The hatred of whom cannot vnto me any waies become so iniurious as the ill conceite of your L. should redounde to be of all others most greeuous For mine own part so much doe I stand on the reuerend regarde and accompte I beare vnto your L. as were it not I rest perswaded that vpon the equall deliueraunce conceiued of my willing minde vnto your seruice you would againe be reconciled in fauourable and good opinion towardes me I should so farre forth be discontented in my imaginations as neuer coulde I be at attonement with myne actions wherin by the least sparke of negligence whatsoeuer I might haue ouerslipped anie thing that shuld become displeasing or otherwise offensiue to the same Your L. wonted honour and bountie geueth me great expectation of the contrary and mine innocencie and true report of maister R. doth also in some sort assure me Wherupon remaining as he that alwaies thinketh his life no better spent then for and in your L. vtmost seruice to be continued I huÌ„bly surcease this day of c. THe manner of these Epistles might in an other purpose then herein expressed be also applied as beeing Reconciliatorie in the behalfe of some other to be written as occasion may be offered but forasmuche as they in that sorte beeing handled doe for the moste parte fall into the Swasorie or Disswasorie kinde in the order of whiche theyr arguments are chiefly to be continued I deeme it besides necessitie to write any example at all concerning them for that when any suche shalbe brought in question the substance and conueyance of the state and cause may readily to the same be drawne out of the places sorted vnto eache of those kindes as in the discourse before is at large remembred For proofe whereof let it be considered that if by an Epistle of thys title I should endenour to reconcile a man to his wife or a woman to her husband a seruaunt to his maister or a maister to his seruaunt the father and the childe the friend to a friend the neighbour to neighbour or kinsman to kinred Needes must I for the compassing thereof shew some reasons how and which waie to induce these and therefro must I of necessitie ronne into diuers perswasions in the qualitie wherof by whatsoeuer action I goe about to transpose the effectes must needes be coÌ„cluded Suffiseth therfore y e for these epistles I haue deliuered sufficiently and heerewith will wee made vnto the next which in order hereunto are Petitorie And inasmuch as these Epistles are so named for the earnest Petition or request in euery of them conteined and that the varietie of things are such to be demaundes and mens conditions so diuers at whose hands or from whome the same are to be receaued required or obtained it falleth out by consequence that according thereunto the manner of the Epistle must needes also be diuers and variable For some thinges there are which fauourably and with great indifferencie are oftentimes to bee required and bestowed as councell aide patronage good speeches naturall care and regard such other like Some also and such semblable persons as for whiche or to whome to aske or sue a certaine kind of shame is in a maner tied viz. in crauing borrowing importuning charging or to vehement troubling The stile and order deliuerie appertaining to either of these is greatly different Touching the generalitie of both to either of them it is requisite that in the Exordium an endeuor be vsed wherby to adhibite vnto vs the good will fauor or good liking of him to whom we write Next that therein we proceede accordyng to our acquaintance with the party his estate credit or support whereby to pleasure vs. Thirdly
theÌ„ handled as no doubt you can shall greatly auaile to my speedye dispatch Monday is the day wherein I am like to win the goale which without you I shal neuer attaine vntoÌ„ for which your friendly action both in this that already done I vow to God while I shal liue to be whole at your cÌ„omaundement I haue sent this bearer to attend you to those places and therwith my most harty commendations vnto your self and your bedfellow whom I pray you to thank for her courtesie and let her vnderstand that if euer I shall haue libeâ—ty I wil be more thankful then either my wordes can import or at this instant is in my power to manifest Expecting neuerthelesse as much by you to be satisfied as if there were in me to bee hoped a greater recompence I praye you sir acquaint not this bearer with the cause who thereunto is as yet a straunger and so I meane shall continue notwithstanding I doe now vse his trauaile for the present turne My last conclusion requireth your conuenient hast for the performance of this occasion in the consideration whereof I praye you to measure me as your moste regarded friende who in all actions whatsoeuer shall bee still bent to the becke of your assured liking c. MUch more might be handled in this kind the method whereof is one of the moste ordinarye of any sortes of Letters that are invited for that the greatest number of directions are commonly concluded in this matter the requestes whereof doc either specially concerne the wryter or are otherwise to be respected in the behalfe of some other The occasion of which hath caried herein the plentie of so many examples that by manifesting the diuersities of their orders and vses the learner might not want wherein to be directed and choyce of varietie wherwith to be delighted Now besides these hereby already deliuered ther are letters also might besuted vnder this form which from noble men or others are many times written in fauour of sondry persons containing requestes in their behalfes to be perfourmed which notwithstanding the difference of estates in that the same doe for the most part passe vnto their inferiours yet seemeth the nature thereof to be Petitorie but in a different order of these to be altogeather pursued Insomuch as neither agreeth it to vse lyke circumstaunces of humilitie and entreatie nor of pleasures or courtesie as in the other are required but rather a necessarie supposall and assuraunce of their demaundes to be hearkned vnto in respect that of their honours reputations or credites it is intended they will require nothing but what with reasonable tolleration may be liked of But in truth Hold the vse of such kind of directions in choice of both rather pertinent vnto the title Commendatorie for that whatsoeuer is therein written in fauour either of the person or of the cause maye in respect of the honor or reputation from whom they come be better deemed in sort of a courteous demaunde to recommend the regard of the partie or thing spoken of then by the submissiue title of a matter craued or by any order of humilitie otherwise to be sought for for these causes I haue thought meet therefore to adioyne immediatly herevnto the same Epistles Commendatorie being so nearelye affined with those of Petitorie as they are To these Epistles belongeth diligent animaduersion that for asmuch as in them the parts both Demonstratiue and Deliberatiue are vsed as well in describing and perswading what in the person or action is either to be liked or commended we continue not ouer much vppon either of the twaine especially writing to such a one who being so farre before vs our selues may also seeme in some sort to depend vpon but with such breuitie to carrie the force thereof as it maye thoroughly appeare the waight of our speeches rather to stand as a testimonie of that we know or conceiue then a disputation of a matter or thing like to be The places appertaining vnto the kindes heereof are altogeather as in the Petitorie are already declared chieflye when the same intendeth to a cause by writing preferred to be fauoured But if the Epistle do concerne the person of anye one to be respected we muste beware that in the credible deliuerie of whatsoeuer occasion tendinge to his praise of matter of preferment we doe the same either by warrant of our owne knowledge or by such certaine report of others whose assured opinion can not bee misled in concluding the action And otherwise if neither of these do in truth fall out to be certified then shal we shew what informacion we haue besides our owne conceipt or peraduenture no other assurance at all but our owne simple liking Peticions also are frequented in requiring fauour to these causes wherein standeth in biest regard the state countenaunce or authority of him from whom the letter is framed who accordingly therunto may desire that the rather at his request or vpon his sute or for his sake or in regard of his liking the person maye be accompted of or the action furthered Besides it may be added to the increase of a more speedy perfourmance the loue if any be or occasion thereunto sorting we owe to him we commend or in whose fauor we write either solie for himself or conuaied from his friendes his parentes the consideration of his charge of wife children or seruants the wrong offered benefit to be attained or whatsoeuer other matter to be deemed requisite or conuenient Now from whence or out of what instigations the matter of such commendation is to be drawne you haue in the generall chapters of this booke already at large The circumstaunces of which and whatsoeuer els hereby forewarned shall in the ensuing examples be more at large deliuered An example Commendatorie wherin is recommended to a noble man from his inferiour the condicions and behauiour of a Person IT may please your good L. This Gent. the bearer hereeof with whom a long time I haue bene acquainted of his qualities and good behauiour haue had sounde and large experiment hauing bene a good time a sutor vnto me to mooue his preferment vnto your L. seruice I haue now at the last coÌ„discended vnto aswel for that I know your L. to be now presentlye disfurnished of such a one as also that there shall hardly be preferred vpon a soden any one so meet as him selfe to supplye that place And thus much by your L. pardon and allowaunce date I assure vnto you that if it may please you in credite of my simple knowledge and opinion to employ him you shall finde that besides he is by parentage discended from suche as of whom I know your L. will verye well accompt of he is also learned discreet sober wise and moderate in al his actions of great secrecie and most assured trust gouerned in al companies accordingly finally a man so meet vnto