Selected quad for the lemma: cause_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
cause_n	child_n	great_a	parent_n	1,520	5	8.2359	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A00941	A panoplie of epistles, or, a looking glasse for the vnlearned Conteyning a perfecte plattforme of inditing letters of all sorts, to persons of al estates and degrees, as well our superiours, as also our equalls and inferiours: vsed of the best and the eloquentest rhetoricians that haue liued in all ages, and haue beene famous in that facultie. Gathered and translated out of Latine into English, by Abraham Flemming.; Panoplie of epistles.	Cicero, Marcus Tullius.; Ascham, Roger, 1515-1568.; Fleming, Abraham, 1552?-1607.	1576 (1576)	STC 11049; ESTC S102286	389,703	458

is vsed in the 11. Epi. of the firste booke where he writeth to Vatinius * He maketh a gappe to his good will by ripping vppe to remembrance a bene fite receiued●… ▪ of which bene fite Valerius Max. lib. 4. Cap. 2. * In Dalmatia * The name Dalmatia is deriued of the ●…itie Daimnium as Strabo ●…ith Lib. 7. * The letter of Vatinius wh●…r unto this is an ans●… was lost as it is cu●…dent to p●…oue * It appeareth by this th●…t Dionisius was in the handes and power of Vatinius * This Seruilius was Ciceroes fellowe in the office of the Augurshippe * In the Augu●…ship Philip 2. Dio. lib. 4. * Who beeing surnamed Isauricus of Isaurū in Pamphilia left the same name to his sonne as a por tion of his inheritance * As a son ne of so vertuous an inclination which is a iew el of exceeding great ioy e. * That famous Philosopher in the peripateticall profession Ep. 21. lib. 10. and lib ●… 3. of Offices * Looke in Flauius V●…getius for the better vnderstanding of Plenus gradus militum * Or whiles we were in the Shippe had not so many matters wheraboutes to be occupied * The write●… and deuiser of Satyres * For this Trebonius was one of them that mur thered Caesar. * From the sorowe of himselfe for it is a kinde of consolatiō when wee signifie our selues to be touched with mu tual sorowe * From the condition of all men * From the state of the times * From the comparing of ●…ood thinges * From the feare of commune calamitie * Frō hope of restitution * Because it was vniust * Frō the opinion of men * Caesar. * Who at such time as he was Tribune of the people brought Cicero home again out of banishment * This is apparant in the Oration made for Sextius * Acording to the tenure of Caesars Lawe concerning valuation lib. 3. comment de bello ciuili * When as Cae sar notwithstanding hated ●…uche as were of the sect of Sylla * Signifying somewhat aboue bare friendshippe * He claimeth courtesie by pleading of modestie * For none might be a Senatour vnlesse his possessions were worth D. C. C. C. thousandes Suetonius in Augusto None might be a Gentleman of armes vnles he were worth CCCC thousandes None might be L. Chamberlaine or high counsellour vnlesse his abilitie were a. C. thousandes not onely whiles the cōmon wealthe was standing but in the times of the Emperours as Plinie reporteth in an Epistle * I Thinke that this P. Sulpicius and P. Vatinius vnto whom certain Epistles in the 6. booke are written had the rule and charge of Illyricum by ●…e commaun dement of Caesar. * Of him is menciō made Ep. 9. lib. 15. to the same effect * I finde nothing thereof written saue that it was a riuer in Dalmatia now called Narenta Ptol. lib. 2. cap 17. but it should seeme in this place to be the name of some countrie * This L. Philippus was as I suppose bro ther to Lu. Phi lippus father in Lawe to Au gustus L. F. ●… ▪ N. * It appeareth that Laodicea at that time belonged to the gouernment of Asia and not to Cilicia for Asia was in the administration and rule of Seruilius Ep. 68. lib. 13. * So farr forth to be his mainteiner as your owne honestie and the worthinesse of your owne person will suffer Ep. 22. lib. 1●… 31. 32. lib. 13. * As I coniceture this was T●… Claudius Nero from whom Augustus lead away L●…uia great with childe * As who should say is great * Meaning aboue named Nero. * And also Pausanias Alaba●…densis * And also Pausanias Alaba●…densis * Citizens of N●…a ▪ a citie in Lydia * Straaboes cause defended by Nero. * In the whiche Ne●…oes vertues may be ●…eene * Vpon Nero who will deserue your great courtefie * I thinke him to be the very same whom in the second booke of his familiar Epistes he cōmendeth to Coelius * From suche as vsed preten ces playing the counterfectes * He hath put himselfe into many dangerous ●…duentutes * Whom Plime reporteth to haue liued a hundred yeares and eight * For Pom peius had lost Italie Spaine as hereafter in this present epistle is mencioned * For affiniti●… sake because Dolabella ma ried Cicero his daughter * By which circumstances he obteyned that surname of●… Mag nus to be called ▪ Pōp●…ie the great * In Spaine * At Dyrrachium * From that which is profitable * From that which is honest The like to this is in Virgil. To Priam thy coun●…rie Th' ast shewed sufficiēt duetie * Pompeius was assaulted and set vppon at Dyrrhachium a citie in Sicilie now as some suppose called Durazo * He was no lōger sonne in law to Cicero ▪ for he Tullia were diuor ced Lib. 11. epist. ad Articū * Meaning Bae iae a towne in Campania ful of pleasaunt commodities Epist. 12. lib. 9. where it shold seeme he was or else in Cumano or Tusculano ‖ Because you ouer●…hrew the piller and the altar which was erected to Caesar of purpose to make him a God. * For Dolabel la Antonie were fellowe Consuls * Homer in Iliad lib. 1. who being ●… king ●…ad the 〈◊〉 o●… th●… 〈◊〉 in who●…e 〈◊〉 we●…e ●…ny king●…s * H●… 〈◊〉 hi●…●…is 〈◊〉 ●…pi ▪ 17. lib 8. 7. ●… lib ●… * Ad Attic●…m Epi. 17. li. 1●… * M. Antonius Dolabella his fellowe Con●…ul whose mother s●…ued asterward L. Cae●…ar her bro ther when hee was a proscript or outlawe * Appi lib. 4 de bello ciuili * Because it sprang not frō mee as from the natur●…ll stocke and ▪ therfore I am to craue and not to chalēg * On the v●…rie same day that he and his cōpanions slewe Caesar Epi. 28. Lib. 10. * The latine copie hath Amare and Diligere the first exceedeth the last Epist. 1. ad M. Bru●…um Clodius saith hee Valde me diligit fauoureth me great ly * For the people are better pleased with clemencie gentlenes ▪ thē with 〈◊〉 and sharpnes Ad Atticum lib. 10. Epi. 4. * That euery man thought you might lawfully take reuengement vpon all those which erected and raised vp a piller or columne to the deifying of Cael●…r * As if he said That which re maineth is loked for of you to be per fourmed * The names of two seruāts the last of whi che was a carrier of letters * Meaning his carefulnes whereunto he hath relatiō * De diuina li. 1. de sini lib 5 the same order of speach had pacuuiu●… and Africanus the lesser vsed Festus Scneca Lib. 19. Epist. * Rome whiche he preferreth b●…fore Athens For euery mā doth rat●…er cōmēd his owne natu ral countrie thē a foreign●… and straunge region * Rome whiche he preferreth b●…fore Athens

but what so euer he doth is in hop●… to be considered and recompenced IF the causes of our friendship were not manifold grounded vpon iustice and conscience I would make a rehearsal of the first beginnings and as I may say the séedes or blossomes of the same from our progenitours parents Which thing they ought to attempt in my thinking that haue had an eye to the acquaintance and familiaritie of their fathers but haue not sealed the same with the signets of their owne courtebus behauiour and liberall disposition in friendly du●…ulnesse Wherefore I will holde my selfe satisfied with our priuate friendship and therein shewe that I am well contented vpon hope and affiance whereof I presume to be your petitioner and the summe of my request is this that in myne absence it would please you to be my present tutor and de●…ender in all cases states suites and controuersies depending vpon necessitie if you are of opinion that no part or portion of your welwilling and well doing to me should lye fainting betwéene life and death that is neyther forgotten nor vnremembred Fare you well Cicero to Bithynico ¶ THE ARGVMENT He declareth with what a feruent desire of leading his life with Bithy nico hee is inflamed and kindled and professeth that he loueth him as dearely as one friende can loue another with all sinceritie and perfectnesse I Desire for many considerations that yet at the length the common wealth might be restored to tranquillitie and set frée from all tumultes and cruell insurrections yea for this I wish to s●…e that gratious time trust my words that I may be the more earnest to challenge interest in your promise which in your letters vnto me directed is e●…ppessed For the contentes and argument of your Epistle is that if thinges might growe to that issue you woulde leade your life in my companie Moste acceptable vnto me is the honest inclination of your will and your doings differ not from the kinde of acquaintaunce nor yet seeme to be at disagréement with your fathers iudgement and opinion who was a man of great countenaunce and reputation concerning me For let this be the groundworke and absolute building of your hope that in greatnesse of benefites they which at times preuailed or may yet beare away the best are nearer vnto you then I but in friendship goodwill and mutuall loue no man my match or equall Wherefore as well the memorie of our acquaintance and societie in you remaining to me is most acceptable and the towardnesse of your will to inlarge and establish the same very approuable Fare you wel Cicero to Pompeio THE ARGVMENT In this Epistle is contained an expostulation or reasoning ▪ why Pom peius did not so much as vo●…chsafe to sende him a gratulatorie letter that is an Epistle of thankes sithence the weightines●…e of suche a matter as the beating downe of Catilines conspiracie deserued some duetie IF you and your armie be in health it is well The pleasure which I together with al y rest did reape in reading your letters that you sent openly to be knowne was incredible excéeding all beliefe For therein you declared so great hope of ease and quietnesse as I promised to all men vpon confidence of your priuate person the onely procurement of my bolde presumption But thus muche vnderstande you your olde aduersaries nowe your newe friendes are not only vehemently astonished with your epistle but being quite spoyled of the great affiance wherevnto they trusted are vtterly discomforted Concerning that letter which was directed and sent vnto me although therein but a bare argument and a naked signification of your will towardes me was comprehended yet notwithstanding that it was pleasaunt and delectable vnto me I woulde not haue you ignoraunt For euerie man doth of custome reioyce in nothing so much as in the certaine and assured knowledge of his friendly seruice and dutifull pointes of courtesie So my conscience in that respect ministreth vnto me plentifull delectation Which benefites if they be not an one time or other satisfied with semblable recourse of seruice and mutual humanitie I am well contented that further tokens of friendly vsage in me lye still at quiet Of this one thing I doubt not but that if those thinges which I haue attempted to doe you good had purchased but indifferent curtesie on your part the cōmon welth wold soone set vs in attonement establish mutuall good will betwéene vs both But least it shoulde not be manifest vnto you what I desire to be done in your letters I will write openly and plainely as both my nature moueth and our friendship craueth Such things haue I compassed brought to perfection as deserue partly for our familiarities sake and partly for the common wealthes cause some courteous and thankful point of dutie in writing to be testified which I imagine to haue béene of you pretermitted through a certaine feare to offend least you might be thought to doe contrarie to the mynde of one man or other But be you hereof well persuaded that whatsoeuer we haue done for the safetie and preseruation of the weale publique the same by the iudgement of the world vniuersall is allowed and by common testimonie approued whiche at your comming hether you shall vnderstāde in such order to haue ben wrought not only with much wisedome but also with great courage and stoutnesse of stomach that with you a muche greater friend thē was Africanus I not much inferiour to Lelius shall gladly be knit and vnited as well in affaires touching the common wealth as also in faithfull loue and sound friendship Fare you well Cicero to Furfano ¶ THE ARGVMENT This Epistle is not brought into so notable an abridgement as it ser ueth for a perfect patterne or example of commendation SO great was mine acquaintance and familiaritie with A. Caecina that betwéene two friendes greater could not be established For we vsed the companie of his father very much a man of singular noblenesse speciall valliauntnesse And I haue so loued him from his childhoode both for the great hope of honestie which in his nature appeared and his excellent eloquence and also for that he hath ben conuersant with me a great portion of his time as well in exercises of friendly behauiour as also in desires studies dispositions common to vs both that I would not wish to leade my lyfe with any man more familiarly and louingly How necessarie it is therefore that I sée to his safetie and haue a regards to the protection and défence of his credite in what things so euer to the vttermost of mine abilitie you may by the sum of this letter be resolued It remaineth that when I haue attained the knowledge of this by many circumstances how your minde is affected touching the estate of good men and vertuously disposed and also what your meaning and intent is

the booke considering that what soeuer is vttered in such mennes hearing must bée done in printe as wée say in oure common Prouerbe Behold the head maister of the schole lysteneth what wée haue to say he waiteth when wée will buckle our selues to our buisinesse his eares are readie to receiue our reasoninges his handes are prepared to take our written papers hée refuseth not to bestow vppon vs his present seruice and loue The Usher with as much modestie on the other side is willing to giue vs the hearing and to determine the controuersie The rest also of oure instructours are in a readinesse to lysten attentiucly men of great learning and singular vnderstāding they looke vpon vs with a fauourable countenance and with a smiling face promise vs their beneuolence Wée must not bée affraid to take vppon vs this aduenture why shoulde wée auoide so profitable and so commendable an experience hauing at this present so gentle an audience Wée haue no cause to suspecte that-they will scoffe and mocke at our doinges though wée should speake scarse eloquently smoothly finely plaustbly pleasauntly artificially and Oratour like Let vs giue the onsett to this exercise ¶ The Proeme of a Declamation MOst learned audience you are not ignoraunt that euen knowledge it selfe hath a kinde of infancie and that Marcus Fabius beganne with his first elements aud principles before hée had that name and title which in processe of time he deserued The stronge Captaine and valliaunt warriour was once wrapped in swathling clowtes and lay crying in a wicker cradle Those graue and wise counsellours that are propps and pillers of Princes places and the columnes or maine postes of the weale publique though nowe for their knowledge and policie they drawe the mindes of people into an admiration yet the time hath béene wherein they had their first beginning going to schole and learning their Alphabet or A. B. C. Wil you require that at the hāds of a simple childe whose witt is but weake whose vnderstanding is slender whose iudgement is rawe which beséemeth Cicero that incomparable Rhetorician Will you lay a heauie and weightie burthen vppon the neckes and shoulders of a young beginner of a weakling of an infant which is able to make Demosthenes sincke vnder it and falter to the grounde No but you must haue due regard and consideration of yeares For olde age is not indued with the strength and lustines of gallant youth neither is youth furnished with the wisedome counsell grauitie and experience of sober old age c. Fare you well Macropedius to Chrysogono ¶ THE ARGVMENT This epistle conteineth three parts in respect of the persons namely him to whom it is written him by whom it is written and him in whose behalfe it is written In cōsideration of the matter it cōteineth foure partes in the first is comprehended the seeking of goodwil by circumstaunces In the second the causes that moued him to write c. In the third hee praiseth Gualtero whome hee commendeth to Chrysogono c. In the fourth hee toucheth the matter it selfe by circumstances well worthie of reading ▪ marking and learning BUt that I knowe of a certaintie your singular beneuolence not tēding to mine auaile alone but fréely testified to the profite of al such as loue learning albeit they bée méete straungers I should bée in doubt friend Chrysogono to interrupt the quietnesse of your studies through my temeriritie and rashnesse Neuerthelesse sythence I am not ignoraunt that for the renewing of old friendshipp your desire is rather to be sollicited then to the vtter vanishiug of acquaintaunce not at all to bée visited I armed my selfe with audacitie and in my friends behalfe I confesse mée your suppliaunt My welwiller Gualtero at whose hands you receiue these my letters is one whome I do most ardently loue and for his singular kindnesse vnto mée alwayes professed excéedingly fauour For euer since the time of his infancie hée hath exhibited vnto mée as to his father naturall passing reuerence duetifulnesse and obedience This man vnderstanding vndoubtedly that I was one of whome you did well thincke and estéeme and hoping also by the mediation of my letters vnto you to gett your fauour and furtheraunce béesought mée instantly to write vnto you in his cause that his suite might bée satisfied althoughe I mistrust not the modestie of the man his honestie and vertuous behauiours but that without our commendable certificate hée is like enoughe to please and preuaile For hée is a proper youthe descended of well disposed parentes though somewhat base in degrée and with substaunce not so well furnished His education and bringing vp was so good as it cannot bée misliked and from his tender yeares til this present day he hath béene not onely inclined to learning but 〈◊〉 ben●… y way with a ●…esire in maner irreu●…cable insomuch that thorough his owne diligence employed in exercises of knowledge and the good successe which the Gods haue graunted him in his procéedings hée hath reaped such pro●…te both in poeticall cōueyaunce and also in the fa●…ultie of R●…etorique that there is not so much as one comparable to him among al our scholers For what is too hard for him to compasse as you shall perceiue quickly if you take experience whose witt is s●… quicke and of so readie a capacitie His maners deserue cōmendation for no man hath séene him i●…oderate a●…●…eate and drincke no man hath taken him play●…ng any ●…ranck of l●…wdnesse like a wanton no man hath 〈◊〉 him 〈◊〉 or fighting no man hath taken him quarell●…ng and cōplayning but he hath alwayes béene obedient to his parents dutifull to his friends tractable towards his teachers gentle to al his companion●… and therefore beloued ●…hat ●…éedes multitude of woords in this matter Such a young 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is as good men doe ●…oth loue and laude 〈◊〉 at such 〈◊〉 as hée left our scholes prouiding to studie in your Uniuersitie hauing none acquaintance in Louane whose friendshipp conference hée might vse was desirous that through mine industrie and labour meanes might ●…ée made ●…o 〈◊〉 ●…uour with one or other to whose wisedome coun●…ll ●…elpe and assistance hée might committ himselfe and aboue all other did choose you whome hée knewe but by report to ●…ée to him in stéede of a father or gouernour Which thing sythence you want no abilitie frend Chrysogonus to perfourme sythence I say you may without any discōmodi●…ie redoun●…g to your owne person take vpō you this char●…e execu●…e this office sim ply iustly and according to the rule of a r●…ght cōscience to the greater increase and aduauncement of your vertue I beséech you heartily that you wil ●…ouchsafe this young man y benefite of your patronage and countenaunce in penurie in plentie in prosperitie in aduersitie in weale and woe finally in all chaunge●… and chaunces euen as you would doe to my 〈◊〉 and kinsfolkes if necessitie required that they should haue recourse ●…o your

their father through the benefite of the learning and knowledge whiche by your carefull meanes they haue attained may haue iu●… cause to reioyce at y happy successe of those labours which in trayning vp your yonglings were employed that I say you may in th●…m be cōforted that they may sée and perceiue in what dueties of obedience they are bounde to such good parents by whose bountie it is come to pa●…se that they are enabled both to aspire to preferment them selues and also to be meanes that others be ●…urthered Thus if you doe as I haue put you in mynde persuade your selfe that you can not be more vertuously disposed that you can not bestowe a more excellent thing vpon your children ●…or this though you should dye in pouertie which hard fortune be farre from my friendes and fauourers will be a sufficient patrimonie to mainteine them in their youth and to succour them in their age Besides that when your bones are putrified in the graue yet so long as the pledges of your presence are to be séene and viewed your children I meane the memorie of you shall flourish and such fame shall followe your name though your bo●…ie be deade as neuer shall ceasse to sounde your prayses among people farre and neare that by the mirrour of your doings they may be wonne sembl●…bly to sée their youthes taught and instructed that for their well doing they as you haue alreadie before them may reape an euerlasting commendation Forget not and Fare you well Macropedius to his Souereigne N. O. P. THE ARGVMENT In this Epistle following it is Macropedius his desire to set downe a perfect platfourme of a prince ▪ wherein vnder the person of Alexander whome hee comme●…deth as well for outwarde as inwarde qualities hee sheweth what manner of person a King or Emperour ought to be Hee beginneth first of all with the infancie of Alexander which ministred manifest and manifold probabilities of things which came afterwards to passe He proceedeth with his yonger yeres and declareth how he was then disposed Lastly hee concludeth with his estate when hee came to the possession of the kingdome after his father Philippes deceasse in al these digressions and discourses vnder the example of Alexander shewing howe a prince ought to apply him selfe if he intende to be famous after his death yet to liue among people ALexander * king of Macedonia whom I haue determined aboue al other Princes and Emperors of his time in the worlde to praise to your maiestie my most gracious souereigne and that in fewe words least I should séeme too tedious in recounting his worthinesse whose noble déedes giue a sounde lowde enoughe to his commendation descended of the loynes of Philippe who possessed the Macedonishe Monarchie nexte before Alexander his sonne and lawfull successour His mothers name also was Olympias a Quéene muche commended in histories and a passing goodly La●…ie But if you estéeme it a thing not so precious nor so muche sending to the praise of any person to come of an honourable house to haue princes to his parents to be a Gentleman borne to haue this title or that of dignitie bycause as you say not the place where a man is borne nor the stocke from whence he draweth his descent shoulde so muche commende a man as his owne vertues and inwarde qualities of his mynde wherby he is indéede highly aduannced heare therfore that which you can not choose but praise excéedingly and not lightly regard like smoake or shadowes This Alexander euen in his infācie gaue many and the self same most assured significations of excellent giftes naturally ingraffed in him yea and aboue all other of prowesse and magnanimitie he shewed manifest proofes insomuch that the Macedonish magicians vpon circumstaunces made a coniecture or rather a prognostication wherin was certaintie y he should be a whip or scourge to al Asia Touching the order of his education histories most plentifully make sundrie and straunge declarations For he was not onely trayned in exercises of actiuitie but also in the knowledge of sciences liberall and specially in Khetorique and Philosophie then which two necessarie stayes the first seruing the bodie the second seruing the mynde nothing for a king or noble man more conuenient In actiuitie he did excell considering his person and his descent For it is sayde of him that in running he was singular and in ryding not to be amended and though his father Philippe in this laste qualitie did weare as they say the golden spurres yet his sonne Alexander did better deserue them sithence his knowledge in that Art was as it séemed much more assured and his cunning groūded vpon better experience As for other properties to the bodie belonging it is no question to be asked whether he had them or no For it is not an vnlike reason that he in whome the greatest and the best thinges were to be founde shoulde want the lest and the baser Concerning his person his complexion his proportion and suche like things requisite in a noble man they did al concurre in him and nothing did lacke y might make him amiable He was ruddie coloured much like the damaske rose not only in his face but throughout al and euery part of his body insomuch that whosoeuer looked vppon him and beheld his countenance they might wel meruaile at the vniformitie that nature kept in frameing so goodly a creature His complexion was of the perfectest and soundest as for his proportion and making there was nothing in him that was out of square but euery ioynte and limme both in measure and in place verie formall and passing hansome This Alexander as hée was furnished with externall giftes beautifying and well beséeming his bodie so his minde was garnished with all maner of vnderstanding For as hée was a Prince of rare renowne so had hée to instruct him a Philosopher without peere Aristotle I meane of whose fame al places of learning doe ring at this day who taught him not onely morall preceptes touching humanitie but other secrete sciences which hée did impart but to a verie fewe the same being special persons among whom Alexander was one O happie Prince whose lucke it was to haue such a maister and O no lesse fortunate Philosopher in whose lapp the lott fell to haue so noble a scholer No doubt this was the Gods foreappointment For as these twaine were incomparable in cōsideration of the ornaments wherwith they wonne immortall memorie so neither of them lost their labour not Aristotle in teaching nor Alexander in lear ning but the one and the other did reape conuenient profite But what néede I heape vpp so many words in this matter my penne hath not the power to paint out that puisaunt Prince in such liuely colours as hee deserueth Lysippus the cunning ingrauer must be sent for and Appelles the famous limmer must be fett to accomplish this curious peece of woorke Wee had neede of

her backe againe for such inualuable benefits call your conscience to a streight accompt reckoning what the Uniuersitie what the learning and vnderstanding what the weale publique what Almightie God himselfe for such singular assura●…nces of kindnesse and bountie whereby your worshippe so flourisheth doth of right require The Uniuersitie doeth denie you nothing nay what is it that she hath not beautified and inriched you withall sithence shée hath bestowed vppon you all thinges whatsoeuer shée her selfe possesseth in consideration wherof shée doeth not simply and without cause craue a good turne againe but requireth such seruice as might counterpeise her deserued duetie Shée doeth not set before you some one particular cause but she putteth her owne selfe in your credite and all thinges vnto her belonging the committeth vnto you neither is it néedeful that she should discouer vnto you her counsells sithence you know them all thoroughly yea be they neuer so priuie and secrete Doe that therefore you knowe let your will labour with your abilitie and that which you owe of duetie see discharged so shall you bring that to passe which good learning which the Uniuersitie which the common wealth which Religion which Christe and your prince looke for at your hands to be accomplished and perfourmed Iesus prolong your life many yeares in health and prosperitie M. R. Aschame to Syr Ioh. Cheeke c. ¶ THE ARGVMENT The course of this epistle wherein sundrie circumstaunces are touched about learning and the commodities of the same in one Gentleman of great fame and worthinesse appearing giueth mee to coniecture that the meaning of the writer was onely to moue Syr Iohn Cheeke to whome this letter was directed to bee mindefull of the Vniuersitie of Cambridge and vnto the same to continue beneficiall The reasons which hee vseth are all grounded vppon persuasion AMonge all the number of notable men Right worshipfull that haue had enteraunce into the Common wealthe by the benefite and furtheraunce of this Uniuersitie you are one whome before all other this Uniuersitie hath in more countenaunce and estimation when you are present in more reuerence and admiration when you are absent vppon whiche you haue béestowed in the time of your presence and impart nowe also in the time of your absence more then any other béesides whatsoeuer For at your béeing in the Uniuersitie you gaue notable and singular pre●…eptes of learning and knowledge for all others instru●…ion and such examples of wisedome and iudgement for others imitation and following vnto which whiles many were appliable they reaped greate profite howbeit fewe or none grewe to the like perfection and ripenesse There is not so much as one among vs all so ignoraunt but can testifie neither yet so enuious that can auouche the contrarie that this happie and blessed successe of our studies these swéete founteines of all our excercises in learning whereto many haue atteined and also tasted by their great labour paine hope to haue flowed from the praise of your excellent witt from your safegard from your example and from your counsell so that these monuments of your humanitie of your wisedome and of your learning imprinte in our mindes an cuerlas●…ing remembraunce of your most worthie person As for the helpes and furtherances which the Uniuersitie hath alwayes had both for the more certaine supplie and the perpetuall maintening of the same in fame and dignitie through your meanes they are more then either all our fauourers besides could conceiue or wée our selues might looke for at any time wherein to haue our portion For whiles the kinges maiestie being of you taught and instructed hath such a loue and regard to learning what others also in like manner by and thorough your counsell will or ought to doe for the behoofe of our Uniuersitie wée are not ignoraunt This our hope haue wée and this our lesson learne wée out of your Plato to that vi●…ious and ill disposed king Dionysius neuerthelesse the profite and aduauntage of the same wée haue but of late thoroughe your helpe and assistaunce sufficiently proued in our most Uertuous Prince Edward Wherefore sithence such recourse of mutuall duetie such assured seruice of bountie so many bonds of gentle and liberal deseruings haue passed betwéene you and the Uniuersitie to beginne with the remembraunce of your infancie and so forward to the praise of the worshipp and dignitie which you do nowe possesse and ●…nioy there is n●…t in you to be found any one benefite of Nature any one comm●…ditie of lab●…ur any one commēdation of witt any one supp●…rtation of Fortune any one ornament of renowne but our Uniuersitie hath béene a procurer and furtherer of the same to your profite or else a partaker thereof with you to her owne glorie and honour We doubte not but our Uniuersitie may hope for and also commaund you this seruice considering the goodly pretious Iuels wherwith she hath inriched you that you would continue to the vttermoste of your power and abilitie a mainteiner of her dignitie as you your self arise by degrées to aduauncement We do not cōmitt vnto you the cause of one particular person but all our causes in generall wherein we hope you wil bestow no lesse labour then either you ought in our behalfe to employ or as we look for at your hands to be perfourmed The Lord Iesus be your preseruer and kéeper M. R. Aschame to the two young Gentlemen M. Iohn and M. Dominicke Vacchan brethren and their sister M. Mabell Vacchan the floure of Virginitie After his salutations ended he excuseth his delayes of writing wherin he bestoweth a good part of his letter al the rest of his letter toucheth th●… praise of the yong gentlemen yong Gentlewoman to who he wrote So that the whole summe of this Epistle may be reduced vn to two heads or principal pointes The first an excuse the second a commendation the excuse touching his owne person the commendation tending to other in this his Epistle specified Lastly he concludeth with a prayer to God to prosper them and their dooings MOste happie children descended of moste worthie Parentes commendations c. In that I haue not hitherto answered your letters whiche are vnto me for many considerations and causes most acceptable and pleasaunt this my delay is not to be imputed to forgetfulnes nor yet to be ascribed to negligence of dutie I can not complaine of want of matter wherin to be o●…cupied in writing because in great aboundaunce I haue had it offered neither can I excuse my self with want of opportunitie conuenient leasure of sending because it hath cōtinually béen proffred so y the de●…alt remaineth only in mée why these cōmodities haue not béen vsed not because my goodwill and louing affection towards you is diminished but because I séemed in mine own thinking these last monethes past and expired with all kinde of learning somewhat offended But hauing entred againe into fauour and