more the same is then beautified adorned and as it were into a new shape transmuted by such kind of knowledge the difference that dayly appeareth may yeeld proofe sufficient CAP. II. What is chiefly to be respected in framing of an Epistle FOR somuch as by the necessarye use of letters before layd downe a commendable maner of writing orderly framing the same hath in some sort been already remeÌ„bred it shal not be amisse in continuing the intended order hereof that in this chapter we do now more fully indeuour to aunswere the purpose therein supposed For the better manifestation of which to the intent the ignorant and studious herein may by degrees be led to the attaining of that which vnto the matter therof may be approued most conuenient I haue first thought good to draw vnto your consideration certaine speciall points in this action of all other principally to be regarded It shall then beseme that for such performance the better to enable him whose forwardnes requireth the same these three notes in writing of all maner of Epistles be chiefly admitted First aptnes of wordes sentences respecting that they be neat and choisly piked orderly laid downe cunningly handled next breuity of speach according in matter dilation to be framed vpon whatsoeuer occurrent lastly comelines in deliuerance concerning the person and cause whervpon is intended the direction to be framed These three as they are seldome in our common vse of writinge amonge the ignorant at any time pursued so vnto him that desireth by skilfull obseruation and practize to become therin more wary and circumspect are greatlye auaileable to be vsed And that we may the more conueniently distinguishe each part of these properties in sort as they are to bee followed we will first in the course of this Chapiter examine and laye out the seuerall distinctions wherein this kinde of aptnes is principally to be considered As nothing therefore in the common vse and conuersation of men deserueth more praise then that which is well ordered and according to the time place and presence vsually appointed and discreetly furnished so in this matter of writing Epistles nothing is more disordered fonde or vaine then for anye one of a thinge well done to take forth a president and thinke to make vnto him selfe thereof a common platforme for euery other accident who with out consideration of the grauity or lightnes of the cause he taketh in hand much like vnto a foolish Shoemaker that making his shoes after one fashion quantitye and proportion supposeth the same forthwith of abilitie fitte to serue euery mans foot includeth in like sort a common methode vnto euerye matter Such imitators who rather by rote then reason make hauocke of wit with purchase of small discretion by such vnnecessary capitulations beeing often times farre different from their owne intended purposes are better prepared to deliuer vnto viewe the ridiculous Pike of Horace with an Asses heade monstrouslye shaped whereat the Readers may laugh and euery one may sport then certainely to manifest their argument with such correspondent speaches as thervnto may be deemed incident To auoyd this so great and hard an imperfection it shall speciallye behoue him that endeuoureth well to write aduisedly with him selfe first to consider the foremost motion inducing argument to the cause whereof he is intended to â—ebate and being well studied and read in the purest and best kind of writers wherof great plenty do now remaine in our English tongue seeke to frame his inuention accordaunt to the example herein for that purpose or to the like effect before him deliuered not in the selfe same speaches but in the selfe same order the intendment whereof was not otherwise layd downe but onelye to such ende and for the like obseruation which order beeing distinguished in the seuerall partes of euery Epistle shall conduct the follower to what ende and vpon what occasion each matter therein was in that sort particularly framed Next let him deliberate with him selfe how much or how greatlye importeth the matter he taketh in hande to whom he writeth the same and what in the handling therof it shall principally concerne that according to the validitie or forceles conceit of the same the matter of his Epistle by aptnes of wordes may be measured and composed Hereon lyeth the chiefest maight burthen of each mans discretion wherevnto oportunitye also seemeth a thing so necessary to be adioyned as laboring the one perfectly and attending the other circumspectly I see no reason but he that can frame him selfe to the varietie of these may with greater facilitie reache vnto the reste the better to enhable him selfe hereafter if aduauncement draw him to it to become a Secretorie And in asmuch as Letters are onely messengers of each mans intendments it shalbe as apt vnto euery one as anye aptnes of wordes in anye of them to bee deliuered to take notice of time and place needfull to giue opportunity to whatsoeuer in suche occasions by him continuallye to bee handled the necessarye consideration whereof because the same also somewhat hereunto importeth I will in place conuenient where more at large the same may be required endeuour to enlarge it pursuing in the meane tyme as in this Chapter intended the purposes therein to bee considered Now the matter and importance of your letter thus deliberately aduised the best forme and manner of deliuery shal then next to the same be considered Wherin it appeareth that kinde of writing to haue bene deemed alwayes most excellent that in sentences is most exquisite in words of best choyce and the same most effectual which to the argument place time and person is most meet and appertinent which entreating of hye matters is weighty in meaner causes neate and pliable in the lowest plesaunt and more familiar in iesting that procureth cause of delight in praising commendable in stirring vehement and bold in aduising gentle and frendly in perswasion sententious and vsing grauitie in narration playne and resolute in requiring shamefast in commending officious in prosperous causes glad in troubles serious and more sad And finally that attemparating vnto euery circumstance their sundry motions in such fashion and order as vnto the matter therof is most consonant can most fitly and redely deliuer the same vpon whatsoeuer occasion to be ordered And herein is especially to be considered that of what validitie or inualiditie soeuer the matter to be discoursed or written of may appeare and to whomesoeuer of hye meane or low accompt the same shall passe or be directed that the aptnes of speach be therein so deemed as y e choysest and best maner of speaking may to euery of these occasions be admitted For a weightie cause and common direction may not all in one kinde of termes be deliuered neyther is it fit that in a letter framed to one of good calling a man should there in deale with him
ill beseeming of the cause the discommoditie inequalitie difficulcie insufficiencie impossibilitie ill conceite or intollerable admittance in the vse or compassing of the same All these notwithstanding in one sole Epistle not at all tymes vsed but eyther admitted or reiected as is in the matter circumstaunce thereof many times to be required As in a cause of wrong the Inhonestie of the thing in handling by ilnesse vnusednesse iniustice oppression detriment or damage thereby ensuing is to be disswaded the Vnworthines by the credite or reputation of him that tendreth the same to bee measured the Il-conceit by the mislike that all men generally doe retaine of the action and high contempt wherwith they are woont to entertaine the memorie therof the Discommoditie by the exclamations of the party iniured calling his honest fame in question the Difficulcie by the stoutnes of him to whom the same is offred and his known â— abilitie to withstand it the Intollerable admittance by the haynous apparance therein deliuered Disswassions also may be vsed to a man not to entermedie in hie or meane oecasions so termed either in respecte of hys owne desertes respecting or regarâ—ant to farre better or more lower purposes or in weight of his habilitie or disabilitie wherby he is put forward or drawne backe in the acceptance therof either by reputatioÌ„ or wealthines Here the insufficiency impossibilitie or difficulcie is to be required the more effectually therby to disswade by what therein coniectured to be hindering or disproouing to the matter intended Now by this alreadie said and by the application of the seueral partes herein debated to anye other lyke occasion in writyng to be ministred it may with more facilitie be adiudged where and in what sorte and to howe muche purpose the whole or greatest number of these in any lyke Epistle may be effected The example inducing the orderly laying out of which in theyr seuerall places now next of all succeedeth An example Disswasorie wherein a man of wealth sufficient is disswaded from the marriage of his daughter to the riches of an olde wealthie Miser SIr I am not a litle greeued for the loue I ow you to see that in these ripe years of yours wherin men commonly are freight with discretion you neuerthelesse doe verie indiscreetlye goe about to compasse a matter so repugnaunt to reason or anie manner of considerate and sage aduisement as whereat the worlde can but wonder and whereof al that know you or by anye meanes may vnderstand of the match wil no question greatly accuse and for euer condemne you It is deliuered with vs here for certain that you are intended vpon the doting affection of a miserable olde man your neighbour whose yeares are as welfreight with diseases and his manacled and benummed olde ioyntes with imperfections as his barred cofers with coyne to marrie vnto him my neece and your yongest daughter vpon a soddain and that to the furtheraunce thereof you offered to contribute of your owne store a reasonable and sufficient portion Trust me when I heard it at first I deemed it as a counterfait iest thinking that the man whome I so wel knew before time could not on a sodain become such a paragon as whereon a mayden of her fewture youth accomplishment and fauour could so quickly become enamored neither thought I that howsoeuer the dotage of the olde man stoode as a conceite to smile at that you for your part woulde so muche as vouchsafe to hearken to it especially at any time so seriously to speak of it muche lesse to open your purse to become a purchaser of it or by constrainte at all to inforce her fauors to giue signe or token anye wayes vnto it Alas sir was there no one thing more wherin besides you could onershoot your selfe but onely in so bad a purpose an action so vnhonest an intendment so vile a matter so much impugning nature as that the verye earth or hell it selfe coulde not belch out against the fayre Virgine so huge and so intollerable a mischiefe to matche I saye the matchlesse fauour of soe yong and dainty a peece to the filthy tawnie deformed and vnseemely hue of so wretched and ill fauoured a creature What nature is this to worke vnto her whome of your owne flesh you haue engendred whom so long you haue nourished whom to such and so many perfections you haue trained vpon a sodeyne naye euen in one moment to manifest an occasion to cast her away not yeelding vnto her heauye censure so great a benefit as death but tenne thousand griefes the least of all which is worse then anye death that maye be wherein comfortlesse she may complaine grieue and bemone her selfe without any reliefe at all but by the precious price and hazard of her owne soule How vnequally do you deale herein to render vnto her beeing scarce sixteene yeares of age a husband enfeabled by foure skore yeares and vpwardes whose toes are swolne with the gowt and legges consumed with the dropsie whose leane carkase beareth no apparance but of olde scarres and stiffened limmes become vnweldie supporters of his pined corpes whom furres must fence from the least blast of cold and dew of nappy ale cherish with warme fiers whose night cap carieth more store of heat then all his bodye doth of agilitie or strength and nose farre more fruitfull then fauorie with distilling drops down trilling froÌ„ thence in freshest spring of the ioliest seasons maketh ill fauored refections What wrong do you tender the poore maiden therein How vnworthye and farre ill beseeming is the same to her who hath such a father and apparantly shalbe known to be such a mans daughter shall you not therein be noted of great follie will not all men laugh at it pittie it crie shame of it and her selfe poore soule pray to God to reuenge it It is too muche intollerable beleeue me that you should endeuour in this sorte by collour of your fatherly aucthoritie to constraine her whome albeit she is your childe yet may you not thus forciblie compell vnto so vnused and vnnaturall extremities Consider with your self how greeuous the thing you goe about to compasse maye retourne vnto her and whereas lyking and choyce is of all other thinges in case of mariage to be accompted most dearest you not onely against her wil doe endeuour to induce a breach thereof but also doe giue her ouer into the handes of such a one whose inequalitie so far foorth diffeuereth from her appetite as that it can not otherwise but as vnto all others so vnto her chieflye becomme insufferable Haue you no more care of her that is your daughter but when now you haue brought her to that passe wherein shee should participate the virtuous and modest vse of that whereunto her yeares haue adapted her and for which ende and sole purpose mariage was by Gods sacred ordinaunce at
distemperate actions And with breathing spirit to cry out unto you saying What is it you go about what meane you by teares to serche out for a thing so irrecuperable why torment you your youthfull yeares with such vnprofitable or rather as I may cal it desperate kind of mourninges why with such vniust tomplaintes accuse you fortune and so often do appeale death and destinie of so haynous trespace Is it for that you enuie my happy state so soone transported from this vntoward soyle to a more prosperous felicity Thus credite me and in this sort wer it possible he could speak vnto you would he accuse you in which consideration were there not iust cause think you of such intemperance why you should be greatly ashamed Beleeue me good cosin there is neither profite or liking at all of this bitter continuaunce reaped you haue alreadie waded sufficiently in your teares you haue mourned for him in ernest loue as beseemed a wife it is nowe hie time you be after all this comforted Thinke that the greatest storme is by necessitie at length ouerblowen superfluity of coales encreaseth rather heate then flame the ardencie of affection with vehemencie sufficient maye be expressed though not by extremitie inforced What should I say vnto you you may not as other foolish creatures that are neither gouerned by wit nor ordered by discretion make your selfe a spectacle to the world but rather with such temperature for euen in this extremitie of sorrow is also planted a rare paterne of modestie seek in such maner to demean your selfe as the lookers on may rather pittie you by insight of your great discretion then in this sort to torment your selfe by a needles supposition Much more haue I considered with my selfe whereby to satisfie my grieued immaginations wherewith being recomforted and repozed in my secret thoughtes I haue deemed it necessarie hereby to imparte the same vnto you beseeching that aswell in regard of your selfe as the little pleasure your frendes haue to behold you in this strange kind of perplexity you will en ioy the fruites thereof with suche sufficient contentment and satisfaction as very hartily I do wish vnto you And euen so tendring my selfe in al thinges to your courteous and gentle vsage I doe heartily bid you farewell S. this of c. LOng haue I continued the argument of these examples the more plentifully therein to shewe forth what varietie of matter may be induced wherewith to procure occasions of comfort The chiefest whereof are by extenuation or lessening the force of whatsoeuer accident seming to aggrauate the weight of such sorrow or conceiued matter of griefe Uery forcible no doubt is this kinde of reasoning wherin al the places of discomfort beeing collected seuerally and deuided eche of them by it selfe is therby either qualified disanulled or vtterly confuted By whiche meanes the matter that before seemed to beare a shewe so obious terrible and grieuous seemeth very oftentimes to bee afterwardes of none or verye slender moment or accompt at all In semblable maner by exaggeration or enforcing a matter to extremities what thynge may be of so slender conceipt that thereby may not be raysed to an ouglie substaunce so woonderfully swaieth the vse of these twaine in the generalitie almoste of all kinde of writinges Whereof because I haue so muche already comprehended in the titles Hortatorie and Swasorie and their seuerall places therein also put forwards at large I meane not now to vse any more speeches And now touching the vse of these Consolatorie Epistles It is to bee intended that ouer and besides the places heereby opposed the forces are also deliuered in causes of bannishment in losse of children parents goods or frends in times of imprisonment slander persecution sicknesse in miserable olde age plagued by disobedience in all successe of marriages in pouertie and finally in whatsoeuer griefe of mine trouble or aduersitie In eche of all which is vsed a great efficacie of perswasion for the mittigation of all these as by laying the troubles and vncertayn state of the world with innumerable euilles annexed to the turninge wheele thereof that the mischiefe cast vpon our neckes is not to vs alone but common to all who though not wyth the selfe same yet in some sorte or other are alike disquieted that the best way to expell the griefe thereof is by meditation of our estates the condition wherin wee liue the ineuitable force of that which is befallen vs whiche because we are worlolinges must needes in like sorte beside vs how neere thereby we may be drawn in contempt of earthly vanities the inticing baites whereof are enuenomed with so many and sharp poysons that troubles are sent vnto vs from God to call vs thereby home vnto him that they are the scourges of oure disobedience that by such meanes we are discerned to be his children that by patient sufferaunce and entertainment of our harmes we doe neerest approche vnto him whiche beeing in humayne shape on earth conuersing with men was persecuted slandered tooke vpon him the most despised estate of pouertie and by cruell deathe was constrained that they who are cloyed with most aboundance haue therefore the greater charge layd vpon their neckes and that no one then they are neerest to destruction the height of whose estate often times occasioneth theyr vntimely deathes finallye that it were bootelesse to striue against their forces in y e wetherby seeme ignoraunt of Gods pleasure and ordinaunce who working all things vnto the best knoweth perchance that punishment to be most fittest for vs wherewith if we were not entangled we might happily forget him and become carelesse regarders of hys hie and mightie excellencie So and in such maner may we wade in these actions whereof hauing now deliuered sufficient we wil ad hereun to one example more and therwith of this title conclude Au Example Consolatorie pleasantly written to one who had buried his olde wife THe posting newes hetherward of the late decease of my good olde misteris your wife hathe made me in the verye going away of mine ague'fit to straine my selfe to greet you by these letters In the inditing wherof I manye times prayed in my thoughts that I wer as readelie deliuered of this my tercian feuer as your selfe are in mine opinion deliuered by suche meanes rid of a hatefull and very foule encombrance I doubt not sir but you doe nowe take the matter heauilie beeyng thereby dispossed as you are of such an intollerable delight as wherewith you were continually cloyed by the nightlie embracementes of so vnweldie a carcase I haue I must confesse very seldome knowne you for anie thinge to mourne neuerthelesse if by suche means you be happily constrained to change countenaunce I haue prepared a golden boxe wherein I meane to consecrate all the teares you shedde for that accident to Berecynthia the beldome of the Gods as a relique of your great kindship and courtesie
desert in your craued good likeing haue obiected vnto my doubtfull minde so many and ouer greeuous imaginations as I partly stande in doubt to what side to encline One while calling in question the hazard of my happe and the extremitie I looke to ensue if not garded with your courtesie I be made a common obiect of euerie enuious opinion An other while reputing my selfe not fortunate in whatsoeuer chaunce may be tide me being thus long banished from the sight of that shoulde moste content me On neither part comforted with anie thinge because being crossed with so many mishaps I dare not hope for the remedie I would nor giue place to the wishe I haue desired seeing my self circumuented with so many false and feined conclusions I protest I neuer gaue cause of offence to your person seeing the honour is more that I beare you then the life I craue to enioye not possessing you Think not deer misteris I could so farre degenerate to reward a Iewes courtesie with fained trecherie muche lesse a gentlewoman your good selfe she to whom the best part of my life is indebted and for whome the sowrest death coulde not be to me vnpleasaunt Let not therefore enuious flatterie preuaile aboue truth vnfained loyaltie for so muche as to disprooue their reproches resteth yet in my life to verifie Which onely depending vpon your courteous dismission of this bearer remaineth till then surcharged with dolors as He that is not his but yours B. L. HAuing thus finished what hee meant and by a conuenient bearer posted the same to the handes of his implacable Misteris hard were it to bee coniectured how thoroughlie on eache parte the same was skanned Misteris Mawdlin becomming by this time the very bosome of all her imaginations forgatte not to tattle what malice coulde vtter and swore by no beggers that if it rested at her likyng her selfe woulde looke I trowe to minse vppon higher pantophles then to matche with suche vnderlinges The wenche was wise and spake of sound and perfit skill for well was she mortized in her punie yeares and knewe that to deale with younger brothers was nothing comparable to an elders possessions The gentlewoman notwithstanding stoode but very sleightly as I heard with him vpon such trifles onely the quarrell grewe vpon other matter and so prayed shee the same might rest Shee deemed she said that verie amplie he had deserued which was not in posse at her hands to be requited but what in good will shee might endeuour for him how farre soeuer different they were in all other opinions therein yet she stood confirmed in some little more then ordinarie accompt to receiue him Finally shee was not of her self alone therfore enforced to limit her offers in consideration of whiche shee praied him to be satisfied and not to search or assay at her hands to haue any farther progressions Sage Mawdlin in continuance of al this conference laughed in her sleue she thought by this tyme her cake had caught heate and was now somewhat more then dough but hee on the other side greeuing at nothing so much as that he coulde not be satisfied in minde of the most substantiall part of her mislike but that the passage of her speeches were conueied ouer with a manner of sleight regard as though if it were well taken or not shee cared not yet would be lothe too ouermuch discontentment to break off notwithstaÌ„ding neuer after hope might be conceiued of any wished good effect was now in a greater muse then before And frequenting oftentimes his mistresse ordinarie passages in purpose if he might conueniently once more meete with her to make his small and extreamest matter of resolution against himself that might be it was a thinge so vnpossible for him to compasse by reason of the continued drift of mistresse Mawdlin whose saintisâ— countenance was not so pleasing vnto him for she fawningly still receiued him though inwardly shee coulde not abide him as some other he â—ish aspect that what by her diuers entercourses or his misteris setled frowardnes hee was neuer able by anye meanes to speake with her Wherewith greatly enraged in deepe disdaine and most harde mislike of suche her vncourteous dealinge after many argumentes encountrings obiected in his secrete imaginatioÌ„s he deemed in himself at last how greatly he deserued to be accused in that by pursuite of so peeuish an intendment he woulde goe about to make his discretion a laughing stocke to those that hadde neither reason nor courtesie to accompt of it that by too liberall a proffer of that which in no point according to the least desert included in the principall worthinesse might bee esteemed of Nowe began reason a little to peere in one corner of his decayed conceites and though the former troden steps of Loue had before time left so manie broad paths in the greatest entrie of his woonted endeuours yet was hee at this instant somthing perswaded by degrees to reclayme himselfe and if his happe were not too muche addicted to his auowed ouerthrow to become a new man Whereupon departing from the place wherein he remained hee posted immediately to his woonted lodge and there beeing set downe twixt auntient setled Loue and newe erected mislike depending as it were in equall ballance not fully resolued to leaue and loth in such disordered daliance to be thus continued he framed these lines which in testimony of that he after performed he causes to his misteris to be forthwith recommended SHall I terme you a friend as importuned by necessitie or induce you as a stranger solicited with hope of some better courtesie or mazed as I stand in my doubtfull dumpes shall I now deeme to gaine that by intreatie which triall in many dayes could neuer haue performed by enguaged lot of assured loyaltie No trust me I will henceforth neither speake nor proffer auowe nor gainesay but as counterchecked with my former pretence I will seeke to man my fortune by a forced continual silence Cruel I cannot say that you are that proffer no more than you haue promised Of vnkindnesse I charge you not as in whome neuer anie good affection towardes me was planted Vncurteous I dare not affâ—rme although causelesse I haue bin touched because the same is a blemissie to the off-spring of true gentilitie But thus much I may lawfully auerre that I neuer deserued the least parte of iniurie that as reward of my approoued good will hathe alwaies bene proffered me If Theseus had no more felicitie in his labours Iason in his aduentures or Paris in his amours then I haue founde pleasure in pursuite of thy worthinesse and quiet in abandoning my happinesse I blame them not to bee noted of inconstancie rather then to be yoked to so hard an extremity Your wordes sauouring of too muche despite and countenaunce towards me continually freight with intolerable disdaine enforce me to thinke that eyther in deed I am become an vnwoonted and moste vile abiect
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
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
of them to be handled and for this cause are termed special as bearinge in them a resolute purpose and intendment seriously to discourse aunswere implye or auoyde any certaine matter or causes importing the present affaires whereupon the direction is framed Of them also are certaine diuisions learnedly by skilfull authours that heretofore haue bene distinguished the titles whereof I do omitte in an other place then this more oportune to be hereafter remembred These as they are from the others many waies estranged in their seuerall arguments so vnto the conuaiaunce and expressing of their causes appertayneth both other order and diuers partes in them then in the residue more fully to be considered In whose composition that there may be a perfect platforme gathethered of a more certayne proceeding wee will as others haue thought meete distinguishe their seuerall partes as they fall out to bee borrowed in an Oration And whereas aswell in all kind of writing and speaking wherein is or may be required any continuaunce of matter it is very necessarye that whosoeuer shoulde take vpon him to aunswere the effects limited and agreeing to the same be therfore ready furnished and prepared accordingly it shall not be amisse herein to bring vnto the readers consideration what may be deemed vnto the accomplishement thereof eyther of greatest furtheraunce or of most necessity by knowledge whereof he may be the sooner setled in that hereafter maye be vnto him prescribed to be followed In suche kinde therefore of Epistles exactlye and with good perfection to bee handeled the learner shall vnderstande that there are three thinges by meanes whereof for the needfull expressing and orderly deliuerye of anye matter whatsoeuer he muste of necessitye bee furnished Inuention firste wherein plentifully is searched and considered what kinde of matter how much variety of sentences what sorts of figures how many similitudes what approbations diminutions insinuations and circumstaunces are presently needfull or furthering to the matter in handling Then Disposition whereby is orderly cunninglye and perfectlye layde downe and disposed euerye matter and cause in his due order proportion place Thirdly Eloquution whose efficacie in speaches neat pure and elegant is in the other Chapter vnder aptnes of wordes sufficiently already described The first and the last of these three as they are greatly put forward by nature which in some beeing far more curious of imitation and study of the best then in other some whose will and conceit alike doe by a very instinct affect and couet far more baser purposes so besides the furtheraunce continuallye atchieued by often vse of reading shall herein be greatly holpen in that for the self same purpose and to the intent the learner may aswell in his natiue tongue know the right vse of figures tropes heeretofore neuer by him vnderstood as also discerne and vâ—e them out of others and in his owne writinges I haue at the latter ende of this booke gathered togeather all such Figures Schemes and Tropes heere vnto needfull and conuenient and there haue by sundry familiar examples expressed their vses and seuerall effectes bewraying also vnto the learners eyes when anye of them are vsed and to what purpose in euerye of the Epistles following by noting them in the margent of the same In diligent conceipt and aduerting whereof the vse vnto the practizer shall in short time be found greatly auaileable by the benefite thereby attayned Now in asmuch as Eloquution is annexed vnto the stile which euermore is also tyed to the argument and substaunce of euerye Epistle it is to be regarded what stile maye generallye be deemed meetest for the common habite wherein each of them may ordinarily be published In the recording whereof we doe finde three sortes especially in all kindes of writing and speaking to haue been generally commended Sublime the highest and statelyest maner and loftiest deliueraunce of anye thing that maye be expressing the heroicall and mighty actions of Kings Princes and other honorable personages the stile wherof is sayde to be tragicall swellinge in choyse and those the most hautiest termes commended described amplyfied and preferred also by Orators with manye excellent Figures and places of Rhetorique Humile the lowest comicall and most simple of all others the matter whereof is the meanest subiect of anye argument that may be entermedlinge in common causes aduertisementes and mutuall effectes of euery one the stile whereof sweepeth euen the very ground it selfe and is fittest appropriate to our familiar Letters for that in such familiar causes and maners the same is soly perfected in which neuertheles is Sua faceties elegantia quaedam his certaine kinde of elegancie pleasaunt and neat conueiance not altogeather to be sequestred from that kind of deliuerance Mediocre a meane betwixt high and low vehement and slender too much and too little as we saye in which are expressed histories Declamatious Commentaries and other intermingled actions not of any in particular but of all in generall this stile of all others maye be adopted vnto these speciall kinde of Epistles Thus then it followeth that whether we write familiarlye or waightily we must indeuour as neare as maye be that each be perfourmed skilfully for that to neither of them may want learning without the knowledge wherof what ornament can there be at all of this expected elegancie The particularities wherof included in these two titles of Inuention Eloquution both nature skill do put forwarde as we daylye see by a double instruction This therefore sufficing for those twaine let vs see what parts are supplied in an Epistle succeedinge in the other also and ayding to Disposition The first place is Exordium a beginning or induction to the matter to be written of which is not alwayes after one sort or fashion but in diuers maners as sometimes by preamble wherein eyther for our selues or the cause we write of or in respect of him for or to whom we write we studye to winne fauour and allowaunce of the matter sometimes by insinuation wherein couertlye eyther in respect that the matter requyreth long debatement or that mislyke maye be alreadye grounded in him to whome we direct our Letters we seeke by cunning reasons to shew that thâ— case so requyring is tollerable or in the other that rather equitye then selfe opinion must and ought chiefly to be waighed in all which we vndertake to be directed by the right rule and square of common intendment and reason sometymes by a similitude wherein by manifesting the lyke of that we take in hande to haue beene commended tollerated or equallye censured we intende the same or lesse force in our selues at their handes to bee borne withall or accepted Then Narratio or Propositio eache seruinge to one effect wherein is declared or proponed in the one by playne termes in the other by inference or comparisons the very substaunce of the matter whatsoeuer to be handled
proceed in so good a purpose vehementlye setting foorth the accompt and worthines of the same And if before time he haue behaued him-selfe well therein we shall encourage him to the better shewing that the more excellent the thinge is the more difficult it is to bee attained for difficilia quae pulchra and yet the difficulcie not so great as the praise glorye and recordation thereof shall thereby afterwardes be retourned honourable Likewise if the state of the party do serue there vnto it shal not be amisse to put him in mind of his parentage fortune virtue nobilitie witte towardnes of great expectation and of all sorts generally well reputed his discretion abilitie age and conceipt framed to such purpose all of them requyring no lesse then that we wishe to be put forward at his handes but all this with great modesty to be deliuered that in seeming to preferre the certainty of those virtues which are of good accompt we doe not palpablie glose with the partye to draw from thence those thinges that neuer came neare him and this order of deliuery shall herein auaile greatly Very forcible also is the proposed Hope of rewardes and Feare of inconuenience the one wherof auaileth much to exhortation the other to the terrifiing and withdrawing Loue Hate likewise are of no lesse purport for wher Loue is what may be found difficult the same also ensueth to Hate for what can not hate and mislike compasse be it by any possibilitie to be attayned If therefore we sort these two contraries in one lincke togeathers challenging one waye that in respect of the loue and regarde he hath euer borne to this or that or to such occasions as maye prouoke the same and vppon the iuste hate an other waye he hath so long time conceiued vppon so certaine a ground as may be alleadged he will now take in hande such a cause or vndertake such an action Commiseration or Compassion of the lamentable estate of a thinge and the insupportable wracke the same is like to fall into is also of wonderfull effect and vrgeth many times so much as what more may not be requyred in any matter What vehemencie also caryeth Aemulation The force whereof is gathered of Enuie not that sluggish and execrable malice which when it selfe is no wayes able to performe anye thing worthelye snatcheth and continuallye gnaweth at the desertes of others but that generous and noble kind which sage Nature her selfe hath insinuate in our mindes emulating by a feruent desire to compasse or possibly to goe beyond what mightely by others hath beene performed Expectation is not the least of the rest the doble force wherof effecteth hereunto mightely as in the actions we take in hand to consider how much standeth vs vpon zealouslye and happely there in to proceed in asmuch as we haue enemies as well as friendes that are lookers on wherein we shall frustrate the hatefull desire of the one who seriously doe awaite the worst successe to all our enterprises and satisfie the courteous intendment of the other vnto whom not to haue good successe should be most intollerable and greiuous likewise whose authoritie is most weighty herein are greatly to be preferred by meanes whereof we do vpon sufficient and grounded warrant of liking diligentlye commende what certainlye is to be followed Last of all are Requestes and earnest intreaties which no doubt do often times beare great sway especially among honest mindes prepared euermore to well doing The weight hereof is preferred diuerslye as in regard of himselfe to whom we write of his Parents and auncestours of the worthines of the thing or for the commodity thereby likely to ensue we vehemently beseech at his handes the effectuall performaunce of that wherevnto he is perswaded Thus haue we passed as you see thoroughout all these partes the rather to laye open to veiw all maner of meanes that maye be ayding and furthering to the vse of this present method the sutes of euery of which are now to be sorted out into particular examples An example of an epistle Exhortatory I Haue many times desired with my self good cosin to obtaine some necessary meanes whereby to manifest the great good will I do owe vnto you and in some sort or other to giue you to vnderstand how much and how greatlye I haue tendred those good partes that manye times I haue seene and approoued to be in you And for asmuch as Fortune hath denied vnto me the estate reputation and wealth that manye haue gained and the most doe couet whereby I can not if I woulde bestowe vppon you suche riches and treasure as might breed content vnto others I am determined to impart vnto you that which vnto your present condition seemeth moste requisite and wherewith vse and common experience hath heere tofore inuried me in stead of wealth to giue you wordes in stead of golde good for riches reason and in lue of liuing to afforde you a louing and constant hart And whereas I am informed that contrary to the expectation of some who ouer peremptorily haue here tofore deemed of these your young yeares to be laden with loosenes and led forward by liberty you haue of your selfe and of your own motion and free-will obtayned licence allowance of your father to goe to Cambridge in minde to giue your self wholy to study the sole fruitiō of learning whether I shal more commend the motion hereof or the action that therby you haue taken in hande I doe stande in great doubt in so much as the memory of the one can not be for the worthines thereof more permanent then the glorye of the other to your euerlasting commendation approued most excellent It is reported of the mighty Alexander of Macedon that he was a king that he was puissaunt that he was warlicke that he was famous that he was a Conqueror and that he subdued the whole worlde but when he came to him-selfe to the conuincing of his owne appetite to rule reason by the square of right he became a meacocke a Childe an infant what should I saye he was no body How much more greater then he was had the worthy Prince remained if as in the conquest of sundry mighty kinges Regions and prouinces so in al other thinges tending to the suppression of his owne peculiar effects he had beene no lesse or fully so much as Alexander Scipio the most honoured and renomed Scipio amongest the Romaines for his sundrye great exploites done in Affrica surnamed Affricanus we doe read atcheiued manye valiaunt and incomparable victories and were it but that sole battaile which he fought when Rome was now at wracke her nobilitye spoyled and her glory trode vnder foote ready almost vpon anye reasonable condition to be deliuered into the handes of the enemye in which he then freed his Citie repulsed Hannibal by a mightye ouerthrow and thereby daunted
part and thereby as it were withdrawne from the speciall notice and eye-marke of all publique administration and gouernment the Gentl. contrarywise the more worthye and noble that he is in callinge the more nearer he is to aduauncement which by nothing so much as learning is and ought to be preferred And to say the truth what profitable member can he be in such a place whose ignoraunce is farre greater then his wit and whose knowledge is lesse then the leaste of that whereof he ought to take notice and experience And seeing learning is of all other things a store-house so plenty and precious as whereof the wise man maketh his treasure the poore man his riches and the wealthy one his pastime and pleasure shall the Gentl. who in all other things by nature striueth to be excellent be in the greatest action of all others so carelesse and negligent Omitting that you will here alleadge the tediousnes of studye and a certaine impossibilitie almost to attaine thervnto I must answere vnto you againe that this coÌ„meth not of the labor thereof which to those that willingly aspire vnto the delicate taste of the same yeeldeth great facility with pleasure to be receiued but of a slouthful sluggish endeuor dispositioÌ„ Far be it therfore good sir that you being a gentleman in all other thinges so towardly and the sonne of such a one as you are shoulde with the touche of so great a blemish be so thoroughly stayned So worthie a discent as whereof you are deriued such infancie and childehood wherein so exquisitely you haue ben trayned so great loue and charge of parentes wherewith you may be animated doe inuite you farre otherwise and to a more excellent purpose Let the sweete and vnapprooued delight thereof prouoke you the prayse and commendation solie to vertue appropriate and belonging once pricke you forwarde thehonour and aduauncementes thereby continuallye pursued And if none of all these preuaile yet the riches and rewards farre greater theÌ„ anie earthly treasure which are therunto incideÌ„t Think of the worthines of those who by howe muche the more noble they were in byrthe by so muche the more zealously they haue trauayled not shunning any labor sweat tediousnes skorning yea bondage it selfe whereby to compasse vnto themselues the glory and rewardes annexed to the dignitie hereof And if no other remembraunce may bee sufficient to stablish you regard yet your liuing father and grandfather the one of whome neglecting his ease and quyet at home trauayled all Fraunce Germanie and Italie to the intent to attayne vnto the greatnesse of that whereunto you are so hardly perswaded Neither think I that you in whom all other good actions do so plentifully flowe will herein alone with a little labour bee terrified wherefore my good N. I eftsoones entreate you againe and againe by all the loue you haue ought to your name fame parentage and stocke and by all the expectation that in them or any of them is of your happinesse conceiued you wil proceed in thys purpose the weight whereof besides the commoditie and pleasure redounding to her selfe shall vnto your parentes al others returne most comfortable and pleasing Al which recommending to your courteous gentle disposition I do herewith take my leaue c. IN this epistle y e exordiuÌ„ is by Insinuation wherin he couertly slideth into y e commendatioÌ„ of learning the worthines necessitie therof the rather to win the party vnto the fauoring of y e same This Insinuation is vsed as in this place when we do suppose that y e thing we intend to write of or to persuade is not so farforth liked as it might be according as it doth deserue at y e hands of him to whoÌ„ we write For which cause we do first couertly induce the necessitie to manifest that without reason the matter is not deemed worthy And for asmuch as Learning of it self is a thing so precious excellent as wherof the praise is infinite the argumeent therof w eout compasse it admitteth by such occasion the more greater circuÌ„stances wherein largely but not sully the worthines therof may be described Al places of proof therfore are herein vsed in declaration wherof y e order perticipateth with the places Descriptorie before remeÌ„bred as in many like examples it coÌ„monly falleth out to be oftentimes frequented For in the distinguishment of the particularities therof the circuÌ„stances are deliuered of Honest profitable necessary not difficulte or easie The places of exhortation are by the worthinesse goodnesse loue profite pleasure delight honour example and intreatie And here is to be noted y e where this Hortatorie kind for the vehemencie therof doth cary in it many tymes a certain maner of reprehension diffidence or mistrustful enioyning of the party to whome it passeth and that the disposition and carelesnesse of some sortes of men are such and so hawtie as they wil searce permit any admonishment direction or exhortation at all it shall for the lenifâ—yng hereof be requisite to entertaine with our selues this one speciall regard that in writing to such persons we do endeuour by many reasons to qualifie the sharpnesse hereof and by a contrary course to deale with them And for that an honest and lawdable opinion of euery ones actions seemeth by manifestation and deliuerie thereof vnto the partie to induce most credence and that there is no man liuing of so peruerse and bad accompt but he desireth at least and reioyseth to be well deemed of in accompt among the best it shall herein principally appertaine that wee doe rather frame supposals of such mens willingnesse then quite to condemne them by any note of negligence As for example we may affirme that not for that wee deeme him slowe or not prompt inough to such things as wee require we doe excite such a one to well doing but as it were calcar addere currenti we put forward his readinesse by our perswasions and entreatie performe the same Or otherwise that we speak hot to such a one that our exhortation could preuaile aboue y e wherein long since be hath shewed himself to be a dealer and therunto most willing but rather to manifest the reioycing we do therein conceiue the glad expectation we haue of his farther continuance Or thus y e he will pardon those exhortations which not so muche for the weight of theÌ„selues as y e liking we receiue of his vertue we haue suggested some wherof more of plenty then necessitie are fallen from our pen whereby we confesse by such cullour to egg him forward who rather needeth a bridle then a spurr in pursute of the same The applications hereof may no doubt be of great force in the selfe will of a number who eyther by the supposed expectation that they imagined men do conceiue of them or by the weight of the greatest reason laid
bindeth you vnto him who hath none other left to depend vppon but suche as by possibilitie your selfe may become vnto him In the consideration of which let I pray you my words become thus muche regarded vnto you that heerein as in all other thinges you performe that beseemeth you Longer could I occupie my selfe to trauell in this action with you but that I deeme it more than alreadie impertinent to require you Greeting your selfe many times in my name I omit therefore farther to detein you From my house in B this of c. MUch more might be deliuered of this swasorie kinde affording great store and plentie of example the patternes of which being heere seuerally set downe at large would make the volume ouer great and the habit too cōbersome for the wearing Suffiseth therefore that in the matter preceeding this Epistle I haue shewed you diuers other occasions inducing argument wherupon these sortes of letters may be framed according to which or any other imagination not here supposed whatsoeuer is intended to be written may be orderly carried The difficulcie is nothing if the learner do but first consider wyth himself what it is he goeth about to aduise or perswade by in sight wherof he may forthwith imagine what parts and places are therin to be occupied Nowe then if this argument fal within y ◠compasse of any one of these herein specified he may distinguish the same by the description laying forth hereby already deliuered If not then by Imitation of the like it may as fully be perfected And seeyng we haue intended by al these to proceed for the more easie instruction as plentifully as we can Let vs first adde the letter Responsorie to this last Epistle and concluding solie with one other example referre whatsoeuer after for this title to the readers consideration ¶ A letter Responsorie answering to the effects of the latter Epistle SIr it discontenteth me not a litle to be informed by your letter of the iniust suppose that men so vnkindly conceiue of me touching the ill disposed behauiour of my younger brother but moste of all misliketh me that you who haue so long knowne me shoulde with the rash conceite of the residue adiudge me so peremptorily as partly being of common opinion with them to deeme by the naked shew of his ill estate that the same proceedeth either of my too little care negligent indeuour or ill circumspection in not respecting and prouiding sufficiently what needfully beseemeth him Beleue me sir the conceit of all or any of these touching what concerneth mine own peculier regard are vnto me most iniurious neither to whom soeuer haue knowne me did I in all my life as I thinke giue anye such token or matter of likelihood as wherby I might be supposed so muche to impugne my selfe or to haue bene iniurious to any The boy I confesse in nature is my brother deare and charie inough vnto me in respect wee had one father and mother Howe warie I haue euer bene ouer all his demeanours how watchfull in the first preuention of all hys vntoward purposes howe willing hee might be trained vp in that beseemed his parentes the cost I haue bin at with him his tutors that should haue cared for him those that haue had most doings about him can chiefly testifie If I shuld tel it you you would not thinke it if it should be reported to many others they would scarce beleue it Before God sir I must tell you it is straunge and very sttaunge vnto me that being in maner a childe so well fostered as he hath bene so little knowing of want or penurie as he hath done so vnwoontedly accustomed to this hardnesse by hym newly begunne in what sorte he can endure it with what appetite he can so grosely away with it Witte he hath inough I confesse but too too euill addicted conceite plentifull but most vntowardly followed qualities to be accompted of but vilely misled Alas the remembraunce greeueth me to thinke on it and I would I had spent largely to redresse it It is neither want of care loue liking or looking to that hath procured it permitteth it or hindereth to reclayme it It is the frowning heauens and his wicked destinie that performeth it The fire the more it is couered the more it breaketh out and flameth The swift currant neuer so little stopped ouerfloweth the threshold I would be loth to inferr vnto you that by what decree I know not ordayned hee is thus violently caried Neither woulde I gladly stand vpon these determinations that the force therof may not in time bee suppressed But knowing the meanes I haue thereto applied I promise you for my part I hold it to be greatly feared Ths one conclusion may rest sir for your generall satisfaction The boie is nowe neere about you finde meanes I beseeche you for the loue I knowe you owe vs to winne him once vnto you my self wil be at anie cost whatsoeuer to satisfie you So thereby hee may be redeemed order him deale with him place him doe to him what you list or can suppose to bee meetest there shall not want to enlarge it to cherish it and to the vttermost to mayntaine it Meane while till you haue approoued what I haue wished and gladly would care to bee accomplished deale fauourablye and no worse with me I pray you then I deserue for your own and all others opinions Thanking your good care and consideration had in hys and my behalfe I doe herewith bid you hartily farewell R. this of c. THe order of this letter seemeth vnto me very pertinent vnto the matter of the former Epistle aunswering fully in eche point vnto the effects of the same In the formost part whereof is declared the discontentment of the supposed obiecte because it was vniuste thoughe the shewe of the partie ministred an outwarde imagination thereunto very likely Next that he who knewe him so well woulde enter so rashly into the common conceite of those that little vnderstood and lesse did intend of him Afterward he openeth his endeuors studie and inforcement of good education excusing the hardnesse of the one by the diligent preuention of the other if possible it might haue preuailed Then the abruption into lewdnesse and the il hope of recouerie which not resolately is concluded but doubtfully by Allegories coniectured Lastly for satisfaccion of all opinions he requesteth his owne triall in the cause with offer of whatsoeuer expence needfull to procure a remedie which hee greatly coueteth and thereupon endeth The argument of the next example tending to a reformation of the studies of some one therein supposed perswadeth a pursuit of matters enhabling to farre greater profite And as once before and many times after also it may in other Epistles fall out there is in this no Exordium but the beginning hereof beareth solie a Narration of whose nature and of all other the partes of euery Epistle I thinke needlesse in
you shall finde it and approoue it to be true It is a shame for any man in those yeares wherein of all others his towardnesse shoulde chiefly be effected to be accompted then bad vild leud and ill demeaned much more for a Gentleman whose education was so good whose infancie so well trained whose adolescencie so formerlye with all kinde of virtues indued to become now when moste discretion shoulde swaye in him worse then before more disordered then when he was to bee corrected lesse commended in his owne gouernment then in an others entertaignment The loue that I beare vnto you maketh me the more largely heereof to informe you which for that I deeme not of anye ill seed spronge out of your owne nature to be growne vp into such carnels I doe thereby adiudge that with more facilitie they may be disseuered the braunches I know are of others wearinge which I neuer wishe to be so far foorth liked as to become of your owne gathering From the inconuenience whereof I hetherto haue studied thus muche to disswade you as he that most of all desireth aboue any other to enioye you The hast of the messenger and wearines of writing enforce me to leaue God who is the conductor of all happye indeuours blesâ—e you and till I heare from your selfe againe my selfe will expect the beste reformation that my good opinion may induce me as yet to conceiue of you Fare you well this of c. THE places of this Epistle are for the most part as the other wherin the example for varietie of matter and order of handling is onely differing the laying out of euery of these parts do appeare in the margent for which cause I neede to dwell the lesse vpon distinguishment of their vses and properties There is yet one Epistle more of this sute and then forward vnto the others which because the matter of the same entertaigneth more pointes then these already deliuered I will set downe for example with the rest An other example Disswasorie wherin the partie is by diuers reasons disswaded from entring into an action in apparance very daungerous I Haue good brother receaued your letters dated the viii day of this instaÌ„t which were with as great diligence as celeritie conuaied to my hands and by the fidelitie of the bearer haue vnderstoode to the vttermost what you willed and both of that and your letter haue at large considered It seemeth therein vnto me that whether thorough ignoraunce of your owne good or inconsiderate rashnes of youth or voluÌ„tary intrusion of yourself into your own harmes I know not but the acion and course of your whole Letter is altogether to be misliked and for the extremitie thereof to be by all reason vtterly condemned as wherunto you ought not to condiscend much lesse to be seene in publike to be a fawtor of which is more the onely man thorough whose folly and immoderate rashnesse the same is solie to be accomplished O good God what blindnes is it that leadeth you what sencelesse furie that bewitcheth you what matter of euill that pursueth you as by the intollerable force whereof without anie fore-sight at all either of the goodnes or ilnes of the action the lawles persecution thereof the matter of your owne reputation and credite the daunger of law wherein you shall be intruded the difficulcy whereby it must be attained the vnhonest solicitation of your friendes to so great a hazard the discommodity that thereon is attendant and perill euery way that in the execution thereof cannot be auoyded you will notwithstanding all this forget your felfe so much as in the accomplishment of a purpose so farre different from the nature I will not say of a Gentleman but of an honeste man goe about to put in proofe what in the end must of necessity returne to your owne mifchiefe But you will say it is loue and extreme liking that compelleth you to so forcible an action as without the obtaining whereof you are no bodye you can not liue Loue saye you Alas what loue terme you this that is laden with so manye disordered motions call you this loue Naye rather madnes for loue is measured by no extremitie but in the honest and virtuous increase thereof where not by a harbraine furie but by a discret and moderate assention men by degrees do climbe vnto that the sweete and pleasaunt force wherof neuer participateth any occasioÌ„ of such vnreasonable badnes Why brother do you loue her whome you haue sued for and because by desert you can not attaine her will you vndertake thereupon to bereaue her by force How vnhonest I pray you is the purpose of so great a wronge How vnfit to be put forwarde in the worst kind of men how intollerable in a Gentleman For if in the accompt of things vnhonest any action whatsoeuer may appeare to be vile what theÌ„ this I pray you may be deemed more dishonest more bad or more vile And if it be punished extremely by the law the taking away of a maÌ„s goods against his wil what may he deserue that bereaueth the person of any one being also a Gentlewoman suche as to whom all humanitie forbiddeth to proffer wrong and to the honorable entertainment of whom is appropriate onely the nobilitie of a Gentleman naye in what sort maye such a one be censured in the reputation of all honeste men that in sort so violent goeth about to rauish her not onely offring iniurie therin to her person but also to her fame reputation and ofspring Thinke you that the intendment hereof can returne credite to your liuing thinke you that by deliuerye of such fruites you may be reputed a Gentl. No beleue me it can not bee but according to the vnworthinesse therof it rather shal giue occasion to all that shal heare or vnderstand of it to accuse blame mislike and vtterly to condemne you And what if no maner of suppose at all were left whereby to discourage and withdrawe you from the action imagining that the purpose therof were in all sorts meet and honorable and that to euery man that could win his liking by what force soeuer it were lawfull without discredit or any censure at all of mislike for suche a one to compasse it doe you thinke it a matter sleight and easie for your selfe to performe it No no sir you recken to wide you go beyond the mone you are to much deceiued Know you not the Gentlewoman is worthely discended that she hath parentes brethren Vnkles and friendes to keepe her to rescue her to defend her Why sir is there no more to say but you will haue her You must haue her and by maine force you will win her you deale with no children I can tell nor weaklings as you accoÌ„pt of but men wise valiant well reputed of sound gouerment who by so
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
your L. and for this present turne so apt necessary as I can not easely imagine how you maye be serued better Pleaseth your L. the rather for the great good will I beare him and harty wel wishing I owe vnto him to accept employe and accompt of him I nothing doubt but your L. hauing by such meanes giuen credite to my choice shall finde him such as for whose good seruice besids your honorable accompt towards him you shall haue further occasion to thinke well of me for him Whereof nothing doubting vpon your admittaunce once passed I do refer both him and my selfe in all humblenes to your best and most fauorable opinion from my house in B. this of c. A letter Responsorie to the same AFter my verye harty commendations vnto you Sithence the receipt of your last letters and recommendacion of P. B. into my seruice I haue had smal occasion either to write or sende vnto you till this present And for so much as vpon your certaine notice deliuered vnto me in fauour of his preferment I helde my selfe so well assured in all thinges of his behauiour as I doubted not therupon to receiue him in place of greatest fidelitie and with vndoubted affiaunce to reteine him I haue thought good hereby to let you to vnderstand what great pleasure I haue taken in his diligent attendaunce assuringe you that for many vnexpected qualities which I haue approued to be in him I doe wonderfully well like of him and that with so good affection as I intende not to omit anye thing that may tend to his aduācement In beholding him often times me thinkes he manye waies doth resemble his father who in sounde trouth I doe suppose might haue bene entertained with the best for his wel deseruing This bearer shall informe you of some especiall causes concerning my affaires in the country whō I do pray you to conferre with and to afford your trauaile for his present dispatch which I will not fayle hartily to requite vnto you For your care had of my wants diligent supply of such a one I do many times thank you and haue promised in my selfe for the same to becomme a debtor vnto you And euen so I do bid you hartily farewell From the Court this of c. An other Epistle Commendatorie of the sort before deliuered MY very good L. I am informed by this Gentl. the bearer hereof that by meanes of one of your Chaplins a motion hath beene made of his preferment vnto your L. seruice And for so much as those his good frends are not now in towne who in respect of their accompt with your L. might stande him in verye good steade I vnderstanding his willing mind and great desire thereunto for that I wish verye well vnto his aduancement haue taken vpon me hereby to entreat albeit I maye not presume so farre as to prefer a man vnto your L. that it may yet please you vppon my speeches to haue the better liking of him Assuring your L. that both by the credit of my La. F.M. who vpon verye good conceipt towardes him wished his preferment with her late deceased brother and last L. C. and also by the knowledge my selfe haue had of him and others besides whom your L. hath in speciall and choyce regarde he is one so sufficient and euerye way so well furnished to do seruice to any honourable personage as by trial and proofe made of whose good parts and behauiour your L. shall not reape occasion of ill conceipt to whome soeuer haue vndertaken to preferre him vnto you And if it shall notwithstanding seeme farther conuenient vnto your L. to make stay of his acceptaunce for some priuate causes he therto vnsatisfied I shall yet in his behalfe neuertheles become thus far a sutor vnto your L. that the rather at this my earnest peticion it maye please the same to repute the knowledge heereby deliuered in so good and assured accompt as it maye becomme a speedier meane the better to induce your L. vnto his good liking For the conceipt whereof I shall thinke my selfe as in many other occasions besides vnto your honourable opinion most deeply beholden In acknowledgment of which and respect of my humble and dutifull regarde to the same I do now and euermore remaine your L. c. THese two examples Commendatorie are concluded to one effect the foremost whereof with little alteration may become a president for any recommendation whether it be to fauour friendship choyce or accompt and not vnto seruice at all for that herein is shewed in what sort men for their virtues may be recommended Now if there be any other particular occasion in the person besides these inducing matter of good liking the same in place and stead of the other or togeather with the other may be then alleadged and the course herein deliuered at all times indifferently to be obserued And as these are from inferiour persons directed vnto their superiours so will we sort out some others that from noble men in like sort haue beene passed to their inferiours examples wherof are in like maner hereunto annexed An example Commendatorie from a Noble man to his inferiour wherein one is recommended to an office AFter my very hartye commendations vnto you where I am geuen to vnderstande that you are in election and it is also very likely you shall be pricked by her maiestie hie Sheriffe for this yeare of the Counties of Sussex and Surr. And that this Gent. the bearer hereof is one whom for many respectes I doe greatly fauour and for his learning skill and honest vsage haue long time vsed and reputed of I haue thought good by these my letters if it so happen you shall this yeare be named thereunto to recommend his allowaunce also to bee admitted your vnder-sheriffe putting vnto you suche good and reasonable securitie as appertaineth for discharge of the said office And hereby also most instantly to pray you that the rather for my sake and for the especiall choice reconing I haue euer made of him you will now before hand make certaine acceptaunce of his skill by refusall of whatsoeuer other that maye be recommended vnto you for the exercise of the same office assuring you for that I haue well knowne and approued to be in him you shall be so well furnished as you would wish And besides in that you haue gratified me herein I shall not faile in anye sort I maye to requite it And euen so I byd you hartely farewel HErein is the honour and nobilitie of the personage greatly to be respected who by so much the more his estate countenaunce or authoritie requireth it by so much the lesse may it be considered that in the inviting of these Letters he shoulde with ouer large intreatie be charged but rather with fewer speaches and lesse circumstaunces to demaund what he purposeth The conformitie
no one thing liuing to remaine stedfast or in assured stay or certayne condicion at all times to induce and continue no maruaile then good Sir if your selfe being a mortal man framed of the same earthly substaunce and qualitie incident to terrene frailtie and mundane imbecilitie do as other creatures a like participate the sodaine euils and dayly alterations therevnto annexed and belonging a proofe whereof resteth chiefly in your present state and being then which no one thinge maye induce a more serious aduertisement of the vile accompt and wretched contempt appropriate vnto our liuing And albeit diuers are the calamities wherewith not onely your selfe but sondry others your louing friendes carefull of your present mishap and greeued to see the vncouth and bitter chaunge whereinto you are happened are continually affected insomuch as there is not the stoniest and flintiest minde of all that euer haue knowne you your desperate vowed ennemies onelye excepted but doe in some sort or other bewaile and as it were greeue to see the vnacquainted yoke thereof with such extremitie to be cast vpon you I can not yet but greatly commend the inuincible Fortitude of your high and noble minde who by how much the more the vehemencye of these sorrowes are to you vnknowne and therefore the more vnused do notwithstanding not onely by so much the lesse permit the â—igâ— tye power of them to rule or beare swaie ouer you but neglectinge or which is greater despisinge the sharpe prickinge stinge thereof who by the deepe pearcing force of the same is woonted to gall the remembraunce of manye others do also as it were by a forcelesse contempt of such validities not onely not giue anie token or signe at all in their vtmost practises but seeme rather to triumphe ouer the strength that thereby they hadde rought and by an aduised sage and woonderful modestie and discretion plainly to extinguish and put from you the furie of the same Greatly I must confesse haue you heereby deserued and muche more euill by the wise and moderate entertainment of these troubles hath to your aduersaries bin tendred who in nothyng so much doe rest vnsatisfied as that in subduing your body they cannot also yoke and bring vnder by what soeuer extremitie the courage and stately progression of your high and vnconquered minde Wherein there is left in my opinion great cause of comforte euen in the verie greatest of your miserie vnto you that in the constant indurance therof you haue power to punishe them that would disturb you that in the perplexed imaginations of their own wicked malicious enuie Neither may this that you sustaine bee rightly termed miserie or such a one as your self seeme to be accompted miserable whose minde in the verie captiuitie inflicted vpon this your bodie is thus freed and accompanied with so ample and sweetned libertie For these kinde of troubles as they are worldly so haue they power also vpon the worldly parts of a man and therin are cohibitions of suche earthly delight as sauoring more vnto the satisfaction of a sensuall appetite then conducing to the excellencie of the inward minde do breede that ordinary restraint wherewith men mortally conceipted are for the moste troubled But to the sweete imaginations of a pure and innocent minde what is left wherwith to be discontented but onely to haue committed any thing vile wretched or otherwise ill beseeming the Vertue and excellencie wherewith the inward partes thereof are or ought to be indued Howe manie waies then are left vnto you to reioyce vnto whose eies the continuall thirst of hie and sacred Vertue hath long since laid open the momentarie pleasures of this world the libertie whereof is vnto a worthie conceite a meere seruage in whose fickle transitorie affections reposeth so slender assurance whose efficacies contemplate no other then vaine and foolish obiectes seeing that you haue thereby so well perceaued how much the instinct of a braue and delicate mind climeth farr aboue the reach of the bodie with a pleasant and vncontrolled libertie These things impugning I must needes say a corporal appetite permit you not For suche losse of riches possessions children or friendes to become passionate or ouercome with extreame griefe albeit participating as wee doe wyth suche naturall causes I doubt not but therewith you are sometimes touched though at no time conuinced For whiche cause as often as you happen to fall into the remembrance of the same suppose with your selfe that in time the bitter sting may yet be repulced and that the lott that is fallen vnto you heerein is no other but the common reward and hatefull disquiet of the worlde wherein the moste noble and worthye mindes are the most vehemently assaulted and wyth deepest extremitie by suche kinde of meanes pursued The recordation whereof may returne vnto you one principall and great occasion of comforte in that by distinction of your worthinesse though you be partaker of common trouble yet are you sequestred from the entertainment of a common opinion It doth not a little reioyce me to see that with suche impregnable stoutnesse you doe so farre foorth endeuour to resist your appetites wherein besides the expectation of that whiche is incident also to these alterations a change I mean and renouation of wonted pleasures you shal in the meane tyme geue greater glory to your actions in not appearing for anie worldly estate riches or contentment to be surprised in your imaginations Praying the comfort of al comfortes to bestow vpon you the dew of his heauenly grace in assistaunce of your extremities I take my leaue this of c. A Consolatorie Epistle of the third sorte wherein a gentlewoman is comforted of the death of her husband slayn in the warres ALbeit my selfe hauing receiued the sorrowfull newes of the vntimely death of my deerest kinsman and your deceased louing husband was in the first hearing therof so greatly troubled with the heauie newes as by reason of the great griefe by me conceiued in the same my selfe happily might seeme to neede that comforte whiche nowe I goe about to bestowe vppon others Yet weighing in my mind the state wherein you stand and beeing also informed with what great extremitie you haue entertained the newes of his losse I cannot but in respect of the great loue I ought to him and remembraunce of the like care wherewith he principallie fauoured you enforce my pen hereby to yeeld vnto you those comfortable speeches by the veritie whereof my selfe in so great a storme of griefe coulde hetherto as yet be verie hardly satisfied It was deliuered vnto me by my brother F.B. that being nowe a moneth or somewhat more passed since by letters out of H. the maner of his death was vnto you reported you immediately vppon the reading of the letters grewe into so great aboundance of teares and to so wonderful impatience as hauing euer
that your pleasure is turned to my pennaunce and your nicenes to my annoyaunce with as much losse as by restraint resteth hetherto vnrewarded I will master my liking til with more vsury I may be repaied in causes of loue Neuertheles not so farre estranged from you but that in anye cause of courtesie I will not forget you are a Gentlewoman and therefore yet be content as before time in such sort to respect you whereof had it not beene your contrary pleasure you needed not as you haue done to make any exception Not meaning heereafter to trouble your remembraunce with anie more of my speaches otherwise then beseemeth a familiar acquaintaunce I hereon doe conclude my laste determination and farewell VPon this resolution was defined all this matter of liking occasioning the seuerall letters hereby in order deliuered the maner whereof both in respect of the pleasure as for the beâ—ter opening of the occasioÌ„ to the ful conceipt of their applications and meaning I haue the more largely layd foorth And for as much as the diuersities already deliuered in this booke doe arise to so grose a volume as seâ—meth in quantitye sufficient for the firste perusing and that the laying hereunto the residue of the partes Iudiciall and Familiar with such other thinges as thereunto are intended to be added woulde greatlye and more then â—oble haue augmented the bignes of the same I haue thought good in this place to determine this foremost worke Praying the courteous viewers of these my labours to become as friendly censurers as gladly I haue gone abaut herein to publish my indeuours so shall they bind me by their bounty in performing no more then they owe in courtesie Laus Deo domino Iesu. Definition of a letter The longe vse of letters Epistles diuers VVriters of Epistles Three notes to be obserued in Epistles Aptnes bre uity come lines principally required in letters Comelines in deliueraunce Aptnes of words wherin to be coÌ„sidered Ill imitators Horace Satyre The foremost motion in ducing argument Of what validitie the same shalbe Time place and oportunitie Forme of deliuerie Choyce and best kinde of speech Suche the stile as the partie in accounte to whom it goeth VVhat breuitie is Tolleration of continuaunce Breuitie in plentie of deliuerance Necessarie speeche what it is Iterations and superfluitie to be auoyded Ouermuche more tollerable then curtold breuitie Affectation of too much breuitie A pleasaunt conceite Superfluous intrudors vvithout skill or vvit Decorum what it is Person to whome we write and the cause Lightnesse or grauitie of those to whome we write Cause to be considered Horace de arte poetica Decorum indecorum Enblemata Alciat Triall onely maketh difference of wisedom or folly Character of an Epistle generall Epistles distinguished into general and speciall Letters general are familiar Letters speciall le tters wheâ— in is continuaunce of matter Inuention Disposition Eloquuotin Helpes to Inuention and Eloquution Stile of Epistles speciall Sublime Humile and Mediocre Skilfull vse of writing Parts of an Epistle Exordium Narratio Propositio confirmatio Confutatio Peroratio Foure contents in an Epistle Salutation Maner of salutations VVhere and how vsed Epithetts Varietie of greetinges and farewels Subscriptions Maner and varietie in Subscriptions Acknowledgment of dutye in the Exordium Superscriptions directions of the Romaines Diuersitie of estates Directions to an Archbishop Bishop Duke L. Chauncellor L. Treasorer Earles and in office Lordes Knights of the priuie councell Knight of the priuie Councell Countesses Ladies Gent. of estate L. Maior Re order Iustice of peace Ladies of worshipp Merchaunt Alderman Seruaunt Directions from the Councell thus framed Opportunitie Hurt of rashnesse Reprehension of importunacye of sommer Ill kinde of letters No sortes to be too much importuned His leysure to whome we write His humor and affectation VVant of opportunitie Oportunitie wherein it consisteth Vnused wordes and confused deliuerie to be auoyded VVordes improper and impugning the sence Errors common to the learned as well as the vnlearned A ridiculous maner of writing Aieste Vrbanitie and exasperate vnproperly placed Definition of exasperate Of Vrbanitie Correction Formes of Epistles Foure kinds or titles demonstraâ—iue Deliberatiue Iudicial and familiar letters Partes Demonstratiue Descriptory Partes Deliberatiue Partes Iudiciall Partes Familier Partes in an Epistle descriptorie Comparison of the writer and painter Painter VVriter Ptolomie and other writers De situ orbis Virgill in his Aeneidos Ouidii Metamorphoseo Example Exordium Narratio Scituation Deckinges Streates Gouernment Habite of the people Conclusio Exordium Narratio Pleasaunt ayre vnfrequented Inuoluntatie abstinence Hard seeding Ill lodging Danger Conclusio Exordium Narratio Sodaine sicknes Declaration of his speeches Mislyke of the world Certaine notice and liking of death His death Conclusion A declaration of the parts comprehended in euery of these letters First Letter Second letter Third letter Demonstration praise dispraise most vsed vnder other titles Places of praise or dispraise Honest which is tied to virtue Vnhonest Necessity Vtilitie Difficulcie Places of Confirmation or confutation These places referred to other kindes Exordium framed of the condicion of the partye to whom we write Narratio Occupatio Synonymiâ— Propositioâ— Praise of the prince in generall Praeteâ—â—tio Of his discent parentage Parabola Allegoria Obiectio Anthypophora Anadiplosis per Emphasin Of his infancie and childhoode Of his adolescencie Paradigma Hiperbole per interrogationem Parenthesis Transitio Comparatio ab incremento Hypophora His mans estate His outward actions His inward vertues His bounty and great humilitie His modestie Apothegma Eretoma admiratio Pelisindeton nis Eephonesis Metaphora His death Charientisunis Confutatio Prayse of his death Peroratio Epiphonema Hypozeuxis Conclusio Exordium of the cause mouing admiration Narratio Propositio Allegoria Expostulatio Epiphonema Paradoxin Hyperbole His parents Metaphora Hypophoraâ— Apostrophe His childehood Ecphonesisâ— His Adolescencie Confirmatio Congeries Desperate Miserie His youth and age Incrementum Aporia Transitio â—aronomasia Pathos His inordinary sicknes His death Hipallage Peroratio Homooeteleuton Laus ab honesto Ab aequo A necessitate Ab. vtilitate A dificili Presidents of Bountie Of Liberalitie Courtesie Modestie Chastitie Continencie Patience Sufferaunce Motions spurres vnto Virtue Efficacie of praise Encoragement Hope and feare Loue and hate Commiseration Aemulation Expectation Examples Obtestation or entreaty Exordiumâ— Paranomasia Narratio Of prayse Synonymia Andiplosâ—s Of example Epiphonema Amplificatio Exhortatio Confirmatio Hypophora Ab aequo Praise of his auncestors A necessitate Of expectation Of Loue. Of hate Hiperbole Intreatie Peroratio Intendmenâ— oft e last letters Distinguishment of the parts Responsory Epistles A modest admission of praise Dicaeologia Excusatio Assurance of his course taken Answere to his offer of good will VVeight of his expectation Conclusion Exordium â—nsinuation Propositio â—atiotinatio Incremeâ—tum Comparatiâ— Confirmatio Of honest Correctio Of necessarie Theworthines The necessitie Occupatio Confutatio Exhortatio Prayse of the person Loue. Delight Honour Profite Example Epilogus Learning a thing pretious Places of exhortation Mitigation of exhortation Exordium Narratio Propositio Prayse of the person Lenisieng the exhortation Ab exemplo Expostulatio Occupatio Incrementum Amplificatio Epilogus Notes in Epistles Responsorie Briefe repiticions Narratio Propositio Longanimitie performeth the excellencie of vertue Vertue hath three entrances Confirmatio Adhoratio Exhortations mixed with prayse Prayse of the action ab honesto Ab aequo necessario A genere Ab exemplâ— A paâ—â—e A spe metu Occupatio Epilogus Exordium Propositioâ— Distributioâ— Prosopeâ—â— Confirmatio Epiphonema Comparatio Mutius Seâ—â—ola Furius Camillus Transitio Epiphonema VValworth L. Maior of London Synonymia Adnectio Ecphonesiâ— Apotia Dicaeologia Confirmatio A worthie saying of Camillus Comparatio Finitio Loue of virtue Hate Peroratio Exordium Insinuation by supposion oâ— the estate of the paâ—tie Occupatio Narratio propositio Distributio Confirmatio Ab honesto Prayse of the person Confutatio Vulitie Necessitie Exordium Narratio Propositio Distributio Confirmatio Petoratio Allegoria Natratio Propositioâ— Distributio Antimetabole Comparatio Amplificati Amplificatio Asynditon Parenthesiâ— Anthypophara Ocâ—upatioâ— Confutatio Epilogus Difference of dehortatorie and disswsisorie perswsion to marriage Disswasion from the same Incommodities of mariage Perswasion to wine Diswasion of the fauour Exordium by iusinuation of mislike of the cause Narratio Propositio Incrementum Distributio Hiperbole The inhonestie Discommodity Inequalitie Ironia Indignitie Confirmatio Intollerable admittance Metaphora Hypophora Epilogus Narratio Propositio Distributio The vnhonesty Indignitie Distributio Inequalitie Confirmatio Antithesis Ill conceipt Discommoditie Parenthesis Ignomie Comparatio Consutatio Epiloguâ— Narratio Prepositio Incrementum Ecphonesis Distributio Parenthesis Confutatio Finitio Tde vnhonestie Comparatio Confirmatio Amplificatio The difficulcie Impossibilitie Concessio Indignitie Consutatio Perillâ— Epilogus Exordium Propositioâ— Pleonasmus Epilogns Epistles Petitorie Exordium Narratio cum Propositione Petition Honestie of request The meane to performe the same Remuneration Narratio Propositio Distributio Parenthesis Petitio Peroratio Exordium Narratio Propositio Petitio Meane of performaÌ„ce Remuneration Peroratio Petitio Meane of performaÌ„ce Possibilitie Remuneration Meane of accomplishment Petition Acknowledgment of courtesie Remuneration Exordium of a simile Propositio Acknowledgment of courtesie Remuneration Necessity of the matter Peroratio Acknowledgement of courtesie Petition Meane of accomplishment Remuneration Greetinges Secrecie Dispatch Epistles commendatorie Narratio Recommendation Praise of the partie Petitio Peroratio Narratio Propositio Recommendation Petition Peroratio Narratio Propositio Recommendation Petition Peroratio Narratio Recommendation Propositio Petition Remuneration Peroratio Narratio Recommendation Petition Peroratio Epistles Consolatorie Extenuation Common condicion of men Exordium Insinuation Narratio propositio Distributio Confirmatio Epithetum Allegoria Confirmatio Epilogus Exordium Propositio Metaphora Distributio Confutatio Confirmatio Eicon Anthypophora Pathos Peroratio Metonomia Exordium Narratio Proposnio Distributio Mitigation by the common hap of all Confutatio Ab exemplo Finitio Incrementum 〈◊〉 Hypophora 〈◊〉 A similie Transitioâ— Prosopopoeia Contraria Confirmatio Allegoria Parenthesis Peroratio Epistles Monitorie Exordium Propositio Distributio Monition by the circuÌ„stances Allegoria Confutatio Peroratio Exordium Narratio Propositio Monitio Peroratio Exordium propositio Distributio Dicaeologia Finitio Adagium Confirmatio Mitigatio Epilogus