The English Secretorie.

Of an Epistle, the commodities and vse thereof. Chap. 1.

Orasmuch as we haue herein endeuoured to lay downe a platforme or method for writing of Epistles. It shall not be amisse, that following the order of all other writers, wee first define vnto you what an Epistle is. An Epistle therefore, is that which vsually we in our vulgar, doe tearms a Letter, and for the respectes thereof is called the messenger, or familiar speach of the absent, for that therein is discouered whatsoeuer the minde wisheth in such cases to haue deliuered. The diuersities of Epistles are manifold, as wherof ensueth a platforme to euerie motion, being in truth so infinite as are yᵉ imaginations of each ones fantasie, seeing the declaration of euerie letter, is no more then what the minde willeth in all occasions to be perfourmed, and according to such instigations wherewith at that instant men are fed when they write, taketh his formall substance, whether it be to require, counsel, exhort, command, informie, commend, entreat, aduertise, gratulate, or whatsoeuer other purpose therein pretended, as cause and matter maie fall out to be required. The antiquity is as ancient as the benefite that therof ensueth is great, whereof onlie those that are sufficientlie enabled with the qualitie, can giue the greatest testimonie. Needelesse were it for me to commend the vse, when aswell by the authorities of a number the best learned, who to aduance the efficacie thereof, haue in sundrie languages prescribed rules and methods for the same, as of others besides, whose most excellent writings of Epistles are at this present extant, it is most plentifully aduanced. And although pregnant wit ensuing by nature was the foremost cause that first bred the inuention of Letters, and that euery one naturally can speake, or in some sort or other set down their meaning: yet Art preuailing in the cause, and by cunning skill marshalling euery thing in his due order, place and proportion, how much more the same is then beautified, adorned, and as it were in a new shape transmuted by such kind of knowledge, the difference that dailie appeareth may yeeld proofe sufficient.

What is chiefelie to be respected in framing of an Epistle. Chap. 2.

Orasmuch as by the necessarie vse of Letters before laid downe, a commendable maner of writing and framing the same hath bene already remembred: It shall not bee amisse, that in this Chapter we now endeuour to answere the purpose therein pretended. For the manifestation whereof, I haue thought good to drawe vnto your consideration certaine principall points, which thereunto are speciallie to be required: first, Aptnes of words and sentences, respecting that they be neate and choiselie picked, and orderly handled: next, Breuity of speach, according in matter and circumstance fitlie to be framed: lastly, Comlines in deliuerance, concerning the person and cause, whereupon the direction is grounded.

The first, being Aptnesse of wordes and sentences, consisteth in choice and good tearmes, in skilful and proper application of them according to their true meanings, in wel sorting and fitting them, to their seuerall purposes. Choise and good tearmes, are in words vsual, and plain for the matter in deliuerie, not improper nor new coined, nor too olde, as hauing not of long time before bene vsed. Skilfull application is, when in their setting down they haue either their true & proper signification for deliuery, or else by a more delicate or pleasant inuenton may be caried conceitedly. Well sorting & fitting them, resteth in the matter in handling, that therein be a concordance with their applications, whereof may ensue a due construction, and no disorderlie mistaking.

The next, being Breuity of speach, is not as some vndiscreetlie haue imagined, that which consisteth in fewnes of lines, & shortnes of roome in shew of a side of paper, but breuitie of matter, wherein scope sufficient remaining for the necessary demonstration and deliuerie of any needfull occasion, men are barred from friuolous circumstances, and inioined therin to abhorre all maner of tediousnes: For which cause some haue beene of opinion, that continuance of matter ought not to be vsed in an Epistle, for that it thereby looseth the shew of an Epistle, and taketh vpon it the habit of an Oration: Yet of such sort are in this method sundry Epistles, the titles wherof are, Hortatorie, Dehortatorie, Laudatorie, Vituperatorie, Suasorie, Petitorie, Monitorie, Accusatorie, Excusatorie, Consolatorie, Inuectiue and such like, whose speciall vses do of necessitie admit such scope as in euerie ordinarie Epistle is not found, and though they beare in them many Oratorie parts, yet lose they not at all for that, neither name nor habit of an Epistle. The tolleration and ordinarie vse of which, both examples of many learned, and common custome hath warranted. And therfore, when to be briefe it is herein inioyned, it is alwayes thereby to be intended, that a man with onelie necessarie speeches may bee permitted to deliuer his meaning, neither is it without the limits of breuitie, when aptlie and at full the same shall be in this sort reported.

And for the better declaration, howe farre the conceit hereof may be induced only in writing of Letters, I will first limit what may be accounted necessarie therein, and afterwards endeuour to lay downe, howe contrarie thereunto, men (aswell in the vse, as in neglecting thereof) haue heretofore erred. Necessarie speeches, I do account whatsoeuer is set downe, for the plaine and open deliuerie of euerie occasion, to the intent the minde of the writer, and what he pursueth may aptly and in good and ready sort be conceiued. The repugnancie hereof is when either with too much curtalling our arguments, in conceit to auoyde tediousnes, or with too manie or ouer often repetitions, neuer thinking to haue spokē sufficiently, either to induce remembrance, or put forward our meaning, we abbreuiate or amplifie our Epistles. And when some others also, of a conceit more curious than necessarie, striuing to excell in varietie of sentences, and copie of words, coyned all of one sute, thinke therfore in paining themselues to write more than needeth, to be counted more eloquent. These falling out to bee imperfections, as each of them are in truth to bee blamed, so where the defect remaineth, are they (for well writing) with studie to be amended.

The third and last nowe being Comelinesse in deliuerance touching the person and cause, séemeth to bee tied vnto two seuerall respects: that is, to the reputation of the partie to whome wee write, his condition, age, honour, and disposition, and to the fitnes of the matter whereof we take vpon vs to write: for as it is most decent that in the matter we make choice of, we giue vnto euerie cause his proper and orderly effect: so is it euery way as conuenient to afford a like Decorum of those to whome our letters are directed.

The reputation of each partie, is measured according to his dignitie or worthinesse, whereby hee beareth reckoning and place before vs. The condition, by the age or maner of liuing, wherein resteth either grauitie or youthfulnesse. The humour by the disposition, as whether desirous to be reuerenced, fawned on, or with plaine termes vsed. By this reason, the methode or stile of our letters falleth out diuerslie to be considered: in one sort we frame them to olde men, in an other sort to young men, one way to sad and graue persons, another to light and yong fellowes: one platforme to Courtiers, another to Philosophers. To great and notable personages, with a dutie speciall, appropriate to their calling: To our betters, alwayes with submission: To our inferiours, benignly and fauourably: To our friends, louinglie: To our enemies sharplie and nippinglie. Thus farre as touching the person, and now for the cause.

In this point it séemeth that the matter of euerie writing should still be measureed according to the writers apparance, credit or worthines, that the validity thereof should be answerable to the one or the others greatnes, or goodnesse: that the intendment be sound, lawfull, and to no euill purposes: that it containe not base, filthie, or scurrile matter, vnbeséeming a direction so worthie. Then that euerie thing to bee written of should bee deliuered according to his proper qualitie: Termes more officious than beséeming, are vnfitting: not sufficientlie to consider of each reputation, were ouer homelie. A matter of grauitie is to bee deliuered with waight: a matter of sorrowe should be reported with griefe: a matter of pastime, to be discoursed with pleasure: a matter of folly, intermingled with laughter. Now contrariwise, to a person sorrowfull to write of iests, to talke learnedly to a clowne, to salute an olde man with childish fantasies: in cases of waight, to aduance trifles: were altogither as improper as peeuish, and more absurd than fitteth to be tollerated in anie skilfull vsage.

And because I haue taken vpon me some distinguishments of writing, wherein I speciallie stand vpon choise and meete termes and spéeches, with proper applications: I thinke it not amisse to set down vnto you some shew of the contrarie inurements, wherby you may with the greater discretion conceiue the error thereof, the which I haue sometimes noted in other mens writings; And first, of vnséemly applications: as for example: one that sometimes intended not a litle of his owne inuention, tooke vpon him to write a loue letter to a woman of verie meane reckoning, in which, after he had drawne (God Cupid by the name of the blinded boy) by those parts of fauor that neuer were in her, and shewed himselfe much passionat for the loue he ought to her, he concludeth the meatter in this sort. Thus crauing your lawfull beneuolence, in not mee reiecting, your answere comfortable and not intollerable, &c. The woman not accustomed to such hote intertainment, and rather bluntlie before time pursued, then daintilie intreated, beganne here vpon (forsooth) to waxe coy, and to intende great matter of her self, and vaunting her fauour at a higher rate then he belike séemed afterwarde willing to become a purchaser of, remained as she was, and himselfe at his more profitable studies. The conclusion of his letter was verie improper, insomuch as requiring liking by the name of Beneuolence, hee both Words improper and impugning the sense.misprised his owne demand, and séemed to induce a word more sounding to a charitable reliefe, or curteous contribution of money, then to anie such purpose as he meant it. Besides, your answere comfortable, and not intollerable. If these had passed in a iest, it had béene more conuenient, but vsed bona fide, it was too bad, especiallie respecting the partie what she was, from whome one would haue supposed that such a one as himself, could neuer haue receiued (but by too much tolleration) any discontentment at all. This errourErrors commō to the learned, as well as to the vnlearned. we see is not onelie common to the vnlearned, for as well this one, who in his profession (as I was informed by him that shewed me the letter) was well reputed of, but also some of the forwarder sort, onlie by affectation of words, which they haue vsed, haue béene misliked, and yet learned ynough. Among which a Doctor of Physicke long since, intending to be verie eloquent in words, and such as euery Carter should not conceiue of, began an Epistle to a booke by him published in this sort: wherein secondly appeareth this errour of old improper or new coyned termes, and this was the forme.

Egregious Doctours and Maisters of the eximious and Archane Science of Physicke, of your Vrbanitie exasperate not your selues agaynst mee, for making of this little volume of Physicke. Considering that my pretence is for an vtilitie and a Common-wealth. And this not onelie, but also I doe it for no detriment,A ridiculous maner of writing. but for a preferment of your laudable Science, that euerie man should esteeme, repute, and regarde the excellent facultie. And also you to bee extolled and highlie preferred, that hath and dooth studie, practise and labour this saide Archane Science, to the which none inartious persons, can nor shall attaine to the knowledge: yet notwithstanding fooles and insipient persons, yea and manie the which doth think themselues wise (the which in this facultie be fooles indeed) will enterprise to smatter, &c. Was there euer seene from a learned man a more preposterous & confused kind of writing, farced with so many and such odde coyned tearmes in so little vttering? But surely, the man did it of a great conceite, for as appeareth by the course of all his Epistle following, his wittes were so pestered with an angrie mislike of the bad demeanor of some vnlearned vsers of his science (as he thought with himselfe) that euerie botcher should not be able to vent him, but hee should bee a man of some reach at least that should finde him. Neuerthelesse howe wise so euer stood his imaginations: this one thing doe I knowe, that diuerse to whome I haue shewed the booke haue verie heartilie laughed in perusing the parts of his writing. For these egregious, eximious, vrbanitie, and exasperate, although the wordes be in some sort tollerable, yet because anie of them are amongst vs verie rarelie vsed, and in this writing two of them especially very vnproperly placed, the maner thereof soundeth (in mine opinion) nothing pleasant. Insomuch as exasperate is properly to set him in a farther rage, that is alreadie furiously bent in a thing, and besides, by the action of another man then himselfe who as it were of a resolute will and meaning, would goe about to procure it, so that it maie be well saide, hee did exasperateVrbanitie and exasperate vnproperlie placed. his furies the more, by inducing such a speach, or such an acte: but it cannot bee so properlie deliuered to saie, exasperate not your selfe for such a thing, especiallie when I am not therewith so much as in anie mislike alreadie, which no man canne at anie time bee, without he first knowe an occasion: your Vrbanitie likewise being deriued of the Latine worde Vrbanus, which is ciuile, courteous, gentle, modest, or well ruled, as men commonlie are in Cities and places of good gouernement, whereof that worde taketh his originall, the worde is not common amongst vs, nor so apt to the sense as if hee had saide, your curtesie, your modestie, and so it might run thus, Let not your curtesies be agreeued against me, or, Let it not be offensiue to your modesty, that for the benefite of a great manie, I haue published this volume of Physicke. The grounde was verie good, for his intendment was, that the cause belonged to a common wealth, wherein if anie particular commoditie seemed to be lessened, wise men and such as were more studious of their Countries good, then of their owne peculiar gaine, ought not to be offended. Then saith he: And this not only, but also I doe it for no detriment, &c. What confused deliuerance is this? How much more orderlie thus, which soundeth also more to his meaning. And this also respected, in that I doe it not for anie detriment vnto you, but for a preferment of your laudable science. Then his comming in with arcane science, inartious fooles and insipient persons, had it not beene lesse improper, if hee had saide profounde science, and vnskilfull or vnlearned, for inartious, and to haue contented himselfe with his fooles, without adding to the same insipient persons. Lastlie he proceedeth: And many the which dooth thinke themselues wise (the which in this facultie are fooles indeede) will enterprise, &c. Here is the which and the which, a phrase neuer with vs accustomed, nor with anie good writer in his time (which was not manie yeares since) the sence whereof might in this sort more plainelie bee deliuered. And many who in their owne opinion doe seeme verie wise (but therein are in truth verie fooles) will enterprise, &c. But of this ynough, for that I thinke it nowe high time to proceed to the rest, these two exemples being sufficient to admonish the learner, of the congruitie of his speaches and sentences, with good phrases that bee most agreeing to the meaning, and not improperlie, to be deliuered, whereby he shall auoid the like errour, and absurditie in conueiance hereby expressed, and already so much reprehended.

Of the habite and parts of an Epistle. Cap. 3.

Eeing an Epistle hath chieflie his definition herof, in that it Character of an Epistle generall. is tearmed the familiar and mutuall talke of one absent friende to another: it seemeth the Character thereof, shoulde according thereunto bee simple, plaine, and of the lowest and meanest stile, vtterlie deuoid of anie shadow of hie and loftie speaches: yet neuerthelesse, for so much as in the argument of a great manie of them (whose seuerall distinctions hereafter shall appeare) is required (as I said before) a more high and loftie deliuerance, partaking manie waies with that kinde accustomed in Orations, and is therefore accordinglie to be necessarilie furnished with the pointes thereunto incident: we will for the present, sort all kinde of Epistles onelie into these two maner of differences, the one part whereof shall be said to be general, and the other speciall. vnder this title of generall Epistles distinguished into generall and speciall. shall bee comprehended all such, as either for fashions sake, custome, dutie, curtesie, or other familiaritie do ordinarilie passe from one part to another, rather of a pleasant conceit, or some other more district or seuere motion, then of anie extraordinarie cause, forme, or substance in either of them contained. Such are those as whome either long acquaintance, or ancient familiaritie,Letters general are familar. haue caused enterchangeablie to haue performed: or fatherly reuerence, and seruile dutie haue bound, by graue authoritie ouer children, kindred or seruants, accustomablie to be continued. These, for the common and ordinarie matter in euerie of them vsed, being vtterly exempt from anie waight or grauitie at all, are rightlie tearmed by the name of familiar letters. They nowe that be speciall are such, the matter of whome (as I said before) doe admit both higher stile, and more orderlie deliuerance, according to the waight of the argument, in anie of them to bee handled: and for this cause are tearmed speciall,Letters special. as bearing in them a resolute purpose and intendment seriouslie to discourse vpon, to answere, mittigate or auoid any certain matter or causes, importing the present affairs whereupon the direction is framed. Of them also are certaine diuisions, learnedly by skilfull Authours, that heretofore haue beene distinguished, the titles whereof I doe omit, in another place then this more opportune to be hereafter remembred.Difference of stile. These as they are from the others manie waies estranged in their seuerall argumentes: so vnto the conueiance and expressing of their causes appertaineth both other order, and diuers partes in them (then in the residue) more fullie to be considered. In whose composition, that there maie be a platforme gathered of a more certaine proceeding, we wil as others haue thought meet, distinguish their seuerall parts as they fall out to be borrowed in an oration.

In such kind therefore of Epistles, rightly and with good skil to be handled, the learner shal vnderstand, that there are three things, by meanes whereof, for the needfull expressing and orderlie deliuerie of anie matter whatsoeuer, he must of necessitie be furnished. InuentionInuention. first, wherein plentifullie is searched and considered, what kind of matter, how much varietie of sentences, what sorts of figures, how many similitudes, what approbations, diminutions, insinuations and circumstances are presentlie needefull, or furthering to the matter in handling. Then, Disposition,Disposition. whereby is orderlie, cunninglie, and perfectlie laid downe and disposed, euerie matter and cause in his due order, proportion and place. Thirdlie, Eloquution,Eloquution. whose efficacie in speaches, neate, pure and elegant, is in the other Chapter vnder aptnes of words sufficientlie alreadie described. The first and the last of these three, as they are greatlie put forwarde by nature, which in some being farre more curious of imitation and studie of the best, then in other some, whose will and conceit alike, doe (by a verie instinct) affect and couet far more baser purposes: so besides the furtherance continuallie atchieued by often vse of reading, shall herein be greatlie holpen, in that for the selfe same purpose, and to the intent the learner maie as well in his natiue tongue,Helps to Inuention and Eloquution. know the right vse of figures and Tropes heretofore neuer by him vnderstoode, as also discerne and vse them, out of others and in his own writings. I haue at the latter end of this booke, gathered together all such Figures, Schemes and Tropes hereunto needefull and conuenient, and there haue by sundrie familiar examples expressed their vses and seuerall effects. In diligent conceit and aduerting whereof, the vse vnto the practiser shall in short time bee founde greatlie auaileable, by the benefit thereby attained.

Now in as much as Eloquution is annexed vnto the stile,Stile of Epistles. which euermore is also tied to the argument and substance of euerie Epistle: it is to be regarded what stile maie generallie bee deemed meetest for the common habit, wherein each of them maie ordinarilie be published. In the recording whereof, we do find thrée sorts, especiallie in all kinds of writing and speaking, to haue bene generallie commended. Sublime,Sublime. the highest and stateliest maner, and loftiest deliuerance of anie thing that maie bee, expressing the heroicall and mightie actions of Kinges, Princes, and other honourable personages, the stile whereof is said to be tragicall swelling in choice, and those the most haughtiest tearmes, commended, described, amplified and preferred also by Orators, which manie excellent Figures and places of Rhetorique. Humile, Humile. the lowest comicall, and most simple of all others, the matter whereof is the meanest subiect of anie argument that maie be, entermedling in common causes, aduertisements and mutuall affectes of euerie one, the stile whereof sweepeth euen the very grounde it selfe, and is fittest appropriate to our familiar Letters, for that in such familiar causes and maners, the same is solely frequented, in which neuertheless is Sua faceties et elegantia quædam his certaine kind of elegancie, pleasant and neat conueiance, not altogether to be sequestred from that kinde of deliuerance. Mediocre, Mediocre. a meane betwixt high and lowe, vehement and slender, too much and too little, as we saie, in which are expressed histories, Declamations, Comentaries, and other intermingled actions, not of anie in particular, but of all in generall, this stile of all others maie be adapted vnto these speciall kinds of Epistles.

Thus then it followeth, that whether we write familiarlie, or waightilie,Skilfull vse of writing. we must endeuour as neere as maie bee that each be perfourmed skilfullie, for that to neither of them maie want learning, without the knowledge whereof, what ornament can there be at all of this expected elegancie. The particularities whereof included in these two titles Inuention and Eloquution, both Nature and Skill do put forward as we daily see byParts of an Epistle. a double instruction. This therfore sufficing for those twain, let vs see what parts are supplied in an Epistle, succéeding in the other also, and ayding to Disposition. The first place is Exordium, a beginning or introduction to the matter to be written of, Exordium. which is not always after one sort or fashion, but in diuerse maners: as sometimes by preamble, wherein either for our selues, or the cause we write of, or in respect of him, for or to whom we write, wee studie to win fauor or allowance of the matter, sometimes by insinuation, wherin couertly, either in respect that the matter requireth long debatement or that mislike may bee alreadie grounded in him to whom we direct our letters, we seeke by cunning reasons to shewe that the case so requiring is tollerable: or in the other, that rather equity then selfe opinion must and ought chieflie to be weighed. Sometimes by a similitude, wherein by manifesting the like of that we take in hand to haue bene commenced, tollerated, or equally censured, wee intend the same, or lesse force in our selues, at their hands to bee borne withall or accepted, and diuerse other wayes besides, as in the Epistles following shall be tendred. Then Narratiō, or Propositiō, Narratiō & Propositiō. each seruing to one effect, wherein is declared or proponed, in the one by plaine tearmes, in the other by inference, or comparison, the verie substance of the matter whatsoeuer to be handled. Then Confirmatiō, Confirmatiō. wherein are amplified or suggested many reasons, for the aggrauating or proof of any matter in question. After Confutatiō,Confutatiō. whereby is diminished, disproued or auoided, whatsoeuer to bee supposed, obiected or aggrauated. Lastlie, Peroratiō, Peroratiō. in which after a briefe recapitulation of that which hath beene vrged, the occasions thereof are immediatelie concluded. These are not altogither at all times vsed, but some or the most of them as occasion serueth, either admitted or reiected: besides which, others also are sometimes remembred. The vse whereof as in sundrie Epistles they may be deemed necessarie, shall in their seuerall examples hereafter perused, appeare more euidentlie and largely.

Of certaine contents generally incident to all maner of Epistles. Chap. 4.

N writing of Epistles, four especiall contents are alwaies continuallie incident. The manner of Salutation, an order of taking leaue or farewell, the Subscription, and the outwarde direction. Salutations of auncient time were woont to bee fixed, Quasi omen faustum, a signe or inuiting to good hap, in the front or vpper part of the letter: so did the auncient Romanes, and in like manner after their examples doo at this daie some other nations. But seldome or neuer (especiallie of the learned and most curious writers) is the same in our English directions, at any time accustomed. Onelie this, where letters are directed from one or more of the Councell to an inferiour Magistrate or person, or from some noble man to such, whom hee intertaineth not in any estate of societie or equall familiaritie, the maner of commendations (which with vs is retained for an order of Salutation or gréeting) runneth lightlie in the beginning of the Letter, and customablie is deliuered in this forme. After our heartie commendations vnto your L. if it bee from a number of the Counsell to a Noble man, or otherwise in the singular number vnto an inferiour person, as thus. After my heartie commendations vnto you. But otherwise writing seriouslie to anie man, Maner of salutations. the greeting if it be to one far our better is turned, to an acknowledgment of some kind of dutie, or reuerent account, and that most commonly at the end of the Letter, which likewise in equalitie falleth out in such place to be mentioned. And being in familiarities is to no place tied, but beginning, middle, or ending of the Letter, all is one, as séemeth most consonant to the vaine & disposition of the partie, and these also at all times not deliuered in the selfe worde of gréeting or commendations, but by diuerse Epithets, and fine conueiances, as falleth out to the matter of the Epistle, and the conditions of the partie to be handled. This being at the end of the Letter, there shall immediatelie follow the order of farewell, which ioyning so hard thereupon as it doeth, wee will put them both in one example of wordes and Epithets,Epithets. togither with the subscriptions, for the easier instruction of the learner, and his better remembrance, referring the notes of euerie of them to their places, where afterwards they are vsed in their seuerall Letters.

Diuerse orders of greetings, farewels and sub- scriptions. Cap. 5.

Cknowledging my selfe deepelie boundeGreetings of humilitie or acknowledgment of dutie. vnto your L. for manie sundrie fauours: I doe remaine in all humble reuerrence. Finding my selfe manie wayes beholding vnto your exceeding courtesies, I ende. Remembring howe much I am indebted vnto your L. for your sundrie benefites: I conferre the regard thereof to my present imaginations, and doe beseech thereof at your honourable handes an euerlasting continuance. All humble loyaltie and seruice protested vnto your honorable calling, I rest nowe and perpetuallie your L. &c. Fearing in speeches, neuer with sufficiencie to manifest the conceit I haue of your most honourable fauours: I solace my selfe with the remembrance, and humblie leaue your L. to your woonted perseuerance. Praying the Almightie to haue your L. euermore in his gratious protection, I humblie take my leaue. Your worship in this, besides manie other occasions hauing perpetuallie bound mee, how can I but rest such, as you haue expected and shall euer find me. Eftsoones recording my bounden seruice vnto your worship and my good Ladie, I remaine as euer before. Not forgetting howe manie wayes I am charged, in dutifull remembrance towards you, I rest as I haue protested. More grieued at my mishap and disabilitie, then wanting either will or liking to doe seruice vnto you: I affix my selfe euermore vpon the acceptance of your woonted cuʳtesie, and humblie there withall do take my leaue: Commending the safetie and good estate of your worship to the Almighties protection, I rest in all dutifull regard to the same. Rather desirous to shewe my selfe thankful, then otherwise able in like sort to giue you any requital, I continue, &c. Binding my self by all possible indeuors, neuer to be fréed from the charge of so excéeding benefites, I wish I might as I would, be vnto you in verie deed, &c. Wishing vnto you and yours, as much happinesse, as my selfe am clogged with carefulnesse, I surcease. Desiring vnto you no worse successe in these and all other your laudable endeuors, Greetings familiar. then my selfe haue eftsoones craued in performance of my chiefest trauels, I recommend you to the tuition of the Almightie. Not forgetting our accustomed gréetings and interchangeable welwishings, my hastie Letter taketh ende. Weighing howe much you are alreadie busied, and not willing to keepe you further occupied, I ende my long and tedious discourse, beeing in nothing exempted from woonted salutations, and accustomed kind of greetings. Thinke not though my haste be such, but that I remember (notwithstanding all this breuitie) how greatlie I stand charged both to you and yours, to whome, and all the rest to you knowne I eftsoones commend me. Reioycing not a little at the health of you and all other our friends, I hartily bid you fare well. Reiocing my self on your wel-wishing, and the hope I haue to be returned in safetie I commend my hap to fortune, and our gouernement to the Almightie. Rendring vnto you as manie thankes, as I conceiued comfort of your good intreatings, I leaue to detaine you. Omitting what else to bee amplified in these or anie other occasions I expect your happie returne, and in hope thereof doe bid you farewell. Knowing howe well I loue you, the lesse ceremonies I néede to vse in greeting you, onlie you shall remember to your parents in most hartie maner to commend mee. Salute I praie you your friendes in my name, and thinke in my best and serious wishes I neuer forget you. My father willed me in his behalfe to salute you, and all the rest of your acquaintance here do most hartilie greete you. Forget not in what sort I haue heretofore receiued you, and thinke in the selfe same maner I do still intertaine you. My gréetings to our friend R. let not bee vnremembred, and deeme that in all my vowes I haue (vnto you all) most heartilie wished. I had almost let slip my commendations vnto your brother, which for anie thing I would not had bene forgotten, vpon whom, as of greatest choic, I will make my reposing.

The liking I haue to N. maketh mee here to remember him whose good demeanour as your own, I haue in chiefest reckoning. My gréetings and paper haue all one ende togither, onelie our friendship indissoluble can neuer be forgotten.

Thinke how exceedinglie I haue alwaies well wished vnto you, and accordinglie thereunto measure the rest of mine affections towards you. Haste compelleth mee to ende sooner than I would, wherin notwithstanding I can neuer omit sufficientlie to gréete you, eftsoones recognizing as behooueth, your especall good liking towards me, &c.

Innummerable of these and such like might be imagined both in greetings and farewels, the course whereof beeing furnished with such varietie as it is, I haue left the residue vnto the conceit of the learner, accounting the plentie herein set down, for anie studious follower to be alreadie sufficient.

And now to the Subscriptions, the diuersities whereof are (as best they may be allotted in sence) to either of these to bee placed, forwarned alwaies vnto the vnskilfull herein,Subscriptions. that writing to anie person of account, by howe much the more excellent hee is in calling from him in whose behalfe the Letter is framed, by so much the lower, shall the subscription thereunto belonging, in any wise be placed.

And if the state of honour of him to whome the Letter shall be directed doe require so much, the verie lowest margent of paper shall do no more but beare it, so be it the space bee seemelie for the name, and the roome fairre inough to comprehend it, which Subscriptions in all sortes to be handled shall passe in this or the like order or substance.

Your L. most deuoted and loyallie affected. Maner and varietie of subscriptions. Your Honours most assured in whatsoeuer seruices. Your L. in whatsoeuer to be commanded. The most affectionate vnto your L. of all others. Hee that hath vowed to liue and die in your Honourable seruice. Your L. most faithfull and obedient Sonne. Your La. louing and obedient Daughter. Who but by your L. is onelie to be commaunded. Whose heart is your Honours, and his life by your L. to be disposed. He that liueth not but for your worship, and to doe you seruice. Whose regard stretcheth vnto your Worship more then vnto anie others. He that vnto your worship hath vowed to become most assured. Whome none haue euer bound so much, as the deserts of your L. Your L. in all humblenes. Your Honours euer to be commaunded. At your worships command. Your La. most bounden and affectionate. At your honourable direction. Alwaies attendant vpon your L. pleasure. Your worships in all good account. Yours euer louing and most assured. To none so much as your selfe. Hee that in all accounts tendereth your welfare. Whome by your onelie curtesie you haue conuinced. The same which I accept from you, and not otherwise. Such as I am, or as you wish to finde me. He that in his liking is onlie yours. Whome you haue euer knowne, but neuer prooued. Whose liking onelie accounteth of your worthinesse. Such as you haue euer founde me, and not otherwise. Yours in what soeuer to bee imploied. More chary of your welfare, then carefull of himselfe. Yours as you like to haue me. Yours faithfull and euer assured. Yours or not his owne. He who found you, but neuer knew you. He that once fauoured you, but sithence hath vowed neuer to regarde you. Whose liking by your ingratitude hath beene quenched. In whose account you once were, but now abandoned. Who once wished to loue, but could neuer hate thee. Whom thy deserts haue made an enemie. Whom hereby you may win, (if you list) for euer to become a friend. To each one louing, but to the most charie. Whose heart shall faile in any thing, sooner then in conceit towardes thee. Hée, whose in loialtie thou didst protest to be. Who liueth not but to pursue thee. Who euer looked on, but neuer loued thee. The same as you left me. Such as you saw when you departed from me. The same and none other, which I haue euer seemed to be. Whose worde hath bounde him, and faith shall assure him. Yours most affectionate. Yours deuoted till death. Yours while life swaieth within me. Yours as far forth as anie others. &c. with manie other applications, whose Epithets are infinite, and rather vpon the cause suggested then otherwise, to bee euermore added, altered, or conceiued. These and the others may only suffice for the present purpose, referring what else to be expected, to the regarde of a more curious or delicate inuention.

And herein I thought good to aduertise the learner, that sometimes it falleth out, that this acknowledgement Acknowledgemēt of duty in the Exordium. of dutie, mentioned in the beginning of the greetings and farewels, is in diuers Letters expressed in the foremost part, and the Exordium thereupon framed: (for that the same in truth is one of the parts thereunto belonging effected in the person or condition of him to whom we write) which to doe, if in his writing also the same maie be deemed necessarie, he maie then vse some other order of farewell or taking leaue, either by imitation of others, or if hee thinke meete, what herein else prescribed, consonant and agreeing to the state and reputation of the same partie to whome hee writeth. Now then shall followe the directions, which on the outside of euerie Letter (the same being made vp and sealed) are alwaies fired, and commonlie are termed by the name of Superscriptions.

Of Superscriptions and Directions. Cap. 6.

Mong the auncient Romanes, when learning first grewe vnto skilfull perfecton,Superscriptions and directions of the Romanes. and men first deuised excellentlie to write, then there began to be extant in memorie, diuers formes of writing immediatlie, by the name and title of Epistles, to be published to the posterity. In the directions whereof, animated as I thinke with the vertues of their parents, and accounting it (as in truth it was then so reputed) to be a great honour vnto them, to be intituled with the name of the principall author of their families, they sought no farther stile of magnificence, but (were his parentage neuer so statelie or honorable) being therewith contented, did onlie vpon such regard intitle their directions. For who that hath bin but ordinarilie acquainted with the histories of their actes, but knoweth and hath read, with what reuerence, those times (greedy of vertue,) entertained the honorable desertes of such, as for the common-wealth, and publicke aduancement of the state, had either aduenturouslie hazarded, or couragiouslie lost a fraile, vncertaine, or transitorie life, to the intent to purchase vnto their country quiet, honour, or victorie, and to themselues and posteritie, eternized fame and euer flourishing glorie. Neither was their country vnkind vnto them herein, which for their sakes, and for the reuerend regarde of their vertues, haue compensed the loue which to their parents they could not shewe, to their children and succession in manie degrées after them.

Such were the families of the Gracchi, Fabij, Cornelij, Hortentij, Horatij, Metelli, Amilij, Scipiones and Fabritij. Whereby I coniecture that the custome hereof, by such emulation adorned, became afterwardes a dignitie, and so succeeded in honour to euerie posteritie.

These Romans therefore, vsed onlie, in the front of their letters to write first their owne names, titles adoptiue, and surnames, after that, his to whom they wrote, and lastlie their salutation or maner of greetings: giuing also like aditions vnto the other as to him belonged, whether it were by familie, office, or some other dignitie. And this was the forme. M. T. Cicero. M. Varoni. Sal. dicit, or C. Cæsar: Comelio Balbo salutem dicit. But that custome according to the antiquity of the time, is long since worne out, and these dates and seasons haue induced vnto vs for euerie estate of calling, a more statelie reuerence according to the dignitie and worthines of the same.

The reuerend maiesty of Emperours, Kings and Princes, being aduāced with a more excellency and supreame magnificence. The names of Dukes, Marquises, Earles, barons and other magistrates, with more solemne and honourable titles.

Diuersity of Estates.

The offices of estate and places most noble, amplified with larger honours, and names accordant to their seuerall dignities.

And albeit few are the number, that herein shall be occasioned to occupy their pen, but (knoweth on almost euerie daie) maie vnderstand the formall application of euerie personages honour or worship: yet in so much as all sortes are not perfectlie skilled, nor euerie man liueth in place so conuenient to vnderstand it, and that it hath beene parcell of a prescribed order so to doe, by those that haue written the like methode, I will set downe so manie examples of estates for directions, as to the matter and purpose hereof maie be adiudged conuenient, beginning from the highest that are or haue beene latelie accustomed in our common wealth (the soueraign Maiestie excepted) vnto the meaner and most ordinary bred, and in present practise amongst vs. And first, with the dignitie of Archbishop, to whom in this sort we frame our direction.

To the most reuerend Father in God, the L. Archbishop of Canturburie,Directions to an Archbishop. Bishop. Duke. or York, Primate of England, and Metropolitane his verie good grace. To the right reuerende Father in God, and my verie good Lorde, the L. Bishop of London. To the high and mightie Prince, L. Duke of B. his most noble grace. To the right honourable and my especiall good L. the Lorde Chauncellor,L. Chancellor. L. Treasurer. Earles and in office. or Lord high Treasurer of England. To the right Honorable the Lorde Marquese of W. To the right Honourable the Earle of E. Lorde Lieutenant for her maiestie in the, &c. To the right Honourable the Earle of H. Lorde President of her Maiesties most honorable Councell established in the North. To the right Honorable, and my singular good L. the lorde B.Lords knights of the priuie councell. one of the lords of her highnes most honourable priuy Councell. To the right honorable sir W. M. knight, Chancellour of the Exchequer, and of her Maiesties most honorable priuy Councel. To the right honorable and my singular good Lord and father, or ladie mother, the Earle or Countesse of N. To the right honourable and my verie good ladie, the ladie A. Countesse of W. To the most noble ladie and Paragon of all vertue, the ladie M. H. To the right vertuous ladie endued with all singularitie, the ladie F. D. To the most noble and towardlie yong Gentleman G. T. esquire, if hee be a noble mans sonne vnder the degrée of a Baron. To the right honourable sir W. S. knight, L. Maior of the citie of L. To the right worshipfull W. L. esquire, one of the Iudges of her Maiesties court of common Pleas. To the right worshipfull and my singular good ladie mother, the Ladie D. H. To my verie good father, W. C. Marchant of the citie of B. To the right worshipfull his especiall good maister, M. R. Marchant and Alderman of L. To my seruant R. D. at C. &c.

Other examples besides these were needelesse to set downe, for that if any alteration at all happen herein, it is by reason of familiaritie, addition of offices, or change of titles. Onlie let herewith be noted, that when Letters doe passe from some number of the Counsell, or from any Lord of the same, to a noble man or knight, these directions of honour and worship are seldome vsed. But rather thus. To our verie good L. sir W. R. knight, lord Deputie of Ireland. To our verie good L. the L. Maior of the citie of L. and to our verie louing friends W. C. and R. P. Aldermen of the same. To my verie good lord, the L. T. H. To my verie louing friend, sir. T. P. knight. To our verie louing friends sir R. S. knight, Custos rotulorum of her Maiesties Count. of B. and R. W. and S. P. esquires, Iustices of peace of the same Shire. The like directions also are vsed of an Earle, to any of these estates to him inferiour in calling, and of a Baron to a Iustice of peace, but commonlie they will adde the title of worship.

The diuisions of Letters and vnder what titles all sortes of Epistles are contained. Cap 7.

Lbeit the diuersitie of Epistles are (as I saide before) as manifold as are the sundrie occurrents, or rather imaginations of mens fantasies: yet for so much as it seemeth pertinent vnto this Method to induce their varieties vnto some particular titles, by such meanes the rather to bring the learner into a speciall forme, whereby for his necessitie or present turne to applie the same. I haue thought good in imitation of the best and most learned iudgements of our time, to drawe the sundrie parts thereof, vnder foure especiall heads, that is to saie: Demonstratiue, Deliberatiue, Iudiciall, and Familiar Letters. And howbeit the rules prescribed vnto either of these, maie vnder their seuerall heads séeme to be particularlie allotted, yet are they in nature so neerelie conioyned togither, as hardlie shall you in anie of the first three fall into their particular distinctions, but lightlie in one sort or other, you shall run into the natures of the others.

For proofe whereof, and this to open more plainlie, let vs first lay downe their properties in seuerall, and then sée by association each with other how néerlie they do participate in their qualities. You shall then vnderstande that this Demonstratiue kinde, hath the name of a declaration, deliuerie or shewing of some one thing or other, the distinctions of the Epistles thereunder contained, are Descriptorie, in which bee described the manners and conuersations of men, all vertues, vices and qualities both of bodie and mind. Honorable chalenges, combats, entertainmēts, attempts, orders of common weales, gouermnents, and estates, countries, cities, hilles, valleies, fields, prospects, buildings and walkes, with their pleasures and scituations. Laudatorie, wherein is speciallie praysed anie thing, and Vituperatorie, in which is misliked or condemned whatsoeuer maie be thought worthie either to bee abhorred or dispraysed.

The Deliberatiue is so named, of the large comprehension it hath of sundry causes and matters, being not almost tied to any particular occasion or purpose: His distinctions are Hortatorie, and Dehortatorie: Swasorie and Disswasorie, not much vnlike together in their orders and properties: the natures of the first being to exhort, counsell, aduise, or perswade to anie thing, of the other, to withdraw, disswade or reduce to another meaning. Conciliatorie, which serueth in acquiring of friendship of acquaintance. Reconciliatorie, in reconcilement of kinred, friends, or other persons. Petitorie, in suing for, or crauing of anie thing. Commendatorie, in preferring the seruices, persons or good qualities, of anie one. Consolatorie, in comforting at times of troubles, sorrowe, or mishaps. Monitorie, in forewarning, admonishing, or counselling from mischiefs. Reprehensorie, in reprehending or correcting of errours and behauiours. Amatorie, in matters of louing.

The Iudiciall is so called, in that it comprehendeth matters lawfull, vnlawfull, or questionable to be handled: The distinctions thereof are, Accusatorie, containing matter of accusation. Excusatorie, which is occupied in excusing. Expostulatorie, in reasoning of causes. Purgatorie, in clearing or auoydance of thinges charged. Defensorie, in defence of the action. Exprobatorie, in reproching or obtruding of benefites vpon cause of vnthankfulnes. Deprecatorie, in praying of pardon of a thing committed, and Inuectiue, inueighing agaynst ill natures, qualities, occasions or persons.

Now the distinctions of these heades being thus laide open by particular titles, we will see how neere in writing they concurre or fall in, each with others. True is it, (as shall be séene in some examples hereafter following) that touching the first head beeing Demonstratiue, it sometimes falleth out in causes of aduertisement, or relation of thinges made, that the title Descriptorie is manie times meerlie in it selfe handled, without entring into anie other particular addition or occasion, but in the other titles of Laudatorie and Vituperatorie, not so. For how can I either praise or discommend anie thing, without falling into a Description of those persons, things or qualities, which I disallow or commend. Againe, for the Deliberatiue kinde in Hortatorie, Dehortatorie, Swasorie and Disswasorie, Commendatorie, Monitorie or Reprehensorie, how can I exhort, counsell, aduise, withdraw, commend, admonish or reprehende, if therein I set not forth what is woorthie or vnfit, what to be praysed, estéemed, disallowed, or eschued: which can not bee, without of necessitie I fall into the partes Descriptorie, Laudatorie and Vituperatorie. Likewise in matters Consolatorie, Conciliatorie & Reconciliatorie, howe I maie comfort seeke friends, or reconcile, if the partes Hortatorie and Swasorie, be absent. So also for the iudiciall, if either I accuse, excuse, expostulate, defende, reproach, intreate, or inueigh, it must be done with the laying out of vices, and aduauncement of vertues, in manifesting what is good, and setting forth what is euill, neither of which, can be without matter Descriptorie, Laudatorie, and Vituperatorie. By all which it appeareth, that (howbeit these seuerall titles stand thus diuided) yet are the matters of the same diuerslie wrapped togither, and the precepts seruing to the one, must of necessitie by a like conueyance be drawne into an obseruation with the other: notwithstanding for ease of the learner, and to the end he may with more readines find out what best fitteth and beseemeth the cause hee hath in handling, they bee thus drawne forth as you see into so many particular distinctions.

Touching nowe our Familiar Letters, they also are to bee drawne vnder their seuerall titles, as Narratorie, and Nunciatorie, somewhat falling into the demonstratiue kind before remembred, wherein we expresse and declare to those farre from vs, the matters or newes presentlie in hand amongst vs: Gratulatorie, wherein wee reioyce each with others of the good happes of fortune betiding vs. Remuneratorie, being a gratefull relation of cortesies, benefites or good turnes receiued. Iocatorie, wherewith by a pleasant and swéete kinde of deliuerie of some pretie conceit or iest, the minde is recreated. Obiurgatorie, in which wee rebuke the ill demeanours of our children, seruants, kindred, or acquaintance. Mandatorie, whereby wee commit expreslie our affaires to such as we haue authoritie, either to commaunde or intreate to be dispatched. To these and the others before mentioned are manie Epistles Responsorie, the titles whereof cannot be certaine, but examples and occasions plentifull: all which I referre to their peculiar places each one, as they are suted forth to be in their kindes deliuered. And now will we passe vnto the other hereafter to bee obserued in deliuerie of Examples, accordant vnto the seuerall titles of all these forenamed Epistles, and first of Epistles Descriptorie.

Of Epistles meerely Descriptory and the parts thereof. Chap. 8.

Orsomuch as in Descriptions, are (as I saide before) onelie declared and set foorth at large, the maner, order, state, gouernment, proportion goodnesse or value of anie thing: the Epistles consisting solie thereof, be commonlie without addition at all, either of praise or mislike, or anie other intendment, in respect whereof they might in anie one iote varie from that title of Descriptorie. Parts in Epistle Descriptory. The force hereof besides the Exordium, comprehendeth chieflie a narration, throughout, in which is contained (by laying out the seuerall parts thereof) a perfect and plain demonstration or description of any thing: In these sortes of Epistles, the excellency of the writer, and painter concurreth in one, who the more that each of them studieth by perfection,Comparison of the writer and painter. to touch al things to the quick, by so much the more neerer doe they both aspire to that exquisit kind of cunning, that in each of these differences, is absolutely to be required. The curious painterPainter. in drawing a perfect peece of Lantskip, presenteth many things vnto the eie, the conceit whereof is maruellous: for with great admiration we do there séeme to behold, the most pleasant and goodlie vallies: Woods hie and decked with statelie trées (some tops whereof the wind seemeth to wreath and turne at one side) then goodly riuers, hie waies and walkes, large situate & high climing hils and mountains, far prospects of Cities, steeples, and Towers, ships sayling on seas, and waues blown vp aloft, the element cleere, faire and temperate, with some shining beames shadowing and spreading ouer all these, wherein seemeth the delight so rare, and climate so perfect, as verie desire prouoketh a man to gaze of it, as a thing in present life, and most certaine viewe. And do I praie you, our excellent writers degenerate at all from anie part of these? Doeth not the learned Cosmographer in acquainting vs with the vnknowne delights,Writer. scituation, plenty and riches of Countries which we neuer sawe, nor happilie maie euer approch vnto, rauish vs oftentimes, andPtolemy and other writers, de situ orbis. bring in contempt the pleasures of our owne soyle: and manie times a huge woonder, of the vnheard secrets neuer before reported of, the incredible operations of diuers thinges, and state so high and magnificent, such as the verie description and liuelie deliuery whereof, maketh vs beleeue that our eies do almost witnes the same, and that our verie sences are partakers of euerie delicacie in them contained. But omitting the wight hereof, consisting in these worlds of such strange accompt, with that fine inuention doeth Virgil Virgil in his Aenidos. manie times in his Aeneidos, and with howe much varietie describe vnto vs the tides of the morning? Howe greatlie in his first booke doth he amuse the reader, with the lamentable shipwracke, and euen then (as it were) appearing surges, and intollerable turmoils vpon the sea happening to Aeneas? What darknesse, what tempestes, what rising and deepest fall of waues againe, what winds, what mingling of heauen and earth together doth hee there relate? Then after, his arriuall on shore and presenting to Queene Dido, howe is the destruction of Troy in the person of Aeneas to her described? In the fourth booke likewise, what an excellent description maketh he of Fame? How he sheweth the banquet by the Queene to Aeneas made, and how liuelie is the state and magnificence thereof deliuered? Innumerable of these, both from him and the Transformed shapes of OuidOuidii Metamorphoseos. coulde I here recorde, the excellencie of each being such, as by the forceable vtterance thereof bréedeth as great delight as astonishment vnto the curious searcher of the same. And in as much as I haue vndertaken to conduct the learner by example,Example. howe to behaue himselfe in some sort herein, we will proceed with our Epistles Descriptory, the first wherof following, maie seeme to bee sent from a traueller to a friend of his in England, the mater whereof ensueth.

An example of a latter Descriptory, wherein is particu- larly described an ancient City, by laying down the seuerall parts thereof.

MY good Vncle, the remembrance of your charge giuen me, & my promise Exordium Or a charge giuen, and promise made. to you made at my departure out of England, bindeth me (at my nowe being in quiet, and with good leasure setled in Germany) that I should returne vnto you againe, my accustomed and dutifull regard, in sort as I haue euer endeuoured my selfe to do vnto you.Narratio. It may then please you, that remaining with my L. the Duke but a fewe daies at Geneua, wee hasted thence to a Citie, called Noremberge, being imperiall, scituate in the high partes of Germany, where sithence wee haue almost continually remained. And albeit I could somewhat write vnto you of our passages through diuers places of the Country, yet insomuch as there is no part thereof so memorable as this citie wherein we now remaine, the description thereof at this present may solie content you. The Citie therefore, as it seemeth is most ancient, and as many doe suppose and affirme, at that time when the Country was first in subiection to the Empire of Rome, was builded by Nero the Emperour, and of him taketh his name, as Noremberghe, in signification Neros berghe, and so much the rather doth it appeare, by sundry auncient monumentes therein yet remaining. The Citie (besides that it is situate in a most delicate and pleasant soyle,Scituation. wooded and watered most plentifully on euerie side, with goodlie Trees, faire and delicate Riuers and springes,) is both of great strength in the walles of the same, and plentifully builded with high and statelie Towers on euerie part. The edificies of the Citie are rare,Buildings. and of most sumptuous and statelie appearaunce, insomuch that there is no one house in any rowe that exceedeth another in height, but all of them builded leuell, by a verie Geometricall proportion. The insides are not more polished with riches and ornamentes of great beauty, then the outsides with brauerie, the verie frontsDeckings. of all which, aswell of rich as poore, are most curiously embossed in a hard kinde of substance (such I thinke as is our plaster of Paris) with artificiall and liuely pictures, conteining histories of diuers memorable, and strange effectes, and that with such wonderfull excellency, as any waies may bee conceiued. The cost hereof is continually maintayned, repaired, enlarged, and preserued, by a generall contribution of the most worthy and honourable of the Citie. Besides, the colours so fresh, so braue, and delicate laide in oyle, for defence against weather, wherewith they are beautified and set forth, are verie straunge. The streetesStreets. are wide, faire, and excellentlie well paued. The stone they vse for the most part is marble, white, gray, and blacke, whereof is great plentie, besides other kindes, which verie wonderfully they cut and square in diuers small proportions artificiallie pointed and shaped. The houses are not high, but backwarde builte, and inwardelie large. This Citie retaineth yet the auncient gouernement of the Romanes, for at this instant they haue theirGouernment Consuls, Tribunes, Senators, Pretors, Quæstors, Aediles and other interchangeable offices, as sometimes had Rome, beeing in her greatest prosperitie. The attire also alike to their dignities of all sortes of honourable personages, accustomed to their callinges. Plaine are their habitesHabit of the people. for the most part, and nothing sumptuous, retaining still one, and the selfe same ancient fashion. The constitution of their bodies as wel men as women, are faire, cleare, and of sounde complexion. Frugall in diet and expence, and nothing prodigall. My L. the Duke is here of great sway, and entertained with honorable accompt. ConclusoThus much haue I thought good to aduertise you in discharge of my debt and your desire, attending by the returne of this messenger the newes of your good health. To whom & al other our friends, in sound and good affection I eftsoones do recommend me. At Noremberghe this of, &c.

Another example wherein the state of a Coun- trey is soly described.

I Doubt not N. but that thy hart longeth, and mind is yet vnquieted, Exordium. Of their accustomed friendship.because of my suddaine departure from thee, and ignorance of my estate and present being, whereof that thy desires may nowe at full be resolued: know my good N. that not hauing beene scarce sixe moneths from thee, I did long since perceiue my selfe to bee out of England, and that it may appeare vnto thee, that I haue iust cause so to say, thou shalt somewhat vnderstande by mee the state of this Countrey. Wee liue heere in a soile delicate I must confesse for the ayre, Narratio. Pleasant ayre vnfrequented. and pleasant for the situation: with good leasure (I must tell thee) may we here attend our deuotions, as hauing no care wherewith to encumber vs, but the needlesse search of that whereof wee neuer find likelihood to annoy vs.In voluntary abstinence. As vncompelled by seuere decrees and interdictions, we limit vnto ourselues an abstinence, thou mightst think we do it of zeale, but in truth it is of want, wherein we haue more fasting daies by a great manie then ability to beare them. Our conuersation is with elements, with waters, with fieldes, with trees, with valleyes, with hilles, with beasts, in the general vse whereof, wee find nothing else but their proper shapes. And if by chaunce any other sorts of creatures do appeare, they are naked shapes formed as men and women, fierce, sauage, wilde, not capable of anie our reasons, nor we of their speeches. Our foode is rootes, dried fishes, berries, and I knowe not what other harshHard feeding. kind of fruits, and sometime foules, besides a kind of graine growing in great cods wherby we somtimes obtain (though not the naturall) yet some vse of bread, vnlike to that you eat, in taste, goodnes, or propertie. Our lodgingsIll lodging. and places of repose are caues, entrenched in the ground, the earth our beds, and clothes our couerings. And these also hard as they are, enioy wee not in quiet, but being awaited of the naked multitude (whose policies insinuate by nature are farre greater then their strength)Danger. wee are faine by much industrie to preuent them: into whose hands if any of vs doe chaunce to fall, our dead carkasses in hastie morsels are conueied into their intrailes. Hereby iudging of our estate, thou mayest accordinglie deeme of our pleasures. The next message that thou shalt attend from mee, shall bee my speedie returne, the seas and windes being not lesse fauourable then they were at my going forth. Meane while recommend my selfe to thy wel-wishing, and our safeties to God, I ende as thou knowest, this of, &c.

An example wherein the death of a nobleman is onelie described.

THE decease (good Madame)Exordium. Of the cause it selfe. of my Lorde your brother, hath occasioned vnto your Lad. the sight of these Letters, wherein I haue rather acquited my selfe of that whereunto by your honourable commaunde I was enioyned, then anie wayes satisfied the griefe that by my selfe among manie others, for his losse is intirelie conceyued. The manner whereof may please you nowe to bee informed of,Narratio. which was thus. On Tuesday beeing the thirteenth of this instant, hauing as it then seemed vnto his L. and others, beene reasonablie well recouered from the woonted force of his long consuming disease, beeing importuned by the dispatch of some present affayres, as otherwise to haue some conference with her Maiestie, hee went from his house of B. to the Court, where all that day hee remained, and returned againe at night, not for all this, finding himselfe at all disquieted at the least motion of anie the pangs wherewith before time hee had so often been vexed. The most part of that night hee was verie well reposed.Sudden sickenesse. Towardes morning the next daie, he beganne somewhat to be agreeued, but nothing as accustomed: in which state the most part of that day hee continued. At night againe hauing eaten some small pittance to supper, towardes nine of the clocke hee beganne most vehementlie to bee passioned, till which time wee all had verie good expectation of his health and recouerie, which his L. perceyuing, after hee had beene a while set vp in his bedde, hee sayde, I knowe my good friendsDeclaration of his speeches. and faithfull louing seruaunts, that the great zeale and loue you doo beare vnto mee, is a vehement occasion to kindle in you a desire of wel-wishing, and intendment of assured safetie towardes mee, wherein I haue more cause to thanke your good willes, then meane thereby to imagine the force of my disease to bee lesse then long since I expected, and exceedinglie in my selfe haue euer doubted, what wordes of comfort, protraction and delayes so euer, haue by the Physitions to the contrarie beene vsed. One great and exceeding comfort vnto mee is, that liuing, I euer loyallie demeaned my selfe: and dying, I shall depart this worlde in her Maiesties good grace, and especiall fauour. Next vnto that, the loue of you my dearest friendes and entirelie beloued seruants and followers, whose hearts I knowe doe pursue mee, and whose affections euen to the last gaspe of death I am perswaded to bee euer firme and fixed towardes mee. Your desires are, I knowe, that I shoulde liue, according vnto which the least mitigation that may bee of my griefe, you measure by & by to the hope of amendment, which is not so. For that in all the comfortable speeches, that sundrie times I haue receiued from you, my selfe to whome the inwarde effects thereof haue beene found most forcible, haue euer mistrusted, and by manie probable circumstances adiudged the contrarie. Long time endure I cannot, this knowe I well, happelie a daie, two or three, I may yet bee conuersant among you, for my disease, that standeth assured (the messenger whereof continuallie knocketh at the doore of my imaginations, readie euerie houre to assault my heart, and to carrie away with him the spoyles of a dying carkasse) will not permit I shall long time trauell in this sort among you. And for my selfe, stand ye all assertained, that hauing long since poyzed in equall ballance, the long continuance of a fraile, wretched, and trauelled life, the most part whereof is caryed away Mislike of the world.in sleepe, sorrowe, griefe sickenesse, daunger, and the residue also neuer freed of care and all maner of disquiet, with the hope of an euerlasting ioy, happines, rest peace, and immortall residence: I finde no reason whie I should at all affect the toyle of such earthlie tediousnesse. Insomuch as hauing liued nowe almost threescore and thirteene yeares, and borne my selfe (honourablie I trust) in all mine actions and seruices, and further in the progression of my ripest yeares, yea in this verie instant more then at anie other time am regarded of my Prince, and esteemed of my Countrey, and among my Peeres reputed in the highest degree of my fidelitie: I shall nowe die as becommeth my person, woorthilie and honourablie. Bee you therefore recomforted I pray you, as I am, and thinke that for all the loue you haue ought me, the seruices you haue done mee, or tender care you doe yet in my heauiest pangs beare vnto mee, the chiefest content you can doe vnto mee, is that you bee satified herein with mee.Certain notice and liking of death. That beeing verelie resolued in my soule, of all that I haue here sayde vnto you, and hauing ordered mine actions, and prepared my selfe thereto accordinglie, I doe willinglie and with a right contented mind, leaue this transitorie world so replenished as it is, with so manie grieuous casualties, & hartilie do giue my bodie to his naturall course, and my soule into the handes of the mightie Creator, for euer in his glorie (I trust) to bee eternized. This speech ended, hee continued till after midnight, at which time hee had about two houres slumber, and so beganne his paine to encrease againe. In which till Wednesday following, almost in one state, hee for the most part remained, oftentimes accustoming himselfe with those that were about him to prayer, manie times, recording to himselfe the goodnesse of God, and his mercies to him remembred, and that with such zeale and intire regarde of his hoped repose, as that it still seemed and was euidentlie apparant howe muche hee longed and thirsted for the same. In fine, drawing by little and little towardes an ende, euen in the verie last pang, ioyning his handes vp to heauen, his heart and eyes thitherwarde fixed, hee recommended eftsoones himselfe to the mercie of his Redeemer, and on Thursday last about two in the morning died, to the lamentable griefe of all that were about him, who heartily sorrowing his losse, were forced to shed teares aboundantly. The day of the funerall is not yet certaine, but the same is intended verie honorablie. Recommending my selfe vnto your La. in all humblenesse, I take my leaue. At our sorrowfull house of B, this of, &c.

Of Epistles Laudatorie and Vituperatorie. Chap. 9.

Owe followeth it next, that after these Letters, meere Descriptorie as you see, we doe treate of the other two partes appertaining also to this forme, which are Laudatorie and Vituperatorie, the vse whereof either solelie or intermixed in any other kind of Epistles, shal of one or more of these causes take their originall, that is to say, of the Person, Praise of the person. deeds or thing it selfe to bee commended, misliked or dispraysed. 1The person of anie one is to be preferred or disabled, by his birth, 2descent, shewe, or abilitie. Secondlie, by his childhoode, or 3good education from his infancie. Thirdlie, of his youth, in which he is either conuersant in studies of honest life, seriously giuen to the knowledge of letters, affecting alwayes vnto laudable exercises, temperat and sober in demeanour, or otherwise accounted dissolute and wanton, vnhappilie led to the search of whatsoeuer mischiefes, affectionate to the most basest conditions and practises, not tied to anie order, but wholie pursuing an vncontroulled 4libertie. Fourthlie, of his manly yeares being frequented with ciuill gouernment, or liuing altogether without account. Priuately and publikely in all manlie actions demeaned, or by apparant5 loosenes in each place discredited. Fiftlie, of his olde age, the course whereof is with ancient grauitie continued, or by al kind of euils most hainously misprised, whose siluer haires are shining in vertuous happines, or miserable estate drowned in lothsomnes. Sixtly, in his 6ende or departure out of this world, agreeing to the saying of Solon, No man may be counted happie before his death. For that in the expectatiō or attaining therof, as at no time more in all the life of a man, then chiefly appeareth, his vertue, constancy, strength & worthinesse, or otherwise his imbecility, ouerthrow, shame and ignominious filthines. Besides all these, many likelihoods are often taken either to the praise or dispraise of the person, by occasion of the nation or soile from whence he came, where hee was borne or trained. From the generall condition or application of himselfe or of the people thereof, by the habite, constitution of the bodie, complexion, looks, fame, or other circumstances thereunto incident, by the actiuitie, strength, swiftnes, nimblenes, fauor or beauty of the body. By the gifts of fortune, as honor, wealth, worship, reputation and kindred. And forasmuch as these demonstrations of persons are wholy occupied either in praise or dispraise of their conditions or behauiours: the chiefest part hereof shall also consist in Narration, without peraduenture it falleth out in the life of anie one to haue some one or mo things hapned or of them supposed, ill beseeming or vnworthy their reputation, which either by defence, excusation, or Confutation must bee coloured, diminished, or cleerely auoided. Examples whereof do follow according to their particular occasions: and thus much for the Persons.

In commendation or vituperation of the déeds of any one,Of the deeds. we shall weigh with our selues what notable actions haue bin, wherein he or she haue honorably or worthily behaued themselues, or by perpetual infamy therof haue deserued in each posteritie for euer to be contemned. Touching things likewise by themselues to bee extolled or disabled, they are euer measured by the consonance and agréement they haue either with reputation or dignitie.

The goodnesse or badnes,Honest which is tied to vertue. excellencie or basenesse of any thing, is gathered from the places of Honestum, Inhonestie, vnder which is comprehended what is iust or vniust, godlie or wicked, direct or indirect, worthy or to be dispraised. Honest is alwaies linked to vertue. For whatsoeuer is either vertue it selfe, or affined with vertue or deriued from vertue, or conducing to vertue, is absolutelie declared honest.

The distinguishment of these falleth out to be sorted into foure principall excellencies, that is, Prudence, Iustice, fortitude and Temperance, it is therefore to be intended, that not onelie deedes and actions, but also thinges themselues are solelie of these, and for these either praised or debased. Whatsoeuer then by sounde and wholesome perswasion tendeth either to the embracing of the good, or shunning of the euill.Honest, what it is. Whatsoeuer includeth either fidelitie, true friendship, equitie, obedience or gratitude. Whatsoeuer conduceth to true pietie to God, thy Countrie, Parents, children, and friends. Whatsoeuer appertaineth to the seueritie of the law, to the admonishing of the wicked, and to the remuneration and defence of the well deserued. Whatsoeuer tendeth to a tolleration or patient forebearance of euils, to longanimitie, entring into hazard and dangers for conscience, for thy countrey, kindred or friends. Whatsoeuer concerneth chastitie, sobrietie or frugalitie, and seemely moderation in all thinges, that in each of these is adiudged honest and none others.

The contrarie hereof, which is Inhonestum, includeth likewise whatsoeuer is not vertue, or is estranged from vertue, hindering to vertue,Vnhonest. or in nothing furthering towards vertue, whatsoeuer is pertinent to follie, iniustic, pusillanimitie, or excesse, whatsoeuer by the euill therein committed is exempted from praise. Whatsoeuer carieth perswasion to mischiefe & seducement from the good. Whatsoeuer appertaineth to infedilitie, falshood, treason, disobedience, slander, or ingratitude. Whatsoeuer withdraweth from naturall regard and loue of thy Countrie, parents, children and friends. Whatsoeuer impugneth the wholesome lawes and estate of euerie common-wealth, tendeth to a notorious example of euill, hindereth or blemisheth any others good deseruing. Whatsoeuer enforceth reuengement vpon euerie small offence, hath in it no meane of sufferance, or forbearance at all, entertaineth a lawlesse libertie of conscience to perpetrate or yéeld to any vnlawfull action, or to become iniurious to thy Country, state or calling. Whatsoeuer is furthering to a dissolute liuing, vnbrideled lust, couetous tenacitie, prodegality, or detestable excesse. These and such like, as confounders of all ciuilitie and humane gouernment, are confirmed to be vnhonest.

Now these deedes, actions or thinges are by manie Oratory partes to bee handled, or commended, according to the matters or occasions whereout their praises are deriued, and because examples are the best I might sort out diuers: as of Dauid, I coulde commend his combate against Goliah, first ab honesto, in that he being the seruant of god fought against a blasphemer, Laus ab honesto.also in his Princes quarell & defence of his countrey: ab æquo, Ab æquo.because it is meet and conuenient, that in causes so perillous, the strength of each one be applied. A necessitate,A necessitate. insomuch as thereon depended the sauegard of the Prince and people. Ab vtilitate,Ab vtiltiate. for that he killing such an enemie, brought to their owne country peace and quiet, and also draue the other part in subiection to his king and people. A difficili,A difficili. because the vndertaking thereof was so much the more waighty, by howe much himselfe was as it were an infant agaynst a mightie giant, vnarmed against him that was armed, vnfurnished against him that had al maner of complements of warre: weake, where the other was strong: besides that the terrour of his chalenge and hugenes of stature had before daunted the armie, & put them all out of conceit, in so much that the doubt was so generall, as no man dared to vndertake the quarell. Besides, herein is praised of bodily force, his Actiuitie, and courage: of Vertues, his woonderfull Magnanimitie, who by couragious desire durst to vndertake the same: also his affiance in Iustice, and equitie of the cause: His Pietie to God, his Prince and countrey: Lastly, his Fidelitie, whose life was not spared when each one drew backe for feare to be brought in hazard. And as to this action of Dauid, I haue vsed all these Oratorie parts, so in causes of sway and gouernment, a man might by the like parts and places be praised for his great wisdome, whereby in handling of some notable action in ambassage or consultation, he hath onely by graue aduise, industrie, discreete search, perswasion or circumspection, compassed weightie matters to the common weale, or thence auoyded huge and imminent dangers: Cicero in the coniuration of Catiline, beeing a mightie enemie agaynst his owne Citie of Rome, might herein be an excellent patterne, who without stirring the people at all, without any maner of bodilie resistance or force of armes, without passing by any priuate or indirect means, did by the sole matter of his wisedome, waightines of spéech, forcible reasons, enforcements, rebukes, and perswasions driue him cleane out of the Citie, and being expulsed (to the common peace, tranquilitie and surety of the same Citie) did afterwarde by like demeanour, industrie, and circumspection, so preuent his purposes, so circumuent his policies, so turne him vpside downe, as he dared not, he could not, he shamed to perpetrate what so often hee had sworne, and so many wayes intended: in which action of Ciceroes, all these Oratorie parts are in like maner included. So likewise, for some one rare & singular point of Iustice another might be extolled, as beside common expectation exercising the same. A president hereof might bee the L. chiefe Iustice of Englande in the time of King Henrie the fourth, who was so streictlie bent to the obseruation of iustice, as hauing one of the Princes seruants arraigned before him at the Kings Bench barre, for a fellon, and beeing one that the young Prince greatlie (at that time of his youth) fauoured. The prince came to the barre, and at the Iudges hands required his seruant; who answered that he was the King his fathers prisoner, and stoode there vpon his triall by lawe for his offences, that he could not in iustice, nor would (by his pardon) deliuer him without his triall. The Prince mooued with such deniall, stroke the Iudge on the face, and woulde by force haue withdrawne the prisoner. The Iudge withstoode him, and aduertising him mildlie of the offence he had done to the seate and place wherin he sate of iustice, in such sort to strike him, stoutlie commanded him to Warde, whereunto (uppon such admonition) the Prince obeyed, and accordinglie remayned in durance, attending the aduertisement and knowledge of his fathers pleasure. Here might bee a great contention, whether the worthie Iudge in his equall administration and execution of iustice, without feare, whereon stoode the hazard of his owne life, beeing vpon him that was in succession to become his soueraigne Lord, were more to be commended: or the Prince, in his subiection, and of all other most singular obedience, more highly to bee extolled: the one daring to doe what was lawfull vpon whatsoeuer hazard, the other humbling himselfe to authoritie which he might easilie haue impugned: and yet both actions such, as by many excellent Oratorie parts séeme fit to be inlarged. For no doubt there was as much vertue in the ones obedience, as there was excellency in the others sentence.

And as these, so the honor, worship, or wealth of anie man, his deedes of charitie, either in Erection, conuersion or repayring of any thing, whereby the common wealth is benefited, vertue furthered, or the néedy prouided for, might bee in like sort aduanced.

Finallie, Wisdome, Iustice, Bountie, Liberalitie, Curtesie, Chastitie, might each of them as things by themselues, & of themselues without the person of any one be alike commended. Whereof I think it néedlesse to amplifie any further, seeing by the examples hereafter set downe, the learner may sufficientlie bee enabled in whatsoeuer, for those causes he shall vndertake to proceed vpon.

An example of a laudatorie epistle soly touching the person.

THE feruent loue, and entire zeale and regarde, wherewith your L. euen in these tender and as yet vnripened yeares,Exordium, by insinuation. seemeth to pursue the vertues and honourable worthinesse of the most renowned and famous, and the reuerend account, wherewith in your most secret imaginations you haue euer admired, & as it were emulated their highest progressions: hath mooued me in recordation thereof (and the rather to deliuer vnto your L. the verye true image and liuely counterfeit indeede,Allegoria. of vnblemished honour, adorned with all princely and most surpassing noblenes) to propose vnto your view, a paragon so peerlesse, and of so rare and excellent performaunce, as whereof no hystorie hath the semblable, no region the match, nor any worlde hereafter may eftsoones be supposed to produce the like.Hyperbole. You shall not neede my L. to ransacke volumes,Procatalepsis. to search out the liues of the most honoured Scipio, amongst the Romanes, nor out of Greece to fetche Themistocles or Alcibiades from Lacedemon or Athens. Let Haniball rest with his predecessors,Epitheton. who sometimes by vnbearded fortune did honor to mightie Carthage, and (before them all) Achilles and Hector, that made the fall of Troy so famous: And come wee into our owne Countrey,Synonymia. the land wherein our selues inhabite, the soyle to vs natiue, and of all others most deerest, and see you here my L. a Prince of so rare and incomparable worthinesse, as your selfe will confesse throughout all the course of his life, to haue beene of all others the moste happie and vertuous.Anadiplosis. Edwarde, my L. young EdwardNarratiō. (so helde in his fathers life) vnder whose raigne he died in Englande, surnamed for his noted excellencie, sometymes the blacke Prince.Hypotiposis. This is hee on whome Nature, Fortune and Vertue, to the intent to yeelde some apparaunt shewe of theyr woonderfull and mightie operations, had aboue all others so especially enrichedPraise of the Prince in generall. with all kinde of wished and most exquisite perfections, as in that present season, in which the delicacie of his aspiring minde reste vnto himselfeEpitheton. the highest branch of honour from out her loftie seate of dignityMetanoia., it was denied to any other whatsoeuer, to exceede? nay, but so much as to become partaker with so rare a patterne of the like fruites of vertue and neuer dying glory. And to the ende (in rehearsing some fewe of the many particularities of such sounde and vncorrupted maiestie)Metaphora. the radiant shining beames resiant in so high a personage, may with more facilitie the sooner bee discouered: wee will first beginne with his originall and foremost infancie, that by deducing from thence his complementes of princelie excellencie, euen in the verie mouth of his entombed graue, his bones may not bee reposed without an immortall recordation, and the fame of his vertue celebrated by an endlesse memorie. Needlesse were it my L. that I shoulde tell you of this statelie Prince,Præteritiō. that hee were sonne and heire in succession, to the most mightie and most renowmed Edward the thirde, king of this noble realme of England, the most regarded vertues and inuincible chiualrie of whome, beeing then euerie where so surpassing, and of such redoubted force, as (were it not such memorable issue had sprong out of his Kingly loynes, Parenthesis. as wherewith the states of the mightie were daunted, and Europe made to woonder) might hitherto haue remained of-fame compotent ynough, to haue bene compared vnto the mightiest: but that I may rather imparte vnto you, that as golde, in the riches and glorie of it selfe,Parabola. beareth price and value with the most precious, yet hauing annexed vnto his proportion, a Diamonde of inestimable beautie, valour and goodnesse, becommeth thereby farre more excellent then before, more shining and glorious: so this soueraigne and puissant Monarch (admirable no doubt by himselfe) yet hauing thus tied vnto the sunne-shine of his happie raigne, the obscurer and eclipsing glorie of all other nations,Metapora. the verie Loadstarre and direction of all other Tropheis, the Sunne it selfe of worthinesse, and absolute concluder of euerie honourable enterprise: howe coulde it bee but that this prerogatiue of his must of force exceede, and goe beyonde all others,Antimetabole. when himselfe, by the verie chaire of honours selfe was so farre aduaunced aboue any others?Periphrasis. And albeit the high and kingly worthinesse of so statelie offspring and parentage, might no question in sundry sortes, yeelde greate and mightie glorie to the issue: yet that it might not bee alleadged that in taking vppon vs to commende the personage of one, wee shoulde intimate the soueraigntie of the other, as it were by a defect of praise sufficient, to supply the wante of our owne, and that the honourable reputation of another cannot fitly bee saide to bee this mans worthinesse, without by the braunch of his owne deserte, hee hadde in his owne proper right most effectually caried the same. Vnderstand you then of him, that which all men deeme most princely and honourable, and there is none, were it the stoutest enemie that euer liued, but will most highlie commende. This Prince, my L. who euen from the verie cradle seemed to bee addicted to the knowledge, and feare of God, and verie pietie of a sincere and Christian religion (besides that hee was naturally so well formed and instructed in good documentes as anie might bee) became in those verie tender yeares also, so apte vnto learning, as the match or like of him therein, was seldome or neuer in those dayes any where found, and in these times also may not easily bee hearde of. Insomuch as of those that then knewe him verie well, it certainely is deliuered, that beeing but the age of twelue yeares, his vnderstanding and knowledge in the Latine tongue, was so perfect, his progression in the Greeke so excellent, his skill and deliuerie of forraigne languages so woonderfull, his Princelie towardnesse in all thinges so rare and so plentiful, as many times mooued all the regarders to admire him, but founde none of all his associates in the same exercises, that were able to follow him.

Nowe if wee shall come to his riper yeares,Of his adolescence. and howe therein hee profited in the towardlie exercise and vse of armes, beeseeming a Prince of so high and exspected admiration, what coulde bee wished in anie one that in him was not fullie accomplished. So comelie, and with such vncontrouled dexteritie coulde hee sitte, ride and gouerne his horse, so couragiously, and with such nobilitie coulde hee welde and vse any weapon, either at tilte, barriers or turney, with such high and woonderfull direction, ordered hee all his complementes to either of these belonging, as did well manifest the magnanimitie and worthinesse of his minde, and what manner a one hee woulde afterwardes become toward the beautifying of his countrie. A more plaine and euident demonstration whereof, did at any one time in nothinge so much appeare as euen then, when hee was yet in his minoritie. For when there was remaining as then, no signe or token at all of manlie shewe in his face (beeing neuer the lesse of stature seemelie and tall, and of goodlie constitution in his bodie, well beseeming the yeares hee then caried) also attendante on the mightie King his father in the warres of Fraunce: what thinges did hee there perfourme?Erotema. what weightie enterprises, and those beyonde all expectation would hee vndertake, in honour of his royall progenie: was it not too straunge, that beeing in comparison of yeares, as it were a childe, deuoide of so confirmed and auncient graffed experience as beseemed the warres, hee vndertooke notwithstanding at eighteene yeares of age, with halfe his fathers power (by a most couragious desire of an euerthirsting glorie, with condition and charge either there to eternizeParenthesis. his death by an euerlasting memorie, or backe to returne againe with triumphant gained victorie) to ioine with the whole and mightie power of Fraunce, and all the Chiualrie thereof, where (to his immortall and surpassing high renowne) hee attained vppon them by the high permission of God, a most memorable Tropheie? But why dwell I in these slender discourses (small God knowes in respect of those mightie conquestesMeiosis. by him afterwards atchieued) in deteining you from the sweete and ardente remembrance of the rest?Auxesis. If he being yet sequestred in years from any ripenes at all, when it was thē to be supposed he most needed gouernmente, coulde by such stately and inuincible valour, so moderate his great and waightiest actions, as to become at that verie instant so redoubted and famous: what might we deem of him afterward, being once perfectly established in all kinde of manly directions, but that of necessity he should by manie degrees exceed and go beyond the formost shewe of all his excellencies, and the greatest expectation that might be of all his progressions? & so vndoubtedly he did. For being once attained to mans estateEpanodus. His mans estate. hee grewe immediatly to become a Prince. sage, discreet, politike & wise, in all his actiōs of rare & singular circūspectiō and prouidence, benigne: & of all others most fauourable and courteous: fortunate, and euer inuincible in the warres, liberall to his followers, and of a high replenished bountie to euerie one, a verie Patrone and defender of innocents,His outward actions. absolutelye fauouring alwayes the right, Magnanimious as touching his estate and the high and waightie enterprises he tooke in hande, exceedinglie feared abroad, woonderfullie beloued at home,His inward vertues. mixing alwayes the enterchangeable exercise of Armes, with continuall studie of learning. Of such rare modestie and temperance as is maruellous: In so much as the King his father beeing here in England,Hypotiposis. when in the great fight of Poictiers, hee had discomfited and ouerthrowne in one day three mightie battels of the French, and taken in the last of them king Iohn and his sonne prisoners: he was not puffed vp at all with the honour of so statelie and triumphant victorie, neither grewe he insolent vpon the same, but entertayned the King and his sonne in his owne Tent so honourablie,His bounty & great humility. and therewithall with so great nobilitie and surpassing courtesie, as that hee neglected not to serue them himselfe at Supper, and seemed verely at that season in all things, to haue beene reputed in his owne intendment, as if hee had neuer beene conquerour. The shewe whereof, so much increased his incomparable bountie: and so mightilie honoured the estate of his victorie, as that the King then confessed, that to become the prisoner of such a one, it could bee no disparagement vnto so mightie a soueraigne as himselfe, seeing that hee was by the force of that onely ouerthrowe, made companion of the greatest NobilitieHis modestie. that euer hee sawe. Manie Honourable partes could I here inferre vnto you of him (infallible arguements of his incredible modestie) for long after this, when this mightie Prince had atchieued so manie and waightie honours throughout all Fraunce, as that the regard thereof made his name a terrour, and his becke a commaunde to compell theyr Soueraigntie vnto his fathers obedience: he was required by Don Petro, king of Castile, to helpe him agaynst Henrie his bastard brother, who had then expulsed him vnlawfully; and vsurped vpon his kingdome. Whereupon hauing by the couragious endeuour of him selfe, and his Knightes, and by their sole and onely prowesse, brought downe the vsurper, and driuen him cleane out of the Countrey,Parenthesis. (albeit his strength was such, and the admirable fauour of the people so greate, as might easilye haue inuited him there, to the wearing of a crowne) hee neuerthelesse of a high and noble disposition, holding itSententia. farre more honourable to make a king then to be a king, so farre foorth declared his temperance at that verie instant (not commonlie happening vnto euerie one,Parenthesis. especially in causes of a kingdome) as that hee vtterlie abstained so much as to beare an appetite or liking therunto, howbeit good occasiō was therunto ministred by the breach of Don Petro in paiment of his souldiors: but to his immortall renowne, placed and restored therin againe the true & lawful inheritour of the same setling him (according as was intended) in his crowne and kingdome. Could there my L. in any one haue appeared greater arguments of Magnanimitie, Iustice, and Temperaunce, then was remaining in this Prince?Merismus. And yet if continuall happinesse in all worldly attempts, if neuer ceasing and eternized famous victories, if the commendation and honour done vnto him of his mightiest enemies, if strength and glorie of his countrey, and honoured titles of his victorious father, if confirmed leagues of diuers mightie Princes, Confederates and Alies, if feruent and of all others the moste principall and ardent loue of his Knightes, subiects and followers, if all or anie of these might anie wayes haue induced him to the breach of eyther of these vertues, what wanted to the furtheraunce thereof, that in and vppon him, was not alwayes attendant and (as it were)Allegoria. continuallie powred. Was hee not then wedded to honour, euen in his formost Cradle? Did not Fortune immediately acknowledge him, and confesse that he was her darling? Seemed vertue euer prowde, but in his greatest perfection? Grew Fame at any time so impatient as euen then, when (as the most conuenient harbour of all her worthinesse) she sought out his dwelling? Agreed they not all with one voice to abandon the statelinesse of all others, onelie to bee resiant with him whome they helde most charie of all others?Confirmatiō. Witnesse among manie other his more then ordinarie attemptes, the three battels (then which no one thing throughout the worlde before or since became of more greater remembraunce) by him in his moste youngest yeares, so miraculouslie foughten, the one of which was at Cressay agaynst the French, when he was but eighteene yeares of age (as you haue before remembred.) the second at Poictiers, where died the King of Bohemia, and King Iohn of Fraunce became his prisoner: the thirde against the bastard Henrie, for the kingdome of Castile,Hypotiposis. where in one whole intire fight the same Henry bearing a mightie hoste, was by meere surpassing valour and moste woorthie prowesse of this Prince discomfited, and by maine force thereof expulsed his Seignorie. All which exploytes, and manie more besides, celebrating thereby his eternall prayses, when he had with greater glorie, then well may bee conceyued, furnished and finished to the aduauncement of his immortall dignitie: See death,Epiphonema. dispightfull death,Emphasis. who ioyning with the malignitie of the wicked world, hatefull alwayes to vertue, and satisfying euer to malicious enuie, bereft the vnwoorthie earth of his most worthie life. But howe? Not as falleth out to euerie common creature, deuoyde of after memorie: for why?Antipophora. the soueraigne commaunder of earth and skyes, allowed it otherwise: neither beseemeth such stately patternes of honoured vertue, whose spirites caried with greater efficacie of aspiring eternitie, then those whose duller conceytes are adapted to more terrene and grosse validities, shoulde bee exempted their perpetuitie. And albeit in all the progression of the wished life of this mightie Prince,Commoratiō. anie one thing was neuer founde contrarying, blemishing, or in one sort or other impugning his honour (one sole imposition or taxe contraried in his gouernement of Gascoigne excepted)Confutatiō. yet in the highest estate of happinesse wherein hee alwayes liued, was hee neuer more happie or glorious, then euen in his verie death. Insomuch as hee then dyed,Synonymia. at which time in most honour and highest, toppe of all prosperitie, hee was principallie established and chieflie florishing: at that instant in which the type of his excellencie was in no one tytle or iote obscured:Praise of his death. at that verie season when in the whole course and practise of his life, hauing still addicted himselfe to sounde out the incertaine and momentarie pleasures of the worlde, he had by perfect tryall found out the small validitie and little affiaunce that was to bee reposed in transitorie and fading glorie of the same. Euen then, when in the exchaunge of the eternall habitation (the incomprehensible ioyes whereof no eye hath seene, eare hath heard, nor tongue can expresse,) hee best knewe howe to leaue this wretched life, and to compasse the sweete and wholesome meditation of the other. He died (my L.)Epiphonema. as hee euer liued, vertuouslie and honourablie, the determination of whose deceasing corps, was preparation to newe ioyes: and commutation of momentarie pleasures, an assurance of euer flourishing gladnesse. Thus,Peroratiō. see you (my good L.) before your eyes, the most certaine and assured counterfeite of verie true Nobilitie, furnished in the discouerie of such a one, whose personage beeing in no kinde of excellencie inferiour, to that in the highest degree may bee of any other imagined: deserueth by so much the more of all honourable estates accordingly to be embraced.Ecphonesis. Great is the ornament of prayse, and precious the renowne that longeth to such vertue: the Diamond glimpse whereof equalleth in beautie the fairest, and dimmeth by the verie shadowe thereof the glittering pompe of the mightiest.Articulus. Beautie, strength, comelinesse fadeth, yea, the worlde decayeth, pleasure vanisheth, and the verie face of heauen it selfe perisheth: Onlie sacred vertue is immortall, she neuer dieth, euer quickeneth, absolutely triumpheth, and ouer all other earthly monuments euen out of the deepest graue for euer flourisheth. Liue therefore my L. vertuouslie, and die wheresoeuer and whensoeuer, yet howsoeuer honourablie. My paper burthened with his long discourse, desirous rather to recreate then toyle your L. enforceth an ende. Recommending my humble duetie in whatsoeuer to your honourable acceptance.