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, 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. 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 harsh 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 lodgings 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) 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._
[Sidenote: Exordium. Of the cause it selfe.]
[Sidenote: Narratiō.]
[Sidenote: Sudden sickenesse.]
[Sidenote: Declaration of his speeches.]
[Sidenote: Mislike of the world.]
[Sidenote: Certain notice and liking of death.]
The decease (good Madame) 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, 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. 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 friends 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 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. 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._
[Sidenote: Praise of the person.]
[Sidenote: 1]
[Sidenote: 2]
[Sidenote: 3]
[Sidenote: 4]
[Sidenote: 5]
[Sidenote: 6]
=Nowe 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_, _deeds_ or _thing_ it selfe to bee commended, misliked or
dispraysed. The _person_ of anie one is to be preferred or disabled, by
his birth, descent, shewe, or abilitie. Secondlie, by his childhoode,
or good 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 libertie. 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 apparant 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 ende 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_.
[Sidenote: Of the deeds.]
=In commendation or vituperation of the déeds of any one, 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.=
[Sidenote: Honest which is tied to vertue.]
=The goodnesse or badnes, excellencie or basenesse of any thing, is
gathered from the places of _Honestum_, _Inhonesty_, 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.=
[Sidenote: Honest, what it is.]
=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. 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.=
[Sidenote: Vnhonest.]
=The contrarie hereof, which is _Inhonestum_, includeth likewise
whatsoeuer is not vertue, or is estranged from vertue, hindering
to vertue, 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.=
[Sidenote: _Laus ab honesto._]
[Sidenote: _Ab æquo._]
[Sidenote: _A necessitate._]
[Sidenote: _Ab vtiltiate._]
[Sidenote: _A difficili._]
=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, also in his Princes quarell &
defence of his countrey: _ab æquo_, because it is meet and conuenient,
that in causes so perillous, the strength of each one be applied. _A
necessitate_, insomuch as thereon depended the sauegard of the Prince
and people. _Ab vtilitate_, 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_, 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._
[Sidenote: _Exordium_, by insinuation.]
[Sidenote: _Allegoria._]
[Sidenote: _Hyperbole._]
[Sidenote: _Procatalepsis._]
[Sidenote: _Epitheton._]
[Sidenote: _Synonymia._]
[Sidenote: _Anadiplosis._]
[Sidenote: _Narratiō._]
[Sidenote: _Hypotiposis._]
[Sidenote: Praise of the Prince in generall.]
[Sidenote: _Epitheton._]
[Sidenote: _Metanoia._]
[Sidenote: _Metaphora._]
[Sidenote: _Præteritio._]
[Sidenote: Parenthesis.]
[Sidenote: Parabola.]
[Sidenote: _Metapora._]
[Sidenote: _Antimetabole._]
[Sidenote: _Periphrasis._]