in these tender and as yet vnripened yeares, 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, 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. You shall not neede my L. to ransacke
volumes, 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,
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, 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.
_Edwarde_, my L. young _Edward_ (so helde in his fathers life) vnder
whose raigne he died in Englande, surnamed for his noted excellencie,
sometymes the _blacke Prince_. 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
enriched with all kinde of wished and most exquisite perfections, as
in that present season, in which the delicacie of his aspiring minde
reste vnto himselfe the highest branch of honour from out her loftie
seate of dignity, 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) 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, 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, 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, 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, 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, when himselfe, by the verie chaire of honours selfe was
so farre aduaunced aboue any others? 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 _P_rincelie
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.
[Sidenote: Of his adolescence.]
[Sidenote: _Erotema._]
[Sidenote: _Parenthesis._]
[Sidenote: _Meiosis._]
[Sidenote: _Auxesis._]
[Sidenote: _Epanodus._ His mans estate.]
[Sidenote: His outward actions.]
[Sidenote: His inward vertues.]
[Sidenote: _Hypotiposis._]
[Sidenote: His bounty & great humility.]
[Sidenote: His modestie.]
[Sidenote: _Parenthesis._]
[Sidenote: _Sententia._]
[Sidenote: Parenthesis.]
[Sidenote: Merismus.]
[Sidenote: Allegoria.]
[Sidenote: Confirmatiō.]
[Sidenote: Hypotiposis.]
[Sidenote: _Epiphonema._]
[Sidenote: _Emphasis._]
[Sidenote: _Antipophora._]
[Sidenote: _Commoratiō._]
[Sidenote: _Confutatiō._]
[Sidenote: _Synonymia._]
[Sidenote: Praise of his death.]
[Sidenote: _Epiphonema._]
[Sidenote: _Peroratiō._]
[Sidenote: _Ecphonesis._]
[Sidenote: _Articulus._]
Nowe if wee shall come to his riper yeares, 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? 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 eternize 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 conquestes by him
afterwards atchieued) in deteining you from the sweete and ardente
remembrance of the rest? 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 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, 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, 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, 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,
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 Nobilitie
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, (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 it _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, 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? 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) 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?
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,
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, dispightfull death, 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? 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, 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) 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, 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: 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.) 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, 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. 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. 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.
=The respects of this |Epistle| argued in the personage of so noble a
Prince, haue caried in the matter thereof, the very shew of the highest
and chiefest vertues, whereupon all commendation may bee principallie
gathered. The next hereunto shall be |Vituperatorie| also touching
the person. Wherein as wee haue in the other, sought by all occasions
and circumstances therunto incident, what to the furtherance of such
requisite commendation might be alledged: so will we herein imagin vpon
what groundes or respects the occasions of dispraise, may as farre
forth otherwise in anie other qualitie be remembred.=
_An example of an Epistle vituperatorie, concerning
also the person._
[Sidenote: _Exordium._ Of the cause mouing admiration.]
[Sidenote: _Narratiō._]
[Sidenote: _Metaphora._]
[Sidenote: _Erotema._]
[Sidenote: _Paradoxon._]
[Sidenote: _Auxesis._]
[Sidenote: _Epiphonema._]
[Sidenote: _Paradoxon._]
[Sidenote: His Parents.]
[Sidenote: _Auxesis._]
[Sidenote: _Allegoria. Epanodis._]
[Sidenote: _Antiphrasis._]
[Sidenote: _Apostrophe._]
[Sidenote: His childhood.]
[Sidenote: _Ecphonesis._]
[Sidenote: _Omoioteleton._]
[Sidenote: _Adolescencie._]
[Sidenote: _Sinathrismus._]
[Sidenote: _Parison._]
[Sidenote: _Brachiologia._]
[Sidenote: _Ironia._]
[Sidenote: _Metaphora._]
[Sidenote: _Epiheton._]
[Sidenote: _Allegoria._]
[Sidenote: His youth and age.]
[Sidenote: _Asyndeton._]
[Sidenote: _Antipophora._]
[Sidenote: _Transitiō._]
[Sidenote: _Prosonomasia._]
[Sidenote: _Hypotyposis._]
[Sidenote: His inordinarie sicknes.]
[Sidenote: _Merismus._]
[Sidenote: _Epiphonema._ His death.]
[Sidenote: _Metaphora._]
[Sidenote: _Epilogus._]