egged mee forwarde, and caused me to salute you by these letters, the
rather for that I haue sundry times bene enformed with what ioifull
and friendlie conceite, you doe entertaine the familiaritie of euerie
Gentleman. Little (God knoweth) resteth in mee to pleasure you, the
worthines whereof I coulde wish, were as well answerable to your vertue
as effectuallie you might haue power in mee to commaunde it. This one
thing can I deliuer of my selfe, that since I had first capacitie to
discerne of mens conditions, I haue alwaies studied to honour the
vertuous, and euermore with reuerence to entertaine their actions. A
fauourer I haue still beene of the learned, and a diligent regarder
of their excellencies, such as in minde more then wealth wuld wish
to be reputed happy, & to my vttermost power gladlie accomplish what
might bee deemed most worthie. Such a one if you vouchsafe to like
of, I wholie yeelde my selfe vnto you, expecting nothing more then at
your conueniente leisure I might finde occasion to see you. Whereunto
referring the residue of all my desires, It doe for the present cease
to detaine you. London this fourth of Iune, &c.
=To these Epistles might be added two seuerall answers: in both of
which there is required a special and wel demeaned modesty, in the one
of humility to bee according to his better, in the other of curtesie
to gratifie his equall, each of them containing, a submissiue executio
of that, in either of their faculties and professions simply to be
attributed, the diuersities of both of them not impertinent to these
our instructions, I haue in sort following put downe to be considered.=
_An Epistle responsorie answering to the first of these Letters._
It may please your Worshippe, I haue receiued your curteous Letters,
and by the same, as also by your messenger haue fullie conceiued of
your fauour and louing intendment towardes mee, for all which I can
but render vnto you my most humble and duetiful thankes. Touching
my selfe, I verie gladlie wish that there were anie thing in mee,
whereof you might take pleasure, or wherewith I might anie waies bee
enabled to doe you seruice: Such as it is I humblie render vnto your
commaunde, and doe pray that in as good sorte as I tender it, you will
bee pleased to accepte of it. Your man can witnesse, that as yet I
haue some earnest occasions for a while to detaine mee, who otherwise
woulde bee well contented foorthwith to waite vpon you. And were I not
thereunto especiallie enioined by your good fauour, the importunitie of
your seruaunt might happily in such case haue preuailed with mee. It
may therefore stand with your good pleasure to pardon mee, one moneth,
which tearme beeing expired, I thence forwarde will remaine at the
commaunde of none so much as your Worshippe, to whose good acceptaunce
I eftsoones doe recommende my selfe in all reuerente duetie. London
this of, &c.
_A letter responsorie answering to the latter Epistle._
Sir, I haue vnderstoode by your gentle and friendlie letters, not
onelie howe much I rest beholding to your good opinion, but also to the
curteous Knight, and my especiall good Ladie you write of, to each of
whome I haue founde my selfe indebted exceedinglie. Manie waies might
I aduertise you howe much I haue to thanke both them and you, which
that my desires may appeare answerable to your wishes I doe leaue, till
personallie in as present hast as conuenientlie may bee, I see you. I
am not altogether ignoraunt of the good partes which by some (vnto your
selfe well knowne) hath beene aduertised heretofore vnto me of you,
and for which I do most willinglie embrace you. Assuring you yᵗ you
haue but preuēted me in this one curtesie, which before my going out of
town, I was vehementlie perswaded to haue tendred vnto you, wherein
neuerthelesse I rest satisfied, in that by one so well accomplished as
your selfe, I haue heerein been so farre foorth conuinced. My busines
with his L. resteth I hope vpon a present dispatch, and therefore doe
I reckon (by Gods grace) within these verie few dayes to visite you.
Meane while, confessing howe much I stande charged vnto your selfe for
this sole courtesie, I doe pray that vnto the good Knight, and his La.
you will report my right humble dutie: And euen so doe commit you to
the Almightie. This of, &c.
_Of Epistles Reconciliatorie.
Chap. 14._
=Nowe after these |Responsorie| Letters, each answering vnto the
others tendered courtesies, I thinke it meet to come to the next
title, being in order |Reconciliatorie|. The matter whereof importeth
a reconciliation to those from whom wee acknowledge in some sort or
other to haue beene disseuered, contrarie to the bonde of friendshippe
or dutie that therein might bee required, whether by our owne default,
or by whose or what defect, as by the circumstance of the action shall
bee tendered. In the framing of these Epistles wee shall recorde with
our selues, in what league, amitie or dutie, wee haue before time
stoode charged or bounde to him to whome wee studie to bee reconciled,
thereupon shall wee according to the district obseruation at that
instant helde of the same, studie eyther to qualifie, adnihilate, or
vtterlie to extinguish the cause of falling of the disseuerance, or
breach. Then shall we desire for the considerations thereunto inducing
vs, to be retained againe in his wonted fauour or friendlie acceptance.
And these as in the examples following may accordingly be suted.=
_An example reconciliatorie, from one friend to another._
[Sidenote: _Exordium._]
[Sidenote: _Parenthesis._]
[Sidenote: _Epitheton._]
[Sidenote: _Epilogus._]
The regarde of our auncient amitie and long continued acquaintaunce,
wherein so firmelie and manie yeares wee haue beene knit togithers,
will not permit (my good D.) that wee for one slender grudge, (rather
by the malice and despite of others enuying our olde friendship, then
by anie occasion of our selues, in ill time suggested betweene vs)
shoulde in this sort bee disseuered. True it is, that before this time
the like breach, or anie thing neare vnto the same was neuer seene
betweene vs, but what (mischiefe) shall I nowe tearme it, or imagine
to bee the occasion, that in so vnlooked time, and vpon so vnexpected
occasion, hath in this vilde sort, giuen meane to vntie vs, betweene
whome so great a league of loue, so long confirmed and approoued
liking, so manie protestations and vowes haue ere this passed, as that
by the force thereof it might well haue seemed wee should neuer haue
fallen to this variance. But what cannot enuie doe? What is it that
cruell, detestable and inueterate malice cannot performe? Credite
mee, my D. for my part I am sorie that euer follie so much maistred
vs, as to hearken in any sort to the stirrers vp of such bitternesse.
And as my selfe was the first that by admittaunce and allowaunce of
those rumours gaue the formost onset, by meanes whereof grewe this
discontenting and vnkinde department betweene vs: so will I bee the
first that shall endeuour to renue againe our friendshippe by a more
iust reconcilement, to the intent the fruites of our vnfained liking
becomming by such meanes the more forcible, may render vnto all the
worlde a sufficient testimonie, how hard and difficult a thing it is
to part those whome (but onelie death itselfe) hath power to disseuer.
Bee onelie contented my D. once againe, to restablish that which being
a little vntwisted, could neuer wholie be broken. Thy knowne good will,
and heartie zeale vnto mee; assureth mee not to distrust the same at
thy handes, which thou shalt euer finde to be graffed within me. This
euening by Gods grace I meane at our lodging to see thee, whither, and
to thy selfe I doe most heartilie commend me.
=This Reconciliatorie being different from that other |Conciliatorie|
Epistle, by reason of the argument thereof tending to renue that,
which formerlie might by the other before bee intreated for, carrieth
the effects thereof as well as it dooth betwéene equals: so from an
inferiour person to one who in reputation is somewhat more then his
better. Upon presumption of whose fauor, or by negligence of his own
dealing, hauing thrown himselfe into some disgrace with such a partie,
he may by meanes herein offred, reconcile himselfe in any sort he list
of humility. To the furtherance whereof, this example following may bee
considered.=
_An Epistle Reconciliatorie, from an inferiour person,
to one that is his better._
[Sidenote: _Narratiō._]
[Sidenote: _Propositiō._]
[Sidenote: _Dichologia._]
[Sidenote: _Antithesis._]
[Sidenote: _Peroratiō._]
Pleaseth my honourable good L. It was giuen me to vnderstand about two
daies passed by M. R. that your L. should very hardly conceiue of me,
in that vpon some vrgent occasion, I delaied to yeeld that testimonie
vnto his cause, which in equitie and reason I ought to doe: and the
rather, for that by your earnest entreatie and request, I was eftsoones
thereunto required. The griefe was not small I sustained thereby, in
that hauing receiued many and sundrie benefits by your honourable
fauour, whereby diuers waies I remaine in dutie and honestie charged
during my life vnto your L. I should stand on so great a hazard, as the
aduenture or losse of your good opinion, onely for a matter sinisterly
suggested vnto you against mee, without anie maintainable reason. Your
L. dooth I hope remember, in my last speeches had with you about the
very same matter (albeit before that time, I stoode on some tearmes,
doubting the malicious dealinges of the aduerse parties agaynst mee, in
reuengment of my plaine and honest testimonie to bee there giuen) yet
at the last I concluded, to gather together all the Notes ministring
furtheraunce to the cause, and thereuppon to deliuer my true and
certaine knowledge according as had beene required. Nowe, what care
I haue sithence vsed in the matter, and vppon intelligence had with
M. R. howe vehementlie in satisfaction of what might anie wayes content
your L. and bee furthering to his right, I haue proceeded therein, I
had rather himselfe shoulde deliuer, then I to become a reporter vnto
you. Insomuch as I well knowe (howeuer any others haue misinformed your
L.) himselfe as a Gentleman, will vppon his woorde assure the truth
and certaintie. I did I must confesse at the first vse some delayes
in immediate dispatch of the thing, but how and in what manner,
and to what end and purpose, let him also relate. Your L. I hope,
will therefore bee pleased to do mee that right, as not to be euill
perswaded towardes mee, in a case wherein I haue vpon your honourable
assuraunce and commaund, entred so farre foorth, as thereby I stande
assured to haue purchased vnto my selfe matter ynough of hatred, and
by those whome (hauing refused to entertaine as my friendes) I haue
inabled sufficiently thereby to become my heauie and bitter enemies.
The hatred of whome cannot vnto mee anie wayes become so iniurious as
the ill conceyte of your L. should redound to bee of all others most
grieuous. For mine owne parte (so much doe I stande on the reuerent
regarde and account I beare vnto your L.) as were it not I rest
perswaded that vpon the equall deliueraunce conceiued of my willing
minde vnto your seruice, you would againe bee reconciled in fauourable
and good opinion towards me, I should so farre foorth bee discontented
in my selfe, as neuer could I bee at attonement with mine actions,
wherein by the least sparke of negligence whatsoeuer, I might thinke
to haue ouerslipped anie thing that shoulde become displeasing, or
otherwise offensiue vnto your honourable liking. Your L. woonted fauour
and bountie giueth mee great expectation of the contrarie, and mine
innocencie and true report of maister R. doth also in some sort assure
me. Whereupon remaining as he that alwaies thinketh his life no better
spent, then for and in your L. vtmost seruice, I humblie surcease, this
day of, &c.
_Of Epistles Petitorie. Chap. 15._
=The manner of these Epistles might in another purpose then herein
expressed, bee also applyed, as being |Reconciliatorie|, in the
behalfe of some other to bee written, as occasion may bee offered, but
forasmuch as they in that sort beeing handled, doe for the most part,
fall into the |Swasorie|, |Disswasorie|, |Defensorie|, or |Excusatorie|
kinde, I deeme it besides necessitie, to write anie further examples
thereof, for that when anie such shall bee brought in question,
the substaunce and conueyance of the state and cause, may readily
thereunto be drawne out of the places before sorted vnto each of those
kindes, as in the discourse formerly set forth are at large remembred.
In manifestation whereof, let it be considered, that if by an epistle
of this title I shoulde endeuour to reconcile a man to his wife, or
a woman to her husband, a seruaunt to his maister, or a maister to
his seruant: the father to the Childe, the friende to a friende, the
neighbour to neighbour, or kinsman to kindred. Needes must I for the
compassing thereof shewe some reasons howe and which way to induce
these, and therefor must I of necessitie run into diuers perswasions,
defences or excuses, in the qualities whereof (by whatsoeuer action
I goe about to transpose them) the effectes yet must néedes be
concluded. Sufficeth therefore that for these Epistles I haue deliuered
sufficiently, and herewith will wee wade vnto the nexte, which in
order hereunto are |Petitorie|. And in asmuch as these Epistles are
so named, for the earnest |petition| or requests in euerie of them
contained, and that the variety of thinges are such to be demanded,
and mens conditions so diuers, at whose handes or from whom the same
are to be receiued: It therefore falleth out by consequence that
according thereunto the maner of the Epistle must needs also be diuers
and variable. For some things ther are which fauorably and with great
indifferencie, are oftentimes to be graunted, required or obtained, as
counsell, aid, patronage, good speeches, natural care and regard, &
such other like. Some also and such semblable persons, as for which,
or to whom, to aske or sue a certain kind of shame, is in a māer tied,
|viz.| in crauing, borrowing, importuning, charging, or to vehement
troubling. The stile, order, and deliuery therefore appertaining to
either of these must needly be different. Touching then the generality
of both, to either of them it is requisite that in the |Exordium|, an
indeuour bee vsed whereby to adhibit vnto vs the good will, fauour, or
good liking of him to whome wee write. Nexte that therein wee procéede
according to our acquaintance with the partie, his estate, credite,
or supporte whereby to pleasure vs. Thirdlie, that the cause we take
vpon vs to preferre, bee iust, lawfull, and honest. Fourthly, that it
be in his ability, or power, counsel, aid, or protection, to prefer
or relieue vs. Fiftly, the order or meanes whereby the same may be
wrought and accomplished. Sixtly, our gratitude and |remuneration|,
worthily tied to the thankefull acknowledgement or requitall of the
same. In the first sorte of these, the cause standing fauourable or
indifferent, we may the more bolder indeuour to produce or lay forth
the aptnes or beseeming therof. In the second, greater modestie, and a
more shamefast deliuerance is to be retained, the preferring whereof
woulde be best by |insinuation|, the better by couert meanes to wade
into the depth of our |petitiō|. In this place a more then ordinarie
bashfulnes would bee admitted, which giueth no small furtherance to
euerie demaund, as audacious and wainscot impudencie on the other side
returneth the greatest impediment in anie thing to be obtained. For
no man willingly would do benefit to such a one who in maner goeth
about as of duety and not of curtesie to exact the same, and rather
as a commaunder then crauer, woulde impudently thrust himselfe to
the obtaining thereof. And because the whole course hereof obserued
by way of euerie |Petition|, is by inference of many circumstances
to be altogither determined, the order as I haue related vnto you
before, must be conueyed by places |Swasorie|, resting very often in
confirmation of the honestie, goodnes, lawfulnes, and needfulnes of
our petition. And if the |Exordium| be happily framed of his person to
whom we direct our letters, it shall not be amisse that therein briefly
wee capitulate some parte of his vertues, curtesies, humanity, bounty,
readines to comfort, pleasure, or doe reliefe vnto any, whereby we
may priuately draw his fauour and good acceptance vnto vs: besides,
if he haue made vs before time beholding vnto him, we shall gladly
acknowledge the same, and declare that being already indebted, we study
more thereby to yoke our selues vnto him. If of our owne persons, then
shall we lay open, with what great expectation and regard we do in
our conceits entertaine the desertes and worthinesse of such a one,
modestly preferring what in fauor of him, and common and equall loue or
regard hath passed between vs. If of the interchangeable loue, liking
and curtesie, whilome resting between our predecessors or auncistors,
then the weight and force thereof we shall put forwards accordingly. If
of the person of our aduersarie against whom we demaund any assistance,
fauor, protection, or remedy, we may infer (if any such be) the common
mislike of both of vs towardes him, and how ill he hath deserued at
eithers handes and thereupon require aid against him. If of the thing
or matter it selfe, the same be to be caried, we shall shew the value,
godlines, goodnes, or common benefit of the same, that the matter is
vnto him easie, to vs of great importance, and if without arrogancie
it may be done, we may inforce some occasions of benefit or other
contentment thenceforth to happen vnto him. And if any discommoditie do
happily séem to appeare in laying open the same (the liklihood whereof
may either alienate his minde, or withdraw his assistance or other
liking from vs) that shall we either study to extinguish or otherwise,
as much as we may, to qualifie or auoide; By such kind of meanes,
behooueth we prepare our selues to the deliuery of our petition, which
being in as apt and plaine tearms as may be laid open, we shal by
such inforcements (as in moouing affections hereunto, may be deemed
pertinent) with greater facilitie procure the same to be effected.=
_An example of an epistle Petitorie written on the
behalfe of another._
[Sidenote: _Exordium._]
[Sidenote: _Narratiō._]
[Sidenote: _Allegoria._]
[Sidenote: _Epilogus._]
The studie and great desire wherewith (sir) I see you bent continually
to the vniuersall aid and benefit of al men, and for which to your
great praise you haue generally well deserued, and deseruedly are
euerie where reputed, hath mooued me in the behalfe of this poore man
to become a petitioner vnto you. About two moneths since, hee had
dealings with a neighbour of yours, touching a farme which he was for
tearme of yeares to take at his hands, and notwithstanding a promise
and graunt thereof to this bearer made (in consideration whereof
he paide him then in hand a good parte of his money) the iniurious
cormorant glutting him selfe with extorting from the pouertie of this
and manie others, hath sithence that, not onelie passed a demise
thereof in writing to another, but goeth about to defraud the poore
man of his money, the sum whereof is the whole patrimonie, riches, and
stocke of himselfe, his poore wife and familie. And for so much as
without the countenance of some one fauouring the poore mans right,
hee is like to bee ouerborne with the weight of the other, and so
consequently to bee vndone: I haue thought good to make thus bolde to
pray your lawful fauour in his furtherance, that by your authoritie and
meanes, some honest satisfaction or ende may be therein to his behoofe
had. You shall doe an act verie charitable, in dealing for such a one,
for the procuring of whose right, his heartie praiers for your safety
shall witnes wel the comfort you shall do him therein. I am perswaded
your speach and aid may herein preuaile verie much, as a thing which
with great facilitie you may cause to bee dispatched. And for my self,
as I shal at no time rest vnmindful of my request tendred vnto you
herein, so shall I not faile in what I may to the vttermost of my power
to satisfie you, by whatsoeuer possible requitall. And euen so with my
heartie commendations, I doe bid you farewel. R. this twelfth of Aprill.
_An example petitorie in the nature
of Reconciliatorie, from a sonne
to his displeased
father._
[Sidenote: _Metaphora._]
[Sidenote: _Exordium._]
[Sidenote: _Epitheton._]
[Sidenote: _Ecphonesis._]
[Sidenote: _Periphrasis._]
[Sidenote: _Metanoia._]
[Sidenote: _Antithesis._]
If floods of teares sealed with harde and bitter sighes, if continuall
sorrow and neuer ceasing care, if consuming griefes not of a diseased
bodie, but of a pestred mind, might haue rendred sufficient and
assured testimonie, whereby to perswade your laden eares surcharged by
this time with the weight of my incessaunt and continuall cries: the
intollerable woes wherein I liued, secluded from the right and name
of a sonne, and barred quite from the sweete and gentle tearme of a
louing and kinde father, hadde ere this time giuen meane of recouerie,
to my daunted and dismayed spirites, and kindled in mee some wan hope,
one day to haue founde an houre so happie, wherein by a right conceite
conceiued of my vnkindlie pleasures, or conuinced by the importunity
of those who haue pittied my euils, your naturall care might in some
sorte or other haue bin renued, to the redresse of all my fore wearied
and heauie groning mischiefs. But infortunate as I am, that for all the
humble suit so manie times presented in these and such like blubbered
lines, so hardened is the mind of him I write vnto, that whilome hauing
bin a deare and louing parent, I may not heerein dare to tender, or so
much as once put forwarde vnto him, the appellation of a gratious and
pittifull father. If it haue so pleased vnto your grauitie, in such
seuere manner still to deale with me, and that the hatefull shewe of my
ill desertes, is yet become of so loathed and detestable recordation,
in this verie season vnto you: then as (before time) eftsoones doe
confesse my letters vntimelie to haue approched vnto you: but if the
long detained grace, by whose heauie want (your sonne might I say?)
nay, the forlorne and despised issue of your aged yeares (for so I am
now forced to say) is perforce driuen almost into a desperate conceite
and mislike of his liuing, may by the least sparke of expectation,
be annexed to the most vehement effects of his prostrate and meekest
submission, then groueling vppon the lowest ground, and humbling my
highest imaginations to the deepest bottome, wherein your implacable
displeasures haue hitherto beene coueted, as meekely and with as
penitent speeches, as anie grieued and passionate minde can vtter: I
do beseech you sir, that at the last you will receyue (not into your
accustomed fauour) but to your common and ordinarie lyking, the most
disgraced of all your children, and pardoning the disobedience wherein
hee dared once so far foorth to prouoke agaynst him, the weight of your
knowne anger, vouchsafe hee may nowe againe bee of your familie, though
not partaking with your children.
[Sidenote: _Epilogus._]
This sole benefite and last request if my burthened soule may obtaine
at your handes, happilie I may then liue as comforted by the hope of
that whereunto a buzie and carefull endeuour may once peraduenture
enable me, otherwise dying in the ouerflowing of my desperate and
continued griefes, I pray at Gods handes I may obtaine that by mercie,
which cruell destinie in my life time could neuer win vnto me, by all
possible intreatie. My submissiue dutie answerable to the regarded
place of your fatherlie authoritie compelleth mee to attend with all
humblenesse the resolution of your clemencie. In the hope whereof,
resting my decayed and ouerwearied imagination, I liue till the receyt
of your knowne lyking do ascertaine, in what sort may please you to
repute me.