sortes of Letters |Responsorie|, in which is either flatly denied,
absolutely allowed, or doubtfully accepted of, what by force of those
|Epistles| are seuerally commended. Of either of these sutes I haue
thought good to set downe some directions, the diuersitie whereof, at
the choice of him that searcheth the same, may according to his present
humor be either reiected or followed.=
_An example responsorie, wherein is denied
what in the foremost directions may
be recommended._
Pleaseth your good L. I receiued your fauorable Letters, and
cōmendation giuen in the behalfe of M. L. with whom hauing had
conference at large, I doe finde nothing lesse, then what by your L.
was of him deliuered, and in truth it doth not a little discontent
me, that as well in regard of your honourable and earnest demand made
in his fauor, as also that many great and vrgent respects, I stand
deeplie charged vnto you Lord. I cannot neuerthelesse herein perfourme
what I woulde: For that (besides it is yet doubtfull whether I shall
bee to the same place appointed by her Maiestie or no) if I bee chosen
Sheriffe, I haue two yeares since giuen my worde and assured promise to
my Lord of L. that I shall then accept of such a one to the exercise of
the vnder Sherifwick as shall by him to mee bee preferred. According
vnto which, standing nowe in election for this yeare as I doe, I am and
euer sithence haue beene yearelie sollicited to the selfe same purpose.
Whereof I thought it my duetie to aduertise your L. by these, most
humblie crauing pardon of the same, in that I may not as I woulde,
herein satisfie your vrgente and vehemente request. And so with my
right humble duetie vnto your Lordshippe doe take leaue. This x. of
Nouember.
Another Letter responsorie, where-
_in consent and allowance is
giuen to the matter re-
quired_.
My humble duetie remembred vnto your good Lord shippe. The Letters
directed vnto mee from the same, together with the Gentleman in whose
fauor they were assigned, I haue entertained. And so much the more
welcome were they vnto mee, by howe much the more I repute my selfe
honoured, in that it hath pleased your Lordshippe anie waies to require
mee. Touching the partie recommended, your Lordshippe doubteth not I
hope, but that of the least of yours, I woulde make especiall accounte,
the effectes whereof you shall in this perceiue, in that for the
regarde I beare vnto your Lordshippe I will both repute of, and fauour
him. Besides what other aduauncement or prefermente his owne desertes,
or my aide may anie waies bring vnto him, hee shall bee sure at all
times to enioy it. Praying your Lordship in all other thinges as farre
foorth to stande my gratious and fauourable good L. as herein I shall
not faile to accomplish what to the vttermost may bee helde meete and
conueniente. And thus beseeching the Almightie to haue your Lordshippe
in his eternall protection, I doe in all humblenesse take my leaue,
from R. this seuenth of August, &c.
The third Epistle responsorie, where-
_in is doubtfullie allowed or accep-
ted of, what to the same was
recommended_.
My singular and especiall good L. I haue vnderstoode by your last
Letters, of a certaine fained and vntrue suggestion, deliuered by one
of your L. tenantes, against the proceedinges to him supposed to bee
tendred out of this Courte, according whereunto (albeit I was before
time, not altogether vnacquainted with the clamourous condition of the
partie) yet did I neuerthelesse, as by your Lordship was enioined,
examine at large the circumstances of the cause, and for the better
satisfaction of your Lordship, haue determined to set down vnto you
the trueth of the same. This R. L. whom your Lordship tearmeth to bee
a verie poore man, is not (as in simple shewe hee maketh himselfe
apparantlie to bee) but is rather such a one as from whome (beeing
narrowlie sifted) your Lordship might sooner drawe a hundred poundes
of his money, then halfe an inch breadth of his honestie. The argument
whereof in nothing so much appeareth as in this one action, wherin
against a poore man indeede, hee hath verie iniuriously behaued him
selfe, and hauing extorted from him this bonde nowe in suite (vppon
some conclusion, though no good consideration at all) of the summe of
one hundred pounde, goeth about vpon a nice quillet in the condition
to prosecute the forfeiture of the same, which indeed by the direct
wordes of the writing, is in lawe forfeited. For reliefe whereof his
aduersarie complained in the Chauncerie, by reason of the prosecution
of which bill, and notice particularlie thereof giuen to my Lorde
Chancellor, the saide R. L. hauing diuers time agreede to comprimit
the matter, and yet greedie as it seemeth to obtaine the forfeiture,
stil crieth on for triall, whilest the matter is still in debating,
for which cause the same hitherto hath onelie, and not otherwise been
delaied. And for as much assithence your Lordshippes letters receiued,
my selfe verie earnestlie haue trauelled to make some conscionable and
quiet ende betweene them, yet wil the same in no wise on his parte bee
assented vnto, by occasion whereof the extremitie of the lawe beeing
verie like to proceed, hee is the nexte tearme without further delaie
to obtaine a iudgemente, and so the poore man on the other side, to bee
vtterlie vndone: I thought it not amisse in aduertising the substance
hereof vnto your good Lordshippe to praie that in credite of what here
deliuered, your Lordship woulde bee pleased to procure the saide R. L.
to assent to some reasonable order. So doing, what in conscience the
poore man is then able to pay, in respect of the other charges, and
purchase of his owne negligences: I holde not too extreame to be out
of the saide bond deducted, because in lawe hee was something charged,
though in equitie otherwise hee ought to haue been clearelie acquited.
Thus in discharge of my conscience herein, hauing so much deliuered
vnto your good Lordship, I doe recommend you to the protection of the
Almightie. London this thirteenth of Maie.
=Nowe after these Epistles, let vs enter into one strange
|commendatorie| kinde, somewhat different from the order of the rest,
béeing such as wherein the partie directing the same, beeing somewhat
scant in deliuerie of ouer large & too credible spéeches, thought good
to mittigate the force of the same by the verie partes of extremitie
it self, wherein of a merry conceit, or some other pleasant humor, he
appeareth verie vnwilling to flatter, in reciting the example whereof,
because with many tedious precepts I haue now a good while wearied the
reader, I may peraduenture occasion some matter of recreation, which by
the single shewe therein gathered, appeareth in sort following to haue
bene performed.=
_A Letter commendatorie pleasantly con-
ceited in preferring an vnprofi-
table seruant._
[Sidenote: _Narratiō._]
[Sidenote: _Hirmos._]
[Sidenote: _Ironia._]
[Sidenote: _Prosonomasia._]
Sir, I do send vnto your view the bearer hereof (a man shaped as you
see, & as bold in condition as he appeareth in shew) whome by all the
superfluities of summer ale, that hath wrought in his giddie brain, I
haue bin requested to cōmend vnto you. And in as much as in putting
so vnworthie a worthie in substance of so incredible allowance, it
somthing behooueth I hide not the giftes which by great search in
many a good hosterie, tauern, & alehouse, he hath by long trauell and
drowsie experiēce ere this time gained, to his insupportable credēce.
I shall not spare in some sort to signifie vnto you, what in regard
of al these I am led to coniecture. Trueth is Sir, that hee is verie
well studied in the mysterie of Malt-wormes, and for his peculiar skill
in decerning the nappie taste by the nut-browne colour of Seller-ale
in a frostie morning, hee is become a sworne brother of the rag-mans
number, and thereby standeth enioyned neuer to weare furres or other
lyning in the coldest winter, but onely the warmth of the good Ale,
which inwardlie must hearten him: Besides Sir, if you haue occasion to
credite him with a small parcell of money in dispatch of a iourney,
do but say the worde that it shall once lie in his charge, and you
may stand assured, that it shall be laide vp so safe, as any liquour
in the worlde can safe conduct it from his bellie. Take no care for
your kitchin, butterie or larder, for once a day hee loues to see all
cleane before him. Little apparell wil serue him, for his leueries
ensue weekly, out of the Bruers mesh-fat. His lodging hee reckes not,
the Chimney floore, and Billets endes serue for a Featherbed and
Coueringes. When you haue most neede of him, you shall alwayes bee sure
to go without him: if you delight in a Pigs-nie, you maie by receyuing
of him, be sure of a Hogshead. Great store of small lyking you happily
may haue to him, wee knowe not what woonders the worlde may rende out,
for nothing is impossible where all thinges may bee compassed. It may
please you for recreations sake to looke vppon him, so you be not in
case to surfeit, looke what ill lyking you conceiue, report backe
againe I pray you in the inner facing of his chimney Casket, _Omnia
sua secum portat_, hee is somewhat a foolosopher, for hee carries all
his possessions about him, for _terram dedit filiis hominum_ he must
needes then haue a large dwelling, I pray sir, giue him good wordes
how ill-fauouredlie soeuer you fauour his acquaintance, for my part I
request no remuneration for the preferment I haue tendred towards him.
[Sidenote: _Prosonomasia._]
[Sidenote: _Metanoia._]
Thus much, would I haue done, and more, long since to bee rid of him.
His old maister beeing dead, it is necessarie some place to be pestred
with him, hee makes great choyse of your housekeeping, if you can like
to frame with him. Much more might bee deliuered in the condemnation
of his woorthinesse, but that I leaue to rehearse it, and nowe sir for
your owne appetite, I leaue to your contentment: Blame not me, but him
that lead mee, and so foorth to an ende. Commend me, but not condemne
me, for I shall once doe you a better turne, this is but the first, the
next may be woorse (better) I woulde say. And so fare ye well, &c.
_Of Epistles Consolatorie. Chap. 17._
=Time is it now, I should leaue this last title of epistles, as
hauing thereof spoken alreadie sufficiently, & giue my selfe to the
deliuery of the next, which are |Consolatorie|, the effects whereof
are to bee bestowed on such as are grieued, according to the weight
or qualitie of the matter wherewith they are perplexed. And for that
the life of man is circumuented with so manie, and so vnlooked causes
of sorrowe and griefe, as it many waies néedeth to haue the remedy of
comforts to be applied vnto it, yet the equality of al sorts of minds
not such, as in one and the selfe same degree can accept and beare
it: It shall therfore be meete and conuenient, that in deuising to
yéelde this swéet and gentle remedie to anie troubled conceit, we doe
so moderate the matter, as that in the Discouerie therof, we rather
strike not to a far greater impatience or extremitie of vnmeasurable
sorrow then before, vpon vntimely thrusting forward, or ignorant
pursuit of the same, seeing that the mindes of some, are of so high
& incomprehensible stoutnes, as they shun in themselues and account
it a slauerie to be ouerwhelmed with woes. Others againe so rife and
so abundant in teares, as the least shewe of repetition in them,
induceth matter inough of continual mourning for which cause, we will
sort these matters of comfort, into three seuerall orders. The first
whereof shall be at choice, plainelie and simply as occasion serueth
to comfort or perswade, measuring our common calamities by yᵉ rule
of Iudges, séeing vnto a wise man, no one thing can returne cause of
disquiet so much as the shrowd of filthinesse and ignominious shame,
neither can hee be hurt of anie one without himselfe. These (the more
sensible they are with whome we deale, and of greater capacitie) the
more vehemently may we enforce by all sorts of forcible argumentes or
examples. The second of these must by insinuation be entred into, as
supposing a person of a high & statelie mind, and in a cause not common
to be censured, the weightinesse of whose griefe suppressed by a kinde
of vnconquered fortitude, we would goe about to comfort. We may not
with these deale, as in a case of ordinarie griefe with the others, but
rather by a more valuable meane, as who would say, it appearing to vs
the inuincible valour wee see or holde to be resiant in their mindes,
shunning to bee tainted with the least touch of sweltring griefe, wee
doe offer our speeches or Letters to entertaine time with them, whose
hearts wee knowe cannot yeelde to anie forcible sting thereof. And nowe
considering the great validitie of their wisedome, and a minde in them
so vnconquered by anie stormes of Fortune, as is apparant, wee can but
encourage them stoutlie to beare, what others as weaklings doe lie
groueling vnder. In which wee shall finde greater cause to reioyce by
the woorthinesse of so goodlie a minde, then otherwise bee occasioned
to grieue for their sorrowes. The thirde and last likewise must in
another sort bee conueyed, as finding the passionate and perplexed
conceytes of some, yet fresh bleeding vppon the heauie wounde of
their sorrowes, wee maie not abruptlie enter with them, into the iust
occasion they haue so to be distempered, but rather for the lenefying
of their griefes (for in sorrowe also to bee accompanied breedeth
often some comfort) séeme to take vppon vs one part of their euils, by
declaration how grieuous for some especiall causes the same becommeth
vnto vs, either for vertue or some other praiseable condition in the
partie, by occasion whereof, wee doe euen participate, as it were,
with the griefes of them wee goe about to succour. For commonlie it is
giuen to vs to mislike such as dissent from our affections, and loue
them againe, who make themselues partakers of our euilles. It auaileth
also verie greatlie sometimes to extenuate or lessen the cause of the
griefe, either by the incertaintie of thinges casuall, being in some
respects subiect to frailtie, or by the hope of short continuaunce, or
by the necessitie of the action which may not bee withstoode, or by
some comfort or expectation left to mitigate the same. The reputation
also of wisedome, grauitie, the opposition of permutation of times
and seasons, the diminution of the occasion being nothing so great
or vrgent as we deeme it, the indurance of the thing to be a meane
vnto Vertue, and finallie, the common lot and condition of all men,
subiected vniuersallie to mishappe, to sorrowe, griefe, sicknesse,
disquiet, iniuries, wrongs, oppressions, and all kinde of euils, the
generall recordation whereof, aboue manie things that may be opposed,
swaieth commonly ouer the passions of the minde, by a déepe regarde of
the vniuersalitie of the same, as that it soonest of all beateth downe,
the weight of all kind of il sorrowes and conceiuings whatsoeuer.
Herein the quick sentences and pithie sayings of philosophers, may
also be a great spurring, and finallie, all possible arguments that
maie be, wherby men are anie waies perswaded or led to forget their
euils. In this place it is principallie to be obserued, that in
ministring comfortable spéeches to the redresse of anie mishaps, wee
doe not by preferring of toies and sporting deuises, séek to relieue
them, for that albeit in times of pleasure, the humour of the partie
might in some sort, be therewith greatlie delighted, yet in causes
of such extremitie, all persons for the most part, verie hatefullie
doe endure the putting forwardes thereof, as too much impertinent to
the heauinesse wherewith by sorrowfull remembrances, their mindes are
commonlie amated. But if the cause be light, then may it not be much
amisse to vse some pleasaunt deliueraunce to such a one, especiallie
whose appetite standeth anie thing towards the same, but this also in
such louing, sweete, and gentle sort to bee done, as that true comforts
may seeme to be mingled with those conceited pleasures. Neither may we
in anie case seeke in vaunting sort, to thrust into their priuate view,
the present tranquilitie and happinesse wherein our selues repose, the
obiection whereof were too rusticall. For that as societie in miserie
it selfe, lenedeth the force of the greatest griefes, so the opposition
of anothers pleasure and freedome, is a corosiue or sting to the want
of anie one that is sequestred from the same. All these obseruations in
causes |Consolatorie| are greatlie to be regarded, whose vses being to
be imploied according to their seuerall suppositions. I leaue to the
discretion of the writer in what sort hee thinketh méete to haue their
efficacies performed.=
_An example consolatorie of the first sort, wherein a Gentlewoman
is comforted of the death of her sonne._
[Sidenote: _Exordium._]
[Sidenote: _Insinuatiō._]
[Sidenote: _Allegoria._]
[Sidenote: _Antipophora._]
[Sidenote: _Erotema._]
[Sidenote: _Paradigma._]
[Sidenote: _Asyndeton._]
[Sidenote: _Peroratiō._]
Good Mistresse P. I am sorie that my selfe must become the vnluckie
Messenger of mine owne infortunitie vnto you, and that in the fore
fronte of my letter is planted such extreame griefe as I cannot but
extreamelie bewaile, so often as I thinke of it. Neuerthelesse, knowing
vnder what motions wee liue, and that aboue our reach ruleth one,
vnder whose becke the mightiest doe stoope, and the greatest are made
subiecte, I must as my selfe, so likewise perswade you, to tolerate
all such chaunces whatsoeuer, as falling from such absolute direction,
to alter anie one iote thereof is impossible, and to resist the same,
fruitelesse and vtterlie vnauaileable. The care of my selfe (albeit
manie doe knowe howe much I tendred that I sigh for) is not so much,
seeing by reason I am led to be assured of yᵉ necessitie of our decaie,
as the motherlie pitie I haue alwaies perswaded my selfe to bee in
you, and that I nowe alreadie doe feare least forgetting the directe
square of our certaine liuing, you will runne into such vntimelie
sorrowes, as with manifolde teares will hardlie bee washed, and with
innumberable sighes, will scarcelie bee wiped awaie. But what shall I
rehearse vnto you a thinge so sudden and vnlooked for, as I protest by
the heauenlie maker and ruler of all thinges, at the receipte of your
last letters I neuer mistrusted or once looked for to haue happened?
Your teares I see, euen nowe awaite what I will saie, and loe, your
imaginations doe alreadie deeme the matter I must vtter. At least wise
if I shoulde seeme further to dissemble the occasion of my griefe,
(and by hiding the summe of all that may breede discontentmente) to
conceale what nowe I am inforced to vnfolde vnto you, the discharged
messenger returned vncompleate, woulde bewraie the effectes thereof
before you. It is then your son, good M._P._ whose want I am inforced
to tolerate, and whose presence you must now henceforth determin
vtterlie to forbeare. Your last presage in commanding him to be seene
liuing or dead, hath now returned his liuing to be discharged, & his
earthlie coarse vnlooked for, to be couered with cinders. Had I thought
it theē (as by the Almighty I least mistrusted it) & had you prepared
to haue receiued him, as then before was required, you could not more
sooner haue assured mee his returning, then I am able now to performe
him, at your present sending. He is commaunded to another, that before
did expecte him, hee is swallowed in the gulfe, that from the foremost
howre of his birth did hetherto awaite him. Nowe if you will say hee
was young and might haue liued, examples doe shewe that younger then
hee haue died. If you will say, you loued him greatlie. God by your
patience shall accepte him the more woorthilie. If you will say, you
are sorie for it in that hee was vertuous: consider the worlde wherein
hee liued, that might haue made him more vicious. Finallie, to answere
euerie obiection that by you may bee affirmed, nothing herein can more
fitlie bee auerred, then that in our life time wee see daylie before
our eies to happen. Knowe yee not, that all thinges doe by little
and a little growe into ripenesse, and foorthwith by degrees fall
into rottennesse? Hath not God vnto euerie thing after their greatest
perfection, included such certaine limites, that by and by they seeme
to bee appropriate to their latest confusion? Is there anie thinge on
earth so assured, that by vnstaied incertaintie is not continuallie
guided? Among all fruites and blossomes on the ground, are there not
some that are sooner then others, euen on their tenderest braunches,
as it were alreadie ripened, and others againe that by long lying are
made rotten and mellowed? Al flowers spring not at one instant, nor all
blossoms with one sole blast are scattered. To man is appointed his
certaine boundes, vnto which to bee attained, and beyonde the which not
to passe, is alreadie limited. Your sonne as timelie fruite, so timelie
ripened, and as fitte for his season was as timelie gathered. It was
necessarie by nature hee shoulde bee perfected, and the perfection
attained, by nature also he was consequentlie to bee depriued. Onelie
that his sickenesse was naturall, and that in the continuance thereof
hee wanted no attendaunce, the credite of others as well as my selfe
can testifie. If _P_hysicke coulde haue saued him, if Syrrops, hot
potions, or other necessaries woulde haue cured him, if teares and
praiers might haue kepte him, you had yet in safetie receiued him. Hee
is deade, hee is gone, wee must after him. Of his first sicknesse hee
was whole, and perfectlie recouered, afterwardes from the Iaundise,
though somewhat weakned, yet lastlie deliuered. But the inwarde moath
that consumed him, would not suffer him to liue, which with extreame
gripes assailed him, that beeing not able anie longer to continue, at
the pleasure of God hee died. It is your parte therefore to bee nowe
recomforted, and therein in with patience to referre your selfe to Gods
determinate pleasure and iudgement, to which intent I haue taken in
hand this mid nights labour, after the receipte of your letters, which
were to bee returned the nexte morning earlie, by reason whereof I can
no waie satisfie what you write for, neuerthelesse resting hereafter
to my vttermost power to pleasure you, and recommending my selfe also
to your woonted curtesie, I ende this fourteenth of Ianuarie, your
carefull friend, &c.
_An Epistle consolatorie of the same, wherein one
is comforted in case of harde
extremitie._
[Sidenote: _Exordium._]
[Sidenote: _Synonymia._]
[Sidenote: _Epitheton._]
[Sidenote: _Metanoia._]
[Sidenote: _Auxesis._]
[Sidenote: _Concessiō._]
[Sidenote: _Meiosis._]
[Sidenote: _Etiologia._]
[Sidenote: _Metaphora._]
[Sidenote: _Epitheton._]