[Sidenote: _Parenthesis._]
[Sidenote: _Metaphora._]
[Sidenote: _Hypotyposis._]
[Sidenote: _Meiosis._]
[Sidenote: _Aporia._]
Thou maruellest I know to heare this (and strange & most strange it is
I must confesse) but yet true, and if not in him true, then in no other
true, by all likehoodes. But ere I farther report vnto thee, howe and
by what accident encreased my griefe, let mee yet shew thee more what
I did vnto him. So ordered the vnluckie starres my cruel Fate, and in
such (more then disordered maner) wrought the heauens against mee, as
albeit here at L. (for I must needes deliuer a truth vnto thee) he
was greatly desirous and became an earnest suter, I shoulde euen at
that time leaue him: yet pressed by mine one misfortune, and more then
tolerable liking, nothing regarding, or so much as once remembring in
what worse estate I might haue conceiued him, I bethought my selfe he
was a Gentleman, bredde of good and vertuous parents worshipfullie
allied. In their Countrey whilome well reputed, and if anie defect had
before befallen him, I knewe hee was a yonger brother, and want of
liuing and maintenance might impaire him, I had no sonne of mine owne,
his learning and other qualities (not to bee despised) drewe more and
more fancie vnto him: what should I say? I rendred vnto him all account
and preferment that lay in my possibilitie to procure him: and shortlie
to conclude, into the Countrey (furnished in the best part according to
his calling) I took him with me.
[Sidenote: _Asyndeton._]
[Sidenote: _Liptote._]
[Sidenote: _Sententia._]
[Sidenote: _Allegoria._]
[Sidenote: _Anthypophora._]
[Sidenote: _Polyptoton._]
[Sidenote: _Allegoria._]
If I should say to thee, that his demeanour, his attendaunce, his
forwardnesse in all thinges to my noted liking, his outwarde shew in
whatsoeuer action vnto mee seeming to bee pleasing, did not of it
selfe appeare to chalenge so much, I shoulde lie vnto thee. But what
of that, howe is falshoode couered, but by the daintiest glosse, where
lurketh craft, if not in the shade of most simplicitie? Coulde the
Syren deceyue, if shee had no song? Which way should men bee bewitched,
if there were no meane of inchauntment? But did hee in the ende prooue
such in deede, as he seemed, or hereunto appertained? No, no. God
knowes he failed much therein, yea, hee was too farre from it. See then
how much beyond my selfe I was, that beeing thus intreated to discharge
my selfe of mine owne bane, would yet allure both Gods and men, to
bring into my bosome the purport of mine owne secrete and vnknowne
mischiefe.
[Sidenote: _Metalepsis._]
[Sidenote: _Synonymia._]
[Sidenote: _Emphasis._]
[Sidenote: _Hypotyposis._]
[Sidenote: _Merismus._]
Christmasse nowe drewe on, after that a good time we had remained in
the Countrey, alas that times ordained and sacred to holie purposes,
should become ayders and furtherers to mens vile imaginations. In this
time, whilest all mens mindes were busied and occupied in dauncing,
banquetting and feasting, as vse and custome, and season of the yeare
had of auncient times induced, whilest the Hall was full of all sortes
of people, reuelling, playing, and occupyed in pastime, my daughter (O
griefe to thinke on, and heauiest sound to remember) my onelie daughter
was at bed-time missing: Search was made heere and there, inquisition
of this partie and that, this way ranne one, that waie another, the
house was troubled and filled with all hurlie burlie, onelie wading
further into the matter, and her Chamber throughlie perused, her
apparell was missing, Chests broken vp, iewels bereaued, mine owne
lodging spoyled, and in the ende, I sawe and found my selfe in what
cruell sort that might be robbed.
[Sidenote: _Climax._]
[Sidenote: _Polyptoton._]
[Sidenote: _Periphrasis._]
[Sidenote: _Auxesis._]
[Sidenote: _Emphasis._]
[Sidenote: _Prosopopœia._]
[Sidenote: _Epizeuxis._]
[Sidenote: _Parenthesis:._]
[Sidenote: _Irmus._]
Hereupon grew suspition, and of suspition arised matter of likelihood,
and of likelihood at last, assured and most probable coniectures.
One while this man was brought in suspect, another while that partie
chalenged, then he was misdeemed, and another againe culpable adiudged,
but all in vaine. For hardly could my mind suppose, that hee to whom
my thoughts were so sincerely tied in all more then common affection,
would so farre forth haue beene estraunged, as at any time to become
weeting of my intended harmes, neuer a conspiratour, much lesse
an executour. But wicked and vile conceited _fraud_, what cannot
dissimulation, in cloake of sugred guile vnder thy title put forward.
And yet might my ignoraunce herein verie well haue become excusable,
for a seuen night before that time, that luckles time in which this
action was concluded (for long before was it purposed) your kinsman by
my allowance and good will had taken leaue, and seemed to be departed,
to goe into N. to visite his friends, whose absence besides the little
matter that euer in him I supposed to be hereunto sounding, and euerie
other circumstance conducing in all his common behauiours, not so much
as in shewe to giue a shadowe of this or any such like pretence, could
neuer haue induced mee to the least imagination at all, that hee of all
others, would haue offered to be seene in anie such thing.
[Sidenote: _Anthypophora._]
[Sidenote: _Expeditiō._]
[Sidenote: _Erotema._]
[Sidenote: _Asyndeton._]
But if you will nowe aske mee what presumption I haue then to charge
him more then another, in whome so little matter of suspition coulde
before time bee conceyued, I will aunswere yee. The presumptions are,
their conuersing together in one place, besides that, shee is by his
directions at L. and placed at his finding, that his pretence of going
away, was to depart into N. the deuise whereof appeareth nowe but a
plaine colour, to haue procured this vnhappinesse. Of all which I am so
surelie assertayned by the credible report of a Gentleman, so honest,
and of reputation so sufficient, as whereof I need to make no question.
For once they being togither, and in such sort as is deliuered, argueth
the circumstaunce of his going to N. to bee but a meere disguising, his
intent eyther onelie to bee a meane with lesse suspition to compasse
her, and so consequentlie to betraie her, the stocke whereupon they
liue, to bee my wealth, and what from mee is robbed and vnkindlie
bereaued, howe can it otherwise choose? is not the matter plaine and
euident? how else should he see her, compasse her, receyue her, and in
such sort entertaine her?
[Sidenote: _Epitropis._]
[Sidenote: _Epiphonema._]
[Sidenote: _Metaphora._]
If these bee supposes, then what may bee serious, if such assured notes
as these seeme trifles, what then can bee sayde to bee certaine? and
yet long was it I must needes bewraie, ere my selfe could conceyue
the similitude it bare of trueth, so harde a matter it is where good
opinion is once rooted, by the veritie it selfe, almost to driue out
the same. But nowe sounding deeper into the action, I finde both will
and abilitie in each poynt so furthering, as without I determined to
winke still in mine owne blindnesse, I must renounce all fauourable
conceyte, and vtterlie confesse the same to bee but an errour.
[Sidenote: _Epanodis._]
[Sidenote: _Parison._]
[Sidenote: _Anthypophora._]
[Sidenote: _Asyndeton._]
[Sidenote: _Meiosis._]
[Sidenote: _Conoratiō._]
For hauing waded into euerie deepe conceite, and imagination of the
accident, well weighing with my selfe also what maner a one the
partie hath beene, how euill vnto mee sithence he hath likewise beene
reported of, how vilelie before my receit of him hee was generally
demeaned, with what base people and men of basest reckoning I found him
accompanied: I do immediatelie condemne my selfe that was so sottish
as to expect any other euent at his handes, then what hath alreadie
succeeded, seeing where so manie euil dispositions haue bene before
time abounding, it is not easily noted that from such a one any good
at all coulde bee at anie season proceeding. But too late nowe to my
no small griefe, doe I fall into this reckoning, which wisedome would
before haue preuented, and more circumspectlie haue intended to. For
whence (if I trulie shoulde speake of the action) ensued this abilitie?
Was it not the fauour and especiall liking wherewith I receyued him?
Howe could hee else haue presumed on it? Howe could he haue sought it?
Howe could he haue done it? But not for this doe I accuse thee my R.
as either accessarie, or fauourer of so badde and vnkinde a purpose,
but for thou knowing his course of life, weeting of my well deeming,
assured of his beeing with me, hauing reported vnto thee in what degree
I did credite him, woulde notwithstanding not so much as tell mee of
him, nor suffer mee by thy gentle admonition so much as to surmize how
I might bee deceiued by him.
[Sidenote: _Peroratiō._]
[Sidenote: _Synonymia._]
Let I pray thee the sorrowfull demonstration of these my Letters bee
a meane vnto thee, as thou louest mee, tenderest mee, and carest for
me, to search out the truth, the state and circumstance of the thing,
and yet (forlorne as I am) seeke I therein but mine owne sorrow, for
neuer shall I like of him, care for her, or hardlie after this in any
sort abide her. Yet for my minde desireth to be resolued (though euen
in these verie wordes deliuering I doe not seeme to doubt) let me
receyue the plentie thereof at large, bee it that the resolution be a
confirmation of mine owne vnhappinesse, the force whereof beeing past
remedie I must support as I can, and seeke as I may to endure the rest
with patience.
_A Letter defensorie answering by confutation all the obiections
in this former Epistle surmized._
[Sidenote: _Exordium._]
[Sidenote: _Insinuatiō._]
It is sir, accustomed that men in griefe of minde doe often speake
diuers things, for which in respect of their sorow they seeme to
deserue many wayes to be pardoned, according to which, your selfe
hauing of late sustained some aduerse hap, do what by surmises, & what
by misreports, seeme to be at oddes with your owne liking, and vpon
a sodein to become enraged with your owne fancie. In the course of
your whole letter viewing the wrong you haue sustained, & the extreame
disquiet wherewith you are perplexed, I pittie your misfortune, and
as a friende doe inwardlie grieue at that wherewith you are troubled,
wishing that either I had abilitie to redresse the matter to your
liking, or otherwise that my wordes were of weight to perswade you,
that with the extremity thereof you would not so greatly be moued.
[Sidenote: _Polyptoton._]
Touching my kinsman, whome for my sake in such sort as you write you
receiued, and to whome vpon the outward deserte of his behauiour you
vouchsafed such entertainement, and vppon whose absence and departure
(albeit with your good liking) you seeke to intrude the summe of all
your vnhappinesse and misfortune. Hee is not indeede at this instant
here in the countrey, but as I deeme and you haue informed, about
London. Neuerthelesse for so much as it seemeth by your writing,
and also by his thankful acknowledgement and deliuery, both vnto me
and others, how much he hath stoode beholding vnto you, and that it
standeth to bee parcel of a gentle mind, as wel to recognise a good
turne, as to remoue by a louing censure an ill opinion, where the same
rather of griefe then of malice is vniustlie conceiued (notwithstanding
I may not so effectually speake to the purpose, as if himselfe were
personally present) I will endeuour vpon mine owne knowledge as farre
as I may, and so much as in truth I canne lawfully iustifie, hereby
to satisfie you, and if it bee possible to expell those causelesse
coniectures of him, that in such sort doe annoie you.
[Sidenote: _Apostrophe._]
To the matter therefore wherewith you are grieued, I thus much dare
affirme vnto you in his behalfe, that in all your imaginations you haue
greatly misconceiued, and the reasons leading me thereunto are these.
[Sidenote: Answere to the cause of coniecture.]
[Sidenote: _Procatalepsis._]
First, where your selfe doe confesse that the onely matter you haue
in apparance inducing you to accuse him, is the credible report of a
friende of yours, that sawe him and your daughter at London, and a
suppose thereby, that shee is at his disposition, and the theft of
your goodes to them both an indifferent finding. I saie the validitie
of all this is nothing, for omitting that by diuers casualties men and
women at aduenture doe daily meete, experience whereof is in common vse
amongst our selues, and euen then when we least do thinke of it, and
most woulde woonder at it, the reason whereof I ouerpasse, because to
the accident I am but a straunger, what reason haue you so resolutelie
to thinke that the expenses whereon they remaine (so bee it they doe
as you alleadge continue togethers) must onelie bee drawne out from
that part of your lost substaunce, and so by consequence aggrauate a
likelihoode of his stealing your daughter? I neede not I trust perswade
you of his kindred, nor abilitie of his friendes, it resteth not in
doubt, you knowe it: then vnderstande you sir, it may also bee as
possible, that some one or other of them might at the length by some
more gentle motion then before time tender his good. Whereof I need
make no question, my selfe can assure you, for that an Aunt of his
dying of late, left him possessions to three hundred poundes value,
which beeing at his choise either to accept a diuision or money, it
is like he hath the coine and let the lande goe, and therupon is
the better enabled to do what is reported vnto you both for her and
himselfe.
[Sidenote: _Erotema._]
[Sidenote: _Dichologia._]
[Sidenote: _Anthipophora._]
[Sidenote: _Pleonasmus._]
Hereupon you begin to call in reckoning his life, and I knowe not
what late reportes and informations of his liuing, to coniecture
thereupon his common disposition and ill vsage, with abilitie to doe
you a displeasure, performed by your owne countenance. Alas sir, why
shuld you be so far led awry by these vncertainties? Know ye not that
reportes are manie times slaunders? and that men for the most parte
speake generallie when they find a man in any sort to be iniured
particularlie? Hee is my kinsman I confesse, but not for that would I
yet defende him in his treacheries, but for mine owne knowledge of him
from the beginning, canne I witnesse the contrarie, I must tell you to
conclude thereupon, you do him small equitie. What if hee fell into
your notice by a little penurie? Manie an innocent and good man by want
hath beene driuen to ill companie, yet themselues vnknowing, and not
weeting at all of their facultie, and so truelie may I herein deeme of
him, gladlie in the meane time thanking you, and himselfe eftsoones
confessing the weight hee then receiued of your curtesie.
[Sidenote: _Antithesis._]
[Sidenote: _Metonoia._]
And if we shall aunswere likelihoodes againe by coniectures, why may
not (I pray ye) the carefull endeuor and diligent aduerting, your
selfe doe confesse in all his continuance to haue remained in him
towards your liking, be as well a testimony of his honest affection,
and glad indeuor to recompence by any seruice your kindnes, as vpon
his naked sole information, you would goe about to wrest it as a token
of dissembled iniurie? Nay rather why may not the suppose thereof bee
forcible to quench any other conceipt to the contrarie, seeing in the
reuolution of the same, you also doe graunt, that in all his behauiour
you neuer sawe so much as one suspect, whereby so farre as you are
gone, in such sort to induce you? For my part if we shal studie to
measure the conditions of men aright, I am of opinion that wee ought
rather to credit the vse and practise daily seene before our eies, then
by any misreport or vnseemely coniecture to giue scope vnto our owne
imagination or a selfe willed fantasie.
[Sidenote: _Anthithesis._]
[Sidenote: _Dialysis._]
[Sidenote: _Confutatiō._]
Honest gratuity and dissembled trechery, seldom in my conceipt, do
drawe in one line togethers, thankefull I doe know him vnto you for any
benefite, for I haue seene him more then once, and that most feruentlie
to professe it, how he should halt with you by nature I finde not, as
whereunto I neuer saw him addicted: besides, thus much can I yet say
more to ascertaine you, that about the time mentioned in your Letter,
hee came hither to visite vs, sithence which till within this fortnight
he remained with vs. After about the receipt of his money, and for the
conclusion of that agreement, hee was disposed to London. There what
hath betided him I cannot rightlie enforme you, yet may the apparance
hereof bee sufficient, by good reason to assure you, that beeing thus
continued, as I haue declared, hee coulde verie hardly and almost
without possibilitie, haue beene so forwardes in the matter as hath
beene suggested by you.
[Sidenote: _Epilogus._]
In respect of your ancient amity and acquaintance, I doe yet pray
you, that you wil be recomforted of your griefes, opposing vnto your
selfe this one assurance, that by some strange euent your daughter is
happened to his knowledge, and this fixed hope that by beeing with him,
she is retained to her best safegard, who as well in respect of the
accompt he beareth vnto you, as of the curteous regard it is most like
he carieth vnto her, hath vpon some vrgent businesse beene compelled to
stay her, determining in some conueniuent time, I warrant you to your
comforte and his credite and good opinion to be encreased, to returne
her vnto you. Not being vnmindfull howe much I haue heretofore beene
staied, both to thinke woorthilie of you, and to thanke you, I doe for
the present bid you most hartile farewell. T. this of, &c.
Of Epistles Expostulatorie. _Chap. 2._
=With these expressed examples, I thinke good to conclude this passed
title, and thenceforth to goe to the next, which is |Expostulatory|.
This worde seemeth to haue his definition of reasoning, debating or
arguing a cause, thereby to find the depth, weight, certaintie or
qualitie of the same, and according thereunto to lessen, qualifie, or
enforce the substance of griefe or mislike by such meanes conceiued.
And albeit iniuries, mislikes and discontentments are ordinary to all
men, yet do they for the most part, fall principallie to be receiued
among friendes, among kindred, great acquaintance and familiars, by
occasion whereof, this title in writing is but (as it were) the first
matter of challenge, before anie vile reproch bee performed. And this
also not where there is a resolute malice alreadie conceiued, but
where men aduisedlie and consideratlie do deliberate of their and
other mens actions according to reason to bee considered. By which
aduisement being led, without anie hairebraine or brainsicke deuise
or humor at all, they sometimes mildlie, and in curteous and louing
tearmes according to the state of the writer, and the condition of
those to whome he writeth, expostulate the iniurie, desirous rather
that the trueth by circumstances might be knowne, then anie quarrelsome
matter to bee obtruded. Otherwhiles more roughly and peremptorily they
deale, and yet not vnfittinglie nor badlie. But if the effect of your
writing be not determined in anie of these two sortes, but falleth
otherwise to a manner of reproching of benefittes, or to an exclamation
or bitter enforcement of euils, then may not the same bee said to be
|Expostulatory|, but rather to bee |exprobratorie|, or |inuectiue|, of
which both twaine hereafter shall be further declared. And as this kind
of expostulating falleth most with persons of equalitie, for that it is
scarse thought good maners, and sometimes helde perillous to dispute of
offences with one far aboue vs in authoritie, and with our inferiour so
to doe, it turneth more often to bee |Reprehensorie| then otherwise:
yet is the force thereof manie times caried from an inferiour to his
better, neuerthelesse with a kinde of aunswerable submission alwayes
respectiue to the others reputation or greatnes. And so may a man
with his inferiour also in good sort sometime expostulate an iniurie,
wherin if he shall vouchsafe so to doe, the partie lesse in abilitie
hath the more reason to recognize his courtesie: for a man of good sort
and greatlie reputed of, to offer as it were an imparlance vnto his
inferiour, whereby to argue with him a matter in suspence to bee noted
an iniury, cannot be but much to be praised, and so adiudged in that
betternesse, as to procéede of a most singular bountie. So be it he do
it not by insultation, nor anie pricke of vainglorie, for so doing it
looseth a great part of the vertue therein praysed, vnlesse the desert
of the partie be such, as may well merite that or a greater euill to be
tendered. By all these means as aforesaid may iniuries be expostulated,
the vsage whereof as well in matter of accusation as defence, is
indifferently to be carried, considering that onely by varietie of
allegations and not otherwise those questionable causes are to be
sifted. And so here out will we wade into their seuerall examples.=
_An example of an Epistle expostulatorie touching certaine iniuries
betweene two friends._
[Sidenote: _Narratiō._]