Westminster as your Clyent is. It is indeede spoken like a Tinker, and
sauouring somewhat of a Coblers stall, what betwixt choler and lying,
your Client and you haue taken order, to speake nothing honestlie.
And I woonder not of it, for you haue not so much as a sauour of
honesty about you. Vile malicious deuourers of men, do you thinke it
an easie thing, or matter of sleight purpose, so villainouslie to
derogate a mans good name (then which to a generous minde nothing is
more precious) or do you deeme all men of so base contempt as your
selues, that they can willingly suffer all things to bee benefited by
any thing? And when you haue shamefully vttered your lies in place of
audience, dare not for your breeches stand to the lest word of smallest
moment, that you let fall out of your ouerflowing venemous mouthes.
[Sidenote: _Aposiopesis._]
[Sidenote: _Synathrismus._]
But _de his taceo_, the best is, you are both well knowne, for the one
of you, seeke all London for a cogging, brabling, boasting, rayling
shamelesse and lying knaue, M. is the man, and hee shall doe it. He
seeking all the towne ouer for a facing Aduocate, one that coulde
handle the matter like himselfe, F. was the man: Yee are both well met
together, continue your purpose, and see the ende, for you meane so,
nay you will do it.
I vse not F as he vsed me, to brabble, and to lie of him to strangers.
But hauing drawne his portraiture, I send the first counterfeite to
himselfe, that seeing it hee may shunne his lewdnesse, which yet lieth
in secret, and if hee continue shall quickelie bee published, and that
to his shame openlie.
I leaue you both as I found you, my paper and present matter for this
time taking end. In apparant hast, hauing otherwise more weightilie to
imploy my selfe, this last of Februarie, &c.
_Of Epistles Comminatorie. Cap. 6._
=This |Inuectiue| seemeth to haue béene ouer sharp in the matter,
but not in the maner, for the occasions thereunto inducing might
peraduenture merite that and greater. And howbeit both the termes
and conueyance are somewhat hard, yet is it in such cases verie
tolerable, when either the vilenesse of the action, or base demeanour
of the partie doth require it. And in this point there is a great
|Decorum| principallie to be obserued, to vse a bad person with
termes correspondent to his behauior & qualitie, as in any other
laudable purpose to entertaine another party according to his
calling or dignitie. And as this title of |Inuectiue|, and that of
|Exprobratorie| before going, are néerely affianced togither: so also
is the next heereunto, which is called |Comminatorie|. The |Etimologie|
or signification whereof, is by menaces to threaten. Insomuch as
participating with a kinde of |Accusation| for iniuries committed,
it expostulateth not, nor reasoneth of anie circumstance, obiection
or qualitie, but protesting a due desert in the partie challenged,
menaceth thereupon a speedie and answerable reuengement. This, of this
title is the substance and propertie. And so will we procéed to the
examples.=
_An example of an Epistle Comminatorie._
[Sidenote: _Exordium._]
[Sidenote: _Prolepsis._]
[Sidenote: _Antanaclasis._]
[Sidenote: _Peroratiō._]
Master D. I see well by some experience had of your dealings, that
you haue small regarde of your honestie, or welfare, two things in
mine opinion, whereof each one should bee charie. Your honestie, in
respect that you keepe no promise: Your welfare, in that you neglect
the oportunitie, for releasment of that, which in the ende must lie
vpon your owne shoulders. But seeing your inconsideration is so great,
and the like respect you carrie of your owne good growne to be slender,
blame not other men that breake with you vpon desert, nor mislike at
all their want of pittie, that haue no meane to pittie your selfe.
For my part looke for it, and you shall surelie finde it, that I will
prosecute all meanes possible to arrest you, and beeing so arrested,
I will not bee moued with intreatie, prayer, or other submission to
release you, till you haue payed the whole debt, charges and penaltie.
And whereas you sent mee worde by my man, that you could not accustome
your selfe, with one that trusted you to deale treacherouslie, I
answere againe, that if you make it so nice to bring him foorth to bee
arested for whome you are suretie: paie then the debt your selfe, and
satisfie me, and that speedilie: for if you doe not I vow I will meet
with you and that verie shortlie, when to your little content you shall
perceyue that in so vsing mee, you haue dealt most vnaduisedlie. Thinke
of it as you list, and deale with me accordinglie: and so to your best
consideration of your owne safetie, I leaue you. This ninth of Iune, &c.
_An other example Comminatorie containing a greater
vehemencie in the deliuerie._
[Sidenote: _Exordium._]
[Sidenote: _Periphrasis._]
[Sidenote: _Metaphora._]
[Sidenote: _Aporia._]
[Sidenote: _Emphasis._]
[Sidenote: _Metonoia._]
[Sidenote: _Erotema._]
[Sidenote: _Ecphonesis._]
[Sidenote: _Aphorismus._]
[Sidenote: _Anthypophora._]
[Sidenote: _Epizeuxis._]
[Sidenote: _Asyndeton._]
[Sidenote: _Epitheton._]
[Sidenote: _Periphrasis._]
[Sidenote: _Synecdoche._]
[Sidenote: _Pleonasmus._]
[Sidenote: _Polyptoton._]
[Sidenote: _Insultatio._]
[Sidenote: _Aposiopesis._]
[Sidenote: _Metaphora._]
Vngracious ofspring of hellish brood, whome heauens permit for a
plague, and the earth nourisheth as a peculiar mischiefe, monster of
mankinde, and deuourer of men, what maie I tearme thee? With what ill
sounding titles maie I rayse my selfe vpon thee? Thou scorne of the
worlde, and not scorne, but worldes foule disdaine, and enemie of
all humaine condition, shall thy villanies scape foreuer vnpunished?
Will the earth yet support thee, the cloudes shadow thee, or the
aire breath on thee? What lawes be these, if at least wise such may
be tearmed lawes, whereout so vile a wretch hath so manie euasions?
But shalt thou longer liue to become the vexation and griefe of men?
No, for I protest, though the Lawes doe faile thee, my selfe will
not ouerslip thee, I, I am hee that will plague thee, thou shalt not
scape me, I will be reuenged of thee. Thinke not thy iniuryes are so
easie, that they are of all to be supported, for no sooner shall that
partched withered carkasse of thine, sende foorth thy hatefull and
abhorred lookes into anie publike shew, but mine eyes shall watch thee,
and I will not leaue thee, till I haue prosequuted that which I haue
intended towardes thee, most vnwoorthie as thou art to breath amongst
men, which art hated and become lothsome euen in the verie bowels and
thoughtes of men. Triumph then in thy mischiefes, and boast that thou
hast vndone mee, and a number of others, whom with farre lesse despight
thou hast forced to bende vnto thee. And when by due desert I shall
haue payed what I haue promised thee, vaunt then (on Gods name) of thy
winnings. For my part: but I will saie no more, let the ende trie all,
liue wretchedlie, and die villainouslie, as thou hast deserued, whome
heauens hencefoorth doe shunne, and the world denieth longer to looke
vpon.
_Of Epistles deprecatorie. Cap. 7._
=The menaces of this last Epistle you may well déeme to haue issued
from a hot enraged Spirit: of which though the stile bee vehement, yet
vnto men alike humorous, the same may stand for a president. Such kinde
of inuentions and men so affected with such estranged passions, are
as we sée diuerslie found, wherof I thought good to giue foorth this
example to bee considered, the waight neuerthelesse to bee measured as
in the others before to the person and matter occurrent. And nowe will
we to the last of all this state |Iudiciall|, which are the Epistles
|Deprecatorie|. The title of these Epistles carrieth a name, accordant
to the submissiue matter in them contayned, for their efficacies are
onlie carried by entreatie, request of fauour, good opinion, allowance
or pardon of anie iniurie or offence conceyued or committed. In good
natures, it is a thing proper to weigh with themselues, howe much
anie waies they stand charged, whether by respect of person, dutie,
friendship or soueraigntie, accordinglie thereupon to frame their
speeches or writings. Yet is not the matter hereof Supplicatorie, as
growing by waie of petition. But rather an honest and gentle submission
to the good liking, estimate or friendlie respect of such, vnto whome,
or by whome we are either accused, tied, charged, or constrained,
clearing, if it may be, or honestly otherwise mitigating or auoyding
what sinisterly, or vpon some intended conceit, may be drawne to
be against vs, and of the vse hereof to be spoken let this now be
sufficient.=
_An example of an Epistle Deprecatorie, where the partie is
charged in good opinion._
[Sidenote: _Exordium._]
[Sidenote: _Hypotyposis._]
When a Phisiognomer by chaunce (hauing beene famous in other places)
came into the _forum_ of _Athens_, hee declared by the view of diuers
mens faces the diuersitie of their conditions, whereupon (for better
triall of his Arte) hee was demaunded what (_Prima facie_) he thought
of _Socrates_, he answered, by his countenance, to be a man of verie
euill condition. The people which knew the contrarie, growing thereby
into great rage, were readie to driue him out of the _forum_. But
_Socrates_ comming forth. Be not angrie (quoth he) for such a one might
I haue beene, if by Philosophie I had not corrected my maners.
By this might bee inferred (right Woorshipfull) that at the first
shewe, it is not good to giue rash iudgement of anie man, for the
Phisiognomer beeing able to iudge what men might bee, was not able to
say iustlie such they are: In like manner, your Worship hauing beene
led by misreports, are able to say, thus it is spoken, but not so it is.
[Sidenote: _Narratiō._]
To my great griefe it is informed vnto mee, that by the sinister report
of mine aduersaries, you thinke hardly of me. And so much the rather
haue I cause to bee grieued, for that in the mouth of an ignorant
person, I am not therby iudged of, but by the sentence and opinion of
the wise, held a man badly demeaned, careles, and such a one as beareth
small reputation.
[Sidenote: _Epanodis._]
Beleeue mee sir, and if it please you to take further notice of me, you
shal find it true, that it is more euill vnto me to be adiudged loose
of a wise man, then of a thousand base persons to be vtterly condemned,
for that the one speaketh of skill, and the other of a bad conceipt,
the first wishing all men to bee good, the other confessing no man to
be sufficient, that is not possessed with euil.
My aduersaries haue brought many heauy informations vnto you tending
in outward shew to my great disgrace, naming me as it pleaseth them, a
man (as they thinke of themselues) indifferent for all purposes. But
because I know you to bee wise, and thinke it a matter of no small
accompt to be well thought of at your hands: I am therfore the more
carefull to cleare my selfe, and do beseech you, that you will hold for
firme what I do here set down: assuring your selfe, that whatsoeuer my
aduersaries report of me, I doe make accompt what speeches passe from
me: and those that I deliuer vpon credite, I will performe with trust.
This then I say for aunswere generall, to whatsoeuer they canne obiect,
that if any parte of that in substaunce they haue deliuered vnto you
for certaine bee true, I will loose the credite of a Gentleman, and bee
regarded as I repute them: and besides, will repay whatsoeuer is to me
paide, and release what nowe I haue in sute against them.
Besides, pleaseth it your Worship for my credit sake to haue the
hearing of the cause, I will come face to face, and (though I knowe
the one of them to haue a shamelesse countenance) of himselfe, yet
let bring what counsell he will with himselfe, if I ouerthrowe not
euery matter obiected, and proue my selfe an honest man, I will loose
the debte and my credit too, which I accompt aboue all debts. Haue
not I then had great cause (hauing beene as vnto you, so in diuers
other places besides verie vniustlie railed at and defamed) to write
vnto these persons, and inueigh against them for it? Behold my letter
throughout, being well considered of, it shall bee euident that I had
great cause, and that very manifold to do it: for my part I knowe not
what others deeme, but touching my selfe, I had rather lose my life
then my good name, then which vnto me nothing is of more regard, and I
tell you sir, if F. or a better man then he maketh no more reckoning,
but to defame me without a cause, he shal know and vnderstand that my
credit is deare vnto me, and that to maintaine the contrarie he shall
find a hard reckoning.
I spende not my time in making of Lybels, but to write in reproofe of
him that abuseth mee, which I take so highlie in griefe, as namelie,
they shoulde be so shamelesse to report that vnto your Worship which
they cannot stande to, that I holde it a wretchednes therein to be
silent, and a mischiefe for credit sake not to discouer a trueth.
[Sidenote: _Epilogus._]
Beseeching your worship of fauour and credite, to me and my rude lines,
I humblie take my leaue, beeing alwaies ready to auouch what here I
haue set down, wherof not failing I remaine
Your worships whensoeuer to
be commanded.
_An example of an Epistle Deprecatory, in cause
of wrong supposed to bee
committed._
[Sidenote: _Exordium._]
[Sidenote: _Dicæologia._]
[Sidenote: _Silepsis._]
Sir, your Letters more troublesome to my conceipts, then sauoring (as I
am credibly led to thinke) of that your woonted most noble disposition
vnto mee, I haue receiued. With what supportation and vnaccustomed
griefe I haue retained them, I refer to anie one (guiltlesse accused
and suspended from so high fauours as formerly by your bountie hath
been to me performed) simplie to be coniectured. Long was it ere I
could satisfie my selfe by any accesse that might bee to proffer my
selfe or these humble Letters vnto you: Yet neuerthelesse weighing howe
farre different these newe occurrentes were from those your auncient
fauours, I surmised with my selfe that the instigation proceeded soly
from others, hardlie perchaunce bearing those graces wherein I stoode
with you, and becomming thereupon my bitter enemies, the sinister
deuise whereof, stood vpon me wholy to ouerthrow or impugne. For
which hauing no other or better meane at this instant, then these my
submissiue lines, I propose them vnto you, as solicitors of your
former liking, confessing that if any waies I haue erred vnto you, as
I will not vtterlie seclude my selfe from any errour, it was but as
a young man, and rather by ignoraunce, then of malice anie waies to
bee intended. And as touching any other obiection, let mee but craue
pardon to haue accesse vnto your presence, and then iudge as you finde
mee. Two waies are onelie left, my accusers to my face, or mine owne
simplicitie to cleare me. This is all I require, and so much I hope you
will not denie me. Wherewith resting in the due acknowledgement of that
your former bounty, I humbly surcease. This fifteenth of Nouember.
_An example of an Epistle Deprecatory, pleasantly
written to answere a former
Letter._
[Sidenote: _Exordium._]
The long sweating paines wherein your good selfe (my verie good friend
A) haue lately trauelled with your weatherbeaten barke, to aunswere
my Letters, moueth mee (howe simply so euer) to reply a little to the
same. Wherein, pardon first craued for so meane a wit, at a suddaine,
to take vppon it, to encounter so selected a stile, wherewith your
youthfull yeares are so replenished, I go to the matter.
Touching the iar you make of my formost writing, and late inciting you
to the tediousnesse of your studying, which for the causes alleadged,
your curtesie yet vouchsafeth to allow of, I, with so friendlie a
prospect as may be to so respectiue a iudgement, do right curiously
thanke you.
The compasse of your writing, according to the measure it beareth,
being so much mystical, as that the grossenesse of my wit cannot
well conceiue of, hauing drawne thereinto as it seemeth, the very
quintessence of those well performed partes, that in your person
are resiant, maketh me post off the answere, till by a more deepe
consideration I may better conforme me vnto it. Wherein I must confesse
in very deed, that all that may be within or without, ouer or vnder, or
besides master B. you haue to the vttermost strained.
For the paines you haue taken, I must pray you pardon though I render
you no profit. My forgetfulnesse also in prising the simple value I
beare, with your worthines, & many other beautified parts of your
gentlenes, you must also let slip, otherwise I am vndone with the
griefe, and so I would sir, your worship did take it.
Nowe as touching the forgoing complaint you thrust in of your wants, I
could hardly beleeue that in the action you beare you could so greatly
be distressed. Neuerthelesse, for the little time I haue beene of your
masterships acquaintance, I haue vnderstoode of some that weare a
veluet suite with as small inheritance as your selfe, who haue vsed the
matter as slenderlie as may be, by any great credit to bee accompted of.
[Sidenote: _Epilogus._]
Yet must you needes giue me leaue to be gone, for the tide tarieth no
man, but if you find your selfe in the lurch before I returne againe,
the best is, at my home comming you know where to find me. _Et sic
valeas_, gentle friend _Topas_.
Of Epistles familiar. Chap. 8.
=With this pleasant direction I thinke meete at this present to
conclude these last Letters Iudiciall, and therewith also the verie
ende of all our Letters speciall, so tearmed by me as aforesaide, for
the speciall matters and conueyance to them seuerallie appropriate.
And nowe the next and last in turne, are those letters familiar,
for the ordinarie causes and matters of handling in them likewise
contained, so formerly named. Little informations néede here, more
then the directions alreadie in the Chapters of the first Booke that
haue beene deliuered, for their stile and methode. Seeing the common
matter in them vsuallie frequented, challengeth no such districtnesse
in propertie or conueiance, as was required in the others, only they
for orders sake as the rest, are herein to be distinguished (the better
to be found out & known by their partes) vnder their seuerall titles.
The first whereof appeareth to bee |Narratory| and |Nunciatorie|, both
alike in their vsage, consisting onelie in aduertisementes of affaires,
from friende to friende, seruant to maister, or generallie to speake,
from one person to an other, the examples whereof according to the
seuerall properties do plentifullie ensue.=
_A Letter Nunciatorie from a sonne to his father or friends,
touching his being in seruice._
My humble dutie remembred, good father, vnto you and my mother: These
are to aduertise you, that I am, I thanke God, in good health. As
touching my placing heere with my maister, I doe like verie well of the
trade, but I doe not thinke the seruice fit for me, as well for that it
seemeth, that more for the money that shall bee giuen with mee, then
for any desire to my good, hee is willing to haue mee. Besides, for
ought that I can learne, my maister is verie backeward in the worlde,
so that what minde soeuer you carrie to my placing here, I doubt it
will turne to verie small purpose. Neuerthelesse, as my dutie is, I doe
gladly submit my selfe to your pleasure, and am willing as becommeth
me, to do in all things according to your will. And euen so with my
heartie commendations to my Vnkle and Aunt, with my brothers and
sisters, I leaue further to trouble you: desirous, if it may seeme good
vnto you, that I may verie shortlie see you. From L. this thirteenth of
Februarie, &c.
_A Letter Nunciatorie in another sort of the selfe
same matter._
Good father, hauing the oportunitie of this bearer, I thought good to
certifie you of my present beeing, giuing you to vnderstande that I
am, I thanke God and you, in good health, and verie well placed heere
in London, where I am in hope to continue my heere beeing to some
profitable purpose. My maister vseth mee in verie good sort, and I
lacke nothing that appertaineth vnto such a one as my selfe. I trust
you shall haue ioy of mee, and ere a fewe yeares passed, I doubt not
but so to behaue my selfe, that I shall well deserue this good lyking
that alreadie I haue of my Maister, and further credite also at his
handes, and imployment about his businesse. I hope that you and my
mother, and all our friendes in the Countrey are in good health. I
pray you that you will write vnto my Maister as occasion serueth, and
thanke him for his good vsage: and if you can to remember him with
some conuenient token from the Countrey. Thus desiring your daylie
blessings, and remembring my humble dutie to you and my mother, I take
leaue, From L. this of, &c.
* * * * *
=These presidents as they are here vsed, may be applied to any the like
purpose, of what qualitie soeuer the seruant be, or the seruice, whence
the same is deliuered, there néedes but change of names, and contrarie
applications, according to the being of the parties to be vsed, and
this onelie forme to be obserued and continued. And so will we now to
the other examples.=
_An Epistle Narratorie containing aduertisements from one
friend to another._
My good N. you shall vnderstande by this bearer what speeches I haue
had in your behalfe, with Maister R. F. whome to tell you trueth, I
found at the first time verie strange, but after wee had a while
debated of the cause, and that I had enformed vnto him all those
reasons, which stoode both for your benefite and his owne satisfaction,
he was verie well contented. You haue much to thanke this Gentleman,
who omitted no part of a friend to deliuer in your absence what he
saw meetest to the purpose, and that in sooth with so deliberate and
sound resolution, as my selfe for your sake must needes also thinke the
better of him. I do refer the circumstance to both your leysures to be
debated on. And as touching that you willed me to deale for, with your
Vncle, it is, I see, to verie little profite, for that his suspicious
humours are such, as will not with anie reason whatsoeuer be diuerted.
I coulde tell you a Hystorie of that matter, but I leaue all to our
next meeting. My brother S. desired mee heartilie to commend him vnto
you, and so did your olde seruant D. You shall by the next Carrier
either heare further of me, or else verie shortlie thereupon you may
expect to see mee. And euen so with my heartiest commendations till
then I bid you fare well, S. this fifteenth of August, &c.
_A Letter of aduertisement from a sonne to his father._
My humble duty remembred good father vnto you, and my mother. It maie
please you to vnderstande, that vpon the receyte of your Letters
sent mee by P. your man, I haue done your commaundement. And whereas
you expected an aunswere by the carrier, for that P. went forwarde
Westwardes in his iourney, I could not till this present write vnto you
to anie effect. I haue receiued of Maister N. the twentie poundes which
shoulde haue beene paied at Easter last, and for the continuation of
my here beeing, I thinke it would turne you to some profite, so be it
I may be furnished accordinglie. Wools are as yet at high rate, but I
thinke shortlie they will fall, wherefore I haue not yet thought meete
to laie out anie monie about them. The next weeke you shall receiue by
C. the Carrier fortie poundes. And if it please you then to returne by
him those parcels of wares that I last wrote vnto you of, they will
now come in verie good time, respecting that the Faire at F. is nigh,
and for ought I yet perceyue, they are like to bee well solde there.
This is all I haue to write vnto you at this present, sauing my heartie
desire of your health, and likewise of my mother, with all my brothers
and sisters. It is here sayde, G. hath verie lewdlie demeaned himselfe
in his maisters businesse, whereby maister L. is like to bee much
indangered. Praying your daylie blessings vnto me, I humblie recommend
you to the Almightie. From B. this thirtie of May.