Chapter II: Part 2

=To the most reuerend Father in God, the L. Archbishop of Canturburie, or York, Primate of England, and Metropolitane his verie good grace. To the right reuerende Father in God, and my verie good Lorde, the L. Bishop of London. To the high and mightie Prince, L. Duke of B. his most noble grace. To the right honourable and my especiall good L. the Lorde Chauncellor, or Lord high Treasurer of England. To the right Honorable the Lorde Marquese of W. To the right Honourable the Earle of E. Lorde Lieutenant for her maiestie in the, &c. To the right Honourable the Earle of H. Lorde President of her Maiesties most honorable Councell established in the North. To the right Honorable, and my singular good L. the lorde B. one of the lords of her highnes most honourable priuy Councell. To the right honorable sir W. M. knight, Chancellour of the Exchequer, and of her Maiesties most honorable priuy Councel. To the right honorable and my singular good Lord and father, or ladie mother, the Earle or Countesse of N. To the right honourable and my verie good ladie, the ladie A. Countesse of W. To the most noble ladie and Paragon of all vertue, the ladie M. H. To the right vertuous ladie endued with all singularitie, the ladie F. D. To the most noble and towardlie yong Gentleman G. T. esquire, if hee be a noble mans sonne vnder the degrée of a Baron. To the right honourable sir W. S. knight, L. Maior of the citie of L. To the right worshipfull W. L. esquire, one of the Iudges of her Maiesties court of common Pleas. To the right worshipfull and my singular good ladie mother, the Ladie D. H. To my verie good father, W. C. Marchant of the citie of B. To the right worshipfull his especiall good maister, M. R. Marchant and Alderman of L. To my seruant R. D. at C. &c.=

=Other examples besides these were needelesse to set downe, for that if any alteration at all happen herein, it is by reason of familiaritie, addition of offices, or change of titles. Onlie let herewith be noted, that when Letters doe passe from some number of the Counsell, or from any Lord of the same, to a noble man or knight, these directions of honour and worship are seldome vsed. But rather thus. To our verie good L. sir W. R. knight, lord Deputie of Ireland. To our verie good L. the L. Maior of the citie of L. and to our verie louing friends W. C. and R. P. Aldermen of the same. To my verie good lord, the L. T. H. To my verie louing friend, sir. T. P. knight. To our verie louing friends sir R. S. knight, _Custos rotulorum_ of her Maiesties Count. of B. and R. W. and S. P. esquires, Iustices of peace of the same Shire. The like directions also are vsed of an Earle, to any of these estates to him inferiour in calling, and of a Baron to a Iustice of peace, but commonlie they will adde the title of worship.=

The diuisions of Letters and vnder what titles all sortes
of Epistles are contained. _Cap 7._

=Albeit the diuersitie of Epistles are (as I saide before) as manifold as are the sundrie occurrents, or rather imaginations of mens fantasies: yet for so much as it seemeth pertinent vnto this Method to induce their varieties vnto some particular titles, by such meanes the rather to bring the learner into a speciall forme, whereby for his necessitie or present turne to applie the same. I haue thought good in imitation of the best and most learned iudgements of our time, to drawe the sundrie parts thereof, vnder foure especiall heads, that is to saie: |Demonstratiue|, |Deliberatiue|, |Iudiciall|, and |Familiar Letters|. And howbeit the rules prescribed vnto either of these, maie vnder their seuerall heads séeme to be particularlie allotted, yet are they in nature so neerelie conioyned togither, as hardlie shall you in anie of the first three fall into their particular distinctions, but lightlie in one sort or other, you shall run into the natures of the others.=

=For proofe whereof, and this to open more plainlie, let vs first lay downe their properties in seuerall, and then sée by association each with other how néerlie they do participate in their qualities. You shall then vnderstande that this |Demonstratiue| kinde, hath the name of a declaration, deliuerie or shewing of some one thing or other, the distinctions of the Epistles thereunder contained, are |Descriptorie|, in which bee described the manners and conuersations of men, all vertues, vices and qualities both of bodie and mind. Honorable chalenges, combats, entertainmēts, attempts, orders of common weales, gouermnents, and estates, countries, cities, hilles, valleies, fields, prospects, buildings and walkes, with their pleasures and scituations. |Laudatorie|, wherein is speciallie praysed anie thing, and |Vituperatorie|, in which is misliked or condemned whatsoeuer maie be thought worthie either to bee abhorred or dispraysed.=

=The |Deliberatiue| is so named, of the large comprehension it hath of sundry causes and matters, being not almost tied to any particular occasion or purpose: His distinctions are |Hortatorie|, and |Dehortatorie|: |Swasorie| and |Disswasorie|, not much vnlike together in their orders and properties: the natures of the first being to exhort, counsell, aduise, or perswade to anie thing, of the other, to withdraw, disswade or reduce to another meaning. |Conciliatorie|, which serueth in acquiring of friendship of acquaintance. |Reconciliatorie|, in reconcilement of kinred, friends, or other persons. |Petitorie|, in suing for, or crauing of anie thing. |Commendatorie|, in preferring the seruices, persons or good qualities, of anie one. |Consolatorie|, in comforting at times of troubles, sorrowe, or mishaps. |Monitorie|, in forewarning, admonishing, or counselling from mischiefs. |Reprehensorie|, in reprehending or correcting of errours and behauiours. |Amatorie|, in matters of louing.=

=The |Iudiciall| is so called, in that it comprehendeth matters lawfull, vnlawfull, or questionable to be handled: The distinctions thereof are, |Accusatorie|, containing matter of accusation. |Excusatorie|, which is occupied in excusing. |Expostulatorie|, in reasoning of causes. |Purgatorie|, in clearing or auoydance of thinges charged. |Defensorie|, in defence of the action. |Exprobatorie|, in reproching or obtruding of benefites vpon cause of vnthankfulnes. |Deprecatorie|, in praying of pardon of a thing committed, and |Inuectiue|, inueighing agaynst ill natures, qualities, occasions or persons.=

=Now the distinctions of these heades being thus laide open by particular titles, we will see how neere in writing they concurre or fall in, each with others. True is it, (as shall be séene in some examples hereafter following) that touching the first head beeing |Demonstratiue|, it sometimes falleth out in causes of aduertisement, or relation of thinges made, that the title |Descriptorie| is manie times meerlie in it selfe handled, without entring into anie other particular addition or occasion, but in the other titles of |Laudatorie| and |Vituperatorie|, not so. For how can I either praise or discommend anie thing, without falling into a |Description| of those persons, things or qualities, which I disallow or commend. Againe, for the |Deliberatiue| kinde in |Hortatorie|, |Dehortatorie|, |Swasorie| and |Disswasorie|, |Commendatorie|, |Monitorie| or |Reprehensorie|, how can I exhort, counsell, aduise, withdraw, commend, admonish or reprehende, if therein I set not forth what is woorthie or vnfit, what to be praysed, estéemed, disallowed, or eschued: which can not bee, without of necessitie I fall into the partes |Descriptorie|, |Laudatorie| and |Vituperatorie|. Likewise in matters |Consolatorie|, |Conciliatorie| & |Reconciliatorie|, howe I maie comfort seeke friends, or reconcile, if the partes |Hortatorie| and |Swasorie|, be absent. So also for the iudiciall, if either I accuse, excuse, expostulate, defende, reproach, intreate, or inueigh, it must be done with the laying out of vices, and aduauncement of vertues, in manifesting what is good, and setting forth what is euill, neither of which, can be without matter |Descriptorie|, |Laudatorie|, and |Vituperatorie|. By all which it appeareth, that (howbeit these seuerall titles stand thus diuided) yet are the matters of the same diuerslie wrapped togither, and the precepts seruing to the one, must of necessitie by a like conueyance be drawne into an obseruation with the other: notwithstanding for ease of the learner, and to the end he may with more readines find out what best fitteth and beseemeth the cause hee hath in handling, they bee thus drawne forth as you see into so many particular distinctions.=

=Touching nowe our |Familiar Letters|, they also are to bee drawne vnder their seuerall titles, as |Narratorie|, and |Nunciatorie|, somewhat falling into the demonstratiue kind before remembred, wherein we expresse and declare to those farre from vs, the matters or newes presentlie in hand amongst vs: |Gratulatorie|, wherein wee reioyce each with others of the good happes of fortune betiding vs. |Remuneratorie|, being a gratefull relation of cortesies, benefites or good turnes receiued. |Iocatorie|, wherewith by a pleasant and swéete kinde of deliuerie of some pretie conceit or iest, the minde is recreated. |Obiurgatorie|, in which wee rebuke the ill demeanours of our children, seruants, kindred, or acquaintance. |Mandatorie|, whereby wee commit expreslie our affaires to such as we haue authoritie, either to commaunde or intreate to be dispatched. To these and the others before mentioned are manie Epistles |Responsorie|, the titles whereof cannot be certaine, but examples and occasions plentifull: all which I referre to their peculiar places each one, as they are suted forth to be in their kindes deliuered. And now will we passe vnto the other hereafter to bee obserued in deliuerie of Examples, accordant vnto the seuerall titles of all these forenamed Epistles, and first of Epistles |Descriptorie|.

Of Epistles meerely Descriptory and the parts
thereof. _Chap. 8._

[Sidenote: Parts in Epistle Descriptory.]

[Sidenote: Comparison of the writer and painter.]

[Sidenote: Painter.]

[Sidenote: Writer.]

[Sidenote: Ptolemy and other writers, _de situ orbis_.]

[Sidenote: Virgil in his Aenidos.]

[Sidenote: Ouidii Metamorphoseos.]

[Sidenote: Example.]

=Forsomuch as in Descriptions, are (as I saide before) onelie declared and set foorth at large, the maner, order, state, gouernment, proportion goodnesse or value of anie thing: the Epistles consisting solie thereof, be commonlie without addition at all, either of praise or mislike, or anie other intendment, in respect whereof they might in anie one iote varie from that title of |Descriptorie|. The force hereof besides the |Exordium|, comprehendeth chieflie a |narration|, throughout, in which is contained (by laying out the seuerall parts thereof) a perfect and plain demonstration or description of any thing: In these sortes of Epistles, the excellency of the writer, and painter concurreth in one, who the more that each of them studieth by perfection, to touch al things to the quick, by so much the more neerer doe they both aspire to that exquisit kind of cunning, that in each of these differences, is absolutely to be required. The curious painter in drawing a perfect peece of |Lantskip|, presenteth many things vnto the eie, the conceit whereof is maruellous: for with great admiration we do there séeme to behold, the most pleasant and goodlie vallies: Woods hie and decked with statelie trées (some tops whereof the wind seemeth to wreath and turne at one side) then goodly riuers, hie waies and walkes, large situate & high climing hils and mountains, far prospects of Cities, steeples, and Towers, ships sayling on seas, and waues blown vp aloft, the element cleere, faire and temperate, with some shining beames shadowing and spreading ouer all these, wherein seemeth the delight so rare, and climate so perfect, as verie desire prouoketh a man to gaze of it, as a thing in present life, and most certaine viewe. And do I praie you, our excellent writers degenerate at all from anie part of these? Doeth not the learned |Cosmographer| in acquainting vs with the vnknowne delights, scituation, plenty and riches of Countries which we neuer sawe, nor happilie maie euer approch vnto, rauish vs oftentimes, and bring in contempt the pleasures of our owne soyle: and manie times a huge woonder, of the vnheard secrets neuer before reported of, the incredible operations of diuers thinges, and state so high and magnificent, such as the verie description and liuelie deliuery whereof, maketh vs beleeue that our eies do almost witnes the same, and that our verie sences are partakers of euerie delicacie in them contained. But omitting the wight hereof, consisting in these worlds of such strange accompt, with that fine inuention doeth |Virgil| manie times in his |Aeneidos|, and with howe much varietie describe vnto vs the tides of the morning? Howe greatlie in his first booke doth he amuse the reader, with the lamentable shipwracke, and euen then (as it were) appearing surges, and intollerable turmoils vpon the sea happening to |Aeneas|? What darknesse, what tempestes, what rising and deepest fall of waues againe, what winds, what mingling of heauen and earth together doth hee there relate? Then after, his arriuall on shore and presenting to Queene |Dido|, howe is the destruction of |Troy| in the person of |Aeneas| to her described? In the fourth booke likewise, what an excellent description maketh he of |Fame|? How he sheweth the banquet by the |Queene| to |Aeneas| made, and how liuelie is the state and magnificence thereof deliuered? Innumerable of these, both from him and the |Transformed shapes of Ouid| coulde I here recorde, the excellencie of each being such, as by the forceable vtterance thereof bréedeth as great delight as astonishment vnto the curious searcher of the same. And in as much as I haue vndertaken to conduct the learner by example, howe to behaue himselfe in some sort herein, we will proceed with our |Epistles Descriptory|, the first wherof following, maie seeme to bee sent from a traueller to a friend of his in England, the mater whereof ensueth.=

An example of a latter Descriptory, wherein is particu-
_larly described an ancient City, by laying down the
seuerall parts thereof._

[Sidenote: _Exordium_ Or a charge giuen, and promise made.]

[Sidenote: Narratio.]

[Sidenote: Scituation.]

[Sidenote: Buildings.]

[Sidenote: Deckings.]

[Sidenote: Streets.]

[Sidenote: Gouernment]

[Sidenote: Habit of the people.]

[Sidenote: Conclusō]

My good Vncle, the remembrance of your charge giuen me, & my promise to you made at my departure out of _England_, bindeth me (at my nowe being in quiet, and with good leasure setled in _Germany_) that I should returne vnto you againe, my accustomed and dutifull regard, in sort as I haue euer endeuoured my selfe to do vnto you. It may then please you, that remaining with my L. the Duke but a fewe daies at _Geneua_, wee hasted thence to a Citie, called _Noremberge_, being imperiall, scituate in the high partes of _Germany_, where sithence wee haue almost continually remained. And albeit I could somewhat write vnto you of our passages through diuers places of the Country, yet insomuch as there is no part thereof so memorable as this citie wherein we now remaine, the description thereof at this present may solie content you. The Citie therefore, as it seemeth is most ancient, and as many doe suppose and affirme, at that time when the Country was first in subiection to the Empire of _Rome_, was builded by _Nero_ the Emperour, and of him taketh his name, as _Noremberghe_, in signification _Neros berghe_, and so much the rather doth it appeare, by sundry auncient monumentes therein yet remaining. The Citie (besides that it is situate in a most delicate and pleasant soyle, wooded and watered most plentifully on euerie side, with goodlie Trees, faire and delicate Riuers and springes,) is both of great strength in the walles of the same, and plentifully builded with high and statelie Towers on euerie part. The edificies of the Citie are rare, and of most sumptuous and statelie appearaunce, insomuch that there is no one house in any rowe that exceedeth another in height, but all of them builded leuell, by a verie Geometricall proportion. The insides are not more polished with riches and ornamentes of great beauty, then the outsides with brauerie, the verie fronts of all which, aswell of rich as poore, are most curiously embossed in a hard kinde of substance (such I thinke as is our plaster of Paris) with artificiall and liuely pictures, conteining histories of diuers memorable, and strange effectes, and that with such wonderfull excellency, as any waies may bee conceiued. The cost hereof is continually maintayned, repaired, enlarged, and preserued, by a generall contribution of the most worthy and honourable of the Citie. Besides, the colours so fresh, so braue, and delicate laide in oyle, for defence against weather, wherewith they are beautified and set forth, are verie straunge. The streetes are wide, faire, and excellentlie well paued. The stone they vse for the most part is marble, white, gray, and blacke, whereof is great plentie, besides other kindes, which verie wonderfully they cut and square in diuers small proportions artificiallie pointed and shaped. The houses are not high, but backwarde builte, and inwardelie large. This Citie retaineth yet the auncient gouernement of the _Romanes_, for at this instant they haue their _Consuls_, _Tribunes_, _Senators_, _Pretors_, _Quæstors_, _Aediles_ and other interchangeable offices, as sometimes had _Rome_, beeing in her greatest prosperitie. The attire also alike to their dignities of all sortes of honourable personages, accustomed to their callinges. Plaine are their habites for the most part, and nothing sumptuous, retaining still one, and the selfe same ancient fashion. The constitution of their bodies as wel men as women, are faire, cleare, and of sounde complexion. Frugall in diet and expence, and nothing prodigall. My L. the Duke is here of great sway, and entertained with honorable accompt. Thus much haue I thought good to aduertise you in discharge of my debt and your desire, attending by the returne of this messenger the newes of your good health. To whom & al other our friends, in sound and good affection I eftsoones do recommend me. At _Noremberghe_ this of, &c.

_Another example wherein the state of a Coun-
trey is soly described._

[Sidenote: _Exordium._ Of their accustomed friendship.]

[Sidenote: Narratiō. Pleasant ayre vnfrequented.]

[Sidenote: _In voluntary abstinence._]

[Sidenote: Hard feeding.]

[Sidenote: Ill lodging.]

[Sidenote: Danger.]

I doubt not N. but that thy hart longeth, and mind is yet vnquieted, because of my suddaine departure from thee, and ignorance of my estate and present being, whereof that thy desires may nowe at full be resolued: know my good N. that not hauing beene scarce sixe moneths from thee, I did long since perceiue my selfe to bee out of England, and that it may appeare vnto thee, that I haue iust cause so to say, thou shalt somewhat vnderstande by mee the state of this Countrey. Wee liue heere in a soile delicate I must confesse for the ayre, and pleasant for the situation: with good leasure (I must tell thee) may we here attend our deuotions, as hauing no care wherewith to encumber vs, but the needlesse search of that whereof wee neuer find likelihood to annoy vs. As vncompelled by seuere decrees and interdictions, we limit vnto ourselues an abstinence, thou mightst think we do it of zeale, but in truth it is of want, wherein we haue more fasting daies by a great manie then ability to beare them. Our conuersation is with elements, with waters, with fieldes, with trees, with valleyes, with hilles, with beasts, in the general vse whereof, wee find nothing else but their proper shapes. And if by chaunce any other sorts of creatures do appeare, they are naked shapes formed as men and women, fierce, sauage, wilde, not capable of anie our reasons, nor we of their speeches. Our foode is rootes, dried fishes, berries, and I knowe not what other harsh kind of fruits, and sometime foules, besides a kind of graine growing in great cods wherby we somtimes obtain (though not the naturall) yet some vse of bread, vnlike to that you eat, in taste, goodnes, or propertie. Our lodgings and places of repose are caues, entrenched in the ground, the earth our beds, and clothes our couerings. And these also hard as they are, enioy wee not in quiet, but being awaited of the naked multitude (whose policies insinuate by nature are farre greater then their strength) wee are faine by much industrie to preuent them: into whose hands if any of vs doe chaunce to fall, our dead carkasses in hastie morsels are conueied into their intrailes. Hereby iudging of our estate, thou mayest accordinglie deeme of our pleasures. The next message that thou shalt attend from mee, shall bee my speedie returne, the seas and windes being not lesse fauourable then they were at my going forth. Meane while recommend my selfe to thy wel-wishing, and our safeties to God, I ende as thou knowest, this of, &c.

_An example wherein the death of a nobleman
is onelie described._

[Sidenote: Exordium. Of the cause it selfe.]

[Sidenote: Narratiō.]

[Sidenote: Sudden sickenesse.]

[Sidenote: Declaration of his speeches.]

[Sidenote: Mislike of the world.]

[Sidenote: Certain notice and liking of death.]

The decease (good Madame) of my Lorde your brother, hath occasioned vnto your Lad. the sight of these Letters, wherein I haue rather acquited my selfe of that whereunto by your honourable commaunde I was enioyned, then anie wayes satisfied the griefe that by my selfe among manie others, for his losse is intirelie conceyued. The manner whereof may please you nowe to bee informed of, which was thus. On Tuesday beeing the thirteenth of this instant, hauing as it then seemed vnto his L. and others, beene reasonablie well recouered from the woonted force of his long consuming disease, beeing importuned by the dispatch of some present affayres, as otherwise to haue some conference with her Maiestie, hee went from his house of B. to the Court, where all that day hee remained, and returned againe at night, not for all this, finding himselfe at all disquieted at the least motion of anie the pangs wherewith before time hee had so often been vexed. The most part of that night hee was verie well reposed. Towardes morning the next daie, he beganne somewhat to be agreeued, but nothing as accustomed: in which state the most part of that day hee continued. At night againe hauing eaten some small pittance to supper, towardes nine of the clocke hee beganne most vehementlie to bee passioned, till which time wee all had verie good expectation of his health and recouerie, which his L. perceyuing, after hee had beene a while set vp in his bedde, hee sayde, I knowe my good friends and faithfull louing seruaunts, that the great zeale and loue you doo beare vnto mee, is a vehement occasion to kindle in you a desire of wel-wishing, and intendment of assured safetie towardes mee, wherein I haue more cause to thanke your good willes, then meane thereby to imagine the force of my disease to bee lesse then long since I expected, and exceedinglie in my selfe haue euer doubted, what wordes of comfort, protraction and delayes so euer, haue by the Physitions to the contrarie beene vsed. One great and exceeding comfort vnto mee is, that liuing, I euer loyallie demeaned my selfe: and dying, I shall depart this worlde in her Maiesties good grace, and especiall fauour. Next vnto that, the loue of you my dearest friendes and entirelie beloued seruants and followers, whose hearts I knowe doe pursue mee, and whose affections euen to the last gaspe of death I am perswaded to bee euer firme and fixed towardes mee. Your desires are, I knowe, that I shoulde liue, according vnto which the least mitigation that may bee of my griefe, you measure by & by to the hope of amendment, which is not so. For that in all the comfortable speeches, that sundrie times I haue receiued from you, my selfe to whome the inwarde effects thereof haue beene found most forcible, haue euer mistrusted, and by manie probable circumstances adiudged the contrarie. Long time endure I cannot, this knowe I well, happelie a daie, two or three, I may yet bee conuersant among you, for my disease, that standeth assured (the messenger whereof continuallie knocketh at the doore of my imaginations, readie euerie houre to assault my heart, and to carrie away with him the spoyles of a dying carkasse) will not permit I shall long time trauell in this sort among you. And for my selfe, stand ye all assertained, that hauing long since poyzed in equall ballance, the long continuance of a fraile, wretched, and trauelled life, the most part whereof is caryed away in sleepe, sorrowe, griefe sickenesse, daunger, and the residue also neuer freed of care and all maner of disquiet, with the hope of an euerlasting ioy, happines, rest peace, and immortall residence: I finde no reason whie I should at all affect the toyle of such earthlie tediousnesse. Insomuch as hauing liued nowe almost threescore and thirteene yeares, and borne my selfe (honourablie I trust) in all mine actions and seruices, and further in the progression of my ripest yeares, yea in this verie instant more then at anie other time am regarded of my Prince, and esteemed of my Countrey, and among my Peeres reputed in the highest degree of my fidelitie: I shall nowe die as becommeth my person, woorthilie and honourablie. Bee you therefore recomforted I pray you, as I am, and thinke that for all the loue you haue ought me, the seruices you haue done mee, or tender care you doe yet in my heauiest pangs beare vnto mee, the chiefest content you can doe vnto mee, is that you bee satified herein with mee. That beeing verelie resolued in my soule, of all that I haue here sayde vnto you, and hauing ordered mine actions, and prepared my selfe thereto accordinglie, I doe willinglie and with a right contented mind, leaue this transitorie world so replenished as it is, with so manie grieuous casualties, & hartilie do giue my bodie to his naturall course, and my soule into the handes of the mightie Creator, for euer in his glorie (I trust) to bee eternized. This speech ended, hee continued till after midnight, at which time hee had about two houres slumber, and so beganne his paine to encrease againe. In which till Wednesday following, almost in one state, hee for the most part remained, oftentimes accustoming himselfe with those that were about him to prayer, manie times, recording to himselfe the goodnesse of God, and his mercies to him remembred, and that with such zeale and intire regarde of his hoped repose, as that it still seemed and was euidentlie apparant howe muche hee longed and thirsted for the same. In fine, drawing by little and little towardes an ende, euen in the verie last pang, ioyning his handes vp to heauen, his heart and eyes thitherwarde fixed, hee recommended eftsoones himselfe to the mercie of his Redeemer, and on Thursday last about two in the morning died, to the lamentable griefe of all that were about him, who heartily sorrowing his losse, were forced to shed teares aboundantly. The day of the funerall is not yet certaine, but the same is intended verie honorablie. Recommending my selfe vnto your La. in all humblenesse, I take my leaue. At our sorrowfull house of B, this of, &c.

Of Epistles Laudatorie and Vituperatorie.
_Chap. 9._

[Sidenote: Praise of the person.]

[Sidenote: 1]

[Sidenote: 2]

[Sidenote: 3]

[Sidenote: 4]

[Sidenote: 5]

[Sidenote: 6]

=Nowe followeth it next, that after these Letters, meere |Descriptorie| as you see, we doe treate of the other two partes appertaining also to this forme, which are |Laudatorie| and |Vituperatorie|, the vse whereof either solelie or intermixed in any other kind of Epistles, shal of one or more of these causes take their originall, that is to say, of the _Person_, _deeds_ or _thing_ it selfe to bee commended, misliked or dispraysed. The _person_ of anie one is to be preferred or disabled, by his birth, descent, shewe, or abilitie. Secondlie, by his childhoode, or good education from his infancie. Thirdlie, of his youth, in which he is either conuersant in studies of honest life, seriously giuen to the knowledge of letters, affecting alwayes vnto laudable exercises, temperat and sober in demeanour, or otherwise accounted dissolute and wanton, vnhappilie led to the search of whatsoeuer mischiefes, affectionate to the most basest conditions and practises, not tied to anie order, but wholie pursuing an vncontroulled libertie. Fourthlie, of his manly yeares being frequented with ciuill gouernment, or liuing altogether without account. Priuately and publikely in all manlie actions demeaned, or by apparant loosenes in each place discredited. Fiftlie, of his olde age, the course whereof is with ancient grauitie continued, or by al kind of euils most hainously misprised, whose siluer haires are shining in vertuous happines, or miserable estate drowned in lothsomnes. Sixtly, in his ende or departure out of this world, agreeing to the saying of _Solon_, No man may be counted happie before his death|. For that in the expectatiō or attaining therof, as at no time more in all the life of a man, then chiefly appeareth, his vertue, constancy, strength & worthinesse, or otherwise his imbecility, ouerthrow, shame and ignominious filthines. Besides all these, many likelihoods are often taken either to the praise or dispraise of the |person|, by occasion of the nation or soile from whence he came, where hee was borne or trained. From the generall condition or application of himselfe or of the people thereof, by the habite, constitution of the bodie, complexion, looks, fame, or other circumstances thereunto incident, by the actiuitie, strength, swiftnes, nimblenes, fauor or beauty of the body. By the gifts of fortune, as honor, wealth, worship, reputation and kindred. And forasmuch as these demonstrations of persons are wholy occupied either in praise or dispraise of their conditions or behauiours: the chiefest part hereof shall also consist in |Narration|, without peraduenture it falleth out in the life of anie one to haue some one or mo things hapned or of them supposed, ill beseeming or vnworthy their reputation, which either by defence, excusation, or |Confutation| must bee coloured, diminished, or cleerely auoided. Examples whereof do follow according to their particular occasions: and thus much for the _Persons_.

[Sidenote: Of the deeds.]

=In commendation or vituperation of the déeds of any one, we shall weigh with our selues what notable actions haue bin, wherein he or she haue honorably or worthily behaued themselues, or by perpetual infamy therof haue deserued in each posteritie for euer to be contemned. Touching things likewise by themselues to bee extolled or disabled, they are euer measured by the consonance and agréement they haue either with reputation or dignitie.=

[Sidenote: Honest which is tied to vertue.]

=The goodnesse or badnes, excellencie or basenesse of any thing, is gathered from the places of _Honestum_, _Inhonesty_, vnder which is comprehended what is iust or vniust, godlie or wicked, direct or indirect, worthy or to be dispraised. Honest is alwaies linked to vertue. For whatsoeuer is either vertue it selfe, or affined with vertue or deriued from vertue, or conducing to vertue, is absolutelie declared honest.=

[Sidenote: Honest, what it is.]

=The distinguishment of these falleth out to be sorted into foure principall excellencies, that is, |Prudence|, |Iustice|, |fortitude| and |Temperance|, it is therefore to be intended, that not onelie deedes and actions, but also thinges themselues are solelie of these, and for these either praised or debased. Whatsoeuer then by sounde and wholesome perswasion tendeth either to the embracing of the good, or shunning of the euill. Whatsoeuer includeth either fidelitie, true friendship, equitie, obedience or gratitude. Whatsoeuer conduceth to true pietie to God, thy Countrie, Parents, children, and friends. Whatsoeuer appertaineth to the seueritie of the law, to the admonishing of the wicked, and to the remuneration and defence of the well deserued. Whatsoeuer tendeth to a tolleration or patient forebearance of euils, to longanimitie, entring into hazard and dangers for conscience, for thy countrey, kindred or friends. Whatsoeuer concerneth chastitie, sobrietie or frugalitie, and seemely moderation in all thinges, that in each of these is adiudged honest and none others.=

[Sidenote: Vnhonest.]

=The contrarie hereof, which is _Inhonestum_, includeth likewise whatsoeuer is not vertue, or is estranged from vertue, hindering to vertue, or in nothing furthering towards vertue, whatsoeuer is pertinent to follie, iniustic, pusillanimitie, or excesse, whatsoeuer by the euill therein committed is exempted from praise. Whatsoeuer carieth perswasion to mischiefe & seducement from the good. Whatsoeuer appertaineth to infedilitie, falshood, treason, disobedience, slander, or ingratitude. Whatsoeuer withdraweth from naturall regard and loue of thy Countrie, parents, children and friends. Whatsoeuer impugneth the wholesome lawes and estate of euerie common-wealth, tendeth to a notorious example of euill, hindereth or blemisheth any others good deseruing. Whatsoeuer enforceth reuengement vpon euerie small offence, hath in it no meane of sufferance, or forbearance at all, entertaineth a lawlesse libertie of conscience to perpetrate or yéeld to any vnlawfull action, or to become iniurious to thy Country, state or calling. Whatsoeuer is furthering to a dissolute liuing, vnbrideled lust, couetous tenacitie, prodegality, or detestable excesse. These and such like, as confounders of all ciuilitie and humane gouernment, are confirmed to be vnhonest.=

[Sidenote: _Laus ab honesto._]

[Sidenote: _Ab æquo._]

[Sidenote: _A necessitate._]

[Sidenote: _Ab vtiltiate._]

[Sidenote: _A difficili._]

=Now these deedes, actions or thinges are by manie |Oratory| partes to bee handled, or commended, according to the matters or occasions whereout their praises are deriued, and because examples are the best I might sort out diuers: as of |Dauid|, I coulde commend his combate against |Goliah|, first _ab honesto_, in that he being the seruant of god fought against a blasphemer, also in his Princes quarell & defence of his countrey: _ab æquo_, because it is meet and conuenient, that in causes so perillous, the strength of each one be applied. _A necessitate_, insomuch as thereon depended the sauegard of the Prince and people. _Ab vtilitate_, for that he killing such an enemie, brought to their owne country peace and quiet, and also draue the other part in subiection to his king and people. _A difficili_, because the vndertaking thereof was so much the more waighty, by howe much himselfe was as it were an infant agaynst a mightie giant, vnarmed against him that was armed, vnfurnished against him that had al maner of complements of warre: weake, where the other was strong: besides that the terrour of his chalenge and hugenes of stature had before daunted the armie, & put them all out of conceit, in so much that the doubt was so generall, as no man dared to vndertake the quarell. Besides, herein is praised of bodily force, his |Actiuitie|, and courage: of |Vertues|, his woonderfull |Magnanimitie|, who by couragious desire durst to vndertake the same: also his affiance in |Iustice|, and equitie of the cause: His |Pietie| to God, his Prince and countrey: Lastly, his |Fidelitie|, whose life was not spared when each one drew backe for feare to be brought in hazard. And as to this action of |Dauid|, I haue vsed all these |Oratorie| parts, so in causes of sway and gouernment, a man might by the like parts and places be praised for his great wisdome, whereby in handling of some notable action in ambassage or consultation, he hath onely by graue aduise, industrie, discreete search, perswasion or circumspection, compassed weightie matters to the common weale, or thence auoyded huge and imminent dangers: |Cicero| in the coniuration of |Catiline|, beeing a mightie enemie agaynst his owne Citie of |Rome|, might herein be an excellent patterne, who without stirring the people at all, without any maner of bodilie resistance or force of armes, without passing by any priuate or indirect means, did by the sole matter of his |wisedome, =waightines of spéech, forcible reasons, enforcements, rebukes, and perswasions driue him cleane out of the Citie, and being expulsed (to the common peace, tranquilitie and surety of the same Citie) did afterwarde by like demeanour, industrie, and circumspection, so preuent his purposes, so circumuent his policies, so turne him vpside downe, as he dared not, he could not, he shamed to perpetrate what so often hee had sworne, and so many wayes intended: in which action of |Ciceroes|, all these |Oratorie| parts are in like maner included. So likewise, for some one rare & singular point of |Iustice| another might be extolled, as beside common expectation exercising the same. A president hereof might bee the L. chiefe |Iustice| of Englande in the time of King |Henrie| the fourth, who was so streictlie bent to the obseruation of iustice, as hauing one of the Princes seruants arraigned before him at the Kings Bench barre, for a fellon, and beeing one that the young Prince greatlie (at that time of his youth) fauoured. The prince came to the barre, and at the Iudges hands required his seruant; who answered that he was the King his fathers prisoner, and stoode there vpon his triall by lawe for his offences, that he could not in iustice, nor would (by his pardon) deliuer him without his triall. The Prince mooued with such deniall, stroke the Iudge on the face, and woulde by force haue withdrawne the prisoner. The Iudge withstoode him, and aduertising him mildlie of the offence he had done to the seate and place wherin he sate of iustice, in such sort to strike him, stoutlie commanded him to Warde, whereunto (uppon such admonition) the Prince obeyed, and accordinglie remayned in durance, attending the aduertisement and knowledge of his fathers pleasure. Here might bee a great contention, whether the worthie Iudge in his equall administration and execution of iustice, without feare, whereon stoode the hazard of his owne life, beeing vpon him that was in succession to become his soueraigne Lord, were more to be commended: or the Prince, in his subiection, and of all other most singular obedience, more highly to bee extolled: the one daring to doe what was lawfull vpon whatsoeuer hazard, the other humbling himselfe to authoritie which he might easilie haue impugned: and yet both actions such, as by many excellent Oratorie parts séeme fit to be inlarged. For no doubt there was as much vertue in the ones obedience, as there was excellency in the others sentence.=

=And as these, so the honor, worship, or wealth of anie man, his deedes of charitie, either in |Erection|, |conuersion| or |repayring| of any thing, whereby the common wealth is benefited, vertue furthered, or the néedy prouided for, might bee in like sort aduanced.=

=Finallie, |Wisdome|, |Iustice|, |Bountie|, |Liberalitie|, |Curtesie|, |Chastitie|, might each of them as things by themselues, & of themselues without the person of any one be alike commended. Whereof I think it néedlesse to amplifie any further, seeing by the examples hereafter set downe, the learner may sufficientlie bee enabled in whatsoeuer, for those causes he shall vndertake to proceed vpon.=

_An example of a laudatorie epistle soly touching the person._

[Sidenote: _Exordium_, by insinuation.]

[Sidenote: _Allegoria._]

[Sidenote: _Hyperbole._]

[Sidenote: _Procatalepsis._]

[Sidenote: _Epitheton._]

[Sidenote: _Synonymia._]

[Sidenote: _Anadiplosis._]

[Sidenote: _Narratiō._]

[Sidenote: _Hypotiposis._]

[Sidenote: Praise of the Prince in generall.]

[Sidenote: _Epitheton._]

[Sidenote: _Metanoia._]

[Sidenote: _Metaphora._]

[Sidenote: _Præteritio._]

[Sidenote: Parenthesis.]

[Sidenote: Parabola.]

[Sidenote: _Metapora._]

[Sidenote: _Antimetabole._]

[Sidenote: _Periphrasis._]

The feruent loue, and entire zeale and regarde, wherewith your L. euen in these tender and as yet vnripened yeares, seemeth to pursue the vertues and honourable worthinesse of the most renowned and famous, and the reuerend account, wherewith in your most secret imaginations you haue euer admired, & as it were emulated their highest progressions: hath mooued me in recordation thereof (and the rather to deliuer vnto your L. the verye true image and liuely counterfeit indeede, of vnblemished honour, adorned with all princely and most surpassing noblenes) to propose vnto your view, a paragon so peerlesse, and of so rare and excellent performaunce, as whereof no hystorie hath the semblable, no region the match, nor any worlde hereafter may eftsoones be supposed to produce the like. You shall not neede my L. to ransacke volumes, to search out the liues of the most honoured _Scipio_, amongst the Romanes, nor out of Greece to fetche _Themistocles_ or _Alcibiades_ from Lacedemon or Athens. Let _Haniball_ rest with his predecessors, who sometimes by vnbearded fortune did honor to mightie Carthage, and (before them all) Achilles and Hector, that made the fall of Troy so famous: And come wee into our owne Countrey, the land wherein our selues inhabite, the soyle to vs natiue, and of all others most deerest, and see you here my L. a Prince of so rare and incomparable worthinesse, as your selfe will confesse throughout all the course of his life, to haue beene of all others the moste happie and vertuous. _Edwarde_, my L. young _Edward_ (so helde in his fathers life) vnder whose raigne he died in Englande, surnamed for his noted excellencie, sometymes the _blacke Prince_. This is hee on whome Nature, Fortune and Vertue, to the intent to yeelde some apparaunt shewe of theyr woonderfull and mightie operations, had aboue all others so especially enriched with all kinde of wished and most exquisite perfections, as in that present season, in which the delicacie of his aspiring minde reste vnto himselfe the highest branch of honour from out her loftie seate of dignity, it was denied to any other whatsoeuer, to exceede? nay, but so much as to become partaker with so rare a patterne of the like fruites of vertue and neuer dying glory. And to the ende (in rehearsing some fewe of the many particularities of such sounde and vncorrupted maiestie) the radiant shining beames resiant in so high a personage, may with more facilitie the sooner bee discouered: wee will first beginne with his originall and foremost infancie, that by deducing from thence his complementes of princelie excellencie, euen in the verie mouth of his entombed graue, his bones may not bee reposed without an immortall recordation, and the fame of his vertue celebrated by an endlesse memorie. Needlesse were it my L. that I shoulde tell you of this statelie Prince, that hee were sonne and heire in succession, to the most mightie and most renowmed _Edward_ the thirde, king of this noble realme of _England_, the most regarded vertues and inuincible chiualrie of whome, beeing then euerie where so surpassing, and of such redoubted force, as (were it not such memorable issue had sprong out of his Kingly loynes, as wherewith the states of the mightie were daunted, and Europe made to woonder) might hitherto haue remained of-fame compotent ynough, to haue bene compared vnto the mightiest: but that I may rather imparte vnto you, that as golde, in the riches and glorie of it selfe, beareth price and value with the most precious, yet hauing annexed vnto his proportion, a Diamonde of inestimable beautie, valour and goodnesse, becommeth thereby farre more excellent then before, more shining and glorious: so this soueraigne and puissant Monarch (admirable no doubt by himselfe) yet hauing thus tied vnto the sunne-shine of his happie raigne, the obscurer and eclipsing glorie of all other nations, the verie Loadstarre and direction of all other Tropheis, the Sunne it selfe of worthinesse, and absolute concluder of euerie honourable enterprise: howe coulde it bee but that this prerogatiue of his must of force exceede, and goe beyonde all others, when himselfe, by the verie chaire of honours selfe was so farre aduaunced aboue any others? And albeit the high and kingly worthinesse of so statelie offspring and parentage, might no question in sundry sortes, yeelde greate and mightie glorie to the issue: yet that it might not bee alleadged that in taking vppon vs to commende the personage of one, wee shoulde intimate the soueraigntie of the other, as it were by a defect of praise sufficient, to supply the wante of our owne, and that the honourable reputation of another cannot fitly bee saide to bee this mans worthinesse, without by the braunch of his owne deserte, hee hadde in his owne proper right most effectually caried the same. Vnderstand you then of him, that which all men deeme most princely and honourable, and there is none, were it the stoutest enemie that euer liued, but will most highlie commende. This Prince, my L. who euen from the verie cradle seemed to bee addicted to the knowledge, and feare of God, and verie pietie of a sincere and Christian religion (besides that hee was naturally so well formed and instructed in good documentes as anie might bee) became in those verie tender yeares also, so apte vnto learning, as the match or like of him therein, was seldome or neuer in those dayes any where found, and in these times also may not easily bee hearde of. Insomuch as of those that then knewe him verie well, it certainely is deliuered, that beeing but the age of twelue yeares, his vnderstanding and knowledge in the Latine tongue, was so perfect, his progression in the Greeke so excellent, his skill and deliuerie of forraigne languages so woonderfull, his _P_rincelie towardnesse in all thinges so rare and so plentiful, as many times mooued all the regarders to admire him, but founde none of all his associates in the same exercises, that were able to follow him.

[Sidenote: Of his adolescence.]

[Sidenote: _Erotema._]

[Sidenote: _Parenthesis._]

[Sidenote: _Meiosis._]

[Sidenote: _Auxesis._]

[Sidenote: _Epanodus._ His mans estate.]

[Sidenote: His outward actions.]

[Sidenote: His inward vertues.]

[Sidenote: _Hypotiposis._]

[Sidenote: His bounty & great humility.]

[Sidenote: His modestie.]

[Sidenote: _Parenthesis._]

[Sidenote: _Sententia._]

[Sidenote: Parenthesis.]

[Sidenote: Merismus.]

[Sidenote: Allegoria.]

[Sidenote: Confirmatiō.]

[Sidenote: Hypotiposis.]

[Sidenote: _Epiphonema._]

[Sidenote: _Emphasis._]

[Sidenote: _Antipophora._]

[Sidenote: _Commoratiō._]

[Sidenote: _Confutatiō._]

[Sidenote: _Synonymia._]

[Sidenote: Praise of his death.]

[Sidenote: _Epiphonema._]

[Sidenote: _Peroratiō._]

[Sidenote: _Ecphonesis._]

[Sidenote: _Articulus._]