Read Ebook: The English Secretary; or Methode of Writing Epistles and Letters (1599) With a Declaration of Such Tropes Figures and Schemes as Either Usually or for Ornament Sake Are Therein Required by Day Angel Active

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Deuided into two bookes.

Now newly reuised and in many parts corrected and amended:

It is now a fewe yeares passed since emboldned by your faour, this booke rudely digested, and then roughly deliuered, I did in the very nonage thereof rec?mend vnto your Patronage. And howbeit at that time, very little therin appeared worthy so honourable acceptance: yet pleased it your L. the same should then passe vnder your fauourable countenance.

To answer so great bountie therein shewed, I haue naught but my simple acknowledgement: and in signification of the will I haue to do vnto your Lordship any acceptable seruice, no other matter in shew, then a fresh renouation of the selfe same title by an other presentment, howbeit in far more orderly manner then formerly was deliuered.

Your Lordship may please of your owne ennobled condition to well dooing, in pardoning the presumption of the former, to vouchsafe your liking to this latter, wherein yet shall you finde the worke both in order, habit and shape, to be diuersly chaunged.

This being so, It will, I trust, seeme in me a matter the more pardonable, to haue aduentured as I did the formost of this purposed labor, regarding that by a reuew of the same it hath now receiued some shape and proportion. Such as it is I humblie recommend as before, vnto your honorable liking. And for my selfe do remaine, alwaies

Angel Day.

The English Secretorie.

Of an Epistle, the commodities and vse thereof. Chap. 1.

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 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 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 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.

The decease 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 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 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 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.

Sithence the time of my little abode heere in London being scarce twentie dayes, vnderstanding of the being in town of my La. your mother, I repaired thereupon to her presence to visite her: there did I receiue notice of your being in Ireland, and that vpon your honourable behauiour, and good seruice there done: The L. D. did not onely testifie the same by his owne hand-writing vnto diuers of the priuie Counsell, but also in especiall letters besides commended the weight thereof, vnto the regard of her most excellent Maiestie.

I did not a little reioyce to see that in such young yeares wherein commonlie falleth out a contempt of all excellencies, and a fantasticall desyre of counterfeyte vanities, you coulde addict your selfe wholie vnto so weightie and honourable an exercise, as by laboursome trauaile in the seruice and honour of your Prince and countrie, to put forwarde your selfe so timely. Credite mee, it is not a little pleasing vnto mee to thinke thereon, neither standeth my affection so slender vnto your fathers off-spring, but that I must euer holde the reputation of their weldoing, an aduauncemente to my imaginations, and the sounde of their good successe the verie harmonie of mine inwarde soule.

It is no newe thing I confesse, euen in these dayes to see a Gentleman honourablie descended as your selfe, and of like worthie education, to attaine vnto learning, to become practised in Armes, to put forward themselues in seruice, but to continue with resolution, to performe it with labour, to atchieue it with valour, to beare it with honour, here is the excellencie, this is the rarenesse, hence springeth the noueltie.

The time now calleth you forth, your Countrie and soyle wherein you were borne and nourished inuiteth you, your praise alreadie gotten, and hope of renowne euer after to followe, perswade you, the honour of your house and parentage constraineth you, yea euerie of these solie and altogether doe exhort and commaund you, that becomming the selfe same you vowed, and they long since haue looked for, you doe nowe shewe your selfe such as was promised, and wherein the expectation first conceiued of you, may in no wise bee frustrated.

Being entertained in a sorte as you are, you shoulde highly wrong the opinion of a greate manie, in drawing backe from that wherein you haue beene alreadie so worthilie behaued, and in becomming lesse than that whereunto in your cradle you were at the beginning so principally ordained: for vnseemelie were it that you shoulde not haue beene hereunto at the first committed, vnlawfull not to haue persisted, and dishonourable not to see it accomplished.

The extreame griefe wherein my selfe was a partaker with you, of the death of your late husbande, woulde not suffer mee at my last beeing with you, to deliuer what then I thought meete for your estate, & sithence I haue more at large considered vppon to bee for your profite. And albeit your selfe are, I knowe of discretion sufficient, and the number of your friendes of regarde compotent, both to consider and counsell, what vnto your present affayres may bee deemed most correspondent: yet may it not bee ill accepted, if my selfe of a great manie, that haue wyshed well to your person, and fauoured euermore your good condition, doe heerein also among the rest, put forwarde my meaning, and perswade you thereby vnto that, which yet to your present behoofe may returne no question of soundest and best consideration.

Touching the first, I warne you not that according to your present estate, you do minde what you are, what you haue bin, of whom you are discended, and in what sort you may best prouide with warinesse, to deale for all these: but drawing to the latter, and weighing on what tearmes you stande, howe hardly you are bestead, howe slender meanes to auoid it, I repute him not the worst wel-willer, that coulde aduise you with contentment and litle hazard, in what sort you might best endeuour in all effectes to aunswere it. It is reported vnto mee, that by the procurement of some, fauouring your aduauncement, there is nowe profered vnto your lyking a young Gentleman, vertuous, discreete, and well ordered, the sonne and heyre of a worshipfull Knight, on the choyce and regarde of whose Parents, dependeth the best assuraunce of your whole portion, in whose condition and behauiour, albeit you finde no one thing to bee reprehended, yet disclaime you to bee married, you will heare of no suters, there must bee in your presence no speech at all of lyking, and you meane not so soone forsooth to set forwarde for a husband.

The course you doe take herein, seemeth in my opinion verie euill, insomuch as contrarie to that, which both your yeares, your estate, your liuing and present occasions doe require, you forciblie are endeuoured to make so vndiscreete and setled a resistance: Whie La. doe you thinke it profiteth at all, the deceased ghost of him that loued you to liue thus solitarie? Hangeth the censuring of your modestie, and acceptaunce of that which your best friendes doe wish for, and the wisest doe allowe of, on the tatling humours of common supposes? if it bee deemed once fit for you to marry againe, and that vpon the warie and circumspect choyse thereof dependeth a manner of necessitie, and that nowe, before anie one of yours almost suspected it, the plenty of that might bee charily wished for, is layde alreadie into your bosome, behooueth the respect of a little time, which mattereth not at all to detaine you so much, as thereby you are not able to see into your owne profite? Is it not, I pray you, a purpose honest that is tendered? Is it not a matter lawfull to bee accepted? Is it a thing vnmeete for your present yeares at this instant to be reputed? Nay, is it not all in all whatsoeuer, that in the best sort as the case now standeth, may vnto you be offered? Why then abstaine you the entertainment of your owne good? Why drawe you thus backeward from your owne aduauncement? Why cease you to accept that, whereunto in the ende you must by meere force bee compelled? If you will beleeue mee in any thing, or doe suppose the waight of my credite to be auaylable vnto you in ought, I would aduise you in other sort, considering that by declyning from a selfe-opinion of that whereunto without anie manifest reason you are induced, you shall doe most good vnto your selfe, and giue occasion to them that loue you, to thinke that by so doing, their good counselles haue happely preuailed with you and wrought such aduauncemente vnto you, I haue thought with my selfe many times sithence the death of your husb?d, howe much imported the vnsetled reach of your liuing to be renued in match with one of good calling: see nowe God and Fortune more fauouring your hap, then your selfe, your owne wel doing, haue sente you such a one, as of whome you might vaunt, and iustly in all thinges be occasioned to accompt of. It now appertaineth that either by fond self-wil, or too much vnkindnes, you shake not off from you the foremost occasion of your succeeding happines. I reck not what of the c?mon sort may insuppose of the hastie conclusion be in secret alleadged, their errours like their fancies, are as incertaine as peeuish. Be you onely herein perswaded, to what most of all beseemeth you, and think that both in the waightines, and regard attributed to his and your own worthines, you can for the present frame your selfe to nothing, that to your estate may returne so c?modious, whereunto though no other matter at all enioyned you, it were sufficient that so forced a necessitie constraineth you, to which the regard of your selfe and your owne good fortune willeth to obey. Longer coulde I debate vnto you the greate liking of many, conceiued of the partie, to the deliuerie whereof by the report of your neerest kinsmen, I doe solie refer you, onelie studying in this, and whatsoeuer els I may, by all indeuours to pleasure you, whereof praying you to be most assured, I doe in all curtesie leaue to detaine you. At B. this of, &c.

The sounde and entire familiaritie wherewith your parents in their life time sometimes entertained me, and the neerenes of neighbourhoode twixte both our friendes and long education wherein iointly we haue conuersed together, mooueth mee at this instant somewhat to write vnto you in respect of the reputation credit, and accompt that in the worlde you nowe beare, and also the rather to win you to the regarde of that, which to the estate of your presente being, and worthinesse of your parents, might be found meetest and conuenient.

It is giuen me to vnderstand of a younger brother you haue here in London, who at the time of your fathers death beeing committed to your charge, is for the defaulte of maintenaunce, badly inured, woorse trained, and most perillously by all kinde of likelihood in the loosnesse of his liuing alreadie hazarded.

I woondered not a little when I hearde it, and so much the more was the matter troublesome vnto mee, in that respecting it was not tolde in secrete, it seemed by the lookes and gestures of the whole companie that heard it, your good demeanor thereby was very hardly censured, for that standing in such case of credite as you doe, your wealth so aboundant, and your parentes so well accompted of, you woulde in this sort, and in that place of all others suffer him to wander carelesse, whome you ought to the contrarie to haue constrained, by any possible carefulnes. How ill beseeming it is both to you & yours, that it shoulde so fall out, you may by supposes coniecture. For my parte, it grieued mee when I heard it, and I was not quiet till I found conuenient time to aduertise you of it. And if my opinion may at all preuaile with you, you shoulde quickly call him home from hence, and see him more better to be prouided for, and more worthily trained. Consider I pray you, the life hee taketh in hand, befitteth not such a one, whose originall was so honest, is ill beseeming the younger brother of your selfe, vnwoorthie his birth or name of a Gentleman, and altogether repugnant to the qualitie of your behauior or the greatnesse of your liuing. You are to remember that hee is yet verie greene, nowe pliable to whatsoeuer may bee impressed in him, as chafed waxe apte to receiue anie figure, like vnto a newe vessell to bee seasoned with whatsoeuer liquor, what hee now taketh taste and sauour of, that hee holdeth, what habite you nowe cast vpon him, the same shadow he lightly beareth. Great cause haue you therfore now to be warie how and in what sort he liueth.

My good G. my faithfull louing Countriman, and dearest of account what shall I write vnto thee, or by what tearmes may I now salute thee? Erst woonted were my letters to pursue thee, carelesse in any cost, and familiarly and boldly to regard thee, now blushing at thy vncouth hap, and carefull of they carelesse vsage, they cannot without griefe approch thee, nor once without sorrowe intentiuely behold thee.

Alas, my G. what furie hath ledde thee, what madnes hath bewitched thee, what hatefull destinie hath pursued thee, that beeing such as thou wert, on whome Nature and the heauens as it seemed, had powred all their giftes moste plentifullie, thou wouldest yet be ledde to deface so many partes of excellencie, with one hatefull, ignominious and shamefull blott, of wicked, and most heynous treacherie.

Diddest thou for this cause take vppon thee the profession of Armes, to become iniurious to thy Countrey, to bereaue men of their patrimonie, to bee a destroyer of vnitie, a patterne of infidelitie, the dishonour of thy familie, and consequently to thy selfe and dearest soile, a professed and open enemie? Ah happie in all other things, but in this sole enterprize, in the broaching whereof thou wast put forwarde to bee made the onelie vnhappie, behooueth with such ingratitude to rewarde the first Authour of thy familie? Was this the ende of thy birth, thy parents, education, thy estate, thy wealth, thy possibilitie, to become a Traytour to thy Prince, and rebell to thy Countrey? No, no, my G. vilde and too ill beseeming is the drift that hath so ouertaken thee, and ignorant was he of that became thee, that first thereunto perswaded thee.

I receiued on Saturday last a letter from your Vncle, wherein amongst sundrie other matters I was aduertised, that leauing your former learned studies, whereunto with greate cost and charge of your parents, you had bene trained, you haue giuen your selfe wholie to certaine thinges, the regarde whereof albeit in their moderate vses, I cannot discommende, yet in respecte of your former intendmentes, I can tearme them none other then meere follies, and verie fruitles vanities.

It is reported with vs for certaine, that you are become an excellent good dauncer, that you are growne prettilie skilled on instrumentes, whereon you play reasonablie, that you spende the time limitted for more profite in the Vniuersitie, in making of songes and exquisite fine ditties, that you are verie fitlie seated for wantonnesse, and worthilie behaued in all kind of curious conueyances.

I woulde for mine owne parte nothing at all mislike what herein you haue in some sorte frequented, weighing indeede that as they may bee in sorte entertained, those qualities doe not ill beseeme a Gentleman, but are in their kinde verie fit and commendable to anie youthfull reckoning: yet studying them as you doe by them selues, inuring your selfe whollie to their delighte, abandoning what else might best honour and beautifie their woorthinesse, in respect of the sole propertie of them selues and their owne peculiar goodnesse, I say that in such regarde they are vanities, trifles, thinges of no momente, and in each sounde opinion to bee helde of farre lesse value and iudgement.

You then are farre misconceiued, to relinquish the hoped reckoning of that you came for, to applie your selfe to that which fewe doe accompt of, and the wisest woulde neuer sweate for, you shall therefore vppon better aduise endeuour if you doe well, to returne your conceite to a far more better purpose. You shall call to minde that all studies whatsoeuer, by how much the more excellent ech one appeareth before the other, by so much the more assured are they in their kinde, and aboue all the residue, with far greater estimate to bee preferred: if so? then must you graunt me that no one thing vpon earth is of so great and surpassing excellence. To lay out vnto you herein, howe much glorious is her shining hue aboue all others, howe sugred her plantes, howe daintie her fruits, howe delicate her pleasures, howe incomparable her high and statelie reach, how she participateth the skies, the element, the venerable search and knowledge of high and sacred mysteries: I need not, you know it, you haue felt & tasted of it. But to shewe howe much you misprise the force of her vertue, howe ill conceiued, and far wandring, you are from the due esteeme of her glorie, to make loue to her handmaides, to professe liking to her seruantes, to become sole entertainer of her vassals: hereon resteth the iniurie, this is it I complaine of vnto you.

Too much impertinent were it for me to hale you on with arguments, who onelie go about to perswade you with warrantise: Neither thinke I in the ende you will declare your selfe otherwise, then euer I haue expected of you. Much more could I infer, that might greatlie induce you to that whereunto your owne willingnesse must in the ende, of necessitie conduce you. Onely, if in the weight hereof my perswasions may something preuaile: I shall not forget in any woorthie part thereof, at all times to commend you. In which reposing my selfe for the present, I ende: this of, &c.

I haue receiued your letters, dated the eight day of this instant, which were with as great diligence as celeritie, conueied to my handes, and by the fidelitie of the bearer haue vnderstoode to the vttermost what you willed, and both of that and your letter haue at large considered. It seemeth therin vnto mee, that whether through ignorance of your owne good, or inconsiderate rashnesse of youth, or voluntarie intrusion of your selfe into your owne harmes, I knowe not, but the matter and action mentioned and inforced by the whole course of your letter, is altogither to be misliked, and for the extremitie thereof to bee by all reason vtterly condemned, as whereunto you ought not to condescende, much lesse to bee seene in publique to bee a fauourer of, or, which is more, to appeare to bee, the onelie man through whose follie and immoderate rashnesse, the same is solie to be accomplished.

But you will say it is loue, and extreame lyking that compelleth you to so forcible an action, as without the obtaining whereof you are no bodie, you cannot liue. Loue say you? Alas, what loue tearme you this, that is laden with so manie disordered motions, call you this loue? Nay rather call it madnesse, for loue is measured by no extremitie, but in the honest and vertuous encrease thereof, where not by a harebraine furie, but by a discreete and moderate ascention men by degrees doe climbe vnto that, the sweete and pleasant force whereof neuer participateth anie occasion of such vnreasonable badnesse. Why brother, doe you loue her whome you haue sued for, and because by desert you cannot attaine her, will you vndertake thereupon to bereaue her by force? Howe vnhonest I pray you is the purpose of so great a wrong? Howe vnfit to bee put forwarde in the meaner sort of men? How intollerable in a Gentleman? For if in the account of things vnhonest, any action whatsoeuer may appeare to be vile, what then this I pray you may bee deemed more dishonest, more bad, or more vile?

And if it be punished extreamly by the lawe, the taking away of a mans goods against his will, what may he deserue that bereaueth the person of anie one, being also a Gentlewoman, such as to whome all humanitie forbiddeth to proffer wrong, and to the honourable entertainment of whome, is appropriate onely the nobilitie of a Gentleman, nay, in what sort may such a one bee censured in the reputation of all honest men, that in sort so violent, goeth about to rauish her, not onlie offering iniurie therein to her person, but also to her fame, reputation and offspring.

Thinke you that the intendment heereof can returne credite to your lyuing? Thinke you that by deliuerie of such fruites you may bee reputed a Gentleman? No beleeue mee, it cannot bee, but according to the vnwoorthinesse thereof, it rather shall giue occasion to all that shall heare or vnderstande of it, to accuse, blame, mislike, and vtterlie to condemne you. But what if no manner of suppose at all of dishonestie were left therein, whereby to discourage and withdrawe you from the action, imagining that the purpose thereof were helde meete and honourable, and that to euerie one that could winne his choyce by anie force he might, it were lawfull without discredite or anie censure of law by what meanes soeuer, to compasse the same, do you thinke it a matter sleight and easie for you to performe it? No, no sir, you reckon too wide, you goe beyond the Moone, you are too much deceyued. Know you not the Gentlewoman is worthilie descended, that she hath parents, brethren, vncles, and friendes to keepe her, to rescue her, to defend her? Why sir, is there no more to say, but you will haue her? You must haue her? and by maine force you will take her? You deale with no children I can tell you, nor weakelings as you account of, but men wise, valiaunt, well reputed, and of sound gouernment: who by so much the more iust and right, the occasion is of their defence, by so much the sooner will they, and are able to preuaile against you. I recke not that you haue courage sufficient, that you are hardie, bolde, and aduenturous but herein how euer the case standeth, I see nothing so likelie as an impossibilitie, in somuch as if you be delighted to become infamous, and in the memorie of a shamelesse life to hazard your selfe to a shamefull death, then may you enter into it: once this I knowe, that her can you neuer finde so slenderlie accompanied, that with small force you can carie her, but within a moment alwayes, there will not bee wanting a number that shall bicker for her, from whose insight, you are altogither vnable, if her selfe consented thereunto, to conuey her.

But graunting vnto your wilfull imagination, as much in all things as you can desire, suppose you might winne her, conuey her, keepe her, and that the daunger of lawe limited at all no hazarde thereunto, doe but yet againe returne to your selfe, and call to minde your birth, your familie, your profession, your maner of liuing: your birth by your parents who were worshipfull, your stocke by the reputation yet helde of the same: your profession, which is Armes: your liuing, a Gentleman. Is it then consonant or agreeing to all or anie of these, to commit any outrage, and that such an outrage, as to any other were not so proper, as to a villaine, a wretch, a rascall, such a one as neither by nature, education, or custome, knoweth to do otherwise? What would you exercise I pray you on her, if you had her? Once you confesse she doth not loue you, then no question, would she ten times more hate you: Your answere I knowe would bee, either by entreatie to perswade her, or by force to subdue her.

The conclusion is friuolous, if being now her supposed wel-willer, you can by no meanes allure her, imagine you then by prayers to conuince her, after you haue once shewed your selfe so extreame vnto her? And if force be it you pretend, it is repugnant to gentlenes, yet assure your selfe her malice neuerthelesse towards you will neuer be quenched. For that of our selues we cannot freelie accept of, we neuer by compulsion can be procured to like of. With you now, the case is quite contrarie, for so imminent euerie way are the perils thereof vnto you, as if her friendes should abstaine it, yet the lawes will punish it, and if no lawes were at all, yet God would reuenge it.

If then you will hearken or vnderstand what is right, you must bee disswaded from these intendments, wherin if my selfe should haue become so graceles, as to haue set in foote with you, iustly we might haue both confessed to haue beene drowned in all vnhappines togithers.

After my verie heartie commendations vnto you. This bearer and my seruaunt whome I greatlie credite, hath signified vnto mee manie matters tending to your great commendation, the reporte whereof, I haue often sithence hearde confirmed by others. And for asmuch as touching mine owne condition, I haue alwaies beene a fauourer of artes, and entirelie accounted of the singularitie of anie one according to his worthinesse, I haue so much the more greatlie desired your acquaintance, as one whome willinglie I would doe good vnto. Assuring you, that if at some conuenient time you will take paines to see mee, I will not onelie bee well content to imploy you my selfe, but also in place of further accompt doe the best I may to recommende you. Meane while I woulde gladlie bee infourmed by the returne of this Messenger, at what time I may expect to see you, according to which I will appoint horses, and send some to accompanie you. And so for this present doe bid you hartilie farewell. From my house of N. this twentieth of April, &c.

The vniuersall reporte of your excellencie, each where declared, hath mooued mee good M. N. not onelie to admire you for the same, but among a greate manie others, that regarde and especiallie doe accompte of you, hath induced mee also hereby to praie your acquaintance. I confesse sir, sithence I first heard of you, I grewe euen then verie desirous to see and to know you, but being this other daie in companie with sir T. P. I vnderstood howe much for your singular vertue both of the good Knight and Ladie, you were hartilie commended and entirelie fauoured.

This considerate opinion of theirs, hath in my speedie determination egged mee forwarde, and caused me to salute you by these letters, the rather for that I haue sundry times bene enformed with what ioifull and friendlie conceite, you doe entertaine the familiaritie of euerie Gentleman. Little resteth in mee to pleasure you, the worthines whereof I coulde wish, were as well answerable to your vertue as effectuallie you might haue power in mee to commaunde it. This one thing can I deliuer of my selfe, that since I had first capacitie to discerne of mens conditions, I haue alwaies studied to honour the vertuous, and euermore with reuerence to entertaine their actions. A fauourer I haue still beene of the learned, and a diligent regarder of their excellencies, such as in minde more then wealth wuld wish to be reputed happy, & to my vttermost power gladlie accomplish what might bee deemed most worthie. Such a one if you vouchsafe to like of, I wholie yeelde my selfe vnto you, expecting nothing more then at your conueniente leisure I might finde occasion to see you. Whereunto referring the residue of all my desires, It doe for the present cease to detaine you. London this fourth of Iune, &c.

It may please your Worshippe, I haue receiued your curteous Letters, and by the same, as also by your messenger haue fullie conceiued of your fauour and louing intendment towardes mee, for all which I can but render vnto you my most humble and duetiful thankes. Touching my selfe, I verie gladlie wish that there were anie thing in mee, whereof you might take pleasure, or wherewith I might anie waies bee enabled to doe you seruice: Such as it is I humblie render vnto your commaunde, and doe pray that in as good sorte as I tender it, you will bee pleased to accepte of it. Your man can witnesse, that as yet I haue some earnest occasions for a while to detaine mee, who otherwise woulde bee well contented foorthwith to waite vpon you. And were I not thereunto especiallie enioined by your good fauour, the importunitie of your seruaunt might happily in such case haue preuailed with mee. It may therefore stand with your good pleasure to pardon mee, one moneth, which tearme beeing expired, I thence forwarde will remaine at the commaunde of none so much as your Worshippe, to whose good acceptaunce I eftsoones doe recommende my selfe in all reuerente duetie. London this of, &c.

Sir, I haue vnderstoode by your gentle and friendlie letters, not onelie howe much I rest beholding to your good opinion, but also to the curteous Knight, and my especiall good Ladie you write of, to each of whome I haue founde my selfe indebted exceedinglie. Manie waies might I aduertise you howe much I haue to thanke both them and you, which that my desires may appeare answerable to your wishes I doe leaue, till personallie in as present hast as conuenientlie may bee, I see you. I am not altogether ignoraunt of the good partes which by some hath beene aduertised heretofore vnto me of you, and for which I do most willinglie embrace you. Assuring you y? you haue but preu?ted me in this one curtesie, which before my going out of town, I was vehementlie perswaded to haue tendred vnto you, wherein neuerthelesse I rest satisfied, in that by one so well accomplished as your selfe, I haue heerein been so farre foorth conuinced. My busines with his L. resteth I hope vpon a present dispatch, and therefore doe I reckon within these verie few dayes to visite you. Meane while, confessing howe much I stande charged vnto your selfe for this sole courtesie, I doe pray that vnto the good Knight, and his La. you will report my right humble dutie: And euen so doe commit you to the Almightie. This of, &c.

The regarde of our auncient amitie and long continued acquaintaunce, wherein so firmelie and manie yeares wee haue beene knit togithers, will not permit that wee for one slender grudge, shoulde in this sort bee disseuered. True it is, that before this time the like breach, or anie thing neare vnto the same was neuer seene betweene vs, but what shall I nowe tearme it, or imagine to bee the occasion, that in so vnlooked time, and vpon so vnexpected occasion, hath in this vilde sort, giuen meane to vntie vs, betweene whome so great a league of loue, so long confirmed and approoued liking, so manie protestations and vowes haue ere this passed, as that by the force thereof it might well haue seemed wee should neuer haue fallen to this variance. But what cannot enuie doe? What is it that cruell, detestable and inueterate malice cannot performe? Credite mee, my D. for my part I am sorie that euer follie so much maistred vs, as to hearken in any sort to the stirrers vp of such bitternesse. And as my selfe was the first that by admittaunce and allowaunce of those rumours gaue the formost onset, by meanes whereof grewe this discontenting and vnkinde department betweene vs: so will I bee the first that shall endeuour to renue againe our friendshippe by a more iust reconcilement, to the intent the fruites of our vnfained liking becomming by such meanes the more forcible, may render vnto all the worlde a sufficient testimonie, how hard and difficult a thing it is to part those whome hath power to disseuer. Bee onelie contented my D. once againe, to restablish that which being a little vntwisted, could neuer wholie be broken. Thy knowne good will, and heartie zeale vnto mee; assureth mee not to distrust the same at thy handes, which thou shalt euer finde to be graffed within me. This euening by Gods grace I meane at our lodging to see thee, whither, and to thy selfe I doe most heartilie commend me.

Pleaseth my honourable good L. It was giuen me to vnderstand about two daies passed by M. R. that your L. should very hardly conceiue of me, in that vpon some vrgent occasion, I delaied to yeeld that testimonie vnto his cause, which in equitie and reason I ought to doe: and the rather, for that by your earnest entreatie and request, I was eftsoones thereunto required. The griefe was not small I sustained thereby, in that hauing receiued many and sundrie benefits by your honourable fauour, whereby diuers waies I remaine in dutie and honestie charged during my life vnto your L. I should stand on so great a hazard, as the aduenture or losse of your good opinion, onely for a matter sinisterly suggested vnto you against mee, without anie maintainable reason. Your L. dooth I hope remember, in my last speeches had with you about the very same matter yet at the last I concluded, to gather together all the Notes ministring furtheraunce to the cause, and thereuppon to deliuer my true and certaine knowledge according as had beene required. Nowe, what care I haue sithence vsed in the matter, and vppon intelligence had with M. R. howe vehementlie in satisfaction of what might anie wayes content your L. and bee furthering to his right, I haue proceeded therein, I had rather himselfe shoulde deliuer, then I to become a reporter vnto you. Insomuch as I well knowe himselfe as a Gentleman, will vppon his woorde assure the truth and certaintie. I did I must confesse at the first vse some delayes in immediate dispatch of the thing, but how and in what manner, and to what end and purpose, let him also relate. Your L. I hope, will therefore bee pleased to do mee that right, as not to be euill perswaded towardes mee, in a case wherein I haue vpon your honourable assuraunce and commaund, entred so farre foorth, as thereby I stande assured to haue purchased vnto my selfe matter ynough of hatred, and by those whome I haue inabled sufficiently thereby to become my heauie and bitter enemies. The hatred of whome cannot vnto mee anie wayes become so iniurious as the ill conceyte of your L. should redound to bee of all others most grieuous. For mine owne parte as were it not I rest perswaded that vpon the equall deliueraunce conceiued of my willing minde vnto your seruice, you would againe bee reconciled in fauourable and good opinion towards me, I should so farre foorth bee discontented in my selfe, as neuer could I bee at attonement with mine actions, wherein by the least sparke of negligence whatsoeuer, I might thinke to haue ouerslipped anie thing that shoulde become displeasing, or otherwise offensiue vnto your honourable liking. Your L. woonted fauour and bountie giueth mee great expectation of the contrarie, and mine innocencie and true report of maister R. doth also in some sort assure me. Whereupon remaining as he that alwaies thinketh his life no better spent, then for and in your L. vtmost seruice, I humblie surcease, this day of, &c.

The studie and great desire wherewith I see you bent continually to the vniuersall aid and benefit of al men, and for which to your great praise you haue generally well deserued, and deseruedly are euerie where reputed, hath mooued me in the behalfe of this poore man to become a petitioner vnto you. About two moneths since, hee had dealings with a neighbour of yours, touching a farme which he was for tearme of yeares to take at his hands, and notwithstanding a promise and graunt thereof to this bearer made the iniurious cormorant glutting him selfe with extorting from the pouertie of this and manie others, hath sithence that, not onelie passed a demise thereof in writing to another, but goeth about to defraud the poore man of his money, the sum whereof is the whole patrimonie, riches, and stocke of himselfe, his poore wife and familie. And for so much as without the countenance of some one fauouring the poore mans right, hee is like to bee ouerborne with the weight of the other, and so consequently to bee vndone: I haue thought good to make thus bolde to pray your lawful fauour in his furtherance, that by your authoritie and meanes, some honest satisfaction or ende may be therein to his behoofe had. You shall doe an act verie charitable, in dealing for such a one, for the procuring of whose right, his heartie praiers for your safety shall witnes wel the comfort you shall do him therein. I am perswaded your speach and aid may herein preuaile verie much, as a thing which with great facilitie you may cause to bee dispatched. And for my self, as I shal at no time rest vnmindful of my request tendred vnto you herein, so shall I not faile in what I may to the vttermost of my power to satisfie you, by whatsoeuer possible requitall. And euen so with my heartie commendations, I doe bid you farewel. R. this twelfth of Aprill.

If floods of teares sealed with harde and bitter sighes, if continuall sorrow and neuer ceasing care, if consuming griefes not of a diseased bodie, but of a pestred mind, might haue rendred sufficient and assured testimonie, whereby to perswade your laden eares surcharged by this time with the weight of my incessaunt and continuall cries: the intollerable woes wherein I liued, secluded from the right and name of a sonne, and barred quite from the sweete and gentle tearme of a louing and kinde father, hadde ere this time giuen meane of recouerie, to my daunted and dismayed spirites, and kindled in mee some wan hope, one day to haue founde an houre so happie, wherein by a right conceite conceiued of my vnkindlie pleasures, or conuinced by the importunity of those who haue pittied my euils, your naturall care might in some sorte or other haue bin renued, to the redresse of all my fore wearied and heauie groning mischiefs. But infortunate as I am, that for all the humble suit so manie times presented in these and such like blubbered lines, so hardened is the mind of him I write vnto, that whilome hauing bin a deare and louing parent, I may not heerein dare to tender, or so much as once put forwarde vnto him, the appellation of a gratious and pittifull father. If it haue so pleased vnto your grauitie, in such seuere manner still to deale with me, and that the hatefull shewe of my ill desertes, is yet become of so loathed and detestable recordation, in this verie season vnto you: then as eftsoones doe confesse my letters vntimelie to haue approched vnto you: but if the long detained grace, by whose heauie want nay, the forlorne and despised issue of your aged yeares is perforce driuen almost into a desperate conceite and mislike of his liuing, may by the least sparke of expectation, be annexed to the most vehement effects of his prostrate and meekest submission, then groueling vppon the lowest ground, and humbling my highest imaginations to the deepest bottome, wherein your implacable displeasures haue hitherto beene coueted, as meekely and with as penitent speeches, as anie grieued and passionate minde can vtter: I do beseech you sir, that at the last you will receyue but to your common and ordinarie lyking, the most disgraced of all your children, and pardoning the disobedience wherein hee dared once so far foorth to prouoke agaynst him, the weight of your knowne anger, vouchsafe hee may nowe againe bee of your familie, though not partaking with your children.

This sole benefite and last request if my burthened soule may obtaine at your handes, happilie I may then liue as comforted by the hope of that whereunto a buzie and carefull endeuour may once peraduenture enable me, otherwise dying in the ouerflowing of my desperate and continued griefes, I pray at Gods handes I may obtaine that by mercie, which cruell destinie in my life time could neuer win vnto me, by all possible intreatie. My submissiue dutie answerable to the regarded place of your fatherlie authoritie compelleth mee to attend with all humblenesse the resolution of your clemencie. In the hope whereof, resting my decayed and ouerwearied imagination, I liue till the receyt of your knowne lyking do ascertaine, in what sort may please you to repute me.

As one greatlie emboldned by the forwardnesse of your woonted courtesie and liking euer bent towards me, I haue dared once again vpon presumption of the like, hereby to intreate you, wherein you may see in what degree of affection I do intertaine you, in that not contented, I haue alreadie so manie and so often times vsed you, I doe by such meanes endeuour solie to make my selfe wholy and to none other so much as beholding vnto you. My man hath returned me from London, how by more then common celeritie I haue in my suite beene preuented by my aduersarie, whereby it is like, my cause standing vpon so great a hazard, it will goe verie hard with mee. Nowe if your woonted counsell, and friendly assistance bee not speedilie ayding, both the hope of benefit, charge and expense thereof will be lost vtterly? In regard whereof, these may bee in as earnest maner as is possible to intreate you, that vpon the attendance of my man, I may vse you. Your counsell ioyned with a little trauell may greatlie profite me, and now more then at any time else, exceedinglie pleasure mee. Wherein if it may please you to yoke mee further vnto you by the waight of your courtesie: I shall not onelie endeuour by all possibilitie to requite it, but also your selfe shall not faile at anie time to finde such a one of mee, as of whose trauaile, industrie, or what other abilitie to pleasure you, you may account of assuredlie. I haue by certaine other Letters mooued my L. to haue fauourable consideration touching mee, which as I am informed, his L. hath receyued. What els to bee performed heerein, my man shall make knowne vnto you. And thus doubting as little of your friendship herein, as of mine owne thankfull disposition, prest alwayes to the vttermost to requite you, I doe heartilie bid you farewell, D. of this, &c.

Sir, I am so bolde in my great necessitie, vnder assurance of your forwardnes to do me good, to entreate your especiall ayde and furtherance in two things, the one whereof this bearer shall instruct you in, the other your selfe can best tell, for that I made you at my last speech acquainted with the same. Both of which consisting in your labour and deuice, I am of opinion that none then your selfe can fitte the occasion better. And trulie such is the force of imprisonment, as contrarie to that you haue woontedly knowne in me, mine vnderstanding is quite decaied, and forworne with my libertie, and where the spirits are so distuned, it must needes follow, the memorie can sounde nothing but discord.

In fine, sir it is in you to doe me good, and to make me by this onlie action for euer beholding vnto you, wherein if I may so farre foorth presume of your fidelitie, assure your selfe, that if euer God giue mee libertie, A. C. to none so much as to you shall be yoked in courtesie. Good M. D. the matter hereof requireth some haste, wherunto I most heartilie entreate you. Fare ye well, this of, &c.

Good M. C. needelesse were it you should entreate mee in that, wherein you haue founde mee alwayes most willing, and such whome with small perswasions you may induce to a farre greater purpose then what in your last letter is required. The Messenger I haue appointed to morrow morning to returne againe to my lodging, at which time I will not faile to finish, what in the best sort I can conceiue to bee vnto your occasions furthering. Hard will it bee for mee to accomplish that, wherein your selfe seeme so vnperfect, for that the dullest conceyte forged from the most distempered of your imaginations, cannot but sounde farre better tunes then the ripest of my inuention is anie wayes able to deliuer. Neuerthelesse, such as it is, or so much as you haue will to account of, that will I prepare to your view, and put forward to your good speed, thinking it better by deliuerie of a grosse deuise to satisfie the demaunde of a friend, then by concealing the simplicitie therof to bee censured as vncourteous. In conclusion, it is lawfull for you to vse mee to the vttermost, and fittest to our confirmed league of amitie, that you should imploy mee, wherein I desire you conceiue no more, then such as I intend to become, and you shall assuredly find me, viz. yours, &c.

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