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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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.

Nowe is the time you may perfourme what erst you haue promised. I therefore desire you as heartilie as I may, that your intent, being to doe me good, you will nowe execute the same. And albeit I doubte not of your willingnesse herein, whose curtesie hath not beene straunge towardes mee: yet rather enforced by mine owne necessitie and continuall remembraunce of my vnprouided estate then by anie other misgeuing, I prepare these lines, sollicitours of your expected promise, which bearing in their fronte a token of oportunitie, woulde praie you not to let slippe occasion, but with as much speede as willingnesse to accomplish the same. Remembring howe manie waies I am beholding vnto you, I remaine in accompt of your curtesies, rather studious to thinke on them, then anie waies able to requite them, &c.

Even as a bold begger, the more he is relieued, the more he still presseth forward vpon the bounty of those, whom he supposeth to fauor him: so fareth it with mee, who hauing eftsoons enioied your trauel to my no small benefit, am neuertheles so shameles as stil to importune you in the same. I haue, sir, I c?fesse, by your good means recieued sundrie fauors at the hands of my Lord, which I cannot, nor euer shall be able to requite vnto you, the matter of my suite notwithstanding hetherto depending before his honour, I neither can nor may so farre foorth withdrawe my selfe, but I must needes nowe and then solicite you, as the Gentleman by whose onelie curtesie and perseuerance in woonted care and good affection towardes mee I do liue, and so liuing, continue my daies and yeares with such assured respecte, as hee that hath sworne and vowed in himselfe neuer to forget you. It doeth sir, so much stande mee vpon the procuring of his L. letter in my behalfe, for the indifferente triall and hearing of my cause, as without I am in greate despaire howe the case will goe with mee. It is you therefore that must helpe mee herein, and by your onelie meanes I must bee warranted in this action, the intendment whereof furthering so much vnto right and cause of equitie as it doeth, I hope his L. vpon your motion will the easilier condiscende vnto. This is that I require at your handes, and to the speedie dispatch whereof I may not cease to importune you. Whereon concluding for the present, I doe heartilie bid you farewel, &c.

It may please your Lordship, This Gentleman the bearer hereof, with whome a long time I haue beene acquainted, and of his qualities and good behauiour haue had sounde and large experiment, hauing beene a good time a sutor vnto mee, to mooue his preferment vnto your Lordships seruice: I haue nowe at the last condiscended vnto, aswell for that I know your Lordship to be now presentlie disfurnished of such a one, as also that there shall hardlie be preferred vpon a sudden any one so meete as himselfe to supplie that place. And thus much by your pard? and allowance dare I assure vnto you, y? if it may please you in credit of my simple knowledge and opini? to imploy him, you shal find that besides he is by par?tage discended from such, as of whome I knowe your Lordship will verie well accompt of, hee is also learned, discreete, sober, wise, and moderate in all his actions, of great secrecie and most assured trust, gouerned in all companies accordinglie: finallie, a man so meete, and to this present turne so apt and necessarie, as I cannot easilie imagine howe you may be serued better. Pleaseth your L. the rather for the great good will I beare him, and humble duetie I owe vnto you, to accept, imploie, and accompt of him. I nothing doubt but your L. hauing by such means giuen credit to my choice, shall finde him such, as for whose good seruice, you shall haue further occasion to thinke well of mee for him. Whereof nothing doubting, I doe refer both him and my selfe in all humblenesse to your best and most fauorable opinion, from my house in B. this of, &c.

After my verie heartie commendations vnto you. Sithence the receipt of your last letters and recommendations of P. B. into my seruice, I haue had small occasion either to write or send vnto you till this present. And for so much as vpon your certaine notice deliuered vnto mee in fauour of his preferment, I helde my selfe so well assured in all thinges of his behauiour, as I doubted not thereupon to receiue him in place of greatest fidelitie, I haue thought good heereby to let you vnderstand, what great pleasure I haue taken in his diligent attendance, assuring you that for manie vnexpected qualities, which I haue prooued to be in him, I doe woonderfullie well like of him, and that with so good affection, as I intend not to omit anie thing that may tend to his aduauncement. In beholding him oftentimes mee thinkes hee manie wayes dooth resemble his father, who in sounde troth, I doe suppose, might haue beene intertained with the best for his well deseruing. This bearer shall enforme you of some especiall causes, concerning my affayres in the Countrey, whom I doe pray you to conferre with, and to affoord your trauell for his present dispatch, which I will not faile heartily to requite vnto you. For your care had of my wants, and diligent supply of such a one I do many times thanke you, and haue promised in my selfe for the same to become a debter vnto you. And euen so I do bid you hartilie fare wel. From the Court this of, &c.

My verie good L. I am enformed by this Gentl. the bearer hereof, that by meanes of one of your Chapleins, a motion hath beene made of his preferment vnto your L. seruice: and forsomuch as those his good friendes are not nowe in towne, who in respect of their account with your L. might stande him in verie good steade: vnderstanding his well-willing minde, and greate desire thereunto I haue taken vpon me heereby to entreate that it may yet please you vpon my speeches to haue the better liking of him. Assuring you that both by the credite of my La. F. who vppon verye good conceyte towardes him, wished his preferment, with her late deceased brother and last L. C. and also by the knowledge my selfe haue had of him, and others besides, whome your L. hath in speciall and chose regarde, he is one so sufficient, and euerie way so well furnished to doe seruice to anie honourable personage, as by tryall and proofe made of whose good parts and behauiour, your L. shall not reape occasion of ill conceit, to whome soeuer haue vndertaken to preferre him vnto you. And if it shall notwithstanding seeme farther conuenient vnto your L. to make stay of his acceptaunce, for some priuate causes hitherto vnsatisfied, I shall yet in his behalfe neuerthelesse become thus farre a suter vnto you, that this my recommendation may with your L. good fauour become a speedier meane the better to mooue your L. good lyking towardes him. For which I shall thinke my selfe, as in manie other occasions besides, vnto your honourable opinion most deepely beholden. In acknowledgement of which, and respect of my humble and dutifull regarde to the same, I doe nowe and euermore remaine your L. &c.

After my verie heartie Commendations vnto you, where I am giuen to vnderstande, that you are in election, and it is also verie likelie you shall bee pricked by her Maiestie, high Sheriffe for this yeare, of the Countyes of Sussex and Surrey. This Gent. the bearer hereof, beeing one whom for manie respectes, I doe greatly fauour, and for his learning, skill, and honest vsage, haue long time vsed and reputed of, I haue thought good by these to recommend to your good allowance to bee receyued as your vnder-sheriffe for that time, putting vnto you such good and reasonable securitie as appertaineth, for discharge of the sayde office. And hereby also to pray you, that the rather for my sake, and for the especiall choice and reckoning I haue made of him, you will nowe before hand make certaine acceptance of his skill, by refusall of whatsoeuer other that may bee recommended vnto you for the exercise of the same office, assuring you, for that I haue well knowne and prooued to be in him, you shall be so well furnished, as you would wish. And besides, in that you shall gratifie me herein, I will not faile in anie sort I may to requite you. And euen so I bid you heartily farewell.

After my heartie Commendations vnto your Lordship: where I haue beene informed by this bearer, beeing a poore Tenaunt of mine, of a certaine cause of his depending before you in her Maiesties Bench, and that after manie thwartings and euill practises of his aduersarie, the matter is nowe driuen to an issue, and tryall, from the benefite whereof by corruption of some kinde of persons, hee hath these three tearmes passed beene alreadie detayned, to his great hinderance, and almost vtter vndooing. I haue thought good vppon his humble suite to mooue your L. in his behalfe, and to pray you that at my instaunce you will at some conuenient leysure examine the state of his matter, and being informed thereof at large, doe him that speedie fauour in iustice and right, as hee may not anie longer time therein bee deferred, but that notwithstanding anie cauill or obiection thereunto hindering, hee may before this tearme passed in anie wise haue a tryall. In accomplishment whereof, besides that you shall greatlie satisfie mee in respect of the poore mans right, whereunto I wish great regard to be giuen, you shal also performe a deed so charitable, as whereby you shal perpetually bind him, his poore wife, and children continually to pray for you. And albeit I nothing doubt herein your great willingnes and voluntarie disposition to Iustice, yet that by reason of my request, the matter wich more diligence may be harkened vnto, I eftsoones pray, and therwithall hartilie doe bid your L. farewel, this of, &c.

Pleaseth your good L. I receiued your fauorable Letters, and c?mendation giuen in the behalfe of M. L. with whom hauing had conference at large, I doe finde nothing lesse, then what by your L. was of him deliuered, and in truth it doth not a little discontent me, that as well in regard of your honourable and earnest demand made in his fauor, as also that many great and vrgent respects, I stand deeplie charged vnto you Lord. I cannot neuerthelesse herein perfourme what I woulde: For that if I bee chosen Sheriffe, I haue two yeares since giuen my worde and assured promise to my Lord of L. that I shall then accept of such a one to the exercise of the vnder Sherifwick as shall by him to mee bee preferred. According vnto which, standing nowe in election for this yeare as I doe, I am and euer sithence haue beene yearelie sollicited to the selfe same purpose. Whereof I thought it my duetie to aduertise your L. by these, most humblie crauing pardon of the same, in that I may not as I woulde, herein satisfie your vrgente and vehemente request. And so with my right humble duetie vnto your Lordshippe doe take leaue. This x. of Nouember.

My humble duetie remembred vnto your good Lord shippe. The Letters directed vnto mee from the same, together with the Gentleman in whose fauor they were assigned, I haue entertained. And so much the more welcome were they vnto mee, by howe much the more I repute my selfe honoured, in that it hath pleased your Lordshippe anie waies to require mee. Touching the partie recommended, your Lordshippe doubteth not I hope, but that of the least of yours, I woulde make especiall accounte, the effectes whereof you shall in this perceiue, in that for the regarde I beare vnto your Lordshippe I will both repute of, and fauour him. Besides what other aduauncement or prefermente his owne desertes, or my aide may anie waies bring vnto him, hee shall bee sure at all times to enioy it. Praying your Lordship in all other thinges as farre foorth to stande my gratious and fauourable good L. as herein I shall not faile to accomplish what to the vttermost may bee helde meete and conueniente. And thus beseeching the Almightie to haue your Lordshippe in his eternall protection, I doe in all humblenesse take my leaue, from R. this seuenth of August, &c.

My singular and especiall good L. I haue vnderstoode by your last Letters, of a certaine fained and vntrue suggestion, deliuered by one of your L. tenantes, against the proceedinges to him supposed to bee tendred out of this Courte, according whereunto yet did I neuerthelesse, as by your Lordship was enioined, examine at large the circumstances of the cause, and for the better satisfaction of your Lordship, haue determined to set down vnto you the trueth of the same. This R. L. whom your Lordship tearmeth to bee a verie poore man, is not but is rather such a one as from whome your Lordship might sooner drawe a hundred poundes of his money, then halfe an inch breadth of his honestie. The argument whereof in nothing so much appeareth as in this one action, wherin against a poore man indeede, hee hath verie iniuriously behaued him selfe, and hauing extorted from him this bonde nowe in suite of the summe of one hundred pounde, goeth about vpon a nice quillet in the condition to prosecute the forfeiture of the same, which indeed by the direct wordes of the writing, is in lawe forfeited. For reliefe whereof his aduersarie complained in the Chauncerie, by reason of the prosecution of which bill, and notice particularlie thereof giuen to my Lorde Chancellor, the saide R. L. hauing diuers time agreede to comprimit the matter, and yet greedie as it seemeth to obtaine the forfeiture, stil crieth on for triall, whilest the matter is still in debating, for which cause the same hitherto hath onelie, and not otherwise been delaied. And for as much assithence your Lordshippes letters receiued, my selfe verie earnestlie haue trauelled to make some conscionable and quiet ende betweene them, yet wil the same in no wise on his parte bee assented vnto, by occasion whereof the extremitie of the lawe beeing verie like to proceed, hee is the nexte tearme without further delaie to obtaine a iudgemente, and so the poore man on the other side, to bee vtterlie vndone: I thought it not amisse in aduertising the substance hereof vnto your good Lordshippe to praie that in credite of what here deliuered, your Lordship woulde bee pleased to procure the saide R. L. to assent to some reasonable order. So doing, what in conscience the poore man is then able to pay, in respect of the other charges, and purchase of his owne negligences: I holde not too extreame to be out of the saide bond deducted, because in lawe hee was something charged, though in equitie otherwise hee ought to haue been clearelie acquited. Thus in discharge of my conscience herein, hauing so much deliuered vnto your good Lordship, I doe recommend you to the protection of the Almightie. London this thirteenth of Maie.

Thus much, would I haue done, and more, long since to bee rid of him. His old maister beeing dead, it is necessarie some place to be pestred with him, hee makes great choyse of your housekeeping, if you can like to frame with him. Much more might bee deliuered in the condemnation of his woorthinesse, but that I leaue to rehearse it, and nowe sir for your owne appetite, I leaue to your contentment: Blame not me, but him that lead mee, and so foorth to an ende. Commend me, but not condemne me, for I shall once doe you a better turne, this is but the first, the next may be woorse I woulde say. And so fare ye well, &c.

The recordation whereof, may returne vnto you one principall and great occasion of comfort, in that by distinction of your woorthinesse, though you bee partaker of common trouble, yet are you sequestred from the entertainment of a common opinion. It dooth not a little reioyce mee to see that with such impregnable stoutnesse you doe so farre foorth endeuour to resist your appetites, wherein you shall in the meane time giue greater glorie to your actions, in not appearing for anie worldlie estate, riches, or contentment to bee surprized in your imaginations. Praying the comfort of all comfortes to bestowe vppon you the deawe of his heauenlie grace in assistaunce of your extremities, I take my leaue, this of, &c.

What then grieueth you in this action? Is it that hee was slaine? Consider with your selfe it was in his princes seruice, his death was thereby the more honourable, for in so doing, he died as a man, as a souldiour, as a Gentleman. Yea, but you shall neuer, you say, see him more? True in deed, but what of that? Is this death now greater then his absence before? Yes forsooth it is indeede, and whie? because you had hope then to see him againe, which by this means is taken away? verie well. You did then while he was liuing recomfort your selfe with hope, content your selfe nowe with necessitie, because it must needes be so, and you can no wayes amend it. Is not this an ende sufficient to determine all sorrowes? If you weepe, lament, crie out, and become grieued, requisite were it the same should returne to some ende, that all your care, sorrow, griefe, lamentation, or what els should not appeare fruitles, that the intendment and determination thereof shoulde be to some speciall purpose. See you then, herein is no supply, the effects are bereft, the end taken away. Be not then so fond, as to bedew that with your teares, wherunto belongeth neither redresse, nor mean of recouerie. Who is he that would be so mad, as to crie out vnto him of whom he might be assured neuer to obtaine remedie? by cunning art beasts we see, though they be most fierce, are tamed, a meane is found wherewith to breake the Marble, the Adamant howe hard soeuer it be, may by deuises be mollified: Onely death is of such force as no wayes can be conuinced.

At the least wise, if neither of these argumentes might mooue you to suppresse your exceeding sorrowes, you must finally consider that wee are Christians, and by the benefite of this corporall death, doe make exchaunge for an vncorrupted life, that the withdrawing vs from this vile earthly bodie of Clay and filth, is a commutation to a sacred and heauenlie progression, and that wee haue nothing left vnto vs, in all the trauelles, cares, disquiets, and heauie turmoyles of this wearisome liuing whereof to reioyce vs, but the expectation wee haue of happines and euer flourishing gladnesse. Suppose the Ghost of your husbande were heere present to see you in all this extremitie, what thinke you woulde hee say? Howe much disordered imagine you woulde hee thinke you to bee in your affections?

And were it not that so manie coastes had seuered him both by lande and seas peraduenture wearied with your bitter out cries in the conceited image and shape of death, you might in apparance heare him, in these like speaches accusing and rebuking such your distemperate actions. And with breathing spirit to crie out vnto you saying, What is it you goe about? what meane you by teares to search out for a thing so irrecuperable. Whie torment you your youthful yeares, with such vnprofitable, or rather as I may call it, desperate kinde of mournings? whie with such vniust complaints accuse you Fortune, & so often doe appeale death, and destinie of so hainous trespasse? Is it for that you enuie my happie state, so soone transported from this vntowarde soile, to a more prosperous felicitie? thus credit mee, and in this sorte woulde hee accuse you, in which consideration, were there not iust cause thinke you whie you shoulde be greatlie ashamed? Beleeue mee good Cosin, there is neither profite or liking at all, of this bitter continuance reaped, you haue alreadie waded sufficientlie in your teares, you haue mourned for him in earnest loue as beseemed a wife, it is nowe high time you bee after all this comforted. Thinke that the greatest storme is by time at length ouerblowne, superfluitie of coales encreaseth rather heate then flame, the ardencie of affection, with vehemencie sufficient may be expressed, though not by extremitie enforced. What shuld I say vnto you? You may not as other foolish creatures, that are neither gouerned by wit, nor ordered by discretion, make your selfe a spectacle to the world, but rather with such temperance seek in such maner to demean your selfe, as the lookers on may rather pittie you, by insight of your greate discretion, then in this sorte to tormente your selfe by a needlesse supposition. Much more haue I considered with my self, whereby to satisfie my greeued imaginations, in which beeing recomforted, and reposed in my secrete thoughtes, I haue deemed it necessarie hereby to imparte the same vnto you, beseeching that as well in regarde of your selfe, as the little pleasure your friendes haue to behoulde you in this straunge kinde of perplexitie, you will enioy the fruites thereof with such sufficient contentment and satisfaction as verie heartilie I doe wish vnto you. And euen so tendring my selfe in all thinges to your curteous and gentle vsage, I doe heartily bid you farewell, S. this of &c.

The execrable force of mischieuous euill, is such, and the maleuolente disposition of the heauens to some people so greate, as that hauing once throughlie planted the fatall sting thereof in the mindes of manie, it seemeth they bee created to none other ende, but onelie by daring to perpetrate whatsoeuer matter of villainie cometh in their mindes, to purchase to themselues with the determination of a shamelesse life, the limited rewarde of a shamelesse and ignominious death: This inchaunted course, perceiuing in these dangerous times howe much it hath bewitched the estate of the whole worlde, and considering with my selfe, that by reason of your fathers late decease, you beeing a greene youth, voide of experience, bente to the triall of all companies, richlie possessed, and wealthilie endued, are nowe lefte into your owne handes, and thereby deliuered from the plausible and quiet moderation of a faithfull and louing guide, vnto the endlesse reach of a youthfull, carelesse and vncontrouled libertie, hath mooued mee in respecte of the care that euer I erst had of you, beeing yet but a childe, and in assured testimonie of the memorie I haue otherwise protested to the ghost of your deceased louing parentes, to admonish you of some few thinges, for the order and conuersation of your liuing, beeing a course so important, as that in the admittance and exercise thereof, cannot but consist the scope and after fruition of all your happinesse, and benefit whatsoeuer.

And first of all, will I call vnto your remembraunce, that beeing the sonne of so vertuous a father as you are, howe greatlie it importeth vnto your estate to bee well gouerned, that as well the precedent vertues, as auncient possessions of your antecessour, may in your person bee resiant, that of your deceased parent you beare the verie true image and portraiture, that you stand not more in your actions vppon the glorious name or title of a Gentleman, then of the verie true and woorthie conditions and behauiours, that rightlie doe produce and make a Gentleman. And albeit I finde no greate apparante cause that may induce anie argument or supposall to the contrarie, but that you are of such and so worthie regarde, as that in your life and conuersation, you deeplie ynough do conceiue of all or anie part of these instructions or admonishmentes, which I nowe goe about to offer and preferre vnto you; yet knowing howe manie, and howe sundrie are the euils wherewith our mortall state is endangered, howe diuers are the motions to wickednes, and how manie waies we are readie to fall into the crooked paths of the same. I coulde not but warne you that comming euen nowe into the middest of the worlde as you do you shall finde sundrie baites and allurementes drawing you into the worst and most vilest parts thereof, that vnles you were directlie gouerned with the righte rule and square of an honest and sober life, twentie to one you would not onelie fall verie deeplie into the inconueniences thereof, but be drowned and ouerwhelmed in the gulf therof for euer.

You must call to minde that liuing in a place so ordinarilie frequented as is the Citie, wherein you are, and being in fellowship with so manie and diuers sorts of men as you now be, conuersing also with the innumerable multitudes of persons, of all estates, conditions and faculties, as you there doe, it is no difficult thing for a young youth of your birth and qualitie to be led into lewdnes, of a wanton to become dissolute, of a spender to bee made a consumer, or of a towardlie gentleman to be framed to an vntowardlie companion. Much may the euill example of some lewdlie giuen, conduce hereunto, making you to beleeue, that to become a roister, is credit: to become a swearer, valiant: to shewe your selfe a waster, liberall: to be a drunkard, is fellowship: to maintaine rakehels, is bountie: to become fantastical, is youthful: and to bee an vnthrift, is to be counted gentle: But better entring into these things then by common aduisement men in your case ordinarilie doe, it shall appeare contrariwise, that in gaining of credite you are to become modest and discreetlie behaued: in being noted to bee valiant, you ought to bee a supporter of honour: shewing your selfe liberall, it shall bee in rewarding the good: in maintaining of fellowshippe, you shall vse sobrietie: in beeing bountifull, you shall remunerate seruices: in manifestation of your youth, you shall entertaine honest pleasures: and in beeing gentle, shewe your selfe therewithall frugall.

Albeit good brother, I knowe the matter of my writing will become offensiue vnto you, and that I am not ignorant what heauie aduersaries you haue, that daylie doe goe about to suppresse the so?d & faithful aduise of those, who without flattery doe wish heartilie wel vnto you, and studiouslie are busied at al times for and towardes your good. Such neuerthelesse is the loue and dutie that I owe you, as seeing you in so great an errour as you are ouerwhelmed in, I cannot in respect of our brotherlie affection, but I must needes warne you of it, whereof if you become not repentant, and a renouncer betimes, I doubt, not onelie the worlde will crie out agaynst you, but God also in high displeasure will bee angrie with you. Trulie for mine owne part I am ashamed, and also it greatlie grieueth me euerie where to heare of this extreame couetousnesse and harde dealings, by you vsed towardes your poore tenants, and other the inhabitants about you, who notwithstanding that God hath aboundantlie blessed you with ryches more then sufficient, you bee yet so miserablie bent vpon the worlde, as you care not by what district and seuere handling you doe attaine vnto your wealth, onelie so you haue it, or can come by it, you holde no conscience or question at all of the winning it. Alas what cries doe you procure agaynst you of the poore and wretched people, who beeing plagued with the harde yoke you laie vppon them, are not able of themselues to redresse, but onelie doe pray to God that hee will for them reuenge it. The matter is too hatefull, and so great is the oppression and wrong thereby offered, as it cannot continue. Might my woordes become of weight vnto you, I woulde wish you to leaue it, and if not for my sake, or in regard of your owne credite thereby so greatlie blemished and impayred, and your good name and fame vtterlie by such meanes obscured and defaced, yet for Gods sake, who commaundeth charitie and right to all men, who willeth that wee doe to euerie one as wee would bee done vnto, who forbiddeth by such execrable lucre to heape to our selues so vniust and filthie gaine, you will refraine it, reforme it, amende it. In trueth you doe not knowe, howe much euill thereby you procure vnto your selfe, the blind desire you haue to heape vp riches will not permit you to see, what rancour, mischiefe, impietie, terrour and dread, you crowde so neare togither, the little care you haue of the world to come, so quencheth your affections, as you haue not power to beholde the enormitie wherein you are so vehementlie transported. For shame abstaine and become not the common obloquie of all men, bee not you the man alone whome so manie shall curse, and all men for the most part crie vengeance vpon. Otherwise if by no admonition you will relent, assure your selfe, God who is the righter of all wronges, will in most seuere manner compell you vnto it, and in the ende by great rigour punish you for it. It little liketh mee that herein, so iust cause remaineth, as whereby I am forced in this sort to argue with you, in which action the nature of a brother may giue you to vnderstande in what sort I admonish you, and with what louing care I retaine you: the consideratien of which hath mooued mee to account the sweete rebukes of a friend to bee farre more profitable then the dissembling glozes of a cruell and bitter enemie; to which end whatsoeuer I haue sayde, may in like maner be conceyued by you. Farewell. L. this of, &c.

Sir, I am not a little grieued for the loue I owe you, to see that in these ripe yeares of yours, wherein men commonly are freight with discretion, you neuertheles do verie indiscreetlie goe about to compasse a matter so repugnant to reason, or any maner of considerate and sage aduisement, as whereat the worlde can but woonder, and whereof all that know you, or by any meanes may vnderstand of the match, will no question greatly accuse & for euer condemne you. It is deliuered with vs here for certain, that you are intended to marry vnto him my neece your yoongest daughter vpon a suddaine, and that to the furtherance thereof, you offered to contribute of your owne store a reasonable and sufficient portion.

Trust mee when I heard it at first, I deemed it as a counterfeit ieast, thinking that the man whom I so wel knew before time, could not on a sudden become such a paragon, as whereon a maiden of her feature, youth, accomplishment, and fauor, could so quickly become enamored, neither thought I that howsoeuer the dotage of the olde man stood as a conceit to smile at, that you for your part would so much as vouchsafe to hearken to it, especially at any time so seriously to speake of it, much lesse to open your purse to become a purchaser of it, or by constraint at all to enforce her fauors, to giue signe or token anie waies vnto it.

Alas sir, was there no one thing more wherein besides you coulde ouershoote your selfe, but onelie in so bad a purpose, an action so vnhonest, an intendment so vile, a matter so much impugning nature, as that the verie earth, or hell it selfe, coulde not belch out againste the fayre Virgine, so huge and so intolerable a mischiefe, to match I say, the matchlesse fauour of so young and dayntie a peece to the filthie, tawnie, deformed and vnseemelie hue of so wretched and ill fauoured a creature? What nature is this, to worke vnto her, whome of your owne flesh you haue ingendered, whome so long you haue nourished, whome to such and so manie perfections you haue trained, vppon a suddaine, naie euen in one moment, so manifest an occasion to cast her awaie, not yeelding vnto her heauy censure, so great a benefit as death, but ten thousand griefes, the least of all which is worse then any death that may bee, wherein comfortlesse she may complaine, grieue, and bemoane her selfe without any reliefe at all, but by the precious price and hazard of her own soule.

Howe vnequally doe you deale herein, to render vnto her being scarce sixteene yeares of age, a husbande enfeebled by fourescore yeares and vpwards, whose toes are swolne with the gowt, and legs consumed with the dropsie, whose leane carcase beareth no apparance but of old scars, and stifned limmes become vnweldie supporters of his pined corps, whome furs must fence from the least blast of cold, & dew of nappy Ale cherish with warme fires, whose nightcap carrieth more store of heat, then al his body doth of agility or str?gth, and nose far more fruitful then sauory, with distilling drops down trilling from thence in freshest spring of the ioliest seasons, maketh ill fauored refections. What wrong do you tender the poore maiden therin? How vnworthy and far ill beseeming is the same to her, who hath such a father, and apparantly shal be known to be such a mans daughter? shall you not therein bee noted of great folly, will not all men laugh at it, pitie it, crie shame of it, and her selfe poore soule praie to God to reuenge it.

It is too much intollerable beleeue mee, that you should endeuour in this sorte by colour of your Fatherlie authoritie to constraine her, whome yet maie you not thus forciblie compell vnto so vnnaturall an extremitie: Consider with your selfe howe grieuous the thing you goe about to compasse, may returne vnto her, and whereas liking and choise is of all other things in case of marriage to bee accounted most dearest, you not onelie agaynst her will, do endeuour to induce a breach thereof, but also do giue her ouer into the handes of such a one, whose inequalitie so far forth disseuereth fr? her appetite as that it cannot otherwise be, but it must become vnsufferable. Haue you no more care of her that is your daughter, but when nowe you haue brought her to the passe, wherein shee should participate the vertuous and modest vse of that, whereunto her yeares haue adapted her, and for which ende and purpose, marriage was by Gods sacred ordinance at the first ordayned, in steede of a louing and contented husbande, to giue her a withered olde Truncke, in lue of sweete and mutuall societie, to wedde her to sorrowe and euerloathed griefe, to endow her with larger profite then with honest contentment, thinke you that shee is a stone, that her senses from others are different in their right operation and qualities, that shee more or lesse, or in stranger sort then anie others, can become therein more forcible, or lesse iniuried? No sir, assure your selfe, you must needes heape vp no other but extremities vppon her, it cannot bee but if you proceed herein, you must of force vndoo her, the ende and conclusion is so vtterlie bad, as it cannot be remooued.

Returne then vnto your selfe, and thinke herein what best beseemeth your daughter, remember that what you take in hande in that action is vngodlie, iniust, seuere, and vnnaturall, that in giuing such a husband, you shall giue her and him both to the diuell. Consider, that you are with pietie, and to a Christian purpose and ende, to moderate your authoritie, weigh with your selfe that the couetousnes wherwith you are ouercome is no purchase to her of safety. And ballancing all these in the waight and cords of equalitie, withdraw your selfe, and by such meanes become disswaded from so great an absurditie. So may you the more easilie performe that vnto her belongeth, as a kinde and louing father, and for the profite by this trauell reaped at your hands, bind her and all vs with greater feruencie, to loue you. Whereon concluding the scope of all my former desires, I end, &c.

About seuen dayes passed, I receyued Letters from my Brother N. the long expectation whereof, and desire I had to bee infourmed of your well dooing, made mee inwardly reioyce at the first viewe of them, supposing that as I deliuered you out of my handes, I should still haue found you in the same predicament, without alteration, or so much as anie surmize of that wherof I haue beene thereby aduertised.

It is long since indeede that you were with mee, at which time you were in manner a childe, neuertheles in those tender yeares so towardlie giuen, and of so milde and gentle disposition, as there was great cause whie then I should esteeme of you, and much matter offered to all others that knewe yee, whereupon to commend you: But nowe if it bee true as I am informed, your actions are turned quite contrarie, you are become a chaungeling, you are no more the same, but another in qualitie, minde and operation. If this bee so, you haue surelie taken a wrong course, in exchaunge of vertue, to make choise of vice: in steede of laudable exercises, to admit a number of lewd qualities: in place of good and honest vsage, to enter into a life vnciuill, lewde and sauage: your companie keeping is without anie order, your studies are carelesse, your pastime recklesse, your tabling drunkennesse, your liuing vnthriftinesse: finallie, blushing before time at all thinges, for their noueltie, you dare boldlie nowe to aduenture anie thing bee it with neuer so great infamie. These things, my good Coosen, I must tell you are vnfit for a Gentleman, and much ill beseeming that education of yours, whereunto they were neuer accustomed. From these, if you will doe aright, you are nowe to weld your speedie course, and quicklie to depart, calling to your remembrance, that what approcheth the condition of euerie ordinarie person is not meete for your credite, and what in men of common account appeareth to bee no blemish is in your reputation helde to be a great and notable faultinesse.

When men desire to bee well famed, and by true renowne to rise vnto worthinesse, they flie sloath, and giue themselues to auoyde all occasions of Idlenesse, they endeuour to become painefull and industrious to couet thinges of highest accompt, and to bee in companie with the most vertuous. Their credite hath no supporte by vanities, they seeke not their reputation among raunnagates, they conuerse not with Tauerne-haunters, and bibbers, they liue not with men of vilde accompt, dissolute and vngratious, such kinde of meanes they deeme wretched and opprobrious.

You nowe if you would bee such as you ought to bee, must also pursue the tracte of these, the sweetenesse and delicacie whereof you shall quicklie conceiue, marke but the praise, benefites, estimate and good reporte, entertained with the one; and on the other side, the discredite, shame, discommoditie, and vile reckoning alwaies made of the other, and then iudge by your owne decernement, howe much and howe greatlie you are ledde awrie, in thus careleslie roaming vppon others vilities, and concluding with your selfe vppon the ill conceipt that all good men haue of such hatefull and disorderlie kinde of liuing, returne betimes, ere too late, for want of good aduisement, you foolishlie begin to crie out of your winning.

Credite me the disgrace that quickly you shall sustaine, if betimes you relent not these euils, wil to a good mind become so vile and so odious as not without great sorow and griefe, may bee wiped away. I disguise not with you in that I saie, for you shall finde it and proue it to be true. It is a shame for any man in those yeares, wherin of al others his towardnes should chiefly be effected, to be accompted then bad, vilde, lewd, and ill demeaned, much more for a Gentleman, whose education was so good, whose infancy so well trained, whose adolescency so formerly with al kind of vertues indued, to become, now when most discretion should swaie in him, worse then before, more disordered then when hee was to be corrected, lesse commended in his owne gouernment then when he was vnder anothers intertainment.

The loue that I beare vnto you, maketh mee the more largelye heereof to enfourme you, which for that I deeme not of anie ill seede sprong out of your owne nature, to bee growne vppe into such kernels, I doe thereby adiudge, that with more facilitie they maie be disseuered, the braunches I knowe are of others wearing, which I neuer wish to bee so farre foorth lyked, as to become of your owne gathering. From the inconuenience whereof, I hitherto haue studyed thus much to withdrawe you, as hee that most of all desireth aboue anie other to enioie you. The haste of the messenger, and wearinesse of writing enforce mee to leaue. God, who is the conductor of all happie endeuours, blesse you, and till I heare from you againe, my selfe will exspect the best reformation that any good opinion may induce in mee, as yet to conceyue of you. Fare you well, this of. &c.

The long and considerate regarde, by which in deepe contemplation I haue eyed your most rare and singular vertues, ioyned with so admirable beautie, and much pleasing condition graffed in your person, hath mooued me good Mistresse E. among a number whome entirely I knowe to fauour you, earnestlie to loue you, and therewith to offer my selfe vnto you. Nowe howbeit I may happilie seeme in some eyes, the least in woorthines of a number that daylie frequent you, yet may you vouchsafe in your owne priuate to reckon mee with the greatest in willingnesse, wherein, if a seded and immooueable affection towardes you, if feruent and assured loue grounded vpon the vndecaiable stay and proppe of your vertues, if continuall, nay rather inexterminable vowes, in all perpetuitie addicted vnto your seruices, if neuer ceasing and tormenting griefe vncertainlie carried, by a hazardous expectation, closed in the circle of your gracious conceyte, whether to bring vnto the eares of my soule a sweet murmure of life, or seuere sentence of a present death, may ought at all preuaile either to mooue, entreate, sue, solicite, or perswade you, I then am the man, who shrining in my inwarde thoughts, the dignitie of so woorthie a creature, and prising in deepest weight the estimate of so incomparable a beatie, haue resolued liuing to honor you, and dying neuer to serue other but you, from whose delicate looks, expecting no worse acceptance, then may seeme answerable to so diuine an excellencie, I remaine.

Good Mistresse E. I am bolde though a straunger, to make these Letters, messengers at this present of my good meaning towards you, wherein you may please to thinke that I goe not about by pretence of a most entire and heartie good will which I professe to beare you, to make present surmise thereupon, that on so bare an assertion you should immediately credite me, I prise your worthinesse at farre greater value, and weigh your good allowance so much, as I onelie desire, that by your fauorable liking I may intreate to haue accesse vnto you, not doubting but by my being in your presence, I shall so sufficientlie by apparant proofe maintaine the efficacie of that I now protest, and giue you so good occasion to deeme well of mee, as you shall haue no reason to repent you, that vpon so honest and louing request you haue condiscended to my entreatie. Whose health and prosperitie tendering in all things as mine owne, I sende you with my Letter a token of that great affection I beare you, which I most heartilie praie you to accept of, and weare for mee. And euen so doe continue.

Yours, if so you please to accept of me, &c.

That men haue skill, and are by sundrie commendable partes enabled to set foorth their meaning, there needeth, as I thinke no other testimonie then your presente writing, your eloquence is farre beyonde the reach of my poore witte, and the multiplicitie of your praises fitter for a Poeticall Goddesse, then to the erection of anie such earthlie Deesse. For my parte, I houlde them as the fancies and toies of men, issuing from the weakest of their humours, and howe farre my selfe can deserue, none then my selfe can better conceiue. Beeing one of good sorte, as you are, I coulde doe no lesse then write againe vnto you, the rather to satisfie the importunitie of your messenger, wishing such a one to your lot as wel might paragonize those excellencies your write of, and answere euerie waie vnto the substaunce of all those inestimable prayses. So hauing, your loue and your writing, might bee best suted togethers.

Yours, as far as modesty will, to aun- swere your curtesies, &c

Yours, &c.

Sir, your message is vnto mee as strange as your selfe, who are vnto me a stranger, & what your good meaning vnto me is, I knowe not, for giuing of hastie credite to your assertions, as you seem not to chalenge it, so was I neuer hetherto of my self so hastie to do it, hauing eftsoones bene taught, that of fairest speaches ensueth often the fowlest actions: I cannot condemne your purpose, because I entende the best of your dealings, and howbeit I am in no point so restrained, but that in all reasonable sort that may be, anie accesse may be granted: so when you shall by further notice sufficientlie make apparant that with modestie I may doe it, I shall bee willing so farre foorth as my yeares and present beeing, may minister occasion, in anie thankfull requitall that may bee to yeelde my selfe vnto you. Till which time I returne your token againe and my hartie thankes vnto you by this bearer.

Your friend as one vnacquainted hetherto may be, &c.

THE SECOND PART OF the English Secretorie.

Sir, you will perchaunce maruell to see the sudden accesse of these my letters vnto you, togither with the hastie repaire of my man, but to stay that doubt, and to enforme you at large, what vrgent occasion I haue so to doe, it may please you with as little discontentment as may bee, to giue your selfe to the view of these Letters, and thereupon to censure on my behalfe the matter of the same accordinglie.

Your sonne sir, who nowe these three yeares passed to your good lyking hath continued in my seruice, and whome your selfe doe verie well knowe, that for the reputation of his parentes and friendes, I alwayes for the most part haue entertayned with especiall trust and regarde, beeing this last Summer returned out of Barbarie, with an aduenture in a shippe of mine owne, I did vpon great choyce, immediatelie after his account deliuered, place in the ouersight, disposition and rule of all my whole goodes, stocke, and Merchandise. And in expectation and assurance of his especiall and more then ordinarie care and good behauiour therein, did about September last commit vnto his like credites, the custodie of diuers summes of money alreadie receyued, as also the collection and further receyte of sundrie other paymentes of great waight, at the dayes and times wherein they were payable, by him to my vse to bee reserued and layde vp, sithence which, by what sinister humour I knowe not, nor by what vntoward conceit can I yet imagine, in the time of my absence, and a little before my returne homewards, hee is gone away, no man knoweth whither. Vpon the newes whereof being greatly aflighted, I haste to his counting house, search his bookes of receits and paiments, and there withall breake open his deske and coffers, in which after all reckoninges fullie perused and considered of, I find my selfe to bee backewards of diuers allowances, the certainty whereof I cannot yet determine, but the greatnesse by the likelihoode, is verie vehemently to be suspected, by reason that in this sort, without anie other occasion he is fled, and from so great a charge without knowledge of anie one about me, so suddenly departed.

What presumptions I haue, and those verie large, by such kinde of dealing, whereby I may iustly burthen him, you may heereby coniecture, as first his disposition, giuen to be verie prodigall, & of most excessiue expence, then the occasion offered by such immoderate confidence in him reposed: next, the vncontrolled rule hee bare throughout all my dealings: lastlie the time and secrecie of his departure, beeing thus hasted in mine absence, and here withall some such things which are missing, as whereof none were priuie but himselfe, and whereunto no accesse could bee without himselfe. Insomuch as the losse which I reckon of, and wherefro I can yet finde no release, by reason of this his vnknowne departure, cannot amount to so little as CC.li.

Maister R. I haue receyued your Letter, to no small griefe of my priuate conceyts, but sithence hauing examined the matter am somewhat deliuered of doubt, by the satisfaction that in search of the cause I haue alreadie receyued. My sonne was here in the Countrey, at my brothers house, not farre from mine owne dwelling, and yet so newlie come thither, as he had reposed himselfe but one night ere the sight of your present Letters and messenger were arriued.

To the action wherewith you do charge him, I can say nothing more then that himselfe hath written, which agreeing with the formost speech, and first examination had by his Vncle, I must hold as yet vndetermined till I heare your further answer. For the coniectures you haue deliuered, whereby to induce that you are a greater looser by him then without further grounde I can hitherto imagine. I aunswere thus much, that the alteration were verie strange, and humour too sudden, to finde him now so lauish, whom before time your selfe haue commended to bee so frugall, and especiallie in whatsoeuer to his charge and gouernment hath by you beene committed.

To the residue I will be silent, because himselfe that first bredde the occasion appeareth meetest to answere it.

If I heare not from you before the middle of this tearme, my intent is by Gods grace to bee at London, where your apprentice and my sonne shall be in person forth comming vnto you. At which time if I find farther defects, or more equitie to charge him, contrarying to that which alreadie haue bin answered by him, he shal not be mine by anie his ill dealings to be vpholden, but yours as belongeth in any sort you like to chastise him. And euen so recommending my selfe heartilie vnto you, I do bid you farewell. This of, &c.

It may please you sir, on Munday last, beeing the next day after my comming to my Vncles, he sending to T. to my fathers house to vnderstand his pleasure, worde was returned immediatelie, of a messenger and letters receyued from you, whereby it was my fathers pleasure to commaund me to his presence, and to require mine vncle to be there present also in companie.

At my comming thither, many things were laid forth as wel by your writing, as by the mouth of your man, how grieuouslie you were damaged both by diuers summes wherein you were short in reckoning, and other thinges by you missing, vppon my running away the muchnesse whereof was not so much enlarged by your letter, as the ouerlauish deliuerie of your man had to the great encrease of ill opinion in my father, with diuers vnbeseeming tearmes, augmented the same.

And nowithstanding I had in mine own conscience sufficientlie, and with sound appearing trueth to the viewe of others answered the occasion, yet forasmuch as neither seemed the same a full satisfaction to my father, nor a matter clearlye auoided towardes you, till in your plaine and certain notice, I had also confirmed the same, I was commaunded by him to write what I there affirmed, and accordinglie to aduertize you of the state of your busines, and inualidity of your coniectures, that by the verity thereof I might with more liking be reputed of, and himselfe haue lesse cause then he supposed whereat to be grieued.

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