Part 1
THE ENGLISH _SECRETARY_, OR _Methode_ of writing of _Epistles_ and _Letters_:
WITH A declaration of such _Tropes_, _Figures_, and _Schemes_, as either vsually or for ornament sake are therin required.
Also the parts and office of a _Secretarie_,
Deuided into two bookes.
Now newly reuised and in many parts corrected and amended:
By Angel Day.
_AT LONDON_ Printed by _P. S._ for _C. Burbie_ and are to be sold at his shop, at the Royall Exchange. 1599.
To the right Honorable, Edward _de_ Vere, _Earle of_ Oxenford, _Vicount_ Bul- becke, _Lord_ Standford _and of_ Badlesmere, and Lord great Chamberlaine of _England_.
It is now a fewe yeares passed (Right Honourable, & my very good Lord) since emboldned by your faour, this booke rudely digested, and then roughly deliuered, I did in the very nonage thereof recōmend 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 (notwithstanding the title all one) yet shall you finde the worke both in order, habit and shape, to be diuersly chaunged.
To excuse the defecte of the one, or enlarge my paines taken in publishing the other, were on either part needlesse: seeing my desire in both, hath principally sorted to one self meaning: If your L. find ought herein answerable to your iudgmēt, it is inough: and the vsers shall thereby (I hope) finde more cause to be satisfied. The wisest of all ages, haue not at one instant collected their experience: _Plato_ in his first original was nothing so diuine: _Socrates_ in his cradle had no taste of his after wisdome: _Hercules_ past many yeres ere he grew famed by his labors, & onely vse and practize enableth vnto the greatest perfection.
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
_By your honorable L. to be commanded_,
Angel Day.
To the learned and courteous _Readers in generall_.
Gentlemen, _When I do begin first to speake vnto you in this action, me thinks, you doe espie in me the parts of an ill_ Scholler, _who in all his dooinges, is forced to craue pardon, but hardly findeth the way that may purchase vnto him selfe the benefite of such a pardon._
_In reformation, two notable instances are held the which as I conceiue do craue allowance, though no prerogatiue in wel doing, and these are for a man to finde his defect, and secondly to haue a will to amend it._
_I will assure you, though I be not gratious, I would be loath to seeme gracelesse and this benefite I will haue to gaine your allowance, that I will blush for mine errors, where I fault in abilitie, I will shew you my will: And when in all I cannot cleare me from your censures, yet shall your courteous forbearance be in me no waies misprised._
_I haue to foretime as now still trauelled with the gardener, who first throweth vp his earth on a rude heape, the scattereth it, after smootheth it, next squareth it, & lastly bringeth it into knots and workmanship, before which you know, there are many weeds, loose hearbes, grasses, sticks, and rubbish to be picked vp & thrown out: And then and not before beginneth his worke to drawe towards the perfection._
_As he so I, at the first threw vp this groundwork in a heape, and onely did scatter it: after, and hether vnto I haue endeuored to smooth and to square it, picking out thereof many thinges which lay to too much disordered. It onely now wanteth to be labored on by a more curious workmanship, but because it is my garden plat, & my prouision is too small to perfect on a sodaine so spacious a ground worke, I will temporize with those duties, which either by time may in me be supported or by a greater hability in others may happilie hereafter be performed._
_Now because it is in all omissions the greatest omission not to bee thankefull for courtesies, I will acknowledge that as you haue hitherto benignly delt with me in the suruey of these labours, so haue you bound mee the more vnto you by your fauourable censures. And yet if after this continued trauell vnto this present, you either in mine or in the printers escapes find any thing blame worthy, couer it I pray you as before you haue done with the vaile of your courtesie. The copies before this, haue bene I confesse erroniously many wayes deliuered, and this by the blottings and interlinings had in the former amendements hath peraduenter also his escapes or mistakings: If any be, they are fewe I hope, and therefore the more easie to be tollerated. Onely correct where fault is, and the printer and I shalbe beholding vnto you._
_Hauing thus performed for my selfe what vnto your worthines stoode meete to be considered, giue mee now leaue I pray you, touching the order and course in this |Methode| hereafter obserued, to say somthing to them which therby are to take any benefit or profite. In which case, the learner is circumspectly with himselfe to consider, the seuerall rules in the particular chapters preceeding the orders of those |Epistles|, in such sort as afterwards they are distinguished, & therein see, what to the better ordering and principall direction, of whatsoeuer hee shall take in hand to write, is there (for his better instruction) enioyned. By diligent animaduersion wherof, he shall the better vnderstand the seuerall natures and properties, that in the parts of euery |Epistle|, are ordinarily to be required, besides the vse of them in their seueral places, and what force they beare, being so sorted out, according to their speciall purposes and directions._
_Next, for the better inducement and leading him into a plaine and perfect platforme of this |Methode| following, & to the intent he may as neere as may be, or as his capacitie (at leastwise) may any waies reach vnto, knowe (skilfully, & not by rote) how or in what sort he shall happen to doe either well or ill, I haue first (in a preamble or intermixed discourse, either preceeding or interchangeably passing, before or with the kindes of euery sorte of |Epistles|) declared the properties and vse of those |Epistles|, vpon what parts and places, they and euery of them doo consist, with what vehemencie or lesse application they are to bee inforced or quallified, so that he who seemeth to haue least knowledge at all (be it that he haue perseuerance to conceiue or to distinguish the parts he seeth there laid out before his eyes) may with great facilitie, attaine to whatsoeuer, herein prescribed, or by the circumstance thereof intended to be in any sort deliuered._
_To the greater ornament whereof, I haue applied a number of |Figures, Schemes|, and |Tropes| in the margent of euery |Epistle|, euen with the places where they are vsed. And at the end of this worke, haue set them altogither, and therein explaned to the Learners view, and for his readier vse, their particular natures and qualities, to the end that they who (being vnlearned,& hauing a pretie conceit of inuention of themselues) haue heretofore vnknowing done well, may see how with skill and discretion hereafter to pursue the same, & the ignorant also hereof whose reach hath not been so ample as others, may be thereby informed what vnto well doing is most consonant and agreeing._
_Now, for the readier finding of those |Epistles|, as each of their kindes are suted forth in sundrie |Examples|: Peruse but the head of euery page and there you shall find what in the same page is contained, |viz.| Where the |Epistles| be, you shall haue them noted in their kindes, as Epistles |Hortatorie|, |Dehortatorie|, |Swasorie|, or |Disswasorie|, &c. And likewise in the admixtions, you shall finde |Places| or |Parts Hortatorie|, |Commendatorie|, |Petitorie|, &c. as they fall out to be handled._
_This booke thus shewing these parts before remembred, I haue termed as you see by the name of |The Secretorie|, being in the consideration thereof nothing ignorant what great perfection is to be required in such a one, by whose title the same is deliuered, neither supposing the matter herein contained to appeare so sufficient, as perfectly thereby to enable what in the same function is to bee required, but because the orderly writing of Letters, being a principall part belonging to a |Secretorie|, is by the |Method|: hereof deliuered to any Learners capacitie whereout the Scholler or any other that is vnfurnished of the knowledge thereof, may gather ayde and furtherance, I haue therefore endeuored to tearme it by the name of |Secretarie|._
_These with my willing minde, and desire of well doing herein, I doo present to the generall and friendly regarde of all, wishing that in courtesie they repute of my trauels, as formost of all other things, I therein respected their benefites. In affoording whereof, they shall doo no more then belongeth to good mindes, and encourage me by whatsoeuer other meanes hereafter, to gratifie their fauours._
The English Secretorie.
Of an Epistle, the commodities and vse thereof. Chap. 1.
=Forasmuch as we haue herein endeuoured to lay downe a platforme or method for writing of Epistles. It shall not be amisse, that following the order of all other writers, wee first define vnto you what an Epistle is. An Epistle therefore, is that which vsually we in our vulgar, doe tearms a Letter, and for the respectes thereof is called the messenger, or familiar speach of the absent, for that therein is discouered whatsoeuer the minde wisheth in such cases to haue deliuered. The diuersities of Epistles are manifold, as wherof ensueth a platforme to euerie motion, being in truth so infinite as are yᵉ imaginations of each ones fantasie, seeing the declaration of euerie letter, is no more then what the minde willeth in all occasions to be perfourmed, and according to such instigations wherewith at that instant men are fed when they write, taketh his formall substance, whether it be to require, counsel, exhort, command, informie, commend, entreat, aduertise, gratulate, or whatsoeuer other purpose therein pretended, as cause and matter maie fall out to be required. The antiquity is as ancient as the benefite that therof ensueth is great, whereof onlie those that are sufficientlie enabled with the qualitie, can giue the greatest testimonie. Needelesse were it for me to commend the vse, when aswell by the authorities of a number the best learned, who to aduance the efficacie thereof, haue in sundrie languages prescribed rules and methods for the same, as of others besides, whose most excellent writings of Epistles are at this present extant, it is most plentifully aduanced. And although pregnant wit ensuing by nature was the foremost cause that first bred the inuention of Letters, and that euery one naturally can speake, or in some sort or other set down their meaning: yet Art preuailing in the cause, and by cunning skill marshalling euery thing in his due order, place and proportion, how much more the same is then beautified, adorned, and as it were in a new shape transmuted by such kind of knowledge, the difference that dailie appeareth may yeeld proofe sufficient.=
What is chiefelie to be respected in framing of an Epistle. _Chap. 2._
=Forasmuch as by the necessarie vse of Letters before laid downe, a commendable maner of writing and framing the same hath bene already remembred: It shall not bee amisse, that in this Chapter we now endeuour to answere the purpose therein pretended. For the manifestation whereof, I haue thought good to drawe vnto your consideration certaine principall points, which thereunto are speciallie to be required: first, |Aptnes of words| and |sentences|, respecting that they be neate and choiselie picked, and orderly handled: next, |Breuity of speach|, according in matter and circumstance fitlie to be framed: lastly, |Comlines in deliuerance|, concerning the person and cause, whereupon the direction is grounded.=
=The first, being |Aptnesse of wordes and sentences|, consisteth in choice and good tearmes, in skilful and proper application of them according to their true meanings, in wel sorting and fitting them, to their seuerall purposes. |Choise| and good tearmes, are in words vsual, and plain for the matter in deliuerie, not improper nor new coined, nor too olde, as hauing not of long time before bene vsed. |Skilfull application| is, when in their setting down they haue either their true & proper signification for deliuery, or else by a more delicate or pleasant inuenton may be caried conceitedly. |Well sorting & fitting them|, resteth in the matter in handling, that therein be a concordance with their applications, whereof may ensue a due construction, and no disorderlie mistaking.=
=The next, being |Breuity of speach|, is not as some vndiscreetlie haue imagined, that which consisteth in fewnes of lines, & shortnes of roome in shew of a side of paper, but breuitie of matter, wherein scope sufficient remaining for the necessary demonstration and deliuerie of any needfull occasion, men are barred from friuolous circumstances, and inioined therin to abhorre all maner of tediousnes: For which cause some haue beene of opinion, that continuance of matter ought not to be vsed in an |Epistle|, for that it thereby looseth the shew of an |Epistle|, and taketh vpon it the habit of an Oration: Yet of such sort are in this method sundry Epistles, the titles wherof are, |Hortatorie|, |Dehortatorie|, |Laudatorie|, |Vituperatorie|, |Suasorie|, |Petitorie|, |Monitorie|, |Accusatorie|, |Excusatorie|, |Consolatorie|, |Inuectiue| and such like, whose speciall vses do of necessitie admit such scope as in euerie ordinarie Epistle is not found, and though they beare in them many |Oratorie| parts, yet lose they not at all for that, neither name nor habit of an |Epistle|. The tolleration and ordinarie vse of which, both examples of many learned, and common custome hath warranted. And therfore, when to be briefe it is herein inioyned, it is alwayes thereby to be intended, that a man with onelie necessarie speeches may bee permitted to deliuer his meaning, neither is it without the limits of breuitie, when aptlie and at full the same shall be in this sort reported.=
=And for the better declaration, howe farre the conceit hereof may be induced only in writing of Letters, I will first limit what may be accounted necessarie therein, and afterwards endeuour to lay downe, howe contrarie thereunto, men (aswell in the vse, as in neglecting thereof) haue heretofore erred. Necessarie speeches, I do account whatsoeuer is set downe, for the plaine and open deliuerie of euerie occasion, to the intent the minde of the writer, and what he pursueth may aptly and in good and ready sort be conceiued. The repugnancie hereof is when either with too much curtalling our arguments, in conceit to auoyde tediousnes, or with too manie or ouer often repetitions, neuer thinking to haue spokē sufficiently, either to induce remembrance, or put forward our meaning, we abbreuiate or amplifie our Epistles. And when some others also, of a conceit more curious than necessarie, striuing to excell in varietie of sentences, and copie of words, coyned all of one sute, thinke therfore in paining themselues to write more than needeth, to be counted more eloquent. These falling out to bee imperfections, as each of them are in truth to bee blamed, so where the defect remaineth, are they (for well writing) with studie to be amended.=
=The third and last nowe being |Comelinesse in deliuerance touching the person and cause|, séemeth to bee tied vnto two seuerall respects: that is, to the reputation of the partie to whome wee write, his condition, age, honour, and disposition, and to the fitnes of the matter whereof we take vpon vs to write: for as it is most decent that in the matter we make choice of, we giue vnto euerie cause his proper and orderly effect: so is it euery way as conuenient to afford a like _Decorum_ of those to whome our letters are directed.=
=The reputation of each partie, is measured according to his dignitie or worthinesse, whereby hee beareth reckoning and place before vs. The condition, by the age or maner of liuing, wherein resteth either grauitie or youthfulnesse. The humour by the disposition, as whether desirous to be reuerenced, fawned on, or with plaine termes vsed. By this reason, the methode or stile of our letters falleth out diuerslie to be considered: in one sort we frame them to olde men, in an other sort to young men, one way to sad and graue persons, another to light and yong fellowes: one platforme to Courtiers, another to Philosophers. To great and notable personages, with a dutie speciall, appropriate to their calling: To our betters, alwayes with submission: To our inferiours, benignly and fauourably: To our friends, louinglie: To our enemies sharplie and nippinglie. Thus farre as touching the person, and now for the cause.=
=In this point it séemeth that the matter of euerie writing should still be measureed according to the writers apparance, credit or worthines, that the validity thereof should be answerable to the one or the others greatnes, or goodnesse: that the intendment be sound, lawfull, and to no euill purposes: that it containe not base, filthie, or scurrile matter, vnbeséeming a direction so worthie. Then that euerie thing to bee written of should bee deliuered according to his proper qualitie: Termes more officious than beséeming, are vnfitting: not sufficientlie to consider of each reputation, were ouer homelie. A matter of grauitie is to bee deliuered with waight: a matter of sorrowe should be reported with griefe: a matter of pastime, to be discoursed with pleasure: a matter of folly, intermingled with laughter. Now contrariwise, to a person sorrowfull to write of iests, to talke learnedly to a clowne, to salute an olde man with childish fantasies: in cases of waight, to aduance trifles: were altogither as improper as peeuish, and more absurd than fitteth to be tollerated in anie skilfull vsage.=
[Sidenote: Words improper and impugning the sense.]
[Sidenote: Errors commō to the learned, as well as to the vnlearned.]
=And because I haue taken vpon me some distinguishments of writing, wherein I speciallie stand vpon choise and meete termes and spéeches, with proper applications: I thinke it not amisse to set down vnto you some shew of the contrarie inurements, wherby you may with the greater discretion conceiue the error thereof, the which I haue sometimes noted in other mens writings; And first, of vnséemly applications: as for example: one that sometimes intended not a litle of his owne inuention, tooke vpon him to write a loue letter to a woman of verie meane reckoning, in which, after he had drawne (God |Cupid| by the name of the blinded boy) by those parts of fauor that neuer were in her, and shewed himselfe much passionat for the loue he ought to her, he concludeth the meatter in this sort. |Thus crauing your lawfull beneuolence, in not mee reiecting, your answere comfortable and not intollerable, &c.| The woman not accustomed to such hote intertainment, and rather bluntlie before time pursued, then daintilie intreated, beganne here vpon (forsooth) to waxe coy, and to intende great matter of her self, and vaunting her fauour at a higher rate then he belike séemed afterwarde willing to become a purchaser of, remained as she was, and himselfe at his more profitable studies. The conclusion of his letter was verie improper, insomuch as requiring liking by the name of |Beneuolence|, hee both misprised his owne demand, and séemed to induce a word more sounding to a charitable reliefe, or curteous contribution of money, then to anie such purpose as he meant it. Besides, |your answere comfortable, and not intollerable|. If these had passed in a iest, it had béene more conuenient, but vsed |bona fide|, it was too bad, especiallie respecting the partie what she was, from whome one would haue supposed that such a one as himself, could neuer haue receiued (but by too much tolleration) any discontentment at all. This errour we see is not onelie common to the vnlearned, for as well this one, who in his profession (as I was informed by him that shewed me the letter) was well reputed of, but also some of the forwarder sort, onlie by affectation of words, which they haue vsed, haue béene misliked, and yet learned ynough. Among which a Doctor of Physicke long since, intending to be verie eloquent in words, and such as euery Carter should not conceiue of, began an Epistle to a booke by him published in this sort: wherein secondly appeareth this errour of old improper or new coyned termes, and this was the forme.=
[Sidenote: A ridiculous maner of writing.]
[Sidenote: Vrbanitie and exasperate vnproperlie placed.]