Part 12
The studie and great desire wherewith (sir) 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 (in consideration whereof he paide him then in hand a good parte of his money) 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.
_An example petitorie in the nature of Reconciliatorie, from a sonne to his displeased father._
[Sidenote: _Metaphora._]
[Sidenote: _Exordium._]
[Sidenote: _Epitheton._]
[Sidenote: _Ecphonesis._]
[Sidenote: _Periphrasis._]
[Sidenote: _Metanoia._]
[Sidenote: _Antithesis._]
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 (before time) eftsoones doe confesse my letters vntimelie to haue approched vnto you: but if the long detained grace, by whose heauie want (your sonne might I say?) nay, the forlorne and despised issue of your aged yeares (for so I am now forced to say) 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 (not into your accustomed fauour) 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.
[Sidenote: _Epilogus._]
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.
=The stile of this Epistle is vehement, because the passions of him from whence it came were vehement, and is deduced as you see from the nature of |Reconciliatorie|, which aswell for the submissiue & lowest tearmes it beareth, as also for the vrgent petition therin contained, I haue rather chosen to place among yᵉ |Petitorie|. The part of |honest| herein deliuered, is passed in wordes méekest & of great obedience, wherein he studieth by all possibilitie to mittigate towards himselfe, the too much seueritie of his father. The |Exordium| is carried by |Insinuation|, expressing the vehement affects and surcharged conceits of a mind more then ordinarilie grieued. The |Possibilitie| resteth in the father, which commonlie by nature is with some more facilitie then estranged diffcultie, entreated towards his sonne. The meane to compasse it, is the mitigation or satisfaction of the iust mislike of a father, whose charged authoritie affecteth nothing so much as obedience in children. Thus are the places required herein, in sort as you see performed. And for because within any one title, there is no one thing affoording matter more plentifull, or with vse more commonlie frequented, then is this |petitorie| kinde, (insomuch as whatsoeuer containeth any speciall request, is hereunder included) I will sort you downe so many examples of all sorts, as that there shall not faile herein wherewith sufficientlie to instruct whatsoeuer in the like occasion is or ought to be required.=
_An Epistle Petitorie, wherein is craued trauell and counsell to be assistant vpon vrgent occasion._
[Sidenote: _Exordium._]
[Sidenote: _Narratiō._]
[Sidenote: _Petitiō._]
[Sidenote: Possibilitie.]
As one greatlie emboldned by the forwardnesse of your woonted courtesie and liking euer bent towards me, I haue dared (Sir) 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 (as woontedlie) 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.
_An other of the same._
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.
_A Letter responsorie to the same._
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 (by dislike of your owne) 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 (sir) lawfull for you to vse mee to the vttermost, and fittest to our confirmed league of amitie, that (in whatsoeuer) 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.
=Here must I note vnto you the last of these Epistles |Petitorie|, in which is neither |Exordium| nor |Narration|, but formost of all the petition, and afterwards the parts folowing, the like whereof you may perchance finde hereafter. For that where practise and skill hath enabled a man to doe well, there is no necessitie that such should bee tied to rule, who being of sufficient knowledge and capacitie are able to discerne what is méetest, and accordinglie to direct the square of their owne doings, sometimes one way, sometimes another, as in the intendment thereof, may to the present occasion séeme most conuenient and readie. And as in this one Letter, so may the learner light vpon many others being different also from the obseruation herein deliuered, & somtimes abruptly entring into the matter without any limitation at all, one other example whereof shall bee next hereunto deliuered, the first beginning of which, declareth the meane of accomplishment of the request, before the petition declared, whereunto by imitation the vnskilfull may not rashlie enter, without good aduisement of what in the performance is meete to be considered; The method of which is in this sort pursued.=
_An example Petitorie, concluding a briefe request and curteous remembrance of a thing before time promised._
Nowe is the time (wherein if your pleasure bee) 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.
_Another example of the like effect._
[Sidenote: _Exordium_, by comparison.]
[Sidenote: _Insinuatiō._]
[Sidenote: _Peroratiō._]
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 cōfesse, 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 (in speciall and earnest speeches the same be directed for mee to the Iustices and Commissioners) 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.
_Of Epistles Commendatorie. Chap. 16._
=Much more might bee handled in this kinde, the method whereof is one of the most ordinarie of any sortes of Letters that are indited, for that the greatest number of directions are commonlie concluded in this matter, the requests wherof doe either especially concerne the writer, or are otherwise to be respected in the behalfe of some other. The occasion of which hath caried herein the plentie of so many examples, that by manifesting the diuersities of their orders and vses, the learner might not wante wherein to bee directed, and choice of varietie wherewith to be delighted. Now, besides these hereby alreadie deliuered, there are letters also yᵗ might be suted vnder this forme, which from Noble men or others, are many times written in fauor of sundrie persons, containing requests in their behalfs to be performed, which not withstanding the difference of estates in that the same doe for the most part passe vnto their inferiours, yet séemeth the nature thereof to be |petitorie|, but in a different order of these to be altogether pursued. Insomuch as neither agree-eth it, to vse like circumstances of humilitie and entreatie, nor of pleasures or curtesie, as in the other are required: but rather a necessarie supposall and assurance of their demandes to be hearkened vnto, in respect that of their honours, reputations, or credites, it is intended they will require nothing, but that with reasonable toleration may be liked of. But the vse of such kinde of directions in choise of both, I rather hold pertinent to the title |Cōmendatorie|, for that whatsoeuer is therein written, in fauour eyther of the person or of the cause, may in respect of the honour or reputation of those from whome they come, bee better déemed in sorte of a curteous recommendation, then otherwise by or vnder anie title of humilitie or submission: for these causes I haue thought meete to adioine immediatelie hereunto, the same Epistles |Commendatorie|, beeing so nearelie combined with those of |Petitorie| as they are. The vse whereof are not neuerthelesse so farre forth caried, but that from an inferiour to his superiour, in some causes and vpon sundrie accidentes, the same are deriued. The places appertaining vnto these kindes of Epistles be as in the |Petitorie| are alreadie declared, chiefely when the same, intendeth to a cause or person preferred to be fauoured. In which, when it concerneth the person, we must beware that in the credible deliuerie of whatsoeuer tending to his praise or preferment, we doe it either by warrant of our owne knowledge, or by such certaine report of others, whose opinion we deeme will not bee misled. And if neither of these doe fall out to be knowne or beleeued, then shal we shew what information wee haue besides our owne opinion, or peraduenture no other assurance at all but our owne simple liking. Petitions also are frequented in requiring fauour to these causes, wherein standeth in highest regarde the state, countenance or authoritie of him, from whome the letter is framed, who accordingly thereunto may desire that the rather at his request, or vpon his sute, or for his sake, or in regarde of his liking, the person may bee accompted of, or the action furthered. Besides, it may bee added to the increase of a more speedie performance, the loue, (if anie be, or the occasion thereunto sorting) we owe to him we commende, or in whose fauour we write, either solie for himselfe, or conueyed from his friendes, his parentes, the consideration of his charge of wife, children or seruantes, the wrong offered, benefite to be attained, or whatsoeuer other matter to bee deemed requisite or conuenient. Nowe from whence or out of what instigations, the matter of such commendation is to bee drawne, you haue in the generall chapters of this booke alreadie at large. The circumstances of which, and whatsoeuer else hereby forewarned, shall in the ensuing examples bee more at large deliuered.=
An example commendatorie, wherein _is recommended to a noble man from his in- feriour, the conditions and behauiours of a person_.
[Sidenote: _Narratiō._]
[Sidenote: Cōmendation of the party.]
[Sidenote: _Petition._]
[Sidenote: _Peroratiō._]
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 pardō and allowance dare I assure vnto you, yᵗ if it may please you in credit of my simple knowledge and opiniō to imploy him, you shal find that besides he is by parētage 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.
_A Letter responsorie to the same._
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.
_An other Epistle Commendatorie of the sort before deliuered._