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

Part 3

Chapter 33,636 wordsPublic domain

=Your L. most deuoted and loyallie affected. Your Honours most assured in whatsoeuer seruices. Your L. in whatsoeuer to be commanded. The most affectionate vnto your L. of all others. Hee that hath vowed to liue and die in your Honourable seruice. Your L. most faithfull and obedient Sonne. Your La. louing and obedient Daughter. Who but by your L. is onelie to be commaunded. Whose heart is your Honours, and his life by your L. to be disposed. He that liueth not but for your worship, and to doe you seruice. Whose regard stretcheth vnto your Worship more then vnto anie others. He that vnto your worship hath vowed to become most assured. Whome none haue euer bound so much, as the deserts of your L. Your L. in all humblenes. Your Honours euer to be commaunded. At your worships command. Your La. most bounden and affectionate. At your honourable direction. Alwaies attendant vpon your L. pleasure. Your worships in all good account. Yours euer louing and most assured. To none so much as your selfe. Hee that in all accounts tendereth your welfare. Whome by your onelie curtesie you haue conuinced. The same which I accept from you, and not otherwise. Such as I am, or as you wish to finde me. He that in his liking is onlie yours. Whome you haue euer knowne, but neuer prooued. Whose liking onelie accounteth of your worthinesse. Such as you haue euer founde me, and not otherwise. Yours in what soeuer to bee imploied. More chary of your welfare, then carefull of himselfe. Yours as you like to haue me. Yours faithfull and euer assured. Yours or not his owne. He who found you, but neuer knew you. He that once fauoured you, but sithence hath vowed neuer to regarde you. Whose liking by your ingratitude hath beene quenched. In whose account you once were, but now abandoned. Who once wished to loue, but could neuer hate thee. Whom thy deserts haue made an enemie. Whom hereby you may win, (if you list) for euer to become a friend. To each one louing, but to the most charie. Whose heart shall faile in any thing, sooner then in conceit towardes thee. Hée, whose in loialtie thou didst protest to be. Who liueth not but to pursue thee. Who euer looked on, but neuer loued thee. The same as you left me. Such as you saw when you departed from me. The same and none other, which I haue euer seemed to be. Whose worde hath bounde him, and faith shall assure him. Yours most affectionate. Yours deuoted till death. Yours while life swaieth within me. Yours as far forth as anie others. &c. with manie other applications, whose |Epithets| are infinite, and rather vpon the cause suggested then otherwise, to bee euermore added, altered, or conceiued. These and the others may only suffice for the present purpose, referring what else to be expected, to the regarde of a more curious or delicate inuention.=

[Sidenote: Acknowledgemēt of duty in the Exordium.]

=And herein I thought good to aduertise the learner, that sometimes it falleth out, that this acknowledgement of dutie, mentioned in the beginning of the greetings and farewels, is in diuers Letters expressed in the foremost part, and the |Exordium| thereupon framed: (for that the same in truth is one of the parts thereunto belonging effected in the person or condition of him to whom we write) which to doe, if in his writing also the same maie be deemed necessarie, he maie then vse some other order of farewell or taking leaue, either by imitation of others, or if hee thinke meete, what herein else prescribed, consonant and agreeing to the state and reputation of the same partie to whome hee writeth. Now then shall followe the directions, which on the outside of euerie Letter (the same being made vp and sealed) are alwaies fired, and commonlie are termed by the name of Superscriptions.=

Of Superscriptions and Directions. _Cap. 6._

[Sidenote: Superscriptions and directions of the Romanes.]

=Among the auncient Romanes, when learning first grewe vnto skilfull perfecton, and men first deuised excellentlie to write, then there began to be extant in memorie, diuers formes of writing immediatlie, by the name and title of Epistles, to be published to the posterity. In the directions whereof, animated as I thinke with the vertues of their parents, and accounting it (as in truth it was then so reputed) to be a great honour vnto them, to be intituled with the name of the principall author of their families, they sought no farther stile of magnificence, but (were his parentage neuer so statelie or honorable) being therewith contented, did onlie vpon such regard intitle their directions. For who that hath bin but ordinarilie acquainted with the histories of their actes, but knoweth and hath read, with what reuerence, those times (greedy of vertue,) entertained the honorable desertes of such, as for the common-wealth, and publicke aduancement of the state, had either aduenturouslie hazarded, or couragiouslie lost a fraile, vncertaine, or transitorie life, to the intent to purchase vnto their country quiet, honour, or victorie, and to themselues and posteritie, eternized fame and euer flourishing glorie. Neither was their country vnkind vnto them herein, which for their sakes, and for the reuerend regarde of their vertues, haue compensed the loue which to their parents they could not shewe, to their children and succession in manie degrées after them.=

=Such were the families of the |Gracchi|, |Fabij|, |Cornelij|, |Hortentij|, |Horatij|, |Metelli|, |Amilij|, |Scipiones| and |Fabritij|. Whereby I coniecture that the custome hereof, by such emulation adorned, became afterwardes a dignitie, and so succeeded in honour to euerie posteritie.=

=These |Romans| therefore, vsed onlie, in the front of their letters to write first their owne names, titles adoptiue, and surnames, after that, his to whom they wrote, and lastlie their salutation or maner of greetings: giuing also like aditions vnto the other as to him belonged, whether it were by familie, office, or some other dignitie. And this was the forme. |M. T. Cicero. M. Varoni. Sal. dicit,| or |C. Cæsar: Comelio Balbo salutem dicit|. But that custome according to the antiquity of the time, is long since worne out, and these dates and seasons haue induced vnto vs for euerie estate of calling, a more statelie reuerence according to the dignitie and worthines of the same.=

=The reuerend maiesty of Emperours, Kings and Princes, being aduāced with a more excellency and supreame magnificence. The names of Dukes, Marquises, Earles, barons and other magistrates, with more solemne and honourable titles.=

[Sidenote: Diuersity of Estates.]

=The offices of estate and places most noble, amplified with larger honours, and names accordant to their seuerall dignities.=

=And albeit few are the number, that herein shall be occasioned to occupy their pen, but (knoweth on almost euerie daie) maie vnderstand the formall application of euerie personages honour or worship: yet in so much as all sortes are not perfectlie skilled, nor euerie man liueth in place so conuenient to vnderstand it, and that it hath beene parcell of a prescribed order so to doe, by those that haue written the like methode, I will set downe so manie examples of estates for directions, as to the matter and purpose hereof maie be adiudged conuenient, beginning from the highest that are or haue beene latelie accustomed in our common wealth (the soueraign Maiestie excepted) vnto the meaner and most ordinary bred, and in present practise amongst vs. And first, with the dignitie of Archbishop, to whom in this sort we frame our direction.=

[Sidenote: Directions to an Archbishop. Bishop. Duke.]

[Sidenote: L. Chancellor. L. Treasurer. Earles and in office.]

[Sidenote: Lords knights of the priuie councell.]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[Sidenote: Parts in Epistle Descriptory.]

[Sidenote: Comparison of the writer and painter.]

[Sidenote: Painter.]

[Sidenote: Writer.]

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

[Sidenote: Virgil in his Aenidos.]

[Sidenote: Ouidii Metamorphoseos.]

[Sidenote: Example.]

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

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

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

[Sidenote: Narratio.]

[Sidenote: Scituation.]

[Sidenote: Buildings.]

[Sidenote: Deckings.]

[Sidenote: Streets.]

[Sidenote: Gouernment]

[Sidenote: Habit of the people.]

[Sidenote: Conclusō]