Part 31
=He ought also to haue regard to times and places conuenient wherein to mooue his Lord vpon anie speciall or vrgent occasion, or in which he is to prefer vnto his presence or hearing, the person or cause of any one. To see that the same returne not offensiue vnto his priuate liking, that the furtherance thereof bee not in times when hee is soly disposed to particular studies, or that he is otherwise busied in matters of estate or counsell. To consider first of the qualitie of euerie sute, and condition of the partie as neere as he maie be informed, ere he take vpon him to acquaint his Lord with the parts thereof, and accordinglie, if he see cause, in his owne person to answere the same: for it is not seemelie he should trouble his Lord vpon euerie light or ill beséeming suggestion. To be circumspect in the dispatch of euerie thing to him deliuered, and in matters of weight and charge, to be also prouident and wary, heedfully intending to the safe disposing of whatsoeuer requisite, from the eyes or knowledge of anie other, whereunto none so much as himselfe ought to become priuy.=
=He is likewise to auoid all maner of delaies, and not to accustome himselfe in any wise vnto negligence, for that the vse hereof in ouerslipping of small trifles, induceth manie times, to pretermit things of larger circumstance, and of farre greater moment. It standeth him vpon in the exercise of his office to bee alwaies as neere and as readie as may bee, in his ordinarie attendance, for so much as being vpon a sudden to bee vsed, it is needfull he be alwaies at hand, and is intended that his absence cannot therefore anie long time be spared. In conclusion, it is meetest in all things, that so far forth he bee addicted vnto his present seruice, as that in respect thereof hee become vtterlie sequestred from all priuate regarde or affection of anie thing, sounding to his owne appetite. Finallie, being a man fauored or entirelie reputed of in his office, hee may not for anie friendship, corruption or gaine whatsoeuer, by anie sinister practise, colour, or meanes, go about to abuse the countenance and credite to him giuen, by his Lord or maister, nor couertlie thereby suggest, or informe any thing, wherewith the good opinion of himselfe may afterwards be hazarded, or by the graunt or assent of his Lorde thereunto giuen, there maie iust cause acrue, whereby thereafter a great deale lesse he may deserue to be trusted.=
=In these particularities haue I at last concluded, & brought to ende the sum of all my former trauell. The |Secretory| is nowe accomplished & by all respectes, circumstances, and inducements that maie bee, confirmed both in person and office: much haue I to require of the generall perusers hereof, that I bee not anie wayes therein mistaken, for that passing immediatelie to the publique notice of all, there is no doubt but the verie particularities there of, shall speedilie be therewith censured of all. My request is, that the skilfull and best experienced, will of their owne good conditions, not otherwise misdeeme thereof then what in equall trueth maie bee vnto them tendered, nor that the wise and discreetlie minded will haue other conceipt of me, then as my weake abilitie sought herein at their hands to haue at the first deserued.=
=Touching any others lesse able to speake or giue sentence in the cause, as my will and desire is, fauourablie to be regarded of the whole in generall, so if anie one more of selfe-liking then of |Skill|, will either carpe at, or peremptorilie reiect the labour by me vndertaken, let him first consider with himselfe, how much easier it is to finde fault with a thing by another alreadie finished and done, then for himselfe by priuate endeuour to accomplish the like: so shall he find, that men at all times see not into all things at once: and in proofe hereof become assured, that hee, as I shall sooner in the performance of anie labor, make our selues obiects of euery common opinion, then with such account to deliuer our trauels, as that we may stand ascertained of their own deserts, that they may be pleasing to all men.=
=And forasmuch as it resteth yet a thing doubtfull, how well or euill, till the perusing this slender trifle of mine may of all sortes be measured, I will in the meane time (as manie others before me haue done) affie my selfe in the hope and expectation of the best Glad if in the conueiance hereof, there may by my willing endeuour, arise anie pleasure or profite to anie, which being the intention of me solie desired, I passe foorth this (as the residue) of the best and aptest fauourers thereof, to be entertained.=
FINIS. _A. D._
A Table shewing the principal mat- _ters contained in the first part of this Booke_.
Of Epistles, the commodities, and vse thereof _pag. 1_
What is chiefly to be respected in framing of an Epistle. 2
Of the habit and parts of an epistle. 8
Of certain contēts generally incident to al maner of Epistles. 11
Diuers orders of Greetinges, farewels and subscriptions. 13
Of Superscriptions and Directions. 17
The Diuisions of Letters, and vnder what titles all sorts of epistles are contained. 20
_Of epistles meerly Descriptory, & the parts thereof._ 23
An example of a Letter Descriptorie, wherein is particularly described an ancient Citie. 24
An other example wherein the State of a countrey is solie described. 26
An example wherein the death of a noble man is only described 27
_Of Epistles Laudatory and vituperatory._ 33
An example of a Laudatory epistle solie touching the person. 35
An example of an Epistle Vituperatorie concerning also the person. 42
_Of epistles Deliberatiue._ 46
An example of an Epistle exhortatory to the attaining of vertue. 50
_Of Epistles Responsory._ 53
An example Responsory to the last epistle before remēbred. 54
An example of an Epistle Hortatorie to the studie of learning. 55
An other example Hortatorie wherein an honourable Gentleman is egged forwardes to the profession of armes. 58
An example Swasory, wherein a Gentlewoman is counselled to mariage. 62
Another example of an epistle Swasorie, perswading the carefull acceptance and regarde of one brother to another. 65
_Of Epistles Dehortatory, and disswasory._ 67
An example of an Epistle Dehortatorie, wherein a Noble gentleman is dehorted from infidelitie or rebellion. 71
An example of a Disswasorie Epistle wherein one is disswaded from fruitlesse vanities, to more learned and profitable studies. 76
An other example Disswasory wherin the party is by diuers reasons disswaded from entring into an action in apparance daungerous. 79
_Of Epistles conciliatory._ 83
An Epistle conciliatory, written from one of good accompt to his inferiour. 84
An example Conciliatory frō one equall to another. _ead._
An Epistle Responsory, answering the first of these letters. 86
A Letter Responsory answering the latter Epistle. _ead._
_Of epistles Reconciliatory._ 87
An example Reconciliatorie, from one friend to another. _ead._
An Epistle Reconciliatory frō an inferiour person to his better. 89
_Of epistles Petitory._ 90
An example of an Epistle Petitory, in a cause indifferent. 93
An example Petitory, in the nature of a reconciliatory from a son to his displeased father. 94
An Epistle Petitorie, wherein is craued trauell and counsell to be assistant vpon vrgent occasion. 96
Another of the same. 97
A Letter Responsorie to the same. _ead._
An example Petitorie, concluding a briefe request, and curteous remembrance of a thing before promised. 99
An other example of the like effect. _ead._
_Of Epistles Commendatory._ 100
An example Commendatorie, wherein is recommended to a noble man from his inferiour, the conditions and behauiours of a person. 102
A Letter Responsorie to the same. _ead._
Another epistle Commendatorie of the sort before deliuered. 103
An example Commendatory from a noble man to his inferior, wherein one is recommended to an office. 104
An Epistle Commendatorie, from a noble man in referment of his seruant. 105
Another example wherein is recommended the cause & speedie furtherance of iustice. 106
An example Responsory, wherin is denied, what in the formost directions was recōmended. 107
Another Letter Responsorie, wherin consent and allowance is giuē to the matter required. 108
The third Epistle Responsorie, wherein is doubfullie allowed, what to the same was recommended. 109
A letter Commendatorie pleasantly conceited in preferring an vnprofitable seruant. 110
_Of Epistles Consolatorie._ 112
An example Consolatorie of the first sort, wherein a Gentlewoman is comforted of the death of her sonne. 114
An Epistle Consolatorie of the same, wherein one is comforted in case of hard extremitie. 117
A Consolatorie epistle of the third sort, wherein a Gentlewoman is comforted of the death of her husbād slain in the wars. 119
An example consolatory pleasauntly written to one who had buried his old wife. 125
A Letter responsorie to be conferred to an Epistle consolatorie. 127
_Of Epistles Monitorie and Reprehensorie._
An example Monitorie concerning a staied and well gouerned life. 131
An other Epistle Monitorie, touching the reformation of a couetous life. 134
An Epistle Reprehensorie to a father, touching the lewde and ill demeanour of his sonne. 136
An example Reprehensorie, wherein a man of wealth sufficient is reprehended, for marriage of his daughter to the riches of an old wealthie miser. 138
An epistle Reprehensorie, to a young Gentleman. 141
_Of Epistles Amatorie,_ 143
An example of an Epistle for the entreatie of the first good wil. 145
An other example to that purpose. 146
An answere to the first of these Epistles. _eadem_
A replie to the same answere. 147
An answere vnto the second letter. 148
_The Table of the second part of this Booke._
_Of Epistles Iudiciall._ pag. 1
An example of an epistle Accusatorie in the state coniecturall. 4
An example Excusatorie returned to the effects of this Coniecturall Epistle. 6
An example Purgatorie, from the partie chalenged, in answere of the Epistle accusatorie before remembred. 7
An example of an Epistle accusatorie in the state Iuridiciall and Coniecturall. 9
A Letter Defensorie, aunswering by confutation al the obiections in this former Epistle surmised. 14
_Of Epistles expostulatorie._ 19
An example of an Epistle Expostulatorie, touching certain iniuries betweene two friends. 19
An answere Defensorie, vnto the effects of the same epistle. 20
A replie to the saide answere Defensorie, wherein the matter of the Epistle is more firmelie maintained. 22
A seconde answere to the like reasons of the Replie in further defence of the partie. 24
An example of an epistle Expostulatorie touching vnkindnes receiued. 25
An example of an epistle Expostulatory for breach of promise. 26
An example of an Epistle expostulatorie from an inferiour Gentleman, to his farre better in degree, authoritie and calling. 27
An example of an epistle exprobratorie touching ingratitude receiued. 30
An epistle exprobatorie more largelie exampled. 31
_Of letters inuectiue._ 34
An example of an Epistle inuectiue from a father to his sonne. _eadem_
An answere purgatorie of the sonne touching the matters Inuectiue of the former epistle. 37
A reply of the father confuting the allegations of the sonne, and maintayning the causes of the former Inuectiue alledged. 42
An example of another epistle Inuectiue pleasantlie written against the humors and conditions of a vainglorious person. 45
An example of another epistle Inuectiue, written in cause of great desert agaynst two seuerall parties. 48
_Of epistles Comminatorie._ 61
An example of an epistle Cōminatorie. 52
Another example Comminatorie containing a greater vehemencie in the deliuerie. _ead._
_Of epistles Deprecatorie._ 54
An example of an epistle Deprecatorie, where the partie is charged in good opinion. 55
An example of an epistle Deprecatorie, in cause of wrong supposed to be committed. 57
An example of an epistle Deprecatorie, pleasantlie written to answer a former letter. 58
_Of Epistles familiar._ 59
A Letter Nunciatorie from a sonne to his father or friends, touching his being in seruice. _ead._
A Letter Nunciatorie in another sort of the same matter. _ead._
An Epistle Narratorie, contayning aduertisements from one friend to another. 60
A letter of aduertisements from a sonne to his father. 61
A Letter from a seruant or factor to his master. 62
_Of epistles Remuneratorie._ 63
An example of an epistle Remuneratorie from an inferiour to one farre his better, in reputation and calling. _ead._
A Letter Remuneratorie from a Gentlewoman of good sort, to a nobleman her kinsman. 64
A Letter Remuneratorie from one friend to another. 65
A Letter Remuneratorie from a better to his inferiour. _ead._
_Of epistles Iocatorie._ 66
An epistle Gratulatorie, from one friend to another. _ead._
A Letter Gratulatorie from a wife to her husband. 67
A letter Gratulatorie from one to his Kinsman seruing in London. _ead._
_Of epistles obiurgatorie._ 68
A Letter Obiurgatorie from a maister to his seruant. 69
_Of epistles Mandatorie._ _ead._
A Letter Mandatorie from a Maister to his seruant, or Factor being beyond the seas. 70
An other Letter Mandatorie from a maister to his seruant. 71
A Letter Mandatorie from a man to his wife. _ead._
A letter Mandatory from one friend to another. 72
Of Figures, Tropes and Schemes. 77
Of the parts, place, and office of a Secretorie. 101
FINIS.
Transcriber’s Notes:
- Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_). - Text enclosed by equals is in blackletter (=blackletter=). - Text enclosed by ‘|’ is emphasized normal font within an italicized or blackletter paragraph (|normal|). - Blank pages have been removed. - Decorative header formatting is maintained. - Decorative art dividers removed from text version. - Obvious typographical errors have been silently corrected. Examples: upside down letters (n for u), missing letters (theunto -> therunto), reversed letters(hwoe -> howe) otherwise there were no spelling corrections. - Spacing was tight and inconsistent, many spaced or unspaced words were a judgement call (beholding/be holding). - There were many capital first letters that were italicized, I assumed these were only due to typesetter convenience as there was no contextual reason. - There is frequent use of vowels with macron, per Wikipedia: “In Old English texts a macron above a letter indicates the omission of an m or n that would normally follow that letter.”. Example: iudgmēt -> iudgment.