Of Epistles Expostulatorie.Chap. 2.

Of Epistles Expostulatorie.Chap. 2.WIth these expressed examples, I thinke good to conclude this passed title, and thenceforth to goe to the next, which isExpostulatory. This worde seemeth to haue his definition of reasoning, debating or arguing a cause, thereby to find the depth, weight, certaintie or qualitie of the same, and according thereunto to lessen, qualifie, or enforce the substance of griefe or mislike by such meanes conceiued. And albeit iniuries, mislikes and discontentments are ordinary to all men, yet do they for the most part, fall principallie to be receiued among friendes, among kindred, great acquaintance and familiars, by occasion whereof, this title in writing is but (as it were) the first matter of challenge, before anie vile reproch bee performed. And this also not where there is a resolute malice alreadie conceiued, but where men aduisedlie and consideratlie do deliberate of their and other mens actions according to reason to bee considered. By which aduisement being led, without anie hairebraine or brainsicke deuise or humor at all, they sometimes mildlie, and in curteous and louing tearmes according to the state of the writer, and the condition of those to whome he writeth, expostulate the iniurie, desirous rather that the trueth by circumstances might be knowne, then anie quarrelsome matter to bee obtruded. Otherwhiles more roughly and peremptorily they deale, and yet not vnfittinglie nor badlie. But if the effect of your writing be not determined in anie of these two sortes, but falleth otherwise to a manner of reproching of benefittes, or to an exclamation or bitter enforcement of euils, then may not the same bee said to beExpostulatory, but rather to beeexprobratorie, orinuectiue, of which both twaine hereafter shall be further declared. And as this kind of expostulating falleth most with persons of equalitie, for that it is scarse thought good maners, and sometimes helde perillous to dispute of offences with one far aboue vs in authoritie, and with our inferiour so to doe, it turneth more often to beeReprehensoriethen otherwise: yet is the force thereof manie times caried from an inferiour to his better, neuerthelesse with a kinde of aunswerable submission alwayes respectiueto the others reputation or greatnes. And so may a man with his inferiour also in good sort sometime expostulate an iniurie, wherin if he shall vouchsafe so to doe, the partie lesse in abilitie hath the more reason to recognize his courtesie: for a man of good sort and greatlie reputed of, to offer as it were an imparlance vnto his inferiour, whereby to argue with him a matter in suspence to bee noted an iniury, cannot be but much to be praised, and so adiudged in that betternesse, as to procéede of a most singular bountie. So be it he do it not by insultation, nor anie pricke of vainglorie, for so doing it looseth a great part of the vertue therein praysed, vnlesse the desert of the partie be such, as may well merite that or a greater euill to be tendered. By all these means as aforesaid may iniuries be expostulated, the vsage whereof as well in matter of accusation as defence, is indifferently to be carried, considering that onely by varietie of allegations and not otherwise those questionable causes are to be sifted. And so here out will we wade into their seuerall examples.An example of an Epistle expostulatorie touching certaine iniuriesbetweene two friends.MAister L. there passed if you doe call to minde,Narratiō.twixt you and mee certaine speeches of great secrecie, vehementlie concerning the state and good support of my brother. And for as much as I had then great suppose, both of your honest courtesie and great fidelitie (as I thought) sufficient to the matter then spoken of, I did (the extremitie of the cruell creditours requiring it) not sticke to reueale vnto you the conceiued maner and means how the same might be redressed. I do verie perfectly remember, that but to one other besides your selfe, I did communicate the cause, of whose rare and singular honestie I doe so much assure my selfe, that if hee should reueale the same, I could despaire for euer to find any man secret, or that with whatsoeuer matter of friendship might hereafter be credited. But to be briefe with you, the secret is discried, and therewithall so fully laide open, as the whole maner of the same in sort as it was determined by one of the parties whom it specially concerned, hath been to my brothers owne eares deliuered. The other partie to whome I reuealedit hath chaunged his lodging, and hitherto I haue not sent vnto him: whose approoued fidelitie for that it remaineth of no small record to my certaine knowledge, I will presume to verifie. It resteth then that I must needes expostulate with you touching the iniurie, of whome I haue more cause to doubt, being thereunto led not without manie and those verie absolute coniectures. For first it is generallie knowne, that you are verie needie, and to be plaine with you, there be those that will iustifie that by such meanes you do shift now and then verie cunninglie. It is master L. a verie base kinde of shift for a Gentleman in anie treacherous manner to deale with his friend so vnkindlie. And I can prooue besides, that sithence my trust reposed, you haue entred speciall conference with the partie. The time likewise dooth somewhat assure me, in which no one but your selfe coulde so suddenlie preuent mee. There want not to giue scope hereunto, the speeches also which the next day you deliuered mee after I had spoken with you, which was, you feared least my man ouerheard, and might possiblie descrie mee, whom your selfe knewe an houre before our conference, to haue beene discharged our companie. Againe, the person and place where he remaineth, enforce something, whereunto vnaccustomed you haue accesse, and therefore for some speciall policie. And notwithstanding all these vehement likelihoodes, yet will I not condemne you, till I see how you will confute mee. Albeit my censure hitherto passeth that verie hardlie you may answere it, without especiall note of infamie; which being so, the displeasure may returne such as I can tell you, will not be maistered verie easilie. The haste of the messenger forbiddeth me longer delay, by reason whereof, I am compelled to leaue you. B. this of. &c.An answere defensorie vnto the effects ofthe same Epistle.MAister H.Exordium.The manner of your writing seemeth vnto mee verye straunge, and the circumstaunce such, as I promise you, wherewith I was neuer acquainted. I am not a little greeuedLiptote.to thinke that you shoulde in that peremptorie sort you doe, attribute vnto mee the name of so base and vnfitte a dealing.Excusatiō.I would well you and your informer vnderstoode: thatit is not my practise to vse that cunning, which you like to tearme by the name of shifting, neither (by whatsoeuer necessitie constrained) doe I inure my selfe vnto the same. It is an olde Prouerbe,Paræmia.Where the hedge is lowest, there euerie man is readie to goe ouer. The verifying whereof appeareth in you, who hauing no more certaintie then your meere imaginations to suspende mee, doe iniuriouslie obiect my necessitie, as beeing the onelie meane wherewith to disgrace me.Anthypophora.Whie, maister H. dooth it therefore followe because I want, that my minde must of force become maimed with such treacherie? You are deceyued, and they guesse much awrie, that in such hatefull manner doe go about to abuse mee.Erotema.What argument call you that, that for because you reuealed your counsell to vs two, and it liketh you to preferre by certaine allowaunce the others reputation and abilitie before mee, that therefore I haue deceyued you? Whie if you list to suppose a trueth on my side (as lawfullie you might doe) were there not as much reason that I for mine honestie, as hee for his brauerie shoulde as indifferentlie bee censured? But your probable coniectures you will saie doe entice you,Procatalepsis.the one whereof is the time wherein none coulde preuent you. Was not I pray you that other in Towne as well as I, though hee altered his lodging? And suppose that euerie daie wee were both heere since,Paramologia.may it bee vnpossible that another might endammage the matter as well as we? But I had speciall conference with the partie, and the place and person without that occasion, of no likelihoode by mee to bee frequented.Erotema.Had I conference? Is that a thing so maruellous? Am I so farre estraunged from honestie, that I may not haue speech with a man, but to worke my friend villanie? Alacke man, whie, I was neuer so fearefull of mine one keeping secretes,Charientismus.that I woulde haue denied it if you had asked mee, neither doe I much force if your owne eyes doe witnesse the cause when I next speake with you. In saying the place and person was before time by mee vnused, you speake iniuriouslie, for your owne selfe doe knowe, that both he and the rest, were to mee knowne before time, and that verie familiarlie. To conclude, I wish you to bee perswaded, that in rewarding mee with such conceytes as these, you shall doe mee but small courtesie, and ill requite my faythfulnesse by vpbrayding mee with my necessitie, that woulde haue endeuoured all meanes possible to pleasure you.And as touching anie infamie to me redounding herein, I woulde I could as well cleare all my offences to God-warde, as I can free my selfe of this suspition, and that with as great honestie, as others most maliciouslie haue sought to defame mee, and then no doubt my account should be a great deale lesse then it is, when euer the Almightie by his eternall summons should call me. In resolution whereof, I ende this answere. The of. &c.A reply to the said answere Defensorie, wherein the matter of theEpistle is more firmlie maintained.OF ancient time it hath often beene sayde,Exordium.that it is euill halting before a Cripple,Allegoria.faithfull dealing and flourishing glosing are two contraries. Among true friends indeede, and such as doe make more account of their credite and honestie,Antithesis.then of the base acquiring of a sleight commoditie, I doe confesse it is not of small moment to builde vpon the rock of their assurance, and to make reckoning of their word, to the vttermost, but where Gentilitie is not alonelie spotted, but in a manner couered and debased alreadie with vnhonestie, and men hold it for aMaximeto shrowd their lauish and euer emptied expence, by whatsoeuer kinde of lucre, bee it neuer so filthie, it is not necessarie that repose bee in such place stablished, least the vntimelie rooting thereof, doe make men banne their winnings, and lament the bitternesse of their losse, when too late they are out of hope, for euer to haue the same recouered.It seemeth Maister L. by the continuance of your Letter, that the censure of my former direction, you haue passed ouer very sleightlie, conceiuing that by a number of od speeches (which in maner of a racket you haue vsed,Hypotyposis.to tosse my coniectures as tennis balles, being at your deeming not much materiall, whether by order of the game you returne them into the court, or banding them in the aire, suffer them to flie at all aduentures) you do yet suppose to haue wrought a masterie, and of whatsoeuer to bee saide agaynst you, to haue discharged your selfe verie soundlie. You must thinke M. L. I am no babie, neither do you deale with such a one, that notwithstanding in a plaine and honest vsage hee accordeth to all simplicitie, is yet of so meane conceytebut hee is able to vent your vttermost actions, deale you in the handling of the same neuer so cunningly.The maner of your vsage,Commoratiō.being peraduēture deliuered in some place where you were lesse knowne, might make a flourish for your credit, and for the present, in one sort or other auaile you, but vnto me it is but matter to smile at, and occasion (to deale plainlie with you) the more to mislike you, who not contenting your selfe to haue dealte more vnfriendlie then befitteth, haue determined belike in your reasons to make me beleeue, that I haue offered you the iniurie, and when you haue stung mee to the quicke,Allegoria.perswade me that the violence of the mischiefe lighted vpon your owne body. But the course herein you take, is too far wide from the censure of any honest opinion.Erotema.What tell you me you were acquainted before time with the partie, and of I know not what businesse you had to do, which at the next sight you care not to shew mee? and then forsooth that the others ability and my suppose must bee preferred before you, in respecte of your necessitie? with such other friuolous repetitions without substance or honestie? and after that someRobinthe deuil, or I wot not what spirit of the aire must besides impossibility be supposed to reueale the accident.Confutatiō.What vanity is this? what matter of reason therein, that as before I might not assure my selfe of your infidelity? to what end proceedeth al the other circumstances, vpon what conceipt doe they cleare you? Tush, tush, deceiue not your selfe, nor thinke you go so couertly but that men of discretion can and do daily see you.Somwhat more thē you think I haue sithence heard how the world goeth with you, you thought it very much at the beginning I shoulde expostulate with you, but if I should stir you with thisitemthat I can tell you where, when, and vpon what expectation you descried mee, you might thinke I did not then disguize with you.I study not to capitulate your iniuries, as confessing my selfe also not to bee vnburdened with offences: But good I deeme it were M. L. that by some meanes you tooke notice of your owne infirmities. To aggrauate the wrong that you haue done me, I list not, and more then I intended haue I spoken vpon that you haue answered. Being vnwilling to toile my selfe, or trouble your conceiptes any further, I herewith conclude,More sorie of your ill condition, then of the abuse you haue done me.A second answere by the like reasons ofthe replie, in further defence ofthe partie.AS auncientlie it hath beene accustomedExordium.(as in the prouerbe by you alleadged)Paræmia.Better it were for some to steale a horse, then for others to looke on. It is an easie matter to find a staffe to beate a dog, and to him that list to haue a bad conceipt,Allegoria.what honest excuse may be alleadged that can drawe him from it. Men that are opinionatiue, doe not for the most part measure thinges as they are, but commonlie as their mind leadeth them,Sententia.and generally to speake of many thinges that in particular are vnnumbred, what the cōceipt giueth in certainty to be adiudged, there is with diuers persons no question of good and bad afterwardes to be opposed. Among friends sundry occasions do happen that meerely for themselues are to bee supported, the least of which happening among strangers, would not without great discontentment be carried.It is giuen to some to beare much,Prosonomasia.because they seeme to bee borne to it, and to laie their shoulders vnder euerie loade, because they are inured vnto it: yet all that carie loades are not Asses, not euerie one that supporteth a burden is forthwith a pack-horse. I knowe wel M. A. you are no babie, nor I thinke you do suppose me so sencelesse as to be a foole. I vse no rackets to your reasons, as vniustlie you conceiue of me, nor would I haue you imagine that bicause you think ill of me I must needs be guilty. I tell you againe as I told you before, you highly doe wrong me. And in this one more then any other, you most vnfriendly do abuse me.Erotema.Why do you so oftē inculcate vnto me, what other haue reported, and some say they haue seene in me? It is the truth I stand vpon, & not the malice of any one whatsoeuer, that so vilely misdeemeth me.It is not my custome to winke at all thinges as I doe vnto you, so indifferently, but yet would I haue you conceiue howe much the iniury toucheth me. You argue against mee that it is not inough that I say it is not so, so say I vnto you, that you ought not to charge mee without you can proue it so. Because there resteth some matter wherby I am in good condition tyed vnto you, it is not seemely for yourcredit, nor fit for the honesty wherof you make profession, to lade me any whit the more with iniury. Make what large collection you list of my present state and necessity, I tell you, I deeme my selfe the same man that I was in greater prosperity.My request is for the surcease of all this iarre, your opinion maie stande as you list, but giue mee conuenient time and accesse to cleare mee. To vrge me as you doe, maie but breede that which to neither of vs may returne pleasing, and which in the end I knowe will be to you most discontenting. It were good that with lesse resolution you did sway your opinions, so might you with smaller difficulty decerne, what with facility in fine you will of your selfe condiscend vnto. My selfe being as loth to disturbe you, as your self seeme wearied with the former toile doe herewith set my limits, who worse conceipted of your light beliefe then of the wrong you haue done me, do not withstanding continue,Desirous of your reformed imagination, &c.NOw after these double thwartinges on either part receiued in expostulating this iniury, (the like whereof by writing is sundrie times occasioned, and remaineth in this place onlie for varietie, to make shew how by well handeling, matters may on both sides be equally enforced or weakned) I will sort you forth two or three seuerall examples more, because of the necessary and often occurrence of this title, daily being accustomed in our writing. The first whereof shall be for matter of vnkindnesse: The second for breach of promise: The thirde from a meane Gentleman to a personage of great honour, wherby in cause of betternesse shall be exampled how iniuries may be expostulated or complained of, and these in sequence shall followe by their examples.An example of an Epistle Expostulatory touchingvnkindnesse receiued.MAister G.Narratiō.I haue great maruell that remaining hitherto in town as you do, we can by no possibility heare of your being, but by such iangling messengers as you make currors for spite, whereby toabuse your friendes. In which the discurtesie is far more by the vnbeseeming courses & dealings therein vsed, then fitteth either your honestie or our friendship to be tolerated. I doubted not ere this time how apt you were to conceiue (euen for a verie toie) in the worst degree that might bee, of any one that behaueth himselfe neuer so well vnto you,Epiphonema.so ticklish are your humours, and so vnsteady your censures. And which is worst, it cannot with you rest in imagination alone, but in such odde kinde of reportes, and to such base persons you deliuer it, as it verelie seemeth, you little recke what discredit you offer a man in the same, the least whereof would make you storme to the gall, if a man should but ouerslip himselfe in giuing any manner of sound of you, tending to such effect as you proffer. Good God sir, are you and I of late become such straungers together, as that neither writing nor request may serue to haue accesse to your presence. Trust mee I am vnused to these deuises, nor fit they at all vnto my appetite. Either something or no body to me, but vnto such as more recke of your coynesse then I doe, you may be as you will, or as their fortunes may beare with you. For my part I am too vnapt to weld any such insupportable amity. If you can vse me as your vpright, honest, and well meaning friend, I am vnto you as firme as you woulde wish me, otherwise to encounter so many diuersities, of vnfrequented fancies, toyes, or mislikes, it aunswereth in no point vnto my propertie, which hauing thought good of meere well wishing to signifie vnto you by present writing, I leaue you to your best opinion, this of &c.Yours in all good sort to be entertained, &c.An example of an Epistle expostulatory forbreach of promise.MAster K. I haue abstayned hitherto to come or sende vnto you,Narratiō.partly weried with importunity, for that I thought two moneths being now passed, I might in this space haue found a season conuenient, wherein to haue ended with you. Hauing taken this cause in hand, I woulde (as in good reason it seemeth fit) you should determine with me vpon some conclusion, wheron resting assured, I might thenceforth know wherunto to trust, & neitherwaste labour in comming to so small purpose, nor hinder my certaine busines by the vnsteadie stay of your affaires, as alreadie I haue done. We haue talked manie times, and set downe certaine limits, marie to so slender effect, as I neither know when to demaund, nor you howe to satisfie. So that depending vpon shadowes, I haue passed my time with small benefite, and you haue gone forward to little purpose. I doe pray you therefore that hence-foorth such honest meaning maie assure vs, as alreadie betweene vs hath on either part beene performed, To delaie me thus with nifles, as I thinke it farre from a Gentleman, so do I suppose you not intend it, considering how many wayes thereby, I am and shall be hindred. This therfore may be the certaine meane to satisfie vs both,Epilogus.that you will (as on Friday last you promised) come and see the agreement betweene vs performed, whereof I pray you aduertise your full resolution by this bearer. And so I bid you heartily fare well, &c.An example of an Epistle Expostulatorie from an inferiour Gentlemanto his farre better in degree, authoritie and calling.RIght Honourable,Exordium.though by the custome and common policie of this vnhappie worlde, I am better warranted with a personage of your greatnesse, to dissemble, then to deale plainlie, yet because I finde as well by Gods owne worde, as by the euent of mens practises, that such customes are neither pleasing to his Maiestie, nor alwayes profitable to such as vse them, I haue aduentured to manifest that by paper, which by words (albeit many times desirous) I neur had heart to vtter.My purpose is to be plaine,Propositiō.and in honest and dutifull sort to expostulate with your L. wherein I finde my selfe greeued, and vpon what ground this my complaint is framed. I therfore most humblie beseech your L. for Gods sake and your owne, to pardon this presumption, and to admit me fauourable and indifferent construction, of what I shall here vnfolde vnto you by writing.I exclaime of wrong passed, I vrge my miserie present, and I complaine of you to your selfe, and so doe make you iudge of all that shall be hereafter enformed.Your L. did once knowe, and hath still some cause to remember, that of all such lande and liuings as my father at his death was possessed,one onelie poore farme fall to my share.I my selfe doe knowe, and shall neuer easilie forget, that after the same was thrust into my handes, I neuer inioyed it without much vnquietnesse, quarrell and vexation, nor without the continuall malice and molestation of my vnnaturall Vncle, and such his associates, as by setting him on, vnderhande, did afterwardes finde meanes to fasten in the same.This poore liuing (once in maner lost, afterwards recouered, and yet still fearefullie kept, the rather by meane of a newe trouble, moued vnto me by maister B.) I was in fine driuen to offer for a little, but to sell for lesse. Now here begins my iust cause of complaint. For vpon firme hope of your L. fauour towards me, and that you would according to your honourable promises haue done me an expected good: I was content to yeeld my interest for eleuen hundred and three score pounds, where sixteene hundred pounds had beene before offered by my kinsman, and so I then told you.This offer of mine, your L. for the time accepted, yeelding with some difficultie to paie the odde eight score poundes, where I ought it. Howe be it afterwardes, hauing gotten the Lease into your hands, and beeing possessed of the bargaine, and none nowe daring to take the same from you, you quarrelled with the Lease as before you had done with the title, and made mee a fresh abatement of the odde eight score poundes, affirming it to bee no part of your charge to paie my debts.To salue this mischiefe, and to saue my eight score poundes (your Lordship hauing reported the former bargaine to your most aduauntage) I laboured without auaile, to helpe your memorie therein. Protesting (and that most trulie) that vpon mine earnest and humble petition vnto your L. to leaue mee woorth a thousand pounds, and to paie my debts, and in regarde also of the great abatement of what I might haue had else where, your Lordshippe had condiscended in the former conference to discharge the same. And thereupon willed me, at my next returne to bring a note of my debts, with the names of my creditors.This tale I well remember with more trueth then good successe vttred (speciallie the often touch of what my kinsman had offered me) did greatlie mislike you. Whereupon growing in heate (yet withsome regard of honour) you swore that if anie other bought the same at my handes then your selfe, you would haue it for lesse then fiue hundred pounds, yea, for nothing, or else it should go hard. Marie keeping it my selfe, you said you would stand my friend: which hote or colde conclusion, I protest did so appale, as with feare of further losse, with griefe and discontentment I grewe sicke, and thereupon resolued to take what you would giue me.Your Lordship hauing thus, what with countenaunce and choler dismayed mee, and finding by such peremptorinesse my sense to bee ouercome, you ranne on still with this wresting course, and vpon authoritie without cause or colour, cut me yet thirtie pound shorter. So as in place of one thousand sixe hundred pound offered mee by my kinsman in the Countrey, your Lordship gaue mee nine hundred and seuentie pound, leauing me out of this to pay a hundred and sixtie pound debt.By these meanes (right Honourable) was I then halfe impouerished, and am now altogither vndone, hauing neither skill to vse that little you gaue, nor will to raise my selfe after my fall, which I thought impossible.It was a wholsome caueat giuen mee by your Lordship, and a full resolution put downe by my selfe, rather to stoope and to liue somwhat sparing, then by anie prodigalitie to impaire my stock: but being neither Marchant, Artizan, Broker, nor Vsurer, nor hauing among manie debtors, scarce one good payer, I coulde hardly frame to doe what was aduised me, or be so much mine owne friend, as at first I had determined.My state then brought thus lowe, my friends decayed and dead, my liuing sold for little, and the money spent, I resolued and stil doe with the rest to leaue my Countrey, as well to couer my want from mine enemies, as to seuer my selfe from so vnfortunate acquaintance.Find time therefore I beseech your honour, before my going to examine these particulars, they containe I protest nothing but matter of truth. It is a high vertue and most commendable in a man of your state, to right your inferiour against your selfe, by this shall you winne him vnfainedlie to loue you, who now vpon iust cause can do no lesse, then thinke himselfe wronged by you.And so my good L. this bill exibited into your chamber, not into any court, deliuered to your owne handes, and to no man els, I leaue to your honourable and best consideration, humblie once againe beseeching your L. to suspend your hardest conceit against mee, for expostulating my griefs, in repect my plainnes herein, passeth not without truth, nor any wrong enforced, but vpon iust occasion.Of Epistles Exprobratorie. Chap. 4.FRom matterExpostulatorie, wee will nowe turne our selues to the next title beeingExprobratorie, vnder which is contained cause indeede of vehement and grieuous disdaine: chieflie touching offences that impugne a contrarie and laudable merite and desert. For which, howbeit in all ciuill vsages it be accounted vndecent, vncourteous, and vnbeséeming anie gentle condition, to reproch a man in time of mislike, with good offices or turnes, that before he hath receiued. So when contrarie to the honest affection vnto him bountifully tendred, a man shall either vngratefully refuse to recognize the same goodnes, or impudentlie, vnciuilly, or inhumainly go about to reward euil for good, and to enforce a most vniust vexation, where himselfe hath receyued most comfort. In such cases to vse thisExprobratorymaner of writing, to signifie vnto yᵉ party so forgetfull of gentlenes, both what he hath receiued, and howe much he was charged by all waies, limits and means that may be enforced, of humanitie, pietie, or gentlenes, it shall not be amisse, and to such ende & no other is thisExprobratoriekind of Epistles to be vsed: Of which, some certaine examples are in this place to be deliuered.An example of an epistle Exprobratorie touching ingra-titude receiued.I Doe not maruellNarratiō.at your woonted and sundrie delayes in aunswering my requestes, nor that you breake so manie promises with your friendes for the gratifying of their courtesies: In that beeing thinges by nature annexed as they are to so seruile a condition,they seeme (as remedilesse) in all discreet iudgementes to bee borne withall. But that I wonder at, is, howe my selfe (knowing as I doe, and hauing so often tasted of that contemptible and harde disposition of yours towardes mee) should yet be so assotted,Merismus.as to straine my friendes, to spende my money, exercise my wits, yeelde my trauell, bende my care, and passe my credite, to relieue, vpholde, nourish and maintaine such a one, in bringing him from nought to ought, from the dunghill to the court, from woe to wealth, as hath neither honestie to regarde me,Synathrismus.wit to vse me, will to requite me, ciuilitie to respect mee, good nature to thanke me, nor any one sparke of endeuour whereby so much in good seeming to behaue himselfe towards me. Many occasions haue beene giuen mee before time by some other misprizers of my curtesie, but you of all others haue exceeded and do passe them all in vnhonestie.Commoratiō.That I shoulde bee occasioned thus to reproch you as I doe, is iwis vnto me no great contentment, but that at my handes who alwaies haue so manifoldlie deserued of you, you should so far forth challenge to be reproched, that certainly is it whereof you ought most to bee ashamed. Howe many wayes you haue wronged me,Liptote.and howe little cause hereafter I haue to entermedle or haue to doe with you,Metonoia.hauing so ingratefully, nay rather inhumanelie dealt with me, let the world iudge betweene you and me. Had I tried you in much, or in one halfe of that whereby in very dutie you are charged vnto me, it had beene somewhat to haue denied me:Synonymia.But in a matter so slender, so small valued, and but a trifle, to delay me, to stande with mee,Asyndeton.to breake promise with mee, and which is worst of all, most vnciuillie therewith to bearde me, that of all others is the most detested that may bee. Sorie I am, not that I haue knowne you, for the knowledge shall keepe mee from you, but that in nourishing of you, I forgot my selfe so much, as I coulde neuer till this present perceiue nor looke after you. Fare as you will for me, who euer hereafter desire neither to know nor see you. From B. this of, &c.An Epistle exprobatory, more largely exampled.ALbeit vnto a gentle minde there is nothing lesse proper,Exordium.then a reproching of benefittes: nor any thing more contrarying,then to bee touched with discurtesies: yet respecting the weight of the manifold wrongs done vnto me, & most iniurious deuises, wherein thou hast contrary to all lawes of nature, vertue, or honestie, gone about to abuse mee,Hyperbole.rewarding not euill, but worse then mischiefe it selfe, for good, and doing that which all men hate, and the most discreet doe abhorre in requitall of that which I chieflie deserued of thee, I hold my selfe neither to be touched in gentlenes, nor deemed at all in discurtesie,Allegoria.if to such a Camelion I giue his due colours, of so vile a viper doe bewray the feature, to so ingratefull a wretch doe blaze forth his picture, and of so vglie a beast do yeeld his due portraiture, to the ende that at least it may appeare vnto thy selfe, howe vnlike to that thou hast euer seemed vnto me,Antithesis.I haue nowe found thee, and how contrarying to that my selfe haue manifoldly bounde thee, thou hast now shewed thy selfe vnto me.To the opening whereof let mee call to remembraunceMerismus.that beeing here a great while sithence a straunger, spoiled of that thou haddest, laden with sicknesse,Brachiologa.pursued of thy foes, burdensome to thy friends, subiect to a number of casualties, of death, pouertie, hatred, penurie,Asyndeton.griefe, trouble, and want, I tooke thee, I kept thee, I relieued thee, I prouided for thee, and that at such time as when forsaken of all others, thou wast onely compassed with extremitie, had not this one curtesie,Anthipophora.nay rather vnaccustomed kindnes, beene sufficient alone, wherewith to haue bound thee? Questionlesse it had, rested there at al any sparke of good condition within thee, yet had this been all that I had done for thee, happilie could I then haue contented my selfe, and haue thought that thou haddest therein alone dealt but ingratefullie.Abhorrest thou notErotema.in the perusing hereof to thinke howe thou hast vsed mee?Commoratiō.Well knowest thou that on this hie point of curtesie, I stucke not alone with thee, for after a recouery by my meanes had, and restitutions of thine estate, vnto thy wonted possessions, health, freedome and libertie, I not only so setled thee, but beeing haled thy selfe (as it were) out of the Lions iawes,Asyndeton.I made thine aduersaries a praie vnto thee, I fauored thee, I loued thee, I esteemed thee when none would regard thee, when all men despised thee. Were not these benefits sufficient,Erotema.Aporia.Allegoria.to haue yoked any good or honest disposition vnto me? What Viper may I then terme thee? what monster or hellish impthat not onely hast not vouchsafed so much as to requite, but scornest in apparance so much as to beare a good opinion towardes me? Is it possible that man than a Serpent, or than the very Crocodile it selfe should become more malicious,Paradoxon.yet hast thou in far greater quantitie then these contained thy venome,Hyperbole.the Hydra was not answerable vnto thy propertie, the very Sauages themselues could not equall thee, thou art infine beyond all, and there are none beyond thee, for both men and beasts do abhor thy treachery.What then auaileth that of such a one I haue merited so highlie?Erotema.Whereto serueth it to haue extended on him so greate and vnused bounty? The dog fawneth by kinde where he is loued, the Tyger by gentlenes is from his cruelty disturned,Sententia.the Lion wil not suffer a kindnes vnregarded. But thou (hatefull of all others) degenerating from all nature both of men and beasts weighest not of friendship, reiectest fauors,Pleonasmus.hatest all gentlenes, regardest no kindnes, contemnest merits, and kindlesse of all kinds,Polyptoton.or rather sequestred from any kinde, giuest thy selfe to rewarde the best deseruinges, with vnauoidable and most destestable villanies.Had I not too much deserued as I haue done at thy handes,Epizeuxis.it might in some sort haue sufficed me.Anaphora.Had I by any known or pretended euill, euer pursued thee, had I meant at any time badly vnto thee, it might yet haue cōtented me, that forgetfull of al that before passed, thou shouldest in this hatefull manner haue dealt with mee. But hauing onely heaped on thy head a multitude of fauors,Merismus.receiued thee as I haue done with so sundrie curtesies, imbraced thee as thou knowest with infinite contentmentes, deliuered thee from death, and verie hellish tormentors,Antithesis.what kindnesse could be more, or what merite so ample? And contrariwise, what requitall so slender, what acknowledgement so bad, or what recompence so euill, then wherewith besides all course of iustice and equitie thou hast most vnnaturally acquited me?Epiphonema.One only comfort resteth, that of all honest minds thou art hated deseruedly, and out of all gentle company art excluded perpetually, wherin hauing the only solace vnto my grieued conceits, that for the present may be acquired, I liue in hope to see thee once againe to haue neede of mee, when according to thy demerits I shall thinke of thee, and in the meane while esteeme of thy fashions, as thou hast giuen me cause to accompt of them.Of Letters inuectiue.Chap. 5.TO theseExprobratorieepistles, doth next follow the titleinuectiue. A sharpe and bitter inueighing against the person, déedes, or behauiours of men, occupied altogether in condemning, disabling, and wresting, whatsoeuer maie bee collected to the reproofe, diminution, or impugning of anie one, and that by all maner of quips, tauntes, reproches, blames, imputations, or designmentes that maie bee of euils. And yet this not by a disordered, malicious or railing humour, vniustlie and without great and forcible cause to be pursued, but by a learned, discreete, lawfull, or reasonable toleration to be followed, which in all maner of directions is principallie to be required. The conueiance is as full of Art as anie others, that heretofore haue beene exampled vnto you, and as well for rife and quicke inuention, as orderlie disposition, enforcementes, and neate deliuerie, hath his speciall commendation.An example of an Epistle Inuectiue of a fatheragainst his sonne.THe sight of your letters,Exordium.and message receiued by your seruant haue (good Coosen) bred to mee in perusing and harkening vnto the same, no small matter of disquiet, not that your letters or messages for themselues are,Metonoia.or haue beene at anie time ill welcome to my hands, but in respect of him for whom they come, whom in truth I neuer recke if I heare of,Epiphonema.so filled haue I beene long since with the euils by him committed.Liptote.I am nothing ignorant that of loue and meere good will you beare to mee and mine, you framed your speeches vnto me, which with how much tediousnes I haue considered of, and with what willingnes I could haue omitted to answere them, no one can so wel giue testimony,Periphrasis.as the burthen of mine owne sorrow beareth witnes vnto me.But for that I see you are ill conceyted at my heauinesse,Apostrophe.and of your owne good nature woulde gladlye finde meane to recouer that vnto mee,Noema.which my selfe am out of hope for euer to compasse, I am content, though ill pleasing to my remembraunce, and the rather also that by the extremitie of the euillesLiptote.your owne minde maie bee disswaded from anie further dealing in the cause, to shewe vnto you the good conditions of him you sue for, what manner a sonne hee hath alwayes beene vnto mee, what reason thereby I haue to commaunde him from mee, and howe farre wide you are, that in such sort as you declare, doe conceiue both of him, and of mee.I neede not repeate heere vnto you,Paralepsiswith what fatherlie care I haue brought him vppe to mannes estate, by what prouident foresight, I sought both with maintenaunce and conuenient place of credite, to continue him as a Gentleman, howe vnwilling I was to enter into the search of euerie small offence, but attributing the force thereof to his tyme of youth, was content to winke at that manie times, the sufferaunce whereof I doubted would turne to the ruine that it presentlie carrieth. I will but giue you an instaunce of the same, to the intent that as you shall knowe thereof, so may you in reuoluing the rest, consider the better howe vnkindlie, yea, more then vnnaturallye I maie saie, hee hath rewarded me, and therewith will come to the present estate wherein he now remaineth.It is I iudge about three yeares sithence,Narratiō.to the intent to retaine him in some good order of life, I placed him with a right godlie and worshipfull Knight, Sir H. D. who for my sake both loued him, and I knowe tooke paines to the vttermost to reforme him, before that time I had placed him in an Inne of Courte, where with expences sufficient I kept him. In both of these places hee brought mee more then I will rehearse indebted, ranne himselfe on the rockes, durst not besides (for that priuilie hee had taken vp) to shewe his head.Merismus.Complaints were infinite against him, this man could not bee in quiet for him, that mans seruant hee misused, this partie hee deceyued, that other hee highlie wronged: what coulde I doe vnto these thinges, but as one desirous to reclaime him whom he knewe to be his owne (though with a resolute vow neuer todeale with him,) I then had cast him off, yet by intreatie of his friends, and his earnest submission I receiued him againe. Sithence which too much it is to be reuealed,Commoratiō.how stubbornlie euen in mine owne house, how iniuriously among mine owne people, he hath behaued himselfe, by reason whereof as compelled for the quiet of mine owne familie, I appoynted him to goe from hence into S. there to remaine with his Vncle. And because it was against a Christmasse, and that I woulde not dismisse him vnfurnished of that belonged vnto a Gentleman, (besides that, with a couple of good Geldings I horsed him and his man, and suted him of apparell, and what other needfull necessaries) I deliuered him twentie pounds in his purse. Hee was no sooner gone to D. beeing not past twentie myles from my house, but the verie same night hee loste all his money at dice, pawned his horses for twentie Nobles, and was faine of an honest friend of mine to borrow tenne poundes for his expences, and to redeeme his Geldings, one of my poore Tenants there refusing to supplie his wantes, hee fowlie beate, and if companie had not come in to the rescue, had like to haue slaine him.Nay, what hath hee done more, but knowing that these his ill demeanours comming once to mine eares, I woulde neuer after repute of him, hee hath confederated with a wicked rascall that once was his man, who beeing the verye same night in his companie, the next day after came to my house and robbed me.Are not these impieties (thinke you) verie straunge?Erotema.What Nature is in such a sonne, nay, where in him are those district lawes of Nature become, that commonlie enforceth in all other children, an awfull loue and reuerent regarde vnto their parents? Where is the feare of diuine and humane lawes,Prolepsis.the one threatning a sharpe scourge for such vndutifulnesse, and the other punishing by penall forfeytures and imprisonments, the manner of such detestable and disordered loosenesse. To what issue is the auncient right and laudable custome of our forefathers alreadie runne, that whilome by seuere directions compelled the runnagate vsage of their children to a more district imposition and farre estranged exaction then nowe vsed, of a most rare and singular obedience? Why is the common intendment earst in our predecessours tymes, of lawfull and good so accustomablie vsed, thus quite forworne, and in these our seasons(filled with all kind of carelesnes) so far forth disgraced? who is he that now recketh farther then his owne fantasie, or what sonne wil for any zeale or dutie once seeke to repell his owne appetite? Whither are ye gone yee iust and seuere iudges,Prosopopœia.by whose sentence and opinion definitiue sharpe and bitter tortures were laid downe vnto them, that durst presume by any outward shewe in the world, but once so much as to countermaund the authoritie of their fathers?O times more iniurious then euill it selfe,Emphasis.by whose onely sufferance, mischiefe spreadeth her selfe so highly as it doth, into such manifold branches.Aporia.What would you haue me to say in these things? thinke you not that I haue alreadie receiued discontentment inough at such a ones hande? or would you wish me againe by returning him home weetinglie,Metaphora.to sucke vp mine owne misfortune, and by nourishing an expugnable wickednesse, to see a demonstration of mine owne sorrowe and destruction daylie before mine eyes? No, no, coosin, I haue (I hope) taken order sufficient for these thinges, his presence I am resolued shal no more disquiet mee, by hearing or remembrance of him, if no friend of mine doe otherwise vexe mee,Orismus.for needes a vexation must it bee, be it but the least suppose, to conceiue that I haue yet remayning vnto mee such a sonne. Take heede (good Coosen) that as hee hath deceyued a great manie others, but mee of all others most especiallie, he also doe not deceyue you. Driue him quicklie from your presence, and thinke that a greater plague can you not receyue into your familie, then a person so vile, and of all others demeaned so wickedlie.Peroratiō.This is all that I can delyuer you of my present opinion, but not the least of a thousande other accidents occasioning the same. Whereon I am determined fullie to repose my selfe. Sending in the meane time my heartiest commendations and earnest thankes for the indifferent care had of my being both to you and your bedfellow, this of, &c.An answere purgatorie of the sonne touching matters Inuectiueof the former Epistle.WEre it not sir that my presenceExordium.might more offend you then I wish, or by anie action of mine owne, woulde willinglie deserue, I had (emboldened by the equitie andright of my cause) in all humble reuerence and dutie, tendered my self vnto you, but vnderstanding howe greatly the malice of mine auncient enemies haue preuailed towards mee, and that without the verie pietie of your selfe, and equall regarde had to the due information of my cause, there is no place of fauour left vnto me, I choose as the meetest to abandon for a while the yeelding vnto you (by my accesse) of anie such annoyance, and in the meane time, to frame these humble lines, pacifiers of your more then ordinarie discontentments, that as true aduertisers of the course of that wherwith I am charged, they may plead pardon of your protested mislike, and winne vnto me (as I hope) that intertainment againe, from which hitherto by the vndeserued proceedings of mine aduersaries, I haue iniuriouslie beene detained.And albeit there is no reason whie, in the measure of all your actions,Insinuatiō.I shoulde or ought to deeme, that you doe, or enterprise anie thing vnaduisedlie: yet for so much as the secret sting of malice is such, as is able to penetrate the wisest, and that where much is feared, the least matter inducing thereunto is made occasion to question of, I doe in as lowlie manner as I maie,Paresia.beseech that but with indifferencie you will see howe and in what sort I am wronged, and giuing credite to what hereby in mine owne defence alledged, you will censure the rest, as to the respect of your fatherlie pietie appertaineth.The weight of that,Propositiō.for which as I vnderstande you are agreeued agaynst mee, is that heretofore you haue had suggested vnto you that I am verie vnthriftie,Anaphora.that I keepe lewde companie, that I consume all at dice, that I am a quarreller, and lastlie, that you surmize you were robbed by meane of mee, or by my assent, all which to confirme, mine aduersaries seeme to haue gathered vppon me great aduantage, in that notwithstanding, beeing often forewarned the contrarie, I sithence fell into companie, played at dice, brake a mans head, and that my man that robbed you, was the night before in my companie.Much more euill commonlie carrieth the reporter,Sententia.in deliuering an ill suppose of a reasonable conceyted matter, then oftentimes dooth the action it selfe, in the most woorst degree of truth that can bee, beeing equallie considered of, for example, was iteuer helde a thing insufferable for a Gentleman to frequent companie or to plaie at dice?Paramologia.May it not sometimes be iustifiable to breake a mans heade? is it a matter of preiudice that hee who once did mee seruice was seene in my company? Your selfe, sir, I knowe wil aunswere for me to all these, No. Then will not I, not only not deny but I did all these, but by your fauour, iustifie to their faces, that honestlie, lawfullie, without offence against you, or reasonable mislike of anie other, I haue and might againe at any time enter into the like vsage of all or any of these, as at that time I did, when they so complained of me.The company whereof I am accused were such onely and none other as I found in mine Inne,Commoratiō.gentlemen ech to you wel known and of all men generallie well reputed, the plaie that I vsed was with them, the set by agreement not great, concluded vpon more to passe time, then whereof to make gaine.Hypotyposis.Hereunto commeth a bad fellowe out of the town accompanied with one of your tenaunts, who looking on a good while, craued at last hee might set, which being granted, a cast fell between him and me of a nūber to be decided, for his opinion he dared me a good time with twenty Nobles to my geldings, I accepted the wager, the boorde went with mee, your tenant excepted, who against all others stood against me, and hauing this wager in his custody would not deliuer it me. Words by such meanes multiplied, and they both arose against mee, whereupon forced to some impatience,Metonomia.my hand made way to my right, wherewith I quailed their resistance. Lo now sir,Epiphonema.the matter thus highly framed against me, lo here the losse, the pawning, the borrowing of money, and what killing and slaying against mee reported.Synonymia.See here I beseech you the vnthriftines, the misrule, the il company, and what else that malice could any waies deuise to ouerthrow me.And yet if but truely in their verie supposes they shoulde haue dealte with me, what conceipt could they then haue found in all this to obiect against me?Erotema.Is it not a thing ordinary among Gentlemen when they meete together to solace themselues with some one or other reasonable pastime, in allowance whereof, no one is ordered by himselfe, but by common liking of the rest? Is it not a thing naturall to man, after wearisome trauels to vse vnto his minde some honest recreation? Is it not accordant to ciuilitie to entertainetimes and occasions? Affoorded you not therefore the money you gaue mee, in companie well reputed, and in their honest exercises, moderatelie to maintaine mee? Agreeth not hereunto your onelie dailie conuersation, your entertainments, your continuall vse of companie applied in your owne behauiors, and in others commended before me?What then may bee saide to condemne me?Anthypophora.the common name (perchaunce) of the plaie, carying with it a continuall surmize of inconuenience?Paramologia.I need not here lay vnto your wisdome for my defence, that as well therein, as in all other demeanors, there isvsewhich is allowed, andabuse, that in it selfe is insufferable. To commende the moderate vse hereof,Epanodis.I can induce nothing more thencustome, and for the choise of the best obseruation, the company must cleare mee. Nowe in auoiding the enormities, the charge (if I misconceiue not) you gaue me, extended to the fellowship of the worst, in whose societie nothing is so common as ill vsage, and in whose pleasures, no one thing so ordinarie as vnthriftinesse, each of which occasioning that euill which I seeke to shunne, hath beene herein so far exempted, as I protest there resteth in veritie, no suspicion at all wherewith I may be charged.But if nowe sir,Apostrophe.you will reason of your tenauntes hurte, what therein may bee obiected that shall not euery waie further mee: who is hee that by nature could bee so restrained, but by the verie instinct thereof, hee will rather kill if neede bee, then stande to be killed?Paradigma.Hath not the Soueraigne mother of all our earthlie beeing, armed euen the verie Beastes themselues to their owne defence? hath not the Lyon his clawes, the Bull his hornes, the Dogge his teeth, and the Boare his tuskes? Doe not the worthiest sort of mankinde also contemne to be misprized, and naturallie couet where they bee enforced, immediatlie to be reuenged? Allotteth not the lawe vnto euerie man his right?Erotema.Was it not by Conuention agreed, that the winner shoulde haue the wager? And did not the vniuersall sentence of the whole boord, adiudge it to me? What resteth any waies then to bee alleadged whereby in this action to accuse mee? Nay rather what is vnleft herein to condemne him,Polyptoton.that being your tenaunt, hauing his liuing of you and yours, beholding as hee is to all yours, woulde yet be so vile conceipted against any of yours, as not with ordinaryspeeches alone, but with vnfitting tearmes, with violent force woulde goe about to withstande me,Asyndeton.to hurt mee, yea desperatelie to confederate with another of my life and money to bereaue me.But nowe to drawe vnto the last parte that toucheth my man, standing as a coniecture for that hee was in my companie the night before, I must conspire with him to rob you.Dialysis.Do but cōsider sir I pray you, what likelihood of truth this beareth: would any one be so mad as once to harme, or go about to hurt the possessions that in right is to no one so much as himselfe? Woulde I euer appeare so vngracious as to confederate with a stranger, to no benefit but of himselfe, to rob and spoile my father?Ecphonesis.Alas, what coulde there be so aduerse vnto Nature, as should enforce in me so vnkinde a condition? You must needes Sir (by your fauour) something consider, what one thing or more might bee in mee occasioning vnto the same, it must either bee some vehement necessitieExpeditiō.(which neuer hapened) constraining mee, some great extremity (which you know to bee contrary) wherewith by keeping mee too short of expence or maintenance you might enforce me, a kinde of wanton prodigality, whereof no worlde can accuse me, ill counsell whereunto so far forth I neuer could yeelde me, or a most detestable and vile disposition graffed in my selfe, which no man euer found in me. These causes as I thinke are the most likest of all others inducing to those opinions, which howe farre they or any of them haue estranged my condition, let but the verie consciences of my vtmost aduersaries indifferently trie: me what if hee were in my company, is not that a thing that without any suspition at all, might easliest of al others happen vnto me?Dichologia.I am not weeting of mens thoughts, neither can I coniecture of any other but their outward demeanors: if he were il, weigh I pray you, the fault proceedeth not from me. Sory I am that any such conceipt by any one of mine should so much offend you.These things then falling out in such sort as they be, it may please you sir, henceforth to allowe of this my iust Apology,Epilogus.and by the selfe samenature,piety, andlouing condition, wherewith in all duty and obedience I seeme firmely charged vnto you, in like sort to recognize and receiue mee, who notwithstanding I confesse many waies heretofore, to haue erred,Dichologia.yet heerein in no one point indifferent rest Irightlie to be challenged. The expectation whereof hath made mee presume to the recommendation of these letters, attending therwithal the newes of your good conceipt, and happy returne of this bearer. From, &c. this, &c.TO this defence, we will for the more variety suppose a reply to be made by the Father, the reasons whereof shall yet also consist in the selfe same stateabsolute, yeelding thereby a more ample demonstration of the diuersitie of constructions incident to those places, and how by the forcible applications of their special intendmentes, they are, or may be caried to diuers seuerall purposes. Inasmuch, as like to their present vse in this defence they haue beene suggested for confirmation and to the clearing of the sonnes faultines, herein also by the same conueiance they shal be maintained by the confutation of al his former allegations, the matter whereof, in sort following may be considered.A replie of the father confuting the allegations of the sonne,and maintaining the causes of the formerinuectiue alleadged.YOur wiles (Sirra)Exordium.and sophisticall expositions of your owne misdemeanours, with sundrie confirmations therein vsed, whereby to driue me from the verie suppose of that whereunto no one thing hath giuen more euident testimony, then the course and progression of your whole life,Metaphoraare either too newlie forged, to reape at my hands any sound credite, or the metall so light, as carieth in the weight thereof verie small substance. in my conceipt to be beleeued.Well haue you applied your witsInsultatiō.(no doubt) and to especiall good purpose haue your studies bin framed, that can so cunninglie cōment as you haue done vpon so bad a text, but withdraw your measure betimes, and cease this ouerweening,Allegoria.least by continuing your selfe in a fools paradice, and where al things are naught, supposing nothing to be amisse, you do (as by your deserts you haue sundry times endeuored to lose a father) so in the end frame a desperate meane to lose your selfe, when you may neuer be recouered.The shame you haue of your mischiefe done, and guiltinesse of your owne conscience to come in my sight, togither with a knowne mislike that you haue receiued from mee, either to see or heare from you: you vse as a cloake, to couer the long pretext you haue made in defence of your euils, you haue well shewed that paper beareth no other hue but his owne, and the letters you imprint therupon, carrie but their proper colour.Allegoria.Though they falsifie a thousande actions, and bolster vp inumerable lies, it is not seene in their chaunge, but in a shamefast browe of him that were not past shame, the least of all these would quickelie bee deciphered.Parison.Is it not inough you haue done badlie touching your selfe, vnkindlie demeaned your selfe towardes your fathers friendes, vnthriftily consumed your time in some one or other badde companie, run at randon euerie way to your parents and your owne infamie, but that also in your behauiours, you will not onelie dare to denie it, but which is woorse, in your writing seeke to defende it. It fitteth not that I shoulde vse reasoning, neither meane I to contend with your cautels, but for fashions sake, or (if so you list) to beate that to your remembrance, whereof hitherto you abandon the notice, let me aske you this one question. In all your smooth passage and flourish made of your companie, their reputation,Synathrismus.your ciuilitie, small play, my allowance, and your construction vpon the same, dooth it not drawe to this ende, that it was in an Inne, in a place filled with all vnthriftinesse, in a dicing Chamber, in a spectacle for all companies? Doth not the verie deliuerance of your owne fact condemne you, dooth not the verie sequell of his entrance,Synonymia.looking on, and plaie (whome you tearme to bee a base fellowe) impugne you? Dooth not your after quarrell and mischiefe done oppose it selfe agaynst you? What if all the information deliuered vnto mee in particular were not true? Is not the substaunce true?Erotema.Naturecoueting recreation, is in him that will bee modestlie gouerned,Orismus.to be measured as well by time and place, as by entertainment of companies,Customecarrying with it selfe anie secrete insimulation of euill, is not to bee followed;ciuilitieis notciuilitie, when it shall bee repugnant to a right gouerned modestie: can that be agreeing toLaw, which in effect is discordant from anie good order of law? Induce you my allowance, as a confirmedsentenceto your vaine opinions? Why, sirra, frequented I euer anie such playin Innes?Metonoia.Nay rather did I not euer mislike it, alwaies spake against it, and in euerie action condemne it? Stood not my conceit that being in the best part it might be, though young men stoode neuer so much on their light gaming, and little hinderance, it was rather an allurements and inurement to vnthriftines then a pastime of any gentlenes, when it was vsed in a Gentlemans house, which is by sundrie defences more tollerable, and not in an Inne, the verie publike intertainer of all kinds of societies.At your departing from mee, your iourney laie to S. you were to trauaile to my friendes house. In respect of the time, my reputation,Synathrismus.your beeing, the place, and the companie, I furnished you with money, knowing that there, and with such persons, and in their seuerall pleasures you were to bee conformed to companies: Hereof gaue I euer allowance, the like whereof haue I deemed meetest for the expence and societie of anie Gentleman, thither shoulde you haue trauelled, so in the honest distribution of that allowed for your maintenaunce, you had both auoyded the present mischiefe, alreadie incurred, and preuented occasions, wherby manie times they are aduentured.It is not inough,Sententia.not to doe euill, but we ought also to resist the occasions of euill, what recreation I pray you, after trauell is more natural then rest? Who more subiect to casualties, then they that hazarde themselues to most companies?Antithesis.Whatcustomebetter, then to vse our Inne for repose, the onelie and sole intent whereunto it was prepared? Wherein isciuilitiemore commended then in honest gouernment? What more lawfull for any man then laudablie to beare himselfe? Your demeanour is tyed to your own behauiour, and not to anothers inclinations, your actions well disposed, are not offensiue to what by others pleasures to bee continued: had you vsed the place as it serued for, who would haue beene discontented? Once it appeareth that euill is come of it,Merismus.brawlings arise, men are hurt, slanders ensue, and infamy doth guerdon it.Touching the latter part of your Letter I say little,Peroratiō.till I haue more deliberatelieSententia.of the circumstaunce considered. Some, hoping more of that you will bee, then I dare intende what you maie bee, haue manie wayes in this action perswaded mee. Where much hath beene ouerpassed, it is reason that something at length do beareshew to haue well deserued. Simplicitie in well doing, is farre more pleasing then a curious definition of well dooing. When I finde proofe of your amendement, I shall then wish to see you. Meane while, it shall behooue you to enter into your selfe, and more circumspectly to consider what most fittest beseemeth you, wherewith at this present my directions shall conclude. R. this, &c.An example of another Epistle Inuectiue, pleasantly written against thehumours and conditions of a vaineglorious person.WEre the peeuishnes of my conceitsExordium.correspondent to those vaineglorious humours of yours, I could before and sithence your exemplified discourse committed to my view, haue vpon occasion sufficient, deuised how and wherewith to haue preuented or answered your accustomed cauils.Epanodis.The first whereof not hauing performed, so could I willinglie also haue left the latter vndone by determined speech to haue beene accomplished, were it not that hauing prooued the arrogancie to bee in you, wherewith vniustly you charge me, I might by my ouerlong silence giue head to your follies, and whilest by an outragious well liking of your selfe you become ignorant of your owne mischiefs,Liptote.you might vse a scope not necessarie therby more farther to abuse my sufferance, as heretofore you haue done a great many others by their common negligence.For auoyding whereof, I haue (as my leisure would induce mee) thought good to giue place to mine owne determination, & to serue your humour so farre forth as to answere your letter, not being stung, as you fondlie and vainlie imagine,Ironia.with the venome thereof, nor galled with the opposed surmises of your munificence, wealth, credite, reputation, and I know not what besides, all which I do suppose either to be so skant, as no man can substantiallie discerne them, or otherwise that you would neuer so often as you do, without a surfeiting follie enduour to obtrude them.The policies you vse with mee are nothing straunge, which because they are nowe growne so stale, bee euerie waie therefore the lesse currant.Omiosis.Howe like vnto a shamelesse woman, or some other base conceyted creature, you appeare in your wryting, let but the matter of your Letter testifie, if because you haue both manlieshape and countenaunce, you will admitte neither of these similitudes, you must bee either a childe, or a foole, and so weare a bable,Sarcasmus.or take a horne booke at your girdle, and get you to schoole againe.You complaine that I haue done you iniurie,Anthypophora.if I haue, why then doe you not content your selfe to pursue the reuengement thereof, either with manlike or lawfull extremitie? Whie take you for a refuge these cankred foolish vpbraidings,Schesis onomatō.womanish encountrings, vnseemlie lyings, and childish threatnings. If we folow the rule you begin, we must straight waies bee children, and then I must wrangle why you stole awayTomsbread and butter,Ironia.and you must threaten if I tell of that, you will then complaine of mee for eating vp the firmentie that was kept for the childs breakefast, or how I drunke vp my grandams ale and toste, or lick bread in the dripping panne, or some such like weightie causes.Insultatiō.A soueraigne capacitie no doubt. Is this manner of dealing deriued I pray you from your Gentilitie, or had you it by education, or haue you won it with your wealth, or is it incident to your reputation?Meiosis.Bee these your incounters? A braue canuisado, indeede, when to deface an honest minde, you haue shot out all the venome of twentie yeares acquaintance that you haue stuffed togethers, and all not woorth a butterflie, then to tell to those that accompanie you,Merismus.howe brauelie you haue touched mee, howe with your learned enditing to so manie read and shewed, you haue quencht mee, howe manie wayes behinde my backe, if you were so ill disposed you could kill mee, and for default of other matter forsooth, howe they laughed at mee to whome I haue spoke somewhat against you, and howe master B. foundSocratesin my Letter, and sent to seeke out your well reputed sconce to expound it,Antiphrasis.not without the credit of your owne worshipfoltie to be admitted to the sight hereof:Prosonomasia.If I should for carrying this insight,Meiosis.not say you were a great Clearke, your grauitie I knowe would condemne mee, and it would bee thought in your deeper studies, that my senses did faile me.Charientismus.But alas sir, what is it that I woulde denie you? It is not I, well I wot that haue abilitie, or if I had, woulde presume so far as to impugne you,Epitropis.what wold you more sir? I am come to your bow, and acknowledge your credit, your worshipful acquaintance, and all else you haue brought me to. But yet sir, after all these sporting deuises, hee is but a Nidcote,Asteismus.and that wise man can tellyou, that will glory so much in such fruitles follies.

Of Epistles Expostulatorie.Chap. 2.

WIth these expressed examples, I thinke good to conclude this passed title, and thenceforth to goe to the next, which isExpostulatory. This worde seemeth to haue his definition of reasoning, debating or arguing a cause, thereby to find the depth, weight, certaintie or qualitie of the same, and according thereunto to lessen, qualifie, or enforce the substance of griefe or mislike by such meanes conceiued. And albeit iniuries, mislikes and discontentments are ordinary to all men, yet do they for the most part, fall principallie to be receiued among friendes, among kindred, great acquaintance and familiars, by occasion whereof, this title in writing is but (as it were) the first matter of challenge, before anie vile reproch bee performed. And this also not where there is a resolute malice alreadie conceiued, but where men aduisedlie and consideratlie do deliberate of their and other mens actions according to reason to bee considered. By which aduisement being led, without anie hairebraine or brainsicke deuise or humor at all, they sometimes mildlie, and in curteous and louing tearmes according to the state of the writer, and the condition of those to whome he writeth, expostulate the iniurie, desirous rather that the trueth by circumstances might be knowne, then anie quarrelsome matter to bee obtruded. Otherwhiles more roughly and peremptorily they deale, and yet not vnfittinglie nor badlie. But if the effect of your writing be not determined in anie of these two sortes, but falleth otherwise to a manner of reproching of benefittes, or to an exclamation or bitter enforcement of euils, then may not the same bee said to beExpostulatory, but rather to beeexprobratorie, orinuectiue, of which both twaine hereafter shall be further declared. And as this kind of expostulating falleth most with persons of equalitie, for that it is scarse thought good maners, and sometimes helde perillous to dispute of offences with one far aboue vs in authoritie, and with our inferiour so to doe, it turneth more often to beeReprehensoriethen otherwise: yet is the force thereof manie times caried from an inferiour to his better, neuerthelesse with a kinde of aunswerable submission alwayes respectiueto the others reputation or greatnes. And so may a man with his inferiour also in good sort sometime expostulate an iniurie, wherin if he shall vouchsafe so to doe, the partie lesse in abilitie hath the more reason to recognize his courtesie: for a man of good sort and greatlie reputed of, to offer as it were an imparlance vnto his inferiour, whereby to argue with him a matter in suspence to bee noted an iniury, cannot be but much to be praised, and so adiudged in that betternesse, as to procéede of a most singular bountie. So be it he do it not by insultation, nor anie pricke of vainglorie, for so doing it looseth a great part of the vertue therein praysed, vnlesse the desert of the partie be such, as may well merite that or a greater euill to be tendered. By all these means as aforesaid may iniuries be expostulated, the vsage whereof as well in matter of accusation as defence, is indifferently to be carried, considering that onely by varietie of allegations and not otherwise those questionable causes are to be sifted. And so here out will we wade into their seuerall examples.

MAister L. there passed if you doe call to minde,Narratiō.twixt you and mee certaine speeches of great secrecie, vehementlie concerning the state and good support of my brother. And for as much as I had then great suppose, both of your honest courtesie and great fidelitie (as I thought) sufficient to the matter then spoken of, I did (the extremitie of the cruell creditours requiring it) not sticke to reueale vnto you the conceiued maner and means how the same might be redressed. I do verie perfectly remember, that but to one other besides your selfe, I did communicate the cause, of whose rare and singular honestie I doe so much assure my selfe, that if hee should reueale the same, I could despaire for euer to find any man secret, or that with whatsoeuer matter of friendship might hereafter be credited. But to be briefe with you, the secret is discried, and therewithall so fully laide open, as the whole maner of the same in sort as it was determined by one of the parties whom it specially concerned, hath been to my brothers owne eares deliuered. The other partie to whome I reuealedit hath chaunged his lodging, and hitherto I haue not sent vnto him: whose approoued fidelitie for that it remaineth of no small record to my certaine knowledge, I will presume to verifie. It resteth then that I must needes expostulate with you touching the iniurie, of whome I haue more cause to doubt, being thereunto led not without manie and those verie absolute coniectures. For first it is generallie knowne, that you are verie needie, and to be plaine with you, there be those that will iustifie that by such meanes you do shift now and then verie cunninglie. It is master L. a verie base kinde of shift for a Gentleman in anie treacherous manner to deale with his friend so vnkindlie. And I can prooue besides, that sithence my trust reposed, you haue entred speciall conference with the partie. The time likewise dooth somewhat assure me, in which no one but your selfe coulde so suddenlie preuent mee. There want not to giue scope hereunto, the speeches also which the next day you deliuered mee after I had spoken with you, which was, you feared least my man ouerheard, and might possiblie descrie mee, whom your selfe knewe an houre before our conference, to haue beene discharged our companie. Againe, the person and place where he remaineth, enforce something, whereunto vnaccustomed you haue accesse, and therefore for some speciall policie. And notwithstanding all these vehement likelihoodes, yet will I not condemne you, till I see how you will confute mee. Albeit my censure hitherto passeth that verie hardlie you may answere it, without especiall note of infamie; which being so, the displeasure may returne such as I can tell you, will not be maistered verie easilie. The haste of the messenger forbiddeth me longer delay, by reason whereof, I am compelled to leaue you. B. this of. &c.

MAister H.Exordium.The manner of your writing seemeth vnto mee verye straunge, and the circumstaunce such, as I promise you, wherewith I was neuer acquainted. I am not a little greeuedLiptote.to thinke that you shoulde in that peremptorie sort you doe, attribute vnto mee the name of so base and vnfitte a dealing.Excusatiō.I would well you and your informer vnderstoode: thatit is not my practise to vse that cunning, which you like to tearme by the name of shifting, neither (by whatsoeuer necessitie constrained) doe I inure my selfe vnto the same. It is an olde Prouerbe,Paræmia.Where the hedge is lowest, there euerie man is readie to goe ouer. The verifying whereof appeareth in you, who hauing no more certaintie then your meere imaginations to suspende mee, doe iniuriouslie obiect my necessitie, as beeing the onelie meane wherewith to disgrace me.Anthypophora.Whie, maister H. dooth it therefore followe because I want, that my minde must of force become maimed with such treacherie? You are deceyued, and they guesse much awrie, that in such hatefull manner doe go about to abuse mee.Erotema.What argument call you that, that for because you reuealed your counsell to vs two, and it liketh you to preferre by certaine allowaunce the others reputation and abilitie before mee, that therefore I haue deceyued you? Whie if you list to suppose a trueth on my side (as lawfullie you might doe) were there not as much reason that I for mine honestie, as hee for his brauerie shoulde as indifferentlie bee censured? But your probable coniectures you will saie doe entice you,Procatalepsis.the one whereof is the time wherein none coulde preuent you. Was not I pray you that other in Towne as well as I, though hee altered his lodging? And suppose that euerie daie wee were both heere since,Paramologia.may it bee vnpossible that another might endammage the matter as well as we? But I had speciall conference with the partie, and the place and person without that occasion, of no likelihoode by mee to bee frequented.Erotema.Had I conference? Is that a thing so maruellous? Am I so farre estraunged from honestie, that I may not haue speech with a man, but to worke my friend villanie? Alacke man, whie, I was neuer so fearefull of mine one keeping secretes,Charientismus.that I woulde haue denied it if you had asked mee, neither doe I much force if your owne eyes doe witnesse the cause when I next speake with you. In saying the place and person was before time by mee vnused, you speake iniuriouslie, for your owne selfe doe knowe, that both he and the rest, were to mee knowne before time, and that verie familiarlie. To conclude, I wish you to bee perswaded, that in rewarding mee with such conceytes as these, you shall doe mee but small courtesie, and ill requite my faythfulnesse by vpbrayding mee with my necessitie, that woulde haue endeuoured all meanes possible to pleasure you.And as touching anie infamie to me redounding herein, I woulde I could as well cleare all my offences to God-warde, as I can free my selfe of this suspition, and that with as great honestie, as others most maliciouslie haue sought to defame mee, and then no doubt my account should be a great deale lesse then it is, when euer the Almightie by his eternall summons should call me. In resolution whereof, I ende this answere. The of. &c.

OF ancient time it hath often beene sayde,Exordium.that it is euill halting before a Cripple,Allegoria.faithfull dealing and flourishing glosing are two contraries. Among true friends indeede, and such as doe make more account of their credite and honestie,Antithesis.then of the base acquiring of a sleight commoditie, I doe confesse it is not of small moment to builde vpon the rock of their assurance, and to make reckoning of their word, to the vttermost, but where Gentilitie is not alonelie spotted, but in a manner couered and debased alreadie with vnhonestie, and men hold it for aMaximeto shrowd their lauish and euer emptied expence, by whatsoeuer kinde of lucre, bee it neuer so filthie, it is not necessarie that repose bee in such place stablished, least the vntimelie rooting thereof, doe make men banne their winnings, and lament the bitternesse of their losse, when too late they are out of hope, for euer to haue the same recouered.

It seemeth Maister L. by the continuance of your Letter, that the censure of my former direction, you haue passed ouer very sleightlie, conceiuing that by a number of od speeches (which in maner of a racket you haue vsed,Hypotyposis.to tosse my coniectures as tennis balles, being at your deeming not much materiall, whether by order of the game you returne them into the court, or banding them in the aire, suffer them to flie at all aduentures) you do yet suppose to haue wrought a masterie, and of whatsoeuer to bee saide agaynst you, to haue discharged your selfe verie soundlie. You must thinke M. L. I am no babie, neither do you deale with such a one, that notwithstanding in a plaine and honest vsage hee accordeth to all simplicitie, is yet of so meane conceytebut hee is able to vent your vttermost actions, deale you in the handling of the same neuer so cunningly.

The maner of your vsage,Commoratiō.being peraduēture deliuered in some place where you were lesse knowne, might make a flourish for your credit, and for the present, in one sort or other auaile you, but vnto me it is but matter to smile at, and occasion (to deale plainlie with you) the more to mislike you, who not contenting your selfe to haue dealte more vnfriendlie then befitteth, haue determined belike in your reasons to make me beleeue, that I haue offered you the iniurie, and when you haue stung mee to the quicke,Allegoria.perswade me that the violence of the mischiefe lighted vpon your owne body. But the course herein you take, is too far wide from the censure of any honest opinion.Erotema.What tell you me you were acquainted before time with the partie, and of I know not what businesse you had to do, which at the next sight you care not to shew mee? and then forsooth that the others ability and my suppose must bee preferred before you, in respecte of your necessitie? with such other friuolous repetitions without substance or honestie? and after that someRobinthe deuil, or I wot not what spirit of the aire must besides impossibility be supposed to reueale the accident.Confutatiō.What vanity is this? what matter of reason therein, that as before I might not assure my selfe of your infidelity? to what end proceedeth al the other circumstances, vpon what conceipt doe they cleare you? Tush, tush, deceiue not your selfe, nor thinke you go so couertly but that men of discretion can and do daily see you.

Somwhat more thē you think I haue sithence heard how the world goeth with you, you thought it very much at the beginning I shoulde expostulate with you, but if I should stir you with thisitemthat I can tell you where, when, and vpon what expectation you descried mee, you might thinke I did not then disguize with you.

I study not to capitulate your iniuries, as confessing my selfe also not to bee vnburdened with offences: But good I deeme it were M. L. that by some meanes you tooke notice of your owne infirmities. To aggrauate the wrong that you haue done me, I list not, and more then I intended haue I spoken vpon that you haue answered. Being vnwilling to toile my selfe, or trouble your conceiptes any further, I herewith conclude,

More sorie of your ill condition, then of the abuse you haue done me.

AS auncientlie it hath beene accustomedExordium.(as in the prouerbe by you alleadged)Paræmia.Better it were for some to steale a horse, then for others to looke on. It is an easie matter to find a staffe to beate a dog, and to him that list to haue a bad conceipt,Allegoria.what honest excuse may be alleadged that can drawe him from it. Men that are opinionatiue, doe not for the most part measure thinges as they are, but commonlie as their mind leadeth them,Sententia.and generally to speake of many thinges that in particular are vnnumbred, what the cōceipt giueth in certainty to be adiudged, there is with diuers persons no question of good and bad afterwardes to be opposed. Among friends sundry occasions do happen that meerely for themselues are to bee supported, the least of which happening among strangers, would not without great discontentment be carried.

It is giuen to some to beare much,Prosonomasia.because they seeme to bee borne to it, and to laie their shoulders vnder euerie loade, because they are inured vnto it: yet all that carie loades are not Asses, not euerie one that supporteth a burden is forthwith a pack-horse. I knowe wel M. A. you are no babie, nor I thinke you do suppose me so sencelesse as to be a foole. I vse no rackets to your reasons, as vniustlie you conceiue of me, nor would I haue you imagine that bicause you think ill of me I must needs be guilty. I tell you againe as I told you before, you highly doe wrong me. And in this one more then any other, you most vnfriendly do abuse me.Erotema.Why do you so oftē inculcate vnto me, what other haue reported, and some say they haue seene in me? It is the truth I stand vpon, & not the malice of any one whatsoeuer, that so vilely misdeemeth me.

It is not my custome to winke at all thinges as I doe vnto you, so indifferently, but yet would I haue you conceiue howe much the iniury toucheth me. You argue against mee that it is not inough that I say it is not so, so say I vnto you, that you ought not to charge mee without you can proue it so. Because there resteth some matter wherby I am in good condition tyed vnto you, it is not seemely for yourcredit, nor fit for the honesty wherof you make profession, to lade me any whit the more with iniury. Make what large collection you list of my present state and necessity, I tell you, I deeme my selfe the same man that I was in greater prosperity.

My request is for the surcease of all this iarre, your opinion maie stande as you list, but giue mee conuenient time and accesse to cleare mee. To vrge me as you doe, maie but breede that which to neither of vs may returne pleasing, and which in the end I knowe will be to you most discontenting. It were good that with lesse resolution you did sway your opinions, so might you with smaller difficulty decerne, what with facility in fine you will of your selfe condiscend vnto. My selfe being as loth to disturbe you, as your self seeme wearied with the former toile doe herewith set my limits, who worse conceipted of your light beliefe then of the wrong you haue done me, do not withstanding continue,

Desirous of your reformed imagination, &c.

NOw after these double thwartinges on either part receiued in expostulating this iniury, (the like whereof by writing is sundrie times occasioned, and remaineth in this place onlie for varietie, to make shew how by well handeling, matters may on both sides be equally enforced or weakned) I will sort you forth two or three seuerall examples more, because of the necessary and often occurrence of this title, daily being accustomed in our writing. The first whereof shall be for matter of vnkindnesse: The second for breach of promise: The thirde from a meane Gentleman to a personage of great honour, wherby in cause of betternesse shall be exampled how iniuries may be expostulated or complained of, and these in sequence shall followe by their examples.

MAister G.Narratiō.I haue great maruell that remaining hitherto in town as you do, we can by no possibility heare of your being, but by such iangling messengers as you make currors for spite, whereby toabuse your friendes. In which the discurtesie is far more by the vnbeseeming courses & dealings therein vsed, then fitteth either your honestie or our friendship to be tolerated. I doubted not ere this time how apt you were to conceiue (euen for a verie toie) in the worst degree that might bee, of any one that behaueth himselfe neuer so well vnto you,Epiphonema.so ticklish are your humours, and so vnsteady your censures. And which is worst, it cannot with you rest in imagination alone, but in such odde kinde of reportes, and to such base persons you deliuer it, as it verelie seemeth, you little recke what discredit you offer a man in the same, the least whereof would make you storme to the gall, if a man should but ouerslip himselfe in giuing any manner of sound of you, tending to such effect as you proffer. Good God sir, are you and I of late become such straungers together, as that neither writing nor request may serue to haue accesse to your presence. Trust mee I am vnused to these deuises, nor fit they at all vnto my appetite. Either something or no body to me, but vnto such as more recke of your coynesse then I doe, you may be as you will, or as their fortunes may beare with you. For my part I am too vnapt to weld any such insupportable amity. If you can vse me as your vpright, honest, and well meaning friend, I am vnto you as firme as you woulde wish me, otherwise to encounter so many diuersities, of vnfrequented fancies, toyes, or mislikes, it aunswereth in no point vnto my propertie, which hauing thought good of meere well wishing to signifie vnto you by present writing, I leaue you to your best opinion, this of &c.

Yours in all good sort to be entertained, &c.

MAster K. I haue abstayned hitherto to come or sende vnto you,Narratiō.partly weried with importunity, for that I thought two moneths being now passed, I might in this space haue found a season conuenient, wherein to haue ended with you. Hauing taken this cause in hand, I woulde (as in good reason it seemeth fit) you should determine with me vpon some conclusion, wheron resting assured, I might thenceforth know wherunto to trust, & neitherwaste labour in comming to so small purpose, nor hinder my certaine busines by the vnsteadie stay of your affaires, as alreadie I haue done. We haue talked manie times, and set downe certaine limits, marie to so slender effect, as I neither know when to demaund, nor you howe to satisfie. So that depending vpon shadowes, I haue passed my time with small benefite, and you haue gone forward to little purpose. I doe pray you therefore that hence-foorth such honest meaning maie assure vs, as alreadie betweene vs hath on either part beene performed, To delaie me thus with nifles, as I thinke it farre from a Gentleman, so do I suppose you not intend it, considering how many wayes thereby, I am and shall be hindred. This therfore may be the certaine meane to satisfie vs both,Epilogus.that you will (as on Friday last you promised) come and see the agreement betweene vs performed, whereof I pray you aduertise your full resolution by this bearer. And so I bid you heartily fare well, &c.

RIght Honourable,Exordium.though by the custome and common policie of this vnhappie worlde, I am better warranted with a personage of your greatnesse, to dissemble, then to deale plainlie, yet because I finde as well by Gods owne worde, as by the euent of mens practises, that such customes are neither pleasing to his Maiestie, nor alwayes profitable to such as vse them, I haue aduentured to manifest that by paper, which by words (albeit many times desirous) I neur had heart to vtter.

My purpose is to be plaine,Propositiō.and in honest and dutifull sort to expostulate with your L. wherein I finde my selfe greeued, and vpon what ground this my complaint is framed. I therfore most humblie beseech your L. for Gods sake and your owne, to pardon this presumption, and to admit me fauourable and indifferent construction, of what I shall here vnfolde vnto you by writing.

I exclaime of wrong passed, I vrge my miserie present, and I complaine of you to your selfe, and so doe make you iudge of all that shall be hereafter enformed.

Your L. did once knowe, and hath still some cause to remember, that of all such lande and liuings as my father at his death was possessed,one onelie poore farme fall to my share.

I my selfe doe knowe, and shall neuer easilie forget, that after the same was thrust into my handes, I neuer inioyed it without much vnquietnesse, quarrell and vexation, nor without the continuall malice and molestation of my vnnaturall Vncle, and such his associates, as by setting him on, vnderhande, did afterwardes finde meanes to fasten in the same.

This poore liuing (once in maner lost, afterwards recouered, and yet still fearefullie kept, the rather by meane of a newe trouble, moued vnto me by maister B.) I was in fine driuen to offer for a little, but to sell for lesse. Now here begins my iust cause of complaint. For vpon firme hope of your L. fauour towards me, and that you would according to your honourable promises haue done me an expected good: I was content to yeeld my interest for eleuen hundred and three score pounds, where sixteene hundred pounds had beene before offered by my kinsman, and so I then told you.

This offer of mine, your L. for the time accepted, yeelding with some difficultie to paie the odde eight score poundes, where I ought it. Howe be it afterwardes, hauing gotten the Lease into your hands, and beeing possessed of the bargaine, and none nowe daring to take the same from you, you quarrelled with the Lease as before you had done with the title, and made mee a fresh abatement of the odde eight score poundes, affirming it to bee no part of your charge to paie my debts.

To salue this mischiefe, and to saue my eight score poundes (your Lordship hauing reported the former bargaine to your most aduauntage) I laboured without auaile, to helpe your memorie therein. Protesting (and that most trulie) that vpon mine earnest and humble petition vnto your L. to leaue mee woorth a thousand pounds, and to paie my debts, and in regarde also of the great abatement of what I might haue had else where, your Lordshippe had condiscended in the former conference to discharge the same. And thereupon willed me, at my next returne to bring a note of my debts, with the names of my creditors.

This tale I well remember with more trueth then good successe vttred (speciallie the often touch of what my kinsman had offered me) did greatlie mislike you. Whereupon growing in heate (yet withsome regard of honour) you swore that if anie other bought the same at my handes then your selfe, you would haue it for lesse then fiue hundred pounds, yea, for nothing, or else it should go hard. Marie keeping it my selfe, you said you would stand my friend: which hote or colde conclusion, I protest did so appale, as with feare of further losse, with griefe and discontentment I grewe sicke, and thereupon resolued to take what you would giue me.

Your Lordship hauing thus, what with countenaunce and choler dismayed mee, and finding by such peremptorinesse my sense to bee ouercome, you ranne on still with this wresting course, and vpon authoritie without cause or colour, cut me yet thirtie pound shorter. So as in place of one thousand sixe hundred pound offered mee by my kinsman in the Countrey, your Lordship gaue mee nine hundred and seuentie pound, leauing me out of this to pay a hundred and sixtie pound debt.

By these meanes (right Honourable) was I then halfe impouerished, and am now altogither vndone, hauing neither skill to vse that little you gaue, nor will to raise my selfe after my fall, which I thought impossible.

It was a wholsome caueat giuen mee by your Lordship, and a full resolution put downe by my selfe, rather to stoope and to liue somwhat sparing, then by anie prodigalitie to impaire my stock: but being neither Marchant, Artizan, Broker, nor Vsurer, nor hauing among manie debtors, scarce one good payer, I coulde hardly frame to doe what was aduised me, or be so much mine owne friend, as at first I had determined.

My state then brought thus lowe, my friends decayed and dead, my liuing sold for little, and the money spent, I resolued and stil doe with the rest to leaue my Countrey, as well to couer my want from mine enemies, as to seuer my selfe from so vnfortunate acquaintance.

Find time therefore I beseech your honour, before my going to examine these particulars, they containe I protest nothing but matter of truth. It is a high vertue and most commendable in a man of your state, to right your inferiour against your selfe, by this shall you winne him vnfainedlie to loue you, who now vpon iust cause can do no lesse, then thinke himselfe wronged by you.

And so my good L. this bill exibited into your chamber, not into any court, deliuered to your owne handes, and to no man els, I leaue to your honourable and best consideration, humblie once againe beseeching your L. to suspend your hardest conceit against mee, for expostulating my griefs, in repect my plainnes herein, passeth not without truth, nor any wrong enforced, but vpon iust occasion.

FRom matterExpostulatorie, wee will nowe turne our selues to the next title beeingExprobratorie, vnder which is contained cause indeede of vehement and grieuous disdaine: chieflie touching offences that impugne a contrarie and laudable merite and desert. For which, howbeit in all ciuill vsages it be accounted vndecent, vncourteous, and vnbeséeming anie gentle condition, to reproch a man in time of mislike, with good offices or turnes, that before he hath receiued. So when contrarie to the honest affection vnto him bountifully tendred, a man shall either vngratefully refuse to recognize the same goodnes, or impudentlie, vnciuilly, or inhumainly go about to reward euil for good, and to enforce a most vniust vexation, where himselfe hath receyued most comfort. In such cases to vse thisExprobratorymaner of writing, to signifie vnto yᵉ party so forgetfull of gentlenes, both what he hath receiued, and howe much he was charged by all waies, limits and means that may be enforced, of humanitie, pietie, or gentlenes, it shall not be amisse, and to such ende & no other is thisExprobratoriekind of Epistles to be vsed: Of which, some certaine examples are in this place to be deliuered.

I Doe not maruellNarratiō.at your woonted and sundrie delayes in aunswering my requestes, nor that you breake so manie promises with your friendes for the gratifying of their courtesies: In that beeing thinges by nature annexed as they are to so seruile a condition,they seeme (as remedilesse) in all discreet iudgementes to bee borne withall. But that I wonder at, is, howe my selfe (knowing as I doe, and hauing so often tasted of that contemptible and harde disposition of yours towardes mee) should yet be so assotted,Merismus.as to straine my friendes, to spende my money, exercise my wits, yeelde my trauell, bende my care, and passe my credite, to relieue, vpholde, nourish and maintaine such a one, in bringing him from nought to ought, from the dunghill to the court, from woe to wealth, as hath neither honestie to regarde me,Synathrismus.wit to vse me, will to requite me, ciuilitie to respect mee, good nature to thanke me, nor any one sparke of endeuour whereby so much in good seeming to behaue himselfe towards me. Many occasions haue beene giuen mee before time by some other misprizers of my curtesie, but you of all others haue exceeded and do passe them all in vnhonestie.Commoratiō.That I shoulde bee occasioned thus to reproch you as I doe, is iwis vnto me no great contentment, but that at my handes who alwaies haue so manifoldlie deserued of you, you should so far forth challenge to be reproched, that certainly is it whereof you ought most to bee ashamed. Howe many wayes you haue wronged me,Liptote.and howe little cause hereafter I haue to entermedle or haue to doe with you,Metonoia.hauing so ingratefully, nay rather inhumanelie dealt with me, let the world iudge betweene you and me. Had I tried you in much, or in one halfe of that whereby in very dutie you are charged vnto me, it had beene somewhat to haue denied me:Synonymia.But in a matter so slender, so small valued, and but a trifle, to delay me, to stande with mee,Asyndeton.to breake promise with mee, and which is worst of all, most vnciuillie therewith to bearde me, that of all others is the most detested that may bee. Sorie I am, not that I haue knowne you, for the knowledge shall keepe mee from you, but that in nourishing of you, I forgot my selfe so much, as I coulde neuer till this present perceiue nor looke after you. Fare as you will for me, who euer hereafter desire neither to know nor see you. From B. this of, &c.

ALbeit vnto a gentle minde there is nothing lesse proper,Exordium.then a reproching of benefittes: nor any thing more contrarying,then to bee touched with discurtesies: yet respecting the weight of the manifold wrongs done vnto me, & most iniurious deuises, wherein thou hast contrary to all lawes of nature, vertue, or honestie, gone about to abuse mee,Hyperbole.rewarding not euill, but worse then mischiefe it selfe, for good, and doing that which all men hate, and the most discreet doe abhorre in requitall of that which I chieflie deserued of thee, I hold my selfe neither to be touched in gentlenes, nor deemed at all in discurtesie,Allegoria.if to such a Camelion I giue his due colours, of so vile a viper doe bewray the feature, to so ingratefull a wretch doe blaze forth his picture, and of so vglie a beast do yeeld his due portraiture, to the ende that at least it may appeare vnto thy selfe, howe vnlike to that thou hast euer seemed vnto me,Antithesis.I haue nowe found thee, and how contrarying to that my selfe haue manifoldly bounde thee, thou hast now shewed thy selfe vnto me.

To the opening whereof let mee call to remembraunceMerismus.that beeing here a great while sithence a straunger, spoiled of that thou haddest, laden with sicknesse,Brachiologa.pursued of thy foes, burdensome to thy friends, subiect to a number of casualties, of death, pouertie, hatred, penurie,Asyndeton.griefe, trouble, and want, I tooke thee, I kept thee, I relieued thee, I prouided for thee, and that at such time as when forsaken of all others, thou wast onely compassed with extremitie, had not this one curtesie,Anthipophora.nay rather vnaccustomed kindnes, beene sufficient alone, wherewith to haue bound thee? Questionlesse it had, rested there at al any sparke of good condition within thee, yet had this been all that I had done for thee, happilie could I then haue contented my selfe, and haue thought that thou haddest therein alone dealt but ingratefullie.

Abhorrest thou notErotema.in the perusing hereof to thinke howe thou hast vsed mee?Commoratiō.Well knowest thou that on this hie point of curtesie, I stucke not alone with thee, for after a recouery by my meanes had, and restitutions of thine estate, vnto thy wonted possessions, health, freedome and libertie, I not only so setled thee, but beeing haled thy selfe (as it were) out of the Lions iawes,Asyndeton.I made thine aduersaries a praie vnto thee, I fauored thee, I loued thee, I esteemed thee when none would regard thee, when all men despised thee. Were not these benefits sufficient,Erotema.Aporia.Allegoria.to haue yoked any good or honest disposition vnto me? What Viper may I then terme thee? what monster or hellish impthat not onely hast not vouchsafed so much as to requite, but scornest in apparance so much as to beare a good opinion towardes me? Is it possible that man than a Serpent, or than the very Crocodile it selfe should become more malicious,Paradoxon.yet hast thou in far greater quantitie then these contained thy venome,Hyperbole.the Hydra was not answerable vnto thy propertie, the very Sauages themselues could not equall thee, thou art infine beyond all, and there are none beyond thee, for both men and beasts do abhor thy treachery.

What then auaileth that of such a one I haue merited so highlie?Erotema.Whereto serueth it to haue extended on him so greate and vnused bounty? The dog fawneth by kinde where he is loued, the Tyger by gentlenes is from his cruelty disturned,Sententia.the Lion wil not suffer a kindnes vnregarded. But thou (hatefull of all others) degenerating from all nature both of men and beasts weighest not of friendship, reiectest fauors,Pleonasmus.hatest all gentlenes, regardest no kindnes, contemnest merits, and kindlesse of all kinds,Polyptoton.or rather sequestred from any kinde, giuest thy selfe to rewarde the best deseruinges, with vnauoidable and most destestable villanies.

Had I not too much deserued as I haue done at thy handes,Epizeuxis.it might in some sort haue sufficed me.Anaphora.Had I by any known or pretended euill, euer pursued thee, had I meant at any time badly vnto thee, it might yet haue cōtented me, that forgetfull of al that before passed, thou shouldest in this hatefull manner haue dealt with mee. But hauing onely heaped on thy head a multitude of fauors,Merismus.receiued thee as I haue done with so sundrie curtesies, imbraced thee as thou knowest with infinite contentmentes, deliuered thee from death, and verie hellish tormentors,Antithesis.what kindnesse could be more, or what merite so ample? And contrariwise, what requitall so slender, what acknowledgement so bad, or what recompence so euill, then wherewith besides all course of iustice and equitie thou hast most vnnaturally acquited me?Epiphonema.One only comfort resteth, that of all honest minds thou art hated deseruedly, and out of all gentle company art excluded perpetually, wherin hauing the only solace vnto my grieued conceits, that for the present may be acquired, I liue in hope to see thee once againe to haue neede of mee, when according to thy demerits I shall thinke of thee, and in the meane while esteeme of thy fashions, as thou hast giuen me cause to accompt of them.

TO theseExprobratorieepistles, doth next follow the titleinuectiue. A sharpe and bitter inueighing against the person, déedes, or behauiours of men, occupied altogether in condemning, disabling, and wresting, whatsoeuer maie bee collected to the reproofe, diminution, or impugning of anie one, and that by all maner of quips, tauntes, reproches, blames, imputations, or designmentes that maie bee of euils. And yet this not by a disordered, malicious or railing humour, vniustlie and without great and forcible cause to be pursued, but by a learned, discreete, lawfull, or reasonable toleration to be followed, which in all maner of directions is principallie to be required. The conueiance is as full of Art as anie others, that heretofore haue beene exampled vnto you, and as well for rife and quicke inuention, as orderlie disposition, enforcementes, and neate deliuerie, hath his speciall commendation.

THe sight of your letters,Exordium.and message receiued by your seruant haue (good Coosen) bred to mee in perusing and harkening vnto the same, no small matter of disquiet, not that your letters or messages for themselues are,Metonoia.or haue beene at anie time ill welcome to my hands, but in respect of him for whom they come, whom in truth I neuer recke if I heare of,Epiphonema.so filled haue I beene long since with the euils by him committed.Liptote.I am nothing ignorant that of loue and meere good will you beare to mee and mine, you framed your speeches vnto me, which with how much tediousnes I haue considered of, and with what willingnes I could haue omitted to answere them, no one can so wel giue testimony,Periphrasis.as the burthen of mine owne sorrow beareth witnes vnto me.

But for that I see you are ill conceyted at my heauinesse,Apostrophe.and of your owne good nature woulde gladlye finde meane to recouer that vnto mee,Noema.which my selfe am out of hope for euer to compasse, I am content, though ill pleasing to my remembraunce, and the rather also that by the extremitie of the euillesLiptote.your owne minde maie bee disswaded from anie further dealing in the cause, to shewe vnto you the good conditions of him you sue for, what manner a sonne hee hath alwayes beene vnto mee, what reason thereby I haue to commaunde him from mee, and howe farre wide you are, that in such sort as you declare, doe conceiue both of him, and of mee.

I neede not repeate heere vnto you,Paralepsiswith what fatherlie care I haue brought him vppe to mannes estate, by what prouident foresight, I sought both with maintenaunce and conuenient place of credite, to continue him as a Gentleman, howe vnwilling I was to enter into the search of euerie small offence, but attributing the force thereof to his tyme of youth, was content to winke at that manie times, the sufferaunce whereof I doubted would turne to the ruine that it presentlie carrieth. I will but giue you an instaunce of the same, to the intent that as you shall knowe thereof, so may you in reuoluing the rest, consider the better howe vnkindlie, yea, more then vnnaturallye I maie saie, hee hath rewarded me, and therewith will come to the present estate wherein he now remaineth.

It is I iudge about three yeares sithence,Narratiō.to the intent to retaine him in some good order of life, I placed him with a right godlie and worshipfull Knight, Sir H. D. who for my sake both loued him, and I knowe tooke paines to the vttermost to reforme him, before that time I had placed him in an Inne of Courte, where with expences sufficient I kept him. In both of these places hee brought mee more then I will rehearse indebted, ranne himselfe on the rockes, durst not besides (for that priuilie hee had taken vp) to shewe his head.Merismus.Complaints were infinite against him, this man could not bee in quiet for him, that mans seruant hee misused, this partie hee deceyued, that other hee highlie wronged: what coulde I doe vnto these thinges, but as one desirous to reclaime him whom he knewe to be his owne (though with a resolute vow neuer todeale with him,) I then had cast him off, yet by intreatie of his friends, and his earnest submission I receiued him againe. Sithence which too much it is to be reuealed,Commoratiō.how stubbornlie euen in mine owne house, how iniuriously among mine owne people, he hath behaued himselfe, by reason whereof as compelled for the quiet of mine owne familie, I appoynted him to goe from hence into S. there to remaine with his Vncle. And because it was against a Christmasse, and that I woulde not dismisse him vnfurnished of that belonged vnto a Gentleman, (besides that, with a couple of good Geldings I horsed him and his man, and suted him of apparell, and what other needfull necessaries) I deliuered him twentie pounds in his purse. Hee was no sooner gone to D. beeing not past twentie myles from my house, but the verie same night hee loste all his money at dice, pawned his horses for twentie Nobles, and was faine of an honest friend of mine to borrow tenne poundes for his expences, and to redeeme his Geldings, one of my poore Tenants there refusing to supplie his wantes, hee fowlie beate, and if companie had not come in to the rescue, had like to haue slaine him.

Nay, what hath hee done more, but knowing that these his ill demeanours comming once to mine eares, I woulde neuer after repute of him, hee hath confederated with a wicked rascall that once was his man, who beeing the verye same night in his companie, the next day after came to my house and robbed me.

Are not these impieties (thinke you) verie straunge?Erotema.What Nature is in such a sonne, nay, where in him are those district lawes of Nature become, that commonlie enforceth in all other children, an awfull loue and reuerent regarde vnto their parents? Where is the feare of diuine and humane lawes,Prolepsis.the one threatning a sharpe scourge for such vndutifulnesse, and the other punishing by penall forfeytures and imprisonments, the manner of such detestable and disordered loosenesse. To what issue is the auncient right and laudable custome of our forefathers alreadie runne, that whilome by seuere directions compelled the runnagate vsage of their children to a more district imposition and farre estranged exaction then nowe vsed, of a most rare and singular obedience? Why is the common intendment earst in our predecessours tymes, of lawfull and good so accustomablie vsed, thus quite forworne, and in these our seasons(filled with all kind of carelesnes) so far forth disgraced? who is he that now recketh farther then his owne fantasie, or what sonne wil for any zeale or dutie once seeke to repell his owne appetite? Whither are ye gone yee iust and seuere iudges,Prosopopœia.by whose sentence and opinion definitiue sharpe and bitter tortures were laid downe vnto them, that durst presume by any outward shewe in the world, but once so much as to countermaund the authoritie of their fathers?

O times more iniurious then euill it selfe,Emphasis.by whose onely sufferance, mischiefe spreadeth her selfe so highly as it doth, into such manifold branches.Aporia.What would you haue me to say in these things? thinke you not that I haue alreadie receiued discontentment inough at such a ones hande? or would you wish me againe by returning him home weetinglie,Metaphora.to sucke vp mine owne misfortune, and by nourishing an expugnable wickednesse, to see a demonstration of mine owne sorrowe and destruction daylie before mine eyes? No, no, coosin, I haue (I hope) taken order sufficient for these thinges, his presence I am resolued shal no more disquiet mee, by hearing or remembrance of him, if no friend of mine doe otherwise vexe mee,Orismus.for needes a vexation must it bee, be it but the least suppose, to conceiue that I haue yet remayning vnto mee such a sonne. Take heede (good Coosen) that as hee hath deceyued a great manie others, but mee of all others most especiallie, he also doe not deceyue you. Driue him quicklie from your presence, and thinke that a greater plague can you not receyue into your familie, then a person so vile, and of all others demeaned so wickedlie.Peroratiō.This is all that I can delyuer you of my present opinion, but not the least of a thousande other accidents occasioning the same. Whereon I am determined fullie to repose my selfe. Sending in the meane time my heartiest commendations and earnest thankes for the indifferent care had of my being both to you and your bedfellow, this of, &c.

WEre it not sir that my presenceExordium.might more offend you then I wish, or by anie action of mine owne, woulde willinglie deserue, I had (emboldened by the equitie andright of my cause) in all humble reuerence and dutie, tendered my self vnto you, but vnderstanding howe greatly the malice of mine auncient enemies haue preuailed towards mee, and that without the verie pietie of your selfe, and equall regarde had to the due information of my cause, there is no place of fauour left vnto me, I choose as the meetest to abandon for a while the yeelding vnto you (by my accesse) of anie such annoyance, and in the meane time, to frame these humble lines, pacifiers of your more then ordinarie discontentments, that as true aduertisers of the course of that wherwith I am charged, they may plead pardon of your protested mislike, and winne vnto me (as I hope) that intertainment againe, from which hitherto by the vndeserued proceedings of mine aduersaries, I haue iniuriouslie beene detained.

And albeit there is no reason whie, in the measure of all your actions,Insinuatiō.I shoulde or ought to deeme, that you doe, or enterprise anie thing vnaduisedlie: yet for so much as the secret sting of malice is such, as is able to penetrate the wisest, and that where much is feared, the least matter inducing thereunto is made occasion to question of, I doe in as lowlie manner as I maie,Paresia.beseech that but with indifferencie you will see howe and in what sort I am wronged, and giuing credite to what hereby in mine owne defence alledged, you will censure the rest, as to the respect of your fatherlie pietie appertaineth.

The weight of that,Propositiō.for which as I vnderstande you are agreeued agaynst mee, is that heretofore you haue had suggested vnto you that I am verie vnthriftie,Anaphora.that I keepe lewde companie, that I consume all at dice, that I am a quarreller, and lastlie, that you surmize you were robbed by meane of mee, or by my assent, all which to confirme, mine aduersaries seeme to haue gathered vppon me great aduantage, in that notwithstanding, beeing often forewarned the contrarie, I sithence fell into companie, played at dice, brake a mans head, and that my man that robbed you, was the night before in my companie.

Much more euill commonlie carrieth the reporter,Sententia.in deliuering an ill suppose of a reasonable conceyted matter, then oftentimes dooth the action it selfe, in the most woorst degree of truth that can bee, beeing equallie considered of, for example, was iteuer helde a thing insufferable for a Gentleman to frequent companie or to plaie at dice?Paramologia.May it not sometimes be iustifiable to breake a mans heade? is it a matter of preiudice that hee who once did mee seruice was seene in my company? Your selfe, sir, I knowe wil aunswere for me to all these, No. Then will not I, not only not deny but I did all these, but by your fauour, iustifie to their faces, that honestlie, lawfullie, without offence against you, or reasonable mislike of anie other, I haue and might againe at any time enter into the like vsage of all or any of these, as at that time I did, when they so complained of me.

The company whereof I am accused were such onely and none other as I found in mine Inne,Commoratiō.gentlemen ech to you wel known and of all men generallie well reputed, the plaie that I vsed was with them, the set by agreement not great, concluded vpon more to passe time, then whereof to make gaine.Hypotyposis.Hereunto commeth a bad fellowe out of the town accompanied with one of your tenaunts, who looking on a good while, craued at last hee might set, which being granted, a cast fell between him and me of a nūber to be decided, for his opinion he dared me a good time with twenty Nobles to my geldings, I accepted the wager, the boorde went with mee, your tenant excepted, who against all others stood against me, and hauing this wager in his custody would not deliuer it me. Words by such meanes multiplied, and they both arose against mee, whereupon forced to some impatience,Metonomia.my hand made way to my right, wherewith I quailed their resistance. Lo now sir,Epiphonema.the matter thus highly framed against me, lo here the losse, the pawning, the borrowing of money, and what killing and slaying against mee reported.Synonymia.See here I beseech you the vnthriftines, the misrule, the il company, and what else that malice could any waies deuise to ouerthrow me.

And yet if but truely in their verie supposes they shoulde haue dealte with me, what conceipt could they then haue found in all this to obiect against me?Erotema.Is it not a thing ordinary among Gentlemen when they meete together to solace themselues with some one or other reasonable pastime, in allowance whereof, no one is ordered by himselfe, but by common liking of the rest? Is it not a thing naturall to man, after wearisome trauels to vse vnto his minde some honest recreation? Is it not accordant to ciuilitie to entertainetimes and occasions? Affoorded you not therefore the money you gaue mee, in companie well reputed, and in their honest exercises, moderatelie to maintaine mee? Agreeth not hereunto your onelie dailie conuersation, your entertainments, your continuall vse of companie applied in your owne behauiors, and in others commended before me?

What then may bee saide to condemne me?Anthypophora.the common name (perchaunce) of the plaie, carying with it a continuall surmize of inconuenience?Paramologia.I need not here lay vnto your wisdome for my defence, that as well therein, as in all other demeanors, there isvsewhich is allowed, andabuse, that in it selfe is insufferable. To commende the moderate vse hereof,Epanodis.I can induce nothing more thencustome, and for the choise of the best obseruation, the company must cleare mee. Nowe in auoiding the enormities, the charge (if I misconceiue not) you gaue me, extended to the fellowship of the worst, in whose societie nothing is so common as ill vsage, and in whose pleasures, no one thing so ordinarie as vnthriftinesse, each of which occasioning that euill which I seeke to shunne, hath beene herein so far exempted, as I protest there resteth in veritie, no suspicion at all wherewith I may be charged.

But if nowe sir,Apostrophe.you will reason of your tenauntes hurte, what therein may bee obiected that shall not euery waie further mee: who is hee that by nature could bee so restrained, but by the verie instinct thereof, hee will rather kill if neede bee, then stande to be killed?Paradigma.Hath not the Soueraigne mother of all our earthlie beeing, armed euen the verie Beastes themselues to their owne defence? hath not the Lyon his clawes, the Bull his hornes, the Dogge his teeth, and the Boare his tuskes? Doe not the worthiest sort of mankinde also contemne to be misprized, and naturallie couet where they bee enforced, immediatlie to be reuenged? Allotteth not the lawe vnto euerie man his right?Erotema.Was it not by Conuention agreed, that the winner shoulde haue the wager? And did not the vniuersall sentence of the whole boord, adiudge it to me? What resteth any waies then to bee alleadged whereby in this action to accuse mee? Nay rather what is vnleft herein to condemne him,Polyptoton.that being your tenaunt, hauing his liuing of you and yours, beholding as hee is to all yours, woulde yet be so vile conceipted against any of yours, as not with ordinaryspeeches alone, but with vnfitting tearmes, with violent force woulde goe about to withstande me,Asyndeton.to hurt mee, yea desperatelie to confederate with another of my life and money to bereaue me.

But nowe to drawe vnto the last parte that toucheth my man, standing as a coniecture for that hee was in my companie the night before, I must conspire with him to rob you.Dialysis.Do but cōsider sir I pray you, what likelihood of truth this beareth: would any one be so mad as once to harme, or go about to hurt the possessions that in right is to no one so much as himselfe? Woulde I euer appeare so vngracious as to confederate with a stranger, to no benefit but of himselfe, to rob and spoile my father?Ecphonesis.Alas, what coulde there be so aduerse vnto Nature, as should enforce in me so vnkinde a condition? You must needes Sir (by your fauour) something consider, what one thing or more might bee in mee occasioning vnto the same, it must either bee some vehement necessitieExpeditiō.(which neuer hapened) constraining mee, some great extremity (which you know to bee contrary) wherewith by keeping mee too short of expence or maintenance you might enforce me, a kinde of wanton prodigality, whereof no worlde can accuse me, ill counsell whereunto so far forth I neuer could yeelde me, or a most detestable and vile disposition graffed in my selfe, which no man euer found in me. These causes as I thinke are the most likest of all others inducing to those opinions, which howe farre they or any of them haue estranged my condition, let but the verie consciences of my vtmost aduersaries indifferently trie: me what if hee were in my company, is not that a thing that without any suspition at all, might easliest of al others happen vnto me?Dichologia.I am not weeting of mens thoughts, neither can I coniecture of any other but their outward demeanors: if he were il, weigh I pray you, the fault proceedeth not from me. Sory I am that any such conceipt by any one of mine should so much offend you.

These things then falling out in such sort as they be, it may please you sir, henceforth to allowe of this my iust Apology,Epilogus.and by the selfe samenature,piety, andlouing condition, wherewith in all duty and obedience I seeme firmely charged vnto you, in like sort to recognize and receiue mee, who notwithstanding I confesse many waies heretofore, to haue erred,Dichologia.yet heerein in no one point indifferent rest Irightlie to be challenged. The expectation whereof hath made mee presume to the recommendation of these letters, attending therwithal the newes of your good conceipt, and happy returne of this bearer. From, &c. this, &c.

TO this defence, we will for the more variety suppose a reply to be made by the Father, the reasons whereof shall yet also consist in the selfe same stateabsolute, yeelding thereby a more ample demonstration of the diuersitie of constructions incident to those places, and how by the forcible applications of their special intendmentes, they are, or may be caried to diuers seuerall purposes. Inasmuch, as like to their present vse in this defence they haue beene suggested for confirmation and to the clearing of the sonnes faultines, herein also by the same conueiance they shal be maintained by the confutation of al his former allegations, the matter whereof, in sort following may be considered.

YOur wiles (Sirra)Exordium.and sophisticall expositions of your owne misdemeanours, with sundrie confirmations therein vsed, whereby to driue me from the verie suppose of that whereunto no one thing hath giuen more euident testimony, then the course and progression of your whole life,Metaphoraare either too newlie forged, to reape at my hands any sound credite, or the metall so light, as carieth in the weight thereof verie small substance. in my conceipt to be beleeued.

Well haue you applied your witsInsultatiō.(no doubt) and to especiall good purpose haue your studies bin framed, that can so cunninglie cōment as you haue done vpon so bad a text, but withdraw your measure betimes, and cease this ouerweening,Allegoria.least by continuing your selfe in a fools paradice, and where al things are naught, supposing nothing to be amisse, you do (as by your deserts you haue sundry times endeuored to lose a father) so in the end frame a desperate meane to lose your selfe, when you may neuer be recouered.

The shame you haue of your mischiefe done, and guiltinesse of your owne conscience to come in my sight, togither with a knowne mislike that you haue receiued from mee, either to see or heare from you: you vse as a cloake, to couer the long pretext you haue made in defence of your euils, you haue well shewed that paper beareth no other hue but his owne, and the letters you imprint therupon, carrie but their proper colour.Allegoria.Though they falsifie a thousande actions, and bolster vp inumerable lies, it is not seene in their chaunge, but in a shamefast browe of him that were not past shame, the least of all these would quickelie bee deciphered.Parison.Is it not inough you haue done badlie touching your selfe, vnkindlie demeaned your selfe towardes your fathers friendes, vnthriftily consumed your time in some one or other badde companie, run at randon euerie way to your parents and your owne infamie, but that also in your behauiours, you will not onelie dare to denie it, but which is woorse, in your writing seeke to defende it. It fitteth not that I shoulde vse reasoning, neither meane I to contend with your cautels, but for fashions sake, or (if so you list) to beate that to your remembrance, whereof hitherto you abandon the notice, let me aske you this one question. In all your smooth passage and flourish made of your companie, their reputation,Synathrismus.your ciuilitie, small play, my allowance, and your construction vpon the same, dooth it not drawe to this ende, that it was in an Inne, in a place filled with all vnthriftinesse, in a dicing Chamber, in a spectacle for all companies? Doth not the verie deliuerance of your owne fact condemne you, dooth not the verie sequell of his entrance,Synonymia.looking on, and plaie (whome you tearme to bee a base fellowe) impugne you? Dooth not your after quarrell and mischiefe done oppose it selfe agaynst you? What if all the information deliuered vnto mee in particular were not true? Is not the substaunce true?Erotema.Naturecoueting recreation, is in him that will bee modestlie gouerned,Orismus.to be measured as well by time and place, as by entertainment of companies,Customecarrying with it selfe anie secrete insimulation of euill, is not to bee followed;ciuilitieis notciuilitie, when it shall bee repugnant to a right gouerned modestie: can that be agreeing toLaw, which in effect is discordant from anie good order of law? Induce you my allowance, as a confirmedsentenceto your vaine opinions? Why, sirra, frequented I euer anie such playin Innes?Metonoia.Nay rather did I not euer mislike it, alwaies spake against it, and in euerie action condemne it? Stood not my conceit that being in the best part it might be, though young men stoode neuer so much on their light gaming, and little hinderance, it was rather an allurements and inurement to vnthriftines then a pastime of any gentlenes, when it was vsed in a Gentlemans house, which is by sundrie defences more tollerable, and not in an Inne, the verie publike intertainer of all kinds of societies.

At your departing from mee, your iourney laie to S. you were to trauaile to my friendes house. In respect of the time, my reputation,Synathrismus.your beeing, the place, and the companie, I furnished you with money, knowing that there, and with such persons, and in their seuerall pleasures you were to bee conformed to companies: Hereof gaue I euer allowance, the like whereof haue I deemed meetest for the expence and societie of anie Gentleman, thither shoulde you haue trauelled, so in the honest distribution of that allowed for your maintenaunce, you had both auoyded the present mischiefe, alreadie incurred, and preuented occasions, wherby manie times they are aduentured.

It is not inough,Sententia.not to doe euill, but we ought also to resist the occasions of euill, what recreation I pray you, after trauell is more natural then rest? Who more subiect to casualties, then they that hazarde themselues to most companies?Antithesis.Whatcustomebetter, then to vse our Inne for repose, the onelie and sole intent whereunto it was prepared? Wherein isciuilitiemore commended then in honest gouernment? What more lawfull for any man then laudablie to beare himselfe? Your demeanour is tyed to your own behauiour, and not to anothers inclinations, your actions well disposed, are not offensiue to what by others pleasures to bee continued: had you vsed the place as it serued for, who would haue beene discontented? Once it appeareth that euill is come of it,Merismus.brawlings arise, men are hurt, slanders ensue, and infamy doth guerdon it.

Touching the latter part of your Letter I say little,Peroratiō.till I haue more deliberatelieSententia.of the circumstaunce considered. Some, hoping more of that you will bee, then I dare intende what you maie bee, haue manie wayes in this action perswaded mee. Where much hath beene ouerpassed, it is reason that something at length do beareshew to haue well deserued. Simplicitie in well doing, is farre more pleasing then a curious definition of well dooing. When I finde proofe of your amendement, I shall then wish to see you. Meane while, it shall behooue you to enter into your selfe, and more circumspectly to consider what most fittest beseemeth you, wherewith at this present my directions shall conclude. R. this, &c.

WEre the peeuishnes of my conceitsExordium.correspondent to those vaineglorious humours of yours, I could before and sithence your exemplified discourse committed to my view, haue vpon occasion sufficient, deuised how and wherewith to haue preuented or answered your accustomed cauils.Epanodis.The first whereof not hauing performed, so could I willinglie also haue left the latter vndone by determined speech to haue beene accomplished, were it not that hauing prooued the arrogancie to bee in you, wherewith vniustly you charge me, I might by my ouerlong silence giue head to your follies, and whilest by an outragious well liking of your selfe you become ignorant of your owne mischiefs,Liptote.you might vse a scope not necessarie therby more farther to abuse my sufferance, as heretofore you haue done a great many others by their common negligence.

For auoyding whereof, I haue (as my leisure would induce mee) thought good to giue place to mine owne determination, & to serue your humour so farre forth as to answere your letter, not being stung, as you fondlie and vainlie imagine,Ironia.with the venome thereof, nor galled with the opposed surmises of your munificence, wealth, credite, reputation, and I know not what besides, all which I do suppose either to be so skant, as no man can substantiallie discerne them, or otherwise that you would neuer so often as you do, without a surfeiting follie enduour to obtrude them.

The policies you vse with mee are nothing straunge, which because they are nowe growne so stale, bee euerie waie therefore the lesse currant.Omiosis.Howe like vnto a shamelesse woman, or some other base conceyted creature, you appeare in your wryting, let but the matter of your Letter testifie, if because you haue both manlieshape and countenaunce, you will admitte neither of these similitudes, you must bee either a childe, or a foole, and so weare a bable,Sarcasmus.or take a horne booke at your girdle, and get you to schoole againe.

You complaine that I haue done you iniurie,Anthypophora.if I haue, why then doe you not content your selfe to pursue the reuengement thereof, either with manlike or lawfull extremitie? Whie take you for a refuge these cankred foolish vpbraidings,Schesis onomatō.womanish encountrings, vnseemlie lyings, and childish threatnings. If we folow the rule you begin, we must straight waies bee children, and then I must wrangle why you stole awayTomsbread and butter,Ironia.and you must threaten if I tell of that, you will then complaine of mee for eating vp the firmentie that was kept for the childs breakefast, or how I drunke vp my grandams ale and toste, or lick bread in the dripping panne, or some such like weightie causes.Insultatiō.A soueraigne capacitie no doubt. Is this manner of dealing deriued I pray you from your Gentilitie, or had you it by education, or haue you won it with your wealth, or is it incident to your reputation?Meiosis.Bee these your incounters? A braue canuisado, indeede, when to deface an honest minde, you haue shot out all the venome of twentie yeares acquaintance that you haue stuffed togethers, and all not woorth a butterflie, then to tell to those that accompanie you,Merismus.howe brauelie you haue touched mee, howe with your learned enditing to so manie read and shewed, you haue quencht mee, howe manie wayes behinde my backe, if you were so ill disposed you could kill mee, and for default of other matter forsooth, howe they laughed at mee to whome I haue spoke somewhat against you, and howe master B. foundSocratesin my Letter, and sent to seeke out your well reputed sconce to expound it,Antiphrasis.not without the credit of your owne worshipfoltie to be admitted to the sight hereof:Prosonomasia.If I should for carrying this insight,Meiosis.not say you were a great Clearke, your grauitie I knowe would condemne mee, and it would bee thought in your deeper studies, that my senses did faile me.Charientismus.But alas sir, what is it that I woulde denie you? It is not I, well I wot that haue abilitie, or if I had, woulde presume so far as to impugne you,Epitropis.what wold you more sir? I am come to your bow, and acknowledge your credit, your worshipful acquaintance, and all else you haue brought me to. But yet sir, after all these sporting deuises, hee is but a Nidcote,Asteismus.and that wise man can tellyou, that will glory so much in such fruitles follies.

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