CONTENTS.
- [To the right Honorable, Edward de Vere.]
- [To the learned and courteous Readers in generall.]
- [The English Secretorie.]
- [Of an Epistle, the commodities and vse thereof. Chap. 1.]
- [What is chiefelie to be respected in framing of an Epistle. Chap. 2.]
- [Of the habite and parts of an Epistle. Cap. 3.]
- [Of certaine contents generally incident to all maner of Epistles. Chap. 4.]
- [Diuerse orders of greetings, farewels and subscriptions. Cap. 5.]
- [Of Superscriptions and Directions. Cap. 6.]
- [The diuisions of Letters and vnder what titles all sortes of Epistles are contained. Cap 7.]
- [Of Epistles meerely Descriptory and the parts thereof. Chap. 8.]
- [Of Epistles Laudatorie and Vituperatorie. Chap. 9.]
- [Of Epistles deliberatiue. Chap. 10.]
- [Of Epistles Responsorie. Chap. 11.]
- [Of Epistles Dehortatorie, and Disswasorie. Chap. 12.]
- [Of Epistles Conciliatorie. Chap. 13.]
- [Of Epistles Reconciliatorie. Chap. 14.]
- [Of Epistles Petitorie. Chap. 15.]
- [Of Epistles Commendatorie. Chap. 16.]
- [Of Epistles Consolatorie. Chap. 17.]
- [Of Epistles Monitorie and Reprehensorie. Chap. 18.]
- [Of Epistles Amatorie. Chap. 19.]
- [The Second Part of the English Secretorie.]
- [Of Epistles Iudiciall. Chap 1.]
- [Of Epistles Expostulatorie. Chap. 2.]
- [Of Epistles Exprobratorie. Chap. 4.]
- [Of Letters inuectiue. Chap. 5.]
- [Of Epistles Comminatorie. Cap. 6.]
- [Of Epistles deprecatorie. Cap. 7.]
- [Of Epistles familiar. Chap. 8.]
- [Of Epistles Remuneratorie. Chap. 9.]
- [Of Epistles Iocatorie. Chap. 10.]
- [Of Epistles Obiurgatorie. Chap. 11.]
- [Of Epistles Mandatorie. Chap. 12.]
- [A Declaration of al such Tropes, Figures or Schemes, as for excellencie and ornament in writing, are speciallie vsed in this Methode.]
- [Of Figvres Tropes, and Schemes.]
- [Of the partes, place and Office of a Secretorie.]
- [A Table shewing the principal matters contained in the first part of this Booke.]
To the right Honorable, Edward
de Vere, Earle of Oxenford, Vicount Bul-
becke, Lord Standford and of Badlesmere,
and Lord great Chamberlaine
of England.
T is now a fewe yeares passed (Right Honourable, & my very good Lord) since emboldned by your fauour, this booke rudely digested, and then roughly deliuered, I did in the very nonage thereof recōmend vnto your Patronage. And howbeit at that time, very little therin appeared worthy so honourable acceptance: yet pleased it your L. the same should then passe vnder your fauourable countenance.
To answer so great bountie therein shewed, I haue naught but my simple acknowledgement: and in signification of the will I haue to do vnto your Lordship any acceptable seruice, no other matter in shew, then a fresh renouation of the selfe same title by an other presentment, howbeit in far more orderly manner then formerly was deliuered.
Your Lordship may please of your owne ennobled condition to well dooing, in pardoning the presumption of the former, to vouchsafe your liking to this latter, wherein (notwithstanding the title all one) yet shall you finde the worke both in order, habit and shape, to be diuersly chaunged.
To excuse the defecte of the one, or enlarge my paines taken in publishing the other, were on either part needlesse: seeing my desire in both, hath principally sorted to one self meaning: If your L. find ought herein answerable to your iudgmēt, it is inough: and the vsers shall thereby (I hope) finde more cause to be satisfied. The wisest of all ages, haue not at one instant collected their experience: Plato in his first original was nothing so diuine: Socrates in his cradle had no taste of his after wisdome: Hercules past many yeres ere he grew famed by his labors, & onely vse and practize enableth vnto the greatest perfection.