PLeaseth my honourable good L.Narratiō. It was giuen me to vnderstand about two daies passed by M. R. that your L. should very hardly conceiue of me, in that vpon some vrgent occasion, I delaied to yeeld that testimonie vnto his cause, which in equitie and reason I ought to doe:Propositiō. and the rather, for that by your earnest entreatie and request, I was eftsoones thereunto required. The griefe was not small I sustained thereby, in that hauing receiued many and sundrie benefits by your honourable fauour, whereby diuers waies I remaine in dutie and honestie charged during my life vnto your L. I should stand on so great a hazard, as the aduenture or losse of your good opinion, onely for a matter sinisterly suggested vnto you against mee, without anie maintainable reason. Your L. dooth I hope remember, in my last speeches had with you about the very same matter (albeit before that time, I stoode on some tearmes, doubting the malicious dealinges of the aduerse parties agaynst mee, in reuengment of my plaine and honest testimonie to bee there giuen) yet at the last I concluded, to gather together all the Notes ministring furtheraunce to the cause, and thereuppon to deliuer my true and certaine knowledge according as had beene required. Nowe, what care I haue sithence vsed in the matter, and vppon intelligence had with M. R. howe vehementlie in satisfaction of what might anie wayes content your L. and bee furthering to his right, I haue proceeded therein, I had rather himselfe shoulde deliuer, then I to become a reporter vnto you. Insomuch as I well knowe (howeuer any others haue misinformed your L.) himselfe as a Gentleman, will vppon his woorde assure the truth and certaintie.Dichologia. I did I must confesse at the first vse some delayes in immediate dispatch of the thing, but how and in what manner, and to what end and purpose, let him also relate. Your L. I hope, will therefore bee pleased to do mee that right, as not to be euill perswaded towardes mee, in a case wherein I haue vpon your honourable assuraunce and commaund, entred so farre foorth, as thereby I stande assured to haue purchased vnto my selfe matter ynough of hatred, and by those whomeAntithesis. (hauing refused to entertaine as my friendes) I haue inabled sufficiently thereby to become my heauie and bitter enemies. The hatred of whome cannot vnto mee anie wayes become so iniurious as the ill conceyte of your L. should redound to bee of all others most grieuous. For mine owne parte (so much doe I stande on the reuerent regarde and account I beare vnto your L.) as were it not I rest perswaded that vpon the equall deliueraunce conceiued of my willing minde vnto your seruice, you would againe bee reconciled in fauourable and good opinion towards me, I should so farre foorth bee discontented in my selfe, as neuer could I bee at attonement with mine actions, wherein by the least sparke of negligence whatsoeuer, I might thinke to haue ouerslipped anie thing that shoulde become displeasing, or otherwise offensiue vnto your honourable liking. Your L. woonted fauourPeroratiō. and bountie giueth mee great expectation of the contrarie, and mine innocencie and true report of maister R. doth also in some sort assure me. Whereupon remaining as he that alwaies thinketh his life no better spent, then for and in your L. vtmost seruice, I humblie surcease, this day of, &c.
Of Epistles Petitorie. Chap. 15.
He manner of these Epistles might in another purpose then herein expressed, bee also applyed, as being Reconciliatorie, in the behalfe of some other to bee written, as occasion may bee offered, but forasmuch as they in that sort beeing handled, doe for the most part, fall into the Swasorie, Disswasorie, Defensorie, or Excusatorie kinde, I deeme it besides necessitie, to write anie further examples thereof, for that when anie such shall bee brought in question, the substaunce and conueyance of the state and cause, may readily thereunto be drawne out of the places before sorted vnto each of those kindes, as in the discourse formerly set forth are at large remembred. In manifestation whereof, let it be considered, that if by an epistle of this title I shoulde endeuour to reconcile a man to his wife, or a woman to her husband, a seruaunt to his maister, or a maister to his seruant: the father to the Childe, the friende to a friende, the neighbour to neighbour, or kinsman to kindred. Needes must I for the compassing thereof shewe some reasons howe and which way to induce these, and therefor must I of necessitie run into diuers perswasions, defences or excuses, in the qualities whereof (by whatsoeuer action I goe about to transpose them) the effectes yet must néedes be concluded. Sufficeth therefore that for these Epistles I haue deliuered sufficiently, and herewith will wee wade vnto the nexte, which in order hereunto are Petitorie. And in asmuch as these Epistles are so named, for the earnest petition or requests in euerie of them contained, and that the variety of thinges are such to be demanded, and mens conditions so diuers, at whose handes or from whom the same are to be receiued: It therefore falleth out by consequence that according thereunto the maner of the Epistle must needs also be diuers and variable. For some things ther are which fauorably and with great indifferencie, are oftentimes to be graunted, required or obtained, as counsell, aid, patronage, good speeches, natural care and regard, & such other like. Some also and such semblable persons, as for which, or to whom, to aske or sue a certain kind of shame, is in a māer tied, viz. in crauing, borrowing, importuning, charging, or to vehement troubling. The stile, order, and deliuery therefore appertaining to either of these must needly be different. Touching then the generality of both, to either of them it is requisite that in the Exordium, an indeuour bee vsed whereby to adhibit vnto vs the good will, fauour, or good liking of him to whome wee write. Nexte that therein wee procéede according to our acquaintance with the partie, his estate, credite, or supporte whereby to pleasure vs. Thirdlie, that the cause we take vpon vs to preferre, bee iust, lawfull, and honest. Fourthly, that it be in his ability, or power, counsel, aid, or protection, to prefer or relieue vs. Fiftly, the order or meanes whereby the same may be wrought and accomplished. Sixtly, our gratitude and remuneration, worthily tied to the thankefull acknowledgement or requitall of the same. In the first sorte of these, the cause standing fauourable or indifferent, we may the more bolder indeuour to produce or lay forth the aptnes or beseeming therof. In the second, greater modestie, and a more shamefast deliuerance is to be retained, the preferring whereof woulde be best by insinuation, the better by couert meanes to wade into the depth of our petitiō. In this place a more then ordinarie bashfulnes would bee admitted, which giueth no small furtherance to euerie demaund, as audacious and wainscot impudencie on the other side returneth the greatest impediment in anie thing to be obtained. For no man willingly would do benefit to such a one who in maner goeth about as of duety and not of curtesie to exact the same, and rather as a commaunder then crauer, woulde impudently thrust himselfe to the obtaining thereof. And because the whole course hereof obserued by way of euerie Petition, is by inference of many circumstances to be altogither determined, the order as I haue related vnto you before, must be conueyed by places Swasorie, resting very often in confirmation of the honestie, goodnes, lawfulnes, and needfulnes of our petition. And if the Exordium be happily framed of his person to whom we direct our letters, it shall not be amisse that therein briefly wee capitulate some parte of his vertues, curtesies, humanity, bounty, readines to comfort, pleasure, or doe reliefe vnto any, whereby we may priuately draw his fauour and good acceptance vnto vs: besides, if he haue made vs before time beholding vnto him, we shall gladly acknowledge the same, and declare that being already indebted, we study more thereby to yoke our selues vnto him. If of our owne persons, then shall we lay open, with what great expectation and regard we do in our conceits entertaine the desertes and worthinesse of such a one, modestly preferring what in fauor of him, and common and equall loue or regard hath passed between vs. If of the interchangeable loue, liking and curtesie, whilome resting between our predecessors or auncistors, then the weight and force thereof we shall put forwards accordingly. If of the person of our aduersarie against whom we demaund any assistance, fauor, protection, or remedy, we may infer (if any such be) the common mislike of both of vs towardes him, and how ill he hath deserued at eithers handes and thereupon require aid against him. If of the thing or matter it selfe, the same be to be caried, we shall shew the value, godlines, goodnes, or common benefit of the same, that the matter is vnto him easie, to vs of great importance, and if without arrogancie it may be done, we may inforce some occasions of benefit or other contentment thenceforth to happen vnto him. And if any discommoditie do happily séem to appeare in laying open the same (the liklihood whereof may either alienate his minde, or withdraw his assistance or other liking from vs) that shall we either study to extinguish or otherwise, as much as we may, to qualifie or auoide; By such kind of meanes, behooueth we prepare our selues to the deliuery of our petition, which being in as apt and plaine tearms as may be laid open, we shal by such inforcements (as in moouing affections hereunto, may be deemed pertinent) with greater facilitie procure the same to be effected.
An example of an epistle Petitorie written on the
behalfe of another.
THe studie and great desire wherewith (sir) I see you bent continually to the vniuersall aid and benefit of al men,Exordium. and for which to your great praise you haue generally well deserued, and deseruedly are euerie where reputed, hath mooued me in the behalfe of this poore man to become a petitioner vnto you. About two moneths since,Narratiō. hee had dealings with a neighbour of yours, touching a farme which he was for tearme of yeares to take at his hands, and notwithstanding a promise and graunt thereof to this bearer made (in consideration whereof he paide him then in hand a good parte of his money) the iniuriousAllegoria. cormorant glutting him selfe with extorting from the pouertie of this and manie others, hath sithence that, not onelie passed a demise thereof in writing to another, but goeth about to defraud the poore man of his money, the sum whereof is the whole patrimonie, riches, and stocke of himselfe, his poore wife and familie. And for so much as without the countenance of some one fauouring the poore mans right, hee is like to bee ouerborne with the weight of the other, and so consequently to bee vndone: I haue thought good to make thus bolde to pray your lawful fauour in his furtherance, that by your authoritie and meanes, some honest satisfaction or ende may be therein to his behoofe had. You shall doe an act verie charitable, in dealing for such a one, for the procuring of whose right, his heartie praiers for your safety shall witnes wel the comfort you shall do him therein.Epilogus. I am perswaded your speach and aid may herein preuaile verie much, as a thing which with great facilitie you may cause to bee dispatched. And for my self, as I shal at no time rest vnmindful of my request tendred vnto you herein, so shall I not faile in what I may to the vttermost of my power to satisfie you, by whatsoeuer possible requitall. And euen so with my heartie commendations, I doe bid you farewel. R. this twelfth of Aprill.
An example petitorie in the nature
of Reconciliatorie, from a sonne
to his displeased
father.
IF floods of teares sealed with harde and bitter sighes,Metaphora. if continuall sorrow and neuer ceasing care,Exordium. if consuming griefes not of a diseased bodie, but of a pestred mind, might haue rendred sufficient and assured testimonie,Epitheton. whereby to perswade your laden eares surcharged by this time with the weight of my incessaunt and continuall cries: the intollerable woes wherein I liued, secluded from the right and name of a sonne, and barred quite from the sweete and gentle tearme of a louing and kinde father, hadde ere this time giuen meane of recouerie, to my daunted and dismayed spirites, and kindled in mee some wan hope, one day to haue founde an houre so happie, wherein by a right conceite conceiued of my vnkindlie pleasures, or conuinced by the importunity of those who haue pittied my euils, your naturall care might in some sorte or other haue bin renued, to the redresse of all my fore wearied and heauie groning mischiefs.Ecphonesis. But infortunate as I am, that for all the humble suit so manie times presented in these and such like blubbered lines, so hardened is the mind of him I write vnto, that whilome hauing bin a deare and louing parent, I may not heerein dare to tender, or so much as once put forwarde vnto him, the appellation of a gratious and pittifull father. If it haue so pleased vnto your grauitie,Periphrasis. in such seuere manner still to deale with me, and that the hatefull shewe of my ill desertes, is yet become of so loathed and detestable recordation, in this verie season vnto you: then as (before time) eftsoones doe confesse my letters vntimelie to haue approched vnto you: but if the long detained grace, by whose heauie want (your sonne might I say?)Metanoia. nay, the forlorne and despised issue of your aged yeares (for so I am now forced to say) is perforce driuen almost into a desperate conceite and mislike of his liuing, may by the least sparke of expectation, be annexed to the most vehement effects of his prostrate and meekest submission, then groueling vppon the lowest ground,Antithesis. and humbling my highest imaginations to the deepest bottome, wherein your implacable displeasures haue hitherto beene coueted, as meekely and with as penitent speeches, as anie grieued and passionate minde can vtter: I do beseech you sir, that at the last you will receyue (not into your accustomed fauour) but to your common and ordinarie lyking, the most disgraced of all your children, and pardoning the disobedience wherein hee dared once so far foorth to prouoke agaynst him, the weight of your knowne anger, vouchsafe hee may nowe againe bee of your familie, though not partaking with your children.
This sole benefite and last request if my burthened soule may obtaine at your handes, happilie I may then liue as comforted by the hope of that whereunto a buzie and carefull endeuour may once peraduenture enable me, otherwise dying in the ouerflowing of my desperate and continued griefes, I pray at Gods handes I may obtaine that by mercie, which cruell destinie in my life time could neuer win vnto me, by all possible intreatie.Epilogus. My submissiue dutie answerable to the regarded place of your fatherlie authoritie compelleth mee to attend with all humblenesse the resolution of your clemencie. In the hope whereof, resting my decayed and ouerwearied imagination, I liue till the receyt of your knowne lyking do ascertaine, in what sort may please you to repute me.