THis example seeming to be in the superlative degree, it is intended that the direction thereof or the like, shoulde passe vnto such a one, whose birth, education, or other complements, maie sufficientlie answere the greatnesse and efficacie thereof, otherwise to one meanlie demeaned, or farre lesse enabled, to indite or offer the like, it might seeme vnto the writer, a great indignitie, as well in iudgement, as by an apparant want of some other sufficiencie. For which I thought good to admonish thus farre in this place, howbeit in the seconde Chapter of this booke, I haue touching a respect in all writing to bee had vnto the partie, his partes, place and qualitie, plentifullie alreadie discoursed.
Another example to that purpose.
GOod Mistresse E. I am bolde though a straunger, to make these Letters, messengers at this present of my good meaning towards you, wherein you may please to thinke that I goe not about by pretence of a most entire and heartie good will which I professe to beare you, to make present surmise thereupon, that on so bare an assertion you should immediately credite me, I prise your worthinesse at farre greater value, and weigh your good allowance so much, as I onelie desire, that by your fauorable liking I may intreate to haue accesse vnto you, not doubting but by my being in your presence, I shall so sufficientlie by apparant proofe maintaine the efficacie of that I now protest, and giue you so good occasion to deeme well of mee, as you shall haue no reason to repent you, that vpon so honest and louing request you haue condiscended to my entreatie. Whose health and prosperitie tendering in all things as mine owne, I sende you with my Letter a token of that great affection I beare you, which I most heartilie praie you to accept of, and weare for mee. And euen so doe continue.
Yours, if so you please to accept of me, &c.
An answere to the first of these Epistles.
THat men haue skill, and are by sundrie commendable partes enabled to set foorth their meaning, there needeth, as I thinke no other testimonie then your presente writing, your eloquence is farre beyonde the reach of my poore witte, and the multiplicitie of your praises fitter for a Poeticall Goddesse, then to the erection of anie such earthlie Deesse. For my parte, I houlde them as the fancies and toies of men, issuing from the weakest of their humours, and howe farre my selfe can deserue, none then my selfe can better conceiue. Beeing one of good sorte, as you are, I coulde doe no lesse then write againe vnto you, the rather to satisfie the importunitie of your messenger, wishing such a one to your lot as wel might paragonize those excellencies your write of, and answere euerie waie vnto the substaunce of all those inestimable prayses. So hauing, your loue and your writing, might (as I take it) bee best suted togethers.
Yours, as far as modesty will, to aun-
swere your curtesies, &
A replie to the same answere.
GRacious obiect of my pleasing thoughtes, and mistresse of all my inwarde happines, sweete were the lines you wrote, God wot vnto mee your seruant howe comfortable, and how precious, knowing that their premeditation had issue from those your peerlesse excellencies, & the touch of those letters passed the guidance of your delicat hands, how sharp or powerful soeuer be the weight of the same, the lesse shall be the griefe, in that she whom I honour and estimate aboue all others, hath vouchsafed to wish vnto my lot, y accōplishmēt of all those excellencies, which none but her self can paragonize, and wherein she onelie goeth beyond all others. Vouchsafe (sweete Mistris) that what vnto you is intended to bee pleasing, may not seeme disgraced, by the ornamente of Eloquence, the Soueraigne and praise-woorthie Glorie whereof, beautifieth both speeches and reasons. Too dulle are my senses (I confesse) to blaze foorth the weight of your merites, your accomplishmentes beeing so manifold, as whereout (if euer anie earthlie Deesse by anie excellencie were deriued) the same might bee thought to haue alonlie proceeded. You may please of my loue to deeme as of your owne deseuinges the foundation whereof cannot bee so slender, as whereon so weake a thinge as fancie shoulde bee grounded. But as your vertues are permanent, so may you iudge of my loue to be perpetuall. Let it once more accord with your curteous consent, that these letters with the first may haue the like fauourable acceptaunce, whereby you shall kindle in mee no other or greater presumption, then what best fitteth vnto the woorthinesse both of your vertue and calling. With heartes longing and sighes sending, my Letters, and well wishinges speede them togethers, crauing that you will euer holde and deeme of me, as of him that in all protested faith, loue and loyaltie, is and will bee alwaies.
Yours, &c.