An example of an Epistle Deprecatorie, where the partie is
charged in good opinion.
WHen a PhisiognomerExordium. by chaunce (hauing beene famous in other places) came into the forum of Athens, hee declared by the view of diuers mens faces the diuersitie of their conditions,Hypotyposis. whereupon (for better triall of his Arte) hee was demaunded what (Prima facie) he thought of Socrates, he answered, by his countenance, to be a man of verie euill condition. The people which knew the contrarie, growing thereby into great rage, were readie to driue him out of the forum. But Socrates comming forth. Be not angrie (quoth he) for such a one might I haue beene, if by Philosophie I had not corrected my maners.
By this might bee inferred (right Woorshipfull) that at the first shewe, it is not good to giue rash iudgement of anie man, for the Phisiognomer beeing able to iudge what men might bee, was not able to say iustlie such they are: In like manner, your Worship hauing beene led by misreports, are able to say, thus it is spoken, but not so it is.
To my great griefe it is informed vnto mee,Narratiō. that by the sinister report of mine aduersaries, you thinke hardly of me. And so much the rather haue I cause to bee grieued, for that in the mouth of an ignorant person, I am not therby iudged of, but by the sentence and opinion of the wise, held a man badly demeaned, careles, and such a one as beareth small reputation.
Beleeue mee sir, and if it please you to take further notice of me, you shal find it true, that it is more euill vnto me to be adiudged loose of a wise man, then of a thousand base persons to be vtterly condemned, for that the one speaketh of skill, and the other of a bad conceipt,Epanodis. the first wishing all men to bee good, the other confessing no man to be sufficient, that is not possessed with euil.
My aduersaries haue brought many heauy informations vnto you tending in outward shew to my great disgrace, naming me as it pleaseth them, a man (as they thinke of themselues) indifferent for all purposes. But because I know you to bee wise, and thinke it a matter of no small accompt to be well thought of at your hands: I am therfore the more carefull to cleare my selfe, and do beseech you, that you will hold for firme what I do here set down: assuring your selfe, that whatsoeuer my aduersaries report of me, I doe make accompt what speeches passe from me: and those that I deliuer vpon credite, I will performe with trust.
This then I say for aunswere generall, to whatsoeuer they canne obiect, that if any parte of that in substaunce they haue deliuered vnto you for certaine bee true, I will loose the credite of a Gentleman, and bee regarded as I repute them: and besides, will repay whatsoeuer is to me paide, and release what nowe I haue in sute against them.
Besides, pleaseth it your Worship for my credit sake to haue the hearing of the cause, I will come face to face, and (though I knowe the one of them to haue a shamelesse countenance) of himselfe, yet let bring what counsell he will with himselfe, if I ouerthrowe not euery matter obiected, and proue my selfe an honest man, I will loose the debte and my credit too, which I accompt aboue all debts. Haue not I then had great cause (hauing beene as vnto you, so in diuers other places besides verie vniustlie railed at and defamed) to write vnto these persons, and inueigh against them for it? Behold my letter throughout, being well considered of, it shall bee euident that I had great cause, and that very manifold to do it: for my part I knowe not what others deeme, but touching my selfe, I had rather lose my life then my good name, then which vnto me nothing is of more regard, and I tell you sir, if F. or a better man then he maketh no more reckoning, but to defame me without a cause, he shal know and vnderstand that my credit is deare vnto me, and that to maintaine the contrarie he shall find a hard reckoning.
I spende not my time in making of Lybels, but to write in reproofe of him that abuseth mee, which I take so highlie in griefe, as namelie, they shoulde be so shamelesse to report that vnto your Worship which they cannot stande to, that I holde it a wretchednes therein to be silent, and a mischiefe for credit sake not to discouer a trueth.
Beseeching your worship of fauour and credite,Epilogus. to me and my rude lines, I humblie take my leaue, beeing alwaies ready to auouch what here I haue set down, wherof not failing I remaine