Now in as much as Eloquution is annexed vnto the stile,Stile of Epistles. which euermore is also tied to the argument and substance of euerie Epistle: it is to be regarded what stile maie generallie bee deemed meetest for the common habit, wherein each of them maie ordinarilie be published. In the recording whereof, we do find thrée sorts, especiallie in all kinds of writing and speaking, to haue bene generallie commended. Sublime,Sublime. the highest and stateliest maner, and loftiest deliuerance of anie thing that maie bee, expressing the heroicall and mightie actions of Kinges, Princes, and other honourable personages, the stile whereof is said to be tragicall swelling in choice, and those the most haughtiest tearmes, commended, described, amplified and preferred also by Orators, which manie excellent Figures and places of Rhetorique. Humile, Humile. the lowest comicall, and most simple of all others, the matter whereof is the meanest subiect of anie argument that maie be, entermedling in common causes, aduertisements and mutuall affectes of euerie one, the stile whereof sweepeth euen the very grounde it selfe, and is fittest appropriate to our familiar Letters, for that in such familiar causes and maners, the same is solely frequented, in which neuertheless is Sua faceties et elegantia quædam his certaine kind of elegancie, pleasant and neat conueiance, not altogether to be sequestred from that kinde of deliuerance. Mediocre, Mediocre. a meane betwixt high and lowe, vehement and slender, too much and too little, as we saie, in which are expressed histories, Declamations, Comentaries, and other intermingled actions, not of anie in particular, but of all in generall, this stile of all others maie be adapted vnto these speciall kinds of Epistles.
Thus then it followeth, that whether we write familiarlie, or waightilie,Skilfull vse of writing. we must endeuour as neere as maie bee that each be perfourmed skilfullie, for that to neither of them maie want learning, without the knowledge whereof, what ornament can there be at all of this expected elegancie. The particularities whereof included in these two titles Inuention and Eloquution, both Nature and Skill do put forward as we daily see byParts of an Epistle. a double instruction. This therfore sufficing for those twain, let vs see what parts are supplied in an Epistle, succéeding in the other also, and ayding to Disposition. The first place is Exordium, a beginning or introduction to the matter to be written of, Exordium. which is not always after one sort or fashion, but in diuerse maners: as sometimes by preamble, wherein either for our selues, or the cause we write of, or in respect of him, for or to whom we write, wee studie to win fauor or allowance of the matter, sometimes by insinuation, wherin couertly, either in respect that the matter requireth long debatement or that mislike may bee alreadie grounded in him to whom we direct our letters, we seeke by cunning reasons to shewe that the case so requiring is tollerable: or in the other, that rather equity then selfe opinion must and ought chieflie to be weighed. Sometimes by a similitude, wherein by manifesting the like of that we take in hand to haue bene commenced, tollerated, or equally censured, wee intend the same, or lesse force in our selues, at their hands to bee borne withall or accepted, and diuerse other wayes besides, as in the Epistles following shall be tendred. Then Narratiō, or Propositiō, Narratiō & Propositiō. each seruing to one effect, wherein is declared or proponed, in the one by plaine tearmes, in the other by inference, or comparison, the verie substance of the matter whatsoeuer to be handled. Then Confirmatiō, Confirmatiō. wherein are amplified or suggested many reasons, for the aggrauating or proof of any matter in question. After Confutatiō,Confutatiō. whereby is diminished, disproued or auoided, whatsoeuer to bee supposed, obiected or aggrauated. Lastlie, Peroratiō, Peroratiō. in which after a briefe recapitulation of that which hath beene vrged, the occasions thereof are immediatelie concluded. These are not altogither at all times vsed, but some or the most of them as occasion serueth, either admitted or reiected: besides which, others also are sometimes remembred. The vse whereof as in sundrie Epistles they may be deemed necessarie, shall in their seuerall examples hereafter perused, appeare more euidentlie and largely.
Of certaine contents generally incident to all maner of
Epistles. Chap. 4.
N writing of Epistles, four especiall contents are alwaies continuallie incident. The manner of Salutation, an order of taking leaue or farewell, the Subscription, and the outwarde direction. Salutations of auncient time were woont to bee fixed, Quasi omen faustum, a signe or inuiting to good hap, in the front or vpper part of the letter: so did the auncient Romanes, and in like manner after their examples doo at this daie some other nations. But seldome or neuer (especiallie of the learned and most curious writers) is the same in our English directions, at any time accustomed. Onelie this, where letters are directed from one or more of the Councell to an inferiour Magistrate or person, or from some noble man to such, whom hee intertaineth not in any estate of societie or equall familiaritie, the maner of commendations (which with vs is retained for an order of Salutation or gréeting) runneth lightlie in the beginning of the Letter, and customablie is deliuered in this forme. After our heartie commendations vnto your L. if it bee from a number of the Counsell to a Noble man, or otherwise in the singular number vnto an inferiour person, as thus. After my heartie commendations vnto you. But otherwise writing seriouslie to anie man, Maner of salutations. the greeting if it be to one far our better is turned, to an acknowledgment of some kind of dutie, or reuerent account, and that most commonly at the end of the Letter, which likewise in equalitie falleth out in such place to be mentioned. And being in familiarities is to no place tied, but beginning, middle, or ending of the Letter, all is one, as séemeth most consonant to the vaine & disposition of the partie, and these also at all times not deliuered in the selfe worde of gréeting or commendations, but by diuerse Epithets, and fine conueiances, as falleth out to the matter of the Epistle, and the conditions of the partie to be handled. This being at the end of the Letter, there shall immediatelie follow the order of farewell, which ioyning so hard thereupon as it doeth, wee will put them both in one example of wordes and Epithets,Epithets. togither with the subscriptions, for the easier instruction of the learner, and his better remembrance, referring the notes of euerie of them to their places, where afterwards they are vsed in their seuerall Letters.
Diuerse orders of greetings, farewels and sub-
scriptions. Cap. 5.
Cknowledging my selfe deepelie boundeGreetings of humilitie or acknowledgment of dutie. vnto your L. for manie sundrie fauours: I doe remaine in all humble reuerrence. Finding my selfe manie wayes beholding vnto your exceeding courtesies, I ende. Remembring howe much I am indebted vnto your L. for your sundrie benefites: I conferre the regard thereof to my present imaginations, and doe beseech thereof at your honourable handes an euerlasting continuance. All humble loyaltie and seruice protested vnto your honorable calling, I rest nowe and perpetuallie your L. &c. Fearing in speeches, neuer with sufficiencie to manifest the conceit I haue of your most honourable fauours: I solace my selfe with the remembrance, and humblie leaue your L. to your woonted perseuerance. Praying the Almightie to haue your L. euermore in his gratious protection, I humblie take my leaue. Your worship in this, besides manie other occasions hauing perpetuallie bound mee, how can I but rest such, as you haue expected and shall euer find me. Eftsoones recording my bounden seruice vnto your worship and my good Ladie, I remaine as euer before. Not forgetting howe manie wayes I am charged, in dutifull remembrance towards you, I rest as I haue protested. More grieued at my mishap and disabilitie, then wanting either will or liking to doe seruice vnto you: I affix my selfe euermore vpon the acceptance of your woonted cuʳtesie, and humblie there withall do take my leaue: Commending the safetie and good estate of your worship to the Almighties protection, I rest in all dutifull regard to the same. Rather desirous to shewe my selfe thankful, then otherwise able in like sort to giue you any requital, I continue, &c. Binding my self by all possible indeuors, neuer to be fréed from the charge of so excéeding benefites, I wish I might as I would, be vnto you in verie deed, &c. Wishing vnto you and yours, as much happinesse, as my selfe am clogged with carefulnesse, I surcease. Desiring vnto you no worse successe in these and all other your laudable endeuors, Greetings familiar. then my selfe haue eftsoones craued in performance of my chiefest trauels, I recommend you to the tuition of the Almightie. Not forgetting our accustomed gréetings and interchangeable welwishings, my hastie Letter taketh ende. Weighing howe much you are alreadie busied, and not willing to keepe you further occupied, I ende my long and tedious discourse, beeing in nothing exempted from woonted salutations, and accustomed kind of greetings. Thinke not though my haste be such, but that I remember (notwithstanding all this breuitie) how greatlie I stand charged both to you and yours, to whome, and all the rest to you knowne I eftsoones commend me. Reioycing not a little at the health of you and all other our friends, I hartily bid you fare well. Reiocing my self on your wel-wishing, and the hope I haue to be returned in safetie I commend my hap to fortune, and our gouernement to the Almightie. Rendring vnto you as manie thankes, as I conceiued comfort of your good intreatings, I leaue to detaine you. Omitting what else to bee amplified in these or anie other occasions I expect your happie returne, and in hope thereof doe bid you farewell. Knowing howe well I loue you, the lesse ceremonies I néede to vse in greeting you, onlie you shall remember to your parents in most hartie maner to commend mee. Salute I praie you your friendes in my name, and thinke in my best and serious wishes I neuer forget you. My father willed me in his behalfe to salute you, and all the rest of your acquaintance here do most hartilie greete you. Forget not in what sort I haue heretofore receiued you, and thinke in the selfe same maner I do still intertaine you. My gréetings to our friend R. let not bee vnremembred, and deeme that in all my vowes I haue (vnto you all) most heartilie wished. I had almost let slip my commendations vnto your brother, which for anie thing I would not had bene forgotten, vpon whom, as of greatest choic, I will make my reposing.
The liking I haue to N. maketh mee here to remember him whose good demeanour as your own, I haue in chiefest reckoning. My gréetings and paper haue all one ende togither, onelie our friendship indissoluble can neuer be forgotten.
Thinke how exceedinglie I haue alwaies well wished vnto you, and accordinglie thereunto measure the rest of mine affections towards you. Haste compelleth mee to ende sooner than I would, wherin notwithstanding I can neuer omit sufficientlie to gréete you, eftsoones recognizing as behooueth, your especall good liking towards me, &c.