Common place is a Oracion, dilatyng and ampli-
fiyng good or euill, whiche is incidente or lodged in
any man. This Oracion is called a common place,
because the matter conteined in it, doeth agree vniuersally to
all menne, whiche are partakers of it, and giltie of thesame[.]
A Oracion framed againste a certaine Thefe, Extorcio-
ner, Murderer, or Traitor, is for the matter conteined in it,
metelie and aptlie compiled, against all soche as are giltie of
theft, murder, treason, or spotted with any other wickednes.
This oracion of a common place, is like to the laste argu-
ment or Epilogus of any oracion, whiche the Grekes doe call
Deuterologian, whiche is as moche to saie, as a rehearsall of
that whiche is spoken of before.
Wherefore, a common place hath no exhordium, or be-
ginnyng, yet neuerthelesse, for the profite and exercise of the
learner, you maie place soche a proemium, or beginnyng of
the oracion, as maie be easie to induce the learner.
This parte of Rhetorike is large to intreate vpon, for the
aboundaunce of matter.
[This part of Rhetorike is large to intreate vpon, for the]
[aboundaunce of matter.]
The common place, whiche Aphthonius intreateth of, is
to be aplied against any man, for the declaimor to inuade, ei-
ther against vices, or to extoll and amplifie his vertues.
This oracion of a common place, serueth bothe for the ac-
cuser and the defender.
For the accuser, to exasperate and moue the Iudges or
hearers, against the offender, or accused.