Chapter XII: Part 12

=_Epitropis_, when by proposing a cause, wee reason what should bee done therein, as thus: |In times so troublesome and seasons so tempestious, giue now your aduise what is fit to bee done. If the case were your owne, what would you doe, what would you say therein, tell me I pray you, you that conuerse in these and such like actions, I herein appeale vnto your wisdomes, your owne consciences, shewe me but your mindes herein|. And this figure is vsed in reasoning, when as to conclude a matter, and seeming loath to trouble the auditorie anie further in the same, we pretend to reserue a great part thereof, which we would refer to their iudgements.=

=_Parresia_, or libertie to speake, when by winning of curtesie to our spéech we séek to auoid any offence thereof, as thus. |Pardon if I be tedious, the circumstance of the cause requireth it. If my speech seeme vehement, the matter occasioning the same is vrgent. If what I write seeme offensiue vnto you, you haue to mislike the ill disposition of such as inforce it, and not with me to be agreeued.|=

=_Apostrophe_, or _Auersio_, when wee turne our speeches from one person or thing to another, as if one hauing spoken much of the vanitie of the worlde shoulde thereupon turne and saie vnto the worlde, |O world, how sweete and pleasant are the shewes of those things which thou producest: but in taste, how full of too much bitternes?| Or in speaking of the certaintie of death, and the little respect thereof had, to turne a mans speach to death it selfe and saie, |O death, how bitter is thy remembrance to a man hauing peace and plenty in his riches, &c.|=

=_Prosopopœia_ when to things without life wee frame an action, spéech or person, fitting a man, as if we should saie of |vertue|, as of a liuing person, that |her wayes were sweet, and replenished with all maner of delight, that she putteth her selfe foorth to the woorthiest to be receyued, and to the most honoured to be embraced|. Or faine the |ghosts| from out their graues to prescribe good examples, or to rebuke the vices of men. Or our |countrey| to accuse vs of our negligent regard vnto it in these or suchlike speeches: |Vnkind people and Citizens whom I haue ingendred in my bowels, nourished with my paps, fostered with my delights, why doe you thus vngratefullie not onelie abstaine to tender mee, but giue mee an open proy to my foes to suppresse mee: yea, which is most loathsome of all others, become proper murtherers and paracides of your owne parentage and familie, cruell destroyers of your owne patrimonie, and wretched renders and tearers of your mothers bowels, without all regard or pitie.|=

=_Synonymia_, when we bring foorth many wordes together of one signification, or sounding all to one purpose, as to say, |thou hast spoiled thy Countrey, destroied thy Citie, and turned the Commonweale topsie-turuie:| all which do sort but to one purpose, for the expressing the hatefulnesse of the iniurie: or otherwise to say, |What head hadst thou to deuise such a thing, where was thy wit when thou wentst about it, what became of thy minde in purposing the same, whither was thy discretion caried in the prosequution?| Here is |head, wit, minde and discretion|, all sorting to one thing. Also, |what desirest thou, what soughtest thou, what couldest thou wish or expect in the action|. Here is |desired, sought, wish and expect|, being all to one meaning.=

=_Auxesis_ or _Incrementum_, where by degrees we not onlie rise to the summe of euerie thing, but also sometimes go beyond, as to say, |Hee first set vpon him with reproachfull wordes, after assayled him with his weapons, then wounded him, and lastlie did moste miserablie murther him|. Here by degrees is passed to the last exigent. Now to the second. |It is euill to reproch, wicked to slaunder, villanous vnwarilie to strike, detestable to murther. What shall I say to betray a man to all these|. Here is now _vltra summum_, beyond all that was spoken to the vttermost. The excellencie of this Figure is so much the more, by howe much euerie degrée is still inforced one aboue another, and goeth beyonde in comparison, as to say: |golde, riches, honour, estate, treasure, kingdomes, life, and all he helde of no moment|. Another kinde of recitall pertaineth also to this figure short in repetition, but for vehemencie wonderfull, as to say: |Thou hast conspired the death of thy Prince, and in her the subuersion of a whole kingdome, what should I say thou hast conspired the death of thy Prince|. As who would enforce that no one thing then that could be greater: Finallie, for inforcement of a thing, to say in reprehension of follies. |If thou hadst done or spoken this in a priuate audience, among men of the ruder and meaner sort, among such as are lesse capable of skill then a great many others, thy fault could not haue beene hid: but to doe it before thy betters, in the presence of such as are adiudged both honorable and wise, in the hearing of those of great account of such as haue power to checke, and authoritie to compell thee, it was too peeuish.|=

=_Sinathrismus_, a heaping of words diuersly signifying togithers, as to say, |Hee was a man wholie malicious, exceedinglie proude, vtterlie arrogant, altogither subtill, by nature cruell, and in speeches contentious|. Or otherwise thus: |What should I tell thee further of his partes, how wise, how sober, how honest, howe courteous, howe friendly, how choicelie he liued.|=

=_Brachiologa_, when in single wordes without anie coupling togethers, we procéed in a broken kind of deliuerie, and yet hasten forward as in the other: As to saie, |loue, hate, Ielousie, frensie, furie|, drew him from |pitty|.=

=_Antithesis_, or |Contentio|, when we amplifie by contraries, as to say, |Being in my power to vse as I listed, I cared for thee, and did not destroy thee. Thou wast charie vnto me whē no man regarded thee, and when my selfe also might haue despised thee|. Or otherwise: |If you doe that is good, you haue the rewarde of praise, if you prosecute badnesse, your merite is euill|. Or thus: |To thy enimyes and those that maligne thee, thou art placable: to thy friendes, inexorable. In coole matters thou art hotte: in the hottest causes, colde: Art thou called? Thou art gone. Thy absence required? we cannot be rid of thee.|=

=_Epanodis_, carrieng a reference to the matter preceding, much like to the figure _Prolepsis_, but that yᵉ figure _Prolepsis_, hath relation onelie to the matter, this to the matter and tearmes therein vsed, the difference whereof you maie see in some of mine epistles as the same is quoted in the margent where the figure is vsed.=

=_Comparatio_, which taketh his increase of smaller matters, which if they may séeme great in all opinions, then that which we séeke to amplifie must of necessitie séeme greater, sometimes also by diminution of things great, to make the residue the greater, example of the first may bee that saying of |Cicero| of |Catiline|, in these wordes, |Did the famous Scipio for a little ill gouernment of the common weale, cause Tiberius Gracchus priuatelie to bee made awaie: and shall wee preferre Catiline that goeth about to fill the whole worlde with his slaughters?| Here is |Catiline| compared to |Gracchus|, the state of a common wealth to the whole worlde, a small sliding to an insufferable wasting, and a priuate man to the whole Senate. Or otherwise thus: |Tell mee I praie thee, if one had giuen thee but a small summe of money to comfort thy neede withall, were it not humanitie to thanke him: If hee had giuen thee possessions to liue vppon, were it not honestie to requite him: If of a slaue hee made thee rich, shouldest thou not bee bounden vnto him? Howe much more then to him that hath not alonelie done all these, but farre more then these vnto thee, oughtest thou in the verie bondes of nature and courtesie to bee both thankefull and louing?| Example of the seconde sort for diminution might bee this: |What is it that you propose vnto mee these small matters of vnkindnesse, as that the man is ingratefull, that hee hath no good remembraunce of courtesies, that there is in him not so much as an acknowledgement, which is a thing farre from requitall, these I must confesse are iniuries to some, but vnto mee they are trifles, matters of no moment, things not to bee reckoned of: what say you to him that betrayeth his friend, seeketh his death that hath sought his life, worketh by all possible meanes his ouerthrow, his destruction and vndoing?| And in this exaggeration of |vices|, so also might there bee the like of |Vertues|, as if one should exhort a man to |Pietie|, after hee had set foorth all the commodities thereof, as |the tranquilitie of minde, peace of conscience, libertie of spirit, the communion with Saints, from a bonslaue of the diuell to become the childe of God, the comfort of the holie Ghost which the Prophet denieth may be by man conceyued:| he might lastlie adde, |what thinges then these in all the worlde could be greater, what more singular, what more happie, and yet if they be conferred vnto that blessed heritage of immortalitie, if to the life and ioyes to come, if to that heauenlie Ierusalem, which certainlie remaineth for all such as are endued with such a spirit: they are toies and things of no excellencie or moment.|=

=_Metonoia_, when by a sudden restraint of spéech, wee giue grace or mislike to a person, or thing, as to saie, |worthilie atchieued? nay rather honourablie attained, a man notable|, we maie rather saie, |singular: Ah cruell man|, and no man neither, but a |beast: Oh rare clemencie|, or rather |most admirable patience. Hee is no thiefe, but a rauener: no murtherer, but a tyrant.|=

=_Aphorismus_, a |Scheme|, like vnto the other, but differing by a maner of reprehension, as to saie, |What lawes bee these, if at least wise they may be termed lawes, which beare in them so vile customs, and not rather firebrands of the citie, and the plague of the whole common weale|. Or otherwise: |your counsellers, if such may be called counsellers, as draw vnto mischiefe, are vtterlie vnmeete to such kinde of assemblies.|=

=_Diminutio_, when we goe about to extenuate things difficult, to make them lesse in seeming, as to one that would shun learning, for the tediousnesse thereof in studie: We might shew, |that besides the great necessitie thereof in the life of man, wee shall in attaining thereof, take no other nor more laboursome course, then others before vs haue done: that the way thereunto is verie plaine and easie, the labour (if anie be) sweet and pleasant. And whereas in all our ordinarie exercises of vanitie, there redoundeth for the most part in the ende but meere trauaile, and vnprofitable charge: in this the commoditie is as great as the delight, the gaine as ordinarie as the practise, wherein the studie is but the least part of a mans life, but the pleasure and commodity infinite|. And like as in this, so in all other things, conducing to good and laudable exercises, the labour is still diminished, by proposing the worthines, pleasure, honour, profit, and so of euils commonlie, by mitigation of the fault.=

=_Climax_, or |Gradatio|, when each member in a sentence ariseth from the other afore going, beginning with that which endeth the former, as to say, |His industrie bred him vertue: his vertue, praise: his praise, renowne: his renowne, glorie: and his glorie enuie|. Or thus: |What hope haue we of good, if what men list, they may; and what they may they do, and what they doe they dare, and what they dare they prosecute, and what they prosecute, they are neuer ashamed of.|=

=_Antimetauole_ or _Commutatio_, when a sentence by charge is inuerted to the contrarie, as thus, |We must eat to liue, and not liue to eat: Not man for the Sabboth, but the Sabboth for man was ordained. They are happy whose wisdome is answerable to their fortune, and whose fortune answereth their wit.|=

=_Sinæciosis_, when one contrary is attributed to another, or when two diuerse things are in one put together, as thus. |The prodigal and couetous doe offende alike, for neither doe liue as they ought. Pleasure it selfe is sometimes a labour, and labour also is often a pleasure. To a couetous man is wanting as well that he hath, as that hee hath not.|=

=_Etiologia_, a figure like vnto the other beforegoing, and much resembling to _Orismus_, which defineth a matter by sorting the same into a distinguishment: but this nowe telleth the cause or reason of that which is before auerred, and is as a confirmation thereunto giuen for the concluding of the same, you maie sée the examples as the figure is quoted in my Epistles.=

=_Paralepsis_, or _Occupatio_, when in seeming to ouerpasse, omit, or let slip a thing, we then chiefly speake thereof, as thus: |I will not here rehearse vnto you how slippery and transitorie this life is, howe much laden with cares, exposed to daungers, and attended with miseries, for we knowe it and feele it: But I will come to speake of the perdurable ioies of the other, &c.| Or thus, |for my part I haue no pleasure to laie open other mens errors, it is inough vnto me, that by themselues they are made apparant, and that the whole worlde may see them. I omit to report vnto you these and such like ordinary matters, which in comparison of that I will shew you are but trifles. I tell you not, or I talke not now of times past. It is not the matter wherein I am now occupied. His theft, his rapine, his spoile, and all his whole disorderlie course of life in those daies perpetrated, I nowe omit, and onely doe come to the times present. His counselling (I had almost said concealing) of good when time was, if it bee well noted, was it that procured our mischiefes, &c.|=

=_Procatalepsis_ or _Præoccupatio_, when we doe anticipate vnto our selues that we know wil be obiected, as thus, |what do you obiect vnto me the times passed, those seasons & ours are vtterly vnlike. But peraduenture you will say that these things are for children fit to bee considered, nay rather meetest of old men to be followed. You will happely say vnto me herein, that I am too light of credit: but I can tel you the proofe is extant, and fit to be beleeued.=

=_Metastasis_ or _Transitio_, when in briefe wordes we passe from one thing to another, as thus, |You haue hearde by this what you ought to consider, heare now I pray you what you are bounde to remember. These things you will say are pleasant, but the rest yet vntold are far more delightfull. This already shewed vnto you seemeth to be tolerable, that which followes is no waies to be suffered. I haue now told you what was done in priuate, I will next shewe you what was handled in publike: these things he did at home, that which followeth was abroade in the fielde: whilst hee was a young man, hee did this I told you, but the vertues of his age were far more different. You haue vnderstood of maners, I will now speake vnto you of learning: I will not trouble you with many things further, only this one thing will I rehearse vnto you. But of these enough, we will now go to the rest. I haue somthing beene caried away with these motions, but we wil now go to the substance. But why stay we so long in trifles? I wil go to the head of the matter: what he promised I haue deliuered, what he performed you shall vnderstande: I haue thus shewed you how much he was charged vnto me, you shal now heare againe how gently he requited me.|=

=_Paramologia_, where we graunt one or moe thinges meete to be marked or alleadged, and forthwith doe infer thereupon sufficient whereby to ouerthrow it, as thus: |I deny not but I haue heretofore vsed you in causes secret, in matters weighty and of counsell, that I haue found you friendly, faithfull and ready: but what is all that to the purpose, when in a thing so important, and matter neerly concerning me, as whereon dependeth the safegard of my whole house and familie, I haue founde you in both negligent and vntrustie|. Or otherwise thus: |Be it, or suppose you haue omitted nothing in your owne person, of a friende to be performed, that you were no partaker with him of those euill counsels: that you abstained to accompany him in the execution of his mischiefes, yet are you not therfore cleared. For it is not sufficient for a man not to doe euill of himselfe, but that by to too much lenity he become not occasion of an others mischiefe.|=

=_Dichologia_, when by a colour of mitigation wee defende our cause, as to saie: |I fell, I confesse, but as a young man, I went astray, but as one willing to be reclaimed: I forsooke my friend indeede, but constrained by the lawes, I was a companion in their badnesse, but forced by threatning.|=

=_Orismus_, _definitio_, or _finitio_, wherein we brieflie laie forth the true properties of euerie thing, by impugning the contrarie, as thus: |Men cannot be said in vertue to exceed, for in vertue there is euer an excellency, but neuer an excesse, sith the excesse is onely appropriate vnto vices. This cannot be said to be care but couetousnesse, for care hath onely respect to necessary vses, but in couetousnes, there is neuer any reasonable suffizance.=

=_Hypotyposis_, when any thing is described in particular, or made knowne to the viewe, as thus: |Shall I tell you what maner a one you haue preferred vnto mee, for his stature, a Dwarfe: for his person, a trunke: for his qualities a dog: for his countenance, a foxe: in behauiour a swine: in condition, an Ape: in sense, an Asse, and in vsage, a beast.|=

=_Merismus_ or _Distributio_, when that as maie bee generallie spoken we distribute for amplification into parts: as if in generalitie we said: |He hath consumed all his substance in riot:| By distribution wee might amplifie thus: |Whatsoeuer patrimony hee had from his father, what priuate inrichment by his deceased mother, what large assistance by friends, whereat the worlde neuer barked, what dowry soeuer by his wife, which no doubt was very great, all this hath he consumed by a most dissolute and wanton liuing: mony, plate, lands, wealth, possessions and all, are gone to the deuil, his cattel consumed, his houshold stuffe solde, his apparell spent, and the poore miser at this instant hath not left him a farthing.|=

=_Dialisis_, a separation of one thing from another, both being absolued by a seuerall reason, in the nature of a |Dilemma|, as thus: |When I haue preached vnto you all I may, if you bee well giuen it auaileth, if graceles, forth you wil not be moued|. Or thus. |What should I further set forth vnto you my good will, if you remember it, I haue said inough, if not, my words wil not prouoke you.|=

=_Dialogismus_ or _Sermocinatio_, an imaginatiue speach, agréeing to the quality of the person it is framed of. Whether he be valiant cruell, young, old, or of what other condition, as if we shoulde saie of the times present. |Were the ancient Apostles and olde Fathers of religion nowe liuing, which with great innocencie of life, and true pietie, shined in their seasons, and should but beholde the most corrupt and abhominable estate of our times, subiect as they bee to all kinde of euils, would they not thinke, you straight proclaime against vs the vniust name of Christians, and challenge vs for the great want we haue of the true profession thereof? Would they not rather cry out of vs that deluding ourselues onely with a vaine title or name of Christians, we do not so much as seeke in the meane time to followe any part thereof?|=

=_Epiphonema_, or conclusion to a matter before shewed, as thus: |Of so woonderfull force was his wisdome, which was able to compasse that in short time, which a number haue diuerslie sought for, and could neuer hetherto obtaine|. Or thus: |Such is the force of Nature which seldome wee doe see is euer chaunged by anie colours. Much haue they forsaken that haue cast all from themselues|. It is commonlie the conclusion or making vp of a discourse or sentence by some pithie manner of speaking. As if a man shoulde inueigh against drunkennesse, hee might thus conclude, |Hee nowe that thinketh it parcell of humanity, by thrusting on of many cuppes to driue his friend into drunkennesse, let him also thinke it kindnes, by a venemous confection giuen, to driue him into madnesse.|=

=_Expeditio_, or _enumeratio_, when many reasons of auerment being numbred togethers, we make a confutation of them, each one in particular, as thus: |The goods in question beeing alleadged to bee mine, it is requisite you prooue, either that you had them by chance, that you haue long held or enioied them, that you bought them with your money, or otherwise that by some gift you came to them, or lastly, in succession that you haue obtained them. That you had them by chance it cannot be, for they were not lost from my keeping. Long haue you not held them, for they were alwaies till this in mine owne possession. It is plaine you neuer bought them, for you paide mee no mony for them. By gift you could not haue them, for the right was in me to giue them. The succession must be void, for my selfe am yet liuing. It remaineth then if you keep them, that liuing you doe cast me out of mine own possession|. This chiefly appertaineth to the Iudiciall Epistles in the state |Coniecturall|.=

=_Cōmoratio_, when matters diuerslie enlarged, are yet staid vpon, and lastlie brought into one short conclusion, wherby the reasons are made more weightie, and of the greater efficacie, as thus. |What will you make of this man, whom ye seeke in this maner to set free, you see he is a man prodigall of his owne fame, & a lier in waite for others credits, one full of guile, intemperate, railing, proude and ambitious, to his parents most wicked, ingratefull to his friends, hated of his owne kinsemen, stubborne to his superiours, insolent with his equals, to his inferiours cruell, and finallie to all persons whatsoeuer a creature most intolerable.|=

=_Sententia_, A recitall of some graue matter by waie of a notable saying or sentence, either by common custome admitted, or by some authour deliuered, examples whereof are plentifullie to bee seene in my Epistles.=

=_Exuscitatio_, A prouocation or stirring vp of others to the praise or mislike of a thing, as thus: |What one is hee of so slender or contemptible a spirit amongst vs, or who of all our Nation woulde bee counted so enuious, as vpon so great and large a desert had by a man so woorthie, woulde not willinglie render vnto him all honour and due commendation?| Likewise of the contrarie for dispraise. |Doth it not abhorre you to heare and vnderstand of a rabble of so great and vnaccustomed lewdnesse, a man euerie way so vile, to goe thus freelie vnpunished? Surelie I doe thinke no honest minde but would be of this opinion, that of all creatures liuing hee were most worthie to be extirped.|=

=_Omiosis_, The figure of resemblance or similitude, whereby wee resemble one thing to another, as thus: |Like as they greatlie do offend, who going to a publike well, whence all a whole citie hath their water, do infect the same with a most deadly poison: Euen so do they most wickedly merit of the common weale, who deprauing the mind of a Prince, doe lade and frequent the same with most mischieuous counsels|. Or thus: |Is it seene that men at the blast or byting of a Viper, do shrinke, and forthwith do run for a medicine? How much more ought they thē, for the auoiding of a most horrible shame, yᵉ infamous sting wherof is far worse then all other poisons, to run to a remedie?|=

=_Icon_, An image or artificiall description of that we meane to deliuer, as if in setting forth our most gratious Soueraigne, we shoulde saie, |That Goddesse like adorned with high aspectes, or statelie grace and maiestie diuine. In Chariot deckt with Princelie ornaments shee issued foorth, &c.| Or thus, laying out the dreadfulnes of warre, |Fierce and vntamed warre with eyes sparkling as the flaming fire, whose face caried in it selfe a terrour to the lookers on, and his coūtenance was as it were a present death. His gesture was as the furious assault of a Lion, and his mouth as a deuouring pitte to swallow the bloud of multitudes. Armed hee was with fire, with famine, and with sword, crying reuengement on the world, and persecuting all nations with a ceaslesse dread.|=

=_Paradigma_, a maner of exhorting or withdrawing by example, as to saie, |the Elephants engender not, but in places most remote, and any that by chance do see them in that time they kill. How much more then behooueth that betweene those of reason, a shamefastnes be included in executing that action|. Or thus. |The nature of the Dolphin is not to suffer the yong ones of her kinde to straggle vndefenced, such care haue they of their frie: How much more beseeming is it, that our procreation which are men, should not be suffred to runne at random without either guide or controlment.|=

=_Pareonasis_, or _Digressio_, a spéech beside the matter in present spoken on, as to saie, |But heere let mee remember vnto you something of the deserts and eternized memorie of your worthie and most vertuous Parents|. Or thus: |giue me leaue a little to digresse from this purpose, to the ende that by laying out of something yet vnspoken of, I may the better wade into the rest.|=

FINIS.

Of the partes, place and Office
_of a Secretorie_.

=Considering howe many woorthie and excellent men, not onely in our present age, but in manie yeares before vs haue liued, none of all which (though questionlesse furnished with verie great abilitie) haue to my certaine knowledge, euer written ought in our English tongue, touching this title: It maie seeme questionable, how I the most disfurnished of manie others, and subiect thereby to the insight and correction of all others, durst take vppon mee to discourse thereupon, weighing with my selfe the subiect I take in hand, to be of speciall qualitie, and to none so much fitting as to those that bee greatest learned, best aduised, discreetest gouerned, and worthiest ruled, to treate vpon. Nor doe my selfe by such presumption of mine, déem the same to be of lesse moment then it is. Howbeit, as one tied by a former promise, in that my first edition of this present Methode of |Epistles|, haue nowe taken vpon me (as you see) to write thereupon.=

=Truth is, that as I am none of those that maie vaunt my selfe of any furniture sufficient to so speciall an end & purpose, yet haue I not bin in some time of the yeares I haue spent, altogither excluded from any fauour or tast therof at all. Neither haue I whollie spent the seasons I haue caried, so vainely, but that at one time or other I haue (not without some considerate aduerting) eyed the demeanours, issues, and dispositions of sundrie humors, by insight whereinto, and some proofe made of that which my selfe haue practised in place of seruice, I am bold in this onelie discourse, to aduenture the performance of that I haue promised.=

=In the discouerie whereof, my minde is not, nor shall be to prescribe vnto any one, but to deliuer what in mine owne opinion, I haue coniectured to be meetest in such a person. Wel regarding the number of those who enabled by farre better skill, or guided by experience, and their owne proper vertue, can both search and wade further therein, then my poore abilitie may anie waies looke into. For which my purpose is, and shall be in this present discourse, onlie to set forth vnto such, whose vnripened yeers, or want of decernment, haue not yet made them apt vnto so speciall a beeing, and qualitie: what in my plaine conceit, vnto the place and office of such a one, meete and fit to be a |Secretorie|, maie be thought most consonant and worthie.=

=To the accomplishment whereof, as the best and méetest induction to such a matter, it shall not bee to slender purpose, to speake first of the name thereof, and to sift out by what meane the partie seruing in such a place, had the originall title to be called a |Secretorie|. You shall then vnderstande, that as me séemeth, by speciall reason and iudgement, this name |Secretorie|, importing therein as it doth action of great consequence, doth beare in it matter of more circumstance, then by euerie one is considered, and by howe much the more honourable the place of attendance is, where such a one doth serue, by so much the more beseemeth the partie called vnto such seruice, be a man choice and of worthie estimate, habilitie and iudgement. So then am I not of opinion of the multitude, who holde that the praiseable endeuour or abilitie of well writing or ordering the pen, is the matter that maketh the |Secretorie|, (albeit the vse heereof is not the least part of manie other things incident to the same |office=) but that carying with it selfe a purpose of much weightier effect, the person therunto named was as a deriuatiue from that which containeth the chiefest title of credite, and place of greatest assurance that may be reposed, in respect of the affinitie they both haue of trust and |fidelitie|, each with the other, by great conceyte and discretion, tearmed to bee a= Secretorie.

=And albeit there happily maie be opinions some waies contrarying vnto this my present deliuerie, touching the |originall| of this title: yet standing directly assured that they all being laid togithers, must of necessitie conclude on the verie |Secrecie, trust| and |regarde|, speciallie imposed on him who beareth the same title: I will boldlie for this cause define, that in respect of such |Secrecie, trust| and |assuraunce| required at the handes of him who serueth in such place, the name was first giuen to be called a |Secretorie|, and that by the |etymologie| of the verie word it selfe, sounding in true coniecture, _quasicustos_, or _conseruator secreti sibi commissi_, a keeper or conseruer of the secret vnto him committed.=

=By this reason, we do call the most secrete place in the house, appropriate vnto our owne priuate studies, and wherein wee repose and deliberate by deepe consideration of all our waightiest affaires, a |Closet|, in true intendment and meaning, a place where our dealings of importance are shut vp, a roome proper and peculiar to our selues. And whereas into each other place of the house, it is ordinarie for euery néere attendant about vs to haue accesse: in this place we doe solitarie and alone shut vp our selues, of this we keepe the key our selues, and the vse thereof alone doe onelie appropriate vnto our selues.=

=And if we should run but into the nature of things secret, and consider by the name, what to such a matter is required, we shall find that of it owne selfe it chalengeth so much, wherby with three things most speciallie it is saide to be fortified, |viz.| with |couertnes|, that it be closelie kept from the eyes, eares or vnderstanding of others: |Safetie|, that securelie it be retained, and laid vp, both with choice respect and tendering: |Assurance|, that by no mistake, negligence, or defect of the partie hauing charge of such a secrete, it may turne to a preiudice.=

=Thus then by the concurrence of these, it appeareth that vnto euerie |secrete| there is required a |Closet|, and the proper vse of that |Closet|, is onelie for the |couertnesse, saftie| and |assurance| of the |secrete|: all which considered, let vs nowe see, if you will, what |analogie| or proportion they haue with our |Secretorie|.=

=It hath beene alreadie before alledged, that by the verie |etimologie| of the worde it selfe, both |Name| and |Office| in one, doe conclude vppon |secrecie|: If so, then in respect of the |couertnes, safetie| and |assurance| in him reposed, and not otherwise, the partie seruing in such place may be called a |Secretorie|. The |Closet| in euerie house, as it is a reposement of |secrets|, so is it onelie (as I saide before) at the owners, and no others commaundement: The |Secretorie|, as hee is a |keeper and conseruer of secrets|, so is hee by his Lorde or Maister, and by none other to bee directed. To a |Closet|, there belongeth properlie, a |doore|, a |locke|, and a |key|: to a |Secretorie|, there appertaineth incidentlie, |Honestie, Care|, and |Fidelitie|.=

=And forasmuch as by the concurrence of these twaine, both |Name| and |Office| doe seeme in vsage and account to be of so great waightinesse, and that our |Secretorie|, as wel in title, as place standeth by such declaration, ioyntlie tied vnto so district an obseruance: let vs now a little further enter into the function and place he beareth in such kinde of seruice, and consider that being in one condition a |seruant|, he is at the pleasure and appointment of another to be commanded: and being in a second respect as a |Friend|, he is charilie to haue in estimate, the state, honor, reputation and being of him whom he serueth.=

=Touching the first of these, in that he is (I meane) a |Seruant|, it is to be intended, that thereunto belongeth a |Superiour|, by whose absolute direction, his actions of seruice, are to bee ordered and commaunded. And notwithstanding the reputation, credite, and estate of beeing, to him giuen and allowed by his |Lorde| or |Maister|, hee is yet to consider, that the weight and summe thereof acrueth from his onelie fauor, countenance, and good opinion, and that by howe much the more, hee liberallie and of an honourable minde affoordeth vnto him the respectes thereof: by so much the more seriouslie ought hee by all possible endeuours of seruice and industrie, as farre forth as in him is, to studie to conserue and vpholde the same.=

=And herein seemeth it not fruitlesse to oppose vnto such a ones remembrance, some part of the considerations pertinent and annexed to the state of a seruant, and what dependancie in common reckoning resteth betwéene him, who beareth in his sway the authoritie and rule of a Maister, and the other, who in account that he is to be commanded, carieth a maner of subiection to that partie, who for the time of such seruice, is at his hands to bee reuerenced and obeyed.=

=In regard of which, wee are to see, that by the title and prerogatiue which euerie |maister| hath generallie ouer his |seruant|, there is a certaine linke of dutie, wherewith each one that serueth is strained to his obeysance. There is also by that very name of |seruant| a kind of fidelitie and trust required, more speciall then that betwéene the |sonne| and the |father|, and that of so great efficacy, as whereon (peraduenture) may rest not alonely this disposition of the goods, estate, & principall affairs, but also oftentimes yᵉ life, hazard or vndoing of the person of his said |maister|.=

=A |Son| cannot be saide to owe fidelitie to his |parents|, for which cause there is also no breach of trust on him to be imposed. If he deale contrarie to the condition of a |son|, the bond by which he is strained proceedeth of nature, and so are his actions accordinglie held for vnkind, or vnnaturall. But the |seruant| not linked by nature, is tied in trust, and by contrarying of such trust, or not performing thereof, is held treacherous or vnfaithfull. Besides, so great a |predomination| hath this name of |fidelitie| in the harts of a number, that many haue refused to commit themselues in times of hazard to their |Children|, but rather haue relied themselues wholie on the assurance of their seruants.=

=And howbeit, most certaine it is, that |Nature| woonderfullie swaieth manie times in her proper features, yet in this case hath she commonly lesse efficacie then in any others. For as a currant of water loseth his power in being turned backwarde, from his straightened course, but hath forcible passage in the waie that it holdeth: so is |Nature| in this action of |parentes| and |children|, which running forwards from issue to issue, hath mighty operation, but when it should be returned backwarde, hath seldome anie power at all.=

=Contrariwise, whether it be the |honestie| of the name that leadeth it, or the |common reputation| that each faithfull vsage carieth in the eares of good men, or a |feruencie of affection|, linked properlie to the place where anie trust is reposed, I will not now dispute vpon, but questionlesse, of so charie regarde hath |fidelitie| alwaies beene accounted, as immediatlie vpon the name of a |seruant| taken, it seemeth not alone to be vnto the selfe title appropriate, but it is in a manner by the proper allowance thereunto giuen, seuerelie exacted.=

=Now, albeit this kind of exaction and charge, seemeth in the deliuerie thereof to bee indéed verie great, yet when hee that serueth hath performed all that in such case is to be required: he cannot for this or that alledge, that hee hath effected anie more then whereunto by the verie loyalty of a |seruant| he was enioyned, nor can hee rightlie or properlie affirme, that by an extraordinarie respect more then he ought, he hath accomplished the same. For that in things whereunto a man is bounde, there can be no gratuitie opposed: but where a man aboue that hee is charged hath further endeuoured, or more worthilie attained, therein of troth, and not otherwise, shineth the greatest praise and glorie vnto him that maie be.=

=For this cause then doe I saie of our |Secretorie|, that as hee is in one degree in place of a |seruant|, so is he in another degrée in place of a |friend|. A |seruant| meanlie trained in some |Mechanicall| Science, sheweth fidelitie to his Maister, in an vpright dealing and disposition of his wares or goodes. Another in like sort hauing the receyte of his Maisters reuenewes, becommeth a faithfull dispenser in his accountes and reckonings. Some on the other side haue asmuch or the like |fidelitie| in keeping of counsels. Others againe by a termed zeale vnto their masters, haue in recognizing their |fidelitie| died willinglie for their fauours.=

=Of all these sortes of |Fidelitie|, the last as I am sure it hath lesse seeming of credence or supposition of troth in common beléeuing then anie of the others, so is it (you will grant mee,) the most assured and most moouing pittie, prayse and commendation, in all reckoning aboue anie of the others. And that such are and haue beene, I could recite vnto you sundrie remembrances, and one but of late yeares, that in verie sufficient knowledge fell out to be effected, and thus was the circumstance, as my vnderstanding could beare it.=

=When sir |Iohn| of Desmond in Ireland, some number of years passed, of a rebellious and cruell minde to the state there being, and principallie to her Maiesty, had solemnly conspired, and most tyrannously sworne the death and destruction of all English men in his Countrey, there happened one |Henrie Dauill| an English Gentleman to lie, at that verie bloudie pretended season, in the house of the saide Knight, and for two causes of him was thought entirelie to bee fauoured, the one in respect that hee was his Christian Gossip, as they there terme it (a linke strong inough to haue purchased fauour in that Countrey, had it not beene with a most bloudie tyrant) the other, in that hee was a Gentleman both courteous, bountifull and valiant.=

=This Maister |Dauill| had at that time onelie an Irish boy attendant vpon him, the time conspired for this murder was at midnight, when all men careleslie were sleeping. About the watch whereof, sir |Iohn| and his companie entring the Chamber of maister |Dauill|, wakened him from sléepe, opened the conspiracie, and willed him to prepare him to his lot, assuring him that were it not he had without exception vowed in his heart, and sworn the death of all English men, he could desirouslie, aswell for that he was his Christian Gossip, as for other loue he ought him, haue suffered his life, but all being appointed to die, he must go with the rest.=

=The boy hauing receiued into his eares the sound of his masters death, and therewith sundrie menacing strokes seeing readie to bee proffered, stirred (no question) by a most zealous |Fidelitie|, clasped on his masters breast, and with such slender resistance as hee coulde, did beare off the blowes, receyued vppon his owne bodie diuers and sundrie wounds, and doe what they could, no one could pull or remooue him from thence, till fretting rage kindeled in these mercilesse creatures, made them kill the Boy vppon his maister, and his Maister vnder the Boy, both at one instant togithers.=

=The memorie of this acte, as it is most pitifull in rehearsall, so will it of a number bee thought verie strange. If anie |Fidelitie|, haue by feruencie beene accounted off, this you will iudge of anie others ought chieflie to be embraced. But yet not this, nor anie of the residue of those partes of |Fidelitie| by mee alreadie deliuered are such, as in this place I hold meete to be pursued. For howbeit the seruice of our |Secretorie| is properlie by it selfe with all |assurance| to be caried, yet doe wee not place him in so meane a degree as that by corruption of coine, he might be held for distrusted nor on the other side would we haue him of iudgement so disfurnished, but that touching the difference of counsels, or tender of his life, he should make a decernment.=

=In this Boy voluntarilie as hee did, in the verie weakenesse of his yeares, to seeke by death his Maisters safegarde, was no doubt, a thing woorthie to bee admired. But in manifestation of so great loue, and testimonie of so loyall affection, had hee beene by yeares more enabled, it would haue beene thought verie fondlie of to haue done it, without thereby his Masters death might haue beene reuenged, or his life preserued: Els to what end is |Fidelitie| applied, or what vse at all in reckoning, remaineth there of it?=

=By |discretion| to discerne, by |vertue| to iudge, and by |wisdome| to resolue, how and which way the efficacie and assurance of all |trust| and |fidelitie| ought to be caried, is a thing meetest in all reputation principallie to be obserued. How can there otherwise appeare anie worthinesse, if affections sort to bee equall, or what distinguishment may there be of spirits when mens iudgementes are common.=

=|George Castrioth|, surnamed |Scanderbeg|, the terrour while hee liued, and onlie man able to confound the |Turkish| forces, during his infancie, hauing bin trained vp with |Amurath| father to |Mahomet| the second Emperour of the |Turkes| (for that in the conquest of |Epirus| by the same |Amurath|, the father of |Scanderbeg| being slaine, and his |Signory| subdued vnto the |Turke|, hee was then with others led awaie into |Turky| a captiue.) When hee arriued to manlie yeares, and serued with great fortune and valour the saide |Amurath| in his warres: it happened that being in one great battell as generall of the |Turkish| Armie against the |Christians|, and fighting against |Hungarie|, a remorse of conscience tooke him, in that hee being the sonne of a |Christian| Prince, professed in Christianitie, and vowed to God, should so wickedlie become the confusion of his brethren, and warre against |Christ| and his kingdome.=

=And albeit he was neuer vnfortunate in anie fight, and at that time likeliest of al other to attaine the victory, yet regarding the state and maner of the conquest, he faintinglie withdrew, & with great discouragement vnto his people, gaue power vnto the enemy to be at that time a conquerour. Which done, himselfe with a few chiefe and principall persons his associates, tooke themselues together in flight.=

=In this company, was a noble Gentleman, wise in behauiour, faithfull in counsell, and secret in trust, at that time |Secretorie| and of counsell to the great |Turke|. The place of their residence seruing well to the purpose, him |Scanderbeg| (being of the others assured) tooke onlie in hand to acquaint with his enterprize. And forasmuch as his credence with the saide |Amurath| was such, as in the repose of his troth, rested both Signet, and warrant sufficient, to put forwarde whatsoeuer direction or commaund in anie the |Turkish signories|, vpon paine of death to be obeyed, |Scanderbeg| declaring his wearisomnesse of captiuitie and seruage, desire to visite his kingdome, and liking after that to liue at liberty a |christian|, and therewithall howe often the |Turke| had promised to restore him, and yet still brake with him, enioyned the |Secretorie| to write letters of command in the |Turkes| name, to the Deputie or rulers of his fathers kingdome, that as their lawfull Prince and gouernour they shoulde then at that instant without more delaie receiue him, and thenceforth renounce and put from them their wonted charge and authoritie.=

=And albeit the power of |Scanderbeg| was in that place great, and the |Secretorie| nothing misdoubted at all his resolution, and therefore feared too much to contradict him in the same, knowing also that if he assented to that demaund, hauing yet libertie to depart, he might timely inough aduertize the |Turk| to the preuention: yet vsed he neuerthelesse so manie effectuall speeches as for the present he could, to disswade him: which not preuailing, hee assented at last for feare, and wrote as he required him.=

=The Letters orderlie signed and sealed, as to the importance belonged, |Scanderbeg| knowing the great wisedome, fidelitie and counsell of the |Secretorie|, thought it nowe a matter of no small worth, if by any facility he could win him also vnto his companie, to passe in the same iourny, or otherwise if he refused, then déemed he fit that he should not returne aliue, to carrie newes to the |Turk| of his determined iourney. And therefore first with as manie kinde entreaties and offers of all honour, fauour, estimate, and aduauncement that could be, he assailed him, he proposed also the expectation of his own fortune, valour, power and strength of the euerliuing God whom he serued, that was able to defende them, and all possible meanes that otherwise could bee deuised to mooue him. But none of these in fine preuailing, he lastlie set before his eies, that vpon such refusall, hee for his owne best assurance must be enforced to kill him.=

=Which maner of spéech, albeit mooued in the |Secretorie| diuers alterations, yet chose he as the most honestest part, no wayes to defraude the trust in him reposed, especiallie by assistance in his owne person thereunto giuen. And seeing he could by no meanes escape with life, aduised suddenlie rather to die in the handes of |Scanderbeg| for that he had alreadie done, then in so manifest an action of disloyaltie, to be found a principall actor of treason against his Lord and maister.=

=Great is the linke of |Vertue| whereby the mindes of men singular are manie wayes bound, neither falleth it out in those of weake spirite and capacitie to become partakers of the praise due vnto so high and honored excellencie. To men baselie conceyted, there is neither respect of troth, loue, honor, duty, or other matter whatsoeuer, whereby to drawe them from a sensuall appetite or carnall desire of their owne liuing, safetie and commoditie: But to those who are the sworne schollers of |vertue|, to whom true glory is of price, who solie haue in estimate to make choyce of things worthie: In these it sorteth to be a shame, what others reckon for laud: to them a preiudice, what many hold for gaine, they contemning by a sole |vertue| and discréete choice of the minde, what is besides or lesse then that which accordeth to the true honor and reputation of well deseruing, cannot content themselues to liue where their credite dieth, despise wealth, where honour is to be pursued, neglect reputation, where loyaltie is not entertained, and expect no fidelitie, where consequently the effects of an honest and woorthie mind, are not principallie to be caried.=

=As then, by what vse soeuer applied, I do in al things commend |Fidelitie| and |Trust| to be performed where by districtnesse it is chalenged: so nowe doe I in the carriage of this our |Secretorie|, sort him forth properlie from the residue by a difference, for where in persons of lesse conceite, and lower respect, some vsages are commendable, in him they are to bee presumed, as no wayes to bee doubted of: neither is it to be expected, that the mould of such a one should be so subiect to imperfections, as that in common & mean actions he should thinke to be praised: séeing that where any breach of those parts in men lower conceyted might be found, it woulde in them be helde as in comparison a thing no more then might be doubted, but in him would it turne to a most vituperable basenes with such intendments to be spotted.=

=And as I thus sequester him from the ordinarie vsage of what held to be liked, so doe I againe drawe in him a speciall choice, of things high, and worthie beseeming, aboue others (lesse considerate) in all things to bee carried, and wherein the summe of his fidelitie shall onelie be required. For seeing that by reason of the place wherein hee standeth of imployment, by reason of his supposed education, birth, qualitie, or other decernment, by reason of the waight, more then of common trust, in him diuersly imposed, he séemeth to be a man euerie way proportionate to a farre other end & purpose, then of euerie ordinarie attendant is commonlie required, it must néeds thē be of such a one coniectured, that by far greater skill & measure he be in euery of his actions demeaned, yᵉ with much greater modestie, care, respect, consideration and integritie he doe by such meanes temper all his outward and inward behauiours, and iudgements, as beeing himselfe in reputation a Gentleman, and conuersing among such as haue discretion to deeme of a Gentleman, hee may least of all be touched with anie thing, that lesseneth or il beséemeth anie part of that, which principallie may appertaine to a Gentleman.=

=And whereas in any other attendant it is a matter praise worthie, to be beautified or aduanced by some one or other speciall |vertue| or qualitie, in him it is of necessitie, who by how much the more néerer he is in frequentation of any honorable place or calling, by so much the more néedefull is it, that he be accordinglie furnished wherewith in séemelie and laudable sort, to enter and approch the same. And as in the seruice of euery one whatsoeuer, it is specially required, to be endued with all parts of dutifull attendance & loyaltie: so is it for him to excell, and bee different, because in his imployment, trust and otherwise, there is exacted at his hands a far greater scope and efficacie, then wherewith anie other seemeth to be charged by anie proportion or qualitie.=