Chapter IV: Part 4

_Vertue_ retaining yet her ancient Maiestie, though not pursued as in olde time, with such woonted vehemencie, hath three entraunces, leading directly vnto her beautifull passage, by the portes whereof, whosoeuer is desirous to attaine her, in her purest and most glorious estate, must of necessitie enter. First, _Fortitude_, whereby hee must be enabled to endure whatsoeuer labour and trauell to be imposed, accounting nothing difficult, to the end and sweet rewarde whereof her excellencie is appropriate. Next, _Magnanimitie_, which by a vehement and haughtie desire, reacheth vnto thinges most excellent & of highest and stateliest value, not regarding the hard, tough, & maine force of the passage, with what pursuit soeuer it must bee followed, so be it by such meanes it may be wonne, and the glorie thereunto due, may at last be attained: the reach wherof, tending to the last end and scope of al his determinatiōs, sweetneth all maner of trauel, and induceth therewithal a contempt of whatsoeuer lesse valued or hindering, to the worthines of the same. Then _Longanimity_, enabling by greate constancie with rare and accustomed patience, to awaite and endure the end, neuer giuing ouer vpon whatsoeuer assaults, til the determined scope be by all kind of industry fullie and perfectly furnished.

[Sidenote: _Etiologia._]

For this cause, the most renowmed parte of _vertue_ is saide to bee excellent, for that manie doe contemplate her a far off, but few or none at all doe almost come so nigh her, as perfectly to see and discerne her, in so much as some, nothing regarding the singularitie of that, whose sweetnesse they neuer tasted of, become forcelesse of the pursuit of so diuine an excellencie: and some other fauouring a litle the daintines thereof, yet ouer-reached with the tediousnes of the enterprise, and hindered by the opposition of a thousand vanities, are so astonished in the first onset, as being therewith ouercome, doe by and by giue ouer their purposes.

[Sidenote: Adhortation to vertue.]

Now therefore my C. if you will bee a right fauourer of _vertue_ indeede, it behooueth that by these possibilities you doe (as a faithful regarder of her diuine & sacred essence) only seeke to pursue her, and that with such and none other respectes, and to no other ende and purpose, but for the sole fruition of her stately and immortall deitie.

[Sidenote: _Merismus._]

The time now calleth you forth, your Countrie and soyle wherein you were borne and nourished inuiteth you, your praise alreadie gotten, and hope of renowne euer after to followe, perswade you, the honour of your house and parentage constraineth you, yea euerie of these solie and altogether doe exhort and commaund you, that becomming the selfe same you vowed, and they long since haue looked for, you doe nowe shewe your selfe such as was promised, and wherein the expectation first conceiued of you, may in no wise bee frustrated.

[Sidenote: _Clymax._]

[Sidenote: _Antistrophe._]

Consider I pray you, that the rewarde of _vertue is honour_, the guerdon of _honour_, _Fame_, the scope of _Fame_, _Eternity_, the seat of _eternity_, immortall and euerlasting glory. In liuing in the seruice of your Prince and countrie, the profession you haue taken in hand is honourable, the charge honourable, the purpose honourable, and the ende and successe thereof must needes be honourable: behooueth then that your continuance therein and your owne deserts be also deemed honourable.

[Sidenote: _Metaphora._]

[Sidenote: _Commoratio._]

Thinke when you tooke vpon you to beare Armes, you then receiued the full cognizance of _Vertue_, you were entertained with _honour_, you became apprentise to _fame_, and it was assured (that beeing with loyaltie demeaned) you shoulde at length receiue the rewarde of euer flourishing glorie. It is (beleeue me) no small matter, that being a particular member, you are put foorth as a piller, vpon the prop whereof reposeth one parte of the weight of the common-weale, that the ioyes of your whole countrie are fixed vpon your wel-doing, that in pursuite hereof your priuate cause is not your owne, (the secrete reuenge whereof may happelie turn to an infamed mischiefe) but the cause of the _common good_, the publike matter of al, and that where the scope is of all others most famous and honoured.

[Sidenote: Of right and meet.]

[Sidenote: _Auxesis._]

Being entertained in a sorte as you are, you shoulde highly wrong the opinion of a greate manie, in drawing backe from that wherein you haue beene alreadie so worthilie behaued, and in becomming lesse than that whereunto in your cradle you were at the beginning so principally ordained: for vnseemelie were it that you shoulde not haue beene hereunto at the first committed, vnlawfull not to haue persisted, and dishonourable (in due sorte) not to see it accomplished.

[Sidenote: Of example. _Paradigma._]

[Sidenote: _Epiphonema._]

[Sidenote: _Paradigma._]

[Sidenote: _Prosopopœia._]

Proceede then my C. in that whereunto your vertue, your Parentage, your soile, and your fidelitie haue called you, thinke what, how much, and how greatlie it importeth you, that hauing had so manie of your auncestours since their first originall, who haue beene deemed so woorthie, it fitteth not your selfe alone (in so important actions, concerning especially the honour of your prince and countrie) to bee founde otherwise then equall vnto them in the highest qualitie. So and in such maner, and by such kind of meanes haue the most auncient and renowned worthies of the world be come to be tearmed honored, and mightie. So _Epaminondas_ and _Alcibiades_ among the _Grecians_, _Æmilius Paulus_, _Fabii and Scipiones_ among the Romanes, haue bin deemed most statelie. For such cause the acts of your predecessors & nobilitie of your deceased father haue bin registred with the most worthy. O so sweetly might sound from out his breathing ghost vnto your liuing eare, that excellent verse of _Virgill_.

_Disce puer virtutem ex me verumque laborem,_
_Fortunam ex aliis._
=Learne vertue (Child) of me and labours true,=
=But |Fortunes| chaunce, from others do pursue.=

[Sidenote: His Parents.]

[Sidenote: _Sententia._]

[Sidenote: _Auxesis._]

[Sidenote: _Dialysis._]

[Sidenote: _Anthypophora._]

The signification whereof, what other thinge may it else importe, but that betweene them who beeing neuer eternized by anie memorable action, as hauing confounded their liues with obscuritie, and such as neuer were borne, there resteth in maner no difference at all. _Ardua virtutis est via._ T’is labours force that maketh way vnto _Vertue_: great matters vnto the furtherance of her are but easie, the meaner, trifles; the lowest of no value. To ouercome others by vertue is a thinge most honourable, but in pursuite thereof to bee conuinced of any other, is a thinge most vituperable: You are nowe brought by Fortune into a straight passage, whereby of necessitie you must either by reputation of most excelling worthinesse finish the iourney, or recreant and discomfited, confesse the vttermost of your imbecilitie. But what doe I conferre vnto your viewe, the notes of such and so manie doubtes and hazardes, knowing a minde insinuate in your selfe by nature, that coulde neuer so much as thinke or imagine of thinges contemptible, or of anie vile or seruile qualitie at all? truelie for no woorse meane, nor to anie other ende or purpose, but thereby to egge you forwarde by all kinde of possibilities, to the encrease of your highest woorthinesse, that by howe much the more you shall goe about to excell any others, by so much the more greater you may be commended and extolled aboue others.

[Sidenote: _Parœmia._]

Ease and securitie, are two pernicious enemies of euer flourishing glorie, and industrie preuenteth all circumuention, which either by slouth or negligence may bee imposed: the victorie is not any others, but your owne, nor the honour to any other appertaining but vnto your selfe. Bee therefore such in continuance, as may fullie bee answerable to each part of your noblenesse, and God who is the creator of all thinges, and fauourer of each worthie enterprise, blesse your endeuours with the sustentation of _Vertue_, which is euer permanent. At B. this of &c.

_An Epistle Swasorie, wherein a
Gentlewoman is counsel-
led to mariage._

[Sidenote: _Exordium._]

[Sidenote: _Insinuatiō._]

[Sidenote: _Parenthesis._]

The extreame griefe wherein my selfe was a partaker with you, of the death of your late husbande, woulde not suffer mee (good Mistresse E.) at my last beeing with you, to deliuer what then I thought meete for your estate, & sithence I haue more at large considered vppon to bee for your profite. And albeit your selfe are, I knowe of discretion sufficient, and the number of your friendes of regarde compotent, both to consider and counsell, what vnto your present affayres may bee deemed most correspondent: yet may it not bee ill accepted, if my selfe of a great manie, that haue wyshed well to your person, and fauoured euermore your good condition, doe heerein also among the rest, put forwarde my meaning, and perswade you thereby vnto that, which (though not alreadie may bee fitting to your instant lyking) yet to your present behoofe may returne no question of soundest and best consideration.

[Sidenote: _Merismus._]

And first, I deeme it not impertinent to referre vnto your knowledge what I haue throughly conceyued with my selfe of your beeing, _viz._ that you are a widowe, a Gentlewoman of verie worshipfull parentage and discent, the wife before time of a Gentleman of as good reputation as liuing, as good alliaunce as credite, that you are knowne to bee modest, discreete, wise and well gouerned, that you are and ought to bee warie in your actions, and such as whereof the babling multitude may reape no aduauntage, and finallie that by reason of the ouerhastie determination of his life (whose continuaunce might haue ridde you of innumerable cares) you are pestred with some troubles, the most part of your liuing in suspence, and that whereof you deeme your selfe most assured, hanging vppon so manie hazardes, as hitherto remayneth doubtfull, in what sort you shall compasse it, or with what liking to your selfe you may happily ouerpasse the same.

[Sidenote: _Narratiō._]

[Sidenote: _Synonymia._]

Touching the first, I warne you not that according to your present estate, you do minde what you are, what you haue bin, of whom you are discended, and in what sort you may best prouide with warinesse, to deale for all these: but drawing to the latter, and weighing on what tearmes you stande, howe hardly you are bestead, howe slender meanes to auoid it, I repute him not the worst wel-willer, that coulde aduise you with contentment and litle hazard, in what sort you might best endeuour in all effectes to aunswere it. It is reported vnto mee, that by the procurement of some, fauouring your aduauncement, there is nowe profered vnto your lyking a young Gentleman, vertuous, discreete, and well ordered, the sonne and heyre of a worshipfull Knight, on the choyce and regarde of whose Parents, dependeth the best assuraunce of your whole portion, in whose condition and behauiour, albeit you finde no one thing to bee reprehended, yet disclaime you to bee married, you will heare of no suters, there must bee in your presence no speech at all of lyking, and you meane not so soone forsooth to set forwarde for a husband.

[Sidenote: _Merismus._]

[Sidenote: _Erotema._]

[Sidenote: _Commoratiō._]

[Sidenote: _Parenthesis._]

[Sidenote: _Auxesis._]

[Sidenote: _Procatalepsis._]

[Sidenote: _Vtilitie._]

[Sidenote: Necessitie.]

[Sidenote: _Epilogus._]

The course you doe take herein, seemeth in my opinion verie euill, insomuch as contrarie to that, which both your yeares, your estate, your liuing and present occasions doe require, you forciblie are endeuoured to make so vndiscreete and setled a resistance: Whie La. doe you thinke it profiteth at all, the deceased ghost of him that loued you (a young Gentlewoman as you are, scarce exceeding twentie yeares) to liue thus solitarie? Hangeth the censuring of your modestie, and acceptaunce of that which your best friendes doe wish for, and the wisest doe allowe of, on the tatling humours of common supposes? if it bee deemed once fit for you to marry againe, and that vpon the warie and circumspect choyse thereof dependeth a manner of necessitie, and that nowe, before anie one of yours almost suspected it, the plenty of that might bee charily wished for, is layde alreadie into your bosome, behooueth the respect of a little time, which (beeing sooner or later, so it bee perfourmed with modestie and aunswered with discretion) mattereth not at all to detaine you so much, as thereby you are not able to see into your owne profite? Is it not, I pray you, a purpose honest that is tendered? Is it not a matter lawfull to bee accepted? Is it a thing vnmeete for your present yeares at this instant to be reputed? Nay, is it not all in all whatsoeuer, that in the best sort as the case now standeth, may vnto you be offered? Why then abstaine you the entertainment of your owne good? Why drawe you thus backeward from your owne aduauncement? Why cease you to accept that, whereunto in the ende you must by meere force bee compelled? If you will beleeue mee in any thing, or doe suppose the waight of my credite to be auaylable vnto you in ought, I would aduise you in other sort, considering that by declyning from a selfe-opinion of that whereunto without anie manifest reason you are induced, you shall doe most good vnto your selfe, and giue occasion to them that loue you, to thinke that by so doing, their good counselles haue happely preuailed with you and wrought such aduauncemente vnto you, I haue thought with my selfe many times sithence the death of your husbād, howe much imported the vnsetled reach of your liuing to be renued in match with one of good calling: see nowe God and Fortune more fauouring your hap, then your selfe, your owne wel doing, haue sente you such a one, as of whome you might vaunt, and iustly in all thinges be occasioned to accompt of. It now appertaineth that either by fond self-wil, or too much vnkindnes, you shake not off from you the foremost occasion of your succeeding happines. I reck not what of the cōmon sort (more of ignorance then wit) may insuppose of the hastie conclusion be in secret alleadged, their errours like their fancies, are as incertaine as peeuish. Be you onely herein perswaded, to what most of all beseemeth you, and think that both in the waightines, and regard attributed to his and your own worthines, you can for the present frame your selfe to nothing, that to your estate may returne so cōmodious, whereunto though no other matter at all enioyned you, it were sufficient that so forced a necessitie constraineth you, to which the regard of your selfe and your owne good fortune willeth to obey. Longer coulde I debate vnto you the greate liking of many, conceiued of the partie, to the deliuerie whereof by the report of your neerest kinsmen, I doe solie refer you, onelie studying in this, and whatsoeuer els I may, by all indeuours to pleasure you, whereof praying you to be most assured, I doe in all curtesie leaue to detaine you. At B. this of, &c.

_Another Example of an Epistle Swasorie perswading
the carefull acceptance and regard
of one brother to
another._

[Sidenote: _Exordium_, by insinuation.]

The sounde and entire familiaritie wherewith your parents in their life time sometimes entertained me, and the neerenes of neighbourhoode twixte both our friendes and long education wherein iointly we haue conuersed together, mooueth mee at this instant somewhat to write vnto you in respect of the reputation credit, and accompt that in the worlde you nowe beare, and also the rather to win you to the regarde of that, which to the estate of your presente being, and worthinesse of your parents, might be found meetest and conuenient.

[Sidenote: _Narratiō._]

It is giuen me to vnderstand of a younger brother you haue here in London, who at the time of your fathers death beeing committed to your charge, is for the defaulte of maintenaunce, badly inured, woorse trained, and most perillously by all kinde of likelihood (through such sufferaunce) in the loosnesse of his liuing alreadie hazarded.

[Sidenote: _Liptote._]

[Sidenote: _Prosonomasia._]

[Sidenote: _Merismus._]

[Sidenote: _Parabola._]

[Sidenote: _Allegoria._]

I woondered not a little when I hearde it, and so much the more was the matter troublesome vnto mee, in that respecting it was not tolde in secrete, it seemed by the lookes and gestures of the whole companie that heard it, your good demeanor thereby was very hardly censured, for that standing in such case of credite as you doe, your wealth so aboundant, and your parentes so well accompted of, you woulde in this sort, and in that place of all others suffer him to wander carelesse, whome you ought to the contrarie to haue constrained, by any possible carefulnes. How ill beseeming it is both to you & yours, that it shoulde so fall out, you may by supposes coniecture. For my parte, it grieued mee when I heard it, and I was not quiet till I found conuenient time to aduertise you of it. And if my opinion may at all preuaile with you, you shoulde quickly call him home from hence, and see him more better to be prouided for, and more worthily trained. Consider I pray you, the life hee taketh in hand, befitteth not such a one, whose originall was so honest, is ill beseeming the younger brother of your selfe, vnwoorthie his birth or name of a Gentleman, and altogether repugnant to the qualitie of your behauior or the greatnesse of your liuing. You are to remember that hee is yet verie greene, nowe pliable to whatsoeuer may bee impressed in him, as chafed waxe apte to receiue anie figure, like vnto a newe vessell to bee seasoned with whatsoeuer liquor, what hee now taketh taste and sauour of, that hee holdeth, what habite you nowe cast vpon him, the same shadow he lightly beareth. Great cause haue you therfore now to be warie how and in what sort he liueth.

[Sidenote: _Congeries._]

[Sidenote: _Emphasis._]

[Sidenote: _Peroratiō._]

Your industrie, your brotherlie care, your loue, your especiall regarde and kindnesse it is, that must bee ayding in this, you and none but you are the man on whome hee relieth, you are to prouide for him, and it is your selfe that must answere for him. Think that _nature_, _loue_, _dutie_ yea verie _piety_ bindeth you vnto him, who hath none other left to depend on, but such as by possibilitie your self may become vnto him. In the consideration of which let (I pray you) my wordes become thus much regarded vnto you, that herein as in all other things you performe that beseemeth you. Longer could I occupie my selfe to trauell in this action with you, but that I deem it (more then impertinent) any further therein to require you. Greeting your selfe manie times in my name, I bid you therefore farewell. From my house in B. this of, &c.

_Of Epistles Dehortatorie, and Disswasorie. Chap. 12._

=Vnnecessary were it to wade further in either of these titles |hortatorie| or |Swasorie|, the examples alreadie laide downe being for them sufficient, wherfore we will now passe vnto the contraries of these, being |Dehortatorie| and |disswasorie|. The partes and places |exhorting| or |perswading| hauing as you sée bene drawne from the qualities of praise, fortified in diuers sortes, as well by the _person_, by the _action_, as by the _thing_ it selfe, where vnder was comprehended what might be called _honest_ or good: So these on the contrarie parte pulling backe or disswading, shall by the vnhonestie of the action or thing as before hath bin said, and by the indignitie, vniustnes, wickednes, insufferablenes, hate, mislike, contempt, or hazard of danger, reputation or good name that thereof ensueth, be euermore measured.=

=In the handling whereof it is tolerable, by all sortes of arguments, to infer and obiect any thinge to the diminution or defacing of that which we go about to impugne. Yea, if need be, to inuert the good also that in such a person may be supposed vnto a worser sence. As if in dehorting or disswading a man from infidelity towards his country I might first touching the action tender vnto him, how |vnnatural| the cause is he taketh in hand, being against his natiue soile: how |vnhonest|, by laying out the quality of the offence, how |vniust|, in respect that it is against his allegiance to his Prince, how |impious|, in that it retaineth no piety, turneth to the disturbance of a quiet state, & bréedeth the subuersion of al peaceable gouernment, how |insufferable|, by reason that good and wholesome lawes are thereby infringed, all sortes of honest and good men wronged, and consequently the common wealth by such meanes topsie turuie turned.=

=For the |Person| if he were at any time of worth I might shewe then the |indignitie|, or ill beséeming of such a thinge vnto him, for that actions of such kinde are alwaies vnto the noble and best endued mindes vtterly repugning. And so thereupon if in him there was euer reputed any wisdome, I might diuert it now vnto follie, his |Fortitude|, I might challenge to be |Temeritie|, his |moderation| crueltie, his |stoutnes arrogancie|, his |haughtines pride|, his |Freedome loosnes|, and consequently, for euerie other |vertue| induce or lay downe vnto him a contrarie |vice|, respecting that by committing of actions so |vile & contemptible|, all properties whatsoeuer of former esteemed worthines doe vtterly loose the partes they haue of |good|, and immideately are disturned there withall vnto euill.=

=And as in Epistles |Exhorting| or |Perswading|, the intended vertue of goodnesse of euerie thing is more amplie set foorth by the |opposite euil|: So in these of |withdrawing| or |disswading| the intended |euil| by the |opposite good|, is euer made more |hatefull|. Besides, as there bee some thinges that are expresly good in themselues or expresly euil, so are there some thinges that for themselues are helde indifferent. In these, to perswade or withdrawe, there is a prettie skill to be vsed, in which the discretion of the writer may not passe vncommended, wherof (for so much as to a learner they may happely passe vnregarded) I entende in this chapter to affoorde some application. For in thinges alwaies knowne to be of themselues either good or euill, there is no great cunning to make a shew of them as they are: but of things which either by times, by liking, by place, by allowance, by conuersation may be deemed good or bad, to be commended or disalowed, in the setting foorth thereof appeareth both skill and discretion.=

=For example, that mariage is a thinge much to be preferred, and to the increase of man of so greate necessitie, as without which there could bée no orderlie estate or societie, no man I am sure will denie mée. And to a man vnwilling to enter thereinto, I might (with intent to drawe him to a liking thereof) besides a number of necessarie causes to be alleadged, as the decay of his house, the continuance of a solitary, loose or bad kind of liuing, the end of his wealth and name together hauing no issue to succéede him, infer also as much pertinent to such a perswasion the sacred solemnization thereof in Paradise, first by the |eternall Wisdome| himselfe thought méet and appointed, then his pleasure to inioine the same to the worlds increase, then the care that naturally we haue of issue to succéed vs, the indignity for a man of value not to haue respect therof, the loue likewise & mutuall societie betwixt man & wife, being of such mightie efficacie, as wherunto no liking is to be compared, the swéet pleasures, cares & delights, interchangeably passing betwéene them, each dearly affying? them selues in the others contentment, solace or pleasing, the ioy of procreation, when there shall be a childe produced, whose infancie tatling with a pleasant lisping sound, shall become an incredible delight to the parents hearing, with sundrie other like inforcements and suggestions, all which might certainlie shewe and declare the same to be as it is a matter of much woorth, and sufficientlie set forth vnto the partie why it ought to be embraced.=

=Now, as the same is out of all doubt not onelie tollerable, as I said before, but by the necessitie thereof among many thinges held to be praise worthy: so in another place, & to another person might I againe find as much occasion for matter, why the selfe same marriage should be alike dispraised, as (not reckoning the age of man or woman, which many times more of dotage then discretion pursueth the same) there might be opposed thereagainst the swéetnes of libertie, the vse wherof (nothing more) conduceth principally vnto the estate & life of man, who naturally coueteth vnrestrained & without controlment to do that him liketh, the benefit wherof enioying, he may ride, go, walke, rest, eat, drinke, studie, recreate, solace, and whersoeuer, and in whatsoeuer companie pleaseth him best, vse the conceit thereof to his owne appetite.=

=Now, hauing a wife (suppose she haue all the perfections you will giue her) yet is the delicacie hereof bereft a man: for being once married, hee thenceforth is no more vnto himselfe, but vnto her, for her pleasure, to her choyce, at her liking, with her contentment, must he then order his humours, his houres, his gestures, his companies, his iourneys, his recreations, and what els he before time might fréelie haue vsed, his owne liking is quenched, his libertie restrained, and yet the losse hereof a heauen to that which followeth, if by great good fortune he bee not the better matched, For imagin the woman chosen, do prooue a scolde, wayward, self-willed, malicious, frowning, or suspitious, what a hell is hee then driuen into, whose serpentine and more then Adderlike disposition shall be such as would terrifie a thousande Diuelles. If she bee wanton, dissolute, lewde, or loose in liuing, howe on the other side shall he then be turmoyled: what is it that she will not presume vpon, & dare to hazarde? how infamous shall her life then become to his liuing? how little will shee esteeme of him, in respect of the large account she holdeth of many others? If she be proude, then may she be vnsupportable: if her wit be more then his, then arrogant: if she be foolish, then a mocking stocke: if she be faire, then a spectacle to gaze on: if foule, then a simpring puppet to wonder on: if shee be rich, presumptuous: if poore, then happilie odious. But being what shee may bee, or touching her owne person the best she can bee, what intollerable charge bringeth shee with her, what cost of apparel, what care of diet, what houshold of seruants, what expence for attendance, what prouision for children; what furniture for house, what daily, continual & neuer ceasing cark & toile for her & hers: in conclusion, what one discommoditie may be reckoned, that with her or for her is not in short space a thousande times hazarded?=

=Thus doe you see how out of one selfe thing both praise and dispraise by admittance may be gathered. A like thereunto may be added in the vsage of wine. To a crazed man of weak disposition, or such a one whose constitution of bodie for Phisicks sake should require it, I might, to perswade him to the vse thereof, vrge the necessarie meane, the goodnesse, propertie, vertue and wholesomnesse of the same, the operation, howe it recreateth, driueth away heauinesse from the minde, prouoketh appetite, comforteth, and many wayes (moderatelie taken) helpeth and relieueth. But now to disswade againe the intermedling therewith, what might bee imagined that coulde not bee rehearsed: by manifesting the hurt and manifold inconueniences thereby ensuing, as that it causeth drunkennes, dulleth the wits, making ill digestion, ingendreth superfluities, weakneth the spirits, hurteth the braine, driueth a man to forget himselfe, enforceth to commit that which many times is filthie and often vnbeseeming, of a reasonable creature frameth a beast, discouereth counsels, causeth slaughters, and consequentlie ladeth both the bodie and minde with a thousand mischiefes, impediments and diseases.=

=As of these twain, so might I stand vpon many others the like, which for breuitie I omit, holding these applications sufficient for the present intendment: adding herewithall, that the exhorter, perswader or withdrawer from any thing, ought touching things indifferent, specially to haue before his eyes the reputation of the partie to whome he writeth, considering that some things are lesse meete in one person then in another, and that which well fitteth and agreeth with the state or condition of some one, is altogether vnmeet and disagréeing in the behauiour of another. To consider in like sort this old adage, _ne quid nimis_, whereby in reprouing the vse of any thing he may prefer the _moderation_, and inueigh against the _nimium_. Finally, to respect, that of sundry indifferent occasions not the vse, but the abuse is it which ought to bee reprehended. These beeing admitted, wee will come to the |Examples| of both kindes aswell |Dehortatorie| as |Disswasorie|, and see what therein may be tendred.=

_An example of an Epistle dehortatorie, wherein a noble Gentleman
is withdrawne from infidelitie or rebellion._

[Sidenote: _Exordium._]

[Sidenote: By insinuation.]

[Sidenote: _Metaphora._]

[Sidenote: _Allegoria._]

My good G. my faithfull louing Countriman, and dearest of account (whilome all and either of these vnto me, so bee it the frowning heauens and dispiteful wicked fate had not harboured the contrarie) what shall I write vnto thee, or by what tearmes may I now salute thee? Erst woonted were my letters to pursue thee, carelesse in any cost, and familiarly and boldly to regard thee, now blushing at thy vncouth hap, and carefull of they carelesse vsage, they cannot without griefe approch thee, nor once without sorrowe intentiuely behold thee.

[Sidenote: _Ecphonesis._]

Alas, my G. what furie hath ledde thee, what madnes hath bewitched thee, what hatefull destinie hath pursued thee, that beeing such as thou wert, on whome Nature and the heauens as it seemed, had powred all their giftes moste plentifullie, thou wouldest yet be ledde to deface so many partes of excellencie, with one hatefull, ignominious and shamefull blott, of wicked, and most heynous treacherie.

[Sidenote: _Erotema._]

[Sidenote: _Auxesis._]

[Sidenote: _Ecphonesis._]

[Sidenote: _Sinathrismus._]

Diddest thou for this cause take vppon thee the profession of Armes, to become iniurious to thy Countrey, to bereaue men of their patrimonie, to bee a destroyer of vnitie, a patterne of infidelitie, the dishonour of thy familie, and consequently to thy selfe and dearest soile, a professed and open enemie? Ah happie in all other things, but in this sole enterprize, in the broaching whereof thou wast put forwarde to bee made the onelie vnhappie, behooueth with such ingratitude to rewarde the first Authour of thy familie? Was this the ende of thy birth, thy parents, education, thy estate, thy wealth, thy possibilitie, to become a Traytour to thy Prince, and rebell to thy Countrey? No, no, my G. vilde and too ill beseeming is the drift that hath so ouertaken thee, and ignorant was he of that became thee, that first thereunto perswaded thee.

[Sidenote: _Dialogismus._]

When thou liest armed in the fields and (mustering thy ranks in the day time) beholdest and lookest around about thy Countrey, thinkest thou not then with thy selfe, in this soyle was I borne, within this land lieth my patrimonie, heere had I first sucke, and sithence haue the fruits thereof nourished me, and could I then become so ingratefull and vnkinde, as for all these benefits to destroy thee? Not so, nor in such maner haue the vertuous in field beene accounted so woorthie, not for this cause in such actions, haue men beene said to beare themselues honourably. _Coriolanus_, thou wast conuinced by the view of the Citie and mothers intreatie, and shall I vnhappie man for all this, persist in this crueltie?

[Sidenote: _Anthypophora._]

[Sidenote: _Epanodus._]

[Sidenote: _Paradigma._]

[Sidenote: _Antithesis._]

[Sidenote: _Auxesis._]

[Sidenote: _Paradigma._]

[Sidenote: _Etiologia._]

Iustlie and by great occasion credit me, mightest thou thus complaine of so great an iniurie, and all this being so true, as nothing more true; can it be said in prosecuting the same, thou maist be freed frō infamie? What I pray thee hath made men famous, and canonized their memorie, was it not their munificence and valiant demerits in and for the good of their country? For in what one thing are we more likened vnto God himselfe, then in the worthines of our minds, the resolutions whereof, ought in no wise to be stained with such hatefull obloquie? The Asse runneth through fire for the safegard of her issue and shall the valiant man then become negligent to the ayde of his Countrey? Howe farre more waightilie shall hee bee accused, who not onelie giueth no ayde at all to his Countrey, but also is therunto an inconsiderate and most cruell enemie? Howe carelesse are such men of their fame, and howe vnlike of all others to those memorable woorthies, the precious regard whereof, vnto them hath beene such, as then goods, possessions, riches, kingdomes, yea life it selfe hath beene helde most dearest. Peruse but the auncient hystories of _Rome_, and looke there of _Mutius Scæuola_, the most inuincible Romane, with what confidence hee went solie into the Tent of _Prosenna_, his and their Countryes capitall enemie, in minde onelie to destroie him. The good _Furius Camillus_, who after manie high and honourable seruices by him done to the Common-wealth of Rome, was by his owne Citizens vniustlie banished: howe farre off was hee thinke you, from this your opinion? For the Galles whom before he had expulsed, hauing in the time of this his banishment assieged the Citie of Rome, and beeing then verie likely to haue distressed the same, insomuch as they had alreadie forraged, burnt and destroyed the whole Countrey round about, hee more sorrowfull at the likely ruine of his Citie, then grieued at his owne banishment, (mooued thereunto of verie pietie to his natiue soyle and Countrey) entred counsell with the _Ardeats_, and by his wisedome, policie, and great manhood, so perswaded those people, that in feare of their mishap, they were content to leuie a mightie armie vnder his conduct, wherewith hee not onely put backe the enemie, but therewith so mightilie pursued them, as by such meanes he vtterly freed and set at libertie his Citie and Conntrey.

[Sidenote: _Transitiō._]

[Sidenote: _Parison._]

[Sidenote: _Emphasis._]

[Sidenote: _Periphrasis._]

[Sidenote: _Auxesis._]

[Sidenote: _Dialogismus._]

[Sidenote: _Epizeuxis._]

[Sidenote: _Antithesis._]

[Sidenote: _Ecphonesis._]

[Sidenote: _Aporia._]

[Sidenote: _Auxesis._]

[Sidenote: _Erotema._]

[Sidenote: _Prosopopœia._]

What neede wee search abroade for such forraine examples, and why draw wee not home into our owne soyle of England? What Chronicle shall euer remaine, or what English Hystorie shall euer bee extant, that shall not euerlastinglie report, the deserued fame of that right woorthie and verie noble indeede, Sir _William Walwoorth_, Knight, once Lord Maior of London, the remembraunce whereof (to his perpetuall prayse, and endlesse confusion of others, who not onely abstaine the putting in vre of such his memorable vertue, but which is woorse, doe endeuour by cruell force to tender violence vnto their Sacred Prince and Countrey) shall yet flourish for euer. Ill doe you example vnto your selfe, or thinke on the woorthinesse of that good man, who in the time of King _Richard_ the seconde, when with a most suddaine and strange kinde of Rebellion the King was troubled, the Realme pestered, and the strongest of the Kinges subiectes greatlie feared: euen at that time when the proude fawtour and Captaine of the rebellious and rascallie multitude, durst hatefullie and most vndutifullie to bearde the King in his owne presence, and each man shunned to impugne the contrarie. This valiant, this good, this right noble and woorthie Citizen, standing by, when the wicked and presumptuous varlet, with so little reuerence approached the King, and remembring the seruices of manie worthie men, that by an honourable aduenture and hazarde of their liues had to their eternall memorie, before time freed their Countrey with libertie, grieuing that with so high an abuse his soueraigne Lorde beeing yet as it were a childe, shoulde there in his hearing, bee so farre amated, couragiouslie stept vnto the Rebell, and taking him by the gorge, proude varlet (quoth hee) that darest thus contemptouslie demeane thy selfe vnto thy King and Soueraigne, foule death betide thee, and shame quicklie consume thee: Whie, aunswered the villaine in greate disdaine, is it thou that greeuest at that I haue sayde? Greeue, replyed the stoute couragious Citizen, yea, euen I, I it is that greeue at thee, and happilie shoulde thinke my selfe accurst, if thou shouldest escape from mee vnreuenged, wherewith drawing more closelie vnto him, hee pulled him from his horse by maine force, and stabbed him to the heart with his dagger. The destruction of whom, bredde such confusion vnto all the residue of his headstrong armie, and sight whereof kindeled so great a furie in the residue of the Kings companie, (who for that present vpon speciall considerations, was there attended on but meanelie) that the whole rebellious route were by such meanes euer after discomfited vtterlie: wherewith before that instaunt the whole Realme had lyke to haue beene turned topsie turuie. Hee and such as hee laboured not by ambitious pride to arrogate vnto themselues a lawlesse extremitie, but studyed of meere loue and entire zeale, how and which way they might performe best seruice to their Prince and Conntrey. O more then ordinarie affection, and feruencie of high and statelie woorthinesse, in the regarde whereof, life was not sweete vnto these men, whose liuing might not redounde to become (for their dearest soyle) to bee honoured and famous. What then may I say my G. of that by thee, and thy copartners taken in hande, whether will you be driuen, what shall become of you, how doe ye behaue your selues, who may receiue you, in whose inward conceites (not the pietie and regard of anie of theese) no nor so much as one sparke of their loialtie, coulde so deepelie bee impressed, as whereby to withdrawe you from these vnnaturall broiles? What haue you found in your deare prince? what in your louing countrie? what in this citie? what to anie one of al your selues in particularitie, that might in such hatefull maner incite you, & by occasion whereof you should thrust your selues into so great an enormitie? Beleeue me, & it shal verilie be auowed, the successe hereof will returne vnto you none other in the ende then the verie reward of infamie. I haue knowne thee, beeing far lesse in yeares then at this instant, to haue bene able to rule thy selfe, and with plausible moderation to bee indued in all things, couldest thou then beeing a childe performe this in thy selfe, and beeing nowe a man art not able to endure it? There be I know about thee, that will perswade that all that thou doest herein is vertue, that herein thou hast great wisdom, much fortitude, and notable moderation, that the action is haughtie, the occasion libertie, and the end glorie. But how greatlie they doe erre in so saying, let this saying of good _Camillus_ stand for you and vs indifferentlie, whose notable speach sprung vp from those his inuiolable vertues, spared not this, to affirme in presence of all the Senate vnto the people. Let others (quoth hee) deeme it a thinge euill and reprochfull at anie time to bee founde faultie, in not yeelding ready succors and aid to their country: _Camillus_ for his part is & shal be of that resolute determination, that it is & ought to be reputed for euermore a thing detestable and vild, and of all other the most hatefull and replenished with all execrable miserie. How thinketh then your gentle mind, of the action by this time. Is it (suppose you) anie vertue that thereunto preferreth you? _Camillus_ iudged that it was not reprochfull, but villanous and detestable, so much as to bee founde failing in ought to his countrie, and may it then bee thought a thinge honest to become a persecutor of your countrie?

[Sidenote: _Orismus._]

[Sidenote: _Prosonomasia._]

[Sidenote: Loue.]

[Sidenote: Hate.]

[Sidenote: Feare.]

[Sidenote: _Allegoria._]

[Sidenote: _Sententia._]

[Sidenote: _Antithesis._]

[Sidenote: _Epilogus._]

It is not _Fortitude_, but _Temeritie_, that conducteth your enterprises, for _Fortitude_ aspireth to far more noble and statelier purposes. The action and determination, you preferre therein is not (as fondlie by you is conceaued) _honour_, but _haughtines_, not _libertie_, but _loosenes_, not _vertue_, but _viciousnes_: why then continue you in this sorte togethers, vpon so wicked and diuelish a purpose? Why returnest not thou rather to thy self my G. & hauing long before striued to emulate the praise of others by an vnstained gentilitie, wipe nowe quickly off this foule blemish from thee, and couering the filthinesse thereof by a most incomparable fidelitie, become once againe like vnto thy self. At the least wise, if the loue of thy coūtrie, fidelitie towards thy prince, the example of Vertue her selfe and so many her famous and renowned followers (then which no one thinge on earth ought more to allure a man) may not herewith conuince thee, let yet the execrable and immortall hate, that all good men beare to the practise of such kind of crueltie, the feare of euer harbouring shame, and erected ignomie, and neuer after hope (thy credite once consumed) againe to recouer thee, let these I say constrain thee. Whilst there is yet but one craze or slender flaw in the touchstone of thy reputation, peece it vp, & new flourish again by a greater excellēcie, the square of thy workmanship. A fewe daies are to bee passed in which there is yet time, fame wounded in life may once bee restored, if death doe preuente thee, thy shame and destruction is for euer shrowded. The next newes I hear from thee, may make thee fortunate, or me for thee alwaies vnhappie. My longing would bee satisfied of this from which I dehort thee. If onelie herein thou condiscende vnto mee, my selfe am thine, and to none so much as thy selfe absolutely, I loue thee, I require thee, I pray thee, and pray for thee, that thou maist as I wish, and wouldest as I bid, bee for, and to mee. Farewell if thou doest well.

An Example of a disswasorie Epistle,
_wherin one is disswaded from fruit-
les vanities, to more learned & pro-
fitable studies_.

[Sidenote: _Narratiō._]

I receiued on Saturday last a letter from your Vncle, wherein amongst sundrie other matters I was aduertised, that leauing your former learned studies, whereunto with greate cost and charge of your parents, you had bene trained, you haue giuen your selfe wholie to certaine thinges, the regarde whereof albeit in their moderate vses, I cannot discommende, yet in respecte of your former intendmentes, I can tearme them none other then meere follies, and verie fruitles vanities.

It is reported with vs for certaine, that you are become an excellent good dauncer, that you are growne prettilie skilled on instrumentes, whereon you play reasonablie, that you spende the time limitted for more profite in the Vniuersitie, in making of songes and exquisite fine ditties, that you are verie fitlie seated for wantonnesse, and worthilie behaued in all kind of curious conueyances.

[Sidenote: _concession._]

[Sidenote: _Parison._]

[Sidenote: _Synonymia._]

I woulde for mine owne parte nothing at all mislike what herein you haue in some sorte frequented, weighing indeede that as they may bee in sorte entertained, those qualities doe not ill beseeme a Gentleman, but are in their kinde verie fit and commendable to anie youthfull reckoning: yet studying them as you doe by them selues, inuring your selfe whollie to their delighte, abandoning what else might best honour and beautifie their woorthinesse, in respect of the sole propertie of them selues and their owne peculiar goodnesse, I say that in such regarde they are vanities, trifles, thinges of no momente, and in each sounde opinion to bee helde of farre lesse value and iudgement.

[Sidenote: _Prosonomasia._]

The intendment of your going to the Vniuersitie was for _learning_ sake, to become an excellent scholler, not an exquisite dauncer, a Maister of Arte not an artlesse maister, a good Rhetorician, not a conceited Musitian: your Vncles care, was by vilefying his wealth vnto you, (the weight whereof by imminent perilles wee see daylie perish before our eies) to purchase for you the endowment of a farre more greater and assured treasure, and that is by knowledge to teach you to discerne trifles, to procure in you a minde to despise trifles, that leauing small riches to inherit, you your selfe might gather possessions whereby to enrich you.

[Sidenote: _Synonymia._]

[Sidenote: _Parison._]

[Sidenote: _Asyndeton._]

You then are farre misconceiued, to relinquish the hoped reckoning of that you came for, to applie your selfe to that which fewe doe accompt of, and the wisest woulde neuer sweate for, you shall therefore vppon better aduise endeuour if you doe well, to returne your conceite to a far more better purpose. You shall call to minde that all studies whatsoeuer, by how much the more excellent ech one appeareth before the other, by so much the more assured are they in their kinde, and aboue all the residue, with far greater estimate to bee preferred: if so? then must you graunt me that no one thing vpon earth (then _learning_, then precious and high esteemed _skill_, then aboue all earthly things whatsoeuer, heauenlie _science_) is of so great and surpassing excellence. To lay out vnto you herein, howe much glorious is her shining hue aboue all others, howe sugred her plantes, howe daintie her fruits, howe delicate her pleasures, howe incomparable her high and statelie reach, how she participateth the skies, the element, the venerable search and knowledge of high and sacred mysteries: I need not, you know it, you haue felt & tasted of it. But to shewe howe much you misprise the force of her vertue, howe ill conceiued, and far wandring, you are from the due esteeme of her glorie, to make loue to her handmaides, to professe liking to her seruantes, to become sole entertainer of her vassals: hereon resteth the iniurie, this is it I complaine of vnto you.

[Sidenote: _congeries._]

[Sidenote: _Parenthesis._]

[Sidenote: _Erotema._]

[Sidenote: _Allegoria._]

And if either the sum and type of honestie placed in the weight of the action, the necessitie, meetnes, and worthines, the vtility and benefits seuen hundred fold compensing the trauel, may (as earthly things haue often power to mooue one, aboue things of far higher estimation) induce you to her most dearest and precious fruition, search then the fauor of these your louing mistresses, and (seemlie I grant you may find them) but neuer shall they proue either so wealthy or beautifull. What then should let you to returne to this glorious Ladie? Will you because you are an earthlie substance, followe the common reason of euerie earthlie creature? _humum sapere & alta spernere_? or saying that the appetites of the one are much pleasanter for the time, or far lesse tedious then the other, welde your opinion by a peeuish conceite of ease, to become a creditor to wantonnes?

[Sidenote: _Meiosis._]

[Sidenote: _Allegoria._]

These imaginations as they are meerelie bad, so are they ten times woorse in the pursuite, then they are sweete in the foremost thought. Peeuish were it, simplie for you to stande vppon these vanities, thinges wherein children haue delight, and young weaklinges doe roue at cunninglie: you must suppose and harpe vpon the end that must succeede vnto your trauaile, and finding the reache thereof pursue it with feruencie: Such actions as these doe onelie beseeme men, and heerein alone shall you shewe your selfe such as you may desire to bee, and your friends doe heartilie wish you to prooue. Alexander restlesse in the day tyme, gaped for worldles, but in the night season was rocked a sleepe by the _Muses_, the pleasure hereof appeased his day labours, and the content of this gaue rest to his trauels.

[Sidenote: _Peroratiō._]

Too much impertinent were it for me to hale you on with arguments, who onelie go about to perswade you with warrantise: Neither thinke I in the ende you will declare your selfe otherwise, then euer I haue expected of you. Much more could I infer, that might greatlie induce you to that whereunto your owne willingnesse must in the ende, of necessitie conduce you. Onely, if in the weight hereof my perswasions may something preuaile: I shall not forget in any woorthie part thereof, at all times to commend you. In which reposing my selfe for the present, I ende: this of, &c.

_An other example disswasorie, wherein the partie is by diuers rea-
sons disswaded from entring into an action in appa-
rance verie dangerous._

[Sidenote: _Exordium._]

[Sidenote: _Propositiō._]

[Sidenote: _Aporia._]

[Sidenote: _Auxesis._]

I haue (good brother) receiued your letters, dated the eight day of this instant, which were with as great diligence as celeritie, conueied to my handes, and by the fidelitie of the bearer haue vnderstoode to the vttermost what you willed, and both of that and your letter haue at large considered. It seemeth therin vnto mee, that whether through ignorance of your owne good, or inconsiderate rashnesse of youth, or voluntarie intrusion of your selfe into your owne harmes, I knowe not, but the matter and action mentioned and inforced by the whole course of your letter, is altogither to be misliked, and for the extremitie thereof to bee by all reason vtterly condemned, as whereunto you ought not to condescende, much lesse to bee seene in publique to bee a fauourer of, or, which is more, to appeare to bee, the onelie man through whose follie and immoderate rashnesse, the same is solie to be accomplished.

[Sidenote: _Ecphonesis._]

[Sidenote: _Auxesis._]

O good God! what blindnes is it that leadeth you? what sencelesse furie that bewitcheth you? What matter of euill that pursueth you? By the intollerable force whereof, without anie fore-sight at all, either of the goodnesse or ilnesse of the action, the lawlesse prosecution, the matter of your owne reputation, the daunger of lawe wherein you are intruded, the difficultie whereby it must be attained, the vnhonest sollicitation of your friends, to so great a hazard, the discommoditie that thereon is attendant, and perill euerie way that in the execution cannot be auoyded: you will notwithstanding all this forget your selfe so much, as in the accomplishment of a purpose so farre different from the nature (I will not say of a Gentleman) but of an honest man, go about to put in proofe what in the ende must of necessitie returne to your owne confusion.

[Sidenote: _Procatalepsis._]

[Sidenote: _Antipophora._]

[Sidenote: _Orismus._]

[Sidenote: _Erotema._]

[Sidenote: _Auxesis._]

[Sidenote: _Etiologia._]

But you will say it is loue, and extreame lyking that compelleth you to so forcible an action, as without the obtaining whereof you are no bodie, you cannot liue. Loue say you? Alas, what loue tearme you this, that is laden with so manie disordered motions, call you this loue? Nay rather call it madnesse, for loue is measured by no extremitie, but in the honest and vertuous encrease thereof, where not by a harebraine furie, but by a discreete and moderate ascention men by degrees doe climbe vnto that, the sweete and pleasant force whereof neuer participateth anie occasion of such vnreasonable badnesse. Why brother, doe you loue her whome you haue sued for, and because by desert you cannot attaine her, will you vndertake thereupon to bereaue her by force? Howe vnhonest I pray you is the purpose of so great a wrong? Howe vnfit to bee put forwarde in the meaner sort of men? How intollerable in a Gentleman? For if in the account of things vnhonest, any action whatsoeuer may appeare to be vile, what then this I pray you may bee deemed more dishonest, more bad, or more vile?

[Sidenote: _Auxesis._]

And if it be punished extreamly by the lawe, the taking away of a mans goods against his will, what may he deserue that bereaueth the person of anie one, being also a Gentlewoman, such as to whome all humanitie forbiddeth to proffer wrong, and to the honourable entertainment of whome, is appropriate onely the nobilitie of a Gentleman, nay, in what sort may such a one bee censured in the reputation of all honest men, that in sort so violent, goeth about to rauish her, not onlie offering iniurie therein to her person, but also to her fame, reputation and offspring.

[Sidenote: _Anthypophora._]

[Sidenote: _Concessiō._]

[Sidenote: _Synonymia._]

[Sidenote: _Asindeton._]

[Sidenote: _Erotema._]

[Sidenote: _Auxesis._]

[Sidenote: _Procatalepsis._]

[Sidenote: _Prosonomasia._]