Of Epistles Commendatorie — Chap. 16
Much more might bee handled in this kinde, the method whereof is one of the most ordinarie of any sortes of Letters that are indited, for that the greatest number of directions are commonlie concluded in this matter, the requests wherof doe either especially concerne the writer, or are otherwise to be respected in the behalfe of some other. The occasion of which hath caried herein the plentie of so many examples, that by manifesting the diuersities of their orders and vses, the learner might not wante wherein to bee directed, and choice of varietie wherewith to be delighted. Now, besides these hereby alreadie deliuered, there are letters also yᵗ might be suted vnder this forme, which from Noble men or others, are many times written in fauor of sundrie persons, containing requests in their behalfs to be performed, which not withstanding the difference of estates in that the same doe for the most part passe vnto their inferiours, yet séemeth the nature thereof to be petitorie, but in a different order of these to be altogether pursued. Insomuch as neither agree-eth it, to vse like circumstances of humilitie and entreatie, nor of pleasures or curtesie, as in the other are required: but rather a necessarie supposall and assurance of their demandes to be hearkened vnto, in respect that of their honours, reputations, or credites, it is intended they will require nothing, but that with reasonable toleration may be liked of. But the vse of such kinde of directions in choise of both, I rather hold pertinent to the title Cōmendatorie, for that whatsoeuer is therein written, in fauour eyther of the person or of the cause, may in respect of the honour or reputation of those from whome they come, bee better déemed in sorte of a curteous recommendation, then otherwise by or vnder anie title of humilitie or submission: for these causes I haue thought meete to adioine immediatelie hereunto, the same Epistles Commendatorie, beeing so nearelie combined with those of Petitorie as they are. The vse whereof are not neuerthelesse so farre forth caried, but that from an inferiour to his superiour, in some causes and vpon sundrie accidentes, the same are deriued. The places appertaining vnto these kindes of Epistles be as in the Petitorie are alreadie declared, chiefely when the same, intendeth to a cause or person preferred to be fauoured. In which, when it concerneth the person, we must beware that in the credible deliuerie of whatsoeuer tending to his praise or preferment, we doe it either by warrant of our owne knowledge, or by such certaine report of others, whose opinion we deeme will not bee misled. And if neither of these doe fall out to be knowne or beleeued, then shal we shew what information wee haue besides our owne opinion, or peraduenture no other assurance at all but our owne simple liking. Petitions also are frequented in requiring fauour to these causes, wherein standeth in highest regarde the state, countenance or authoritie of him, from whome the letter is framed, who accordingly thereunto may desire that the rather at his request, or vpon his sute, or for his sake, or in regarde of his liking, the person may bee accompted of, or the action furthered. Besides, it may bee added to the increase of a more speedie performance, the loue, (if anie be, or the occasion thereunto sorting) we owe to him we commende, or in whose fauour we write, either solie for himselfe, or conueyed from his friendes, his parentes, the consideration of his charge of wife, children or seruantes, the wrong offered, benefite to be attained, or whatsoeuer other matter to bee deemed requisite or conuenient. Nowe from whence or out of what instigations, the matter of such commendation is to bee drawne, you haue in the generall chapters of this booke alreadie at large. The circumstances of which, and whatsoeuer else hereby forewarned, shall in the ensuing examples bee more at large deliuered.
An example commendatorie, wherein
is recommended to a noble man from his in-
feriour, the conditions and behauiours
of a person.
Narratiō.
Cōmendation of the party.
Petition.
Peroratiō.
IT may please your Lordship, This Gentleman the bearer hereof, with whome a long time I haue beene acquainted, and of his qualities and good behauiour haue had sounde and large experiment, hauing beene a good time a sutor vnto mee, to mooue his preferment vnto your Lordships seruice: I haue nowe at the last condiscended vnto, aswell for that I know your Lordship to be now presentlie disfurnished of such a one, as also that there shall hardlie be preferred vpon a sudden any one so meete as himselfe to supplie that place. And thus much by your pardō and allowance dare I assure vnto you, yᵗ if it may please you in credit of my simple knowledge and opiniō to imploy him, you shal find that besides he is by parētage discended from such, as of whome I knowe your Lordship will verie well accompt of, hee is also learned, discreete, sober, wise, and moderate in all his actions, of great secrecie and most assured trust, gouerned in all companies accordinglie: finallie, a man so meete, and to this present turne so apt and necessarie, as I cannot easilie imagine howe you may be serued better. Pleaseth your L. the rather for the great good will I beare him, and humble duetie I owe vnto you, to accept, imploie, and accompt of him. I nothing doubt but your L. hauing by such means giuen credit to my choice, shall finde him such, as for whose good seruice, you shall haue further occasion to thinke well of mee for him. Whereof nothing doubting, I doe refer both him and my selfe in all humblenesse to your best and most fauorable opinion, from my house in B. this of, &c.
A Letter Responsorie to the Same
After my verie heartie commendations vnto you. Sithence the receipt of your last letters and recommendations of P. B. into my seruice, I haue had small occasion either to write or send vnto you till this present. And for so much as vpon your certaine notice deliuered vnto mee in fauour of his preferment, I helde my selfe so well assured in all thinges of his behauiour, as I doubted not thereupon to receiue him in place of greatest fidelitie, I haue thought good heereby to let you vnderstand, what great pleasure I haue taken in his diligent attendance, assuring you that for manie vnexpected qualities, which I haue prooued to be in him, I doe woonderfullie well like of him, and that with so good affection, as I intend not to omit anie thing that may tend to his aduauncement. In beholding him oftentimes mee thinkes hee manie wayes dooth resemble his father, who in sounde troth, I doe suppose, might haue beene intertained with the best for his well deseruing. This bearer shall enforme you of some especiall causes, concerning my affayres in the Countrey, whom I doe pray you to conferre with, and to affoord your trauell for his present dispatch, which I will not faile heartily to requite vnto you. For your care had of my wants, and diligent supply of such a one I do many times thanke you, and haue promised in my selfe for the same to become a debter vnto you. And euen so I do bid you hartilie fare wel. From the Court this of, &c.
An Other Epistle Commendatorie of the Sort Before Deliuered
My verie good L. I am enformed by this Gentl. the bearer hereof, that by meanes of one of your Chapleins, a motion hath beene made of his preferment vnto your L. seruice: and forsomuch as those his good friendes are not nowe in towne, who in respect of their account with your L. might stande him in verie good steade: vnderstanding his well-willing minde, and greate desire thereunto (for that I wish verie well vnto his aduauncement) I haue taken vpon me heereby to entreate (albeit I may not presume so farre, as to preferre a man vnto your L.) that it may yet please you vpon my speeches to haue the better liking of him. Assuring you that both by the credite of my La. F. who vppon verye good conceyte towardes him, wished his preferment, with her late deceased brother and last L. C. and also by the knowledge my selfe haue had of him, and others besides, whome your L. hath in speciall and chose regarde, he is one so sufficient, and euerie way so well furnished to doe seruice to anie honourable personage, as by tryall and proofe made of whose good parts and behauiour, your L. shall not reape occasion of ill conceit, to whome soeuer haue vndertaken to preferre him vnto you. And if it shall notwithstanding seeme farther conuenient vnto your L. to make stay of his acceptaunce, for some priuate causes hitherto vnsatisfied, I shall yet in his behalfe neuerthelesse become thus farre a suter vnto you, that this my recommendation may with your L. good fauour become a speedier meane the better (when it shall happen) to mooue your L. good lyking towardes him. For which I shall thinke my selfe, as in manie other occasions besides, vnto your honourable opinion most deepely beholden. In acknowledgement of which, and respect of my humble and dutifull regarde to the same, I doe nowe and euermore remaine your L. &c.
THese two examples Commendatorie, are concluded to one effect, the formost whereof with little alteration, may become a president for anie recommendation, whether it bee to fauour, friendship, choyce, or account, and not vnto seruice at all, for that herein is shewed, in what sort men for their vertues may be recommended. Now if there be anie other particular occasion in the person, besides these, inducing matter of good liking the same in place and stead of other, or togither with the other may be then alledged, and the course herein deliuered at all times indifferently to be obserued. And as these are from inferiour persons directed vnto their superiours: so will we sort out some others, that from Noblemen in like sort haue béene passed to their inferiours, examples whereof are in like maner hereunto annexed.
An Example Commendatorie, From a Noble Man to His Inferiour, Wherein One Is Recommended to an Office
AFter my verie heartie Commendations vnto you, where I am giuen to vnderstande, that you are in election, and it is also verie likelie you shall bee pricked by her Maiestie, high Sheriffe for this yeare, of the Countyes of Sussex and Surrey. This Gent. the bearer hereof, beeing one whom for manie respectes, I doe greatly fauour, and for his learning, skill, and honest vsage, haue long time vsed and reputed of, I haue thought good by these (if it so happen you shall this yeare bee named thereunto) to recommend to your good allowance to bee receyued as your vnder-sheriffe for that time, putting vnto you such good and reasonable securitie as appertaineth, for discharge of the sayde office. And hereby also to pray you, that the rather for my sake, and for the especiall choice and reckoning I haue made of him, you will nowe before hand make certaine acceptance of his skill, by refusall of whatsoeuer other that may bee recommended vnto you for the exercise of the same office, assuring you, for that I haue well knowne and prooued to be in him, you shall be so well furnished, as you would wish. And besides, in that you shall gratifie me herein, I will not faile in anie sort I may to requite you. And euen so I bid you heartily farewell.
HEerein is the honour and nobilitie of the personage greatlie to bee respected who by so much the more his estate, countenance, or authoritie requireth it, by so much the lesse may it be considered, that in the inditing of these letters hee should with ouer large entreatie bee charged, but rather with fewer spéeches, and lesse circumstances to demaunde what hee purposeth. The conformitie whereof may bee gathered out of the examples ensuing, according whereunto, hee in whose fauour such kinde of Letters are to bee directed, (especiallie if the inuention beeing of his owne procurement bee brought to bee signed) ought to take heede that the regard of his honour and calling, in whose name the Letter passeth bee not by too great humilitie of tearmes in any sort misprised.
An Epistle Commendatorie, From a Noble Man, in Prefer- Ment of His Seruant
AFter my verie heartie commendations vnto you. This bearer hauing of long time serued mee faithfullie, and beeing nowe desirous to trauaile. I haue thought good heartilie to recommend vnto you. And forasmuch as by reason of your office of Lord Gouernour of V. it is likelie there are manie places of good preferment remayning in your gift, vppon your followers to bee bestowed, I doe most heartilie pray you, that you will not onelie for my sake bee contented to receyue him into your seruice, but that also in fauour thereof, you will in anie place of preferment about you, doe him that benefite and furtherance, as to one whom you wish throughlie well vnto, you woulde performe. Herein if my request may preuaile with you, I shall not onelie bee readie to thanke you, but in whatsoeuer cause you haue to vse mee, bee as willing to requite you. And so I doe bid you right heartily fare well. At the Court this day, &c.
An Other Example, Wherein Is Recom- Mended the Cause and Speedie Furtherance of Iustice
After my heartie Commendations vnto your Lordship: where I haue beene informed by this bearer, beeing a poore Tenaunt of mine, of a certaine cause of his depending before you in her Maiesties Bench, and that after manie thwartings and euill practises of his aduersarie, the matter is nowe driuen to an issue, and tryall, from the benefite whereof by corruption of some kinde of persons, hee hath these three tearmes passed beene alreadie detayned, to his great hinderance, and almost vtter vndooing. I haue thought good vppon his humble suite to mooue your L. in his behalfe, and to pray you that at my instaunce you will at some conuenient leysure examine the state of his matter, and being informed thereof at large, doe him that speedie fauour in iustice and right, as hee may not anie longer time therein bee deferred, but that notwithstanding anie cauill or obiection thereunto hindering, hee may before this tearme passed in anie wise haue a tryall. In accomplishment whereof, besides that you shall greatlie satisfie mee in respect of the poore mans right, whereunto I wish great regard to be giuen, you shal also performe a deed so charitable, as whereby you shal perpetually bind him, his poore wife, and children continually to pray for you. And albeit I nothing doubt herein your great willingnes and voluntarie disposition to Iustice, yet that by reason of my request, the matter wich more diligence may be harkened vnto, I eftsoones pray, and therwithall hartilie doe bid your L. farewel, this of, &c.
To all these examples Commendatorie, belongeth thrée especiall sortes of Letters Responsorie, in which is either flatly denied, absolutely allowed, or doubtfully accepted of, what by force of those Epistles are seuerally commended. Of either of these sutes I haue thought good to set downe some directions, the diuersitie whereof, at the choice of him that searcheth the same, may according to his present humor be either reiected or followed.
An Example Responsorie, Wherein Is Denied What in the Foremost Directions May Be Recommended
PLeaseth your good L. I receiued your fauorable Letters, and cōmendation giuen in the behalfe of M. L. with whom hauing had conference at large, I doe finde nothing lesse, then what by your L. was of him deliuered, and in truth it doth not a little discontent me, that as well in regard of your honourable and earnest demand made in his fauor, as also that many great and vrgent respects, I stand deeplie charged vnto you Lord. I cannot neuerthelesse herein perfourme what I woulde: For that (besides it is yet doubtfull whether I shall bee to the same place appointed by her Maiestie or no) if I bee chosen Sheriffe, I haue two yeares since giuen my worde and assured promise to my Lord of L. that I shall then accept of such a one to the exercise of the vnder Sherifwick as shall by him to mee bee preferred. According vnto which, standing nowe in election for this yeare as I doe, I am and euer sithence haue beene yearelie sollicited to the selfe same purpose. Whereof I thought it my duetie to aduertise your L. by these, most humblie crauing pardon of the same, in that I may not as I woulde, herein satisfie your vrgente and vehemente request. And so with my right humble duetie vnto your Lordshippe doe take leaue. This x. of Nouember.
Another Letter Responsorie, Where- in Consent and Allowance Is Giuen to the Matter Re- Quired
My humble duetie remembred vnto your good Lord shippe. The Letters directed vnto mee from the same, together with the Gentleman in whose fauor they were assigned, I haue entertained. And so much the more welcome were they vnto mee, by howe much the more I repute my selfe honoured, in that it hath pleased your Lordshippe anie waies to require mee. Touching the partie recommended, your Lordshippe doubteth not I hope, but that of the least of yours, I woulde make especiall accounte, the effectes whereof you shall in this perceiue, in that for the regarde I beare vnto your Lordshippe I will both repute of, and fauour him. Besides what other aduauncement or prefermente his owne desertes, or my aide may anie waies bring vnto him, hee shall bee sure at all times to enioy it. Praying your Lordship in all other thinges as farre foorth to stande my gratious and fauourable good L. as herein I shall not faile to accomplish what to the vttermost may bee helde meete and conueniente. And thus beseeching the Almightie to haue your Lordshippe in his eternall protection, I doe in all humblenesse take my leaue, from R. this seuenth of August, &c.
The Third Epistle Responsorie, Where- in Is Doubtfullie Allowed or Accep- Ted of, What to the Same Was Recommended
My singular and especiall good L. I haue vnderstoode by your last Letters, of a certaine fained and vntrue suggestion, deliuered by one of your L. tenantes, against the proceedinges to him supposed to bee tendred out of this Courte, according whereunto (albeit I was before time, not altogether vnacquainted with the clamourous condition of the partie) yet did I neuerthelesse, as by your Lordship was enioined, examine at large the circumstances of the cause, and for the better satisfaction of your Lordship, haue determined to set down vnto you the trueth of the same. This R. L. whom your Lordship tearmeth to bee a verie poore man, is not (as in simple shewe hee maketh himselfe apparantlie to bee) but is rather such a one as from whome (beeing narrowlie sifted) your Lordship might sooner drawe a hundred poundes of his money, then halfe an inch breadth of his honestie. The argument whereof in nothing so much appeareth as in this one action, wherin against a poore man indeede, hee hath verie iniuriously behaued him selfe, and hauing extorted from him this bonde nowe in suite (vppon some conclusion, though no good consideration at all) of the summe of one hundred pounde, goeth about vpon a nice quillet in the condition to prosecute the forfeiture of the same, which indeed by the direct wordes of the writing, is in lawe forfeited. For reliefe whereof his aduersarie complained in the Chauncerie, by reason of the prosecution of which bill, and notice particularlie thereof giuen to my Lorde Chancellor, the saide R. L. hauing diuers time agreede to comprimit the matter, and yet greedie as it seemeth to obtaine the forfeiture, stil crieth on for triall, whilest the matter is still in debating, for which cause the same hitherto hath onelie, and not otherwise been delaied. And for as much assithence your Lordshippes letters receiued, my selfe verie earnestlie haue trauelled to make some conscionable and quiet ende betweene them, yet wil the same in no wise on his parte bee assented vnto, by occasion whereof the extremitie of the lawe beeing verie like to proceed, hee is the nexte tearme without further delaie to obtaine a iudgemente, and so the poore man on the other side, to bee vtterlie vndone: I thought it not amisse in aduertising the substance hereof vnto your good Lordshippe to praie that in credite of what here deliuered, your Lordship woulde bee pleased to procure the saide R. L. to assent to some reasonable order. So doing, what in conscience the poore man is then able to pay, in respect of the other charges, and purchase of his owne negligences: I holde not too extreame to be out of the saide bond deducted, because in lawe hee was something charged, though in equitie otherwise hee ought to haue been clearelie acquited. Thus in discharge of my conscience herein, hauing so much deliuered vnto your good Lordship, I doe recommend you to the protection of the Almightie. London this thirteenth of Maie.
NOwe after these Epistles, let vs enter into one strange commendatorie kinde, somewhat different from the order of the rest, béeing such as wherein the partie directing the same, beeing somewhat scant in deliuerie of ouer large & too credible spéeches, thought good to mittigate the force of the same by the verie partes of extremitie it self, wherein of a merry conceit, or some other pleasant humor, he appeareth verie vnwilling to flatter, in reciting the example whereof, because with many tedious precepts I haue now a good while wearied the reader, I may peraduenture occasion some matter of recreation, which by the single shewe therein gathered, appeareth in sort following to haue bene performed.
A Letter Commendatorie Pleasantly Con- Ceited in Preferring an Vnprofi- Table Seruant
Narratiō.
Hirmos.
Ironia.
Prosonomasia.
SIr, I do send vnto your view the bearer hereof (a man shaped as you see, & as bold in condition as he appeareth in shew) whome by all the superfluities of summer ale, that hath wrought in his giddie brain, I haue bin requested to cōmend vnto you. And in as much as in putting so vnworthie a worthie in substance of so incredible allowance, it somthing behooueth I hide not the giftes which by great search in many a good hosterie, tauern, & alehouse, he hath by long trauell and drowsie experiēce ere this time gained, to his insupportable credēce. I shall not spare in some sort to signifie vnto you, what in regard of al these I am led to coniecture. Trueth is Sir, that hee is verie well studied in the mysterie of Malt-wormes, and for his peculiar skill in decerning the nappie taste by the nut-browne colour of Seller-ale in a frostie morning, hee is become a sworne brother of the rag-mans number, and thereby standeth enioyned neuer to weare furres or other lyning in the coldest winter, but onely the warmth of the good Ale, which inwardlie must hearten him: Besides Sir, if you haue occasion to credite him with a small parcell of money in dispatch of a iourney, do but say the worde that it shall once lie in his charge, and you may stand assured, that it shall be laide vp so safe, as any liquour in the worlde can safe conduct it from his bellie. Take no care for your kitchin, butterie or larder, for once a day hee loues to see all cleane before him. Little apparell wil serue him, for his leueries ensue weekly, out of the Bruers mesh-fat. His lodging hee reckes not, the Chimney floore, and Billets endes serue for a Featherbed and Coueringes. When you haue most neede of him, you shall alwayes bee sure to go without him: if you delight in a Pigs-nie, you maie by receyuing of him, be sure of a Hogshead. Great store of small lyking you happily may haue to him, wee knowe not what woonders the worlde may rende out, for nothing is impossible where all thinges may bee compassed. It may please you for recreations sake to looke vppon him, so you be not in case to surfeit, looke what ill lyking you conceiue, report backe againe I pray you in the inner facing of his chimney Casket, Omnia sua secum portat, hee is somewhat a foolosopher, for hee carries all his possessions about him, for terram dedit filiis hominum he must needes then haue a large dwelling, I pray sir, giue him good wordes how ill-fauouredlie soeuer you fauour his acquaintance, for my part I request no remuneration for the preferment I haue tendred towards him.
Prosonomasia.
Metanoia.
Thus much, would I haue done, and more, long since to bee rid of him. His old maister beeing dead, it is necessarie some place to be pestred with him, hee makes great choyse of your housekeeping, if you can like to frame with him. Much more might bee deliuered in the condemnation of his woorthinesse, but that I leaue to rehearse it, and nowe sir for your owne appetite, I leaue to your contentment: Blame not me, but him that lead mee, and so foorth to an ende. Commend me, but not condemne me, for I shall once doe you a better turne, this is but the first, the next may be woorse (better) I woulde say. And so fare ye well, &c.