Of Epistles Consolatorie. Chap. 17
Time is it now, I should leaue this last title of epistles, as hauing thereof spoken alreadie sufficiently, & giue my selfe to the deliuery of the next, which are Consolatorie, the effects whereof are to bee bestowed on such as are grieued, according to the weight or qualitie of the matter wherewith they are perplexed. And for that the life of man is circumuented with so manie, and so vnlooked causes of sorrowe and griefe, as it many waies néedeth to haue the remedy of comforts to be applied vnto it, yet the equality of al sorts of minds not such, as in one and the selfe same degree can accept and beare it: It shall therfore be meete and conuenient, that in deuising to yéelde this swéet and gentle remedie to anie troubled conceit, we doe so moderate the matter, as that in the Discouerie therof, we rather strike not to a far greater impatience or extremitie of vnmeasurable sorrow then before, vpon vntimely thrusting forward, or ignorant pursuit of the same, seeing that the mindes of some, are of so high & incomprehensible stoutnes, as they shun in themselues and account it a slauerie to be ouerwhelmed with woes. Others againe so rife and so abundant in teares, as the least shewe of repetition in them, induceth matter inough of continual mourning for which cause, we will sort these matters of comfort, into three seuerall orders. The first whereof shall be at choice, plainelie and simply as occasion serueth to comfort or perswade, measuring our common calamities by yᵉ rule of Iudges, séeing vnto a wise man, no one thing can returne cause of disquiet so much as the shrowd of filthinesse and ignominious shame, neither can hee be hurt of anie one without himselfe. These (the more sensible they are with whome we deale, and of greater capacitie) the more vehemently may we enforce by all sorts of forcible argumentes or examples. The second of these must by insinuation be entred into, as supposing a person of a high & statelie mind, and in a cause not common to be censured, the weightinesse of whose griefe suppressed by a kinde of vnconquered fortitude, we would goe about to comfort. We may not with these deale, as in a case of ordinarie griefe with the others, but rather by a more valuable meane, as who would say, it appearing to vs the inuincible valour wee see or holde to be resiant in their mindes, shunning to bee tainted with the least touch of sweltring griefe, wee doe offer our speeches or Letters to entertaine time with them, whose hearts wee knowe cannot yeelde to anie forcible sting thereof. And nowe considering the great validitie of their wisedome, and a minde in them so vnconquered by anie stormes of Fortune, as is apparant, wee can but encourage them stoutlie to beare, what others as weaklings doe lie groueling vnder. In which wee shall finde greater cause to reioyce by the woorthinesse of so goodlie a minde, then otherwise bee occasioned to grieue for their sorrowes. The thirde and last likewise must in another sort bee conueyed, as finding the passionate and perplexed conceytes of some, yet fresh bleeding vppon the heauie wounde of their sorrowes, wee maie not abruptlie enter with them, into the iust occasion they haue so to be distempered, but rather for the lenefying of their griefes (for in sorrowe also to bee accompanied breedeth often some comfort) séeme to take vppon vs one part of their euils, by declaration how grieuous for some especiall causes the same becommeth vnto vs, either for vertue or some other praiseable condition in the partie, by occasion whereof, wee doe euen participate, as it were, with the griefes of them wee goe about to succour. For commonlie it is giuen to vs to mislike such as dissent from our affections, and loue them againe, who make themselues partakers of our euilles. It auaileth also verie greatlie sometimes to extenuate or lessen the cause of the griefe, either by the incertaintie of thinges casuall, being in some respects subiect to frailtie, or by the hope of short continuaunce, or by the necessitie of the action which may not bee withstoode, or by some comfort or expectation left to mitigate the same. The reputation also of wisedome, grauitie, the opposition of permutation of times and seasons, the diminution of the occasion being nothing so great or vrgent as we deeme it, the indurance of the thing to be a meane vnto Vertue, and finallie, the common lot and condition of all men, subiected vniuersallie to mishappe, to sorrowe, griefe, sicknesse, disquiet, iniuries, wrongs, oppressions, and all kinde of euils, the generall recordation whereof, aboue manie things that may be opposed, swaieth commonly ouer the passions of the minde, by a déepe regarde of the vniuersalitie of the same, as that it soonest of all beateth downe, the weight of all kind of il sorrowes and conceiuings whatsoeuer. Herein the quick sentences and pithie sayings of philosophers, may also be a great spurring, and finallie, all possible arguments that maie be, wherby men are anie waies perswaded or led to forget their euils. In this place it is principallie to be obserued, that in ministring comfortable spéeches to the redresse of anie mishaps, wee doe not by preferring of toies and sporting deuises, séek to relieue them, for that albeit in times of pleasure, the humour of the partie might in some sort, be therewith greatlie delighted, yet in causes of such extremitie, all persons for the most part, verie hatefullie doe endure the putting forwardes thereof, as too much impertinent to the heauinesse wherewith by sorrowfull remembrances, their mindes are commonlie amated. But if the cause be light, then may it not be much amisse to vse some pleasaunt deliueraunce to such a one, especiallie whose appetite standeth anie thing towards the same, but this also in such louing, sweete, and gentle sort to bee done, as that true comforts may seeme to be mingled with those conceited pleasures. Neither may we in anie case seeke in vaunting sort, to thrust into their priuate view, the present tranquilitie and happinesse wherein our selues repose, the obiection whereof were too rusticall. For that as societie in miserie it selfe, lenedeth the force of the greatest griefes, so the opposition of anothers pleasure and freedome, is a corosiue or sting to the want of anie one that is sequestred from the same. All these obseruations in causes Consolatorie are greatlie to be regarded, whose vses being to be imploied according to their seuerall suppositions. I leaue to the discretion of the writer in what sort hee thinketh méete to haue their efficacies performed.
An Example Consolatorie of the First Sort, Wherein a Gentlewoman Is Comforted of the Death of Her Sonne
Exordium.
Insinuatiō.
Allegoria.
Antipophora.
Erotema.
Paradigma.
Asyndeton.
Peroratiō.
GOod Mistresse P. I am sorie that my selfe must become the vnluckie Messenger of mine owne infortunitie vnto you, and that in the fore fronte of my letter is planted such extreame griefe as I cannot but extreamelie bewaile, so often as I thinke of it. Neuerthelesse, knowing vnder what motions wee liue, and that aboue our reach ruleth one, vnder whose becke the mightiest doe stoope, and the greatest are made subiecte, I must as my selfe, so likewise perswade you, to tolerate all such chaunces whatsoeuer, as falling from such absolute direction, to alter anie one iote thereof is impossible, and to resist the same, fruitelesse and vtterlie vnauaileable. The care of my selfe (albeit manie doe knowe howe much I tendred that I sigh for) is not so much, seeing by reason I am led to be assured of yᵉ necessitie of our decaie, as the motherlie pitie I haue alwaies perswaded my selfe to bee in you, and that I nowe alreadie doe feare least forgetting the directe square of our certaine liuing, you will runne into such vntimelie sorrowes, as with manifolde teares will hardlie bee washed, and with innumberable sighes, will scarcelie bee wiped awaie. But what shall I rehearse vnto you a thinge so sudden and vnlooked for, as I protest by the heauenlie maker and ruler of all thinges, at the receipte of your last letters I neuer mistrusted or once looked for to haue happened? Your teares I see, euen nowe awaite what I will saie, and loe, your imaginations doe alreadie deeme the matter I must vtter. At least wise if I shoulde seeme further to dissemble the occasion of my griefe, (and by hiding the summe of all that may breede discontentmente) to conceale what nowe I am inforced to vnfolde vnto you, the discharged messenger returned vncompleate, woulde bewraie the effectes thereof before you. It is then your son, good M. P. whose want I am inforced to tolerate, and whose presence you must now henceforth determin vtterlie to forbeare. Your last presage in commanding him to be seene liuing or dead, hath now returned his liuing to be discharged, & his earthlie coarse vnlooked for, to be couered with cinders. Had I thought it theē (as by the Almighty I least mistrusted it) & had you prepared to haue receiued him, as then before was required, you could not more sooner haue assured mee his returning, then I am able now to performe him, at your present sending. He is commaunded to another, that before did expecte him, hee is swallowed in the gulfe, that from the foremost howre of his birth did hetherto awaite him. Nowe if you will say hee was young and might haue liued, examples doe shewe that younger then hee haue died. If you will say, you loued him greatlie. God by your patience shall accepte him the more woorthilie. If you will say, you are sorie for it in that hee was vertuous: consider the worlde wherein hee liued, that might haue made him more vicious. Finallie, to answere euerie obiection that by you may bee affirmed, nothing herein can more fitlie bee auerred, then that in our life time wee see daylie before our eies to happen. Knowe yee not, that all thinges doe by little and a little growe into ripenesse, and foorthwith by degrees fall into rottennesse? Hath not God vnto euerie thing after their greatest perfection, included such certaine limites, that by and by they seeme to bee appropriate to their latest confusion? Is there anie thinge on earth so assured, that by vnstaied incertaintie is not continuallie guided? Among all fruites and blossomes on the ground, are there not some that are sooner then others, euen on their tenderest braunches, as it were alreadie ripened, and others againe that by long lying are made rotten and mellowed? Al flowers spring not at one instant, nor all blossoms with one sole blast are scattered. To man is appointed his certaine boundes, vnto which to bee attained, and beyonde the which not to passe, is alreadie limited. Your sonne as timelie fruite, so timelie ripened, and as fitte for his season was as timelie gathered. It was necessarie by nature hee shoulde bee perfected, and the perfection attained, by nature also he was consequentlie to bee depriued. Onelie that his sickenesse was naturall, and that in the continuance thereof hee wanted no attendaunce, the credite of others as well as my selfe can testifie. If Physicke coulde haue saued him, if Syrrops, hot potions, or other necessaries woulde haue cured him, if teares and praiers might haue kepte him, you had yet in safetie receiued him. Hee is deade, hee is gone, wee must after him. Of his first sicknesse hee was whole, and perfectlie recouered, afterwardes from the Iaundise, though somewhat weakned, yet lastlie deliuered. But the inwarde moath that consumed him, would not suffer him to liue, which with extreame gripes assailed him, that beeing not able anie longer to continue, at the pleasure of God hee died. It is your parte therefore to bee nowe recomforted, and therein in with patience to referre your selfe to Gods determinate pleasure and iudgement, to which intent I haue taken in hand this mid nights labour, after the receipte of your letters, which were to bee returned the nexte morning earlie, by reason whereof I can no waie satisfie what you write for, neuerthelesse resting hereafter to my vttermost power to pleasure you, and recommending my selfe also to your woonted curtesie, I ende this fourteenth of Ianuarie, your carefull friend, &c.
An Epistle Consolatorie of the Same, Wherein One Is Comforted in Case of Harde Extremitie
Exordium.
Synonymia.
Epitheton.
Metanoia.
Auxesis.
Concessiō.
Meiosis.
Etiologia.
Metaphora.
Epitheton.
Seeing the instabilitie of worldely chaunces is such, as permitteth no one thinge liuing to remaine stedfast, or in assured staie or certaine condition at all times to endure and continue: no maruaile then (good Sir) if your selfe beeing a mortall man, framed of the same earthlie substance and qualitie, incident to terrene frailtie, and natures imbecilitie, doe as other creatures alike participate the suddaine euils, and daielie alterations thereunto annexed: a proofe whereof resteth chiefelie in your present state and beeing, then which no one thing may induce a more serious aduertisemente, of the vile accompte and wretched contempte appropriat vnto your liuing. And albeit diuers are the calamities wherwith not onelie your selfe, but sundrie others your louing friendes carefull of your presente mishape, and grieued to see the vncouth and bitter chaunge whereinto you are hapned, are continuallie afflicted, in so much as there is not the stoniest and flintiest minde of all that euer haue knowne you (your desperate vowed enemies onelie excepted) but doe in some sorte or other, bewaile, and as it were grieue to see the vnacquainted yoke thereof, with such extremitie to be cast vpon you: I cannot yet but greatlie commende the inuincible fortitude of your high and noble minde, who by howe much the more, the vehemencie of these sorrowes are to you vnknowne, and therefore the more vnused, doe not withstanding by so much the lesse permitte, the mightie power of them to rule or beare swaie ouer you, neglecting or (which is greater) despising the sharp pricking sting thereof, who by the deepe pearcing force of the same, is woonted to gall the remembraunce of manie others, and (as it were by a forcelesse contempte of such validities) not onelie not giue anie token or signe at all in their vttermost practises, but seeme rather to triumphe ouer the strength that thereby they had wrought, and by an aduised, sage and woonderfull modestie and discretion, plainelie to extinguish and put from you the furie of the same. Manifoldlie I must confesse, haue you hereby deserued and much more euill, by the wise and moderate entertainmente of these troubles, hath to your aduersaries beene tendred, who in nothing so much do rest vnsatisfied, as that in subduing your bodie, they cannot also yoke and bring vnder by whatsoeuer extremitie the courage, and statelie progression of your high and vnconquered minde. Wherein there is lefte in my opinion great cause of comforte euen in the verie greatest of your miserie vnto you, that in constant indurance thereof, you haue power to punish them, that woulde disturbe you, and that in the perplexed imaginations of their owne wicked and malicious enuie. Neither maie this that you sustaine bee rightlie tearmed miserie, or such a one as your selfe seeme to bee accompted miserable, whose minde in the verie captiuitie inflicted vppon this your bodie is thus freede, and accompanied with so ample and sweetened libertie: For these kinde of troubles as they are worldlie, so haue they power also vpon the worldlie partes of a man, and therein are cohibitions of such earthlie delighte, as fauouring more vnto the satisfaction of a sensuall appetite, then conducing to the excellencie of the inwarde minde, doe breede that ordinarie restrainte wherewith men mortallie conceited, are for the most parte troubled. But to the sweete imaginations of a pure and innocent minde, what is left wherewith to bee discontented, but onelie to haue committed anie thing vile, wretched, or otherwise ill beseeming the vertue and excellencie wherewith the inwarde partes thereof are throughlie indued. How manie waies then are lefte vnto you to reioyce, vnto whose eies the continuall thirst of vertue it selfe hath long since laide open the momentarie pleasures of this worlde, the libertie whereof is vnto a woorthie conceite a meere seruage, in whose fickle and transitorie affections reposeth so slender assurance, and whose effecacies contemplate no other then vaine and foolish obiectes: seeing that you haue thereby so well perceiued howe much the instinct of a braue and delicate minde climbeth far aboue the reach of the body, with a pleasant and vncontroulled libertie. These things impugning I must needes say a corporall appetite) permit you not, for such losse of riches, possessions, children or friendes to become passionate, or ouercome with extreame greefe, albeit participating as we doe with such naturall causes, I doubt not but therewith you are sometimes touched, though at no time conuinced. For which cause as often as you happen to fall into the remembraunce of the same, suppose with your selfe that in time, the bitter sting may yet bee repulsed, and that the lotte that is fallen vnto you heerein, is no other but the common reward and hatefull disquiet of the worlde, wherein the most noble and worthie minds are commonlie the most vehementlie assaulted, and with deepest extremitie by such kinde of meanes pursued.
The recordation whereof, may returne vnto you one principall and great occasion of comfort, in that by distinction of your woorthinesse, though you bee partaker of common trouble, yet are you sequestred from the entertainment of a common opinion. It dooth not a little reioyce mee to see that with such impregnable stoutnesse you doe so farre foorth endeuour to resist your appetites, wherein (besides the expectation of that which is incident also to these alterations, a chaunge, I meane, and reuocation of woonted pleasures) you shall in the meane time giue greater glorie to your actions, in not appearing for anie worldlie estate, riches, or contentment to bee surprized in your imaginations. Praying the comfort of all comfortes to bestowe vppon you the deawe of his heauenlie grace in assistaunce of your extremities, I take my leaue, this of, &c.
A consolatorie Epistle of the third sort, wherein a Gentlewoman
is comforted of the death of her husband slaine
in the warres.
Exordium.
Metaphora.
Narratiō.
Paramologia.
Allegoria.
Synonymia.
Auxesis.
Asyndeton.
Etiologia.
Synonymia.
Climax.
Erotema.
Metaphora.
Merismus.
Dialisis.
Erotema.
Antithesis.
Antipophora.
Etiologia.
Asyndeton.
ALbeit my selfe (hauing receyued the sorrowfull newes of the vntimelie death of my dearest kinsman, and your deceased louing husband) was in the first hearing thereof so greatlie troubled, as by reason of the griefe then presentlie conceyued for the same, my selfe happilie might seeme to neede that comfort, which nowe I goe about to bestowe vpon others: Yet weighing in my minde the state wherein you stande, and beeing also informed with what great extremitie you haue entertayned the newes of his losse, I cannot but in respect of the great loue I ought to him, and remembraunce of the like care, wherewith hee principallie entertayned you, enforce my penne hereby to yeelde vnto you those comfortable speeches, by the veritie whereof my selfe in so great a storme of griefe, coulde hitherto as yet bee verie hardlie satisfied. It was deliuered vnto me by my brother F. B. that beeing nowe a Moneth or somewhat more passed, since by Letters out of H. the maner of your husbandes death was vnto you reported, you immediatelie vppon the reading of the Letters grewe into so great aboundance of teares, and to so woonderfull impatience, as hauing euer sithence continued the same, you will in no sort thereof bee recomforted. Assuredlie my good Coosen, I must needes conclude with your owne speeches, and the waight of your interchaungeable likinges, that there is great cause left vnto you to become sorrowfull, as hauing lost the chiefe and principall iewell of all your worldlie loue and liking, the fauoured Companion of all your pleasant and youthfull yeares, the entire comfort and solace of your present happinesse, and such a one, who aboue all worldes, or anie earthlie estimation at all, accounted, honoured, and entyrelie receyued and loued you: but that you haue so great and vrgent cause of extremitie to continue with so hard impacience as you doe, it befitteth not, it is vnnecessarie, yea it is in my iudgement of all others the most insufferable. For when it is not denied vnto you, that you haue cause to mourne, that it is fittest vnto the matter of your loue, to weepe ouer him, and bewaile him, it is then thereby intended that there must be a meane therein, that the force thereof must be limited, that the appearance beare shew of discretion. Doe we not all know I pray you, and are witnesses that he was a mortall man, that as our selues he was borne, vnder the selfe same condition, that hee must once die, that hee had his time set, beyond which hee might not passe, and that God who gaue him life thus long to liue with you, hath nowe called him againe from this earth to leaue you? Are we ignorant that Nature compelleth the wife for her husbande, the husbande for his wife, parents for their children, and kindred for their kinsfolke, to weepe and lament? But followeth it not also therewith that the losse and want of them beeing layde downe by an immooueable necessitie: wee can by no meanes afterwardes bee in hope to reclaime them? What great follie doe wee then commit in thus searching after the ghostes of our deceased friendes? Or what other thing doe wee therein performe, but yeeld a plaine demonstration, that our teares are to none other ende, but to bewaile them, because they were mortall? whome death could neuer haue shunned without they had beene immortall. Are wee not eftsoones put in minde by the common casualtie of all thinges, that there is nothing stable, that continuallie Kingdomes decay, Prouinces are shaken, Countryes destroyed, Cityes burned, townes wasted, people consumed, and that it remayneth a thing ordinarie with vs, daylie to bee conuersant in these euilles, the losse of all, or eyther of which, (if they may bee accounted euilles) why then doe we giue our selues by vnmeasurable griefe, to a perpetuall continuance and renouation of those euils. But you will heereunto alledge, that it is loue that enforceth you vnto the same, and that such is the continuall remembraunce you haue, as you cannot forget him. Alas, howe fruitlesse is this loue, and zealous remembrance in the deliuerance thereof? Howe farre sequestred is the vehemencie of the same, from the searched recompence? Why learne wee not rather of the wisest and woorthiest, how to mitigate the impacience of our owne imperfections? In whose precepts, examples, and counsels, if the immoderate vse or entertainment of anything bee forbidden, shall wee not then in this, aboue all others be chieflie reprehended, when wee enforce our selues by continuall Meditation of our losses to shedde so manie teares to no purpose? What if your Husbande had not nowe dyed at this instant, hee must, you know, haue dyed; hee could not alwayes haue liued. Yea, but hee died you say, vntimelie, what call you vntimelie I pray you? If in respect of the force preuayling vppon him, whereby he was slaine, you name it vntimelie: then doe I graunt vnto it: But if in regarde of the time of his life you affirme it, I denie that the same may then bee sayd vntimelie. For why? hath not the eternall Creatour of all thinges ordered by his diuine wisedome each matter to passe his course in sort to himselfe best beseeming and most pleasing? howe can you then say that to bee vntimelie, which by his heauenlie moderation was so appoynted? Assure your selfe if hee had then beene at home with you, hee had also died, you could not haue preuented it, his houre was come, so was it determined, which way could he shun it.
Antipophora.
Auxesis.
Antipophora.
Erotema.
Synonymia.
Brachiologia.
Asindeton.
Epiphonema.
Paradigma.
What then grieueth you in this action? Is it that hee was slaine? Consider with your selfe it was in his princes seruice, his death was thereby the more honourable, for in so doing, he died as a man, as a souldiour, as a Gentleman. Yea, but you shall neuer, you say, see him more? True in deed, but what of that? Is this death now greater then his absence before? Yes forsooth it is indeede, and whie? because you had hope then to see him againe, which by this means is taken away? verie well. You did then while he was liuing recomfort your selfe with hope, content your selfe nowe with necessitie, because it must needes be so, and you can no wayes amend it. Is not this an ende sufficient to determine all sorrowes? If you weepe, lament, crie out, and become grieued, requisite were it the same should returne to some ende, that all your care, sorrow, griefe, lamentation, or what els should not appeare fruitles, that the intendment and determination thereof shoulde be to some speciall purpose. See you then, herein is no supply, the effects are bereft, the end taken away. Be not then so fond, as to bedew that with your teares, wherunto belongeth neither redresse, nor mean of recouerie. Who is he that would be so mad, as to crie out vnto him of whom he might be assured neuer to obtaine remedie? by cunning art beasts we see, though they be most fierce, are tamed, a meane is found wherewith to breake the Marble, the Adamant howe hard soeuer it be, may by deuises be mollified: Onely death is of such force as no wayes can be conuinced.
Merismus.
Antithesis.
Procatalepsis.
At the least wise, if neither of these argumentes might mooue you to suppresse your exceeding sorrowes, you must finally consider that wee are Christians, and by the benefite of this corporall death, doe make exchaunge for an vncorrupted life, that the withdrawing vs from this vile earthly bodie of Clay and filth, is a commutation to a sacred and heauenlie progression, and that wee haue nothing left vnto vs, in all the trauelles, cares, disquiets, and heauie turmoyles of this wearisome liuing whereof to reioyce vs, but the expectation wee haue of happines and euer flourishing gladnesse. Suppose the Ghost of your husbande were heere present to see you in all this extremitie, what thinke you woulde hee say? Howe much disordered imagine you woulde hee thinke you to bee in your affections?
Prosopopœia.
Metanoia.
Erotema.
Allegoria.
Paradigma.
Parenthesis.
Peroratiō.
And were it not that so manie coastes had seuered him both by lande and seas peraduenture wearied with your bitter out cries in the conceited image and shape of death, you might in apparance heare him, in these like speaches accusing and rebuking such your distemperate actions. And with breathing spirit to crie out vnto you saying, What is it you goe about? what meane you by teares to search out for a thing so irrecuperable. Whie torment you your youthful yeares, with such vnprofitable, or rather as I may call it, desperate kinde of mournings? whie with such vniust complaints accuse you Fortune, & so often doe appeale death, and destinie of so hainous trespasse? Is it for that you enuie my happie state, so soone transported from this vntowarde soile, to a more prosperous felicitie? thus credit mee, and in this sorte (were it possible he coulde speake to you) woulde hee accuse you, in which consideration, were there not iust cause thinke you (of such intemperance) whie you shoulde be greatlie ashamed? Beleeue mee good Cosin, there is neither profite or liking at all, of this bitter continuance reaped, you haue alreadie waded sufficientlie in your teares, you haue mourned for him in earnest loue as beseemed a wife, it is nowe high time you bee after all this comforted. Thinke that the greatest storme is by time at length ouerblowne, superfluitie of coales encreaseth rather heate then flame, the ardencie of affection, with vehemencie sufficient may be expressed, though not by extremitie enforced. What shuld I say vnto you? You may not as other foolish creatures, that are neither gouerned by wit, nor ordered by discretion, make your selfe a spectacle to the world, but rather with such temperance (for euen in this extremitie of sorrow, is also planted a rare patern of modestie) seek in such maner to demean your selfe, as the lookers on may rather pittie you, by insight of your greate discretion, then in this sorte to tormente your selfe by a needlesse supposition. Much more haue I considered with my self, whereby to satisfie my greeued imaginations, in which beeing recomforted, and reposed in my secrete thoughtes, I haue deemed it necessarie hereby to imparte the same vnto you, beseeching that as well in regarde of your selfe, as the little pleasure your friendes haue to behoulde you in this straunge kinde of perplexitie, you will enioy the fruites thereof with such sufficient contentment and satisfaction as verie heartilie I doe wish vnto you. And euen so tendring my selfe in all thinges to your curteous and gentle vsage, I doe heartily bid you farewell, S. this of &c.
TOuching these Consolatorie Epistles. It is to bee intended that ouer and besides the examples formerly deliuered, their vse is also in causes of banishment, losse of parentes, goods, or friends, in times of imprisonment, slander, persecution, sicknesse, in miserable olde age, or plagued by disobedience, in ill successe of mariages, in pouertie, and finally in whatsoeuer griefe of minde, trouble, or aduersitie. In each of all which is as I said before, vsed a great efficacie of perswasion for the mittigation of the same, by laying the troubles and vncertain state of the world, with innumerable euils annexed to the turning whéele thereof, the communitie of the mischiefe to all, who though not with the selfe same, yet in some sorte or other are alike disquieted, that the best way to expell the griefe thereof, is by meditation of our estates, the condition wherein we liue, the ineuitable force of that which is befallen vs, which because wee are worldlinges must néedes in like sorte betide vs, howe neare thereby wee may bee drawne in contempte of earthlie vanities, the inticing baites, whereof are enuenomed with so manie and sharpe poysons, that troubles are sent vnto vs from God, to call vs thereby home vnto him, that they are the scourges of our disobedience, that by such meanes wee are discerned to bee his children, that by pacient sufferance, and entertainment of our harmes, we do nearest approch vnto him, who beeing in humane shape on earth, conuersing with men, was persecuted, slaundered, tooke vpon him the most despised estate of pouertie, and by cruell death was constrained, that they who are cloyed with most aboundance, haue therefore the greater charge laide vppon their neckes, and that no one then they are nearest to destruction, the height of whose estate, oftentimes occasioneth their vntimely deaths: finally, that it were bootlesse to striue against their forces, in that we thereby seem ignorant of Gods pleasure and ordinance, who working all things vnto the best, knoweth perchaunce the punishment to be most fittest for vs, wherewith if we were not entangled, we might happilie forgette him, and become carelesse regarders of his high and mightie excellency. So and in such maner may we wade in these actions, whereof hauing now deliuered sufficient, wee will adde hereunto one example more, and therewith of this title conclude.
An Example Consolatorie, Pleasantly Written to One, Who Had Buried His Olde Wife
THe posting newes hitherwarde of the late decease of my good old mistris your wife, hath made me in the verie going away of mine ague fit, to strain my selfe to greet you by these letters. In the inditing wherof, I manie time praied in my thoughts, that I were as readilie deliuered of this my tertian feuer, as your selfe are in mine opinion deliuered by such meanes of a hateful and verie foule encombrance. I doubt not sir, but you doe nowe take the matter heauilie, being thereby dispossessed as you are of such an intollerable delight, as wherewith you were continually cloied by the nightlie embracements of so vnweldie a carcase. I haue, I must confesse, verie seldome known you for anie thing to mourne, neuerthelesse, if by such meanes you be happily constrained to change countenance, I haue prepared a golden boxe wherein I meane to consecrate all the teares you shed for that accident, to Berecynthia the beldame of the Gods, as a relique of your great kindship and curtesie.
Beleeue mee T. I am sorie that mine ague had not lefte mee, and that I were not nowe in L. with thee, were it but to viewe thy lookes and manlike behauiour, after so harde a bickering and incounter wherein thou was berefte a hearte of golde so daintie, as I promise thee to some graue sober fellowe, might haue become pretie conceited, and a verie sweete pigges nie. Well T. thou must needes loose her, ferendum est quod mutari non possit, bee not sadde I pray thee, wee will finde out a better match wherewith to delghite thee. Thou must consider that it is requisite that all thinges shoulde bee done with indifferencie, shee hath lefte a thousande pounde in goodes, and a C. markes by yeare vnto thee, let that content thee: what though she was not maried a moneth to thee, thou must be a pacient man, her long continuance with so much wealth might peraduenture haue glutted thee. The gods haue become more fauourable to thy young yeares, then thy selfe doest consider of. Shee might I knowe haue liued longer time for age, (for foure skore yeares olde I graunt is nothing) the woman also in verie good plight too, by Saint Margerie: but what of that, wee must, as I saide before, beare with necessitie. I praie God thou beest not ouercome with sorrowe, but thou maist take it quietlie. There bee men in the worlde that are so carelesse of their fortune, and so verie fooles in their wishing, as they coulde content themselues greatlie to bee in the like predicamente with thee: but thou I assure my selfe art of a cleane contrarie opinion, sweare no more good T. I am perswaded alone that it vtterly discontenteth thee. But hearest thou, plaie not the madde man for all that, I will rather comfort thee my self, then that thou shouldest die for sorrow.
One thing greatlie misliketh mee, I heard saie thou tookest an othe vpon her death bed neuer to marie againe? See howe loue may leade mē? Good God it is strange? I promise thee I could hardly be perswaded thou didst so, without I shuld hear thee swear it. Be not so sottish good boy, remēber thy self, and think on the Philosophers words: non nobis solum nati sumus. Thou maist haue a wife man, and become the father of ninetie nine children perchaunce ere thou die. Forsweare thou nothing good T. but building of monasteries and entring into religion, for these my selfe dare vndertake thou neuer wilt nor meantest to doe, I woulde faine talke longer with thee, but I am wearie, and therefore intende to leaue the expectation of the rest, till I fortune to see thee. Fare (as otherwise thou canst not chuse) well, hauing neither olde wife nor feuer, wherewith to encomber thee. At S. this of &c.
WHat answere may be returned to all or any of these Letters, is to be expected according to the griefe or presente condition of the partie. The efficacie of the one whereof may bee such, as endureth small arguing, and the inclination of the other so plausible, as beareth with whatsoeuer may sounde vnto them comforting. But for because the labour were endlesse to measure by writing, the affections of each one in particular, I will onely set downe for this one fourme, the generalitie wherof may be inferred to the circumstances of any other. A Letter Responsorie therefore vnto anie of these Epistles, should in the generall parts thereof containe (as séemeth me) a Remuneration or friendlie acceptance of their good wils, that so haue béene imploied in comforting, and (if the partie so thinke meete, or the occasion so standeth) to commend the wisedome, learning, fauour, care or liking of him that so writeth, and therein also the good effects, the same haue wrought, if some things (that may bee alledged) did not impugn it, shewing his counsel is far lesse vehement then our euill, and therfore swayeth not in respect therof, in our minds, so much as might haue done with many others. In conclusion, that we acknowledge neuerthelesse his great discretion therin, & that deserued account of his trauell. Each of which places, howe they are to be distributed appeareth in the example following.
A Letter Responsorie to Be Conferred to an Epistle Consolatorie
Antithesis.
GOod brother, I haue receyued your kinde Letters, wherein carefullie, discreetlie, and effectuallie, you haue endeuoured to minister sundrie comforts to my diseased minde, in all which I confesse you haue dealt with mee as appertayneth vnto a faithfull, courteous, and louing brother, whereunto as much as possiblie may be expected, I yeelde my selfe vnto you for the same most bounden and assured. Neither will I wrong you so much as to denie that in perusing the contents thereof, I was not sometimes by the force of your arguments a little withdrawne from the deepe consideration and hard suppose of my present euils, but entring againe into mine owne estate, and finding howe mightily the shewe of my forward mishaps swayeth ouer my maistred spirites, I doe imagine the greatnesse of my losse to bee so much, as in comparison whereof, whatsoeuer you haue deliuered eyther in the mitigation, or qualifying of my harmes, seemeth farre lesse in quantitie, then the smallest that may be conceyued of all mine euils. Follie were it for mee to thinke, or you to beleeue, that the pensiue imagination of a thing so neere, as wherupon concerned erst, the sum of all my ioyes, pleasures and happinesse, could with the vehemencie of a fewe speeches (more of zeale then equitie deliuered) bee suddenlie remooued. But (as hath the adage) Omnes quum valemus recta consilia agrotis damus. For coūsell is plentifull in euery one whose conceits by freedom are exempted from any passion at all. Take it not so good brother, that I thinke you not for mee, as well as my selfe, to bee a partaker of my griefe, for I knowe it well you are, but yet the one proceedeth of charinesse, the other of extremitie, you in pitie of my sorrowes, and I in the very touch of mine euils. What time may doe I cannot tell, to weare away what presently I feele to be forcible vpon me, yet feare I the woorst, but will giue my selfe notwithstanding as much as in me lyeth, to the practise of your counsels. How euer the case standeth, I must acknowledge, that very waightily you haue dealt concerning me, and for the same will neuer cease to thanke you. Fare ye well, this of, &c.