Of Epistles Monitorie and Reprehensorie — Chap. 18
In this place wee will conclude our Epistles Consolatorie, and passe out of the same title to the next therof, which are Monitorie, and Reprehensorie. The one part thereof beeing Monitorie, consisteth in forwarning to the vnexperienced such matters as hee knoweth not, in sort as if therewith hee should be throughly acquainted: the other, in skilful explaining the offence of a thing faulty, which standeth vpon to be reformed. And insomuch as there be few men that gladlie like to be supposed ouer much faultie, or loue much to be rebuked for the greatnes of their errors, the order therfore of these monitory, in setting forth what may be counted offensiue, shall not accuse but admonish from the greatnes or smalnesse of the same, qualifying the bitternesse of reprehension with a certaine maner of praise, how euer desert doe affoord to the furtherance thereof. For in a gentle condition or minde, not altogether bent vnto euill, to suppose that the greatest part is the better inclined, and it also in some good measure to commende, breedeth no small incouragment to do well, hee to whom the admonition passeth, hauing mean therby to think that his behauiour is not so far ouergrowne, but that presumption of his Vertues do yet sway in mens opinions, or at the leastwise imagining that men are ignorant altogither of that, whereof they seeme to take no notice at all, he will study the rather to hearken to such wholesome directions, and accordingly to reforme his maners thereunto betimes. And verilie (as you haue before in the examples Dissuasorie) so in this also it would not be amisse where we see an offence but new beginning, to induce many good conditions of the partie to be opposed against the same, and to lay before him, how ill sounding it would be to the due commendation of the other, to bee touched therewith. Or otherwise where wee see an inclination (though no matter in acion) to euill, to say, that not for that we see him spotted with such offences, we do warne him from their forces, but to the intent he may thereby the better be instructed, in the vilenesse and discommended partes of the same, or that because wee are for the most part led away and easily sliding into euill, wee set before his eies therein, the hazard and inconuenience of such euill. Now if the matter be so far forward, as we find it a plain and open imperfection in him to whom we write, let vs then consider yᵉ weight or inualiditie of the action, which beeing too monstrous or notorious, it then needeth not admonition, but sharpe reprehension, and is thereby secluded from the partes hereof, but not being intolerable in his age or estate, in whom the same is found, then shall we not aggrauate, but extenuate the apparance therof, shewing that it is a thing common for men to fall, chieflie young men, who by the furious sting of their youth, and want they haue of aged experience, are hastilie led thereunto: but yet therewithall how manie wayes necessarie it is, that he be withdrawne from the same, least happily the long intertainment giuen to a fault, make it seeme a great offence, and consequentlie hee be thereby led into far more dangerous euils. Hereupon may we manifest vnto him our loue and tender care wee haue ouer him, compelling vs for such cause to forwarne him, declaring that our selues falling into the like errours, would be glad at his hand to find the like, if the skill and experience of the partie might so much performe. Another kinde of admonishment or reprehension there is also, when men deale with those who are highlie before them in account, vnto whome either imminent daunger or occasion of great hate or mislike pursuing the same, forbiddeth in expresse manner to vse anie tearmes, insomuch as their estate (beeing peraduenture loftie, and of power to commaund or sway ouer vs) will not admit by writing to intermeddle with their actions, and yet happilie by reason of some hard dealings offered vnto vs, or our friendes, might séeme much to preuaile in one sort or other to giue them notice of it, whereby to auoide (if it be possible) the expected vehemencie and intolerable support of the same. With such men to deale, behooueth, if at least wise we be compelled therunto, to make a recitall of many vertues, such as might be commendable & beautifying vnto so great estate and authoritie, and therwithall set forth the worthines to the vttermost of that we wish to be in him planted: and fainedly also wee may suppose those Vertues to be insinuate in his person, and howe much they are furthering to his name and reputation, by occasion of which, we may in the contrary haue meane to lay open all those vices, the insupportable burthen, vileness, & execrable hatefulnes, or what bad purpose soeuer is in them concluded, and shew how much they impugne the state, rule, or authoritie of any one, what blemish they cast vpon him in whom they are frequented, howe they destroie the good partes for which men mightie and gracious haue desired to be commended, the conceit whereof, may be with such facilitie and excellencie caried, as that he to whom we write, shall with some insight thereinto, receiue a speciall view of his owne faultinesse, yea and by the couertnes of the same, maie also participate within his owne imaginations, the particular loue & hate generallie attributed to either of both, wherein what other thing shall we goe about, but in silence to admonish or reprehend what in each of those ought to be bee refused or followed, which manner of writing performed to suche ende and example, without shame and blushing at all, each one may lawfullie vse, otherwise palpably to affirme, those vertues and praises to be in a man in whose actions (becomming most notorious in al kind of apparance) no one thing is to be found so plentiful as very wickednes it selfe, this were a flatterie most detestable, and of all others most filthie, to be in anie writer receiued: yet such kinde of admonishment or reprehension as is before recited, is pretily alledged to haue bene vsed by a certaine poore man, who neghbouring néere vnto one worshipfull & of great account in calling, but therewith more practising with vehemencie, then honestlie vsing his knowledge of the lawes, had sustained a mishap by an Oxe of the Gentlemans, who being a fierce beast, had goared a Cowe of the poore mans. The poore man hauing receiued wrong, and doubting howe to haue recompence, by reason that the Gentleman was of as noted authority as knowne hardnes, and to whome expresly he durst not complain of the iniurie, deuised yet this subtiltie wherewith to entrap him. Hee commeth to this great mans house, and being brought to his presence: Sir (said he) I am come to deliuer vnto your Wor. who are a Iusticer in place, for righting of wrongs done and committed, a matter very conscionable to be respected, & for which in my opinion there ought to be made a recompence. An Oxe of mine being a naughtie beast, through the default of mine own fence hath goared a Cow of your Worships, which is nowe lost and dead by the mishape thereof. Saist thou so, saide this greate man, by my faith thou must then pay for her. And good reason too, said the poore neighbour, for it was a wilfull offence, but and if it please your Worsh. I mistook mine arrande, for in trueth, it is your Oxe that by defaulte of your owne fence hath entred my ground, & goared my Cow. Oh then (quoth the other) the case is altered, wee will talke thereof at some more leisure hereafter. Nowe howbe it the poore man happely departed without recompence, yet at the least by this prety deuise he made the Gentleman to vnderstand his fault, & so far as hee best might, did both admonish and reprehende his owne harde and iniurious dealing by so witty a conclusion: for had hee not thus gone about the bush, it is like he had not onely bene frustrate of recompence, but also voide of any sentence at all of wrong, which by this handling the matter, was by the Gentlemans selfe clearely on his part adiudged. Infinite sortes of these, as well in the wise sayings of Philosophers, as in other written histories are extant, which for breuitie I omit and leaue to the desirous thereof, for their better satisfaction, and hence will proceede to the examples of these two seuerall sorts of Epistles.
An Example Monitorie Concerning a Stayed and Well Gouer- Ned Life
Exordium.
The execrable force of mischieuous euill, is such, and the maleuolente disposition of the heauens to some people so greate, as that hauing once throughlie planted the fatall sting thereof in the mindes of manie, it seemeth they bee created to none other ende, but onelie by daring to perpetrate whatsoeuer matter of villainie cometh in their mindes, to purchase to themselues with the determination of a shamelesse life, the limited rewarde of a shamelesse and ignominious death: This inchaunted course, perceiuing in these dangerous times howe much it hath bewitched the estate of the whole worlde, and considering with my selfe, that by reason of your fathers late decease, you beeing a greene youth, voide of experience, bente to the triall of all companies, richlie possessed, and wealthilie endued, are nowe lefte into your owne handes, and thereby deliuered from the plausible and quiet moderation of a faithfull and louing guide, vnto the endlesse reach of a youthfull, carelesse and vncontrouled libertie, hath mooued mee in respecte of the care that euer I erst had of you, beeing yet but a childe, and in assured testimonie of the memorie I haue otherwise protested to the ghost of your deceased louing parentes, to admonish you of some few thinges, for the order and conuersation of your liuing, beeing a course so important, as that in the admittance and exercise thereof, cannot but consist the scope and after fruition of all your happinesse, and benefit whatsoeuer.
Paradigma.
And first of all, will I call vnto your remembraunce, that beeing the sonne of so vertuous a father as you are, howe greatlie it importeth vnto your estate to bee well gouerned, that as well the precedent vertues, as auncient possessions of your antecessour, may in your person bee resiant, that of your deceased parent (as well as in corporall shape and fauour) you beare (in minde) the verie true image and portraiture, that you stand not more in your actions vppon the glorious name or title of a Gentleman, then of the verie true and woorthie conditions and behauiours, that rightlie doe produce and make a Gentleman. And albeit I finde no greate apparante cause (your youthfull heade and vnstayed state of headestrong libertie onelie excepted) that may induce anie argument or supposall to the contrarie, but that you are of such and so worthie regarde, as that in your life and conuersation, you deeplie ynough do conceiue of all or anie part of these instructions or admonishmentes, which I nowe goe about to offer and preferre vnto you; yet knowing howe manie, and howe sundrie are the euils wherewith our mortall state is endangered, howe diuers are the motions to wickednes, and how manie waies we are readie to fall into the crooked paths of the same. I coulde not but warne you that comming euen nowe into the middest of the worlde as you do you shall finde sundrie baites and allurementes drawing you into the worst and most vilest parts thereof, that vnles you were directlie gouerned with the righte rule and square of an honest and sober life, twentie to one you would not onelie fall verie deeplie into the inconueniences thereof, but (without great and vnexpected matter leading you to the contrarie) be drowned and ouerwhelmed in the gulf therof for euer.
Monitiō.
You must call to minde that liuing in a place so ordinarilie frequented as is the Citie, wherein you are, and being in fellowship with so manie and diuers sorts of men as you now be, conuersing also with the innumerable multitudes of persons, of all estates, conditions and faculties, as you there doe, it is no difficult thing for a young youth of your birth and qualitie to be led into lewdnes, of a wanton to become dissolute, of a spender to bee made a consumer, or of a towardlie gentleman to be framed to an vntowardlie companion. Much may the euill example of some lewdlie giuen, conduce hereunto, making you to beleeue, that to become a roister, is credit: to become a swearer, valiant: to shewe your selfe a waster, liberall: to be a drunkard, is fellowship: to maintaine rakehels, is bountie: to become fantastical, is youthful: and to bee an vnthrift, is to be counted gentle: But better entring into these things then by common aduisement men in your case ordinarilie doe, it shall appeare contrariwise, that in gaining of credite you are to become modest and discreetlie behaued: in being noted to bee valiant, you ought to bee a supporter of honour: shewing your selfe liberall, it shall bee in rewarding the good: in maintaining of fellowshippe, you shall vse sobrietie: in beeing bountifull, you shall remunerate seruices: in manifestation of your youth, you shall entertaine honest pleasures: and in beeing gentle, shewe your selfe therewithall frugall.
Parimia.
Antithesis.
Antipophora.
Parimia.
Perorasiō.
The asse goeth out in the morning to carie burthens, and in the euening receiueth his prouender for aduantage. The Oxe grazeth all day in the pasture, and at night is caried to the butchers stal: their rewarde is their feeding, and the contentment they require is onelie to fill their bellies: behooueth that men also who from beastes are sequestred by manie degrees of reason, should of their continuance and finall determination liue a like carelesse? No verilie, it is too much vnseemely. Such illusions as these are not fitte for a man, who by the nobilitie of his creation was ordained to swaie ouer, and not to become subiect to such vilities. You nowe beeing at your owne choice and libertie, must beware and giue great and diligent aduertisement to all your waies, you must eschewe and auoide not onelie the verie euils thēselues, but also all occasions inducing or partaking with those euils, you must imagine, that to bee in all thinges temperate and discreete, doeth solie argue a reputation to bee within you, shun vice as you would doe a serpent, flie wicked companie as a pestilent infection, doe alwaies thinges woorthie your selfe, affecte not so much the vaineglorious title of praise, as desire how and in what sort to deserue and win praise. Esteeme nothing so precious as time, abandon sloth, and in all your societie (as neere as may bee) accompanie with the best. Consider that such as is the tree, such is the fruite. Who toucheth pitch must needes bee defiled. With the good thou shalt bee made good, and with the euill thou shalt bee peruerted. Thinke none so greate an enemie as he that misleadeth you. Misdeeme no man willinglie, and giue occasion to all men to iudge of you indifferentlie. These counsels (forewarninges of your ruine or happines) if aduisedlie you will hearken vnto, and faithfully lay vp among your chiefest secrets, it shall no waies repent you to haue beene admonished, nor discontent me in this sort so much to haue counselled you, in that pursuing the effectes hereof, you shall become such as I with you, and your carefull father if he had liued wold haue bene glad to haue seene you. The Almightie giuer and moderator of al our actions, blesse and keep you. Farewel from my house at D. this of, &c.
An Other Epistle Monitorie, Touching the Reformation of a Couetous Life
Exordium.
Metonomia.
Narratiō.
Ecphonesis.
Merismus.
Asyndeton.
Brachiologa.
Metonomia.
Peroratiō.
Sententia.
ALbeit good brother, I knowe the matter of my writing will become offensiue vnto you, and that I am not ignorant what heauie aduersaries you haue, that daylie doe goe about to suppresse the soūd & faithful aduise of those, who without flattery doe wish heartilie wel vnto you, and studiouslie are busied at al times for and towardes your good. Such neuerthelesse is the loue and dutie that I owe you, as seeing you in so great an errour as you are ouerwhelmed in, I cannot in respect of our brotherlie affection, but I must needes warne you of it, whereof if you become not repentant, and a renouncer betimes, I doubt, not onelie the worlde will crie out agaynst you, but God also in high displeasure will bee angrie with you. Trulie for mine owne part I am ashamed, and also it greatlie grieueth me euerie where to heare of this extreame couetousnesse and harde dealings, by you vsed towardes your poore tenants, and other the inhabitants about you, who notwithstanding that God hath aboundantlie blessed you with ryches more then sufficient, you bee yet so miserablie bent vpon the worlde, as you care not by what district and seuere handling you doe attaine vnto your wealth, onelie so you haue it, or can come by it, you holde no conscience or question at all of the winning it. Alas what cries doe you procure agaynst you of the poore and wretched people, who beeing plagued with the harde yoke you laie vppon them, are not able of themselues to redresse, but onelie doe pray to God that hee will for them reuenge it. The matter is too hatefull, and so great is the oppression and wrong thereby offered, as it cannot continue. Might my woordes become of weight vnto you, I woulde wish you to leaue it, and if not for my sake, or in regard of your owne credite thereby so greatlie blemished and impayred, and your good name and fame vtterlie by such meanes obscured and defaced, yet for Gods sake, who commaundeth charitie and right to all men, who willeth that wee doe to euerie one as wee would bee done vnto, who forbiddeth by such execrable lucre to heape to our selues so vniust and filthie gaine, you will refraine it, reforme it, amende it. In trueth you doe not knowe, howe much euill thereby you procure vnto your selfe, the blind desire you haue to heape vp riches will not permit you to see, what rancour, mischiefe, impietie, terrour and dread, you crowde so neare togither, the little care you haue of the world to come, so quencheth your affections, as you haue not power to beholde the enormitie wherein you are so vehementlie transported. For shame abstaine and become not the common obloquie of all men, bee not you the man alone whome so manie shall curse, and all men for the most part crie vengeance vpon. Otherwise if by no admonition you will relent, assure your selfe, God who is the righter of all wronges, will in most seuere manner compell you vnto it, and in the ende by great rigour punish you for it. It little liketh mee that herein, so iust cause remaineth, as whereby I am forced in this sort to argue with you, in which action the nature of a brother may giue you to vnderstande in what sort I admonish you, and with what louing care I retaine you: the consideratien of which hath mooued mee (as my selfe woulde wish in the like of whatsoeuer I shoulde haue erred, to bee dealt withall by you) to account the sweete rebukes of a friend to bee farre more profitable then the dissembling glozes of a cruell and bitter enemie; to which end whatsoeuer I haue sayde, may in like maner be conceyued by you. Farewell. L. this of, &c.
An Epistle Monitorie to a Father, Touching the Lewd and Ill Demeanour of His Sonne
Exordium.
Allegoria.
Narratiō.
Antithesis.
Erotema.
Aporia.
Prolepsis.
Orismus.
Parimia.
Metanoia.
Sententia.
Allegoria.
Metonomia.
Antithesis.
Peroratiō.
THough it seeme an approoued follie to cast pearles before swine, or to offer a golden saddle to an Asses backe: yet (not that I thinke either the Sowe worthie of the pearles, or the Asse fit for the saddle) I haue written vnto you, the one cause to manifest vnto you the vile and bad parts of your sonne whereof you will take no notice, and of which this Letter herein closed shall beare sufficient testimonie: the other for charities sake, to admonish you which are his father, that by your timelie looking to those matters, you may winde him from that, which by small sufferance will breed your woes, and his irrecuperable destruction, I haue vnderstood that hauing beene found heretofore in the like pilfering with two Masters that he serued, and the secrete information thereof beeing brought to your eares, you misliked his courtesie that tolde you, iustified the matter to bee false that was deliuered you, and not so much as examining the action, (which a good father would haue done by all manner of industrie) you allowed your sonne for honest, and affirmed that it was vnpossible hee should enter into anie such theeuerie. If I see the childe of such a father come to an euill ende, I will not maruell at all, seeing that besides the ordinarie inclinations alreadie graffed in his young yeares, his parentes are content by winking at it, to giue him furtheraunce, and in a manner to affirme it shall so bee, in so much as thereby seemeth, the sonne hath sworne hee will neuer liue honestlie, and the father hath promised that hee will set him forwarde to Tiburne, for his villainie. Is it reason that men (of zeale and conscience) should goe about to pittie their misfortunes, who haue protested neuer by compassion to preuent in themselues, the iust and appropriate rewarde of their owne euilles? What shall I say to the vnhappie father of such a sonne, or rather vnhappie childe of such a father, whether shall I forewarne him or you, the one purposing, the other animating, to what vnto each of you in the ende muste become a particular desolation? Trulie these thinges will not continue, they can not long holde. Well (not in respect that eyther of you haue deserued so much at my handes) but for pities sake, I am content to beare with your infirmities, and (so you will not vrge mee to your owne harmes, by your courteous, though not so much as honest vsage, for honestie willeth I shoulde haue mine owne againe, or recompence) will part with my losses: but yet therewithall warne you (to which ende I haue written this Letter) that you preuent your mischiefes betimes, you doe consider the successe of your owne harmes. So long the potte goeth to the Riuer, that at last it commeth broken home, euerie man will not deale with you as I doe. It can not bee, but you must needes knowe, nay rather bee a partaker of your sonnes euilles, howe euer you dissemble with the worlde, and face out the matter before people. Take heede I say, God when hee striketh, smiteth home, you will else repent it, for it will none otherwise bee. Because I haue yet some hope, that by driuing into your conceyte the enormitie hereof, and discouering the packe, which you saide was lockt vp from your seeing, that at the least wise for the feare of God, and to saue him from the gallowes, you will endeuour to chastise him. I haue sent this bearer, who can infourme you of the truth, time and place, of that which you goe about to shrowde vp so couertlie, and if afterwardes you will not bridle him, I protest his shamelesse foreheade must bee corrected by iustice, and the lawes must further passe vppon. Surelie not for enuie of the person, but for the shamelesse browe hee beareth, as one that had done none offence, to prouoke mee by euill vsage to blaze his faultes, that otherwise by good counsell, woulde haue couered them: I thinke it a deede meritorious to haue him punished, if you haue a desire as a father to cherish him, haue a regarde as a friend betimes to correct him, otherwise you shall sooner see him come to shame, then anie waies climbe vnto credite. But for ought I can heare, both father & mother are so addicted to the bolstring of his doings, as that it seemeth they haue alreadie vowed their infamie to the world, and his life to the gallowes: good counsell may do much, and though in taste I seeme a bitter enemie, the proofe in triall shall be better then of a fawning friend.
An example reprehensorie wherein a man of wealth sufficient is
reprehended for mariage of his daughter, to the riches
of an olde wealthie Miser.
Exordium.
Metonomia.
Propositiō.
Metaphora.
SIr, I am not a little grieued for the loue I owe you, to see that in these ripe yeares of yours, wherein men commonly are freight with discretion, you neuertheles do verie indiscreetlie goe about to compasse a matter so repugnant to reason, or any maner of considerate and sage aduisement, as whereat the worlde can but woonder, and whereof all that know you, or by any meanes may vnderstand of the match, will no question greatly accuse & for euer condemne you. It is deliuered with vs here for certain, that you are intended (vpon the doting affection of a miserable old man, your neighbor, whose yeares are as well fraught with diseases, and his manacled and benummed old ioynts with imperfections, as his barred coffers with coine) to marry vnto him my neece your yoongest daughter vpon a suddaine, and that to the furtherance thereof, you offered to contribute of your owne store a reasonable and sufficient portion.
Antiphrasis
Auxesis.
Trust mee when I heard it at first, I deemed it as a counterfeit ieast, thinking that the man whom I so wel knew before time, could not on a sudden become such a paragon, as whereon a maiden of her feature, youth, accomplishment, and fauor, could so quickly become enamored, neither thought I that howsoeuer the dotage of the olde man stood as a conceit to smile at, that you for your part would so much as vouchsafe to hearken to it, especially at any time so seriously to speake of it, much lesse to open your purse to become a purchaser of it, or by constraint at all to enforce her fauors, to giue signe or token anie waies vnto it.
Ecphonesis.
Synonymia.
Emphasis.
Prosonomasia.
Antithesis.
Synonymia.
Metonoia
Hyperbole.
Alas sir, was there no one thing more wherein besides you coulde ouershoote your selfe, but onelie in so bad a purpose, an action so vnhonest, an intendment so vile, a matter so much impugning nature, as that the verie earth, or hell it selfe, coulde not belch out againste the fayre Virgine, so huge and so intolerable a mischiefe, to match I say, the matchlesse fauour of so young and dayntie a peece to the filthie, tawnie, deformed and vnseemelie hue of so wretched and ill fauoured a creature? What nature is this, to worke vnto her, whome of your owne flesh you haue ingendered, whome so long you haue nourished, whome to such and so manie perfections you haue trained, vppon a suddaine, naie euen in one moment, so manifest an occasion to cast her awaie, not yeelding vnto her heauy censure, so great a benefit as death, but ten thousand griefes, the least of all which is worse then any death that may bee, wherein comfortlesse she may complaine, grieue, and bemoane her selfe without any reliefe at all, but by the precious price and hazard of her own soule.
Antithesis.
Hypotyposis.
Metaphora.
Antiphrasis.
Antiphrasis.
Erotema.
Asyndeton.
Howe vnequally doe you deale herein, to render vnto her being scarce sixteene yeares of age, a husbande enfeebled by fourescore yeares and vpwards, whose toes are swolne with the gowt, and legs consumed with the dropsie, whose leane carcase beareth no apparance but of old scars, and stifned limmes become vnweldie supporters of his pined corps, whome furs must fence from the least blast of cold, & dew of nappy Ale cherish with warme fires, whose nightcap carrieth more store of heat, then al his body doth of agility or strēgth, and nose far more fruitful then sauory, with distilling drops down trilling from thence in freshest spring of the ioliest seasons, maketh ill fauored refections. What wrong do you tender the poore maiden therin? How vnworthy and far ill beseeming is the same to her, who hath such a father, and apparantly shal be known to be such a mans daughter? shall you not therein bee noted of great folly, will not all men laugh at it, pitie it, crie shame of it, and her selfe poore soule praie to God to reuenge it.
Commoratiō.
Antithesis.
Metaphora.
Anthypophora.
It is too much intollerable beleeue mee, that you should endeuour in this sorte by colour of your Fatherlie authoritie to constraine her, whome (albeit shee is your owne childe) yet maie you not thus forciblie compell vnto so vnnaturall an extremitie: Consider with your selfe howe grieuous the thing you goe about to compasse, may returne vnto her, and whereas liking and choise is of all other things in case of marriage to bee accounted most dearest, you not onelie agaynst her will, do endeuour to induce a breach thereof, but also do giue her ouer into the handes of such a one, whose inequalitie so far forth disseuereth frō her appetite as that it cannot otherwise be, but (as vnto all others, so vnto her chiefly) it must become vnsufferable. Haue you no more care of her that is your daughter, but when nowe you haue brought her to the passe, wherein shee should participate the vertuous and modest vse of that, whereunto her yeares haue adapted her, and for which ende and purpose, marriage was by Gods sacred ordinance at the first ordayned, in steede of a louing and contented husbande, to giue her a withered olde Truncke, in lue of sweete and mutuall societie, to wedde her to sorrowe and euerloathed griefe, to endow her with larger profite then with honest contentment, thinke you that shee is a stone, that her senses from others are different in their right operation and qualities, that shee more or lesse, or in stranger sort then anie others, can become therein more forcible, or lesse iniuried? No sir, assure your selfe, you must needes heape vp no other but extremities vppon her, it cannot bee but if you proceed herein, you must of force vndoo her, the ende and conclusion is so vtterlie bad, as it cannot be remooued.
Peroratiō.
Epiphonema.
Returne then vnto your selfe, and thinke herein what best beseemeth your daughter, remember that what you take in hande in that action is vngodlie, iniust, seuere, and vnnaturall, that in giuing such a husband, you shall giue her (without the greater grace of God) and him both to the diuell. Consider, that you are with pietie, and to a Christian purpose and ende, to moderate your authoritie, weigh with your selfe that the couetousnes wherwith you are ouercome is no purchase to her of safety. And ballancing all these in the waight and cords of equalitie, withdraw your selfe, and by such meanes become disswaded from so great an absurditie. So may you the more easilie performe that vnto her belongeth, as a kinde and louing father, and for the profite by this trauell reaped at your hands, bind her and all vs with greater feruencie, to loue you. Whereon concluding the scope of all my former desires, I end, &c.
An Epistle Reprehensorie to a Young Gentleman
Narratiō.
ABout seuen dayes passed, I receyued Letters from my Brother N. the long expectation whereof, and desire I had to bee infourmed of your well dooing, made mee inwardly reioyce at the first viewe of them, supposing that as I deliuered you out of my handes, I should still haue found you in the same predicament, without alteration, or so much as anie surmize of that wherof I haue beene thereby aduertised.
Synonymia.
Antithesis.
Epiphonema.
It is long since indeede that you were with mee, at which time you were in manner a childe, neuertheles in those tender yeares so towardlie giuen, and of so milde and gentle disposition, as there was great cause whie then I should esteeme of you, and much matter offered to all others that knewe yee, whereupon to commend you: But nowe if it bee true as I am informed, your actions are turned quite contrarie, you are become a chaungeling, you are no more the same, but another in qualitie, minde and operation. If this bee so, you haue surelie taken a wrong course, in exchaunge of vertue, to make choise of vice: in steede of laudable exercises, to admit a number of lewd qualities: in place of good and honest vsage, to enter into a life vnciuill, lewde and sauage: your companie keeping is (as is reported) without anie order, your studies are carelesse, your pastime recklesse, your tabling drunkennesse, your liuing vnthriftinesse: finallie, blushing before time at all thinges, for their noueltie, you dare boldlie nowe to aduenture anie thing bee it with neuer so great infamie. These things, my good Coosen, I must tell you are vnfit for a Gentleman, and much ill beseeming that education of yours, whereunto they were neuer accustomed. From these, if you will doe aright, you are nowe to weld your speedie course, and quicklie to depart, calling to your remembrance, that what approcheth the condition of euerie ordinarie person is not meete for your credite, and what in men of common account appeareth to bee no blemish is in your reputation helde to be a great and notable faultinesse.
Hirmos.
Epiphonema.
When men desire to bee well famed, and by true renowne to rise vnto worthinesse, they flie sloath, and giue themselues to auoyde all occasions of Idlenesse, they endeuour to become painefull and industrious to couet thinges of highest accompt, and to bee in companie with the most vertuous. Their credite hath no supporte by vanities, they seeke not their reputation among raunnagates, they conuerse not with Tauerne-haunters, and bibbers, they liue not with men of vilde accompt, dissolute and vngratious, such kinde of meanes (as insufficient to glorie) they deeme wretched and opprobrious.
Antithesis.
You nowe if you would bee such as you ought to bee, must also pursue the tracte of these, the sweetenesse and delicacie whereof (if but a little you will pierce into the sowre and harsh taste of the other) you shall quicklie conceiue, marke but the praise, benefites, estimate and good reporte, entertained with the one; and on the other side, the discredite, shame, discommoditie, and vile reckoning alwaies made of the other, and then iudge by your owne decernement, howe much and howe greatlie you are ledde awrie, in thus careleslie roaming vppon others vilities, and concluding with your selfe vppon the ill conceipt that all good men haue of such hatefull and disorderlie kinde of liuing, returne betimes, ere too late, for want of good aduisement, you foolishlie begin to crie out of your winning.
Principiis obsta, sero medicina paratur,
Cum mala per longas conualuere moras.
First stop the cause, too late doth phisicke come,
When euils smal, to great (by sufferance) run.
Auxesis.
Credite me (whome euer you haue knowne to fauour you) the disgrace that quickly you shall sustaine, if betimes you relent not these euils, wil to a good mind become so vile and so odious as not without great sorow and griefe, may bee wiped away. I disguise not with you in that I saie, for you shall finde it and proue it to be true. It is a shame for any man in those yeares, wherin of al others his towardnes should chiefly be effected, to be accompted then bad, vilde, lewd, and ill demeaned, much more for a Gentleman, whose education was so good, whose infancy so well trained, whose adolescency so formerly with al kind of vertues indued, to become, now when most discretion should swaie in him, worse then before, more disordered then when hee was to be corrected, lesse commended in his owne gouernment then when he was vnder anothers intertainment.
Metaphora.
The loue that I beare vnto you, maketh mee the more largelye heereof to enfourme you, which for that I deeme not of anie ill seede sprong out of your owne nature, to bee growne vppe into such kernels, I doe thereby adiudge, that with more facilitie they maie be disseuered, the braunches I knowe are of others wearing, which I neuer wish to bee so farre foorth lyked, as to become of your owne gathering. From the inconuenience whereof, I hitherto haue studyed thus much to withdrawe you, as hee that most of all desireth aboue anie other to enioie you. The haste of the messenger, and wearinesse of writing enforce mee to leaue. God, who is the conductor of all happie endeuours, blesse you, and till I heare from you againe, my selfe will exspect the best reformation that any good opinion may induce in mee, as yet to conceyue of you. Fare you well, this of. &c.