The Second Part of the English Secretorie
Of Epistles Iudiciall. Chap 1
As I haue already exampled vnto you all sortes of Epistles, contained vnder the two titles of Demonstratiue, and Deliberatiue: So by the order and disposition formerlie vsed, it behooueth (as nexte in course) I doe nowe come vnto the title Iudiciall. Why this title is so called, I haue in that other booke alreadie deliuered. So that nowe it may séeme fit, that herein as in the other twaine before going, we deliberate what order and places for the well handling and proper conueyance of Epistles, are principallie to be obserued.
You shall then vnderstand, that for so much as the efficacie of this title is wholie caried in cause of Accusation, Inuectiue, Charge, or defence, the matters whereof are wholie censured by lawe, by common reputation, by custome, by authoritie or by iudgement, the Rhetoricians, for the more excellent setting foorth of the Oratoriec partes hereof, haue vnto the generalitie of the same, allotted thrée states or principall heades, whereout by imitation, all our Epistles vnder this title are wholie to be caried. The first is called Coniecturall, that is, where a matter by coniecture onlie of time, place, estate, or condition of the person, or other likelihoodes to the same agréeing, may be supposed or enforced.
The second is Iuridicial, wherein not by coniecture, but by matter in action, sentence, lawe, or iudgemente, wee aggrauate the cause in question, in which remaineth the qualitie, circumstance, or greatnes to be decided, and howe vehementlie or slenderlie it hurteth or importeth.
The third is tearmed Legitima, which by Lawes, customes, common vsage, or allowance, defineth a thing to bee good or bad, tolerable or not to be suffered. Out of these heades ariseth the plentie of all our following diuisions, which also hereafter are in their places to be collected, the first whereof, containing matter of Accusation or Charge, may be saide to be Accusatorie, Expostulatorie, Exprobratorie, Comminatorie and Inuectiue. The Second, beeing Responsorie to either of these, may be saide to be Excusatorie, Purgatorie, Defensorie or Deprecatorie. The compasse aswell of the one as the other, either for matters accused, obiected, purged, excused, entreated for, or Defended, are simply or wholie included vnder all or one of these heads before remembred.
The efficacie of either of these, aswell for inforcementes, as for clearing or auoydance of anie matter do séeme to be drawne, per locos absolutes, places absolute, and locos assumptiuos, places assumptiue.
Loci absoluti are such, as containe in them enforcementes not to be auoided, whether it be in charge, matter inuectiue, or defence, for that they are collected of vnauoidable groundes, that is to say, of Nature, Lawe, Custome, Contract, common allowance, Righte, Lawfull and Good Sentence and Iudgement. These aswell to the state Iuridiciall, as to the other of legitima, are alike ordinarie and common, this onely difference, that in that of Iuridicial, they are all enforced to condemnation: in that of legitima, censured by their qualitie, vse or toleration.
Loci assumptiui, are only collections by coniecture, and not matter in certainty, but such as may be vrged by likelihoods yet greatly enforce to accusation, and serue alike to mitigate by defence or excusing, this to the state Coniecturall, and this of Juridiciall doe remaine alike common.
The parts and places Cōiectural, for the heaping of likelihoods, either to accuse, excuse, purge or defend, haue respect vnto the Wil, dispositiō, or ability of any one. The Wil is searched by the outward quality or condition of a man, by his readines, hate, affection, or mislike to a thing, Dispositiō, by the country or soil wherein one is borne, as if wee shoulde say at this presente of a forraine aduersarie, Hee is a Spaniard, how can hee beare good will to England? By his ofspring, as if we should saie, Being born, and bred of lewde parents, how can the issue be good. By his education, as thus, He was so looselie trained vp, and so vilelie inured, that there is no hope at all to be in him expected. By his studies, as to saie, Consider but the application of his whole manner of liuing, weigh his continuall practises, see but into his particular and ordinarie studies, and then tell mee what you may iustlie suppose of the residue of his beeing. And likewise by sundrie other circumstances. Abilitie is vrged by Oportunitie, by Time and Place, Aydes or Supportes, and the means of either of these, measured by the credite, affection, want, companie, conceit, or instabilitie of the person we goe about to accuse, excuse, purge or defend.
Thus haue I largelie deliuered vnto you, the sum and scope of what in speciall to be intended vnder this title, the vse and more particular shew whereof shall bee by their seuerall Epistles more amplie explaned vnto you. And howbeit I could here a little dwel by some continued discourse, in the commendable aduancement vnto you of the woorthinesse of this present part we haue now in hand of well writing, wherein not onelie these places alreadie remembred, but in a manner all other partes of the Deliberatiue and Demonstratiue kinde are most plentifullie accited: Yet will I but remember vnto you howe effectuallie by the well handling of anie the particulars therunto belonging, and howe farre more singularlie then in anie others, the excellencie of a good witte and a quicke, and fine inuention is most fullie deciphered, feeling that in the occurrents heereof, the writer is neuer tyed to anie one course in particular, but hath scope to wade into all things in generall.
For that by the verie order of these Epistles, hee shall sundrie times haue occasion to vse the partes Descriptorie, Laudatorie, Vituperatorie, Hortatorie, Swasorie, Disswasorie, Petitorie, Monitorie, Conciliatorie, Reprehensorie, and at many times diuers or the most part of them altogithers. Wherefore leauing any further respect hereof, vnto the ready conceite of such as thereunto may bee enabled, we will proceed vnto the rest.
The partes for Disposition required in these Epistles, are as in the others before going, that is to saie: Exordium, Narratiō, or Propositiō, Confirmatiō, Confutatiō, and Peroratiō.
The first of the distinctions vnder this part Iudiciall to be prosecuted, appeareth to be Accusatorie, which either simplie by coniectures, or by matter of knowne or verily supposed troth, as you haue before remembred, or both wayes at once, may bee conueyed. Whereof the first in sequence which I will deliuer vnto you for example, shall be in the state coniecturall, which being framed to be questionable betwéene a Merchant and his seruant, falleth out in sort following to be performed.
An Example of an Epistle Accusatorie in the State Coniecturall, From a Merchant to the Father of His Seruant
Exordium.
SIr, you will perchaunce maruell to see the sudden accesse of these my letters vnto you, togither with the hastie repaire of my man, (such as heretofore hath not beene accustomed betweene you and me, sithence our formost acquaintance) but to stay that doubt, and to enforme you at large, what vrgent occasion I haue so to doe, it may please you with as little discontentment as may bee, to giue your selfe to the view of these Letters, and thereupon to censure on my behalfe the matter of the same accordinglie.
Narratiō.
Your sonne sir, who nowe these three yeares passed to your good lyking hath continued in my seruice, and whome your selfe doe verie well knowe, that for the reputation of his parentes and friendes, I alwayes for the most part haue entertayned with especiall trust and regarde, beeing this last Summer returned out of Barbarie, with an aduenture in a shippe of mine owne, I did vpon great choyce, immediatelie after his account deliuered, place in the ouersight, disposition and rule of all my whole goodes, stocke, and Merchandise. And in expectation and assurance of his especiall and more then ordinarie care and good behauiour therein, did about September last (vppon a iourney which I had to the North partes with diuerse of my nearest friendes, whereby I was compelled to bee foorth by the space of two Monethes) commit vnto his like credites, the custodie of diuers summes of money alreadie receyued, as also the collection and further receyte of sundrie other paymentes of great waight, at the dayes and times wherein they were payable, by him to my vse to bee reserued and layde vp, sithence which, by what sinister humour I knowe not, nor by what vntoward conceit can I yet imagine, in the time of my absence, and a little before my returne homewards, hee is gone away, no man knoweth whither. Vpon the newes whereof being greatly aflighted, I haste to his counting house, search his bookes of receits and paiments, and there withall breake open his deske and coffers, in which after all reckoninges fullie perused and considered of, I find my selfe to bee backewards of diuers allowances, the certainty whereof I cannot yet determine, but the greatnesse by the likelihoode, is verie vehemently to be suspected, by reason that in this sort, without anie other occasion he is fled, and from so great a charge without knowledge of anie one about me, so suddenly departed.
What presumptions I haue, and those verie large, by such kinde of dealing, whereby I may iustly burthen him, you may heereby coniecture, as first his disposition, giuen (as sithence hath verie crediblie bin reported vnto me) to be verie prodigall, & of most excessiue expence, then the occasion offered by such immoderate confidence in him reposed: next, the vncontrolled rule hee bare throughout all my dealings: lastlie the time and secrecie of his departure, beeing thus hasted in mine absence, and here withall some such things which are missing, as whereof none were priuie but himselfe, and whereunto no accesse could bee without himselfe. Insomuch as the losse which I reckon of, and wherefro I can yet finde no release, by reason of this his vnknowne departure, cannot (for ought I hitherto perceiue) amount to so little as CC.li.
By some fewe that since his going away haue encountred with him, it appeareth, that not onelie he is well monied, but also of his iourneying Westward, whereby I am led to thinke his resort to be no way so likelie, as to you which are his father, or to some other his friends there about you. For which cause I haue directed these togither with my man, as well to referre vnto your consideration what hath passed, as also to pray that by your due search and examination of the action, both his person may be answered, and my suspition of him the better and more manifestly be cleared: and euen so recommending my selfe and cause to the furtherance of your good direction, I take my leaue. This of, &c.
THis letter hauing direction from the maister to the father, in seeming a Gentleman of some good account, we will according thereunto frame you an answer, which in this place according to the nature thereof may be tearmed Excusatorie. The conueiance of which, either lesseneth by vehement likelihoods the qualitie of the offence, or otherwise (though not clearlie auoydeth) yet by the naked truth or simplicitie of the action it selfe, maketh it seeme of farre more slender moment or importance, then before it might haue béene coniectured. And forasmuch as the father was a by partie to the wrong suggested, and onely in that it was his son, and the reformation of the thing opposed, might by him in some sort bee redressed or recompenced, wee will suppose herein the Letter in forme following by him to be answered, and the residue vnspoken of to be left to the purgation or defence of the other on whome the fault is charged, and to whome in particular, it belongeth to sée the same answered.
An Example Excusatorie Returned to the Effects of This Coniectural Epistle, From the Father to Whome the Same Was Written
MAister R. I haue receyued your Letter, to no small griefe (at the first) of my priuate conceyts, but sithence hauing examined the matter am somewhat deliuered of doubt, by the satisfaction that in search of the cause I haue alreadie receyued. My sonne (as you write) was here in the Countrey, at my brothers house, not farre from mine owne dwelling, and yet so newlie come thither, as he had reposed himselfe but one night ere the sight of your present Letters and messenger were arriued.
To the action wherewith you do charge him, I can say nothing more then that himselfe hath written, which agreeing with the formost speech, and first examination had by his Vncle, I must hold as yet vndetermined till I heare your further answer. For the coniectures you haue deliuered, whereby to induce that you are a greater looser by him then without further grounde I can hitherto imagine. I aunswere thus much, that the alteration were verie strange, and humour too sudden, to finde him now so lauish, whom before time your selfe haue commended to bee so frugall, and especiallie in whatsoeuer to his charge and gouernment hath by you beene committed.
To the residue I will be silent, because himselfe that first bredde the occasion appeareth meetest to answere it.
If I heare not from you before the middle of this tearme, my intent is by Gods grace to bee at London, where your apprentice and my sonne shall be in person forth comming vnto you. At which time if I find farther defects, or more equitie to charge him, contrarying to that which alreadie haue bin answered by him, he shal not be mine by anie his ill dealings to be vpholden, but yours as belongeth in any sort you like to chastise him. And euen so recommending my selfe heartilie vnto you, I do bid you farewell. This of, &c.
An Example Purgatorie From the Partie Chalenged in Answer of the Epistle Accusatorie Before Remembred
Narratiō.
It may please you sir, on Munday last, beeing the next day after my comming to my Vncles, he sending to T. to my fathers house to vnderstand his pleasure, worde was returned immediatelie, of a messenger and letters receyued from you, whereby it was my fathers pleasure to commaund me to his presence, and to require mine vncle to be there present also in companie.
Prosonomasia.
At my comming thither, many things were laid forth as wel by your writing, as by the mouth of your man, how grieuouslie you were damaged both by diuers summes wherein you were short in reckoning, and other thinges by you missing, vppon my running away (as you tearme it) the muchnesse whereof was not so much enlarged by your letter, as the ouerlauish deliuerie of your man had to the great encrease of ill opinion in my father, with diuers vnbeseeming tearmes, augmented the same.
And nowithstanding I had in mine own conscience sufficientlie, and with sound appearing trueth to the viewe of others answered the occasion, yet forasmuch as neither seemed the same a full satisfaction to my father, nor a matter clearlye auoided towardes you, till in your plaine and certain notice, I had also confirmed the same, I was commaunded by him to write what I there affirmed, and accordinglie to aduertize you of the state of your busines, and inualidity of your coniectures, that by the verity thereof I might with more liking be reputed of, and himselfe haue lesse cause then he supposed whereat to be grieued.
To the matter of your letter, whereby I am accused, and in which you saie you are backward I knowe not in what, it appeareth that for the finding out of the certaintie or likelihoode thereof you entred vpon my desk and coffers, and searched my books of account and payments, which beeing so, if you were as circumspect in my behalfe, as you were in a rash surmize of your own harmes, you might haue assured yourselfe, for to haue found no one penie of any summe wanting at all, or where any was missing, either by exchange at your own appointment, or vpon other good occasions to haue also seene howe the same was bestowed, or where, or vpon what it was els where imploied.
Metonimia.
For your better assurance wherein (if hitherto you vnderstande not so much) my boxe marked with this letter A. lying in the neather parte of my deske, will confirme the same. And least I might be deceiued in ought, before your comming, by the sinister practise of some such as had more enuie at my honest credite with you, than care of your good (whereof I mistake not at all, if I iudge this viper to be one) I not onelie reserued notes of euerie thing, caused one whome you will beleeue (though to what purpose I protest hee then knewe not) not onelie to tell euerie summe of money remaining in euerie bagge, and to see the same sealed vp, but also to set his hand to my notes, as witnesse to the same, so much I knowe I lefte, and of the residue the declaration of a trueth shall bee witnesse sufficient of mine owne fidelitie.
Finallie, touching the likelihood of my going awaie without knowledge, and that also in your absence, to bee a token of some waste or wrōg to you offered, which you value not to be so litle as CC. poūds, I trust sir (albeit the sum be great where little remaineth, and if also it were lesse, it were yet too much to bee lost) your selfe notwithstanding can tell verie well, that more then once I haue bin credited with ten times the value of that at your handes, when by great similitude, I could with more facilitie haue benefited my selfe to a farre greater value, if I had bin so disposed, then what herein to be accompted of, and (if so I had beene then also minded) coulde haue been therewith farther out of your reach then euer I yet entended. And where you suggest that it is sithence told you of my lauish expence, I can thereunto say nothing more then euerie one knoweth, that trulie will speake of me, and so you find not the hindrance in your owne accompte. I trust you will beare equallie what in others opinions maie bee construed of reasonablie.
My going away is apparant, I cannot denie it, wherein if happelie I haue done more then beseemeth, yet none so much as my selfe hath thereby beene wronged, for that such occasion hath by meanes thereof ensued, whereby my credite by sinister reports hath so greatly been hazarded, yet was not yᵉ same altogether done without cause, nor voide of honest excuse, for if either I had beene certaine of your so speedie returne, or had not had so presumptuous an intruder vppon the trust to mee committed (as at my comming to London I shall make more plaine vnto you) I had not done as I did. And this assure your selfe sir, that howe farre soeuer you imagine or are informed, that mine vncontrouled rule in your house stretched, if I might with performaunce of as honest trust haue discharged the same vnto you, as I alwaies had endeuoured, I neither had lefte your house or stocke, to haue depended vpon so harde supposed reckoning, nor lost you one houres commoditie of my seruices, as you nowe challenge me to haue done.
Peroratiō.
My endeuour towardes my self, my fathers care, and your woonted good opinion, hath mooued mee in sort as you see, to giue items of those whome iustlie I am to complaine of, and to praie you that surceasing all other surmizes vppon our hastie comming to London you will more circumspectly in the meane time consider both of your dealings and my writing, which in as dutifull manner as beseemeth, eftsoons crauing at your handes, I doe (as euer I haue been) remaine, and take my leaue, &c.
Your seruant confirmed in all fidelity
towards you, &c.
An Example of an Epistle Accusatorie in the State Iuridiciall and Coniecturall
Exordium, Anadiplosis.
INiurious R. iniurious I maie iustlie tearme thee, whose long acquaintance with mee, and interchangeable good liking passing betweene vs, bredde yet so little respect in the waight of the same, as could not forwarne me of an euill so imminent, by meanes whereof I doubt and cannot forbeare to thinke, but that I am vtterly induced to the shipwracke of mine owne estate, and burthened with such infortunitie, as I shall neuer cease to remember.
Emphasis.
Metanoia.
But why (sencelesse as I am) make I doubt vnto thee of that, whereof both the condition, abilitie, disposition, and euerie accident and circumstance of the partie, whom I am forced to accuse, beareth so sound witnesse, as if men and Angels should goe about to countermaunde the same, not beeing able by a more certaine veritie in open shewe to impugne it, there is none I am sure would beleeue no anie one that in respect of the manifolde likelihoodes thereof, would almost so much as vouchsafe to hearken vnto it.
Epizeuxis.
Merismus.
Irmus.
Merismus.
Erotema.
Parison.
Ecphonesis.
Auxesis.
Allegoria.
Synonymia.
But if in the foremost deliuerie of these thou alreadie musest, and art desirous to be resolued what it is, wherein so questionles I deeme my selfe thus deepelie to be wronged: knowe then, that finding here at L. thy kinsman, thy vnhappie kinsman, wandering as a straunger, conuersant with badde fellowes, threedbare in apparell, forsaken of his neerest kindred and friendes, readie to perish almost for want of foode, and so pennilesse, and therewithall estraunged from all good account, as beeing amongest other lewde persons, brought before a Iustice vppon suspition of his wretched liuing, my selfe beeing in presence, and taking vppon mee in hearing of his name, to bee knowing both of his parentes and Countrey, had such credite with the Iustice, as hee foorthwith discharged him, wherewith not contented I did for thy sake, and in regarde of thee alone, take him home to my lodging, apparelled him, saued his life, recouered againe his lost credite, and restored him: Were not these benefites, thinkest thou sufficient to binde an honest nature, to thinke himselfe beholding to such a one? Happie had I then beene, if neuer more had I intermedled with him, neuer better regarded him, or at no time after giuen farther credite and liking vnto him. Alas, was it alone my chance among so manie that had cast him off, euen then to entertaine him, to relieue him, to reckon of him, nay rather beyond all reason (as thy selfe by the sequell wilt confesse) so farre foorth to dote of him, as nourishing my secrete mischiefe, as it were in mine owne lodging, vnder the shadowe of mine owne couert, yea in my verie bosome, I must lead him yet farther along, in the end to spoile me, and to meditate nothing so much, as my intended destruction?
Paradoxon.
Periphrasis.
Parenthesis.
Metaphora.
Hypotyposis.
Meiosis.
Aporia.
Thou maruellest I know to heare this (and strange & most strange it is I must confesse) but yet true, and if not in him true, then in no other true, by all likehoodes. But ere I farther report vnto thee, howe and by what accident encreased my griefe, let mee yet shew thee more what I did vnto him. So ordered the vnluckie starres my cruel Fate, and in such (more then disordered maner) wrought the heauens against mee, as albeit here at L. (for I must needes deliuer a truth vnto thee) he was greatly desirous and became an earnest suter, I shoulde euen at that time leaue him: yet pressed by mine one misfortune, and more then tolerable liking, nothing regarding, or so much as once remembring in what worse estate I might haue conceiued him, I bethought my selfe he was a Gentleman, bredde of good and vertuous parents worshipfullie allied. In their Countrey whilome well reputed, and if anie defect had before befallen him, I knewe hee was a yonger brother, and want of liuing and maintenance might impaire him, I had no sonne of mine owne, his learning and other qualities (not to bee despised) drewe more and more fancie vnto him: what should I say? I rendred vnto him all account and preferment that lay in my possibilitie to procure him: and shortlie to conclude, into the Countrey (furnished in the best part according to his calling) I took him with me.
Asyndeton.
Liptote.
Sententia.
Allegoria.
Anthypophora.
Polyptoton.
Allegoria.
If I should say to thee, that his demeanour, his attendaunce, his forwardnesse in all thinges to my noted liking, his outwarde shew in whatsoeuer action vnto mee seeming to bee pleasing, did not of it selfe appeare to chalenge so much, I shoulde lie vnto thee. But what of that, howe is falshoode couered, but by the daintiest glosse, where lurketh craft, if not in the shade of most simplicitie? Coulde the Syren deceyue, if shee had no song? Which way should men bee bewitched, if there were no meane of inchauntment? But did hee in the ende prooue such in deede, as he seemed, or hereunto appertained? No, no. God knowes he failed much therein, yea, hee was too farre from it. See then how much beyond my selfe I was, that beeing thus intreated to discharge my selfe of mine owne bane, would yet allure both Gods and men, to bring into my bosome the purport of mine owne secrete and vnknowne mischiefe.
Metalepsis.
Synonymia.
Emphasis.
Hypotyposis.
Merismus.
Christmasse nowe drewe on, after that a good time we had remained in the Countrey, alas that times ordained and sacred to holie purposes, should become ayders and furtherers to mens vile imaginations. In this time, whilest all mens mindes were busied and occupied in dauncing, banquetting and feasting, as vse and custome, and season of the yeare had of auncient times induced, whilest the Hall was full of all sortes of people, reuelling, playing, and occupyed in pastime, my daughter (O griefe to thinke on, and heauiest sound to remember) my onelie daughter was at bed-time missing: Search was made heere and there, inquisition of this partie and that, this way ranne one, that waie another, the house was troubled and filled with all hurlie burlie, onelie wading further into the matter, and her Chamber throughlie perused, her apparell was missing, Chests broken vp, iewels bereaued, mine owne lodging spoyled, and in the ende, I sawe and found my selfe in what cruell sort that might be robbed.
Climax.
Polyptoton.
Periphrasis.
Auxesis.
Emphasis.
Prosopopœia.
Epizeuxis.
Parenthesis.
Irmus.
Hereupon grew suspition, and of suspition arised matter of likelihood, and of likelihood at last, assured and most probable coniectures. One while this man was brought in suspect, another while that partie chalenged, then he was misdeemed, and another againe culpable adiudged, but all in vaine. For hardly could my mind suppose, that hee to whom my thoughts were so sincerely tied in all more then common affection, would so farre forth haue beene estraunged, as at any time to become weeting of my intended harmes, neuer a conspiratour, much lesse an executour. But wicked and vile conceited fraud, what cannot dissimulation, in cloake of sugred guile vnder thy title put forward. And yet might my ignoraunce herein verie well haue become excusable, for a seuen night before that time, that luckles time in which this action was concluded (for long before was it purposed) your kinsman by my allowance and good will had taken leaue, and seemed to be departed, to goe into N. to visite his friends, whose absence besides the little matter that euer in him I supposed to be hereunto sounding, and euerie other circumstance conducing in all his common behauiours, not so much as in shewe to giue a shadowe of this or any such like pretence, could neuer haue induced mee to the least imagination at all, that hee of all others, would haue offered to be seene in anie such thing.
Anthypophora.
Expeditiō.
Erotema.
Asyndeton.
But if you will nowe aske mee what presumption I haue then to charge him more then another, in whome so little matter of suspition coulde before time bee conceyued, I will aunswere yee. The presumptions are, their conuersing together in one place, besides that, shee is by his directions at L. and placed at his finding, that his pretence of going away, was to depart into N. the deuise whereof appeareth nowe but a plaine colour, to haue procured this vnhappinesse. Of all which I am so surelie assertayned by the credible report of a Gentleman, so honest, and of reputation so sufficient, as whereof I need to make no question. For once they being togither, and in such sort as is deliuered, argueth the circumstaunce of his going to N. to bee but a meere disguising, his intent eyther onelie to bee a meane with lesse suspition to compasse her, and so consequentlie to betraie her, the stocke whereupon they liue, to bee my wealth, and what from mee is robbed and vnkindlie bereaued, howe can it otherwise choose? is not the matter plaine and euident? how else should he see her, compasse her, receyue her, and in such sort entertaine her?
Epitropis.
Epiphonema.
Metaphora.
If these bee supposes, then what may bee serious, if such assured notes as these seeme trifles, what then can bee sayde to bee certaine? and yet long was it I must needes bewraie, ere my selfe could conceyue the similitude it bare of trueth, so harde a matter it is where good opinion is once rooted, by the veritie it selfe, almost to driue out the same. But nowe sounding deeper into the action, I finde both will and abilitie in each poynt so furthering, as without I determined to winke still in mine owne blindnesse, I must renounce all fauourable conceyte, and vtterlie confesse the same to bee but an errour.
Epanodis.
Parison.
Anthypophora.
Asyndeton.
Meiosis.
Conoratiō.
For hauing waded into euerie deepe conceite, and imagination of the accident, well weighing with my selfe also what maner a one the partie hath beene, how euill vnto mee sithence he hath likewise beene reported of, how vilelie before my receit of him hee was generally demeaned, with what base people and men of basest reckoning I found him accompanied: I do immediatelie condemne my selfe that was so sottish as to expect any other euent at his handes, then what hath alreadie succeeded, seeing where so manie euil dispositions haue bene before time abounding, it is not easily noted that from such a one any good at all coulde bee at anie season proceeding. But too late nowe to my no small griefe, doe I fall into this reckoning, which wisedome would before haue preuented, and more circumspectlie haue intended to. For whence (if I trulie shoulde speake of the action) ensued this abilitie? Was it not the fauour and especiall liking wherewith I receyued him? Howe could hee else haue presumed on it? Howe could he haue sought it? Howe could he haue done it? But not for this doe I accuse thee my R. as either accessarie, or fauourer of so badde and vnkinde a purpose, but for thou knowing his course of life, weeting of my well deeming, assured of his beeing with me, hauing reported vnto thee in what degree I did credite him, woulde notwithstanding not so much as tell mee of him, nor suffer mee by thy gentle admonition so much as to surmize how I might bee deceiued by him.
Peroratiō.
Synonymia.
Let I pray thee the sorrowfull demonstration of these my Letters bee a meane vnto thee, as thou louest mee, tenderest mee, and carest for me, to search out the truth, the state and circumstance of the thing, and yet (forlorne as I am) seeke I therein but mine owne sorrow, for neuer shall I like of him, care for her, or hardlie after this in any sort abide her. Yet for my minde desireth to be resolued (though euen in these verie wordes deliuering I doe not seeme to doubt) let me receyue the plentie thereof at large, bee it that the resolution be a confirmation of mine owne vnhappinesse, the force whereof beeing past remedie I must support as I can, and seeke as I may to endure the rest with patience.
A Letter Defensorie Answering by Confutation All the Obiections in This Former Epistle Surmized
Exordium.
Insinuatiō.
It is sir, accustomed that men in griefe of minde doe often speake diuers things, for which in respect of their sorow they seeme to deserue many wayes to be pardoned, according to which, your selfe hauing of late sustained some aduerse hap, do what by surmises, & what by misreports, seeme to be at oddes with your owne liking, and vpon a sodein to become enraged with your owne fancie. In the course of your whole letter viewing the wrong you haue sustained, & the extreame disquiet wherewith you are perplexed, I pittie your misfortune, and as a friende doe inwardlie grieue at that wherewith you are troubled, wishing that either I had abilitie to redresse the matter to your liking, or otherwise that my wordes were of weight to perswade you, that with the extremity thereof you would not so greatly be moued.
Polyptoton.
Touching my kinsman, whome for my sake in such sort as you write you receiued, and to whome vpon the outward deserte of his behauiour you vouchsafed such entertainement, and vppon whose absence and departure (albeit with your good liking) you seeke to intrude the summe of all your vnhappinesse and misfortune. Hee is not indeede at this instant here in the countrey, but as I deeme and you haue informed, about London. Neuerthelesse for so much as it seemeth by your writing, and also by his thankful acknowledgement and deliuery, both vnto me and others, how much he hath stoode beholding vnto you, and that it standeth to bee parcel of a gentle mind, as wel to recognise a good turne, as to remoue by a louing censure an ill opinion, where the same rather of griefe then of malice is vniustlie conceiued (notwithstanding I may not so effectually speake to the purpose, as if himselfe were personally present) I will endeuour vpon mine owne knowledge as farre as I may, and so much as in truth I canne lawfully iustifie, hereby to satisfie you, and if it bee possible to expell those causelesse coniectures of him, that in such sort doe annoie you.
Apostrophe.
To the matter therefore wherewith you are grieued, I thus much dare affirme vnto you in his behalfe, that in all your imaginations you haue greatly misconceiued, and the reasons leading me thereunto are these.
Answere to the cause of coniecture.
Procatalepsis.
First, where your selfe doe confesse that the onely matter you haue in apparance inducing you to accuse him, is the credible report of a friende of yours, that sawe him and your daughter at London, and a suppose thereby, that shee is at his disposition, and the theft of your goodes to them both an indifferent finding. I saie the validitie of all this is nothing, for omitting that by diuers casualties men and women at aduenture doe daily meete, experience whereof is in common vse amongst our selues, and euen then when we least do thinke of it, and most woulde woonder at it, the reason whereof I ouerpasse, because to the accident I am but a straunger, what reason haue you so resolutelie to thinke that the expenses whereon they remaine (so bee it they doe as you alleadge continue togethers) must onelie bee drawne out from that part of your lost substaunce, and so by consequence aggrauate a likelihoode of his stealing your daughter? I neede not I trust perswade you of his kindred, nor abilitie of his friendes, it resteth not in doubt, you knowe it: then vnderstande you sir, it may also bee as possible, that some one or other of them might at the length by some more gentle motion then before time tender his good. Whereof I need make no question, my selfe can assure you, for that an Aunt of his dying of late, left him possessions to three hundred poundes value, which beeing at his choise either to accept a diuision or money, it is like he hath the coine and let the lande goe, and therupon is the better enabled to do what is reported vnto you both for her and himselfe.
Erotema.
Dichologia.
Anthipophora.
Pleonasmus.
Hereupon you begin to call in reckoning his life, and I knowe not what late reportes and informations of his liuing, to coniecture thereupon his common disposition and ill vsage, with abilitie to doe you a displeasure, performed by your owne countenance. Alas sir, why shuld you be so far led awry by these vncertainties? Know ye not that reportes are manie times slaunders? and that men for the most parte speake generallie when they find a man in any sort to be iniured particularlie? Hee is my kinsman I confesse, but not for that would I yet defende him in his treacheries, but for mine owne knowledge of him from the beginning, canne I witnesse the contrarie, I must tell you to conclude thereupon, you do him small equitie. What if hee fell into your notice by a little penurie? Manie an innocent and good man by want hath beene driuen to ill companie, yet themselues vnknowing, and not weeting at all of their facultie, and so truelie may I herein deeme of him, gladlie in the meane time thanking you, and himselfe eftsoones confessing the weight hee then receiued of your curtesie.
Antithesis.
Metonoia.
And if we shall aunswere likelihoodes againe by coniectures, why may not (I pray ye) the carefull endeuor and diligent aduerting, your selfe doe confesse in all his continuance to haue remained in him towards your liking, be as well a testimony of his honest affection, and glad indeuor to recompence by any seruice your kindnes, as vpon his naked sole information, you would goe about to wrest it as a token of dissembled iniurie? Nay rather why may not the suppose thereof bee forcible to quench any other conceipt to the contrarie, seeing in the reuolution of the same, you also doe graunt, that in all his behauiour you neuer sawe so much as one suspect, whereby so farre as you are gone, in such sort to induce you? For my part if we shal studie to measure the conditions of men aright, I am of opinion that wee ought rather to credit the vse and practise daily seene before our eies, then by any misreport or vnseemely coniecture to giue scope vnto our owne imagination or a selfe willed fantasie.
Anthithesis.
Dialysis.
Confutatiō.
Honest gratuity and dissembled trechery, seldom in my conceipt, do drawe in one line togethers, thankefull I doe know him vnto you for any benefite, for I haue seene him more then once, and that most feruentlie to professe it, how he should halt with you by nature I finde not, as whereunto I neuer saw him addicted: besides, thus much can I yet say more to ascertaine you, that about the time mentioned in your Letter, hee came hither to visite vs, sithence which till within this fortnight he remained with vs. After about the receipt of his money, and for the conclusion of that agreement, hee was disposed to London. There what hath betided him I cannot rightlie enforme you, yet may the apparance hereof bee sufficient, by good reason to assure you, that beeing thus continued, as I haue declared, hee coulde verie hardly and almost without possibilitie, haue beene so forwardes in the matter as hath beene suggested by you.
Epilogus.
In respect of your ancient amity and acquaintance, I doe yet pray you, that you wil be recomforted of your griefes, opposing vnto your selfe this one assurance, that by some strange euent your daughter is happened to his knowledge, and this fixed hope that by beeing with him, she is retained to her best safegard, who as well in respect of the accompt he beareth vnto you, as of the curteous regard it is most like he carieth vnto her, hath vpon some vrgent businesse beene compelled to stay her, determining in some conueniuent time, I warrant you to your comforte and his credite and good opinion to be encreased, to returne her vnto you. Not being vnmindfull howe much I haue heretofore beene staied, both to thinke woorthilie of you, and to thanke you, I doe for the present bid you most hartile farewell. T. this of, &c.