Of Epistles Deprecatorie. Cap. 7
The menaces of this last Epistle you may well déeme to haue issued from a hot enraged Spirit: of which though the stile bee vehement, yet vnto men alike humorous, the same may stand for a president. Such kinde of inuentions and men so affected with such estranged passions, are as we sée diuerslie found, wherof I thought good to giue foorth this example to bee considered, the waight neuerthelesse to bee measured as in the others before to the person and matter occurrent. And nowe will we to the last of all this state Iudiciall, which are the Epistles Deprecatorie. The title of these Epistles carrieth a name, accordant to the submissiue matter in them contayned, for their efficacies are onlie carried by entreatie, request of fauour, good opinion, allowance or pardon of anie iniurie or offence conceyued or committed. In good natures, it is a thing proper to weigh with themselues, howe much anie waies they stand charged, whether by respect of person, dutie, friendship or soueraigntie, accordinglie thereupon to frame their speeches or writings. Yet is not the matter hereof Supplicatorie, as growing by waie of petition. But rather an honest and gentle submission to the good liking, estimate or friendlie respect of such, vnto whome, or by whome we are either accused, tied, charged, or constrained, clearing, if it may be, or honestly otherwise mitigating or auoyding what sinisterly, or vpon some intended conceit, may be drawne to be against vs, and of the vse hereof to be spoken let this now be sufficient.
An Example of an Epistle Deprecatorie, Where the Partie Is Charged in Good Opinion
Exordium.
Hypotyposis.
WHen a Phisiognomer by chaunce (hauing beene famous in other places) came into the forum of Athens, hee declared by the view of diuers mens faces the diuersitie of their conditions, whereupon (for better triall of his Arte) hee was demaunded what (Prima facie) he thought of Socrates, he answered, by his countenance, to be a man of verie euill condition. The people which knew the contrarie, growing thereby into great rage, were readie to driue him out of the forum. But Socrates comming forth. Be not angrie (quoth he) for such a one might I haue beene, if by Philosophie I had not corrected my maners.
By this might bee inferred (right Woorshipfull) that at the first shewe, it is not good to giue rash iudgement of anie man, for the Phisiognomer beeing able to iudge what men might bee, was not able to say iustlie such they are: In like manner, your Worship hauing beene led by misreports, are able to say, thus it is spoken, but not so it is.
Narratiō.
To my great griefe it is informed vnto mee, that by the sinister report of mine aduersaries, you thinke hardly of me. And so much the rather haue I cause to bee grieued, for that in the mouth of an ignorant person, I am not therby iudged of, but by the sentence and opinion of the wise, held a man badly demeaned, careles, and such a one as beareth small reputation.
Epanodis.
Beleeue mee sir, and if it please you to take further notice of me, you shal find it true, that it is more euill vnto me to be adiudged loose of a wise man, then of a thousand base persons to be vtterly condemned, for that the one speaketh of skill, and the other of a bad conceipt, the first wishing all men to bee good, the other confessing no man to be sufficient, that is not possessed with euil.
My aduersaries haue brought many heauy informations vnto you tending in outward shew to my great disgrace, naming me as it pleaseth them, a man (as they thinke of themselues) indifferent for all purposes. But because I know you to bee wise, and thinke it a matter of no small accompt to be well thought of at your hands: I am therfore the more carefull to cleare my selfe, and do beseech you, that you will hold for firme what I do here set down: assuring your selfe, that whatsoeuer my aduersaries report of me, I doe make accompt what speeches passe from me: and those that I deliuer vpon credite, I will performe with trust.
This then I say for aunswere generall, to whatsoeuer they canne obiect, that if any parte of that in substaunce they haue deliuered vnto you for certaine bee true, I will loose the credite of a Gentleman, and bee regarded as I repute them: and besides, will repay whatsoeuer is to me paide, and release what nowe I haue in sute against them.
Besides, pleaseth it your Worship for my credit sake to haue the hearing of the cause, I will come face to face, and (though I knowe the one of them to haue a shamelesse countenance) of himselfe, yet let bring what counsell he will with himselfe, if I ouerthrowe not euery matter obiected, and proue my selfe an honest man, I will loose the debte and my credit too, which I accompt aboue all debts. Haue not I then had great cause (hauing beene as vnto you, so in diuers other places besides verie vniustlie railed at and defamed) to write vnto these persons, and inueigh against them for it? Behold my letter throughout, being well considered of, it shall bee euident that I had great cause, and that very manifold to do it: for my part I knowe not what others deeme, but touching my selfe, I had rather lose my life then my good name, then which vnto me nothing is of more regard, and I tell you sir, if F. or a better man then he maketh no more reckoning, but to defame me without a cause, he shal know and vnderstand that my credit is deare vnto me, and that to maintaine the contrarie he shall find a hard reckoning.
I spende not my time in making of Lybels, but to write in reproofe of him that abuseth mee, which I take so highlie in griefe, as namelie, they shoulde be so shamelesse to report that vnto your Worship which they cannot stande to, that I holde it a wretchednes therein to be silent, and a mischiefe for credit sake not to discouer a trueth.
Epilogus.
Beseeching your worship of fauour and credite, to me and my rude lines, I humblie take my leaue, beeing alwaies ready to auouch what here I haue set down, wherof not failing I remaine
Your worships whensoeuer to
be commanded.
An Example of an Epistle Deprecatory, in Cause of Wrong Supposed to Bee Committed
Exordium.
Dicæologia.
Silepsis.
SIr, your Letters more troublesome to my conceipts, then sauoring (as I am credibly led to thinke) of that your woonted most noble disposition vnto mee, I haue receiued. With what supportation and vnaccustomed griefe I haue retained them, I refer to anie one (guiltlesse accused and suspended from so high fauours as formerly by your bountie hath been to me performed) simplie to be coniectured. Long was it ere I could satisfie my selfe by any accesse that might bee to proffer my selfe or these humble Letters vnto you: Yet neuerthelesse weighing howe farre different these newe occurrentes were from those your auncient fauours, I surmised with my selfe that the instigation proceeded soly from others, hardlie perchaunce bearing those graces wherein I stoode with you, and becomming thereupon my bitter enemies, the sinister deuise whereof, stood vpon me wholy to ouerthrow or impugne. For which hauing no other or better meane at this instant, then these my submissiue lines, I propose them vnto you, as solicitors of your former liking, confessing that if any waies I haue erred vnto you, as I will not vtterlie seclude my selfe from any errour, it was but as a young man, and rather by ignoraunce, then of malice anie waies to bee intended. And as touching any other obiection, let mee but craue pardon to haue accesse vnto your presence, and then iudge as you finde mee. Two waies are onelie left, my accusers to my face, or mine owne simplicitie to cleare me. This is all I require, and so much I hope you will not denie me. Wherewith resting in the due acknowledgement of that your former bounty, I humbly surcease. This fifteenth of Nouember.
An Example of an Epistle Deprecatory, Pleasantly Written to Answere a Former — Letter
Exordium.
THe long sweating paines wherein your good selfe (my verie good friend A) haue lately trauelled with your weatherbeaten barke, to aunswere my Letters, moueth mee (howe simply so euer) to reply a little to the same. Wherein, pardon first craued for so meane a wit, at a suddaine, to take vppon it, to encounter so selected a stile, wherewith your youthfull yeares are so replenished, I go to the matter.
Touching the iar you make of my formost writing, and late inciting you to the tediousnesse of your studying, which for the causes alleadged, your curtesie yet vouchsafeth to allow of, I, with so friendlie a prospect as may be to so respectiue a iudgement, do right curiously thanke you.
The compasse of your writing, according to the measure it beareth, being so much mystical, as that the grossenesse of my wit cannot well conceiue of, hauing drawne thereinto as it seemeth, the very quintessence of those well performed partes, that in your person are resiant, maketh me post off the answere, till by a more deepe consideration I may better conforme me vnto it. Wherein I must confesse in very deed, that all that may be within or without, ouer or vnder, or besides master B. you haue to the vttermost strained.
For the paines you haue taken, I must pray you pardon though I render you no profit. My forgetfulnesse also in prising the simple value I beare, with your worthines, & many other beautified parts of your gentlenes, you must also let slip, otherwise I am vndone with the griefe, and so I would sir, your worship did take it.
Nowe as touching the forgoing complaint you thrust in of your wants, I could hardly beleeue that in the action you beare you could so greatly be distressed. Neuerthelesse, for the little time I haue beene of your masterships acquaintance, I haue vnderstoode of some that weare a veluet suite with as small inheritance as your selfe, who haue vsed the matter as slenderlie as may be, by any great credit to bee accompted of.
Epilogus.
Yet must you needes giue me leaue to be gone, for the tide tarieth no man, but if you find your selfe in the lurch before I returne againe, the best is, at my home comming you know where to find me. Et sic valeas, gentle friend Topas.