Of the Habite and Parts of an Epistle. Cap. 3
Character of an Epistle generall.
Epistles distinguished into generall and speciall.
Letters general are familar.
Letters special.
Difference of stile.
Seeing an Epistle hath chieflie his definition herof, in that it is tearmed the familiar and mutuall talke of one absent friende to another: it seemeth the Character thereof, shoulde according thereunto bee simple, plaine, and of the lowest and meanest stile, vtterlie deuoid of anie shadow of hie and loftie speaches: yet neuerthelesse, for so much as in the argument of a great manie of them (whose seuerall distinctions hereafter shall appeare) is required (as I said before) a more high and loftie deliuerance, partaking manie waies with that kinde accustomed in Orations, and is therefore accordinglie to be necessarilie furnished with the pointes thereunto incident: we will for the present, sort all kinde of Epistles onelie into these two maner of differences, the one part whereof shall be said to be general, and the other speciall. vnder this title of generall shall bee comprehended all such, as either for fashions sake, custome, dutie, curtesie, or other familiaritie do ordinarilie passe from one part to another, rather of a pleasant conceit, or some other more district or seuere motion, then of anie extraordinarie cause, forme, or substance in either of them contained. Such are those as whome either long acquaintance, or ancient familiaritie, haue caused enterchangeablie to haue performed: or fatherly reuerence, and seruile dutie haue bound, by graue authoritie ouer children, kindred or seruants, accustomablie to be continued. These, for the common and ordinarie matter in euerie of them vsed, being vtterly exempt from anie waight or grauitie at all, are rightlie tearmed by the name of familiar letters. They nowe that be speciall are such, the matter of whome (as I said before) doe admit both higher stile, and more orderlie deliuerance, according to the waight of the argument, in anie of them to bee handled: and for this cause are tearmed speciall, as bearing in them a resolute purpose and intendment seriouslie to discourse vpon, to answere, mittigate or auoid any certain matter or causes, importing the present affairs whereupon the direction is framed. Of them also are certaine diuisions, learnedly by skilfull Authours, that heretofore haue beene distinguished, the titles whereof I doe omit, in another place then this more opportune to be hereafter remembred. These as they are from the others manie waies estranged in their seuerall argumentes: so vnto the conueiance and expressing of their causes appertaineth both other order, and diuers partes in them (then in the residue) more fullie to be considered. In whose composition, that there maie be a platforme gathered of a more certaine proceeding, we wil as others haue thought meet, distinguish their seuerall parts as they fall out to be borrowed in an oration.
Inuention.
Disposition.
Eloquution.
Helps to Inuention and Eloquution.
In such kind therefore of Epistles, rightly and with good skil to be handled, the learner shal vnderstand, that there are three things, by meanes whereof, for the needfull expressing and orderlie deliuerie of anie matter whatsoeuer, he must of necessitie be furnished. Inuention first, wherein plentifullie is searched and considered, what kind of matter, how much varietie of sentences, what sorts of figures, how many similitudes, what approbations, diminutions, insinuations and circumstances are presentlie needefull, or furthering to the matter in handling. Then, Disposition, whereby is orderlie, cunninglie, and perfectlie laid downe and disposed, euerie matter and cause in his due order, proportion and place. Thirdlie, Eloquution, whose efficacie in speaches, neate, pure and elegant, is in the other Chapter vnder aptnes of words sufficientlie alreadie described. The first and the last of these three, as they are greatlie put forwarde by nature, which in some being farre more curious of imitation and studie of the best, then in other some, whose will and conceit alike, doe (by a verie instinct) affect and couet far more baser purposes: so besides the furtherance continuallie atchieued by often vse of reading, shall herein be greatlie holpen, in that for the selfe same purpose, and to the intent the learner maie as well in his natiue tongue, know the right vse of figures and Tropes heretofore neuer by him vnderstoode, as also discerne and vse them, out of others and in his own writings. I haue at the latter end of this booke, gathered together all such Figures, Schemes and Tropes hereunto needefull and conuenient, and there haue by sundrie familiar examples expressed their vses and seuerall effects. In diligent conceit and aduerting whereof, the vse vnto the practiser shall in short time bee founde greatlie auaileable, by the benefit thereby attained.
Stile of Epistles.
Sublime.
Humile.
Mediocre.
Now in as much as Eloquution is annexed vnto the stile, which euermore is also tied to the argument and substance of euerie Epistle: it is to be regarded what stile maie generallie bee deemed meetest for the common habit, wherein each of them maie ordinarilie be published. In the recording whereof, we do find thrée sorts, especiallie in all kinds of writing and speaking, to haue bene generallie commended. Sublime, the highest and stateliest maner, and loftiest deliuerance of anie thing that maie bee, expressing the heroicall and mightie actions of Kinges, Princes, and other honourable personages, the stile whereof is said to be tragicall swelling in choice, and those the most haughtiest tearmes, commended, described, amplified and preferred also by Orators, which manie excellent Figures and places of Rhetorique. Humile, the lowest comicall, and most simple of all others, the matter whereof is the meanest subiect of anie argument that maie be, entermedling in common causes, aduertisements and mutuall affectes of euerie one, the stile whereof sweepeth euen the very grounde it selfe, and is fittest appropriate to our familiar Letters, for that in such familiar causes and maners, the same is solely frequented, in which neuertheless is Sua faceties et elegantia quædam his certaine kind of elegancie, pleasant and neat conueiance, not altogether to be sequestred from that kinde of deliuerance. Mediocre, a meane betwixt high and lowe, vehement and slender, too much and too little, as we saie, in which are expressed histories, Declamations, Comentaries, and other intermingled actions, not of anie in particular, but of all in generall, this stile of all others maie be adapted vnto these speciall kinds of Epistles.
Skilfull vse of writing.
Parts of an Epistle.
Exordium.
Narratiō & Propositiō.
Confirmatiō.
Confutatiō.
Peroratiō.
Thus then it followeth, that whether we write familiarlie, or waightilie, we must endeuour as neere as maie bee that each be perfourmed skilfullie, for that to neither of them maie want learning, without the knowledge whereof, what ornament can there be at all of this expected elegancie. The particularities whereof included in these two titles Inuention and Eloquution, both Nature and Skill do put forward as we daily see by a double instruction. This therfore sufficing for those twain, let vs see what parts are supplied in an Epistle, succéeding in the other also, and ayding to Disposition. The first place is Exordium, a beginning or introduction to the matter to be written of, which is not always after one sort or fashion, but in diuerse maners: as sometimes by preamble, wherein either for our selues, or the cause we write of, or in respect of him, for or to whom we write, wee studie to win fauor or allowance of the matter, sometimes by insinuation, wherin couertly, either in respect that the matter requireth long debatement or that mislike may bee alreadie grounded in him to whom we direct our letters, we seeke by cunning reasons to shewe that the case so requiring is tollerable: or in the other, that rather equity then selfe opinion must and ought chieflie to be weighed. Sometimes by a similitude, wherein by manifesting the like of that we take in hand to haue bene commenced, tollerated, or equally censured, wee intend the same, or lesse force in our selues, at their hands to bee borne withall or accepted, and diuerse other wayes besides, as in the Epistles following shall be tendred. Then Narratiō, or Propositiō, each seruing to one effect, wherein is declared or proponed, in the one by plaine tearmes, in the other by inference, or comparison, the verie substance of the matter whatsoeuer to be handled. Then Confirmatiō, wherein are amplified or suggested many reasons, for the aggrauating or proof of any matter in question. After Confutatiō, whereby is diminished, disproued or auoided, whatsoeuer to bee supposed, obiected or aggrauated. Lastlie, Peroratiō, in which after a briefe recapitulation of that which hath beene vrged, the occasions thereof are immediatelie concluded. These are not altogither at all times vsed, but some or the most of them as occasion serueth, either admitted or reiected: besides which, others also are sometimes remembred. The vse whereof as in sundrie Epistles they may be deemed necessarie, shall in their seuerall examples hereafter perused, appeare more euidentlie and largely.