active 1575-1595 Angel Day

“ Yours or not his owne. He who found you, but neuer knew you. He that once fauoured you, but sithence hath vowed neuer to regarde you. Whose liking by your ingratitude hath beene quenched. In whose account you once were, but now abandoned. Who once wished to loue, but could neuer hate thee. Whom thy deserts haue made an enemie. Whom hereby you may win, (if you list) for euer to become a friend. To each one louing, but to the most charie. Whose heart shall faile in any thing, sooner then in conceit towardes thee. Hée, whose in loialtie thou didst protest to be. Who liueth not but to pursue thee. ”

“ 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?3 By his ofspring, as if we should saie, Being born, and bred of lewde parents, how can the issue be good. ”

“ For in thinges alwaies knowne to be of themselues either good or euill, there is no great cunning to make a shew of them as they are: but of things which either by times, by liking, by place, by allowance, by conuersation may be deemed good or bad, to be commended or disalowed, in the setting foorth thereof appeareth both skill and discretion.
For example, that mariage is a thinge much to be preferred, and to the increase of man of so greate necessitie, as without which there could bée no orderlie estate or societie, no man I am sure will denie mée. ”

“ And although pregnant wit ensuing by nature was the foremost cause that first bred the inuention of Letters, and that euery one naturally can speake, or in some sort or other set down their meaning:2 yet Art preuailing in the cause, and by cunning skill marshalling euery thing in his due order, place and proportion, how much more the same is then beautified, adorned, and as it were in a new shape transmuted by such kind of knowledge, the difference that dailie appeareth may yeeld proofe sufficient. ”

“ Weeping, wailing, and her handes, wringing, she moued all men to pitie her. Or thus: Thou liuest maliciouslie, speakest hatefully, and vsest thy selfe cruelly. Or thus: Wee find it much better of wise men to be rebuked, then by filthie flatterie to be fondly deceyued.
Prosonomasia, pleasant kind of collusion in words, in significations diuers, only by changing, detracting, or adding a letter or sillable in a word, as to say, No doubt he is a foole wise man, for a full wise man, for a Doctor, a Doter, or otherwise, thou art no bewraier, but a betraier of mens counsels. ”

“ Metaphora. the radiant shining beames resiant in so high a personage, may with more facilitie the sooner bee discouered: wee will first beginne with his originall and foremost infancie, that by deducing from thence his complementes of princelie excellencie, euen in the verie mouth of his entombed graue, his bones may not bee reposed without an immortall recordation, and the fame of his vertue celebrated by an endlesse memorie. ”

“ What nature is this, to worke vnto her,Synonymia. whome of your owne flesh you haue ingendered, whome so long you haue nourished, whome to such and so manie perfections you haue trained,Metonoia vppon a suddaine, naie euen in one moment, so manifest an occasion to cast her awaie, not yeelding vnto her heauy censure,Hyperbole. 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. ”

“ The diuersities of Epistles are manifold, as wherof ensueth a platforme to euerie motion, being in truth so infinite as are ye imaginations of each ones fantasie, seeing the declaration of euerie letter, is no more then what the minde willeth in all occasions to be perfourmed, and according to such instigations wherewith at that instant men are fed when they write, taketh his formall substance, whether it be to require, counsel, exhort, command, informie, commend, entreat, aduertise, gratulate, or whatsoeuer other purpose therein pretended, as cause and matter maie fall out to be required. ”

“ Among all fruites and blossomes on the ground, are there not some that are sooner then others, euen on their tenderest braunches, as it were alreadie ripened, and others againe that by long lying are made rotten and mellowed? Al flowers spring not at one instant, nor all blossoms with one sole blast are scattered. ”

“ What one is hee of so slender or contemptible a spirit amongst vs, or who of all our Nation woulde bee counted so enuious, as vpon so great and large a desert had by a man so woorthie, woulde not willinglie render vnto him all honour and due commendation? Likewise of the contrarie for dispraise. Doth it not abhorre you to heare and vnderstand of a rabble of so great and vnaccustomed lewdnesse, a man euerie way so vile, to goe thus freelie vnpunished? Surelie I doe thinke no honest minde but would be of this opinion, that of all creatures liuing hee were most worthie to be extirped. ”

“ What hope haue we of good, if what men list, they may; and what they may they do, and what they doe they dare, and what they dare they prosecute, and what they prosecute, they are neuer ashamed of.
95
Antimetauole or Commutatiō, when a sentence by charge is inuerted to the contrarie, as thus, We must eat to liue, and not liue to eat: Not man for the Sabboth, but the Sabboth for man was ordained. They are happy whose wisdome is answerable to their fortune, and whose fortune answereth their wit. ”

“ Hereunto accordeth the proofe of all common societie, wherein men onely of those that know them are iudged as they be, but in generall reckoning, are euer censured according to the goodnesse or badnesse of those, with whom they liue familiarlie. It followeth therefore, that Who so will no euill doe, must doe nought that longs thereto, for in good men it is not alwayes inough of themselues wittinglie not to haue committed anie euill, but hee that desireth to be good indeed, ought not so much as to become an occasion or slander of euill. ”

“ What is it that you propose vnto mee these small matters of vnkindnesse, as that the man is ingratefull, that hee hath no good remembraunce of courtesies, that there is in him not so much as an acknowledgement, which is a thing farre from requitall, these I must confesse are iniuries to some, but vnto mee they are trifles, matters of no moment, things not to bee reckoned of: what say you to him that betrayeth his friend, seeketh his death that hath sought his life, worketh by all possible meanes his ouerthrow, his destruction and vndoing? ”

“ The partes and places exhorting or perswading hauing as you sée bene drawne from the qualities of praise, fortified in diuers sortes, as well by the person, by the action, as by the thing it selfe, where vnder was comprehended what might be called honest or good: So these on the contrarie parte pulling backe or disswading, shall by the vnhonestie of the action or thing as before hath bin said, and by the indignitie, vniustnes, wickednes, insufferablenes, hate, mislike, contempt, or hazard of danger, reputation or good name that thereof ensueth, be euermore measured. ”

“ If she be proude, then may she be vnsupportable: if her wit be more then his, then arrogant: if she be foolish, then a mocking stocke: if she be faire, then a spectacle to gaze on: if foule, then a simpring puppet to wonder on: if shee be rich, presumptuous: if poore, then happilie odious. But being what shee may bee, or touching her owne person the best she can bee, what intollerable charge bringeth shee with her, what cost of apparel, what care of diet, what houshold of seruants, what expence for attendance, what prouision for children ”

“ Men infected with this kinde of scurrilitie, and basenesse of condition, being in proper designments Curri-fauels of the world, it is no maruell if hauing in common request, all shewes possible of graffed and sound demeanours, they slide manie times into the opinions of the most notable and worthiest, for they haue learned by art to acquaint themselues at the first with all sorts of humors and fashions, and being of their owne dispositions so placable as they be in all things, it is with them a maner of sacriledge, to bee found slacke or contrarious in anie thing, Dicunt? ”

“ 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, 56 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. ”

“ If therefore of his owne mind and disposition a man endeuoureth to bee good, and so to liue and be accounted of, him then beseemeth chieflie to haue respect to the companie hee holdeth. For which occasion, the Philosopher aduiseth, that men being good, doe choose to haue familiaritie with men that are best, to the intent that by the societie of them, their Vertue may haue encrease, and themselues learne to become better. ”

“ Once you confesse she doth not loue you, then no question, would she ten times more hate you: Your answere I knowe would bee, either by entreatie to perswade her, or by force to subdue her.
The conclusion is friuolous,Dialysis. if being now her supposed wel-willer, you can by no meanes allure her, imagine you then by prayers to conuince her, after you haue once shewed your selfe so extreame vnto her? And if force be it you pretend, it is repugnant to gentlenes, yet (be it you neglect what therein to be considered) assure your selfe her malice neuerthelesse towards you will neuer be quenched. ”

“ You must call to minde that liuing in a place so ordinarilie frequented as is the Citie,Monitiō. 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. ”

“ The corruption of young men, by nothing so much accrueth, as by the slender respect they haue of those with whome they do accompanie, for that it resteth assuredlie out of doubt, that the euill example and encouragement of one vile and ill disposed person, hurteth more a great deale oftentymes in one dayes companie kéeping, then seuen yeares endeuour afterwards, maie release by anie good instruction. ”

“ Like as they greatlie do offend, who going to a publike well, whence all a whole citie hath their water, do infect the same with a most deadly poison: Euen so do they most wickedly merit of the common weale, who deprauing the mind of a Prince, doe lade and frequent the same with most mischieuous counsels. Or thus: Is it seene that men at the blast or byting of a Viper, do shrinke, and forthwith do run for a medicine? How much more ought they thē, for the auoiding of a most horrible shame, ye infamous sting wherof is far worse then all other poisons, to run to a remedie? ”

“ By discretion to discerne, by vertue to iudge, and by wisdome to resolue, how and which way the efficacie and assurance of all trust and fidelitie ought to be caried, is a thing meetest in all reputation principallie to be obserued. How can there otherwise appeare anie worthinesse, if affections sort to bee equall, or what distinguishment may there be of spirits when mens iudgementes are common. ”

“ If as louing mates and companions wee drawe forth togethers, we doubtlesse shall by Gods blessed goodnes see the fruits of our labours. Our children shall participate with vs of our trauels, and God shal prosper our endeuours. And howbeit good wife, I haue alwaies found you such, as of whose care to my well doing I neede haue no doubt, yet if by the importance of my charge I bee driuen thus much to write vnto you, thinke that in great trust of your modesty, respect of your loue, & zeale to both our goods I haue done the same. ”

“ Others againe so rife and so abundant in teares, as the least shewe of repetition in them, induceth matter inough of continual mourning for which cause, we will sort these matters of comfort, into three seuerall orders. The first whereof shall be at choice, plainelie and simply as occasion serueth to comfort or perswade, measuring our common calamities by ye rule of Iudges, séeing vnto a wise man, no one thing can returne cause of disquiet so much as the shrowd of filthinesse and ignominious shame, neither can hee be hurt of anie one without himselfe. ”

“ What will you make of this man, whom ye seeke in this maner to set free, you see he is a man prodigall of his owne fame, & a lier in waite for others credits, one full of guile, intemperate, railing, proude and ambitious, to his parents most wicked, ingratefull to his friends, hated of his owne kinsemen, stubborne to his superiours, insolent with his equals, to his inferiours cruell, and finallie to all persons whatsoeuer a creature most intolerable. ”

“ To accompanie the troubles, miseries, calamities and infortunities of him to whom we are this waies, or that waies in our seruice linked or beholding, or to beare willinglie, and with a sufferable mind for his sake, whatsoeuer in declaration of our vertue seemeth to an honest disposition, to be either incident or appertaining, no man verely denieth, but that they are assured & notable demonstrations of a verie exquisite performance. ”

“ To mankinde there happeneth in the bodie manie deformities, which arising not by the defect of Nature, so much as by ill vsage of those, who haue had charge ouer them, cannot be amended, but being produced by Nature, doe portend some one or other notable inconuenience: To beautifie such a shape with vertuous and honoured actions, is vndoubtedlie praise worthie, but to accord vnto faire lineaments, portraied with requisite and daintie fauour, a mind corrupt, base, wretched and vile, that of all others is the most greatest and noted deformitie. ”

“ And for my selfe, stand ye all assertained, that hauing long since poyzed in equall ballance, the long continuance of a fraile, wretched, and trauelled life, the most part whereof is caryed away Mislike of the world.in sleepe, sorrowe, griefe sickenesse, daunger, and the residue also neuer freed of care and all maner of disquiet, with the hope of an euerlasting ioy, happines, rest peace, and immortall residence: I finde no reason whie I should at all affect the toyle of such earthlie tediousnesse. ”

“ 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. ”

“ For what profitable member can hee bee in such a place, whose ignoraunce is farre greater then his witte, and whose knowledge is lesse then the least of that, whereof hee ought to take notice and experience. And seeing learning is of all other thinges, a store-house so plentifull and precious,Epanodis. as whereof the wiseman maketh his treasure, the poore man his riches, and the wealthy one his pastime and pleasure, shall the Gentleman who in all other thinges, by Nature striueth to bee excellent, bee in the greatest action of all others so carelesse and negligent?Paramologia. ”

“ A fewe daies are to bee passed in which there is yet time, fame wounded in life may once bee restored, if death doe preuente thee, thy shame and destruction is for euer shrowded.Antithesis. The next newes I hear from thee, may make thee fortunate, or me for thee alwaies vnhappie. My longing would bee satisfied of this from which I dehortEpilogus. thee. If onelie herein thou condiscende vnto mee, my selfe am thine, and to none so much as thy selfe absolutely, I loue thee, I require thee, I pray thee, and pray for thee, that thou maist as I wish, and wouldest as I bid, bee for, and to mee. ”

“ There bee men in the worlde that are so carelesse of their fortune, and so verie fooles in their wishing, as they coulde content themselues greatlie to bee in the like predicamente with thee: but thou I assure my selfe art of a cleane contrarie opinion, sweare no more good T. I am perswaded alone that it vtterly discontenteth thee. ”

“ And so may a man with his inferiour also in good sort sometime expostulate an iniurie, wherin if he shall vouchsafe so to doe, the partie lesse in abilitie hath the more reason to recognize his courtesie: for a man of good sort and greatlie reputed of, to offer as it were an imparlance vnto his inferiour, whereby to argue with him a matter in suspence to bee noted an iniury, cannot be but much to be praised, and so adiudged in that betternesse, as to procéede of a most singular bountie. ”

“ To ouercome others by vertue is a thinge most honourable, but in pursuite thereof to bee conuinced of any other, is a thinge most vituperable: You are nowe brought by Fortune into a straight passage,Dialysis. whereby of necessitie you must either by reputation of most excelling worthinesse finish the iourney, or recreant and discomfited, confesse the vttermost of your imbecilitie. But what doe I conferre vnto your viewe, the notes of such and so manie doubtes and hazardes, knowing a minde insinuate in your selfe by nature,Anthypophora. ”