A panoplie of epistles, or, a looking glasse for the vnlearned Conteyning a perfecte plattforme of inditing letters of all sorts, to persons of al estates and degrees, as well our superiours, as also our equalls and inferiours: vsed of the best and the eloquentest rhetoricians that haue liued in all ages, and haue beene famous in that facultie. Gathered and translated out of Latine into English, by Abraham Flemming.

M. R. Aschame, to the moste noble Gentlewoman, Lady Anne, wife to the Right honourable, the Earle of Penbroche.

THE ARGVMENT.

This Epistle consisteth of three members: the firste is gratulatorie, touching the person of himselfe and his freende, M. Mid. the seconde is petitorie in the behalfe of M. Pin. the third is exhorta¦torie and laudatorie, as by the course of the words and the mat∣ter may be gathered: so then, it is apparant, that this is, and may be called Epistola mixta: the reasons why, are manifest, & neede no declaration.

THe greate benefites whiche you haue bestowed vpon M. M. and the greater good wil which you haue testified vnto mée, require infinite thankes at my handes, Right Ho∣nourable Ladie. But, sithence your estate is so hautie & high, & my degrée on y^• other side of suche inequalitie, that you may better bestowe newe benefites, then I pay olde thankes: yet notwithstanding, I reioyce excéedingly, that this kinde of courtesie, is at this present, of your Ladyship to be craued, wherein your Gentlenes is more prest & rea∣dy to giue a graunt, then is my labour to aske and desire. My request is, that M, P. may enioy still the fruite of your bountifull fauour, and furtheraunce, as he hathe hitherto had the same in vse, to his special aduantage. And although, I am well assured, and knowe it for a veritie, that you will haue him in such acceptation & countenance, as y^• he shal not stande in néede of my commendation, sithence he is of suffi∣ciencie by himself, to obteine al things tending to his auaile: yet notwithstanding thus muche I craue in his behalfe, yea.

I craue it with instancie & earnestnes, euen as thoughe the matter perteined to mine owne person, that he may haue the benefite of your Ladyshippes fauour and assistaunce, to the Queenes maiestie, whereby he may be persuaded, and I also a•…•…sured, y^• by the meanes of this my petitorie Epistle, your old accustomed goodwil, vnto him a long time cōtinued is by y^• putting too of a new trial of fauour, not diminished, but increased. Wherfore, you must be as careful, as circum∣spect, & as diligēt as may be, euen to the vttermost, that both the goodly gyftes of your witte and knowledge, the learned preceptes of your teacher, the passing examples of N. your brother, and the footesteppes of your moste worthie Father whiche you tred and followe, should moue and stirre you vpp to the imbracing of learning, to the purchasing of praise, and to the attayning of Noblenesse. I doe not occupie my penne to write in this order, as thoughe I should séeme to withdrawe you from lingring, but rather in this your for∣ward running to giue you incouragement: & that I might be thought not so muche to take vpon me the office of one that exhorteth, as to discharge the duetie of one y^• reioyceth, albe∣it my letter hathe that notable verse of Ouid for a president and example.

Who so exhortes you that to doe, Whiche you to doe intend, Whiles he exhortes, the wordes he speakes His owne deedes doe commend.

I feare I am to tedious. Thus muche doth onely remaine, & rest behinde, that it would please you to write back again, if it be but in thrée wordes, by this young Gentleman my good fréend & wel wiler: your letter shalbe vnto mée most cer taine testimonies & vndoubted assurances, bothe of your in∣crease of knowledge in the latine toung, & also of the fauour and goodwill whiche you beare me. Commende mée (I pray you) to that worthie Gentleman T. S. & Win. if his name be not out of my memorie: the swéetenesse of his manners, and the delightsomnesse of his •…•…ehauiours, haue taken more déepe roote in my remembraunce, then can by any force be pluckte vp and loosed.

Notes

• From the acknowledge¦ment and con¦fessing of be∣nefites recei∣ued, he falleth orde•…•…ly to his petition: whiche is a very good & 〈◊〉〈◊〉 way towards the atteinment of his purpose▪ for in shewing his own thāk¦fulnesse, hee winneth fur∣ther f•…•…uour & well liking.
• * Or, he may perceiue, and I also vnder∣stande.
• By the enu∣meration o•…•… these 〈◊〉〈◊〉 circum∣stances he mo ueth and com mendeth.
• Whiche is so farre in you to be •…•…ound, that your for wardnesse is wonderfull, and to be con tinued should want no in couragement.
• Gentlemen with whom he was well acquainted and familiar.