The enimie of idlenesse teaching the maner and stile how to endite, compose and write all sorts of epistles and letters: as well by answer, as otherwise. Deuided into foure bokes, no lesse plesaunt than profitable. Set forth in English by William Fulwood marchant, &c. The contentes hereof appere in the table at the latter ende of the booke.

Title

The enimie of idlenesse teaching the maner and stile how to endite, compose and write all sorts of epistles and letters: as well by answer, as otherwise. Deuided into foure bokes, no lesse plesaunt than profitable. Set forth in English by William Fulwood marchant, &c. The contentes hereof appere in the table at the latter ende of the booke.

Publication

Imprinted at London :: By Henry Bynneman, for Leonard Maylard,

Anno 1568.

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Subject terms

Letter writing -- Early works to 1800.

Link to this Item

https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A68079.0001.001 content_copy

Cite this Item

"The enimie of idlenesse teaching the maner and stile how to endite, compose and write all sorts of epistles and letters: as well by answer, as otherwise. Deuided into foure bokes, no lesse plesaunt than profitable. Set forth in English by William Fulwood marchant, &c. The contentes hereof appere in the table at the latter ende of the booke." In the digital collection Early English Books Online. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A68079.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed June 20, 2025. content_copy

Contents

• title page
• To the right wor∣shipfull the Maister, Wardens, and Company of the Marchant Tayllors of London, W. F. wisheth encrease of worship with prosperous successe and eternall feliciti.
• The bokes verdict.
• ¶To the well disposed Reader.
• ¶The first boke.
  • Instructions how to endyte Epistles and Letters▪ &c.
  • Example of an Epistle of Doctrine.
  • Example of an Epistle of Mirth.
  • Example of an Epistle of Grauitie.
  • The Diuision of an Epistle or Letter.
  • The first style or maner wherein the Cause is specified.
  • The second Style, wherein the Cause is first, afterward the Intent, and then the Conclusion.
  • The third Style in this order, the in∣tent, the Cause, and the Conclusion.
  • The fourth Style in this order, the Conclusion, the Cause, and the Intent.
  • Denys the tyrant, vvriteth to the Burgesses of Naples.
  • An answere to the same in like maner and forme.
  • A Letter vvritten to the King, in fauor of one pretending the order of Knighthode.
  • Hovv to vvrite in a mans behalfe, for a Ciuil cause.
  • The Example.
  • Hovv to vvrite in ones behalfe for an Offence or cryminall Cause.
  • Example.
  • How to request the counsaile of an Aduocate.
  • The Example.
  • Hovv to ansvvere in such a like matter.
  • The Example.
  • How to thanke an Aduocate for a cause by him conducted.
  • The Example.
  • How to request a Corporall benefit.
  • ¶The Example.
  • How to answere, granting a Corporal benefit.
  • The Example
  • How to giue thanks for a Cor∣porall gift receiued.
  • The Example.
  • Hovv to vvrite vnder the demon∣stratiue gender, in the praise of some bodie.
  • The Example.
  • Hovv to vvrite vnder the Demon∣stratiue gender, blaming or dispraysing another.
  • The Example: vvherin a certain man writeth to Cicero touching the conspiracie of Catyline.
  • Hovv to vvrite by maner of Com∣plaint or lamentation, for an iniury receiued.
  • The Example: vvherein Appius vvriteth to Caesar, of iniury done him by Cicero.
  • Hovv to vvrite vvhen one frend comforteth another in an iniury receiued.
  • The Example: vvherein Caesar com∣forteth Appius, touching the content of the letters here before written.
  • Hovv to vvrite a Letter of complaint for a misfortune, demaunding counsell or consolation.
  • The Example: wherein a Father la∣menting the death of his sonne writeth to a frende of his.
  • How one frende should ansvver another, comforting him for his losse.
  • The Example: wherein one frende comforteth another, for the death of his soone.
  • Hovv to vvrite letters being in exile, vnder hope to obtaine resti∣tution, ayde, counsell, or comfort.
  • The Example: wherein Cicero, la∣menteth to Lentulus, that for the hatred of Clodius he is exyled.
  • How to comfort our frend in his exile.
  • The Example: vvherein Lentulus com∣forteth Cicero, who through the malice of Clodius vvas exyled.
  • Hovv to vvrite expositiue letters, cer∣tifying the vvitnesse or notyce of a thing.
  • The Example: vvherin Cicero te∣stifieth vnto the iudge, that Clo∣dius vvas at Rome, the same day that the sacred things of Ʋesta were violated.
  • How to certifie some newes lately happened.
  • The Example: vvherein one frende writeth vnto an other of newes of the Court.
  • Hovv to aduertise one, of the conditions of ano∣ther.
  • The example: wherein Cicero de∣clareth vnto Caesar, the con∣ditions of Appolonius of Rhodes, Orator.
  • Hovv to vvrite a Proficiat or Con∣gratulation, for an Office, or Dignitie.
  • The Example: vvherein one frend reioyceth with an other of the office that the king hath giuen him.
  • Hovv to vvrite Letters reioycing for oun frendes health, or safe returne.
  • The Example: vvherein one frend reioyceth of anothers recoue∣ry to health.
  • How to exhort to vertue and to good maners.
  • The Example: vvherein a frende exhorteth a yong man to ob∣taine vertue.
  • Hovv to dissuade our frende from reioycing vnaduisedly or foolishly.
  • The Example: vvherein Cicero dis∣suadeth Curio from reioycing that Caesar is made Emperoure.
  • How to write letters exhorting to lamentacion.
  • The Example: wherein Cicero, ex∣horteth Plautus to lament the oppression of the pub∣like vveale
  • Hovv to dissuade from sorovv.
  • The Example: vvherein Brutus dis∣suadeth Marcus Antonius, from sorrowing for the death of Caesar.
  • Hovv to vvrite Inuectiue Letters, re∣prehending either frende or enimie, for some cryme, or ignorance.
  • The Example: wherein Cicero in∣ueyeth against Lucius Catilina, who conspyred against the publike weale.
  • How to write expugning Letters, either to frend or enimie, for charging vs with a faulte.
  • The Example: wherein Catilina purgeth himselfe to the Senate of Rome, for the cryme of coniuration imposed against him by Cicero.
  • How to write inuectiue Epistles of contention, rerehending another for ignorance in studie.
  • The Example: wherein a certain Bar∣ber writeth to a Doctor of Physick, concerning his aduersary a Chirurgian.
  • Hovve to vvrite a Defense in a Contention.
  • The example: wherin the Chirurgian defendeth himselfe to the Physi∣tian against his aduersa∣rie the Barber.
  • Howe to write Domestical and fami∣liar Letters or Epistles.
  • The Example: of a common Style in that case.
  • How to write other domestical Letters of familiar businesse.
  • The Example: wherin one Friend ad∣uertiseth an other of the processe that he hath wonne.
  • How to visit our Frend with Letters, not hauing any great matter to write.
  • The Example of the Style in that case.
  • How to write of some small affaires, businesse or newes.
  • The example: wherin one friende vvriteth to an other of cer∣tain small newes.
  • How to write letters contayning some pleasant Iestes of oure selues, besydes other matter.
  • The Example: wherin a Souldier writeth to his Captayne.
  • How to write Letters concerning mery iestes or taunts by some other.
  • The example: wherin Cicero iesteth with Valerius.
  • How to write letters giuing generall commission and charge of bu∣sinesse or affayres.
  • The Example: wherein Cicero com∣mitteth to Scipio his authoritie ouer all his businesse in Rome.
  • How to write letters, giuing particular Commission for some affayres.
  • The Example: wherein Appius constituteth Cicero his recey∣uer in Sicilia.
  • How to write certaine myxed Letters.
  • The Example: wherein Cicero writeth to Curio concerning his businesse.
  • Hovve to vvrite Letters contey∣ning diuerse and sundry matters.
  • The example, wherein Tully writeth to Pompilius of comforting, graue and domestical matters.
  • How a Prince faithfully certifieth the vvorthie qualities of a man.
  • The Example: wherein the Duke of Ʋenice certifieth the vvisedom and science of G. A.
  • How a great prince writeth of peace or warres &c.
  • The Example wherin the Empe∣rour maketh peace vvith the kyng of Hun∣garie.
  • How a noble man writeth Letters for the promotion of a man.
  • The Example, vvherin the Counte of Pauie, vvriteth in the promotion of A.
  • How a prince ecclesiastical or tempo∣rall, writeth Letters forbidding a thing.
  • The Example: wherein the Pope forbiddeth king Ferrand the building of a Castle.
• The second boke conteinyng the Co∣pies of sundry learned mens Letters and Epistles.
  • Hirmolaus Barbarus writeth vnto George Merule.
  • Hirmolaus Barbarus vvriteth to Angelus Politianus.
  • Marsilius Ficinus vvriteth vnto Angelus Politianus.
  • Politianus answereth vnto Marsilius Ficinus.
  • Innocent Pope, to Angelus Politianus.
  • Innocent the eight Pope to his vvelbeloued sonne Lau∣rentius de Me∣dicis.
  • Angelus Politianus to Innocent the .viij. Pope rendreth Salutaion.
  • A certayne man writeth to a Bokebynder of Paris.
  • An Epistle of Angelus Politianus to Laurencius de Medicis his Vncle.
  • Angelus Politianus to a certaine friende of his.
  • Politian to his frends.
  • Politian to an enuious person.
  • Politian to a Slanderer and detracter
  • Politian to his friend Caesar Carmente.
  • Politian, to Iames Modeste.
  • Politian to an vnconstant person.
  • Angelus Politianus to Picus Mirandula.
  • Politian to a friende of his.
  • Politian to a promyse breaker.
  • Politian to his frende.
  • Politian to Picus Mirandula.
  • Politian to a certaine frende of his.
  • An Epistle of Iohannes Picus Mi∣randula, to his dere frende Iacobus Antiquarius.
• ¶The third boke, conteyning the maner and forme how to write by aunswere.
  • A Father vvriteth vnto his Sonne.
  • The aunswere of the Sonne. vnto his Father.
  • The father vvriteth vnto the Sonne.
  • The Sonne maketh aunswer vnto his Father
  • The vvife writeth vnto hir Husband
  • The aunswere of the Husband vnto his Wife.
  • A Sister vvriteth vnto hir Brother.
  • The aunswere of the Brother vnto his Sister.
  • A Mother vvriteth vnto hir Daughter.
  • The Daughter maketh answere vnto hir Mother.
  • One Lorde vvriteth vnto an other.
  • The aunswere of one Lord vn∣to an other.
  • A Gentleman writeth vnto a noble Captaine
  • The aunsvver of the Captaine vno the Gentleman.
  • One Gentleman vvrieth vnto an other.
  • The answere of one Gentleman vnto an other.
  • One marchant vvriteth to an other, Laus Deo. In Bologne. Le 25. Aprill. Anno. 1567.
  • The answere of one Marchaunt vnto an other.
  • A Marchant vvriteth vnto his Factour.
  • The aunswere of the Factor vnto the Merchant.
  • One Cashyer writeth vnto an oher.
  • One Cashyer to an other.
  • One Friende writeth vnto an other.
  • The aunswere of one friende vn∣to an other.
  • One friende vvriteth in a no∣thers behalfe.
  • The aunswere vnto his frende.
  • To write vnto a Prince in a Pri∣soners Behalfe.
  • The aunswere of the Prince decla∣ring the demaund to be vnhonest.
  • The excuse for that the demaund vvas against Iustice.
  • To ayde thy frende being in prison for dee.
  • To shew thy selfe sorowfull for the misfortune of thy friende.
  • The exhortation of a Captaine vnto his Souldiers.
  • To demaund enterteinment of a great Captaine.
  • To excuse thy selfe, for being ne∣gligent in writing vnto thy friende.
  • To put thy frend in remembrance of thy businesse.
  • To require ayde at thy frendes hand.
  • To write vnto an Aduocate.
  • To aunswere thy frend hauing praysed thee.
  • The Replie vnto the same.
  • To shew thy selfe thankfull for a benefit re∣ceiued.
  • The same, after an other maner.
• The fourth boke containyng sundry Let∣ters, belonging to Loue, as well in Verse as in Prose.
  • Eurialus writeth vnto Lucretia.
  • A certaine Louer writeth vnto hi Lady.
  • A Louer requesteth his Ladies loue.
  • The aunswere of his Lady.
  • The Replie of the Louer.
  • A Louer vvriteth vnto his Lady.
  • A constant Louer doth expresse, his gripyng griefes, which still encrease.
• A louer pearst with Cupides bowe, thinks long till he be rid from woe.
• A secrete Louer writes his will, By story of Pigmalions ill.
• A louer hath his Ladiees hart, And writes to hir, as is his part.
• A Louer sick for very loue, To pitie doth his Lady moue.
• A faithfull Louer feling smart, doth nippe his Ladie false of hart.
• ¶A Table of the princi∣pall matters conteyned in this boke.
• colophon