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.

A certayne man writeth to a Bokebynder of Paris.

VVOrshipfull Syr, assured I am, that if I should commend me an hun∣dreth thousand times vnto you, yet shold I doe lesse than nothing, if it pleased you not to accompt me for one of those that wish you well, therefore I pray you com∣mend me vnto you: certifying you that synce my departure, I haue written suf∣ficient matter vnto you, according to my rudenesse, whereunto you haue made me no aunswere. Howbeit I maruell not thereat, considering that you haue ben so busyed about the vrgent affaires of the king, that you haue had no leysure to attend thereunto, wherefore you are worthely to be excused. And though it be so that I am transported into a farre cuntry to execute needfull things, yet is it not to be supposed, that true loue shold decay, through the visible seperatiō made betwene two frendes, whereof you are the one and I the other, at the least I am

yours, and beleue that you are myne. And therefore as myne, I haue not nor wil not deferre to write vnto you, tru∣sting and being assured, that through the receiuing of my Letters, I shall cause you to be more ioyfull, and to haue me in remembrance. Doing you also there∣by to vnderstand, that if it would so please you, I would gladly haue certaine little bookes (whereof I spake vnto you) dispatched from the bynding, hansomely and fynely, as you know wel how to doe them: yea farre better than it is possible to expresse or write vnto you. Of a thing well done the praise remayneth to the Author and doer thereof, wherein I know you shall be partaker, for that you worke so perfectly that no man will nor can fynde fault therewith. Moreouer if there be any thing in these partes wher∣in I may plesure you, doe but commaūd it, and I will obey according to the possi∣bilitie of your sayd frend, not to be com∣pared to his good will. Recommending me alwayes most hūbly to your worship

vnto your wife, and to all your children, vnto whome I will not forget the wine, my bookes being properly and hansomly bound and dispatched. Thus cease I for this present, beseching our Lord to send you health and welfare with long life. From Selurre, the .xj. day of October.