THE MIRROVR OF compliments. To offer service to a King. SIR. IF words were able to express the duty in which I hold myself obliged to present you my most humble service, I were most ingratefull and unworthy of the light of heaven, for since you captivated the glory of the greatest Emperours upon earth, I should much forget myself, if I thought my vows alone sufficient to deserve the favour of your most princely grace; In which the greatest Monarchs of the world endeavour to continue. Pardon then that fervent zeal which compels your subiects to such acknowledgement as is due unto your majesty. And let me speak it with permission, that the greatest honour I can possibly attain, is to die worthily in some action of your service. SIR: HEaven hath his jove, the Gods, the sun and the Stars, but your virtues are so universally adored of the people, that you fill the gods with jealousy and emulation, and so long as your majesty shall continue in this world, the earth shall haue possession of that glory wherewith she may compare with heaven. I add nothing to this truth, but the due presentment of my most humble service, nor would I wish for any thing, but a fit occasion to maintain it with the peril of my life and blood. SIR: I Haue been a long time possessed with this desire to prostrate myself at the feet of your sacred majesty, to tender you my vows, and I shall account this the most fortunate occasion that ever I could be blessed with, hoping so much( also) in the affection which you bear to virtue, that you will deign to accept the offers of my most humble service. And permit me with due reverence to affirm it, that the heavens could not have done me more injustice, then in ordaining my nativity under any other influence then this of yours, which is the onely age that justly can bee styled happy, since the beginning of this monarchy. SIR: IF the virtues of our ancestors were in your jurisdiction at this present, and that to obtain the gracious favour of a sovereign, it were onely requisite to bee descended from a noble and a generous extraction, I should bee more confident to offer you that resolution and experience, which nature and my industry have conferred upon me. For my Father bestowed his youth, and to his death continued( nor sought he for retirement) in the service of your predecessors; and the virtues of my ancestors are eminent in all those places where the sun imparts his lustre: notwithstanding I hope these offers of my most humble service shall not be unpleasing, seeing that I trace the steps of my predecessors, and that I would not live but in the quality of your most faithful humble subject. To offer service to the queen. MADAM: WIth permission from the King, and this of your majesty, I assume the boldness to present you with my humble duty, and to express myself, that there is nothing in the world which I desire with more vehemency then to be your most humble and most faithful seruant and subject. MADAM: THe honour which I received this day in kneeling before the King, would yet appear but lame, and not fully perfected, if I had not this happy occasion to present my vows unto your majesty, and to tender you my most humble and most affectionate services, which I shall esteem in the highest degree of honour that I can possibly attain. To give due respect unto a Noble man. MY Lord, as I esteem it a great favour to have the happiness to salute you, and to do my duty to your honour; so shall I always account myself most happy, if it may please you to accept me for your Lordships most humble and most obedient servant. My Lord, the place you hold amongst great Princes, and those noble virtues wherewith you are so perfectly adorned, oblige me to make offer of that little which is in me; that in all occasions I may be able to render you most humble service. My Lord, it may please your excellence to permit this humble expression of my due respects, hoping that heaven will bless me with some favourable opportunity wherein I may more effectually manifest how much my soul doth thirst to do you service. To salute a Gentlewoman with an intention of marriage, and to offer her his service. ALEANDER. GEntlewoman, I doubt not but you will repute my addresses both too bold and too presumptuous, but I hope your heart is as full of bounty, as your eyes of beauty, and will not be unapt to pardon that resolution which( proceeding from my love) hath encouraged me to come and offer you my most humble and most affectionate service. CLARINDA. SIR, J am sorry that I have not had the honour to know you sooner, and I wonder that you offer service to a person that is so unworthy of it. mistress, it is the excellency of your disposition which makes you speak so. Excuse me Sir, for truth commands my tongue to use this phrase. mistress, I see so many noble and modest virtues expressed in your courtesy, as persuade my affectionate hope, that my intentions shall be acceptable, and that in time I may attain to some thing in your good favour. Sir, if I had any good favour in me, it should be wholly at your dispose, but having none, you cannot hope for any. mistress, you have so many graceful beauties, that I should be most happy to possess and to enjoy them. And I should be much preferred in my own esteem, if I had the favour to be affencted by you, as much as I love and honour you. When I condescend to your affection, it must be so well disposed, that it exceed not the terms of civill honesty. This it is which makes me honour you more dearly, and makes you still more lovely. And I beseech you to believe it, that my intentions have been always holy, and that I never aimed but at honest ends. What! did you think otherwise? and that I had pretended something that might be prejudicial to your honour? no, I wish my heart may be deprived of life, before it shall give place to such a villainous design: No, I intend for ever to continue your faithful and most obedient servant, as mine endeavours shall express me in all occasions wherein I shall be employed by the honor of your commands. Sir, my affection shall be the pledge of that gratitude wherewith I thank you for this and all your other undeserved favours; I am your humble servant. mistress, it is I who am so much obliged to you, that I want all means to requited it, and therefore mistress I beseech you, and conjure you likewise, that I may obey you in all things where you shall think me capable to do you service: in the interim after a thousand recommends, I humbly take my leave of you, leaving with you my heart for a pledge of my fidelity and assured constancy. Fare you well good Sir, I thank you with all my heart for your kind visit. I hope to see you again, and that ere long, if I may with your permission. Sir, while your requests are civill, and your intentions honest, you shal always find these doors open both to you and to your friends, who shall be ever welcome to the best entertainment that our poor abilities will permit, and therefore you may come at all times when please you. mistress, I assure you that in going hence I deprive myself of a most faire day, to bee imprisoned in such horrible darkness as I know not to express. For I protest, that without you, I have neither day nor light, and therefore the time of this sad absence will be so grievous to me, that each moment will seem an hour, each hour a day, and every day an age, if I be not cherished with my hope to bee in your good graces; and therewith I shall resolve to be patient: These are excessive phrases, but I hope you are not so passionate as you pretend. Farewell Sir, we shall see you some other time. mistress, in this you both injure your own most excellent beauty, and my most faithful affection; but I hope time shall give you a more perfect view both of me and it, since necessity doth now force me to leave you: yet I shall never leave that affection which your faire eyes have cast upon my soul. Adieu sweet mistress till I see you again, which shall be as soon as I can possibly. At the Review. ALEANDER I Protest unto you my fairest mistress, I never believed the torments of her absence whom a man affecteth to be so piercing and so cruel: for I swear to your faire eyes, the true stars of my fortune, that I dyed of impatience to see you again. CLARINDA. Is it possible? Sir, I cannot credit it. mistress, believe it I beseech you, if it please you, for I assure you that I could not any longer support the extremity of that anguish which I suffered during my tedious exile from you the sweetest object of my indeat'd affections, wherein my soul receives such full contentment. Sir, all this may be Sir, for your words seem to import great passion. mistress, I protest unto you, I am not capable of any contentment in this world, saving that which pleaseth my affections, either in the visual or intellectual view of your most graceful beauties. Sir, I know myself unworthy of these attributes, and therefore though I take them as in jest, yet if you persist, I shall think you use them in derision. And why( sweet creature) have you that conceit? I assure you I speak it from my soul. And assure yourself, my dearest mistress, that you now behold a man that is entirely yours, and one that desireth not to live, except onely for your service. But that which breeds my greatest difficulty is, that I must be some while absent from you to dispose some affairs of great importance. And I beseech you to believe, that wheresoever I shall go, I shall always carry in my soul the lively image of your perfections, and that I shall not live, but by the Idea of your faire eyes, with a perfect resolution to obey you in all occasions: Adue sweet mistress till I see you again, and I pray you excuse me that I can no longer wait of you. Sir, I give you infinite thankes, farewell till another time. To offer service, thereby to give occasion of a correspondent amity with some stranger. ALEANDER. SIR: ALthough I have not merited the honour which I have to see you, and to kiss your hands with a most cordial and absolute affection; yet that earnest desire which I have to be accepted into your acquaintance, and admitted to your friendship, hath given me the boldness to present myself before you, to receive the honour of your commandements, and to offer you the due endeavours of my service. CLORIMAN. Sir, It is a great contentment to me, to see the good affection which you bear me, and J am much obliged unto you for the pain which you have taken to come and see me; assuring you, you can never go to any place where you are more truly welcome, or where you have more power. Sir, the desire I had to see you, and to be acquainted with you, put me in resolution to come hither, and offer you my most humble service, with this humble svit, that you will be pleased to accept it. Sir, you oblige me infinitely, and I am very glad to see you, but more to understand your good affection to me. And though I am unworthy of it, yet I beseech you to continue it, assuring you of my part, you shall find me a most faithful friend, and I hold myself much honoured in your amity, which I accept with a most thankful heart; and J am onely sorry for the trouble you have had in my occasion. That which you call a trouble, is to me, Sir, a great contentment; for I am always best pleased when I have the happiness to see men of your quality and merit, and most especially, when they honour me with their friendship. Sir, you do me too much honour, and oblige me to bee wholly yours; so that I shall always endeavour to manifest the effects of what I speak; and time shall let you see, that you have not a friend more assured, then I shall labour to approve myself. To thank a friend for some courtesy. SIr, I thank you a thousand times for the great pains you have taken for me, hoping that heaven will grant me some happy occasion whereby I may return you some good service for a recompense. I shall ever be obliged unto you for this ample& actual expression of your love in this urgent and pressing occasion, for which I am much indebted to you. Sir, This is the least that I could do for you, it is not worthy your remembrance. I would do more then this a thousand times for your contentment; for this is nothing in respect of my desires to serve you. Ahlas Sir! I have already had so many large expressions of your excessive courtesies, and you have so much obliged me unto you, that I want abilities to satisfy so great a debt. But in lieu of recompense, I beseech you to command me where you find me capable to serve you. Sir, you shall ever find me a true observant of the rules of friendship, do you onely continue your affection, and then assure yourself you may command my service. For your good deeds do very much exceed all that I have dove, that J do, or can do for you. But though I am not strong in power, yet I shall ever have a strong desire to do you some good service. Sir, my good deeds towards you have been such poor things, that I need not labour to answer you upon so mean a subject, but if I can, I shall be always glad to serve you. Sir, by this means still you increase my obligations, and therefore howsoever, if I cannot have the opportunity to pay you, yet I beseech God to reward you for me. To go to visit and salute a friend upon his new arrival after some journey. SIr, so soon as I knew of your much desired return, I could not omit the office of a friend in coming to salute you, and to continue the offer of my humble service which is ever at your dispose. Sir, I am very humbly yours; but I am infinitely sorry that you have hindered me of the honour to come and see you first, for so I intended, as soon as J had refreshed myself a little, for I am but newly alighted. Sir, I should have been very sorry if you had troubled yourself to come to me; and I was therefore desirous to prevent you by being here as soon as I understood of your arrival. Sir, you oblige me abundantly to thank you for the pains you have taken to come hither. But it belonged to me to render you that office. You should not use these terms to the poorest of your servants, and one that hath nothing to present you but the duties of his obedience. O good Sir, 〈◇〉 is for me to obey your commandements, for you honour me a hundred thousand times beyond my merit. Let us leave this discourse, I beseech you Sir, for you know very well, that I am wholly yours. But tell me, I pray you, how have you had your health this long journey. The best in the world, thankes be to God Sir, onely at N. I was a little troubled with a fit of a fever, but it was quickly gone. I believe you may well be weary; for your journey was both very long and toilsome. Excuse me, Sir, I am no whit weary, for my horse traveled very easily, ambled altogether. I am glad with all my heart of your pleasant voyage, and yet much gladder of your happy return; But if it please you I shall assume the boldness to demand some news of you, how go all things there, is there any news? I can assure you there is none there but good, all is well there, onely they fear, and that with great likelihood, they shall have great warres this summer. How, do they talk of warres say you? Yes, for the King of N. demands aid of his allies, but what the event will be, is yet uncertain. I think that country will never be in peace, there's nothing but warres there continually. Indeed Sir at this time it is so, but I shall tell you more another time when I have leisure, now onely I desire your favour that I may repose a little. To entertain a friend that comes to visit us. YOu are very welcome, good Sir, you honour me a thousand times above my merit, especially from your particular. Pardon me, Sir, it is J that have received the honour. It is the excess of your good nature makes you use that phrase proceeding from that goodness which is native in you. Sir, my endeavours shall be as witnesses to give a faithful testimony of the love J bear you. Sir, you oblige me too much, I have not merited these favours from you. Sir, this is but part of my respect, for I owe you much more in things of greater consequence. Sir, there is no need that you should use these terms to your obliged servants. Sir, it is so defective in that part, that I stand most obliged both to you and all my other friends. Sir, I wish to serve you in all that I am able, and I should more willingly express it in action then in speech. Sir, you have already expressed it very amply, and I were worthy to be thought ingratefull if ever I should fail to make acknowledgement that I am much beholding to you. You shall excuse me, Sir, if it please you, for I never gave you cause to say you are beholding to me, nor was there ever any such occasion; but it pleaseth you to speak this out of the bounty of your spirit. Sir, it is the debt itself which exacteth these words, that I may confess myself to be wholly yours. I see that you will conquer me with courtesle, but if it please you to sit, we shall discourse more at leisure. I thank you Sir, it needs not; besides, it were undecent for me to bee first in place, but if you please to sit, I shall keep you company. Then I pray you sit you there. It shall be then to obey you. Sir I am your servant. Sir, it is I that am yours, and the most affectionate of all your servants. Sir, shall it not bee offensive if I make bold to ask you what good wind brought you hither? Chiefly Sir to have the honour to see you, and to know the disposition of your health, and then to kiss your hands; lastly, to beseech you to impart what good news you hear from London. There is no news there, onely the King is gone to Hampton Court. When one meeteth a friend in the street by accident. GOod morrow to you Sir, this meeting makes me happy above my expectation: tell me how you do? Very well thankes be to God, and always most humbly ready to do you service. I am yours with all my heart. In good faith Sir it troubled me extremely that I had not the honour to see you, and J know not what to think of it, nor vpon what occasion. Sir, I assure you I have been at your lodging many times, and I know not if they told you or not, but I could never have the happiness to find you within. And that is strange, for I stir abroad as little as may be. But what news hear you? any that's good? No truly Sir, I hear none at all, onely Mr. N. told me just now, that N. and N. were somewhat contentious yester night, and were like to have fought after some high words and injurious speeches. Verily you have a good memory to retain all these circumstances, but is it very certain? I have told you my Author, if he be a liar, I shall discredit him. But it is a common phrase, that a liar ought to have a good memory to keep him from mistaking, and enable him to defend both the right side and the left. You reckon me in the number then Sir, you have commended mine so much. Pardon me Sir, I thought it not, of the contrary I praise you therfore the more, for a good memory includeth not that 'vice, but it is rather a guilt of nature which she alloweth not to all, not to me especially, for mine is very frail. But J like better to have it so, then therewith to abuse the truth, in studying how to circumvent another. But Sir, he that allegeth his Author, cannot be betrayed, if so be he prove not false to him. But he dares not, for there was good company with us when he spake it. Sir, not that I would attempt to injure either your life or honour, much less your reputation; But I am afraid lest you be made the Author of it, and that he may abuse you authorizing his fable upon the testimony of your speeches. That which you speak Sir, cannot but be good, for to meddle with that which doth notconcern one, it is to be in danger to be mocked& exposed to derision and reproach; hereafter I shall be more secret and retentive, and I thank you for your good advice; but as for me, I assure you it is not my invention. And if he did device it, yet he ought not to make me his instrument to divulge it, albeit he may have told it to others that shall likewise tell you the same; And howsoever though I am not well assured of the certainty, yet I am certain that he told it me. An offer to accompany a Friend. SIr, I should willingly offer you my company, if I thought it worthy your acceptance, and that I should not trouble you. It is so far from that Sir, that it would be a great honour to me, and a thousand times more then I deserve, for such company as yours, cannot but be pleasant and delight full to all that love honour and virtue; but I fear lest in so doing, you will trouble yourself. Sir, if my poor company may pleasure you, I offer it with all my heart, but I fear to importune you. Alas Sir, you will trouble yourself too much, and for me I do not deserve it, and therefore I should be unwilling to permit it. Pardon me Sir, this is no trouble, this! I would I had the happiness to bee always in in your company, if it might be, I should ever account that time well bestowed, which were so employed. Sir, you oblige me too much, trouble not yourself so, I beseech you, seeing you have other affairs that import you more then this; J kiss your hands with all my heart. Sir I have no affairs but such as( for my love to you, and to render you the respects Iowe you) I shall willingly dispense with: besides, your good affection to me, doth oblige me much more in a far greater matter; and therfore I assure you that I have nothing which can hinder meat this time. O good Sir, it is I that must be beholding and indebted to you whiles I live, but I should be sorry to divert you from your more serious affairs, which I fear cannot dispense with you so long as in your courtesy you speak of. Sir, I will not detain you here any longer. Here you Boy, carry those things thither, and in the mean time, Sir, with your permission, I will go into the Coach. I will not refuse the honour, since it pleaseth you so to confer it, and that you will go, though I am very unwilling to trouble you, yet I will attend you thither. These Gent. shall oblige me so much as to keep you company while I dispatch that business. To give a Present to a Friend. SIr, here is a book which I would present unto you, but I am ashamed to give you a thing of so small value, as is not worthy your acceptance. Alas Sir! you endear me too much, you need not entertain such fears, nor put yourself to so much trouble; but I may very well be sorry, that I can never meet with a good occasion to return your favours; I must entreat you therfore to excuse my want of power, and to accept and use my service as a poor part of recompense and satisfaction. Sir, do not( I beseech you) refuse it because it is little, for( with all my heart) I wish it of a greater value, that then it might bee more proper to your merit. Sir, every public action that is done so freely, should bee answered with some expression of respect to those that honour us; but I that am not able at this present to return you the like courtesy, can onely thank you for this book, intending to read it often for your sake. Sir, this is a trifle not worthy your remembering, onely I beseech you to reckon me in the number of your friends, and of your humblest servants. Sir, I am yours most affectionately, and so I shall endeavour to approve myself in all occasions where you shall please to try me. We need not make trial of the thing wee doubt not, and for my part I never disinherited the integrity of your affection. That which I said Sir, was onely to assure you of the good will J bear you, and not that I think you have any suspicion of me. Sir, I haue a long time known the sincerity of your intentions, and I beseech you to excuse me, that this present is not correspondent to your merit, and that you will not reflect upon the gift onely, but upon my good will and affection wherewith I offer it. Sir, I highly esteem both the one and the other, and therefore I shall rest your debtor. To desire some courtesy of a Friend. SIr, I have a svit to you, but the fear I have to be denied, makes me unwilling to move you in it. Sir, what is it you desire of me, Sir? I am ready to do any thing that may content you, so that it do not exceed my power. Sir, if it be not too troublesone, I shall desire you to make my peace with M. N. for I know you are very powerful with him. Sir, you cannot trouble me in any thing in the world, and for this business I promise you that I will use my best endeavours to give you all the best satisfaction in it that possibly I can. Sir, being I have never deserved this favour, you have a just cause to think me both bold and troublesone: Onely necessity is my warrant, which I hope your courtesy will accept for an excuse; for indeed, Sir, it imports me much in a business of great consequence. dear friend, my forces are far short of my desire, notwithstanding I will do what lieth in me( by GODS assistance) to attain your purpose. Ah Sir, your forces are greater then this affair requires, if it bee your pleasure so to use them; and therefore, I beseech you, and conjure you to make trial. Sir, to take away all doubt of my good intention, and to satisfy your request, I promise you to use all my power and credit, and to move him in it when I see him next. They say that Opportunity hath all her hair upon her forehead, and that wee cannot hold her when she is past us, because she is bald behind, and in this occasion especially I fear the danger of delay. do you not know that there was one who by one onely demur, rednced the common wealth of Rome into a quiet government. Yes very well Sir, but we neither live in that time nor place, nor is this business of that nature, and though he by his lingering did save his country from that fearful ruin which threatened it, yet there hath been an in finite number who have lost whole kingdoms by negligent omitting of good opportunities. And this affair being so different from that, both in itself, and in the quality of the persons, requireth likewise another manner of proceeding. It is soon enough, if well enough, I will go about it immediately, I mean, to speak with your man, and believe it in a short time you shall see the effects. Farewell till I see you next, and be confident of me. To invite a Friend to Dinner. SIr, you shall oblige me very much if you will do me the honour to come and take a poor dinner with me. I thank you with all my heart, I have not merited the favour of your courtesy, But I pray you excuse me for this time. Why Sir, you shall do me a great favour if it please you, and for a requital I shall serve you in all things where it may please you to employ me. Sir, you are too courteous and persuasive to be refused, and therefore I shall trouble you. You cannot Sir, but you will do me a greater honour in it then I know how to deserve. Sir, use me as your servant, I beseech you, for I do not affect ceremonies. Truly Sir, it is not because I have any thing to dinner, that is worth your tarrying: But there is no remedy, you must a little exercise your patience with me, as a testimony of your ove. If all that are enjoined to abstinence, were well assured of the like sufferings, their pennance would be very sweet and pleasing. This is an excess of favour which you do me, therefore I pray you pardon me if I prove troublesone. There needs no pardon where there is no offence, and I tell you that you cannot trouble your servants, and those that esteem you equal with their lives. But I must rather ask you pardon for having stayed you here to such poor entertainment. nevertheless you have it with a good heart. You have honoured me too much, but to requited you I shall always and in all occasions labour to manifest( if my ability concur with my good desires) that I will very freely both use mine own endeavours and my friends to do you service. At sitting down to the Table. THere then Sir, I beseech you sit. After you Sir, if it please you. No Sir, I pray you Sir. No I protest, Sir, if it please you, you shall show me the way. Well Sir, it shall be then to obey you, since you will have it so. Reason will have it so Sir, but here is a great deal of good meat more then needed, you know excess is forbidden. fear it not Sir, what we leave will not be lost, here are people enough in this house to take an order with it, and therefore you need not think of it, nor use so many compliments in a house that is wholly at your dispose. But let us drink I pray you, for good wine warms the blood. I thanks you Sir, with your leave I will be bold to drink to your good health, and to drink a whole one. Sir, I thank you hearty, and after that I will drink a health to his majesty, hoping you will do the like. Most willingly Sir, I pray GOD preserve him, and us also. Sir, to the good success of your journey, and I beseech the divine bounty to bless it, and to hasten your return, that we may quickly meet and be merry together in perfect health, and so I drink to you. Sir, I shall answer you with the like weapons; to your good health. Other compliments at sitting down to the Table. To the Jnvited. ALEANDER. COme my Masters, please it you that wee wash our hands? The invited. After you Sir, if it please you. ALEANDER. Leave Ceremonies, for I cannot abide them. Let us wash, if it please you. The invited. Sir, they are not Ceremonies when a civill and a due respect commands them. You shall be first if it please you. ALEANDER Well, well, seeing you will not be ruled, let us wash together. The invited. Sir, it should not be so, but your desire hath all authority upon us. ALEANDER. And what, my masters, will you not please to sit? The invited. It shall be after you Sir, if it please you, and seeing it appertaineth to you in right and equity, these ceremonies are needless. Aleander. Well Gentlemen, to give you content, I will sit here. The invited. Sir, you shall advance yourself if it please you. Aleand. Master N. you shall sit there if you please, for that is your place appointed. N. You make me much ashamed Sir, of the excessive honour which you do me. Aleander. The clean contrary way Sir, I do not render it according to your merit, for one cannot attribute too much honour to men of your rank and quality. The invited. Sir, J believe you mock me when you use these terms so far above my desert, for you know compliments are frivolous among friends, as you and I have been this many a day. Aleander. One cannot honour you enough again I repeat it. The invited. it is all to the contrary by your favour, for you cannot do so little as will not be too much. ALEANDER. go to, let us eat I pray you, what are wee here for? shall I carve to you? To entertain a friend at the Table. SIr, I must desire your patience, that you are so sorrily entertained. Oh good Sir, it cannot be amiss with me in your company, but rather a thousand times better then I deserve. I am sorry we knew no sooner of your coming, for then we had been better prepared, and whereas now we have nothing but ordinary, and all because you took us unprovided: but there is no remedy, I pray you take such as there is in as good part as if there were more and better. The good will and the dead are both apparent, but what would you more? for my part I would not wish to be better. How soever let us be merry and cheerful, though we have not wherewithal. Sir, I know no cause you have to say so, for I have not seen a table better furnished, nor meat better ordered, what would you wish for more? as for me, I need no urging, I go well enough without a spur. There is nothing here but what is common; so it hath pleased God that those things which are needful are easy to bee had: And so likewise he hath provided that those things which are not easily gotten are not so necessary; please it you that I cut you some Capon; But let us drink first. The Master of the feast his excuse to his friends after dinner or supper. Master. GEntlemen, now I crave pardon for having stayed you here to such poor entertainment; verily I should bee much ashamed of it, if I were not confident of your love and courtesy, wherein I hope you will excuse my error, and impute it to the great contentment which I receive in your good company. The invited. Sir, you have prevented us in discharging that account which more properly belonged to us, for wee ought to have taken hold of the first occasion to give you thanks for the good welcome and the good cheer you have made us. But the heart shall be engaged for the tongue, and shall always make you such actual expressions of his remembrance by the effects, as he shall be permitted or invited by a fit occasion. Master. My masters recreation is very good after meales, will it please you then to take a turn in the garden. The invited. The company likes well of any thing that shall please you Sir, but perhaps it will be a trouble to you. Master. It cannot trouble me, for at this time I have no such important business, besides I cannot have any trouble in this company, but rather all pleasure and contentment; Let us go then Sirs, if it please you, for I use not to lead my friends out of doors, but rather into the house. The invited. It shall be then to obey you Sir, since you will have it so. Master. And now Mr. N. what think you of this Garden, is it pleasant? The invited. It is a very large one, and well made, it wants nothing but water to keep him fresh. Master. There is water yonder above, and when there is occasion wee let it run down; It comes from that adjoining rock. The invited. See here a very fine convenience, which I perceived not till now; But is this water also good to drink? Master. Most excellent good, it's could in Summer, and warm in Winter: and besides that, it is far lighter then any that we have in all these parts. The invited. That is it which the Physitians commend so above all others, and according to the proverb, Good corn is heavy, and good water light. Master. The way to the Spring is somewhat slippery and ill-favoured; but one cannot have all commodities in one place. The invited. That is true Sir, and yet every one cannot have such as you have. God keep you in good prosperity; and so taking our leaves of you, we recommend ourselves to your good grace. To take leave of ones friends at parting from some place. SIr, now is the time that calls to my departure, and therefore by your favour, I come to take my leave of you. Sir, I thank you very humbly, and I desire but one thing of you, that is to forget the gross well come you have had here. Sir, you shall pardon me if it please you, for I shall never agree with you in that, For you have done me a thousand times more honour then ever I deserved of you. It is I Sir that am to thank you for the pains you have taken to come and see me; But I hope ere long God will give me leave to requited it. Sir, whensoever it shall please you to do me that favour as to come to see me, you will oblige me very much, and I shall endeavour to make you welcome, not so well as you deserve but as well as my poor power can possibly attain to. Well then Sir, I recommend myself to your good graces. And I me to yours, which are much better, I will not bid you farewell, for I verily intend to come and see you one of these mornings, when you shall least dream of it. I dare you to it, and assure you you, cannot come so soon as I desire, but I doubt me you will not oblige me so much. Sir, go no further I beseech you. I will not leave you here. You are so too-ceremonious. Permit me to do what belongs to me, am not I the Master of the house? Now then go no further if you will oblige me. Well Sir, since you will have it so, I kiss your hands, and remain your very humble servant. Footman, my friend, I pray thee commend me humbly to thy lady. Sir, J shall do it myself. Sir, it will be too great a trouble to you. Sir, this is the least part of the service that I owe you, and which I desire to do for you. You oblige me too much Sir, and for part of recompense, I beseech you serve yourself with me where you find me capable. J am yours Sir, and so I take my leave of you without a farewell, because by Gods grace I hope to see you again shortly. To bid a friend farewell that is going a journey, or retiring to his Country. SIr, being constrained( by the necessity of my affairs) to leave you, I cannot but with much grief, part from you, who have so much obliged me with your noble favours, that I shall ever hold myself engaged to render all the services I am able, both to you and yours. I know very well that I have often troubled you, and for the present, I cannot make you any other satisfaction, then to offer you all that I am, with protestation that I am wholly yours, and shall bee so while I live. Accept then if it please you, my most humble salutes, and do me the favour to honour me with your commands. Sir, I am very sorry, and much troubled for the loss which J shall have of your good company; howsoever since it is of necessity, that this day I must sustain this loss, J pray God your departure with us, may bee as profitable to you, at I desire it, and that wee may( to comfort us in your absence) have this satisfaction, that you shall have more pleasure and contentment in the places more remote, then if you were nearer to us, and in discontent: for I must confess we have not had the means to give you that respect, which is due unto your merits. Sir, I have had nothing here but all contentment, and a thousand times more favours then ever I deserved from you, and your friends likewise, for which I most humbly thank you. But to make short, Sir, doth it please you to command me any thing? Why Sir, are you ready to go? Behold Sir, there is nothing stays me, but to receive the honour of your Commandments, and then you shall quickly see me mounted. Sir, I shall take it as a great happiness if you will vouchsafe to honour me with yours. Sir, I thank you with all my heart, but I stay here, onely to render that respect which I owe unto your merits. Sir, J am utterly confounded at that excessive honour which you do me. Alas Sir, this is the least part of my debt, it is I that have received the advantage. I thank you Sir for the pains you have taken, if I may serve you in requital, I shall do it very gladly. This is no pains Sir, what is this, I could not do less at my departure then take my leave, and give you thankes for all your favours. Sir, therein I am much obliged to you, but as for that, J will not give the ultimum vale, or the last adieu, for I hope yet wee shall have the happiness to see you again one day. That shall bee as it pleaseth God, to whose good graces I recommend you, and me to yours. Sir, you shall go no further if it please you. Good Sir let me go with you to the next turning, if no further. Sir, no further, I beseech you. But I am very forgetful, permit me( with your favour) to bid my Lady farewell. An adieu to a lady. MAdam, your presence, and your faire virtues would retain me here a longer time, did not the necessity of my affairs compel me to this unhappy separation, which I must make, though most unwillingly, and against the proper course of all my strong desires. But I will not leave to honour you, whilst I live, with this assurance from my oath( sweet Madam) that wheresoever I become, in me you shall always have a most affectionate and faithful humble servant. Sir, I assure you I am very sorry for your sudden departure, which my eyes would witness with continual weeping, were I not comforted by the hope I have of your safe and quick return. Madam, my further stay could but procure your further trouble, and therefore you cannot have any cause to grieve at my departure. Sir, your behaviour and conversation is so pleasant, and your company so honest, that I cannot but ressent the loss. These are yours Madam, which so insensibly attract the very souls of those that know them. But to omit this discourse, which though I should continue while I live, I should rather lessen then increase the glory of your merits; For the present I am to take my leave of you, beseeching God to protect you. Adieu sweet Madam, I recommend myself to your good prayers. Adieu good Sir, I pray God keep you, and grant your journey a good success, and that we may enjoy the benefit to see you return speedily, merrily, and in good health. A courteous Dispute about the first setting out. NOw Sir, I have dispatched my business, it resteth onely that I kiss your hands, and take my leave of you, Adieu Sir. I have told you that I will not part with you here, let us go then if it please you. You shall go first then, I pray you for it belongs to you. I pray God deliver me from such an absurdity, I do not lead any man out of the house. Ha, let us go then and exclude ceremonies, I had rather err in civility then be too troublesone, it shall be to obey you. Sir, J am he that is your humble servant. Sir, Although my body may bee absent from you, my heart and my desire shall bee always present with you; and I beseech you to believe my promise, which I give you as an assurance; and therewithal I kiss your hands and bid you farewell. Farewell good Sir, God guide you, I pray you forget us not. To excuse himself to some one, and to demand pardon for some offence. SIr, I am very sorry for the fault wherein I have offended, and I beseech you that I may taste, as well the sweetness of your pardon as the bitterness of my repentance; I confess that I forgot myself very much, and I am amazed to think how I could do it, especially since it was so wholly opposite to my design and purpose, which was never otherwise then disposed to obey you in all occasions; but this happened I know not how, whereof I hearty repent me, and therefore I present myself before you, to render you what satisfaction it shall please you to require. But that is not sufficient to excuse such a rude fault as this, which in some sort hath given a great wound to your own credit; and I advice you hereafter, to exempt yourself from such follies, lest you incur some suspicious censure of disloyalty, and of ingratitude towards your best friends. Sir, do not( for all that I beseech you) utterly exclude me from your favour, lest you likewise injure the honour of your clemency, and give some blemish to your courtesy; and which is more, lest you offend God very highly, who commands us to pardon the faults of others, as freely as we desire forgiveness of our own. Well, seeing you come in this manner to aclowledge your error, I will forget it for this time, upon condition that you do not increase it by a relapse, for then your fault will admit no excuse nor pardon. Sir, I hoped for no less from the mildness of your good disposition; and I promise you I will keep such a careful guard upon all my ensuing actions, that you shall never more have cause to complain of me. You shall bee welcome hither at all times, so long as you behave yourself well and discreetly, and therefore let us see you here more often then we have done of late. Sir, the fault I had committed, was the cause of my long absence, not presuming to appear before you, during your indignation; but I hope by Gods assistance to repair my error by a better life and conversation, as I desire and resolve with a firm and constant purpose. God give you the grace to do it, and while you walk in that path, I will never leave you; I beseech him to guide you always with his holy spirit, and so adieu to you, and remember to bee advised. Sir I pray God accomplish you with all felicities, and that he will bless you with his benefits, as you have obliged me with your liberalities; for I cannot requited them, onely this I assure you, I shall never forget them, and so I humbly take my leave of you, with a thousand recommends to your good graces. compliments at a second appointed meeting. SIr, I have made you stay very long, but I pray you pardon me, for I could not come any sooner. Sir, this is soon enough, I drank a cup of wine this morning, to make the time pass merrily while I stayed for you, and now you are welcome; and I beseech you to excuse my boldness in inviting you to so poor a dinner, which will not equal your ordinary: but I have great confidence, that in your good disposition, you know very well how to excuse this error, seeing that amongst friends, we esteem not so much the food for the body, as that contentment which the mind conceives in the amity and familiar conversation which we have one with another, as for me, you see my custom. Sir, the quality you possess, and the amity which is between us, make me so dearly to esteem you, that I can never refuse your company. For there is nothing in the world which I desire so much as the frequent benefit of your pleasing conversation, as now you see I am so forward, that you need not call me twice. I wish Sir, in stead of my poor company, it would please God to afford some occasion of importance, wherein I might effectually express, that which I desire to do for you. Sir, I never doubted your good will to me, and therefore I give you many thankes, and I promise you that my entire affection shall never fail you in any thing where I am capable to do you service. Sir, let us leave this discourse I pray you, for I cannot do any thing that may deserve that value, but I shall still remain more obliged to you for your regard, having done me the honour to come to my poor house, and afford me the benefit of your good company. Sir, I see well by your accounts, that you are not a good Arithmetician, excuse me Sir, I pray you, for speaking in this manner, for it is I that have this honour, and I should desire to enjoy it longer, were it not that my affairs call for my attendance in another place. Sir, being I cannot go with you any further, by reason of these Gentlemen which expect my company, I beseech you to excuse me, and take it in good part that my Man wait of you to your lodging. Ho N. hear you, go and wait of this Gentleman to his lodging, and do not leave him till you see him there, and fail not to salute my cousin his wife in my name, and tell her, I sand her a good night, wishing humble recommends. When one commends our good Horse. SIr you have a good Horse there. Excuse me Sir, this is a poor Tit of little worth. Sir, you shall pardon me, he is well made, every limb hath his just proportion. In that Sir, I shall agree with you, for J bought him for a good one, his head indeed is not amiss, and he carries it well enough, he hath a good foot, and a clean leg, a good eye, a good hair, a good dock, and that well and long, and to exceed all this, he is well breathed: and such as he is Sir, he is at your dispose. Sir, you honour me too much, I have not deserved it of you, But I am wholly yours, and that with all my heart: nevertheless I will not refuse to use him when I have occasion without your trouble, seeing this offer proceeds from your good will. Sir, you know a friend is another self, and therefore we ought to have mutual respects one to another. Sir, make trial of me when you please, and you shall always find a congruity between my words and actions, howsoever I shall bee always careful to perform my promise. Sir, it is a thing J never doubted, and of my part J assure you of the like, for J may boldly swear that there is not a man in the whole world hath so much power with me as yourself. Sir I thank you for it, I shall take the boldness to come and visit you very often, and to see how you do. Sir you will oblige me very much, and when you do so, J shall say you are my friend indeed. Sir I shall not fail, and so I take my leave of you, because I have a little business. Farewell Sir, I am wholly yours. A Discourse of Exercises. SIr, I pray you tell me what is your daily exercise, and I shall tell you mine. Sir, I want none, for from eight in the morning, till ten, I ride the great horse, and after dinner, I use to exercise my weapons. But how do you bestow your time? I learn to danee, and to play upon the Lute, and I learn French also. Sir, I believe your exercises are much pleasanter then mine, but in the mean time they are not so useful nor so profitable, being they serve onely for a particular contentment, but mine are useful both in public and in private occasions in case of necessity. You say right Sir, but men of peace do not desire war. Nay Sir, it is not that J prefer war before peace, but yet it is good to be provided with defensive weapons. That is true Sir, but in the mean time it is not fit for every man to take up arms, for sometimes it is better to suffer patiently, then to be too sudden in revenge. Sir, that you speak is very true, but who observes it: that tenet is now out of request, which commands us to turn our right cheek when we are strooke upon the left. I believe it well, that for your part you cannot do it, for you are too hasty, yet this is the holy Scripture, and I would wish you to consider, wee do not want examples of it; yet wee must not rely upon examples onely, but chiefly upon Gods Commandements. Alas Sir, there are very few now a daies, that think of it, and if you should speak thus in some places, they would take you for a Divine. That's true, but for all that, it is fit that arms should have their limits as well as other things. A Magistrate may use them to Gods honour, and the King service: But private men being allowed to wear them, must not abuse them, nor you must not be offended with me. It is no part of my intention, for I know this proceeds of your good nature, which wisheth no hurt to any one, and what we speak, is but in the way of sport and merriment. To comfort a friend after the death of some Kinsman. SIr, I desire not to renew your grief, or again to open those wounds which bleed inwardly already in your heart, for this were an inhuman act, rather then the office of a friend, but the cause of my coming is to let you see the just ressentment that I have of Master N. your Cousins death, and I swear to you, that troubles me as much as if it were the nearest of mine own alliance, for you know wee were always very intimate and familiar friends. Sir, his blood could not deny him, he was the best of all my kindred, he ever beholded me with a friendly regard, and he was a great comfort to me when he found me afflicted and troubled in mind, besides the other favours and assistances which I received daily. This indeed I confess Sir may justly increase our sorrow, but yet wee have reason to be glad and praise God in this respect, seeing he dyed a good Christian, and after he was well prepared for his last conflict, wherein it often happens, that the most assured find many difficulties. It is true Sir, yet in the mean time, you see his Wife hath a great charge of children, and but little means to maintain them. Sir, what desire you more? God will bee their especial protector, and he never forgets his charge, and you likewise for your part will not abandon them, as I assure myself in that opinion which I have of your good nature. Sir, I know very well that I can expect nothing by it but charge and trouble, but that which grieves me, is his absence, and to find myself deprived of his pleasant and familiar conversation, doth incessantly afflict my mind. Sir, I will agree with you that it is a matter of great difficulty, and almost impossible suddenly to take away the impressions of such a just ressentment. Yet in the end wee must resolve with holy job to bee patient, saying, God hath given, and God hath taken away, his Name bee praised; and since one may do thus, this is the best way, for all the tears in the world cannot prevail with death. Sir, it is easy to give comfort to another, when wee ourselves are not sensible of the evil, but when wee are to take it, then it is hard of digestion, especially in such accidents as this. Sir, it cannot bee prevented, and yet you know it is better to die once for all, then to die a thousand times by a living kind of death: to lie a long time sick in bed, languishing of some painful and grievous malady, as wee see many that in the end are compelled to die after suffering a thousand deaths. But Sir, if it had pleased God to let him live but five or six yeeres longer, he had laid a good foundation to establish his house, and to provide for the preferment of his children, which are now exposed to the incertain favours of those friends which shall take charge of them, and I fear that those who have most cause, will bee least careful to provide for them. Sir, in such cases as this, where there is no remedy, wee may say as the great Patriarch Abraham said to his son Isaac, God will provide; briefly Sir, you are wise and discreet enough to apprehended such comfort as you think most fit. And so I desire your favour to go and take order for the dispatch of an important business. Sir, I give you many thankes for your pains, and for your friendly visit, whereby I have received great comfort: please you to drink? Sir, I thank you with all my heart, it needs not at this time, take comfort in God alone, and you shall see that he will dry up all tears, which might bee tolerable in a woman or a child, but in a man of your quality, I can never approve it; excuse me Sir I pray you. Adieu. FINIS.