THE Secretary in Fashion OR, A Compendious and Refined way of Expression in all manner of LETTERS. COMPOSED IN FRENCH By P. St de la SERR. Historiographer of FRANCE And Translated into English, by JOHN MASSIN●ER, Gent. LONDON: Printed by J. B. and S. B. for Godfrey Emerson, and are to be sold at his Shop in Little Britain. 1640. TO THE WORTHILY Admired for Learning and Good Parts, Mr. Tho: Berney, Gent. of Grays-Inn. SIR, I Thought my endeavours too poorly employed, while they were restrained to the limits of a particular acknowledgement; which forced me to comply with my ambitious humour, by making this public profession of my duty & observance. I may seem both Ignorant and Indiscreet to promise any new thing in this farthel of Epistles to you, who are able to give lessons of Courtship and Civility to the most refined Spirits of this age, yet I deserve pardon, if you consider that nothing is here but what might either have been written by you, or to you, and consequently deserves the approbation of the most malicious. For in the one your own Humanity, and in the other the Judgement of all the world is interessed: as is in all things that concern your Particular, the repose, SIR, of Your most humble and most obedient servant J. M. TO MY LORD, THE Abbot of Dorak, one of his Majesty's Privy Counsellors, and Treasurer of the Holy Chapel at Paris. My Lord, THe Particular esteem I have of your Merit, obliged me to these Public Proofs; being Ambitious the world should know, that though my inclinations be not strong enough to follow virtue, yet I never cease to build her Altars, in all places where I find her Image. To maintain (my Lord) that you are one of the most lively, the Eloquence of your actions surpassing that of my Discourse, has already persuaded it to all the world, so that your Honesty having made itself known every where, I satisfy myself in praising you worthily, to declare your name, being one of the most accomplished Prelates of this Age. I speak not of those negotiations of Importance which you have finished, to the Honour of the King, and Satisfaction of his Eminence who knew right well that the greatest Employments were under the reach of your Capacity. I wish with Passion, I had any in your service, whereby I might force you to believe that I am extremely My Lord, Your most humble, and most faithful servant, P. de La. Serre. The Author to the Reader. HAving had notice given me, that my Secretary of the Court, which I composed for a Divertisement in my Youth, ran through the World in my Name, and with some kind of Approbation in strange Countries: as being 30 times Printed, since it was first published, and never falling into my hands to be corrected: I thought good to present thee with this new one, which is a Digested work, and where thou shalt receive more satisfaction, as finding a less number of faults. It bears the Name of Secretary in Fashion, to the end that it may be always in season, considering how variable the manner of Writing is. Receive it with as good a heart as I give it thee: and if it like thee not, learn charitably to hold thy Tongue, or else to reproach with a good grace; 'tis the best counsel I am aable to give thee. Reader, I Here present thee with a Cornucopia of knowledge and Expression. If thou dost not receive it with an acknowledgement proportioned to the Worth of such a Gift, mayst thou acquire two Cornucopia's of Ignominy, to Adorn thy forehead, and be condemned to the Reading of the English Secretary, as long as thou livest. If the whole Mountain of the Commonwealth (whereof thyself art a molehill,) were as sensible as thou oughtest to be, I assure myself, she would bow her venerable knees, and do me Homage for that mighty Portion of Wit, and Courtship, whereof she goes now to take Possession. But I see thee already bleareyed with reading Monsieur Balzaac, and the Packet of Letters; forgive me good Reader, I ask thee most humbly Mercy, and with much Resentment call bacl my former Imprecation, since I perceive thee already exposed to a more rigorous Penance, than that which my Charity would have suffered my Justice to impose upon thee: For what mischief could I have imagined (though I had been informed with the Soul of Phalaris his engineer) equal to the Malice of this which thou hast already incurred? in the one thou learnest nothing but to speak Bawdy with a good Grace, in the other nothing but to blow a horn; Here thou suckest in the Principles of Atheism, there of Ignorance; Here thou art instructed to Preach in an Epistle, there to Court thy Friend in a Sermon: This stuffs thy Memory with Stolen French, that with English not worth the Stealing: The one Commands thee to Violate the Laws of all Ancient Rhetoric, the other to observe none. The one will give thee Rules how to speak Balzaac, (or) badly, the other like a Post (id est) nothing at all. The Consideration of this (Loving, Kind, Courteous Reader) did much precipitate my Vindication of the Times from Error; or (as the Pure Hees and she's of this Age say,) did even force my Spirit to reclaim the Idolatrous from adoring that Malicious Idol the English Secretary, that Image which Nabuchadnezzar the King had set up, the Post with a Packet of Letters, and that most abominable Baal, Balzaac: by divulging this Piece of Excellent Workmanship, (which the Gods themselves did hammer and frame in the Head of Monsieur La Serre;) by letting this Bird of Paradise fly out of her Cage, that she might recreate Mortality with the Charms of her Voice, and resuscitate the Entombed Spirits of Men, from that Leaden sleep which the former Tarantulaes' had thrown them into. Or as with most reason I may aver, by Publishing this new Ephemerideses to the World, which shall teach thee to know the Conjunctions of the Planets, or erring Stars; I mean the Connection of Wand'ring words and sentences, used, and abused by Men of all sorts ad Libitum. It will teach thee the rising and setting of the Sun, or Elevation and depression of Periods; The Eclipses in writing, as to distinguish amongst sounds, and to know when one obscures another, or at least renders it less agreeable. But if thou be'st not yet Contented with this moderate touch of knowledge, it shall proceed farther, and open to thee a sluse of all other sublunary Sciences whatsoever. Where canst thou have better Philosophy than here, where it teacheth thee how the rude Matter of an Epistle is to be informed with the spriteful Vivacity of Phrases, and Apt Coherence of Periods? Where wilt thou prove an Arithmetitian, if not here, where thou art taught, that if thou add, or subtract but one word from the whole Number of an Epistle, thy Computation will prove false, and it utterly lose the Grace and Sweetness due unto it? If thou wouldst be instructed in the Tactics, where wilt thou learn a more exact way of ordering Men and disposing a Battle than here, where one displaced, puts all the rest out of order? Humanity cannot invent a more compendious way of Short writing, since Stenography has here arrived to such Perfection, that when a Man has but writ his Name, he has both Courted his Mistress, Comforted the Sick, Defied an Enemy, and Obliged a Friend. Logic I am sure, is here in her Auge, since our Syllogisms are so powerful, that except a Man would confess himself rude, and unreasonable, (and consequently no Man) he can never deny the Argument. What Rhetoric is more pleasing than this, where servants and Admirers are acquired in every page? What Music more Harmonious than where we are so rigorous in teaching the true art of stopps, that when one only is escaped, the whole Air is nothing but a Discord? I must confess, our Grammar is an Antipode to Lily (though Infinitely more Complete,) for we do not decline Words, but only Obsolecies, and Barbarismes: nor have we more than two Conjugations, viz. to do you service, and to revenge myself; by which we Conjugate all our other Verbs and Nouns be they what they will. Behold Reader, beyond thy Expectation, another Ars magna et Ultima, besides the Lullian; another Panace or Curer of all Diseases beside the Grecian; and another Castle of Knowledge beside Records Sphere; which if thou accept with a Willing mind, and good Intention, I'll deify thee; but if thou attempt upon it with unwashed hands, or a Prejudicated Opinion, I defy thee; and so far thee well. Thy Servant, J. M. THE FIRST LETTERS OF COMPLIMENT. SIR, I Take such delight in rendering you my service, that I remain always the first satisfied though I acquit myself And that which makes me so careful in seeking Occasions, is, that you should not reproach me to have omitted any. Yet in this Sir I do not implore your belief, desiring so to let you see by Effects, rather than Words, that I am without Compliment, Sir Your most humble servant. Another upon the same Subject. SIR, I Defy you to accuse me of neglect in the performance of my Duty, the passion which I have to your Service being so violent, that it nourisheth in me a continual Care of seeking Opportunities to make it known. To the furtherance of which, this Letter offered itself most happily, having charge to assure you from my part, that of all the servants which your Merits have acquired you, I am Sir The most humble and most faithful. SIR, I Am by so many obligations Yours, that the only want of Occasions to give Testimony of it, breeds all my Discontents. Esteeming myself unfortunate in nothing so much, as that the Passion which carries me to your Service, proves as unprofitable as extreme. Which forceth me to have recourse to Entreaties, beseeching you to honour me with your Commands, that (other means failing) my obedience may oblige you to believe that I am Sir Your most humble servant. Another upon the same. SIR, I Must discharge my heart in telling you that I honour you more than all the rest of the World. 'tis true your desert imposed the necessity upon me, but it did not give me the inclination: though I beseech you to believe that I was very willing in the constraint, having suffered no other violence, than what my Reason and judgement offered me. You shall have daily new proofs by the Continuation of my Duty, and by the Quality which I bear Sir of Your most humble servant. Another upon the same subject. SIR, IF you expect nothing but Compliments from me, you shall never receive any, I am a Sworn enemy of Courtship and Civility towards persons whom I honour extremely, as I do you. It sufficing me that I perform my Duty in their behalf, and that I take care to do it with a good Grace. This is the Study in which I practise myself, and I beseech you think that I will not lose the least occasion to witness it to you, because I find myself much interessed in the Resolution which I have taken, to be all my life Sir Your most humble servant. Another upon the same. SIR, THough I have told you a thousand times by word of Mouth that I am your Servant, yet my Pen shall once aga●ne assure you of the sam●, expecting till you oblige me, to more Eminent proofs; which I conjure you do to, & (if you be pleased) to prevent the occasion by some Command, that may satisfy my Impatience, to make you know and confess at the same time, that you may have more powerful, and more considerable Servants, but never Sir A more humble, or more faithful. Answers to the Letters of Compliment. SIR, I Never made doubt of your Civility and Courtesy, but of my own good fortune, in meeting with the means to require them. Yet I entreat you to believe, that hereafter I will employ all my cares to witness unto you my good affection, and if Ill means render them unprofitable, I will die for my own satisfaction, Sir Your very humble Servant. Another Answer. SIR, I Esteem to much the Honour of your Remembrance, not to desire the continuation, and withal to beseech you for some Employment, wherein I may witness the Passion which I have to your service. For which I will importune you hereafter, desiring by deeds rather than words to let you see, that I am extremely, Sir Your most affectionate servant. Another Answer. SIR, THough this in some sort requite the favour of your remembrance, yet I cannot cease to be indebted to you, when I consider, that your courtesy prevented my respects; But I beseech you imagine, that for the Time to come, I will be so careful to disengage myself, that you shall have greater cause to complain of my importunity, than my silence: which I have resolved never to keep, when your Interests oblige me to the contrary, as making Public Profession to appear in all places Sir Your most humble servant. Another Answer. SIR, I Will be so presumptuous (since you desire it) as to believe you love me; but upon condition, that you will likewise acknowledge the Passion, which I have to serve you. For as it only makes me merit the honour of your Friendship, so I shall be very glad, that you would everlastingly conserve the Remembrance of it. Continue then in loving me as much as you please, and likewise esteem infallibly that I am, more than all the world besides, Sir Your most humble Servant. Another Answer. SIR, THough I give you very humble thanks for the Honour of your Remembrance, yet I shall always remain Indebted to you, as making more account of the least of your favours, than all the respects I am able to render you. Continue only in obliging me of that fashion (though I be entirely yours already) and believe (if you please) that I shall never be capable of other resentment, than which shall witness the quality that I bear Sir of Your most humble servant. Another Answer. SIR, I Am not so unfortunate as I thought I was, since I hold some place still in your Memory. Yet the Grief which I have, not to deserve this honour, has reduced my thoughts, to such a Moderation, that I am in doubt whether I should complain or rejoice I r●maines in you only to allay the discontent of my Mind, by giving me some Employment in your service, which may witness the Passion I have to maintain the Quality Sir of Your very humble Servant. Letters to complain of a Long Silence. SIR, THe Friendship and Service which heretofore I vowed you, force me at this present, to demand the Reason of your Silence. I do not doubt but allege a sufficient excuse to authorise it, yet I beseech you think, that how lawful soever it be, I shall never leave off Complaining: you may pretend the want of Occasions, or the sudden Accident of some Sickness, (which never molested you except in thought) whereby to justify yourself against my Reproaches. But all this is not able to satisfy me, confess your fault; ask forgiveness, and you go a nearer way to work, that's the only way to conserve eternally, Sir Your very humble servant. Another upon the same. SIR, I Shall break with you at last, if you break not silence, imagining that you love me but a little, since you have forgot me altogether. I beseech you deal more familiarly with me, if my friendship be any way considerable, or you esteem me worthy of yours. In the Humour I am now, I think you can no sooner blot me out of your Memory, than I can raze you out of my heart, without retaining any thing (by my good will) but the Quality only, Sir of Your most humble servant. Another Answer. SIR, IF you have taken an oath to write no more to me, at least send me the letters bacl again which I addressed to you, that I may still have the honour to receive something from your part. Silence is a sworn enemy of Friendship, which is the reason that mine reproaches you at this present, being not able to endure, that after so many protestations never to forget me, you should lose even the Memory of having made them. You may change your Humour when you please, if you desire to renew the obligations Sir of Your most humble Servant, Another. SIR, IF I did not honour you extremely, I could easily revenge myself of your forgetfulness, by my silence; but the esteem which I make of your deserts, together with an inclination which carries me to your service, oblige me to assure you still, that though you should forget me, even to my name, I would never change the Resolution which I have taken, to be all my life Sir Your most humble servant, M. Another. SIR, I Can endure no longer that you should forget a Person who honours you so extremely as I do. These three Months of your silence I have kept my mind in the continual fetters of grief, that I should lose the honour of your Remembrance; I beseech you do me Justice, and let not all the World complain with me, of the little esteem you make Sir of Your most humble Servant. Another. SIR, Do if you please, writ no more to me, your merit constrains me to use you in another fashion. I can never weary myself, in executing your Commands, and less in acquitting myself when Occasions are offered, yet I do not desire that you should esteem yourself obliged to me, for I satisfy myself always the first, following my inclination after I have honoured your virtue, because equally both the one and the other force me to carry, to my Grave, the Quality Sir of Your most humble Servant. Answers to the Letter Complaining of Silence. SIR, YOu oblige me with such a good Grace, in Complaining of me, that I am constrained to give you thanks instead of reproaches. 'Tis not because I want lawful excuses to authorise my Silence. But the Interest which you take in it, makes me to condemn it, assuring you, that hereafter you shall accuse me of Importunity rather than neglect. 'Tis the Protestation Sir of Your most humble servant. Another Answer. SIR, IT is not needful to excuse my silence, since I still endure the Pain of it; by reason of a Sickness, which molests me continually. But though your Reproaches proceed from your Affection, yet I assure you they Interest mine extremely, being you doubt of the continuance of it. I beseech you think, that I am not of an humour to forget those whom I honour as I do you, and that except I be again reduced to the extremity I was in before, I shall always acquit myself of that which I own you, In Quality Sir of Your most humble servant. Another Answer. SIR, IF our reciprocal friendship could not be conserved but by letters, my hand should be always upon the Paper, to give you continually some new assurance or other; But knowing that she subsists of herself, through her own solidity, I contemn all the Paintings of Civility and Compliment. How little knowledge soever you have of your own Desert, or my Humour, you may easily know without being a Prophet the dear esteem I make of you, and being knowledge has truth for her object, you are forced to believe that I am really Sir Your most humble servant. Another Answer. SIR, YOur Complaints and Reproaches, are too agreeable to me, that I am forced to give you thanks, knowing they proceed from an excess of affection, and zeal. 'Tis true I have been silent too long, but I pray you believe, that the Misfortune which Imposed it upon me, hath given me such a Penance, that I deserve Pardon, though it were the most enormous crime of the World. I will not now make a particular recital of all the Accidents which have befallen me, for fear you should judge me as Importune in that, as in the other you esteemed me negligent: It sufficeth me to put you in mind, that I am always, what I always was, Sir Your most humble Servant. Another Answer. SIR. YOU are too Just to Condemn me without hearing me speak. 'tis true I have been somewhat too long in acquitting, by the ordinary Commerce of Letters the debt which I own you, but the Mischance of the Prison where I am still, can tell you, that though my hands be free, yet their liberty is altogether unprofitable to serve them in that which you desire. Content yourself then (if you please) with the services I am able to render you, that is, in good will and thought: without accounting this for one, since 'tis both by hazard & an excess of good Fortune, that I acquit myself of it. And believe assuredly, that into what extremity of adverse fortune soever I am reduced, I will always conserve the passion I have to your Service, as being without Fiction Sir Your most humble servant. Another Answer. SIR, I Would I were lest handed, that I might acquit myself of the Service I own you, being unfortunately lame of the right hand: which has obliged me to make use of a strange Pen, to excuse my silence, and to assure you, that though I serve myself of another man's endeavour in writing this Letter, yet 'tis my soul that conceived it, and my heart that gave the Dictamen, being very glad to witness unto you the Truth of my thoughts, touching the Resolution which I have taken to make myself remarqued in all places Sir Your most humble servant. Letters of Thanksgiving. SIR, SInce it is your pleasure to add daily to the obligations of those who are most entirely yours; I am resolved to let you take your course, and busy my thoughts only in seeking occasions to revenge myself. And if my misfortune in this Pursuit continually render my cares unprofitable, yet for your satisfaction I shall always have a good Will, and Passion to do you Service, which I shall hearty offer you up being Sir Your most humble servant. Another upon the same. SIR, I Do not intent that these thanks which I give you for the favour wherewith you were pleased to honour me, should pass in your opinion for an Acknowledgement: I revenge myself only of your Civility, expecting to meet with an occasion, wherein I may witness with Services rather than Words, that I am unfaignedly in heart, and soul Sir Your very humble servant. Another upon the same. SIR, I Confess you have obliged me with a very good Grace, and so perfectly, that I shall remain indebted to you all my life. I would to God some Occasion would offer itself, which I might employ in your Service, thereby to witness, that as your favours have been extreme, I will attempt all extremities to revenge myself. Those are no discourses of Compliment, my heart dictates to my Pen, all that my Pen writes to you, with assurance that I will not long unprofitably bear the Quality Sir of Your very humble servant. Another. SIR, I Know not in what Terms, to give you Thanks, for the Favours which your Generous disposition has been pleased to be stow upon me. I am so unfortunate an Orator, that I am out of all hope to acquit myself, that way. It sufficeth me, to put you in mind of the Passion which I have to your Service, persuading myself, that the remembrance it will excitate in you shall supplicate for the default of my Capacity, and that Considering the Ardour of my Zeal, rather than the beauty of my Discourse, you will content yourself with my Disability, and that I assure you once again, how perfectly I am, Sir Your very humble servant. Another upon the same. SIR, IF I had been more happy or more powerful, I had already requited your favours instead of giving you thanks; but being unfortunate as I am, and in such a degree of Impotency, I have nothing left but words, to send you, as an acknowledgement of your Deeds. 'tis true, they are words most infallibly true, assuring you from my heart rather than my mouth, that I will carry to my Grave, the Quality Sir of Your most humble servant. Another. SIR, IF you expect Thanks worthy your favours, you shall never receive any of me. I am fare more fit to publish them, then requite them in the least respect, if the good desire I have to disengage myself, do not pass for satisfaction: which is all that I can offer you in the state I find myself at this present, beseeching you to believe, that if I were not oppressed with an extreme Misfortune, my Care and Paines should soon witness the Occasion which is offered me, to give Testimony how much I am Sir Your most humble servant, M. Answers to the Letters of Thanksgiving. SIR, YOur thanks have bought my service at so dear a rate, that the satisfaction which before I received is utterly now taken from me. Keep your compliments then for some other, and remember to use more familiarly, Sir The most humble of all your servants. Another Answer. SIR, THere is fare more Honour, then Content in serving you, since by such ready acknowledgements, you hasten the satisfaction. The excess of your Nobleness, undoes me, not being able to endure thanks for the performance of my duty, and therefore since my endeavours in your behalf can be styled no other, I beseech you to vary your Terms, and to Consider me always in the Quality I am Sir of Your most humble servant, Another Answer. SIR, I Complain much of the Excess of your Civility and Courtship, since our Reciprocal friendship is therein greatly Interessed. you give me Thanks for the service which you desired of me, as though I were not obliged to it of Necessity. Leave off that ill Custom if you Please, and know that the Language of Compliments is unknown to true friends, whereof I am one, and which is more, Sir Your most humble Servant. Another Answer. SIR, YOur Compliments have put me into a very ill humour; I cannot write to you, but in Choler, since you use me as a stranger, like as appears by the superfluity of your Ceremonies and unprofitable Thanks. It seems you have wholly forgot the absolute power that your Merit has obtained over me, which causes me once again to put you in mind, that you will be sooner weary in Commanding, than I in executing, as being unreservedly, Sir Your most humble servant. Another Answer. SIR, I Send you bacl your Thanks, to the End that you may make use of them, when you entertain some person less endeared to your service then I am. One would think by reading your compliments, that you Cog with me to gain my Friendship. I pray Remember Sir, that I have wholly dedicated it to your desert, and therefore, you are obliged hereafter to treat me with less Civility, and more freedom, if you account me into the number of your Servants, I being, Sir One of your most humble, and most faithful Another Answer. SIR, YOur thanks have made me resolve to do that piece of Service over again, Imagining that something was omitted, since you go about to put me in mind of it, by your unnecessary Acknowledgement. Sir you know that kind of affectation is always ill received in the familiar Commerce, of a true friendship, which I shall always profess in your behalf, and likewise that I am, Sir Your most humble Servant. Letters of Entreaty. SIR, THe Report of your generous Disposition gives me the boldness, to implore your favour in the dispatch of a business, whose success depends absolutely on your Authority. 'tis true I have not the Honour to be known by you, but that being a particular Misfortune of Mine, I desire it may not serve as a pretence to the Refusal of my Demand: Assuring you, that I shall endeavour to make known by real service, rather than name, Sir Your most humble Servant, M. Another upon the same. SIR, I Can wish your Command had prevented my Entreaties, that my observance might have merited of you the dispatch of a business which presents itself. But being the occasion to Importune you, was offered, when I sought one to do you service, I will force myself to believe that my good will may oblige you, not to refuse this courtesy Sir to Your most humble servant. Another upon the same. SIR, MY vowed Service and Friendship, give me the freedom to Implore your favour, in behalf of the Bearer of these Presents, I serve myself very boldly of the Power you have given me to employ your Endeavours in all sorts of encounters, but upon Condition that you will do the same in all occasions that may offer themselves, wherein I may witness how much I am, Sir Your most humble servant. M. Another. SIR, IF you make as great Account of my Entreaty, as I do of your commands, you will easily accord unto me this, which is, to sustain with your Authority, a business of Mine now in agitation, that it may be determined to my advantage. I do not doubt of your Power, and less of your Nobleness, which forces me to believe that you will comply with this Occasion offered you, to oblige extremely, Sir Your most humble servant. M. Another. SIR, IF you complain of my Importunity, accuse your own freeness, for if you had been less Generous, I had been less bold. But being I know by Experience in what a high degree Civility & Courtesy predominate in you, I am constrained to think, that my entreaty will not be inacceptable, which is, that you would be pleased to mollify with your Eloquence, that harsh conceit that Master N. has of me. In this encounter you will oblige us both together, since giving him to understand my Innocence, he will easily give place to reason. This favour in particular I hope from your Goodness, as you on the contrary may expect all sorts of Service from my Duty: In Quality Sir of Your most humble servant. M Another. SIR, THough I be the most unprofitable of all your friends, yet I shall never fail to prove myself one of the most passionate to your Service. The violence whereof causes me at this Present, to entreat you to oblige me in such, or such an Encounter. All that I can say to you for the first acknowledgement is, that I shall conserve Eternally the Memory of this favour, and if I be not able to meet with an Occasion to revenge myself, that I shall carry the Sorrow of it into my Grave, together with the Quality Sir of Your most humble servant. M. Answers to the Letters of Entreaty. SIR, I Have done all that you desired of me, but with so much satisfaction, and so little Pains, that I beseech you prepare some new commands, whereby the passion I have to serve you, may not be left unprofitable, and you shall see by my observance, that I have no greater Pleasure in the World, then to make myself remarqued in all places, Sir Your most humble servant. Another Answer. SIR, I Have many thanks to return you for the happy employment you gave me in your service; I think all things fell out according to your desire, which gave me ample occasion to rejoice, as participating in all things that concern your particular. I beseech you do me the favour, that I may never have occasion to doubt of it, since I profess myself as much as any man in the World, Sir Your most humble servant. M. Another Answer. SIR, I Can wish you had every day occasion to command my service, that I might continually have the Good fortune to produce new proofs of my obedience. I performed happily the last Commands wherewith you were pleased to honour me, which gives me cause to believe that you will not long let me rest unprofitable, without giving me some other sort of employment, wherein I may find more satisfaction, as proving it more painful. This I beseech you to do, in quality Sir of Your most humble Servant, M. Another Answer. SIR, I Find so much facility in the execution of the Command, which you imposed upon me, that I am ashamed to reckon it in the number of services which I desire to render you: It being an Encounter of so little Importance, for my satisfaction and your Interest, that I beseech you give me some other Employment, wherein I may witness according to your Merit and my Affection how unfaignedly I am Sir Your most humble Servant. M. Another Answer. SIR, I Ask you pardon for the long time that I have spent in the executing your Commands, not that I have been negligent in employing my Cares, and Diligence, but because the success consisting in a Stranger's power, I could no sooner give you the Effects: yet let not the mishap of this delay, hinder you hereafter in using my Endeavours, since I am without reserve Sir Your most humble servant. Another Answer. SIR, WHen you desire any service of me, I beseech you consider whether it be in my power or no, to the end that being unable to execute your Commands (as I am at this Present) I incur not the hazard of your reproach. You may Expect new proof (when you please) of the Passion which I have to serve you, since I no way desire to bear in vain the Quality Sir of Your most humble Servant. M. Other Answers of Excuse to the Letters of Entreaty. SIR, I Am more sorry than yourself, that I am not able to effect your Commands: The duty which you expect, does not absolutely depend of me, so that to render it worthily, I am to implore the favour of an other Man, who professeth to incline totally to the adverse party. Do not think that I make these excuses to avoid the occasion, which presented itself for your service, but believe I beseech you, that in all other Encounters, I will Comport myself with so much passion, that you shall be forced to confess I am unfaignedly, Sir Your most humble servant, M. Another Answer. SIR, IF you knew in what disorder my Misfortune causes me to write, (since I am not able to satisfy your desire) you would have pity on my Affliction, being it wholly proceeds from my Grief, that the Power to do you service is taken from me. I speak this from my heart, and soul, and being the friendship I promised you taught me the Language, I will constrain myself to believe, that it is Eloquent enough to persuade you, that the only want of ability, deprives me at this Present, of the Honour and Contentment, to witness unto you how much I am Sir Your most humble servant. M. Congratulatory Letters to a friend, of some Good Fortune happened to Him. SIR, IF you knew how excessively joyful I was at the News of your good fortune, you would make a doubt whether your own resentment might be equalled to mine or no: truly Sir there could nothing be added to it, and besides it proceeds wholly from the friendship that long ago I vowed to your good nature, which is not vulgar, since it has your desert for the Object. I could say more if the Excess of my Gladness would give me the freedom, wherefore for the Present I must suffice myself, that you remain assured, how the Contentment which I take can be equalled by nothing but the passion which I have to your service, as being Sir Your very humble servant. Another. SIR, THe news of your Promotion into that Charge, which you wished for so long, have added such Contentment and Satisfaction to my thoughts, that I am able to express but one part of the joy which reigns in me. I trouble not myself, to persuade you to it by a long discourse; your own merit and our reciprocal Friendship, (supplying the defect of my Eloquence) will give a fare better Testimony than my pen is able, which has in charge at this present only to put you in mind, that I am always according to my wont Sir Your most humble Servant. Another upon the same. SIR, THe part which I always took in your Interests, shall witness unto you at this Present, the excess of my joy which I conceived at the news of your Good Fortune: & though I be not one of the first to congratulate it with you, yet I am one of the most sensible, in the common Contentment which possesseth the World. The diligence, or delay of a Post can advance, or diminish no man's duty in this kind of encounter, since nothing but Zeal, and Affection are considerable, which gives me great confidence at this Present, as being more than any man in the world, Sir Your most humble Servant. Another. SIR, Do not admire that I am one of the last, who congratulate with you, your good fortune: the joy which I conceived was so extreme, that it could afford me no sooner the Liberty to acquit myself. I know, the most o● your friends have prevented me, but being their satisfaction is small, I do not wonder if their diligence be the greater. As for my part my idleness increaseth my Merit, since the stay and Protraction proceeded only from the excess of the Gladness Sir of Your most humble servant. Another. SIR, SInce you doubt not the Friendship which I have promised you, you will easily believe, that I was extreme sensible of the Good fortune which happened you of late, but I must tell you, that as your merit made me foresee it in you long before it came, so I was not much astonished at the first recital. I wish you daily the like, or greater advancements, being unable to acquit myself otherwise then by prayers of the great debt I own you. Yet how unfortunate or unprofitable soever I be, do not cease to continue me in the Number Sir of Your most obedient and faithful servants, M. Another. SIR, YOu must imagine if you please, the resentment which the News of your Good Fortune imprinted in me, since I am not able to express it as it is in itself. But if in this you have need of any succour, your Memory may assist you by putting you in Mind, of the Passion which I have for your Service; 'tis that only which caused the excess of my joy, and to which you can add nothing, but by honouring me with your Commands, since by that means my Obedience may give me, the perfect Contentment of being able to testify unto you how much I am Sir Your most humble servant, and most faithful. Answers to the Letters of Congratulation. SIR, I Always believed you were so Generous, as to take part in whatsoever should concern me, having begun so strict a Commerce of Reciprocal Friendship. And I persuade myself likewise, that you make no doubt of the Passion which I have to do you service (by which Means only I am able to Merit the Effects of your Nobleness.) Whereof you may be as Confident, as of the most assured thing in the World, since I am in heart, and soul, Sir Your most humble servant, M. Another Answer. SIR, SInce you take part in the good fortune which has befallen me, you must also participate in the advantage of the new Credit which it has brought me into. This I advertise you of, to the End that you let not any occasion slip, wherein you may procure new proofs of my Passion, nor forget this advice which I give you; since I shall die of Impatience, if I expect long, the opportunity to witness unto you, how deeply I am Sir Your Servant, and Friend, M. Another Answer. SIR, I Am not to thank you for these new proofs of your Nobleness which you have shown in my behalf, because they are actions so proper to your Nature, that without them you could not possibly live. I must give you praises then, instead of thanks, and account myself happy, that I serve as an object, to your virtuous Inclinations, whereof I should become Envious, but that they do not admit any hopes of Imitation: and therefore I reserve admiration only to contemplate them, in Quality Sir, of Your most humble Servant. M. Another. SIR, THe new assurances which you have given me of your friendship in bearing part of my good fortune, have yielded me much more satisfaction than my advancement itself, as preferring the Happiness of your Affection before my own particular; you have touched me so sensibly, in mingling my interests with your own, that I shall never lose the Remembrance of so great a favour: wishing that some occasion would offer itself whereby I might in some part merit it by the reality of my Service, since I am, and will be, all my life, Sir, Your very humble servant. M. Another Answer. SIR, YOu seem to take pleasure in nothing else, but in giving me daily new proofs of your friendship, as if I were able to conceive any doubt of it at all. I know that you could not be so noble as you are, except you took part in the Content which I receive, for the happy success, of my affair. And besides making Profession to love me, in that height as I honour you, I know there was necessity for your satisfaction, and that you should be extremely sensible of the good fortune, Sir of Your most humble Servant, M. Another Answer. SIR, I Began not to day to be indebted to you for the free Testimonies of your friendship, having given me so many proofs, that the disability to revenge myself, has made me ashamed of the Remembrance. But since you partake of the joy which I receive for the gaining of my suit, I conjure you to serve yourself without exception, of all the Advantages which I have got, if you would really have me believe, that you account me of the number of your best friends as well Sir as of Your most humble and most faithful servants. Congratulatory Letters to a Person of Eminent Quality. MY LORD, THough I be one of the last in Congratulating with your Lordship the New government which the king has bestowed upon you; yet I can assure your Lordship, that no Man forwent me in witnessing the Resentment of so public a joy.. And as this duty which I render you is valuable according to the greatness of my Zeal, and not of my Diligence, so I thought that though it came something late, it would not be less Considerable. If I had had no other object but your Lordship's good Fortune, I had prevented in this action, all that have now got the start of me; but taking nothing into my Consideration, except your Desert & my Inclination to your service, I gave way to my own desires rather than Custom, which is to make myself remarked every where in effect, rather than appearance, My Lord, Your most humble servant. M. Another. My Lord, I Can not be silent in the Acclamations of such an universal Gladness, being forced to join my voice, to other men's, in Publishing our Commune Contentment touching the Mareschalship of France, wherewith the King has been graciously pleased to honour you; This Action of justice is so highly approved by every Person, that your Enemies are constrained to condemn themselves to an everlasting silence, being not able to open their Mouths, but to their own Confusion. Live then happily with this part of Good fortune which your merit first made you aspire to, and believe assuredly, that in the whole train of your Excellency's servants, there shall be very few able to imitate me, in the resolution which I have taken, to carry to my grave, the Quality MY LORD, of Your most humble & most obedient Servant. M. Letters to a Person of Note, acknowledging some notable favour received. My Lord, I Do not render you this duty as thanks, for the favours which your Goodness has been pleased to heap upon me, since their excess force me to a silence, as taking from me all means to revenge myself. It sufficeth me you believe, that I will sooner lose myself, than the remembrance of your bounty. I know your Lordship satisfied yourself first, every time you obliged me; but being I cannot do so, what advantage soever I take, without rendering you some service of consideration, I humbly beseech your Lordship to grant me the Liberty to Importune you at all times to honour me with your Commands, to the End that by the Innocncy of my observance, you may be constrained to know, that if you be extremely generous, I am no less sensible, nor no less, My Lord, Your most humble and most faithful Servant. M. Another. MY LORD, IF you expect thanks worthy of the Favours wherewith you have been pleased to honour me, I humbly beseech your Lordship to afford me the terms that I may repeat them after you for your satisfaction. I confess boldly my incapacity to express unto your Lordship the resentment which your obligations cause in me, as well as my disability in meeting with occasions to acquit myself. But being Generous actions carry their own recompense along with them, all that I can do, is to put your Lordship continually in mind of your Nobleness, and to publish it in all Corners of the World, together with the Quality My Lord, of Your most humble and most obedient servant. Letters to ask Pardon for a Fault Committed. SIR, IF the confession of my fault, can merit any Grace, I will expect it from your Bounty, not my Intention, because it is Innocent. 'tis true I have lost your good Affection by reason of the Passage last night, but since I was surprised by an extremity of Anger, (which would not suffer me to consider where I was) I leave the judgement of my weakness to you, having wholly condemned it myself. You know that our first motions are so sovereign in their violence, that in contempt of reason they will undergo no laws but their own; who should obtain of you to consider that in the fault which I have committed, there was more contributed by nature, than my own free will; so that I knew not how to avoid it, I know at least how to repent myself, of which I assure you most faithfully to the end, that my most humble entreaties for your pardon and favour, may be made more acceptable, and the rather because they proceed, Sir, from Your most humble servant. M. Another. SIR, I Have too great an opinion of your Piety to make doubt of the Pardon which I crave, for my fault committed last night, 'tis not that I fear the Innocence of my Intention is not able to justify me, but because I would set my Mind in quiet, as I have already my Conscience. This act of acknowledgement should serve you for a satisfaction, as it does me for a Penance: putting you in mind of the Passion which always heretofore I have had to do you service, and of the Profession which I have made, to bear in all places, the Quality, Sir, of Your most humble and most obedient Servant. M. Letters Reproaching a friend for the Coldness of his Affection. SIR, IF I made not an extreme account of your friendship, I would not have complained of your silence, nor that Coldness which you shown at our last meeting. I speak not this, because I would force your Love: but I should be very glad you would acknowledge the Affection which I have vowed you, whereby you might be obliged to do me justice in honouring me with the like, yet I leave you the liberty to do as you please, against my will, I say against my will, because I have taken Oath, to live and die Sir Your most humble Servant, M. Another. SIR, I Am constrained to put you in mind of those protestations of friendship which once you made me, being I perceive that yours grows already weary of her wont Constancy. You seem to have forgot at the same time, both the esteem which I make of your Desert, and the Passion which I have to your service. Sir you may change your humour when you please, if you would have me believe you are not fickle in your Promises, and that you know the Art to Conserve eternally, those that Endear themselves the most to you, as I do, In Quality Sir of Your most humble servant, Letters to complain of backbiting Speeches. SIR, 'tIs told me that you maintained a Certain discourse to my disadvantage, I beseech you out of Charity repent yourself in time, if you would not have me constrain you to a more rigorous Penance, I understand not jesting, if I begin it not myself, wherefore correct your Plead, or I will cause you to lose both your suit and charges. I give you this fair warning that you may have less cause to complain hereafter, and when I shall perceive you in as humble a submission as I expect, I'll then take it into my consideration whether I ought to be for the time to come, as hitherto I have been Sir Your most humble servant. M. Another upon the same. SIR, I Understand that when you have nothing else to do, you take upon you to backbite, a Person very near allied unto me. 'Tis the worst trade and most dangerous that you can employ yourself in: but if your wine be the cause of these extravagancies, I advise you to mingle it with water assoon as you can, otherwise I shall be constrained to force you to such a long silence, that no man shall ever hear you speak hereafter. 'Tis the Charitable advice, if you follow it, Sir of Your servant, M. Answers to the Letters of Complaint. SIR, I Do not write this letter to give you satisfaction, but to comply with my own Humour, in the Innocence I have always lived; you are too blame to make those false reporters, my judges, from whose sentence I appeal as from an abuse, yet you may believe what you please, being you are unwilling to explicate yourself any further. And if you be not satisfied with the Assurance I give, that I never dreamed of offending you, I leave you to fair Paper and Ink, whereby you may signify unto me your mind, and Intention, whether good or bad I care not. It sufficeth me, that you call to remembrance the Name and Quality which I once bore Sir of Your most humble servant. M. Another Answer. SIR, THose that told you I abused your kinswoman abuse me, I know (without any Man's Intimation) the respect I own to that sex: and what subject soever she had given me, my reason should always have forced me to hold my Peace. As for the rest, know that wine never made me speak, and if you be so foolish as to believe it, I know a way to punish your folly, I tell you what I mean to do, that you may have no pretence to say I surprise you unawares, at our next meeting, where I have good hope to make you feel how worthily I can Chastise, those that will not be contented with reason, 'Tis the resolution Sir of Your servant as much as you please. M. Letters to justify one's self of a Reproach. SIR, I Wonder greatly at the injustice you have done me, being otherwise so reasonable as you are: you have condemned me upon the first report of my Enemies, without observing any other Formality then what your passion suggested. I must tell you, you appear something too violent in this Encounter, and the more, because you never seemed to make doubt of the passion I had to serve you; I complain then with reason, because your Reproaches are without reason, and beseech you take the Pains hereafter to ponder the informations which shall be made you of a business so Important as this, and particularly when it touches the Interest Sir of Your most humble servant, M. Another. SIR, I Do so highly approve of your judgement, that I begin to question my Innocence, since it has declared her culpable: yet I must assure you, with your Permission, that my Thoughts did never contribute any thing to the fault whereof you accuse me, and likewise condemn me, without hearing me speak. But though my misfortune were always such that you should never incline to do me reason, yet my conscience should always, that I may rest in Quiet, and peaceably possess the Quality Sir of Your most humble servant. M. Congratulatory Letters to a new Married Man. SIR, I Rejoice extremely at the Happy election you have made of a wife, since I participate with Civility in the satisfaction which you receive: being glad that you have now divided the power which you had acquired over my affections, as honouring at this Present your dear half, with the same respects that heretofore I rendered to you only. I will persuade myself, you will make no doubt of it, no more then of the Passion I have to your Service, In Quality Sir of Your most humble Servant, M. Another upon the same. SIR, Do not expect that I should formally congratulate with you the good-fortune of your Marriage, since I interest myself in all your contentments. It sufficeth me to put you in mind, that your good and ill fortune, shall be the sole cause of all my joys and discontents, as fully resolved to follow, your Resentments, in Quality Sir of Your most humble servant. M. Answers to the Letters of Congratulation. SIR, I Always believed that you loved me so much as to participate in my Contentments, they are effects of your good nature and nobleness, to which I am extremely Obliged. But I can assure you, that in the Election I have made of a Wife, you have obtained a new servant, since she partakes already in the Passion, which I have to serve you, being Sir Your most humble Servant, M. Another Answer. SIR, I Know you are so Generous that you Interest yourself in all things which concern me, but I am ashamed of receiving daily new proofs, since I cannot Encounter with a fit Occasion to revenge myself. All that I can say then is, that I shall have the same resentment in all affairs, which shall touch your Particular, as being by Inclination as well as reason, Sir Your most humble servant. M. Letters of Protestation of Friendship. SIR, THough I have made a vow to be your most perfect honourer all my life, and not to remit one point of the Passion which I have to do you Service, yet I shall never Content myself, except some occasion be offered very suddenly, whereby these Words may be changed into effects. 'Tis the only Good Fortune which I expect with Impatience, being not a little grieved that I bear in vain the Quality Sir of Your very humble servant. Another. SIR, Do not wonder if I importune you so often with my Letters, I have no greater pleasure in the World then to assure you of the esteem I make of your friendship, and the eternity of mind. 'Tis true, these are but words, but being they are dictated by my heart, I am satisfied in acquitting myself of that which I own you. If occasions to do you ser●ic● would offer themselves as often as they do, to write to you, I would give Testimony by my actions, rather than my Discourse, that I was never in Compliment Sir Your most humble servant. Another. SIR, SInce my ill fortune deprives me of occasions to serve you, I must for my own satisfaction witness unto you the Passion which predominates in me. I know your Desert and Condition have acquired you servants without number, but I can assure you with as much ostentation, as Reason, that join them all together, I am Sir The most humble and most obedient. Another. SIR, THe inclination which I have to esteem you more than all the World, will not suffer me to let any opportunity slip▪ without giving you new assurances of this Truth. Not that I cease to be in a continual impatiency, of expecting occasions to give you more effectual proofs, but because they being not dependant of my will, I satisfy myself, in letting you know that she shall never force to other thing, then to make open profession of the Quality Sir of Your most humble servant. Answers to the Letters Protesting Friendship. SIR, BE as frequent as you please in giving me new assurances of your friendship, all the proofs that you can have of mine, cannot render it more perfect than it is: being I can assure you, that if my endeavours could take effect, or my vow's accomplishment, you should not long account me in the number of your unprofitable servants, though Sir of Your most obedient, and most faithful. Another Answer. SIR, I Will never refuse the Honour which you do me in professing to love me extremely, but since I have no merit to oblige you thereunto I dare not publish my good fortune, justly fearing to be deprived of it every Moment. Not because I believe you will prove fickle, but reasonable, and that therefore your Reason may oblige you, to make me lose this good fortune, which mine only and your Courtesy acquired me. But whatsoever happen I shall never be other Sir Then your most humble and most obedient servant Another Answer. SIR, THough I never made doubt of your friendship, yet I make such esteem thereof, that you advance me to a new degree of Honour and delight, every time you take the Pains to give me fresh assurances of it by your letters. 'Tis true, in this you do but assure mine, yet howsoever, the commerce of this kind of entertainment is so delightful, that if I did not apprehend I might be importune, I should write unto you by every opportunity that presented itself, being 'tis the only consolation which I have in your absence, to put you in mind, that I will be eternally Sir Your most humble servant. M. Another Answer. SIR, FOR all you love me and esteem me never so much, you are still indebted to me, since my object is your desert: what proofs soever you give me of your friendship, they are not able to diminish the price of mine, being in a height of Perfection not to be valued. But if my misfortune nourish you in a continual doubt, I will produce my advantage when you produce your assurances: Desiring nothing so much as to witness unto you by effects rather than words, that I am Sir Your most humble servant. Letters to a Friend in favour of another. SIR, THe bearer of this Letter, a Gentleman, and one of my very good friends, desiring that I would entreat you, (as I do most humbly,) to oblige him in a business whose success depends wholly in your favour, I knew not how to refuse his merit and condition so poor a Demand: wherefore you shall oblige me extremely, if you will be pleased to employ some part of your credit therein, without any other Consideration, but only that you were Requested Sir by one of Your most humble, and most obedient servants, M. Another. SIR, YOur Desert, and Condition, have made you so Considerable and Necessary, that your friends are always subject to importune you: and amongst the rest I at this Present, in favour of the Gentleman who bears this Letter: beseeching you, to support him with your credit, in a business of which he will inform you. I shall account his obligations, into the Number of mine, and Testify to you in my own Particular, the Resentment which I shall conceive in Quality Sir Of Your most humble and most obedient servant. M. Answers to the Letters of Favour. SIR, THis Gentleman in whose behalf you took the Pains to write unto me, will tell you by word of mouth, how faithfully I have served you, in obliging him. If you judge me able to render you any other service, wherein I may find more satisfaction, as proving it more difficult, it stands upon nothing, but yourself, to give me the Employment, being very glad to witness unto you at all times how much I am Sir Your servant. Another Answer. SIR, I Esteem myself happy to have met with this little occasion, to do you service by making your friend's business (whereof you writ unto me) be determined to his advantage. I employed in it equally, both my Care and industry, not losing one moment of time, to the end that I might thereby witness, in what esteem I have the honour of your Commands. You may give me new ones when you please: if you desire new proofs of the Obedience Sir of Your most humble, and most faithful servant, M. Letters complaining of the Absence of a Friend. SIR, THough true friendship be in the Proof of absence, yet yours is of so long continuance, that I imagine you purpose to cast me off, since you seem to retire your affection thus by little and little. I speak confidently, because I fear extremely, and you ought to pardon thi● boldness and fear, since they proceed equally from the good inclination I have to your Service, and the great esteem I make of your Friendship. Return then quickly, if you will free from sorrow and disquiet, Sir The most humble of all your servants and the most faithful. Another. SIR, I Can endure your absence no longer: you must of necessity show yourself oftener than you do to your friend, for your own honour, and my satisfaction: I say for your Honour, because it is thereby in Question, since you keep yourself so long retired in a place, of which even the Gazette never makes mention. You must not give so much way to your humour, and inclination, that they interest with them the Contentment, of all that love you. For my own part, I am resolved to go seek you, if you return not very soon, to which I adjure you, by all the Charms of the Passion which I have to your service, as being Sir Your most humble Servant, M. Answers to the Letters which complain of Absence. SIR, YOu chide me with such a good grace, that I could wish to see you oftener in that humour, since it obliges me to believe that I am not altogether indifferent to you. 'Tis true, my absence hath been something long, but being my presence is unprofitable to my friends, by the disability I am in to serve them, I make the less account of my absence from the Court; Yet the only means to occasion my return, will be, if you testify unto me that I can be useful to you when I am there; which shall precipitate my haste, being in a firm resolution to render you all manner of Service, in quality Sir, of Your most humble and obedient servant, M. Another Answer. SIR, MY pride will become insufferable, if you interest yourself often in the delay of my return. I wonder you can find me wanting at the Court where you have admirers without number; but if I could be persuaded that my absence did occasion your disquiet, or that my presence could be necessary for your service, you should not be able to detain me from the Town, whither your Commands shall soon call me when you are pleased to expect proofs of my obedience, as being Sir, Your most humble servant, M. Letters to clear ourselves of a false report. SIR, I Need not much eloquence to persuade my innocency touching the report which was made to you of late, since I will oblige myself to make them confess the truth publicly that have been too shameless to maintain the contrary in private. 'Tis a malice so ill contrived, (though black as Hell) that I am persuaded it will deceive itself. For what appearance is there, that having received an infinity of favour from your goodness, I should so irreverently contemn a thousand other noble qualities that elevate your esteem above the common? I beseech you believe that I shall be their admirers all my life, and a continual flail to the broachers of this Imposture. I have no respect of persons when my Honour is questioned; I bear a sword to defend it with the hazard of my life, which I esteem far less. But if this cannot give you satisfaction, let me know the name of the reporter, and I will make you sport in laying open the particulars of his knavery, and the sincerity of my innocency, which shall give you sufficient never to make doubt of the passion I have to serve you, as being Sir, Your most humble and obedient servant. An other. SIR, IT is an easy matter for any Man to accuse me, but I defy all the World together, to convince me in the least respect. 'tis true, I could not speak in that Company, but some must hear me; but, be pleased to show me my adversary, and I'll engage myself to make him sign me an acquittance of my innocency with his own blood. I boast of nothing that I will not do; for let me but know the broachers of that imposture: and I will easily let you know their malice, which shall force you to believe (as I most humbly entreat you) that I will sooner lose my life than the honour and stile of being Sir, Your most humble and most obedient servant, M. An other. SIR, I Will not justify myself with words, of the aspersion laid upon me, desiring by effects to let you see my innocency as clear, as the malice of those that would have blemished it, black and pernicious. I beseech you think that I shall never be able to forget the respect I own you; and if any have the boldness to accuse me of it, my Sword shall impose them a most rigorous penance, since I proffer to be always what I always was Sir, Your most humble Servant, M. Answers to the Letter of Justification. SIR, 'tIs true, I was told you abused me behind my back; but since I never gave you cause, and on the other side your discretion being sufficiently known to me, I was not so much as tempted to give credit to it; you needed not then have justified yourself of a fault whereof I esteemed you always innocent. The reputation you bear in all places of the World, may seem as a judge to condemn your accusers; wherefore you may sleep in quiet, since I account myself disinteressed, and place me in the number Sir, of Your most humble, and most affectionate servants. Another Answer. SIR, BEfore I can declare you guilty, you must confess yourself faulty with your own mouth; for the testimonies of all the World, cannot convince the good opinion I have of your integrity. Men may calumniate your reputation as much as they please, but I shall always hold your accusers to be in the fault, since it is impossible I should lose the esteem which I conceive of your desert, being Sir, Your most humble servant. Letters to a sick Friend. SIR, THe news of your sickness hath bred such a change in my health, that I may justly count myself in the number of those that are not well. Take courage then, if you will give it me; you know the intent I have in all things concerning your particular. In a word, if you leave not your bed very suddenly, I shall be constrained to take it. These are the Protestations Sir, of Your very humble servant, M. Another. SIR, I Will not tell you how extremely sensible the sorrowful news of your sickness was to me; only I must put you in mind that your disease cannot choose but be very contagious, having infected one hither. I could wish, for your service and my contentment, that I were near you; but my misfortune is such, that it ties me to certain affairs in this Town, which by no means I am able to abandon. Yet all these obstacles shall not hinder me from acquitting myself of my duty, if you esteem me useful to render you any manner of service, of which I give you most faithful assurance, as protesting to be all my life, Sir, Your most humble servant, M. Answers to the Letters written to a sick Friend. SIR, IF I had sooner recovered my health, I had sooner returned you thanks for the resentment you wittnessed to have of my sickness: but being it kept me very long, I was constrained to delay my acknowledgement till this very present: though 'tis not from this encounter only that I know how sensible you are of all things concerning your Friends, which makes you have them without number; but I can assure you, that put them all together, I am Sir, The most obedient and most faithful. An other Answer. SIR, AS soon as ever I was able to hold a pen, I served myself of the opportunity to render you thanks, for the consolation which you gave me, in the delightful entertainment of your letters. Yet, I pray you Sir, deprive me not of this contentment, if you would not have me sick again. For I can assure you, 'tis a very great satisfaction to me to see myself honoured with the favour of your remembrance, in Quality Sir, of Your most humble servant, M. Letters to demand the protection of a strange Prince. SIR, THough I have not the honour to be known to your Highness, yet the esteem that all the World makes of your Royal virtues, gave me the boldness most humbly to beseech your Majesty to grant me protection within the Lands of your Obedience. I am not guilty of any crime that should make me blush; and if I have violated the Laws of my own Prince, it was but to obey the Law which Honour had imposed upon me before. This makes me expect from your Highness' bounty, all manner of assistance, since only the profession of Soldier made me quit my own Country. Your Highness will augment by this action the number of your Creatures, since thereby I shall vow myself to live and die in quality of Your Highness' Most humble servant, M. Another. SIR, THe Bruit of your Highness' renown occasioned my entrance into the Lands of your Obedience, not knowing where to find a more assured harbour in the World. I hope your Highness will not violate for me alone, the Laws which your wisdom has already made in favour of distressed and guilty persons; and though I be no otherwise than the right of Honour does permit, yet I most humbly implore your Majesty's protection as extremely conducing to my repose and quiet. For my birth and condition, I thought it not necessary to reveal them, till your Highness' command oblige me to it, being sufficient to give you assurance, that I have committed no crime whereof all men that make profession of Honour, may not be justly accused and convicted together; But I will be all my life Your Highness' Most humble, most obedient, and most obliged servant, M. Letters witnessing unto a Friend the contentment we receive in serving him. SIR, I Should express but one part of my Contentment, though I should say in doing you service I receive all the satisfaction the World is able to afford; for your merit is so considerable, that there is no divertisement like the continual action of executing your commands. Do not think that I compliment, but believe infallibly that my heart, mouth, and pen, conspire together every time I give you assurance, as I do now, that I am more than all the World. Sir, Your most humble servant. An other. SIR, YOu are so generous that you know by experience what contentment men receive in doing their friend's service; for my own particular, I think nothing can be added to mine, such a sensible feeling I have of it every time you are pleased to honour me with your commands. I pray you then be not so sparing, since it is my whole delight, and since I shall importune you for nothing else, in the resolution I have taken, to bear beyond my grave, the Quality Sir, of Your most humble and most obedient servant. Another. SIR, I Never esteemed myself happy till the day wherein you were pleased to give me an employment for your service, as being the only thing in the world I aspired to with most passion. I would you were always in th' humour to honour me with your commands, as I am always to obey them, which you shall do me a great favour to believe, and besides that I am unfeignedly and without reservation Sir, Your most humble and most faithful servant. Answers to the precedent Letters. SIR, EVery time you are pleased to give me sure testimonies of your friendship, I find myself most powerfully touched by my ordinary impatience, of encountering with some opportunity to revenge myself; but since you are extremely reasonable, I will force myself to believe, that you consider rather the price of my zeal, than the misfortune of my disability, so that making no doubt of the passion I bear to your service, you will place me always in the rank Sir, of Your most obedient and most faithful servants, M. An other Answer. SIR, I Know 'tis your ordinary delight to oblige all the World, without expecting as much as thanks; but I beseech you believe that I am too honestly envious of your nobleness, that every time you are pleased to give me new proofs thereof, I live in all the tortures of the World, till I have encountered with the means of requiting it. And finding myself in that case at this present, I am forced to represent unto you my disquiet, that I may not be accused of ingratitude, and less of negligence, in seeking occasions to testify unto you how perfectly I am Sir, Your most humble and obliged servant, M. An other Answer. SIR, 'TIs not enough to oblige continually your friends; friendship commands that you should serve yourself of them, in all kind of encounters; to which I conjure you, if you desire I should believe that you love me extremely. I will never importune you with other things, in the grief I remain, to bear unprofitably, the Quality Sir, of Your most humble and obedient servant. Another Answer. SIR, IT would be very hard for me to express how strictly I am yours; for what proofs soever my obedience were able to give you, they could resent but one part of the passion which I have to your service, as being, inimitably Sir, Your most humble and faithful servant. An other Answer. SIR, I Am resolved to beseech you would be pleased to honour me continually with your commands, since you are pleased to produce continually new proofs of your friendship. These shall be all the entreaties I will make you, to the end that my obedience may serve me for an occasion, in serving you according to the passion which reigns in me. And to witness unto you, that there be few in the World can vaunt with reason, that they are to that height as I am Sir, Your most humble and most obedient servant. Another Answer. SIR, IT would be very hard for me to reckon up the obligations which I have to you; You are too noble in all respects, (and especially when it stands upon the interests of your friends) that it is sufficiently seen you take great pleasure in having no equal. Yet I must tell you freely, that I am one of your Enviers, as well as of your Admirers, being Jealous of the continual Generosity you exercise in my behalf, not leaving me so much leisure as to ruminate upon the means of acknowledgement. 'Tis my turn now to let you know, I am not insensible, and that if you be extremely well skilled in the Art of obliging all the World, I am not altogether ignorant of the Art of acquitting myself. I beseech you believe it, and that I am without Compliment Sir, Your most humble servant, M. Another Answer. SIR, I Begin to grow weary of your favours; the disability in which I find myself, will not suffer me to receive any new one, for fear I should be constrained in the End to pass for Ungrateful. Wherefore except I encounter with some favourable occasion, wherein I may witness the Passion which I have to serve you, I will never add any thing to this number of obligations. This is my Humour, my Resolution being to profess myself all my Life Sir, Your most humble servant, M. THE SECOND PART OF The Secretary in Fashion. A Letter Consolatory to a Father upon the Death of his Son. SIR, THE sorrowful news of your Son's Death, touched me very feelingly, and the more, because I had the honour of his acquaintance, and particular knowledge of his Deserts. The love which you have sustained, is very great I confess; but you must likewise confess that unavoidable evils, are to be endured with constancy. I speak not this to condemn your Sighs and Tears, for I do willingly approve of them, yea, even in excess: but to let you know, that after you have satisfied your humour, you must a little give place to reason, being you shall receive as much glory in drying up your Tears, as you did once pleasure in shedding them. I know your Son was the only Comfort which remained to you in this World, and that his presence merely did make you live contented even amongst the peevishnesses of old age. But all this induceth me to believe that God deprived you of him, for no other Reason, but only to comfort you hereafter in himself, as being the only Good which is subject to no Change. He calls himself a Jealous God; wonder not then if he be Jealous of the unmeasureable love you bore to your Child. And if his Providence hath found a means to oblige you, in robbing you of an object which possessed all your affections together, you on the other side are obliged this Day to make him the object of your Thanksgiving, and not of your Complaints. This is that which I expect at the hands of your Magnanimity, and soundness of Judgement; the weakness of mine, detaining me from passing further, being assured that you are able yourself to be your own Comforter. It sufficeth me that I acquit myself of my Duty, in witnessing to you the grief I conceive for your Misfortune, and the continual care I shall have to blaze myself wheresoever I come, Sir, Your most humble servant. The Answer. SIR, I Am obliged to you, for the charitable counsel you were pleased to give me upon the Death of my Son: But suffer me to tell you (after my humble thanks) that my affliction is of such a Nature, that Death only is able to give me satisfaction, so that I find myself constrained to go seek my remedy in my Grave; and yet I do not murmur against the providence of God; though I must assure you that without a particular Grace, and sensible miracle, I shall faint under the burden of my misfortune. Yet I beseech you Sir, do not deprive me of the Comfort of your Letters, knowing I cannot enjoy the Happiness of your Company: And above all things, remember me in your Prayers, since I expect no succour but from Heaven. I am ever Sir, Your most humble servant. Another Answer. SIR, YOur dear Letter concerning the death of my Son, had much allayed my Grief, if my affliction had been capable of any Comfort; Yet I esteem myself extremely obliged to you for the part you seem to take in my Misfortune, in which you testify that you are equally both of a Generous Disposition, and a Good Friend. Sir, the sorrow which oppresseth me, has left me nothing but sighs and tears to offer you up in acknowledgement, it sufficeing me (since it is true) that you believe I am and will be everlastingly Sir, Your very humble servant. Letters Consolatory to a Son, upon the Death of his Father. SIR, THad sooner condoled with you the loss of your Father, if I had sooner judged you capable of Consolation. I thought it fit to afford you some time, to pay (with the abundance of your Tears) the debt you owed to Nature; but now having satisfied yourself, by the public Testimony which you have given of your Sorrow, I come amongst others, to acquit myself of my obligation, and to persuade you to patience, assuring you that I am very sensible of the excess of your Affliction. I know you have practised that virtue in a thousand Encounters of Misfortune, which have made you able to give lessons to all the rest of the World; So that all I am to do, is to put you in mind, that both you and I make all the haste possible after him whose absence we deplore with too much Lamentation; and that without a particular Favour of God Almighty, we shall be even at his heels, before we be worthily prepared for so great a Voyage. This I made bold to remember you of, and likewise that I am, as much as ever Sir, Your most humble servant, M. Another Letter. 'tIs not to Comfort you of the loss which you have sustained, that I put Pen to Paper, but rather to give Testimony of the Resentment which I feel, knowing the Ability of your judgement, and weakness of my own. It sufficeth me to represent unto you, that in the Necessity of dying or being born, Nature does oblige every man to go the Way that is Marked out for him; 'tis no matter how long and strong some men be, they all meet together at the Grave, and being arrived there, none makes account of the Time which they employed in going that Voyage. For our own particulars, let us consider how many years we have already spent since we began it; and in this very Moment that you read this, we may propose to ourselves the End of it, by the Imagination of a hidden death. As for your Father, he died but for himself, and has perhaps left you a while to play his Part here in this World, which ought in my opinion to leave you more Envy than Sorrow, knowing that he has already cast Anchor in that haven whether you tend with might and main. I would say more, if I made no conscience to detain your Eyes too long upon this Paper; you must give them yet a little time to sleep, since your Grief is just; in which I take a large Part, in Quality Sir, of Your most humble servant. Another Letter. SIR, I Am too much your Servant, to remain Dumb, and Insensible, at the sorrowful report of your Father's death. These lines in acquitting me of what I own you, will testify unto you the Part I take in your affliction. I think it will be hard for you to comfort yourself after such a Loss; but since God does never Afflict us above our force, let the force of your judgement work your Consolation. The most sweet consideration you can have, is that you were witness of the last actions which your Father did, before his retreat, out of this World; which having either few or no examples, may be a sufficient cause of your Quiet, every time you consider their importance. Live honestly as he did, and die in the same Manner; you are in the right way to the Place whither he is gone: and if he have anticipated you some few days, those will seem but a Moment, when you are arrived at the End. Solace yourself then in his absence, since the innocency wherein you live, is an Infallible Assurance to you that you shall see him very suddenly. I will give you like undoubted Testimony of the Passion which I have to your Service, whensoever you please to honour me with your Commands, as being Sir, Your most humble servant. Answers to the Letters of Consolation. SIR, I Do not excuse the Long time that I have stayed in returning you thanks for the part which you did me the Honour to take in my affliction; because the Grief is still so sensible to me, that I cannot employ my Spirit without Violence, in any other thoughts but those of my Misfortune: Not that I remain not entirely Resigned to the Will of God, and fully Resolved to Patience: but yet all this cannot hinder my Sorrow from Enjoying an absolute Possession of me: and for an Increase of Mischief, my griefe-sick Humour does render it so agreeable, that I have not so much Liberty as to Complain, though it devour me by Little and Little. Yet I cease not to be extremely obliged to you, for your Pious and Charitable Counsels, which you were pleased to give me, assureing you that I will take my ordinary Lessons of Comfort out of them. Notwithstanding, I must tell you with my ancient freedom, that as my Affliction comes from above, 'tis from thence only that I expect a Remedy. How good a Physician soever Time be, I desire nothing of you but Prayers, intermingled with Commands; to the end that my obedience may make me worthy the good opinion you have Sir, of Your most humble servant. Another Answer. SIR, I Must confess your Charitable letter did much comfort the loss which I lately sustained; and the more, because it gave Testimony of your feeling in my Affliction. In such accidents as these, I never find more Consolation, than to see myself lamented by my Friends; amongst whom since you possess the first rank, I leave to your own consideration whether your Letter were agreeable to me, or no: Yet for all that, I cannot cease my Tears, my Sorrow increasing upon me daily more and more, through the Remembrance of the Misfortune which was the cause of it. And truly after this Loss, I cannot apprehend any other; which might serve me for a very effectual admonishment, if I were Capable of receiving any. I would say more, if my Tears did not blot out my Writing: Wherefore in brief, I do desire of you, that you would be pleased to Conserve me the Honour of your Remembrance, and add not the Loss of your Friendship to this which I already sustain; since I am with Passion Sir, Your most humble and most obliged servant. Letters Consolatory to a Husband upon the Death of his Wife. SIR, I Know not in what Terms to begin to comfort you, your Loss appearing to me so great, by reason of the excess of your Affliction, and my Resentment, that I am fare more disposed to accompany your tears, than able any way to solace your Misery. You know Misfortune has taught me by Experience to value a Discontent of that Nature, having heretofore shed tears for the same subject. So that representing to myself that which I have suffered in a like Encounter, I must needs tell you, you are not to expect your Remedy from any Place but Heaven. Though I deny not but Time may work much upon that kind of Malady; yet the Term is so long, that the little remainder of Quiet, which is left after the Purge of our discontent, stays not so long as to give us an absolute and full Possession of it. Wherefore be assured, that God will not abandon you, if you adore his Providence with submission; a Means to which, is, if you Consider that you are continually in Election to see your Wife again, and sooner too than perhaps you imagine. Pardon me Sir, for my freedom of speech; I cannot flatter you, being to that Point, as I am, Sir, Your most humble servant. Another. SIR, THough I be not able to Comfort you in your Wife's death, yet it is sufficient for my satisfaction, that I witness unto you the great part which I take in your Affliction: only I will put you in Mind, that in Sorrowful Accidents, Patience is the chief Remedy, after our Resignation to the Will of God. Our tears and Complaints are in vain, since they do but provoke Heaven, in stead of appeasing it. When you espoused that virtuous Lady, the Notary who passed the Contract of your Marriage, forgot not to insert this Clause, that the survivor should enjoy the rights of Widdowship. What reason have you then, to lament a Death which you foresaw so long since, as if you had been assured, when you took her, she had not been subject to it? She prevented you in an Inevitable Action; and perhaps it will not be much; Ten years more or less, are but an instant to that of Death; For which I would wish you prepare yourself; what leisure soever you have, I can assure you you will have very little spare time. But I must not incur the Fault from which I promised to exempt myself. I ask you Pardon, since my Crime is occasioned by my Zeal, as being Sir, Your most humble servant. Another. SIR, THe Friendship and service I vowed to you long ago, have made me so sensible of the sorrowful News of your Wife's death, that I stand in need of the Consolation which all the World does administer to you. Expect not then any Comfort from me, being afflicted as I am. All that I can say to you, is, that your Wife dying in that innocency, in which she always lived, has left you in my Opinion a greater cause of Envy, than of Sorrow. Wherefore, I would not have you Dream of any thing so much, as of following her; and since you are every hour hastening to your end, change the Nature of your tears, lamenting more that she has left you behind her, than that she is gone before you. This is all the Counsel I can give you, together with a new assurance that I will live and die Sir, Your most humble servant. Answers to the Precedent Letters. SIR, THE Grief which I conceived for the loss of my Wife, would not permit me sooner to render you thanks, for the pious resentment you witness in her behalf. I always thought you would participate in my Misfortunes, because you did me the Honour to love me: And the rather because I knew you were interessed in my Sorrow, as having lost a most humble Servant. Yet I remain indebted to you for the Charitable care which you took in comforting me, though it were in vain, since I cannot so soon quit the memory of a Loss so important to my repose. Men may tell me as much as they please, that my Misery is without relief; 'tis because of that that I am void of Comfort. To cure it, is a work of the Hand of God; and all that Time and my Friends are able to contribute, does but serve to dispose the matter, which the Almighty must inform when he pleaseth. Yet Sir, though my Misfortunes be in their Flood, they have not drowned the respectful observance I always used in your behalf, as having made a vow to coffin up with myself the Quality Sir, of Your most faithful servant. Another Answer. SIR, I Can hearty wish, that the Sorrow I conceive for my Wife's death, were capable of Consolation, that so I might make use of the Charitable precepts you were pleased to give me, for which I render you most humble thanks: But truly Sir, my Affliction is so great, that if God do not soon play the Physician, I can expect remedy from nothing but death. So that how constantly soever I bear my Misfortune, the very Sorrow wherewith it is accompanied, will thrust me by little and little into my Grave. Not that I have not wholly resigned myself to the will of God, but because being not able to make this Resignation in all points absolute, the remainder of my Liberty serves to no other end but to torment me: Make your Prayers to Heaven for me, that it would please to conduct me suddenly into that haven of Quiet where you now are: I expect of your devotion, this favour from the Divine goodness, as you ohght to expect all manner of service from the friendship I have vowed to you, as being with Passion Sir, Your most humble servant. Another Answer. SIR, I Can thank you for nothing but your good will which you witnessed to me, in those wholesome counsels you were pleased to give me touching the Loss which I have lately sustained; For how powerful soever your reasons be, they can never lessen my sorrow, and much less be able to heal it. Those that see my Misfortune, consider it but as an accident that arrives every day, and which torments at the same time an infinite number of Husbands: but if they could penetrate into the bottom of my Soul, that they might know the just cause of my continual lamentations, the wisest of them would be constrained to approve the Eternity of my complaints, since they would know thereby how hopeless they are of cure. 'Tis true there is nothing else now able to give me satisfaction, which makes me find some kind of Comfort in the shortening of my days, since I solace myself in my departure, knowing it tends to the accomplishment of my Grief. You'll tell me perhaps I speak not like a Christian; I am one howsoever; but the Affliction to which I have abandoned myself, will not suffer me to enjoy any other Light, than that which shows the way to my Grave. I return to the obligation wherein I am bound to you for the Honour of your Remembrance and charitable admonitions, and to witness unto you the Resentment they have left in me in Quality Sir, of Your most humble servant. Another Answer. SIR, I Confess the Admonitions which you used in the last letter wherewith you were pleased to honour me, touching the loss which I have sustained of late, by the Death of my Wife, were so Ponderous, that I could not choose but receive thereby great Consolation. 'Tis needful (as you say very well) that our first lesson of Constancy, should be the resignation of our wills to God: and that all the Study which we are to employ therein, should be but to perfect that Action. I acknowledge it very willingly; the experience which I have learned, will suffer me to make no further doubt. For God laid the Affliction upon me, and he himself is my Comforter. His Justice punished me, but his Goodness has made me find so much sweetness in my Misery, that in stead of Complaints, I am bound to render him Everlasting Thanksgiving. Howsoever, continue me the Favour of your good Counsels, with the Honour of your Friendship, and believe if you please, that I will be all my life, Sir, Your most humble and most obedient servant. Consolatory Letters to a Lady or Gentlewoman upon her Husband's Death. MADAM, I Had no sooner heard the sorrowful news of your Husband's death, but I put Pen to paper, to witness unto you at the same time, both the Sorrow which I conceive, and the Resolution which I have taken to die in your Ladyship's service. If I thought myself able to comfort you, I would do my endeavour most freely; but the Remembrance of your Virtue forbids me, since it alone is sufficient to give you the Lessons, which it made you practice heretofore, in other encounters of Misfortune. 'tis true, this is more penetrating than all the rest; therefore your Constancy should employ all her Endeavours to surmount your Grief: and since Grace only can give us the greatest part of our force, you have more (in my opinion) to hope for than to fear, in this Combat. What if Heaven be provoked against us; it never affrights us with the noise of his Thunder, but it rejoiceth us very suddenly with the clear shining light of his Sun's beams. But if you be pressed with impatience in this Surprisal of Sorrow, dry up your tears, cease the continuation of your Sighs, you shall find the Sovereign Remedy of all your Ills, in the practice of these actions. Mine shall be always directed to your Honour and Service, as being from my heart rather than Mouth, Madam, Your most humble servant, M. Another. MADAM, I Find in myself a greater disposition to lament with you the loss which you have sustained, than I judge myself able to give you comfort. For if you be deprived of a Husband whom you loved entirely, I am rob of a Friend for whom I would have adventured a thousand Lives. Truly Madam, I am so wholly taken up in my own Sighs, and tears, that I cannot think of yours, but in some intermediating Hours, be they never so extreme. So that in stead of giving you Comfort, I am more like to persuade you to render your Complaints Everlasting. You may seek an other Husband to a fair purpose, the World is too narrow to find his Equal. And for myself, I may truly say, the mould of my old Friend being broken, I should spend my Travail in vain, if I went about to parallel him amongst my new ones. Let us then solace ourselves in our affliction Madam, since it is extreme: the Extremity of it will soon teach us the way to our Graves where we shall find a Remedy for our ills. If it be lawful to love perfectly, no man will hinder us to lament without cease, since continual tears are the Testimonies of a Perfect Love. In the case I am in at this present, I am able to give you no other advice; yet if God give you the Grace to despise my Counsel, I shall never reproach you for it, but rather beseech you that you would make your Prayers to God, for my like happiness, and to believe that if I be extremely afflicted, I am no less Madam, Your most humble servant. Another. MADAM, HAving given you a thousand Testimonies of the particular esteem I made of your Husband, I hope you will not now doubt of the Resentment which remains to me for his Loss. These lines notwithstanding shall give you a new assurance of it, and likewise of the good will I have to do you service. If I were capable of giving Consolation, I would begin with myself, being sensibly touched with the same affliction which torments you. But I leave that care to your Judgement and Virtue, considering that the strength of the one will supply my weakness, and the precepts of the other will exceed all the Counsel and advice I can impart to you. Besides knowing you to be wholly resigned to the Will of God, that Resignation will be the sovereign remedy of your distress. The Heavens do always afford us Comfort for the ills they send us; but they expect submission, to make us worthy of that favour which I hope you are already in state to obtain, it being the only Means to live at Quiet in the middle of Distresses; For my part, I will always interest myself in yours, as being with Passion the same I always was, Madam, Your most humble and most obedient servant. Answers to the precedent Letters. SIR, I Believe the Loss I sustained in the death of my late Husband, does touch you very sensibly, since in your own particular you are rob of a most real friend, and faithful Servant: but for as my own interest, my Affliction is so great, that if God do not comfort me very suddenly, I shall die very suddenly of Grief. You may judge by the state I am in at this present, what Comfort I can expect from my Misery; for, as my Fortune and Happiness are equally buried in my Husband's Grave, except he revive, I shall never be able to revive out of the Grave of Sadness, and Discontent. All that I have resolved in this extremity, is, to resign myself totally to the Will of God; and since your Prayers may be favourable to me in that behalf, I beseech you for their continuation, for which I shall be indebted to you all my life, and in Quality Sir, of Your most humble servant. Another Answer. SIR, THrough my Tears, I read the Comfortable Letter which you did me the Honour to write unto me, touching the Death of my late Husband; and the little space which I employed in drying them up, gave me time to render you thanks. I resolved to have writ more at large, when I took Pen in hand; but the sorrow which I endure, will scarce give me liberty to assure you that I am Sir, Your most humble servant. A Letter from a Widow, certifying a friend of her Husband's Death. SIR, THis Sorrowful Letter shall inculcate nothing but death into your memory, assuring you that you have lost a most real admirer, and faithful servant, in the Person of my Husband. Pardon me if I say no more; the Pen falls out of my Hand, and my tears blot out my writing. I am the most afflicted Woman in the World, Sir, and Your most humble servant. A Letter from a Husband to his Wife, comforting her upon the Death of their Son. WIFE, IT is with an extreme Sorrow that I am constrained to trouble your Quiet at this present with news which at the first view will be able to bear you into your Accustomed extremity, if it be not supported by the Resignation of your will to God. But knowing that you are always disposed to undergo the Laws of his Providence, I take the boldness to let you know that that very Providence of God, has sounded a retreat out of this World, to our eldest son. This Accident, how new and strange soever it seem, must not so strictly seize upon you, that you murmur against the Author. You must resist the attempts of Sorrow by my example; and after you have shed some Tears, which the Quality of Mother will constrain you to, you must adore (in drying them up) the Omnipotency of him that gave the blow; To the end that he redouble not his Wrath, in depriving us of the Comfort which as yet remains with us. Do not think that I am insensible at this Misfortune; it touched me to the Quick; and the more, because I am constrained to partake it with you. But since God has ordained us to this Affliction, we ought to witness by the Moderation of our Complaints, that there is no excess in his Chastisement. I leave the thought of all these Considerations to yourself, with assurance that I remain, Dear Wife, Your most faithful Husband. LOVE LETTERS upon all sorts of Subjects. And First of Presentation of Service. MADAM, THE inclination which I have to esteem you more than all the rest of the World, obliged me at this Present, to offer your Ladyship my most humble Service: And to assure you, that if you be pleased therewith, I shall never change the Resolution, to be all my life Madam, Your most humble and most obedient servant. Another. MADAM, I Should not take the Liberty to let you know how extremely I honour you, if the Absolute power of your Beauty did not force me to it. Which relating unto you the violence it useth in my behalf, will easily (I hope) obtain Pardon for my Presumption. My desire in this is no other but only to know whether you be pleased I should Everlastingly bear the Quality Madam, of Your most humble and most obedient servant, M. Another. MADAM, I Can no longer conceal the Resolution which I have taken, to serve you all my life, and bear the Character of your love eternally, if my Service and Love be agreeable to you. You may signify it to me, when you please, that I may have the Honour, and Satisfaction to bear in Public every where the Quality Madam, of Your most humble and most obedient servant, M. Another. MADAM, I Must of necessity for my own Quiet declare the desire which I have, to love, and serve you, if you Judge me worthy so great an honour. Your merit obliged me, and my Inclination constrained me to it. I expect only to know your will, that I may perfect my determination of professing publicly the stile Madam, of Your most obedient servant. Answers to the Precedent Letters. SIR, I Am much obliged to you for the good will you witness in my behalf: but I have no other Liberty left me, except to give you thanks, as I do very humbly: assuring you that I will conserve your Remembrance for an acknowledgement, in Quality Sir, of Your most humble servant. Another Answer. SIR, I Have nothing but thanks to offer up to you for the Honour you were pleased to do me in your last Letters. And though they be ordinary effects of your Civility, rather than Proofs of your love, yet I cannot choose but be extremely obliged to you, which I beseech you believe, and likewise that I am Sir, Your most humble servant. Another Answer. SIR, I Do not excuse myself of not answering your last letter, because my Will does so absolutely depend of my Parent's inclination, that you are to learn of them, that which you desire to know of me. Yet your good will shall oblige me to be in acknowledgement, all my life, Sir, Your most humble servant. Another Answer. SIR, YOu know that in the state I am, I must neither accept nor refuse the Offers which you make me, contenting myself to witness unto you the Resentment which they left in me, with assurance that I honour so much the Merit of your Mistress that I shall always prefer it before the Condition Sir, of Your most humble servant, Letters to demand an Answer. MADAM, YOur Silence nourisheth a Continual doubt in me, whether my Service be acceptable or Noah. You may Resolve me when you please by some short Answer, if you Judge me worthy the favour and Quality Madam, of Your most humble, and most obedient servant. Another. MADAM, IF you knew with what impatience I expect the favour of your Reply, I assure myself your Charity would oblige you, to set my Mind at Quiet; But as that is an Honour, which I must expect from your Goodness, rather than the Passion I have to your Service (not knowing whether it be agreeable to you or no) I must have recourse to prayers, beseeching you very humbly to vouchsafe an Answer, which may authorise the Quality, I bear▪ Madam, of Your most humble and most obedient servant. Another. MADAM, THe Resolution I have taken to serve you all my life, does too far interest my Repose, not to desire your Pleasure in that respect, I hope for this favour from your Goodness, as you ought to expect from my duty, all manner of observance; being desirous to live and die, if you be pleased, Madam, Your most humble, and most obedient servant. Another. MADAM, THis Letter is so Curious to learn news of her former Companion, that she would needs be gone in that Pursuit, almost against my wil Let me know then if you please whether the first was acceptable or no, to the end that either I may continue you my service, or cease to be further importune. These are the most humble prayers Madam, of Your most obedient servant, M. Answers to the Precedent Letters. SIR, I Took the Liberty to write unto you, but not to resolve you in your request. You know the Quality of Daughter does so subject me, that I cannot violate the Respect I own unto my Parents; yet I confess myself much indebted to your good Nature, being Sir, Your most humble servant. Another Answer. SIR, I Was resolved to keep silence, not knowing what answer to give you; but since you require a letter, this shall tell you, that I have no other Resolution than to honour you as your Merit does oblige me: And that in requital of your Civility, I shall make myself accounted in all places Sir, Your most humble servant. Another Answer. SIR, I Send you this Letter, because you desire it, but it is only to assure you of the small ability I have to satisfy your request: You know you are to address yourself to others then to me. Yet I beseech you believe that I esteem myself much Honoured in the testimony of your Affection, being Sir, Your most humble servant. Another Answer. SIR, I Am obliged to you for two letters, but I must tell you for answer, that you are to expect no more from me, having no other liberty, but this only which I take to assure you of it. I speak not this because I reject the Honour you are pleased to do me, but because being extremely sensible as I am, the Quality of Daughter affords me no more power, to publish the stile. Sir, of Your most humble servant. Letters upon the absence of ones Mistress. MADAM, HAving given you such absolute proofs of Love, as I have done, I hope you will make no doubt of the grief which your Absence causeth in me: You can scarce believe the one, without giving credit to the other; and this is the thing which gives me some kind of Comfort in my Affliction. If I durst presume to supplicate for your Return, I would do it with as much earnestness, as a Sick man would implore the presence of his Physician; since I can assure you, yours is as necessary for my repose, having vowed to live and die Madam, Your most humble and most obedient servant, M. Another. MADAM, IF you knew, how sensible I were of your Absence, you would scarce be able to defend yourself against the attempts of Pity, how cruel soever you were by Nature. I suffer a Torment whose report only would force my Enemies to compassion, and yet can hardly believe that you regard it, being fare from imagining you are touched by it, in the least respect. But since you were borne into the World for no other end, than to be admired, and I to endure all manner of misery, I must expect no Remedy but from Patience, and the Consideration of the Quality which I bear Madam, of Your most humble and most obedient servant, M. Another to the same Purpose. MADAM, I Have led so sorrowful a Life, since the Day of your Departure, that if I should recount it to the most insensible souls of the World, 'tis credible they would be moved to Compassion. Yet I do not desire to stir up that Passion in you, sufficing myself that you take notice of it, to the End that you make no doubt of my Love, and less of my Constancy. I must tell you then, that having lost both my appetite and repose, I pass over whole days without eating, and whole Nights without sleep. I may seek Contentment to a fair Purpose in the Conversation of my Friends, but I can find it only in Solitude, where my thoughts as ingenious as yourself to increase my Affliction, represent nothing to me but your Cruelty. Judge now if I be not one of the most wretched Lovers in the World. Yet my Consolation is in this, that I suffer all these Afflictions for the most worthy Subject living, and for whom I would lose a Thousand Lives, as being Madam, Your most humble servant, and most faithful Lover. Another MADAM, IF my Life be considerable to you, return very quickly, that I may be cured of a mortal sickness, which has surprised me by reason of your Absence. You ought to be careful in conserving me, in the Passion which I have to your Service, knowing there be few in the World can give so good a Testimony of your worth, to which long ago I dedicated myself Madam, A Most humble and obedient servant. Answers to the Precedent Letters. SIR, Loves' diseases are so easy to cure, that I never spend my Charity upon such persons. If you be surprised with that kind of Malady, my Absence (whereof you complain) will soon afford you a Remedy: but if that should not prove as I expect, than (to your own advantage) the truth of your Affection will appear by the continuance of your Constancy, which shall render me, as far as Liberty permits Sir, Your most humble servant. Another Answer. SIR, YOu know I am not accustomed to credit, the Complaints of Lovers, because they die so often in word and Appearance, that the report of their Afflictions does now pass for a Fable. This I give you assurance of, and likewise that I am, Sir, Your most humble servant. Another Answer. SIR, I Believe you suffer less pain, than you have taken to describe, that which you say my Absence produceth in you. My beauty I am sure, cannot cause either affliction or sorrow in any Man. So that if you continue your Complaints, I shall be forced to begin my Reproaches; Cease then your discourse of Sorrows, and Griefs, and Sighs, and Lamentations, 'tis a Language that Molests me extremely, and which makes me speak thus freely to you, in Quality Sir, of Your most humble servant. Other more obliging Answers to the Precedent Letters. SIR, I Am sensible of the affliction, which my absence causeth in you, but as it is unavoidable in the Condition I am in, you must of necessity resolve to be patiented, since it is the only Remedy of your iii. Do not undertake a Journey to see me, but expect some occasion or other, which will soon offer itself. Comfort your thoughts with this hope, and the rather because I will partake in the Sweetness of it. What need you fear? know you not, that if you love me extremely, I will revenge myself with the same weapon? and if you be constant I will lose my life rather than my Resolution to die Sir, Your most humble and most faithful servant. Another Answer. SIR, IF I had the power to comfort you with my Presence, you should soon see me where my Letter is now. But being under the Subjection of a Father and Mother, who give me not so much as the Liberty to write to you, all that I can do is to steal it, to comfort you with the Hopes of my Return. Believe me Sir, I wish for it with Passion, since I am to that Point Sir, Your most humble servant. Letters protesting Love and Fidelity. MADAM, I Am constrained to tell you, that of all the Persons in the World you are she only whom I affect most entirely; These are no Discourses of Compliment, my Soul expressing all her thoughts with the same Innocence that my Mind conceived them, having no other object but your desert only. If you make doubt of this truth, serve yourself of that absolute power which you have acquired over me, to oblige my Endeavours to all manner of proofs. My Honour, and Life, are both at your disposure; I will hazard the one and other, when you please, either for your Service, or Contentment; since it interesseth my Quiet, that I be eternally Madam, Your most humble and most obedient, and most faithful servant. Another. MADAM, THough I should say that you are the only object of my Respect, and Affection, I should represent but one part of the Esteem which I make of your desert: for I find you reigning so absolutely in my Soul, that I have no liberty left me, but only to publish in all places where I come, that I am Madam, Your most humble, most obedient and most faithful servant, and subject, M. Answers to the Precedent Letters. SIR, THe Lovers of this Age, are so accustomed to divulge their Constancy and Affection in all places, that they are as far from persuading the belief of it to others, as they are from the true feeling themselves. What pains you take in seeking to give me assurance that you love me! I am so fare from giving credit to the least syllable of those discourses made to my Advantage, that it is a great trouble to me to hear them, being fully satisfied if you love me in that height that I honour you, since I am Sir, Your most humble servant. Another Answer. SIR, YOu are too eloquent to be Amorous; a Passion so extreme as that which you feign in my behalf, could never be able to express itself, but in feeble terms. Which forces me to a belief that you employed more time in Composing that pretty Letter, than ever you did in the Sufferings of Love. But howsoever, your deceit is not so unpleasing to me that I cease to be obliged to your care in turning it to my Advantage, which I shall always receive, when you are pleased to reckon me in the Number Sir, of Your most humble servants. Letters Complaining of a Neglect. MADAM, I Am Constrained to say that I am most unfortunate, since three years' service could never obtain of you to grant they were pleasing or agreeable. Truly, though that recompense (as proceeding from you) be of an infinite value; yet me thinks the effects of so many dutiful regards, might have merited some small acknowledgement of your Civility. But since I have already learned my lesson of Love, I am sufficiently instructed in suffering: feeding my thoughts with the Comfort of this Consideration, that 'tis You are my Mistress, and I Madam, Your most humble and most obedient servant. Another upon the Same. MADAM, I Should never have conceived, that since you are publicly honoured by all the World, and perfectly by me, you would have recompensed my Respects with Contempt, and my Love with Hatred. 'Tis true, the Slavery wherein I am tied, forbids me to demand a reason for what you do. Yet my Prison allows me this Liberty, to tell you that you are too rigorous to be so beautiful: and that except you change this severe Humour, wherewith you tyrannize over me, you will run the hazard to lose Madam, The most humble, and most obedient of all your servants. Answers to the Precedent Letters. SIR, I Wonder you should Complain of my Neglect, having always had Esteem for your Desert. 'Tis true, my austere Humour has oftentimes given you subject to grieve; but, I beseech you think I was never guilty, but in appearance only, of that which you accuse me, being always inclined to nourish a good opinion of your Merit, in Quality Sir, of Your most humble servant. Another Answer. SIR, YOu have no pretence to divulge me the most cruel and disdainful Woman alive: for when you maintain such discourses, those that know my disposition, will easily know you are in Anger; otherwise neither could they excuse your humour, nor I your misbelief. If my actions had merited the proof of your Study, you would have had a better opinion of my inclination, since the first time that I have had the Honour to practise you; but such is my misfortune, that all my Endeavours are not able to nourish in you a good Conceit Sir, of Your most humble servant. Letters Complaining of Inconstancy. MADAM, I Never thought that after so many protestations of Fidelity, you would have lost even the remembrance of having made them. Hereafter, Frailty shall not be esteemed an adjunct of Humanity, since in yours you are most inhuman, having thereby exposed to the utmost peril one of your most faithful Admirers. But live contented in your new Conquest, and know that of all the Servants whom your Fickleness shall acquire you, you will never find any that will equal my Affection, or be to that point that I have been Madam, Your most humble, and most obedient servant. Another. MADAM, I Must let you know that your Inconstancy has provoked in me more Pity, than it has procured me ill, being willing to lose the Possession of that to day, which I could not maintain till to morrow. I say Pity, because I have some respect to your Honour, which is more interessed in that Action than my Contentment. I pray God this Lightness may give you as much Satisfaction, as it caused you blame, in the Eye of the World. I shall always be glad of any good Fortune that shall happen you, as making profession to be still Madam, Your most humble, and most obedient servant. Answers to these kind of Letters. SIR, I Shall receive Praise rather than Reproach, from all that know the Reason of my Change; for I was obliged to it in so many respects, that the least of them, will sufficiently accuse you, for having condemned me. I will give you an account of this Action when you please, and when you are truly informed how things passed, I will have no other Judge but yourself, what interest, soever you pretend to have in the Suit. 'Tis from the Part Sir, of Your most humble servant. Another. SIR, IF you knew with what violence I was constrained to this Mutation, I make no doubt but you would esteem me far more worthy Praise, than Reproach. Imagine the power of a Tyrannical Father towards his Daughter under his obedience: She may weep her fill, he baths himself with joy in her tears; her Sorrows, and Lamentations do but increase his fury. This is the case I am in at this present. I leave to yourself to Consider what I am able to do against so strong an Enemy. The only consideration which remains to me, is, that if I have lost the Quality of your Mistress, yet I will conserve everlastingly Sir, That of Your most humble servant. A Letter to demand the Picture of ones Mistress. MADAM, I Hope you will grant me this humble entreaty, which is, to give me your Picture, knowing I value the Original more than all other things in the World; That beautiful Substance, whose Features, and Graces you animate with so much sweetness, appeared in my sight so adorable, that I long extremely after the Shadow. You may give Comfort to this impatience of mine when you please, by granting me the expectation of that favour: Which I will place in the Rank of the greatest Felicities which ever can happen me, since it gives me the noblest means of Testifying the Resentment which I have, in Quality Madam, of Your most obedient servant. An Answer to this Letter. SIR, YOur entreaty is so obliging, that I am forced to grant it, being glad you should have often before your Eyes the Image of her that honours you extremely. You will do me a favour to believe it, and likewise that I am Sir, Your most humble servant. A Letter to demand a Mistress her Hair. MADAM, I Hope you will not wonder, if having enjoyed so sweet a Servitude, I seek after new chains, by demanding a Bracelet of your Hair. To tell you how highly I shall esteem this favour, I must have recourse either to your Merit, or my own Love for expression, and being you have perfect knowledge of them both, I leave the Consideration to yourself, together with that of the Passion which I have to your Service, as being more than Ever Madam, Your most humble and most obedient servant. A Favourable Answer to this Letter. SIR, YOur Merit is of so powerful a persuasion that I am forced to grant you your request: I will not oblige you to silence, knowing that your Discretion has already prevented my Desires. 'Tis sufficient to put you in mind, that as these favours are not Vulgar, so they require a secrecy of Faith in the Receivers. I hope you will keep it Inviolably, while you Remember that I am Sir, Your most humble servant. FINIS.