Technogamia, or The Marriages of the Arts · chunk 37 of 64
Holyday, Barten · published 1618 · first performed or written 1618 [Feb 13] (Annals) comedy · at University unassigned nearest T62 The courtier as a type: fashion, affecta · 503 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T62: courtier, shrug, face, court, italian, monsieur, scholar, fashion, french, courtiers.
Sir, the observation of government was my first and principal intendment, especially in some secrets of state, as yet (to my knowledge) not observed, at least not revealed by any. As what? I will show unto you. But how could you come unto the knowledge of them? You shall understand that too. The secret is concerning the happy detection of such, as from enemy-states, are usually sent to the subversion of a Land; my means of attaining to the knowledge of this Mystery, was my acquaintance with a Gentleman in Italie, who having been one of the most practised Intelligencers in Europe, upon the death of his Lord, who employed him, fell into great wants; when, out of the fullness of a grieved mind, and the rather to excite in me a compassion of his griefs, unfolded unto me the whole secret. Proceed. The Italian Lord, that employed this Gentleman, furnished him always with money, that he might cast himself into what shape he would, then sent him to the enemy's Land, where living, (either concealing his own Country, or professing a dislike of it) and insinuating himself into the acquaintance of men next to the best, would, commonly by entertaining their humours, and giving occasion of such discourse at any meeting, with much Art and ease, allure every man, to discover (even for glory, to show who could show most) all intended and secret employments into foreign Lands; by this means he would learn the whole design, agent, time, and whatsoever other necessary circumstance; then the person to be employed, being commonly of estate not beyond himself, he would upon some sought (though but slight) occasion, grow so far acquainted with him, as to entreat the courtesy of Nations of him, to carry a Letter from him to that Country; which being with all courtesy granted, he would, against the time of his departure, provide a Letter fairly written, containing nothing but some complement, or lighter business to his friend— Who? to his Lord? No, Sir, but to another agent, whom his Lord employed at home, as this Gentleman abroad. Proceed then. Withal giving his friend in charge, upon their love, to give all courteous entertainment to the bearer thereof; as, to provide him a fit lodging, with all other compliments of friendship: then reading this Letter to the Gentleman, to free him from all suspicion of false dealing, would seal it in his presence, and deliver it to him— What device was there in this? This Letter, Sir, being written by the Art of Steganography, contained the whole intendment of this employed Messenger. That Art (as Trithemius has at large discovered, or rather taught it) proceeds upon many devices, as the putting together every first letter of a word, or every last, or every second, according to the compact before laid between these two friends. Upon the receipt of which, proceeded first a most courteous entertaining, and then upon the maturity of his intendments, an artificial detection of all his designs.
seed 43: unassigned · seed 44: unassigned — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
Sir, the obſeruation of gouernment was my firſt and principall intendment, eſpecially in ſome ſecrets of ſtate, as yet (to my knowledge) not obſeru'd, at leaſt not reueal'd by any. As what? I will ſhew vnto you. But how could you come vnto the knowledge of them? You ſhall vnderſtand that too. The ſecret is concerning the happie detection of ſuch, as from enemy-ſtates, are vſually ſent to the ſubuerſion of a Land; my meanes of attayning to the knowledge of this Myſterie, was my acquaintance with a Gentleman in Italie, who hauing beene one of the moſt practis'd Intelligencers in Europe, vpon the death of his Lord, who imploy'd him, fell into great wants; when, out of the fulneſſe of a grieued mind, and the rather to excite in me a compaſſion of his griefes, vnfolded vnto mee the whole ſecret. Proceed. The Italian Lord, that imploy'd this Gentleman, furniſhed him alwayes with money, that hee might caſt himſelfe into what ſhape he would, then ſent him to the enemies Land, where liuing, (either concealing his owne Countrey, or profeſſing a diſlike of it) and inſinuating himſelfe into the acquaintance of men next to the beſt, would, commonly by entertaining their humours, and giuing occaſion of ſuch diſcourſe at any meeting, with much Art and eaſe, allure euery man, to diſcouer (euen for glory, to ſhow who could ſhow moſt) all intended and ſecret imployments into forraine Lands; by this meanes hee would learne the whole deſigne, agent, time, and whatſoeuer other neceſſarie circumſtance; then the perſon to be imploy'd, being commonly of eſtate not beyond himſelfe, hee would vpon ſome ſought (though but ſlight) occaſion, grow ſo farre acquainted with him, as to intreat the courteſie of Nations of him, to carry a Letter from him to that Countrey; which being with all courteſie granted, he would, againſt the time of his departure, prouide a Letter fairely written, containing nothing but ſome complement, or lighter buſineſſe to his friend — Who? to his Lord? No, Sir, but to another agent, whom his Lord imploy'd at home, as this Gentleman abroad. Proceed then. VVithall giuing his friend in charge, vpon their loue, to giue all courteous entertainment to the bearer thereof; as, to prouide him a fit lodging, with all other complements of friendſhip: then reading this Letter to the Gentleman, to free him from all ſuſpicion of falſe dealing, would ſeale it in his preſence, and deliuer it to him— VVhat deuice was there-in this? This Letter, Sir, being written by the Art of Steganography, contained the whole intendement of this imployd Meſſenger. That Art (as Trithemius has at large diſcouer'd, or rather taught it) proceeds vpon many deuices, as the putting together euery firſt letter of a word, or euery laſt, or euery ſecond, according to the compact before lay'd betweene theſe two friends. Vpon the receit of which, proceeded firſt a moſt courteous entertayning, and then vpon the maturitie of his intendements, an artificiall detection of al his deſignes.