The English Secretary; or, Methode of Writing Epistles and Letters (1599) With, a Declaration of Such Tropes, Figures, and Schemes, as Either Usually or for Ornament Sake Are Therein Required

"The English Secretary; or, Methode of Writing Epistles and Letters" by Angel Day is a guidebook on the art of letter writing, written in the late 16th century. The work outlines the principles of composing various types of letters, focusing on emphasis, style, and the use of rhetorical devices. It serves as a comprehensive manual for anyone looking to improve their written communication, making it relevant for both scholars and general readers interested in historical writing practices. The opening of the book introduces its purpose and audience, setting a tone of humility and aspiration. Angel Day expresses his gratitude to his patron and reiterates his intent to refine the original content of his work. He discusses the essential elements of an epistle, highlighting the significance of structure, clarity, and appropriateness in language and tone, as well as the different categories of letters, such as hortatory or dehortatory. Through this, readers are invited to explore the valuable instructions that will enable them to effectively convey their thoughts and feelings through letters. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Angel Day was an Elizabethan rhetorician and scholar chiefly known for his The English Secretary (1586), the first comprehensive epistolary manual to employ original English rather than classical models. The book belongs to the genre of instructional manuals, marketed for the growing business and middle classes of late 16th century England, and was extremely popular, going into as many as ten editions by 1635, and becoming the most influential correspondence manual of its time. Although his biography is poorly documented, entries on Day have appeared in the Dictionary of National Biography.