The Art or Crafte of Rhetoryke

Finding something useful to say comes before saying it elegantly in Leonard Cox's early English handbook of rhetoric. Addressed to students and people who speak before an audience, the treatise connects persuasive language with the work of advocates, ambassadors and preachers. Cox sets out four abilities: invention, judgment, arrangement and eloquence. His practical concern is that poor organization can weaken a case or leave audiences confused and weary.

Later sections explain how to support an argument, answer objections and bring a speech to a close. Examples include praise of history and peace, alongside references to Erasmus. The discussion also considers speeches that encourage or discourage an action, including their use in letters. Readers interested in the history of communication can study how this teaching makes rhetorical principles available in English, while the preserved early spelling gives a sense of the language of the printed text.