Chapter V: Front Matter (5)

I Have scarce had at any time any thing so like news to write to you, as that I am at this Town; we came from _Spâ_ with so much resolution of passing by _Holland_. But at _Ma[a]stricht_ we found that the lownesse, and slacknesse of the River, would incommodate us so much, as we charged [changed] our whole gests, and came hither by Land. In the way at _Lo[u]vaine_ we met the E[arl] of _Arondel_, to recompense the losse wee had of missing my L. _Chandis_ [_Chandos_] and his company, who came to _Spâ_ within a few hours after we came away. Sir _Ed. Conaway_ [_Conway_], by occasion of his bodies indisposition, was gone home before: he told me he had some hope of you about _Bartholomewtide_: But because I half understood by a Letter from you, that you were determined upon the Countrie till _Michaelmas_, I am not so earnest in endevouring to prolong our stay in these parts, as otherwise I should. If I could joine with him in that hope of seeing you on this side the water; and if you should hold that purpose of comming at that time, I should repent extremely my laying of our journies; for (if we should by miracle hold any resolution) we should be in _England_ about that time, so that I might misse you both here, and there. Sir, our greatest businesse is more in our power then the least, and we may be surer to meet in heaven then in any place upon earth; and whilst we are distant here, we may meet as often as we list in Gods presence, by soliciting in our prayers for one another. I received 4 Letters from you at _Spâ_ by long circuits. In the last, one from my L[ord] _Dorset_: I, who had a conscience of mine own unworthinesse of any favour from him, could not chuse but present my thanks for the least. I do not therefore repent my forwardnesse in that office; and I beseech you not to repent your part therein. Since we came to this Town, there arrived an Extraordinary from _Spain_, with a reconfirmation of the D[uke] _d'Aumals_ Pension, which is thereby 2400{l} a year, & he brings the title of Count, to _Rodrigo de Calderon_, who from a very low place, having grown to be Secretary to _Lerma_, is now Ambassador here, and in great opinion of wisdome: They say yet he goes to _Prague_ with the Marquis _Spinola_, and the G[raf] _Buquoy_, to congratulate the Emperour; but we all conclude here, that persons of such quality, being great in matter of Warre, are not sent for so small an emploiment: we beleeve certainly, that they deliberate a Warre, and that the reduction of _Aix_ being not worthy this diligence, their intentions must be upon _Cleve[s]_, for the new Town which the two Princes make by _Collen_ [_Cologne_] despites them much. The Elector of _Ments_ [_Maintz_] hath lately been here, upon pretence of comming in devotion to _Sichem_, and shortly the Electors of _Colein_ [_Cologne_] and _Saxony_ are to be here severally: all concurs to a disposition of such a Warre, and the _Landsgrave_ of _Hasse_ [_Hesse_] (who is as yet in the Union) is much solicited and caressed by this party, and I doubt, will prove a frail and corruptible man. I durst think confidently, that they will at least proceed so far towards a Warre, as to try how _France_ will dispose it self in the businesse: for it is conceived that the D. of _Bovillon_ [_Bouillon_] brought to our K[ing] good assurances from the Qu[een] Regent, that she would pursue all her husbands purposes in advancing the designes of those Princes who are in possession of _Cleve[s]_, and in the Union. If she declare her self to do so, when they stirre, they are like to divert their purposes; but if she stand but neutrall (as it is likely, considering how Spanish the Court is at this time) I see not that the Princes of the Union are much likely to retard them. Sir, you see what unconcerning things I am fain to write of, lest I should write of myself, who am so little a history or tale, that I should not hold out to make a Letter long enough to send over a Sea to you; for I should dispatch my self in this one word that I am

_Your affectionate servant and lover_
J. Donne.

Aug. 16. _here._
1622.

[lxiii.]

_To the honourable Knight Sir_ H. G.

SIR,

Since I received a Letter by your sonne, whom I have not yet had the honour to see, I had a Letter Pacquet from you by M{r} _Roe_: To the former, I writ before: In this I have no other commandement from you, but to tell you, whether M{r} _Vill[i]ers_ have received from the K[ing] any additions of honour, or profit. Without doubt he hath yet none. He is here, practising for the Mask; of which, if I mis-remember not, I writ as much as you desire to know, in a Letter which seems not to have been come to you, when you writ. In the _Savoy_ business, the King hath declared himself by an engagement, to assist him with 100000{l} a year, if the Warre continue. But I beleeve, he must farm out your _Warwickshire_ Benevolence for the paiment thereof. Upon the strength of this engagement, Sir _Rob. Rich_ becomes confident in his hopes. If you stood in an equall disposition for the West, and onely forbore, by reason of M{r} _Martins_ silence, I wonder; for I think, I told you, that he was gone; and I saw in Sir _Tho. Lucies_ hand, a Letter from him to you, which was likely to tell you as much. Since I came from Court, I have stirred very little: Now that the Court comes again to us, I may have something which you may be content to receive from

_Your very affectionate servant_
J. Donne.

18. Decemb.

[lxiv.]

_To my good friend Sr_ H. G.

SIR,

The Messenger who brought me your Letter presented me a just excuse, for I received them so late upon _Thursday_ night, that I should have dispatched before I could begin; yet I have obeyed you drowsily, and coldly, as the night and my indisposition commanded: yet perchance those hinderances have done good, for so your Letters are the lesse curious, in which, men of much leasure may soon exceed, when they write of businesse, they having but a little. You mention two more letters then I send. The time was not too short for me to have written them, (for I had an whole night) but it was too short to work a beleefe in me, that you could think it fit to go two so divers ways to one end. I see not, (for I see not the reason) how those letters could well have concurred with these, nor how those would well have been drawn from them, in a businesse wholly relating to this house. I was not lazie in disobeying you, but (I thought) only thrifty, and your request of those was not absolute, but conditioned, if I had leasure. So though that condition hinder them not, since another doth (and you forethought that one might) I am not stubborn. The good Countesse spake somewhat of your desire of letters; but I am afraid she is not a proper Mediatrix to those persons, but I counsail in the dark. And therefore return to that, of which I have clear light, that I am always glad, when I have any way to expresse my love; for in these commandements you feed my desires, and you give me means to pay some of my debts to you: the interest of which I pay in all my prayers for you, which, if it please not God to shew here, I hope we shall finde again together in heaven, whither they were sent. I came this morning to say thus much, and because the Porter which came to _Micham_ summoned me for this hour to _London_: from whence I am this minute returning to end a little course of Physick.

_Yours very truly_
J. Donne.

Friday 8 in the morning.

[lxv.]

_To Sir_ H. G.

_SIR_,

I writ to you yesterday taking the boldnesse to put a letter into the good Ladies pacquet for you. This morning I had this new occasion of writing, that Sir _Tho. Roe_, who brought this inclosed Letter to me, and left it unsealed, intreated me to take the first opportunity of sending it. Besides that which is in that letter (for he read it to me) I came to the knowledg in _Yorkhouse_ that my L[ord] Chancellor hath been moved, and incensed against you; and asking Sir _Tho. Roe_, if he were directly or occasionally any cause of that, he tells me thus much, that Sir _W. Lover_, and Sir _H. Carey_, have obtained of my L[ord], to have a Pursevant, and consequently a Sergeant sent into the Countrey for you. My L. grounds this earnestnesse against you, upon some refusing to appear upon processe which hath been taken out against you. And I perceive Sir. _Ed. Eston_, and both the other, admit consultations, of ways by petition to the King, or Counsail, or L[ord] Chamberlain, or any other. The great danger, obliquely likely to fall, is that when it comes to light, how you stand towards M. _Mathew_, you may lose the ease which you have by colour of that extent, and he may lose the benefit, of having had so much of his estate concealed. You will therefore at least pardon my advising you, to place those sums, which by your retiring I presume you do imploy upon payment of debts, in such places as that these particular friends be not forced to leave being so. I confesse, the going about to pay debts, hastens importunity. I finde in my self, that where I was not asked money before, yet when I offered to pay next Terme, they seem loth to afford me that time, which might justly have been desperate before: but that which you told me out of the Countrey, with the assistance which I hope to finde here, (especially if your indevour may advance it at _Dorset_ house) I hope will inable me to escape clamor, and an ill conscience, in that behalf. One thing more I must tell you; but so softly, that I am loath to hear my self: and so softly, that if that good Lady were in the room, with you and this Letter, she might not hear. It is, that I am brought to a necessity of printing my Poems, and addressing them to my L. Chamberlain. This I mean to do forthwith; not for much publique view, but at mine own cost, a few Copies. I apprehend some incongruities in the resolution; and I know what I shall suffer from many interpretations: but I am at an end of much considering that; and, if I were as startling in that kinde, as ever I was, yet in this particular, I am under an unescapable necessity, as I shall let you perceive, when I see you. By this occasion I am made a Rhapsoder of mine own rags, and that cost me more diligence, to seek them, then it did to make them. This made me aske to borrow that old book of you, which it will be too late to see, for that use, when I see you: for I must do this, as a valediction to the world, before I take Orders. But this is it, I am to aske you; whether you ever made any such use of the letter in verse, _A nostre Countesse chez vous_, as that I may not put it in, amongst the rest to persons of that rank; for I desire very very much, that something should bear her name in the book, and I would be just to my written words to my L[ord] _Harrington_, to write nothing after that. I pray tell me as soon as you can, if I be at liberty to insert that; for if you have by any occasion applied any pieces of it, I see not, that it will be discerned, when it appears in the whole piece. Though this be a little matter, I would be sorry not to have an account of it, within as little after Newyears tide, as you could. I have something else to say, of M. _Villars_ [_Villiers_], but because I hope to see you here shortly, and because new additions, to the truths or rumours, which concern him, are likely to be made by occasion of this Masque, I forbear to send you the edition of this Mart, since I know it will be augmented by the next: of which, if you prevent it not by comming, you shall have by letter an account from

_Your very affectionate
friend and servant_
J. Donne.

_Vigilia S{t} Tho._
1614.

[lxvi.]

_To the worthy Knight Sir_ Tho. Lucy.

_SIR_,

Your letter comes to me, at Grace after supper; it is part of the prayer of that Grace, that God will blesse you, and all yours with his best blessings of both kinds. I would write you news; but your love to me, may make you apt to over-beleeve news for my sake. And truly all things that are upon the stage of the world now, are full of such uncertainties, as may justly make any man loth to passe a conjecture upon them; not only because it is hard to see how they will end, but because it is misintertable [_sic_] and dangerous to conjecture otherwise, then some men would have the event to be. That which is especially in my contemplation, which is the issue of my L[ord] of _Canterburies_ businesse (for, thereupon depends the consecration of my predecessor, upon which the Deanery devolves to the King) is no farther proceeded in yet, then that some of the 10 Commissioners have met once; and upon Saterday next there will be a fuller meeting, and an entrance into the businesse, upon which, much, very much in consequence, depends. Of my L. of _Donc[aster]_ we are only assured, that he is in a good way of convalescence; but of any audience nothing yet. Slacken not your hold of my L. Treasurer, for I have been told that you are in his care. I send you a Copy of that Sermon, but it is not my copy, which I thought my L. of _South-hampton_ would have sent me backe. This you must be pleased to let me have again, for I borrow it: for the other, I will pretermit no time to write it; though in good faith, I have half forgot it. If in any letter I leave out the name of the La[dy] _Hunt[ington]_ or La[dy] _Burdell_, or your daughters, tell them, that I named them. I take the falshood upon me; for I intend it very readily, and very humbly, where I am good for any thing in any of their services. Our blessed Saviour continue and enlarge his blessings to you all, _Amen_.

_Your humble servant in Chr. Jes._
J. Donne.

11 Octob. 1621.

_Why do you say nothing of, my little book of Cases._

[lxvii.]

_To Sir_ G. B.

SIR,

It is one of my blinde Meditations to think what a miserable defeat it would be to all these preparations of braverie, if my infirmity should overtake others: for, I am at least half blinde, my windows are all as full of glasses of Waters, as any Mountebanks stall. This messenger makes haste, I thank him for it; therefore I onely send you this Letter, which was sent to me about three daies past, and my promise to distribute your other Letters, according to your addresses, as fast as my Monsieur can doe it; for, for any personall service, you must be content, at this time, to pardon

_Your affectionate servant_
J. Donne.

Decemb. 23.

[lxviii.]

_To Sir_ H. Goodere.

SIR,

Agreeably to my fortune, and thoughts, I was crawld this back way from _Keyston_; through my broken casement at _Bedford_, I saw, for my best dish at dinner, your Coach; I studied your gests, but when I knew where you were, I went out of this Town, in a doubt whether I should turn in to _Wrest_; and you know the wisdome of the Parliament is, to resolve ever in the Negative: Therefore it is likeliest I shall not come in there; yet, let me give you in passing, thus much account of my self: I thought to kisse my L[ord] _Spencers_ hands, at one house, and have passed three. If you know nothing to the contrary, risen since I came from _London_, I am likely to have a room in my L. of Dov. train, into the Countrie; if I have, I do not ask, but use the leave of waiting upon you at home: There and ever elswhere, our blessed Saviour blesse you, and all yours in which number, I pray, account ever

_Your very thankfull servant in Chr. Jes._
J. Donne.

[lxix.]

_To Sir_ H. G.

_SIR_,

I cannot obey you, if you go to morrow to _Parsons-green_; your company, that place, and my promise are strong inducements, but an Ague flouts them all, of which I have had two such threatenings, that I provide against it by a little Physick. This is one fetter; but I have a pair: for I attend Sir _Geo. Mores_ answer in a little businesse, of which I can have no account till his return, so I am fastened here, till after _Sunday_. As you are sure that I love you thorowly, so think this a good expressing of that, that I promise now, that I will certainly goe with you on _Munday_, in despite of these interruptions, and serve you with my company to the _Bathe_; which journie, it is time to hasten. But I pray think this promise so much worth, that it may deserve your comming this way on _Munday_, for I make it with that reservation. God send you Hawks and fortunes of a high pitch.

_Your honest affectionate_
J. Donne.

[lxx.]

_To Sir_ T. R.

_SIR_,

I have bespoke you a New-years-gift, that is, a good New year, for I have offered your name with my soul heartily to God in my mornings best Sacrifice: If for custome you will doe a particular office in recompense, deliver this Letter to your Lady, now, or when the rage of the Mask is past. If you make any haste into the Country, I pray let me know it. I would kisse your hands before you goe, which I doe now, and continue

_Your affectionate servant
and lover_
J. Donne.

Micham, _the last of_ 1607.
_as I remember_.

[lxxi.]

_To Sir_ Henry Goodere.

SIR,

I speak to you before God, I am so much affected with yesterdaies accident, that I think I prophane it in that name. As men which judge Nativities, consider not single Starres, but the Aspects, the concurrence and posture of them; so in this, though no particular past arrest me, or divert me, yet all seems remarkable and enormous. God, which hath done this immediately without so much as a sickness, will also immediately without supplement of friends, infuse his Spirit of comfort, where it is needed and deserved. I write this to you from the _Spring Garden_, whither I withdrew my self to think of this; and the intensenesse of my thinking ends in this, that by my help Gods work should be imperfected, if by any means I resisted the amasement.

_Your very true friend_
J. Donne.

[lxxii.]

_To my good friend_ G. H.

SIR,

The little businesse which you left in my hands is now dispatched; if it have hung longer then you thought, it might serve for just excuse, that these small things make as many steps to their end, and need as many motions for the warrant, as much writing of the Clerks, as long expectation of a Seal, as greater. It comes now to you sealed, and with it as strong and assured seals of my service and love to you, if it be good enough for you. I owe you a continuall tribute of Letters. But, Sir, even in Princes and Parents, and all States that have in them a naturall Soveraignty, there is a sort of reciprocation, and as [?] descent to doe some offices due to them that serve them: which makes me look for Letters from you, because I have another as valuable a pawn therefore, as your friendship, which is your promise; lest by the Jailors fault this Letter stick long, I must tell you, that I writ and sent it _12 Decemb. 1600_.

_Your friend and servant and lover_
J. Donne.

12. Decemb. 1600.

[lxxiii.]

_To your self._

_SIR_,

I send you here a Translation; but it is not onely to beleeve me, it is a great invention to have understood any piece of this Book, whether the gravity of the matter, or the Poeticall form, give it his inclination, and _principium motus_; you are his center, or his spheare, and to you as to his proper place he addresses himself. Besides that all my things, not onely by obligation, but by custome, know that that is the way they should goe. I spake of this to my L[ady] of _Bedford_, thinking then I had had a copy which I made long since, at Sea, but because I finde it not, I have done that again: when you finde it not unseasonable, let her see it; and if you can think it fit, that a thing that hath either wearied, or distasted you, should receive so much favour, put it amongst her papers: when you have a new stomach to it, I will provide you quickly a new Copy.

_Your very true friend and servant
and lover_
J. Donne.

_At my_ Micham
_Hospitall_, Aug. 10.

[lxxiv.]

_To the gallant Knight Sir_ Tho. Lucy.

_SIR_,

Because in your last Letter, I have an invitation to come to you, though I never thought my self so fallen from my interest, which, by your favour, I prescribe in, in you, and therefore when in the spring I hoped to have strength enough, to come into those parts, upon another occasion, I always resolved to put my self into your presence too, yet now I aske you more particularly how you dispose of your self; for though I have heard, that you purpose a journey to the _Bath_, and from thence hither, yet I can hope, that my service at _Lincolns Inne_ being ended for next Terme, I may have intermission enough to waite upon you at _Polesworth_, before the season call you to _Bath_. I was no easie apprehender of the fear of your departing from us; neither am I easie in the hope of seeing you intirely over suddenly. God loves your soul if he be loth to let it go inch-meale, and not by swallowings; and he loves it too, if he build it up again stone after stone; his will is not done except his way, and his leasure be observed. In my particular, I am sorry, if my ingenuity and candor in delivering myself in those points, of which you speak to me, have defaced those impressions which were in you before: if my freedome have occasioned your captivity, I am miserably sorry. I went unprofitably and improvidently, to the utmost end of Truth, because I would go as farre as I could to meet Peace; if my going so far in declaring my self, brought you where you could not stop. But as I was as confident in your strength, as in mine own, so am I still, in him, who strengthens all our infirmities and will, I doubt not, bring you and me together, in all those particulars, so as we shall not part in this world, nor the next. Sir, your own soul cannot be more zealous of your peace, then I am: and God, who loves that zeale in me, will not suffer you to suspect it. I am surprised with a necessity of writing now, in a minute; for I sent to _Bedford_ house to informe my self of means to write, and your daughter sent me word, of a present messenger, and therefore the rest of this I shall make up in my prayers to our blessed Saviour, for all happinesses to you.

_Your poor servant in Chr. Jesus_
J. Donne.

_Drury house the 22 of
Decemb. 1607._

[lxxv.]

_To Sir_ H. G.

SIR,

This is a second Letter: the enclosed was written before. Now we are sure that _Heidelberge_ is taken, and entred with extreme cruelties. Almost all the defendors forsook their stations; only Sir _Ger[ald] Herbert_ maintained his nobly, to the repulsing of the enemy three times, but having ease in the other parts, 800 new fresh men were put upon his quarter, and after he had broke 4 Pikes, and done very well, he was shot dead in the place. _Man[n]heim_ was soon after besieged, and is still. _Heydelth_ [_Heidelberg_] was lost the 6 of this moneth; the K[ing] upon news of this, sent to the Spanish Ambassa[d]our, that the people were like to resent it, and therefore, if he doubted ought, he should have a Guard: but I do not see, that he seems to need it, in his own opinion neither in truth does he; the people are flat: or trust in God, and the Kings ways. Sir _Hor[atio] Vere_ hath written to his wife, (as I am told) a Letter in the nature of a will, for the disposing of his estate and children, as though he did not account to see her any more, but yet _Man[n]heim_ cannot be lost, but by storming. Your man stays, and our bell rings me into the Church; there Sir, I shall recommend you to Gods goodnesse, with

_Your friend_
J. Donne.

24 Septemb.

[lxxvi.]

_To Sir_ H. G.

_SIR_,

I live so farre removed, that even the ill news of your great losse (which is ever swiftest and loudest) found me not till now; your letter speaks it not plain enough but I am so accustomed to the worst, that I am sure it is so in this. I am almost glad that I knew her so little: for I would have no more additions to sorrow; if I should comfort you, it were an almes acceptable in no other title, then when poor give to poor; for I am more needy of it then you. And I know you well provided of Christian, and learned, and brave defences against all humane accidents. I will make my best haste after your messenger: and if my self and the place had not been ill provided of horses, I had been the messenger, for you have taught me by granting more to deny no request.

_Your honest unprofitable friend_
J. Donne.

_Pyesford_ 3 a clock
just as yours came.

[lxxvii.]

_To Sir_ G. H.

_SIR_

I cannot yet serve you with those books of which your Letter spake. In recompense I will tell you a story, which if I had had leasure to have told it you when it was fresh, which was upon Thursday last, might have had some grace for the rareness, and would have tried your love to me, how farre you would adventure to beleeve an improbable thing for my sake who relates it. That day in the morning, there was some end made, by the E[arl] of _Salisbury_ and others, who were Arbitrators in some differences between _Her[t]ford_ and _Mounte[a]gle_. _Her[t]ford_ was ill satisfied in it, and declared himself so farre as to say, he expected better usage in respect not only of his cause but of his expence and service in his Ambassage: to which _Salisbury_ replied, that considered how things stood between his Majesty and _Her[t]ford_ house at the Kings enterance, the King had done him especiall favour in that employment of honour and confidence, by declaring in so publique and great an act and testimony, that he had no ill affections toward him. _Her[t]ford_ answered, that he was then and ever an honest man to the King: and _Salisbury_ said, he denied not that, but yet solemnly repeated his first words again. So that _Her[t]ford_ seemed not to make answer, but pursuing his own word, said, that whosoever denied him to have been an honest man to the King, lyed. _Salisbury_ asked him if he directed that upon him, _Her[t]ford_ said, upon any who denied this. The earnestnes of both was such, as _Salisbury_ accepted it to himself, and made protestation before the LL. [Lords] present, that he would do nothing else, till he had honorably put off that lye. Within an hour after, _Salisbury_ sent him a direct challenge, by his servant M{r} _Knightley_; _Her[t]ford_ required only an hours leisure of consideration (it is said, it was onely to inform himself of the especiall danger, in dealing so with a Counsellor) but he returned his acceptation: And all circumstances were so clearly handled between them, that St _James_ was agreed for the place, and they were both come from their severall lodgings, and upon the way to have met, when they were interrupted by such as from the King were sent to have care of it. So these two have escaped this great danger; but (by my troth) I fear earnestly that Mistresse _Bolstrod_ will not escape that sicknesse in which she labours at this time. I sent this morning to aske of her passage of this night; and the return is, that she is as I left her yesternight, and then by the strength of her understanding, and voyce, (proportionally to her fashion, which was ever remisse) by the eavennesse and life of her pulse, and by her temper, I could allow her long life, and impute all her sicknesse to her minde. But the History of her sicknesse, makes me justly fear, that she will scarce last so long, as that you when you receive this letter, may do her any good office, in praying for her; for she hath not for many days received so much as a preserved Barber[r]y, but it returnes, and all accompanied with a Fever, the mother, and an extream ill spleen. Whilest I write this Tuesday morning, from _Bartlet_ house one brings me a pacquet to your Master: he is gone; and that Lady and all the company is from town. I thought I might be pardoned, if I thought my self your man for that service to open it, which I did, and for the Letters I will deliver them. What else you bid _Foster_ do in his Letter, bid him do it there, for (so God help me) I know not what it is. I must end now, else the carrier will be gone. God be with you.

_Yours intirely._

_You know me without a name, and I know not how this Letter goes._

[lxxviii.]

_To Sir_ H. G.

_SIR_,

I had destined all this Tuesday, for the Court, because it is both a Sermon day, and the first day of the Kings being here. Before I was to go forth, I had made up this inclosed pacquet for you, and then came this messenger with your pacquet, of which if you can remember the number, you cannot expect any account thereof from me, who have not half an hour left me before I go forth, and your messenger speakes of a necessity of returning homward before my returning home. If upon the delivery of them, or any other occasion, there intervene new subject of writing, I shall relieve my self upon Tuesday, if _Tamworth_ carrier be in town. To the particulars of the Letter to my self, I will give this paper, and line. Of my Lady _Badford_, I must say so much as must importune you to burn the Letter; for I would say nothing of her upon record, that should not testifie my thankfulnesse for all her graces. But upon this motion which I made to her by letter, and by S{r} _Tho. Roes_ assistance, if any scruple should arise in her, she was somewhat more startling, then I looked for from her: she had more suspicion of my calling, a better memory of my past life, then I had thought her nobility could have admitted: of all which, though I humbly thank God, I can make good use, as one that needs as many remembrances in that kinde, as not only friends but enemies can present, yet I am afraid, they proceed in her rather from some ill impression taken from D[octor] _Burges_, then that they grow in her self. But whosoever be the conduit, the water is the holy Ghosts, and in that acceptation I take it. For her other way of expressing her favour to me, I must say, it is not with that cheerfulnesse, as heretofore she hath delivered her self towards me. I am almost sorry, that an Elegy should have been able to move her to so much compassion heretofore, as to offer to pay my debts; and my greater wants now, and for so good a purpose, as to come disengaged into that profession, being plainly laid open to her, should work no farther but that she sent me 30_l._ which in good faith she excused with that, which is in both parts true, that her present debts were burdensome, and that I could not doubt of her inclination, upon all future emergent occasions, to assist me. I confesse to you, her former fashion towards me, had given a better confidence; and this diminution in her makes me see, that I must use more friends, then I thought I should have needed. I would you could burn this letter, before you read it, at least do when you have read it. For, I am afraid out of a Contemplation of mine own unworthinesse, and fortune, that the example of this Lady, should work upon the Lady where you are: for though goodnesse be originally in her, and she do good, for the deeds sake, yet, perchance, she may think it a little wisdome, to make such measure of me, as they who know no better, do. Of any new treaty of a match with _Spain_, I hear nothing. The warres in the _Low countries_, to judge by their present state, are very likely to go forward. No word of a Parliament, and I my self have heard words of the K[ing] as directly against any such purpose, as any can sound. I never heard word, till in your letter, of any stirres in _Scotland_, for that of the French K. which you aske, it hath this good ground, That in the Assembly there a proposition hath been made, and well entertained, that the K[ing] should be declared, to have full Jurisdiction in _France_; and no other person to have any. It hath much of the modell and frame of our Oath of Allegeance, but with some modification. It is true, it goes farther then that State hath drove in any publique declarations, but not farther than their Schools have drove often and constantly: the easinesse that it hath found in passing thus farre without opposition, puts (perchance unnecessarily) in me a doubt, that they are sure to choak it, at the Royall assent, and therefore oppose it not, by the way, to sweeten the conveyance of their other purposes. Sir, if I stay longer I shall lose the Text, at Court, therefore I kisse your hand, and rest

_Your very true servant_
J. Donne.

_We hear (but without second as yet) that Sir_ Rich[ard] _Philips brother in_ France, _hath taken the habit of a Capuchin_.

[lxxix.]

_To Sir_ Thomas Lucy.

_SIR_,

This first of _Aprill_ I received yours of 21 of _Martii_, which being two days after the ordinary _Smithfield_ day, I could do no more, but seal this letter to be sent to you next Tuesday, because I foresee that I shall not then be in town. Whatsoever I should write now, of any passages of these days, would lose the verdure before the letter came to you, only give me leave to tell you that I need none of those excuses, which you have made to your self in my behalfe, for my not writing. For your son in law came to me, so near the time of his going away, as it had been impossible to have recovered him with a letter at so farre a distance, as he was lodged. And my L. _Hunt._ messenger received that answer, which, I hope, before this time, you know to be true, that I had sent the day before, by the infallible carrier of _Smithfield_. The Emperours death may somewhat shorten our way; for I discern now no reason of going to _Vienna_; but I beleeve it wil extend our busines; so that I promise my self no speedier return by that. If I write no letters into _England_ out of these parts, I cannot be without your pardon, if I write not to you, but if I write to any and leave you out, lay all the faults which you have ever pardoned in me, to my charge again. I foresee some reasons, which may make me forbeare; but no slacknesse of mine own, shall. Sir, if I have no more the commodity of writing to you here in _England_, (as, we may be gon before next Tuesday) I tell you, in this departing from you, with the same truth and earnestnesse as I would be beleeved to speake in my last departing, and transmigration from the whole world, that I leave not behinde me a heart, better affected to you, nor more devoted to your service, then I carry with me. Almighty God blesse you, with such a reparation in your health, such an establishment in your estate, such a comfort in your children, such a peace in your conscience, and such a true cheerfulnesse in your heart, as may be strong seales to you, of his eternall gracious purpose upon you. This morning I spend in surveying and emptying my Cabinet of Letters; and at the top of all I light upon this Letter lately received, which I was loth to bury. I chose to send it you, to mine own condemnation; because a man so busie as he is, descending to this expressing of himself in verse, I am inexcusable towards you, for disobeying a commandment of yours, of that kinde; but I relie upon the generall, that I am sure you are sure, that I never refuse any thing for lazinesse, nor morosity, and therefore make some other excuse for me. You have been so long used to my hand that I stand not to excuse the hasty raggednesse of this Letter. The very ilnesse of the writing, is a good argument that I forced a time, in the fulnesse of businesse, to kisse your hand, and to present my thanks as for all your favours, and benefits, so principally for keeping me alive in the memory of the noblest Countesse, whose commandement, if it had been her L{aps} pleasure to have any thing said or done in her service, at _Heydelberg_, I should have been glad to have received. Sir, God blesse you, _& spiritu principali confirmet te_; and

_Your very true and affectionate servant in Chr. Jes._
J. Donne.

[lxxx.]

_To the honourable Knight Sr_ Henry Goodere.

_SIR_,

As you are a great part of my businesse, when I come to _London_, so are you when I send. More then the office of a visitation brings this Letter to you now; for I remember that about this time you purposed a journey to fetch, or meet the Lad[y] _Huntington_. If you justly doubt any long absence, I pray send to my lodging my written Books: and if you may stay very long, I pray send that Letter in which I sent you certain heads which I purposed to enlarge, for I have them not in any other paper: and I may finde time in your absence to do it, because I know no stronger argument to move you to love me, but because you have done so, doe so still, to make my reason better, and I shall at last prescribe in you

_Yours_,
J. Donne.

Micham Wednesday.

[lxxxi.]

_To Sir_ H. G. _at_ Polesworth.

_SIR_,

This 25 I have your letter of 21, which I tell you so punctually, because by it, nor by any other, I doe not discern that you received my pacquet of Books; not that I looked for so quick a return of the Sermon, nor of my Cases of conscience, but that I forget so absolutely what I write, and am so sure that I write confidently to you, that it is some pain to remain in any jealousie that any Letter is miscarried. That which I writ to you of my L. Treasur[er's] disposition to you, I had from M{r} _Har[ington]_; and I understood it to be his desire to convey it through me. The last account which we have of my L. _Donc[aster]_ is, by Letters of the 2{o} of this; by which also we saw, that the first Letters of his convalescence, were but propheticall; for he was let blood a second time, and is not strong enough yet to receive audience. Though I be not Dean of _Pauls_ yet, my L[ord] of _Warwick_ hath gone so low, as to command of me the office of being Master of my game, in our wood about him in _Essex_. I pray be you content to be my officer too, the Steward of my services to all to whom you know them to be due in your walk, and continue your own assurance that I am

_Your affectionate servant in Chr. Jes._
J. Donne.

[lxxxii.]

_To my worthy friend_ F. H.

SIR,

I can scarce doe any more this week then send you word why I writ not last. I had then seposed a few daies for my preparation to the Communion of our B[lessed] Saviours body; and in that solitarinesse and arraignment of my self, digested some meditations of mine, and apparelled them (as I use) in the form of a Sermon: for since I have not yet utterly delivered my self from this intemperance of scribling (though I thank God my accesses are lesse and lesse vehement) I make account that to spend all my little stock of knowledge upon matter of delight, were the same error, as to spend a fortune upon Masks and Banqueting houses: I chose rather to build in this poor fashion, some Spittles, and Hospitals, where the poor and impotent sinner may finde some relief, or at least understanding of his infirmity. And if they be too weak to serve posterity, yet for the present by contemplation of them, &c.

[lxxxiii.]

_To Sir_ H. G.

_SIR_,

I have the honour of your Letter, which I am almost sorry to have received: some few daies before the receit thereof D[octor] _Turner_, who accompanied my L. _Carow_ [_Carey_] to _Sion_ to dinner, shewed me a Letter from you, from which I conceived good hopes that your businesses, being devolved into the hands of the Treasurer, had been in much more forwardnesse, then by your Letter to me they appear to be. I beseech God establish them, and hasten them, and with them, or without them, as he sees most conducible to his purpose upon you, continue in you a relying upon him, and a satisfaction in his waies. I know not whether any Letter from your son, or any other report, may have given you any mention of me; he writ to me from the _Compter_, that he was under a trifling arrest, and that 3{l} and some little more would discharge him. I sent my man with that money, but bid him see it emploied for his discharge: he found more actions, and returned. Next day he writ to me that 8{l} would discharge him, and that M{r} _Selden_ would lay down half. But M{r} _Selden_ and I speaking together, thought it the fittest way, to respite all, till, in a few daies, by his writing to you, we might be directed therein; and in the mean time, took order with the Keeper to accommodate him, and I bade my man _Martin_, as from himself, to serve his present want with some things. Since we told him, that we would attend a return of his Letter to you, I heard no more of him, but I hear he is out. Whosoever serves you with relations from this Town, I am sure prevents me of all I can say. The Palatinate is absolutely lost; for before this Letter come to you, we make account that _Heydelberg_ and _Frankindale_ is lost, and _Manheme_ [_Mannheim_] distressed, _Mansfield_ came to _Breda_, and _Gonzales_ to _Brussels_, with great losses on both sides, but equall. The P[rince] of _Orange_ is but now come to _Breda_, and with him, all that he is able to make, even out of the Garrisons of their Towns. The ways of victuall to _Spinolaes_ Army, are almost all precluded by him, and he likely to put upon the raising of _Spinola_, between whom and the Town, there are hotter disputes, then ever our times saw. The Secretary of the States here shewed me a Letter yesternight, that the Town spends 6000 pound of powder a day, and hath spent since the siege 250{m} pounds. _Argits_ Regiment and my L. _Vaux_, are so diminished by commings away, as that both (I think) make not now in Muster above 600. M{r} _Gage_ is returning to _Rome_, but of this Negotiation I dare say nothing by a Letter of adventure. The direction which his Ma{ty} gave for Preachers, had scandalized many; therefore he descended to pursue them with certain reasons of his proceedings therein; and I had commandment to publish them in a Sermon at the Crosse, to as great a Congregation as ever I saw together, where they received comfortable assurance of his Ma{ties} constancy in Religion, and of his desire that all men should be bred in the knowledge of such things, as might preserve them from the superstition of _Rome_. I presume it is but a little while before we shall see you here, but that little time is likely to produce many things greatly considerable. Present, I pray, my thankfull services to your good daughters. I can give them no better a room in my prayers, and wishes, then my poore _Constance_ hath, and they have that; so have you Sir, with

J. Donne.

[lxxxiv.]

_To the worthiest Knight Sir_ Henry Goodere.

SIR,

Our blessed Saviour, who abounds in power and goodnesse towards us all, blesse you, and your family, with blessings proportioned to his ends in you all, and blesse you with the testimony of a rectified conscience, of having discharged all the offices of a father, towards your discreet and worthy daughters, and blesse them with a satisfaction, and quiescence, and more, with a complacency and a joy, in good ends, and ways towards them, _Amen_. Your man brought me your Letter of the 8 of _December_ this 21 of the same, to _Chelsey_, and gives me the largenesse till friday to send a letter to _Pauls_ house. There can scarce be any peece of that, or of those things whereof you require light from me, that is not come to your knowledge, by some clearer way, between the time of your Letter, and this. Besides the report of my death hath thus much of truth in it, that though I be not dead, yet I am buried. Within a few weeks after I immured my self in this house, the infection strook into the town, into so many houses, as that it became ill manners to make any visits. Therefore I never went to _Knoll_, nor _Hanworth_, nor _Kenton_ [_Keyston_], nor to the Court, since the Court came into these quarters, nor am yet come to _London_; therefore I am little able to give you account of high stages. Perchance you look not so low, as our ordinary Gazetta, and that tells us, (with a second assurance) that the D[uke] of _Brunswick_, _Christian_, is dead of an Ague. My L[ord] of _Dorset_ even upon the day, when he should have been installed with his six fellowes, fell sick at _London_; and at Court (which does not exalt all men) his Fever was exalted to the plague; but he is in good convalescence. Of the Navy I hear of no great lim[b] come back yet, but my L. of _Essex_; something of the disappointing of the designe they had, is imputed to some difference, in point of command, betweem him and the M{r} of the Ordinance, my L. of _Valencia_, but as yet there is little manifested. Already is issued a Proclamation, that there be no disbanding of the Souldiers, upon their landing, in what part soever, and that his Majesty hath present imployment for them. What the business at _Haghe_ [_Hague_] hath been, I know nothing, but I hear, that their offer of pawning of Jewells to a very very great value, to the States or private men, hath found no acceptance, at least found no money. Occasionally I heard from the _Haghe_, that the Queen having taken into her care, the promoving and advancing of some particular mens businesses, by way of recommendations to the Duke, expressed her self very royally, in your behalf. This I tell you not, as though you knew it not, but because I had the fortune to see it in a Letter of the simple Gentlewoman, from thence; by which name, if you know her not, I have omitted heretofore to tell you a good tale. They continue at Court, in the resolution of the Queen pastorall; when _Q[ueen] Anne_ loved gamboils, you loved the Court; perchance you may doubt whether you be a thorough Courtier, if you come not up to see this, The Queen a Shepperdesse; but I speak not this, by way of counsail, to draw you up, it is not only _Non Dominus, sed ego_, but _nec Deus nec ego_, to call you hither, but upon fair appearances of usefull commings. M{r} _George Herbert_ is here at the receipt of your letter, and with his service to you, tells you that all of _Uvedall_ house are well. I reserve not the mention of my Lady _Huntington_ to the end of my Letter, as grains to make the gold weight, but as tincture to make the better gold, when you finde room to intrude so poor and impertinent a name, as mine is, in her presence. I beseech you, let her Lad[yship] know, that she hath sowed her favours towards me, in such a ground, that if I be grown better (as I hope I am) her favours are grown with me, and though they were great when she conferred them, yet, (if I mend every day) they increase in me every day, and therefore every day multiply my thankfulnesse towards her Ladiship: say what you will (if you like not this expression) that may make her Ladiship know, that I shall never let fall the memory, nor the just valuation of her noble favours to me, nor leave them unrequited in my Exchequer, which is, the blessings of God upon my prayers. If I should write another sheet, I should be able to serve your curiosity no more of Dukes nor LL. [Lords] nor Courts, and this half line serves to tell you, that I am truly

_Your poor friend and humble servant in Chr. Jes._
J. Donne.

[lxxxv.]

_To my honoured friend_ G. G. _Esquire_.

_SIR_,