This 14 of _November_ last I received yours of the 9, as I was in the
street going to sup with my Lady _Bedford_; I found all that company
forepossessed with a wonder why you came not last saturday. I perceive,
that as your intermitting your Letters to me, gave me reason to hope for
you, so some more direct addresse or conscience of your businesse here,
had imprinted in them an assurance of your comming. This Letter shall but
talke, not discourse; it shall but gossip, not consider, nor consult, so
it is made halfe with a prejudice of being lost by the way. The King is
gone this day for _Royston_: and hath left with the Queen a commandment to
meditate upon a Masque for Christmas, so that they grow serious about that
already; that will hasten my Lady _Bedfords_ journey, who goes within ten
days from hence to her Lord, but by reason of this, can make no long stay
there. _Justinian_ the _Venetian_ [ambassador] is gone hence, and one
_Carraw_ [_Carow_] come in his place: that State hath taken a fresh
offence at a Friar, who refused to absolve a Gentleman, because he would
not expresse in confession, what books of Father _Paul_, and such, he knew
to be in the hands of any others; the State commanded him out of that
territory in three hours warning, and he hath now submitted himself, and
is returned as prisoner for _Mantua_, and so remains as yet. Sir _H.
Wootton_ who writ hither, addes also that upon his knowledge there are
14000 as good Protestants as he in that State. The Duke _Joyeuse_ is dead,
in _Primont_ [_Peidmont_], returning from _Rome_, where M. _Mole_ [_Molé_]
who went with the L[ord] _Rosse_, is taken into the Inquisition, and I see
small hope of his recovery, for he had in some translations of _Plessis_
books talked of _Babylon_ and Antichrist. Except it fall out that one
_Strange_ a Jesuit in the Tower, may be accepted for him. To come a little
nearer my self, Sir _Geffery Fenton_ one of his Majesties Secretaries in
_Ireland_ is dead; and I have made some offer for the place, in
preservation whereof, as I have had occasion to imploy all my friends, so
I have not found in them all (except _Bedford_) more hast and words (for
when those two are together, there is much comfort even in the least) then
in the L. _Hay_. In good faith he promised so roundly, so abundantly, so
profusely, as I suspected him, but performed what ever he undertook, (and
my requests were the measures of his undertakings) so readily and truly,
that his complements became obligations, and having spoke like a Courtier,
did like a friend. This I tell you, because being farre under any ability
of expressing my thankfulnesse to him by any proportionall service, I do,
as much as I can, thank him by thanking of you, who begot, or nursed these
good impressions of me in him. Sir, as my discretion would do, my fortune
doth bring all my debts into one hand, for I owe you what ever Court
friends do for me, yea, whatsoever I do for myself, because you almost
importune me, to awake and stare the Court in the face. I know not yet
what conjecture to make of the event. But I am content to go forward a
little more in the madnesse of missing rather then not pretend; and rather
wear out, then rust. It is extreme late; and as this Letter is nothing, so
if ever it come to you, you will know it without a name, and therefore I
may end it here.
[xlvii.]
_To the Honourable Knight Sir_ H. Goodere.
_SIR_,
Though you escape my lifting up of your latch by removing, you cannot my
Letters; yet of this Letter I do not much accuse my self, for I serve your
Commandment in it, for it is only to convey to you this paper opposed to
those, with which you trusted me. It is (I cannot say the waightyest, but
truly) the saddest lucubration and nights passage that ever I had. For it
exercised those hours, which, with extreme danger to her, whom I should
hardly have abstained from recompensing for her company in this world,
with accompanying her out of it, encreased my poor family with a son.
Though her anguish, and my fears, and hopes, seem divers and wild
distractions from this small businesse of your papers, yet because they
all narrowed themselves, and met in _Via regia_, which is the
consideration of our selves, and God, I thought it time not unfit for this
despatch. Thus much more then needed I have told you, whilest my fire was
lighting at Tricombs [at] 10 a clock.
_Yours ever intirely_
J. Donne.
[xlviii.]
_To the Honourable Knight_ H. G.
_SIR_,
Your Son left here a Letter for me, from you. But I neither discern by it
that you have received any of mine lately; which have been many, and
large, and too confident to be lost, especially since, (as I remember)
they always conveyed others to that good Lady; neither do I know where to
finde, by any diligence, your sons lodging. But I hope he will apprehend
that impossibility in me, and finde me here, where he shall also finde as
much readinesse to serve him, as at _Polesworth_. This Letter of yours
makes me perceive, that that Lady hath expressed her purpose to you in
particular, for the next term. Accordingly, I make my promises: for since
one that meant but to flatter, told an Emperour, that his benefits were to
be reckoned from the day of the promise, because he never failed, it were
an injury from me to the constancy of that noble Lady, if I should not, as
soon as the promises, do some act of assurance of the performance; which I
have done, as I say, in fixing times to my creditors; for by the end of
next terme, I will make an end with the world, by Gods grace. I lack you
here, for my L. of _Dorset_, he might make a cheap bargain with me now,
and disingage his honour, which in good faith, is a little bound, because
he admitted so many witnesses of his large disposition towards me. They
are preparing for a Masque of Gentlemen: in which M. _Villars_ is, and M.
_Karre_, whom I told you before my L. Chamberlain had brought into the
bed-chamber. I pray, if you make not so thick goings as you used, send
this Letter to that good woman, for it is not only mine. If I could stay
this Letter an hour, I should send you something of _Savoy_, for Sir _Rob.
Rich_, who is now come from Court, hath laid a commandment upon me by
message to waite upon him; and I know his busines, because he never sought
me, but in one kinde. But the importunity of the houre excuses me, and
delivers you from further trouble from
_Your very true friend and servant_
J. Donne.