Between the time of making up my other Letters, and the hour that your man
limited me to call for them, came to my house an other pacquet directed to
him: for by this time, the carrier is as wise, as his horse, to go to the
house that he hath used to go. I found liberty in the superscription to
open, and so I did; but for that part which concerns him, I must attend
his comming hither, for I know not where to seek him; and besides, I have
enough to say for that part which concerns my self. Sir, even in the
Letter it self to me, I deprehend much inclination, to chide me: and it
is but out of your habit of good language that you spare me. So little
occasion as that postscript of mine, could not bring you so near to it, if
nothing else were mistaken, which (so God help me) was so little, that I
remember not what it was, and I would no more hear again what I write in
an officious Letter, then what I said at a drunken supper. I had no
purpose to exercise your diligence in presenting my name to that Lady, but
either I did, or should have said, that I writ onely to fill up any empty
corner in your discourse. So, Sir, the reading of the Letter, was a kinde
of travell to me, but when I came to the paper inclosed, I was brought to
bed of a monster. To expresse my self vehemently quickly, I must say, that
I can scarce think, that you have read M. _Gherards_ letter rightly,
therefore I send you back your own again. I will not protest against my
being such a knave, for no man shall have that from me, if he expect it:
but I will protest against my being such a fool, as to depose any thing in
him with hope of locking it up, and against that lownesse, of seeking
reputation by so poor a way. I am not so sorry, that I am a narrow man, as
that for all the narrownesse, you have not seen through me yet, nor known
me perfectly; for I might think by this, (if I had not other testimony)
that I have been little in your contemplation. Sixteen letters from M.
_Gherard_, could not (I think) perswade a _Middlesex_ Jury of so much
dishonesty in
_Your true servant_
J. Donne.
[lxi.]
_To the Honourable Knight Sir_ G. P.
_SIR_,
I would have intermitted this week without writing, if I had not found the
name of my Lady _Huntington_ in your Letter. The devotion which I owe, and
(in good faith) pay in my best prayers for her good in all kinde awakens
me to present my humble thanks for this, that her Ladiship retains my name
in her memory: she never laid obligation upon any man, readier to expresse
his acknowledgement of them, to any servant of her servants; I am bound to
say much of this, for your indemnity; because though I had a little
preparation to her knowledge in the house where I served at first, yet I
think, she took her characters of me, from you: And, at what time soever
she thought best of me in her life, I am better than that, for my
goodnesse is my thankfulnesse, and I am every day fuller of that then
before, to her L{ap}. I say nothing to you of forein names in this Letter,
because your son Sir _Francis_ is here. For that which you write
concerning your son, I onely gave my man _Martin_ in charge, to use his
interest in the Keeper, that your son should fall under no wants there,
which it seems your son discharged, for I hear not of them. For other
trifles, I bad my man let him have whatsoever he asked, so, as it might
seem to come from him, and not me; and laying that look upon it, it came
to almost nothing. Tell both your daughters a peece of a storie of my
_Con._ which may accustome them to endure disappointments in this world:
An honourable person (whose name I give you in a schedule to burn, lest
this Letter should be mis-laid) had an intention to give her one of his
sons, and had told it me, and would have been content to accept what I, by
my friends, could have begged for her; but he intended that son to my
Profession, and had provided him already 300{l} a year, of his own gift
in Church livings, and hath estated 300{l} more of inheritance for their
children: and now the youth, (who yet knows nothing of his fathers
intention nor mine) flies from his resolutions for that Calling, and
importunes his Father to let him travell. The girle knows not her losse,
for I never told her of it: but truly, it is a great disappointment to me.
More then these, Sir, we must all suffer, in our ways to heaven, where, I
hope you and all yours shall meet
_Your poor friend, and affectionate servant_
J. Donne.
18 Octob.
1622.
[lxii.]
_To my much honoured friend S{r}_ T. Lucy.
_SIR_,
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.