[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.