Certainly not addressed to Sir Henry Goodyer, but probably to Somerset,
during the negotiations of which Walton, though with some inaccuracy,
reports the happy ending:
"His Majesty had promised him a favour, and many persons of worth
mediated with his Majesty for some secular employment for him, to which
his education had apted him, and particularly the Earle of Somerset, when
in his height of favour, being then at _Theobalds_ with the King, where
one of the Clerks of the Council died that night, the Earle having sent
immediately for Mr. _Donne_ to come to him, said, _Mr._ Donne, _To
testifie the reality of my affection, and my purpose to prefer you, stay
in this garden till I go up to the King, and bring you word that you are
Clerk of the Council_. The King gave a positive denial to all requests;
and having a discerning spirit, replied, _I know Mr._ Donne _is a learned
man, has the abilities of a learned Divine, and will prove a powerfull
Preacher, and my desire is to prefer him that way_. After that, as he
professeth, _the King descended almost to a solicitation of him to enter
into sacred Orders_: which, though he then denied not, yet he deferred it
for three years."