Letters to Severall Persons of Honour Part 13

[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_ a.s.sistance, 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 n.o.bility could have admitted: of all which, though I humbly thank G.o.d, 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 compa.s.sion 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 a.s.sist 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 a.s.sembly 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 pa.s.sing thus farre without opposition, puts (perchance unnecessarily) in me a doubt, that they are sure to choak it, at the Royall a.s.sent, 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 pa.s.sages 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 G.o.d 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 princ.i.p.ally for keeping me alive in the memory of the n.o.blest 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, G.o.d blesse you, _& spiritu princ.i.p.ali confirmet te_; and

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

[lx.x.x.]

_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.

[lx.x.xi.]

_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 _Ess.e.x_. 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 a.s.surance that I am

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

[lx.x.xii.]

_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 G.o.d 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.

[lx.x.xiii.]

_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 G.o.d 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 a.s.surance 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 superst.i.tion 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.

[lx.x.xiv.]

_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 a.s.surance) 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 _Ess.e.x_; 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 p.a.w.ning 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 n.o.ble favours to me, nor leave them unrequited in my Exchequer, which is, the blessings of G.o.d 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