conscience that I came despoiled of all other respects, only to kiss her hands, in whose protection I am, since I have, nor desire other station, than a place in her good opinion. I took so good contentment in the fashion which my Lord Chancellor used towards me, that out of a voluptuous lothness to let that taste go out of my mouth, I forbear to make any further trial in that business, till the King come into these quarters. So that, sir, I am here in place to serve you, if either I be capable of your commandments, or this town give anything worth the writing. As often as you see your noble friend and her good sister, allow my name a room in your discourse: it is a short one, and you will soon have done. But tell them not my desire to do them service, for then you engage yourself in a longer discourse than I am worthy. Only in pursuit of your commandment, I sent the packet to the post; for, in mine own understanding, there should appear small hope of arriving by that way, except you know otherwise that the lords mean to make some stay in their return, in those parts but the letter is brought back again, for the post went away yesterday, and they knew of no occasion of sending till next week. Therefore except I can inform myself of some good means, I will retain it till I have a fresh commandment from you. I see Mr. Taverner is still in this town; the Lady Carey went from hence but yesterday. I am in some perplexity what to do with this packet, till some good fortune or your letters clear me.

Aug. 19.

Your humble servant,

J. DONNE.

LETTER CXVI.

Sir,

To my best of friends, Sir Henry Goodyere.

I heard not from you this week; therefore I write more willingly, because it hath in it so much more merit. And I might do it very cheaply, since to convey to you this letter, which mine hath the honour to bring, any little letter would serve, and be acceptable for that. Because it came not last week, I went now to solicit it, and she sent it me next day with some thanks, and some excuse that she knew not me, when I

was with her. You know, I do not easily put myself into those hazards, nor do much brag of my valor now, otherwise than I purposed it for a service to you. The newest thing that I know in the world, is my new son: whose mother's being well takes off from me any new weight upon my fortune. I hear in Newgate, that Mr. Mathew is dead. The Catholics believe it there: perchance out of a custom of credulity. But the report, is close prisoner; for I never met it abroad. This is my third letter, all which I sent by Spelty whom my boy found at Abington-house. I have now two of the best happinesses which could befall me, upon me; which are, to be a widower and my wife alive, which may make you know, that it is but for your ease, that this letter is no longer, in this leisure in which (having nothing else to write) I might vary a thousand ways that I am

Your very affectionate servant,

Monday, at night.

J. DONNE.

LETTER CXVII.

To Sir Henry Goodyere.

Sir, I love to give you advantages upon me, therefore I put myself in need of another pardon from you, by not coming to you; yet I am scarce guilty enough to spend much of your virtue from you, because I knew not of your being come till this your letter told me so, in the midst of dinner at Peckham, this Monday. Sir, I am very truly yours; if you have overvalued me in any capacity, I will do what I can to overtake your hopes of me. I wish myself whatsoever you wish me; and so I do, whatever you wish yourself. I am prisoner and close; else I had not needed this pardon, for I long much, and much more by occasion of your letter, to see you: when you find that good lady emptiest of business and pleasure, present my humble thanks; you can do me no favour, which I need not, nor any, which I cannot have some hope to deserve, but this; for I have made her opinion of me, the ballance by which I weigh myself. I will come soon enough to deliver my thanks to Sir J. Harrington for

your ease, whom I know I have pained with an ill-favoured letter, but my heart hath one style, and character; and is yours in wishing, and in thankfulness.

Peckham, Monday afternoon.

J. DONNE.

Sir,

LETTER CXVIII.

To my worthy friend G. K.

I receive this here that I begin this return, your letter by a servant of Sir G. Gresely, by whom also I hasten this dispatch. This needs no enlargement since it hath the honour to convey one from M. Gherard. But though by telling me, it was a bold letter, I had leave to open it, and that I have a little itch to make some animadversions and criticisms upon it (as that there is a cipher too much in the sum of the king's debts, and such like) yet since my eyes do easily fall back to their distemper, and that I am this night to sup at Sir A. Ingram's, I had rather forfeit their little strength at his supper, then with writing such impertinences: the best spending them, is upon the rest of your letter, to which, sir, I can only say in general, that some appearances have been here, of some treaty's concerning this nullity, which are said to proceed from Geneva, but are believed to have been done within doors, by encouragements of some whose names I will not commit to this letter. My poor study having lain that way, it may prove possible, that my weak assistance may be of use in this matter, in a more serious fashion, than an epithalamion. This made me therefore abstinent in that kind; yet by my troth, I think I shall not escape. I deprehend in myself more than an alacrity, a vehemency to do service to that company; and so, I may find reason to make rhyme. If it be done, I see not how I can admit that circuit of sending them to you, to be sent hither; that seems a kind of praying to saints, to whom God must tell first, that such a man prays to them to pray to him. So that I shall lose the honour of that conveyance; but, for recompense, you shall escape the danger of approving it. My next letter say more of this. This shall end with deli

vering you the remembrance of my Lady Bartlet, who is present at the sealing hereof.

January 19.

Your very true and affectionate servant,

J. DONNE.

Which name when there is any empty corner in your discourse with that noble lady at Ashby, I humbly beseech you to present to her as one more devoted to her service than perchance you

will say.

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 another packet directed to him: for by this time, the carries 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 coming hither, for I know not where to seek him; and besides, I have enough to say for that part which concerns myself. Sir, even in the letter itself 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 postcript 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, than 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 write only to fill up any empty corner in your discourse. So, sir, the reading of the letter, was a kind of travel to me, but when I came to the paper inclosed, I was brought to bed of a monster. To express myself vehemently quickly, I must say, that I can scarce think, that you have read M. Gherard's letter rightly, therefore I send you back your own again. I will not protest against my being such a

*This should seem to be to Sir H. Goodyere; as he refers in it to the postscript in the last letter.-ED.

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 anything in him with hope of locking it up, and against that lowness, of seeking reputation by so poor a way. I am not so sorry, that I am a narrow man, as that for all the narrowness, 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) persuade a Middlesex jury of so much dishonesty in, Your true servant,

LETTER CXX.

J. DONNE.

To Sir G. B.

Sir, It is one of my blind meditations to think what a miserable defeat it would be to all these preparations of bravery, if my infirmity should overtake others; for, I am at least half blind, my windows are all as full of glasses of waters, as any mountebank's stall. This messenger makes haste, I thank him for it; therefore I only send you this letter, which was sent to me about three days past, and my promise to distribute your other letters, according to your addresses, as fast as my monsieur can do it; for, for any personal service, you must be content, at this time, to pardon, Your affectionate servant, J. DONNE.

December 23.

LETTER CXXI.

Sir,

To Sir H. Goodyere.

Agreeably to my fortune, and thoughts, I was crawled this back way from Keyston; through my broken casement at Bedford, I saw, for my best dish at dinner, your coach: I studied your guests, but when I knew where you were, I went out of this town, in a doubt whether I should turn in to Wrest; and you know the wisdom of the parliament is, to resolve ever in the negative therefore it is likeliest I shall not come in there; yet, let me give you in passing, thus much account of myself: I