Letters to Severall Persons of Honour Part 12

[lxxii.]

_To my good friend_ G. H.

SIR,

The little businesse which you left in my hands is now dispatched; if it have hung longer then you thought, it might serve for just excuse, that these small things make as many steps to their end, and need as many motions for the warrant, as much writing of the Clerks, as long expectation of a Seal, as greater. It comes now to you sealed, and with it as strong and a.s.sured seals of my service and love to you, if it be good enough for you. I owe you a continuall tribute of Letters. But, Sir, even in Princes and Parents, and all States that have in them a naturall Soveraignty, there is a sort of reciprocation, and as [?] descent to doe some offices due to them that serve them: which makes me look for Letters from you, because I have another as valuable a p.a.w.n therefore, as your friends.h.i.+p, which is your promise; lest by the Jailors fault this Letter stick long, I must tell you, that I writ and sent it _12 Decemb. 1600_.

_Your friend and servant and lover_ J. Donne.

12. Decemb. 1600.

[lxxiii.]

_To your self._

_SIR_,

I send you here a Translation; but it is not onely to beleeve me, it is a great invention to have understood any piece of this Book, whether the gravity of the matter, or the Poeticall form, give it his inclination, and _principium motus_; you are his center, or his spheare, and to you as to his proper place he addresses himself. Besides that all my things, not onely by obligation, but by custome, know that that is the way they should goe. I spake of this to my L[ady] of _Bedford_, thinking then I had had a copy which I made long since, at Sea, but because I finde it not, I have done that again: when you finde it not unseasonable, let her see it; and if you can think it fit, that a thing that hath either wearied, or distasted you, should receive so much favour, put it amongst her papers: when you have a new stomach to it, I will provide you quickly a new Copy.

_Your very true friend and servant and lover_ J. Donne.

_At my_ Micham _Hospitall_, Aug. 10.

[lxxiv.]

_To the gallant Knight Sir_ Tho. Lucy.

_SIR_,

Because in your last Letter, I have an invitation to come to you, though I never thought my self so fallen from my interest, which, by your favour, I prescribe in, in you, and therefore when in the spring I hoped to have strength enough, to come into those parts, upon another occasion, I always resolved to put my self into your presence too, yet now I aske you more particularly how you dispose of your self; for though I have heard, that you purpose a journey to the _Bath_, and from thence hither, yet I can hope, that my service at _Lincolns Inne_ being ended for next Terme, I may have intermission enough to waite upon you at _Polesworth_, before the season call you to _Bath_. I was no easie apprehender of the fear of your departing from us; neither am I easie in the hope of seeing you intirely over suddenly. G.o.d loves your soul if he be loth to let it go inch-meale, and not by swallowings; and he loves it too, if he build it up again stone after stone; his will is not done except his way, and his leasure be observed. In my particular, I am sorry, if my ingenuity and candor in delivering myself in those points, of which you speak to me, have defaced those impressions which were in you before: if my freedome have occasioned your captivity, I am miserably sorry. I went unprofitably and improvidently, to the utmost end of Truth, because I would go as farre as I could to meet Peace; if my going so far in declaring my self, brought you where you could not stop. But as I was as confident in your strength, as in mine own, so am I still, in him, who strengthens all our infirmities and will, I doubt not, bring you and me together, in all those particulars, so as we shall not part in this world, nor the next. Sir, your own soul cannot be more zealous of your peace, then I am: and G.o.d, who loves that zeale in me, will not suffer you to suspect it. I am surprised with a necessity of writing now, in a minute; for I sent to _Bedford_ house to informe my self of means to write, and your daughter sent me word, of a present messenger, and therefore the rest of this I shall make up in my prayers to our blessed Saviour, for all happinesses to you.

_Your poor servant in Chr. Jesus_ J. Donne.

_Drury house the 22 of Decemb. 1607._

[lxxv.]

_To Sir_ H. G.

SIR,

This is a second Letter: the enclosed was written before. Now we are sure that _Heidelberge_ is taken, and entred with extreme cruelties. Almost all the defendors forsook their stations; only Sir _Ger[ald] Herbert_ maintained his n.o.bly, to the repulsing of the enemy three times, but having ease in the other parts, 800 new fresh men were put upon his quarter, and after he had broke 4 Pikes, and done very well, he was shot dead in the place. _Man[n]heim_ was soon after besieged, and is still.

_Heydelth_ [_Heidelberg_] was lost the 6 of this moneth; the K[ing] upon news of this, sent to the Spanish Amba.s.sa[d]our, that the people were like to resent it, and therefore, if he doubted ought, he should have a Guard: but I do not see, that he seems to need it, in his own opinion neither in truth does he; the people are flat: or trust in G.o.d, and the Kings ways.

Sir _Hor[atio] Vere_ hath written to his wife, (as I am told) a Letter in the nature of a will, for the disposing of his estate and children, as though he did not account to see her any more, but yet _Man[n]heim_ cannot be lost, but by storming. Your man stays, and our bell rings me into the Church; there Sir, I shall recommend you to G.o.ds goodnesse, with

_Your friend_ J. Donne.

24 Septemb.

[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 t.i.tle, 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 Amba.s.sage: 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 circ.u.mstances 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 pa.s.sage 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 fas.h.i.+on, 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 G.o.d help me) I know not what it is. I must end now, else the carrier will be gone. G.o.d be with you.

_Yours intirely._

_You know me without a name, and I know not how this Letter goes._