Letters to Severall Persons of Honour Part 17

_To the Honourable Knight, Sir_ Robert Karre.

SIR,

This is but a Postscript to the last Letter, and it is onely to tell you, that it was an impertinent jealousie that I conceived of that Gentlemans absence from my L[ord] for he gives that full Testimonie of him that he never discerned any kinde of unfitnesse in him for any imployment, except too much goodnesse; and Conscientiousnesse may sometimes make him somewhat lesse fit for some kindes of businesse, then a man of a looser raine. And this is all, that I conceive to have been in the commandment wherewith you honoured

_Your very humble and thankfull servant in Christ Jesus_ J. Donne.

2. Aug. 1622.

[cvi.]

_To my Honoured Friend, Master_ George Gherard.

SIR,

Your Letter was the more welcome to mee, because it brought your commandment with it, of sending you perfumes: for it is a Service somewhat like a Sacrifice. But yet your commandment surprised me, when neither I had enough to send, nor had means to recover more; that Ladie being out of Towne which gave them me. But Sir, if I had 10000000. I could send you no more then I doe; for I send all. If any good occasion present it selfe to you, to send to my L[ord] _Clifford_, spare my name a roome, there where you offer him most of your Service. I dare contend with you, that you cannot exceed mee, in desiring to serve him. It is a better office from me to you, that I goe to bed, then that I write a longer letter. For if I doe mine eyes a little more injurie, I shall lose the honour of seeing you at Michaelmas; for by my troth I am almost blinde: you may be content to beleeve that I am always disposed to your service, without exception of any time, since just at midnight, when it is both day, and night, and neither, I tell you that I am

_Your affectionate friend and servant_ J. Donne.

[cvii.]

_To my very much honoured friend_ George Garrard _Esquire at_ Sion.

SIR,

I know not which of us wonne it by the hand, in the last charge of Letters. If you wonne, you wonne nothing, because I am nothing, or whatsoever I am, you wonne nothing, because I was all yours before. I doubt not but I were better delivered of dangers of relapses, if I were at _London_; but the very going would indanger me. Upon which true debility, I was forced to excuse my selfe to my Lord Chamberlaine, from whom I had a Letter of command to have Preached the fifth of _November_ Sermon to the King. A service which I would not have declined, if I could have conceived any hope of standing it. I beseech you intreat my Lord _Percy_ in my behalfe, that he will be pleased to name _George_ to my L[ord]

_Carli[s]le_, and to wonder, if not to inquire, where he is. The world is disposed to charge my Lords honour, and to charge my naturall affection with neglecting him, and, G.o.d knowes, I know not which way to turn towards him; nor upon any message of mine, when I send to kisse my Lords hands, doth my Lord make any kinde of mention of him. For the Diamond Lady, when time serves, I pray look to it; for I would fain be discharged of it. And for the rest, let them be but remembered how long it hath been in my hands, and then leave it to their discretion. If they incline to any thing, I should chuse s.h.i.+rt _Hollond_, rather under then above 4 _s._ Our blessed Saviour multiply his blessings upon that n.o.ble family where you are, and your self, and your sonne; as upon all them that are derived from

_Your poor friend and servant_ J. Donne.

[cviii.]

_To my very much respected friend Mr._ George Garrard.

SIR,

I thank you for expressing your love to me, by this diligence; I know you can distinguish between the voyces of my love, and of my necessity, if any thing in my Letters sound like an importunity. Besides, I will adde thus out of counsell to you, that you can do nothing so thriftily as to keep in your purpose the payment of the rest of this years rent, (though at your conveniency) for Sir _E. H['s]_ curiosity being so served at first, I shall be no farther cause, but that the rest be related, and you in as good possession of his love, and to as good use, as your love deserves of him. You mocke us when you aske news from hence. All is created there, or relates thither where you are. For that book which you command me to send, I held it but half an hour: which served me to read those few leafes, which were directed upon some few lines of my book. If you come to town quickly, you may get a fair widow: for M{ris} _Brown_ is fallen to that state by death of her husband. No man desires your comming more, nor shall be readier to serve you, then

_Your affectionate friend and servant_ J. Donne.

[cix.]

_To my Honoured friend Mr_ George Gherard, _over against_ Salisbury _house_.

SIR,

I do not make account that I am come to _London_, when I get within the wall: that which makes it _London_ is the meeting of friends. I cannot therefore otherwise bid my self welcome to _London_, then by seeking of you, which both Sir _H. Goodere_ and I do, with so much diligence, as that this messenger comes two dayes before to intreat you from us both, to reserve your self upon Saterday: so that I may, at our coming to _London_ that night, understand at my house where I may send you word of our supping place that night, and have the honour of your company. So you lay more obligations upon

_Your poor unprofitable servant_ J. Donne.

[cx.]

_To the very much Honoured friend_ George Garret _Esquire_.

SIR,

When we thinke of a friend, we do not count that a lost thought, though that friend never knew of it. If we write to a friend, we must not call it a lost Letter, though it never finde him to whom it was addressed: for we owe our selves that office, to be mindefull of our friends. In payment of that debt, I send out this Letter, as a Sentinell Perdue; if it finde you, it comes to tell you, that I was possessed with a Fever, so late in the year, that I am afraid I shall not recover confidence to come to _London_ till the spring be a little advanced. Because you did our poor family the favour to mention our _George_ in your Letters to _Spain_, with some earnestnesse, I should wonder if you never had any thing from thence concerning him; he having been now, divers moneths, in _Spaine_. If you be in _London_ and the Lady of the Jewell there too, at your conveniency informe me what is looked for at my hands, in that businesse; for I would be loath to leave any thing in my house when I die that were not absolutely mine own. I have a servant, _Roper_, at _Pauls_ house, who will receive your commandments, at all times. G.o.d blesse you and your sonne, with the same blessings which I begge for the children, and for the person of

_Your poor friend and humble servant in Chr. Jes._ J. Donne.

[cxi.]

_To the Honourable Knight Sir_ Robert Karre, _Gentleman of his Highnesses Bed-chamber_.

SIR,

I am come to that tendernesse of conscience, that I need a pardon for meaning to come to _Newmarket_ in this weather. If I had come I must have asked you many reall pardons, for the many importunities that I should have used towards you. But since I have divers errands thither, (except I belie my self in that phrase, since it is all one errand to promove mine own business, and to receive your commands) I shall give you but a short respit, since I shall follow this paper within two dayes. And (that I accuse my self, no farther then I am guilty) the princ.i.p.all reason of my breaking the appointment of waiting upon M. _Rawlins_, was, that I understood the King was from _Newmarket_; and for comming thither in the Kings absence, I never heard of excuse; except when _Butler_ sends a desperate Patient in a Consumption thither for good aire, which is an ill errand now. Besides that I could not well come till now, (for there are very few dayes past, since I took Orders) there can be no losse in my absence except when I come; my Lord should have thereby the lesse lat.i.tude, to procure the Kings Letters to _Cambridge_. I beseech you therefore, take some occasion to refresh that businesse to his Lords.h.i.+p, by presenting my name, and purpose of comming very shortly: and be content to receive me, who have been ever your servant, to the addition of

_Your poor Chaplaine_ J. Donne.

27 January.