Sermons (LXXX Sermons etc.); Holy Sonnets

pa]aee, largo enough to tell you how ranch I esteem myself honoured in your remembrances nor strong enough to wrap up a heart so full of good affections towards you, as mine is. When anything passes between Sir Thomas loe and you, tell him [ ara hot the less his servant, for hot saying so by often letters: for by my troth, [ ara that so much as he could desire [ should be, when he began to love me. Sir Thomas Lucy's business, and perchance sadness forbid me writing now. I haro written to him (whiIst I lived in darkness, whcther my letters came to you or no) by another way; aud if my poor letters wero any degree of service, [ should do it oftcn, and rather be mine own post, than leave anything undone, to which he would give such an intcrpretation, as that it were an argument of my devotion to him. For my purpose of proceeding in the profession of the law, so far as to a title, you may be pleased to correct that imagination whero you find it. I ever thought the study of it my best entcrtainment and pastime, but I bave no ambition, nor design npon thc style. Of my auniversaries the fault which I acknowledge in myself, is fo have deseended to print anything in verse, which though it have excuse, even lu out times, by example of men, which one would think should as little haro donc it, as I; yet I eonfess I wondcr how I declined fo it, and do hot pardon myself. But for the other part of the imputatîon, of having said so much, my defence is, tha my purpose was to say as well as I could: for since I never saw the gentlewoman, I cannot be understood to bave bound myself to bave spoken just truth: but I would hot be thought to have gone about to praise any body in rhyme, except I took such a person, as might be capable of all that I eould say. If any of those ladies think that lh's. Drury was hot so, let that lady make herself [t for ail those praises in the book, and it shall be hers. 1Nothil»g is finher from colour or ground of truth, tban that which you write of Sir Robert Drury's going fo mass. No man of our uation hath been more forward to apply himse]f to the church of the religion xvhere he bath corne, nor to relieve their wants, where that demoustraion bath beeu leedflll. I lnow hot yct whether Sir Jolnl Broole's purpose of being very.hortly here, be hot a just reason to make me forbear writing fo him. I ara sure that I would fainest do, z2 that in writing or abstaining whieh should be most acceptable to him. It were in vain to put into this letter any relation of the magnificence which has been here ai publication of these lnarriages; for ai this time there conle into Eng]and so many Frenchmen, as I ana sure you shall hear ail at least. If they speak not of above eight hundred horse well eaparisoned, you may believe it: and you may believe, that no court in Cristendom had been able to bave appeared so brave in that kind. But il" they tell you of any other stufl" than copper, or any other exercise of arms than running at the quintain, and the ring, you may be bold to say Pardons moy. Sir, this messenger makes so much baste that I cry your mercy for spending any time of this letter, in other employment, tban thanking you for yours, and promising you more before my removal from hence. I pray venture no lctter to me by any other way than Mr. John Bruer at the Queen's Arms a mereer in ('heapside, who is ahvays like to know where we are; and make me by loving me still, worthy to be your friend and servant,

I would I were so good an alehemist to persuade)'ou that ail the virtue of the best affections, tbat one couhl express in a sheet, were in this rag of paper. It becomes my fortune to deal thus in single money; and I may hit better with this hailshot of little lêtters (because they may corne thick) than with great bullets; and trouble my friends less. I confess if were hOt long enough if it came to present my thanks for ail the favours)'ou have dons nie; but since it cornes to beg more, perchanee it may be long enough, because I kuow hOt how short you will be w:.th an absent friend. If)'ou will but write that)'ou give me leave to keep that naine still, it shall be the gold of your letter: and for aflayput in as mueh news as)'ou wiii. We are in a place where scarce any money appears, but base: as, I confess, all matters of ]etters is in respect of the testimonies of friendship; but obey the corruption of this place, and fill your letters with worse stuff than your own. Present my service to ail those gent]emen whom I had the honour to serve at out ]odging. I cannot fly an }figher pitch, than to sa)', that I an so much their servant as you can say I ara. At the Queen's Arms in Cheapside, which is a mcrcer's, you may hear of one 1Mr. John Brewer, who wi]l convey any letter directed to me at Sir Rob. Drury's st Amlens, though he know not me: and I should be g]ad to hcar that this first that I sent into England had the fortune to you. Yours, J. DoxNE.

Because I ara in a place and season where I sec everything bud forth, I must do so too, and vent some oï my meditations to you; the rather because ail other buds being yet without taste or virtue, my letters may be like them. The 1)leasantness of the season displeases nie. Everything rcfreshes, and I wither, and I grow older and not better, my strength diminishes, and my load grows, and bcing to pass more and more storms, I final that I have hot only cast out ail my ballast which nature and time gives, ressort and discretion, and so ara as empty and light as vanity can make me; but I have over-fraught mysclf with vice, and so ara riddingly subjcct to two contrary wrecks, sinking and oversctting, and under the iniquity of such a disease as enforces the patient when he is ahnost starved, not only fo fi«st, but to pme. For I bave much fo take in, and. much to cast out; sometimes ] think it casier fo discharge myself of vice than of vanity, as one may sooner carry the tire out of a room than the smoke: and then I sec it was a new vanity to think so. And when I think sometimes that vanity, because it is rhin and airy, may be expelled with virtue or business, or substantial vice; I find that I give entrance thereby to new vices. Certainly as the • Probably from abroad, in 1609.—Er.

erth and water, che sad, the other fluid, make but che body: so to air and vanity, there is but Che centrum morbi. And that which later 1)hysicians say of our bodies, is fitter for out minds: for that which they call destruction, which is a corruption and want of those fundamental parts whereof we co»sist, is vice: and that col[ecio sercorum, which is but tho excrement of that corruption, is out vanity and i»discretion: both these bave but che foot in me, and must be pulled out at once, or never. I m so far from diging to it, that I know hot where it is, for itis not in mine eyes only, but iI every sense, nor in my concupiscence only, but in every power and affection. Sir, I was wi|ling to let you sec how impotent a man you love, hot to di.shearten you from doing so still (for my vices are hot infections, nor waudering, they came hot yesterday, nor mean to go away to-day: they inn hot, but dvell in me, anti sec themseh-es so welcome, and find in me so good bad company of Che another, that they xviii hot change, especially to oue not apprehensive, nor esily accessible) but I do it, that your counsel might cure me, nd if you deny that, your example shall, for I wiii as much strive to be like you as I will wish you to continue good.

I ara near the execution of that purpose ïor Fra»ce; though I may have other ends, yet if it do but keep me awake, it reeompenses me well. I ara now in the afternoon of my lire, and then it is unvholesome to sleep. It is ill to look back, or givc over in a course; but worse never to set out. I speak to)'ou at this time of departing, as I should do at my last upon my deathbed; and I desire to deliver into your hands a heart and affections, as innocent towards you, as I shall to deliver my soul into God's hands then. I say not this out of diflqdence, as though you doubted it, or that this should look like an excuse, as implied an accusation; but because my fortune bath burdened you se, as I could net rectify it before my going, my conscience and interpretation 0everer I hope than yours towards myself) calls that • kind of demerit; but God who bath net on]y afforded us a way te be de]ivered frein our great many debts, contracted by our executorship te Adam, but also another for our particular debts after, bath net left poor mon unprovided, for discharge of moral and civil debts; in which, acknowledgement, and thankfnlness is the saine, as repentance anti contrition is in spiritual debts: and though the value and dignity of all these be net perchance in the things, but in the acceptation» yet I cannot doubt of it, either in God, or you. But sir because tiere is seine degree of thankfu]- ness in asking more (for that confesses ail îormer obligations, and a desire te be still in the saine dependency) I must entreat you te continue that wherein you bave most expressed your love te me, which is, te maintain me in the saine room in my Lady Bedford's opinion, in the which you plaeed me. I profess te you that I ara too mueh bound te her, for expressing ev.ery way her tare of my fortune, that I ara weary belote she is; and out of a lothness, that se good works shou]d be bestowed pon se iii stufl or that se much iii fortune should be mingled with hors, as that she should miss anything that she desirod, though it wero but for me; I ara willing te depart frein further exercising ber endeavours in that kind. I shall ho bold te deliver my poor letters te ber ladyship's hands, through yours, whilst I ara abroad, though I shall over aceount myself af home, whilst I ara in your memory. Your afltionate servant and loyer,

This lth of November last I received yours of the 9th, as I w in tho street goiug te sup with my Lady Bedford, I found all that company tbrepossessed with a wonder why you came net lait Saturday. I perceive, that as your intermitting your lettcrs to me, gave me reasou to hope for you, so some more direct address or conscicnce of your business here, had imprinted in them an assurance of your coming, this letter shall but talk, no t discourse; it shall but gossip, hot consider, nor consult, so it is ruade half with a prejudice of being lost by the way. The king is gone this day for Royston: and bath left with the queen a commandment to meditate upon a mask for Christmas, so that they grow serious about that already; that will hasten my Lady Bcdford's journey, who goes within ten days from hence to her lord, but by reason of this, can make no long stay there. Justinian the Venetian is gone hence, and one Carraw corne in his place: that state bath taken a fresh ofïence at a friar, who refused to absolve a gentleman, because he would not express in confession what books of Father Paul, and such, he knew to be in the hands of any others; the state commanded him out of that territory in three hours" warning, and he bath now submitted himself, and is returned as prisoner for lIantua, and so remains as j'et. Sir H. Vootton who writ hither, adds also that upon his knowledge there are fourteen thousand as good Protestants as he in that state. The Duke Joyeuse is dead, in Prinont, returnig from:Rome, where Mr. Mole who went with the Lord Ross, is taken into the inquisition, and I see small hope of his recovery; for he had in some translations of Plessis" books talked of Babylon and Antichrist. Except it fall out that one Strange, a Jesuit in the tower, may be accepted for him. To corne a little nearer myself, Sir Getfery Fenton one of his majesiy's secretaries in Ireland is dead; and I bave ruade some offer for the place, in preservation whereof, as I have had occasion to employ all my friends, so I have not round in them ail (except Bedford) more baste and words (for when those two are together, there is much comfort even in the least) than in the Lord Hay. In good faith he promised so roundly, so abundantly, so profusely as I suspected him, but performed whatever he undertook, (and ny requests were the measures of his undertakings) so readily and truly, that his compliments became obligations, and having spoke hke a courtier, did like a friend. This I tell you, because being far under any ability of expressing my than "kfulness to him by any proportional service, I do, as much as I tan, thank him by thanking ol' you, who begot, or nursed these good impressions of me in him. Sir, as my discretion would do, my fortune doth bring ail my debts into one hand, t'or I owe you whatever court friends do for me, yea, whatsoever I do for myself, because you almost imlortune me, to awake and stare the court in the face. I know hot yet what conjecture fo make of the event. ]htt I an» content fo go forward a little more in the madness of missing rather than hot pretend  and rather wear out, than rust. It is extrcme late; and as this letter is nothing, so if ever it eome to you, you will know it without a naine, and therel'ore I may end it here.

I ara hot weary of writing; if i the eoarse but durable garment of my love; but I ara weary ol' wanting you. I have a mi»d like thoso bodies, whieh bave hot livers, and eold stomachs; or ueh a distemper a travailed nie at Paris; a lever, and dysenter)-: in wlfieh, that whieh is physie to one infirmity, nourishe, the other. So I abhor nothing more than sadness, exeept tho ordinary remedy, change of eompany. I ean allow myself fo be animal sociale, appliable to my eompany, but hot.qre.qale, to herd myself in every troop. It is hot perfeetly truo which a very subtle, yet very deep wit Averroes says, that all mankind hath but one oul, xx'hich intbrms and rule us ail, as one Intelligence doth the firnmment and ail the stars in if; as though a partieular body were too little an organ for a soul to play upon. And if is as imperfeet whieh is taught by that religion whieh is most aeeommodate to sense (I date not say to reason, though if bave appearanee ol' tiret too, beeause none may doubt but that that religion is certaiuly best, -«hich is reasonablest) that all mankind bath one protecting angel; all Christians one other, ail English one other, ail ol' one corporation and every civil coagulation or soeiety one other  and every nlan one other. Tllough both these opinions expres * Probably written about IIO.—E».

a truth; wbich is, that mankind hath very strong bounds to cohabit and concur in, other than mouutains and hills, during his life. First, common, and mutual necessity of one another; and therefore naturally in out defence, and subventions we first fly to ourselves; next, to that which is likest, other men. Then, natural and inborn charity, beginning at home, whlch pcrsuades us to gi'e that ve may receive: and legal charity, which nmkes us also forgive. Then an ingrating in one another, and growing together by a custom of society: anti last of ail, strict fricndship, in which hand men were so presumed to be coupled, tbat out confessor king had a law, that if a man be killed, the nmrderer shall pay a sumf«layo stto, which t}le interl»reters call,.ride [iyato, et comite ;it«'. Ail these bands I williligly receivc, for no man is less of himself than I: nor any man euough of himself. To bc so, is ail one with Omnipotence. And it is well marked, that in the holy book, vheresoever they have rcndered Almighty, the word is sclf-stfiicient. I thinl somctimes that the having a family should remove me far from the curse of Vw soli. But in so strict obligation of parent, or husband, or toaster, (and perchance it is so in the last degree of friendship) where ail are ruade ont, I am not the lcss alone, tbr being in the midst of tbcm. Thcrefore this olettm [«'titiw, this balm of out lires,, this alacrity wbich dignifies even out service to God, this gallant cnemy of dejection and sadness, (for which and wickedness the Italian allows but onc vord, triste: and in full condcmnation whereof it vas prophesied of our blessed Saviour, 2Von erit tristis, in his conversation) nmst be sought and preserved diligently. And since it grows without us, we must be sure togather it from the right tree. They which place this alacrity only in a good conscience, deal somewhat too roundly with us, for when we sk tbe way, they show us the town afar off. Vill a physician consulted for health and strength, bid you have good sinews and equal temper. It is truc that this conscience is the resultance of all other particu}ar actions; it is out triumph and banquet in the haven; but I would corne towards that also, (as mariners say) with a merry wind. Our nature is meteoric, we respect (because we partake so) both earth and heaven; for as out bodies glorified shall be capable of spiritual joy, so our souls demerged into those bolies, are allowed to partake earthly pleasure. Out sotd is hot sent hither, only to go back again: we have some errand to do here: nor is it sent into prison, because it cornes innocent: and he which sent it, is just. As we may hot kill ourselve, so we may hot bury ourselves: which is donc or endangered in a dull monastic sadness, which is so much worse than jollity, tbr npon that word I durst" And ccrtaildy despair is infinitely worse, than prcsumption: both because this is an excess of ]ove, that of fear; and because this is up, that down the bill; casier, and more stumbling. Heaven is expressed by singing, hell by weeping. And though out b]essed Saviour be never noted to have ]aughed, yet his countenance is said ever to be smiling. And that even moderate mirth of heurt, and face, and ail I wish to myself, and persuade you to keep. This alacrity la hot had by a general charity and equanimity to all mankind, for that is to seek fruit in a wilderness: nor ri'oto a singular friend, for that is to ïetch it out of your own pocket: but the various and abundant grace of it, is good company. In whicll no tank, no number, no quality, but iii, and such a degree of that as may corrupt and poison the good, is exempt. For in nearer than them, your friend, and somewhat nearer than he, in yourself you must allow some inordinateness of affections and passions. For it is hot truc that they ar hot ]mtura], but storms and tempests of out blood and humours: for they are natural, but sickly. And as the Indian priests expressed an excellent charity, by building hospitals and providing ehirurgery for birds and beasts lamed by mischance, or age, or labour: so mu.-:t we, hot eut off, but cure thesc affections, which are the bestial part.

Il" this which I seud you enclosed give me right intelligence, I present you a way by which)'ou may redeem all your former wastes, and recompense your iii fortunes, in hareng sornetirnes apprehended unsuccessful suits, aud (that which I presume you affect rnost) ease yourse]f from ail future inquisition of widows, or such businesses as ask so over industrious a pursuit, as divest a man frein his best happiness of enjoying himself. I give you (I think) the first know]edge, of two millions confiscated to thc crown of Eng]and: of which I date assure rnyself the coffers have yet touched none, nor have the cornmissioners for suits anything to oppose against a suit founded upon this confiscation, though they ho]d never so strictly to their instructions. After you bave served yourself with a proportion, I pray make a petition in rny naine for as much as you think rnay be given me for rny book* out of this; for, but out of this, I bave no imagination. And for a token of my desire te serve hirn, present Mr. Fowler with  or 4000li. of this, since he was so resolved never to leave his place without a suit of that value. I wish your cousin iu the town better provided; but if he be not, here is enough for him. And since I ara ever an affectionate servant to that journey, acquaiut Mr. Martin frein me, hov easy it will be to get a ood part of this for Virginia. Upon the least petition that lh'. Brook eau present he may rnake hirnself whole again, of ail which the king's servants Mr. Lepton and Master "o, raterhouse, havc'endammaged him. Give him leave to offer to Mr. Ilakevi]l cnough to please himself, for his Atrurn Reyinw. Aud if (;herard have o present hopeful design upon a worthy widow, let him have so much of this as wil] provide hirn that house and coach which he pronfised to lend me at rny return. If Mr. lnigo Joues be hOt satisfied for his last rnask (because I hear say it cannot corne to nmch) here is enough fo be had: this is but a copy, but if Sir Robert Cotton bave the original he wi]l hot deny it)'ou; if he hath it uot, nobody else hath it, nor eau preveut you; husband it we]l, which you rnay easily do, because I assure rnyse]f none of the children nor friends of the party eondernned wi]l cross you or irnportune the king for any part. If I get no nore bv it, yet it bath rnade rne a letter. Aud sir (to depart from this mine) in what part of my ]etters soever you find the remembrance of my humble service to rny Lord of Bedford,

I beseech you ever think them intended for the first, and in that tank present them. I have yet received but one letter from you which was of the 10th of December by Mr. Pory, but you seo that as long as there is one egg left in the nest, I never leavo laying, nor should although you had sent none sinco; ail at last will hot amount to so good a testimony as I would îain give how much I ara Your affectionate servant alltl loyer, J. Do.. e.

Sir, I writo this letter iii no ve, T great degree of. convalescence from sucll storms of a sto,,lach cholic as kept me in a continual vomiting, so that I know hot what I should have been able to do to despatch this wind, but that au honest îever came and was my physic: I tell you of it only lest some report should make it worse, for lnethinks th.t they who h»ve to add to news should think it a masterpiece to be able to sa)" no worse of any iii fortune of mine than it deserves, since commonly it deser'es worse than tlley can say, but they did hot, and I ara rcprieved. I find dying to be like those facts which denying makes fclony: whcn a sickness examines us, and ve confess tl,at we are wil]ing to die, we cannot, but those who arcs* incur the penalty: and I may dic yet, if talking idly be an iii sign. God be with you.

I gave no ansxver to the letter I reeeived from you upon Tuesd:ty, both because I had it in no other commandment by it bvt to deliver your letter thercin, wl,ich I did, and beeause tllat letter fomxd me under very much sadness, which (according to the proportion of ills that fMI upon me) is since also increased, so tllat I had hot written now, if I 1,ad been sure to bave been better able to write lleXt veek, which I have hOt much appearance of:)'et tllere was cbmmitted to my disposition (tha is, lef/

0 LETTES TO SEVEAL at my house in my absence) a letter from Sir V. Loyer, but it was some honrs after ail possibi|ity of sendng it by the carrier,  that lr. V. Stanhope giving me the honour of a visit at that time, and being inantly to de?art, for yo parts, did me the favour to undeaake the delivery of it to you. Vith e, sir, it is thus, there is hot one?eon (besid myself)in my bouse wel]. I have alrey lost hall a child, and with that mischance of hers, my wife flen into an indisposition, which would aict ber much, but tiret the sickness of ber children stupifies ber: of one of which, in oed faith, I bave hot much ho?e. This mcets  fortune  ill?rovided for l,hysic and such relief, that if God should case us with bm.ials, I know hot well how to peorm even that. I flatter myself in this, that I ara dying too: nor can I tly die faster, by any wae, than by loss of childoen. But sir, I will mingle no more of my sadness to you, but will a little recom?ense it, by tclling you that my Lord Ilarrington, of whom a fcw days since they we doubtfu], is so wel] recovered that now they know all his disease to be the?ox, and meules mingled. This I heard yesterday: for I bave hOt been there yet. I came as near impounity as I could, for an answer from Essex-house, but dfis was all, that he shod sec you shortly himse]f. ¥our servant,

I cannot tell you so much, as you tcll me, of anythiug from my Loffi'd of Somerset, sincc the epithalamium, for I heard nothiug.

I bave but one excuse for hot sending you the sermon fllat you do me the honour fo eommand, and I foresee, that befo I take my hand ri'oto this paper, I shall lose the benefit of that excuse; it is, that for more than twenty days, I llave been travailed with a pain, in my right wrist, so like the gout, as makes me unable to write. The writing of this letter,vill implore a eommentary for that, that I eannot legibly; for that I eannot write much, this letter will testify against me. Sir, I beseech you, at first, tell your company, tlat I decline hot the service out of sullenness nor lazlness, nor that any fortune damps me so much, as that [ ara hot sensible of the honour of their commanding it, but. mere inexperience whether I be able to write eight hours or no; but I wi]l try next week, and either do it, for their service, or sink in their service. This is Thuray: and upon Tuesday my Lady dfo came to this tom; this afternoon I presented my se'ice to ber, by Mrs. Withrinon: and  asked leave to have waited upon them at super: but my mesoenger found them ready to go into their coach: so flt  tbird letter which I reived from Mrs. Dadley, referring me to Mrs. Vithriugton's laton of ail that atate, I lose it till their return to fl]is town. To clear you in flat whein I e by your lter that I had hot well expressed myself in mine, Sir Edward erbert wrote to Sir Edward Sackville, hot to press tbe king fo fix any ertain time of setding him, till he was corne over, aud had spoken wiflm the ]dng: Sir Edwm'd Sackvillc collccts upon tbat, that Sir Edward lIerbert means to go again; I thiuk it is only, that he would bave his honour so saved, as hot fo seem to be recalled, by having a successor, before he had emptied the place. We hear »othiug from my Lord er Doucaster: nor have we any way to send him. I ha'c hot seen my Lady Doncaster, for she crsed to Penshurst, and from thence to Petworth, my Lady Isalla came to this town; where, belote her comiug, a letter attended ber from my Lady of Tichfield: and thither she went, with their oervants, who staid ber coming. Hither came lately letters with gd spot[ from Vienna, in which there is no mention of any such defeat, as in rumour Count Mansfeld bath been said to have given to thc Duke of Bavyer: lmt their forces were the within such distauce, as may have procured something beforê this time. Those which watched advantages in the court of the emperor, bave ruade that use of Count Mausfeld's proceedings, as that my Lord Digby complains, that thereby, the forwa¢ness in which bis negotiation was, is sonewhat retarded. He pr ceeds fim thence into Spain. The Duke of Bavyer bath pr sented the emleror an account of 1,00,01. sterling in that war, to be reimbursed: aud fiuding the palatinate to be in treaty, bath required  great part of Austria for his seeurity, and they y, it as so transacted: whieh as a good sign of a possibility in the restitution of the palatinate. For anything I diseern, their fears are much igreater from Hungary, tban from Bohemia; and the loss ofeannon, in a great proportion, and other things, at the death of Buequoy, was much greater, than they suffered tobe published. We hear Spinola as passed over at Rhenebery; if it be so, they are no longer distraeted, whether ho wou]d bend upon Juliers, or the palatinate. I know hOt what)'ou hear from your noble son-in-law, who secs those things clearly in himself, and in a near distance; but I hear here, that the king bath nmeh lost the affeetlon of the English in those parts. XVhether it proeeed from any sourness in him, or that they be otherwiso taken off, from applying themselves to him, I know hot. My Lord of St. Alban's bath found so mueh favour as that a pension of 20001. will be given him; he desires that he might have it for years, that so he might transfer it upon his ereditors; or that in place of it he might have 80001. for he hath found a disposition in his ereditors (to whoni I hear he bath paid 30001. sance, by retiring) to aeeept 8000/. for all his debts, whieh are three thnes as nmch. I have been sometimes with my Lord of Canterbury sance by accident, to gave yott his own words. I sec him retain lais former cheerfulness here and at Croydon, but I do hot hear from court, that he bath any grouud for such a confidence, but that his case may need favour, and hot bave it. That place, and Bedington, and Chelsea, and Highgate, where that very good man my Lord Hobard as, and Hackncy, with the hIaster of the Rolls, and my familiar Peckham, are my circunfference. No place so eccentric to nie, as that I lie just at London; and with those fragmêntary recreatious I mu.t make shift to recompense the missing of that contentment which your ïavour opens to me, and my desire provokes me to, the kissing of your hands at Polesworth. My daughter Constance as at this time with me; for the emptiness of the town, bath ruade me, who othcrwise lave upon tbe ahns of others, a housekeeper, for a month; and so she as my servant below stairs, and my companion above; she was at the table with me, whel your letter was brotlgbt, and I pay her a pieee of ber petition in doing her this office, to present ber service to my Lady Nethersoles, and her Vel.y good sister. But that she is gent te bed two hours before I wrote this, she would have signed, with such a hand as your daughter Mary did te me, that which I testify for ber, that she is as afl'cctionate a ser'ant te them ail, as their goothess hath created anywhere.,ir, I shall recompense my tediousness, in closing mine eyes with a prayer for yours, a for mine own happiaess, for [ ara almost in bed; if it were my last bed, and I upon my last business there, I should net omit te join you with Your vel-y humble and very thaukful servant in Christ Jcsus, August }0, 161!. J. Doxx.

leither your lctters ner silence needs excuse; your frieudship is te me au abuldaut possession, though)'ou remember ne but twice in a year. He tllat could ha-e two harvests in that rime, might justly value his land at a high rate; but, sir, as we de net ouly then thank out lad, when we gather the fruit, but ackuowledge that all the year she doth many motherly offices in pl'elmring it: se is net fi'iêndship theu only te be cstecmed, wheu she is dclivercd of a lctter, or auy other rem office, but in hcr contiuual propeuseness and inclination te de it. This bath ruade me easy i pardoning my long silences, and in promising myself your forgiveuess for net answeriug your letter sooner. For my lmrpose of proceeding in the profession of the law, se fitr as te a title, you may be l,leased te correct that imagilmtion, wheresoevcr you find it. I ever thought the study of it nty best entertaitmcnt aud lastime, but I have no ambition ner design upon the style. Of my almi'ersarics, the fault that I acknowledge in myself, is te ha'e desceuded te print anything in verse, which, though it have excuse in our rimes, by men who profess and practise much gravity; yet I confess I wonder how I declined te it, and de net pardou myself. But for the other part of the impuratio», of haviug said too much, my defence is, that my æurpose was te say as well as I could; for, since I never saw the gentle- VOL. VI. 2 A

 LETTERS TO SEVERAL woman, I cannot bc un(erstood to havc bound myself to havc spoken just truths; but I would hot bo thought to bave gone about to praise her or any other in rhyme, except I took such a person as might be capable of ail that I could say. If anyofthose ladies think that M]stress DreTy was hot so, let that lady make herself fit for ail those praises in the book, and they shail bo hers. Sir, tlais messenger makes so much haste that I cry you mercy for spending any time of this letter in other employnient than thanking you for yours. I hope before Christmas to see England and kiss your hand, which shail ever (if it disdain hOt that office) hold ail the keys of the ]iberty and affection, and al] the facu]ties of Your most affcctionate servant, J.D. Paris, thc 14th of April, here, 161. °.