Sermons (LXXX Sermons etc.); Holy Sonnets

Your man's baste gives nie the advantago, thnt I ara exeusable in a short letter, el.o I should not pardon it to myself. I shall obey your commandment of coming so near you upon Miehaelmas day, as by a mossago to ask)'ou whether that or tho next morning bo the fittest to solieit your further favour. You understand ail virtue so wel], as)'ou may bo pleased to eall to mind what thankfullness and services are duo to you from nie  and believe them all to be expres, ed in this rag of paper, whieh gives you new assurance, that I ara ever Your most humble sorvant, J. Doz.

If I shall noyer be able to do you an}' real servico, yet you may make this profit of me, that you ho hereafter moro cautions in receiving iuto your knowledge persons so useless and importune. But before.ou corne to so perfect a knowledge of me, as te abandon me, go forward in your favours te me se far, as te deliver this letter according te the address. I think I should net corne nearer his presence than by a letter; and I ara sure I would corne no other way, but by you. Be you therefore pleased, hy these noble favours te me, te continue in me the comfort which I bave in being Your very humble and thankful servant, Drury-house, Sept. 93. J. Do.z.

If I shod refe the liberty which you enlarge te me, of eating in your chamber, you might suect that I reœerved it for eater boldnesses, and would net spend it in this. But, in good faith, I de net est belote, ner can after, tiH I bave been st home; se much bath my this year's debility disabled me, even for receiving favours. After the sermon, I  steal into my coach home, and pray that my goed purpose may be welI accepted, and my defects graciously pardoned. Amen. Yours entirely,

I pursued my ambition of having the honour to kiss your hands somewhere, so far, as to inform myself occasionally of my great neighbour; and I perceive he is under an inundation of uncertain comers, which he cannot devest, except I had your leave to speak plain to him. A secoud inconvenience is, that he is so deaf, that we must speak fo the whole house, if we will speak to him. And a third is, that I ara in a riddling, ratherjuggling in.disposition, fat and loose, and therefore date hot stir far. Yet, sir, I ara not thereby unfit to receive the honour of seeing you here, if greater business bave net overcome or worn out your former inclinableness te corne into these q6arters. If you shall be p|eased te say te my man that you wili make, as though you dined with me to-day, and corne, if your business require your going te his ]ordship, you may dine with him, after you have fasted with me. To-day, or any day which may Le more yours, I ask it of you with all earnestness, on this side importunity, which is the detestation of Your humblest and thankfullest servant, J. Do'.z. Lr:rTa CX I I I. 7"0 tke IN.qkt ltonourable,Si," 12obert l(arre, at Court.

This morning I bave received a signification frein my Lord Chamberlain, that his Majesty hath eommanded to-morrow's sermon at St. James's, and that it is in the afternoon (for into my mouth there must net enter the words after dlnner, becanse that • da)" there enters no dinner into my mouth). Towards the rime of the service, I ask your leave that I may hide mvself in your out-ehamber; or, if business, or privateness, or eompany make that ineonvenient, that you will be pleased te assign seine servant of yours te show me the eloset when I eome te your chamber. I bave no other way there but you; which I sa}', net as though I had net assurance enough therein, but beeause }ou have too nmch trouble dereby; ner I bave no other end there, than the pulpit. You are m 7 station, and that my exaltation; and in both I shall ever endeavour te keep you frein being sorry for having thought well of, or being ahamed of having testified well for, Your poor and very true servant in Christ Jesus, J. Do''.

me, that he bath assured them that he bath nmch advanced your I,roceeding, by his resiguation i but cooled tbem again with this, that the Lord Spencer prêtends in his room. I never feared or any man' diligence in that; I tared only your remissness, because you ]mve a fortune that can endure, and a nature that can ahnost be content to mi»s. But I had rather you exercised your philosophy and evemess in some things else. He doth not nothing which fali cleauly and harmles.qy but he wrestles better which stands. I k,ow you ca, easily forgive yourœelf any negligcnces and slaeknesses, but I m lad that vou are engaged to many fi'iends, who either by yourself or faine have knowledge of it. In a]l the ret of them there is a worthines, and in me love, which descrves to be satistled. In thi.% therefore, as you are forward in ail thi»gs else, Le content to do more for your friends than you would for yourself; endeavour it, that i., eflëct it. 'our very true friend an,l-loyer, Tuesday. J. Do.'. .

After 1 have told you that tbe Lady tlay died last Tucsday, and tbat to her e,d she was anguished with the m.emory of the execution of that fellow which attempted her lu the coach, I have t,,lcl)'ou ail tbat bath fallen out here: except, between you aud me, that may be worth the telling, that my Lord t'hancellor gave me so noble and so rcady  dispatch, accompanied with so fitther]y advice, and remorse for rny forttmes, tbat I ara uov, |ike an alchymist, delightcd with diseoveries by the way, though I attain hot mi.e end. It spe.t me so little rime after vour goi.g that, although you speak in your letter of good dispatch in your going, yet I might have overtaken you. And though perehance if I had gone, it might have been iuconrenient for me to have put myself into my Lord Chamberlain's presenee, if that sickness be earnest at Ashby, and so I bould nothing have advaneed my b.siness; yet I should have eome fo that noble lady with better confidence and more assurance of a pardon, when I had brought a conscience that I came despoiled of ail other respects, only to kis ber hands, in whose protection I ara, since I have, nor desire other station, thon 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 îorbear to make any îurther trial in that business, till the King corne into these quarters. So that, sir, I ara here in place to serve you, if either I be capable of your commandmcnts, or this town give anything worth the writing. As often as you sec your noble friend and ber good sister, allow my naine a room in your discourse: it is a short one, and you will soon bave donc. But tell them hot my desire to do them service, for then you engage yoursclî in a longer discoursœe than I ara worthy. Only in pursuit of your commandment, I sent the packet to the post; for, in mine Çwn understanding, there should appear small hope of arriving by that way, except you know otherwise that the lords mean to make some stay in thir rturn, in those ])arts: but the lettcr is brought back again, for the post went away yesterday, and they knew of no occasion of sending til] next week. Therefore except I can inform myself of some good_means, I,viii retain it till I bave a fresh commandment from you. I sec Mr. Taverner is still in this town; the Lady Carey went fim hence but yesterday. I ara in some perp}exity what to do with this packet, fil| some good fortune or your ]etters clear me. 'our humble servant, Aug. 19. J.

To ray best of fr&nds, 8if Henry Goodyere.

I heard hot from you this week; therefore I write more willingly, because it bath in it so ranch more merit. And I might do it very cheaply, since to convey to you this letter, which mine bath the honour to bring, any little letter would serre, and be acceptable for that. 13ecause it came not last week, I,vent now to solicit it, and she sent it me next day with •ome thanks, and sorne excuse that she knew hot me, when I was with her. You know, I do hot 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 bave 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 case, that this letter is no longer, in this leisure in which (having nothing else to write) I might vary a thousand ways that I ara 'our very affectionate servant, Monday, at night. J. DONNE.

I love to give you advantages upon me, therefore I put myself in need of another pardon from you, by hot coming to you; yet I ara scarce guilty enough to spend much of your virtue from you, beeause I knew hot of your being corne till this your letter told me so, in the midst of dinner at Peckham, this ]Ionday. Sir, I ara very truly yours; if you bave overvalued me in any capacity, I will do what I tan to overtake your hopes of me. I wish myself whatsoever you wish me; and so I do, svhatever you wish yourself. I ara prisoner and close; else I had hot needed this pardon, for I long much, and much more by occasion of your letter, to sec you: svhen you find that good lady emptiest of business and pleasure, present my humble thanks;:ycu can do me no favour, whieh I need hot, nor any, which I cannot bave some hope to deserve, but this; for I bave ruade ber opinion of me, the ballante by whieh I weigh myseff. I will corne soon enough to deliver my thanks to Sir J. Harrington for your ease, whom I know I have pained with an ill-fi,voured htter, but my heart hath one style, and charaeter; and is yo,,r in wishing, and in thankfulness. Peeklham, Mondav afteraoo. J.

I receive this here that I begia tlfis return, your letter by a servant of Sir G. Gresely, by whom also [ hasten this dispatch. This needs ao enlargement since it hath thc honour to convey one from 5I. 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 kings debts, and such like) yet rince my eyes do ea.ily fall back to their distemper, and that I ara this night to sup at Sir A. hgram's, I had rather forfeit their little strength at his supper, then with writing such impertiaences: the best spending them, is upon the rest of your letter, to which, sir, I can oaly say in general, that some appearances have been here, of some treaty's eoncerning this nullity, which are said to proceed from Geneva, but are believed to have been donc within doors, by eneouragements of some xvhose names I will hot 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 epithalanfion. This ruade me therefore abstinent in that kind; yet by my troth, I think I shall hot escape. I deprehend in myself more than an alacrity, a vehemency to do service to that eompany; and so, I may find reason to make rhyme. If it be donc, I sec hOt how I can adroit 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 conveyanee; but, for recompense, you shall eseape the danger of approving it. My next letter say more of this. This shall end with delivering you the remvmbrance of my Lady Bartlet, who present at the sealing hereof. Your very true and affectionate servant, January 19. J. DOE.

Vhieh naine when there is any empty corner in your diseouroo with that noble lady at Ashby, I humbly beseeeh you te present te hot as ono more devoted te her service than perehanee you will sa)..

Between tho time of making up my other letters, and tho hour that your man llmited me to call t'or them, came to house another packet directed fo him: for b). this rime, tho earries is as wise, as his horse, to go to the house that he hath used to go. I round liberty in the superscription to open, and I did; but for that part which eoncerns him, I must attend his eoming hither, for I know not where to eek him; and besicles, I have enough to sa)" for that part which eoneerns myselï. Sir, even in tho 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 posteript of mine, could not briug)'ou so near to it, if notbing else were mistakeu, which (so Goal help ne) was so little, that I remember hOt what it,vas, and I would no more hear again what I write in an offleious letter, tban what I said at a drunken supper. I had no purposo to exercise your diligence in presenting m). name to that lad)., but eitber I did, or should bave said, that I write oal). to fill up an). empt)" corner in)'our discourw. So, sir, the reading of the letter, was a kind of travel to me, but when I came fo the paper inelosed, I was brought to bed of a monster. 2'o express m).self vehementl), quickly, I must sa)', that I can searce think, that)'ou bave read M. Ghorard's letter rightl)., thorefore I send you baek).our own again. I will hot protest against my being such a * This should seem te be te Sr H. Goodyere; as he refers in it te the postscript in the last letWr.—En.

trnave, for no man shall bave that from me, if he expect it: but I will protest against my being such a fool, as to depose anythlng in him with hope of locldng it up, and against that lowness, of seetring reputation by so poor a way. I am not so sorry, that I am a narrow man, as that t'or ail the narrowness, you bave hot seen through me yet, nor trnown me perfectly; for I might think by this (if I had hot other testimony) that I bave been little in your contemplation. Sixteen letters from M. Gherard, could hot (I think) persuade a Middlesex jury of so much dihonesty in, Your true servant, J. Do,s.

It is one of my blind meditations to think what a miserable defeat it would be to all these preparations of bravery, if my intïrmity should overtake others; for, I am at least halfblind, my windows are all as full of glasses of waters, as any mountebank's stall. This messenger makes baste, 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 fo your addresses, as fast as my monsieur can do if; for, for any personal service, you must be content, at this rime, to pardon, Your affectionate servant, December 23. J. DoNNz.

Agreeably to my fortune, and thoughts, I was crawled this back way from Keyston; through my broken casement af 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 Vrest; and you know the wisdom of the parliament is, to resolve ever in the negative: thelefore it is likeliest I shall hot conte in there; yet, let me give you in passing, thus much account of myself: I

:hought to kiss my Lord SpenceFs hands, at one house, and have pased three. If you know nothing to the contrary, risen since I came from London, I ara likely to have a room in my lord of Dovor's train, into the country; if I bave, I do not ask, but use the leave of waiting upon you at home: there and ever elsewhere, out Blessed Saviour bless you, and all yours, in which number, I pray, account ever Your very thankful servant in Christ Jesus, J. DONNB.

To »S'ir ttenry Goodyere.

I cannot obey you, if you go to-morrow to Parsons-green, your company, that place, and my promise are strong inducements, but an ague fiouts them ail, of which I bave had two such threatenings, that I provide aainst it by a littli physic. This is one îetter; but I bave a pair: for I attend Sir George More's answer in a little business, of vhich I can bave no account till his return, so I ara îastened here, till after Sunday. As)'ou are sure that I love you thoroughly, so think this a good expressing of that, that I promise now, that I will certainly go with you on Monday, in despite of these interruptions, and serve you with my company to the Bath; which journey, it is time to hasten. Dut I pray think this promise so much worth, that it may deserve your coming this way on Monday, for I make it with that reservation. God send you hawks and îortunes of a high pitch. Your honest affectionate, J.

I lire so far removed, that even the ill news of your great loss (which is ever swiftest and loudest) îound me hot till now your letter speaks it hot plain enough, but I ara so accustomed to the worst, that I ara sure it is so in this. I ara almost glad VOL. vL 2 F that I new er so little: ïor I woul ave no more atmns  scrrow: ff I scul comï yo it were n altos acceptable n no orner ttle, tn wen poor ive to poor; ïcr I m mo needy of it than you. And I know you well pvided of Christian, and learned, and brave defences against ail human accident. I will make by best baste after your messenger: and if myelf and the plac e had hot been iii proded of boxes, I had been tbe messenger, for you bave taught me by anting more to deny no request. Your honest unprofitable friend, Pyesford, 3 o'clk, just as your's came. J. Do.

I speak to you before God, I ana so much affected with yesterdays accident, that I think I prophane it in that naine. As men whieh judge nativities, consider hot single stars, but the aspects, the concurrence and posture of them; so in this, though no particular past arrest me, or divert me, yet ail seems remarkable and enormous. God, which bath done this immediately, without so much as a sickness, will also immediately without supplement of friends, infuse his Spirit of comfort, where it is needed and deserved. I write this to you from the Spring Garden, whither I withdrew myself to think of this; and the intenseness of my thinking ends in this, that by my help God's work should be imperfected, if by any means I resisted the amazement. Your very true friend, J. DoNs.