The Folger Shakespeare Library

L.b.534: Letter from John Donne to Sir Thomas Egerton, 1602 February: autograph manuscript signed

Catalog record:http://hamnet.folger.edu/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?BBID=244741
Collection:Papers of the More family of Loseley Park, Surrey
Preferred Citation:Letter from John Donne to Sir Thomas Egerton, 1602 February: autograph manuscript signed, Papers of the More family of Loseley Park, Surrey. Transcription by Early Modern Manuscripts Online (EMMO). MS L.b.534, Folger Shakespeare Library, Washington, DC.
Terms of Use:Transcriptions are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. This allows you to use our transcriptions without additional permission provided that you cite the Early Modern Manuscripts Online (EMMO) Project at the Folger Shakespeare Library as the source and that you license anything you create using the transcriptions under the same or equivalent license. EMMO and the Folger waive permission fees for non-commercial publication by registered non-profits, including university presses, regardless of the license they use. For information about using the images that correspond to the transcriptions, see Image Permissions.
...more
READING: DIPLOMATIC | SEMI-DIPLOMATIC | REGULARIZED
DOWNLOAD: PDF | XML

leaf 1 recto

The honorable favor that your lordship hath afforded me,
in allowing me the liberty of mine own Chamber,
hath given me leave so much to respect and love
myself, that now I can desire to be well. And
therefore, for health, not pleasure, (of which your lordship's
displeasure hath dulled in me all taste and apprehension)
I humbly beseech your lordship, so much more
to slacken my fetters, that as I am by your lordship's favor,
mine own keeper, and Surety, so I may be mine
own physician and Apothecary: which your lordship shall
work, if you grant me Liberty to take the
Air, about this Town. The whole world is a
straight Imprisonment to me, whilst I am barred
your lordship's sight. But this favor may lengthen
and better my life, which I desire to preserve, only
in hope to redeem by my sorrow, and desire to do
your lordship Service, my Offence past. Almighty God
dwell ever in your lordship's heart, and fill it with good
desires, and grant them.

Your Lordship's
poorest servant
John Donne


leaf 1 verso || leaf 2 recto

leaf 2 verso

To the right honorable
my very good Lord and
Master, Sir Thomas Egerton
knight, Lord keeper of
the great seal of
England.