The Folger Shakespeare Library

L.b.537: Letter from John Donne, Covent Garden, to Sir Robert More, Loseley, 1614 July 28: 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, Covent Garden, to Sir Robert More, Loseley, 1614 July 28: autograph manuscript signed, Papers of the More family of Loseley Park, Surrey. Transcription by Early Modern Manuscripts Online (EMMO). MS L.b.537, Folger Shakespeare Library, Washington, DC.
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leaf 1 recto



Sr
Our predecessors were neuer so conquered by ye Danes
as I ame at thys tyme. for theyr comminge haue put
my litle Court busines out of ye way, and dispossessed
me of so neer hopes, as lackd litle of possession.
I must confes my weaknes in thys behalfe; no man
attends court fortunes wth more impatience then I
do. I esteeme nothinge more inexcusable, then to
attend them chargeably, nor any expence so chargeable,
as that of tyme. I ame so angry at theyr comminge,
that I haue not so much as inquir’d why they came.
But they are euen wth mee; for, in truthe, they came
for nothinge. Statesmen, who can finde matter of
state, in any wrinckle in ye kings socks, thinke that
he came for ye busines of Cleue. but whether for
hys brother Saxon, or hys Cousin Brandenbourge, I
do not hear that he can tell. And the low-Country
men, thys last year, did hym such an affront, at hys
great Custome-place, the Sondt, that some thinke
he comes to vnderstand or kings disposition in yt busi=
nes, if he ^shall go about to right himselfe vpon them. Others
thinke he came to correct or enormity of yellow bands,
by presentinge as many, as blew. For my particular opi-
nion, I thinke, he came to defeat mee, and retard my busines.
He came vpon fryday, and he goes vpon monday; and these two
termes limit are his history; for he doth nothinge between.
He hath brought with hym hys Chanceler, and hys Admirall; and
ys otherwise well attended. He ships 100 horse; but sent

leaf 1 verso

them back, after he had been a day at sea. He pretended
to go into Germany; but after he was at sea, he disco=
verd hys purpose; and accordingly left a Commission for ye
gouerment, to be opened, after he had been certaine
dayes away. The rest of hys history, yow may finde, I
thinke, in some part of Amadis ye Gaule, at yor leysure.
I wyll not contribute so much to myne own ill fortune,
nor ioyne wt her in a treason against myselfe, so much
as to be absent now, when my absence may give perchance
occasion, perchance excuse to others of slacknes in my busines.
therfore I have neglected my pleasure, and ye litle circum=
stance of my health, (for in good faythe, my lyfe yt=
selfe ys no great Circumstance to mee) wch I intended by
goinge into ye Cuntry. Therfor, sr, I send backe yor horse,
in as good case, as so longe rest in ye Coven garden
can make hym. If I finde yt necessary to go, I wyll
be bold to aske yow, by an expresse Messenger againe,
whether yow can spare him then, or no. yor poore sister
remembers her loue to yor selfe and all yor company. So do I,
sr, who ame euer

Yors to be commanded
I: Donne.
At my poore Hospitall
28 Iulii 1614



leaf 2 recto

This Mr. DonneDonne Married One of Sr George
Mores Daughters
against his Consent

leaf 2 verso

To the righte wor: Sr
Robert More knight
At Lothesley.