folio 1 recto
5 L.b.532
120
Sir
If I could fear, that in so much worthynes as ys in yow, there were no Mercy,
or yf these waights opprest onely my shoulders, and my fortunes, and not my
conscience, and hers, whose good ys dearer to me by much than my lyfe, I
should not thus troble yow with my letters. But when I see that this storme
hath shaked me at roote, in my lords fauor, wher I was well planted,
and have iust reason to fear, that those yll reports which Malice hath
raysd of me, may have trobled her, I can leave no honest way untryed
to remedy these miseryes, nor find any way more honest then this, owt
of an humble and repentant hart, for the fault donne to yow, to beg
both your pardon and assistance in my suite to my lord. I should wrong yow
as much againe, as I did, if I should think yow sought to destroy me.
But though I be not hedlongly destroyd, I languish, and rust dan-
gerously. From seeking preferments abrode, my love and Conscience restrains
me. From hoping for them here, my lords disgracings cut me of. My Em-
prisonments, and theyrs whose love to me brought them to yt, hath already
cost me 401. And the love of my frinds, though yt be not utterly groun-
ded vpon my fortunes, yet I know suffers somewhat, in these long and
vncertain disgraces of myne. I therfore humbly beseech yow, to have
so charitable a pitty, of what I have, and do, and must suffer, as to take
to your selfe the Comfort, of having saved from such destruction, as
your iust Anger might have layd upon him a sorowfull and honest man.
I was bold in my last letter to beg leave of yow, that I might wright
to your Daughter. Though I vnderstood therupon, that after the
Thursday yow were not displeasd that I should, yet I have not nor
wyll not withowt your knowledge do yt. But now I beseech yow that
I may; since I protest before god, yt is the greatest of my afflic-
tions, not to do yt. In all the world ys not more true sorrow,
then in my hart, nor more understanding of true repentance then
in yours; And therfore God, whose pardon in such cases ys never denyed,
gives me leave to hope, that yow wyll favorably consider my ne-
cessityes. To his mercifull guiding, and protection I commend yow,
and cease to troble yow. 1° Martij 1601[02].
Yours in all humblenes
and dutifull obedience
Iohn Donne
214
120
Sir
If I could fear, that in so much worthynes as ys in yow, there were no Mercy,
or yf these waights opprest onely my shoulders, and my fortunes, and not my
conscience, and hers, whose good ys dearer to me by much than my lyfe, I
should not thus troble yow with my letters. But when I see that this storme
hath shaked me at roote, in my lords fauor, wher I was well planted,
and have iust reason to fear, that those yll reports which Malice hath
raysd of me, may have trobled her, I can leave no honest way untryed
to remedy these miseryes, nor find any way more honest then this, owt
of an humble and repentant hart, for the fault donne to yow, to beg
both your pardon and assistance in my suite to my lord. I should wrong yow
as much againe, as I did, if I should think yow sought to destroy me.
But though I be not hedlongly destroyd, I languish, and rust dan-
gerously. From seeking preferments abrode, my love and Conscience restrains
me. From hoping for them here, my lords disgracings cut me of. My Em-
prisonments, and theyrs whose love to me brought them to yt, hath already
cost me 401. And the love of my frinds, though yt be not utterly groun-
ded vpon my fortunes, yet I know suffers somewhat, in these long and
vncertain disgraces of myne. I therfore humbly beseech yow, to have
so charitable a pitty, of what I have, and do, and must suffer, as to take
to your selfe the Comfort, of having saved from such destruction, as
your iust Anger might have layd upon him a sorowfull and honest man.
I was bold in my last letter to beg leave of yow, that I might wright
to your Daughter. Though I vnderstood therupon, that after the
Thursday yow were not displeasd that I should, yet I have not nor
wyll not withowt your knowledge do yt. But now I beseech yow that
I may; since I protest before god, yt is the greatest of my afflic-
tions, not to do yt. In all the world ys not more true sorrow,
then in my hart, nor more understanding of true repentance then
in yours; And therfore God, whose pardon in such cases ys never denyed,
gives me leave to hope, that yow wyll favorably consider my ne-
cessityes. To his mercifull guiding, and protection I commend yow,
and cease to troble yow. 1° Martij 1601[02].
Yours in all humblenes
and dutifull obedience
Iohn Donne
214