and accordingly you shall hear. I have forty businesses in my hands: your courtesy will pardon the haste of your humblest servant, GEORGE HERBERT. Trinity College, January 19, 1619. X. I SIR, UNDERSTAND by Sir Francis Nethersole's letter, that he fears I have not fully resolved of the matter, since this place being civil may divert me too much from divinity, at which, not without cause, he thinks I aim: but, I have wrote him back, that this dignity hath no such earthiness in it, but it may very well be joined with heaven: or if it had to others, yet to me it should not, for aught I yet knew ; and therefore I desire him to send me a direct answer in his next letter. I pray Sir therefore, cause this enclosed to be carried to his brother's house of his own name (as I think) at the sign, of the Pedlar and the Pack on London Bridge, for there he assigns me. I cannot yet find leisure to write to my Lord, or Sir Benjamin Ruddyard; but I hope I shall shortly, though for the reckoning of your favours, I shall never find time and paper enough, yet am I your readiest servant, GEORGE HErbert. Trinity College, October 6, 1619. I remember my most humble duty to my mother, who cannot think me lazy, since I rode 200 miles to see a sister, in a way I knew not, in the midst of much business, and all in a fortnight, not long since. I XI. TO THE TRULY NOBLE SIR J. D. SIR, UNDERSTAND by a letter from my brother Henry, that he hath bought a parcel of books for me, and that they are coming over. Now though they have hitherto travelled upon your charge, yet if my sister were acquainted that they are ready, I dare say she would make good her promise of taking five or six pounds upon her, which she hath hitherto deferred to do, not of herself, but upon the want of those books which were not to be got in England; for that which surmounts, though your noble disposition is infinitely free, yet I had rather fly to my old ward, that if any course could be taken of doubling my annuity now, upon condition that I should surcease from all title to it, after I entered into a benefice, I should be most glad to entertain it, and both pay for the surplusage of these books, and for ever after cease my clamorous and greedy bookish requests. It is high time now that I should be no more a burden to you, since I can never answer what I have already received; for your favours are so ancient, that they prevent my memory, and yet still grow upon your humblest servant, GEORGE HErbert. I remember my most humble duty to my mother. I have wrote to my dear sick sister this week already, and therefore now I hope may be excused. I pray, Sir, pardon my boldness of inclosing my brother's letter in yours, for it was because I know your lodging, but not his. XII. TO THE RIGHT HON. LADY ANNE, COUNTESS OF PEMBROKE AND MONTGOMERY, AT COURT. MADAM, WHA HAT a trouble hath your goodness brought on you, by admitting our poor services! now they creep in a vessel of Metheglin, and still they will be presenting or wishing to see, if at length they may find out something not unworthy of those hands at which they aim. In the mean time a priest's blessing, though it be none of the court style, yet, doubtless, Madam, can do you no hurt wherefore the Lord make good the blessing of your mother upon you, and cause all her wishes, diligence, prayers and tears, to bud, blow, and bear fruit in your soul, to his glory, your own good, and the great joy of, madam, your most faithful servant in Christ Jesu, Dec. 10. 1631. Bemerton. GEORGE HERBERT. Madam, your poor colony of servants present their humble duties. quibus ipsi olim hauserunt? Quis enim sicca ubera et mammas arentes tam nobilis parentis, æquo animo ferre posset? neque sane dubitamus ulli, si præ defectu aquæ commeatûsque inopia desererentur collegia, pulcherrimæque Musarum domus tanquam viduæ effœtæ, aut ligna exucca et marcida, alumnis suis orbarentur, quin communes Reipublicæ Lachrymæ alterum nobis Fluvium effunderent. Quare plurimum debemus constantiæ favoris tui qui restinxisti sitim exarescentium Musarum et Xerxes istos, alterosque maris quasi flagellatores expugnatos, fusosque nobis dedisti. Quid enim invident aquas, quas non nobis habemus sed irrigati ipsi universum regnum aspergimus. Sed aliorum injuriæ tuarum Virtutum pabula sunt, qui lemas istas et festucas, Reipublicæ oculo hærentes tam diligenter amoves; certè adeo festinasti ad gratitudines tuas cum emolumento nostro conjunctas, ut jam compensemur abundè, neque amplius quærendum sit Tibi, Almæ Nutrici quid reponas. II. AD FUL. GREVIL. GRATIE DE FLUVIO. VIR HONORATISSIME, SCITE CITE et appositè fecisti Fluvium nostrum conservans altero eloquentiæ Fluvio, paludumque istos siccatores, (solem officio suo privantes) vi verborum Tuorum obruens. Neque sane quisquam incedit Te instructior ad omnem causam, paratiorve sive a doctrina, sive ab usu; utrinque mirus es et exercitatissimus: quare nos tertium prædictis adjungimus Gratiarum Fluvium, de humanitate tua singulari, studioque in nos jam olim perspectissimo, quippè qui eximiè semper fovisti literatos, eosque cum tineis et blattis rixantes, exuens pulvere in theatrum et lucem produxisti. Tantum rogamus, ut pergas, et inter novos honorum cumulos, quod expectamus indies futurum, Alma Matris amorem tecum simul evehas. Interim, si qui alii exurgant promissores magnifici et hiantes, qui sub specie publici commodi, Academiæ incommodum videntur allaturi; os importunorum hominum Authoritate tuâ plurimâ et Eloquentiâ non minori nobis obstrue. III. AD. R. NAUNTON. GRATIE DE FLUVIO ET DE TEGENDIS TECTIS STRAMINEIS. VIR HONORATISSIME, EXIMIA tua in nos merita frequentiorem calamum postulant, si tantum honori Tuo superesset otii ad egendum, quantum a nobis ad scribendum, cum hu |