and I believe, if you will retire from Surry, as we have done, you will escape it without any Danger. And to give you still greater Comfort, I am informed, of a Truth, that very few or no Women have fell fick, but none of our Court, and that very few in thefe Parts have died; where- fore I beg of you, my dearly beloved, to harbour no Fear, nor to give yourself Uneafinefs at our Abfence: For wherefoever I am, I am yours. Not- withstanding we muft fometimes obey the Will of Fortune; for who will, in fome Things, ftrive againft her, are often drove the fartheft back; where- fore comfort yourself, and be courageous, and fling away all Evil as far as you can. I hope foon to make you fing the Return. Time, at prefent, will let me write no more, but that I wish myself in your Arms, to ease you of your juft Thoughts. HE examining the Contents of your Letters how to understand them, whether to my Difad- vantage, as in fome others I understand; beg- ging of you, with a fincere Heart, to inform me of your Intentions, in regard to the Love between us. Neceffity obliges me to infift on this Answer, having, for more than a Year paft, been pierced by a Dart of Love, not being affured where to find this, not to call you my Mistress, with which, if you love me but with a common Love, this Name is not appropriated to you; for that denotes a Singularity vaftly different from common Love. But if you have a Mind to perform the Part of a truly loyal Mistress and Friend, give yourfelf Body and Heart to me, who would be, and has been long, your moft loyal Servant. If with Rigour you do not forbid me, I promise, that not only the Name fhall be due to you, but likewife take you for my Miftrefs; rejecting and treating others, in comparison of you, far from Thought and Affection, and to ferve you only; begging of you to give me a full Answer to this rude Letter, on which, and in which I may trust. But if you do not please to give an Answer in Writing, appoint fome Place where I may have it by Word of Mouth, and with a willing Heart I will meet you at the Place. No more, for fear of incommoding you. Written with the Hand of him who would willingly remain LETTER IV. To the SAM E. Yours. I Heartily thank you for your handsome Prefent, than which, well weighing the whole, nothing is more beautiful, not only for the beautiful Diamond, and Veffel in which the folitary Damfel is toffed; but principally for the beautiful Interpretation and most humble Submiffion, by your Goodness in this Cafe made ufe of, well thinking, that to merit this by Opportunity will be very difficult, if your great Humanity and Favour did not not affift me, for which I have watched, watch, and will watch all Opportunities of Retaliation poffible; to remain in which, my whole Hope has placed its immutable Intention, which fays, aut illic, aut nullibi. The Demonftrances of your Affection are fuch, the beautiful Words, the Letters fo affectionately couched, which, in Truth, oblige for ever to honour you, love and ferve you; begging of you to continue in this firm and conftant Purpose; on my Part affuring you, that I will rather augment it, than make it reciprocal, if Loyalty of Heart, Defire of pleafing you, without any other Motive, may advance it; praying you, that if any Time heretofore I have given you Offence, that you would give me the fame Pardon that you afk; affuring you, that for the future my Heart fhall be wholly dedicated to you, much defiring that the Body might be alfo, as God can do it, if he pleases, to whom I beg once a Day to do it, hoping that, in Time, my Prayers may be heard, wishing the Time to be fhort, thinking it very long to our Review. Written by the Hand of my Secretary, who, in Heart, Body, and Will, is Your loyal and most affured Servant. LETTER V. To the SAME. Approaching near the Time, which has feemed fo long to me, I rejoice the more, because it seems to me almoft come, notwithstanding the entire Accomplishment cannot be till the two Perfons are met; which Meeting is more defired on my Part than any worldly Thing: For what Satisfaction can be fo great in this World, as to enjoy the Company of one's most dearly Beloved, knowing that the has the fame Pleasure on her Side ? The Thought of which gives me a deal of Pleafure; then judge what muft the Perfon do, whofe Abfence has given me more Heart-achings than Tongue or Writing can express, and which nothing but her Prefence can remedy? Begging you, my Dear, to tell your Father on my Part, to come two Days before the Time appointed, that he may be at Court before, or at least on the Dayfixed; for otherwise I shall think that he made not the Course of the Amorous, nor answered my Expectation. No more at prefent, for want of Time; hoping very foon that, by Word of Mouth, I fhall tell you the Pains I have fuffered during your Abfence. Written by the Hand of my Secretary, who wishes himself now privately with you, who is, and ever will be, Darling, THele Your loyal and most assured Servant. LETTER VI. To the SAME. Hefe fhall be only to advertise you, that this Bearer and his Fellow be difpatched with as many Things to compafs our Matter, and to bring it to pafs, as our Wits could imagine or devife; which brought to pafs, as I truft by their Diligence it fhall be fhortly, you and I fhall have our defired End, which fhould be more to my Heart's Eafe, and more Quietnefs to my Mind than than any other Thing in this World, as, with God's Grace, fhortly I truft fhall be proved; but not fo foon as I would it were. Yet I will infure you there shall be no Time loft that may be won, and further cannot be done, for ultra poffe non eft effe. Keep him not too long with you; but defire him, for your Sake, to make the more Speed: For the fooner we fhall have Word from him, thè fooner fhall our Matter come to pass. And thus, upon Truft of your fhort Repair to London, I make an End of my Letter, mine own Sweetheart. Written with the Hand of him, who defireth as much to be yours, as you do to have him. LETTER VII. Queen Anne Bullen to King Henry. SIR, Your Grace's Difpleasure, and my Imprifon ment, are Things fo ftrange unto me, as what to write, or what to excufe, I am altogether ignorant. Whereas you fend unto me (willing me to confefs a Truth, and fo obtain your Favour) by fuch an one, whom you know to be mine ancient profeffed Enemy, I no fooner received this Meffage by him, than I rightly conceived your Meaning; and if, as you fay, confeffing a Truth, indeed, may procure my Safety, I fhall, with all Willingness and Duty, perform your Command. But let not your Grace ever imagine, that your poor Wife will ever be brought to acknowledge a Fault, where not fo much as a Thought thereof preceded. And, to fpeak a Truth, never Prince B 4 had |