Page images
PDF
EPUB

be pardon'd. Charles is not yet so well recover'd as I wish him; but I may say, without vanity, that his virtue and sobriety have made him much belov'd in all companies. Both he and his mother, give you their most humble acknowledgments of your rememb'ring them. Be pleas'd to give mine to my Cousin Stewart, who am both his and Most obliged obedient Servant, JOHN DRYDEN.

your

You may see I was in hast, by writeing on the wrong side of the paper.

For Mrs. Steward, etc. ut supra.

MADAM,

LETTER XXXII.

TO MRS. STEWARD.

Tuesday, July the 11th, [1699.]

As I cannot accuse my self to have receiv'd any letters from you without answer, so on the other side I am oblig'd to believe it, because you say it. 'Tis true, I have had so many fitts of sickness, and so much other unpleasant business, that I may possibly have receiv'd those favours, and deferr'd my acknowledgment till I forgot to thank you for them. However it be, I cannot but confess that never was any unanswering man so civilly reproach'd

when he was sixty-seven, complete. He was at this time in his sixty-eighth year.

by a fair lady.-I presum'd to send you word by your sisters' of the trouble I intended you this summer, and added a petition, that you would please to order some small beer to be brew'd for me without hops, or with a very inconsiderable quantity; because I lost my health last year by drinking bitter beer at Tichmarsh. It may perhaps be sour, but I like it not the worse, if it be small enough. What els I have to request, is onely the favour of your coach, to meet me at Oundle, and to convey me to you: of which I shall not fail to give you timely notice. My humble service attends my Cousin Stewart and your relations at Oundle. My wife and sonn desire the same favour; and I am particularly,

[blocks in formation]

July the 14th, 1699.

I REMEMBER, last year, when I had the honour of dincing with you, you were pleas'd to recommend

Dorothy and Jemima Creed; the latter of whom died, Feb. 23, 1705-6, and was buried at Tichmarsh.

The original of this Letter is in the Pepysian Library, bequeathed, together with his prints and manuscripts, to Magdalen College, in Cambridge, by the gentleman

to me the character of Chaucer's GOOD PARSON. Any desire of yours is a command to me; and accordingly I have put it into my English, with such additions and alterations as I thought fit. Having translated as many Fables from Ovid, and as many Novills from Boccace and Tales from Chaucer, as will make an indifferent large volume in folio, I intend them for the press in Michaelmass term next. In the mean time my PARSON desires the favour of being known to you, and promises, if you find any fault in his character, he will reform it. Whenever you please, he shall wait on you, and for the

to whom it is addressed; who was Secretary to the Admiralty in the reign of Charles II. and James II. "He first," says Granger, (BIOGR. HIST. iv. 322) reduced the affairs of the Admiralty to order and method; and that method was so just, as to have been a standing model to his successors in that important office. His MEMOIRS relating to the Navy is a well written piece; and his copious collection of manuscripts, now remaining with the rest of his library at Magdalen College in Cambridge, is an invaluable treasure of naval knowledge. He was far from being a mere man of business: his conversation and address had been greatly refined by travel. He tho roughly understood and practised musick; was a judge of painting, sculpture, and architecture; and had more than a superficial knowledge in history and philosophy. His fame among the Virtuosi was such, that he was thought to be a very proper person to be placed at the head of the Royal Society, of which he was some time [1685, 1686,] President. His Prints have been already mentioned. His Collection of English Ballads, in five large folio volumes, begun by Mr. Selden, and carried down to 1700, is one of his singular curiosities.-Ob. 26 May, 1703.”

safer conveyance, I will carry him in my pocket ;

who am

My Padrons most obedient Servant,

JOHN DRYDEN."

For Samuel Pepys, Esq.

Att his house in York-street, These.

xiv.

MADAM,

LETTER XXXIV.

TO MRS. STEWARD.

Saturday, Aug. 5th, 1699. THIS is only a word, to threaten you with a troublesome guest, next week: I have taken places for my self and my sonn, in the Oundle coach, which sets out on Thursday next the tenth of this

To this Letter Mr. Pepys wrote the following An

swer:

46 SIR, Friday, July 14, 1699. "You truly have obliged mee; and possibly in saying so, I am more in earnest then you can readily think; as verily hopeing from this your copy of one GOOD PARSON, to fancy some amends made mee for the hourly offence I beare with from the sight of soe many lewd originalls.

"I shall with great pleasure attend you on this occa. sion, when ere you'l permit it; unless you would have the kindness to double it to mee, by suffering my coach to wayte on you (and who you can gayne mee y same favour from) hither, to a cold chicken and a sallade, any noone after Sunday, as being just stepping into the ayre "I am most respectfully

for 2 days.

"Your honord and obed" Servant, S. P.

present August; and hope to wait on a fair lady at Cotterstock on Friday the eleventh. If you please to let your coach come to Oundle, I shall save my cousin Creed the trouble of hers. All heer are your most humble servants, and particularly an old Cripple, who calls him self

Your most obliged Kinsman

and Admirer,

For Mrs. Stewart, Att

JOHN DRYDEN.

Cotterstock near Oundle, in Northamptonsh. These.

To be left with the Postmaster of Oundle.

[blocks in formation]

Sept. 28th, 1699. you sollicitous

YOUR goodness to me will make

of my welfare since I left Cotterstock. My journey has in general been as happy as it cou'd be, without the satisfaction and honour of your company. 'Tis true the Master of the stage-coach has not been over civill to me: for he turn'd us out of the road at the first step, and made us go to Pilton; there we took in a fair young lady of eighteen, and her brother, a young gentleman; they are related to the Treshams, but not of that name: thence we drove to Higham, where we had an old serving-woman, and a young fine mayd:

« PreviousContinue »