_Your poor friend, and affectionate servant_ J. Donne.
_To my much honoured friend S{ r}_ T. Lucy.
I Have scarce had at any time any thing so like news to write to you, as that I am at this Town; we came from _Spâ_ with so much resolution of passing by _Holland_. But at _Ma[a]stricht_ we found that the lownesse, and slacknesse of the River, would incommodate us so much, as we charged [changed] our whole gests, and came hither by Land. In the way at _Lo[u]vaine_ we met the E[arl] of _Arondel_, to recompense the losse wee had of missing my L. _Chandis_ [_Chandos_] and his company, who came to _Spâ_ within a few hours after we came away. Sir _Ed. Conaway_ [_Conway_], by occasion of his bodies indisposition, was gone home before: he told me he had some hope of you about _Bartholomewtide_: But because I half understood by a Letter from you, that you were determined upon the Countrie till _Michaelmas_, I am not so earnest in endevouring to prolong our stay in these parts, as otherwise I should. If I could joine with him in that hope of seeing you on this side the water; and if you should hold that purpose of comming at that time, I should repent extremely my laying of our journies; for (if we should by miracle hold any resolution) we should be in _England_ about that time, so that I might misse you both here, and there. Sir, our greatest businesse is more in our power then the least, and we may be surer to meet in heaven then in any place upon earth; and whilst we are distant here, we may meet as often as we list in Gods presence, by soliciting in our prayers for one another. I received 4 Letters from you at _Spâ_ by long circuits. In the last, one from my L[ord] _Dorset_: I, who had a conscience of mine own unworthinesse of any favour from him, could not chuse but present my thanks for the least. I do not therefore repent my forwardnesse in that office; and I beseech you not to repent your part therein. Since we came to this Town, there arrived an Extraordinary from _Spain_, with a reconfirmation of the D[uke] _d'Aumals_ Pension, which is thereby 2400{ l} a year, & he brings the title of Count, to _Rodrigo de Calderon_, who from a very low place, having grown to be Secretary to _Lerma_, is now Ambassador here, and in great opinion of wisdome: They say yet he goes to _Prague_ with the Marquis _Spinola_, and the G[raf] _Buquoy_, to congratulate the Emperour; but we all conclude here, that persons of such quality, being great in matter of Warre, are not sent for so small an emploiment: we beleeve certainly, that they deliberate a Warre, and that the reduction of _Aix_ being not worthy this diligence, their intentions must be upon _Cleve[s]_, for the new Town which the two Princes make by _Collen_ [_Cologne_] despites them much. The Elector of _Ments_ [_Maintz_] hath lately been here, upon pretence of comming in devotion to _Sichem_, and shortly the Electors of _Colein_ [_Cologne_] and _Saxony_ are to be here severally: all concurs to a disposition of such a Warre, and the _Landsgrave_ of _Hasse_ [_Hesse_] (who is as yet in the Union) is much solicited and caressed by this party, and I doubt, will prove a frail and corruptible man. I durst think confidently, that they will at least proceed so far towards a Warre, as to try how _France_ will dispose it self in the businesse: for it is conceived that the D. of _Bovillon_ [_Bouillon_] brought to our K[ing] good assurances from the Qu[een] Regent, that she would pursue all her husbands purposes in advancing the designes of those Princes who are in possession of _Cleve[s]_, and in the Union. If she declare her self to do so, when they stirre, they are like to divert their purposes; but if she stand but neutrall (as it is likely, considering how Spanish the Court is at this time) I see not that the Princes of the Union are much likely to retard them. Sir, you see what unconcerning things I am fain to write of, lest I should write of myself, who am so little a history or tale, that I should not hold out to make a Letter long enough to send over a Sea to you; for I should dispatch my self in this one word that I am