Epistolæ Ho-elianæ familiar letters domestic and forren divided into sundry sections, partly historicall, politicall, philosophicall, vpon emergent occasions / by James Howell.

LIII. To my noble Lady, the Lady M. A.

Madame,

THer is not any thing wherin I take more pleasure, than in the accomplishment of your commands, nor had ever any Queen more power o're her Vassalls, than you have o're my in∣tellectualls; I find by my inclinations, that it is as naturall for me to do your will, as it is for fire to fly upward, or any body els to rend to his center; but touching the last command your Ladiship was pleased to lay upon me (which is the following Hymne) if I answer not the fulness of your expectation, it must be imputed to the suddennes of the command, and the shortnes of time.

A Hymne to the Blessed Trinity.

To the First Person.

To thee dread Soveraign, and dear Lord, Which out of nought didst me afford Essence and life, who mad'st me man, And, oh, much more a Christian, Lo, from the centre of my heart All laud and glory I impart. Hallelujah.

To the Second.

To thee blessed Saviour who didst free My soul from Satans tyrannie, And mad'st her capable to be An Angel of thy Hierarchy, From the same centre I do raise, All honor and immortall praise. Hallelujah.

To the Third.

To thee sweet Spirit I return That love wherwith my heart doth burn, And these bless'd notions of my brain I now breath up to thee again, O let them redescend, and still My soul with holy raptures fill. Hallelujah.

They are of the same measure, cadence, and ayr, as was that an∣gelicall Hymne your Ladiship pleased to touch upon your instru∣ment, which as it so enchanted me then that my soul was ready to com out at my ears, so your voice took such impressions in mee, that me thinks the sound still remains fresh with

Westm. 1 Apr. 1637.

Your Ladiships most devoted Servitor, J. H.