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Dear Sir,
LOve is the marrow of Friendship, and Letters are the Elixir of Love; they are the best fuell of affection, and cast a sweeter odour then any Frankincense can do; such an odour, such an A∣romatic perfume your late Letter brought with it, proceeding from the fragrancy of those dainty Flowers of eloquence, which I found
blossoming as it were in every Line; I mean those sweet expres∣sions of Love and Wit, which in every period were intermingled with so much Art, that they seem'd to contend for mastery which was the strongest: I must confesse, that you put me to hard shifto to correspond with you in such exquisit strains and raptures of Love, which were so lively, that I must needs judg them to pro∣ceed from the motions, from the Diastole and Systole of a Heart truly affected; certainly your heart did dictat every syllable you writ, and guided your hand all along: Sir, give me leave to tell you, that not a dram, nor a doze, not a scruple of this pretious love of yours is lost, but it is safely tresur'd up in my Brest, and an∣swer'd in like proportion to the full, mine to you is as cordiall, it is passionat and perfect, as love can be.
I thank you for the desire you have to know how it fares with me abroad; I thank God I am perfectly well, and well contented with this wandring cours of life a while, I never enjoyed my health better, but I was like to endanger it two nights ago; for being in som joviall company abroad, and coming late to our lodging, we were suddenly surprized by a crue of Filous of night Rogues, who drew upon us, and as we had exchang'd some blow•…•…, it pleas'd God, the Chevatieur de Guet, an Officer, who goe•…•… up and down the Streets all night a horseback to prevent disorders, pass'd by, and so rescued us; but Iack White was hurt, and I had two thrusts in my Clock. Ther's never a night passeth, but some robbing or murther is committed in this Town, so that it is not safe to go late any where, specially about the Pont-Neuf, the New Bridg, though Henry the Great himself •…•…ies Centinell ther in Arms, upon a huge Florentine horse, and sits bare to every one that passeth, an improper posture me thinks to a King on horse∣back: not longsince, one of the Secretaries of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 (wherof ther are here always four) having bin invited to the Suburbs of Saint Germains to supper, left order with one of his Laquays, to bring him his horse about nine, it so happen'd, that a mischance befell the horse, which lam'd him as he went a watring to the Seine, insomuch, that the Secretary was put to beat the hoof himself, and Foot it home; but as he was passing the Pont-Neuf with his La∣quay carrying a Torch before him, he might ore hear a noise of clashing of Swords, and Fighting, and looking under the Torch, •…•…d perceiving they were but two, he bad his Laquay go on; they had not made many paces, but two armed men with their Pistols cock'd, and swords drawn, made puffing towards them, whereof
one had a paper in his hand, which he said, he had casually took up in the streets, and the difference between them was about that Paper; therefore they desir'd the Secretary to read it, with a great deal of complement, the Secretary took out his spectacles, and fell a reading of the said Paper, whereof the substance was, That it should be known to all men, that whosoever did passe over that Bridge after nine a Clock at night in Winter, and ten in Summer, was to leave his Cloak behind him, and in case of no Cloak, his Hat. The Secretary starting at this, one of the Camerades told him; That he thought that Paper concern'd him, so they unmantled him of a new Plush Cloak, and my Secretary was content to go home quietly, and en Cuerpo. This makes me think often, of the excel∣lent Nocturnall Government of our City of London, wher one may passe and repasse securely all hours of the night, if he give good words to the Watch. Ther is a gentle calm of Peace now throughout all France, and the King intends to make a progresse to all the Frontier Towns of the Kingdom, to see how they are fortified. The Favourit Luines strengthneth himself more and more in his minionship, but he is much murmured at in regard the accesse of Suiters to him is so difficult, which made a Lord of this Land say, That three of the hardest things in the world were, To quadrat a Circl•…•…, to find out the Philosophers Stone, and to speak with the Duke of Luines.
I have sent you by Vacandary the Post, the French Bever and Tweeses you writ for: Bever-hats are grown dearer of late, be∣cause the Iesuits have got the Monopoly of them from the King.
Farewell dear child of Vertue, and Minion of the Muse•…•…, and continue to love
Paris, 1. of May. 1620.
Your J. H.