Goodyer's epitaph is quoted by Camden in the _Remaines concerning Britain_:
"To the honour of Sir Henry Goodyer of Powlesworth, a Knight memorable for his vertues, an affectionate Friend of his framed this Tetrastich:
'An ill year of a Goodyer us bereft, Who gone to God, much lack of him here left: Full of good gifts, of body and of mind, Wise, comely, learned, eloquent and kind.'"
To Sir Henry Goodyer. This letter belongs to 1607 or 1608, and was written from Mitcham. Sick in mind and in body, poor in purse and in hopes, Donne's thoughts dwelt on suicide, and the fruit of his meditations was the book "of not much less than three hundred pages," _Biathanatos_, of which we have already heard. The "meditation in verse which I call a litany" is printed in the Poems (ed. Chambers, Vol. II, p. 174).
The report that Broughton had gone over to Rome was without foundation in fact, though the rumour was of periodical occurrence.
George Garet, or Gerrard, the son of Sir William Gerrard of Dorney, Bucks, was one of Donne's closest friends, and to him are addressed many of Donne's more personal letters.
For what importunities in his behalf Donne here makes grateful acknowledgment we have no means of determining. The letter probably dates from 1614, when Donne was anxiously seeking profitable employment at Court.
"That good Gentlewoman," Bridget, wife of Sir Anthony Markham, was the daughter of Lady Bedford's brother, the second Lord Harrington of Exton, and one of the Ladies of the Bedchamber to Queen Anne. She died at Lady Bedford's house at Twickenham, May 4th, 1609, about which time this letter was written. Donne's Elegy is printed in his Poems (ed. Chambers, Vol. II, p. 86).
Sir Thomas Roe was the grandson of the Lord Mayor of the same name. He was knighted in 1604 by King James, who, ten years later, appointed him ambassador to the Great Mogul. He died in 1644. To him is addressed Ben Jonson's Epigram, XCVIII.
To George Gerrard's sister, and belonging to the same period as XIII.
Probably written from Amiens, to which place Donne accompanied Sir Robert Drury in 1611, on that journey during which he had the vision described by Walton:
"Two days after their arrival there [in Paris], Mr. _Donne_ was left alone in that room in which Sir _Robert_, and he, and some other friends had din'd together. To this place Sir _Robert_ return'd within half an hour, and, as he left, so he found Mr. _Donne_ alone; but in such an Extasie, and, so alter'd as to his looks, as amaz'd Sir _Robert_ to behold him: insomuch that he earnestly desired Mr. _Donne_ to declare what had befaln him in the short time of his absence? to which, Mr. _Donne_ was not able to make a present answer: but, after a long and perplext pause, did at last say, _I have seen a dreadful vision since I saw you; I have seen my dear wife pass twice by me through this room, with her hair hanging about her shoulders, and a dead child in her arms: This I have seen since I saw you._ To which Sir _Robert_ reply'd; '_Sure Sir, you have slept since I saw you; and, this is the result of some melancholy dream, which I desire you to forget, for, you are now awake._' To which Mr. _Donne's_ reply was, '_I cannot be surer that I now live, then, that I have not slept since I saw you: and I am as sure, that at her second appearing, she stopt, and look'd me in the face, and vanisht._' Rest and sleep, had not alter'd Mr. _Donne's_ opinion the next day: for he then affirm'd this vision with a more deliberate, and so confirm'd a confidence, that he inclin'd Sir _Robert_ to a faint belief that the Vision was true.--It is truly said, _that desire, and doubt, have no rest_: and it prov'd so with Sir _Robert_, for he immediately sent a servant to _Drewry_ house, with a charge to hasten back, and bring him word, whether Mrs. _Donne_ were alive? and if alive, in what condition she was, as to her health?--The twelfth day the Messenger returned with this account--That he found and left Mrs. _Donne_ very sad, and sick in her bed: and, that after a long and dangerous labour, she had been deliver'd of a dead child. And upon examination, the abortion prov'd to be the same day, and about the very hour that Mr. _Donne_ affirm'd he saw her pass by him in his Chamber."