pleas'd. The present which you made me this week, I have receiv'd; and it will be part of the treat I am to make to three of my friends about Tuesday next: my cousin Driden, of Chesterton, having been also pleas'd to add to it a turkey hen with eggs, and a good young goose; besides a very kind letter, and the news of his own good health, which I vallue more than all the rest; he being so noble a benefactor to a poor and so undeserving a kinsman, and one of another persuasion in matters of religion. Your enquiry of his welfare, and sending also mine, have at once oblig'd both him and me. I hope my good cousin Stewart will often visite him, especially before hunting goes out,* to be a comfort to him in his sorrow for the loss of his deare brother, who was a most extraordinary wellnatur'd man, and much my friend. Exercise, I know, is my cousin Driden's life, and the oftener goes out will be the better for his health. We poor Catholics daily expect a most severe proclamation to come out against us; and at the same time are satisfyed that the king is very unwilling to persecute us, considering us to be but an handfull, and those disarmed; but the archbishop of he * Driden, of Chesterton, who, as appears from our author's Epistle addressed to him, was a keen sportsman. † Probably Bevil Driden. : This severe proclamation appeared in the London Gazette, No. 3476, Monday, March 6, 1698-9. It enjoined all Popish recusants to remove to their respective places of abode; or if they had none, to the dwellings of their fathers or mothers; and not to remove five miles from thence and it charged the lord mayor of London, and all other justices of peace, to put the statute 1st William and Mary, c. 9, for amoving Papists ten miles from London and Westminster, into execution, by tendering them the declaration therein mentioned; and also another act of William and Mary, for disarming Papists. Canterbury is our heavy enemy, and heavy indeed he is in all respects.* This day was played a revived comedy of Mr. Congreve's, called "The Double Dealer," which was never very takeing. In the play-bill was printed"Written by Mr. Congreve; with severall expressions omitted." What kind of expressions those were, you may easily ghess, if you have seen the Monday's Gazette, wherein is the king's order for the reformation of the stage:† but the printing * Dr. Thomas Tennison, who succeeded to the see of Canterbury in 1694, on the death of Tillotson. He is thus sarcastically described by William Shippen, in "Faction Displayed," a poem written a few years afterwards : "A pause ensued, till Patriarcho's grace Was pleased to rear his huge unwieldy mass; Or else he'd ne'er be made so vile a tool : He'd ne'er his apostolic charge profane, And atheists' and fanaticks' cause maintain. At length, as from the hollow of an oak, The bulky Primate yawned, and silence broke : I much approve," etc. So also Edmund Smith, in his elegant ode, Charlettus Percivallo suo: "Scribe securus, quid agit Senatus, Quid caput stertit grave Lambethanum, Quid comes Guilford, quid habent novorum Dawksque Dyerque."-MALONE. †The London Gazette, No. 3474, Monday, Feb. 27, 1698-9, contains the order alluded to: "His majesty has been pleased to command, that the following order should be sent to both Playhouses: "His majesty being informed, that, notwithstanding an order made the 4th of June, 1697, by the Earl of Sunderland, then lord chamberlain of his majesty's household, to prevent the profaneness and immorality of the stage, several plays have lately been acted, containing expressions contrary to religion and good manners: And whereas the master of the revels has represented, that, in contempt of the said order, the actors do often neglect to leave out such profane and indecent expressions as he has thought proper to be omitted: These are therefore to signify an author's name in a play-bill is a new manner of proceeding, at least in England. When any papers of verses in manuscript, which are worth your reading, come abroad, you shall be sure of them; because, being a poetess yourself, you like those entertainments. I am still drudging at a book of Miscellanyes, which I hope will be well enough; if otherwise, threescore and seven may 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 your Most obliged obedient servant, JOHN DRYDEN. You may see I was in hast, by writeing on the wrong side of the paper. For Mrs. Steward, etc. ut supra. his majesties pleasure, that you do not hereafter presume to act any thing in any play, contrary to religion and good manners, as you shall answer it at your utmost peril. Given under my hand this 18th of February, 1698, in the eleventh year of his majesties reign. "PERE. BERTIE. "An order has been likewise sent by his majesties command, to the master of the revels, not to licence any plays containing expressions contrary to religion and good manners; and to give notice to the lord chamberlain of his majesties household, or, in his absence, to the vice-chamberlain, if the players presume to act any thing which he has struck out." *The beautiful Fables. LETTER XXXIV. MADAM, 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 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, Madam, Your most obedient servant, For Mrs. Stewart, etc. JOHN DRYDEN. *Dorothy and Jemima Creed; the latter of whom died Feb. 23, 1705-6, and was buried at Tichmarsh. LETTER XXXV. TO SAMUEL PEPYS, ESQ.* PADRON MIO, July the 14th, 1699. I REMEMBER, last year, when I had the honour of dineing with you, you were pleased to recommend 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 Michaelmas 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 Whenever you please, he shall wait on you, and for the safer conveyance, I will carry him in my pocket; who am it. My Padrons most obedient servant, For Samuel Pepys, Esq. Att his house in York-street, These. *The founder of the Pepysian library, Magdalen College, Cambridge. He 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 thoroughly understood and practised music; was a judge of painting, sculpture, and architecture; and had more than a superficial knowledge in history and |