hold.  The rest shall be employed in telling you how sorry I am you have got such a cold.  I am the more sensible of your trouble by my own, for I have newly got one myself.  But I will send you that which was to cure me.  ’Tis like the rest of my medicines:  if it do no good, ’twill be sure to do no harm, and ’twill be no great trouble to take a little on’t now and then; for the taste on’t, as it is not excellent, so ’tis not very ill.  One thing more I must tell you, which is that you are not to take it ill that I mistook your age by my computation of your journey through this country; for I was persuaded t’other day that I could not be less than thirty years old by one that believed it himself, because he was sure it was a great while since he had heard of such a one as

Your humble servant.

Letter 2.—­This letter, which is dated, comes, I think, at some distance of time from the first letter.  Dorothy may have dated her letters to ordinary folk; but as she writes to her servant once a week at least, she seems to have considered dates to be superfluous.  When Temple is in Ireland, her letters are generally dated with the day of the month.  Temple had probably returned from a journey into Yorkshire,—­his travels in Holland were over some time ago,—­and passing through Bedford within ten miles of Chicksands, he neglected to pay his respects to Dorothy, for which he is duly called to account in Letter 3.

December 24, 1652.

Sir,—­You may please to let my old servant (as you call him) know that I confess I owe much to his merits and the many obligations his kindness and civilities has laid upon me; but for the ten pound he claims, it is not yet due, and I think you may do well to persuade him (as a friend) to put it in the number of his desperate debts, for ’tis a very uncertain one.  In all things else, pray say I am his servant.  And now, sir, let me tell you that I am extremely glad (whosoever gave you the occasion) to hear from you, since (without compliment) there are very few persons in the world I am more concerned in; to find that you have overcome your long journey, and that you are well and in a place where ’tis possible for me to see you, is such a satisfaction as I, who have not been used to many, may be allowed to doubt of.  Yet I will hope my eyes do not deceive me, and that I have not forgot to read; but if you please to confirm it to me by another, you know how to direct it, for I am where I was, still the same, and always

Your humble servant,

D. OSBORNE.

For Mrs. Paynter,
In Covent Garden.

(Keep this letter till it be called for.)

Letter 3.

January 2nd, 1653.