28, 69. l. 14. _wishing prayers._ This may be a phrase corresponding to 'bidding prayers', but 'wishing' is comma'd off as a noun in some MSS. and 'wishes' may be the author's correction. PAGE =188=, l. 24. _dull Moralls of a game at Chests._ The comparison of life and especially politics to a game of chess is probably an old one. Sancho Panza develops it with considerable eloquence. PAGE =188=. H: W: IN HIBER: BELLIGERANTI. This poem is taken from the Burley MS., where it is found along with a number of poems some of which are by Donne, viz.: the _Satyres_, one of the _Elegies_, and several of the _Epigrams_. Of the others this alone has the initials 'J. D.' added in the margin. There can be little doubt that it is by Donne,--a continuation of the correspondence of the years 1597-9 to which the last letter and 'Letters more than kisses' belong. In _Life and Letters of Sir Henry Wotton_ Mr. Pearsall Smith prints what he takes to be a reply to this letter and the charge of indolence. 'Sir, It is worth my wondering that you can complain of my seldom writing, when your own letters come so fearfully as if they tread all the way upon a bog. I have received from you a few, and almost every one hath a commission to speak of divers others of their fellows, like you know who in the old comedy that asks for the rest of his servants. But you make no mention of any of mine, yet it is not long since I ventured much of my experience unto you in a long piece of paper, and perhaps not of my credit; it is that which I sent you by A. R., whereof till you advertise me I shall live in fits or agues.' After referring to the malicious reports in circulation regarding the Irish expedition he concludes in the style of the previous letters: 'These be the wise rules of policy, and of courts, which are upon earth the vainest places.' l. 11. _yong death_: i.e. early death, death that comes to you while young. ll. 13-15. These lines are enough of themselves to prove Donne's authorship of this poem. Compare _To S^r Henry Goodyere_, p. 183, ll. 17-20. PAGE =189=. TO THE COUNTESSE OF BEDFORD. Lucy, Countess of Bedford, occupies the central place among Donne's noble patrons and friends. No one was more consistently his friend; to none does he address himselfe in terms of sincerer and more respectful eulogy.