153.C09.HE2  To the Countesse of Bedford, Sister /to the Lord Harrington [f. 50]
153.C09.HE3  Madame
153.C09.001  I haue learnd by those lawes wherin I am a little conuersant,
153.C09.002  y%5t%6 /hee which bestowes any cost vpon the Dead, obliges him
153.C09.003  which is dead, but /not the heyre.  I do not therfore send this
153.C09.004  paper to your La.%5pp%6 that /you should thanke me for it, or
153.C09.005  thinke y%5t%6 I thanke you in it, your /favours & benefitts to me
153.C09.006  are so much aboue my meritts, that they are /euen aboue my
153.C09.007  gratitiude, if that were to be iudged by wordes w%5ch%6 must expresse
153.C09.008  it.  But Madame, since your noble brothers fortunes being /yours,
153.C09.009  the Euidences also concerning
153.C09.9+1  that belong to you, the Euidence /of his virtue &c /
153.C09.9+2om 
153.C09.010  OM OM OM OM OM OM OM OM OM PARof which by
153.C09.011  your acceptance this may be one part.  In which qualitye I /humbly
153.C09.012  p%5r%6sent it, & as a Testimonye how entirely your family
153.C09.013  possesseth
153.C09.014  Your La:%5pps%6 most humble
153.C09.015  & faith=/full seruant
153.C09.016  Iohn Donne.
153.C09.0$$  at ll. 9,2 & 10 space left for indecipherable or lost words in original