ce before I set out. I was desirous
to see which of her lovely faces she was pleased to put on, after another
night had passed. But she was resolved, I found, to leave our quarrel
open. She would not give me an opportunity so much as to entreat her
again to close it, before the arrival of Lady Betty and my cousin.

I had notice from my proctor, by a few lines brought by a man and horse,
just before I set out, that all difficulties had been for two days past
surmounted; and that I might have the license for fetching.

I sent up the letter to my beloved, by Mrs. Bevis, with a repeated
request for admittance to her presence upon it; but neither did this
stand me in stead. I suppose she thought it would be allowing of the
consequences that were naturally to be expected to follow the obtaining
of this instrument, if she had consented to see me on the contents of
this letter, having refused me that honour before I sent it up to her.--
No surprising her.--No advantage to be taken of her inattention to the
nicest circumstances.

And now, Belford, I set out upon business.

LETTER IX

MR. LOVELACE, TO JOHN BELFORD, ESQ.
MONDAY, JUNE 12.

Durst ever see a license, Jack?

'Edmund, by divine permission, Lord Bishop of London, to our well-beloved
in Christ, Robert Lovelace, [your servant, my good Lord! What have I
done to merit so much goodness, who never saw your Lordship in my life?]
of the parish of St. Martin's in the Fields, bachelor, and Clarissa
Harlowe, of the same parish, spinster, sendeth greeting.--WHEREAS ye are,
as is alleged, determined to enter into the holy state of Matrimony [this
is only alleged, thou observest] by and with the consent of, &c. &c. &c.
and are very desirous of obtaining your marriage to be solemnized in the
face of the church: We are willing that your honest desires [honest
desires, Jack!] may more speedily have their due effect: and therefore,
that ye may be able to procure such Marriage to be freely and lawfully
solemnized in the parish church of St. Martin's in the Fields, or St.
Giles's in the Fields, in the county of Middlesex, by the Rector, Vicar,
or Curate thereof, at any time of the year, [at ANY time of the year,
Jack!] without publication of bans: Provided, that by reason of any
pre-contract, [I verily think that I have had three or four pre-contracts
in my time; but the good girls have not claimed upon them of a long
while,] consanguinity, affinity, or any other lawful