I return from my account of the vision, to tell the reader, that both before Mr. Donne's going into France, at his being there, and after his return, many of the nobility and others that were powerful at court, were watchful and sclicitous to the king for some secular employment for him. The king had formerly both known and put a value upon his company, and had also given him some hopes of a state employment; being always much pleased when Mr. Donne attended him, especially at his meals; where there were usually many deep discourses of general learning, and very often friendly disputes,* or debates of religion, betwixt his majesty and those divines, whose places required their attendance on him at those times: particularly the Dean of the Chapel, who then was Bishop Montague,+-the publisher of O give no way to griefe, Of mummal jome, This winder on the voler pre- The “ Elegie on his Mistris,” commencing, “By our first strange and fatal interview,” which Chalmers (Bing. Dict) refers to this period; and the Editor of Major's edition of Walton's Lires, found "certainly to contain many internal arguments in favor of the supposition;" in fact, describes circumstances wholly incompatible with Walton's description of the parties at the supposed period; even if the condition of Mrs. Donne, at the time, was at all suitable for a character of itinerant romance; and with the charge of a young family requiring her daily care. * A familiar epistle from the lord Thomas Howard to Sir John Harrington, affords an insight into the courtly etiquette with which wise men conducted "friendly disputes" with "the breath of our nostrils." “I will now premise," writes lord Howard, “certaine thinges to be observed by you, toward well gaining our Prince's good affection; he doth wondrously covet learned discourse, of which you can furnish out ample means .... In your discourse, you must not dwell too long on any one subject, and touch but lightly on religion. Do not of yourself say, 'This is good or bad;' but, ‘If it were your majesty's good opinion, I myself should think so and so;' ask no more questions than what may serve to know the Prince's thought. In private discourse, the king seldom speaketh of any man's temper, discretion, or good virtues; so meddle not at all, but find a clue to guide you to the heart and most delightful subject of his mind.... Your learning may somewhat prove worthy hereanto; your Latin and your Greek, your Italian and your Spanish tongues, your wit and discretion, may be looked unto for a while, as strangers in such a place; bat these are not the thinges men live by now-a-days: will you say the moon shineth all the summer?—————————————.”—Nuga Antique, v. ii., p. 124. + James Montague, fifth son of Sir Edward Montague and Elizabeth, daughter of Sir James Harrington, of Exton, and brother of the exemplary Edward Montagne, the learned and eloquent works of his majesty-and the most reverend Doctor Andrews,* the late learned bishop of Winchester, who was then the king's almoner. created by James I., baron Montague, of Boughton, co. Northampton. James Montague, alike eminent for his learning and liberality, was usually called “King James's Ecclesiastical Favorite." He was of C. C. College, Cambridge; elected bishop of Bath and Wells, 1608, translated to the See of Winchester, 1616; and, dying two years afterwards, was buried in the Abbey Church of Bath, which he had repaired at great cost during his occupancy of that See; moved thereto, as it seems, by some latin verses on the ruinous state of the buildings, addressed to him on his first visitation, by his relative, Sir John Harrington. The learned and eloquent works of his Majesty," mentioned in the text, were entitled "The Workes of the most High and Mighty Prince Iames, by the Grace of God, King of Great Britain, &c. Published by Iames, Bishop of Winton, and Dean of his Majesties Chappel Royal."--Lond., fol. 1616. Nevertheless that the incense of praise and adulation was liberally offered to him, both in his life time and after his death, how far, says Dr. Zouch, the works of the royal author deserve the epithets bestowed upon them, I will not venture to decide. The " Dæmonologie and "The Counterblast of Tobacco," do not excite very flattering sentiments of his literary acquirements. Quotations, puns, scripture, witticisms, superstition, oaths, vanity, prerogative and pedantry, are affirmed by Walpole, to be the ingredients of all his sacred Majesty's performances.--Royal and Noble Authors, v. i., p. 41. * Launcelot Andrews, a prelate of most eminent virtues, born in London, in 1565, received his education at Merchant Taylor's School, and Pembroke Hall, Cambridge, of which he afterwards became Master. By the influence of Sir Francis Walsingham, he obtained the living of St. Giles', Cripplegate, and a stali in St. Paul's. Queen Elizabeth nominated him one of her Chaplains in ordinary, Prebendary and Dean of Westminster, and Bishop of London, in succession to Dr. Bancroft. Dr. Andrews was also in great favour with James I., who nominated him to the See of Chichester, in 1605, and in 1609, to that of Ely. In 1619 he was translated to Winchester, and died at the Episcopal palace in Southwark, in 1626, where, beneath a handsome monument in St. Saviour's church, he lies interred. Lord Clarendon entertained so favorable an opinion of him as to declare, that "if Andrews, who loved and understood the church, had succeeded Bancroft in the See of Canterbury, that infection would easily have been kept out, which could not afterwards be so easily expelled.”—Hist. Rebellion, b. i., p. 88. Some verses of Dr. Andrews, are very pointed on the subject of episcopal inexpediency : A learned prelate of this lande A scruple adds of Puritan, And workes them all in his brain pan. Now when he lookes theis should digest That scruple troubles all the rest.-Harl. MS. 4958, fo. 83. About this time there grew many disputes, that concerned the oath of supremacy and allegiance, in which the king had appeared, and engaged himself by his public writings now extant.* And his majesty discoursing with Mr. Donne, concerning many of the reasons which are usually urged against the taking of those His ready wit also, and (well skilled in cases of conscience) his correct notion of constitutional government, are advantageously displayed in a conversation that took place on an occasion when be, and Dr. Neale, bishop of Durham, were in waiting during dinner. The king, reflecting on the straggle between Prerogative and Privilege going on in the lower House of Parliament, and the waywardness of the Commons in granting their "camels and service," addressed the prelates, "My lords, cannot I take my subjects' money when I want it, without all this formality in parliameat?" Bishop Neale quickly replied, “God forbid, Sir, but you should; you are the breath of our nostrils.” “Well, my lord,” said the king to the bishop of Winchester, "and what say you?" "Sir," replied Andrews, "I have no skill to judge of parliament cases.' "No put-offs, my lord," said the king, “answer me presently." "Then Sir,” he replied, “I think it lawful for you to take my brother Neale's money, for he offers it." Bishop Andrews was one of the translators of king James's Bible, the translation now in use; and is said to have possessed a critical and accurate knowledge of at least fifteen modern tongues. His writings are numerous; but that best known, and perhaps most deservedly so, is his Manual of Devotion, composed in Greek and Latin, for his own private use, and rendered into English by dean Stanhope. For some time before his death the manuscript was seldom out of his hand, and was found worn by his fingers, and wet with his tears. "When thou hast bought the book," writes an editor of these Devotions, "enter into thy closet and shut the door; pray with Bishop Andrews for one week, and he will be thy companion for the residue of thy years; he will be pleasant in thy life, and at the hour of death he will not forsake thee."-See Lloyd's State Worthies. • In a sermon preached at Paul's Cross, March 24th, 1616, Dr. Donne thus advocated the king's "Apology:" "Then I say, did his Majesty show this Christian courage of his more manifestly, when he sent the profession of his religion, • The Apology of the Oath of Allegiance,' and his opinion of the Roman Antichrist, in all languages, to all Princes of Christendom. By occasion of which book, though there have risen twenty Rabshakes, who have railed against our God, in railing against our religion; and twenty Shemeis, who have railed against the person of his sacred Majesty (for I may pronounce that the number of them who have barked and snarled at that book in writing, is scarce less than forty);—yet scarce one of them all hath undertaken the arguments of that book, bat either repeated, and perchance enlarged those things, which their own authors had shovelled together of that subject (that is, the Pope's temporal power); or else they have bent themselves maliciously, insolently, sacrilegiously against the person of his Majesty; and the Pope may be Antichrist still, for anything they have said to the contrary."-2. oaths, apprehended such a validity and clearness in his stating the questions, and his answers to them, that his majesty commanded him to bestow some time in drawing the arguments into a method, and then to write his answers to them; and, having done that, not to send, but be his own messenger, and bring them to him. To this he presently and diligently applied himself, and within six weeks brought them to him under his own handwriting, as they be now printed; the book bearing the name of Pseudo-Martyr, printed anno 1610.* When the king had read and considered that book, he persuaded Mr. Donne to enter into the ministry; to which, at that time, he was, and appeared, very unwilling, apprehending it— such was his mistaken modesty-to be too weighty for his abilities; and though his majesty had promised him a favour, and many persons of worth mediated with his majesty for some secular employment for him,-to which his education had apted him-and particularly the Earl of Somerset,+ when in his greatest *Pseudo-Martyr, wherein out of certaine propositions and gradations, this conclusion is euicted: That those which are of the Romane Religion in this kingdome, may and ought to take the Oath of Allegiance.-Lond., 1610, 4to. In this year, Mr. Donne was incorporated M. A. in the University of Oxford, having already been admitted to that degree at Cambridge.-Z. + Robert Carr, or Ker, of the ancient house of Ker, of Fernihurst, in Scotland; who having long served king James in the quality of page, was made knight of the Bath at his coronation; and subsequently obtained so much favor, that in the year 1611, he was created baron Ker, of Brancepeth, in the bishoprick of Durham, and viscount Rochester; and within two years was advanced to the title of earl of Somerset, appointed lord Chamberlain, and invested with the Order of the Garter. The secret of this favorite's influence with the king, is amusingly described in a letter from the lord Thomas Howard to Sir John Harrington, dated 1611, immediately before his preferment to the peerage. Lord Howard, describing to his friend the "merry blade," some rules for his deportment at Court, most likely to be agreeable to the fountain of honor, observes: "I would wish you to be well trimmed; get a new jerkin well bordered, and not too short; the king saith he liketh a flowing garment; besure it is not all of one sort, but diversly colourd, the collar falling somewhat down, and your raff well stiffend and bushy. We have lately had many gallants who failed in their suits, for want of due observance in these matters. The king is nicely heedful of these points, and dwelleth on good looks and handsome accoutrements. Eighteen servants were lately discharged, and many more will be discarded, who are not to his liking in these matters. Robert Car is now most likely to win the height of favour; who being then at Theobald's with the king, where one of the clerks of the council died that night, the earl Prince's affection, and dothe it wonderously in a little time. The Prince leaneth on his arm, pincheth his cheek, smoothes his ruffled garment, and when he looketh at Car, directeth discourse to divers others. This young man dothe much study all art and device; he hath changed his taylors and tiremen many times, and all to please the Prince, who laugheth at the long grown fashion of our young courtiers, and wisheth for change every day. You must see Car before you go to the king, as he was with him a boy in Scotland, and knoweth his taste and what pleaseth. . . . Car hath all favours, as I told you before; the king teacheth him Latin every morning, and I think some one should teach him English too, for, as he is a Scottish lad, he hath much need of better language. The king doth much covet his presence; the ladies too are not behind hand in their admiration; for I tell you, good knight, this fellow is straight-limbed, well-favoured, strong-shouldered, and smooth-faced, with some sort of cunning and show of modesty; tho, God wot, he well knoweth when to shew his impudence. .... If any mischance be to be wished 'tis breaking a leg in the king's presence, for this fellow owes all his favour to that bout. . . . . We are almost worn out with our endeavours to keep pace with this fellow in his duty and labour to gain favour, but all in vain; where it endeth I cannot guess, but honors are talked of speedily for him.”— Nugæ Antiquæ, v. ii., p. 124. .... Honors came thick upon him; and as his rise was rapid, extraordinary, and wanting a solid basis, so his fall was equally sudden and disgraceful. His connection, and marriage with the countess of Essex, and the murder of his friend, Sir Thomas Overbury, are matters of history. Desperate in bis resources, in the words of the king, "it is easie to be seene that he wolde threaten me of being in some sorte accessorie to his cryme:" (Letter to Sir George More, Loseley MS.) yet his life was spared by the royal clemency,—to drag on a miserable existence to its natural termination, with the partner of his crime, in mutual hatred and contempt of each other. The ill-starred infatuation, prophetic of destruction by the epigrammatic verses of Dr. Andrews, was nevertheless the subject of the unbought eulogy of Ben Jonson. The former, in some playful lines, of which the following are a fragment, predicted that the "wanton SX" would prove his ruin :— ICVR Good Monsieur Car, V BAK As some men say, But that's not all. * -Harl. MS., 4955, fo. 81. While Ben Jonson run riot in a strain of virtuous adulation, far less allowable than he deprecated in Donne's "Anniversaries :" They are not those, are present with theyr face At these thy nuptials; but, whose heart, and thought |