before by his honourable friend, Richard earl of Dorset, then the patron, and confirmed by his brother the late deceased Edward,* both of them men of much honour.

By these, and another ecclesiastical endowment which fell to him about the same time, given to him formerly by the Earl of Kent, he was enabled to become charitable to the poor, and

(Mr. Hazard) that my often sicknesses had brought me to an inability of preaching, and that I was under the necessitie of preaching twelve or fourteen solemn sermons every year, to great auditories, at Paules, and to the judges, and at Court; and that therefore I must think of conferring something upon such a man as may supplie my place in these solemnities: and surely, said I, I will offer them no man in those cases which shall not be at least equall to my selfe; and, Mr. Hazard, I do not know your faculties. . . . . . My noble sister, goes there no more to the giving of a scholar a church in London, but that he was a young gentleman's schoolmaster? You know the ticklishnesse of London pulpits, and how ill it would become me to place a man in a London church, that were not both a strong and a sound man; and therefore those things must come into consideration before he can have a living from me."-Sir T. Mathew's Coll., p. 354.

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* Richard Sackville, third earl of Dorset, whose character as an amiable man, a scholar, a soldier, a courtier, and a gentleman, has been recorded by the pen of his lady, Anne (see Collins' Peerage, v. ii, p. 194), died at Dorset House, London, on Easter Sunday, 1624, at the age of 35, and was succeeded in the earldom by his brother, Sir Edward Sackville, equally distinguished for his eminent abilities and accomplishments; but more prominently remembered as the survivor of that bloody encounter with the lord Bruce, so vividly described by himself (MS. in Qu. Coll. Lib., Oxford). He was subsequently invested with the Orders of the Bath and the Garter: in 1620, he was one of the commanders sent to assist the king of Bohemia; and was afterwards ambassador to the Court of France. In the civil wars of Charles I. he adhered to the royal cause; and took so much to heart the king's violent death, that he never after quitted his house. He died at Dorset House, Fleet-street, in July, 1652. Lord Clarendon has commended both the graceful vigour of his person, and the sparkling lustre of his mind.

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+ The rectory of Blunham, in Bedfordshire. In a letter to Sir H. Goodyere, dated Feb. 26, 1621, Donne writes: "This day, I received a letter from my L. of Kent, written yesterday at Wrest; in which his lordship sends me word, that that favour which he hath formerly done me, in giving me Blonham, is now likely to fall upon me, because the incumbent is dangerously ill and because this is the season in which he removes from Wrest thither, he desires (for I give you his own word) that he may be accommodate there, (if it fall now) as heretofore. Out of my absolute and intire readiness to serve that family, I sent back his messenger with this answer, that I esteemed it a great part of my good fortune, that I should become worthy to be commanded by him."-Letters, p. 176. The patron at this time, was Henry Grey, eighth earl of Kent, who had to wife Elizabeth, daughter and coheir of Gilbert Talbot, earl of Shrewsbury; and died, without issue, at his house in the Whitefriars, London, in 1639. In his will, Dr. Donne left twenty

kind to his friends, and to make such provision for his children that they were not left scandalous, as relating to their or his profession and quality.*

pounds to the poor of Blunham, and recognized his patron's favour by the bequest of "a painting hanging in his study, representing the laying of Christ in the tomb." There is also reason to believe that he sometime held the rectory of Seven Oaks, in Kent, under the patronage of his friend, the earl of Dorset. By his will, he left twenty pounds to the poor of that parish.

* A letter on his family circumstances at this time, dated "October 4, 1622," stated, in the printed collection, (evidently in error) to have been written to Sir Henry Wotton, was probably addressed to Sir Henry Goodyere. "I am a father," writes Donne, "as well as you, and of children (I humbly thank God) of as good dispositions; and in saying so, I make account that I have taken my comparison as high as I could goe; for, in good faith, I beleeve yours to be so: but as those my daughters (who are capable of such considerations) cannot but see my desire to accommodate them in this world, so I think they will not murmure if heaven must be their nunnery, and they associated to the blessed virgins there. I know they would be content to passe their lives in a prison, rather then I should macerate my self for them, much more to suffer the mediocrity of my house, and my meaus, though that cannot preferre them."-Letters, p. 135.

Fourteen days later, "Octob. 18, 1622, to the hon. knight, Sir G. P.," he writes: "Telle both your daughters a peece of a storie of my Con., which may accustome them to endure disappointments in this world: an honourable person (whose name I give you in a schedule to burn, lest this letter should be mislaid) had an intention to give her one of his sons, and had told it me, and would have been content to accept what I, by my friends, could have begged for her; but he intended that son to my profession, and had provided him already 300l. a year of his own gift, in church livings, and hath estated 3001. more of inheritance for their children and now the youth (who yet knows nothing of his father's intention nor mine) flies from his resolutions for that calling, and importunes his father to let him travel. The girle knows not her losse, for I never told her of it; but truly, it is a great disappointment to me."—Ib. p. 185.

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Disappointments, however, wear away by hopeful endurance, and offers-matrimonial proceed sometimes unexpectedly, and from quarters least anticipated.

It so happened that Constance passed some portion of her time with her maternal uncle, Sir Thomas Grymes, at Peckham; where occasionally visited an elderly neighbour, who, from a clever stage player and fortunate speculator in land, had become lord of the manors of Lewisham and Dulwich, and founder of a College in his immediate vicinity. Sir Thomas Grymes had been there present at the solemn ceremony of the foundation day, September 13, 1619. And in Alleyne's Diary is found the following entry :

"1622. Sept. 24. I and my wife dined at Sir Thomas Grymes."

On the 28th June, the following year, Edward Alleyne lost his "religious and lovinge wife," Joan Woodward, "with whom he had lived in uninterrupted harmony upwards of thirty years."

The next parliament, which was within that present year, he was chosen prolocntor to the convocation, and about that time

Now there is no one can hit off a panegyric like your Shaksperian: therefore, within four months, when Alleyne was in serious entreaty for his second wife, if it might not directly be accounted a personal compliment to old Joan, who lay quietly entombed in the chapel of his own foundation, at all events it was a handsome tribute to the wedded state!—(See Collyer's Life of Alleyne.) Curiously enough, the history of this courtship and matrimony (or, as it seems, matter-of-money) is found committed to paper by the bridegroom himself, "about 3 quarters after the mariag."

On the back of an old letter received by him, found at Dulwich College, was discovered the draft of another, written by Alleyne, (from circumstances mentioned about the month of August, 1624,) to some unnamed father-in-law, who had "unkindly, unexpectedly, and undeservedly denied the common courtesy of the loane of some unusefull money, after promise made, and a voluntary offer of 500l. more than was entreated.”—“I,” continued the astonished son-in-law, "making you acquainted with all my proceedings -"wonder what so strangely altered your mind at the very point of my occasion: and, trewly, Sir, I cannot dwell in quiett till I be in some sort resolved herein; and to that end, I have examined myselfe in all my proceedings touchinge you and your's, to see if I could find any such cause of offence in me, to move you to this bad dealing; and surely I can finde none; yett it seems you conceive it wholy to bee in mee, but I hope I shall alwayes be able before God and the world, well and trewly to cleere myselfe of the least breach of any jott of that promise I first made; and for your better remembrance, I pray you loke backe and revert to the whole process of the business, which, so farre as I can remember, I will trewly sett downe.

"Then thus: after motion made by Sir Thomas Grymes, on both sides, I was invited to your house the 21st of October, 1623, when after dinner in your parlor you declared your intention to bestow with your daughter Con., all the benefitt of your pryme Leet, which, as you said, you knew would shortly be received, and that you were assured, iff I stayd till Michælmas next, to be worth 500l. at the least, and whensoever it should rise to more, it should be wholly hers."

The latter statement is not very readily to be comprehended; but from what follows, it must have been clearly understood that 500l. had been the expected marriage portion of the bride; and that sum seems to have been given with her. The writer continues :

"My offer was to do as much for her as yourselfe; and add to that, at my death, 500l. more, and so her estate should be 1000l. This gave you content; and Sir Thomas persuaded me to doe somewhat more, which I did, and promised to leave her at my death 2000 marcs. This was accepted, and security demanded. I then towld you all my landes were stated on the College: three leases I had; one of them was given to the College; the other two, being the manor and recktory of Lewsham, worth 120li, a year, and divers tenements in the Blackfriars, as the plaie howse there, worth 120li. the year, both which cost me 2500li. Iff now my statute or recognizance would serve, those two leases should be put over to some persone in trust, that after my death, shee surviving, should be leaft 2000 marcs.

was appointed by his majesty, his most gracious master, to preach very many occasional sermons, as at St. Paul's Cross, and other

This was accepted on all sides, and yourself being called away by the coming of some ladyes, you took your leave of Sir Thomas, and referd the accomplishing of those businesses to his direction.

"I presently returned to Peckham, and coming then to Constance, towld her what had past, and more, to shew my love to her, off my oune voluntary, I towld her before Sir Thomas, I would make it upp 1500l., which was then by your selfe and Sir Thomas extraordinary contented with. All the while there was no 2001. a year spoken off, nor any other joynter, but so much money at my death: 'tis trew, it was thought more convenient for her to have 2001. then 1500l, money, and I said divers times, if God enabled me I shall be more willing to do it, and soe it was a desire, rather than a promise."

The marriage took place at Camberwell, December 3, 1623, when Constance, if, as supposed, the eldest child of her parents, was in the twentieth year of her age, and Edward Alleyne in his 58th,--seven years older than her father. From the will of Dr. Donne, it is ascertained that Constance had "five hundred pounds at her first marriage;" but the "security demanded and promised," was not given until two years and a half afterwards: it is therefore difficult to conceive, how Mr. Alleyne could write: "I have, with trew love and affection, performed all that ought to be done on my part to you and yours." "You called me,' he continues, "a playn man." A first impression might have produced a sentiment so passively favorable; while a more intimate acquaintance with the "'Squire of the Bears," [Master of His Majesties Bears and Fighting Dogges,] appears to have suggested more conservative intercourse desirable. Hence the numerous "backward favors," of which the son-in-law of "almost three quarters," had to complain. Not hackward himself, in solicitation, "Many tymes," he complains, (in threequarters of a year, mark,) "have I moved you for matters of indifference belonging to your place; but they were either put by to circumstances, or flattly denyed.” Indeed the marriage seems to have afforded little more satisfaction to the father than to the son-in-law; for in a letter of consolation to Mrs. Cokain, Dr. Donne writes: "We do but borrow children of God to lend them to the world. And when I lend the world a daughter in marriage, or lend the world a son in a profession, the world does not alwaies pay me well again; my hopes are not alwaies answered in that daughter or that son."-Sir Tobie Mathews' Coll., p. 346.

Reverting to Mr. Alleyne's draft letter, "It is now," he continues, "almost 3 quarters since our marriag: I have all thys tyme loved her, kept her, and maynteyned her, and never thought to have so great a cause off discontent as your selfe now gave. Thus I may safly take God and the world to witness, I have with trew love and affection performed all that ought to be done on my part to you and your's .. . . . . ., and soe the lord deale with me either in mercie or judgment, as I had a trew intention to doe good to those poore men, and no wrong to you nor yours. My language you tooke so harsh was this-that I now perceived you esteemed 500li. before my honesty, yea, my reputation, or your daughter's good. . . .

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With the best intentions on his part, Mr. Alleyne's verbal promise was hardly a safe investment. His passion for building and charitable endowment, had

places.* All which employments he performed to the admiration of the representative body of the whole clergy of this nation.

He was once, and but once, clouded with the king's displeasure, and it was about this time; which was occasioned by some malicious whisperer, who told his majesty that Dr, Donne had put on the general humour of the pulpits, and was become busy in insinuating a fear of the king's inclining to popery, and a dislike of his government; and particularly for the king's then

absorbed his available means, and notwithstanding his wealth, it is known that at the date of his letter of complaint, he was pressed for the payment of small sums of money he had taken up at interest; and he had not yet made any settlement on "Con." "Tis true, he promised to do so by his will; but that was not his engagement; and it must have been well understood by Sir Thomas Grymes, to whom the settlement of the business had been referred, that she would have small chance under a "last will," against the "poore men," under a previous endowment by deed. Thus, when Alleyne, by his will, directed that his "loving wife, Constance, (in case she survived him,) should be, according to his agreement, fully satisfied in the best manner that might be," her uncles, Sir Thomas Grymes and Sir Nicholas Throckmorton Carew, had good legal security in hand, to ensure its performance by the executors.

Alleyne's will bears date the 13th November, 1626, (twelve days before his decease,) and in reference to this matter, sets forth, that "in assurance of 1500l. to and for his dear and loving wife, Constance Alleyne, after his death, by two several deeds, dated the 29th June last, he had set over unto Sir Nicholas Carew, of Beddington, and Sir Thomas Grymes, of Peckham, in Surrey, kuts., certain messuages in the parish of St. Saviour, Southwark, and on the Bankside, &c.; and for further assurance of the said 1500l., had acknowledged a statute of 20007. bearing the same date, to the parties before named;" to ensure the payment of his obligation within three months after his decease, when the securities were to be given up or reconveyed to his executors. And in further testimony of his love, he left to his wife, for her present use, 100l. more, which he had already, on the 20th September last, delivered for her to Sir Thomas Grymes; and further, he gave to her all her jewels and ornaments whereof she was possessed.

Constance was the wife of Edward Alleyne nearly three years, and remained his widow three years and a half, when she became the wife of Mr. Harvey.

* Mr. Chamberlain, writing to Sir. Dudley Carleton, September 25, 1622, says: "On the 15th of this month, the dean of Paules preached at the crosse, to certify the king's good intention in the late orders concerning preachers and preaching, and of his constancy in the true reformed religion, which people, it should seem, began to suspect. The text was the 20th verse of the vth chapter of the booke of Judges, a somewhat strange text for such a businesse; and how he made it hold together I know not; but he gave no great satisfaction; or, as some say, spoke as if himself were not so well satisfied."-Birch's MSS.