cular principles of the Romish Church; of which those tutors profeffed, though fecretly, themselves to be members.

They had almoft obliged him to their faith; having for their advantage, befides many opportunities, the example of his dear and pious parents, which was a moft powerful perfuafion, and did work much upon him, as he profeffeth in his preface to his Pfeudo-Martyr, a book of which the reader fhall have fome account in what follows.

He was now entered into the eighteenth year of his age; and at that time had be> trothed himself to no religion, that might give him any other denomination than a Christian. And reafon and piety had both perfuaded him, that there could be no fuch fin as Schifm, if an adherence to fome vifible church were not neceffary.

About the nineteenth year of his age, he being then unrefolved what religion to adhere to, and confidering how much it concerned his foul to choose the most orthodox, did therefore, (though his youth

youth and health promised him a long life) to rectify all fcruples that might concern that, presently lay aside all study of the law, and of all other fciences that might give him a denomination; and began seriously to furvey and confider the body of divinity, as it was then controverted betwixt the Reformed and the Roman Church. And as God's bleffed Spirit did then awaken him to the search, and in that industry did never forfake him, (they be his own words*) fo he calls the fame holy Spirit to witness this protestation; that in that difquifition and search he proceeded with humility and diffidence in himself, and by that which he took to be the safest way; namely, frequent prayers, and an indifferent affection to both parties; and indeed, truth had too much light about her to be hid from fo sharp an enquirer; and he had too much ingenuity, not to acknowledge he had found her.

Being to undertake this search, he be

* In his Preface to Pfeudo-Martyr.

lieved the Cardinal Bellarmine to be the beft defender of the Roman caufe, and therefore betook himself to the examination of his reafons. The caufe was weighty, and wilful delays had been inexcufable both towards God and his own confcience: he therefore proceeded in this fearch with all moderate hafte, and about the twentieth year of his age did fhew the then Dean of Gloucester (whofe name my memory hath now loft) all the Cardinal's works marked with many weighty observations under his own hand; which works were bequeathed by him, at his death, as a legacy to a moft dear friend.

About a year following he refolved to travel; and the Earl of Effex going first the Cales, and after the Island voyages, the first anno 1596, the fecond 1597, he took the advantage of thofe opportunities, waited upon his Lordship, and was an eye-witness of those happy and unhappy employments.

But he returned not back into England, till he had staid fome years firft in Italy, and

and then in Spain, where he made many ufeful obfervations of those countries, their laws and manner of government, and returned perfect in their languages.

The time that he fpent in Spain was, at his first going into Italy, defigned for travelling to the Holy Land, and for viewing Jerufalem and the fepulchre of our Saviour. But at his being in the furtheft parts of Italy, the disappointment of company, or of a fafe convoy, or the uncertainty of returns of money into those remote parts, denied him that happiness, which he did often occafionally mention with a deploration.

Not long after his return into England, that exemplary pattern of gravity and wisdom, the Lord Elfemore, then Keeper of the Great Seal, and Lord Chancellor of England, taking notice of his learning, languages, and other abilities, and much affecting his person and behaviour, took him to be his chief fecretary; fuppofing and intending it to be an introduction to fome more weighty employment in

the ftate; for which his Lordship did often protest he thought him very fit.

Nor did his Lordship, in this time of Mafter Donne's attendance upon him, account him to be fo much his fervant, as to forget he was his friend; and, to testify it, did always use him with much courtesy, appointing him a place at his own table, to which he efteemed his company and difcourfe to be a great or

nament.

He continued that employment for the fpace of five years, being daily useful, and not mercenary to his friends. During which time he (I dare not fay unhappily) fell into fuch a liking, as, with her approbation, increased into a love with a young gentlewoman that lived in that family, who was niece to the Lady Elfemore, and daughter to Sir George Moor, then Chancellor of the Garter and Lieutenant of the Tower.

Sir George had fome intimation of it, and knowing prevention to be a great part of wisdom, did therefore remove

her