ceive it, and faid (as good Jacob did, when he heard his beloved fon Joseph was alive)" It is enough: You have been "kind to me and mine: I know your

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prefent condition is fuch as not to a"bound, and I hope mine is or will be "fuch as not to need it. I will therefore "receive no more from you upon that "contract ;" and in teftimony of it freely gave him up his bond.

Immediately after his admiffion into his deanery, the vicarage of St. Dunstan in the Weft, London, fell to him by the death of Dr. White, the advowfon of it having been given to him long 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 thefe, and another ecclefiaftical endowment which fell to him about the fame time, given to him formerly by the Earl of Kent, he was enabled to become charitable to the poor, and kind to his friends, and to make fuch provision for his children, that they were not left fcandalous,

dalous, as relating to their or his profesfion and quality.

The next parliament, which was within that present year, he was chofen Prolocutor to the Convocation, and about that time was appointed by his Majesty, his moft gracious mafter, to preach very many occafional fermons, as at St. Paul's Crofs, and other places. All which employments he performed to the admiration of the reprefentative body of the whole clergy of this nation.

He was once, and but once, clouded with the King's difpleasure, and it was about this time; which was occafioned by fome malicious whisperer, who had told his Majefty that Dr. Donne had put on the general humour of the pulpits, and was become busy in infinuating a fear of the King's inclining to Popery, and a diflike of his government; and particularly for the King's then turning the evening lectures into catechifing, and expounding the Prayer of our Lord, and of the Belief, and Commandments. His Majesty was the more inclinable to believe this, for

that

that a person of nobility and great note, betwixt whom and Dr. Donne there had been a great friendship, was at this very time difcarded the court, (I fhall forbear his name, unless I had a fairer occafion) and juftly committed to prifon; which begot many rumours in the common people, who in this nation think they are not wise, unless they be busy about what they understand not, and especially about religion.

The King received this news with fo much discontent and reftleffness, that he would not fuffer the fun to fet and leave him under this doubt; but fent for Dr. Donne, and required his anfwer to the accufation; which was fo clear and fatiffactory, that the King said, "he was right "glad he refted no longer under the fuf"picion." When the King had faid this, Dr. Donne kneeled down, and thanked his Majefty, and protested his answer was faithful, and free from all collufion, and therefore "defired that he might not rife, "till, as in like cafes he always had from "God, fo he might have from his Ma"jesty,

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"jefty, fome affurance that he ftood clear "and fair in his opinion." At which the King raised him from his knees with his own hands, and "protefted he believed "him; and that he knew he was an ho"neft man, and doubted not but that he "loved him truly." And, having thus difmiffed him, he called fome lords of his council into his chamber, and faid with much earneftnefs, "My Doctor is an ho"neft man; and, my Lords, I was never "better fatisfied with an answer than he "hath now made me; and I always re"joice when I think that by my means " he became a divine.”

He was made Dean in the fiftieth year of his age; and in his fifty-fourth year a dangerous fickness seized him, which inclined him to a confumption: but God, as Job thankfully acknowledged, " pre"ferved his fpirit," and kept his intellectuals as clear and perfect, as when that fickness first seized his body; but it continued long, and threatened him with death, which he dreaded not.

In this diftemper of body, his dear friend,

Dr.

Dr. Henry King, (then chief Refidentiary of that church, and late Bishop of Chichefter) a man generally known by the clergy of this nation, and as generally noted for his obliging nature, vifited him daily; and obferving that his fickness rendered his recovery doubtful, he chose a seasonable time to speak to him to this purpose:

"Mr. Dean, I am by your favour no "ftranger to your temporal estate, and

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you are no ftranger to the offer lately "made us, for the renewing a lease of "the best prebend's corps belonging to "our church; and you know it was de"nied, for that our tenant being very "rich, offered to fine at fo low a rate as "held not proportion with his advantages: "but I will either raise him to an higher "fum, or procure that the other refiden"tiaries fhall join to accept of what was "offered: one of these I can and will by 66 your favour do without delay, and with❝out any trouble either to your body or "mind. I befeech you to accept of my "offer, for I know it will be a confidera