DR

JOHN DONNE, D. D.

DEAN OF ST PAUL'S.

R JOHN DONNE, was born in London, of good and virtuous parents, in the year 1573; his father was lineally descended from a very ancient family in Wales, where many of his name now live, of great reputation in that country. By his mother he was descended from the family of the famous Sir Thomas More, lord chancellor of England; and also from the worthy and laborious judge Rastall, who abridged the statutes of this kingdom.

He had his first breeding in his father's house, where a private tutor had the care of him, till he was eleven years of age; he was then sent to the university of Oxford, having at that time a command of the French and Latin tongues, when others can scarce speak their own. There he remained in Hart-hall, (having for the advancement of his studies, tutors in several sciences to instruct him) till time and his learning declared him fit to receive his first degree in the schools; which however he forbore by advice from his friends, who being of the Romish persuasion, were extremely averse to some parts of the oath, always tendered and taken at those times. Here it was observed of him, as it had formerly been of the famous Picus Mirandula, that he was rather born wise than made so by study!' so early did he discover his acuteness and capacity !

About the fourteenth year of his age, he was transplanted from Oxford to Cambridge, where he staid till his seventeenth year. All which time he was a most laborious student, often changing his studies, but endeavouring to take no degree for the reasons before mentioned. About his seventeenth year he was removed to London, and entered into Lincoln's-inn, with an intent to study the law, where he gave great testimonies of wit, learning, and improvement in that profession, which never served him for any use, but only for ornament. His father died before his admission into that society, and (being a merchant) left him his portion in money, which was three thousand

pounds.

pounds. His mother, and those to whose care he was committed, were watchful to improve his knowledge, and to that end appointed him there also tutors in several sciences, as in the mathematics and others, to attend and instruct him. But with these arts they were advised to instil the particular principles of the Romish church, of which those tutors (though secretly) professed themselves to be members. They had almost won him to their faith, having for their advantage, besides their opportunity, the example of his most dear parents, which was a powerful persuasion, and did work much upon him, as he professed in the preface to his "Pseudo-Martyr."

He now entered into the nineteenth year of his age, and being unresolved in his religion, he thought it necessary to settle all scruples which concerned that important point: And therefore waving the law, and attaching himself to no art or profession, he began to survey the body of divinity, controverted between the Reformed and Roman churches. And as GOD's blessed Spirit did then awaken him to the search, and in that industry did never forsake him (these are his own words), so he calls the same Spirit to witness to his protestation, that in that search and disquisition he proceeded with humility and diffidence in himself, by the safest way of frequent prayers, and indifferent affection to both parties. And indeed, the truth had too much light about her, to be hid from so sharp an inquirer; and he had too much ingenuity, not to acknowledge he had seen her. "I had a larger work (says he) "to do in this inquiry, than many other men; for I was "to blot out certain impressions of the Roman religion, "and to wrestle both against the examples and against "the reasons by which some hold was taken, and some "anticipations early laid upon my conscience, both by "persons who by nature had a power and superiority over "my will, and others who, by their learning and good "life, seemed to me justly to claim an interest for the "guiding and rectifying of mine understanding in these "matters."

Being to undertake this search, he believed the learned cardinal Bellarmine to be the best defender of the Roman cause; and therefore undertook the examination of his reasons. The cause was weighty, and wilful delays had been inexcuseable towards GOD and his own conscience; he therefore proceeded with all moderate haste: And before he entered into the twentieth year of his age, shewed the dean of Gloucester all the cardinal's works marked with

many

many weighty observations under his own hand, which works were bequeathed by him at his death as a legacy to a most dear friend. The result of his inquiry was a tho rough conversion to Protestantism; to which, says he, "I "was not transported by any sudden and violent deter"mination, till I had, to the measure of my poor wit "and judgment, surveyed and digested the whole body "of divinity, controverted between our's and the Romish « church.

About the twenty-first year of his age, he resolved to travel; and, in the years 1596 and 1597, accompanied the earl of Essex in his expedition against Cadiz and the Azors Islands. But he returned not into England till he had staid a convenient time, first in Italy and then in Spain, where he made many useful observations of those countries, their laws, and government, and returned into England perfect in their languages. He also intended to go to the Holy Land, but was prevented by the disappointment of company and a safe convoy.

Not long after his return, that exemplary pattern of gravity and wisdom, the lord Elsmore, lord keeper of the great seal, and afterwards chancellor of England, taking notice of his learning, languages, and other abilities, and much affecting both his person and condition, received him to be his chief secretary, supposing it might be an introduction to some more weighty employment in the state, for which his lordship often protested he thought him very well qualified. Nor did his lordship account him so much to be his servant, as to forget he had been his friend; and to testify it, he used him always with much courtesy, appointing him a place at his own table, to which he esteemed his company and discourse a great ornament. He continued that employment with much love and approbation, being daily useful (and not mercenary) to his friends, for the space of five years; in which time, he fell in love with a young lady who lived in that family, niece to the lady Elsmore, and daughter to Sir George More, chancellor of the garter, and lieutenant of the tower.

Sir George had some intimation of their love, and, the better to prevent it, removed his daughter to his own house, but too late, by reason of some promises interchangeably past, and inviolably to be kept between them. Their love (a passion, which of all other mankind is least able to command, and in which most errors are committed) was in them so powerful, that they resolved, and, in the year 1602, did marry without the approbation of those

friends,

friends, who might justly claim an interest in the advising and disposing of them. Being married, the news was (in favour to Mr Donne, and with his allowance) by the right honourable Henry, then earl of Northumberland, secretly and certainly intimated to Sir George More, to whom it was so immeasurably unwelcome, that (as though his passion of anger and inconsideration should exceed theirs of love and error) he engaged his sister, the lady Elsmore, to join with him to procure her lord to discharge Mr Donne from the place he held under his lordship. And although Sir George was reminded that errors might be over-punished, and therefore was desired to forbear, till second considerations had cleared some scruples; yet he was restless till his suit was granted, and the punishment executed; the lord chancellor, at Mr Donne's dismission, protesting, he thought him a secretary fitter for a king than a subject. But this physic of Mr Donne's was not strong enough to purge out all Sir George's choler, who was not satisfied till Mr Donne and his com-pupil in Cambridge that married him, Mr Samuel Brooke, who was after D. D. and master of Trinity College in that university, and his brother, Mr Christopher Brooke of Lincoln's-inn, who gave Mr Donne his wife, and witnessed the marriage, were all committed to several prisons.

Mr Donne was first enlarged, who neither gave rest to his body, his brain, nor any friend, in whom he might hope to have any interest, till he had procured the enlargement of his two imprisoned friends. He was now at liberty, but his wife, to her extreme sorrow, was detained from him. And though with Jacob, he endured not a hard service for her, yet he lost a good one, and was forced to get possession of her by a long suit in law, which proved very chargeable and more troublesome.

It was not long ere time, and Mr Donne's behaviour, which, when it would entice, had a strange kind of irresistible art, had so dispassioned his father-in-law, that, as the world had approved his daughter's choice, so he also could not choose but see a more than ordinary merit in his new son, which melted him into so much remorse, that he secretly laboured his son's restoration into his place, using his own and his sister's power, but with no success; the lord chancellor replying, that, although he was unfeignedly sorry for what he had done, yet it stood not with his credit to discharge and re-admit servants, at the request of passionate petitioners. In a short time, Sir George appeared to be so far reconciled as to wish their happiness,

(or

(or say so ;) and being asked for his paternal blessing, did not deny it; but refused to contribute any means, that might conduce to their support.

Mr Donne's portion was, for the most part, spent in many and chargeable travels, and the rest disbursed in some few books, and dear bought experience; he out of all employment that might yield a support for himself and wife, who had been genteelly educated; his nature generous, and he accustomed to confer, not to receive favours. These and other considerations, but chiefly that his dear wife was to bear a part in his sufferings, surrounded him with many and sad thoughts, and some apparent apprehensions of want. But his sorrow was lessened, and his wants prevented, by the seasonable friendship of their noble kinsman, Sir Francis Wolley, of Pitford in Surrey, who intreated them to a co-habitation with him; where they remained with very much freedom to themselves, and equal content to him, for many years: And as their charge increased (for she had yearly a child) so did his love and bounty.

With him they continued till his death; a little before which time, Sir Frances was so happy as to make a perfect reconciliation betwixt Sir George More and his forsaken son and daughter; Sir George then giving bond to pay Mr Donne eight hundred pounds at a certain day as a portion with his wife, and to pay him for their maintenance twenty pound quarterly, as the interest of it, until the said portion were paid. Most of those years that he lived with Sir Frances, he studied the civil and canon laws; in which he acquired such a perfection as was judged to hold some proportion with many, who had made that study the employment of their whole life. About this time, he was solicited by Dr Morton, afterwards bishop of Durham, to go into orders, and to accept of a benefice, which the doctor would have resigned to him. But he declined this offer for many reasons, but chiefly "because some former "irregularities of his life had been too notorious, not to "expose him to the censure of the world, and perhaps "bring dishonour to the sacred function. Besides, being "determined by the best casuists, that God's glory should "be the first end, and a maintenance the second motive, "to embrace that calling, his present condition was such, "that he feared he could not reconcile his conscience to "that rule."

Sir Francis being dead, and that happy family dissolved, Mr Donne took a house at Mitcham, near Croydon in Sur

rey,