interest, until he had procured an enlargement for his two imprisoned friends.

:

He was now at liberty, but his days were still cloudy and being past these troubles, others did still multiply upon him; for his wife was,―to her extreme sorrow-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 make good his title, and to get possession of her by a long and restless suit in law; which proved troublesome and sadly chargeable to him, whose youth, and travel, and needless bounty, had brought his estate into a narrow compass.

It is observed, and most truly, that silence and submission are charming qualities, and work most upon passionate men; and it proved so with Sir George; for these, and a general report of Mr. Donne's merits, together with his winning behaviour, which, when it would entice, had a strange kind of elegant irresistible art; these, and time had so dispassionated Sir George, that as the world had approved his daughter's choice, so he also could not but see a more than ordinary merit in his new son; and this at last melted him into so much remorse,-for love and anger are so like agues, as to have hot and cold fits; and love in parents, though it may be quenched, yet is easily re-kindled, and expires not till death denies mankind a natural heat, that he laboured his son's restoration to his place; using to that end, both his own and his sister's power to her lord; but with no success; for his answer was, "That though he was unfeignedly sorry for what he had done, yet it was inconsistent with his place and credit, to discharge and re-admit servants at the request of passionate petitioners."

Sir George's endeavour for Mr. Donne's re-admission, was by all means to be kept secret :-for men do more naturally reluct for errors, than submit to put on those blemishes that attend their visible acknowledgement-But, however, it was not long before Sir George appeared to be so far reconciled, as to wish their happiness, and not to deny them his paternal blessing, but yet refu

* The first edition has this allusion to Genesis, chap. xxix.; and similar ref. erences placed in the margin.

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sed to contribute any means that might conduce to their livelihood.

Mr. Donne's estate was the greatest part spent in many and chargeable travels, books, and dear-bought experience: he out of all employment that might yield a support for himself and wife, who had been curiously and plentifully educated; both their natures generous, and accustomed to confer, and not to receive, courtesies these and other considerations, but chiefly that his wife was to bear a part in his sufferings, surrounded him with many sad thoughts, and some apparent apprehensions of want.

But his sorrows were lessened and his wants prevented, by the seasonable courtesy of their noble kinsman, Sir Francis Wolly,* of Pirford, in Surrey, who intreated them to a cohabitation with him; where they remained with much freedom to themselves, and equal content to him, for some years; and as their charge increased she had yearly a child, so did his love and bounty.

It hath been observed by wise and considering men, that wealth hath seldom been the portion, and never the mark to discover good people; but that Almighty God, who disposeth all things wisely, hath of his abundant goodness denied it-he only knows why-to many, whose minds he hath enriched with the greater blessings of knowledge and virtue, as the fairer testimonies of his love to mankind: and this was the present condition of this man of so excellent erudition and endowments; whose necessary and daily expences, were hardly reconcileable with his uncertain and narrow estate. Which I mention, for that at this time, there was a most generous offer made him for the moderating of his worldly cares; the declaration of which shall be the next employment of my pen. God hath been so good to his Church, as to afford it in every

* Or Wolley, only son of Sir John Wolley, Knight, Dean of Carlisle, and Latin Secretary to Queen Elizabeth; was born March 18th, 1582-83, and was a Member of Merton College, Oxford. In 1600, he represented the borough of Haslemere, in Parliament, and was afterwards knighted, but he died unmarried in the flower of his age in 1610. He was buried in the same grave with his father, and the Lady Egerton his mother, in the church of Pirford, in Surrey; but in 1614, their bodies were all removed, and re-interred under a beautiful monument of black and white marble, bearing their effigies, and a Latin Epitaph, in St. Paul's Cathedral, which was destroyed in the great fire

age, some such men to serve at his altar, as have been piously ambitious of doing good to mankind; a disposition, that is so like to God himself, that it owes itself only to Him, who takes a pleasure to behold it in his creatures. These times* he did bless with many such; some of which still live to be patterns of apostolical charity, and of more than human patience. I have said this, because I have occasion to mention one of them in my following discourse; namely, Dr. Morton,† the most laborious and learned Bishop of Durham; one that God hath blessed with perfect intellectuals and a cheerful heart at the age of 94 years— and is yet living :-one, that in his days of plenty had so large a heart, as to use his large revenue to the encouragement of learning and virtue, and is now—be it spoken with sorrow-reduced to a narrow estate, which he embraces without repining; and still shows the beauty of his mind by so liberal a hand, as if this were an age in which to-morrow were to care for itself. I have taken a pleasure in giving the reader a short, but true character of this

* 1648.

+ Thomas Morton is supposed by his friend and biographer Dr. John Barwick, to have been descended from the famous Cardinal Morton, Bishop of Ely. He was born at York, March 20th, 1564, and was educated there and at Halifax. where one of his schoolfellows was the notorious Guy Fawkes. In 1582, he was entered of St. John's College, Cambridge, where he read Lectures on Logic; and on account of his skill in disputing with the Romish recusants, he was selected to be chaplain to the Earl of Huntingdon, then Lord President of the North. In 1602, holding a Rectory about four miles from York, he distinguished himself by his fearless and charitable exertions whilst the Plague was in that City; often visiting the Pest-House there, and carrying provisions to the poor unattended by a single domestic. In 1603, he went as Chaplain with the English Embassy to Denmark; in 1606, he became D.D. and Chaplain to James I.; he was made Dean of Gloucester by the King, June 22nd, 1607, and was removed to Winchester in 1609. Early in 1616, Dr. Morton was made Bishop of Chester; in which Diocese he used many efforts to conciliate the Nonconformists. In 1618, he was again translated to the See of Lichfield and Coventry, in which situation he detected the supposed witchcraft of the Boy of Bilson; and on July 2nd, 1632, he was advanced to the Bishopric of Durham. Dr. Morton suffered much during the Rebellion, and was expelled from his Palace, but he was at length taken into the protection of Sir Christopher Yelverton, to whose son he became Tutor; and at whose seat in Northamptonshire he died, Sept. 22nd, 1659, having been 44 years a Bishop, and being in the 95th year of his age.

good man, my friend, from whom I received this following relation. He sent to Mr. Donne, and intreated to borrow an hour of

his time for a conference the next day. After their meeting, there was not many minutes passed before he spake to Mr. Donne to this purpose: "Mr. Donne, the occasion of sending for you, is to propose to you what I have often revolved in my own thought since I last saw you which nevertheless, I will not declare but upon this condition, that you shall not return me a present answer, but forbear three days, and bestow some part of that time in fasting and prayer; and after a serious consideration of what I shall propose, then return to me with your answer. Deny me not, Mr. Donne; for, it is the effect of a true love, which I would gladly pay as a debt due for yours to me."

This request being granted, the Doctor expressed himself thus: "Mr. Donne, I know your education and abilities; I know your expectation of a state-employment; and I know your fitness for it; and I know too the many delays and contingencies that attend court-promises: and let me tell you, that my love, begot by our long friendship and your merits, hath prompted me to such an inquisition after your present temporal estate, as makes me no stranger to your necessities; which I know to be such as your generous spirit could not bear, if it were not supported with a pious patience. You know I have formerly persuaded you to wave your court-hopes, and enter into holy orders; which I now again persuade you to embrace, with this reason added to my former request: The King hath yesterday made me Dean of Gloucester, and I am also possessed of a benefice, the profits of which are equal to those of my deanery; I will think my deanery enough for my maintenance,-who am, and resolved to die, a single man—and will quit my benefice, and estate you in it, which the Patron is willing I shall do—if God shall incline your heart to embrace this motion. Remember, Mr. Donne, no man's education or parts make him too good for this employment, which is to be an ambassador for the God of glory; that God, who, by a vile death, opened the gates of life to mankind. Make me no present answer; but remember your promise, and return to me the third day with your resolution.'

At the hearing of this, Mr. Donne's faint breath and perplexed

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countenance, gave a visible testimony of an inward conflict: but he performed his promise, and departed without returning an answer till the third day, and then his answer was to this effect : 'My most worthy and most dear friend, since I saw you, I have been faithful to my promise, and have also meditated much of your great kindness, which hath been such as would exceed even my gratitude; but that it cannot do; and more I cannot return you; and I do that with an heart full of humility and thanks, though I may not accept of your offer; but, Sir, my refusal is not for that I think myself too good for that calling, for which Kings, if they think so, are not good enough: nor for that my education and learning, though not eminent, may not, being assisted with God's grace and humility, render me in some measure fit for it: but I dare make so dear a friend as you are, my confessor: some irregularities of my life have been so visible to some men, that though I have, I thank God, made my peace with him by penitential resolutions against them, and by the assistance of his grace banished them my affections; yet this, which God knows to be so, is not so visible to man, as to free me from their censures, and it may be that sacred calling from a dishonour. And besides, whereas it is determined by the best of casuists, that God's glory should be the first end, and a maintenance the second motive to embrace that calling; and though each man may propose to himself both together, yet the first may not be put last without a violation of conscience, which he that searches the heart will judge. And truly my present condition is such, that if I ask my own conscience, whether it be reconcileable to that rule, it is at this time so perplexed about it, that I can neither give myself nor you an answer. You know, Sir, who says, 'Happy is that man whose conscience doth not accuse him for that thing which he does.'* To these I might add other reasons that dissuade me; but I crave your favour that I may forbear to express them, and thankfully decline your offer."

This was his present resolution, but the heart of man is not in his own keeping; and he was destined to this sacred service by

*Romans xiv. 22. The modern translation is, "Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that which he doeth."