doubt have no rest; and it proved so with Sir Robert; for he immediately sent a servant to Drewry-house, with a charge to hasten back, and bring him word, whether Mrs. Donne were alive; and if alive, in what condition she was as to her health. The twelfth day the messenger returned with this account-That he found and left Mrs. Donne very sad, and sick in her bed; and that after a long and dangerous labour, she had been delivered of a dead child. And, upon examination, the abortion proved to be the same day, and about the very hour, that Mr. Donne affirmed he saw her pass by him in his chamber.

This is a relation that will beget some wonder, and it well may; for most of our world are at present possessed with an opinion, that Visions and Miracles are ceased. And, though it is most certain, that two lutes being both strung and tuned to an equal pitch, and then one played upon, the other, that is not touched, being laid upon a table at a fit distance, will-like an echo to a trumpet-warble a faint audible harmony in answer to the same tune; yet many will not believe there is any such thing as a sympathy of souls; and I am well pleased, that every Reader do enjoy his own opinion. But if the unbelieving, will not allow the believing Reader of this story, a liberty to believe that it may be true; then I wish him to consider, many wise men have believed that the ghost* of Julius Cæsar did appear to Brutus, and that both St. Austin, and Monica his mother, had visions in order to his conversion. And though these, and many others —too many to name—have but the authority of human story, yet the incredible Reader may find in the Sacred story,† that Samuel did appear to Saul even after his death-whether really or not, I undertake not to determine.-And Bildad, in the Book of Job, says these words;‡ "A spirit passed before my face; the hair of my head stoop up; fear and trembling came upon me, and

* The whole of this narrative, &c. concerning Dr. Donne's vision, beginning "At this time," down to "many of the Nobility," is wanting in the earlier editions as well as in the collection of 1670: and it has been supposed that he did not sooner insert it that he might have time to ascertain its truth. The account of the visions of St. Austin and Monica, will be found in Wats's translation of St. Augustine's Confessions, Book iii. Chap. 11; and Book viii. Chap. 12. 1 Sam. xxviii. 14. Job. iv. 13-16.

made all my bones to shake." Upon which words I will make no comment, but leave them to be considered by the incredulous Reader; to whom I will also commend this following consideration: That there be many pious and learned men, that believe our merciful God hath assigned to every man a particular Guardian Angel, to be his constant monitor, and to attend him in all his dangers, both of body and soul. And the opinion that every man hath his particular Angel, may gain some authority, by the relation of St. Peter's miraculous deliverance out of prison,* not by many, but by one Angel. And this belief may yet gain more credit, by the Reader's considering, that when Peter after his enlargement knocked at the door of Mary the mother of John, and Rhode, the maid-servant, being surprised with joy that Peter was there, did not let him in, but ran in haste, and told the disciples —who were then and there met together-that Peter was at the door; and they, not believing it, said she was mad: yet, when she again affirmed it, though they then believed it not, yet they concluded, and said, "It is his Angel."

More observations of this nature, and inferences from them, might be made to gain the relation a firmer belief: but I forbear, lest I, that intended to be but a relator, may be thought to be an engaged person for the proving what was related to me; and yet I think myself bound to declare, that though it was not told me by Mr. Donne himself,—it was told me-now long since-by a Person of Honour, and of such intimacy with him, that he knew more of the secrets of his soul, than any person then living: and I think he told me the truth; for it was told with such circumstances, and such asseveration, that—to say nothing of my own thoughts-I verily believe he that told it me, did himself believe it to be true.

I forbear the Reader's further trouble, as to the relation, and what concerns it; and will conclude mine, with commending to his view a copy of verses given by Mr. Donne to his wife at the time he then parted from her. And I beg leave to tell, that I nave heard some critics, learned both in languages and poetry, say, that none of the Greek or Latin poets did ever equal them.

*Acts xii. 7-10. Ib. 13-15.

A VALEDICTION, FORBIDDING TO MOURN.

As virtuous men pass mildly away,

And whisper to their souls, to go,

Whilst some of their sad friends do say, The breath goes now, and some say, No:

So let us melt, and make no noise.

No tear-floods, nor sigh-tempests move, 'Twere profanation of our joys,

To tell the laity our love.

Moving of th' earth, brings harms and fears :

Men reckon what it did or meant :

But trepidation of the spheres,

Though greater far, is innocent.

Dull sublunary lovers' love

Whose soul is sense-cannot admit Absence, because that doth remove Those things which elemented it.

But we, by a love so far refin'd,

That ourselves know not what it is, Inter-assured of the mind,

Care not hands, eyes, or lips to miss.

Our two souls therefore, which are one,—
Though I must go,-endure not yet

A breach, but an expansion,

Like gold to airy thinness beat.

If we be two? we are two so

As stiff twin-compasses are two : Thy soul, the fix'd foot, makes no show To move, but does if th' other do.

And though thine in the centre sit,
Yet, when my other far does roam,
Thine leans and hearkens after it,
And

grows erect as mine comes home.

Such wilt thou be to me, who must,
Like th' other foot, obliquely run :
Thy firmness makes my circle just,
And me to end where I begun.

I return from my account of the vision, to tell the Reader, that both before Mr. Donne's going into France, at his being there, and after his return, many of the Nobility and others that were powerful at Court, were watchful and solicitous to the King for some secular employment for him. The King had formerly both known and put a value upon his company, and had also given him some hopes of a state-employment; being always much pleased when Mr. Donne attended him, especially at his meals, where there were usually many deep discourses of general learning, and very often friendly disputes, or debates of religion, betwixt his Majesty and those divines, whose places required their attendance on him at those times; particularly the Dean of the Chapel, who then was Bishop Montague*-the publisher of the learned and eloquent Works of his Majesty—and the most Reverend Doctor Andrews,† the late learned Bishop of Winchester, who was then the King's Almoner.

* James, fifth son to Sir Edward, and brother to Edward, first Lord Montague of Boughton, in the County of Northampton, was usually called " King James's Ecclesiastical Favourite." He was educated in Christ Church College, Cambridge, and in 1608, was made Bishop of Bath and Wells; when he repaired the Abbey Church of Bath, at a great expense, through the representations of Sir John Harrington. In 1616, he was translated to the Bishopric of Winchester, and died in his 49th year in 1618, being buried in the Abbey at Bath.

+ Launcelot Andrews, a Prelate of most eminent virtues, born in London in 1565, and educated at Merchant Tailors School, and Pembroke Hall, Cambridge, of which he became Fellow. He attracted great attention at the University by his Lectures on the Commandments, and his skill in Cases of Conscience. Henry Earl of Huntingdon made him his Chaplain when he was

About this time there grew many disputes, that concerned the Oath of Supremacy and Allegiance, in which the King had appeared, and engaged himself by his public writings now extant: and his Majesty discoursing with Mr. Donne, concerning many of the reasons which are usually urged against the taking of those Oaths, apprehended such a validity and clearness in his stating the questions, and his answers to them, that his Majesty commanded him to bestow some time in drawing the arguments into a method, and then to write his answers to them; and, having done that, not to send, but be his own messenger, and bring them to him. To this he presently and diligently applied himself, and within six weeks brought them to him under his own hand writing, as they be now printed; the book bearing the name of Pseudo-Martyr, printed anno 1610.

When the King had read and considered that book, he persuaded Mr. Donne to enter into the Ministry; to which, at that time, he was, and appeared, very unwilling, apprehending it—such was his mistaken modesty-to be too weighty for his abilities: and though his Majesty had promised him a favour, and many persons of worth mediated with his Majesty for some secular employment for him, to which his education had apted him-and particularly the Earl of Somerset,* when in his greatest height of favour;

President of the North-where he made several converts to the Protestant faith-and he was also patronized by Secretary Walsingham. Queen Elizabeth made him one of her Chaplains in Ordinary, and was so much pleased with his preaching, that she appointed him Prebendary and Dean of Westminster, and Bishop of London at the death of Dr. Bancroft. Dr. Andrews was also in great favour with James I. who promoted him to the See of Chichester in 1605, and in 1609, to that of Ely. In 1618, he was translated to Winchester, and he died at the Episcopal Palace in Southwark, Sept. 25th, 1626, being buried under a splendid monument in St. Saviour's Church. Bishop Andrews was one of the translators of King James's Bible, and he is said to have known fifteen modern languages.

* Robert Carr, a Scots gentleman, had been page to King James I, before he came to England, he was introduced to the King at a tilting, in 1611, by Lord Hay, when the accidental breaking of his leg by a fall from his horse, at once brought him into favour. On his recovery, he was knighted; the King himself taught him the Latin tongue, made him Lord of his Bedchamber, and, soon after, Lord Treasurer of Scotland. In 1612 he was created Viscount Rochester, a Member of the Privy Council, and a Knight of the