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That Summer, in the very same month in which he entered into sacred Orders, and was made the King's Chaplain, his Majesty then going his Progress, was entreated to receive an entertainment in the University of Cambridge: and Mr. Donne attending his Majesty at that time, his Majesty was pleased to recommend him to the University, to be made Doctor in Divinity: Doctor Harsnett*—after Archbishop of York-was then Vice-Chancellor, who, knowing him to be the author of that learned book the Pseudo-Martyr, required no other proof of his abilities, but proposed it to the University, who presently assented, and expressed a gladness, that they had such an occasion to entitle him to be theirs.t

the same spirit with which they writ; reasonable demonstrations every where in the subjects comprehensible by reason: As for those things which cannot be comprehended by our reason alone, they are no where made easier to faith than here; and for the other part of our nature, which consists in our passions and in our affections, they are here raised and laid, and governed and disposed, in a manner, according to the will of the author. The doctrine itself which is taught here is primitively Christian; the Fathers are every where consulted with reverence, but apostolical writings only appealed to as the last Rule of Faith. Lastly, such is the conjuncture here of zeal and discretion, that whilst it is the main scope of the author in these Discourses, that glory be given to God, this is accompanied every where with a scrupulous care and endeavour, that peace be likewise settled amongst men."

* Samuel Harsnett, born at Colchester in 1561, and admitted of King's College, Cambridge, in Sept. 1576, whence he removed to Pembroke Hall, of which he was elected Fellow in 1583, and Master in 1605. In the same year, and again in 1614, he was Vice-Chancellor of Cambridge; in 1609, he was made Bishop of Chichester, whence he was translated to the See of Norwich in 1619, and to the Archbishopric of York in 1628. In Nov. 1629, Dr. Harsnett was made a Privy Councillor, and he died May 25th, 1631. He was one of the best writers of his time, and his publication.s consist of a Sermon at Paul's Cross, and a Controversial tract on Demoniacal Possession. Le Neve states that he gave up his Mastership in Cambridge, rather than stand the result of an enquiry into 57 articles which were brought against him.

+ The circumstance of Dr. Donne being made D.D. at Cambridge, is related in a different manner in two letters written by Mr. Chamberlain to Sir Dudley Carleton. In one, dated March 16th, 1614, he writes, "I had almost forgotten, that almost all the Courtiers went forth Masters of Arts at the King's being there; but few, or no Doctors, save only Younge, which was done by a mandate, being son to Sir Peter, the King's schoolmaster. The Vice-Chancellor and University were exceeding strict in that point, and refused many im

His abilities and industry in his profession were so eminent, and he so known and so beloved by persons of quality, that within the first year of his entering into sacred Orders, he had fourteen advowsons of several benefices presented to him: but they were in the country, and he could not leave his beloved London, to which place he had a natural inclination, having received both his birth and education in it, and there contracted a friendship with many, whose conversation multiplied the joys of his life: but an employment that might affix him to that place would be welcome, for he needed it.

Immediately after his return from Cambridge, his wife died,* leaving him a man of a narrow, unsettled estate, and—having buried five-the careful father of seven children then living, to whom he gave a voluntary assurance, never to bring thern under the subjection of a step-mother; which promise he kept most faithfully, burying with his tears, all his earthly joys in his most dear and deserving wife's grave, and betook himself to a most retired and solitary life.

In this retiredness, which was often from the sight of his dearest friends, he became crucified to the world, and all those vanities, those imaginary pleasures, that are daily acted on that restless

portunities of great men ; among whom was Mr. Secretary, that made great means for Mr. Westfield; but it would not be; neither the King's intreaty for John Dun would prevail; yet they are threatened with a mandate, which, if it come, it is like they will obey; but they are resolved to give him such a blow withal, that he were better without it." In another letter, of nearly the same date, he writes thus." John Donne, and one Cheke, went out Doctors at Cambridge with much ado, after our coming away, by the King's express mandate; though the Vice-Chancellor and some of the Heads called them openly Filios noctis et tenebriones, that sought thus to come in at the window, when there was a fair gate open. But the worst is, that Donne had gotten a reversion of the Deanery of Canterbury, if such grants could be lawful; whereby he hath purchased himself a great deal of envy, that a man of his sort should seek, per saltum, to intercept such a place from so many more worthy and ancient Divines."

* His wife died, Aug. 15th, 1617, on the seventh day after the birth of her twelfth child. We find in Walpole's Anecdotes of Painting that Nicholas Stone the sculptor received fifteen pieces for her monument in St. Clements Danes; it stood on the north side of the Chancel, and the inscription may be seen in Strype's edition of Stowe's Survey.

stage; and they were as perfectly crucified to him. Nor is it hard to think-being, passions may be both changed and heightened by accidents-but that that abundant affection which once was betwixt him and her, who had long been the delight of his eyes, and the companion of his youth; her, with whom he had divided so many pleasant sorrows and contented fears, as common people are not capable of ;—not hard to think but that she being now removed by death, a commeasurable grief took as full a possession of him as joy had done; and so indeed it did; for now his very soul was elemented of nothing but sadness; now grief took so full a possession of his heart, as to leave no place for joy: If it did, it was a joy to be alone, where, like a pelican in the wilderness, he might bemoan himself without witness or restraint, and pour forth his passions like Job in the days of his affliction: "Oh that I might have the desire of my heart! Oh that God would grant the thing that I long for!" For then, as the grave is become her house, so I would hasten to make it mine also; that we two might there make our beds together in the dark. Thus, as the Israelites sat mourning by the rivers of Babylon, when they remembered Sion; so he gave some ease to his oppressed heart by thus venting his sorrows: thus he began the day and ended the night; ended the restless night and began the weary day in lamentations. And thus he continued, till a consideration of his new engagements to God, and St. Paul's "Woe is me, if I preach not the Gospel!" dispersed those sad clouds that had then benighted his hopes, and now forced him to behold the light.

His first motion from his house, was to preach where his beloved wife lay buried,-in St. Clement's Church, near Temple Bar, London, and his text was a part of the Prophet Jeremy's Lamentation: "Lo, I am the Man that have seen affliction."

And indeed his very words and looks testified him to be truly such a man; and they, with the addition of his sighs and tears, expressed in his Sermon, did so work upon the affections of his hearers, as melted and moulded them into a companionable sadness; and so they left the congregation; but then their houses presented them with objects of diversion, and his presented him with nothing but fresh objects of sorrow, in beholding many helpless

children, a narrow fortune, and a consideration of the many cares and casualties that attend their education.*

In this time of sadness he was importuned by the grave Benchers of Lincoln's Inn-who were once the companions and friends of his youth—to accept of their Lecture, which, by reason of Dr. Gataker's removal from thence,† was then void; of which he accepted, being most glad to renew his intermitted friendship with those whom he so much loved, and where he had been a Saul,— though not to persecute Christianity, or to deride it, yet in his ir regular youth to neglect the visible practice of it, there to become a Paul, and preach salvation to his beloved brethren.

And now his life was a shining light among his old friends: now he gave an ocular testimony of the strictness and regularity of it: now he might say, as St. Paul adviseth his Corinthians, "Be ye followers of me, as I follow Christ, and walk as ye have me for an example;" not the example of a busy body, but of a contemplative, a harmless, an humble and an holy life and conversation.

The love of that noble Society was expressed to him many ways; for, besides fair lodgings that were set apart, and newly furnished for him with all necessaries, other courtesies were also

* In the first edition of Donne's Life, the passage beginning "In this retiredness," down to "attend their education," is wanting.

† Dr. Zouch, in his note upon this passage, originally pointed out an error concerning Dr. Donne's immediate predecessor as Divinity Reader at Lincoln's Inn: for he states, that Mr. Thomas Gataker quitted that Society for the Rectory of Rotherhithe in 1611, six years before Dr. Donne was chosen there. Upon referring to Coxe's Manuscript Digest of the Records of Lincoln's Inn, it is ascertained that Dr. Gataker was elected Preacher in the 44th of Eliz. 1601; that he was succeeded by Dr. Holloway, in the 10th of James I. 1612; that Dr. Donne became Lecturer in the 14th of James I. 1616; that in the 17th of that Sovereign, 1619, he went on his German Embassy; and that in his 20th year, 1622, he was succeeded at Lincoln's Inn by Mr. Preston. Thomas Gataker, a learned Divine, was born in London, in 1574, and was educated at St. John's College, Cambridge. He was celebrated for a Treatise "Of the Nature and Use of Lots ;" and, being of the Parliamentary party, was one of the Assembly of Divines in 1642, though his own conduct was moderate, and he protested against the violence of others, and especially against the King's trial. He died in 1654, and was also the author of some excellent Annotations on the Scriptures, and some Tracts against William Lilly.

daily added; indeed so many, and so freely, as if they meant their gratitude should exceed his merits: and in this love-strife of desert and liberality, they continued for the space of two years, he preaching faithfully and constantly to them, and they liberally requiting him. About which time the Emperor of Germany died, and the Palsgrave, who had lately married the Lady Elizabeth, the King's only daughter,* was elected and crowned King of Bohemia, the unhappy beginning of many miseries in that nation.

King James, whose motto-Beati pacifici-did truly speak the very thoughts of his heart, endeavoured first to prevent, and after to compose, the discords of that discomposed State : and, amongst other his endeavours, did then send the Lord Hay,† Earl of Don

*This unfortunate Princess, from her amiable and engaging manners, was called "The Queen of Hearts." She was born in Scotland, Aug. 19th, 1596; and was married to Frederick V. Count Palatine of the Rhine, &c. on Valentine's day, Feb. 14th, 1612, on which occasion Dr. Donne wrote an Epithalamium. She left England, April 10th of the same year; and on the death of the Emperor Matthias, March 20th, 1619, the States of Bohemia rejected his cousin and adopted son, Ferdinand II. from being their King, and offered their crown to the husband of Elizabeth. Ferdinand, being elected Emperor of Germany, in the following August, marched his forces against Frederick, took from him his Palatinate, and forced him to fly into the Low Countries. He died of a fever at Mentz, Nov. 29th, 1632, and his Queen continued at the Hague until after the Restoration, when she returned to England, with William first Earl of Craven, to whom it is supposed she was married, and died Feb. 13th, 1661.

+ Sir James Hay was born at Pitcorthie, in Fife, and came with James to England in 1603. In June 1615, he was made Baron Hay of Sauley, in Yorkshire in July 1616, he went Ambassador to France; in March 1617, he was made a Privy Councillor; and in July 1618, Viscount Doncaster. He departed on his embassy in May 1619, and returned in the January following: after which, in 1622, he was again sent as Ambassador to France, and his services rewarded by his being created Earl of Carlisle. He died at Whitehall, April 25th, 1636, and was buried in St. Paul's. His embassy to Ferdinand was very costly, but entirely useless; and Rapin doubts if he even once saw the Emperor. Lord Clarendon has given a very fine portrait of this nobleman; in which he states him to have been a person well qualified by his breeding in France, and study in human learning, to entertain the King, and by his gracefulness and affability to excite a particular interest in him. He was a man of the greatest expense in his own person, and in his famous Ante-Suppers, of any of his time; and after having spent 400,000l. received of the crown, he died, leaving literally nothing behind him but the reputation of a fine gentleman, and an accomplished courtier.

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