Mr. Chriftopher Brook, fometime Mr. Donne's Chamberfellow in Lincoln's-Inn, who gave Mr. Donne his wife, and witnefsed the marriage, were all committed to three feveral prifons.

Mr. Donne was firft enlarged, who neither gave reft to his body or brain, nor to any friend in whom he might hope to have an intereft, until he had procured an enlargement for his two imprifoned friends.

He was now at liberty, but his days were ftill cloudy; and being paft thefe troubles, others did ftill multiply upon him, for his wife was (to her extreme forrow) detained from him; and though with Jacob he endured not an hard fervice for her, yet he left a good one, and was forced to make good his title, and to get pofsefsion of her by a long and restless fuit in law, which proved troublefome and fadly chargeable to him, whofe youth, travel, and needlefs bounty had brought his eftate into a narrow compass.

It is obferved, and most truly, that filence and submission are charming qualities, and work moft upon pafsionate men: and it proved fo with Sir George; for thefe, and a general report of Mr. Donne's merits, together with his winning behaviour (which when it would entice had a ftrange kind of elegant irrefiftible art), these and time had so difpaffionated Sir George, that as the world had approved his daughter's choice, fo he also could not but fee a more than ordinary merit in his new fon; and this at last melted him into fo much remorse (for love and anger are fo like agues, as to have hot and cold fits; and love in parents, though it may be quenched, yet is cafily rekindled, and expires not till death denies mankind a natural heat), that he laboured his fon's reftoration to his place; ufing

London. He refigned his Professorship of Gresham College in 1629, upon his appointment to the Maflership of Trinity College in Cambridge, vacated by the death of Dr. Leonard Maw, Bishop of Bath and Wells. In 1631 he was made Archdeacon of Wells, and in that year he died; and was buried in Trinity College Chapel, without either monument or epitaph. He is described as a man of wit and learning. And Mr. Horfey commends him for his "concionandi co"pia." Of his writings there is extant only one difcourfe, from the title of which we may form an idea of the nature of the queflions, which were then ufually difcufsed in the divinity fchools. "De Auxilio Divinæ Gratie Exercitatio Theologica, nimirum, An pofsibile fit duos eandem habere gratiæ menfuram, et tamen unus convertatur et credat, alter non è Johan. xi. 45, 46." (Ward's Professors of Gresham College) YA Bencher and Summer Reader at Lincoln's Inn, to the chapel of which he was a benefactor. He is much commended as a poet by Ben Jonfon, Drayton, and others of his cotemporaries. He wrote an Elegy, confecrated to the never dying memory of Henry Prince of Wales, London 1613, 4to. He also published Eclogues dedicated to his much loved friend Mr. William Brown of the Inner Temple, London, 1614, 8vo. To this gentleman Dr. Donne hath infcribed two poems, "The Storme" and "The Calme."

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to that end, both his own and his fifter's power to her Lord, but with no fuccefs, for his anfwer was, "That though he was "unfeignedly forry for what he had done, yet it was inconfift"ent with his place and credit to difcharge and readmit fer"vants at the request of paffionate petitioners."

Sir George's endeavour for Mr. Donne's readmission was by all means to be kept fecret:-(For men do more naturally reluct for errors, than fubmit to put on thofe blemishes that attend their vifible acknowledgment)-But however it was not long before Sir George appeared to be so far reconciled as to with their happiness, and not to deny them his paternal bleffing, but yet refused to contribute any means that might conduce to their livelihood.

Mr. Donne's eftate was the greateft part spent in many chargeable travels, books, and dear-bought experience: he out of all employment that might yield a fupport for himself and wife, who had been curiously and plentifully educated, both their natures generous, and accustomed to confer, and not to receive courtefies; thefe and other confiderations, but chiefly that his wife was to bear a part in his fufferings, furrounded him with many fad thoughts, and some apparent apprehenfions of want.

But his forrows were lefsened and his wants prevented by the seasonable courtesy of their noble kinfman, Sir Francis Wolly of Pirford in Surry z, who intreated them to a cohabitation with him, where they remained with much freedom to themfelves, and equal content to him for fome years; and, as their charge increased (fhe had yearly a child), fo did his love and bounty.

It hath been obferved by wife and confidering men, that wealth hath feldom been the portion, and never the mark to

The fon of Sir John Wooley, Knight, Latin Secretary to Queen Elizabeth, who, though a layman, was promoted to the Deanery of Carlife on the death of Sir Thomas Smith. He was knighted fome time after his advancement to that dignity. He caufed a monument to be erected to himfelf and his parents in the cathedral church of St. Paul's. He is there reprefented as fitting between his father and mother. The inscription begins

"D. O. M.

"Joannes Wolleius, Eques Auratus, Reginæ Elizabethæ à Secretioribus "Confiliis, Secretarius Lingua Latina, Cancellarius Ordinis Perifcelidis, Doctrinâ, Pietate, Fide, Probitate, Gravitate clarifsimus

"Obiit anno 1595."

Then follow twenty-four Latin hexameter verfes, in which are containe ed the hiftory and character of Sir John Wooley, Elizabeth his wife, afterwards Lady Egerton, and Sir Francis Wooley their fon.

(Dugdale's History of St. Paul's.)

difcover good people a; but, that Almighty God, who difpofeth all things wifely, hath of his abundant goodnefs denied ic (he only knows why) to many whofe minds he hath enriched with the greater bleflings of knowledge and virtue, as the fairer teftimonies of his love to mankind; and this was the present condition of this man of fo excellent erudition and endowments, whofe necefsary, and daily expenfes were hardly reconcileable with his uncertain and narrow eftate; 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 fhall be the next employment of my pen.

God hath been fo good to his church, as to afford it in every age fome fuch men to ferve at his altar as have been piously ambitious of doing good to mankind; a difpofition that is fo like to God himself, that it owes itself only to him, who takes a pleasure to behold it in his creatures. These times (anno 1648), he did blefs with many fuch, fome of which still live to be patterns of apoftolical charity, and of more than human patience. I have faid this, because I have occafion to mention one of them in my following difcourfe; namely, Dr. Morton, the moft laborious and learned Bishop of Durhain; 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

a "I returned and faw under the fun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the frong; neither ye bread to the wise, nor yet "riches to men of understanding.' Ecclef. ix. 11.

b According to the Greek Poet,

Σοφία δε πλοτε κτημα τιμιωτερον.

"The learned, pious, and painful Bishop of Durham (ORTON) "hath fought in front against Roman fuperftition and idolatry." (Sir Edward Deering's Speech against the Remonstrants.)—This learned and charitable prelate, as Ifaac Walton fomewhere calls him, not more diftinguished by the fplendour of his parentage, than by his habitual tem. perance and diligence in fiudy, died Sept. 22, 1659, in the 95th year of his age, after having received the moft injurious treatment from the Parliament. No apology is necefsary for the insertion of the following affecting ftory concerning him. Having fuffered imprisonment at dif"ferent times, and undergone many hardhips, he was expelled from Dur"ham-house. Wandering from place to place, he at last went to Lon"don with about fixty pounds-(which it feems was then his all); he was "overtaken on the road by Sir Chriftopher Yelverton, who being known "the Bishop was unknown to him: and in difcourfe afking the old gentleman, What he was,' the good Bishop replied, I am that old man, the Bishop of Durham, notwithfianding all your votes:' for "Sir Chriftopher was not free from the fiain of the times. Whereupon "Sir Chriftopher demanded where he was going: To London,' replied the old gentleman; to live a little while and then die.' On "this Sir Chriftopher entered into further difcourfe with him, took him "home with him into Northamptonshire, where he became tutor to that "fon of his, which was afterwards the incomparably learned Sir Henry "Yelverton, and prefaced this moft excellent Bishop's little piece of Epifcopacy." (Walker's Sufferings of the Clergy, p. 18.)" He was,"

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says

days of plenty had fo large a heart as to use his large revenue to the encouragement of learning and virtue, and is now (be it fpoken with forrow) reduced to a narrow ftate, which he embraces without repining, and ftill fhows the beauty of his mind by fo liberal a hand, as if this were an age in which tomorrow were to care for itself. I have taken a pleasure in giving the reader a fhort but true character of this good man, my friend, from whom I received this following relation.-He fent 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 occafion of fending for you "is to propofe to you, what I have often revolved in my own "thought fince I laft faw you, which nevertheless I will not "declare but upon this condition, that you fhall not return

me a prefent answer, but forbear three days, and bestow "fome part of that time in fafting and prayer, and after a "ferious confideration of what I fhall propose, then return to "me with your anfwer. 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 exprefsed himself thus:-" Mr. Donne, I know your education and abilities; I "know your expectation of a state-employment, and I know

fays his excellent pupil," an ancient Bishop, and had all the qualifica"tions fit for his order, either to adorn or govern a church; but above "all he was eminent for his invincible patience under fo many violent "perfecutions and almoft necessities, always rejoicing in his lofses, and protefting that he thought himself richer with nothing and a good con"fcience, than thofe were who had devoured his goodly bishopric. He

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was forty-four years a bishop, a thing fo extraordinary, that but one "exceeded him in this ifland." (Sir H. Yelverton's Preface to Enisxomos Amosodnos, or the Episcopacy of the Church of England justified.)

d The condition required by Dr. Morton of Mr. Donne, that he fhould not give an anfwer to the Doctor's propofal, until he had passed three days in fafting and prayer, deferves notice, as marking the high devotional fpirit of the times: for it is to be remembered, that this was not the propofition of an enthufiaftic puritan, but of a very eminent and refpectable divine of the Church of England. If our ancestors carried matters of this nature too far (which there is no reafon to think they did), their fuccefsors have run into the contrary extreme. A prin ciple of piety exercifed in referring our concerns to the providential direction of the Supreme Being, would be no bar to the wifdom, ability, and fuccess of our lawful undertakings. This fentiment, that prayer and labour fhould co-operate, is exprefsed by Donne himself, in one of his poems, though with no elegance of language.

"In none but us are fuch mixt engines found,
"As hands of double office; for the ground
"We till with them, and them to heaven we raife;
"Who prayerlefs labours, or without this prays,
"Doth but one half-that's none."

(Biogr. Brit. 28. Edit.)

e

"your fitnefs for it, and I know too the many delays and contingencies that attend court-promifes; and let me tell 66 you, that my love, begot by our long friendship and your "merits, hath prompted me to fuch an inquifition after your "present temporal eftate, as makes me no ftranger to your "necefsities, which I know to be fuch as your generous fpirit "could not bear, if it were not fupported with a pious pa"tience: you know I have formerly perfuaded you to wave "your court-hopes, and enter into holy orders; which I now again perfuade you to embrace, with this reafon added to "my former requeft: the King hath yesterday made me "Dean of Gloucefter, and I am also pofsefsed 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 refolve to die, a fingle man) and will quit my benefice "and eftate you in it (which the patron is willing I fhall do), "if God fhall 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 Am"bassador for the God of glory; that God, who, by a vile death, "opened the gates of life to mankind. Make me no present anfwer, but remember your promife, and return to me the "third day with your resolution.'

At the hearing of this, Mr. Donne's faint breath and perplexed countenance gave a visible teftimony of an inward conflict, but he performed his promife, and departed without returning an answer till the third day, and then his anfwer was to this effect:

"My moft worthy and moft dear friend, fince I faw you "I have been faithful to my promife, and have also meditated "much of your great kindness, which hath been fuch 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 refufal is not for that I think myself too good "for that calling, for which kings, if they think fo, are not "good enough; nor for that my education and learning, "though not eminent, may not, being affifted with God's

grace and humility, render me in fome measure fit for it; "but I dare make fo dear a friend as you are my confessor; "fome irregularities of my life have been fo vifible to fome

men, that though I have, I thank God, made my peace with "him by penitential refolutions against them, and by the "affiftance of his grace banished them my affections; yet this, "" which God knows to be fo, is not fo vifible to man, as to "free me from their cenfures, and it may be that facred call

e He was prefented by the King to the Deanery of Gloucester, June 22, 1607, through the recommendation of Archbishop Bancroft.