be demanded as once Pompeys poor bondman was he was then alone on the Sea-shore gathering the scattered pieces of an old broken Boat to burn the neglected body of his dead Master Who art thou that preparest the funerals of Pompey the Great Who I am that so officiously set the Authors Memory on fire I hope the question will have in it more of wonder then disdain wonder indeed the Reader may that I who professe my self artlesse should presume with my faint light to shew forth his Life whose very Name maketh it illustrious But be this to the disadvantage of the person represented certain I am 't is much to the advantage of the beholder who shall here see the Authors picture in a naturall dresse which ought to beget faith in what is spoken for he that wants skill to deceive may safely be trusted And if the Authors glorious spirit which now is in heaven can have the leisure to look down and see me the meanest of all his friends in the midst of this officious duty confident I am he wil not disdain this well-meant sacrifice to his memory for whilst his conversation made me many others happy below I know his humility and gentlenesse was eminent and I have heard Divines say That those vertues which were but sparks upon earth become great and glorious stars in heaven This being premised I proceed to tell the Reader the Author was born in London of good and vertuous parents and though his own learning and other multiplied merits may justly seem sufficient to dignifie both himself and his posterity yet the Reader may be pleased to know that his Father was masculinely and lineally descended from a very ancient Family in Wales where many of his name now live that deserve and have great reputation in that Countrey By his Mother he was descended of the Family of the famous and learned Sir Tho. Moor sometime L. Chancelour of Engl. as also from that worthy and laborious Iudge Rastall who left Posterity the vast Statutes of the Law of this Nation most exactly abridged He had his first breeding in his Fathers house where a private Tutor had the care of him untill the nineth year of his age and in his tenth year was sent to the University of Oxford having at that time a good command both of the French and Latine Tongue This and some other of his remarkable abilities made one give this censure of him That this age had brought forth another Picus Mirandula of whom Story sayes That he was rather born than made wise by study There he remained in Hart-Hall having for the advancement of his studies Tutors of severall Sciences to attend and instruct him till time made him capable and his learning expressed in publick exercises declared him worthy to receive his first degree in the Schooles which he forbore by advice from his friends who being for their Religion of the Romish perswasion were conscionably averse to some parts of the Oath that is alwaies tendered at those times and not to be refused by those that expect the titulary honour of their studies About the fourteenth year of his age he was transplanted from Oxford to Cambridge where that he might receive nourishment from both Soiles he staid till his seventeenth yeare all which time he was a most laborious Student often changing his studies but endeavouring to take no degree for the reasons formerly mentioned About the seventeenth yeare of his age he was removed to London and then admitted into Lincolns Inne with an intent to study the Law where he gave great testimonies of his Wit his Learning and of his Improvement in that profession which never served him for other use than an Ornament and Self-satisfaction His Father died before his admission into this Society and being a Merchant left him his portion in money it was 3000 l. His mother and those to whose care he was committed were watchfull to improve his knowledge and to that end appointted him Tutors in the Mathematicks and all the Liberall Sciences to attend him But with these Arts they were advised to instill particular principles of the Romish Church of which those Tutors profest though secretly themselves to be members They had almost obliged him to their faith having for their advantage besides many opportunities the example of his dear and pious Parents which was a most powerfull perswasion and did work much upon him as he professeth in his Pseudo-Martyr a book of which the Reader shall have some account in what followes He was now entred into the eighteenth year of his age and at that time had betrothed himself to no Religion that might give him any other denomination than a Christian And Reason and Piety had both perswaded him that there could be no such sin as Schisme if an adherence to some visible Church were not necessary He did therefore at his entrance into the nineteenth year of his age though his youth and strength then promised him a long life yet being unresolved in his Religion he thought it necessary to rectifie all scruples that concerned that and therefore waving the Law and betrothing himself to no Art or Profession that might justly denominate him he begun to survey the Body of Divinity as it is controverted betwixt the Reformed and the Roman Church And as Gods blessed Spirit did then awaken him to the search and in that industry did never forsake him they be his own words * so he calls the same holy Spirit to witnesse this protestation that in that disquisition and search he proceeded with humility and diffidence in himself and by that which he took to be the safest way namely his frequent prayers and an indifferent affection to both parties Being to undertake this search he believed the Cardinall Bellarmine to be the best defender of the Roman cause and therefore betook himself to the examination of his Reasons The Cause was weighty and wilfull delayes had been inexcusable both towards God and his own conscience he therefore proceeded in this search with all moderate haste and before the twentieth yeare of his age did shew the then Dean of Glocester whose name my memory hath now lost all the Cardinals works marked with 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 year following he resolved to travell and the Earl of Essex going first the Cales and after the Island voyages he took the advantage of these opportunities waited upon his Lordship and was an eye-witnesse of those happy and unhappy employments But he returned not back into England till he had staid some years first in Italy and then in Spain where he made many usefull observations of those Countreys their Laws and manner of Government and returned into England perfect in their Languages The time that he spent in Spain was at his first going into Italy designed for travelling the Holy Land and for
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 sorrowes were lessened and his wants prevented by the seasonable courtesie of their noble kinsman Sir Francis Wolly of Pirford who intreated them to a cohabitution with him where they remained with much freedome to themselves and equal content to him for many years and as their charge encreased she had yearly a child so did his love and bounty It hath been observed by wise and considering men that wealth hath seldome been the portion and never the mark to discover good people but that Almighty God who disposeth all things wisely hath of his abundant goodnesse denied it he onely knowes why to many whose minds he hath enriched with the greater blessings of knowledge and vertue 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 reconcilable 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 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 it self onely to him who takes a pleasure to behold it in his creatures These times he did blesse with many such some of which still live to be patterns of Apostolicall Charity and of more than Humane 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 cheerfull heart at the age of 94 yeares and is yet living one that in his dayes of plenty used his large Revenue to the encouragement of Learning and Vertue and is now be it spoken with sorrow reduced to a narrow estate which he embraces without repining and still shews the beauty of his mind by so liberall a hand as if this were an age in which to morrow were to care for it self I have taken a pleasure in giving the reader a short but true character of this good man 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 revolv'd in my own thought since I last saw you which neverthelesse I will not do but upon this condition that you shall not return me a present answer but forbeare three dayes 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 exprest himself thus Mr. Donne I know your Education and Abilities I know your expectation of a State-employment and I know your fitnesse for it and I know too the many delayes and contingencies that attend Court-promises and let me tell you my love begot by our long friendship and familiarity hath prompted me to such an inquisition of your present temporall estate as makes me no stranger to your necessities which are such as your generous spirit could not bear if it were not supported with a pious patience you know I have formerly perswaded you to wave your Court-hopes and enter into holy Orders which I now again perswade you to embrace with this reason added to my former request The King hath now made me Dean of Glocester and I am possessed of a Benefice the profits of which are equall to those of my Deanry I will think my Deanry enough for my maintenance who am and resolve to die a single man and will quit my Benefice and estate you in it which the Patron is willing I shall doe if God shall incline your heart to embrace this motion Remember Mr. Donne no mans education or parts make him too good for this employment which is to be an Ambassadour for him 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 perplext countenance gave a visible testimony of an inward conflict but he departed without returning an answer till the third day and then it was to this effect My most worthy and most deare friend since I saw you I have been faithfull to my promise and have also meditated much of your great kindnesse which hath been such as would exceed even my gratitude but that it cannot doe and more I cannot return you and that I do with an heart full of humility and thanks though I may not accept of your offer but my refusall is not for that I think my self 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 Gods 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 penitentiall resolutions against them and by the assistance of his grace banish'd 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 Gods glory should be the first end and a maintenance the second motive to embrace that calling and though that 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 reconcilable to that rule it is at this time so perplexed about it that I can neither give my self nor you an answer You know Sir who sayes Happy is that man whose conscience doth not accuse him for that thing which he does To these I might adde other reasons that disswade me but I crave your favour that I may forbeare to expresse them This was his present
of generall Learning natural eloquence and Christian humility that they deserve a Commemoration by a pen equall to their own which none hath exceeded And in this enumeration of his friends though many must be ommitted yet that man of primitive piety Mr. George Herbert may not I mean that George Herbert who was the Author of the Temple or Sacred Poems and Ejaculations A book in which by declaring his own spirituall Conflicts he hath raised many a dejected and discomposed soul and charmed them into sweet and quiet thoughts A book by the frequent reading whereof and the assistance of that Spirit that seemed to inspire the Author the Reader may attain habits of peace and piety and all the gifts of the Holy Ghost and Heaven and by still reading still keep those sacred fires burning upon the Altar of so pure a heart as shall be freed from the anxieties of this world and fixt upon things that are above betwixt him and Dr. Donne there was a long and dear friendship make up by such a' Sympathy of inclinations that they coveted and joyed to be in each others Company and this happy friendship was still maintained by many sacred indearments of which that which followeth may be some Testimony To Mr. George Herbert with one of my Seales of the Anchor and Crest A sheafe of Snakes used heretofore to be my Seal the Crest of our poor Family Qui prius assuetus serpentum falce tabellas Signare haec nostrae Symbola parva domus Adscitus domui domini Adopted in Gods family and so My old Coat lost into new Arms I go The Crosse my seal in Baptism spread below Does by that form into an Anchor grow Crosses grow Anchors bear as thou should'st do Thy Crosse and that Crosse grows an Anchor too But he that makes our Crosses Anchors thus Is Christ who there is crucify'd for us Yet with this I may my first Serpents ho'd God gives new blessings and yet leaves the old The Serpent may as wise my pattern be My poyson as he feeds on dust that 's me And as he rounds the earth to murder sure He is my death but on the Cross my cure Crucifie nature then and then implore All grace froÌ„ him crucify'd there before When all is Crosse and that Crosse Anchor grown This seales a Catechisme not a seal alone Under that little seal great gifts I send Both workes and prayers pawnes and fruits of a friend Oh may that Saint that rides on our great Seal To you that beare his names large bounty deal I Donne In Sacram Anchoram Piscatoris GEO. HERBERT Quod Crux nequibat fixa Clavique additi Tenere ChristuÌ„ scilicet ne ascenderet Tuive Christum Although the Cross could not Christ here detain When nail'd unto 't but he ascends again Nor yet thy eloquence here keep him still But onely whilst thou speak'st this Anchor will Nor canst thou be content unless thou to This certain Anchor add a seal and so The water and the earth both unto thee Do owe the Symbole of their certaintie Let the world reel we all ours stand sure This Holy Cable 's from all storms secure Love neere his death desir'd to end With kind expressions to his friend He writ when 's hand could write no more He gave his soul and so gave o're G. HERBERT I return to tell the Reader that besides these verses to his dear Mr. Herbert and that Hymne that I mentioned to be sung in the Quire of S. Pauls Church he did also shorten and beguile many sad hours by composing other sacred Ditties and he writ an Hymn on his death-bed which beares this title An Hymn to God my God in my sicknsse March 23. 1630. If these fall under the censure of a soul whose too much mixture with earth makes it unfit to judge of these high illuminations let him know that many holy devout men have thought the soul of Prudentius to be most refined when not many dayes before his death he charged it to present his God each morning and evening with a new and spirituall song justified by the example of King David and the good King Hezekâ—as who upon the renovation of his years paid his thankfull vowes to Almighty God in a royall Hymn which he concludes in these words The Lord was ready to save therefore I will sing my songs to the stringed instruments all the dayes of my life in the temple of my God The latter part of his life may be said to be a continued study for as he usually preached once a week if not oftner so after his Sermon he never gave his eyes rest till he had chosen out a new Text and that night cast his Sermon into a forme and his Text into divisions and next day betook himself to consult the Fathers and so commit his meditations to his memory which was excellent But upon Saturday he usually gave himself and his mind a rest from the weary burthen of his weeks meditations and spent that day in visitation of friends and other diversions of his thoughts and would say that he gave both his body and mind that refreshment that he might be enabled to do the work of the day following not faintly but with courage and cheerfulness Nor was his age onely so industrious but in the most unsetled days of his youth his bed was not able to detain him beyond the hour of four in a morning and it was no common business that drew him out of his chamber till past ten All which time was employed in study and if it seem strange it may gain a belief by the visible fruits of his labours some of which remain as testimonies of what is here written for he left the resultance of 1400. Authors most of them abridged and analysed with his own hand he left also sixscore of his Sermons all written with his own hand also an exact and laborious Treatise concerning self-murther called Biathanatos wherein all the Lawes violated by that Act are diligently surveyed and judiciously censured a Treatise written in his younger dayes which alone might declare him then not onely perfect in the Civil and Canon Law but in many other such studies and arguments as enter not into the consideration of many that labour to be thought great Clerks and pretend to know all things Nor were these onely found in his study but all businesses that past of any publick consequence either in this or any of our neighbour-nations he abbreviated either in Latine or in the Language of that Nation and kept them by him for a memoriall So he did the copies of divers Letters and cases of Conscience that had concerned his friends with his observations and solutions of them and divers other businesses of importance all particularly and methodically digested by himself He did prepare to leave the world before life left him making his will when no faculty of his soul was damp'd or made defective by sickness or