John Donne

, a person sometimes noted for his Divinity, knowledge in several languages, and other learning, was born of good and vertuous Parents in London, became a Commoner of Hart hall, with his younger Brother Henry, in the beginning of Michaelmas-Term, an. 1584. being then but eleven years of age; where continuing about three years (in which time Sir Hen. Wotton had a Chamber there) he went to Cambridge, and spending three more there, he was transplanted to Lincolns Inn to obtain knowledge in the Municipal Laws, where he had for his Chamber fellow, for some time, Mr. Christop. Brook an eminent Poet of his time. After he had continued there two years in exercising his poetical fancy, he began to survey the Body of Divinity, wherein he made very good notes and observations. Afterwards he travelled beyond the Seas, advanced himself much in the knowledge of countries, men, manners, and languages, and was at his return made by Egerton L. Chanc. of England his chief Secretary, and soon after was admitted M. of A. of this University, as I shall tell you elsewhere. But continuing not long in that beneficial imployment, he did, upon the solicitations of some of his Friends, (especially upon the motion of K. James 1.) enter into the Sacred Function, and not long after was made one of the Kings Chaplains, Doctor of Div. of Cambridge, and at length in 1621. Dean of the Cath. Ch. of S. Paul in London, upon the promotion of Dr. Val. Carey to the See of Exeter. He was a person of great wit, virtue, and abilities, learned in several Faculties, and religious and exemplary in his life and conversation. In all which, being eminent, he was therefore celebrated, and his memory had in great veneration by the Wits and Virtuosi of his time, among whom were Ben. Johnson, Sir Lucius Cary afterwards L. Faulkland, Sydney Godolphin, Jasp. Mayne, Edward Hyde afterward L. Chancellour, En [•] ymion Porter, Arthur Wilson, &c. As for those things by him written (few of which were published in his time) are these.

Pseudo-Martyr; a treatise shewing from certain propositions and gradations that those that are of the Rom. Religion in England may, and ought to, take the Oath of Allegiance. Lond. 1610. qu. See more in Tho. Fitzherbert under the year 1640.

Devotions upon emergent occasions, and several steps in his sickness. Lond. 1624. in tw. second edit.

An anatomy of the World. Wherein, by occasion of the untimely death of Mrs. Elizab. Drury, the frailty and decay of this whole World is represented. Lond. 1625. oct. a Poem in two anniversaries. The second anniversary is intit. The progress of the Soul, &c. which is a Poem also.

Juvenilia, or certain Paradoxes and Problems. Lond. 1633. and 1652. in qu.

Divine Poems, with Epistles to Sir H. Goodeere. Lond. 1633. qu.

Poems, Songs, Sonnets, Satyrs, Letters, Funeral Elegies, &c. Lond. 1633. qu. 35. oct. In which are involved Divine Poems and Epistles before mentioned; and at the end are Elegies on the authors death.

Six Sermons. Lond. 1634. qu.

Fasciculus Poematum & Epigrammatum Miscellaneorum. Translated into English by Jasp. Mayne. D. D. with this title, A sheaf of miscellany Epigrams. Lond. 1632. oct.

Ignatius his Conclave, or his inthronization in a late election in hell, &c. Lond. 1635. in tw. there again in 1653. An edition of this came forth in 1626. in oct. intit. Ignatius his Conclave, viz. of establishing a Church in the Moon.

Apology for the Jesuits.—Pr. with the former.

Eighty Sermons. Lond. 1640. fol. Among which are involved the six Sermons before-mentioned. These eighty Sermons are called, The first vol. of Dr. Donns Sermons.

Declaration of that Paradox or Thesis that self homicide is not so naturally a Sin, that it may not be otherwise. Lond. 1644. 48. &c. qu: The original under the authors own hand I have seen in Bodley’s Library, dedicated to Edward L. Herbert of Cherbury.

Essays in Divinity, &c. Lond. 1651. oct. Published by his Son John, who tells us that they were written before his Father had entred into holy Orders.

Prayers.—Pr. with the former.

Paradoxes, Problems, Essays, and Characters. Lond. 1652. oct. In which book are involv’d several, or most of the Paradoxes, Problems, &c. before-mentioned.

Various Sermons. Lond. 1649. fol. vol. 2.

Six and twenty Sermons never before published. Lond 1660. 61. fol. This is called the Third vol. of Dr. Donns Sermons.

Letters to several persons of honour. Lond. 1651. qu. Some of which, I think, were before printed. He had also lying by him at his death many Sermon notes, and other papers, containing an extract of near fifteen hundred authors: All which, as his last Legacy, he left to Dr. Hen. King, (afterwards B. of Chichester) but what became of them after that Bishops death in 1669. I know not. He also translated from Greek into English The ancient history of the Septuagint. Lond. 1633. in tw. written originally by Aristeus. Which translation was revised and very much corrected by another hand.—Lond. 1685. oct. He paid his last debt to nature on the last day of March, 1631 in sixteen hundred thirty and one, and was buried in the South Isle behind the Choire of the Cath. Ch. of S. Paul, near to the Monument of Dr. Jo. Colet. Both whose Epitaphs, with the Pictures of their respective Monuments, you may see in the History of that Cathedral, written by Sir Will. Dugdale, lately Garter K. of Arms. Our Author Dr. Jo. Donne left behind him a Son of both his Names, but of none of his virtues, manners, or generous qualities, and therefore by many his memory is condemn’d to utter Oblivion, while that of his Father flourisheth in the History of his life, written by Isaac Walton; the first edition of which (printed 1653.) coming into the hands of the best critick of the last age, I mean Jo. Hales of Eaton, he affirmed to his friends, that he had not seen a life written with more advantage to the Subject, or more reputation to the writer, than it.