CHAPTER XI

EARLY YEARS IN THE CHURCH

1615-1617

ONE of the most curious facts about the life of Donne, as written for us so charmingly by Izaak Walton, is the extraordinary tissue of errors, circumstantially recorded, in the pages where he describes the poet's entrance into holy orders. The letters we possess, and in particular one of the highest importance, which I am able to print for the first time, give us the precise outlines which enable us to see into what curious mistakes Walton, or rather Donne in the information he gave to Walton, fell. The page in which Walton describes the circumstances of Donne's ordination contains scarcely a statement which is historically correct; neither the date, nor the conditions, nor the company are those which are given us by contemporary documents. Where a series of letters of the exact time say one thing and Walton long afterwards says another, it is hardly Walton whom we can dare to follow. And yet it is probable that in the attitude of the King to Donne, and in the conversations recorded, we may safely follow Walton. These would seem to Donne himself to be the really essential matters. Whether an interview took place at Theobald's or at Newmarket in 1610 or in 1614, whether Somerset was "in his greatest height of favour" or already beginning the rapid course of his decline, these would strike Donne and his earliest and most delightful biographer as wholly unimportant.

In recounting, therefore, what occurred at the close of 1614, I will endeavour to reconstruct from all available materials what was the exact course of events, without either disregarding Walton's invaluable help or leaning

upon him when he is certainly mistaken. We have seen, then, that in 1612 Donne had himself suggested to Lord Rochester (as he then was) that he should enter the Church, and a place there be found for him. So far from Donne's being "persuaded to enter the ministry," and refusing from a scruple of conscience, as he had done at an earlier juncture, it is quite plain that in 1612 Rochester had to dissuade him from the idea, and successfully to discourage it. It is possible that he did this without consulting the King, and as we find him immediately employing Donne in his peculiar legal work, he may have selfishly prevented Donne from approaching the King. But this, although it seems to have crossed Donne's mind, may be dismissed as far-fetched. Nor is there any real evidence that the King expressed any wish at all with regard to Donne. He had accepted the dedication of Pseudo-Martyr in 1610, and had then allowed Donne's existence to slip out of his mind. Walton's story of Donne's frequently waiting upon the King and attending him at his meals is unquestionably all a myth and a mistake; there is no evidence that Donne was ever in the presence of James I. except during the interview about the oath of supremacy and allegiance in the winter of 1609, until his ordination in January 1615; Walton's pleasant anecdotes are, doubtless, perfectly true of a later period.

Rochester, or, as we must now call him, Somerset, having closed his ears to the suggestion of Donne's entering the Church, and having employed him on his own private legal affairs, Donne evidently abandoned the idea of taking holy orders, and settled down to the hope of securing secular employment at the Court. But if in the winter of 1612 he "sold" himself to Somerset, if in the course of 1613 he was occupying himself in all the details. of the Nullity Suit, 1614 came and passed without anything substantial being secured for him by his patron. Donne's distress and anxiety throughout this year of complicated misfortunes can easily be imagined. He had toiled for Somerset, and done his dirty work, with absolute confidence of reward, and he was continually put off with protestations.

While Somerset was still ascending in the firmament of royal favour, this might be safe enough, though to a nervous suitor exceedingly agitating and wearing. But when there came to be rumours of the instability of the favourite, then Donne's anguish must have been extreme.

Donne was so placed as to have a sensitive comprehension of what was passing around him, although the springs of action were of course hidden from him. He was unquestionably conscious that, as 1614 neared its close, the prestige of Somerset was declining, and the King's eyes were fixed on a younger favourite. Familiar as he made himself with all that went on at the edges of the Court, he would be aware that in November the young George Villiers received the appropriate appointment of cup-bearer to his Majesty. Probably, in popular gossip, the decline of the King's affection for Somerset was exaggerated, and Donne would be in a panic lest the Lord Chamberlain should be disgraced before anything was done for Donne's permanent welfare. Towards the end of November, therefore, he seems to have addressed Somerset in terms of urgency, putting aside the obsequiousness of courtierly address a little, and insisting upon the recompense so long due. Somerset either thought that this was no moment for making a brilliant enemy, or else was wearied with Donne's importunity; at any rate, he summoned him to attend the King in Essex.

It does not appear exactly when it was that the Earl of Somerset thus responded by desiring Donne to come at once to Theobald's. Probably it was about the 20th of November 1614. When Donne made his appearance, Somerset came out into the garden to meet him, and told him that one of the clerks of the Council had died that night. He was evidently met by some impatience and incredulity; Donne had often before been put off with such vague protestations. Somerset, therefore, replied, "Mr. Donne, to testify the reality of my affection, and my purpose to prefer you, stay in this garden till I go up to the King, and bring you word that you are Clerk of the Council; doubt not my doing this, for I know the King loves you, and know the King will not deny me." But the hour was past when

Somerset had but to hint a desire for James to hasten to gratify it. The King had his own idea of Donne's proclivities and gifts. He answered Somerset, "I know Mr. Donne is a learned man, has the abilities of a learned divine, and will prove a successful preacher; and my desire is to prefer him in that way, and in that way I will deny you nothing for him."

We are to imagine Somerset, a little crestfallen, returning to the garden, and bringing Donne with him back into the Royal presence. The King "descended to a persuasion, almost to a solicitation of him, to enter into sacred orders." Barwick uses similar language-" at the persuasion of King James, he entered into holy orders.' Donne himself, writing long afterwards to Sir Robert Ker, said: "When I sit still and reckon all my old Master's royal favours to me, I return evermore to that-that he first inclined me to be a minister." And again, in the dedication of his Devotions of 1624 to Charles, Prince of Wales, he says: "In my second birth, your Highness's royal father vouchsafed me his hand, not only to sustain me in it, but to lead me to it."

It is almost certain, however, that he did not immediately make up his mind. He must have asked for a few days to consult with his friends and to decide. The King, meantime, moved on from Theobald's to Newmarket, and thither about the end of November Donne repaired, with a statement of his views and scruples. He laid these before the King, and they were very graciously considered; he “received from the King as good allowance and encouragement to pursue my purpose as I could desire." He, on his part, undertook to accept the King's offer, and he returned to London, on the 2nd of December, to prepare himself for ordination. Next day he addressed to his father-in-law this extremely interesting letter, which is now for the first time printed.1

"SIR,-I returned not till yesternight from my expensive journey to Newmarket, where I have received from

1 From the Loseley MSS.