ther, in Michaelmas
term 1584.[2] By advice of his relations, who were Roman Catholics, he
declined taking the oath tendered upon the occasion of taking degrees.
After he had studied three years at the University, he removed to
Cambridge, and from thence three years after to Lincoln's-Inn. About
this time his father died, and left him a portion of 3000L. He became
soon distinguished at Lincoln's-Inn, by his rapid progress in the law.
He was now eighteen years of age, and as yet had attached himself to
no particular denomination of Christians, and as his relations
were bigotted to the Romish faith, he was induced to examine the
controversy, and to embrace publickly that which appeared to him to be
best supported by the authority of the scriptures. He relinquished
the study of the law, and devoted himself entirely to that of the
controverted points between the Protestants and Catholics, which ended
in a thorough conviction of the truths of the reformed religion.

In the years 1596 and 1597 Mr. Donne attended the Earl of Essex in
his expeditions against Cadiz and the Azores Islands, and stayed some
years in Italy and Spain, and soon after his return to England he was
made secretary to lord chancellor Egerton. This probably was intended
by his lordship only as an introduction to a more dignified place; for
he frequently expressed a high opinion of his secretary's abilities;
and when he afterwards, by the sollicitation of his lady, parted with
him, he observed that he was fitter to be a secretary to a Monarch
than to him. When he was in the lord chancellor's family, he married
privately without the consent of her father, the daughter of Sir
George More, chancellor of the Garter, and lord lieutenant of the
Tower, who so much resented his daughter's marriage without
his consent, that he procured our author's dismission from the
chancellor's service, and got him committed to prison. Sir George's
daughter lived in the lord chancellor's family, and was niece to his
lady. Upon Sir George's hearing that his daughter had engaged her
heart to Donne, he removed her to his own house in Surry, and friends
on both sides endeavoured to weaken their affection for each other,
but without success; for having exchanged the most sacred promises,
they found means to consummate a private marriage. Our author was not
long in obtaining his liberty, but was obliged to be at the expence
of a tedious law-suit to recover the possession of his wife, wh