This letter, like the next, was written in 1619, and but a few months
after Donne's appointment as Divinity Reader to the Benchers of Lincoln's
Inn,
"About which time," says Walton, "the Emperour of _Germany_ died, and
the Palsgrave, who had lately married the Lady _Elizabeth_, the King's
onely daughter, was elected and crowned King of _Bohemia_, the unhappy
beginning of many miseries in that Nation.
"King _James_, whose Motto (_Beati Pacifici_) did truly speak the very
thoughts of his heart, endeavoured first to prevent, and after to
compose the discords of that discomposed State: and amongst other his
endeavours did then send the Lord _Hay_ Earl of _Doncaster_ his
Ambassadour to those unsetled Princes; and by a speciall command from
his Majesty Dr. _Donne_ was appointed to assist and attend that
employment to the Princes of the Union: for which the Earl was most
glad, who had alwayes put a great value on him, and taken a
complacency in his conversation."
On the eve of his departure Donne placed in the hands of a few friends
manuscript copies of unpublished writings for whose preservation he wished
to provide.
[Greek: BIATHANATOS], _A Declaration of that Paradoxe, or Thesis, that
Selfe-Homicide is not so Naturally Sinne, that it may never be otherwise,
wherein the Nature, and the extent of all these lawes, which seem to be
violated by this Act, are diligently surveyed_, was not published until
1644, thirteen years after Donne's death. The manuscript of the [Greek:
BIATHANATOS] which Donne gave to Sir Edward Herbert is now preserved in
the Bodleian Library, to which Lord Herbert presented it in 1642, with the
letter here printed and with the following inscription:
HUNC LIBRUM AB AUTHORE CUM EPISTOLA QUI PRAEIT [Greek: AUTOGRAPhÔ]
DONO SIBI DATUM DUM EQUESTRIS OLIM ESSE ORDINIS EDVARDUS HERBERT, JAM
BARO DE CHERBURY IN ANGLIA, ET CASTRI INSULAE DE KERRY IN HIBERNIA, E
SUA BIBLIOTHECA IN BODLEIANAM TRANSTULIT MERITISS. IN ALMAN MATREM
ACAD. OXON. PIETATIS ET OBSERVANTIAE [Greek: MNÊMOSYNON], MDCXXII.