To George Gerrard. The nearest indication of the date of this letter is
found in the mention of Sir Germander Pool. John Chamberlain in a letter
to Sir Ralph Winwood, dated March 10th, 1612/13 writes:
"I know not whether I told you in my former, of an odd fray that
happened much about that time [February 23d, 1612/13] near the Temple,
'twixt one Hutchison of Grays-Inn, and Sir German Pool; who,
assaulting the other upon Advantage, and cutting off two of his
Fingers, besides a Wound or two more before he could draw, the
Gentleman finding himself disabled to revenge himself by the Sword,
flew in upon him, and, getting him down, tore away all his Eyebrow
with his Teeth, and then seizing on his Nose, tore away all of it, and
carried it away in his Pockett."
Mr. Gosse suggests that it is not unlikely that Sir Germander's singular
disfigurement led to the resignation of which Donne speaks.
With the exception of this letter and the passage just quoted from the
_Winwood Memorials_ I have been unable to find in print any reference to
Sir Germander. Through the unwearying kindness of Mr. Gosse, however, and
the researches of Lord Raglan, undertaken at his instance, I am able to
give some particulars of the history of this unlucky knight. He was
baptized--as German or Germaine (Germander is a corruption)--in 1573. He
fought in Ireland under Montjoy in 1599; he was knighted at Dublin Castle
by the Lord Deputy of Ireland on the 20th of April, 1603; and in 1625 he
had so far triumphed over his misfortunes as to win the hand of Millicent,
daughter of Francis Mundy, Esq., of Markeaton, who bore him a son.