Lives of John Donne, Henry Wotton, Rich'd Hooker, George Herbert, &c, Volume 2

In Short

This biographical volume chronicles the lives of three landmark figures in seventeenth-century Church of England history: theologian Richard Hooker, priest-poet George Herbert, and Bishop Robert Sanderson. Through these accounts, the book moves from academic halls and courtly ambition to humble parish rectories and civil war trials. It traces how each subject navigated religious controversy, personal hardship, and political turmoil with quiet devotion and moral integrity. The work endures because it preserves intimate human details of pivotal scholars and clergymen, offering a vivid window into the personal piety and intellectual climate of early modern England.

The Story

The narrative begins with the life of Richard Hooker, tracing his rise from a quiet academic career at Oxford into the contentious sphere of Church politics. After being ordained as a deacon and priest, Hooker travels to London to preach at St. Paul's Cross, arriving weather-beaten and exhausted before being nursed back to health at the Shunamite’s House. His subsequent time in the Temple embroils him in debates with religious Non-conformists, prompting him to seek a peaceful country parsonage. In these quiet surroundings, he sets out to write his multi-volume defense of Church government, The Laws of Ecclesiastical Polity. The account details his desire to satisfy tender consciences and live in privacy, while also noting the post-mortem fate of his manuscripts, which were altered or truncated by various editors.

The focus then shifts to George Herbert, a gifted scholar who serves as Public Orator at Cambridge. High in the King's favor and thoroughly accustomed to court life, fine clothes, and aristocratic society, Herbert harbors ambitions of becoming a Secretary of State. However, he gradually turns away from worldly advancement to embrace a life of religious service. After taking orders and becoming Rector of Bemerton, he trades his courtly attire for canonical robes. He instructs his wife to embrace humility over social precedence, throws himself into writing sacred poetry, and ministers faithfully to his rural parish. When consumption weakens him, he insists on continuing his daily prayer routine as long as his failing body allows, eventually entrusting his service to a curate before passing away peacefully.

The final section records the life of Robert Sanderson, beginning with his election as Senior Proctor at Oxford after an initial defeat. Sanderson rises through academic and ecclesiastical ranks to become the Regius Professor of Divinity. His tenure is severely disrupted by the outbreak of the English Civil War and Parliamentary mandates. Refusing to comply with forced oaths, Sanderson is displaced from his chair and later seized at his parish in Boothby Pannel by Parliamentary troops. He is taken to Lincoln as a prisoner of war to be exchanged for an imprisoned Parliamentary supporter. Despite being plundered and wounded during these turbulent years, Sanderson maintains a calm, uncomplaining demeanor. Following the Restoration of the monarchy, he participates in the Savoy debate and the revision of the Common Prayer book before serving out his final years as Bishop of Lincoln.

How It Unfolds

A wet arrival in London Hooker travels to London to preach at St. Paul’s Cross, arriving at the Shunamite’s House thoroughly soaked, exhausted, and convinced he is too ill to deliver his sermon. Hospitable care and a warm bed allow him to recover and fulfill his preaching duty.

Retreat to a country parsonage Weary of the public disputes and noise at the Temple, Hooker begs the Archbishop for a rural living where he can study in peace. In this quiet privacy, he drafts his major treatise on ecclesiastical law.

Surrendering court ambitions Herbert moves away from his academic position at Cambridge and his hopes for high political office under the King. Choosing a path of sacred service, he accepts a small rural parish and adopts a life of strict personal humility.

Devotion amidst failing health Stricken by consumption, Herbert continues reading daily prayers at his chapel until his physical weakness forces him to hand the duty over to his curate. He prepares for his death surrounded by friends and the prayers of the liturgy.

Imprisonment and exchange During the Civil War, Sanderson is captured at his parish by Parliamentary soldiers and taken to the Lincoln garrison. He is held until an exchange can be arranged for a captured Parliamentary minister, enduring the loss of his property without complaint.

Rebuilding the Church liturgy Following the return of the King, Sanderson takes a leading role in the Convocation, where he helps revise the Book of Common Prayer and writes its new preface to help reconcile dissenting religious groups.

The People

• Richard Hooker: A scholarly and soft-spoken clergyman who seeks peace, quiet, and study. He wants to defend the established traditions of the Church through clear reasoning, but he faces public controversy and the corruption of his written manuscripts after his death.
• George Herbert: A brilliant academic and former Cambridge orator who initially craves courtly influence, fine clothes, and social status. He surrenders his worldly ambitions for a life of quiet country ministry, overcoming physical weakness and consumption through deep personal piety and poetic composition.
• Robert Sanderson: A modest yet resolute professor of divinity who values order, legal oaths, and duty. He faces political persecution, imprisonment, and physical violence during the English Civil War, yet retains his calm demeanor and goes on to help reform the Church liturgy as a bishop.

In Its Own Voice

"...he was never known to express more passion, than against a friend that dissuaded him from footing it to London, and for finding him no easier an horse..."

Hooker's difficult journey on horseback to deliver a sermon at St. Paul's Cross reveals his physical frailty and rare flashes of frustration.

"He knew the ways of learning; knew what nature does willingly, and what, when it is forced by fire; knew the ways of honour, and when glory inclines the soul to noble expressions..."

Herbert reflects upon his deliberate choice to walk away from academic and courtly achievements in order to serve the Church.

"...he, apprehending the remedy might turn to a more intolerable burden by impatience or complaining, forbore both; and possessed his soul in a contented quietness, without the least repining."

Sanderson's quiet endurance during his wartime imprisonment and the loss of his livelihood highlights his stoic commitment to his faith.

What It's Really About

At its core, the text examines the tension between personal ambition, political turmoil, and the quiet pursuit of a spiritual calling. It contrasts the fleeting rewards of courtly favor and academic fame with the lasting peace found in duty, humility, and scholarly devotion. Through these lives, the narrative explores how individuals maintain their moral integrity when caught in the middle of intense religious and political conflict. It argues that true strength lies not in worldly power or aggressive debate, but in Christian moderation, patience, and unyielding adherence to one's conscience.

Why Read It Today

This volume appeals to readers who enjoy biographical history, classic Anglican theology, and the literary prose of the seventeenth century. Reading it offers an intimate, highly detailed look into the everyday lives, personal struggles, and scholarly habits of notable early modern figures. Walton's writing provides a warm, reflective atmosphere that captures both the dignity and the quiet eccentricities of his subjects.

Modern readers should be prepared for archaic sentence structures, lengthy period titles, and detailed historical discussions regarding Church governance and Civil War politics. The text relies on traditional seventeenth-century religious perspectives, which may require extra attention from those unfamiliar with the historical context. However, the vivid personal anecdotes—such as a wet traveler recovering in a lodging house or a minister adjusting to rural life—give the narrative a lasting human quality. The book leaves the reader with a deep appreciation for those who sought quiet study and steadfastness during some of the most turbulent eras in English history.