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Hereditary Genius
285
been expected (see CROMWELL). A daughter of Robina Cromwell, by her first
husband, married Archbishop Tillotson, and left issue, but undistinguished.
Donne, John, D.D., Dean of St. Paul's (1573—1631, aet. 58). “He was rather born
wise than made so by study.” He is the subject of one of Isaac Walton's
biographies. The recreations of his youth were poetry; the latter part of his life
was a continual study. He early thought out his religion for himself, being
thoroughly converted from Papacy through his own inquiries aet. 20. His mind
was liberal and unwearied in the search of knowledge. His life was holy and his
death exemplary.
[gU.]? Sir Thomas More, the Lord Chancellor, from whose family he was
descended through his mother. Sir Thomas being born ninety-three years
before him was, I presume, his great-grandfather or great-great-uncle.
g.? William Rastall, the worthy and laborious judge who abridged the statutes of
the kingdom. Rastall was a generation younger than Sir Thomas More, and was
therefore probably a grandfather or great-uncle of Dr. Donne.
gF.? John Rastall, father of the judge, printer and author.
Downe, John, B.D. See under JEWELL.
u. John Jewell,* Bishop of Salisbury.
Erskine, Ebenezer (about 1680—1754, aet. 74); originator of the Scottish secession.
This pious minister preached freely against the proceedings of the Synod of
Perth, for which he was reprimanded, arid afterwards, owing to his continued
contumacy, he was expelled from the Scottish Church. Hence the famous
Secession.
B. Ralph Erskine.* See below.
Erskine, Ralph (1685—1752, aet. 67); also became a seceder. He did not simply
follow his brother, but raised a separate religious tempest against himself. He
wrote controversial tracts, was a strict Calvinist, and published sonnets that
“breathe a warm spirit of piety, though they cannot be mentioned as finished
poetical compositions.” He laboured in preaching and writing till almost the
time of his death. He left a large family (his father was one of thirty-three
children), of whom three sons were ministers of the Secession, but died in the
prime of life.
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