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father's De Potestate Papæ (1609), answered the critics of this work in his Pietas (1612), and served especially as a companion for the King in the learned discussions in which he delighted. "Ad Regem hodie Genovicum profectus," writes Casaubon, June, 1614, "cum eruditissimo et amicissimo Barclaio diem suavissime consumpsi." 1 Casaubon was fond of such kindly superlatives, but there is evidence that even he at times grew weary of the continued attendance which James was pleased to require.
Walton, in his life of Donne, gives an account of the similar manner in which the English poet gained a standing at court: "The King had formerly both known and put a value upon his company, and had also given him some hopes of a state-employment; being always much pleased when Mr. Donne attended him, especially at his meals, where there were usually many deep discourses of general learning and very often friendly disputes, or debates of religion betwixt his Majesty and those divines whose places required their attendance on him. 2 According to Mr. Gosse, 3 though this pleasant story is doubtless true of a later period, there is no evidence of talk at meals or other intercourse between Donne and James prior to 1614, save on one occasion in 1609 again recorded by Walton when the King commanded the composition of the Pseudo-Martyr. It is indeed true that such court favor as the poet had, assisted him little in his futile efforts during the years 1607-1610 for such posts as Sir William Fowler's office of secretary
1 Ephemerides, ed. Russell, p. 1062. Casaubon came to England early in 1611, and remained as the King's pensioner until his death in 1614. His opinions of his patron in his diary and private letters are uniformly favorable. He found him "greater than report, and thought him more so every time he saw him." — Ephem. "I enjoy the favor of this excellent monarch, who is really more instructed than most people give him credit for. He is a lover of learning to a degree beyond belief; his judgement of books, old and new, is such as would become a professed scholar rather than a mighty prince." Letter to the historian De Thou. (The passages are quoted and translated in Pattison, Isaac Casaubon, ed. 1892, pp. 695, 285.)
2 Life of Donne, Library of English Classics, p. 207.
3 The Life and Letters of John Donne, London, 1899, Vol. II, p. 58.
