Chapter XXXVII

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.