John Donne, who was Dean from 1621 to 1631. It is hardly
needful to say that his life is the first in the beautiful set of
biographies by his friend, Izaak Walton. But it seems only right to
quote Walton's account of this monument. The Dean knew that he was
dying, and his friends expressed their desire to know his wishes. He
sent for a carver to make for him in wood the figure of an urn, giving
him directions for the compass and height of it, and to bring with
it a board, of the just height of his body. "These being got, then
without delay a choice painter was got to be in readiness to draw his
picture, which was taken as followeth:--Several charcoal fires being
first made in his large study, he brought with him into that place his
winding-sheet in his hand, and, having put off all his clothes, had
this sheet put on him, and so tied with knots at his head and feet,
and his hands so placed as dead bodies are usually fitted to be
shrouded and put into their coffin or grave. Upon this urn he thus
stood, with his eyes shut, and with so much of the sheet turned aside
as might show his lean, pale, and death-like face, which was purposely
turned towards the East, from whence he expected the second coming of
his and our Saviour Jesus.
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