John Donne and William Strode

John Donne (1572-1631), poet and divine, was educated privately and at Hart Hall, Oxford, and was admitted to Lincoln's Inn in 1592. He was ordained priest and deacon in 1615, and that year became royal chaplain. In 1616 he was appointed Rector of Keyston, Huntingdonshire, and of Sevenoaks, Kent, and became divinity reader at Lincoln's Inn. Donne was Dean of St Paul's, London, 1621-1631. He died on 31 March 1631.

William Strode (1602-1645), poet and dramatist, was educated at Westminster School and Christ Church, Oxford. He became canon of Christ Church, Oxford, and Vicar of Blackbourton, Oxfordshire, in 1638, and was Vicar of Badby, Northamptonshire, 1639-1642. Strode wrote poems and a tragi-comedy, 'The floating island', which was acted before Charles I at Oxford in 1636. He died at Christ Church on 11 March 1645.