Donne, John, the younger, son of the poet.

Indenture between Edward Lord Herbert of Castle Island, later Lord Herbert of Cherbury, John, First Earl of Bridgewater, and Richard Herbert (son and heir of Lord Herbert), at the time of Richard Herbert's marriage to Bridgewater's daughter Mary Egerton, by which Lord Herbert settles upon his son revenues from certain lands in Monmouthshire and an annual income of £600, signed by Bridgewater at the foot and with seven witness signatures, including Donne, on the dorse, one parchment membrane (230 x 480 mm), 17 November 1627; cut close around the text with initial capital and engrossed letters on first line trimmed, other signatures probably cut away. Brown cloth folding-box. 

acquisition: Hoffman & Freeman

This marriage united two aristocratic families with remarkable literary connections. The groom was the son of the philosopher and writer Lord Herbert of Cherbury, whilst the bride's siblings were to be the original performers in Milton's Comus. Bridgewater was a cousin of Ann, the wife of John Donne senior, and the son of Thomas Egerton, the poet's former employer. Fittingly enough, Donne himself preached the wedding sermon.