Chapter 3

S'r., I came well from Winton to London, about 3 weikes past: at that time I left Do'r Hawkins well: and my dafter (after a greate danger of child berth) not very well, but by a late letter from him, I heare they be boeth in good health.

The doctor did tell me a gowne and some bookes of y'rs were in danger to be lost, though he had made (at a distance) many inquiries after them, and intreated others to doe so too, but yet inefectually. He theirfore intreated me to undertake a search: and I have donne it so succesfuly that uppon thursday the 24th instant they were d'd to that letter carryer that Inns at the Rose in Smithfeild, and with them the Life of M'r. George Herbert (and 3 others) wrapt up in a paper and directed to you at Rodon Temple, the booke not tyed to the bundell, but of it selfe. The bundell cost me 3s. 8d. carryage to London, and I hope it will now come safe to your hands.

What I have to write more is my heartie wishes for y'r hapines, for I am y'r affec. frend and seruant, IZAAK WALTON. Nou'r 26th, 1670.

If you incline to write to me, direct your letter to be left at M'r. Grinsells, a grocer in King streite in Westminster. Much good doe you with the booke, w'ch I wish better.

* * * * *

DEDICATION OF THE THIRD EDITION OF RELIQUIAE WOTTONIANAE.

1672.

[Reliquiae Wottonianae: or a Collection of Lives, Letters, Poems; with Characters of Sundry Personages: and other Incomparable Pieces of Language and Art. Also Additional Letters to several Persons, not before Printed. By the Curious Pencil of the Ever Memorable Sir Henry Wotton, K't, Late Provost of Eaton Colledge. The Third Edition, with large Additions. London: Printed by T. Roycroft, for R. Marriott, F. Tyton, T. Collins, and J. Ford, 1672.]

_To the Right Honourable_ PHILIP _Earl of Chesterfield, Lord Stanhop of Shelford._

MY LORD,

I have conceived many Reasons, why I ought in Justice to Dedicate these Reliques of Your Great Uncle, Sir Henry Wotton, to Your Lordship; some of which are, that both Your Grand-mother and Mother had a double Right to them by a Dedication when first made Publick; as also, for their assisting me then, and since, with many Material Informations for the Writing his Life; and for giving me many of the Letters that have fallen from his curious Pen: so that they being now dead, these Reliques descend to You, as Heir to them, and the Inheritor of the memorable Bocton Palace, the Place of his Birth, where so many of the Ancient, and Prudent, and Valiant Family of the Wottons lie now Buried; whose remarkable Monuments You have lately Beautified, and to them added so many of so great Worth, as hath made it appear, that at the Erecting and Adorning them, You were above the thought of Charge, that they might, if possible, (for 'twas no easie undertaking) hold some proportion with the Merits of Your Ancestors.

My Lord, These are a part of many more Reasons that have inclin'd me to this Dedication; and these, with the Example of a Liberty that is not given, but now too usually taken by many Scriblers, to make trifling Dedications, might have begot a boldness in some Men of as mean as my mean Abilities to have undertaken this. But indeed, my Lord, though I was ambitious enough of undertaking it; yet, as Sir Henry Wotton hath said in a Piece of his own Character, _That he was condemn'd by Nature to a bashfulness in making Requests_: so I find myself (pardon the Parallel) so like him in this, that if I had not had more Reasons then I have yet exprest, these alone had not been powerful enough to have created a Confidence in me to have attempted it. Two of my unexprest Reasons are, (_give me leave to tell them to Your Lordship and the World_) that Sir Henry Wotton, whose many Merits made him an Ornament even to Your Family, was yet so humble, as to acknowledge me to be his Friend; and died in a belief that I was so: since which time, I have made him the best return of my Gratitude for his Condescention, that I have been able to express, or he capable of receiving: and, am pleased with my self for so doing.

My other Reason of this boldness, is, an incouragement (_very like a command_) from Your worthy Cousin, and my Friend, _Mr. Charles Cotton_, who hath assured me, that You are such a Lover of the Memory of Your Generous Unkle, Sir Henry Wotton, that if there were no other Reason then my endeavors to preserve it, yet, that that alone would secure this Dedication from being unacceptable.

I wish, that nor he, nor I be mistaken; and that I were able to make You a more Worthy Present. My Lord, I am and will be Your Humble and most Affectionate Servant, IZAAK WALTON.

Feb. 27, 1672.

* * * * *

LETTER TO MARRIOTT

1673.

[The original is preserved in Corpus Christi College, Oxford, and was printed for the first time in Sir Harris Nicolas' Life of Walton (Pickering, 1837), lxxix, lxxx.]

M'R. MARRIOTT,

I have received Bentevolio, and in it M'r. Her's. life; I thank you for both. I have since I saw you received from M'r. Milington so much of M'r. Hales his life as M'r. Faringdon had writ; and have made many inquiries concerning him of many that knew him, namely of M'rs. Powny, of Windsor, (at whose house he died), and as I have heard, so have set them down, that my memory might not lose them. M'r. Mountague did at my being in Windsor promise me to summon his memory, and set down what he knew of him. This I desired him to do at his best leisure, and write it down, and he that knew him and all his affairs best of any man is like to do it very well, because I think he will do it affectionately, so that if M'r. Fulman make his queries concerning that part of his life spent in Oxford, he will have many, and good, I mean true informations from M'r. Faringdon, till he came thither, and by me and my means since he came to Eton.

This I write that you may inform M'r. Fulman of it, and I pray let him know I will not yet give over my queries; and let him know that I hope to meet him and the Parliament in health and in London in October, and then and there deliver up my collections to him. In the mean time I wish him and you health; and pray let him know it either by your writing to him, or sending him this of mine.

God keep us all in his favour, his and your friend to serve you, IZAAK WALTON.

Winchester, 24th August, 1673.

* * * * *

PREFACE TO THEALMA AND CLEARCHUS.

1678.

[Thealma and Clearchus, a Pastoral History, in smooth and easie Verse. Written long since, By John Chalkhill, Esq.; an Acquaintant and Friend of Edmund Spencer. London: Printed for Benj. Tooke, at the Ship in S. Paul's Church-yard, 1683.]

_The Preface._

The Reader will find in this Book, what the Title declares, A Pastoral History, in smooth and easie Verse; and will in it find many Hopes and Fears finely painted, and feelingly express'd. And he will find the first so often disappointed, when fullest of desire and expectation; and the later, so often, so strangely, and so unexpectedly reliev'd, by an unforeseen Providence, as may beget in him wonder and amazement.

And the Reader will here also meet with Passions heightned by easie and fit descriptions of Joy and Sorrow; and find also such various events and rewards of innocent Truth and undissembled Honesty, as is like to leave in him (if he be a good natur'd Reader) more sympathizing and virtuous Impressions, than ten times so much time spent in impertinent, critical, and needless Disputes about Religion: and I heartily wish it may do so.

And, I have also this truth to say of the Author, that he was in his time a man generally known, and as well belov'd; for he was humble, and obliging in his behaviour, a Gentleman, a Scholar, very innocent and prudent: and indeed his whole life was useful, quiet, and virtuous. God send the Story may meet with, or make all Readers like him. I.W.[1] May 7, 1678.

FOOTNOTES

[1] The Poem of Thealma and Clearchus was left in an unfinished state: it terminates abruptly with the half line

"Thealma lives"--

Upon which Walton adds

_And here the Author dy'd, and I hope the Reader will be sorry._

* * * * *

LETTER TO JOHN AUBREY.

1680.

[The original is amongst Aubrey's MSS. in the Ashmolian Museum: annexed to it is the following note by Aubrey: "This account I received from Mr. Isaac Walton (who wrote Dr. Donne's Life), &c. Decemb. 2, 1680, he being then eighty-seven years of age. This is his own hand-writing, I.A." _See Walton's Lives, With Notes and the Life of the Author by Thomas Zouch, third edition. York, 1817._ Vol. II. pp. 353-356.]

_ffor y'r friends q'ue this._

I only knew Ben Jonson: But my Lord of Winton knew him very well; and says, he was in the 6th, that is, the uppermost fforme in Westminster scole, at which time his father dyed, and his mother married a brickelayer, who made him (much against his will) help him in his trade; but in a short time, his scolemaister, M'r. Camden, got him a better imployment, which was to atend or acompany a son of Sir Walter Rauley's in his travills. Within a short time after their return, they parted (I think not in cole bloud) and with a love sutable to what they had in their travilles (not to be commended). And then Ben began to set up for himself in the trade by which he got his subsistance and fame, of which I need not give any account. He got in time to have a 100L a yeare from the king, also a pension from the cittie, and the like from many of the nobilitie and some of the gentry, w'ch was well pay'd, for love or fere of his railing in verse, or prose, or boeth. My lord told me, he told him he was (in his long retyrement and sickness, when he saw him, which was often) much afflickted, that hee had profained the scripture in his playes, and lamented it with horror: yet that, at that time of his long retyrement, his pension (so much as came in) was giuen to a woman that gouern'd him (with whome he liu'd and dyed near the Abie in Westminster); and that nether he nor she tooke too much care for next weike: and wood be sure not to want wine: of w'ch he usually tooke too much before he went to bed, if not oftener and soner. My lord tells me, he knowes not, but thinks he was born in Westminster. The question may be put to Mr. Wood very easily upon what grounds he is positive as to his being born their; he is a friendly man, and will resolve it. So much for braue Ben. You will not think the rest so tedyous as I doe this.

ffor y'r 2 and 3 q'ue of Mr. Hill, and Bilingsley, I do neither know nor can learn any thing worth teling you.

for y'r two remaining q'ue of Mr. Warner, and Mr. Harriott this:

Mr. Warner did long and constantly lodg nere the water-stares, or market, in Woolstable. Woolstable is a place not far from Charing-Crosse, and nerer to Northumberland-house. My lord of Winchester tells me, he knew him, and that he sayde, he first found out the cerculation of the blood, and discover'd it to Dr. Haruie (who said that 'twas he (himselfe) that found it) for which he is so memorally famose. Warner had a pension of 40l. a yeare from that Earle of Northumberland that lay so long a prisner in the Towre, and som allowance from Sir Tho. Aylesbury, and with whom he usually spent his sumer in Windsor Park, and was welcom, for he was harmles and quet. His winter was spent at the Woolstable, where he dyed in the time of the parlement of 1640, of which or whome, he was no louer.

Mr. Herriott, my lord tells me, he knew also: That he was a more gentile man than Warner. That he had 120L a yeare pension from the said Earle (who was a louer of their studyes), and his lodgings in Syon-house, where he thinks, or believes, he dyed.

This is all I know or can learne for your friend; which I wish may be worth the time and trouble of reading it. I.W.

Nou'r. 22, 80.

* * * * *

IZAAK WALTON'S WILL.

1683.

August the 9th, 1683.

In the name of God Amen. I Izaak Walton the elder of Winchester being this present day in the neintyeth yeare of my age and in perfect memory for wich praysed be God: but Considering how sodainly I may be deprived of boeth doe therfore make this my last will and testament as followeth. And first I doe [declare] my beleife to be that their is only one God who hath made the whole world and me and all mankinde to whome I shall give an acount of all my actions which are not to be justified, but I hope pardoned for the merits of my saviour Jesus.--And because [the profession of] Cristianity does at this time, seime to be subdevided into papist and protestant, I take it to be at least convenient to declare my beleife to be in all poynts of faith, as the Church of England now professeth. And this I doe the rather, because of a very long and very trew friendmip with some of the Roman Church.

And for my worldly estate, (which I have nether got by falshood or flattery or the extreme crewelty of the law of this nation,) I doe hereby give and bequeth it as followeth.--First I give my son-in-law Doc'r. Hawkins and to his Wife, to them I give all my tytell and right of or in a part of a howse and mop in Pater-noster-rowe in London: which I hold by lease from the Lord Bishop of London for about 50 years to come and I doe also give to them all my right and tytell of or to a howse in Chansery-lane, London; where in M'rs. Greinwood now dwelleth, in which is now about 16 years to come. I give these two leases to them, they saving my executor from all damage concerning the same. (And I doe also give to my saide dafter all my books this day at Winchester and Droxford: and what ever ells I can call mine their, except a trunk of linen w'ch I give my son Izaak Walton, but if he doe not marry, or use the saide linen himselfe, then I give the same to my grand-doughter Anne Hawkins).

And I give to my son Izaak, all my right and tytell to a lease of Norington farme, which I hold from the lord B'p. of Winton.

And I doe also give him all my right and tytell to a farme or land near to Stafford: which I bought of M'r. Walter Noell: I say, I give it to him and [his] heares for ever, but upon the condition following. Namely--If my sone shall not marry before he shall be of the age of forty and one yeare; or being marryed shall dye before the saide age and leve noe son to inherit the saide farme or land: or if his son [or sonns] shall not live to ataine the age of twentie and one yeare, to dispose otherwayes of it, then I give the saide farme or land to the towne or corperation of Stafford (in which I was borne,) for the good and benifit of some of the saide towne, as I shall direct and as followeth, but first note, that it is at this presant time rented for 21li. 10s. a yeare (and is like to hold the said rent, if care be taken to keipe the barne and howsing in repaire) and I wood have and doe give ten pownd of the saide rent, to binde out yearely two boyes, the sons of honest and pore parents to be apprentices to som tradesmen or handy-craftmen, to the intent the saide boyes [may] the better afterward get their owne living.--And I doe also give five pownd yearly, out of the said rent to be given to some meade-servant, that hath atain'd the age of twenty and [one] yeare (not les), and dwelt long in one servis, or to som honeft pore man's daughter, that hath atain'd to that age, to [be] paide her, at or on the day of her marriage.

And this being done, my will is, that what rent shall remaine of the saide farme or land, shall be disposed of as followeth.

First I doe give twenty shillings yearely, to be spent by the maior of Stafford and those that shall colect the said rent: and dispose of it as I have and shall hereafter direct. And that what mony or rent shail remaine undisposed offe shall be imployed to buie coles for some pore people, that shall most neide them in the said towne; the saide coles to be delivered the last weike in Janewary, or in every first weike in Febrewary: I say then, because I take that time to be the hardest and most pinching times with pore people. And God reward those that shall doe this with out partialitie and with honestie and a good contience.

And if the saide maior and others of the saide towne of Stafford, shall prove so necligent or dishonest as not to imploy the rent by me given as intended and exprest in this my will, (which God forbid,) then I give the saide rents and profits, of the saide farme or land, to the towne and chiefe magestrats or governers of Ecles-hall, to be disposed by them in such maner as I have ordered the disposall of it, by the towne of Stafford, the said Farme or land being nere the towne of Ecles-hall.

And I give to my son-in-law Doctor Hawkins, (whome I love as my owne son) and to my dafter his wife, and my son Izaak to each of them a ring with these words or motto;--love my memory, I.W. obiet = to the Lord B'p of Winton a ring with this motto--a mite for a million: I.W. obiet = "And to the freinds hearafter named I give to each of them a ring with this motto--A friends farewell. I.W. obiet" = and my will is, the said rings be delivered within fortie dayes of my deth. and that the price or valew of all the saide rings shall be--l3s. 4d. a peice.

I give to Doctor Hawkins Docto'r Donns Sermons; which I have hear'd preacht, and read with much content, to my son Izaak I give Doc'r Sibbs his _Soules Conflict_ and to my doughter his _Brewsed Reide_; desiring them to reade them so, as to be well aquanted with them, and I also give to her all my bookes at Winchester and Droxford, and what ever in those two places are or I can call mine: except a trunk of linen, which I gave to my son Izaak, but if he doe not live to make use of it, then I give the same to my grand-dafter, Anne Hawkins: And I give my dafter Doc'r Halls Works which be now at Farnham.

To my son Izaak I give all my books, (not yet given) at Farnham Castell and a deske of prints and pickters; also a cabinet nere my beds head, in w'ch are som littell things that he will valew, tho of noe greate worth.

And my will and desyre is, that he will be kind to his Ante Beacham and his ant Rose Ken: by alowing the first about fiftie shilling a yeare in or for bacon and cheise (not more), and paying 4li. a yeare toward the bordin of her son's dyut to M'r. John Whitehead. for his ante Ken, I desyre him to be kinde to her according to her necessitie and his owne abillitie. and I comend one of her children to breide up (as I have saide I intend to doe) if he shall be able to doe it as I know he will; for, they be good folke.

I give to M'r. John Darbishire the Sermons of M'r. Antony Faringdon, or of do'r Sanderson, which my executor thinks fit to my servant, Thomas Edghill I give five pownd in mony, and all my clothes linen and wollen except one sute of clothes, (which I give to M'r. Holinihed, and forty shiling) if the saide Thomas be my servant at my deth, if not my cloths only.

And I give my old friend M'r. Richard Marriot ten pownd in mony, to be paid him within . 3 . months after my deth. and I desyre my son to shew kindenes to him if he shall neide, and my son can spare it.

And I doe hereby will and declare my son Izaak to be my sole executo'r of this my last will and testament; and Do'r Hawkins, to see that he performs it, which I doubt not but he will.

I desyre my buriall may be nere the place of my deth; and free from any ostentation or charg, but privately: this I make to be my last will, (to which I only add the codicell for rings,) this 16. day of August, 1683.

Witnes to this will. IZAAK WALTON.

The rings I give are as on the other side.

To my brother Jon Ken. to my brother Beacham. to my sister his wife. to my sister his wife, to my brother Docr Ken. to the lady Anne How. to my sister Pye. to M'rs. King Dor Philips wife. to M'r. Francis Morley. to M'r. Valantine Harecourt. to Sr George Vernon. to M'rs. Elyza Johnson. to his wife. to M'rs. Mary Rogers. to his 3 dafters to M'rs. Elyza Milward, to M'rs. Nelson. to M'rs. Doro. Wallop. to M'r. Rich. Walton. to M'r. Will. Milward of to M'r. Palmer. Christ-Church, Oxford. to M'r. Taylor. to M'r. John Darbeshire. to M'r. Tho. Garrard. to M'r. Veudvill. to the Lord Bp. of Sarum. to M'rs. Rock. to M'r. Rede his Servant. to M'r. Peter White. to my Coz. Dorothy Kenrick. to M'r. John Lloyde. to my Coz. Lewin. to my Coz Greinsells to M'r. Walter Higgs. ---- widow to M'r. Cha Cotton. 16 M'rs. Dalbin must not to M'r. Rich. Marryot. be forgotten. ---- 22

Note that several lines are blotted } out of this will for they are twice } repeted: And, that this will is now } IZAAK WALTON signed & sealed, this twenty and } fourth day of October 1683 in the } presence of us-- }

Witnes, Abra. Markland. Jos: Taylor, Thomas Crawley.