"Mr. Brome," &c., and the Epistle ends with "Your friend," without the
N.N. which is found in this copy. But what is more remarkable, the printed
word Author is run through, and corrected with a pen, and over it written
_Publisher_, which is evidently in the handwriting of Walton. So Mr.
Pickering further certifies.
The following allusion towards the bottom of p. 37 confirms the idea of
Walton's authorship. Speaking of Hugh Peters and John Lilbourn, the writer
says:--"Their turbulent lives and uncomfortable deaths are not I hope yet
worn out of the memory of many. He that compares them with the holy life
and happy death of Mr. George Herbert, as it is plainly and _I hope truly_
writ by Mr. Isaac Walton, may in it find a perfect pattern for an humble
and devout Christian to imitate," &c.
The following are the chief parallel passages in this pamphlet and in
Walton's other writings, as indicated by Zouch:--
_Second Letter_, _p. 19._ _Life of George Herbert._
I wish as heartily as you Mr. George Herbert having
do that all such Clergy-mens changed his sword and
Wives as have silk Cloaths silk clothes into a canonical
be-daubed with Lace, and coat, thus warned Mrs. Herbert
their heads hanged about against this egregious folly
with painted Ribands, were of _striving for precedency_:--
enjoyned Penance for their "You are now a minister's
pride: And their Husbands wife, and must now so far forget
punisht for being so tame, or your father's house, as not
so lovingly-simple, as to suffer to claim a precedence of any
them; for, by such Cloaths, of your parishioners," &c.
they proclaim their own Ambition,
and their Husbands folly.
And I say the like, concerning
their _striving for Precedency_.
_P. 20._ _Life of George Herbert._
And, I confess also, what One cure for the wickedness
you say of a Clergy-mans of the times would be,
bidding _to fast_ on the Eves of for the clergy themselves
Holy-days, in Lent, and the to keep the Ember-weeks
_Ember Weeks_: And I wish strictly, &c.
those biddings were forborn,
or better practised by themselves.
_P. 20._ _Life of George Herbert._
And, I wish as heartily as Those ministers that huddled
you can, that they would not up the church prayers
only read, but pray, the without a visible reverence
Common Prayer; and not and affection: namely, such
huddle it up so fast (as too as semed to say the Lord's
many do) by getting into a Prayer or collect in a breath.
middle of a second Collect,
before a devout Hearer can
say Amen to the first.
_Preface to Sanderson's XXI
_P. 20._ Sermons, 1655._
And now, having unbowelled But since I had thus adventured
my very soul thus to unbowel myself,
freely to you, &c. and to lay open the very inmost
thoughts of my heart.
_P.21._ _Life of Sanderton._
A Corrosive, or (as _Solomon_ Riches so gotten, and added
says of ill-gotten riches) to his great estate, would
_like gravel in his teeth_. prove _like gravel in his teeth_.
_P. 21._ _Life of Sir H. Wotton._
Those _Bishops and Martyrs_ It was the advice of Sir
that assisted in this Reformation, Henry Wotton, "Take heed
did not (as Sir _Henry Wotton_ of thinking the farther you go
said wisely) think _the farther_ from the Church of Rome,
they went from the Church of Rome, the nearer you are to God."
the nearer they got to heaven.
_P. 23._ _Life of Richard Hooker._
To make the Women, the Here the very women and
Shop-keepers, and the middle- shopkeepers were able to judge
witted People ... less of predestination, and determine
busie, and more humble and what laws were fit to
lowly in their own eyes, and be obeyed or abolished.
to think that they are neither
called, nor are fit to meddle
with, and judge of the most
hidden and mysterious points
in _Divinity_, and Government
of the _Church_ and _State_.
_P. 36._ _Life of Sanderson._
I desire you to look back Some years before the unhappy
with me to the beginning of Long Parliament, this
the late Long Parliament nation being then happy and
1640, at which time we in peace.
were the quietest and happiest
people in the Christian World.
To the present Editor the collection and annotation of these Remains has
been a most welcome labour of love. Some of his oldest and most cherished
memories connect themselves with the author of the "Complete Angler." That
book was one of the first that he ever read with real and genuine delight;
and even before reading days commenced, in the earliest dawn of memory,
the place where Walton had cut his familiar signature of "Iz. Wa." on
Chaucer's tomb in Westminster Abbey, was pointed out to him often by a
kindred spirit now here no more. The name of Walton will also be found
enshrined in the earliest prose production[8] to which the Editor
prefixed his own name.
R.H.S.