xxx INTRODUCTORY ESSAY. 



demonstrated, of whom that which is most certainly 

 known, would do honour to any station whatever: 

 his " only son Isaac" we find bred to the church, 

 seemingly as a matter of course ; and that his only 

 daughter was married to a dignified clergyman, Dr. 

 Hawkins of Winchester, strengthens all the fore- 

 going arguments.* 



All these particulars we are enabled to collect, 

 notwithstanding that history and tradition are 



* Rut I have now the pleasure of recording a very interesting 

 new fact relating to our author. So lately as June, 1 844, a 

 paper, by John Nicholl, Esq., of Islington, F.S.A., and of the 

 Worshipful Company of Ironmongers, — was read by Sir Henry 

 Ellis, disclosing as follows : — " 1617-18, Isaac Walton was made 

 one of the Ironmongers' Company, by Thomas Grinsell, Citizen 

 and Ironmonger." This may be relied on, whether he had 

 been previously apprenticed to Henry Walton or not — " but it 

 does not appear when he was bound or turned over to Grinsell." 

 This tempting "item" was seized by our keen antiquary, with 

 the eye of a hawk, and the avidity of a pearch ! — and he has 

 declared to some of his friends, that he is more pleased with 

 the discovery than with any other result of his researches 

 among the archives of his ancient fraternity. Walton was 

 then about 24 years of age, before which, in those days, no 

 one could take up his freedom. Here then, we have the very 

 first event of his manhood that can be confirmed by a date ! — 

 and I still contend that he must have been surrounded by 

 guardian friends, in every part of his prosperous career. No 

 further evidence is needed than that of his will to show that 

 the family of Grinsell, or Grinsells were relations! — for amongst 

 those to whom he leaves memorial rings there is this item — 

 " to my cosen Grinsells widow." 



