I02 IZAAK WALTON AND HIS FRIENDS 



He thought much as to the clergy living well ; 

 he said it would be a cure for the wickedness and 

 growing atheism of the age if they themselves 

 would be sure to live unblamably, and if *'the 

 dignified clergy especially which preach temper- 

 ance, would avoid surfeiting and take all occasions 

 to express a visible humility and charity in their 

 lives." We read that the Sunday before his death 

 he rose up and called for one of his instruments, 

 and, having tuned it, played and sang his beautiful 

 hymn beginning : — 



" The Sundays of Man's life." 



"When the end was near he fell into a sudden 

 agony." His wife asked him how he felt, and he 

 replied " that he had passed a conflict with his last 

 enemy, and had overcome him by the merits of his 

 Master Jesus." Having given certain directions 

 as to his will, he said: "I am now ready to 

 die," and " Lord, forsake me not now my strength 

 faileth me : but grant me mercy for the merits 

 of my Jesus. And now Lord — Lord, now re- 

 ceive my soul." And with those words he 

 calmly passed away. He was very happily 

 married to a daughter of Charles Danvers, of 

 Baynton, Wiltshire, a near relation of the Earl 

 of Danby, but had no issue. 



Herbert is buried in Bemerton Church. On 

 his death the following verses were found wrapped 



