u8 Life of Walton. 



Robert Mil ward, Esq., who was at that 

 . time a prisoner in the garrison of Stafford, 

 and Milward shortly afterwards gave it 

 into "the trusty hands" of Mr. Izaak 

 Walton, to convey to Colonel Blague, 

 who was confined by the Parliament in 

 the Tower of London. It is said that 

 Colonel Blague, " considering it had 

 already passed so many dangers, was per- 

 suaded it could yet secure one hazardous 

 attempt of his own " ; and having made his 

 escape from the Tower, he had the grati- 

 fication of restoring the George to the 

 King. 



Ashmole relates this interesting anecdote 

 from the statements of Blague, Milward, 

 and Walton, and speaks of the latter as " a 

 man well known, and as well beloved of 

 all good men, and will be better known 

 to posterity by his ingenious pen in the 

 Lives of Dr. Donne, Sir Henry Wotton, 

 Mr. Richard Hooker, and Mr. George 

 Herbert." 



That the service Walton thus performed 



for his King was one of great peril there 



can be no doubt : he had to communicate 



\ between two Royalist prisoners, through 



a country full of Cromwell's rough soldiery 



and adherents ; he carried what might 



have cost him his life, had it been dis- 



/ covered in his possession ; for had not 



