THOMAS KEN AND IZAAK WALTON 105 



abutting on a mesuage known by the sign of the 

 Harrow, and that this house was in the joint 

 occupation of himself and a hosier'*- called John 

 Mason." 



It does not follow that Walton was in business 

 connection with Mason. 



1 On the occasion of the unveiling of the memorial 

 window, St. Dunstan's, April 5, 1895 (see Chap, x.), the 

 Master of the Ironmongers' Company stated that at the 

 same time that Walton paid the above-mentioned 2 75. lod. 

 he also presented to the company an apprentice of his, one 

 Edward Blurton, and paid the usual fee therefor. (This 

 slight circumstance was then made known for the first time.) 

 The master further made the following interesting statement 

 as to Walton's calling: "After careful search, I have not 

 discovered the faintest hint as to the occupation of Grinsell, 

 or as to that of Cavell, who in turn was Grinsell's master, or 

 as to that of Dane, who was Cavell's, thus going back for at 

 least a generation before Walton was born." The master 

 further stated that he attached no importance to the use of 

 the word Ironmonger after Walton's name. "By the 

 custom of London one who is free of the City, when styling 

 himself as a citizen appends the name of some trade or craft. 

 That does not indicate the trade or craft he actually belongs 

 to. It simply means that he is a freeman of the Livery 

 Company which bears such name. ... A citizen, in any 

 address to his fellow citizens, usually signs himself, regardless 

 of what his own calling may be, ' Citizen and Mercer,' or 

 ' Citizen and Goldsmith,' etc. There is nothing therefore 

 in the records of the Ironmongers' Company or Walton's 

 marriage licence to disturb the received tradition that he 

 was a sempster or haberdasher." 



