THOMAS KEN AND IZAAK WALTON 127 



1648-9 has already been told. The last time his 

 name is found on the Clerkenwell books is an 

 entry of his contribution to the Poor Rate in 

 November, 1661. Anne, the future Mrs. Hawkins 

 and mother of Mr. Hawkins, first biographer of 

 Ken, was a babe in arms when Morley visited 

 them in 1648. 



It seems quite clear that Walton must have been 

 at least on a visit to Stafford in September, 1651, 

 when the following incident occurred, as related in 

 Ashmole's " History of the Order of the Garter." 



WALTON AND THE LESSER GEORGE 



"Soon after the battle of Worcester, Sep- 

 tember 3, 1651, when Cromwell defeated the 

 King with a loss of six thousand men, and all 

 their baggage, a collar of Jk b> an d a garter 

 which belonged to his Majesty, formed part of 

 the spoil, and were brought to the Parliament 

 a few days afterwards by Major Corbet, who 

 was despatched by Cromwell with an account 

 of his victory. The Sovereign's lesser George 

 was, however, preserved by Colonel Blague, 

 who, having taken shelter at Blore Pipe House, 

 two miles from Eccleshall in Staffordshire, then 



