Izaak Walton 



Manor, in the County of Stafford, My 

 Most Honoured Friend." 



The claims on the regard of posterity of 

 such men as Dr. Donne, Richard Hooker, 

 and George Herbert will, no doubt, al- 

 ways be held in remembrance ; but with 

 respect to men like Sir Henry Wotton 

 or Bishop Sanderson, however highly es- 

 teemed these were by their contempora- 

 ries, even Walton's pleading can do no 

 more than make us admit all that has been 

 placed on record, both as to their learn- 

 ing and personal worthiness. With Dr. 

 Donne, and when that divine was Dean 

 of Saint Paul's, Walton was on terms of 

 close friendship ; and it was possibly on 

 that account that Sir Henry Wotton be- 

 queathed to Walton the unaccomplished 

 task of writing his life. Besides having 

 been a prolific sermon-writer (many of 

 whose " discourses," it may be supposed, 

 were heard by Walton when resident in 

 London), Dr. Donne was the author of a 

 Discourse on Suicide, a volume of verse 

 distinguished more for the author's piety 

 and erudition than for poetical force and 

 originality, etc. His merits were such as 

 to have called forth the high encomiums 

 of George Herbert, between whom and 

 Dr. Donne a long-abiding friendship ex- 

 302 



