IxxiL LIFE OF IZAAK WALTON. [1662, 



late sad times, be sufficient to endear our friendship, yet, I must 

 confess my affection much improved, not only by evidences of 

 private respect to many that know and love you, but by your new- 

 demonstration of a public spirit, testified in a diligent, true, and 

 useful collection of so many material passages as you have now 

 afforded me in the life of venerable Mr Hooker; of which, since 

 desired by such a friend as yourself, I shall not deny to give the 

 testimony of what I know concerning him and his learned books ; 

 but shall first here take a fair occasion to tell you, that you have 

 been happy in choosing to write the lives of three such persons as 

 posterity hath just cause to honour ; which they will do the more 

 for the true relation of them by your happy pen : of all which I 

 shall give you my unfeigned censure." 2 



Bishop King then notices the Lives of Donne and Wotton, the 

 want of which would, he says, " have been a prejudice to all 

 lovers of honour and ingenious learning," and proceeds to relate 

 what he had heard respecting Hooker and his works." He con- 

 gratulated Walton on this undertaking, as being " more proper to 

 you than any other person, by reason of your long knowledge and 

 alliance to the worthy family of the Cranmers (my old friends also), 

 who have been men of noted wisdom, especially Mr George 

 Cranmer, whose prudence added to that of Sir Edwin Sandys, 

 proved very useful in the completing of Mr Hooker's matchless 

 books : one of their letters I herewith send you, to make use of, 

 if you think fit. And let me say further ; you merit much from 

 many of Mr Hooker's best friends then living ; namely, from the 

 ever-renowned Archbishop Whitgift, of whose incomparable worth, 

 with the character of the times, you have given us a more short 

 and significant account than I have received from any other pen. 

 You have done much for the learned Sir Henry Savile, his con- 

 temporary and familiar friend." 3 But he reminded Walton of 

 two omissions in his account of Savile's works ; and thus con- 

 cludes, " Not to trouble you further ; your reader (if according to 

 your desire, my approbation of your work carries any weight) will 

 here find many just reasons to thank you for it ; and possibly for 

 this circumstance here mentioned (not known to many), may 

 happily apprehend one to thank him, who heartily wishes your 

 happiness, and is unfeignedly, Sir, your ever-faithful, and affec- 

 tionate old friend, HENRY CHICHESTER." 



CHICHESTER, November 17, 1664. 



2 Walton's Lives, ed. Zouch, i. 21, 22. 3 Ibid. p. 31. 



