WHERE IZAAK WALTON DIED 171 



will, being, he says, " this present day in the ninetyeth 

 yeare of my age, and in perfect memory for which 

 praysed be God." The will was clearly made in the 

 Close and not at Droxford, for he speaks of himself as 

 " I, Izaak Walton, the elder, of Winchester." In very 

 affectionate terms does the old man mention his " sonne 

 in law," Dr Hawkins, " whom," he says, " I love as my 

 owne sonn." In addition to substantial property, he 

 leaves to him and to " my daughter his wife," a number 

 of little mementos, including a ring each, with these 



words, " Love my memory. I.W. obiit ." To Dr 



Hawkins he also gives Dr Donne's Sermons, and to his 

 daughter Doctor Sibbs his Brused reed, " and alsoe all 

 my books at Winchester and Droxford and whatever 

 in those two places are or I can call mine." With 

 regard to his burial he writes : "I desire my burial 1 

 may be neare the place of my death and free from any 

 ostentation or charge but privately." The will, with 

 its " Codicell for rings," sixteen in number, was not 

 completed until 24th October, when Dr Markland was 

 fetched over from his residence on the other side of 

 Dome Alley to witness his friend's signature. Having 

 signed his will, Izaak Walton sealed the same with the 

 gold signet-ring that Dr Donne had given him, in which 

 was set "a bloodstone with the figure of the Crucified, 

 not on the Cross, but on an anchor, as the emblem of 

 hope." For some few weeks longer the old man lived, 

 when the memorable frost of December, 1683, proved 

 too much for his frail constitution, and he passed peace- 

 fully away in one of the chambers of his son-in-law's 

 residence on the I5th of the month. Four days later, 

 on igth December, his body was carried from Dr 

 Hawkins' residence, down Dome Alley, and across the 



