

LIFE OF WALTON. 19 



The above passage in Scripture, assumed by Walton as a motto 

 to the collection of "Lives," may, with equal propriety, be 

 applied to most of his friends and intimates ; who were men of 

 such distinguished characters for learning and piety, and so 

 many in number, 1 that it is matter of wonder by what means a 

 man in his station could obtain admittance among such illustrious 

 society ; unless we suppose, as doubtless was the case, that his 

 integrity and amiable disposition attracted the notice and 

 conciliated the affections of all with whom he had any concern. 



It is observable, that not only these, but the rest of Walton's 

 friends, were eminent royalists ; and that he himself was in 

 great repute for his attachment to the royal cause, will appear 

 by the following relation, taken from Ashmole's " History of the 

 Order of the Garter," p. 228 ; where the author, speaking of the 

 ensigns of the order, says : " Nor will it be here unfitly remem- 

 bered, by what good fortune the present sovereign's Lesser 

 George, set with fair diamonds, was preserved, after the defeat 

 given to the Scotch forces at Worcester, ann. 4 Car. II. Among 

 the rest of his attendants then dispersed, Colonel Blague was 

 one ; who, taking shelter at Blorepipe-house in Staffordshire, 

 where one Mr. George Barlow then dwelt, delivered his wife 

 this George, to secure. Within a week after, Mr. Barlow himself 

 carried it to Robert Milward, Esq. ; he being then a prisoner to 

 the Parliament, in the garrison of Stafford ; and by his means 

 it was happily preserved and restored : for, not long after, he 

 delivered it to Mr. Isaac Walton, (a man well known, and as 

 well beloved of all good men ; and will be better known to 

 posterity, by his ingenious pen, in the " Lives of Doctor Donne, 

 Sir Henry Wotton, Mr. Richard Hooker, and Mr. George 

 Herbert,") to be given to Colonel Blague, then a prisoner in 

 the Tower; who, considering it had already passed so many 

 dangers, was persuaded it could yet secure one hazardous 

 attempt of his own ; and, thereupon, leaving the Tower without 

 leave-taking, hasted the presentation of it to the present 

 sovereign's hand." 



1 In the number of his intimate friends we find Archbishop Usher, 

 Archbishop Sheldon, Bishop Morton, Bishop King, Bishop Barlow, Dr. 

 Fuller, Dr. Price, Dr. Woodford, Dr. Featly, Dr. Holdsworth, Dr. Ham- 

 mond, Sir Edward Sandys, Sir Edward Bysh, Mr. Cranmer, Mr. Chilling- 

 worth, Mich. Drayton, and that celebrated scholar and critic, Mr. John 

 Hales, of Eaton. HAWKINS. In short he was in habits of friendly 

 intercourse with those who were most celebrated for their piety and 

 learning. Nor could he be deficient in urbanity of manners, or elegance of 

 taste, who was the companion of Sir Henry Wotton, the most accomplished 

 gentleman of his age. ZOUCH. 



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