^T. 86.] LIFE OF IZAAK WALTON. xcix 



he were related to a " Mrs B." whose uncle and father were active 

 Presbyterians. 



In 1 68 1 Walton had the satisfaction of seeing his son, who 

 was then chaplain to Dr Seth Ward, Bishop of Salisbury, provided 

 for by presentation to the living of Polshot in Wiltshire ; and as 

 his only daughter had long been happily married, the evening of 

 his days was undisturbed by painful cares for his family. 



Though extreme old age and the solemn reflections which 

 ought to attend it, may have alienated Walton from his literary 

 pursuits, he_ had not, even when verging on his ninetieth year, 

 altogether abandoned them. Nor had bodily infirmities prevented 

 him from travelling ; for it appears that he was at Farnham 

 Castle on the 26th of May 1683, from which place he wrote to 

 Anthony Wood in reply to an inquiry respecting the death of 

 Doctor Aylmer." He soon afterwards returned to Winchester; 

 and it seems that he never again left that city. 



On the 9th of August following Walton completed his nine- 

 tieth year, on which day he commenced his will ; and as it is a 

 record of his religious sentiments, and contains the last testimony 

 of his affection for his family, and esteem for his numerous friends, 

 that document is far from being the least interesting production of 

 his pen. He appears to have been seven days engaged on the 

 subject ; for though his will was commenced on the 9th, it was 

 not finished until the i6th of August ; and was not executed until 

 the 24th of October following. It is viTitten throughout in his 

 own hand, with several erasures ; and the following is, as nearly 

 as possible, a literal copy of the original. The seal attached to it 

 is the one which was given to him by Dr Donne, containing the 

 Saviour extended on an anchor : — 



"August the op, 1683. 



"In the name of God Amen. I IzAAK Walton the elder of Winchester, 

 being this present day in the neintyeth yeare of my age and in perfect 

 memory for wich praysed be God : but Considering how sodainly I may 

 be deprived of boeth doe therfore make this my last will and testament as 

 followeth. And first I doe [declare] my beleife to be that their is only one 

 God who hath made the whole world and me and all mankinde to whome 

 I shall give an account of all my actions which are not to be justified, but 

 I hope pardoned for the merits of my saviour Jesus. — And because [the 

 profession of] ' Cristianity does at this time, seime to be subdevided into 

 papist and protestant, I take it to be at least convenient to declare my 

 beleife to be in all poynts of faith, as the Church of England now pro- 



6 Athen. Oxon. by Bliss, iii. 957. 



? The words within brackets are interlineations. 



