208 THOMAS KEN AND IZAAK WALTON 



We do not know in what part of London he was 

 apprenticed, or the precise nature of his business.^ 



We should like to know whether Grinsell was a 

 stingy old curmudgeon who kept Izaak's nose to 

 the grindstone, or whether, as is more likely, he 

 was a genial and jolly old boy (like John Gilpin) 

 who went a-fishing with young Izaak on half- 

 holidays to the New River,^ and on whole holidays 

 to Edmonton or Ware. 



We know that in November, 1618, when he was 

 twenty-five years old, he was admitted a member of 

 the Ironmongers' Company. 



Between the years 161 8 and 1624 there is a 

 vacuum of silence (unless Page's poem, men- 

 tioned in Part II. Chap, ii., may be taken as a 

 slight indicator). 



From 1624 to 1628 he must have lived in Fleet 

 Street. 



In 1626 he married Rachel Floud. 



From 1628 and onwards till 1644 he lived in 

 Chancery Lane. 



In 1640 he lost his first wife Rachel. 



In 1644 he probably removed to Clerkenwell and 



remained there more or less till 1661. 



' See Postscript, page 211. 



^ The first sod was turned April 21, 1609 — completed 

 1613, when Izaak was twenty years old. 



