296 
THE ESSEX NATURALIST. 
colleague and friend of those notable Primates. It is somewhat 
curious, as showing how one man so often enters into the labours 
and the reputation of another, that a large proportion of these 
books were formerly the property of a practically unknown Fellow 
of Pembroke Hall, a friend of Harsnett's, one John Field, whose 
autograph they bear. Like some “ mute inglorious Milton ” he 
may have rivalled the archbishop in his massive learning, but 
lacked that subtle quality which brings to the front those pre¬ 
destined leaders of men who loom largest in the public eye. Such 
was Samuel Harsnett, the baker’s son, whose counsels influenced 
three, if not four, primates of All England and who was the 
trusted friend, not only of grave divines, but of courtiers such as 
Sir Thomas Lucas and William, earl of Arundel, who, to the pride 
of the Howards, added the culture of the first great art collector 
in England. Yet when all this is weighed, Samuel Harsnett 
would probably rather be remembered as following the apostolic 
injunction, the devoted husband of one wife, as the faithful 
friend of the parish priest of St. Mary’s, Colchester, Master 
Thomas Talcoat, and as the humble penitent who freely gave 
of his treasure to the houses of God, and with his dying breath 
took thought for the poor widows and the simple scholars of his 
dearly loved Chigwell. 
“ Only the actions of the just 
Smell sweet and blossom in the dust.” 
BIRD NOTES IN WANSTEAD PARK, 
FEBRUARY, 1877. 
By THE LATE ARTHUR LISTER, F.L.S. 
[The accompanying sketch, describing a winter ramble in 
Wanstead Park, was written by my father three years before 
the grounds were opened to the public ; the place was then a 
wilderness, and the paths were overgrown, a dense under¬ 
growth of bushes covered the slopes beneath the trees, and very 
few but the woodman, Puffitt, ever disturbed the solitudes be¬ 
side the lakes. To-day the popularity of the Park has led to the 
disappearance of all aspect of wilderness in the grounds, and 
familiarity with man has rendered the herons much less shy. 
Gulielma Lister.] 
