to swim across the Hellespont, at a great hazard, and only for the sweet short joy of breathing out his love;-then she set up a blazing torch, to be his guiding star through the darkness of the night and the deep waves. HOST.-Indeed? now I see why Mr. Cotton will sometimes call it his Hero's Tower!* and I was too unlearned to understand the reason of it before; but this I know, there is none within the Hall but is ready to bid the master welcome when he comes.

ANGLER. That I believe; and I remember how VIATOR says to Mr. Cotton; that 'your meal is so soon ready is a sign your 'servants know your certain hours.' doubt, they attend upon him with alacrity.

No

HOST.-It were strange else; and I would you might see the gladness of the commonalty and poorer sorts that live hereabouts, to have

In a poetic epistle to John Bradshaw, Esq. describing his journey from London to Basford Hall, in his coach and four, he thus alludes to the Tower:

'Tuesday at noon at Lichfield town we baited,

'But there some friends, who long that hour had waited,
So long detain'd me, that my charioteer
'Could drive that night but to Uttoxeter.

And there the Wedn'sday, being market-day,
'I was constrain'd with some kind lads to stay,
'Tippling till afternoon, which made it night,
"When from my Hero's Tow'r I saw the light
Of her Flambeaux, and fanci'd, as we drave,
Each rising hillock was a swelling wave,
And that I swimming was, in Neptune's spight,
'To my long-long'd-for harbour of delight.'

Poems on several occasions, 1689, 8°.—Ed.

him amongst them;-as on Sundays, when they expect him at the church-door in Alstonfields, at the fix't hour of service; or on festivals and holidays, when the young men and maidens look for him to be a witness of their country pastimes, and think their May-day games, and Lamb-ale at sheep-shearing feasts, want half their joyfulness, if any accident hinders him;-such is their natural affection for his person. But now, Gentlemen, we are to take this side of the Narrow Dale, for in some parts it is boggy and moory; you may see the path winds by a moderate declivity; and now we are come to the bottom, and here is Beresford Lane; so we may pass under this row of ashtrees to the outer gate : —— will you be pleased to enter?

ANGLER. Surely this steep road was cut out of the rock, and here is a young wood about it, which seems to be of Mr. Cotton's own planting.

HOST.-Aye, Sir: for he loves the ornamental art of planting gardens and orchards; nay, he hath writ a book of instructions for the same, and caused it to be printed in London.*

PAINTER.-Indeed! I knew not he was author of any book, save his COMPLETE ANGLER.

HOST.-Sir, Mr. Cotton has produced various compositions and to say the truth, I know not if angling or books have the greater charms for his vacant hours. Some of his writings are

The Planter's Manual of raising, planting, and cultivating all Sorts of Fruit-trees. London: 1675. 8vo.-ED.

*

of a poetic cast, and there is one writ in praise of His present Majesty; and, as I have heard, some useful histories have been Englished by his pen out of the French tongue.+

ANGLER. And I cannot doubt his writings reflect the image of his ingenuous disposition, and show his reverence for virtue.

PAINTER. I hope they do. If they could be opposite to this-which I will not believe, unless you can tell me of your own knowledge,-I should wish that he had not composed them.

HOST.--And now, Gentlemen, this is Beresford Hall before you.

ANGLER.-On my word, a handsome mansion. PAINTER.-I did not think to find such a fair house, so adorned with architecture: and what a spacious garden, full of contrivances to please the eye, and plantations growing upon the rocks, and those open shady groves and vistos !

HOST.-Well, Sirs, I am proud to think it is not behind your expectations.

PAINTER.-It hath a choice mixture of natural and composed beauties that I have not often seen surpassed.

HOST. And within you will find every thing to be worthy of so honourable a gentleman as

A Panegyric to the King's Most Excellent Majesty, 1660. Folio.-ED.

The Moral Philosophy of the Stoics. Translated from the French of Monsieur de Vaix. 1664. 8vo. And the Life of the Duke of Espernon, in 12 Books, wherein the History of France is continued, &c. Translated from the French of M. Girard. London: 1670. Folio.-ED.

my master. By your leave, I'll go and warn the servants of your coming.

ANGLER.- -Well, brother, what say you to all this? I pray you look at the peaceful walks underneath those yew trees and chesnuts. PAINTER. And the structure and workmanship of the house are deserving of note: see you the bear rampant carved in stone over the doorway? - but the host returns.

HOST.-Gentlemen, you have the liberty to make yourselves welcome: will you please to walk in, and a servant will attend you.

ANGLER.-What a noble hall is here, wainscotted and pannelled in oak, with handsome furniture! Observe this mantel with the Cotton arms carved in oak: and here the family quarterings let into the lattice in ancient coloured glass and these high chairs and ebony coffers.

:

PAINTER. Above all, some exceeding good limnings, and doubtless portraitures?

HOST.-Sir, they are pictures of the fa

mily.

PAINTER. I pray you, whose is this of so noble a mien?

HOST. That is my master's late father, Mr. Charles Cotton the elder, of Ovingden, in the county of Sussex, who died twenty years are now past. And here is the portraiture of my late mistress she brought the mansion house and lands to the Cottons, in right of her mother, who was a descendant of the noble family of Beresford.

ANGLER.-What a sweet modesty of dis

position shines in every lineament of her face!

HOST.-You may believe me her look is but the mirror of her mind; for such was the native meekness, discretion, and innocence of Mistress Olive Cotton, she was a pattern of women, and loved by the poor and rich.

:

PAINTER. It is the very image of candour and the effects of the colours are so true to life, and the lights and shadows disposed with such a knowledge of the art, it is plain they are done by no less a hand than Sir Anthony Vandyke's. And who is this gentleman with his hunting-dogs beside him, and a hooded hawk on his wrist?

HOST.-That, Sir, is another of this honourable family, and one who loved hunting and fowling; he it was brought those antlers you see on either side of the mantel-piece, from some distant place in Ireland.

PAINTER. It is painted in the manner of that noted limner of Queen Elizabeth, Frederico Zuchero; and I incline to believe it represents the queen's falconer in Ireland, when she commanded Sir Henry Sydney, her deputie of that Realm, to provide the Marquis of Savia, a nobleman of Spaine, with hawkes, doggs, and other such 'pleasures in exchange for certayne perfumed gloves he presented to her Majesty, much to her lyking and contentation'

ANGLER. And mark these ancient spurs, hunting horns, and bits for bridles, and all kinds of implements for the chace, hanging up by the