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.]