John Chalkhill

Verse and Prose

The Batchelers Apologie
('To satisfie the nice & curious eare')

A humorous verse satire on women, 106 lines. Unpublished.

*ChJ 1

Autograph, three lines deleted, on three pages of two conjugate long ledger-size leaves (40 x 15 cm.).

In: A collection of autograph poems and letters by John Chalkhill, on separate sheets, unbound in folders. c.1638.

Once owned by the Gell family, of Hopton Hall, Derbyshire (John Gell marrying Chalkhill's cousin Katherine Packer in 1644). Owned after 1958 by Arthur A. Houghton, Jr (1906-90), American businessman and collector. Christie's, 13-14 June 1979 (Houghton sale Part I), lot 109 (with a facsimile of No. 3 in the sale catalogue, p. 109, Plate 15).

These MSS discussed, and occasionally quoted, in P.J. Croft, Izaak Walton's John Chalkhill, TLS, 27 June 1958, p. 365.

'Goe happy verse for thou art free'

A mock love-letter in verse, 22 lines. Unpublished.

*ChJ 2

Autograph, with a revision, subscribed Penelope Truelove, on one side of a single folio leaf, accompanying ChJ 5.

In: A collection of autograph poems and letters by John Chalkhill, on separate sheets, unbound in folders. c.1638.

Once owned by the Gell family, of Hopton Hall, Derbyshire (John Gell marrying Chalkhill's cousin Katherine Packer in 1644). Owned after 1958 by Arthur A. Houghton, Jr (1906-90), American businessman and collector. Christie's, 13-14 June 1979 (Houghton sale Part I), lot 109 (with a facsimile of No. 3 in the sale catalogue, p. 109, Plate 15).

These MSS discussed, and occasionally quoted, in P.J. Croft, Izaak Walton's John Chalkhill, TLS, 27 June 1958, p. 365.

[Letter to Katherine Packer]

A letter, partly in prose, beginning Louinge Cousen / To say I am sorrie for thy sicknes, is so tryuiall a complement..., addressed To his louinge and kinde Coussen Mris Katherine Packerre at Mr John Packers house neere the Deanes yard in Westminster, incorporating a 41-line verse mock-lament on lacking female company (beginning Now all my hopes are dasht; the Virgins bowre), subscribed Thy truly louinge freind and Coussen John Chalkhill or Sr Hobson...1638.... Unpublished.

*ChJ 3

Autograph, on three pages of two conjugate folio leaves, the address, with remains of a wax seal, on the fourth page.

In: A collection of autograph poems and letters by John Chalkhill, on separate sheets, unbound in folders. c.1638.

Once owned by the Gell family, of Hopton Hall, Derbyshire (John Gell marrying Chalkhill's cousin Katherine Packer in 1644). Owned after 1958 by Arthur A. Houghton, Jr (1906-90), American businessman and collector. Christie's, 13-14 June 1979 (Houghton sale Part I), lot 109 (with a facsimile of No. 3 in the sale catalogue, p. 109, Plate 15).

These MSS discussed, and occasionally quoted, in P.J. Croft, Izaak Walton's John Chalkhill, TLS, 27 June 1958, p. 365.

A Melancholy Fitt
('Wellcome wellcome pretty little lasses')

A lyric, 32 lines. Unpublished.

*ChJ 4

Autograph, partly in double columns, on one side of a single folio leaf.

In: A collection of autograph poems and letters by John Chalkhill, on separate sheets, unbound in folders. c.1638.

Once owned by the Gell family, of Hopton Hall, Derbyshire (John Gell marrying Chalkhill's cousin Katherine Packer in 1644). Owned after 1958 by Arthur A. Houghton, Jr (1906-90), American businessman and collector. Christie's, 13-14 June 1979 (Houghton sale Part I), lot 109 (with a facsimile of No. 3 in the sale catalogue, p. 109, Plate 15).

These MSS discussed, and occasionally quoted, in P.J. Croft, Izaak Walton's John Chalkhill, TLS, 27 June 1958, p. 365.

[A mock love-letter in prose]

Purporting to be by a handmayd in love with the recipient, beginning Kind Sir after a longe enquiry I haue at length atteyned the happynes to be honored with the knowledge..., and addressed To Mr Josias Clarke at Mr John Brownes house at Twicknam.

*ChJ 5

Autograph, subscribed Youres Penelope Truloue before a postscript, on two pages of a pair of conjugate folio leaves, the address on the fourth page, accompanying ChJ 2.

In: A collection of autograph poems and letters by John Chalkhill, on separate sheets, unbound in folders. c.1638.

Once owned by the Gell family, of Hopton Hall, Derbyshire (John Gell marrying Chalkhill's cousin Katherine Packer in 1644). Owned after 1958 by Arthur A. Houghton, Jr (1906-90), American businessman and collector. Christie's, 13-14 June 1979 (Houghton sale Part I), lot 109 (with a facsimile of No. 3 in the sale catalogue, p. 109, Plate 15).

These MSS discussed, and occasionally quoted, in P.J. Croft, Izaak Walton's John Chalkhill, TLS, 27 June 1958, p. 365.

A propper newe [?]ballet calld The Coy Virgin or the Curious Impertinent to any tune it will goe to
('Ile tell you a wonder will make you admire')

A ballad, 44 lines, with a two-line refrain. Unpublished.

*ChJ 6

Autograph draft, with three lines deleted, subscribed printed at Shrewsbury by Inyge Idlesby for Danyell doalittle and are to be sold at the signe of the Cupid in Mayden lane, on three pages of two conjugate folio leaves.

In: A collection of autograph poems and letters by John Chalkhill, on separate sheets, unbound in folders. c.1638.

Once owned by the Gell family, of Hopton Hall, Derbyshire (John Gell marrying Chalkhill's cousin Katherine Packer in 1644). Owned after 1958 by Arthur A. Houghton, Jr (1906-90), American businessman and collector. Christie's, 13-14 June 1979 (Houghton sale Part I), lot 109 (with a facsimile of No. 3 in the sale catalogue, p. 109, Plate 15).

These MSS discussed, and occasionally quoted, in P.J. Croft, Izaak Walton's John Chalkhill, TLS, 27 June 1958, p. 365.

The Sheephearts Elegie
('In a morninge When Flora was adorninge')

A pastoral lyric, 34 lines. Unpublished.

*ChJ 7

Autograph, with revisions in one line, on both sides of a single folio leaf.

In: A collection of autograph poems and letters by John Chalkhill, on separate sheets, unbound in folders. c.1638.

Once owned by the Gell family, of Hopton Hall, Derbyshire (John Gell marrying Chalkhill's cousin Katherine Packer in 1644). Owned after 1958 by Arthur A. Houghton, Jr (1906-90), American businessman and collector. Christie's, 13-14 June 1979 (Houghton sale Part I), lot 109 (with a facsimile of No. 3 in the sale catalogue, p. 109, Plate 15).

These MSS discussed, and occasionally quoted, in P.J. Croft, Izaak Walton's John Chalkhill, TLS, 27 June 1958, p. 365.

Facsimile of the first page in Christie's Houghton sale catalogue, p. 109, Plate 15. Facsimile of the whole poem in P. J. Croft, Autograph Poetry in the English Language, 2 vols (London, 1973), I, Nos. 38-9.

'Theare is a seruant which I knowe'

A verse riddle, ten lines. Unpublished.

*ChJ 8

Autograph, first item on one side of a single folio leaf.

In: A collection of autograph poems and letters by John Chalkhill, on separate sheets, unbound in folders. c.1638.

Once owned by the Gell family, of Hopton Hall, Derbyshire (John Gell marrying Chalkhill's cousin Katherine Packer in 1644). Owned after 1958 by Arthur A. Houghton, Jr (1906-90), American businessman and collector. Christie's, 13-14 June 1979 (Houghton sale Part I), lot 109 (with a facsimile of No. 3 in the sale catalogue, p. 109, Plate 15).

These MSS discussed, and occasionally quoted, in P.J. Croft, Izaak Walton's John Chalkhill, TLS, 27 June 1958, p. 365.

'There is a vseful little creature'

A verse riddle, eight lines.

*ChJ 9

Autograph, second item on one side of a single folio leaf.

In: A collection of autograph poems and letters by John Chalkhill, on separate sheets, unbound in folders. c.1638.

Once owned by the Gell family, of Hopton Hall, Derbyshire (John Gell marrying Chalkhill's cousin Katherine Packer in 1644). Owned after 1958 by Arthur A. Houghton, Jr (1906-90), American businessman and collector. Christie's, 13-14 June 1979 (Houghton sale Part I), lot 109 (with a facsimile of No. 3 in the sale catalogue, p. 109, Plate 15).

These MSS discussed, and occasionally quoted, in P.J. Croft, Izaak Walton's John Chalkhill, TLS, 27 June 1958, p. 365.