Folger Shakespeare Library
CELM

John Chalkhill

c.1595–1642

Introduction

John Chalkhill was a distant relation by marriage of Izaak Walton, who edited for posthumous publication Chalkhill's Pastoral History in verse Thealma and Clearchus (London, 1683), as well as including two of his poems in his own Compleat Angler (first edition London, 1653). Otherwise Chalkhill was little known until 1958 when a group of autograph manuscripts of assorted verses and letters by him, of considerable interest, were discovered by P.J. Croft among the papers of the Gell family of Hopton Hall, Derbyshire. These papers were later sold and finally came to the Pierpont Morgan Library (*ChJ 1-9).

Chalkhill's distinctive rugged italic hand in these literary papers can be effectively verified by the only other known examples of his handwriting recorded by Croft: namely his signatures in the Scholars' Admission Book at Trinity College, Cambridge (in April 1611), and as witness to the will of his cousin Martha Walker (on 2 June 1633) in the National Archives, Kew.

Other poems subscribed J. C., in both printed and manuscript sources, have occasionally been attributed to Chalkhill, but only speculatively: there are a considerable number of other people, including well-known poets, with those initials.

Two indentures relating to properties in Westminster, The Katherine wheale and The Green Dragon respectively, and dated 13 December 1585, bear the signature of Jon Chalkhill, who is identified as of Barnardes Inne in Holborne and is presumably the poet's father (d.1615), coroner of Middlesex. These documents were owned by Dr Bent Juel-Jensen (1922-2006), Oxford physician and book collector and are now in the Bodleian Library (in Juel-Jensen E 3).

Verse and Prose

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

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 Unpublished.

*ChJ 1
Autograph

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

'Theare is a seruant which I knowe'

A verse riddle, ten lines. Unpublished.

*ChJ 8
Autograph

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

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.

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