208. How happy is he born and taught
Henry Wotton, 1568-1639
The original of this hymn was published in Reliquiae Wottonianae with a memoir by Isaac Walton, 1651. The poem was altered somewhat to make it suitable for a congregational hymn.
Henry Wotton graduated from Oxford in 1588. He had a varied career, travelling on the continent, acting as agent to the Earl of Essex for collection of foreign intelligence, and then settling in Venice where he was ambassador at the court from 1604-24, with two intervals during which he was engaged in diplomatic missions to other countries and in parliamentary work in England. From 1624 until his death he was provost of Eton. Besides the above-named book, he published The Elements of Architecture, 1624, and Ad Regem e Scotia reducem in 1633.
MUSIC. WAREHAM, by William Knapp, is from A Sett of New Psalm Tunes and Anthems, in Four Parts by Wm. Knapp, 1738, where it is set to Psalm 36:5-10 with the heading, “For the Holy Sacrament.” It is a deservedly popular melody, remarkably smooth, moving throughout by step except the perfect fourth interval between the fifth and sixth notes.