Charles
Waterton at Stonyhurst
Charles Waterton
was one of the first pupils of the Jesuits at their new home in England.
Unlike the rod wielding regime at Tudhoe, the Jesuits adopted an entirely
different approach towards the adventurous Master Waterton.
"The Jesuits
have always been celebrated for the astuteness with which they discover
and cultivate the bent of young minds. Waterton profited in no small degree
by the wisdom of the Order. His instructors encouraged as far as possible
his love for Natural History. At the same time, they gave him a taste
for literature. Thus his time passed gaily at Stonyhurst, and during the
six years he stayed there, he laid up a store of knowledge, and went through
a training which did much to make his whole life pleasant."
At Stonyhurst, his
master was Father Clifford, a first cousin of Lord Clifford (a name featuring
prominently in the Battle
of Wakefield). Father Clifford was sure that Waterton would become
an adventurer, travelling to many distant lands where he would encounter
danger. His words of advice to the young Charles were: "
Promise me that, from this day forward, you will never put your lips to
wine, or to spiritous liquors. The sacrifice is nothing, but, in the end,
it will prove of incalculable advantage to you." Waterton
agreed and "never swallowed one glass of any kind of wine
or of ardent spirits." (3)
At Stonyhurst his
sense of adventure often led him to break the rules. Once whilst eluding
a pursuing prefect he hid in a pig sty. The sty was tended by an old friend
from Tudhoe days, Joe Bowren - Waterton had given him a "very fine
terrier" as a gift. Meanwhile, back in the pig sty, Jim Bowren had
hidden Waterton under some litter, without saying a word. When the prefect
arrived on the scene he gasped out to Bowren: "Have you seen Charles
Waterton?" To which Joe replied, "Sir, I have not spoken a word
to Charles Waterton these three days, to the best of my knowledge."
The prefect, no longer hot on the trail, went on his way. Charles emerged
from beneath the pile of pig's litter "strongly perfumed".
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Top
The Ratcatcher
The Jesuits realised that they needed to manage and harness Waterton's
great love of natural history and his propensity to go adventuring, in
a way that meant he could do those things, receive an education and yet
abide by the rules. The solution was to make him "ratcatcher
to the establishment, and also fox-taker, foumart-killer, and crossbow-charger
at the time when the young rooks were fledged. Moreover, I fulfilled the
duties of organ-blower and football-maker with entire satisfaction to
the public."(3)
Charles
Waterton had a great dislike for "prog" the Hanoverian
rat, which he always associated with the House of Hanover. He was
of the opinion that the brown, also called the Norwegian or grey rat,
came across after the arrival of the Hanoverian dynasty. "According
to local tradition", the rats came across in the very same ship that
carried the new dynasty. (3)
Waterton was sad to
leave Stonyhurst at the end of his studies to return home to Walton. "The
day I left the Jesuits' college was one of heartfelt sorrow to me. Under
Almighty God and my parents, I owe everything to the Fathers of the Order
of St Ignatius. Their attention to my welfare was unceasing, whilst their
solicitutude for my advancement in virtue and in literature seemed to
know no bounds. The permission which they granted me to work in my favourite
vocation, when it did not interfere with the important duties of education,
enabled me to commence a career which, in after times, afforded me a wealth
of pleasure in the far distant regions of Brazil and Guiana. To the latest
hour of my life I shall acknowledge, with feelings of sincerest gratitude,
the many acts of paternal kindness which I so often received at the hands
of the learned and generous Fathers of Stonyhurst College.
After leaving this
'safe retreat of health and peace', I journeyed homewards to join my father;
and I spent a year with him."
Thomas Waterton had
been a noted huntsman in his day. He introduced Charles to Lord Darlington,
a man greatly admired for "his
elegant seat on horseback and cool intrepidity in charging fences"
(3).
Charles loved fox-hunting
and became one of the most celebrated horsemen in Yorkshire. Keeping to
his promise made at Stonyhurst, he declined invitations to take a glass
of wine or spirit, and rode home directly after the hunt was over. In
time, travelling took the place of fox-hunting. However, his father thought
that it was time for the young man of 20 years to see a bit of the world.
The first journey would be to
Spain to see two of his maternal uncles who had settled there. |
Click to enlarge & for more maps
In subsequent centuries following its establishment at Stonyhurst, the
Jesuits added to the College on a grand scale so that today it is one
of the largest buildings under one roof in Europe and is Grade1* listed
by English Heritage for its architecture and setting.
Since its foundation,
there have been many fine achievements and distinguished former pupils. Visit Stonyhurst at http://www.stonyhurst.ac.uk 
Tortoise is set for pastures new
Click here for more about the fox
Fox-hunting
was Waterton's delight .... 'he was the best rider in the hunt next to
Lord Darlington'. (3)
The foumart or polecat. (3) |
