‘FRONTISPIECE

In August (1750) he left for the Continent.  Between The Hague and Haarlem his coach was overturned and he was badly injured.  London was unaware of the accident till the General Advertiser of 21 August announced that he was out of danger.”        (Newman Flower, ‘Handel’, revised ed. ppk 1959:316)

‘Nothing made Handel so peevish, in his latter days, as being questioned about trivial matters.  Men of science, he used to say, should “gonverse like men who had the pleased gift of wisdom, not of drifles and imberdinence, whether a man dravels in a stage-coach or in a bost-chaise.  Whether he buts on one glean shirdt or two glean shirdts in one and the same day. Vot!  Has a man of study and of tought nothing else to do but to but questions and to answer such questions?  If a man gannot think but as a fool, ledt him keep his fool’s tongue in his own fool’s moud.”  But Handel, for all these little impatient humours, was a kind and good hearted man.’        (Somerset House Weekly Miscellany of Fine Arts, Antiquities and Literary Chit Chat, by Ephraim Hardcastle, London Nov 1, 1823, 1V:35)’

‘May at last my weary age

Find out the peaceful hermitage

The hairy gown and mossy cell

Where I may sit and rightly spell

Of every star that heaven doth shew,

And every herb that sips the dew,

Till old Experience do attain

To something like prophetic strain.’

(Air, Il Penseroso, John Milton, arr. Jennens set to music by G.F.Handel 1740)

FINDING HANDEL

CHAPTER ONE

From his chair beside the bed he said gently, “You are quite safe.” 

The other, whose eyes were still misty with sleep, made some inarticulate sounds.

“Can you understand me? Good. Then let me, for the present, talk.  I will tell you what I know.  You were on the road from The Hague to Haarlem, travelling by coach.  It struck some large object on the road and overturned.  You received cuts and bruises and a head injury which should heal in time, with plenty of rest and other treatments.”

“You…..?”

“I am known as Brother Valentius.  Many people are brought to this hermitage to ease their sufferings.  Are you aware, sir, that something serious has happened to you?”