IZAAK Walton's association with the river lea. 189 



making and angling with the fly for a Trout, that I will give you his 

 very directions, without much variation which shall follow." 



And then he proceeds to quote him. In 1653 a second edition 

 of Barker's book appeared, and in 1659 a third edition under the 

 enlarged title " Barker's Delight ; or, the Art of Angling." 



Then there was Mr. Nicholas Seagrave whom he knew, that 

 "ingenious gentleman of Leicestershire," who was so skilful in 

 training the otter, that " he not only made her tame but to catch 

 fish, and do many other things of much pleasure." 



Finally there were the brothers " Nat. and R. Roe " who used 

 to accompany Walton on his fishing excursions, and who were 

 distantly related to him. 



They both predeceased him, and in 1661 he thus lamented their 

 death : " In such days and times as I have laid aside business and 

 gone a fishing with honest Nat. and R. Rowe, but they are gone, 

 and with them most of my pleasant hours." (Epistle to the Reader.) 



It is probable that " Venator," " Brother Peter," "The Scholar," 

 and " Coridon," also had an actual identity in the persons of some 

 of his piscatory friends, but who they represented it is now impossible 

 to determine. 



There cannot be a doubt that Izaak Walton meant to identify 

 himself with Piscator in " The Complete Angler," for not only does 

 that personage express his own feeling and opinions, but he adopts 

 his personal acquaintances, and alludes to many circumstances in his 

 own life. His scholar lived near Golden Lane, Clerkenwell, where 

 dwelt a fishing-tackle maker, at whose shop they used to meet. 



In the first edition Piscator says : 



" I will go with you either to Charles Brandon's near to 

 'The Swan,' in Golding Lane, or to Mr. Fletcher's in the court 

 which did once belong to Dr. Novvel, the Dean of St. Paul's, that I 

 told you was a good man and a good fisher ; it is hard by the west- 

 end of St. Paul's Church ; they be both honest men, and will fit an 

 angler with what tackling he wants." 



The scholar replies : 



" Then, good master, let it be at Charles Brandon's, for he is 

 nearest to my dwelling, and I pray let's meet there." 



Another fishing-tackle maker mentioned by Walton was Charles 

 Kerbye, in Harp Alley, Shoe Lane, not far from Walton's own house 

 in Fleet Street ; and at the end of the second part of " The Complete 

 Angler," we find an announcement that — 



