viii The Complete Angler 



HIS LIFE 



The few events in the long life of Izaak Walton 

 have been carefully investigated by Sir Harris 

 Nicolas. All that can be extricated from docu- 

 ments by the alchemy of research has been selected, 

 and I am unaware of any important acquisitions 

 since Sir Harris Nicolas's second edition of 1860. 

 Izaak was of an old family of Staffordshire yeomen, 

 probably descendants of George Walton of Yox- 

 hall, who died in 1571. Izaak's father was Jarvis 

 Walton, who died in February 1595-6; of Izaak's 

 mother nothing is known. Izaak himself was born 

 at Stafford, on August 9, 1593, and was baptized 

 on September 21. He died on December 15, 1683, 

 having lived in the reigns of Elizabeth, James I., 

 Charles I., under the Commonwealth, and under 

 Charles II. The anxious and changeful age through 

 ^ which he passed is in contrast with his very pacific 

 character and tranquil pursuits. 



Of Walton's educationjiothingis known, except 

 on the evidence of hiswritmgsT He may have read 

 Latin, but most ftf~the-beoks he cites had English 

 translations. Did he learn his religion from "his 

 mother or his nurse " ? It will be seen that the 

 free speculation of his age left him untouched:^ 

 perhaps his piety was awakened, from childhood, 

 under the instruction of a pious mother. Had he 

 been orphaned of both parents (as has been sug- 

 gested) he might have been less amenable to au- 

 thority, and a less notable example of the virtues 

 which Anglicanism so vainly opposed to Puritanism. 

 His literary begirvmngs_^i^t)bscure. There exists 

 a copy of a worl^ The Loves of Amos and Laura^ 

 written by S. P., published in 1613, and again in 

 1619. The edition of 1619 is dedicated to " Iz, 

 _ 



" Thou being cause it is as now it is " ; 



