INTRODUCTORY ESSAY. xix 



the keystone of the building, and the same cypher, 

 was, by Mr. Cotton's desire, placed in the Title-page 

 of the first edition of his portion of the work, and 

 has been continued in all those since published. 



This part of our history will be fully illustrated by 

 the following short epistles which passed on the occa- 

 sion ; and the opportunity is taken of giving the signa- 

 tures in the genuine autographs of the authors, — 

 that of Walton being also introduced with a more en- 

 larged specimen of his hand-writing in another place. 



To my most worthy Father and Friend, Mr. Izaak 



Walton, the Elder. 

 Sir, 

 jJeing you were pleased, some years past, to grant me your free 

 leave to do what I have here attempted ; and observing you never 

 retract any promise, when made in favour even of your meanest 

 friends, I accordingly expect to see these following particular di- 

 rections for the taking of a Trout, to waitupon your better and more 

 general rules for all sorts of Angling: and, though mine be neither 

 so perfect, so well digested, nor indeed so handsomely couched, as 

 they might have been, in so long a time as since your leave was 

 granted ; yet I dare affirm them to be generally true : and they 

 had appeared too in something a neater dress, but that I was sur- 

 prised with the sudden news of a sudden new edition of your 

 Complete Angler ; so that, having but a little more than ten days' 

 time to turn me in, and rub up my memory, for, in truth, I have 

 not, in all this long time, though I have often thought on't, and 

 almost as often resolved to go presently about it, I was forced upon 

 the instant to scribble what I here present you : which I have also 

 endeavoured to accommodate to your own method. And, if mine 

 be clear enough for the honest Brothersof the Angle readily to un- 

 derstand, which is the only thing 1 aim at, then I have my end, 



