Life of Charles Cotton. 151 



April 28th, 1630. His father was at 

 Cambridge University, and it is probable 

 he was also ; but there is no direct evidence 

 on this point. 



" Besides his academic or classical learn- 

 ing, he was happy in a graceful address, 

 and well versed in the modern languages. 

 He was ardently attached to literature ; 

 but, except a few poems, he wrote nothing 

 which was published till after the Restora- 

 tion. He probably went abroad when 

 a young man, and he himself mentions 

 his having been in France and other 

 foreign countries. It is evident, says 

 Oldys, that after he came to be settled 

 at home, he was early in much esteem, 

 and conversant with many persons of high 

 rank and repute, more especially with his 

 cousin, Sir Aston Cockayne, Bart., of 

 Pooley, in Warwickshire, and Ashbourne, 

 in the Peak, who was well known to the 

 noted poets and wits of his time ; also 

 with Thomas Flatman, Esq., barrister of 

 the Inner Temple, Alexander Broome, 

 Izaak Walton, and others." 



I venture to think that the portrait of 

 Charles Cotton which forms the frontis- 

 piece to vol. ii. of my " Lea and Dove " 

 edition of The Compleat Angler is much 

 the best which has been published. This 

 photo-etching is from an exquisite painting 



