Cotton's Letter to Walton. 155 



general Rules for all sorts of Angling: 

 And though mine be neither so perfect, so 

 well digested^ nor indeed so handsomely 

 coucht 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 surprized with 

 the suddain news of a suddain new edition 

 of your Com pleat Angler ; so that, having 

 but a little more than ten days time to turne 

 me in, and rub up my memory (for in truth 

 I have not in all this long time, though 1 

 have often thought orft, and almost as often 

 resolved to go presently about it), I was 

 forc't upon the instant to scribble what J 

 here present you : which I have also endea- 

 vour 'd to accommodate to your own Method. 

 And, if mine be clear enough for the honest 

 Brothers of the, Angle readily to tinder- 

 stand ; (which is the only thing I aim at) 

 then I have my end ; and I shall need to 

 make no further Apology ; a writing of this 

 kind not requiring (if I were Master of any 

 such thing) any Eloquence to set it off, or 

 recommend it ; so that if you, in your better 

 Judgment, or Kindness rather, can allow 

 it passable for a thing of this nature ; You 

 will then do me honour if the Cypher fixt 

 and canfdin the front of my little fishing- 

 house may be here explained : And, permit 



