Izaak U 'alton 



originally issued in 1653, Tfie Complete 

 Angler was wholly the work of Izaak 

 Walton, while the next three editions 

 of it, which were published respectively 

 in 1655, I 66i, and 1668 (so rapidly did 

 it find favor) received additional chapters 

 from the same pen. " Auceps," one of the 

 brotherhood of the Conference, was not 

 in the first, but was admitted to the sec- 

 ond edition. To the fifth edition (1676) 

 a second part was added, the writer of 

 which was Walton's adopted son and 

 brother angler, Charles Cotton, whose 

 personal worth to Walton, on his own tes- 

 timony at least, has been referred to. 

 Cotton's addition to The Complete Angler 

 added very considerably to the value of 

 the work, especially because in its " In- 

 structions how to Angle for a Trout or 

 Grayling in a Clear Stream," much prac- 

 tical tuition in the art of fly-fishing is 

 given to the reader. Walton himself, it 

 is said, had but little proficiency in that 

 branch of the art. As an imitation of his 

 "most worthy father and friend's" literary 

 accomplishment, Cotton's contribution left 

 nothing to be desired ; and so the two 

 friends became closely linked together in 

 a renown that will last while rivers run. 

 How suggestive of this is the simple me- 

 284 



