56 THE COMPLETE ANGLER. [PART i. 



Sir, I am glad my memory has not lost these last verses, 

 because they are somewhat more pleasant and more suitable to 

 May-day than my harsh discourse. And I am glad your patience 

 hath held out so long as to hear them and me, for both together 

 have brought us within the sight of the Thatched House.* And 

 I must be your debtor, if you think it worth your attention, for the 

 rest of my promised discourse, till some other opportunity, and a 

 like time of leisure. 



VENATOR. Sir, you have angled me on with much pleasure to 

 the Thatched House ; and I now find your words true, " that good 

 company makes the way seem short ; " for trust me, Sir, I thought 

 we had wanted three miles of this house, till you showed it to me. 

 But now we are at it, we'll turn into it, and refresh ourselves with 

 a cup of drink and a little rest. 



PISCATOR. Most gladly, Sir, and we'll drink a civil cup to all 

 the Otter-hunters f that are to meet you to-morrow. 



VENATOR. That we will, Sir, and to all the lovers of Angling 

 too, of which number I am now willing to be one myself ; for, by 

 the help of your good discourse and company, I have put on new 

 thoughts, both of the art of Angling and of all that profess it ; and 

 if you will but meet me to-morrow at the time and place appointed, 

 and bestow one day with me and my friends in hunting the Otter, 

 I will dedicate the next two days to wait upon you ; and we too 

 will, for that time, do nothing but angle, and talk of fish and fishing. 



PlSCATOR. It is a match, Sir, I will not fail you, God willing, 

 to be at Am well Hill to-morrow morning before sunrising. 



* In the first edition Piscator says, " I know the Thatched House well, I often 

 make it my resting-place, and taste a cup of ale there, for which liquor that place is very 

 remarkable." 



t In the Whitehall Evening Post, in May 1760, appeared the following advertisement: 

 "To be disposed of, at Barton under Needwood, near Litchfield, Staffordshire, Otter 

 Hounds, exceeding staunch, and thoroughly well trained to the hunting of this animal. 

 The pack consists of nine couple and a terrier, and are esteemed to be as good, if not 

 the best hounds in the kingdom. In the winter season they hunt the hare, except about 

 two couple and a half that are trained to the Otter only ; but there are about two couple 

 of harriers, that have never been entered at the Otter, which will go with the rest ; be- 

 sides three couple of year-old hounds, now fit to enter at either or both ; and one couple 

 of whelps, ready to go to walks. The greatest part of them are the blood of as high 

 breed a fox hound as any in England. The proprietor disposes of them for the two 

 following reasons only : first, because all the Otters, except about three or four, are 

 killed within this hunt, which consists of all the rivers in this county (except the Dove, 

 where Otters are not to be killed with hounds), Leicestershire, and Warwickshire ; but 

 more especially because the proprietor finds himself too infirm to follow them. None 

 but principals will be treated with. Direct to Walter Biddulph, of Barton, aforesaid, 

 Esq., by whom all letters from principals will be duly answered. 



"N.B. Mr Biddulph has killed within these last six years with these hounds, above 

 Burton upon Trent only, seventy-four Otters. There are six spears to be disposed of 

 with the hounds." 



\ Now called Amwcllbury. This beautiful village is the subject of a poem, by John 

 Scott, Esq., 8vo, 1782, in which Walton is thus alluded to : 



