12 INTRODUCTORY ESSAY. 



lowing short epistles which passed pn the occasion ; and the 

 opportunity is taken of giving the signatures in the genuine 

 autographs of the authors, that of Walton being also intro- 

 duced, with a more enlarged specimen of his handwriting, in 

 another place. 

 To my most worthy Father and Friend, MR. IZAAK WALTON, the Elder. 



SIR, 



Being 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 favor even of your meanest friends, I accordingly 

 expect to see these following particular directions for the taking of a trout 

 to wait upon 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 endeavored to accommodate to your own 

 method. And, if mine be clear enough for the honest Brothers of the 

 Angle readily to understand, which is the only thing I aim at, then I have 

 my end, and 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 honor, if the Cipher, fixed and carved in the front of my little 

 fishing-house, may be here explained : and to permit me to attend you in 

 public, who, in private, have ever been, am, and ever resolve to be, sir, 

 Your most affectionate son and servant, 



Bercsford, 

 V*k of March, 



'/ 



To my most honored Friend, CHARLES COTTON, Esq. 



SIR, 



You now see I have returned you your very pleasant and useful discourse 

 of the Art of Fly-fishing, printed just as it was sent me : for I have 



