LIFE OF IZAAK WALTON. 17 



the reader will meet with some farther specimens of the 

 author's style and manner of writing, in the notes on the pre- 

 sent edition. 



And of Cotton it must be said, that living in a country 

 where fly-fishing was and is almost the only practice, he had 

 not only the means of acquiring, but actually possessed more 

 skill in the art, as also in the method of making flies, than 

 most men of his time. 



His book is, in fact, a continuation of Walton's, not only as 

 it teaches at large that branch of the art of angling which 

 Walton had but slightly treated on, but as it takes up Venator, 

 Walton's piscatory disciple, just where his master had left 

 him ; and this connection between the two parts will be 

 clearly seen, when it is remarked, that the traveller whom 

 Cotton invites to his house, and so hospitably entertains, and 

 also instructs in the art of fly-fishing, I say this traveller, 

 and Venator, the pupil of Walton, come out to be one and the 

 same person. 



Not farther to anticipate what will be found in the Second 

 Part, it shall here suffice to say, that there is great spirit in 

 the dialogue ; and that the same conversable, communicative 



I have written no more but my own experience and practice ; and have 

 set forth the true ground of angling, which I have been gathering these 

 threescore years, having spent many pounds in the gaining of it, as is 

 well known in the place where I was born and educated, which is Brace- 

 meale, in the liberty of Salop ; being a freeman and burgess of the same 

 city. If any noble or gentle angler, of what degree soever he be, have a 

 mind to discourse of any of these ways and experiments, I live in Henry 

 the Seventh's Gifts, the next door to the Gatehouse in Westminster, my 

 name is Barker, where I shall be ready, as long as please God, to satisfy 

 them and maintain my art during life, which is not like to be long ; that 

 the younger fry may have my experiments at a smaller charge than I had 

 them : for it would be too heavy for every one that loveth that exercise, 

 to be at the charge as I was at first in my youth, the loss of my time, 

 with great expenses. Therefore, I took it in consideration, and thought 

 tit to let it be understood, and to take pains to set forth the true grounds 

 and ways, that I have found by experience both for fitting of the rods and 

 tackles, both for ground baits and flies ; with the directions for the making 

 thereof; with observations for times and seasons for the ground baits and 

 flies, both for day and night, with the dressing ; wherein I take as much 

 delight as in the taking of them ; and, to shew how I can perform it, to 

 furnish my lord's table only with trouts, as it is furnished with flesh, for 

 sixteen or twenty dishes. And I have a desire to preserve their health, 

 (with the help of God,) to go dry in their boots and shoes in angling ; * 

 for age taketh the pleasure from me." 



* See his recipe for this purpose, in the notes on Ch. XVII. 

 B 



