XV. 83.] LIFE OF IZAAK WALTON. Ixxxvii 



In commemoration of their friendship Cotton caused a stone to be 

 placed in the centre of the buildings, with the initials of his own 

 and Walton's name conjoined in a cypher, a representation of 

 which was introduced, agreeably to Cotton's request, in the title- 

 page of his part of " The Complete Angler." This stone, which 

 no true disciple of the venerable Piscator can contemplate with 

 indifference, was erected between Walton's last visit to Beresford, 

 and that which he is supposed to have paid Cotton in May 1676 j 

 but he had seen and approved of it before it was deposited in its 

 place. The fishing-house and stone are thus described by Cotton : 

 " My house stands upon the margin of one of the finest rivers for 

 trouts and grayling in England ; I have lately built a little fishing- 

 house upon it, dedicated to anglers, over the door of which you 

 will see the two first letters of my father Walton's name and mine 

 twisted in cypher." * In one of Cotton's poems the fishing-house 

 is also mentioned : — 



"My river still through the same channel glides. 

 Clear from the tumult, salt, and dirt of tides. 

 And my poor Fishing-house, 5ny seat's hest grace, 

 Stands firm and faithful in the self-same place. 



Walton says of the beautiful scenery near the fishing-house, 

 that " the pleasantness of the river, mountains, and meadows 

 about it cannot be described, unless Sir Philip Sydney or Mr 

 Cotton's father were again alive to do it." 1 



The Viator of Cotton's dialogue is the Venator of " The Complete 

 Angler," and opportunities are thereby afforded for introducing 

 eulogiums on Walton's character. For instance, when Viator 

 asks Piscator his opinion of " The Complete Angler," he says, 

 " My opinion of Mr Walton's book is the same with every man's 

 that understands anything of the art of angling, that it is an 

 excellent good one ; and that the fore-mentioned gentleman 

 understands as much of fish and fishing as any man living. But 

 I must tell you, further, that I have the happiness to know his 

 person, and to be intimately acquainted with him ; and in him to 

 know the worthiest man, and to enjoy the best and truest friend 

 any man ever had : nay, I shall yet acquaint you further that he 

 gives me leave to call him father, and I hope is not yet ashamed 



boy : but these are entirely gone, and nought now decorates the walls, save the names 

 of various obscure individuals who have thought iitthus to record their having visited 

 the spot. The steps at the entrance are covered with weeds, and the well-known key- 

 stone (which, however, appears to be in a sound state), is so overspread with moss, 

 that the first word of the inscription is quite defaced." — Gentlemait's Magazine, vol. 

 xcix. part ii p. 31. \ 



^ Vide p. zz6, postea. 1 Vide postea. 



