THE COMPLEAT ANGLER. Being Inftructions how to angle for a TROUT or GRAYLING in a clear PART. II. DXC Qui mihi non credit, faciat heet ipfe periclum : LONDON, Printed for Richard Marriott, and Henry Brome in St. Paul's Church-yard. MDCLXXVI. SIR, то My most Worthy FATHER and FRIEND, The Elder. 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 favour 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 surprised with the sudden news of a sudden new edition of your Compleat 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 endeavoured 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 judgement, or kindness rather, can allow it passable, for a thing of this nature, you will then do me honour if the Cipher fixed and carved in the front of my little fishinghouse, 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 CHARLES COTTON. BERESFORD, March 10, 1675/6. THE COMPLEAT ANGLER; OR, The Contemplative Man's Recreation. PART. II. CHAP. I. PISCATOR JUNIOR, AND VIATOR. PISCATOR. You are happily overtaken, Sir: may a man be so bold as to inquire how far you travel this way? VIATOR. Yes sure, Sir, very freely; though it be a question I cannot very well resolve you, as not knowing myself how far it is to Ashborn, where I intend to-night to take up my inn. PISCATOR. Why then, Sir, seeing I perceive you to be a stranger in these parts, I shall take upon me to inform you, that from the town you last came through, called Brelsford, it is five miles; and you are not yet above half a mile on this side. VIATOR. So much! I was told it was but ten miles from Derby; and methinks I have rode almost so far already. PISCATOR. O Sir, find no fault with large measure of good land, which Derbyshire abounds in, as much as most counties of England. |