The few events in the long life of Izaak Walton have been carefully
investigated by Sir Harris Nicolas. All that can be extricated from
documents by the alchemy of research has been selected, and I am unaware
of any important acquisitions since Sir Harris Nicolas's second edition
of 1860. Izaak was of an old family of Staffordshire yeomen, probably
descendants of George Walton of Yoxhall, who died in 1571. Izaak's
father was Jarvis Walton, who died in February 1595-6; of Izaak's mother
nothing is known. Izaak himself was born at Stafford, on August 9, 1593,
and was baptized on September 21. He died on December 15, 1683, having
lived in the reigns of Elizabeth, James I., Charles I., under the
Commonwealth, and under Charles II. The anxious and changeful age
through which he passed is in contrast with his very pacific character
and tranquil pursuits.
Of Walton's education nothing is known, except on the evidence of his
writings. He may have read Latin, but most of the books he cites had
English translations. Did he learn his religion from 'his mother or his
nurse'? It will be seen that the free speculation of his age left him
untouched: perhaps his piety was awakened, from childhood, under the
instruction of a pious mother. Had he been orphaned of both parents (as
has been suggested) he might have been less amenable to authority, and a
less notable example of the virtues which Anglicanism so vainly opposed
to Puritanismism. His literary beginnings are obscure. There exists a
copy of a work, _The Loves of Amos and Laura_, written by S. P.,
published in 1613, and again in 1619. The edition of 1619 is dedicated
to 'Iz. Wa.':--
'Thou being cause _it is as now it is_';
the Dedication does not occur in the one imperfect known copy of 1613.
Conceivably the words, 'as now it is' refer to the edition of 1619, which
might have been emended by Walton's advice. But there are no
emendations, hence it is more probable that Walton revised the poem in
1613, when he was a man of twenty, or that he merely advised the author
to publish:--
'For, hadst thou held thy tongue, by silence might
These have been buried in oblivion's night.'