i

Dcb

Sir, this pleafant curiofitie of Fish and Fifbing(of you are fo great a Ma fter) has been thought worthy the pens and practices of divers in other Nations, which have been reputed men of great Learning and

Wifdome; and amongst

thofe of this Nation, Tre

member Sir Henry Wot

ton (a dear lover of this Art) has told me, that his intentions were to write a

difcourfe of the Art, and in the praife of Angling, and doubtles

doubtleẞ be bad done fo, if death had not prevented him; the remembrance of

which bath often made me.

forry; for,if he had lived to

doit, then the unlearned

Angler(of whichI am one)

bad feen fome Treatife of this Art worthy his perusal, which (though fome have undertaken it) I could never yet fee in English. But mine may be thought as weak and as unworthy of common view: and I do here freely confeß, that I A 4 Should

Should rather excuse my Jelf then cenfure others my own Difcourfe being liable to fo many exceptions; against which, you (Sir) might make this one, That it can contribute nothing to your knowledge; and left a longer Epiftle may diminish your pleasure, I fbalnot adventure to make this Epiftle longer then to add this following truth, That I am really, Sir,

Your most affectionate Friend, and most humble Servant,

Iz. WA.

TO THE

Reader of this Difcourse:

But efpecially,

To the honeft ANGLER.

Think fit to tell thee these following truths; that I did not undertake to write,or to publish this discourse of fish

and fishing,to please my self, and that I wish it may not displease others; for, I have confeft there are many defects in it. And And yet, I cannot doubt, but that by it, fome readers may receive so much profit or pleafure, as if they be not very bufie men, may make it not unworthy the time of their perufall; and this is all the confidence that I can put

put on concerning the merit of this Book.

And I wish the Reader also to take notice, that in writing of it, I have made a recreation, of a recreation; and that it might prove so to thee in the reading, and not to read dull, and tediously, I have in severall places mixt fome innocent Mirth; of which, if thou be a fevere, fowr complexioned man, then I here difallow thee to be a competent Judg. For Divines fay, there are offences given; and offences taken, but not given. And I am the willinger to justifie this innocent Mirth, because the whole difcourse is a kind of picture of my owne difpofition, at least of my disposition in fuch daies and times as I allow my felf, when honest Nat. and R. R. and I go a fishing together; and let me adde this, that he that likes not the discourse, should like the pictures of the Trout

and