Preface. xiii 



The following part of the treatife, with what baits and 

 how to angle for each kind of fifh, together with a brief 

 defcription of each, certainly furnifhed Walton with a model 

 for fome of his chapters. This portion of her book is 

 regarded by the authorefs as mod neceffary to be known 

 and proficiency in carrying out her rules " is all the effedle 

 of the crafte." She adds amufingly, " for ye can not brynge 

 an hoke in to a fyffh mouth wythout a bayte." A few of the 

 quaint receipts of her age fucceed ; how to keep live baits, 

 to make partes and the like, ending with a rule which is 

 often given to flyfifhers for trout at the prefent day: " Whan 

 ye haue take a grete fyfflie: vndo the mawe, & what ye 

 fynde therin make that your bayte : for it is befte." 



Juft as the authorefs rifes to eloquence at the beginning 

 of the treatife when comparing the fifher's happy life with 

 the toils and troubles which too often fall to the lot of the 

 hunter, hawker, and fowler, fo the end of thefe rules once 

 more recalls her enthufiafm. The laft two pages of the book 

 give us a portrait of her conception of the perfedl angler, 

 and it is no prefumption to fay that a nobler and truer 

 pidiure has never been limned. Simplicity of difpofition, 

 forbearance to our neighbours' rights, and confideration for 

 the poor, are ftrongly inculcated. All covetoufnefs in fifhing 

 or employment of its gentle art to increafe worldly gain 

 and fill the larder is equally condemned. She holds the 

 higheft view of angling ; that it is to ferve a man for folace, 

 and to caufe the health of his body, but efpecially of his 

 foul. So fhe would have him purfue his craft alone for 

 the mofl part, when his mind can rife to high and holy 

 things, and he may ferve God devoutly by faying from his 

 heart his cuftomary prayer. Nor fhould a man ever carry 

 his amufement to excefs, and catch too much at one time ; 



