TO THE WORTHY, AND 

 MY MVCH RESPECTED FRIEND, 



Mr. JOHN HARBORNE, of tackley, jn the 



COUNTY OF OXFORD, ESQUIRE. 



Worthy Syr, 



This Poevie being sent vnto me to be printed after the death of the 

 Author, wJio intended to haiie done it in his life, but was prenented by deatJi : 

 I coidd not among my good friends, betJiinke me of any one to wJiovi I might 

 more fitly dedicate it {as well for the stature of the subiect in wJiich yon 

 delight as to exprcsse my lone) than to yourselfe. 



I finde it not onely sauouring of Art and Honesty, two tilings now 

 strangers vnto many Authors, but also both pleasant and profitable ; and 

 bei7ig loath to see a thing of such value lye hidden in obscuritie, whilst matters 

 of no moment pester the stales of enery St a tioner ; I therefore make 

 bolde to publish it, for 'the benefit and delight of all, trusting that I shall 

 neither thereby disparage the Author, nor dislike them. 



I necdc not, I think, Appollogize either the vse of the subiect, or for 

 that it is reduced into the nature of a Poenie ; for as touching the last 

 (in that it is in verse) some cou7it it by so much the more deligJitfidl ; and 

 I holde it enery was as fit a subiect for Poetry as Husbandry : and touching 

 the first, if PI un ting and Haivking Jiaue been thought zuorthy delights and 

 Artes to be instructed in, I make no doubt but this Art of Angling 

 is much jnore worthy practise and approbation ; for it is a sport euery 

 way as pleasant, lesse chargeable, more profitable, and notJiing so much 

 subiect to choller or impatience as those ai'e : you shall finde it more briefly, 

 pleasantly, and exactly performed, then any of this kinde heretofore. There- 

 Jore I refer re you to the perusing thereof, and my self e to your good opinion, 

 winch I tender as that I holde most decre : euer remaining at 



Your gentle Command, 



R. I. 



