BIBLIOGRAPHY OF ANGLING. 251 



And for the cause that this present treatise should not come to the 

 hands of each idle person, which would desire it, if it were imprinted alone 

 by itself and put in a little pamphlet, therefore I have compiled it in a 

 greater volume of divers books, concerning to gentle and noblemen, to the 

 intent that the forsaid idle person which would have little measure in the said 

 disport of fishing, should not by this means utterly destroy it. 



It is interesting to observe how completely this work has 

 given the type of a fisherman to all succeeding writers. 

 Thus we are told of the advantages of fishing over all 

 sports : — 



If his sport fail him, the angler at the least hath his wholesome walk, 

 and merry at his ease, a sweet air of the sweet savour of meadow flowers, 

 that maketh him hungry ^ ^ ^ And if the angler take fish, surely then 

 no man merrier than he in his spirits. 



In the Experienced Angler, by Colonel Venables (two 

 centuries after Dame Juliana had written), we find in the 

 preface the following :— 



The Minds of Anglers being usually more calm and composed than 

 many others, especially Hunters and Falkners, who too frequently lose their 

 delight in their passion, and too often bring at home, more of melancholy and 

 discontent than satisfaction in their thoughts. But the Angler, when he hath 

 the worst success, loseth but a Hook or Line, or perhaps (what he never 

 possessed) a Fish — and suppose he take nothing, yet he enjoyeth a delightful 

 walk by pleasant Rivers, in sweet Pastures, amongst odoriferous Flowers, 

 which gratify his Senses, and delight his Mind. 



The artificial flies described in the edition of 1496 of 

 the Bookc oj St. Albans, are so much like those given in 

 Walton, that the latter may fairly be credited with having 

 frequently studied Dame Juliana's instructions. Exclusive 

 of some little-known reprints of this work, no other book 

 upon fishing appeared until 1590, when Leonard Mascall 

 published his Bookc of Fishing with Ilookc and Line. 



