252 ANGLERS' EVENINGS. 



In 1597, Brereton wrote a small quarto, entitled Wit's 

 Frenchman, or, a Conference betzveen ScJiollcr and Angler, 

 but I cannot find any account of its contents. In 1596 

 W. G., identified as William Gryndall, wrote and pub- 

 lished a quarto on Haivking, Hunting, Foivling, and 

 FisJiing. That this book dealt with fishing as an important 

 feature of its contents may be inferred from the fact that 

 it had a square woodcut on the title page representing a 

 man with several hooks on the ground beside him. From 

 this date, angling works began to increase so much that 

 space will permit me only to name those which precede 

 old Izaak's Conipleat Angler. In 1606 we have a book by 

 Gardiner upon Angling Spiritualised. In 161 3 J. D., 

 since proved to be John Denny, a Somersetshire gentle- 

 man, wrote a poem, entitled TJie Secrets of Angling, which 

 contains in good verse all the information obtainable in 

 the best manual, even of the present day. This book is 

 even rarer than the Booke of St. Albans, but it was reprinted 

 by Mr, Arber in 1877, in a book called by him the English 

 Garner. I give the following selections as an evidence 

 of the progress of angling in 16 [3 : — 



See where another liides himself as shy 



As did Action, or the fearful deer, 

 Behind a withy, and with watchful eye 



Attends the bite within the water clear, 



And on the top thereof doth move his fly 



With sldlful hand, as if he living were. 



Lo ! how the chub, the roach, the dace, and trout, 



To catch thereat do gaze and swim about. 



The following mention some (ew of the qualities 

 desirable in an angler : — 



