A UTHORS ON SEA AND RIVER FISHING. 59 



many directions about the cookery of fish show him well 

 versed in the mageiric art, and he also states that he takes 

 as much pleasure in the " dressing of fish as in the taking 

 of them." Barker also tells us that he was no scholar : — " I 

 doe crave pardon for not writing Scholler like," and only 

 professes to give the result of his own "experience and 

 practice." The Delight of 1659 was dedicated to "The 

 Right Honourable Edward Lord Montague, Generall of 

 the Navy, and one of the Lords Commissioners of the 

 Treasury," and in the " Author's Epistle " he throws down 

 this chivalrous challenge : — 



" I am now gro^vn old .... I have written no more but my 

 own experience and practice. ... If any noble or gentle angler, 

 of what degree soever he be, have a mind to discourse of any ot 

 these wayes and experiments, I live in Henry the 7th's Gifts, the 

 next door to the Gatehouse in Westm. My name is Barker, 

 where I shall be ready, as long as please God, to satisfie them, 

 and maintain my art, during life, which is not like to be 

 long." 



No doubt if old Barker were now in the flesh, he would 

 be to the fore in "Angling Sweepstakes," and ready to 

 dispute with any one for a wager the title of " Champion 

 Roach-fisher," which is affected by modern adepts in 

 this art. 



Some idea of Barker's quaintness of style may be 

 gathered from the following passage, with which the body 

 of the work begins ; — 



" Noble Lord, under favour, I will compliment and put a case 

 to your Honour. I met with a man, and upon our discourse, he 

 fell out with me, having a good weapon but neither stomach nor 

 skill : I say this man may come home by Weeping Cross, I will 

 cause the clerk to toll his knell. It is the very like case to the 

 gentleman angler that goeth to the river for his pleasure : this 



