10 THE EPISTLE DEDICATORY 



Sir, this pleasant curiosity of fish and fishing, of which 

 you are so great a master, has been thought worthy the 

 pens and practices of divers in other nations, that have 

 been reputed men of great learning and wisdom ; and 

 amongst those of this nation, I remember Sir Henry 

 Wotton (a dear lover of this art) has told me, that 

 his intentions were to write a discourse of the art, and 

 in praise of angling ; and doubtless he had done so, 

 if death had not prevented him ; the remembrance of 

 which hath often made me sorry; for if he had lived to 

 do it, then the unlearned angler had seen some better 

 treatise of this art, a treatise that might have proved 

 worthy his perusal, which, though some have under- 

 taken, I could never yet see in English. 



But mine may be thought as weak, and as unworthy 

 of common view ; and I do here freely confess, that 

 I should rather excuse myself, than censure others, 

 my own discourse being liable to so many exceptions ; 

 against which you, sir, might make this one, that it 

 can contribute nothing to your knowledge. And lest 

 a longer epistle may diminish your pleasure, I shall 

 make this no longer than to add this following truth, 

 that I am really, 



Sir, 

 Your most affectionate friend, 



And most humble servant, 



Iz. WA. 



