TO THE WORTHY, AND 



MY MVCH RESPECTED FRIEND, 



MR. JOHN HARBORNE, OF TACKLEY, IN THE 



COUNTY OF OXFORD, ESQUIRE. 

 Woiniiv SYR, 



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

 A uthor, who intended to haue done it in his life, but was prcnented by death : 

 I could not among my good friends, betJiinke me of any one to whom I might 

 more filly dedicate it (as well for the nature of the subiect in which you 

 delight as to expresse my loue] than to yonrselfe. 



I finde it not onely sauouring of A rt and Honesty, two things now 

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

 being loath to see a thing of sncli value lye hidden in obscuritie, whilst matters 

 of no moment pester the stales of cuery STATIONER ; I therefore make 

 bolde to publish it, for the benefit and delight of all, trusting that 1 shall 

 neither thereby disparage the Author, nor dislike them. 



I neede not, I think, Appollogize either the i'se of the subiect, or for 

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

 (in that it is in 1'erse] some count 'it by so much the more delightful! ; and 

 J /wide il cue ry was as fit a subiect for Poetry as Husbandry: and touching 

 the first, if Hunting and Hawking haue been thought wortliy delights and 

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

 is much more worthy practise and approbation ; for it is a sport cucry 

 way as pleasant, lesse chargeable, more profitable, and nothing so much 

 sulnect to choller or impatience as those are : you shall finde it more briefly, 

 pleasantly, and exactly performed, then any of t/tis kindc heretofore. There- 

 jore I refer re you to the perusing thereof, and myself e to yonr gcoil opinion, 

 which I tender as that I hclde most dec re : euer remaining tit 



