8 Introduction. 



of the Black Lyon an Apothecaries', in Paule's-Churchyard neare the Great 

 South dore." 



In the third, we are referred for the same to the "Signe of the Flying 

 Horse an Apothecaries' in Carter Lane." 



While the fourth informs us that " This excellent receipt, divers Anglers 

 can tell where you may buy them." 



Beloe, speaking of the edition of 1652, says, "Perhaps there does not exist 

 in the circle of English literature a rarer book than this." He seems to have 

 ignored the former editions though how this could have been with Lauson's 

 '' Augmented " in the title page, is not clear. 



Pickering, in his " Bibliotheca Piscatoria " (1836) also ignores the second 

 and third editions, but rectifies the omission in some MS. addenda to his list, 

 which were once in my possession. 



That Mr. Bohn should have been guilty of the same short-coming in his 

 recent reprint of Lowndes, is less excusable, as the fact had become patent to 

 any diligent seeker. 



In summing up the editions, we must not omit Mr. Arber's re-issue in his 

 " English Garner," Vol. I. (1877). 



The authorship of the " Secrets " remained a vexed question until a com- 

 paratively recent period (we believe about 1811). It was attributed by Walton 

 to Jo. Davors, Esq., several verses of the poem being quoted, with variations 

 that were not improvements, in his " Compleat Angler." R[obert] H[o\vlett], 

 in his preface to the "Angler's Sure Guide," (1706) assigns it to Dr. Donne, 

 whom he styles " that great practitioner, master and patron of Angling," and 

 he adds, " indeed, his seems to be the best foundation of all superstructures 

 of this kind, and upon that basis chiefly have I raised mine." 



To one or other of the six poets of the name of Davies, the poem has 

 also been ascribed ; but all these conflicting hypotheses were finally set aside 

 by the discovery, in the Registers of the Stationers' Company, of the following 

 entry : 



" 1612, Feb. 28th. 1 Mr. Roger Jackson entered for his copie under th'andes 

 of Mr. Mason and Mr. Warden Hooper, a booke called the Secrets of Angling, 



1 According to others, March 23rd. 



