6 Introduction. 



perchance, by the conviction, that his modest rhymes would be brought into 

 favour and acceptance, at a fitting time. 



In 1613, appeared the first edition (ismo.), a pocket volume, with the 

 following title : " The Secrets of Angling. Teaching, the choisest Tooles, Baytes 

 and Seasons, for the taking of any Fish, in Pond or Riuer : practised and 

 familiarly opened in three Bookes. By I. D. Esquire. Printed at London, for 

 Roger Jackson, and are to be sould at his shop neere Fleetstreet Conduit, 

 1613." 



In this title is an allegorical wood-cut, representing two men, one treading 

 on a serpent, and with a sphere at the end of his angle, and over his rod a 

 label with this inscription : 



" Hold hooke and line 

 Then all is mine." 



The other figure has a fish on his hook, and is labelled thus : 



" Well fayre the pleasure 

 That brings such treasure." 



At the back of the title is a copy of verses. "In due praise of his praise- 

 worthy skill and worke," signed "Jo Dauies," followed by the dedication we 

 have before alluded to, and which is given with the present reprint. 



It is difficult to fix with any certainty, the number of copies extant of 

 this edition. The Bodleian possesses one, Mr. Denison another, and Mr. Huth 

 a third. There are also seme imperfect copies. 



Of the second edition ' there is, I believe, but one known copy, which is 

 now in the Denison collection. It is supposed (for the date is cut off) to have 

 appeared about 1620. It was edited by W. Lauson, and the title-page states 

 that it is " augmented with many approved experiments." Lauson's additions 

 to the work are an address " To the reader," and some notes and recipes. 



Lauson's address "To the Reader''' ran thus: 



" It may seeme in me presumption to adde this little comment to the work 

 1 " Printed at London for Roger Jackson and are to be soul.l " the rest cut off. 



