XXX DEDICA TION. 



might beget an industrious diligence to be so ; but I 

 know it is not attainable by common capacities. And 

 there be now many men of great wisdom, learning, 

 and experience, which love and practise this art, that 

 know I speak the truth. 



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 na- 

 tions 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 dis- 

 course 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 undertaken, 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. 



