DEDICA TION. XXX111 



task than Mr. Hales, a most valiant and excellent 

 fencer, who in a printed book called "A Private 

 School of Defence " undertook to teach that art or 

 science, and was laughed at for his labor. Not but 

 that many useful things might be learned by that 

 book, but he was laughed at because that art was not 

 to be taught by words, but practice ; and so must 

 angling. And note, also, that in this Discourse I do 

 not undertake to say all that is known, or may be 

 said of it, but I undertake to acquaint the reader 

 with many things that are not usually known to every 

 angler ; and I shall leave gleanings and observations 

 enough to be made out of the experience of all that 

 love and practise this recreation, to which I shall 

 encourage them. For angling may be said to be so 

 like the mathematics that it can never be fully 

 learned ; at least not so fully but that there will still 

 be more new experiments left for the trial of other 

 men that succeed us. 



But I think all that love this game may here learn 

 something that may be worth their money, if they be 

 not poor and needy men ; and in case they be, I then 

 wish them to forbear to buy it, for I write not to get 

 money, but for pleasure, and this Discourse boasts of 

 no more ; for I hate to promise much, and deceive 

 the reader. 



And however it proves to him, yet I am sure I have 

 found a high content in the search and conference of 

 what is here offered to the reader's view and censure ; 

 I wish him as much in the perusal of it. And so I 

 might here take my leave; but will stay a little and 

 tell him that whereas it is said by many that in fly- 

 fishing for a trout the angler must observe his twelve 

 several flies for the twelve months of the year, I say 

 3 



