Zlbc ffatbers of Hn0ltn0 15 



others to half a dozen different rhymesters whose initials 

 corresponded with those on the title-page ; and we 

 should probably never have known who the real author 

 was, had not the discovery been made in 1811 that 

 " The Secrets of Angling " is entered in the books of 

 the Stationers' Company as being by "John Dennys, 

 Esquier," not to be confounded with another and more 

 notorious John Dennis, gibbeted in the Dunciad, author 

 of two familiar sayings : " A man who could make so 

 vile a pun would not scruple to pick a pocket " ; and, 

 " They will not let my play run : yet they steal my 

 thunder." 



All that is known of John Dennys is that he belonged 

 to the old family of that name long settled in Puckle- 

 church, Gloucestershire. But that no man of his time 

 knew more both of the history and practice of angling 

 is evident from his remarkable poem, which has formed 

 the ground-work of scores of angling books since his 

 day. Walton knew "The Secrets of Angling" well, 

 though he was wrong in his conjecture as to the author- 

 ship. " Will you hear," says Piscator in " The Compleat 

 Angler," " the wish of another angler and the com- 

 mendation of his happy life which he also sings in 

 verse viz. Jo. Davors, Esquire ? 



Let me live harmlessly; and near the brink 



Of Trent or Avon have a dwelling-place, 

 Wheie I may see my quill or cork down sink 



With eager bite of perch or bleak or dace : 

 And on the world and my creator think : 



Whilst some men strive ill-gotten goods t' embrace, 

 And others spend their time in base excess 



Of wine, or worse, in war and wantonness. 



