THE EPISTLE DEDICATORY; 1XY 



of which you are so great a master, has been 

 thought worthy the pens and practices of divers in 

 other nations, that havebeen 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 discourse 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, 



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