BIBLIOGRAPHICAL PREFACE. xxxix 



*' Hold hook and line, 

 Then all is mine ;" 



the other with a fish : 



" Well fare the pleasure 

 That brings such treasure." 



Beloe says : " Perhaps there is not, in the circle of 

 Enfflish Hteratiire, a rarer book than this — Sir John Hawk- 

 ins confessed that he could never get a sight of it." 

 (Anecd. of Lit., vol. ii., p. 64.) There is a copy in the 

 Bodleian Library. It has these commendatory verses : 



"IN DUE PRAISE OF HIS PRAISEWORTHY SKILL AND WERKE. 



" In skills that all do seek, but few do find. 

 Both gain and game (like sun and moon do shine), 

 Then th' Art of Fishing thus is of that kind ; 

 The ansler taketh both with hook and line, 

 And as with lines both these he takes ; this takes 

 With many a line, well-made both ears and hearts, 

 And by this skill the skil-lesse skilful makes: 

 The corpes whereof dissected so he parts. 

 Upon a humble subject never lay 

 More proud, yet plainer lives the plain to lead. 

 This plainer Art with pleasure to survey, 

 To purchase it with profit by that deed, 

 Who thinks this skills too low than for the high. 

 This angler read, and they'll be mine thereby." 



Jo. Daves. 



A second edition, " augmented with many approved ex- 

 periments^hy W. Lawson,"* appeared in 1652. It has at 



• The address " to the Reader," by " W. Lawson," is so neatly written, 

 and the book so rare, that we are tempted to give it : " It may seeme in 

 me presumption to adde this little comment to the werke of so worthy an 

 author. But Mr. Harrison, the stationer's, request and desire to give his 

 country satisfaction must be satisfied, and in it myselfe excused. What 

 mine observations are, I refer to censure : assuredly, the truth stands in 

 so well-grounded experience, that, but my haste, nothing can do them 

 injury. What to me is doubtful!, I have, as I can, explained ; what wants 

 in my judgment, I have supplied as the time would sufler ; what I passe by, 

 I approve. The authour, by verse, hath expressed much learning, and by 



