xliv BIBLIOGRAPHICAL PREFACE. 



much laudable. He should have strength of arguments to 

 defend and maintaine his proliession against Envy or 

 Slander. . . . He would not be unskilful in Musicke, that 

 whensoever eyther Melancholy, heavinesse of his thought, 

 or the perturbations of his own fancies stirreth up sadnesse 

 in him, he may remove the same with some godly Hymne 

 or Antheme, of which David gives him ample examples. 

 .... Then he must be liberall, and not working only for 

 his own belly, as if it could never be satisfied ; but he 

 must with much cheerfulness bestow the fruits of his skill 

 among his honest neighbours, who, being partners of his 

 gaine, will doubly renownne his triumph, and that is ever a 

 pleasing reward to virtue." 



Markham taught little that was new in his day, less that 

 can teach an angler of any experience now ; but there is 

 among his directions this, that some who are not without 

 some practice, may profitably learn from : " Touching the 

 angler's apparel (for it is a respect as necessary as any 

 other thatsoever), it w^ould by no means be garish, light- 

 coloured, or shining. For w^hatsoever with a glittering 

 hew reflecteth upon the water, immediately it frighteth 

 the fish, and maketh them fly from his presence, no hunger 

 being able to tempt them to bite when their eye is offend- 

 ed ; and of all creatures there is none more sharpe-sighted 

 than fishes are. Let, then, your apparel be plain and 

 comely, of a darke colour, as Russet, Tawney, or such 

 like, close to your body, without any new-fashioned slashes 

 or hanmnff sleeves." Nothinc^ can be more absurd than 

 for one to attempt catching trout plying a rod glittering 

 with bright varnish or burnished metal joints, a light-colored 

 coat flviuG: loose, and a vellow straw hat on his head. Such 

 fish as he will get are beneath a true flngler's notice. The 

 best clothing is of dark-green plaid (the color of the grass 

 and trees), a cap of the same, or, if the sun be too power- 

 ful, a slouching hat of dark (not black) felt, which will 

 better protect the head and face ; while the rod should be 



