1 BIBLIOGRAPHICAL PREFACE. 



sion I take the boldness to use, because I have read and practised by many 

 books of this kind formerly made public : from which, though I received 

 much advantage in the practice, yet, without prejudice to their worthy 

 authors, I could never find in thim that height of ']\i(\'^meni and reason 

 which you have manifested in this, as I may call it, epitome of Angling: 

 since my reading whereof I cannot look upon some notes of my own 

 gathering, but methinks Ido puerilia tractare. But lest I should be thought 

 to go about to magnify my own judgment in giving yours so small a 

 portion of its due, I humbly take leave with no more ambition than to 

 kiss your hand, and to be accounted 



" Your humble and thankful servant, 



" L W.» 



This is certainly the most courtly language that ever 

 fell from Walton's pen. 



There is another commendatory notice prefixed, which 

 we may believe came from our culinary angler, Barker, 

 whose initials it bears : 



"TO THE AUTHOR OF THE EXPERIE^TCED AXOLER. 

 " BY A BROTHER OF THE ANGLE. 



" Odds fish ! what have you done ? You 've half-undone 's, 

 The Art of Angling to disclose at once 

 By publishing this book : what ? You 're a lover 

 Of the said Art, and yet so much discover ! 

 I can 't but snap at you : why, this same book 

 Teacheth to 'stroy all Fish by ^Oljooft or ffiroofe. 

 Your plain directions when men understand, 

 No fish above ground can escape their hand ; 

 For thereby Pike, Carp, Tench, Pearch, Gudgeon, Trouty 

 Etc., may have a total rout. 



" Pray tell 's the reason, 't must be no small matter, 

 That makes you strive of them to rid the JL^nXtX, 

 You 're no Rescusant, sure ; if y' are, you 'd strive 

 More to preserve, and keep their Race alive ; 

 Your book foreshews and makes it evident 

 That in few years we cannot keep a Lent. 

 But yet, Sir, 't was well done, therein to put 

 To every one of these Fish so faire a cut. 

 That so, when we o' th' fish deprived are, 

 The cuts remain to show what shape they were. 



