xcii TO THE READER 



boasts of no more ; for I hate to promise much, and* deceive the 

 reader. 



And- however it proves to him, yet I am sure I have found a 

 high content in the search and conference of what is here offered 

 to the reader's view and censure : I wish him as much in the 

 perusal of it, and so I might here take my leave, but will stay 

 a little and tell him, that whereas it is said by many, that in fly- 

 fishing for a trout, the angler must observe his twelve several 

 flies for the twelve months of the year ; I say, he that follows 

 that rule shall be as sure to catch fish, and be as wise, as he that 

 makes hay by the fair days in an almanac, and no surer ; for 

 those very flies that use to appear about and on the water in one 

 month of the year, may the following year come almost a month 

 sooner or later, as the same year proves colder or hotter ; and 

 yet in the following discourse I have set down the twelve flies 

 that are in reputation with many anglers, and they may serve to 

 give him some observations concerning them. And he may note, 

 that there are in Wales and other countries peculiar flies, proper 

 to the particular place or country ; and doubtless, unless a man 

 makes a fly to counterfeit that very fly in that place, he is like to 



' And fail. — First edition. 



2 But pleasure I have found both in the search and conference 

 about what is here offered to thy view and censure ; I wish thee as 

 much in the perusal of it, and so might I here take my leave ; but I will 

 stay thee a little longer in telling thee, that whereas it is said by many, 

 that in fly-fishing for a trout the angler must observe his twelve flies for 

 every month, I say if lie observe that, he should be as able to catch fish, 

 as they that make hay by the fair dayes in almanacks, and be no surer ; for 

 doubtless three or four flies rightly made, do serve for a trout all summer ; 

 and for winter-flies, all anglers know, they are as useful as an almanack 

 out of date. Of these (because no man is born an artist or an angler) I 

 tliought fit to give thee this notice. I might say more, but it is not fit for 

 this place ; but if this discourse which follows sliall come to a second im- 

 pression, which is possible, for slight books have been in this age observed 

 to have that fortune, I shall then for thy sake be glad to correct what is 

 faulty, or by a conference with any to explain or enlarge what is defective, 

 but for this time I have neither a willing nor a leisure to say more than to 

 wish you, &c. P'arewell. Iz. Wa. — First edition. The variations after 

 tlic second edition are very slight. 



Following the address to the Reader there was in this edition a table of 

 contents, afterwards omitted for obvious reasons. 



