21 



ufe. And alfo that it is not foo laborory- 

 ous ne foo difhoneft to fyffhe in this wyfe 

 as it is w e nettes and other engynes 

 whyche crafty men do ufe for theyr dayle 

 encreafe of goodes." But the conclufion 

 is ftill more convincing: " And for by 

 caufe that this prefent treatyfe fholde not 

 come to the handys of eche ydle perfone 

 whyche wolde defire it yf it were em- 

 prynted allone by itfelf and put in a lyttle 

 plaunflet, therefore I have compylyd it in 

 a greter volume of dyverfe bokys con- 

 cernynge to gentyll and noble men, to the 

 extent that the forfayd ydle perfones 

 whyche fholde have but lytyll mefure in 

 the fayd dyfporte of fyffhynge fholde not 

 by this meane utterly deftroye it." 



The latter paffage, befides its import- 

 ance, it is prefumed, decifive of the point 

 it is cited to prove, is deferving of atten- 



