ANCIENT ANGLING AUTHORS 105 



administered with his pen, to his political opponent 

 Isaak Walton, a more severe castigation than he 

 ever succeeded in inflicting with his sword. And 

 it is chiefly owing to this vigorous and virulent 

 attack, that he has obtained his posthumous 

 notoriety ; although the intrinsic merit of his book 

 was such, that he was honoured by a reprint in the 

 year 1821, edited by Sir Walter Scott. 



Like the majority of anglers of the present day, 

 Franck does not believe in going to the trouble of 

 making his own fishing-tackle, when it could be 

 bought ready made at the shops. He thus expresses 

 his views upon this point, and commences his attack 

 upon Walton, in his preface : 



Thus far I enter the Angler's List, and resolve to 

 encounter this critical Age by promulgating the Series 

 of the Art of Angling. But to shape out Rods, twist 

 Lines, and appropriate Times and Seasons, with 

 variety of Waters, and Mutability of Baits ; as also 

 the making of Instruments, arming of Hooks, forming 

 the accurate Proportion of Flies, shaping of Corks, 

 staining of Quills, forming of Swivels, and drawing 

 out Wiers, besides casting of Plumbs, and moulding of 

 Shot, I resolve against ; for it's nothing my Business, 

 though a Task neither intricate nor tedious to the 

 several and various Artificers pregnant in the Art. 

 For that end you may dedicate your Opinion to what 

 scribling Putationer you please ; The Compleat 

 Angler if you will, who tells you of a tedious Fly 

 Story, extravagantly collected from antiquated 

 Authors, such as Gesner, Dubravius, &c. but I rather 

 commend you to famous Isaac Owldham, whose 

 Experiences sprung from the Academy of Trent. 



