132 ANCIENT ANGLING AUTHORS 



Though not the first book to mention trolling, The 

 Compleat Troller is an original work throughout, the 

 only manuals on the subject, which the author 

 appears to have read, being Denny s' Secrets of 

 Angling, Walton's Compleat Angler, and Nicholas 

 Cox's Gentlemaris Recreation, to the last two of which 

 he refers in his preface " To the Reader." 



Prefixed to The Compleat Troller are two prefaces, 

 one to James Tryon, Esquire, of Bulwick, 

 Northamptonshire, the other to the Ingenious 

 Reader : there are also four sets of verses, two from 

 appreciative friends to the author, and two by the 

 author himself. Of these latter, one is " On the 

 Antiquity and Invention of Fishing," and is largely 

 borrowed from Dennys' Secrets of Angling. The other, 

 entitled " The Fisherman's Wish," is given below : 



Would I might live near Avon's flow'ry brink, 

 And on the World, and my Creator think ; 

 Whilst others strive ill gotten goods t'embrace, 

 Would I near Welland had a dwelling place. 



Would I these harmless pastimes might pursue, 

 And uncontroll'd might Ponds and Rivers view : 

 Whilst others spend their time in base excess, 

 In Drinking, Gaming, and in Wantonness. 



Would I might let my fancy feed its fill, 

 And daily by fresh Rivers walk at will, 

 Whilst others toyl in Hunting, and perplext, 

 Are with unquiet Recreations vext. 



Would I might view the Compass of the Sky, 

 The flaming Chariot of the Worlds great eye, 

 And fair Aurora lifting up her head, 

 Blushing to rise from old Tithonus bed. 



