204 ANCIENT ANGLING AUTHORS 



Anglers esteem them so, for the effectual Furtherance 

 of this Sport, that they affirm they will not only 

 allure but even compel Fish to bite. For my own 

 Part, I honestly confess, that though I have found 

 them in some measure advantageous to my Recreation, 

 yet far from so high a Degree, as has been pretended, 

 &c. (British Angler}. 



With similar alterations the first six chapters of 

 Chetham's book form the first six chapters of 

 Williamson's. Portions of the Compleat Angler are 

 stolen in a similar wholesale manner. 



The Art of Preserving Health: A Poem. In four 

 books. Published in 1744; 2nd edition, 1745. By 

 John Armstrong, M.D., is generally included in lists 

 of angling books, but the following extract from Book 

 III., "On Exercise," is the only reference to angling 

 which it contains : 



But if the breathless chase o'er hill and dale 



Exceed your strength ; a sport of less fatigue, 



Not less delightful, the prolific stream 



Affords. The crystal rivulet, that o'er 



A strong channel rolls its rapid maze, 



Swarms with the silver fry. Such, thro' the bounds 



Of pastoral Stafford, runs the brawling Trent ; 



Such Eden, sprung from Cambrian mountains ; such 



The Esk o'erhung with woods ; and such the stream 



On whose Arcadian banks I first drew air, 



Liddal ; till now, except in Doric lays 



Tun'd to her murmurs by her love-sick swains, 



Unknown in song : Tho' not a purer stream, 



Thro' meads more flow'ry, or more romantic groves, 



Rolls toward the Western main. Hail sacred flood ! 



May still thy hospitable swains be blest 



In rural innocence ; thy mountains still 



Teem with the fleecy race ; thy homeful woods 



