TO THE READER. 207 



As plain as it is it may be serviceable to some, and 

 if it had been better and morfe accurately done, it might 

 have been condemned by others. Every man that is a 

 Fisherman hath some private thoughts of his own, 

 which he will still prefer before others : besides, the 

 diversion of fishing is now generally undervalued, it 

 being an art which few take pleasure in ; nothing pass- 

 ing for noble and delightful, which is not brave and 

 costly: as though men could not gratify their senses 

 without the consumption of their estates. 



Hawking and Hunting have had their excellencies 

 celebrated with large encomiums, and though I design 

 not to slight or disparage those noble recreations, which 

 have been so much famed in all ages and by all de. 

 grees ; yet this I must affirm, that they fall not within 

 the compass of every man to pursue, being as it were 

 -only entailed on vast estates ; for if lower fortunes 

 should seek to enjoy them, Action's fable might prove 

 a true story, and these ravenous birds make a prey 

 upon their masters. Besides, those recreations are 

 more obnoxious to choler and passion than these of 

 ours. Our simple art composes the soul to that quiet 

 and serenity, which gives a man the fullest possession 

 and fruition of himself, and all his enjoyments. 



This clearness and equanimity of spirit being a 

 matter of so high concern, is of much value and esteem 

 in the opinion of many profound philosophers. Wit- 

 ness that excellent tract of Petrarch, De Tranquilitate 

 AnimO) and certainly he that lives Cibi et Deo, leads 

 the most happy life. Though all these contentments, 

 and many more, both for health and pleasure, as well 

 to gratify the senses and delight the mind, do arise 

 from this cheap, and as some call it, mean, melancholy 

 art ; I say, though all these satisfactions do proceed 

 from it, and it propounds pleasure at such an easy rate; 

 yet I expect to meet with no other, entertainment in the 

 publishing of it than neglect, if not scorn and contempt. 

 Some few there are that have cast off their other recrea- 

 tions and embraced this, and I never knew any repent 

 ? 2 



