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EPISTLE DEDICATORY. 



able by common capacities. And there be now many 

 men of great wisdom, learning, and experience, which 

 love and practise this art, that know I speak the truth. 



Sir, this pleasant curiosity of fish and fishing, of which 

 you are so great a master, has been thought worthy the 

 pens and practices of divers in other nations, that have 

 been reputed men of great learning and wisdom. And 

 amongst those of this nation, I remember Sir Henry Wot- 

 ton (a dear lover of this art) has told me, that his inten- 

 tions were to write a discourse of the art, and in praise 

 of Angling; and doubtless he had done so, if death had 

 not prevented him ; the remembrance of which hath often 

 made me sorry ; for if he had lived to do it, then the 

 unlearned angler had seen some better treatise of this art, 

 a treatise that might have proved worthy his perusal, 

 which, though some have undertaken, I could never yet 

 see in English. 



But mine may be thought as weak, and as unworthy of 

 common view; and I do here freely confess, that I should 

 rather excuse myself, than censure others : my own dis- 

 course being liable to so many exceptions; against which 

 you, Sir, might make this one, that it can contribute 

 nothing to your knowledge. And lest a longer epistle 

 may diminish your pleasure, I shall make this no longer 

 (than to add this following truth, that I am really, 



SIR, 

 Your most affectionate Friend, 



and most humble Servant, 

 Iz. WA. 



