166 APPENDIX. 



impression of the Royal Arms of Great Britain and 

 Ireland. The case fastened with one of Bramah's 

 patent locks, handles, eyes, &c. all double gilt. 

 The interior of the case lined throughout with the 

 finest Genoese sky blue velvet, the inner part of the 

 lid tufted. The hooks (as they are termed) for 

 angling and fly-fishing, the most chaste and beautiful 

 that can be imagined. The angling book covered 

 with Genoese crimson velvet ; the lock surmounted 

 with a diadem of solid gold," may be noted as 

 indeed forming a splendid epoch in the history of the 

 art of angling. But, to return from its refinements, as 

 detailed in the Times of 1st May, 1828, to its rude 

 simplicity as described in the " Treatyse of fysshynge 

 with an angle/' in 1496. This treatise, as it is the 

 first which appeared in our language, so is it as a 

 practical manual, considering its length and ex- 

 cepting the directions for making a clumsy rod, 

 with lines and hooks to match, one of the best. 

 Who the real author was is uncertain ; but its inter- 

 nal evidence carries with it the assurance of its 

 being written by a practical angler, who understood 

 and had practised what he taught. That it is the pro- 

 duction of Dame Juliana Berners is very unlikely ; 

 and there is as little reason to ascribe to her the 

 " Blasynge of Armes" in the same book. It is in- 

 deed difficult to affirm, with any degree of certainty, 

 what portion of the Book of St. Alban's is of her 

 composition, besides the "Book of Huntynge," at 

 the conclusion of which only her name occurs, thus : 

 "Explicit dame Julyans Bernes doctryne in her 

 boke of huntynge." In no other part of the work 



