14 



INTRODUCTORY REMARKS ON ANGLING. 



dyous arraony of fowles ; he seeth the yonge swannes, hee- 

 rous, duckes, cotes, and many other fowles, wyth theyr 

 brodes ; whyche me semyth better than alle the noyse of 

 houndys, the blastes of hornys, and the scrye of foulis, that 

 hunters, fawkeners, and fowlers can make. And if the 

 angler take fysshe ; surely, thenne, is there noo man merier 

 than he is in his spyryte." 



Walton also makes mention of a DR. NOWELL, Dean of the 

 Cathedral of St. Paul's, and author of the present Church 

 Catechism, who lived in the reign of Henry the Eighth. He 

 is represented as a good man, a constant practiser of angling, 

 and as employing the tenth part of his time in that sport. In 

 an ancient picture, (which would, by the way, be rather more 

 curious than the book above-mentioned) he is represented as 

 leaning with one hand on a desk, holding a Bible, whilst at 

 his side lie his lines, hook, and other tackle, with several kinds 

 of rods ; underneath is written " that he died in 1601, at the 

 age of 95 years ; that age had neither dimmed his eyes nor 

 weakened his memory ; and that Angling and Temperance 

 were the causes of these blessings. '' Sir Henry Wotton, who 

 lived about the same period says, " 'twas an employment for 

 his idle time, which was not then idly spent ; for Angling was 

 after tedious study a rest to his mind ; a cheerer of his spirits ; 

 a diverter of sadness ; a calmer of unquiet thoughts ; a mode- 

 rator of passions ; a procurer of contentedness." 



Joe Davors,* who wrote about the same time, runs prettily 

 off in this style : 



" Let me live harmlessly ; and near the brink 

 Of Trent or Avon have a dwelling place ; 



Where I may see my quill or cork down sink, 

 With eager bite of perch, or roach, or dace; 



And on the world and my Creator think ; 



Whilst some men strive ill gotten goods t' embrace, 



* John Dennys, Esq., author of" Secrets of Angling," A. D. 1613. 



