CHAPTER II. 



THE TREATISE OF FISHING "WITH AN ANGLE 



The Angler must intice, not command his 

 reward, and that which is worthy millions to his 

 contentment, another may buy for a groate in the 

 Market. 



A Discourse of the Generall Art of Fishing, 



By Gervase Markham. 1614. 



I HE Treatise begins with an 

 account of the delights of fish- 

 ing. Solomon says that a good 

 spirit makes a fair age and a 

 long, and a merry spirit is best 

 gained by good disports and 

 honest games in which a man rejoices without 

 any repentance after. Now, there are four 

 sports of this character, hunting, hawking, 

 fishing and fowling, and of these the best is 

 fishing. It enables a man to eschew all 

 contrarious company and all places of debate 

 where he might have any occasion of 

 melancholy. Perhaps this is the reason why 

 politicians in all ages have found relaxation 

 in fishing. Dame Juliana then enquires into 



