TO THE READER. '. 



THE EPISTLE TO THE READER IN 

 THE FIRST EDITION. 



TO THE READER OF THIS DISCOURSE, BUT ESPECIALLY 

 TO THE HONEST ANGLER. 



I THINK fit to tell thee these following truths ; that I did not undertake 

 to write, or to publish this Discourse of Fish and Fishing, to please 

 myself, and that I wish it may not displease others ; for I have confessed, 

 there are many defects in it. And yet, I cannot doubt, but that by it, 

 some Readers may receive so much profit or pleasure, as if they be not 

 very busy men, may make it not unworthy the time of their perusal ; and 

 this is all the confidence that I can put on concerning the merit of this 

 book. 



And I wish the Reader also to take notice, that in writing of it, I have 

 made a recreation of a recreation ; and that it might prove so to thee in 

 the reading, and not to read dull and tediously, I have in several places 

 mixed some innocent mirth; of which, if thou be a severe sour-com- 

 plexioned man, then I here disallow thee to be a competent judge. For 

 divines say, there are offences given ; and offences taken, but not given. 

 And I am the willinger to justify this innocent mirth, because the whole 

 Discourse is a kind of picture of my own disposition, at least of my dis- 

 position in such days and times as I allow myself, when honest Nat. and 

 R. R. and I go a-fishing together ; and let me add this, that he that likes 

 not the Discourse, should like the pictures of the Trout and other fish, 

 which I may commend, because they concern not. myself.* 



And I am also to tell the Reader, that in that which is the more useful 

 part of this Discourse ; that is to say, the observations of the nature and 

 breeding, and seasons, and catching of fish, I am not so simple as not to 

 think but that he may find exceptions in" some of these ; and therefore I 

 must entreat him to know, or rather note, that several countries, and 

 several rivers alter the time and manner of fishes' breeding ; and therefore 

 if he bring not candour to the reading of this Discourse, he shall both 

 injure me, and possibly himself too, by too many criticisms. 



Now for the Art of catching fish ; that is to say, how to make a man 

 that was none, an Angler by a book ; he that undertakes it, shall under- 

 take a harder task than Hales, that in his printed book t undertook by it 

 to teach the Art of P'encing, and was laughed at for his labour. Not but 



* Sir John Hawkins su|)po5es the Fish to have been engraved upon silver ; that 

 the conjecture is erroneous, is proved by the fact that the same title-pa^e and plates were 

 used in j^ve editions of this work, and also in five editions of Venables* " Experienced 

 Angler ; *' half the number of which impressions would have worn out a silver plate. 

 It is probable they were engraved by Lombart, Faithorne, or Vaughan. 



t Called the jPrivate School of Defence, 



