RIVER DOVE;

WITH

SOME QUIET THOUGHTS

ON THE

HAPPY PRACTICE OF ANGLING,

NEAR TO THE SEAT

OF

MR. CHARLES COTTON

AT

BERESFORD HALL, IN STAFFORDSHIRE.

Ερασμίη ΠΕΛΕΙΑ,

Πόθεν πόθεν πέτασσαι;
Πόθεν μύρων τοσούτων
Πνέεις τε καὶ ψεκάζεις.

Anacreon, Ode IX.

OTHE

TWENTY-FIVE COPIES.

SIR,

TO THE READER.

The book I here present to you was put into the Printer's hands for the entertainment of a few Gentlemen Fishers; and I hope you take a pleasure in the harmless recreation of Angling, otherwise I may not hope you will overlook its defects. I heartily wish it were a more worthy tribute to the memory of those best masters of our art, Mr. Izaac Walton, and Mr. Charles Cotton:

(ALAS, THAT THEY ARE DEAD!')

but I beseech you to be civil, and moderate in your censures; for I undertook those pleasant walks, to which I here invite you, by the banks of the Dove (now ten years are past) to unbend my mind from some serious cares. And that I may not detain you from the perusal, I have only this further to desire,-that we may all have a south wind when we go a-fishing,and be blessed with a virtuous cheerful spirit, a peaceful conscience, and at last eternal rejoicings in the kingdom of angels.

Your loving friend

and humble servant,

From my House at

Festival of St. Peter, 1687.

I.L.A.

RIVER DOVE;

WITH

SOME QUIET THOUGHTS

ON THE

HAPPY PRACTICE OF ANGLING.

CHAPTER I.

A Meeting at Derby, between an Angler and a Painter.

PAINTER. -Welcome, Mr. Gentleman Angler: welcome to Derby.

ANGLER.-Good morrow, brother, I am glad to see you look so cheering and courteous; for I must confess I am later than our fix't appointment.

PAINTER.-Sir, now I possess you, I'm too glad-hearted to chide your lagging: yet, to say the truth, I expected you this hour agone; for methought your sprightful anglers were apt to prevent the sun's rising on a delicate May morning.

ANGLER. Give me your pardon this turn, and doubt not to find me stirring with the lark every day that you and I purpose to walk in each other's company by the banks of the Dove.

PAINTER. My pardon you shall have the more willingly, if you fail not a traveller's good stomach for breakfast.

B