verse together but til night, Ishould leave you poffeff'd with the fame happie thoughts that now poffeffe me; not onely for the Antiquitie of it, but that it deferves commendations; and that 'tis an Art; and worthy the knowledge and practice of a wife, and a ferious

man.

Viat. Sir, I pray speak of them what you fhall think fit; for wee have yet five miles to walk before wee shall come to the Thatcht house. And, Sir, though my infirmities are many, yet I dare promise you, that both my patience and attention will indure to hear what you will fay till wee come thither: and if you please to begin in order with the antiquity, when that is done, you shall not want my attention to the commendations and accommodations of it: and laftly, if you shall convince me that 'tis an Art, and an Art worth learn

ing, I fhall beg I may become your Scholer, both to wait upon you, and to be instructed in the Art it felf.

Pifc. Oh Sir, 'tis not to be queftioned, but that it is an art, and an art worth your Learning: the question wil rather be, whether you be capable of learning it? For he that learns it, must not onely bring an enquiring,fearching,anddifcerning wit; but he must bring alfo that patience you talk of, and a love and propenfity to the art itself: but having once got and practised it, then doubt not but the Art will (both for the pleasure and profit of it) prove like to Vertue, a reward to it Self.

Viat. Sir, I am now become fo ful of expectation, that I long much to have you proceed in your difcourse: And first,I pray Sir,let me hear concerning the antiquity of it.

J. Da.

Pifc. Sir, I wil preface no longer, but proceed in order as you defire me: And firft for the Antiquity of Angling, I fhall not fay much; but; onely this; Some say, it is as ancientas Deucalions Floud: and others

Jer. Mar (which I like better) fay, that Belus (who was the inventer of godly and vertuous Recreations) was the Inventer of it: and fome others fay, (for former times have had their Difquifitions about it) that Seth, one of the fons of Adam, taught it to his fons, and that by them it was derived to Pofterity. Others fay, that he left it engraven on those Pillars which hee erected to preserve the knowledg of the Mathematicks,Mu fick, and the reft of those precious Arts, which by Gods appointment or allowance, and his noble industry were thereby preserved from perifhing in Noah's Floud.

Thefe (my worthy Friend) have been the opinions of fome men, that

pof

Chap. 4 2.

poffibly may have endeavoured to make it more ancient then may well be warranted. But for my part, I shall content my self in telling you, That Angling is much more ancient then the incarnation of our Saviour: For both in the Prophet Amos, and before him in Job, (which last Book Chap. 41. is judged to be written by Mofes) mention is made offish-books, which muft imply Anglers in those times. But(my worthy friend) as I would rather prove my felf to be a Gentleman, by being learned and bumble, valiant and inoffenfive, vertuous and communicable, then by a fond oftentation of riches; or (wanting these Vertues my felf) boast that these were in my Ancestors; [And yet I confeffe, that where a noble and ancient Descent and fuch Merits meet inanyman, itisa double dignification of that perfon: ] and fo, if this Antiquitie of Angling (which, for my part, I have not forc'd) fhall,

1

like an ancient Familie, by either an honour, or an ornament to this vertuous Art which I both love and practise, Ifhall be the gladder that I made an accidental mention of it; and shall proceed to thejuftification, or rather commendation of it.

Viat. My worthy Friend, I am much pleased with your discourse, for that you seem to be fo ingenuous, and so modeft, as not to stretch arguments into Hyperbolicall expreffions, but fuch as indeed they will reasonably bear; and I pray, proceed to the juftification, or commendations of Angling, which I alfo long to hear from you.

Pifc. Sir, I fhall proceed; and my next discourse shall be rather a Commendation, then a Juftification of Angling: for, in my judgment, if it deferves to be commended, it is more thenjuftified; for fome practices that may be justified, deserve no commendation: yet there are

none